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DICTIONARY 


PHRASE  AND  FABLE. 


DICTIONARY 


OF 

PHRASE  AND  FABLE, 


GIVING  THE 

Derivation  Source^  or  Origin  of  Common  Dh/'ases,  Allnsioiis^ 
and  Words  that  have  a Tale  to  TelL 


BY  THE  REV. 

E.  COBHAM  BREWER,  LL.D., 

OF  TRINITY  HALL,  CAMBRIDGE; 

Author  of  “ Guide  to  Sciencef  History  of  France f “ Theology  in  Scicncef 

(5j^c,  <5rc. 


THIRD  EDITION. 


CASSELL,  FETTER,  & GAL  PIN, 

LONDON,  PARIS,  AND  NEW  YORK. 


V!,i5 
I &i  Q. 


•/) 


cv 

cV 


X 


-£ 


PREFACE. 


“WiiAT  has  this  babbler  to  say?”  is  substantially  the  question  of 
every  one  to  whom  a new  book  is  offered.  For  ourselves,  it  will  be 
difficult  to  furnish  an  answer  in  a sentence  equally  terse  and  explicit ; 
yet  our  book  has  a definite  scope  and  distinct  speciality,  which  we 
will  proceed  to  unfold.  We  call  it  a “Dictionary  of  Phrase  and 
Fable,”  a title  wide  enough,  no  doubt,  to  satisfy  a very  lofty  ambition, 
yet  not  sufficiently  wide  to  describe  the  miscellaneous  contents  of  this 
“alms-basket  of  words.”  As  the  Gargantuan  course  of  studies  included 
everything  known  to  man  and  something  more,  so  this  sweep-net  of  a 
book  encloses  anything  that  comes  within  its  reach.  It  draws  in 
curious  or  novel  etymologies,  pseudonyms  and  popular  titles,  local 
traditions  and  literary  blunders,  biographical  and  historical  trifles  too 
insignificant  to  find  a place  in  books  of  higher  pretension,  but  not  too 
worthless  to  be  worth  knowing.  Sometimes  a criticism  is  adventured, 
sometimes  an  exposition.  Yulgar  errors,  of  course,  form  an  item;  for 
the  prescience  of  the  ant  in  laying  up  a store  for  winter,  the  wisdom  of 
the  bee  in  the  peculiar  shape  of  its  honey-comb,  the  disinterestedness 
of  the  jackal,  the  poisonous  nature  of  the  upas  tree,  and  the  striding  of 
the  Ehodian  Colossos,  if  not  of  the  nature  of  fable,  are  certainly  “more 
strange  than  true.” 

In  regard  to  etymology,  it  forms  a staple  of  the  book,  which  professes 
to  give  “ the  derivation,  source,  or  origin  of  words  that  have  a tale  to 
tell.”  Thus,  abandon  is  to  “desert  your  colours;”  church  means  “a 
circle,”  and  not  “ God’s  house,”  as  is  usually  given ; prevaricate  is  “ to 
go  zig-zag,”  .or  “plough  a crooked  furrow;”  scrupulous  is  to  get  a 
“stone  in  one’s  shoe;”  sw  is  cousin  german  to  the  Greek  “anax,”  a 


vi 


PREFACE. 


king;  head,  to  the  Greek  “kephale;”  wig,  to  the  Latin  “pilucca;”  tear 
and  the  French  larme  are  mere  varieties  of  the  Greek  “dakru/’  A 
large  number  of  such  word-studies  have  been  admitted  as  walnuts  for 
after  dinner.  Many  others  will  serve  to  show  how  strangely  even  wise 
men  will  sometimes  err  when  they  wander  in  Dreamland : witness  the 
etymology  given  by  Dr.  Ash  of  the  word  curmudgeon ; Orabbe’s  ety- 
mology of  the  word  doze,  noticed  under  the  article  Sleep  in  this 
Dictionary;  Isidor’s  derivation  of  the  word  stipulate;  Blackstone’s 
deduction  of  parson  from  “persona;  ” Pliny’s  druid  from  “ drus,”  an  oak; 
Scaliger’s  etymology  of  satire  ; Bescherelle’s  higot ; Ducange’s  Saracen  ; 
Bailey’s  Dunstable;  the  derivation  given  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle 
of  the  Isle  of  Wight;  that  of  barbarous  from  “barba,”  a beard; 
of  Shoreditch  from  “ Jane  Shore  ;”  of  Stony  Arabia;  Ptolemy’s  blunder 
about  Arabia  Felix  {see  Yemen)  ; Lloyd’s  etymology  of  Ireland,  “ the 
land  of  ire;”  and  Lord  Coke’s  Parliament  (q.v.).  Pleasant  fables  these, 
which  have  a right  to  stand  in  this  museum  of  odds  and  ends. 

Fugitive  matter  of  this  sort  makes  up  no  small  portion  of  our 
bulky  volume  ; but,  after  all,  the  main  substance  of  the  book  is  “Phrase 
and  Fable”  proper.  We  have  all  met  with  a number  of  familiar 
phrases,  some  of  them  “as  old  as  the  hills,”  the  meaning  of  which, 
though  perfectly  plain,  it  is  difficult  to  connect  with  the  words 
themselves.  Why,  for  example,  is  common  sense  so  called.^  and  how 
can  we  be  said  to  have  seven  senses  ? Why  is  kindliness  of  heart  called 
good-humour  ? and  one  “ gate  ” said  to  be  hilled  with  hindness  ? What 
was  the  cat  of  the  famous  Whittington  that  made  him  a merchant  prince  ? 
Why  is  it  said  there  is  luck  in  odd  numbers  ? Why  does  Hamlet 
call  the  ghost  old  True-penny  ? Why  is  a parasite  called  a Toad-eater  ? 
or  a hare  Wat  ? What  is  the  origin  of  such  household  phrases  as 
standing  Sam,  mare^s-nest,  shell  out,  hich  the  buchet,  dishing  the  spurs, 
little  urchin,  layers-over  for  medlers,  eau  de  vie,  fagot  votes,  salted  accounts, 
ivalls  have  ears,  the  polite  refusal  expressed  by  the  words  Til  thinh 
about  it,  and  why  is  a mismanaged  concern  called  a hettle  of  fish  ? We 
talk  of  getting  our  hand  or  foot  in,  of  the  crisis  of  a disease,  of  2i  pretext 
(which,  of  course,  is  a sort  of  dress),  with  a thousand  similar  words  and 
phrases ; but  where  they  come  from,  how  they  became  naturalised,  and 
what  they  refer  to,  is,  for  the  most  part,  a mystery.  One  object  of  this 


PREFACE. 


vii 


“Dictionary  of  Phrase  and  Fable”  is  to  make  them  tell  their  respective 
tales. 

Again,  there  are  a host  of  words  which  have  an  attached  meaning, 
apart  “from”  their  original  bearing,  such  as  Aclullamites ; shibboleth; 
tariff;  delirium,  which  has  something  to  do  with  ploughing ; canvassing 
a town,  which  has  something  to  do  with  hemp ; suffrages  and  suffragans, 
which  are  somehow  connected  with  the  pasterns  of  a horse ; banlcrupt, 
a man  whose  bench  is  broken;  grotesque,  which  must  belong  to  the 
word  grotto ; a tradesman’s  bill,  which  must  be  connected  with  a billet 
of  wood;  and  all  such  strange  misnomers  as  widoiv-bird,  Judas-tree, 
wolfs-bane,  Jerusalem  artichoke,  and  fox-glove.  Who  gave  them  their 
present  twist  ? who  effaced  their  old  image,  and  stamped  on  them  their 
present  superscription  In  what  crucible  have  they  been  melted, 
that  their  nature  has  been  so  completely  changed?  To  give  a brief 
and  trustworthy  answer  is  another  of  the  objects  of  our  book. 

Once  more.  There  are  allusions  in  every  newspaper  and  periodical, 
which  would  puzzle  many  a wrangler  more  than  the  “Principia”  of 
Hewton.  Orabbe,  for  example,  says,  I do  not  use  the  word  fight  in  the 
sense  of  Mendoza,  the  Jew ; but  no  extant  book  that  I know  of  throws 
any  light  upon  this  Hebrew.  Hapoleon  said  of  the  young  Queen  of 
Prussia,  She  was  Armida,  in  her  distraction,  setting  fire  to  her  own 
palace.  Sir  Walter  Scott  says,  I submitted,  like  Dorax,  with  a swelling 
heart.  The  song  says.  Sham  Abram  you  may,  but  must  not  sham 
Abraham  Newland.  Longfellow  says.  Thought,  like  Acestes*  arrow, 
kindles  as  it  flies.  The  Times  says,  Let  Gryll  be  Gryll,  and  keep  his 
hoggish  mind.  Some  hundreds  of  such  allusions  are  explained  in  the 
present  book. 

Then  we  have  references  to  Scandinavian  and  other  mythology, 
bogie-land  and  fairy-land,  ghouls  and  gnomes,  and  a legion  of  character- 
words,  such  as  Bumbledom  and  Podsnappery,  Lilliputian  and  Utopian, 
Jeremy  Diddler  Sbud  Jerry  Sneak,  Tony  Lumpkim,  Tom  Tiddler,  Bob  Acres, 
and  S queers,  the  Malaprops  and  Partingtons  of  society,  whom  we  meet 
with  in  our  daily  walks,  but  know  neither  their  family  nor  address.  The 
“Dictionary  of  Phrase  and  Fable”  is  their  Directory,  not  so  perfect  as 
that  of  the  Post  Office,  yet  sufficiently  so,  we  hope,  to  give  the  local 
habitation  of  the  most  characteristic.  In  a word,  from  a mass  of 


viii 


PREFACE. 


material  in  manuscript,  fully  tlirice  the  size  of  the  present  volume, 
we  have  selected  some  20,000  examples  of  what  we  have  thought  to 
be  the  best  suited  for  popular  purposes.  Much  has  been  culled,  of 
necessity,  from  the  thousand  and  one  sources  of  such  lore,  in  English, 
German,  or  French,  and  more  is  entirely  new.  We  cannot  even  hope 
that  all  our  explanations  will  pass  the  ordeal  of  critics  unscathed. 
It  is  the  bread  and  cheese  of  some  to  ‘‘pick  holes  in  a’  our  coats;” 
and  the  lighting  on  weak  places  carries  with  it  something  of  the 
ferret’s  or  huntsman’s  “passion.”  What  is  fair  game  will,  of  course, 
be  run  hard;  and  some  of  our  statements  must  of  necessity  be  mere 
matters  of  opinion,  in  more  than  one  instance  modified  even  while 
these  pages  have  been  passing  through  the  press ; but  we  doubt  not 
that  most  of  them  are  correct,  and  are  bold  to  believe  that  we  have 
in  many  cases  succeeded,  where  others  have  wholly  or  partially  failed. 
The  labour  has  been  the  willing  labour  of  an  enthusiast,  who  has  been 
for  twenty  years  a “ snapper-up  of  unconsidered  trifles.”  If  other  eyes 
less  fond  see  defects  in  any  of  these  little  ones,  and  will  communicate 
with  the  author,  or  his  publishers,  he  will  promise  to  be  more  grateful 
than  the  Archbishop  of  Toledo  to  his  secretary  Gil  Bias. 

As  a rule,  the  names  of  Greek  and  Latin  fable  have  been  excluded  from  this 
Dictionary ; where  an  exception  has  been  made  it  is  either  because  the  ivord  has  been  so 
incorporated  into  our  litefi'ature  as  to  render  its  omission  a serious  defect,  or  because 
some  characteristic  has  been  added  which  finds  no  place  in  a “ Classical  Dictionary,^* 


THIRD  EDITION. 

It  would  be  to  the  general  reader  a wearisome  Hst,  if  the  names  were  sot  down 
of  all  the  correspondents  who  have  by  their  suggestions  shown  an  interest  in 
this  Dictionary.  Some  of  them  have  written  from  America,  others  from  Germany, 
Belgium,  France,  and  Norway,  two  from  Ireland,  many  from  Scotland,  and  the  rest 
from  England.  George  Martin,  Esq.,  of  Birkenhead,  and  F.  Tolhausen,  Esq.,  whose 
name  is  already  before  the  public,  have  gone  through  the  book  seriatim,  and  their 
remarks  are  most  gratefully  acknowledged. 

To  all  our  correspondents  we  return  our  thanks ; and  if  they  or  others  still 
observe  faults  which  have  escaped  detection,  we  shall  be  glad  to  have  them  pointed 
out  to  us. 


Havant,  Chichester, 


THE  AUTHOR. 


THIED  EDITION. 


CURIOUS  LITERARY  BLUNDERS. 

Yiegil  has  placed  -^Eneas  in  a harbour  which  did  not  exist  at  the 
time:  Tortusg^ue  require  Velinos  {u^neid,  vi.  366).  Again,  he  makes 
-Eneas  listen  to  the  roar  of  the  Yelinns,  as  it  rushed  through  its  narrow 
gorge  into  the  Nar. 

Audiit  amnis 

Sulfurea  Nar  albiis  aqua,  fontesque  Velini  — jEneid^  vii.  517. 

Now,  Curius  Dentatus  cut  this  gorge  through  the  rocks  to  let  the  waters 
into  the  Nar ; before  this  was  done  the  ‘‘  Yelinns  ” was  a number  of 
stagnant  lakes.  In  YirgiTs  time  the  waters  fell  in  a cascade  from  the 
height  of  several  hundred  feet  into  the  river,  and  the  poet  might  have 
listened  to  the  roar,  but  -Eneas  could  know  nothing  of  the  harbour  or 
cascade. 

Chaucee,  in  his  Court  of  Love,  says : “ The  throstle-cock  sings  so 
sweet  a tune  that  Tubal  himself,  the  first  musician,  could  not  equal  it.” 
Of  course  he  means  Jubal. 

SiiAKESPEAEE,  in  his  Henry  IV.,  makes  the  carrier  complain  that  ‘‘  the 
turkeys  in  his  pannier  are  quite  starved  (1  Henry  IV.,  act  ii.  5); 
whereas  turkeys  came  to  us  from  America,  and  America  was  not  even 
discovered  for  a century  after  the  reign  of  Henry  lY. 

Again : in  Henry  V.  (act  v.  1),  Gower  is  made  to  say  to  Eluellen, 
‘‘  Here  he  [Pistol]  comes,  swelling  like  a turkey-cock.” 

In  Julius  Ccesar  (ii.  1)  Brutus  says  to  Cassius,  “ Peace  ! count  the 
clock.”  To  which ’Cassius  replies,  “The  clock  hath  stricken  three.” 
Clocks  were  unknown  to  the  Eomans,  and  striking  clocks  were  not 
invented  till  some  1400  years  after  the  death  of  Caesar. 

SciiiLLEK,  in  his  Piccolojniniy  speaks  of  a “ lightning-conductor.” 
This  was  about  150  years  before  its  invention. 

CowPEE  calls  the  rose  “ the  glory  of  April  and  May,”  but  June  is 
the  great  rose  month.  In  the  south  of  England  they  begin  their  bloom 
the  latter  half  of  May,  and  go  on  to  the  middle  of  July, 


X 


CURIOUS  LITERARY  BLUNDERS. 


Thomas  Moore  says — 

The  sunflower  turns  to  the  god  when  he  sets 
The  same  look  that  she  turned  when  he  rose. 

The  sunflower  does  not  turn  either  to  the  rising  or  setting  sun.  It 
receives  its  name  not  because  it  ‘‘  turns  ” to  the  sun,  but  because  it 
resembles  a picture  sun. 

W.  Morris,  in  his  Atalanta^s  Race,  has  mistaken  the  Greek  word 
saopliron  for  ‘‘  safFron.^^  He  says — 

She  the  saffron  gown  will  never  wear. 

And  in  no  flower- strewn  couch  shall  she  be  laid. 

That  is,  she  will  never  be  a bride.  Nonnus  (bk.  xii.)  tells  us  that 
virtuous  women  wore  a girdled  gown  called  saopliron  (chaste)  to  indi- 
cate their  purity,  and  to  prevent  improper  liberties.  The  gown  was  not 
yellow,  but  it  was  girded  with  a girdle. 

Eymer,  in  his  Fceclera  (vol.  I.,  pt.  i.,  p.  9),  has  ascribed  to  Henry  I. 
(who  died  in  1135)  a preaching  expedition  for  the  restoration  of 
Rochester  Cathedral,  injured  by  fire.  This  fire  occurred  in  1177^,  and 
the  church  was  only  fresh  built  at  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  I. 

In  p.  8 a still  more  striking  error  occurs : here  a deed  of  gift  to 
the  same  cathedral  from  “ Henry  king  of  England  and  lord  of  Ireland  ” 
is  ascribed  to  Henry  I. ; whereas  Ireland  was  added  to  the  English 
crown  by  Henry  II.,  and  the  deed  referred  to  was  the  act  of  Henry  III. 

Again,  p.  71  (the  same  volume),  Odo  is  made  in  1298  to  swear  “ in 
no  wise  to  confederate  with  Richard  I. ; ” whereas  Richard  the  Lion- 
heart  died  in  1199. 

Mazurier,  a surgeon,  wrote  in  1618  a treatise  called Veritable 
du  Geant  Teutohoclms,  to  prove  from  certain  bones  found  in  a tomb  ” 
that  “ Teutobochus  ” was  thirty  feet  high ; but  the  bones  turned  out  to 
be  those  of  a mastodon. 

Dr.  Mather  in  1712  announced,  in  the  Philosophical  Tracis  actions  f 
the  discovery  in  Hew  York  of  another  giant  of  similar  size;  but  the 
bones  from  which  he  drew  his  inference  were  the  teeth  and  bones  of  a 
mastodon  also. 

Sir  Archibald  Alison,  in  his  Historiji  has  fallen  into  an  error  as 
strange  as  Dr.  Ash’s  etymology  of  curmudgeon  (q.v.).  The  phrase  droit 
du  timbre  (stamp  duty)  he  translates  timber  duties.” 


CURIOUS  LITERARY  BLUNDERS, 


XI 


Articles  oe  War  for  the  Army.  There  is  a curious  blunder  in 
these  “Articles.’’  By  the  third  article  it  is  ordered  “that  every  recruit 
shall  have  the  40fch  and  46th  of  the  articles  read  to  him.”  Now  the 
40th  article  relates  wholly  to  the  misconduct  of  cliajplains,  and  has  no 
sort  of  concern  with  recruits.  Probably  the  41st,  which  like  the  46th 
is  about  mutiny  and  insubordination,  is  the  one  intended. 

A L0j55D0N  Newspaper.  One  of  the  leading  journals  of  the  day  has 
spoken  three  times  within  two  years  of  “passing  under  the  Caudine 
Forks,”  evidently  under  the  misapprehension  that  they  were  a “ yoke  ” 
instead  of  a mountain  pass.  It  is  quite  true  that  the  Eoman  army 
entrapj)ed  there  was  sent  “ under  the  yoke,”  but  that  yoke  was  not  the 
“ Furculge  Caudi'nae.” 

Chambers,  in  their  Encyclo^pcedia,  state  that  the  “fame  of  [Beau- 
marchais] rests  on  his  two  operas,  Le  Barbier  de  Seville  (1755)  and  Be 
Mariage  de  FigaroB  Mozart  composed  the  opera  of  Figaro  in  1786, 
and  Casti  wrote  the  libretto.  The  opera  of  II  Barhiere  di  Siviglia  was 
composed  by  Eossini  in  1816.  What  Beaumarchais  wrote  were  two 
GomedieSf  one  in  four  and  the  other  in  five  acts.  The  queen  of  France 
(Marie  Antoinette)  often  performed  the  character  of  Eosina  in  the  former 
comedy,  and  the  latter  was  interdicted  by  the  king  as  of  dangerous 
political  tendency.  When  the  ban  was  removed  all  Paris  was  beside 
itself. — Article  Beaumarchais. 

In  their  Journal  is  a paper  entitled  “ Coincidences,”  which  states 
that  “ Thursday  has  proved  a fatal  day  with  the  Tudors,  for  on  that  day 
died  Henry  YIIL,  Edward  YI , Queen  Mary,  and  Queen  Elizabeth.” 
This  is  not  correct ; for  Henry  YIII.  died  on  Friday,  January  28,  1547 
(see  Bymer,  Feeder  a,'  vol.  xv.,  p.  123);  and  Elizabeth  died  on  Monday, 
March  24,  1603. 

In  the  same  paper  it  is  stated  that  “ William  HI.  and  every  one  of 
the  Georges  died  on  a Saturday;”  but  what  is  the  fact?  William  III. 
died  on  Wednesday,  March  8,  1702 ; and  George  I.  died  also  on  JVednes- 
day,  June  11,  1727. 

Dickens,  in  his  Nicholas  Nichlehy,  represents  Mr.  Squeers  as  setting 
his  boys  “ to  hoe  turnips  ” in  midwinter. 

Again,  in  Eckvin  Brood,  he  places  “ rooks  and  rooks’  nests  ” (instead 
of  daws)  “ in  the  towers  of  Cloisterham.” 


CURIOUS  LITERARY  BLUNDERS. 


xii 


Whyte  Melville,  in  his  historical  novel  of  Holmby  House  (ch.  xxix.), 
makes  a very  prominent  part  of  the  story  turn  upon  the  death  of  a 
favourite  hawk  named  Diamond.  Mary  Cave  tossed  it  off  so  that  it 
“ fell  lifeless  at  the  king’s  feet.”  This,  he  says,  is  what  she  “ anticipated, 
and  was  exactly  what  she  intended  should  happen,”  because  it  was  the 
means  of  arresting  the  king’s  attention,  and  securing  for  herself  an 
interview  with  the  monarch.  In  ch.  xlvi.  this  very  hawk  is  repre- 
sented  alive  again ; proud,  beautiful,  and  cruel,  like  a Venus  Victrix 
it  perched  on  her  mistress’s  wrist,  unhooded.” 

West,  president  of  the  Eoyal  Academy,  has  represented  Paris  in 
Bom  an  costume,  instead  of  Phrygian. 

Etty  has  placed  a helmet  of  the  period  of  James  I.  by  the  bedside  of 
Holofernes. 

See  also  Oelando  Eurioso,  Vallambroso,  &c.  &c.,  in  the  body  of  the 
book, 


BEEWEE'S  DICTIONAET 


PHRASE  AND  FABLE. 


A.  This  letter  is  the  outline  of  an  ox’s 
head,  the  two  legs  being  the  two  horns. 
It  is  called  in  Hebrew  alepli  (an  ox). 

A among  the  Egyptians  is  the  hiero- 
glyphic which  represents  the  ibis.  Among 
the  Greeks  it  was  the  symbol  of  a bad 
augury  in  the  sacrifices. 

A in  logic  is  the  symbol  of  a universal 
affirmative.  A asserts,  E denies.  Thus, 
syllogisms  in  harhara  contain  three  uni- 
versal affirmative  propositions. 

A 1 means  first-rate — the  very  best. 
In  Lloyd’s  Kegister  of  British  and  Foreign 
Shipping,  the  character  of  the  ship’s  hull 
is  designated  by  letters,  and  that  of  the 
anchors,  cables,  and  stores  by  figures. 
A 1 means  hull  first-rate,  and  also  an- 
chors, cables,  and  stores ; A 2,  hull  first- 
rate,  but  furniture  second-rate. 

Slie  is  a prime  girl,  she  is;  she  is  A.l.—SaYti SlicTe. 

A.B.  (-S'eeABLE.) 

ABC  Book.  A primer,  a book 
in  which  articles  are  set  in  alphabetical 
order,  as  the  “ABC  Bail  way  Guide.” 

A.E.  I.  O.  U.  The  device  al opted 
by  Frederick,  emperor  of  Germany. 
Austriae  Est  Imperare  Orhi  Eniverso. 

Alles  Erdreich  1st  Oesterreich  Unterthan. 
Austria’s  Empire  Is  Overall  Universal. 
Austria’s  Empire  Is  Obviously  Upsut. 

Frederick  HI.,  in  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, translated  the  motto  thus  : — 

Austria  Erit  In  Orbe  Ultima  {Austria  will  one 
day  be  lowest  in  the  scale  of  empires). 

A.U.C.  Anno  v.rlis  conditoe  (Latin), 
“from  the  foundation  of  the  city” — i.e., 
Borne. 

Aaron.  An  Aaron’s  serpent.  Some- 
thing so  powerful  as  to  swallow  up  minor 
powers.  Thus,  Prussia  was  the  Aaron’s 


serpent  that  swallowed  up  the  small 
German  States ; England  was  the  Aaron’s 
serpent  that  swallowed  up  the  States  of 
India.  A gigantic  monopolyis  the  Aaron’s 
serpent  that  swallows  up  small  private 
traders.  (Exod.  vii.  10 — 12). 

Ab  o'vo.  From  the  very  beginning. 
Stas'imos,  in  the  epic  poem  called  the 
“ Little  Iliad,”  does  not  rush  in  medias 
res,  but  begins  with  the  eggs  of  Leda, 
from  one  of  which  Helen  was  born.  If 
Leda  had  not  laid  this  egg,  Helen  would 
never  have  been  born.  If  Helen  had  not 
been  born,  Paris  could  not  have  eloped 
with  her.  If  Paris  had  not  eloped  with 
Helen,  there  would  have  been  no  Trojan 
War,  &c. 

a1)  O'VO  usque  ad  mala.  From  the  first 
dish  to  the  last.  A Boman  coena  (chief 
meal)  consisted  of  three  parts.  The  first 
course  was  the  appetiser,  and  consisted 
chiefly  of  eggs,  with  stimulants  ; the 
second  was  the  “ dinner  proper  ; ” and 
the  third  the  dessert,  at  which  mala, 
(i.e.,  all  sorts  of  apples,  pears,  quinces, 
pomegranates,  and  so  on)  formed  the 
most  conspicuous  part. 

Aback'.  I was  tahen  aback— \ was 
greatly  astonished — taken  by  surprise — 
startled.  It  is  a sea  term.  A ship  is 
“taken  aback”  when  the  sails  are  sud- 
denly carried  back  by  the  wind. 

Ab'acus.  Each 
wire  contains  ten  balls. 

The  Abacus  is  an  in- 
strument for  calcula- 
tion. The  word  is 
derived  from  the  He- 
brew abak  (dust),  be- 
cause the  Orientals 
used  tables  covered  witii  dust  for  ciphcr- 
B 


—00 00000000 — 

—0000 000000— 

— 0 000000000— 

—0000000 000— 

— 00000 00000— 

—000000000 o— 


ABADDON. 


ABDIEL, 


ing  and  diagrams.  The  multiplication 
table  invented’  by  Pythagoras  is  called 
Ah'acus  Pythagor'icus. 

Abaddon.  The  angel  of  the  bottom- 
less pit.  (Rev.  ix.  11.)  The  Hebrew  aSac? 
means  to  be  lost.” 

Abam'bou.  The  evil  spirit  of  the 
Gamma  tribes  in  Africa.  A fire  is  kept 
always  burning  in  his  house.  He  is 
supposed  to  have  the  power  of  causing 
sickness  and  death. 

Abandan'nad.  A boy  who  picks 
pockets  of  bandannas  (pocket-handker- 
chiefs). The  word  is  a contraction  of 
A handanna-lad. 

Abandon  means  properly  to  go 
away  from  your  general’s  ensign ; to 
fly  from  your  colours.  (Latin — a,  away 
from ; ” bandum,  the  general’s  banner.”) 

Ab'aris.  The  dart  of  Abaris.  Abaris, 
the  Scythian,  was  a priest  of  Apollo  ; 
and  the  god  gave  him  a golden  arrow 
on  which  to  ride  through  the  air.  This 
dart  rendered  him  invisible  ; it  also 
cured  diseases,  and  gave  oracles.  Abaris 
gave  it  to  Pythag'oras. 

The  dart  of  Abaris  carried  the  philosopher 
wheresoever  he  desired  it— Willmott. 

Abased.  In  heraldry  the  wings  of 
eagles  are  called  abased,  when  the  tops 
are  turned  downward  towards  the  point 
of  the  shield,  or  when  the}’'  are  shut. 

Abas'ter.  One  of  the  horses  of  Pluto. 
{See  Abatos.) 

Abate  means  properly  to  knock 
down.  (French,  abattre,  whence  a battue, 
i,e.,  wholesale  destruction  of  game; 
Saxon,  a-bedtan.) 

Abate,  in  horsemanship,  is  to  per- 
form well  the  downward  motion.  A 
horse  is  said  to  abate  when,  working 
upon  curvets,  he  puts  or  beats  down 
both  his  hind  legs  to  the  ground  at  once, 
and  keeps  exact  time. 

Abatement,  in.  heraldry,  is  a mark 
of  dishonour  annexed  to  coat  armour, 
whereby  the  honour  of  it  is  abated. 

Ab'atos.  One  of  the  horses  of  Pluto. 
(See  Aeton.) 

Abb'aside  (3  syl.).  A family  of  Arab 
caliphs,  who  reigned  from  749-1257.  The 
name  is  derived  from  Abbas  ben  Abd-al- 
Motalleb,  paternal  uncle  of  the  prophet 
Mahomet.  The  most  celebrated  of  these 


caliphs  was  Haroun-al-Raschid,  born 
765,  reigned  786-808. 

Abbey  Lands.  At  the  dissolution 
of  the  monasteries,  the  abbey  lands  were 
mainly  divided  among  five  noble  families, 
if  the  following  rhyme  may  be  relied  on ; 

Hopton,  Horner,  Smyth,  Knocknaile,  andThynne 
When  abbots  went  out,  they  all  came  in. 

Abbot  of  Misrule,  or  Lord  of 
Misrule,  A person  who  used  to  superin- 
tend the  diversions  of  Christmas.  In 
France  the  Abbot  of  Misrule”  was 
called  Labbt  de  Liesse.  In  Scotland  the 
master  of  revels  was  called  the  Master 
of  Unreason.” 

Abbotsford.  A name  given  by  Sh 
Walter  Scott  to  Cartl^y  Hole,  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Tweed,  after  it  became 
his  residence.  Sir  Walter  devised  the 
name  from  a fancy  he  loved  to  indulge 
in,  that  the  abbots  of  Melrose  Abbey, 
in  ancient  times,  passed  over  thes/or^s 
of  the  Tweed. 

Abb- wool.  Wool  or  yarn  used  in 
the  woof  or  abb  of  woollen  fabrics. 
(Saxon.) 

Abdall'ah,  the  father  of  Mahomet, 
was  so  beautiful,  that  when  he  married 
Ami'na,  200  virgins  broke  their  hearts 
from  disappointed  love. — Life  of  Ma^ 
hornet,”  by  Washington  Irving. 

AbdalPah.  Brother  and  predecessor 
of  Giaffir,  pacha  of  Aby'dos.  He  was 
murdered  by  Giaffir  (2  Byron, 

Bride  of  Abydos.” 

Ab'dals.  Persian  fanatics,  who  think 
it  a merit  to  kill  any  one  of  a different 
religion,  and  if  slain  in  the  attempt,  are 
accounted  martyrs. 

Abde'rite  (3  syl.).  A scoffer.  De- 
moc'ritos,  the  laughing  or  rather  scoffing 
philosopher,  was  a native  of  Abdera,  in 
Thrace. 

Abde'ritan.  A native  of  Abdera — 
a fool.  The  stupidity  of  the  Abderitans 
was  proverbial.  They  were  ultimately 
compelled  to  abandon  their  native  land 
and  migrate  to  Macedonia,  in  consequence 
of  the  swarms  of  rats  and  frogs. 

Ab'diel.  The  faithful  angel  who 
withstood  Satan  when  he  urged  th© 
angels  to  revolt. 

(He)  adheres  with  the  faith  of  Abdiel  to  the 
ancient  form  of  adoration.— A’ir  Walter  bcoti. 


ABECEDARIAN. 


ABOMINATION. 


Abeceda'rian.  One  who  teaches 
or  is  learning  his  ABC. 

Abecedarian  hymns.  Hymns  which 
began  with  the  letter  A,  and  each  verse 
or  clause  following  took  up  the  letters  of 
the  alphabet  in  regular  succession.  {See 
Acrostic  Poetry.  ) 

Abel  Xeene.  A village  school- 
master, afterwards  a merchant’s  clerk. 
He  was  led  astray,  lost  his  place,  and 
hanged  himself.  — Crabbds  “ Borough  ” 
Letter j xxi. 

Abel  Shufflebottom.  A name 
assumed  by  Robert  Southey  in  some 
of  his  amatory  productions.  (1774-1843.) 

A^belites  (3  syl.),  AbeVians^  or  Abe- 
lo'nians.  A Christian  sect  of  the  fourth 
century,  chiefly  found  in  Hippo  (N. 
Africa).  They  married,  but  lived  in 
continence,  as  they  affirm  Abel  did. 
The  sect  was  maintained  by  adopting 
the  children  of  others.  No  children  of 
Abel  being  mentioned  in  Scripture,  the 
Abelites  assume  that  he  had  none. 

Abes'sa.  The  impersonation  of 
Abbeys  and  Convents,  represented  by 
Spenser  as  a damsel.  When  Una  asked 
if  she  had  seen  the  Red  Cross  Knight, 
Abessa,  frightened  at  t he  lion,  ran  to  the 
cottage  of  blind  Supei  stition,  and  shut 
the  door.  Una  arrived,  and  the  lion 
burst  the  door  open.  The  meaning  is, 
that  at  the  Reformation,  when  Truth 
came,  the  abbeys  and  convents  got 
alarmed,  and  would  not  let  Truth  enter, 
but  England  (the  lion)  broke  down  the 
door. — Fouery  Queen j b.  i. 

Abes'ta.  The  Commentary  of  the 
Zend. 

Abey  or  Alawy.  The  Nile,  so  called 
by  the  Abyssinians.  The  word  means 
‘Hhe  giant.” 

Abey'anee  really  means  something 
gaped  after  (French,  bayer^  to  gape).  The 
allusion  is  to  men  standing  with  their 
mouths  open,  in  expectation  of  some 
sight  about  to  appear. 

Abhor'  (Latin,  ab,  '^intensive,”  and 
hovreo,  set  up  the  bristles,”  as  a cat 
from  antipathy  to  a dog).  To  abhor  is  to 
have  a natural  antipathy,  and  to  show 
it  by  “ bristling  ” ii;  anger. 


Abia'la.  Wife  of  Maljambi  ; African 
deities.  She  holds  a pistol  in  her  hand, 
and  is  greatly  feared.  Her  aid  is  im- 
plored in  sickness. 

Abidhar'ma.  The  book  of  meta- 
physics in  the  Tripit'aka  {q-v.). 

Ab'igail.  A lady’s  maid,  or  lady-maid. 
Abigail,  who  introduced  herself  to 
David,  calls  herself  over  and  over  again 
his  handmaid  (1  Sam.  xxv.  3) ; hence 
the  word  became  a synonym  for  a lady- 
maid,  as  Goliath  for  a giant,  Samson 
a strong  man,  and  Job  a model  of 
patience.  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  in 
‘‘The  Scornful  Lady,”  call  the  “waiting 
gentlewoman  ” Abigail,  a name  employed 
by  Swift,  Fielding,  and  others,  in  their 
novels.  Probably  “Abigail  Hill,”  the 
birthplace  of  Mrs.  Masham,  waiting- 
woman  to  queen  Anne,  popularised  the 
name. 

Abim'elech  is  no  proper  name,  but 
a regal  title  of  the  Philistines,  meaning 
Father-king. 

Able,  An  able-bodied  seaman  is  one 
not  only  sound  in  wind  and  limb,  but 
skilled  in  seamanship,  and  willing  to  serve. 
Such  a man  is  termed  an  A.B. 

Aboard.  He  fell  aboard  of  me— met 
me,  abused  me.  A ship  is  said  to  fall 
aboard  another  when,  both  being  in 
motion,  one  runs  against  the  other  and 
obstructs  its  progress. 

To  go  aboard  is  to  embark,  to  go  on 
the  board  or  deck. 

Aboard  main  tack  is  to  draw  one  of 
the  lower  corners  of  the  main-sail  down 
to  the  chess-tree.  Figuratively,  it  means 
“ to  keep  to  the  point.” 

Aboll'a.  An  ancient  military  garment 
worn  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  opposed 
to  the  toga  or  robe  of  peace.  The  abolla 
being  worn  by  the  lower  orders,  was 
affected  by  the  philosophers  in  the  vanity 
of  humility. 

Abom'inate  {ab  o'minay  ill-omened). 
As  ill-omened  things  are  disliked,  so,  by 
a simple  figure  of  speech,  what  we  dislike 
we  consider  ill-omened. 

Abomina'tion.  The  abomination  of 
desolation.  The  Roman  standard  is  so 
called.  (Matt.  xxiv.  15.)  As  it  was  set  up 
in  the  holy  temple,  it  was  an  abomina- 
tion ; and,  as  it  brought  destruction,  it 
was  the  “abomination  of  desolatioa.” 

^ 2 


4 


AEON. 


ABEAHAM. 


/ 


Abon  Hassan.  A rich  merchant, 
transferred  during  sleep  to  the  bed  and 
palace  of  the  caliph  Haroun-al-Easchid. 
Next  morning  he  was  treated  as  the 
caliph,  and  every  effort  was  made  to 
make  him  forget  his  identity.  The  same 
trick  was  played  on  Christopher  Sly,  in 
the  Induction  of  Shakespeare’s  comedy 
of  Taming  the  Shrew;”  and, according 
to  Burton  Anatomy  of  Melancholy,” 
ii.  2,  4),  by  Philippe  the  Good,  duke 
of  Burgundy,  on  his  marriage  with 
Eleono'ra. — Arabian  Nights,  ^^The  Sleeper 
AwahenecV 

Were  I caliph  for  a day,  as  honest  Ahon 
Hassan,  I would  scourge  me  these  jugglers  out  of 
the  Commonwealth— Walter  Scott. 

Abor'tion.  A work  badly  finished, 
especially  a literary  production.  An 
abortion  is  a human  foetus  born  before 
the  sixth  month  of  pregnancy. 

"Abortive  Flowers  are  those  which 
have  stamens  but  no  pistils. 

Abou  ebn  Sina,  born  at  Shiraz. 
The  great  Persian  physician,  whose 
canons  of  medicine  were  those  adopted 
by  Hippoc'rates  and  Aristotle.  Died  1037. 

Abou-Bekr,  called  Father  of  the 
Virgin,  Mahomet’s  favourite  wife.  He 
was  the  first  caliph,  and  was  founder  of 
the  sect  called  the  Sunnites.  (571-634.) 

Abou*  Jahi'a.  The  angel  of  death. 
{Mahom.  Myth.) 

Above.  In  a previous  part  of  the 
book,  as  See  above,  p.  An  expression 
derived  from  the  ancient  method  of 
making  books  in  the  form  of  scrolls, 
when  the  writer  began  at  the  top  and 
continued  to  the  bottom,  which  was  the 
end. 

Above  board.  In  a straightforward 
manner.  Dr.  Johnson  says  the  expres- 
sion is  derived  from  gamesters,  who 
place  their  hands  above  the  table  when 
they  change  cards,  that  thdr  adversaries 
may  see  they  play  fairly. 

Above  your  hook — i.e.,  beyond  your 
comprehension  ; beyond  your  mark.  The 
allusion  is  to  hat-pegs  placed  in  rows ; 
the  higher  rows  are  above  the  reach  of 
small  statures. 

Abracada'bra.  A charm.  Abraca- 
dabra was  the  supreme  deity  of  the 
Assyrians.  Sere'nus  Samondcus  recom- 
mended the  use  of  the  word  as  a powerful 
Untidote  against  ague,  flux,  and  tooih- 


ache.  The  word  was  to  be  written  on 
parchment,  and  suspended  round  the 
neck  by  a linen  thread,  in  the  form  given 
below : — 

ABRACADABRA 
ABRACADABR 
ABRACADAB 
ABRACADA 
A B R A C A D 
A B R A C A 
A B R A C 
A B R A 
A B R 
A B 
A 

Abrae'alam.  A Syrian  deity.  A 
cabalistic  word,  serving  as  a charm 
among  the  Jews. 

Abrae'ax,  also  written  Aihrax'as  or 
Abras'ax,  in  Persian  mythology  denotes 
the  Supreme  Being.  In  Greek  notation 
it  stands  for  365.  In  Persian  mythology 
Abracax  presides  over  365  impersonated 
virtues,  one  of  which  is  supposed  to  pre- 
vail on  each  day  of  the  year.  In  the 
second  century  the  word  was  employed 
by  the  Basiliddans  for  the  deity  ; it  was 
also  the  principle  of  the  Gnostic  hier- 
archy, and  that  from  which  sprang  their 
numerous  ^ons. 

A'braharo,  The  Ghebers  say  that 
Abraham  was  thrown  into  the  lire  by 
Nimrod’s  order,  but  the  flame  turned 
into  a bed  of  roses,  on  which  the  child 
Abraham  went  to  sleep. — Tavernier. 

Sweet  and  welcome  as  the  bed 
For  their  own  infant  prophet  spread. 

When  pitying  Heaven  to  roses  turned 
The  death-flames  that  beneath  him  burned. 

T.  Moore,  Fire  Worehippersl* 

To  Sham  Abraham.  To  pretend  illness 
or  distress,  in  order  to  get  off  work. 
{See  Abram-Man.) 

I have  heard  people  say  Sham  Abram  you  may, 

But  must  not  sham  Ahraliam  Newland. 

Upton. 

Abraham  Newland  was  cashier  of  the 
Bank  of  England,  and  signed  the  notes. 

Abraham’s  Bosom.  The  repose  of 
the  happy  in  death.  (Luke  xvi.  22;)  The 
figure  is  taken  from  the  ancient  custom 
of  allowing  a dear  friend  to  recline  at 
dinner  on  your  bosom.  Thus  the  beloved 
John  reclined  on  the  bosom  of  Jesus. 

There  is  no  leaping  from  Deli'lalCs  lap 
into  Abraham's  bosom  — i.e.,  those  who 
live  and  die  in  notorious  sin,  must  not 
expect  to  go  to  heaven  at  death. — Bos- 
ton, Crook  in  the  Lot." 


ABRAHAM. 


ABSTRACT. 


Abraham  iN'ewland,  An.  A 
bank-note  ; so  called  because,  in  tlie 
early  part  of  the  present  century,  none 
were  genuine  but  those  signed  by  this 
name. 

Abrahamle  Covenant.  The  cove- 
nant made  by  God  with  Abraham,  that 
Messiah  should  spring  from  his  seed. 
This  promise  was  given  to  Abraham, 
because  he  left  his  country  and  father’s 
house  to  live  in  a strange  land,  as  God 
told  him, 

Abrahamites  (A-bra/iam-ifes).  Cer- 
tain Bohemian  deists,  so  called  because 
they  professed  to  believe  what  Abraham 
believed  before  he  was  circumcised.  The 
sect  was  forbidden  by  the  emperor 
Joseph  II.  in  1783. 

Abram-Man,  or  Ahraham  Cove.  A 
Tom  o’  Bedlam ; a naked  vagabond ; a 
begging  impostor. 

The  Abraham  Ward,  in  Bedlam,  had 
for  its  inmates  begging  lunatics,  who 
used  to  array  themselves  with  party- 
coloured  ribbons,  tape  in  their  hats,  a 
fox- tail  hanging  down,  a long  stick  with 
streamers,”  and  beg  alms;  but  for  all 
their  seeming  madness,  they  had  wit 
enough  to  steal  as  they  went  along.” 
— Canting  Academy. 

8ee  “ King  Lear,”  ii.  3. 

In  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  we  have 
several  synonyms : — 

And  these,  what  name  or  title  e’er  they  hear, 

Jackman  or  Pat'rico,  CranJce  or  Clapper-dudgeon, 

Fraier  or  Ahram-man,  I speak  to  all. 

Beggar's  Bush,  ii.  1. 

Abrax.  One  of  the  horses  of  Auro'ra. 

Abrax'as  Stones.  Stones  with  the 
word  Abraxas  engraved  on  them,  and 
used  as  a talisman.  The  word  sym- 
bolises the  mystic  number  365,  and  the 
number  of  intelligences  between  earth 
and  deity.  {See  Abr acax.  ) 

Abreast.  Side  by  side,  the  breasts 
being  all  in  a line. 

The  ships  were  all  oibreast — i.e.y  their 
heads  were  all  equally  advanced,  as 
soldiers  marching  abreast. 

Abridge  has  no  connection  with  the 
-wordi  bridge  ; but  ‘^bridge”  in  this  word 
is  a corruption  of  the  Greek  brachus,  or 
Latin  brevis  (short),  through  the  French 
abreger  (to  shorten). 

Abroacb.  Afloat.  To  set  mischief 
abroach  is  to  set  it  on  foot.  The  figure 


is  from  a tub  of  liquor,  which  is  broached 
that  the  liquor  may  be  drawn  from  it. 

Abroad.  You  are  all  abroad.  Wide 
of  the  mark  ; not  at  home  with  the  sub- 
ject. Abroad — in  all  directions. 

An  elm  displays  lier  dusky  arms  abroad. 

Drydeiu 

Abroe'omas.  The  lover  of  Anthi'a, 
in  Xenophon’s  romance  called  ^'Ephe- 
si'aca.”  {See  Anthi'a.) 

Ab'rogate.  When  the  Roman  senate 
wanted  a law  to  be  passed,  they  asked 
the  people  to  give  their  votes  in  its  fa- 
vour. The  Latin  for  this  is  rogdre  legem 
(to  solicit  or  propose  a law).  If  they 
wanted  a law  repealed,  they  asked  the 
people  to  vote  against  it ; this  was  ab- 
rogdre  legem  (to  solicit  against  the  law). 

Ab'salom.  James,  duke  of  Mon- 
mouth, the  handsome  but  rebellious  son 
of  Charles  II.  in  Dryden’s  ^^Absalom  and 
Achitophel.”  (1649-1685.) 

Abscond'  means  properly  to  be  in 
hiding  ; but  we  generally  use  the  word  in 
the  sense  of  stealing  off  secretly  from  an 
employer.  (Latin,  abscondo.) 

Ab'sent,  The.  Out  of  mind  as  soon 
as  out  of  sight.”  Generally  misquoted 

Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind.” — Lord 
Brooke. 

Ab'solute.  A Captain  Absolute y a 
bold,  despotic  man,  determined  to  have 
his  own  way.  The  character  is  in  Sheri- 
dan’s play  called  ^^The  Rivals.” 

Sir  Anthony  Absolute,  a warm-hearted, 
testy,  overbearing  country  squire,  in  the 
same  play. 

Absquat'ulate.  To  run  away  or  ab- 
scond. An  American  word,  compounded 
of  ab  squat  (to  go  away  from  your  squat- 
ting). A squatting  is  a tenement  taken 
in  some  unclaimed  part,  without  pur- 
chase or  permission.  The  persons  who 
take  up  their  squatting  are  termed 
squatters. 

AbsteTnious,  according  to  Fabius 
and  Aulus  Gellius,  is  compounded  of  abs 
and  teme'tum.  ^^TemeTum”  was  a strong, 
intoxicating  drink,  allied  to  the  Greek 
methe  (strong  drink). 

Abstract  IXumbers  are  numbers 
considered  abstractedly—  1,  2,  3 ; but  if 
we  say  1 year,  2 feet,  3 men,  &c.,  the 
numbers  are  no  longer  abstract,  but  con- 
crete. 

Taken  in  the  abstract.  Things  are  said 


6 


ABSTEACTION. 


ACCIDENT. 


to  be  taken  in  the  abstract  when  they 
are  considered  absolutely,  that  is,  with- 
out reference  to  other  matters  or  per- 
sons. Thus,  in  the  abstract,  one  man  is 
as  good  as  another,  but  not  so  socially 
and  politically. 

Abstraction . A n empty  A hstr action, 
a mere  ideality,  of  no  practical  use.  Every 
noun  is  an  abstraction,  but  the  narrower 
genuses  may  be  raised  to  higher  ones, 
till  the  common  thread  is  so  fine  that 
hardly  anything  is  left.  These  high  ab- 
stractions, from  which  everything  but 
one  common  cord  is  taken,  are  called 
empty  abstractions : 

For  example,  man  is  a genus,  but  may 
be  raised  to  the  genus  animal,  thence  to 
organised  being,  thence  to  created  being, 
thence  to  matter  in  the  abstract,  and  so 
on,  till  everything  but  one  is  emptied  out. 

Absurd  means  deaf  and  dumb. 
(Latin,  a&,  “intensive,”  and  surdus, 
“ deaf  and  dumb.”) 

Reductio  ad  absurdiim.  Reducing  to 
absurdity”  whatever  contradicts  your 
statement ; or  proving  a proposition  to  be 
right,  by  showing  that  every  supposable 
deviation  from  it  would  involve  an  ab- 
surdity. 

Abu'dah.  A merchant  of  Bagdad, 
haunted  every  night  by  an  old  hag ; he 
finds  at  last  that  the  way  to  rid  himself 
of  this  torment  is  to  “fear  God,  and  keep 
his  commandments.” — Tales  of  the  Genii. 

Like  ATjudah,  he  is  always  looking  out  for  the 
Fury,  and  knows  that  the  night  will  come  with  the 
inevitable  hag  with  it.— Thackeray. 

Ab'yla.  A mountain  in  Gibraltar. 
This,  with  Calpe  in  Spain,  sixteen  miles 
distant,  form  the  two  pillars  of  Hercules. 

AbyssinTans.  A sect  of  Christians 
in  Abyssinia,  who  admit  only  one  nature 
in  Jesus  Christ,  and  reject  the  Council  of 
Chal'cedon. 

Aeabians.  Followers  of  Aca'cius, 
bishop  of  Cesare'a,  and  Aca'cius,  patri- 
arch of  Constantinople. 

Academ'ics.  The  followers  of  Plato 
were  so  called,  because  they  attended  his 
lectures  in  the  Acad'emy,  a garden 
planted  by  Acade'mos. 

Acad'emy.  Divided  into — Old,  the 
philosophic  teaching  of  Plato  and  his 
immediate  followers ; Middle,  a modifi- 
cation of  the  Platonic  system,  taught  by 
Arcesila'os  ; New,  the  half  - sceptical 
BchooJ  of  Oar'neades. 


Plato  taught  that  matter  is  eternal 
and  infinite,  but  without  form  or  order  ; 
and  that  there  is  an  intelligent  cause, 
the  author  of  everything.  He  maintained 
that  we  could  grasp  truth  only  so  far  as 
we  had  elevated  our  mind  by  thought  to 
its  divine  essence. 

Arcesila'os  was  the  great  antagonist  of 
the  Stoics,  and  wholly  denied  man’s  ca- 
pacity for  grasping  truth. 

Car'neades  maintained  that  neither  our 
senses  nor  our  understanding  could  sup- 
ply us  with  a sure  criterion  of  truth. 

The  talent  of  the  Academy,  so  Plato 
called  Aristotle,  (b.c.  384-322.) 

Academy  Figures.  Drawings  in 
black  and  white  chalk,  on  tinted  paper, 
from  living  models,  used  by  artists.  So 
called  from  the  Royal  Academy  of  Artists. 

Aea'dia— Le.,  Nova  Scotia,  so  called  by 
the  French  from  the  river  Shuben- acadie. 
The  name  was  changed  in  1713.  In  1750 
the  old  French  inhabitants  were  driven 
into  exile  by  order  of  George  II. 

Thus  dwelt  together  in  love  those  simple 
Acadian  farmers.— Lonp/eZZow,  ^'Evangeline.” 

Acaire,  St.  Patron  saint  of  madmen, 
by  a play  on  the  Greek  word  acerias'tos, 
meaning  a “frantic  bedlamite.” 

Aean'thus.  The  leafy  ornament  of 
Corinthian  and  composite  columns.  It 
is  said  that  Callim'achos  lost  his  daughter, 
and  set  a basket  of  flowers  on  her  grave, 
with  a tile  to  keep  the  wind  from  blowing 
it  away.  The  next  time  he  went  to  visit 
the  grave  an  acanthus  had  sprung  up 
around  the  basket,  which  so  struck  the 
fancy  of  the  architect  that  he  introduced 
the  design  in  his  buildings. 

Aeeep'tance.  A bill  or  note  accepted. 
This  is  done  by  the  drawee  writing  on  it 
“accepted,”  and  signing  his  name.  The 
person  who  accepts  it  is  called  the 
“ acceptor.” 

Ae'ces3oyy.  Accessory  before  the  fact 
is  one  who  prompts  another  to  commit 
an  offence,  but  is  himself  absent  when 
the  offence  is  perpetrated. 

Accessory  after  the  fact  is  one  who 
screens  a felon,  aids  him  in  eluding 
justice,  or  helps  him  in  any  way  to  profit 
by  his  crime.  Thus,  the  receiver  of  stolen 
goods,  knowing  or  even  suspecting  them 
to  be  stolen,  is  an  accessory  ex  post  facto, 

Ae'cident.  A logical  accident  is  some 
property  or  quality  which  a thing  pos- 


ACCIDENTAL. 


ACESTE3. 


7 


sesses,  but  which  does  not  essentially 
belong  to  it,  as  the  tint  of  our  skin,  the 
height  of  our  body,  the  redness  of  a brick, 
or  the  whiteness  of  paper.  If  any  of 
these  were  changed,  the  substance  would 
remain  intact. 

Accidental  Colours.  Those  which 
depend  on  the  state  of  our  eye,  and  not 
those  which  the  object  really  possesses. 
Thus,  after  looking  at  the  bright  sun,  all 
objects  appear  dark  ; that  dark  colour  is 
the  accidental  colour  of  the  bright  sun. 
When,  again,  we  come  from  a dark  room, 
all  objects  at  first  have  a yellow  tinge. 
This  is  especially  the  case  if  we  wear  blue 
glasses,  for  a minute  or  two  after  we  have 
taken  them  off. 

The  accidental  colour  of  redi  is  bluish 
green,  of  orange  dark  blue,  of  violet  yel- 
low, of  hlach  white  ; and  the  converse. 

Acciden'tals  in  music  are  those 
sharps  and  flats,  &c.,  which  do  not  pro- 
perly belong  to  the  key  in  which  the 
music  is  set,  but  which  the  composer 
arbitrarily  introduces. 

Ac'cius  INa'vius  was  the  augur 
who  cut  the  whetstone  with  a razor  in 
the  presence  of  Tarquin  the  Elder. 

In  short,  ’twas  his  fate  unemployed,  or  in  place, 
sir. 

To  eat  mutton  cold,  or  cut  blocks  with  a razor. 

Ed.  Burke, 

Accolade  (3  syl.).  The  embrace 
given  by  the  grand  master  when  he  re- 
ceives a neophyte  or  new  convert.  (Latin, 
ad  collum,  round  the  neck.) 

Accommoda'tion.  Aloan  of  money, 
which  accommodates  us,  or  fits  a want. 

Accommodation  Note  or  Bill.  An 
acceptance  given  on  a Bill  of  Exchange 
for  which  value  has  not  been  received  by 
the  acceptor  from  the  drawer,  and  which, 
not  representing  a commercial  transac- 
tion, is  so  far  fictitious. 

Accommodation  Ladder.  The  light 
ladder  hung  over  the  side  of  a ship  at 
the  gangway. 

Accord'  means  '‘heart  to  heart.” 
(Lat,,  ad  corda.)  If  two  persons  like  and 
dislike  the  same  things,  they  are  at 
"ac-cord,”  or  heart  to  heait  with  each 
other. 

Accost'  means  to  "come  to  the  side  ” 
of  a person  for  the  purpose  of  speaking 
to  him.  (Latin,  ad  costam,  to  the  side.) 

Account'.  To  open  an  account,  to 
enter  a customer’s  name  on  your  ledger 
for  the  first  time. 


To  Tceep  open  account  is  when  merchants 
agree  to  honour  each  other’s  bills  of  ex- 
change. 

We  loill  give  a good  account  of  them — 
i.e.,  we  wili  give  them  a thorough  good 
drubbing.  An  account  is  an  entry  made 
in  a book  of  some  transaction ; and  whe«i 
an  antagonist  is  "paid  out  in  full”  with 
blood  and  iron,  the  transaction  may  be 
posted  as  a good  account. 

If  they  come,  see  if  we  do  not  give  a good  account 
of  them.— TAe  Times. 

Ac'curate  means  well  and  carefully 
done.  (Latin,  ad-curo.) 

Accu'sative,  The.  Calvin  was  so 
called  by  his  college  companions. 

Ace  (1  syl.).  The  unit  of  cards  or  dice. 
The  Eomans  called  it  unus  (one) ; the 
Greeks,  who  borrowed  the  game  of  dice 
from  the  Romans,  called  unus  onos,  but 
onos  in  Greek  means  "an  ass.”  The 
Teutons  learnt  the  game  from  the  Greeks, 
and  translated  the  word  into  ass,  Italian 
asso,  French  and  Spanish  English  ace. 
{See  Bate.) 

Within  an  ace.  Within  a shave.  An 
ace  is  the  lowest  numeral,  and  he  who 
wins  within  an  ace,  wins  within  a single 
mark. 

Acel'dama.  A battle-field,  a place 
where  much  blood  has  been  shed.  To 
the  south  of  J erusalem  there  was  a field 
so  called  ; it  was  purchased  by  the  priests 
with  the  blood-money  thrown  down  by 
Judas,  and  appropriated  as  a cemetery 
for  strangers. 

Acepll'alites  (4  syl.)  properly  means 
men  without  a head.  (1.)  A faction 
among  the  Eutych'ians  in  the  fifth  cen- 
tury after  the  submission  of  Mongus  their 
chief,  by  which  they  were  " deprived 
of  their  head.”  (2.)  Certain  bishops 
exempt  from  the  jurisdiction  and  disci- 
pline of  their  patriarch.  (3.)  A sect  of 
levellers  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  who 
acknowledged  no  leader.  (4.)  The  fabu- 
lous Blemmyes  of  Africa,  who  are  de- 
scribed as  having  no  head,  theu  eyes  and 
mouth  being  placed  elsewhere.  (Greek, 
a-keph'ale,  without  a head.) 

Aces'tes  (3  syl.).  The  Arrow  of  Acestes, 
In  a trial  of  skill  Acestes,  the  Sicilian, 
discharged  his  arrow  with  such  force  that 
it  took  fire. 

Like  Acestes’  shaft  of  old, 

The  swift  thought  kindles  ag  It  flies. 

Longfdloxv, 


8 


ACH^AN. 


ACEATES. 


/ 


Acha3'an  League.  A confederacy 
of  the  twelve  towns  of  Achsea.  It  was 
broken  up  by  Alexander  the  Great,  but 
was  again  re-organised  B.C.  280,  and 
dissolved  by  the  Eomans  in  147  b.c. 

, Aeha'tes  (3  syh).  A fidus  Achates.  A 
faithful  companion,  a bosom  friend.  The 
term  fidus  Achates  repeatedly  occurs  in 
Virgii’s  ^^ACneid.” 

He  has  chosen  this  fellow  for  his^cZ^/s  Achates. 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Ae'heron.  The  Elver  of  Sorrows” 
(Greek,  achea  roos) ; one  of  the  five  rivers 
of  the  infernal  regions. 

Sad  Acheron  of  sorrow,  black  and  deep. 

Milton,  ‘^Paradise  Lost,’'  ii. 

Acheron' tian  hoolcs.  The  most  cele- 
brated books  of  augury  in  the  world. 
They  are  the  books  which  the  Etruscans 
received  from  Tages,  grandson  of  J upiter. 

Aclieru'sia.  A cavern  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Pontus,  said  to  lead  down  to  the 
infernal  regions.  It  was  through  this 
cavern  that  Hercules  dragged  Cer'berus 
to  earth. 

Achilles  (3  syl.).  King  of  the  Myr'- 
midons  (in  Thessaly),  the  hero  of  Homer’s 
epic  poem  called  the  “ Iliad.”  He  is  re- 
presented as  brave  and  relentless.  The 
poem  begins  with  a quarrel  between  him 
and  Agamemnon,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  allied  Greeks,  in  consequence  of 
which  Achilles  refuses  to  go  to  battle. 
The  Trojans  prevail,  and  he  sends  forth 
his  friend  Patroc'los  to  oppose  them. 
Patroc'los  falls ; and  Achilles,  in  auger, 
rushes  into  the  battle,  and  kills  Hector, 
the  commander  of  the  Trojans.  He  him- 
self falls  in  battle  a few  days  afterwards, 
before  Troy  is  taken. 

Achilles  of  Rome : Sicin'ius  Denta'tus. 
(B.c.  405.) 

Of  Enaland:  the  Duke  of  Wellington, 
(1769-1852.) 

Of  Germany : Albert,  Elector  of  Bran- 
denburg. (1414-1486.) 

Achilles’  Tendon.  A strong  sinew 
running  along  the  heel  to  the  calf  of  the 
leg.  The  tale  says  that  Thetis  took  her 
son  Achilles  by  the  heel,  and  dipped  him 
in  the  river  Styx  to  make  him  invulner- 
able. The  w'ater  washed  every  part, 
except  the  heel  covered  with  his  mother’s 
hand.  It  was  on  this  vulnerable  point 
the  hero  was  slain  ; and  the  sinew  of  the 
heel  is  called,  in  consequence,  tendo 
Achxliis.  A pobt-iiomeric  story. 


The  Heel  of  Achilles,  the  vulnerable  or 
weak  point  in  a man’s  character.  {See 
above.) 

Ireland  is  sometimes  called  the  Achilles' 
heel  of  England. 

Achit'ophel,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 

Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  designed 
for  the  earl  of  Shaftesbury.  Achitophel 
was  David’s  traitorous  counsellor,  who 
deserted  to  Absalom,  but  his  advice  being 
disregarded  he  hanged  himself  (2  Sam. 

XV.). 

Of  tliese  {the  rebels)  tbe  false  Achitophel  was  first ; 
A name  to  all  succeeding  ages  curst ; 

For  close  designs  and  crooked  counsels  fit; 
Sagacious,  bold,  and  turbulent  of  wit ; 

Restless,  unfixed  in  principles  and  place; 

In  power  unpleased,  impatient  in  disgrace.— Pt.  i. 

A'chor.  God  of  flies,  worshipped  by 
the  Cyre'neans,  that  they  might  not  be 
annoyed  with  these  tiny  tormentors.  {See 
Beelzebub.) 

Aclite-qued'jams  (4  syl.).  The 
eight  elephants,  in  Indian  mythology, 
which  sustain  the  world.  {See  Aira- 
PADAM.) 

A'cis.  The  son  of  Faunus,  in  love 
with  Galate'a.  Polyphe'mos,  his  rival, 
crushed  him  under  a huge  rock. 

Ae'me.  The  crisis  of  a disease.  Old 
medical  writers  used  to  divide  the  pro- 
gress of  a disease  into  four  periods  : the 
ar-che,  or  beginning ; the  anah'asis,  or 
increase ; the  ac'one,  or  term  of  its  utmost 
violence  ; and  the  pa-rac'-7ne,  or  decline. 

Ae'olyte  (3  syl.).  A subordiiiate 
officer  in  the  Catholic  Church,  whose  duty 
is  to  light  the  lamps,  prepare  the  sacred 
elements,  attend  the  officiating  priests, 
&c.  (Greek,  a follower.) 

Acoime'tae.  An  order  of  monks  in 
the  fifth  century  who  watched  day  and 
night.  (Greek,  ivatchers.) 

Acra'sia  {Feebleness).  An  enchan- 
tress who  lived  in  the  Bower  of  Bliss,” 
situate  in  “ Wandering  Island.”  She 
transformed  her  lovers  into  monstrous 
shapes,  and  kept  them  captives.  Sir 
Guyon  having  crept  up  softly,  threw  a 
net  over  her,  and  bound  her  in  chains  of 
adamant  ; then  broke  down  her  bower 
and  burnt  it  to  ashes. — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen f b.  ii. 

Acra'tes  (3  syl.),  i.e.,  incontinence; 
called  by  Spenser  the  father  of  Cy- 
moch'les  and  Pyrochles. — b.  ii.,  c.  iv. 


ACEE. 


ADAM. 


9 


A'ere-fight.  A duel  in  the  open  held. 
The  combats  of  the  Scotch  and  English 
Borderers  were  so  called.  The  word 
^^acre”  is  the  Latin  ager  (a  field). 

Acre-shot,  a land  tax.  Acre  is  ag^T 
(land),  and  shot”  issco^  ov  sceat  (a  tax). 

A'cres.  A Boh  Acres — ^.e.,  a coward. 
From  Sheridan’s  comedy  called  ^^The 
Eivals.”  His  courage  always  oozed  out 
at  his  fingers’  ends.” 

Aeroamat'ics.  Esoterfical  lectures ; 
the  lectures  of  Aristotle,  which  none  but 
his  chosen  disciples  were  allowed  to 
attend.  Those  given  to  the  public  gene- 
rally were  called  ex' oter'ic.  (Acroamatic 
is  a Greek  word,  meaning  heard. ) 

Acroat'ic.  Same  as  esoter'ic.  (^8ee 
Acroamatics.) 

Ac'robat  means  one  who  goes  on  his 
extremities y or  uses  only  the  tips  of  his 
fingers  and  toes  in  moving  about.  (It  is 
from  the  two  Greek  words  ahros  hainOy 
to  go  on  the  extremities  of  one’s  limbs.) 

Acros'tic  means  “first  letter  verse.” 
(Greek,  akros  stichos) . The  term  was  first 
applied  to  the  verses  of  the  Erythraean 
sibyl,  written  on  leaves.  These  pro- 
phecies were  excessively  obscure,  but 
were  so  contrived  that  when  the  leaves 
were  sorted  and  laid  in  order,  their 
initial  letters  always  made  a word. — 
Dionys.y  iv.  62. 

Acrostic  'poetry  among  the  Hebrews 
consisted  of  twenty-two  lines  or  stanzas 
beginning  with  the  letters  of  the  alphabet 
in  succession,  as  Psalm  cxix.,  &c. 

Act  of  Faith  {auto  da  fe)y  in  Eoman 
Catholic  countries,  is  a day  set  apart  by 
the  Inquisition  for  the  punishment  of 
heretics,  and  the  absolution  of  those  who 
renounce  their  heretical  doctrines.  The 
sentence  of  the  Inquisition  is  also  so 
called ; and  so  is  the  ceremony  of  burning, 
or  otherwise  torturing  the  condemned. 

Aetae'on.  A hunter,  a cuckold.  In 
Grecian  mythology  Actseon  was  a hunts- 
man, who  surprised  Diana  bathing,  was 
changed  by  her  into  a stag,  and  torn  to 
pieces  by  his  own  hounds. 

Go  thou,  like  Sir  Actseon,  with  Ringwood  at  thy 

heel. 

Shakespeare,  ''Merry  Wives,"  &c,,  ii.  1. 
Divulge  Page  himself  for  a secure  and  wilful 

Actaeon.  Ditto,  iii.  2. 

AcTian  Years.  Years  in  which  the 
Actian  games  were  celebrated.  Augustus 
instituted  games  at  Actium  to  celebrate 


his  naval  victory  over  Antony.  They 
were  held  every  five  years. 

Ac'tive.  A ctive  verbs y verbs  which  act 
on  the  noun  governed. 

Active  capital.  Property  in  actual  em- 
ployment in  a given  concern. 

Active  commerce.  Exports  and  imports 
carried  to  and  fro  in  our  own  ships. 
Passive  commerce  is  when  they  are  carried 
in  foreign  vessels.  The  commerce  of 
England  is  activcy  of  China  passive. 

Activity.  The  sphere  of  activity y the 
whole  field  through  which  the  influence 
of  an  object  or  person  extends. 

Aeutia'fcor.  A person  in  the  Middle 
Ages  who  attended  armies  and  knights  to 
sharpen  their  instruments  of  war.  (Latin, 
acuOy  to  sharpen.) 

Ad.  Argumentum  ad  hominem.  A per- 
sonal or  home-thrust  argument. 

Ad  inquirendum.  A judicial  writ  com- 
manding an  inquiry  to  be  made  into  some 
complaint. 

Ad  lih'itum.  Without  restraint. 

Ad  valo'rem.  According  to  the  price 
charged.  Some  custom  - duties  vary 
according  to  the  different  values  of  the 
goods  imported.  Thus  at  one  time  teas 
paid  duty  ad  valorem y the  high-priced  tea 
paying  more  duty  than  that  of  a lower 
price. 

Adam.  The  old  Adam;  Beat  the 
offending  Adam  out  of  thee;  The  first  Adam. 
Adam,  as  the  federal  head  of  unredeemed 
man,  stands  for  “ original  sin,”  or  “ m-an 
without  regenerating  grace.” 

The  second  Adam;  the  new  Adamy  &c.; 
I will  give  you  the  new  Adam.  Jesus 
Christ,  as  the  covenant  head,  is  so  called ; 
also  the  “new  birth  unto  righteousness.” 

A faithful  A dam.  A faithful  old  ser- 
vant. The  character  is  taken  from 
Shakespeare’s  comedy  of  “As  You  Like 
It,”  where  a retainer  of  that  name,  who 
had  served  the  family  sixty-three  years, 
offers  to  accompany  Oliver  in  his  flight, 
and  to  share  with  him  his  thrifty  savings 
of  500  crowns. 

Adam  Bell.  A northern  outlaw, 
whose  name  has  become  a synonym  for 
a good  archer.  (fiee  Clym  op  the 
Clough.) 

Adam  Cupid— ^^6.,  Archer  Cupid, 
so  called  from  Adam  Bell,  the  celebrated 
archer.  {See  “ Percy’s  Eeliques,”  vol.  i., 

p.  7.) 


ADAM. 


ADESSENARIANS. 


Id 


Adam’s  Ale.  Water  as  a beverage  ; 
from  the  supposition  that  Adam  had 
nothing  but  water  to  drink.  In  Scotland 
water  for  a beverage  is  called  Adam's 
Wine. 

Adam’s  Apple.  The  protuberance  in 
the  fore-part  of  a man’s  throat ; so  called 
from  the  superstition  that  a piece  of  the 
forbidden  fruit  which  Adam  ate  stuck  in 
his  throat,  and  occasioned  the  swelling. 

Adam’s  Needle.  The  yucca,  so  called 
because  it  is  sharp-pointed  like  a needle. 
If  Adam  ever  sewed,  the  yucca  would 
have  served  him  for  a needle. 

Adam’s  Peak,  in  Ceylon,  is  where  the 
Arabs  say  Adam  bewailed  his  expulsion 
from  Paradise,  and  stood  on  one  foot  till 
God  forgave  him.  It  was  the  Portuguese 
who  first  called  it  Pico  de  Adam.”  {See 
Kaaba.) 

Adam’s  Profession.  Gardening, 
agriculture.  Adam  was  appointed  by 
God  to  dress  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  to 
keep  it  (Gen.  ii.  15) ; and  after  the  fall  he 
was  sent  out  of  the  garden  ^Ho  till  the 
ground.”  (Gen.  hi.  23.) 

There  is  no  ancient  gentlemen,  but  gardeners, 
ditchers,  and  grave-makers ; they  hold  up  Adam’s 
profession.— T/ie  Clown  in  “Hamlet”  v.  1. 

Adams.  Parson  Adams,  the  ideal  of 
a benevolent,  simple-minded,  eccentric 
country  clergyman ; ignorant  of  the  world, 
bold  as  a lion  for  the  truth,  and  modest 
as  a girl.  The  character  is  in  Fielding’s 
novel  of  Joseph  Andrews.” 

Adamas'tor.  The  spirit  of  the 
stormy  Cape  (Good  Hope),  described  by 
Camoens  in  the  ^^Lusiad  ” as  a hideous 
phantom.  According  to  Barre'to,  he  was 
one  of  the  giants  who  invaded  heaven. 

Ad'amic.  A damic  Covenant,  the 
covenant  made  with  God  to  Adam,  that 
‘Hhe  seed  of  the  woman  should  bruise 
the  serpent’s  head.”  (Gem  hi.  15.) 

Adamic  Earth.  Common  red  clay,  so 
called  from  the  popular  but  erroneous 
notion  that  adam  means  ^^red  earth.” 
Adam  really  means  likeness  ” (Hebrew, 
damah),  and  refers  to  the  words  Let  us 
make  man  after  our  likeness,”  and  in 
the  likeness  of  God  made  he  him  ; male 
and  female  created  he  them,  and  called 
their  name  Adam.”  (Gen.  v.  1,  2.) 

Ad'amites  (3  syl.).  A sect  of  fanatics 
who  spread  themselves  over  Bohemia  and 
Moravia  in  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 


/• 


centuries.  One  Picard  was  the  founder 
in  1400,  and  styled  himself  Adam,  son 
of  God.”  He  professed  to  recall  his  fol- 
lowers to  the  state  of  primitive  innocence. 
No  clothes  were  worn,  wives  were  in  com- 
mon, and  there  was  no  such  thing  as  good 
and  evil,  but  all  actions  were  indifferent. 

Ad'aran',  according  to  the  Parsee 
superstition,  is  a sacred  fire  less  holy 
than  that  called  Behram  {q.v.). 

Ad'dison  of  the  North  — i.^., 

Henry  Mackenzie,  the  ^^Mah  of  Feeling.” 
(1745-1831.) 

Addix'it,  or  Addixe'runt  (Latin). 
All  right.  The  word  uttered  by  the 
augurs  when  the  ‘^birds’’  were  favour- 
able. 

Ad'dle.  Addle-headed,  ox  Addle-pated 
— i e.,  empty-headed.  (Saxon,  a-idlian, 
to  be  empty. ) 

Addled  egg,  a rotten  one  ; or,  rather  one 
that  has  lost  the  principle  of  vitality. 
(Welsh,  hadl,  rotten.) 

Ad'elite,  or  Almog'anen.  A Spanish 
fortune-teller,  who  predicts  the  fortune 
of  a person  by  the  flight  and  note  of 
birds. 

Ad'emar  or  Adema'ro  (in  ^^Jerusa- 
lem Delivered”).  Archbishop  of  Pog'gio, 
an  ecclesiastical  warrior,  who  with 
William  archbishop  of  Orange,  besought 
pope  Urban  on  his  knees  that  ho 
might  be  sent  on  the  crusade.  He  took 
400  armed  men  from  Poggio,  but  they 
sneaked  off  during  a drought,  and  left 
the  crusade.  (Book  xiii.)  Ademar  was 
not  alive  at  the  time,  he  had  been  slain 
at  the  attack  on  Antioch,  by  Clorinda 
(Book  xi.);  but  in  the  final  attack  on 
Jerusalem,  his  spirit  came  with  three 
squadrons  of  angels  to  aid  the  besiegers. 
(Book  xviii.) 

Adephag'ia  (5  syl.).  Goddess  of 
gluttony,  who  had  a temple  in  Sicily. 

Adept'  properly  means  one  who  has 
found  it  out  (from  the  Latin  adeptus). 
The  alchemists  applied  the  term  vere 
adep'tus  to  those  persons  who  professed 
to  have  found  out”  the  elixir  of  life 
or  philosopher’s  stone. 

Ades'sena'rians.  A sect  who  hold 
the  real  presence  of  Christ’s  body  in  the 
eucharist,  but  do  not  maintain  that  the 
bread  and  wine  lose  any  of  their  original 
properties.  (The  word  is  from  the  Latin 
adesse,  to  be  present. ) 


ADESTE. 


ADOPTION.  ll 


Ades'te  Fideles.  Composed  by 
John  Eeading,  who  wrote  Dulce 
Domum.”  It  is  called  the  ^‘Portuguese 
Hymn/'  from  being  heard  at  the  Portu- 
guese Chapel  by  the  duke  of  Leeds,  who 
supposed  it  to  be  a part  of  the  usual 
Portuguese  service. 

AdfiPiate,  Adfilia'tion.  The  an- 
cient Goths  adopted  the  children  of  a 
former  marriage,  and  put  them  on  the 
same  footing  as  those  of  the  new  family. 
(Latin,  ad-films ^ equal  to  a real  son.) 

Adha,  al  (Jthe  slit-eared).  The  swiftest 
of  Mahomet’s  camels. 

Ad'hab-al-Cabr.  The  first  purga- 
tory of  the  Mahometans, 

AdiapJi'orists.  Followers  of  Me- 
lanchthon ; moderate  Lutherans,  who 
hold  that  some  of  the  dogmas  of  Luther 
are  matters  of  indifference.  (Greek, 
adiaph'oroSf  indifferent.) 

Adieu,  good-b’ye.  A dieu^  an  ellip- 
tical form  for  I commend  you  to  God. 
Good-b’ye  is  God  he  with  ye. 

Adis'sechen.  The  serpent  with  a 
thousand  heads  which  sustains  the  uni- 
verse. {hid.  myth.) 

Adjective.  Adjective  colours  are 
those  which  require  a mordant  before 
they  can  be  used  as  dyes. 

Adjourn'.  A corruption  of  Ajourn — 
i.e.f  d-journee  (from  to-day’s  work),  to 
put  off  from  to-day  to  another  time. 

Ad'mirable,  The.  James  Crichton 
{Tcry-ton).  (1551-1573.) 

Admirable  Doctor,  Eoger  Bacon. 
(1214-1292.) 

Admiral,  corruption  of  Amir-al. 
Milton,  speaking  of  Satan,  says  : — 

His  spear  (to  equal  which  the  tallest  pine 
Hewn  on  Norwegian  hills,  to  he  the  mast 
Of  some  tall  amiral,  were  hut  a wand) 

He  walked  with.— Paradise  LosU  i.  292. 

The  word  was  introduced  by  the  Turks 
or  Genoese  in  the  twelfth  century,  and 
is  the  Arabic  Amir  with  the  article  al 
(the  lord  or  commander) ; as,  Amir-al-ma 
(commander  of  the  water),  Amir-al-Omra 
(commander  of  the  forces),  Amir-al- 
Mumenim  (commander  of  the  faithful). 

English  admirals  were  of  three  classes, 
according  to  the  colour  of  their  flag — 

Admiral  of  the  Red,  held  the  centre 
in  an  engagement. 


Admiral  of  the  White,  held  the  van. 

Admiral  of  the  Blue,  held  the  rear. 

Admirals  are  called  Flag  Officers. 

Admiral  of  the  Red.  A cant,  punning 
term  applied  to  a wine-bibber,  whose  face 
and  nose  are  very  red. 

Admittance.  Licence.  Shakespeare 
says,  “ Sir  John,  you  are  a gentleman  of 
excellent  breeding,  of  great  admittance  ” 
— i.e.,  to  whom  great  freedom  is  allowed. 
(“Merry  Wives,”  ii.  2.)  The  allusion  is  to 
an  obsolete  custom  called  admission,  by 
which  a prince  avowed  another  prince  to 
be  under  his  protection.  Maximilian, 
emperor  of  Mexico, was  the  “admittant” 
of  the  emperor  Napoleon  III. 

Admonitionists.  Certain  Puritans 
who  in  1571  sent  an  admonition  to  the 
Parliament  condemning  everything  in  the 
Church  of  England  which  was  not  in 
accordance  with  the  doctrines  and  prac- 
tices of  Gene'va. 

Ado'nai.  Son  of  the  star-beam,  and 
god  of  light  among  the  Eosicru'cians. 

Adona'is  (4  syl.).  The  song  about 
Ado'nis ; Shelley’s  elegy  on  Keats  is  so 
called. 

Ado'nis.  A beautiful  boy.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  Ado'nis,  who  was  beloved  by 
Venus,  and  was  killed  by  a boar  while 
hunting. 

The  flower  called  Adonis  is  blood-red, 
and,  according  to  fable,  sprang  from  the 
blood  of  tJie  gored  hunter. 

A garden  of  Adonis  (Greek).  A worth- 
less toy ; a very  perishable  good.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  fennel  and  lettuce  jars 
of  the  ancient  Greeks,  called  “Adonis 
gardens,”  because  these  herbs  were 
planted  in  them  for  the  annual  festival 
of  the  young  huntsman,  and  thrown  away 
the  next  morning. 

Ad  o'nist S.  Those  J ews  who  maintain 
that  the  proper  vowels  of  the  word  J eho- 
vah  are  unknown,  and  that  the  word  is 
never  to  be  pronounced.  Every  time  they 
meet  with  the  word  Jehovah  they  call  it 
Ado'nai  instead.  (Hebrew,  adon,  lord. ) 

Adap'tion.  Adoption  hy  arms.  An 
ancient  custom  of  giving  arms  to  a person 
of  merit,  which  laid  him  under  the  obliga- 
tion of  being  your  champion  and  defender. 

Adoption  hy  baptism.  Being  godfather 
or  godmother  to  a child.  The  child  by 
baptism  is  your  god-child. 


12 


ADOPTION. 


ADVOWSON. 


/ 


A doption  by  hair.  Cutting  off  your  hair, 
and  giving  it  to  a person  in  proof  that 
you  receive  him  as  your  adopted  father. 
Thus  Bo'son,  king  of  Arles,  cut  off  his 
hair  and  gave  it  to  pope  John  VIII.,  who 
adopted  him. 

Adoption  Controversy.  Elipand 
archbishop  of  Tole'do,  and  Felix  bishop 
of  Urgel,  maintained  that  Jesus  Christ 
in  his  human  nature  was  the  Son  of  God 
by  adoption  only  (Rom.  viii.  29),  though 
in  his  pre-existing  state  he  was  the 
^'begotten  Son  of  God”  in  the  ordinary 
catholic  acceptation.  Duns , Scotus, 
Durandus,  Calixtus,  and  others  sup- 
ported this  view. 

Adop'tionist.  One  who  maintains 
that  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God  by  adoption 
only.  The  disciples  of  Elipand  arch- 
bishop of  Tole'do,  and  Felix  bishop  of 
Urgel  (in  Spain),  are  so  called. 

Adore  (2  syl.)  means  to  carry  to 
one’s  mouth,”  “to  kiss”  {ad-os,  ad-ora're). 
The  Romans  performed  adoration  by 
placing  their  right  hand  on  their  mouth 
and  bowing.  The  Greeks  paid  adoration 
to  kings  by  putting  the  royal  robe  to 
their  lips.  The  Jews  kissed  in  homage  : 
thus  God  said  to  Elijah,  he  had  7,000  in 
Israel  who  had  not  bowed  unto  Baal, 

“ every  mouth  which  hath  not  kissed 
him.”  (1  Kings  xix.  18;  see  also  Hos. 
xiii.  2.)  “ Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry” 
(Ps.  ii.  12),  means  worship,  reverence  the 
Son.  Even  in  England  we  do  homage  by 
kissing  the  hand  of  the  sovereign. 

Adrarn'meleeh..  God  of  the  people 
of  Sepharva'im,  to  whom  infants  were 
burnt  in  sacrifice. 

Adroit'  properly  means  “ to  the 
right.”  (French,  d droite.)  The  French 
call  a person  who  is  not  adroit  gauche 
(left-handed),  meaning  awkward,  boorish. 

Adsidel'ta.  The  table  at  which  the 
flamens  sat  during  sacrifice. 

Ad'ulator.  Dacier  derives  this 
v^ord  from  the  Latin,  ad  ollam  itor,  i.e., 
one  who  clings  to  you  from  cupboard 
love.  This  derivation  has  wit,  but  no 
worth.  Nunez  suggests  the  Greek,  adus 
lizo,  Doric  for  edus-leicho  (to  lick  fondly), 
i.e.,  like  a dog.  A more  plausible  sug- 
gestion is  ado'teo  (to  treat  like  a god,  to 
worship). 

Adullamites  (4  syl.).  The  adherents 
of  Lowe  and  Horsman,  seceders  from  the  [ 


Reform  party.  John  Bright  said  of  these 
members  that  they  retired  to  the  cave  of 
Adullam,  and  tried  to  gather  round  them 
all  the  discontented.  The  allusion  is  to 
David  in  his  flight  from  Saul,  who 
“ escaped  to  the  cave  Adullam;  and  every 
one  that  was  in  distress,  and  every  one 
that  was  in  debt,  and  every  one  that  was 
discontented,  gathered  themselves  unto 
him.”  (1  Sam.  xxii.  1,  2.) 

Advent.  Four  weeks  to  comme- 
morate the  first  and  second  coming  of 
Christ  ; the  first  to  redeem,  and  the 
second  to  judge  the  world.  The  season 
begins  on  St.  Andrew’s  Day,  or  the  Sun- 
day nearest  to  it.  (Latin,  ad-ventus,  the 
coming  to.) 

Adversary,  The.  Satan.  (IPet.  v.8.) 

Advocate  means  properly  “ one 
summoned  to  the  patron  or  pleader,” 
to  assist  him  as  his  “junior  counsel.” 
(Liv.  ii.  55.) 

The  DeviVs  Advocate.  One  who  brings 
forward  malicious  accusations.  When 
any  name  is  proposed  for  canonisation 
in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  two 
advocates  are  appointed,  one  to  oppose 
the  motion,  and  one  to  defend  it.  The 
former,  called  Advoca'tus  Diab'oli  (the 
Devil’s  Advocate),  advances  all  he  can 
rummage  up  against  the  person  in  ques- 
tion; the  latter,  called  Advoca'tiis  Dei 
(God’s  Advocate),  says  all  he  can  in  sup- 
port of  the  proposal. 

Advocates’  Library,  in  Edin- 
burgh, founded  1682,  containing  about 
165,000  volumes.  It  is  one  of  the  five 
libraries  to  which  copyright  books  are 
sent.  {See  Copyright.) 

Advow'son  means  the  right  of 
patronage  to  a church  or  ecclesiastical 
benefice. 

A jpresentative  advowson  is  when  the 
patron  presents  to  the  bishop  a person  to 
whom  he  is  willing  to  give  the  piece  of 
preferment. 

A colla'tive  advowson  is  when  the  bishop 
himself  is  patron,  and  collates  his  client 
without  any  intermediate  person. 

A don'ative  advoioson  is  where  the 
Crown  gives  a living  to  a clergyman 
without  presentation,  institution,  or  in- 
duction. This  is  done  when  a church  or 
chapel  has  been  founded  by  the  Crown, 

[ and  is  not  subject  to  the  ordinary. 


^DILES. 


^SOP. 


13 


Advowson  in  gross  is  an  advowson  sepa- 
rated from  the  manor,  and  belonging 
wholly  to  the  owner.  While  attached  to 
the  manor  it  is  an  advowson  a'ppendant. 

Gross”  (French)  means  absolute,  entire ; 
thus  gross  weight  is  the  entire  weight 
without  deductions.  A villain  in  gross 
was  a villain  the  entire  property  of  his 
master,  and  not  attached  to  the  land, 
A common  in  gross  is  one  which  is  en- 
tirely your  own,  and  which  belongs  to  the 
manor. 

Sale  of  Advoiosons.  When  lords  of 
manors  built  churches  upon  their  own 
demesnes,  and  endowed  them,  they  be- 
came private  property,  which  the  lord 
might  give  away  or  even  sell,  under 
certain  limitations.  These  livings  are 
called  Advou'sons  appen'dant,  being  ap- 
pended to  the  manor.  After  a time  they 
l)ecame  regular  commercial  property,” 
and  we  see  daily  the  sale  of  some  of 
them  in  the  public  journals. 

iE'diles  (2  syl.).  Those  who  have 
charge  of  the  streets.  The  Roman 
officers  were  so  called  from  cedes  (streets). 

^iiine'tan  Sculptures.  Sculptures 
excavated  by  a company  of  Germans, 
Danes,  and  English  (1811),  in  the  little 
island  of  .^gi'na.  They  were  purchased 
by  Ludwig,  Crown  Prince  of  BavaTia,  and 
are  now  the  meet  remarkable  ornaments 
of  the  Glyptothek,  at  Munich. 


^ne'id.  The  epic  poem  of  Virgil, 
so  called  from  jEne'as  dido  (to  sing 
JEne'as). 

-®'olus,  in  Roman  mythology,  was 

god  of  the  winds.” 

Aj^olian  harp.  The  wind-harp.  A box 
on  which  strings  are  stretched.  Being 
placed  where  a draught  gets  to  the 
strings,  they  utter  musical  sounds. 

JEmo'nian  Arts  (Owe?).  Magic;  so 
called  from  ^mo'nia,  an  ancient  name  of 
Thessaly,  noted  for  magic. 

The  jEmo'nian.  Jason  ; so  called,  be- 
cause his  father  was  king  of  Thessaly. 
{See  above.') 


^ra.  An  epoch.  Sepulve'da  derives 
it  from  A.  ER.  A.,  anno  erat  Augusti  (it 
was  in  the  year  of  Augustus),  because  the 
Spanish  method  of  computation  was  from 
the  year  when  their  country  fell  under 
the  dominion  of  Augustus.  Vossius 
favours  the  same  derivation. 

The  chief  aeras  are — 


The  Constantinopolitan,  which  began 
The  Alexandrine 
The  Jewish  (A.M.) 

The  asra  of  Nahonassar 
Of  the  Olympiads 
Year  of  Rome  (A.U.C.) 

The  Julian  mra  {Ju.  cer.) 

The  Christian  sera  

The  sera  of  Sulwanah  {Saco} 

„ Diocletian 
The  Hegira  (A.H.) 

The  sera  of  Yezdegird  {jE.  Pers.) 


A. M. 

B. C. 


5.509 

5492 

3700 

HI 

753 


2S4 

022 

632 


Ae'ger.  God  of  the  ocean,  whose 
wife  is  Rana.  They  had  nine  daughters, 
who  wore  white  robes  and  veils.  {Scand. 
myth.) 

.ZE'gis,  I throio  my  aegis  over  you y i.e., 
my  protection.  The  shield  of  Jupiter  made 
by  Vulcan  was  so  called,  and  symbolised 

Divine  protection.”  The  shield  of 
Minerva  was  called  an  aegis  also.  The 
shield  of  Jupiter  was  covered  with  the 
skin  of  the  goat  Amalthsea,  and  the 
Greek  for  goat  is  cegos.  That  made  by 
Vulcan  was  of  brass. 

AEI  (A — i)f  a common  motto  on 
jewellery,  means  for  ever  and  for 
aye.”  (Greek.) 

^ne'as.  The  hero  of  VirgiVs  epic. 
He  carried  his  father  Anchi'ses  on  his 
shoulders  from  the  flames  of  Troy.  After 
roaming  about  for  many  years,  he  came 
to  Italy,  where  he  founded  a colony 
which  the  Romans  claim  as  their  origin. 


Aerated.  Aerated  Water.  Water  im- 
pregnated with  carbonic  acid  gas,  called 
fixed  air. 

Aerated  Bread.  Bread  made  light  by 
means  of  carbonic  acid  gas  instead  of 
leaven. 

Ae'rians.  Followers  of  Ae'rius,  who 
maintained  that  there  is  no  difference 
between  bishops  and  priests. 

^seliyTus.  The  xEschylus  of  France ^ 
Prosper  Jolyot  de  Crebillon.  (1674-17(12. ) 

^^sop’s  Fables  were  compiled  by 
BabTios,  a Greek,  who  lived  in  the  Alex- 
andrian age. 

AEsop  o/  Arabia,  Lokman  ? Nasser. 
(In  the  fifth  century.) 

AEsdp  of  England.  John  Gay.  (16S8- 
1732.) 

Aisop  of  France.  Jean  de  la  Fontaine. 
(1621-1695.) 

JFjSop  of  Germany.  Gotthold  Ephraim 
Lessing.  (1729-1781.) 


14 


AETON. 


AGDISTES. 


jEsop  of  India,  Bidpay  or  Pilpay. 
(About  three  centuries  before  the  Chris- 
tian era.) 

Ae'ton  (3  syh).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Pluto.  {See  Abatos.) 

Affable  means  ^^one  easy  to  be  spoken 
to.”  (Latin,  adfar%  to  speak  to.) 

Affect'.  To  love,  to  desire.  (Latin, 
affecto. ) 

Some  affect  the  light,  and  some  the  shade. 

Blair’s  “ Grave.’’ 

Affront'  properly  means  to  stand 
front  to  front.  In  savag-e  nations  oppos- 
ing armies  draw  up  front  to  front  before 
they  begin  hostilities,  and  by  grimaces, 
sounds,  words,  and  all  conceivable  means, 
try  to  provoke  and  terrify  their  vis-d-vis. 
When  this  affronting”  is  over,  the  ad- 
versaries rush  against  each  other,  and 
the  fight  begins  in  earnest. 

Africa.  Teneo  te,  Africa  (I  take 
possession  of  thee,  0 Africa).  When 
Ciesar  landed  at  Adrume'tum,  in  Africa, 
he  tripped  and  fell— a bad  omen ; but, 
with  wonderful  presence  of  mind,  he 
pretended  that  he  had  done  so  inten- 
tionally, and  kissing  the  soil,  exclaimed, 
^^Thus  do  I take  possession  of  thee,  0 
Africa.”  Told  also  of  Scipio. 

After-cast.  A throw  of  dice  after  the 
game  is  ended ; anything  done  too  late. 
Ever  he  playeth  an  after-cast 
Of  all  that  he  shall  say  or  6iO.— Gower. 

After- clap.  Beware  of  after -claps. 
An  after-clap  is  a catastrophe  or  threat 
after  an  affair  is  supposed  to  be  over. 
It  is  very  common  in  thunderstorms  to 
hear  a '‘clap”  after  the  rain  subsides, 
and  the  clouds  break. 

What  plaguy  mischief  and  mishaps 
Do  dog  him  still  with  after-claps. 

Hudibras,  pt.  i.  3. 

Aft-me'al.  An  extra  meal ; a meal 
taken  after  and  in  addition  to  the  ordi- 
nary meals. 

At  aft-meals  who  shall  pay  for  the  wine  ? 

Thynne's  Debate.” 

Agag*,  in  Bryden’s  satire  of  “ Absa- 
lom and  Achit'ophel,”  is  meant  for  Sir 
Edmondsbury  Godfrey,  the  magistrate 
before  whom  Titus  Oates  made  his  de- 
claration, but  was  afterwards  found 
barbarously  murdered  in  a ditch  near 
Primrose  Hill.  Agag  was  hewed  to 
pieces  by  Samuel.  (1  Sam.  xv.) 

And  Corah  [Titus  Oates)  might  for  Agag’s  murder 

call, 

In  terms  Jii  coarse  as  Samuel  used  to  Saul. 


/ 


Agamem'non.  King  of  Argos,  in 
Greece,  and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
allied  Greeks  who  went  to  the  siege  of 
Troy.  The  fleet  being  delayed  by  ad- 
verse winds  at  Aulis,  Agamemnon  sacri- 
ficed his  daughter  Iph'igeni'a  to  Diana, 
and  the  winds  became  at  once  favourable. 
On  his  return  home  he  was  murdered  by 
his  wife. — Homer's  Iliad 

Till  Agamemnon’s  daughter’s  Wood 
Appeased  the  gods  that  them  withstood. 

Earl  of  Surrey, 

Vixere  fortes  ante  Agamem'nona  (there 
were  brave  men  before  the  days  of  Aga- 
memnon), i.e.,  we  are  not  to  suppose 
that  our  own  age  monopolises  all  that  is 
good. 

Ag'ape  (3  syl.).  A love-feast.  The 
early  Christians  held  a love-feast  before 
or  after  communion,  when  contributions 
were  made  for  the  poor.  These  feasts 
became  a scandal,  and  were  condemned 
at  the  Council  of  (IJarthage,  397.  (Greek, 
agape,  love.) 

Agapem'one  (5syl.).  An  association 
of  men  and  women  living  promiscuously 
on  a common  fund.  There  is  one  at 
Charlynche,  near  Bridgewater,  in  Somer- 
setshire. (Greek,  agape,  love.) 

Agape'tse.  Women  under  vows  of 
virginity,  who  undertook  to  attend  the 
monks.  (The  word  is  Greek,  and  means 
leloved.) 

Ag'ate  (2  syl.).  So  called,  says  Pliny 
(xxxvii.  10),  from  Acha'tes  or  Gaga'tes,  a 
river  in  Sicily,  near  which  it  is  found  in 
abundance  ; but  Bochart  deduces  it  from 
the  Hebrew  oJcad  or  nalcad  (spotted). 

Agate  is  supposed  to  render  a person 
invisible,  and  to  turn  the  sword  of  foes 
against  themselves. 

Ag'atha.  Daughter  nf  Cuno,  the 
ranger,  in  love  with  Max,  to  whom  she  is 
to  be  married,  provided  he  carries  off 
the  prize  in  the  annual  trial-shot.  She 
is  in  danger  of  being  shot  by  Max  un- 
wittingly, but  is  rescued  by  a hermit,  and 
becomes  the  bride  of  the  young  huntsman. 
— Weber’s  Opera  of^^Der  Freischiltzf*  ' 

Agdistes  {self  indulgence).  The  god 
who  kept  the  porch  of  the  "Bower  of 
Bliss.”  He  united  in  his  own  person  the 
two  sexes,  and  sprang  from  the  stone 
Agdus,  parts  of  which  were  taken  by 
Deucalion  and  Pyrrha  to  cast  over  their 


AGE. 


AGONTSTES. 


15 


shoulders,  after  the  flood,  for  re-peopling 
the  world.  — Spenser ^ Faery  Queen, 

book  ii. 

Age  of  Animals.  An  old  Celtic 
rh}Tne,  put  into  modern  English,  says — 

Thrice  the  age  of  a dog  is  that  of  a horse ; 

Thrice  the  age  of  a horse  is  that  of  a man ; 

Thrice  the  age  of  a man  is  that  of  a deer ; 

Thrice  the  age  of  a deer  is  that  of  an  eagle. 

Ages.  Hesiod  names  flve  : — 

The  Golden  or  patriarchal,  under  the  care  of  Saturn. 
The  Silver  or  voluptuous,  „ Jupiter. 

The  Brazen  or  warlike,  ,,  N eptune. 

The  Heroic  or  renaissant  „ Mars. 

The  Iron  or  present  „ Pluto. 

Fichte  names  five  ages  also  : the  ante- 
diluvian, post-diluvian,  Christian,  satanic, 
and  millennian. 

According  to  Lucre'tius,  there  are  three 
ages,  distinguished  by  the  materials  em- 
ployed in  implements  {v.  1282),  viz.  : 

(1)  The  age  of  stone,  when  celts  or  im- 
plements of  stone  were  employed. 

(2)  The  age  of  bronze,  when  implements 
were  made  of  copper  or  brass. 

(3)  The  age  of  iron,  when  implements 
were  made  of  iron,  as  at  present. 

Ag'elas'ta.  The  stone  on  which 
Ce'res  rested  when  worn  down  by  fatigue 
in  searching  for  her  daughter.  (Greek, 
joyless.) 

Agent.  Is  man  a free  agent  I This 
is  a question  of  theology,  which  has  long 
been  mooted.  The  point  is  this : If 
God  foreordains  all  our  actions,  they 
must  take  place  as  he  foreordains  them, 
and  man  acts  as  a watch  or  clock ; but 
if,  on  the  other  hand,  man  is  responsible 
for  his  actions,  he  must  be  free  to  act  as 
his  inclination  leads  him.  Those  who 
hold  the  former  view  are  called  necessita- 
rians; those  who  hold  the  latter,  liberta- 
rians. 

Agglu'tinate  Languages.  The 
Tura'nian  family  of  languages  are  so 
called  because  the  pronouns  are  glued  on 
tbe  verbs,  and  the  case-prepositions  on 
the  nouns,  and  may  be  unglued  so  as 
to  leave  the  roots  distinct. 

Aghast'.  Frightened  as  by  a ghost. 
The  Saxon  of  ghost  is  gast. 

A'gis.  King  of  Sparta,  who  tried  to 
deliver  Greece  from  the  Macedonian 
joke,  and  was  slain  in  the  attempt. 

To  save  a rotten  state.  Agis,  who  saw 

E’en  Sparta’s  self  to  servile  avarice  sink. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.” 


Agist'.  To  take  the  cattle  of  anothei 
to  graze  at  a certain  sum.  The  feeding 
of  these  beasts  is  called  agistment.  The 
words  are  from  the  Norman  agiser  (to 
be  levant  and  couchant),  because,  says 
Coke,  beasts  are  levant  and  couchant 
whilst  they  are  on  the  land. 

Ag'la,  A cabalistic  name  of  God, 
formed  from  the  initial  letters  of  Att^h, 
Gibbor,  Leholam,  AdonM  ( Thou  art 
strong  for  ever,  OLord!).  {See  Notarica.) 

Ag'nes.  The  heroine  of  David 
Copperfield,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

She  is  an  Agnes  {ellefait  VAgnh) — i.e., 
she  is  a sort  of  female  Verdant  Green,” 
who  is  so  unsophisticated  that  she  does 
not  even  know  what  love  means.  It  is 
a character  in  Moliere’s  L’Ecole  des 
Femmes.” 

Ag'noites  (2  syl.).  (1.)  Certain 
heretics  in  the  fourth  century  who  said 
^^God  did  not  hnow  everything.”  (2.) 
Another  sect,  in  the  sixth  century,  who 
maintained  that  Christ  ^Mid  not  hioio  the 
time  of  the  day  of  judgment.”  (Greek, 
a-gnomi,  not  to  know.) 

Agnus-castus.  One  of  the  Vitex 
plants,  called  agnos  (chaste)  by  the 
Greeks,  because  the  Athenian  ladies,  at 
the  feast  of  Ceres,  used  to  strew  their 
couches  with  vitex  leaves,  as  a palladium 
of  chastity.  The  monks,  mistaking 
agnos  (chaste)  for  agnus  (a  lamb),  but 
knowing  the  use  made  of  the  plant, 
added  castus  to  explain  its  character, 
making  it  chaste-lamb.  (For  other  similar 
blunders,  see  I.  H.  S.) 

Agnus  Dei.  A cake  of  wax  or 
dough  stamped  with  the  figure  of  a 
lamb  supporting  the  banner  of  the  Cross, 
and  supposed,  at  one  time,  to  preserve 
those  who  carried  it  about  with  them 
from  accidents  , and  temptation.  Our 
Lord  is  called  Agnus  Dei  (the  Lamb  of 
God).  There  is  also  a prayer  so  called, 
because  it  begins  with  the  words,  Agnus 
Dei,  qui  tollis  pecca'ta  mundi  (0  Lamb  of 
God,  that  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world). 

Agog'.  He  is  all  agog,  in  nervous 
anxiety ; on  the  qui  vive,  like  a horse  in 
clover.  (French,  d gogo,  or  vivy^e  d gogo,  to 
live  in  clover;  Italian,  agogare,  to  de- 
sire eagerly.) 

Agonis'i  es  (4  syl.).  Samson  Agonistes 


16 


AGONISTICS. 


AJAX. 


/ 


means  Samson  wrestling-  with  adversity — 
Samson  combating  with  trouble.  (Greek, 
agoni' zomaif  to  combat,  to  struggle.) 

Agonis'tics.  The  disciples  of  bona'- 
tus. 

Ag'ony  properly  means  contention  in 
the  athletic  games ; and  to  agonise  is  the 
act  of  contending.  (Greek,  agon,  a game 
of  contest. ) Our  notion  of  great  pain  ” 
arises  from  the  great  corporal  suffering 
these  athletes  had  to  endure. 

Agra'rian  Law, from  the  Latin  ager 
(land),  is  a law  for  making  land  the  com- 
mon property  of  a nation,  and  not  the 
particular  property  of  individuals.  In  a 
modified  form,  it  means  a re-distribution 
of  land,  giving  to  each  citizen  a portion. 

Ague-cheek.  Sir  Andrew  Ague- 
cJieeh^  a straight-haired  country  squire, 
stupid  even  to  silliness,  self-conceited, 
living  to  eat,  and  wholly  unacquainted 
with  the  world  of  fashion.  The  character 
is  in  Shakespeare’s  Twelfth  Night.” 

Ahasue'rus,  a title  equivalent  to 
Goeur  de  Lion,  common  to  several  Persian 
kings.  Ezra  styles  Camby'ses  so  (iv.  6), 
but  probably  the  Ahasuerus  of  Scripture 
is  Gushtasp  darawesh  (Dari'us).  {See 
Jew.) 

Ahith'opliel,  or  Achit'ophel.  A 
treacherous  friend  and  adviser.  Ahitho- 
phel  was  David’s  counsellor,  but  joined 
Absalom  in  revolt,  and  advised  him 

like  the  oracle  of  God.”  (2  Sam.  xvi. 
20—23.)  (Nee  Achitophel.) 

All'med  (Prince).  Noted  for  the  tent 
given  him  by  the  fairy  Pari-ban'ou,  which 
would  cover  a whole  army,  but  might  be 
carried  in  one’s  pocket ; and  for  the 
a}  pie  of  Samarcand',  which  would  cure 
all  diseases. — Arabian  Nights^  Prince 
Alim'id,^*  cfie. 

This  tent  coincides  in  a marvellous 
manner  with  the  Norse  ship  called  Skid- 
bladni  {q.v.). 

Aholiba'mah.  A granddaughter  of 
Cain,  loved  by  the  seraph  Samia'sa.  She 
is  a proud,  ambitious,  queen-like  beauty, 
a female  type  of  Cain.  When  the  flood 
comes,  her  angel -lover  carries  her  under 
his  wings  to  some  other  planet. — Byron, 

Heaven  and  EarthP 

Ali'rimau , or  A hrima'nes.  The  prin- 


ciple or  angel  of  darkness  and  evil  in  the 
Magian  system.  {See  Opmcsd.) 

I recognise  the  evil  spirit,  sir,  and  do  honour 
to  Ahriihan  os  in  . . . this  young  man.— T^ac/ceray. 

Aide  toi  et  le  Ciel  t’aidera  {God 
will  help  those  who  help  themselves).  The 
party-motto  of  a political  society  of 
France,  established  in  1824.  The  object 
of  the  society  was,  by  agitation  and  the 
press,  to  induce  the  middle  classes  to 
resist  the  Government.  Guizot  was  at 
one  time  its  president,  and  Le  Globe  and 
Le  National  its  organs.  This  society, 
which  doubtless  aided  in  bringing  about 
the  Eevolution  of  1830,  was  dissolved  in 
1832. 

APgrette  (2  syl.).  A lady’s  head- 
dress, consisting  of  feathers  or  flowers. 
The  French  call  the  down  of  thistles  and 
dandelions,  as  well  as  the  tuft  of  birds, 
aigrette. 

Aim.  To  give  aim,  to  stand  aloof.  A 
term  in  archery,  meaning  to  stand  within 
a convenient  distance  from  the  butts,  to 
give  the  archers  information  how  near 
their  arrows  fall  to  the  mark  aimed  at. 

But,  gentle  people,  give  me  aim  awhile, 

For  nature  puts  me  to  a heavy  task  ; 

Stand  all  aloof. 

Shakespeare^  “ Titus  AndronicusP  v.  3. 

To  cry  aim.  To  applaud,  encourage. 
In  archery  it  was  customary  to  appoint 
certain  persons  to  cry  aim,  for  the  sake 
of  encouraging  those  who  were  about  to 
shoot. 

All  my  neighbours  shall  cry  aim. 

Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,  iii.  2. 

Aim- crier.  An  abettor,  one  who 
encourages.  In  archery,  the  person  em- 
ployed to  cry  aim”  {q.v.). 

Air,  an  Element.  Anaxag'oras  held 
air  to  be  the  primary  form  of  matter. 

Airap'adam.  The  white  elephant, 
one  of  the  eight  w-hich,  according  to 
Indian  mythology,  sustain  the  earth. 

Ajax,  the  Greater'.  King  of  Sal'amis, 
a man  of  giant  stature,  daring,  and  self- 
confident.  Generally  called  TeFamon 
Ajax,  because  he  was  the  son  of  Tel'amon. 
"When  the  armour  of  Hector  was  awarded 
to  Ulysses  instead  of  to  himself,  he 
turned  mad  from  vexation  and  stabbed 
himself. — Homer's  “ Iliad." 

Ajax,  the  Less.  Son  of  O’ileus,  king  of 
Locris,  in  Greece.  The  night  Troy  was 
I taken,  he  offered  violence  to  Cassandra, 


AKBAE. 


ALBATI. 


17 


the  prophetic  daughter  of  Priam ; in 
consequence  of  which  his  ship  was  driven 
on  a rock,  and  he  perished  at  sea. — 
Homer’s  Iliad.” 

Akbar.  A title  in  Hindustan,  mean- 
ing Very  Great,”  as  Akbar- Khan. 

Ak'uan.  The  giant  which  Kustan 
slew.  {Persian  my  til.) 

Ak'uman.  The  most  malevolent  of 
all  the  Persian  gods. 

Alabaster.  A stone  of  great  purity 
and  whiteness,  used  for  ornaments.  So 
called  from  Alabastron,”  in  Upper 
Egypt,  where  it  abounds. 

Alad'din,  in  the  ‘^Arabian  Nights’ 
Tales,”  obtains  a magic  lamp,  and  has  a 
splendid  palace  built  by  the  genius  of  the 
lamp.  He  marries  the  daughter  of 
the  sultan  of  China,  loses  his  lamp,  and 
his  palace  is  transported  to  Africa. 

Vanished  into  air  like  the  palace  of  Aladdin. 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Aladdin’s  Lamp.  The  source  of 
wealth  and  good  fortune.  After  Aladdin 
came  to  his  wealth  and  was  married,  he 
suffered  his  lamp  to  hang  up  and  get 
rusty. 

It  was  impossible  that  a family,  holding  a docu- 
ment which  gave  them  access  to  the  most  power- 
ful noblemen  in  Scotland,  should  have  suffered 
it  to  remain  unemployed,  like  Aladdin’s  rusty 
Senior. 

Aladdin’s  Window.  To  finish 
Aladdin’s  window — ^.e.,  to  attempt  to 
complete  something  begun  by  a great 
genius,  but  left  imperfect.  The  Times 
applied  the  illustration  to  earl  Bussell’s 
attempt  to  patch  up  the  vacancy  made 
in  the  ministry  by  the  death  of  lord 
Palmerston.  The  genius  of  the  lamp 
built  a palace  with  twenty-four  windows, 
all  but  one  being  set  in  frames  of  pre- 
cious stones ; the  last  was  left  for  the 
sultan  to  finish ; but  after  exhausting 
his  treasures,  the  sultan  was  obliged  to 
abandon  the  task  as  hopeless. 

APadine  (3  syL).  The  sagacious  but 
cruel  old  king  of  Jerusalem  in  Tasso’s 
epic.  This  is  a fictitious  character, 
inasmuch  as  the  Holy  Land  was  at  the 
time  under  the  dominion  of  the  caliph 
of  Egypt.  Aladine  is  slain  by  Raymond. 

■ — Jerusalem  Delivered,”  book  xx. 

APako.  Son  of  Baro-De'vel,  the 
great  god  of  the  gipsies.  The  gipsies 
say  that  he  will  ultimately  restore  them 


to  Assas  in  Assyria,  their  native  country. 
The  image  of  Alako  has  a pen  in  his  left 
hand  and  a sword  in  his  right. 

Alar 'eon.  King  of  Barca,  who  joined 
the  armament  of  Egypt  against  the 
Crusaders.  His  men  were  only  half 
armed. — Jerusalem  Delivered. 

Alarm.  An  outcry  made  to  give 
notice  of  danger.  (Danish  and  Swedish, 
larm,  outcry ; French,  alarme,  as  cloche 
d’alarme,  an  alarum  bell.) 

Alar'um  Bell.  In  feudal  times  a 
’larum  bell  was  rung  in  the  castle  in 
times  of  danger  to  summon  the  retainers 
to  arms — a I’armer  (to  the  arming) ; hence 
the  bell  was  called  the bell,” 
corrupted  into  alarum  bell.  Another 
etymology  is  larrum,  Norman  French 
for  robber.”  In  cases  of  burglary  the 
old  Normans  cried  out  an  larrum,  similar 
to  the  modern  au  voleur  (thieves ! 
thieves  !).  The  bell  that  gave  notice  of 
the  same  molestation  was  called  the  ^'‘au 
larum  ” bell. 

Alas'nam.  Alasnam’slady.  In  the 

Arabian  Nights’  Tales”  Alasnam  has 
eight  statues  of  solid  gold,  but  had  to  go 
in  quest  of  a ninth  more  precious  still, 
to  fill  the  vacant  pedestal.  The  prize 
was.  found  in  the  lady  who  became  his 
wife,  at  once  the  most  beautiful  and  the 
most  perfect  of  her  race. 

There  is  wanting  one  pure  and  perfect  model, 
and  that  one,  wherever  it  is  to  he  found,  is  like 
Alasnam’ s lady,  worth  them  all. 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Alas'tor.  The  evil  genius  of  a house. 
Cicero  says  : He  meditated  killing 

himself  that  he  might  become  the  Alastor 
of  Augustus,  whom  he  hated.”  Shelley 
has  a poem  entitled  Alastor ; or.  The 
Spirit  of  Solitude.”  The  word  is  Greek, 
and  means  ^^not  to  forget”  {a  la'thein). 

Alb.  The  white  tunic  (Latin,  alius, 
white)  originally  bound  round  the  waist 
with  a zone.  Telie  dress  is  emblematical 
of  purity  and  continence. 

Alba'no  Stone  or  PeperPno,  used 
by  the  Romans  in  building ; a volcanic 
tufa  quarried  at  Alba'no. 

APbany.  Scotland.  (>S'ee  Albin.  ) 

Alba'ti.  Certain  Christian  hermits 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  so  called 
because  they  dressed  in  white.  (Latin- i 

P 


18 


ALBATEOSS. 


ALCINA. 


/ 


ABbatross.  The  largest  of  web-footed 
birds,  called  by  sailors  the  Cape  Sheep, 
from  its  frequenting  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  It  gorges  itself,  and  then  sits 
motionless  upon  the  waves.  It  is  said  to 
sleep  in  the  air,  because  its  flight  is  a 
gliding  without  any  apparent  motion  of 
its  long  wings.  Sailors  say  it  is  fatal  to 
shoot  an  albatross.  Coleridge’s  An- 
cient Mariner”  is  founded  on  this  super- 
stition. 

Albertaz'zo  (in  Orlando  Furioso”) 
married  Alda,  daughter  of  Otho,  duke  of 
Saxony.  His  sons  were  Hugh  or  Ugo, 
and  Fulke  or  Fulco.  From  this  family 
springs  the  Eoyal  Family  of  England. 

Albia'zar  (in  ^^Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
One  of  the  leaders  of  the  Arab  host  which 
joined  the  Egyptian  armament  against 
the  Crusaders.  A chief  in  rapine,  not 
in  knighthood  bred.”  (Book  xvii.) 

Albigen'ses  (4  syl.).  A common 
name  for  heretics  prior  to  the  Eeforma- 
tion ; so  called  from  the  Albigeois,  inha- 
bitants of  Tarn,  the  capital  of  which  was 
Albi.  It  was  here  the  persecution  of  the 
Eeformers  began,  under  the  direction  of 
Pope  Innocent  III.,  in  1209.  The  Wal 
den'ses  rose  after  them,  but  are  not 
unfrequently  confounded  with  them. 

Albin  means  ‘^highlands,”  i.e.,  Scot- 
land. (Gaelic,  ailp ; Celtic,  alp;  our 
Alps.)  Albin  is  either  Ailp-ben  (son  of 
the  hills,  i.e.,  hill- country),  ov  Ailp-inn 
(hilly  island). 

Woe  to  his  kindred,  and  woe  to  his  cause, 

When  Albin  lier  claymore  indignantly  draws. 

Cavxpbell,  “ Lochiel's  Warning;* 

Albi'no.  A term  originally  applied 
by  the  Portuguese  to  those  negroes  who 
were  mottled  with  white  spots ; but  now 
applied  to  those  who  are  born  with  red 
eyes  and  white  hair.  (Latin,  alhus,  white.) 

Al'bion.  England,  so  named  from  the 
ancient  inhabitants,  called  Albio'nes.  The 
usual  etymology  of  albiis  (white),  said  to 
have  been  given  by  Julius  Caesar  in 
allusion  to  the  white  cliffs,”  is  quite 
untenable,  as  Aristotle  mentions  the 
islands  of  Albion  and  lerne  four  hundred 
years  before  the  invasion  of  Caesar.  {See 
Albin.) 

Albion.  Son  of  the  king  of  this 
island  when  Oberon  held  his  court  in 
what  we  call  Kensington  Gardens.  He 
was  stolen  by  the  elfin  Milkah,  and 


brought  up  in  fairyland.  When  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  he  fell  in  love  with 
Kenna,  daughter  of  king  O^beron,  but 
was  driven  from  the  empire  by  the  in- 
dignant monarch.  Albion  invaded  the 
territory,  but  was  slain  in  the  battle. 
When  Kenna  knew  this,  she  poured  the 
juice  of  moly  over  the  dead  body,  and  it 
changed  into  a snow-drop. — T.  Tichell. 

Albrac'ca’s  Damsel  (in  Orlando 
Furioso”)  is  Angelica.  Albracca  is  the 
capital  of  Cathay  (g.v.). 

Album.  A blank  book  for  scraps. 
The  Eomans  applied  the  word  to  certain 
tables  overlaid  with  gypsum,  on  which 
were  inscribed  the  annals  of  the  chief 
priests,  the  edictsof  the  praetors,  and  rules 
relating  to  civil  matters.  In  the  Middle 
Ages,  album”  was  the  general  name  of 
a register  or  list ; so  called  from  being 
kept  either  on  a white  board  with  black 
letters,  or  on  a black  board  with  white 
letters.  For  the  same  reason  the  boards 
in  churches  for  notices,  and  the  boards  in 
universities  containing  the  names  of  the 
college  men,  are  called  albums. 

Alcalde  or  Alca'di.  A judge  is  so 
called  in  Spain.  The  word  is  the  Arabic 
al  cadi  (the  judge). 

Alea'ie  Verse  or  Alcaics.  A Greek 
and  Latin  metre,  so  called  from  Alcceos,  a 
lyric  poet,  who  invented  it. 

Alcan'tara.  The  Order  of  A Icantara, 
instituted  in  1156,  by  Hadria  II.,  king 
of  Leon,  at  Alcantara,  a town  of  Estra- 
maduTa.  The  sovereign  of  Spain  is,  ex 
officio,  sovereign  of  the  Order. 

Aleastus  (in  Jerusalem  Delivered  ”). 
The  Cap'aneus  of  the  Crusaders,  leader  of 
6,000  foot  soldiers  from  Helvetia. 

APce  (2  syl.).  One  of  the  dogs  of 
Actse'on. 

Alces'te  (2  syl.).  The  hero  of  Mo- 
lihre’s  Misanthrope.  ” Not  unlike 
Shakespeare’s  character  of  Timon. 

Alcliemy  is  the  Arabic  al  Jcimia  (the 
secret  art) so  called  not  only  because  it 
was  carried  on  in  secret,  but  because  its 
main  objects  were  the  two  great  secrets 
of  science— the  transmutation  of  baser 
metals  into  gold,  and  the  elixir  of  life. 

Alci'na.  The  personification  of  car- 
nal pleasure  in  ‘•'Orlando  Furioso;”  the 
Circe  of  the  Greeks,  and  Labe  of  the 


ALCIPHRON. 


ALEKA. 


19 


Arabians.  She  enjoyed  her  lovers  for  a 
time,  and  then  changed  them  into  trees, 
stones,  fountains,  or  beasts,  as  her  fancy 
dictated. 

Al'eiphron,  The  hero  of  T.  Moore's 

Epicure'an.” 

Alco've  (2  syl.).  A recess  in  a room 
for  a bed  ; a garden  bower.  The  word 
is  Arabic,  and  means  al-kauf{iYLQ  tent). 

Aldabella  or  Aldabelle  (in  Or- 
lando Furioso.”)  Sister  of  Olivie'ro  and 
Brandimarte,  daughter  of  Monodantes, 
and  wife  of  Orlando. 

Aldabella.  A marchioness  of  Florence, 
who  gave  entertainment  to  the  magnates 
of  the  city.  She  was  very  handsome, 
heartless,  and  arrogant.  When  Fazio 
became  rich  with  Bartoldo’s  money,  Al- 
dabella inveigled  him  from  his  wife,  and 
his  wife,  out  of  jealousy,  accused  her 
husband  of  being  privy  to  Bartoldo’s 
death.  Fazio  being  condemned  for 
murder  and  robbery,  his  wife  Bianca 
accused  Aldabella  of  inveigling  him,  and 
the  marchioness  was  condemned  by  the 
duke  of  Florence  to  spend  the  rest  of 
her  life  in  a TimmQYY.— Dean  Milman, 

Fazio'* 

Ald'ebaran.  The  sun  in  Arabian 
mythology.  In  astronomy,  the  star 
called  the  Bull's  eye  in  the  constellation 
Taurus. 

Alderman.  A cant  term  for  a 
half-crown.  An  alderman,  as  a magis- 
trate, may  be  termed  half  a king  (or 
crown).  Of  course,  the  word  means  one 
of  the  “ elders.” 

A turlcey  is  called  an  alderman,  both 
from  its  presence  in  aldermanic  feasts, 
and  also  because  of  its  red  and  purple 
colours,  which  make  it  a sort  of  poultry 
alderman. 

An  alderman  in  chains,  by  a similar 
effort  of  wit,  is  a turkey  hung  with 
sausages. 

Aldiboron'tephos'eophon'io.  A 

character  in  Henry  Carey’s  farce  called 

Chro'nonho'tontboFogos.” 

Al'diger  (in  Orlando  Furioso”). 
Buo'vo’s  son,  of  the  house  of  Clarmont, 
who  lived  in  Ag'rismont  Castle.  He  was 
brother  of  Malagi'gi  and  Vivian  ; all 
Christians. 

Aldine  (2  syl.).  Leader  of  the  second 
squaoron  of  Ai’abs  who  joined  the  Egyp- 


tian armament  against  the  Crusaders. 
— Tasso,  Jerusalem  Delivered."  {See 
Syphax.  ) 

Aldine  editions.  Editions  of  the 
Greek  and  Latin  classics,  published  and 
printed  under  the  superintendence  of 
Aldo  Manuz'io  and  his  son  Paolo  (1490- 
1597) ; most  of  them  in  duodecimo,  and 
all  noted  for  their  accuracy.  The  father 
invented  the  type  called  italics,  once 
called  Aldine,  and  first  used  in  printing 
Virgil,”  1501. 

AFdingar,  Sir.  Steward  of  queen 
Eleanor,  wife  of  Henry  II.  He  impeached 
her  fidelity,  and  submitted  to  a combat 
to  substantiate  his  charge,  but  an  angel, 
in  the  shape  of  a child,  established  the 
queen’s  innocence. — Percy's  Reliques." 

Ale  is  the  Scandinavian  ol,  a liquor 
made  of  the  molte-beer,  a large,  red, 
three-lobed  berry  that  grows  wild  in 
most  parts  of  Scandina'via.  Malt  is  the 
word  molte,  applied  to  the  barley  sub- 
stitute of  the  Norwegian  berry.  Beer 
is  ale  with  hops  in  it,  called  Baiersk 
(Bavarian).  Even  in  England  ale  was 
made  at  one  time  of  wheat,  barley,  and 
honey,  without  hops. 

In  some  parts  of  the  island  ale  means 
the  stronger  brew,  and  in  others  beer. 
The  rule  is  this  : wherever  the  Scandina- 
vian element  prevails,  ale  or  ol  is  the 
strong  drink  ; but  where  the  German 
element  predominates,  it  is  beer  or 
baiersk. 

Ale-draper,  a tapster.  Ale-drapery, 
the  selling  of  ale,  &c. 

No  other  occupation  have  I hut  to  be  an  ale- 
draper.— Pf,  Gheitle,  “Kind-harts'  Dreame,”  1592. 

Ale- silver.  A yearly  tribute  paid 
to  the  corporation  of  Lqndon,  as  a licence 
for  selling  ale. 

Ale-stake.  The  pole  set  up  before 
ale-houses  by  way  of  ^^sign.”  A bush 
was  very  often  fixed  to  its  top. 

A garland  had  he  set  upon  his  head 
As  great  as  it  werin  for  an  ale-stake. 

Chaucer. 

Ale-wife.  The  landlady  of  an  ale- 
house or  ale-stand. 

Alec'to.  One  of  the  Furies,  whose 
head  was  covered  with  snakes. 

Then  like  Alecto,  terrible  to  view, 

Or  like  Medusa,  the  Circassian  grew. 

Boole's  “Jerusalem  Delivered,”  b.  vL 

Ale'ka.  Wife  of  Pan 'geo,  idols  of  the 
Oroun'gou  tribes  in  Africa,  the  special 
protectors  of  kings  and  governments. 


20 


ALERIA. 


ALEXIS. 


Ale'ria  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”).  One 
of  the  Amazons,  and  the  best  beloved  of 
the  ten  wives  of  Guido  the  Savage. 

Alert.  To  be  on  the  watch.  (Greek, 
orthos^  QYGQt;  Latin,  ortus;  Italian,  erto, 
sleep  ; French,  ertCy  a watch-tower. 
Hence  the  Italian  stare  all*  erta^  the 
Spanish  estar  alerta^  and  the  French 
estre  d V erta,  to  be  on  the  watch.) 

^ Alessio.  The  lover  of  Liza,  in  Bel- 
li'ni’s  opera  of  ‘‘La  Sonnambula.” 
(Scribe’s  libretto.) 

Ale'thes  (3  syl.).  An  ambassador 
from  Egypt  to  king  Al'adine.  He  is 
represented  as  a man  of  low  birth  raised 
to  the  highest  rank,  subtle,  false,  deceit- 
ful, and  wily. — Tasso,  Jerusalem  De- 
livered.** 

Alexander.  You  are  thinhing  of 
Parmen'iOy  and  I of  Alexander — i.e.,  you 
are  thinking  what  you  ought  to  receive, 
and  I what  I ought  to  give ; you  are 
thinking  of  those  castigated,  rewarded, 
or  gifted,  but  I of  my  own  position,  and 
what  punishment,  reward,  or  gift  is  con- 
sistent with  my  rank.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  tale  about  Parmen'io  and  Alexander, 
when  the  king  said,  “I  consider  not 
what  Parmenio  should  receive,  but  what 
Alexander  should  give.” 

Only  two  Alexanders.  Alexander  said, 
“There  are  but  two  Alexanders  — the 
invincible  son  of  Philip,  and  the  inimit- 
able painting  of  the  hero  by  Apelles.” 

Alexander  of  the  North.  Charles  XII. 
of  Sweden,  so  called  from  his  military 
achievements.  He  was  conquered  at 
Pultowa,  in  Russia  (1709),  by  czar  Peter 
the  Great  (1682-1718). 

Repressing  here 

The  frantic  Alexander  of  the  North. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.” 

Alexander  the  Corrector.  Alexander 
Cruden,  author  of  the  “ Concordance  to 
the  Bible,”  who  petitioned  Parliament  to 
constitute  him  “ Corrector  of  the  People,” 
and  went  about  constantly  with  a sponge 
to  wipe  out  the  licentious,  coarse,  and 
profane  chalk  scrawls  which  met  his  eye. 
(1701-1770.) 

Alexandra  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso”). 
Daughter  of  Oronthe'a,  queen  of  the 
Am'azons,  and  one  of  the  ten  wives  of 
Elba'nio.  From  her  the  land  of  the 
Amazons  was  named  Alexandra. 


Alexan'drian.  Anything  from  the 
East  was  so  called  by  the  old  chroniclers 
and  romancers,  because  Alexandria  was 
the  dep6t  from  which  Eastern  stores 
reached  Europe. 

Reclined  on  Alexandrian  carpets  \i.e.  Persian']. 

Rose,  “ Orlando  Furioso,”  x.  37. 

Alexandrian  Codex.  A manu- 
script of  the  Scriptures  in  Greek,  which 
belonged  to  the  library  of  the  patriarchs 
of  Alexandria,  in  Africa,  a.d.  1098.  In 
1628  it  was  sent  as  a present  to  Charles  I., 
and  is  now  in  the  British  Museum. 

Alexandrian  Library.  Founded 
by  Ptolemy  So'ter  in  Alexandria,  in 
Egypt.  The  tale  is  that  it  was  burnt 
and  partly  consumed  in  391 ; but  when 
the  city  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  calif 
Omar,  in  642,  the  Arabs  found  books 
sufficient  to  “ heat  the  baths  of  the  city 
for  six  months.” 

Alexandrian  School.  An  aca- 
demy of  literature  by  Ptolemy,  son  of 
La'gos,  and  especially  famous  for  its 
grammarians  and  mathematicians.  Of 
its  grammarians  the  most  noted  are 
Aristarchos,  Harpocra'tion,  and  Era- 
tos'thenes ; and  of  its  mathematicians, 
Ptolemy  and  Euclid,  the  former  an  astro- 
nomer, and  the  latter  the  geometer 
whose  “ Elements  ” are  still  very  gene- 
rally used. 

Alexandrine  Age.  From  a.d.  323 
to  640,  when  Alexandria,  in  Egypt,  was 
the  centre  of  science  and  literature. 

Alexandrine  Philosophy.  The 
system  of  the  Gnostics,  or  Platonised 
form  of  Christianity. 

Alexan'drines  (4  syl.).  Verses  of 
twelve  or  thirteen  syllables,  divided  into 
two  parts  between  the  sixth  and  seventh 
syllable ; so  called  because  they  were  first 
employed  in  a metrical  romance  of  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  commenced  by  Lambert- 
li-Cors,  and  continued  by  Alexandre  de 
Bern  ay  of  Normandy.  The  final  line  of 
the  Spenserian  stanza  is  an  Alexandrine. 

A needless  Alexandrine  ends  the  song 

Which,  like  a wounded  snake  | drags  its  slow 
length  along.— Pope. 

Alex'is,  St.  Patron  saint  of  hermits. 
The  story  goes  that  he  lived  on  his  father’s 
estate  as  a hermit  till  death,  but  was  never 
recognised. 


ALFADER. 


ALIBIS. 


21 


Alfa'der  {father  of  all).  The  most 
ancient  and  chief  of  the  Scandinavian 
gods. 

Alfa'na.  The  name  of  Gradasso’s 
horse. — Orlando  Furioso. 

Alfar'.  The  good  and  bad  genii  of 
the  Scandinavians. 

Alf'heim  {home  of  the  genii).  A 
celestial  city  inhabited  by  the  elves  and 
fairies.  {Scand.  myth.)\ 

Alfonso.  While  Tasso  was  at  Fer- 
raVa  he  fell  in  love  with  Leonora  d’Este, 
daughter  of  Alfonso,  duke  of  FerraVa. 
Whereupon  the  duke  shut  him  up  in  a 
madhouse  for  seven  years,  from  which 
he  was  released  by  Clement  VIII.,  who 
invited  him  to  Rome. 

The  miserable  despot  could  not  quell 

The  insulted  mind  he  sought  to  quench,  and  blend 

With  the  surrounding  maniacs. 

Byron,  “ ChiLde  Harold,*'  iv.  36. 

Alfonso  XI.,  of  Castile y whose 
‘‘  favourite  ” was  Leonora  de  Guzman. 
Being  threatened  with  excommunication 
unless  he  put  her  away  (as  Leonora  was 
in  love  with  Ferdinando,  a brave  officer), 
the  king  creates  Ferdinando  marquess 
of  Montreal,  and  gives  him  the  hand  of 
his  “ favourite.”  As  soon  as  Ferdinando 
discovers  who  Leonora  is,  he  restores 
his  honours  to  the  king,  repudiates  his 
bride,  and  retires  to  a monastery. — 
Donizetti's  O'pera  “Act  Favorita." 

Alfred’s  Scholars.  Werfrith 
bishop  of  Worcester,  Ethelstan  and 
Werwulf  two  Mercian  priests,  Plegmund 
(a  Mercian)  afterwards  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, Asser  a Welshman,  Grimbald 
a great  French  scholar,  &c.,  invited  over 
to  England  by  king  Alfred. 

AFgarsife  (3  syl.).  Son  of  Cambus'- 
can,  and  brother  of  Cam'balo,  who  “ won 
Theod'ora  to  wife.”  It  is  in  the 
‘^Squire’s  Tale,”  by  Chaucer,  but  was 
never  finished.  {See  Canace.) 

Call  up  him  that  left  half  told 
The  story  of  Cambuscan  bold, 

Of  Camball,  and  of  Aigarsife, 

And  who  had  Canace  to  wife. 

Milton,  “ II  Penseroso.** 

Al'gebra  is  the  Arabic  al  gebr  {wal 
mokdbala),  the  supplementing  and 
equalising  (process) ; ” so  called  because 
the  problems  are  solved  by  equations, 
and  the  equations  are  made  by  supple- 
mentary terms. 


Alh?5m'bra.  The  palace  of  the 
ancient  Moors  in  Grana'da.  The  word  is 
the  Arabic  al-hamra,  or  at  full  leng-th 
haV-at  al  hamra  (the  red  castle). 

ATI.  Cousin  and  son-in-law  of  Ma- 
homet, the  beauty  of  whose  eyes  is  with 
the  Persians  proverbial,  insomuch  that 
the  highest  term  they  employ  to  express 
beauty  is  Ayn  Hali  (eyes  of  Ali) . — Chardin. 

AFicant.  A Spanish  wine  made  at 
Alicant,  in  the  province  of  Valencia. 

Alice.  The  foster-sister  of  Robert  le 
Diable,  and  bride  of  Rambaldo  the  Nor- 
man troubadour.  She  comes  to  Palermo 
to  place  in  the  duke’s  hand  her  mother’s 
will,  which  he  is  enjoined  not  to  read  till 
he  is  a virtuous  man.  When  Bertram, 
his  fiend-father,  tempts  his  son  to  evil, 
Alice  proves  his  good  genius ; and  when, 
at  last,  Bertram  claims  his  soul  as  the 
price  of  his  ill  deeds,  Alice  reads  the 
“ will,”  and  wins  him  from  the  evil  one. — 
Meyerbeer' s Opera  Roberto  il  Diavolo.'’ 

Alicbi'no.  A devil,  in  The  Inferno” 
of  Dante. 

AFicon.  The  seventh  heaven.  {Ma- 
hometan mythology.) 

AFilat.  The  name  by  which  the 
Arabs  adore  Nature,  which  they  repre- 
sent by  a crescent  moon.  All  inferior 
gods  are  called  by  them  el  ilahat  (the 
goddesses). 

Aliphar'non,  the  giant.  Don 
Quixote  attacked  a flock  of  sheep,  which 
he  declared  to  be  the  army  of  the  giant 
Aliphar'non.  Similarly  Ajax,  in  a fit  of 
madness,  fell  on  a flock  of  sheep,  which 
he  mistook  for  Grecian  princes. 

Alipran'do  (in  “ Jerusalem  De- 
livered”). One  of  the  Christian  knights. 
Having  discovered  the  armour  of  Rinaldo 
cast  on  one  side,  he  took  it  to  Godfrey, 
who  very  naturally  inferred  that  Rinaldo 
had  been  slain. 

AFiris.  Sultan  of  Lower  BuchaFia. 
Under  the  disguised  name  of  Fer'amorz, 
he  accompanies  Lalla  Rookh,  his  bride, 
from  Delhi,  and  wins  her  heart  by  his 
ways,  and  the  tales  he  tells  on  the  journey. 
The  lady  falls  in  love  with  the  poet,  and 
is  delighted  to  find,  on  the  morning  of 
the  wedding,  that  Feramorz  is,  in  fact, 
the  sultan,  her  intended  husband. — T, 
Moore,  Lalla  Roohh," 


22 


ATj 


ALLIGATOR. 


/ 


A1  Ka'der  (the  Divine  decree),  A 
particular  night  in  the  month  Ramadhan, 
when  the  Arabs  say  that  angels  descend 
to  earth,  and  Gabriel  reveals  to  man  the 
decrees  of  God. — A I Koran. 

A1  Moshta'ri.  The  Arabian  name 
of  the  planet  Jupiter. 

Al-Si'rat  (Arab.,  the  path).  The  bridge 
over  hell,  no  wider  than  the  edge  of  a 
sword,  across  which  every  one  who  enters 
heaven  must  pass.  (Mahom.  Theol.) 

All  Alive  and  Kicking.  The 
allusion  is  to  a child  in  the  womb  after 

quickening.’* 

All  in  the  Wrong.  A drama,  by 
Murphy,  borrowed  from  Destouches,  the 
French  dramatist. 

All  my  Eye  (and)  Betty  Martin. 
All  nonsense.  Joe  Miller  says  that  a 
Jack  Tar  went  into  a foreign  church, 
where  he  heard  some  one  uttering  these 
words— AA/  mihi,  hea'te  Marti' ne  (Ah! 
[grant]  me,  Blessed  Martin).  On  giving 
an  account  of  his  adventure.  Jack  said 
he  could  not  make  much  out  of  it,  but  it 
seemed  to  him  very  like  ^^All  my  eye 
and  Betty  Martin.” 

All  Saints  or  All  Hallows.  In  610 
the  Pope  of  Rome  ordered  that  the 
heathen  pantheon  should  be  converted 
into  a Christian  church,  and  dedicated 
to  the  honour  of  all  martyrs.  The  festi- 
val of  All  Saints  was  first  held  on  May  1, 
but  in  the  year  834  it  was  changed  to 
November  1.  Hallows”  is  from  the 
Saxon  haligan  (to  make  or  keep  holy). 

All  Souls’  Day.  The  2nd  of  No- 
vember, so  called  because  the  Roman 
Catholics  on  that  day  seek  by  prayer 
and  almsgiving  to  alleviate  the  sufferings 
of  souls  in  purgatory.  It  was  first  insti- 
tuted in  the  monastery  of  Clugny,  in  993. 

According  to  tradition,  a pilgrim,  re- 
turning from  the  Holy  Land,  was  com- 
pelled by  a storm  to  land  on  a rocky 
island,  where  he  found  a hermit,  who  told 
him  that  among  the  cliffs  of  the  island 
was  an  opening  into  the  infernal  regions 
through  which  huge  flames  ascended, 
and  where  the  groans  of  the  tormented 
were  distinctly  audible.  The  pilgrim 
told  Odilo,  abbot  of  Clugny,  of  this;  and 
the  abbot  appointed  the  day  following, 
which  was  November  2,  to  be  set  apart 
for  the  benefit  of  souls  in  purgatory. 


All  this  for  a Song.  The  excla- 
mation of  Burleigh,  when  queen  Eliza- 
beth ordered  him  to  give  £100  to  Spenser 
for  a royal  gratuity. 

All-overish.  A familiar  expression, 
meaning  all  over  ill  at  ease.  I feel  all- 
overish,”  not  exactly  ill,  but  by  no  means 
well.  The  precursor  of  a fever,  influenza, 
ague,  &c.  The  word  is  a corruption  of 
cdl  awvish^  i.e.,  all  elfish,  as  if  the  elves 
or  hobgoblins  had  bewitched  me. 

All-to.  Altogether.  As  '^all-to  be- 
crossed;”  all-to  bebatted.”  A certain 
woman  cast  a piece  of  a millstone  upon 
Abimelech’s  head,  and  all-to  brake  his 
skull.”  (Judges  ix.  53.)  (/See  The  Parker 
Society’s  reprints.) 

Mercutio’s  icy  hand  had  al-to  frozen  mine.— 
Romeus  and  Juliet,  1562. 

Alls.  The  five  Alls.  A public -house 
sign.  It  has  five  human  figures,  with  a 
motto  to  each  : — 

(1)  A king,  in  his  regalia motto  I govern  all. 

(2)  A bishop,  in  his  pontificals  „ I pray  for  all. 

IS)  A lawyer,  in  his  gown  ...  „ 1 plead  for  all. 

(4)  A soldier,  in  regimentals  „ IjUght  for  all. 

(5)  A labourer,  with  his  tools  „ I pay  for  all. 

One  of  these  signs  still  exists  in  the  town 
of  Marlborough. 

Alls.  Tap-droppings.  The  refuse  of 
all  sorts  of  spirits  drained  from  the 
glasses,  or  spilt  in  drawing.  The  mixture 
is  sold  in  gin-houses  at  a cheap  rate. 

Alla  or  Allah  (that  is,  al-iWi).  ^^The 
adorable.”  The  Arabic  name  of  the 
Supreme  Being. 

Alla  Akbar'.  Alla  is  most  mighty. 
The  cry  of  the  Arabs. — Ocldey. 

Allath.  One  of  the  three  daughters 
of  the  supreme  god  of  the  aiucient  Ara- 
bians. The  other  two  were  Menach  and 
Aluzzo. 

Allen- a-D ale.  A brave  young  man 
who  was  assisted  by  Robin  Hood  to  carry 
off  his  bride,  when  on  the  point  of  being 
married  against  her  will  to  a rich  old 
knight. 

Alliek  and  Sandie.  Contractions 
of  Alexander ; the  one  being  Alex’  and 
the  other  ’xander. 

Alligator.  When  the  Spaniards  first 
saw  this  reptile  in  the  New  World,  they 
called  it  el  lagarto  (the  lizard).  Sir  Wal- 
ter Raleigh  called  them  lagartoSj  and  Ben 
Jonson  alligartas. 


ALLODIALS. 


ALONZO. 


23 


Allo'dials.  Lands  which  are  held  by 
an  absolute  right,  without  even  the  bur- 
den of  homage  or  fidelity.  The  word  is 
Teutonic— (all  property). 

Allop'athy  is  in  opposition  to  Ho- 
moeop'atiiy.  The  latter  word  is  from  the 
Greek  homoeos  pathos,  similar  disease ; and 
the  former  is  alios  jpathos,  a different  dis- 
ease. In  one  case,  like  is  to  cure  like  ; ” 
and  in  the  latter,  the  disease  is  cured  by 
its  antidote.” 

Allworth.  In  A New  Way  to  Pay 
Old  Debts,”  by  Massinger. 

Allwortliy,  in  Fielding’s  Tom 
Jones,”  is  designed  for  the  author’s 
friend  Ealph  Allen. 

Let  humble  Allen,  with  an  awkward  shame, 

Do  good  by  stealth,  and  hlush  to  find  it  fame. 

Pope. 

AFma  {the  human  soul),  queen  of 
'^Body  Castle,”  beset  by  enemies  for 
seven  years  {the  Seven  Ages  of  Man). 
The  besiegers  are  a rabble  rout  of  evil 
desires,  foul  imaginations,  and  silly  con- 
ceits. Alma  conducted  Arthur  and  Sir 
Guy  on  over  her  castle.  The  divine  part 
of  a man,”  says  Spenser,  ^^is  circular,  a 
circle  being  the  emblem  of  eternity ; but 
the  mortal  part  triangular,  as  it  consists 
of  three  things— blood,  flesh,  and  bones.” 

Alma  Ma'ter.  A collegian  so  calls 
the  university  of  which  he  is  a member. 
The  words  are  Latin  for  fostering 
mother.” 

Expulsion  from  his  Alma  Mater.— Collegian 
and  the  Porter. 

Almaek’s.  Aristocratic  exclusive- 
ness. A ball  given  by  the  highest  nobi- 
lity. Almack’s  means  properly  a suite  of 
assembly  rooms  in  King  Street,  St.  James’s 
(London),  built  in  1765  by  a Scotchman 
named  Macall,  who  inverted  his  name  to 
obviate  all  prejudice  and  hide  his  origin. 
Balls,  presided  over  by  a committee  of 
ladies  of  the  highest  rank,  used  to  be 
given  at  these  rooms ; and  to  be  admitted 
to  them  was  as  great  a distinction  as  to 
be  introduced  at  Court.  The  rooms  are 
now  called  Willis’s,  from  the  present 
proprietor  ; but  they  no  longer  retain 
their  original  character. 

A1  'manac  is  the  Arabic  al  manac 
(the  diary).  Verstegen  says  it  is  the 
Saxon  al-rnon-aght  (all  moon  heed),  and 
that  it  refers  to  the  tallies  of  the  full  and 
new  moons  kept  by  our  Saxon  ancestors. 


One  of  these  tallies  may  still  be  seen  at 
St.  John’s  College,  Cambridge. 

The  Man  i’  the  Almanac  stuch  with  pins 
(Nat.  Lee),  is  a man  marked  with  points 
referring  to  signs  of  the  zodiac,  and 
intended  to  indicate  the  favourable  and 
unfavourable  times  of  letting  blood. 

I shan't  consult  your  almanac  (French), 
I shall  not  come  to  you  to  know  what 
weather  to  expect.  The  reference  is  to 
the  prognostications  of  weather  in  al- 
manacs. 

Alman'zor.  A character  in  Dry- 
den’s  Conquest  of  Granada,”  a tragedy. 

Almighty  Dollar.  Washington 
Irving  first  made  use  of  this  expression, 
in  his  sketch  of  a “ Creole  Village”  (1837). 

Almond  Tree.  Grey  hairs.  The 
Preacher  thus  describes  old  age  ; — 

In  the  day  when  the  keepers  of  the  house  [the 
hands)  shall  tremble,  and  the  strong  men  (the  legs) 
how  themselves,  and  the  grinders  {the  teeth)  cease 
because  they  are  few,  and  those  that  look  out  of 
the  windows  (the  eyes)  be  darkened  . . . and  the 
almond-tree  shall  flourish  (grey  hairs  on  a bald 
pate),  and  the  grasshopper  be  a burden,  and  de- 
sire shall  fail . . . when  the  silver  cord  (the  spinal 
marrow)  shall  be  loosed,  the  golden  bowl  (intellect) 
broken,  and  the  pitcher  broken  at  the  cistern  (the 
pulse  of  the  heart  stopped).— JEccles.  xii.  3—6. 

Almonry.  The  place  where  the 
almoner  resides.  The  almoner  is  the 
person  whose  duty  it  is  to  distribute  alms, 
which,  in  ancient  times,  consisted  of  one- 
tenth  of  the  entire  income  of  a monastery. 
{See  Ambry.  ) 

Alms.  Gifts  to  the  poor.  (Old  English 
almesse,  Danish  Norman  almoigns, 

French  aumones,  Latin  eleemosyna,  from 
the  Greek  eleeo,  I pity. ) 

Alms-drink.  Another’s  leavings ; for 
alms  consist  of  broken  bread  and  the 
residue  of  drink.  It  is  also  applied  to 
the  liquor  which  a drinker  finds  too  much, 
and  therefore  hands  to  another. 

Alms-house.  A house  in  which  alms- 
men and  women  live  free. 

Alms-man.  One  who  lives  on  alms. 

Along-shore  Men.  The  lower  sort 
of  men  employed  about  our  quays  and 
docks. 

Alonzo  of  A'guilar'.  When  Fer- 
nando, king  of  Ar'agon,  was  laying  siege 
to  Grana'da,  after  chasing  Za'gal  from 
the  gates,  he  asked  who  would  undertake 
to  plant  his  banner  on  the  heights. 
Alonzo,  ^Hhe  lowmost  of  the  dons,”  un- 
dertook the  task,  but  was  cut  down  by 


24 


ALOOF. 


ALTO. 


/ 


the  Moors.  His  body  was  exposed  in 
the  wood  of  Oxije'ra,  and  the  Moorish 
damsels,  struck  with  its  beauty,  buried 
it  near  the  brook  of  Alpuxarra. 

Aloof.  Stand  aloof,  away.  A sea 
term.  The  loof  is  the  after-part  of  a ship’s 
bow,  and  the  guns  mounted  therein  are 
styled  ^^loof-pieces.” 

A I’outrance.  In  spite  of  obstacles 
and  objections.  (French,  d Vontrance,  to 
the  extreme.) 

A champion  has  started  up  to  maintain  d Voutrance 
her  innocence  of  the  great  ofience.— Standard. 

Alp.  The  Adrian  renegade,  a Vene- 
tian by  extraction,  who  forswore  the 
Christian  faith  to  become  a commander 
in  the  Turkish  army.  He  led  the -host 
to  the  siege  of  Corinth,  while  that 
country  was  under  the  dominion  of  the 
Doge.  He  loved  Francesca,  daughter  of 
Minotti,  governor  of  Corinth,  but  she 
died  of  a broken  heart  because  he  de- 
serted his  country  and  was  an  apostate. 
The  renegade  was  shot  in  the  siege. — 
Byron,  Siege  of  Corinth.^^ 

Alph.  A mythical  sacred  river  in 
Xanadu,”  which  ran  'through  caverns 
measureless  to  man.” — Coleridge,  ^^Kuhla 
. Klianr 

Arpha.  I am  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  first  and  the  last.’*  (Rev.  i.  8.)  Alpha” 
is  the  first,  and  ‘^0-meg'a”  the  last  letter 
of  the  Greek  alphabet. 

Alphe'os  and  Arethu'sa.  The 
Greek  fable  says  that  Alphe'os,  the 
river-god,  fell  in  love  with  the  nymph 
Arethu'sa,  who  fled  from  him  in  affright. 
The  burly  god  pursued,  but  was  changed 
into  a river,  and  the  nymph  into  a 
fountain. 

We  have  seen  a moustachioed  Alpheos,  at  Rams- 
gate, pursue  an  affrighted  Arethusa.— iondon 
Review. 

Alphe'us  (in  Orlando  Furioso”). 
A magician  and  prophet  in  the  army  of 
Charlemagne,  slain  in  sleep  by  Clorida'no. 

Alplion'sin.  An  instrument  for  ex- 
tracting balls ; so  called  from  Alphonso 
Ferri,  a surgeon  of  Naples,  who  invented 
it. 

Alphon'sine  Tables.  Astronomical 
tabels  constructed  in  1252,  by  Isaac 
Kazan,  a Jewish  rabbi,  who  named  them 
in  honour  of  his  patron,  Alphonso  X., 
king  of  Ar'agon. 


Alphonso,  to  whom  Tasso  dedicates 
his  “Jerusalem  Delivered,”  was  Alphonso 
d’Este,  duke  of  Ferra'ra. 

Alpue  {Al’pti).  Continuing  the  bet 
on  a particular  card  that  has  already 
won. 

What  pity  ’tis  those  conquering  eyes 
Which  all  the  world  suhdue, 

Should,  while  the  lover  gazing  dies, 

Be  only  on  alpue.— Basset." 

Alc[ui'fe  (al-Jcet-fy).  A famous  en- 
chanter, introduced  into  the  romances  of 
ancient  times,  especially  those  relating 
to  Am'adis. 

Alsa'tia.  The  Whitefriars’  sanctuary 
for  debtors  and  law-breakers.  Cunning- 
ham thinks  the  name  is  borrowed  from 
Alsace,  in  France,  which,  being  a frontier 
of  the  Rhine,  was  everlastingly  the  seat 
of  war  and  the  refuge  of  the  disaffected. 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  his  “ Fortunes  of 
Nigel,”  has  described  the  life  and  state 
of  this  rookery.  {See  Petand.) 

Als'vidur.  One  of  the  horses  of  the 
sun.  {Scand.  myth.) 

Altamo'rus  (in  Jerusalem  De- 
livered ”).  King  of  Samarcand',  who 
joined  the  Egyptian  armament  against 
the  Crusaders.  “ He  was  supreme  in 
courage  as  in  might.”  (Book  xvii.)  He 
surrendered  him  self  to  Godfrey.  (Bookxx.) 

Alt  an  Kol  or  Gold  River  (Thibet). 
So  called  from  the  gold  which  abounds 
in  its  sands. 

Altar.  Led  to  the  altar,  i.e.,  married. 
Said  of  a lady.  The  altar  is  the  com- 
munion-table railed  off  from  the  body 
of  the  church,  where  marriages  are 
solemnised.  The  bride  is  led  up  the 
aisle  to  the  rail. 

Alter  eg'o.  My  double  or  counter- 
part. In  “ The  Corsican  Brothers,”  the 
same  actor  performs  the  two  brothers, 
the  one  being  the  alter  ego  of  the  other. 
(Lat.,  “a  second!.”) 

Altesido'ra  (in  the  “ Curious  Imper- 
tinent”); an  episode  in  '^Don  Quixote.” 

Altis.  The  plot  of  ground  on  which 
the  Greeks  held  their  public  games. 

Alto  relievo  {rel-e-a'-vo).  Italian  for 
“ high  relief.”  A term  used  in  sculpture 
for  figures  in  wood,  stone,  marble,  &c., 
so  cut  as  to  project  at  least  one-holf  from 
the  tablet. 


ALZES, 


A^MAZON. 


25 


Alzes  (2  syl.)>  The  Scandinavian 

god  of  fraternal  love. 

Alzir'do  (in  Orlando  Furioso). 
King  of  Trem'izen,  in  Africa.  He  was 
overthrown  by  Orlando  on  his  way  to 
join  the  allied  army  of  Ag'ramant. 

Am'adis  of  Gaul.  The  hero  of  a 
romance  in  prose  of  the  same  title, 
originally  written  in  Portuguese  in  four 
books.  These  four  were  translated  into 
Spanish  by  Montalvo,  who  added  a fifth. 
Subsequent  romancers  added  the  exploits 
and  adventures  of  other  knights,  so  as 
to  swell  the  romance  to  fourteen  books. 
The  French  version  is  much  larger  still, 
one  containing  twenty-four  books,  and 
another  running  through  seven  volumes. 
The  original  author  was  Vasco  de  Lobeira, 
of  Oporto,  who  died  1403. 

The  her  Of  called  the  Lion-knight,” 
from  the  device  on  his  shield,  and  Bel- 
tene'bros”  {darhly  beautifuV),  from  his 
personal  appearance,  was  a love-child  of 
Per'ion,  king  of  Gaul,  and  Elize'na, 
princess  of  Brittany.  He  is  represented 
as  a poet  and  musician,  a linguist  and  a 
gallant,  a knight-errant  and  a king,  the 
very  model  of  chivalry. 

Other  names  by  which  Am'adis  was 
called  were  the  Lovely  Obscure,  the  Knight 
of  the  Burning  Sivord,  the  Knight  of  the 
Dwarf,  &c. 

Am'adis  of  Greece.  A supple- 
mental part  of  the  romance  called 

Am'adis  of  Gaul,”  added  by  Felicia'no 
de  Silva. 

Amai'mon  (3  syl.).  One  of  the 
chief  devils  whose  dominion  is  on  the 
north  side  of  the  infernal  gulf.  He  might 
be  bound  or  restrained  from  doing  hurt 
from  the  third  hour  till  noon,  and  from 
the  ninth  hour  till  evening. 

Amaimon  sounds  well ; Lucifer  well. 

“2ferry  Wives  of  Windsor”  ii.  2. 

Amain'.  Forcibly,  at  once.  (Saxon, 
a-mcegn>)  Let  go  amain,  at  once  ; lower 
amain;  strike  amain,  i.e.,  let  fall  at  once, 
with  a run. 

Amal'fian  Code.  A compilation  of 
maritime  laws,  compiled  in  the  eleventh 
century  by  the  Amalfians. 

Amaliv'aca.  An  American  spirit, 
who  had  seven  daughters.  He  broke 
their  legs  to  prevent  their  running  away, 
and  left  them  to  people  the  forests. 


Amalthae'a’s  Horn.  The  cornu- 
copia or  horn  of  plenty.  The  infant 
Zeus  was  fed  with  goats’  milk  by  Amal- 
thsea,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Melisseus, 
king  of  Crete.  Zeus,  in  gratitude,  broke 
off  one  of  the  goat’s  horns,  and  gave  it 
Amalthasa,  promising  that  the  possessor 
should  always  have  in  abundance  every- 
thing desired.  {See  .<Egis.) 

Aman'da,  the  impersonation  of  love 
in  Thomson’s  ‘^Spring,”  is  Miss  Young, 
afterwards  married  to  Admiral  Camp- 
bell. 

Aman'ga.  The  Indian  love-god. 

Am'arant.  A cruel  giant  slain  by 
Guy  of  Warwick. — Guy  and  Amarant,** 
Percy's  Religues, 

Am'aranth.  Clement  of  Alexandria 
says — Amarantus  flos,  sym'bolum  est  im- 
mortalita'tis.  The  word  is  from  the 
Greek  amaran'tos  (everlasting) ; so  called 
because  its  flowers  never  fade  like  other 
flowers,  but  retain  to  the  last  their  deep 
blood-red  colour. 

Immortal  amarant— a flower  which  once 
In  Paradise,  fast  hy  the  tree  of  life. 

Began  to  bloom;  hut  soon,  for  man’s  oifence. 

To  heaven  removed,  where  first  it  grew,  there 
grows 

And  flowers  aloft,  shading  the  fount  of  life.  . . , 
With  these,  that  never  fade,  the  spirits  elect 
Bind  their  resplendent  locks. 

Milton,  ''Paradise  Lost”  iil. 

Amarjrl'lis.  A pastoral  sweetheart. 
The  name  is  borrowed  from  the  pastorals 
of  Theoc'ritos  and  Virgil. 

To  sport  with  Amaryllis  in  the  shade.— 

Amaryn'thos.  One  of  the  dogs  of 
Actseon. 

Ama'ti.  A first-rate  violin ; pro- 
perly, one  made  by  Ama'ti  of  Cremo'na. 
{See  Cremona.) 

Am'azon.  A horsewoman,  a fight- 
ing or  masculine  woman.  The  word  means 
without-breast,  or  rather,  deprived  of  a 
pap.”  According  to  Grecian  story,  there 
was  a nation  of  women  in  Africa  of  a 
very  warlike  character.  There  were  no 
men  in  the  nation ; and  if  a boy  was  born, 
it  was  either  killed  or  sent  to  his  father, 
who  lived  in  some  neighbouring  state. 
The  girls  had  their  right  breasts  singed 
off,  that  they  might  the  better  draw  the 
bow. 

Probably  the  fable  is  founded  on  a 
misconception  of  the  Circassian  word 
m'lza  (the  moon),  the  Amazons  of  Ther- 


26 


AMBER. 


AMETHEA. 


modoon,  in  Asia  Minor,  being  worshippers 
of  the  moon. 

A similar  error  was  the  origin  of  the 
name  Amazons  of  the  North.”  Adam 
of  Bremen  mistook  Quanerlaoid  (ice-land) 
for  Quinerland;  and  as  Quiner  means 
woman/’  he  peopled  his  Womanland” 
with  a race  of  amazons. 

Amfazon.  In  South  America,  origi- 
nally called  Mar'anon'.  The  Spaniards  first 
called  it  Orella'na  ; but  after  the  women 
joined  their  husbands  in  attacking  the 
invaders,  the  Spaniards  called  the  people 
Am'azons  and  the  country  Amazo'nia. 

Am'ber  is  said  by  some  to  be  a con- 
cretion of  birds’  tears. — Chamhers. 

Around  thee  shall  glisten  the  loveliest  amher 
That  ever  the  sorrowing  sea-hird  hath  wept. 

T.  Moore,  “Fire  Worshippers.’^ 

Amher,  a repository.  So  called  be- 
cause insects  and  small  leaves  are  pre- 
served in  amber. 

You  may  he  disposed  to  preserve  it  in  your  amher. 

“Notes  and  Queries."— W.  Dowe. 

Amberabad'.  Amber-city,  one  of 
the  towns  of  Jinnistan,  or  Fairy  Land. 

Am'bes-as  or  Ames-ace.  Two  aces, 
the  lowest  throw  in  dice  ; figuratively, 
bad  luck. 

I had  rather  be  in  this  choice  than  throw  ames- 
ace  for  my  life.— “J-ZZ’s  Well,”  &c.,  ii.  3. 

Ambi-dexter  properly  means  both 
hands  right  hands  ; a double  dealer ; a 
juror  who  takes  money  from  both  parties 
for  his  verdict. 

Ambition,  strictly  speaking,  means 
'Hhe  going  from  house  to  house”  (Latin, 
ambitio,  going  about  canvassing).  In 
Rome  it  was  customary,  some  time  before 
an  election  came  on,  for  the  candidates 
to  go  round  to  the  different  dwellings  to 
solicit  votes,  and  those  who  did  so  were 
ambitious  of  office. 

Ambro'sia.  The  food  of  the  gods 
(Greek,  a brotos,  not  mortal) ; so  called 
because  it  made  them  not  mortal,  i.e.,  it 
made  them  immortal.  Anything  de- 
licious to  the  taste  or  fragrant  in  perfume 
is  so  called  from  the  notion  that  whatever 
is  used  by  the  celestials  must  be  excel- 
lent. 

Ambro'sian  Chant.  The  choral 
music  introduced  from  the  eastern  to  the 
western  church  by  St.  Ambrose,  the 
bishop  of  Mil'an,  in  the  fourth  century. 


It  was  used  till  Gregory  the  Great  changed 
it  for  the  Gregorian. 

Ambro'sian  Library.  A library  in 
Mil'an,  so  called  in  compliment  of  St. 
Ambrose,  the  patron  saint. 

Am'bry.  A corruption  of  almonry. 
the  niche  or  recess  cut  in  the  wall,  or  (in 
large  cathedrals  and  monasteries)  that 
part  of  the  cloisters  where  alms  were 
deposited  and  out-door  relief  was  distri- 
buted. Ambries  are  now  used  for  hold- 
ing the  sacramental  plate,  consecrated 
oils,  and  so  on.  [See  Almonry.) 

Ambusea'de  (3  syl.)  is  the  Italian 
imbosca'ta  (concealed  in  a wood). 

Amedieu  (3  syl.).  '^Friends  of 
God a religious  body  in  the  Church  of 
Rome,  founded  in  1400.  They  wore  no 
breeches,  but  a grey  cloak  girded  with  a 
cord,  and  were  shod  with  wooden  shoes. 

Ame'lia.  A model  of  conjugal  affec- 
tion, in  Fielding’s  novel  so  called.  It  is 
said  that  the  character  is  intended  for 
his  own  wife. 

Amende  honorable,  in  France, 
was  a degrading  punishment  inflicted  on 
traitors,  parricides,  and  sacrilegious  per- 
sons, who  were  brought  into  court  with 
a rope  round  their  neck,  and  made  to 
beg  pardon  of  God,  the  king,  and  the 
court.  Now,  the  public  acknowledgment 
of  the  offence  is  all  that  is  required. 

Amen'thes  (3  syl.).  The  Egyptian 
Ha'des.  The  word  means  hiding-'place. 

American  Flag.  The  American 
Congress  resolved  (June  14,  1777),  that 
the  flag  of  the  United  States  should  have 
thirteen  stripes,  alternately  red  and  white, 
to  represent  the  thirteen  States  of  the 
Union,  together  with  thirteen  white  stars, 
on  a blue  ground.  General  Washington’s 
escutcheon  contained  three  bars  and 
three  stars,  and,  like  the  American  stars, 
those  of  the  General  had  only  five  points 
instead  of  six.  A new  star  is  now  added 
for  each  new  State,  but  the  stripes  re- 
main the  same. 

American  Peculiarities 

Natives  of  New  England  say  Gwess. 

„ N.York  and  Middle  States  „ Expect. 

„ Southern  States „ Reckon. 

„ Western  States  „ Calculate. 

Ameth'ea.  One  of  the  horses  of 
Pluto.  {See  Abaster.) 


AMETHYST. 


AMOROUS. 


27 


Am'ethyst.  A species  of  rock  crys- 
tal ; so  called  from  the  ancient  notion  of 
its  being*  an  antidote  to  the  effects  of 
wine.  (Greek,  a methusho,  to  de-intoxi- 
cate. ) 

Ami'cus  cu'riae  (Latin,  a Jriend  to 
the  court).  One  in  the  court  who  informs 
the  judge  of  some  error  he  has  detected. 

Ami'cus  Plato,  seel  magis  ami'ea  Ver'itas 
(Plato  I love,  but  I love  Truth  more).  A 
noble  dictum  attributed  to  Aristotle,  but 
certainly  a very  free  translation  of  a line 
in  the  ^^Nicomach'ean  Ethics.” 

Am'iel  (3  syh).  A form  of  the  name 
Eliam  {friend  of  God).  In  Dryden’s  satire 
of  Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  it  is  de- 
signed for  Mr.  Seymour,  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Commons.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  34.) 

■Who  can  Amiel’s  praise  refuse  ? 

Of  ancient  race  hy  hirth,  hut  nohler  yet 
In  his  own  worth,  and  without  title  great. 

The  Sanhedrim  long  time  as  chief  he  ruled, 
Their  reason  guided,  and  their  passion  cooled. 

Dry  den, Absalom  and  AchitopheV’ 

Am'iens  (3  syl. ).  The  Peace  of  Amiens, 
March  27, 1802,  a treaty  signed  by  J oseph 
Bonaparte,  the  marquis  of  Cornwallis, 
Azara,  and  Schimmelpenninck,  to  settle 
the  disputed  points  between  France, 
England,  Spain,  and  Holland.  It  was 
dissolved  in  1803. 

Ami'na.  An  orphan  adopted  by  a 
miller,  and  beloved  by  Elvi'no,  a rich 
farmer.  The  night  before  her  espousals 
she  is  found  in  the  bed  of  count  Rodolpho, 
and  is  renounced  by  her  betrothed  hus- 
band. The  count  explains  to  the  young 
farmer  and  his  friends  that  Ami^na  is 
iunocent,  and  has  wandered  in  her  sleep. 
While  he  is  still  talking,  the  orphan  is 
seen  getting  out  of  the  window  of  the 
mill,  and  walking  in  her  sleep  along  the 
edge  of  the  roof  under  which  the  mill- 
wheel is  rapidly  revolving.  She  crosses 
a crazy  bridge,  and  comes  among  the 
spectators.  In  a few  minutes  she  awakes, 
flies  to  Elvi'no,  and  is  claimed  by  him  as 
his  beloved  and  innocent  bride.—  Belli' niJs 
hest  o'pera,  “ La  SonnamLulaP 

Amin'adab.  A Quaker.  The  Scrip- 
ture name  has  a double  m,  but  in 
old  comedies,  where  the  character  repre- 
sents a Quaker,  the  name  has  generally 
ouly  one.  Ohadiah  is  used,  also,  to  sig- 
nify a Quaker,  and  Rachel  a Quakeress. 

Ami'ne  (2  syl.).  A hard-hearted 
woman  who  led  her  three  sisters  about 


^^as  a eash  of  greyhounds.”— Ara&mTi 
Nights. 

Amlral  or  Ammiral.  A Miltonic 
form  of  the  word  “admiral.”  (German, 
amiral ; Italian,  ammiraqlio.)  {See  Ad- 
miral.) 

Amlet,  Richard.  The  gamester  in 
Vanbrugh’s  drama  called  ‘^The  Con- 
federacy.” 

Am'mon.  A Libyan  deity  similar  to 
the  Roman  Jupiter  ; so  called  from  the 
Greek  ammos  (sand),  because  his  temple 
was  in  the  desert. 

Son  of  Jupiter  Ammon.  Alexander  the 
Great.  His  father,  Philip,  claimed  to  be 
a descendant  of  Hercules,  and  therefore 
of  J upiter ; and  the  son  was  saluted  by 
the  priests  of  the  Libyan  temple  as  son 
of  Ammon.  Hence  was  he  called  the 
son  or  descendant  both  of  Jupiter  and  of 
Ammon. 

Am'monites  (3  syl. ).  Fossil  molluscs; 
so  called  because  they  resemble  the  horn 
upon  the  ancient  statues  of  Jupiter 
Ammon.  {See  above. ) 

A'mon’s  Son  (in  “Orlando Furioso”) 
is  Rinaldo.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Amon  or  Aymon,  marquis  d’Este,  and 
nephew  of  Charlemagne. 

Am'oret,  brought  up  by  Venus  in  the 
courts  of  love.  She  is  the  type  of  female 
loveliness — young,  handsome,  gay,  witty, 
and  good  ; soft  as  a rose,  sweet  as  a 
violet,  chaste  as  a lily,  gentle  as  a dove, 
loving  everybody  and  by  all  beloved. 
She  is  no  Diana  to  make  “gods  and  men 
fear  her  stern  frown;”  no  Minerva  to 
“freeze  her  foes  into  congealed  stone 
with  rigid  looks  of  chaste  austerity;” 
but  a living,  breathing  virgin,  with  a 
warm  heart,  and  beaming  eye,  and  pas- 
sions strong,  and  all  that  man  can  wish 
and  woman  want.  She  becomes  the 
loving,  tender  wife  of  Sir  Scu'damore. 
Tim'ias  finds  her  in  the  arms  of  Corflambo 
{sensual  passion) ; combats  the  monster 
unsuccessfully,  but  wounds  the  lady. — 
Spenser,  Faery  Queen  f book  iii. 

Amorous,  The.  Philippe  1.  of 
France ; so  called  because  he  divorced 
his  wife  Berthe  to  espouse  Bertrade,  who 
was  already  married  to  Foulques,  comto 
d’ Anjou.  (1061-1108.) 


28 


AMOUR. 


AMYS. 


Amour  propre.  One’s  self-love, 
vanity,  or  opinion  of  what  is  due  to  self. 
To  make  an  appeal  to  one's  amour  propre^ 
is  to  put  a person  on  his  metal.  To 
woxind  one's  amour  propre,  is  to  gall  his 
good  opinion  of  himself — to  wound  his 
vanity. 

Ampa'ro  de  Pobres.  A book  ex- 
posing the  begging  impostors  of  Madrid, 
written  by  Herrera,  physician  to  Felipe 
II. 

Amphictyon'ic  Council.  A 

council  of  confederate  Greeks  from 
twelve  of  their  tribes,  each  of  which  had 
two  deputies.  The  council  met  twice  a 
year— in  the  spring  at  Delphi,  and  in  the 
autumn  at  Thermop'ylsc.  According  to 
fable,  it  was  so  called  from  Amphic'tyon, 
son  of  Deuca'lion,  its  supposed  founder. 
(Greek,  amphictiones,  dwellers  round 
about.) 

Amphi'on  is  said  to  have  built 
Thebes  by  the  music  of  his  lute,  which 
was  so  melodious  that  the  stones  danced 
into  walls  and  houses  of  their  own  ac- 
cord. 

Amphitri'te  (either  3 or  4 syl.).  The 
sea.  In  classic  mythology,  the  wife  of 
Neptune  (Greek,  amphi-treo,  to  bore  all 
round) ; so  called  from  the  notion  that 
the  sea  encompasses  the  earth  like  a 
ditch. 

His  weary  chariot  sought  the  bowers 
Of  Amphitrite  and  her  tending  nymphs. 

Thomson^  “ Summer.'* 

Amphit'ryon.  Le  reritalle  Amphi- 
tryon est  V Amphitryon  Von  dine  (Mo- 
liere).  That  is,  the  person  who  provides 
the  feast  (whether  master  of  the  house  or 
not)  is  the  real  host.  The  tale  is  that 
Jupiter  assumed  th-o  likeness  of  Am- 
phit'ryon,  and  gave  a banquet ; but 
Amphitryon  himself  came  home,  and 
claimed  the  honour  of  being  the  master 
of  the  house.  As  far  as  the  servants 
and  guests  were  concerned,  the  dispute 
was  soon  decided — he  who  gave  the 
feast  was  to  them  the  host.” 

Amphrys'ian  Prophetess  {Am- 
phrysia  Vales).  The  Cumsean  sibyl ; so 
called  from  Amphrys'os,  a river  of 
Thessaly,  on  the  banks  of  which  Apollo 
fed  the  herds  of  Adme'tos ; consequently 
Amphrys'ian  means  Apollo'nian. 

Amram’s  Son.  Moses.  (Exod.vi.20.) 

As  when  the  potent  rod 
Of  Amram’s  son,  in  Egypt’s  evil  day. 

Waved  round  the  coast.— “Paradise  iort,”  1. 


Amri,  in  the  satire  of  ^'Absalom  and 
Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate,  is 
designed  for  Sir  Heneage  Finch,  earl  of 
Winchelsea  and  lord  chancellor. 

Our  list  of  nobles  next  let  Amri  grace, 

Whose  merits  claimed  the  Abethdin’s  (iord  Chan- 
cellor's) high  place— 

To  whom  the  double  blessing  does  belong. 

With  Moses’  inspiration,  Aaron’s  tongue. 

Pt.  ii. 

Amri'ta.  The  elixir  of  immortality, 
made  by  churning  the  milk-sea  {Hindu 
mythology).  Sir  Wm.  Jones  speaks  of  an 
apple  so  called,  because  it  bestows  im- 
mortality on  those  who  partake  of  it. 
The  word  means  immortal, 

Amsanc'tus.  A lake  in  Italy,  in  the 
territory  of  Hirpi'num,  said  to  lead  down 
to  the  infernal  regions.  The  word  means 
sacred  water. 

Amuck'.  To  run  amuck.  To  talk  or 
write  on  a subject  of  which  you  are 
wholly  ignorant  ; to  run  foul  of.  The 
Malays,  under  the  influence  of  opium, 
become  so  excited,  that  they  some- 
times rush  forth  with  daggers,  yelling 

Amuck!  amuck  !"  (Kill ! kill !),  and  fall 
foul  of  any  one  they  chance  to  meet. 

Satire’s  my  weapon,  but  I’m  too  discreet 

To  run  amuck  and  tilt  at  all  I meet.— Pope. 

Am'ulet.  Something  worn  round 
the  neck  as  a charm.  (Arabic,  hamulet, 
that  which  is  suspended.) 

The  early  Christians  used  to  wear 
amulets  called  Icthus  (fish) ; the  word  is 
composed  of  the  initial  letters  of  le'sos 
Christos  THeou  Uios  Soter  (Jesus 
Christ,  Son  of  God,  our  Saviour).  {See 
Notakica.) 

A mun'deville.  Lady  Adeline  Amun- 
deville,  a lady  who  had  a twilight  tinge 
of  blue,”  could  make  epigrams,  give 
delightful  soirees,  and  was  fond  of  making 
matches. — Byron,  ^^Don  Juan,"  xv.,  xvi. 

Amyelae'an  Silence.  More  silent 
than  Amy c' Ice.  The  inhabitants  of 
Amyclse  were  so  often  alarmed  by  false 
rumours  of  the  approach  of  the  Spartans, 
that  they  made  a decree  no  one  should 
ever  again  mention  the  subject.  When 
the  Spartans  actually  came  against  the 
town,  no  one  durst  mention  it,  and  the 
town  was  taken. 

The  Amycloean  Brothers.  Castor  and 
Pollux,  who  were  born  at  Amyclsc. 

A'mys  and  Amyl'ion.  The  Pyl'ades 
and  Ores'tes  of  feudal  story. — Ellis's 

Specimens." 


ANABAPTISTS. 


ANAXAETE. 


29 


Anabaptists,  A nickname  of  the 
Baptist  Dissenters ; so  called  because, 
in  the  first  instances,  they  had  been 
baptised  in  infancy,  and  were  again 
baptised  on  a confession  of  faith  in  adult 
age.  The  word  means  the  twice-haptised. 

Anachar'sis.  Anacharsis  among  the 
Scythians.  A wise  man  amongst  fools  ; 

Good  out  of  Nazareth;”  Sir  Sid- 
ney Smith  on  Salisbury  Plain.”  The 
opposite  proverb  is  ^^Saul  amongst  the 
Prophets,”  i.e.,  a fool  amongst  wise  men. 
Anacharsis  was  a Scythian  by  birth,  and 
the  Scythians  were  proverbial  for  their 
uncultivated  state  and  great  ignorance. 

Anacharsis  Clootz.  Baron  J ean  Baptiste 
Clootz,  a Prussian  by  birth,  but  brought 
up  in  Paris,  where  he  adopted  the  Ke- 
volutionary  principles,  and  called  him- 
self The  Orator  of  the  Human  Race.  (1755- 
1794.) 

Anacleth'ra.  The  stone  on  which 
Ceres  rested  after  searching  in  vain  for 
her  daughter.  It  was  kept  as  a sacred 
deposit  in  the  Prytane'um  of  Athens. 

Anac'reon.  A Greek  poet,  who 
wrote  chiefly  in  praise  of  love  and  wine. 
(B.c.  563-478.) 

Anacreon  of  the  Twelfth  Century.  Walter 
Mapes,  also  called  The  Jovial  Toper.” 
(1150-1196.)  His  best-known  piece  is 
the  famous  drinking-song,  “Meum  est 
ropos'itum  in  taber'na  mo'ri,”  translated 
y Leigh  Hunt. 

Anacreon  Moore.  Thomas  Moore,  who 
not  only  translated  Anacreon  into  Eng- 
lish, but  also  wrote  original  poems  in 
the  same  style.  (1779-1852.) 

Anacreon  of  the  Guillotine.  Bertrand 
Barhre  de  Vieuzac,  president  of  the 
National  Convention  ; so  called  from  the 
flowery  language  and  convivial  jests 
made  by  him  towards  his  miserable 
victims.  (1755-1841). 

Anacreon  of  the  Temple.  Guillaume 
Amfrye,  abbe  de  Chaulieu ; the  Tom 
Moore  ” of  France.  (1639-1720.) 

The  French  Anacreon.  Pontus  de 
Thiard,  one  of  the  Pleiad  poets.  (1521- 
1605.) 

The  Persian  Anacreon.  Mohammed 
Hafiz.  (Fourteenth  century.) 

The  Sicilian  Anacreon.  Giovanni  Meli. 
(1740-1815.) 

Anacreon  of  Painters.  Francesco 
Alba'no,  a famous  painter  of  lovely 
females.  (1578-1660.) 


Anacreon'tic.  In  imitation  of 
Anac'reon  (p[.v.). 

Anaeh'ronism.  An  event  placed  at 
a wrong  date ; as  if  one  were  to  talk  of 
Magna  Charta  as  existing  in  the  reign  of 
William  the  Conqueror.  (Greek,  ana 
chrenos,  out  of  time.) 

Anag'nostes  (Greek).  A domestic 
servant  employed  by  the  wealthy  Romans 
to  read  to  them  at  meals.  Charlemagne' 
had  his  reader  ; and  the  monks  were  read 
to  at  meals.  (Greek,  anaginosTco,  to  read. ) 

Anah,  a tender-hearted,  pious,  meek, 
and  loving  creature,  granddaughter  of 
Cain,  and  sister  of  Aholiba'mah.  Japeth 
loved  her,  but  she  had  set  her  heart  on 
the  seraph  Aza'ziel,  who  carried  her  off 
to  some  other  planet  when  the  flood 
came. — Byro7i,  Heaven  and  Earth*' 

Ana'na.  The  pine-apple  (the  Bra- 
zilian ananas).  In  Ethiopian  hiero- 
glyphics, says  A.  Tuder,  it  is  the  symbol 
of  knowledge.” 

Witness  thou,  best  Anana!  thou  the  pride 

Of  vegetable  life.— T/iomson,  “ Summer.” 

Anath'ema.  A denunciation  or 
curse.  The  word  is  Greek,  and  means 
to  place,  or  set  up,  in  allusion  to  the 
mythological  custom  of  hanging  in  the 
temple  of  a patron  god  something  devoted 
to  him.  Thus  Gordius  hung  up  his  yoke 
and  beam ; the  shipwrecked  hung  up  their 
wet  clothes ; workmen  retired  from  busi- 
ness hung  up  their  tools,  &c.  Hence  to 
set  apart;  and  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  to  set  apart  from  the  Church  as 
under  a curse. 

Anat'omy.  He  ivas  like  an  anatomy — 
i.e.,  a mere  skeleton,  very  thin,  like  one 
whose  flesh  had  been  anatomised  or  cut 
off.  Shakespeare  uses  atomy  as  a syno- 
nym. Thus  the  hostess  QidcJcly  says  to 
the  Beadle:  Thou  atomy,  thou!”  and 
Poll  Tearsheet  caps  the  phrase  with, 
“ Come,  you  thin  thing  ; come,  you 
rascal.”— 2 Hen.  IV.,  v.  4. 

Anaxar'ete,  of  Sal'amis,  was  changed 
into  stone  for  despising  the  love  of  Iphis, 
who  hung  himself. — Ovid. 

Anaxar'te.  A knight  who^e  adven- 
tures and  exploits  form  a supplemental 
part  of  the  Spanish  romance  called 

Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  This  part  was 
added  by  Feliciano  do  Silva. 


30 


ANGLOS. 


ANDEOID. 


/ 


Anese'os.  Helmsman  of  the  ship 
Argo,  after  the  death  of  Ti'phys.  He  was 
told  by  a seer  that  he  would  never  live  to 
taste  the  wine  of  his  vineyards.  When 
a bottle  made  from  his  own  grapes  was 
set  before  him,  he  sent  for  the  seer  to 
laugh  at  his  prognostications;  but  the 
seer  made  answer,  There’s  many  a slip 
’twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip.”  At  this 
instant  a messenger  came  in,  and  told 
Anc8eos  that  a wild  boar  was  laying  his 
vineyard  waste,  whereupon  he  set  down 
his  cup,  went  out  against  the  boar,  and 
was  killed  in  the  encounter. 

Aneal'ites.  Inhabitants  of  parts  of 
Berkshire  and  Wiltshire,  referred  to  by 
Caesar  in  his  Commentaries.” 

An'chor.  That  was  my  sheet  anchor — 
^.e.,  my  best  hope,  my  last  refuge.  The 
sheet  anchor  is  the  largest  anchor  of  a 
ship,  which,  in  stress  of  weather,  is  the 
sailor’s  chief  dependence.  The  word 
sheet  is  a corruption  of  the  word  shote 
(thrown  out),  meaning  the  anchor 

thrown  out  ” in  foul  weather.  The 
Greeks  and  Eomans  said,  my  sacred 
anchor,”  referring  to  the  sheet  anchor, 
which  was  always  dedicated  to  some  god. 

The  anchor  is  ayeeh — that  is,  the  cable 
of  the  anchor  is  so  tight  that  the  ship  is 
drawn  completely  over  it.  {See  Bower 
Sheet.) 

Aneient.  A corruption  of  ensign. 

My  whole  charge  consists  of  ancients,  corporals, 

lieutenants,  gentlemen  of  companies —• 

Shakespeare,  ^‘1  Henry  IV.,”  iv.  2. 

Ancient  Mariner.  Having  shot 
an  albatross,  he  and  his  companions 
were  subjected  to  fearful  penalties.  On 
repentance  he  was  forgiven,  and  on 
reaching  land  told  his  story  to  a hermit. 
At  times,  however,  distress  of  mind 
drove  him  from  land  to  land,  and 
wherever  he  abode  he  told  his  tale  of 
woe,  to  warn  from  cruelty  and  persuade 
men  to  love  God’s  creatures. — Coleridge. 

Aneient  Hegime.  An  antiquated 
system  of  government.  This  phrase, 
in  the  French  Eevolution,  meant  the 
monarchical  form  of  government,  or  the 
system  of  government,  with  all  its  evils, 
which  existed  prior  to  that  great  change. 

Aneile  (3  syh).  The  Palladium  of 
Eome.  It  was  the  sacred  buckler  which 
Numa  said  fell  from  heaven.  To  prevent 
its  being  stolen,  he  caused  eleven  others 


to  be  made  precisely  like  it,  and  confided 
them  to  twelve  priests  called  Salii,  who 
bore  them  in  procession  through  the  city 
every  year  at  the  beginning  of  March. 

And.  The  sign  called  Anders, 
Am'pers,  or  Amprus,  a7id.  A corrup- 
tion of  X Y Z,  and  k as  and”— ^.e., 
for  the  word  ‘^and.”  And-as  ‘^And.” 

Another  derivation  is  this : it  is  said 
that  the  ancient  hornbooks  used  to 
place  after  the  alphabet  &c.  {et  cetera), 
and  & {per  se)  and the  last  being  called 
'And-per-see  And,’  contracted  into 
^ An’pers  And.’ 

The  martyr  Bradford,  says  Lord 
Eussell,  was  ‘^A  per  se  A”  with  them, 

to  their  comfort,”  ka.—i.e.,  stood  alone 
in  their  defence. 

And'rea  Ferra'ra.  A sword.  So 
called  from  a famous  sword-maker  of  the 
name. 

Andrew,  St.  The  symbol  of  this 
apostle  is  a X,  in  allusion  to  the  cross, 
made  in  an  X shape,  to  which  he  was 
bound  in  Patrse.  (a.d.  70.)  {See  St. 
Eule.) 

A Merry  A^idreiv.  A buffoon  or  clown. 
{See  Merry.) 

St.  A^idrew's  Cross  is  represented  in 
the  form  of  an  X (white  on  a blue  field). 
The  cross,  however,  on  which  the 
apostle  suffered  was  of  the  ordinary 
shape,  if  we  may  believe  the  relic  in  the 
convent  of  St.  Victor,  near  Marseilles. 
The  error  rose  from  the  way  in  which 
that  cross  is  exhibited,  resting  on  the 
end  of  the  cross-beam  and  point  of  the 
foot. 

According  to  J.  Leslie  History  of 
Scotland”),  this  sort  of  cross  appeared 
in  the  heavens  to  Achaius,  king  of  the 
Scots,  and  Hungus,  king  of  the  Piets, 
the  night  before  their  engagement  with 
Athelstane.  As  they  were  the  victors, 
they  went  barefoot  to  the  kirk  of  St. 
Andrew,  and  vowed  to  adopt  his  cross  as 
their  national  emblem.  {See  Constan- 
tine’s Cross.) 

Andrews.  A Joseph  Andreis.  A 
man  too  good  to  be  tempted  to  what  is 
wrong,  whether  in  love  or  money.  Though 
decidedly  ^^soft,”  Joseph  is  brave  and 
ingenuous.  Fielding’s  novel  so  called. 

Android  (properly  pronounced  An'- 
dro-id,  but  more  generally  An' droid') 
An  automaton  figure  of  a human  being 


ANDRONICA. 


ANGER. 


31 


(Greek,  andros-eidosy  a man’s  likeness.) 
One  of  the  most  famous  of  these  machines 
is  that  by  M.  Vaucanson,  called  the  flute- 
player.  The  chess-player  by  Kempil  is 
also  celebrated.  {See  Automaton.) 

Androni'ca  (in  '^Orlando  Furioso”). 
One  of  Logistilla’s  handmaids,  famous 
for  her  beauty.  She  was  sent  with 
Sophros'yne  to  conduct  Astolpho  from 
India  to  Arabia. 

Angel.  Half  a sovereign  in  gold  ; so 
called  because,  at  one  time,  it  bore  the 
figure  of  the  archangel  Michael  slaying 
the  dragon. 

Angel.  To  write  like  an  angel  (French). 
The  angel  referred  to  was  Angel  Verge'- 
cios,  a Greek  of  the  fifteenth  century, 
noted  for  his  caligraphy. 

Angel  {a  puhlic-house  sign),  in  compli- 
ment to  Richard  II.,  who  placed  an 
angel  above  his  shield,  holding  it  up  in 
his  hands. 

Angels,  say  the  Arabs,  were  created 
from  pure,  bright  gems  ; the  genii,  of 
fire ; and  man,  of  clay. 

Angels,  according  to  Dionysius  the 
Areop'agite,  were  divided  into  nine  or- 
ders : — 

(1)  Serapliim,  and  (2)  Cherubim,  in  the  first  circle. 

(3)  Thrones,  and  (4)  Dominions,  in  the  second 

(5)  Virtues,  (6)  Powers,  (7)  Principalities,  (8)  Arch- 
angels, and  (9)  Angels,  the  third  circle. 

In  heaven  above. 

The  effulgent  bands  in  triple  circles  move. 

'"Jerusalem  Delivered,”  xi.  13. 

Angels.  The  seven  holy  angels  are — 
Michael,  Gabriel,  Raphael,  Oriphflel, 
ZachaMel,  Samuel,  and  An'ael.  The  first 
three  the  Scripture,  including  the  Apo- 
crypha, affords. 

Angel-heast.  A favourite  round  game  of 
cards,  which  enabled  gentlemen  to  let 
the  ladies  win  small  stakes.  Five  cards 
are  dealt  to  each  player,  and  three  heaps 
formed—  one  for  the  king,  one  for  play, 
and  the  third  for  Tri'olet.  The  name  of 
the  game  was  la  Mte  (beast).  Angel  was 
the  stake.  Thus  we  say,  Shilling- whist. 

..This  gentleman  offers  to  play  at  Angel -beast, 
^ough  he  scarce  knows  the  cards.  — 

Garden.” 

Angel'ic  Doctor.  Thomas  Aqui'nas 
was  so  called,  because  he  discussed  the 
knotty  point  of  how  many  angels  can 
dance  on  the  point  of  a needle,”  or,  more 
strictly  speaking,  Utriim  An' gelus possit 
move'ri  de  extre'mo  ad  extre'mum  non  tran- 


seundo  per  mddium  (If  an  angel  passes 
from  one  point  to  another,  does  he  pass 
over  the  intervening  space  ?)  The  Doctor 
says  No. 

Angelic  Hymn.  The  hymn  begin- 
ning with  Glory  be  to  God  on  high,” 
&c. ; so  called  because  the  former  part  of 
it  was  sung  by  the  angel  host  that 
appeared  to  the  shepherds  of  Bethlehem. 

Angelica.  Daughter  of  GaFaphron, 
king  of  Cathay,  the  capital  of  which  was 
Albrac'ca.  Orlando  greatly  loved  her, 
but  she  married  Medo'ro,  a young  Moor, 
and  returned  to  India,  where  Medolo 
succeeded  to  the  crown  in  right  of  his 
wife. — Orlando  Furioso. 

Angelical  Stone.  The  specu- 
lum of  Dr.  Dee.  He  asserted  that  it 
was  given  him  by  the  angels  Raphael 
and  (Gabriel.  It  passed  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  earl  of  Peterborough,  thence 
to  lady  Betty  Germaine,  by  whom  it 
was  given  to  the  duke  of  Argyle,  whose 
son  presented  it  to  Horace  Walpole.  It 
was  sold  in  1842,  at  the  dispersion  of  the 
curiosities  of  Strawberry  Hill. 

Angellci.  Certain  heretics  of  the 
second  century,  who  advocated  the  wor- 
ship of  angels. 

An'gelites  (3  syl.).  A branch  of  the 
Sabellian  heretics  ; so  called  from  An- 
gelflus,  in  Alexandria,  where  they  used 
to  meet. 

An'gelo.  {See  Michael.) 

An 'gelus.  The.  A prayer  to  the 
Virgin,  instituted  by  Urban  II.  It 
begins  with  the  words  An' gelus  Dom'ini 
nuntia'vit  Mari'ce  (the  angel  of  the  Lord 
announced  to  Mary) ; then  follows  the 
salutation  of  Gabriel — Ave  Alarla,  &c. 
(Hail,  Mary,  &c.).  The  prayer  contains 
three  verses,  and  each  verse  ends  with 
the  salutation,  Ave  Mari' a. 

The  prayer  is  recited  three  times  a 
day,  at  the  sound  of  a bell  called  the 
Angelus. 

Sweetly  over  the  village  the  bell  of  the  Angelus 
Bounded.,— Longfellow,  “ Evangeline.” 

Anger.  Athenodo'rus,  the  Stoic,  told 
Augustus  the  best  way  to  restrain  unruly 
anger,  was  to  repeat  the  alphabet  before 
giving  way  to  it.  {See  Dandee.) 

The  sacred  line  he  did  but  once  repeat, 

And  laid  the  storm,  and  cooled  the  ragine-  heat. 

Tickell,  “ The  Horn  Book.'* 


82 


ANGIOLINA. 


ANIMALS. 


Angioli'na  (4  syl.).  The  young  wife 
of  Mari'no  Falie'ro,  the  doge.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Loreda'no. — Byron, 

Marino  Faliero'* 

Anglant'e’s  Lord— e.,  Orlando, 
who  was  lord  of  Anglant  and  knight  of 
Brava. 

An'gle.  A dead  angle.  A term  in 
fortification  applied  to  the  plot  of  earth 
before  an  angle  in  a wall  which  can 
neither  be  seen  nor  defended  from  the 
parapet. 

To  angle  with  a silver  hooh — Le.,  to  buy 
fish  at  market. 

An'gling.  The  father  of  angling. 
Izaak  Walton.  (1593-1683.) 

Angry,  The.  Christian  II.  of  Den- 
mark, Norway,  and  Sweden  was  so 
called,  on  account  of  his  ungovernable 
temper.  (1513-1559.) 

Anguar'agaen  (4  syl.).  The  planet 
Mars.  {Indian  myth. ) 

An'g'ular.  Cross-grained ; of  a patchy 
temper ; one  full  of  angles,  whose  temper 
is  not  smooth. 

Angurva'del.  Frithiof’s  sword, 
inscribed  with  Runic  letters,  which  blazed 
in  time  of  war,  but  gleamed  with  a dim 
light  in  time  of  peace. 

An'ima  Mundi  {the  soul  of  the  world), 
with  the  oldest  of  the  ancient  philo- 
sophers, meant  ^Hhe  source  of  life;” 
with  Plato,  it  meant  ‘Hhe  animating 
principle  of  matter,”  inferior  to  pure 
spirit;  with  the  Stoics,  it  meant  ‘^the 
whole  vital  force  of  the  universe.” 

Animals.  Animals  sacred  to  s'pecial 
deities.  To  Apollo,  the  loolf  the  griffon, 
and  the  crow ; to  Bacchus,  the  dragon 
and  the  tiger ; to  Diana,  the  stag ; to 
Esculapios,  the  serpent ; to  Hercules,  the 
deer ; to  Isis,  the  heifer  ; to  Jupiter,  the 
eagle  ; to  Juno,  VaQ  peacock  and  the  lamh; 
to  the  Lares,  the  dog;  to  Mars,  the  horse 
and  the  vulture;  to  Mercury,  the  cock; 
to  Minerva,  the  owl;  to  Neptune,  the 
hull ; to  Tethys,  the  halcyon;  to  Venus, 
the  dove,  the  sivan,  and  the  sparrou) ; to 
Vulcan,  the  lion,  &c. 

Animats  symbolical.  The  ant,  fruga- 
lity and  prevision ; ape,  uncleanness  ; ass, 
stupidity  ; Bantum  cook,  pluckiness,  prig- 
gishness ; bat  {blind  as  a bat);  bear, 
ill-temper,  uncouthness  ; bee,  industry ; 
beetle  {blind  as  a beetle) ; bull,  straight- 


forwardness ; bull- dog,  pertinacity  ; but- 
terfly, sportiveness,  living  in  pleasure;  cat, 
slyness,  deceit;  calf,  lum^ishness ; cicada, 
of  poetry  ; cook,  vigilance,  overbearing 
insolence ; crow,  longevity ; crocodile, 
hypocrisy ; cuckoo,  cuckoldom ; dog, 
fidelity,  dirty  habits ; dove,  innocence, 
harmlessness ; duck  (French,  canard) ; 
eagle,  majesty,  inspiration ; elephant, 
sagacity,  ponderosity ; fly,  feebleness,  in- 
significance; fox,  cunning,  artifice;  frog 
and  toad,  inspiration;  goat,  lascivious- 
ness; goose,  conceit,  folly ; gull,  gullibi- 
lity; grasshopper,  old  age;  hare,  timidity; 
hawk,  penetration;  hen,  maternal  care; 
horse,  speed,  grace;  jackdaw,  vain  assump- 
tion, empty  conceit;  jay,  senseless  chatter ; 
k.\iiQiii,playfidness;  lamb,  innocence,  sacri- 
fice; lark,  cheerfulness;  lion,  noble  courage ; 
lynx,  suspicious  vigilance;  magpie,  gar- 
rulity; mole,  obtuseness;  monkey,  tricks; 
mule,  obstinacy ; nightingale,  forloymness  ; 
ostrich,  stupidiiy  ; ox,  patience,  strength  ; 
owl,  wisdom;  parrot,  mocking  verbosity; 
pQaaook, pride;  pigeon,  cowardice  (pigeon- 
livered) ; pig,  obstinacy,  dirtiness  ; puppy, 
empty-headed  conceit ; rabbit,  timidity ; 
raven,  ill  luck;  robin  red-breast,  confiding 
trust;  serpent,  voisdom ; sheep,  silliness, 
timidity;  sparrow,  litigiousness;  spider, 
wiliness ; stag,  cuckoldom ; swallow,  a 
sunshine  friend ; swan,  grace ; swine, 
filthiness,  greed;  tiger,  ferocity  ; tortoise, 
chastity;  turkey-cock,  official  insolence; 
turtle-dove,  conjugal  fidelity ; vulture, 
rapine;  wolf,  cruelty. 

The  cry  of  animals.  Apes  gibber;  asses 
bray;  bees  hum;  beetles  drone;  hears  growl; 
bitterns  boom;  blackbirds  whistle;  black- 
caps— we  speak  of  the  “chick-chick”  of 
the  black-cap ; hxAlsbellow  ; canaries  sing 
or  quaver ; cats  mew,  purr,  swear,  and 
caterwaul;  calves  bleat  and  blear;  chaf- 
finches chirp  or  pink;  chickens  pip;  ci- 
cadae  sing ; cocks  crow;  cows  moo  or  low ; 
crows  caw ; cuckoos  cry  cuckoo;  dogs  bark, 
bay,  howl,  and  yelp;  doves  coo;  ducks 
quack;  eagles  scream;  falcons  chant;  flies 
buzz;  foxes  bark  and.  yelp;  irogs  croak; 
geese  cackle  and  hiss;  goldfinch — we  speak 
of  the  “ merry  twinkle ” of  the  female; 
grasshoppers  chirp;  grouse— we  speak  of 
the  drumming”  of  the  grouse;  guinea- 
fowls  cry '"'‘come-back i'  guinea-pigs  squeak; 
hares  squeak  ; hawks  scream  ; hens  cackle 
and  cluck;  horses  neigh  and  whinny; 
hyenas  laugh;  jays  chatter;  kittens  mew; 
lambs  baa  and  bleat;  larks  sing ; linnets 
chuckle  in  their  call ; lions  roar  ; magpies 


ANIMOSITY. 


ANTS. 


33 


chatter;  mice  squealc  ondi  squeal;  monkeys 
chatter  and  gihher ; nig-htingales  pipe  and 
warble — we  also  speak  of  its  '^jng-jug;” 
owls  hoot  and  screech;  oxen  loio  and  hellovj; 
parrots  talk  ; peacocks  scream  ; pee-wits 
cry  'pee-'icit;  pigeons  cooy  pigs  grunt,  squeak, 
and  squeal ; ravens  croak;  red- starts 
'iohistle;  rooks  caw;  screech-owls  screech  or 
shriek;  ^Icee^  baa  ov  bleat ; snakes  hiss; 
sparrows  chirp  or  yelp  ; swallows  twitter  ; 
swans  cry — we  also  speak  of  the  “ bonibi- 
lation  ” of  the  swan  ; thrushes  whistle ; 
Mger?, growl;  tits — we  speak  of  the  “twit- 
twit  ” of  the  bottle- tit  ; turkey-cocks 
gobble;  vultures  sm'eam;  white-throats 
chirr;  wolves  Aoiy?.  (/See  Paradise.) 

Animosity  means  animation,  spirit, 
as  the  fire  of  a horse,  called  in  Latin  equi 
animos'itas.  Its  exclusive  use  in  a bad 
sense  shows  that  hate  stirs  the  blood 
more  than  amiable  emotions. 

Anna,  Donna.  A lady  beloved  by 
Don  Otta'vio,  but  seduced  by  Don  Gio- 
vanni, who  also  killed  her  father,  the 
“ Commandant  of  the  City,”  in  a duel. — 
Mozart's  opera  of  Don  Giovanni.” 

An'nabel,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 
“ Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  designed 
for  the  duchess  of  Monmouth.  Her 
maiden  name  and  title  were  Anne  Scott, 
countess  of  Buccleuch,  the  richest  heiress 
in  Europe.  The  duke  was  faithless  to 
her,  and  after  his  death,  the  widow,  still 
handsome,  married  again. 

An'nates  (2  syl.).  The  claim  of  the 
pope  to  a year's  income  of  any  living  or 
ecclesiastical  office,  at  the  death  of  a 
bishop  or  incumbent.  This  is  called  the 

first-fruits.”  (Latin,  annus,  a year.) 

Anne.  Ulster  Anne.  Sister  of 
Fatfima,  the  seventh  and  last  of  Blue- 
beard’s wives.  When  Fatima  was 
doomed  to  death,  sister  Anne  ascended 
the  watch-tower  to  look  out  for  the  ap- 
proach of  her  brothers,  who  were  ex- 
pected, and  Fatima  called  out  every 
minute  in  agony,  Sister  Anne,  Sister 
Anne,  do  you  see  anybody  coming?  ” — 
Bluebeard. 

Annuncia'tion.  Day  of  the  Annun- 
ciation. The  25th  of  March,  also  called 
Lady  Day,  on  which  the  angel  an- 
nounced to  the  Virgin  Mary  that  she 
would  be  the  mother  of  the  Messiah. 

Annus  Mirab'ilis.  The  year  of 
wonders,  1666,  memorable  for  the  great 


fire  of  London  and  the  successes  of  our 
arms  over  the  Dutch.  Dryden  has 
written  a poem  with  this  title,  in  which 
he  describes  both  these  events. 

Anomoe'ans  or  Unlikists.  A sect  in 
the  fourth  century  which  maintained  that 
the  essence  of  the  Son  is  wholly  unlike 
that  of  the  Father,  (Greek,  an'omoios, 
unlike.) 

Anon  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  onon  or 
onone  (by  and  by,  immediately),  some- 
times written  anone. 

They  knewye  hym  in  hrekyng  of  hrede,  and 
onone  he  vanyste  awaye  fro  hem.— Jf*?.  Lincoln, 
A 1,  17. 

Spek  the  lion  . . . 

To  the  fox  anone  his  wille. 

Wnght's  “Political  Songs.” 

Anon-riglites.  Eight  quickly. 

He  had  in  town  five  hundred  knightes, 

He  hem  (them)  of  {off)  sent  anon-rightes. 

Anon'yma.  A lady^  of  the  demi- 
monde, called  by  the  Times  “a  pretty 
horse-breaker,”  because  the  first  Ano- 
nyma  was  a famous  equestrian. 

The  word  means  without  a name, 
.or  with  a name  unknown,  ladies  of  this 
class  being  unrecognised  in  society.  They 
are  also  called  Incog'nita  (unrecognised). 
Miss  Berry  called  this  class  of  ladies  la 
mauvaise  compagnie. 

Ansa'rian.  The  Moslems  of  Medi'na 
were  called  Ansarians  {auxiliaries)  by 
Mahomet,  because  they  received  him  and 
took  his  part  when  he  was  driven  from 
house  and  home  by  the  Koreishites 
{Kore-ish'-ites). 

An'swer.  To  answer  the  bell  is  to  go 
and  see  what  it  was  rung  for. 

To  answer  the  door  is  to  go  and  open  it, 
when  a knock  or  ring  has  been  given. 

In  both  these  instances  the  word  is 
“ answering  to  a summons.  ’ To  sioear 
means  literally  “ to  affirm  something,”  and 
to  an-swear  is  to  “say  something  by  way 
of  rejoinder ; but  figuratively  both  the 
“swer”  and  the  “an-swer”  may  be  made 
without  words.  {See  Swear.  ) 

Ants.  “ Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard... 
which  provideth  her  meat  in  the  summer.” 
(Prov.  vi.  6—8 ; and  xxx.  25.)  The 
notion  that  ants  in  general  gather  food 
in  harvest  for  a winter’s  store  is  quite  an 
error : in  the  first  place,  they  do  not  live 
on  grain,  but  chiefly  on  animal  food ; and, 
in  the  next  place,  they  are  torpid  in 
winter,  and  do  not  require  food.  Colonel 
Sykes,  however,  says  there  is  in  Poonah 


D 


84 


ANTiEOS. 


ANTIPATHY. 


a grain-feeding  species,  which  stores  up 
millet-seed  ; but  certainly  our  ants  have 
no  claim  to  the  following  stanza  : — 

Who  taught  the  little  ant  the  way 
Its  narrow  hole  to  hore, 

And  labour  all  the  summer  day 
To  gather  winter  store  ? 

Jane  Taylor. 

Ants  never  sleep.  Emerson  mentions 
this  as  recently-observed  fact.” — 

Nature”  ch.  iv. 

AntaB'os,  in  Greek  mythology,  was  a 
gigantic  wrestler,  whose  strength  was  in- 
vincible so  long  as  he  touched  the  earth ; 
and  every  time  he  was  lifted  from  it,  was 
renewed  by  touching  it  again.  {See 
Male'gae.) 

As  once  Antaeos,  on  the  Libyan  strand, 

More  fierce  recovered  when  he  reached  the  sand. 

Hoole's  ''  AriostoP  book  iv. 

It  was  Hercules  who  succeeded  in  killing 
this  charmed  giant.  He 

Lifts  proud  Antseos  from  his  mother’s  plains. 

And  with  strong  grasp  the  struggling  giant 
strains  ; 

Back  falls  his  panting  head  and  clammy  hair. 
Writhe  his  weak  limbs  and  flits  his  life  in  air. 

Darwin,  ‘'Economy  of  Vegetation.'* 

Antece'dents.  I know  nothing  of  his , 
antecedents— h\^  previous  life,  character, 
or  conduct.  (Latin,  ante-cedensj  ’fore- 
goings on.) 

Antedilu'vian.  Before  the  Deluge, 
meaning  the  Scripture  Deluge ; but  the 
word  is  used  sometimes  in  geology  for 
ante-Ad'amite  (before  Adam  was  created). 

Antbi'a.  The  lady-love  of  Abroc'- 
omas  in  Xenophon’s  romance,  called 

Ephesi'aca.”  Shakespeare  has  bor- 
rowed from  this  Greek  novel  the  leading 
incidents  of  his  ‘^Borneo  and  Juliet,” 
especially  that  of  the  potion  and  mock 
entombment.  N.B.  This  is  not  the 
historian,  but  a Xenophon  who  lived  in 
the  fourth  Christian  era. 

Anthony.  St.  Anthonfs  Cross.  T 
or  Y. 

Anthony.,  St.  Patron  saint  of  swine- 
herds, because  he  always  lived  in  woods 
and  forests.  {See  Pig.) 

Anthony  Absolute,  Sir.  A testy,  dog- 
matical, but  kind-hearted  gentleman  in 
Sheridan’s  ^‘Rivals.” 

St.  Anthony's  Fire.  Erysip'elas  is  so 
called  from  the  tradition  that  those  who 
sought  the  intercession  of  St.  Anthony 
recovered  from  the  pestilential  erysipelas 
called  the  sacred  fire,  which  proved  ex- 
tremely fatal  in  10891 


An  Anthony  Pig.  A pet  pig,  the 
smallest  of  the  whole  litter.  St.  An- 
thony was  originally  a swineherd,  and, 
therefore,  the  patron  saint  of  pigs. 

Anthropos'opus.  The  nickname  of 
Dr.  Vaughan,  rector  of  St.  Bride’s,  in 
Bedfordshire;  so  called  from  his  ^‘An- 
throposoph'ia  Teomag'ica,”  to  show  the 
condition  of  man  after  death. 

Anti-Christ  or  the  Man  of  Sin, 
expected  by  some  to  precede  the  second 
coming  of  Christ.  St.  John  so  calls 
every  one  who  denies  the  incarnation  of 
the  eternal  Son  of  God. 

Anti-Eras'tian  Party.  Those  who 
wish  the  church  to  have  the  power  of 
punishing  ecclesiastical  offenders.  {See 
Erastian.) 

Anti-pope  is  a pope  elected  by  a 
king  in  opposition  to  the  pope  elected  by 
the  cardinals ; or  one  who  usurps  the 
popedom  in  opposition  to  the  rightful 
pope.  Geddes  gives  a list  of  twenty-four 
anti-popes,  three  of  whom  were  deposed 
by  the  council  of  Constance. 

Antig'one.  The  Modern  Antigone. 
Marie  Ther^se  Charlotte  duchesse  d’An- 
goul^me,  daughter  of  Louis  XVI. ; so 
called  for  her  attachment  to  Louis  XVIII., 
whose  companion  she  was.  (1778-1851.) 

An'timony.  Said  to  be  derived  from 
the  Greek  antimon' achos  (bad  for  monks). 
It  is  said  that  Valentine  once  gave  some 
of  this  mineral  to  his  convent  pigs,  who 
thrived  upon  it,  and  became  very  fat. 
He  next  tried  it  on  the  monks,  who  died 
from  its  effects ; so  Valentine  said,  ‘Hho’ 
good  for  pigs,  it  was  bad  for  monks.” 
This  fable  is  given  by  Furetiere.  The 
more  probable  derivation  is  anti-monos 
(averse  to  be  alone),  so  called  because  it 
is  never  found  except  in  combination 
with  sulphur  or  some  other  substance. 

Antino'mian  (Greek  anti-nomos, 
exempt  from  the  law).  One  who  believes 
that  Christians  are  not  bound  to  observe 
the  ‘Gaw  of  God,”  but  ‘^may  continue  in 
sin  that  grace  may  abound.”  The  term 
was  first  applied  to  John  Agricola  by 
Martin  Luther. 

Antin'ous  (4  syl.).  A model  of  manly 
beauty.  He  was  the  page  of  Hadrian, 
the  Roman  Emperor. 

The  polished  grace  of  Antinous.— Dai?y  Telegraph. 

Antip'athy.  According  to  tradition, 


ANTISTHENES, 


APLOMB. 


35 


wolves  Lave  a mortal  antipathy  to  scilla- 
roots ; geese  to  the  soil  of  Whitby  ; cats 
to  dogs ; witches  to  running  water.  {See 
Cat,  Pig.) 

Antis'thenes.  Founder  of  the  Cynic 
School  in  Athens.  He  wore  a ragged 
cloak,  and  carried  a wallet  and  staff  like 
a beggar.  Soc'rates  wittily  said  he  could 
“ see  rank  pride  peering  through  the  holes 
of  Antis'thenes’  rags.” 

Antom'nus.  The  Wall  of  Antonine. 
A turf  entrenchment  raised  by  the  Ko- 
mans  from  Dunglass  Castle,  on  the  Clyde, 
to  Caer  Ridden  Kirk,  near  the  Frith  of 
Forth,  under  the  direction  of  Lollius 
Urb'icus,  legate  of  Antoni'nus  Pius, 
A.D.  140. 

An'tony.  Anthony.) 

Antrus'tions.  The  vassals  of  the 
Frankish  kings,  who  held  land  in  trust. 
These  lands  were  subsequently  heredi- 
tary. 

Anu'bis.  In  Egyptian  mythology, 
similar  to  the  Hermes  of  Greece,  whose 
office  it  was  to  take  the  souls  of  the  dead 
before  the  judge  of  the  infernal  regions. 
Anu'bis  is  represented  with  a human 
body  and  jackal’s  head. 

Any-how  ; i.e.,  in  an  irregular 
manner.  He  did  it  any-how,”  in  a 
careless,  slovenly  manner.  He  went 
on  any-how,”  in  a wild,  reckless  manner. 
Any-how f you  must  manage  it  for  me;  by 
hook  or  crook  ; at  all  events. 

Aon'ian.  Poetical,  pertaining  to  the 
Muses.  The  Muses,  according  to  Grecian 
mythology,  dwelt  in  Abn'ia,  that  part  of 
Boeo'tia  which  contains  Mount  Hel'icon 
and  the  Muses’  Fountain.  Thomson  calls 
the  fraternity  of  poets 

The  Aonian  hive 

TVTio  praised  are,  and  starve  right  merrily. 

“ Castle  of  Indolence”  ii. 

Ape.  The  buffoon  upe,  in  Dryden’s 
poem  called  ^‘The  Hind  and  the  Pan- 
ther,” means  the  Free-thinkers. 

Next  her  [the  hear)  the  buffoon  ape,  as  atheists 

use. 

Mimicked  all  sects,  and  had  his  own  to  choose. 

Ft.  i. 

He  Iceeps  them^  lihe  an  ape,  in  the  corner 
of  his  jaw  ; first  mouthed,  to  be  last  sioal- 
lowed  (“Hamlet  ” iv.  2).  Hanmer  says — 
Monkeys  in  eating  throw  into  a pouch 
on  the  side  of  their  jaw  that  part  of  their 
food  which  they  take  up  first,  and  there 
keep  it  till  tRey  have  finished  eating. 


To  put  an  ape  into  your  hood  (or) 
i.e.,  to  make  a fool  of  you.  Apes  were 
formerly  carried  on  the  shoulders  of 
fools  and  simpletons. 

To  say  an  ape's  paternoster,  is  to  ehatter 
with  fright  or  cold,  like  an  ape. 

Apel'les.  A famous  Grecian  painter, 
contemporary  with  Alexander  the  Great. 

There  comelier  forms  embroidered  rose  to  view 

Than  e’er  Apelles’  Avondrous  pencil  drew. 

“ Orlando  Furioso,”  bk.  xxiv. 

Ap'eman'tus.  A churlish  philoso- 
pher, in  Shakespeare’s  Timon  of 
Athens.” 

The  cynicism  of  Apemantus  contrasted  with  the 
real  misanthropy  of  Timon.— Walter  Scott. 

A-per-se.  An  A 1 ; a person  or 
thing  of  unusual  merit.  ‘‘A”  all  alone, 
with  no  one  who  can  follow,  oiemo  proxi^ 
onus  aut  secundus. 

London,  thou  art  of  townes  A-joer-se—MS.  Lansd. 

Apex  originally  meant  the  woollen 
tassel  suspended  from  the  top  of  the 
flamens’  cap.  Festus  says  it  was  so 
called  ^^quod  vin'culo  comprehen'dere, 
anti'qui  a'pere  dice'bant.”  In  time  tha 
w^ord  was  applied  to  the  cap,  and  now 
means  the  summit  or  tip. 

Aph'rodite  (3  syl.).  The  Greek 
Venus ; so  called  because  she  sprang 
from  the  foam  of  the  sea.  (Greek, 
aphros,  sea-foam  ; diatithemi,  to  consti- 
tute—^.e.,  made  of  sea-foam.) 

Aph'rodite' s Girdle.  Whoever  wore 
Aphrodite’s  magic  girdle,  immediately 
became  the  object  of  love.  {Greeh  myth.) 

Apic'ius.  A gourmand.  Apicius 
was  a Roman  gourmand,  whose  income 
being  reduced  by  his  luxurious  living  to 
£80,000,  put  an  end  to  his  life,  to  avoid 
the  misery  of  being  obliged  to  live  on 
plain  diet. 

A-pigga-back.  (>S^ee  Pig-back.) 

A'pis,  in  Egyptian  mythology,  is  the 
bull  symbolical  of  the  god  Apis.  It  w^as 
not  suffered  to  live  more  than  twenty- 
five  years,  when  it  was  sacrificed  and 
buried  in  great  pomp.  The  madness  of 
Cambyses  is  said  to  have  been  in  retribu- 
tion for  his  killing  a sacred  bull. 

Aplomb  means  true  to  the  plumb' 
line,  but  is  generally  used  to  express  that 
self-possession  which  arises  from  perfect 
self-confidence.  We  also  talk  of  a 
dancer’s  aplomb,  meaning  that  ho  is  a 
perfect  master  of  his  art. 

D % 


36 


APOCALYPTIC. 


APOSTLES. 


Apoealyp'tie  TTumber.  The  mys- 
tic number  666.  (Rev.  xiii.  18.) 

Apoe'rypha  means  things  wholly 
concealed  (Greek,  apo,  intensitive,  and 
kruptOf  to  conceal).  The  canonical  books 
were  puhlislied,  or  made  public,  by  the 
Jews ; but  the  doubtful  books  were  not 
made  public,  i.e.,  they  were  held  back  or 
concealed.  An  apoc'ryphal  narrative  is 
one  that  is  not  true,  or  not  authentic ; 
the  two  causes  that  decided  the  rejection 
of  the  uncanonical  Scriptures. 

Apollina'riai^S.  An  ancient  sect 
founded  in  the  middle  of  the  fourth  cen- 
tury by  Apollina'ris,  bishop  of  Laodice'a. 
They  denied  that  Christ  had  a human 
soul,  and  asserted  that  the  Logos  supplied 
the  place  of  the  reasonable  soul.  The 
Athanasian  creed  condemns  this  heresy. 

Apollo.  The  sun,  the  god  of  music. 
{Roman  mythology.') 

Apollo’s  angry,  and  the  heavens  themselves 

Do  strike  at  my  injustice.— “IFin^er’s  Tale”  hi.  2. 

A perfect  Apollo.  A model  of  manly 
beauty,  referring  to  the  Apollo  Belvidere 
(q.v.). 

The  Apollo  of  Portugal.  Luis 
Camoens,  author  of  the  “Lusiad,”  so 
called,  not  for  his  beauty,  but  for  his 
poetry.  He  was  god  of  poetry  in  Portu- 
gal, but  was  allowed  to  die  in  the  streets 
of  Lisbon  like  a dog,  literally  of  starva- 
tion. Poor  fellow  ! he  would  have  gladly 
exchanged  for  solid  pudding  some  of  his 
empty  praise.  (1527-1579.) 

Apollo  Belvidere  {Bel'-ve-dear').  A 
marble  statue,  supposed  to  be  from  the 
chisel  of  the  Greek  sculptor  CaPamis, 
who  flourished  in  the  fifth  ante-Cliristian 
era.  It  represents  the  god  holding  a 
bow  in  his  left  hand,  and  is  called 
Belvidere  from  the  Belvidere  Gallery  of 
the  Vatican,  in  Rome,  where  it  stands. 
It  was  discovered  in  1503,  amidst  the 
ruins  of  An'tium,  and  purchased  by  pope 
Julius  II. 

Apollo'niiis.  Master  of  the  Rosi- 
crucians.  He  is  said  to  have  had  the 
power  of  raising  the  dead,  of  making 
himself  invisible,  and  of  being  in  two 
places  at  the  same  time. 

Apollodo'ros.  Plato  says  : Who 
would  not  rather  be  a man  of  sorrows 
than  Apollodoros,  envied  by  all  for  his 
enormous  wealth,  yet  nourishing  in  his 
heart  the  scorpions  of  a guilty  con- 


science?” {The  Repub.)  This  Apollo- 
doros was  the  tyrant  of  Cassan'drea  (for- 
merly Potide'a).  He  obtained  the  supreme 
power  B.c.  379,  exercised  it  with  the 
utmost  cruelty,  and  was  put  to  death  by 
Antig'onos  Gon'atas. 

Apoll'yon.  King  of  the  bottomless 
pit  (Rev.  ix.  11).  Plis  contest  with  Pil- 
grim, in  Bunyan’s  allegory,  has  made  bis 
name  familiar.  (Greek,  the  destroyer.) 

Apos'tate,  The.  Julian,  the  Roman 
emperor.  So  called  because  he  forsook 
the  Christian  faith  and  returned  to  Pagan- 
ism again.  (331,  361-363.) 

A poster'io'ri  {Latin^  from  the 
Matter.)  An  a posteriori  argument  is 
proving  the  cause  from  the  effect.  Thus, 
if  we  see  a watch,  we  conclude  there 
was  a watch-maker.  Robinson  Crusoe 
inferred  there  was  another  human  being 
on  the  desert  island,  because  he  saw  hu- 
man foot- prints  in  the  wet  sand.  It  is 
thus  we  infer  the  existence  and  character 
of  deity  from  his  works.  {See  A Priori.) 

Apos'tles.  The  badges  or  symbols  of 
the  fourteen  apostles. 

Andrew,  a cross,  "because  lie  was  crucified  on  a 
cross  shaped  like  the  letter  X. 

Bartholomew,  a knife,  because  he  was  flayed 
with  a knife. 

James  the  Greater,  a scallop-shell,  a pilgrim's  staff, 
or  a gourd  bottle,  because  he  is  the  patron  saint  of 
pilgrims.  {See  Scallop-shell.) 

.lames  the  Less,  a fuller’s  pole,  because  he  was 
killed  by  a blow  on  the  head  with  a pole,  dealt  him 
by  Simeon  the  fuller. 

John,  a cup  with  a winged  serpent  flying  out  of  it, 
in  allusion  to  the  tradition  about  Aristode'mos, 
priest  of  Diana,  who  challenged  John  to  drink  a 
cup  of  poison.  John  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  on 
the  cup,  Satan  like  a dragon  flew  from  it,  and 
John  then  drank  the  cup,  which  was  quite  in- 
nocuous. 

Judas  Iscariot,  a bag,  because  he  had  the  hag, 
and  “bare  what  was  put  therein.”  (John  xii.  fi.) 

Jude,  a club,  because  he  was  martyred  by  a club. 

Matthew,  a hatchet  or  halbert,  because  he  was 
slain  at  Nad'abar  with  a halbert. 

Matthias,  a battle-axe,  because  he  was  first 
stoned,  and  then  beheaded  with  a battle-axe. 

Paul,  a sword,  because  his  head  was  out  off  with 
a sword.  The  convent  of  La  Lisla,  in  Spain,  boasts 
of  possessing  the  very  instrument. 

Peter,  a bunch  of  keys,  because  Christ  gave  him 
the  “keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.”  A co<k, 
because  he  went  out  and  wept  bitterly  when  he 
heai  d the  cock  crow. 

Philip,  a long  staff  surmounted  with  a cross,  be- 
cause he  suffered  death  by  being  suspended  by  the 
neck  to  a tall  pillar. 

Simon,  a saw,  because  he  was  sawn  to  dealt, 
according  to  tradition. 

Thomas,  a lance,  because  he  was  pierced  through 
the  body,  at  Mel'iapour,  with  a lance. 

{See  Evangelists.) 

Apostles  of 

Abyssinians,  St.  Frumentius.  (Fourth  century.) 


APOSTLE. 


APPLE. 


S? 


A-lps.  Felix  Neff.  (1798-1829.) 

Ardennes,  St.  Hubert.  (Eighth  century.) 

.Armenians,  Gregory  of  Armenia.  (Fourth  century. ) 

English,  St.  Augustin.  (Died  607.) 

Ethiopia.  (See  Abtssinians.) 

Free  Trade,  Richard  Cobden.  (1804-1865.) 

French,  St.  Denis.  (Third  century.) 

Frisians,  St.  Wilbrod.  (657-738.) 

Gauls,  St.  Irenseus  (130-200) ; St.  Martin  (316-397). 

Gentiles,  St.  Paul. 

Germany,  St.  Boniface.  (680-755.) 

Highlanders,  St.  Columba.  (521-597.) 

Hungary,  St.  Anastasius.  (954-1044.) 

Indians,  Bartolom§  de  Las  Oasas  (1474-1566);  Rev. 
John  Eliot  (1603-1690). 

Indies,  St.  Francis  Xavier.  (1506-1552.) 

Infidelity,  Voltaire.  (1694-1778.) 

Ireland,  St.  Patrick.  (372-493.) 

Netherlands.  St.  Armand,  bishop  of  Maestricht. 
(589-679.) 

North,  St.  Ansgar  or  Anscarius  (801-864);  Ber- 
nard GUpin  (1517-1583). 

Piets,  St.  Ninian. 

Scottish  Reformers,  John  Knox.  (1505-1572.) 

Slaves,  St.  Cyril. 

Spain,  St.  James  the  Greater. 

Temperance,  Father  Mathew.  (1790-1850.) 

Yorkshire,  Pauli'nus,  bishop  of  York  and 
Rochester.  (597  644.) 

Wales,  St.  David.  (Fifth  century.) 

The  Tioelve  Apostles.  The  last  twelve 
names  on  the  poll  or  list  of  ordinary  de- 
grees were  so  called,  when  the  list  was 
arranged  in  order  of  merit,  and  not 
alphabetically,  as  now  ; they  were  also 
called  the  Chosen  Twelve.  The  last  of  the 
twelve  was  designated  St.  Paul  from  a 
play  on  the  verse  1 Cor.  xv.  9. 

Apostle  of  the  Sivord.  So  Mahomet 
was  called,  because  he  enforced  his  creed 
at  the  point  of  the  sword.  (570-632.) 

Prince  of  the  Apostles.  St.  Peter.  (Matt, 
xvi.  18,  19.) 

Apos'tle-spooHS.  Spoons  given  at 
christenings  ; so  called  because  one  of 
the  apostles  figured  at  the  top  of  the 
handle.  Sometimes  twelve  spoons,  repre- 
senting the  twelve  apostles;  sometimes 
four,  representing  the  four  evangelists; 
and  sometimes  only  one,  was  presented. 
We  still  give  at  christenings  a silver 
spoon,  though  the  apostolic  handle  is  no 
longer  retained. 

Apostles’  Creed.  The  creed  which 
contains  a brief  summary  of  what  the 
Apostles  taught.  It  was  first  introduced 
into  the  daily  service  by  Tullo,  bishop  of 
Antioch,  in  471. 

Apostol'ic  Fathers.  Five  advo- 
cates of  the  Christian  religion  contem- 
porary with  the  apostles,  viz.,  Clement 
of  Rome,  Bar'nabas,  Hermas,  Igna'tius, 
and  Pol'yearp. 

Apostolic  Majesty.  A title  borne 
by  the  emperor  of  Austria,  as  king  of 


Hungary,  It  was  conferred  by  pope 
Sylvester  II.  on  the  king  of  Hungary 
in  1000. 

Appar'el.  Dress.  Properly  speaking, 
the  apparels  are  the  ornamental  parts  of 
the  alb  at  the  lower  edge  and  wrists.  The 
alb  was  called  the  apparel  by  a figure  of 
speech,  and  the  catechu'mens  used  to 
talk  of  putting  on  their  apparels  or  fine 
white  surplice  for  the  feast  of  Pentecost. 

Ap'piades  (4  syl.).  Five  divinities 
whose  temple  stood  near  the  fountains 
of  Ap'pius,  in  Rome.  Their  names  are 
Venus,  Pallas,  Concord,  Peace,  and 
Vesta.  They  were  represented  on  horse- 
back, like  Amazons. 

Ap'pian  Way.  The  oldest  and  best 
of  all  the  Roman  roads,  leading  from  the 
Porta  Cape'na  of  Rome  to  Cap'ua.  This 

queen  of  roads”  was  commenced  by 
Appius  Claudius,  the  decemvir,  b.  C. 
313. 

Apple.  The  apple  that  gave  Newtobi 
the  hint  about  gravitation,  stood  in  the 
garden  of  Mrs.  Conduitt,  at  Woolsthorpe. 

The  apple  of  discord.  A moot  point. 
At  the  marriage  of  Thetis  and  Pe'leus, 
where  all  the  gods  and  goddesses  met 
together.  Discord  threw  on  the  table  a 
golden  apple  ‘^for  the  most  beautiful.” 
Juno,  Pallas,  and  Venus  put  in  their 
separate  claims ; and  not  being  able  to 
settle  the  point,  referred  the  question  to 
Paris,  who  gave  judgment  in  favour  of 
Venus.  This  brought  upon  him  the  ven- 
geance of  Juno  and  Pallas,  to  whose 
spite  the  fall  of  Troy  is  to  be  attributed. 

Apples  of  IstJcahar'  are  ^^all  sweetness 
on  one  side,  and  all  bitterness  on  the 
other.” 

^ Apples  of  Paradise^  according  to  tradi- 
tion, had  a bite  on  one  side,  to  com- 
memorate the  gripe  given  by  Eve. 

The  apple  of  perpetual  youth.  This  is 
the  apple  of  Idun,  daughter  of  the  dwarf 
Svald,  and  wife  of  Bragi.  It  is  by  tasting 
this  apple  that  the  gods  preserve  their 
perpetual  youth.  {Scand.  myth.) 

^ Apples  of  Pylauy  says  Sir  John  Mande- 
ville,  fed  the  pigmies  with  their  odour 
only. 

Apples  of  Sodom.  Thevenot  says — 

There  are  apple-trees  on  the  sides  of 
the  Dead  Sea  which  bear  lovely  fruit, 
but  within  are  full  of  ashes.”  Witman 


88 


APPLE-PIE. 


AQUILINE. 


/ 


says  the  same  is  asserted  of  the  oranges 
there.  (See  Tacitus,  ^^Hist./’  v.  7.) 

Like  to  the  apples  on  the  Lead  Sea’s  shore, 

All  ashes  to  the  taste. 

Byron,  *'  ChUde  Harold,”  ill.  34. 

The  apple  of  the  eye.  Probably  a cor- 
ruption of  pupil. 

The  singing  apple  had  the  power  of 
persuading  any  one  to  anything.  — Chery 
and  Fairstar,”  Countess  D'Anois. 

Prince  AhmePs  apple  — a cure  for 
every  disorder.  This  apple  the  prince 
purchased  at  Samarcand'.  — Arabian 
Nights f Prince  Ahinedj  &c. 

Apple-pie  bed.  A bed  in  which 
the  sheets  are  so  folded  that  a person 
cannot  get  his  legs  down  it ; from  the 
apple  turnover ; or  far  more  probably,  a 
corruption  of  the  French  d plis  (folded) : 
a plid  bed. 

Apple-pie  order.  Prim  and  pre- 
cise order;  probably  a corruption  of 
cap  dpied,  said  of  a knight  when  armed 
from  bead  to  foot  in  perfect  order.  A 
still  more  probable  derivation  is  the 
French  d plis,  in  plaits,  or  folded  in 
regular  plaits. 

April.  The  opening  month,  when  the 
trees  unfold,  and  the  womb  of  nature 
opens  with  young  life.  (Latin,  aperi'rCj  to 
open. ) 

April  Fool.  Called  in  France  un  poisson 
d^Avril,  and  in  Scotland  a gowk  (cuckoo). 
In  Hindustan  similar  tricks  are  played  at 
the  Hull  Festival  (31st  March).  So  that 
it  cannot  refer  to  the  uncertainty  of  the 
weather,  nor  yet  to  the  mockery  trial  of 
our  Kedeemer,  the  two  most  popular  ex- 
planations. A better  solution  is  this  : — 
As  March  25th  used  to  be  New  Year's 
Day,  April  1st  was  its  octave,  when  its 
festivities  culminated  and  ended. 

My  April  Morn—i.e.,  my  wedding-day; 
the  day  when  I was  made  a fool  of.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  custom  of  making  fools 
of  each  other  on  the  1st  of  April. 

A prio'ri  (Latin,  from  an  antecedent). 
An  a priori  argument  is  when  we  deduce 
a fact  from  something  antecedent--,  as 
when  we  infer  certain  effects  from  given 
causes.  All  mathematical  proofs  are  of 
the  a priori  kind,  whereas  judgments  in 
the  law  courts  are  of  the  a posteriori 
evidence ; we  infer  the  animus  from  the 
act.  {See  A Posteriori.) 

Apron.  This  is  a strange  blunder. 
A nap^^onA  converted  into  An  apperon. 


^^Napperon”  is  French  for  a napkin, 
from  nappe  (cloth  in  general).  Some 
English  counties  still  employ  the  word 
apperon. 

Aqua  Re'gia  {royal  water).  So  called 
because  it  dissolves  gold,  the  king  of 
metals.  It  consists  of  one  part  of  nitric 
acid,  with  from  two  to  four  of  hydrochloric 
acid. 

Aqua  Tofa'na  or  TofaJnia.  A poison- 
ous liquid  much  used  in  Italy  in  the 
seventeenth  century  by  young  wives  who 
wanted  to  get  rid  of  their  husbands.  It 
was  invented  by  a woman  named  Tofa'ni, 
who  called  it  the  Manna  of  St.  Nicholas 
of  Bari,  from  the  wide-spread  notion 
that  an  oil  of  miraculous  efficacy  flowed 
from  tbe  tomb  of  that  saint. 

Aqua  Vit83  {water  of  life).  Certain 
ardent  spirits  used  by  the  alchemists. 
Ben  Jon  son  terms  a seller  of  ardent 
spirits  an  ^^aqua--vdt8e  man.'’ — Alchemist, 
i.  1.  The  “ elixir  of  life  ” was  made  from 
distilled  spirits,  which  were  thought  to 
have  the  power  of  prolougiog  life.  {See 
Eau-de-vie.) 

Aqua'rians.  A sect  in  the  early 
Christian  church  which  insisted  on  the 
use  of  water  instead  of  wine  in  the  Lord’s 
Supper. 

Aqua'rius  {the  water  leares').  One  of 
the  signs  of  the  zodiac  (Jan.  20  to  Feb. 
18);  so  called  because  it  appears  when 
the  Nile  begins  to  overflow. 

Aqueous  Rocks.  Eocks  produced 
by  the  agency  of  water,  such  as  bedded 
limestones,  sandstones,  and  clays  ;l  in 
short,  all  the  geological  rocks  which  are 
arranged  in  layers  or  strata. 

Aq'uilant  (in  ‘^Orlando  Furioso”). 
A knight  in  Charlemagne’s  army,  son  of 
Olive'ro  and  Sigismunda.  He  was  called 
black  from  his  armour,  and  his  brother 
Gryphon  white.  While  Aquilant  was 
searching  for  his  brother  he  met  Marta'no 
in  Gryphon’s  armour,  and  took  him  bound 
to  Damascus,  where  his  brother  was. 

Aq'uiline  (3syl.).  Eaymond’s  match- 
less steed,  bred  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tagus.  {See  Horse.) 

There  the  fair  mother.  . . . 

With  open  mouth,  against  the  breezes  held, 

Received  the  gales  with  warmth  prolific  filled: 

And  (strange  to  tell),  inspired  with  genial  seed. 

Her  swelling  womb  produced  this  wondrous 
steed.— “ Jerusalem  Delivered,”  book  vii. 

N.B. — Virgil  has  an  exactly  parallel 
passage. — Georgies f iii.  271-277. 


AQUINIAN. 


ARCHERS. 


39 


Aquin'ian  Sage.  Ju'venal  is  so 
called  because  be  lived  at  Aqui'num,  a 
town  of  the  Volscians. 

Arabesque  {Arra-lesy).  The  gor- 
geous Moorish  patterns,  like  those  in  the 
Alhambra,  especially  employed  in  archi- 
tectural decoration.  During  the  Spanish 
wars,  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  ara- 
besque decorations  were  profusely  intro- 
duced into  France.  (French,  ‘^Arab- 
like.”) 

Arabian  Nights.  First  made 
known  in  Europe  by  Antoine  Galland,  a 
French  Oriental  scholar,  who  translated 
them  and  called  them  The  Thousand  and 
One  Nights  (from  the  number  of  nights 
occupied  in  their  recital).  They  are  of 
Indian,  Persian,  and  Arabian  origin. 

N.B. — “ The  Tales  of  the  Genii,”  by 
Sir  Charles  Morell,  are  an  excellent  imi- 
tation. 

Common  English  translations— 

4vols.,  12mo,  1792,  Iby  R.  Heron,  published  in 
Edinburgh  and  Loudon. 

8 vols.,  12mo,  1794,  by  Mr.  Beloe, London. 

1798,  by  Richard  Gough,  enlarged 
Paris  edition. 

6 vols.,  8vo,  1802,  by  Rev.  Edward  Foster. 

1839,  by  Edw.  Wm.  Lane. 

Arabians.  A class  of  Arabian  here- 
tics of  the  third  century,  who  maintained 
that  the  soul  dies  with  the  body. 

Ar'abic  Figures.  So  called  because 
they  were  introduced  into  Europe  (Spain) 
by  the  Moors  or  Arabs,  who  learnt  them 
from  the  Hindus. 

Ar'abs.  Street  Arabs.  The  houseless 
poor ; street  children.  So  called  because, 
like  the  Arabs,  they  are  nomads  or 
wanderers  with  no  settled  home. 

Araeh'ne’s  Labours.  Spinning 
and  weaving.  Arachne  was  so  skilful 
a needlewoman,  that  she  challenged 
Minerva  to  a trial  of  skill,  and  hanged 
herself  because  the  goddess  beat  her. 
Minerva  then  changed  her  into  a spider. 

Araclme’s  labours  ne’er  her  hours  divide. 

Her  noble  hands  nor  looms  nor  spindles  guide. 

Hoole's  “ Jerusalem  Delivered,' ' bk.  ii. 

A'raf,  A I (the  partition).  A region, 
according  to  the  Koran,  between  Para- 
dise and  Jehennam,  for  those  who  are 
neither  morally  good  nor  bad,  such  as 
infants,  lunatics,  and  idiots.  The  in- 
mates of  A1  Araf  will  be  allowed  to  con- 
verse with  the  blessed  and  the  cursed  ; 
to  the  former  this  region  will  appear  a 
hell,  to  the  latter  a heaven.  {See  Limbo.  ) 


Aras'pes  (in  “Jerusalem  Deli- 
vered”). King  of  Alexandria,  more 
famed  for  devices  than  courage.  He 
joined  the  Egyptian  armament  against 
the  Crusaders. 

Ara'tos  of  Achsea,  in  Greece,  mur- 
dered Nic'ocles,  the  tyrant,  in  order  to 
restore  his  country  to  liberty,  and  would 
not  allow  even  a picture  of  a king  to 
exist.  He  was  poisoned  by  Philip  of 
Macedon. 

Aratus,  who  awhile  relumed  the  soul 
Of  fondly-lingering  liberty  in  Greece. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.” 

Arba'ees  (3  syl.).  A Mede  and  As- 
syrian satrap,  who  conspired  against 
Sardanapalus,  and  founded  the  empire 
of  Me'dia  on  the  ruins  of  the  Assyrian 
kingdom. — Byron,  “ Sardanapalus.'" 

Arbor  judae.  Said  to  be  so  called 
because  Judas  Iscariot  hanged  himself 
thereon.  This  is  one  of  those  word-re- 
semblances so  delusive  to  etymologists. 
Judae  is  the  Spanish  judi'a  (a  French- 
bean),  and  Arbor  Judae  is  a corruption  of 
Arhol  Judia  (the  bean-tree),  so  called 
from  its  bean-like  pods. 

Ar'cades.  Ar'cadJes  ambo,  both  alike 
eccentric.  From  Virgil’s  “Eclogues,” 
where  Cor'ydon  and  Tbyrsis  are  de- 
scribed as  both  Arcadians.  {Eel.  vii.) 

Area'dian.  A shepherd,  a fancy 
farmer  ; so  called  because  the  Arcadians 
were  a pastoral  people,  and  hence  pas- 
toral poetry  is  called  Area' die. 

An  Arcadian  youth.  A dunce  or 
blockhead ; so  called  because  the  Arca- 
dians were  the  least  intellectual  of  all 
the  Greeks. 

Archangels.  According  to  the 
Koran,  there  are  four  archangels.  Ga'- 
briel,  the  angel  of  revelations,  who  writes 
down  the  divine  decrees  ; MUchael,  the 
champion,  who  fights  the  battles  of 
faith ; Az'rael,  the  angel  of  death  ; and 
Az'rafil,  who  is  commissioned  to  sound 
the  trumpet  of  the  resurrection. 

Arch-monarch  of  the  World. 

Napoleon  III.  of  France. 

Arche'gosaurus  or  Arche' gosaur 
(Greek,  “the  first  type  of  the  saurian®”). 
A fossil  reptile  found  in  the  coalfields  of 
Bavaria  and  Westphalia. 

Ar'chers.  Domitian,  the  Roman 
Emperor,  could  shoot  his  arrows  with 


40 


ARCHES. 


ARDEN. 


precision  between  the  fingers  of  a man 
at  a considerable  distance.  The  tale  of 
William  Tell  is  a mere  repetition  of  the 
Scandinavian  fable  of  Egil^  who  was 
commanded  by  King  Nidung  to  perform 
the  very  same  exploit.  Robin  Hood, 
Little  J ohn,  and  many  others,  have  been 
equally  skilful  with  the  bow. 

Ar'elies.  The  Court  of  Arches , the 
most  ancient  consistory  court  of  England, 
the  dean  of  which  anciently  held  his 
court  under  the  arches  of  Bow  Church. 
Of  course  we  refer  to  the  old  church, 
which  was  arched  from  pillar  to  pillar  ; 
the  present  structure  was  the  work  of 
Sir  Christopher  Wren. 

Arehiear'nifex.  Thomas  Norton, 
persecutor.  (1532-1584.) 

AreMloeli'iaii  Bitterness.  Ill- 
natured  satire,  so  named  from  Archib- 
ochos,  the  Grecian  satirist,  (b.c.  714-676.) 

Ai'chimage  (3  syl.).  The  name 
given  by  Thomson  to  the  demon  Indo- 
lence.” Archima'gus  is  the  title  borne 
by  the  High  Priest  of  the  Persian  Magi. 

I will  (he  cried),  so  help  me  God  I destroy 
That  villain  Archimage. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,*'  c.  ii. 

Arebima'go  {Hypocrisy).  In  Spen- 
ser’s Faery  Queen.”  He  assumes  the 
guise  of  the  Red  Cross  Knight,  and  de- 
ceives Una ; but  Sansloy  sets  upon  him, 
and  reveals  his  true  character.  When  the 
Red  Cross  Knight  is  about  to  be  married 
to  Una,  he  presents  himself  before  the 
king  of  Eden,  and  tells  him  that  the 
Knight  is  betrothed  to  Duessa.  The 
falsehood  being  exposed.  Archimago  is 
cast  into  a vile  dungeon  (book  i.).  In 
book  ii.  the  arch-hypocrite  is  loosed 
again  for  a season,  and  employs  Bragga- 
doccio  to  attack  the  Red  Cross  Knight. 
These  allegories  are  pretty  obvious : 
thus  the  first  incident  means  that  Truth 
( Una),  when  Piety  (the  Red  Cross  Knight) 
is  absent,  is  in  danger  of  being  led  astray 
by  Hypocrisy,  but  any  Infidel  {Sansloy) 
can  lay  bare  religious  hypocrisy. 

Areliiine'des  Principle.  The 
quantity  of  water  removed  by  any  body 
immersed  therein  will  equal  in  bulk  the 
bulk  of  the  body  immersed.  This  scien- 
tific fact  was  noted  by  the  philosopher 
Archime'des. 


Archime'des  Screw.  An  endless 
screw,  used  for  raising  water,  propelling 
ships,  &c.,  invented  by  Archime'des  of 
Syracuse. 

Ar'chitect  of  his  own  Fortune. 

Appius  says,  Fdbrum  suce  esse  guemgue 
fortuncef^ 

Archon'ides  of  Argos,  says  Aris- 
totle, could  eat  salt  beef  for  a week  or 
more  without  ever  caring  for  drink. 

Archon'tics.  Heretics  of  the  second 
century,  who  held  a number  of  idle 
stories  about  creation,  which  they  attri- 
buted to  a number  of  agents  called 

archons.”  (Greek,  archon,  a prince  or 
ruler.) 

Ar'cite  (2  syl.).  A young  Theban 
knight,  made  captive  by  duke  Theseus, 
and  shut  up  with  Pal'amon  in  a prison  at 
Athens.  Here  both  the  captives  fell  in 
love  with  Emily,  the  duke’s  sister-in-law. 
After  a time  both  captives  gained  their 
liberty,  and  Emily  was  promised  by  the 
duke  to  the  victor  in  a tournament. 
Arcite  was  the  victor,  but,  as  he  was 
riding  to  receive  the  prize  of  his  prowess, 
he  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  and  died. 
So  Emily  became  the  bride  of  Pal'amon. 
— Chaucer,  The  Knight's  Tale." 

Ar'cos  Barbs.  War-steeds  of  Arcos, 
in  Andalu'sia,  very  famous  in  Spanish 
ballads. 

Arctic  Begion  means  the  region  of 
Arctu'ros  (the  Bear  stars).  Ark  in  San- 
skrit means  ^^to  be  bright,”  applied  to 
stars  or  anything  bright.  The  Greeks 
translated  ark  into  arkt{os),  a bear ; ” 
hence  Arctu'rus  {the  Bear  Stars),  and 
Arctic  region,  the  region  where  the  north 
star  is  found. 

Arctoph'onos.  One  of  Orion's 

dogs. 

Arctoph'ylax.  The  constellation 
Bob'tes,  near  Ursa  Major. 

Arden,  Enoch.  Mr.  G.  E.  Emerson, 
in  a letter  to  the  Athenceum  (Aug.  18, 
1866),  points  out  the  resemblance  of  this 
tale  by  Alfred  Tennyson  to  one  entitled 

Homeward  Bound,”  by  Adelaide  Anne 
Procter,  in  a volume  of  ^‘Legends  and 
Lyrics,”  1858.  Mr.  Emerson  concludes 
his  letter  thus  — ^*At  this  point  (^.tf., 
when  the  hero  sees  his  wife  ^ seated  by 
the  fire,  whispering  baby  words  and 


AKEA. 


AEGILLAN. 


41 


smiling  on  the  father  of  her  child  ’)  Ten- 
nyson departs  from  the  story.  Enoch 
departs  broken-hearted  to  die,  without 
revealing  his  secret;  but  Miss  Procter 
makes  the  three  recognise  each  other, 
and  the  hero  having  blessed  his  wife, 
leaves  her,  to  roam  ^over  the  restless 
ocean.*” 

Area-sneak.  A boy  or  girl  who 
sneaks  about  areas  to  commit  petty 
thefts. 

Areop'agos  or  Mars'  Hill,  The  seat 
of  a famous  tribunal  in  Athens ; so  called 
because  the  first  cause  tried  there  was 
that  of  Mars  or  Ares,  accused  by  Nep- 
tune of  the  death  of  his  son  Allyro'thius. 

Then  Paul  stood  in  the  midst  of  Mars’  Hill. 

Acts  xvii.  22. 

Ar'etine  (3  syl.),  or  rather  Pietro 
Areti'no,  patronised  by  Francois  I.  of 
France.  A poet  noted  for  his  disreputable 
life  and  licentious  verses.  (1492-1557.) 

(Shakespeare)  tried  his  hand  with  Aretine  on  a 
licentious  subject,— /Sfeeveng. 

Aretin'ian  Syllables.  Ut,  re,  m^, 
/ft,  soli  la,  used  by  Guido  d’ Arezzo  for  his 
system  of  hexachords.  {See  Do.) 

Argan,  a miserly  hypochondriac.  Ho 
reduced  himself  to  this  dilemma : If  his 
apothecary  would  not  charge  less,  he 
CO  aid  not  afford  to  be  sick ; but  if  he 
swallowed  fewer  drugs,  he  would  suffer 
in  health. — Moliere's  LeMalade  Imagi- 
naire'* 

Argan d'  Lamp.  A lamp  with  a circu- 
lar wick,  through  which  a current  of  air 
flows,  to  supply  oxygen  to  the  flame,  and 
increase  its  brilliancy.  Invented  by  M. 
Argand,  1789. 

Argan'te.  A giantess  of  unbridled 
licentiousness,  in  Spenser’s  Faery 
Queen.” 

Argan'tes  (3  syl.).  A Circassian  of 
high  rank  and  matchless  courage,  but 
fierce  to  brutality,  and  an  ultra-despiser 
of  the  sect  of  the  Nazarenes.  He  was 
sent  as  an  ambassador  from  Egypt  to 
king  Al'adine.  He  and  Solyman  were 
by  far  the  most  doughty  of  the  Pagan 
knights.  The  former  was  slain  by 
Kinaldo,  and  the  other  by  Tancred. — 
Tasso,  Jerusalem  Delivered." 

Bonaparte  stood  before  the  deputies  like  the 
Argantes  of  Italy’s  heroic  poet,  and  gave  them 
the  choice  of  peace  and  war,  with  the  air  of  a 
superior  being,  capable  at  once  of  dictating  their 
tdAQ.--liir  Womr  ScoU. 


Arge'nis.  A political  allegory  by 
J ohn  Barclay,  containing  allusions  to  the 
state  of  Europe,  and  more  especially  to 
France,  during  the  time  of  the  league. 
(1582-1621.)  Utopia.) 

Argenk.  A famous  giant  in  Persian 
mythology. 

Ar'gentile  and  Cur'an.  Argentilo 
was  the  daughter  of  king  Ad'elbright, 
who,  on  his  deathbed,  committed  her  in 
charge  to  king  Edel.  Edel  kept  her  a 
close  prisoner,  under  hope  of  getting 
into  his  possession  her  lands  and  do- 
minion. Curan,  the  son  of  a Danske 
king,  in  order  to  woo  her,  became  a 
kitchen  drudge  in  Edel’s  household,  and 
Edel  resolved  to  marry  Argentile  to  this 
drudge,  but  she  fled  away.  Curan  now 
turned  shepherd,  and  fell  in  love  with  a 
neatherd’s  maid,  who  turned  out  to  be 
Argentile.  The  two  were  married,  and 
Curan  claiming  his  wife’s  dominions, 
became  king  of  Northumberland,  and 
put  Edel  to  death. — Percy's  ^^Reliques." 

Argentine  Republic.  The  Ke- 
public  of  the  Argentine,  or  Silver  Biver ; 
in  other  words,  the  Confederation  of  the 
Eio  de  la  Plata. 

Arge'o  ( in  Orlando  Furioso  ” ). 
Baron  of  Servia,  and  husband  of  Ga- 
brbna.  He  is  a sort  of  Potiphar.  His 
wife  tries  to  seduce  Philander,  a young 
Dutch  knight,  and  failing  in  her  effort, 
she  accuses  him  to  her  husband  of 
adultery ; whereupon  Arge'o  throws  the 

faithless  guest”  into  durance.  In  the 
course  of  time  Gabri'na  implores  the 
young  captive  to  defend  her  against  a 
wicked  knight  who  has  assailed  her 
virtue.  He  consents  to  be  her  champion, 
and  is  placed  in  concealment.  Presently 
a knight  draws  near,  and  Philander, 
rushing  on  him,  dispatches  him ; but 
the  supposed  '^adulterer”  is,  in  reality, 
Arge'o  himself  ; and  Gabri'na,  being  now 
a widow,  is  free  to  marry  her  Dutch 
‘^Joseph.” 

Ar'gillan  (in  “Jerus.  Delivered”). 
A haughty,  turbulent  knight,  born  on 
the  banks  of  the  Trent.  Accusing  God- 
frey and  his  brother  of  having  murdered 
Einaldo,  he  induces  the  Latians  to  revolt. 
The  revolt  spreads  to  the  Swiss  and 
English,  but  Godfrey  succeeds  in  re- 
storing order.  Argillan  is  arrested,  but 
makes  his  escape,  and  is  slain  in  battle 
by  Solyman  (bks,  viii.  ix.). 


42 


ARGO. 


ARIOSTO. 


Ar'go.  A ship  sailing  on  an  adven- 
ture. The  galley  of  J ason  that  went  in 
search  of  the  Golden  Fleece  was  so  called, 
from  the  Greek  argos  (swift). 

Ar'gonautS.  The  sailors  of  the  ship 
Argo.  Apollo'nios  of  Rhodes  wrote  an 
epic  poem  on  the  subject.  (Greek,  argo 
naus.) 

Ar'gosie.  A merchant’s  freight ; so 
called  from  the  ship  Argo,  which  went  to 
Colchis  to  fetch  away. the  Golden  Fleece. 

He  hath  an  argosy  hound  to  Tripolis,  another 
to  the  Indies,  ...  a third  to  Mexico,  a fourth  to 
England.— “ Merchant  of  Venice”  i.  3. 

Argot  (Ar'go).  Slang  or  flash  lan- 
guage ; a corruption  of  nargitois  (jargon). 
Thus,  'parler  le  narquois  (to  talk  gib- 
berish), or  to  talk  the  language  of  a 
narquin  (beggar  or  thief).  The  French 
ergoter  (to  quibble),  is  quite  another  word, 
being  from  the  Latin  ergo  used  in  argu- 
ment, and  meaning  to  ergo  ” or  make  a 
puzzling  inference. 

Ar'giis-eyed.  Jealously  watchful. 
According  to  Grecian  fable,  Argos  had 
100  eyes,  and  Juno  set  him  to  watch  lo, 
of  whom  she  was  jealous.  Argos  being 
slain,  Juno  transplanted  his  eyes  into 
the  tail  of  her  peacock. 

Argyle  (2  syl.)— of  whom  Thomson 
says,  in  his  ^Autumn” — 

On  thee,  Argyle, 

Her  hope,  her  stay,  her  darling,  and  her  hoast. 

Thy  fond,  imploring  country  turns  her  eye— 

was  J ohn,  the  great  duke,  who  lived  only 
two  years  after  he  succeeded  to  the  duke- 
dom. Pope  says — 

Argyle  the  state’s  whole  thunder  horn  to  wield. 

And  shake  alike  the  senate  and  the  field. 

Aria'na.  An  ancient  name  of  Kho- 
rassan  in  Persia, 

A'rians.  The  followers  of  Arius,  a 
presbyter  of  the  church  of  Alexandria, 
in  the  fourth  century.  He  maintained  (1) 
that  the  Father  and  Son  are  distinct 
beings ; (2)  that  the  Son,  though  divine, 
is  not  equal  to  the  Father ; (3)  that  the 
Son  had  a state  of  existence  previous  to 
his  appearance  on  earth,  but  not  from 
eternity ; and  (4)  that  the  Messiah  was  not 
real  man,  but  a divine  being  in  a case  of 
flesh. 

Ari'deus  {A-ree'-de-us),  In  ^^Jeru- 
salem Delivered,”  herald  in  the  Christian 
army.  The  other  herald  is  PindoTus. 


A'riel.  A spirit  of  the  air  and  guar- 
dian of  innocence.  He  was  enslaved  to 
the  witch  Syc'orax,  who  overtasked  him, 
and  in  punishment  for  not  doing  what 
was  beyond  his  power,  shut  him  up  in  a 
pine-rift  for  twelve  years.  On  the  death 
of  Sycorax,  Ariel  became  the  slave  of 
Cal'iban,  who  tortured  him  most  cruelly. 
Pros'pero  liberated  him  from  the  pine- 
rift,  and  the  grateful  fairy  served  him 
for  sixteen  years,  when  he  was  set  free. — 
Shakespeare,  Tempest. 

A'riel.  The  sylph  that  watched  over 
Belinda. — Pojpe,  Rape  of  the  Lockf  i. 

A’riel.  One  of  the  angels  cast  out  of 
heaven.  The  word  means  lion  of  God. 
— Milton,  Paradise  Lostf  bk.  vi.  371. 

A'rieS.  One  of  the  spring  constella- 
tions (March  21  to  April  20). 

At  last  from  Aries  rolls  the  bounteous  sun. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.** 

Ariman'es  (4  syl.).  The  prince  of 
earth  and  air,”  and  the  fountain-head  of 
evil.  It  is  a personage  in  Persian  my- 
thology, introduced  into  Grecian  fable 
under  the  name  of  Ariman'nis.  Byron  in- 
troduces him  in  his  drama  called  Man- 
fred.” 

Arimas'pians.  A one-eyed  people 
of  Scythia,  who  adorned  their  hair  with 
gold.  They  were  constantly  at  war  with 
the  gryphons  who  guarded  the  gold 
mines. 

As  when  a gryphon,  through  the  wilderness  . . • 
Pursues  the  Arimaspian,  who  hy  stealth 
Had  from  his  wakeful  custody  purloined 
The  guarded  gold.— “ Paradise  Lost,”  ii. 

Ar'ioch.  One  of  the  fallen  angels 
cast  out  of  heaven.  The  word  means 
a fierce  lion. — Milton,  Paradise  Lostfi 
vi.  371. 

Ari'on.  A Greek  musician,  cast  into 
the  sea  by  mariners,  but  carried  to  Tse'- 
naros  on  the  back  of  a dolphin. 

Ari'on.  The  wonderful  horse  which 
Hercules  gave  to  Adras'tos.  It  sprang 
from  Ceres  and  Neptune,  had  the  power 
of  speech,  and  its  feet  on  the  right  side 
were  the  feet  of  a man. 

Arios'to  was  privately  married  to 
Alessandra  Benucci,  wido'r  of  Tito 
Strozzi ; she  is  generally  called  his 
mistress. 

Ariosto  of  the  North.  So  Lord  Byron 
calls  Sir  W alter  Scott. — Childe  Harold,'* 
iv.  40. 


AEISTEAS. 


AEMS. 


43 


Ariste'as.  The  wandering  Jew  of 
Grecian  fable.  {See  Jew.) 

Aristi'des  (4  syl.).  Surnamed  The 
Just.  An  Athenian  general. 

Then  Aristides  lifts  his  honest  front. 

Spotless  of  heart;  to  whom  the  unflattering 
voice 

Of  Freedom  gave  the  noblest  name  of  "Just.” 

Thomson,  " Winter.’’ 

The  British  Aristides.  Andrew  Marvell. 

(1620-1678.) 

Aristoc'racy.  The  cold  shade  of  the 
aristocracy ; i.e.^  the  nnsympathising 
patronage  of  the  great.  The  expression 
first  occurs  in  Sir  W.  F.  P.  Napier’s 
‘^History  of  the  Peninsular  War.” 

The  word  ^‘aristocracy”  is  the  Greek 
aristo-cratos  (greatest  power). 

Aristoph'anes.  The  English  or 
modern  Aristophanes.  Samuel  Foote. 
(1722-1777.) 

The  French  Aristophanes.  J.  Baptiste 
Poquelin  de  Moliere.  (1622-1673.) 

Aristotle  loved  a woman  named 
Pyth'ias,  and  at  death  paid  her  divine 
honours. 

Aristotle  of  China.  Tehuhe,  who  died 
A.D.  1200,  called  the  ‘‘Prince  of  Science.” 

Aristotle  of  the  nineteenth  Century. 
George  Cuvier,  the  great  naturalist.  (176’9- 
1832.) 

Aristotelian  Philosophy.  Aris- 
totle maintained  that  four  separate  causes 
are  necessary  before  anything  exists ; 
the  material  cause,  the  formal,  the  final, 
and  the  moving  cause.  The  first  is 
that  which  gives  matter  its  individuality ; 
the  moving  cause  is  that  which  causes 
matter  to  assume  its  individual  forms ; 
and  the  final  cause  is  that  which  makes 
matter  retain^  the  form  imposed  upon  it 
by^  the  moving  cause.  According  to 
Aristotle,  matter  is  eternal. 

Aristotelian  Unities.  Aristotle, 
the  Greek  philosopher,  laid  it  down  as  a 
rule  that  every  tragedy,  properly  con- 
structed, should  contain  but  one  catas- 
trophe; should  be  limited  to  only  one 
scene ; and  be  circumscribed  to  the  action 
of  one  single  day.  These  are  called  the 
AnstoteVic  or  Dramatic  unities.  To  these 
the  French  have  added  a fourth,  the 
unity  of  uniformity,  i.e.,  in  tragedy  all 
^the  “dramatis  personae”  should  be  tragic 
m style,  in  comedy  comic,  and  in  farce 
farcical. 


Ark.  You  must  have  come  out  of  the 
arJc,  or  you  were  horn  in  the  ark  ; because 
you  are  so  old-fashioned,  and  ignorant  of 
current  events. 

Arma'da.  The  Spanish  armada. 
The  fleet  assembled  by  Felipe  II.  of 
Spain,  in  1588,  for  the  conquest  of 
England.  Used  for  any  fleet. 

Arme'nians.  A religious  sect  so 
called  from  Arme'nia,  where  Christianity 
was  introduced  in  the  second  century. 
They  attribute  only  one  nature  to  Christ, 
and  hold  that  the  Spirit  proceeds  from 
the  Father  only.  They  enjoin  the  ado- 
ration of  saints,  have  some  peculiar  ways 
of  administering  baptism  and  the  Lord’s 
supper,  but  do  not  maintain  the  doctrine 
of  purgatory. 

ArmPda.  One  of  the  prominent 
female  characters  in  Tasso’s  “Jerusalem 
Delivered.”  She  was  a beautiful  sorceress, 
with  whom  Rinaldo  fell  in  love,  and  wasted 
his  time  in  voluptuous  pleasure.  Two 
messengers  were  sent  from  the  Christian 
army  with  a talisman  to  disenchant  him. 
After  his  escape,  Armida  followed  him  in 
distraction,  but  not  being  able  to  allure 
him  back,  set  fire  to  her  palace,  rushed 
into  the  midst  of  a combat,  and  was  slain. 

In  1806,  Frederick  William  of  Prussia 
declared  war  against  Napoleon,  and  his 
young  queen  rode  about  in  military  cos- 
tume to  arouse  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
people.  When  Napoleon  was  told  of  it, 
ho  wittily  said  of  her  ; “ She  is  Armi'da, 
in  her  distraction  setting  fire  to  her  own 
palace.” 

Armin'ians  (Anti- Calvinists)  ; so 
called  from  James  Harmensen,  of  Hol- 
land, whose  name.  Latinised,  is  Jaco'bus 
Armin'ius.  He  asserted  that  God  bestows 
forgiveness  and  eternal  life  on  all  who 
repent  and  believe ; that  he  wills  all  men 
to  be  saved ; and  that  his  predestination 
is  founded  on  his  foreknowledge. 

Ar'mory.  Heraldry  is  so  called, 
because  it  first  found  its  special  use  in 
direct  connection  with  military  equip- 
ments, knightly  exercises,  and  the  mUU 
of  actual  battle. 

Arms.  In  the  Bayeux  tapestry,  the 
Saxons  fight  on  foot  with  javelin  and 
battle-axe,  and  bear  shields  with  the 
British  characteristic  of  a boss  in  the 
centre.  The  men  were  moustached. 

The  Normans  are  on  horseback,  with 


44 


ARN-MONAT. 


ARTEGAL. 


long  shields  and  pennoned  lances.  The 
men  are  not  only  shaven,  hut  most  of 
them  have  a complete  tonsure  on  the 
hack  of  the  head,  whence  the  spies  said 
to  Harold,  There  are  more  priests  in 
the  Norman  army  than  men  in  Harold’s.” 

Royal  Arms  of  England.  The  three 
lions  leopardised  were  the  cognisance  of 
William  the  Conqueror ; the  lion  rampant 
in  the  second  quarter  is  from  the  arms 
of  Scotland;  and  the  harp  in  the  third 
quarter  represents  Ireland.  The  lion 
supporter  is  in  honour  of  England, 
and  the  unicorn  in  honour  of  Scotland. 
These  two  supporters  were  introduced 
hy  James  I. 

William  I.  had  only  two  lions  passant 
guardant ; the  third  was  introduced  by 
Henry  II.  The  lion  rampant  first  ap- 
peared on  Scotch  seals  in  the  reign  of 
Alexander  II.  (1214-1249.)  The  harp 
was  assigned  to  Ireland  in  the  time  of 
Henry  VII.  ; before  that  time  the  arms 
of  Ireland  were  three  crowns.  The  unicorn 
was  not  a supporter  of  the  royal  arms  of 
Scotland  before  the  reign  of  Mary  Stuart. 

Arn-monat.  A corruption  of  Barn- 
monat  (Barn-month),  the  Anglo-Saxon 
name  for  August,  because  it  was  the 
month  for  garnering  the  corn. 

Arnauts  {hrave  men).  Albanian 
mountaineers. 

Stained  with  the  best  of  Arnant’s  blood. 

Byron,  “ The  Giaour.’* 

Arnold.  Son  of  Melch'tal,  patriarch 
of  the  forest  cantons  of  Switzerland.  He 
was  in  love  with  Matilda,  a sister  of 
Gessler,  the  Austrian  governor  of  the 
district.  When  the  tyranny  of  Gessler 
drove  the  people  into  rebellion,  Arnold 
gave  up  Matilda  and  joined  the  insurgents, 
but  when  Gessler  was  shot  by  William  Tell, 
he  became  united  to  her  in  marriage. — 
Rossini’s  opera  of  Guglielmo  Tell.” 

Arnol'dists.  The  partisans  of  Arnold 
of  Brescia,  who  raised  his  voice  against 
the  abuses  and  vices  of  the  papacy  in  the 
twelfth  century.  He  was  burnt  alive  by 
pope  Adrian  IV. 

Arod,  in  the  satire  of  Absalom  and 
Achitophel/’  by  Bryden  and  Tate,  is  de- 
signed for  Sir  William  Waller.  (Part  ii. ) 

Aren't ens  (4  syl.),  in  Jerusalem 
Delivered.”  An  Asiatic  king,  who  joined 
the  Egyptian  armament  against  the  Cru- 
saders, **  not  by  virtue  fired,  but  vain  of 
his  titles  and  ambitious  of  fame,” 


Ai/oundiglit.  The  sword  of  Sir 
Launcelot  of  the  Lake. 

It  is  the  sword  of  a good  knight, 

Though  homespun  was  his  mail. 

What  matter  if  it  be  not  hight, 

Joyeuse,  Cola'da,  Durindale, 

Excalibar,  or  Aroundight  "i— Longfellow. 

Aroynt  thee.  Get  ye  gone,  be  off. 
In  Cheshire  they  say,  rynt  ye,  loitch  ; and 
milk-maids  say  to  their  cows  when  they 
have  done  milking  them,  rynt  ye,  my 
heauties.  (Saxon  a-rennan,  run  off  ; 
Gothic  a-rinnan  ; Welsh  rhin,  a channel 
for  water;  whence  Rhine.) 

Arras  tapestry.  So  called  from  Arras, 
in  the  French  Netherlands,  where  it  was 
manufactured.  When  rooms  were  hung 
with  tapestry  it  was  a common  thing  for 
persons  to  hide  behind  it,  especially  the 
arras  curtain  before  the  door.  Hubert 
concealed  the  two  villains  who  were  to 
put  out  Arthur’s  eyes  behind  the  arras. 
Polo'nius  was  slain  by  Hamlet  while  con- 
cealed behind  the  arras.  Falstaff  pro- 
posed to  hide  behind  the  arras  ‘ at 
Windsor,  &c. 

Arrot,  the  weasel,  in  the  tale  of 

Reynard  the  Fox.” 

Arrow.  The  broad  arrow,  used  as  a 
Government  mark,  is  made  thus  /^,  the 
broad  a of  the  Druids.  This  letter  was 
typical  of  rank  and  authority.  It  occurs 
on  coins  aud  precious  stones  as  the  sym- 
bol of  Mithras ; the  Germans  used  it  to 
symbolise  the  moon  ; and  in  churches  it 
is  employed  as  the  symbol  of  the  ‘‘Sun 
of  Righteousness.”  (^See  A 1.) 

Arsch.  The  throne  of  deity.  {Mahom. 
myth. ) 

Arse'tes  (in  Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
The  aged  eunuch  who  brought  up  Clo- 
rin'da,  and  attended  her  steps. 

Artaxerx'es,  called  by  the  Persians 
Kai-Ardeshir,  and  surnamed  diraz-desi 
(long-handed),  because  his  right  hand 
was  longer  than  his  left.  The  Romans 
translated  diraz-dest  into  longi-manus; 
the  Greek  Aria  into  Arde  noble”). 

Art'egal,  Sir  (in  Spenser’s  Faery 
Queen”),  is  the  hero  of  the  fifth  book, 
and  impersonates  Justice,  the  foster-child 
of  Astrma.  In  the  previous  books  he 
occasionally  appears,  and  is  called  Sir 
Arthegal.  It  is  said  that  Arthur  lord 
Grey  of  Wilton  was  the  Academy 
Figure”  of  this  character.  He  was  sent 


ARTEMUS. 


ARUNDELIAN. 


45 


to  Ireland  as  Lord  Lieutenant  in  1580, 
and  the  poet  Wiis  his  secretary.  In 
book  iv.,  canto  6,  Sir  Art'egal  is  married 
to  Brit'omart,  and  proceeds  to  succour 
Ire'na  (Ireland),  whose  heritage  had  been 
withheld  by  the  tyrant  Grantorto.  {See 
Arthegal.) 

Ar'temus  Ward.  A showman,  very 
'cute,  very  American,  and  very  vain. 
The  hypothetical  writer  of  the  essays  or 
papers  so  called,  the  real  author  being 
Charles  F.  Browne. 

Arte'sian  Wells.  So  called  from  Ar- 
te'siam  (the  Latin  for  Artois),  in  France, 
where  they  were  first  perforated. 

Artful  Dodger.  A young  thief,  a 
most  perfect  adept  in  villany,  up  to  every 
sort  of  wicked  dodge.— Oliver 
Twist:^ 

Ar'tliegal.  Uterine  brother  of  prince 
Arthur.  S|  en-  er,  in  his  Faery  Queen” 
(book  iii.),  makes  Brit'omart  see  his 
person  and  name  in  the  magic  glass. 
She  falls  in  love  with  the  looking-glass 
hero,  and  is  told  by  Merlin  that  she  will 
marry  him,  and  become  the  mother  of  a 
line  of  kings  that  would  supersede  both 
the  Saxons  and  Normans.  He  referred, 
of  course,  to  the  Tudors,  who  were 
descendants  of  Cadwallador.  {See 
Artegal.) 

Arthur.  King  of  the  Sil'ures,  a 
tribe  of  ancient  Britons,  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Camlan,  in 
Cornwall,  raised  by  the  revolt  of  his 
nephew,  Modred.  He  was  taken  to 
Glastonbury,  where  he  died. 

His  wife  was  Guinever,  who  com- 
mitted adultery  with  Sir  Launcelot  of  the 
l^ake,  one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table. 

He  was  the  natural  son  of  Uther  and 
Igerna  (wife  of  Gorlois,  duke  of  Corn- 
wall), and  was  brought  up  by  Sir  Ector. 

He  was  born  at  Tintad'gel  or  Tin- 
tagel,  a castle  in  Cornwall. 

His  habitual  residence  was  Caerleon, 
in  Wales ; and  he  was  buried  at  Av'alon. 

His  sword  was  called  ExcaVihar  or 
Excal'ibor;  his  spear,  Pi,oiie  (one  syl.),  and 
his  shield,  Pridwin.  {See  Round  Table, 
Knights.) 

Arthur.  ^ The  romance  of  King  Arthur 
may  be  divided  into  six  parts. 

■ (1)  The  romance  of  the  “ San  Graal.” 

By  Robert  Borron. 


(2)  The  Merlin,”  which  celebrates 
the  birth  and  exploits  of  King  Arthur. 
By  Walter  Mapes. 

(3)  “The  Launcelot.”  By  Thomas  ^ 
Becket. 

(4)  The  search  or  Quest  of  the  San 
Graal.”  It  is  found  by  Sir  Gal'ahad,  a 
knight  of  pure  heart  and  great  courage ; 
but  no  sooner  does  he  find  it  than  he 
is  taken  up  to  heaven.  By  Thomas  h 
Becket. 

(5)  The  ^^Mort  d’Artus,”  or  Death  of 
Arthur.  By  Thomas  h Becket. 

(6)  Sundry  Tales,”  but  especially  the 
adventures  of  Sir  Tristan.  By  Luke 
Gast,  of  Salisbury. 

Arthur's  Seat^  a hill  near  Edinburgh, 
is  A'rd  Seir  (hill  of  arrows),  where 
people  shot  at  a mark. 

Articles  of  Roup  {Scotch).  Con- 
ditions of  sale  at  an  auction  announced 
by  a crier.  (Roup  is  the  Teutonic  re- 
oiieriy  to  cry  out.) 

Artists.  The  Prince  of  Artists, 
Albert  Diirer ; so  called  by  his  country- 
men. (1471-1528.) 

Ar'toty rites  (4  syl.).  Certain  here- 
tics from  among  the  Mont'anists ; so  called 
because  they  offered  bread  and  cheese  to 
God.  They  admitted  women  to  the 
priesthood.  (Greek,  artos,  barley-bread, 
and  turos,  cheese.) 

Arts.  Degrees  in  Arts.  In  the  medi- 
eval ages  the  full  course  consisted  of  the 
three  subjects  which  constituted  the 
Tri'vium,  and  the  four  subjects  which 
constituted  the  Quadriv'ium : — 

The  Tri'vium  was  grammar,  logic,  and 
rhetoric. 

The  Quadriv'ium  was  music,  arithme- 
tic, geometry,  and  astronomy. 

The  Master  of  Arts  was  the  person 
qualified  to  teach  or  be  the  master  of 
students  in  arts ; as  the  Doctor  was  the 
person  qualified  to  teach  theology. 

Aruna'.  The  Phaeton  of  Indian 
mythology. 

Ar'undel.  The  heraldic  device  of 
the  family  is  six  swallows  (Jiirondelles),  a 
pun  upon  the  name. 

Arundel.  The  charger  of  Bevis  of 
Southampton. 

Arunde'liaa  Marbles.  A collec- 
tion of  ancient  sculptures  collected  at 
great  expense  by  Thomas  Howard  earl 
of  Arundel,  and  presented  totheUniver- 


46 


ARVAKUR, 


ASHFORB, 


/ 


Bi'ty  of  Oxford  in  1667  by  his  grandson, 
Henry  Howard,  afterwards  duke  of 
Norfolk.  They  contain  tables  of  ancient 
chronology,  especially  that  of  Athens, 
from  B.C.  1582  to  264,  engraved  in  old 
Greek  capitals.  Date  of  thetableSjB.c.263. 

Arvakur'.  One  of  the  horses  of  the 
{Scand.  myth.)  Aslo.) 

A'ryans.  The  parent  stock  of  what 
is  called  the  Indo-European  family  of 
nations.  They  lived  probably  in  Bactria, 
i.e.f  between  the  river  Oxus  and  the 
Hindu-koosh  mountains.  The  Aryan 
family  of  languages  are  the  Teutonic, 
Celtic,  Slavon'ic,  Helle'nic,  Italian, 
Ira'nian,  and  Indian. 

Arzi'na.  A river  that  flows  into  the 
North  Sea,  near  Wardhus,  where  Sir 
Willoughby’s  three  ships  were  frozen, 
and  the  whole  crew  perished  of  starva- 
tion. 

In  these  fell  regions  in  Arzina  caught. 

And  to  the  stony  deep  his  idle  ship 

Immediate  sealed,  he  with  his  hapless  crew  . . . 

Froze  into  statues.— T/iomsow,  “ Winter.” 

As  you  were,  in  military  drilling, 
means.  Return  to  the  position  in  which 
you  were  before  the  last  exercise.  As 
you  were  before. 

Asa-Lok  or  LoJce.  Descended  from 
the  giants  and  received  among  the 
celestials.  He  is  represented  as  a 
treacherous  malignant  power,  fond  of 
assuming  disguises,  and  plotting  evil. 
One  of  his  progeny  is  Hela  {q.v.).  {Scan- 
dinavian mythology.) 

Asa-Thor.  The  first-born  of  mortals. 
(^Scand.  myth.') 

A'saph,  A famous  musician  in  David’s 
time  (1  Chron.  xxv.  1,  2).  Mr.  Tate, 
who  wrote  the  second  part  of  ‘ ^ Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  lauds  Dryden  under 
this  name. 

While  Judah’s  throne  and  Sion’s  rock  standfast. 
The  song  of  Asaph  and  the  fame  sliall  last. 

“ Absalom  and  Achitophel”  pt.  ii. 

As'bolos.  One  of  Actseon’s  dogs. 
The  word  means  soot -coloured.  (^See 
Amarynthos.) 

Ascal'aphos.  Turned  by  Proserpine, 
for  mischief-making,  into  an  owl. 

As'capart.  A giant  conquered  by 
Sir  Bevis  of  Southampton.  He  was  thirty 
feet  high,  and  the  space  between  his 
eyes  was  twelve  inches.  This  mighty 
giant,  whose  effigy  figures  on  the  city  | 


gates  of  Southampton,  could  carry  under 
his  arm  without  feeling  distressed  Sir 
Bevis  with  his  wife  and  horse. 

As  Bevis  of  Southampton  fell  upon  Ascapart. 

2 Henry  VI.,  Act  ii.  8. 

Ascendant.  In  casting  a horoscope 
the  easternmost  star,  representing  the 
house  of  life,  is  called  the  ascendant,  be- 
cause it  is  in  the  act  of  ascending.  This 
is  a man’s  strongest  star,  and  so  long 
as  it  is  above  the  horizon  his  fortune  is 
said  to  be  in  the  ascendant.  When  a 
man’s  circumstances  begin  to  improve, 
and  things  look  brighter,  we  say  his  star 
is  in  the  ascendant.  {See  Houses,  Stars.) 

Ascension  Day  or  Holy  Thursday. 
The  day  which  commemorates  our  Lord’s 
ascension.  It  is  the  day  for  heating  the 
hounds  or  riding  the  marches. 

Asch'moun.  The  Tyrian  Escula'- 
pios. 

Ascod'rogites  (4  syl.).  Certain 
heretics  who  said  ^Hhey  were  vessels 
full  of  new  wine”  (Greek,  askos).  By 
new  wine  they  meant  the  Gospel.  (Matt, 
ix.  17.) 

Ascrse'an  Poet  or  Sage.  Hesiod, 
the  Greek  didactic  poet,  born  at  Ascra, 
in  Boeotia.  Virgil  calls  him  the  ^^Old 
Ascrseon.”  {Eel.  vi.) 

As'en.  The  three  gods  next  in  rank 
to  the  twelve  male  Asir  {q.v.). 

As'gard.  The  fortress  of  the  Asir  or 
Northern  gods,  the  Olympos  of  Scan- 
dinavian mythology.  It  is  said  to  be 
situate  in  the  centre  of  the  universe,  and 
accessible  only  by  the  rainbow  - bridge 
{Bifrost).  The  word  As  means  a god,” 
and  gard  an  enclosure,”  our  ^^yard.” 
Odin  was  priest  of  Asgard  before  he 
migrated  to  the  lake  Logur  or  Moelar 
Sea. 

Ash-tree,  or  Tree  of  the  Universe.” 
{See  Yggdrasil.) 

Ash  Wednesday.  The  first  day  in 
Lent,  when  the  undistributed  branches 
of  consecrated  palm  are  burnt ; and  the 
officiating  priests  sign  the  sign  of  the 
cross  with  the  ashes  on  the  forehead  of 
their  congregations,  saying,  ‘^Remember 
thou  art  but  dust  and  ashes,  and  to  dust 
thou  shaft  return.” 

Ashford,  Isaac.  “ A wise,  good  man, 
contented  to  be  poor,” — Crahhe,  Parish 
Register  P 


ASHMOLEAN. 


ASPERSIONS, 


47 


Ashmo'lean  Museum,  Presented 
to  the  University  of  Oxford  in  1682  by 
Elias  Ashmole.  Sometimes  called  the 
Trades'cant,  because  it  belonged  to  the 
Tradescant  family. 

Ash'taroth,  The  goddess-moon  in 
Syrian  mythology,  called  by  Jeremiah 
‘Hhe  queen  of  heaven.” 

Mooned  Ashtaroth, 

Heaven’s  queen  and  mothei  hoth.— Milton. 

As'inus.  As'inus  as'imm  fricat 
(Latin,  one  ass  rubs  another”),  that  is, 
we  fraternise  with  persons  like  ourselves ; 
or,  in  other  words,  Birds  of  a feather 
flock  together.”  The  allusion  needs  no 
explanation. 

A'sir.  The  twelve  gods  and  twelve 
goddesses  of  Scandinavian  mythology. 
The  gods  are  : Odin,  Thor,  Baldur,  Niord, 
Frey,  Tyr,  Bragi,  Heimdall,  Vidar,  Vali, 
Ullur,  and  Forseti.  The  four  chief 
goddesses  are  Frigga,  Freyja,  Idu'na,  and 
Saga. 

Ask.  The  vulgar  is  the  more 
correct  (Saxon  axian,  Greek  axioo).  In 
assenting  to  bills,  the  king  used  to  reply, 
‘^Be  it  as  it  is  axed.”  Chaucer  says  in 
the  ‘^Doctor  of  Medicine’s  Tale,”  ‘^For 
my  werke,  nothing  will  I axe.”  Launfal, 
1027,  has,  Ho  that  wyll  there  axsy 
justus.”  Other  quotations  could  easily 
be  added. 

Ask  and  Embla.  The  Adam  and 
Eve  made  by  Odin,  one  from  ash-wood 
and  the  other  from  elm. 

Aslo.  One  of  the  horses  of  the  sun. 
{Scandinavian  myth.)  {See  Arvakur.) 

Asmode'us  {the  destroyer).  The 
demon  of  vanity  and  dress,  called  in  the 
Talmud  ^‘the  king  of  devils.” 

The  A smode'us  of  domestic  peace  (in  the 
Book  of  Tobit).  Asmode'us  falls  in 
love  with  Sara,  daughter  of  Rag'uel,  and 
causes  the  successive  death  of  seven  hus- 
bands, each  on  his  bridal  night.  After 
her  marriage  to  Tobit,  he  was  driven 
into  Egypt  by  a charm,  made  by  Tobias 
of  the  heart  and  liver  of  a fish  burnt  on 
perfumed  ashes,  and  being  pursued  was 
taken  prisoner  and  bound. 

f-.  . Better  pleased 

^an  Asmode'us  witli  the  fishy  fume 
That  drove  him,  though  enamoured,  from  the 

spouse 

Of  Tohit’s  son,  and  with  a vengeance  sent 
rrom  Media  post  to  Egypt,  there  fast  hound. 

Milton.  "Paradise  Lott.''  ir. 


Asmode'us.  The  companion  of  Don 
Cle'ofas  in  The  Devil  on  Two  Sticks.” 

Asmode'us  fight.  Don  Cle'ofas,  catch- 
ing hold  of  his  companion’s  cloak,  is 
perched  on  the  steeple  of  St.  Salva'dor. 
Here  the  foul  fiend  stretches  out  his 
hand,  and  the  roofs  of  all  the  houses  open 
in  a moment,  to  show  the  Don  what  is 
going  on  privately  in  each  respective 
dwelling. 

Could  the  reader  take  an  Asmodeus-flight,  and, 
waving  open  all  roofs  and  privacies,  look  down 
from  the  roof  of  Notre-Dame,  what  a Paris  were 
it  Carlyle. 

As'oka  of  Magad'ha.  In  the  third 
century  the  nursing  father”  of  Budd- 
hism, as  Constantine  was  of  Christianity. 
He  is  called  ^^the  king  beloved  of  the 
gods.” 

Aso'ors.  Evil  genii  of  the  Indians. 

Aspa'sia,  a courtesan.  She  was  the 
most  celebrated  of  the  Greek  Heteerse,  to 
whom  Per'icles  attached  himself.  On 
the  death  of  Pericles,  she  lived  with 
Lys'icles,  a cattle-dealer. 

Aspasia,  in  the  ^‘Maid’s  Tragedy”  of 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  is  noted  for  her 
deep  sorrows,  her  great  resignation,  and 
the  pathos  of  her  speeches.  Amyn'tor 
deserts  her,  women  point  at  her  with 
scorn,  she  is  the  jest  and  bye-word  of 
every  one,  but  she  bears  iib  all  with 
patience. 

As'peri.  The  aspen  leaf  is  said  to 
tremble,  from  shame  and  horror,  because 
our  Lord’s  cross  was  made  of  this  wood. 
The  fact  is  this : the  leaf  is  broad,  and 
placed  on  a long  leaf-stalk  so  flexible  as 
scarcely  to  be  able  to  support  it  in  an 
upright  position.  The  upper  part  of  the 
stalk,  on  which  the  play  mainly  depends, 
is  flattened ; and,  being  at  right  angles 
with  the  leaf,  is  peculiarly  liable  to  be 
acted  on  by  the  least  breath  of  air. 

A spen  Leaf.  Metaphorically,  a chatter- 
ing tongue,  never  quiet. 

Those  aspen  leaves  of  theirs  never  leave  wagging. 

Sir  T.  More. 

Asper'sions  properly  means  “sprink- 
lings” or  scatterings.”  The  word  was 
applied  by  the  Romans  to  libations  or 
offerings  to  the  infernal  gods,  in  con- 
tradistinction to  oblationSf  which  were 
always  to  celestial  deities.  Its  present 
meaning  is  base  insinuations  or  slanders. 

No  sweet  aspersions  (rain)  shall  the  heavens  let 
fall 

To  make  this  contract  grow. 

Shakespeare.  “ Temptst."  iv.  1. 


48 


ASPHALTIC. 


ASSAY, 


Asphal'tic  Lake.  The  Dead  Sea, 
where  asphalt  abounds  both  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  and  on  the  banks.  As- 
phalt is  a bitumen,  from  the  Greek  as- 
‘phaMos. 

As'rael.  The  Angel  of  Death.  Ma- 
homet describes  him  as  being  of  im- 
measurable height,  and  says  his  eyes  are 
70,000  days’  journey  apart.”  His  dwell- 
ing is  in  the  third  heaven.  {See  Azrael.) 

Ass.  The  ass  on  which  Mahomet 
went  to  heaven  to  learn  the  will  of  God 
was  called  A I Borah  (the  lightning). 

Ass.  There  is  a dark  stripe  running 
down  the  back  of  an  ass,  crossed  by 
another  at  the  shoulders.  The  tradition 
is  that  this  cross  was  communicated  to 
the  creature  when  our  Lord  rode  on  the 
back  of  an  ass  in  his  triumphant  entry 
into  Jerusalem. 

AsSf  deaf  to  music.  This  tradition 
arose  from  the  hideous  noise  made  by 
‘^Sir  Balaam”  in  braying.  Because 
Midas  had  no  power  to  appreciate  music, 
Apollo  gave  him  the  ears  of  an  ass. 
{See  Ass-eared.) 

Avarice  is  as  deaf  to  the  voice  of  virtue,  as  the 
ass  to  the  voice  of  Apollo.— “ Orlando  Furioso,”  xvii. 

To  mount  the  ass  (French).  To  be- 
come bankrupt.  The  allusion  is  to  a 
custom  very  common  in  the  sixteenth 
century  of  mounting  a bankrupt  on  an 
ass,  with  his  face  to  its  tail.  Thus 
mounted,  the  defaulter  was  made  to  ride 
through  the  principal  thoroughfares  of 
the  town. 

The  ass  waggeth  his  ears.  This  pro- 
verb is  applied  to  those  who  lack 
learning,  and  yet  talk  as  if  they  were 
very  wise;  men  wise  in  their  own  con- 
ceit. The  ass,  proverbial  for  having  no 

taste  for  music,”  will  nevertheless  wag 
its  ears  at  a concord  of  sweet  sounds,” 
just  as  if  it  could  well  appreciate  it. 

An  ass  in  a lioris  skin.  A coward 
who  hectors,  a fool  that  apes  the  wise 
man.  The  allusion  is  to  the  fable  of 
an  ass  that  put  on  a lion’s  hide,  but  was 
betrayed  when  he  began  to  bray. 

An  ass  with  two  panniers.  A man 
walking  the  streets  with  a lady  on  each 
arm.  This  occupies  the  whole  pave- 
ment, and  is  therefore  bad  manners  well 
meriting  the  reproach.  In  Italy  they 
call  such  a simpleton  a pitcher  with  two 
handles,  his  two  arms  akimbo  forming 
the  two  handles.  In  London  we  call  it 
walking  hodkin.  because  the  man  is 


sheathed  like  a bodkin  and  powerless. 
Our  expression  is  probably  a corruption 
of  the  French  Faire  le  panier  d deux  ansi 
(^'put  your  arms  akimbo”  or  ^^make  your- 
self a basket  with  two  handles  ”). 

Till  the  ass  ascends  the  ladder — i.e.y 
never.  A rabbinical  expression.  The 
Komans  had  a similar  one,  Cum  as'inus 
in  teg'ulis  ascen'derit  (when  the  ass 
climbs  to  the  tiles).  And  Buxtorf  has 
Si  ascen'derit  as'inus  per  scalas.  What 
would  the  ancients  say,  if  they  could 
hear  our  street  acrobats  promising  to 
perform  their  impossibility  for  the  small 
charge  of  twopence  more  ? 

Asses  that  carry  the  mysteries  (as'inus 
portat  myste'ria).  A classical  knock  at 
the  Roman  clergy.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  custom  of  employing  asses  to  carry 
the  cista  which  contained  the  sacred 
symbols,  when  processions  were  made 
through  the  streets. — ‘^Divine Legation^'* 
ii.  4. 

As5.  {See  Golden  Ass.) 

Asses'  Bridge.  Prop.  5,  Book  I.  of 
Euclid.  This  is  the  first  difficult  pro- 
position in  geometry,  and  stupid  boys 
rarely  get  over  it  the  first  time  without 
tripping. 

Assesy  Feast  of.  {See  Fools.) 

Ass-eared.  Midas  had  the  ears  of  an 
ass.  The  tale  says  Apollo  and  Pan  had 
a contest,  and  chose  Midas  to  decide 
which  was  the  better  musician.  Midas 
gave  sentence  in  favour  of  Pan,  and 
Apollo,  in  disgust,  changed  his  ears  into 
those  of  an  ass. 

Assabi'nug.  The  name  given  by  the 
Ethiopians  to  the  sun-god. 

Assas'sins.  A band  of  Carmathians, 
collected  by  Hassan,  subah  of  Nish'- 
apour,  called  the  Old  Man  of  the  Moun- 
tainsy  because  he  made  Mount  Leb'anon 
his  stronghold.  This  band  was  the 
terror  of  the  world  for  two  centuries, 
when  it  was  put  down  by  sultan  Bib'aris. 
The  assassins  stupefied  their  victims  with 
haschisch  (bang),  an  intoxicating  drink, 
and  either  from  this  liquor  or  from  the 
founder,  received  their  name  (a.d.  1090). 

M.  Volney  derives  the  word  from  hassa 
(to  be  in  ambush,  to  kill),  and  Lane  from 
hashishen  (hemp -eaters). 

Assay'  or  Essay'.  To  take  the  assay 
is  to  taste  wine  to  prove  it  is  not 
poisoned.  Hence  to  to  taste  ; a savoury 

trial y or  sample.  Holirshed  says,  “ Wol- 


ASSAYE. 


ASTREA. 


49 


seymade  dukes  and  earls  serve  him  of 
wine  with  a say  taken”  (p.  847). 

Edmund,  in  King  Lear,”  says  to 
Edgar,  Thy  tongue,  some  say  of 
breeding  breathes ^.e. , thy  speech  gives 
indication  of  good  breeding — it  savours 
of  it.  Hence  the  expressions,  1 maJce 
my  first  assay  (trial). 

(He)  makes  vow  before  his  uncle,  never  more 

To  give  the  assay  of  arms  against  your  majesty, 
Shakespeare^  “ Hamlet”  ii.  2. 

Assaye  Regiment,  The  74th  Foot, 
so  called  because  they  first  distinguished 
themselves  in  the  battle  of  Assaye,  where 
2,000  British  and  2,500  Sepoy  troops 
under  Wellington  defeated  ,50,000  Mah- 
rattas,  commanded  by  French  ofiicers,  in 
1803. 

Assien'to  Treaties  (Spanish  agree- 
ment treaties).  Contracts  entered  into  by 
Spain  with  Portugal,  France,  and  Eng- 
land, to  supply  her  South  American 
colonies  with  negro  slaves.  England 
joined  in  1713,  after  the  peace  of  Utrecht. 

Ass'ine'go.  A young  ass,  a simple- 
ton (a  Portuguese  word). 

Thou  hast  no  more  brain  than  I have  in  mine 
elbows;  an  assinego  may  tutor  thee. 

“ Troilus  and  Cressida”  ii.  1. 

Assumption  Day.  The  15th  of 
August,  so  called  in  honour  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  who  (according  to  the  Roman  and 
Greek  Churches)  was  taken  to  heaven 
that  day  (a.D.  45),  in  her  corporeal  form, 
being  at  the  time  seventy-five  years  of 
age. 

Astag'oras  (in  Jerusalem  Deli- 
vered”). A female  fiend,  who  had  the 
power  of  raising  storms,  and  whose  part- 
ners were  the  three  Furies : Tisiph^one, 
Meg'ara,  and  Alec'to. 

Astar'te.  Goddess  of  the  Moon,  in 
Phoenician  mythology. 

With  these  in  troops 

Came  Astoreth,  whom  the  Phoenicians  called 

Astarte,  queen  of  heaven,  with  crescent  horns. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost.” 

As'tarte  (2  syl,).  The  lady  beloved  by 
Manfred.  In  order  to  see  and  speak  to 
her,  the  magician  entered  the  hall  of 
Arim'anes,  and  the  spirits  called  up  the 
phantom  of  the  young  lady,  which  told 
the  count  that  “ to-morrow  would  end 
his  earthly  ills.”  When  Manfred  asked 
her  if  she  loved  him,  she  sighed,  Man- 
fred,” and  vanished. — Byron,  Man^ 


As'terism.  That  branch  of  astrology 
which  is  limited  to  the  fixed  stars,  as  in 
India  and  Arabia.  {Astra,  fixed  stars.) 

As'tolat.  Guildford,  in  Surrey. 

Astol'pho  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
An  English  duke  (son  of  Otho),  who 
joined  Charlemagne  against  the  Saracens. 
He  was  carried  on  the  back  of  a whale  to 
Alci'ca’s  isle ; but  when  Alcina  tired  of 
him,  she  tui’ned  him  into  a myrtle.  He 
was  disenchanted  by  Melissa.  Astolpho 
descended  into  the  infernal  regions,  and 
his  flight  to  the  moon  (bk.  xviii.)  is 
one  of  the  best  parts  of  the  whole  poem. 
(^See  Inferno.) 

It  came  upon  them  lilce  a blast  from 
Astolpho* s horn  ; i.e.,  it  produced  a panic. 
Logistilla  gave  Astolpho  a magic  horn, 
and  whatever  man  or  beast  heard  its 
blast  was  seized  with  panic,  and  became 
an  easy  captive. — Orlando  Furioso,^* 
bk.  viii. 

Like  Astolpho* s booh  it  told  you  every • 
thing.  The  same  fairy  gave  Astolpho  a 
book,  which  would  not  only  direct  him 
aright  in  his  journeys,  but  would  tell 
him  anything  he  desired  to  know. — 

Orlando  Furioso,”  bk.  viii. 

As'toreth  or  Ashtaroth,  A Phoeni- 
cian goddess- moon,  sometimes  called 
‘Hhe  queen  of  heaven”  (Jer.  vii.  18), 
sometimes  “goddess  of  the  Zidonians.” 

Astrao'a.  Equity,  innocence.  During 
the  Golden  Age  this  goddess  dwelt  on 
earth,  but  when  sin  began  to  prevail,  she 
reluctantly  left  it,  and  was  metamor- 
phosed into  the  constellation  Virgo, 

When  hard-hearted  interest  first  began 
To  poison  earth,  Astrsea  left  the  plain. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,”  canto  1. 

Astral  Spirits.  The  spirits  of  the 
stars.  According  to  the  mythology  of 
the  Persians,  Greeks,  Jews,  &c.,  each 
star  has  its  special  spirit,  which  may  be 
termed  its  soul  or  vital  principle.  Para- 
celsus maintained  that  every  man  had 
his  attendant  star,  which  received  him  at 
death,  and  took  charge  of  him  till  the 
great  resurrection. 

Astre'a.  A poetical  name  of  Mrs. 
Aphra  Behn,  born  of  good  family  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  Her  works  are  very 
numerous,  including  seventeen  dramatic 
pieces.  Died  1689,  and  was  buried  in 
Westminster  Abbey. 

The  stage  how  loosely  does  Astrea  tread  — Pop«. 

B 


60 


ASTROLOGY. 


ATLAS. 


Astrology.  {See  Diapason,  Micro- 
cosm.) 

As'trophel.  Sir  Philip  Sidney, 
''Phil.  Sid.,”  being  a contraction  of 
Idiilos  Sidus,  and  the  Latin  sidus  being 
changed  to  the  Greek  astrony  we  get 
astron-philos  (star-lover).  The  "star” 
that  he  loved  was  Penelope  Devereux, 
whom  he  called  Stella  (star),  and  to  whom 
he  was  betrothed.  Edmund  Spenser 
wrote  a pastoral  called  " Astrophel,”  to 
the  memory  of  his  friend  and  patron, 
who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Zutphen.  (1554- 
1586.) 

Astu'te  (2syl.).  Literally,  city-like 
(Greek,  astu,  a city),  the  opposite  of 
rustic.  The  word  means  that  mixture 
of  acuteness  and  cunning  which  persons 
living  in  large  cities  generally  acquire. 

Asylum  means,  literally,  a place 
where  pillage  is  forbidden  (Greek,  a sylad, 
not  to  pillage).  The  ancients  set  apart 
certain  places  of  refuge,  where  the  vilest 
criminals  were  protected,  both  from 
private  and  public  assaults. 

ABy'nier.  The  Celtic  word  for 
goddesses. 

Ate.  Goddess  of  vengeance  aud  mis- 
chief. This  goddess  was  driven  out  of 
heaven,  and  took  refuge  among  the  sons 
of  men. 

With  Ate  by  his  side  come  hot  from  hell,  . . , 
Cry  “havoc”  and  let  slip  the  dosfs  of  war. 

Shakespeare,  “ Julius  Ccesar,”  iii.  1. 

Atella'naa.  Interludes  in  the  Roman 
theatres,  introduced  from  Atella,  in 
Campa'nia.  The  characters  of  Macchus 
and  Bucco  are  the  foundations  of  our 
harlequin  and  clown. 

Ater'gata.  A deity  with  the  upper 
part  like  a woman,  and  the  lower  part 
like  a fish.  She  had  a temple  at  As'ca- 
lon.  (See  Dagon.) 

Athana'sian  Creed,  so  called  be- 
cause it  embodies  the  opinions  of  Atha- 
na'sius  respecting  the  Trinity.  It  was 
compiled  in  the  fifth  century  by  Hil'ary, 
bishop  of  Arles. 

Atli'elstavne  (3  syl.),  surnamed  “ The 
Unready,”  thane  of  Coningsburgh. — Sir 
W.  Scott,  " Ivanhoe.** 

Athenseum  (the  review  so  called) 
was  founded  by  James  Silk  Buckingham 
in  1829. 


Athe'nian  Bee.  Plato,  a native  of 
Athens,  was  so  called  because  his  words 
flowed  with  the  sweetness  of  honey. 

Athens.  The  Modern  Athens— i.  e,, 
Edinburgh.  Willis  says  that  its  singular 
resemblance  to  Athens,  approached  from 
the  Piraeus,  is  very  striking. 

An  imitation  Acrop'olis  is  commenced  on  the 
Calton  Hill,  and  has  the  effect  of  the  Parthenon. 
Hymettus  is  rather  more  lofty  than  the  Pentland 
hills,  and  Pentel'icus  is  farther  off  and  grander 
than  Arthur’s  Seat ; hut  the  old  Castle  of  Edin- 
burgh is  a noble  feature,  superbly  magnificent. 
—PencillingB. 

A (hens  of  Ireland.  Cork. 

Athens  of  the  New  Viorld.  Boston, 
noted  for  its  literary  merit  and  institu- 
tions. 

Athens  of  the  West.  Cor'dova,  in  Spain, 
was  so  called  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

A'thor.  The  Venus  of  Egyptian 
mythology. 

Atiti.  Strife.  The  squire  of  Py- 
rochles,  and  stirrer  up  of  contention. — 
Spenser,  Faery  Queen, bk.  ii. 

Atlan'tes.  Figures  of  men  used  in 
architecture  instead  of  pillars.  So  called 
from  Atlas,  who  in  Greek  mythology 
supported  the  world  on  his  shoulders. 
Female  figures  are  called  CaryatTdes 
{q.v.').  (See  Telamones. ) 

Allan' tes  (in  "Orlando  Furioso”).  A 
sage  and  a magician  who  lived  in  an  en- 
chanted palace,  and  brought  up  Roge'ro 
to  all  manly  virtues. 

Atlan'tian  or  Atlante'an  Shoulders. 
Shoulders  able  to  bear  a great  weight, 
like  those  of  Atlas,  which,  according  to 
heathen  mythology,  supported  the  whole 
world. 

Sage  he  stood. 

With  Atlantean  shoulders  fit  to  bear 
The  weight  of  mightiest  monarchies. 

Milton,  “Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  ii. 

Atlan'tie  Ocean.  The  ocean  that 
washes  the  base  of  the  Atlas  mountains. 

Atlantis.  A mythological  island 
which  contained  the  Elysian  Fields. 

The  New  A tlantis.  An  island  imagined 
by  Lord  Bacon,  where  was  established  a 
philosophical  commonwealth  bent  on  the 
cultivation  of  the  natural  sciences.  (See 
Utopia,  City  op  the  Son.) 

Atlas.  King  of  Maurita'nia  in  Africa, 
fabled  to  have  supported  the  world  upon 
his  shoulders.  Of  course,  the  tale  is 
merely  a poetical  way  of  saying  that  the 
Atlas  mountains  prop  up  the  heavens, 


ATOAIIC. 


ATTOENEY. 


£1 


because  they  are  so  lofty.  We  call  a 
book  of  maps  an  Atlas,”  because  it 
contains  or  holds  the  world.  The  word 
was  first  employed  in  this  sense  by  Mer- 
ca'tor,  and  the  title-page  of  his  collection 
of  maps  had  the  figure  of  Atlas,  with  the 
world  on  his  back. 

But  Atlas,  propping  heaven,  as  poets  feign, 

His  subterranean  wonders  spread. 

Thomson,  ** Autumn" 

At'omie  theory  is,  that  every  mate- 
rial substance  is  made  up  of  congeries 
of  atoms,  not  united  fortuitously,  but 
according  to  fixed  laws.  The  four  laws 
of  Daltor^re — constant  proportion,  reci- 
procal proportion,  multiple  proportion, 
and  compound  proportion. 

Atomic  volume.  The  proportion  by  hulh 
in  which  atoms  unite  or  have  united  in 
any  given  substance. 

A tomic  weights.  The  proportion  by  weight 
in  which  atoms  unite,  or  have  united  in 
any  given  substance. 

Atos'sa.  Sarah,  duchess  of  Marl- 
borough ; so  called  by  Pope,  because  she 
was  the  friend  of  Lady  W ortley  Montague, 
whom  he  calls  Sappho.  Herod'otos  says 
that  Atossa,  the  mother  of  Xerxes,  was 
a follower  of  Sappho. 

Atrip.  An  anchor  is  atrip  when  it 
has  just  been  drawa  from  the  ground  in 
a perpendicular  direction.  A top-sail  is 
atrip  which  has  just  started  from  the 
cap.  The  word  is  from  trip. 

Atsh  or  A desh.  The  Assyrian  V enus. 

At'tabeg,  a title  founded  by  Sandjar, 
sultan  of  Persia,  1118.  {Atta,  father; 
heg,  prince.) 

At'tercop.  An  ill-tempered  person, 
who  mars  all  sociability.  Strictly  speak- 
ing, the  attercop  is  the  poison-spider. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  atter^  poison ; cop,  spider. 
Our  cob- web  should  be  cop- web,  i.e., 
spider-web.) 

Attic.  The  Attic  Bee.  Soph'ocles,  the 
tragic  poet,  a native  of  Athens  ; so 
called  from  the  great  sweetness  of  his 
compositions,  (b.c.  495-405.) 

The  Attic  Bird.  The  nightingale ; so 
called  because  Puilomel  was  the  daughter 
of  the  king  of  Athens. 

. Where  the  Attic  bird 

Thnils  her  thick-warbled  notes  the  summer  long, 
Milton,  "Paradise  Regained,”  iv. 

The  Attic  Muse.  Xenophon,  the  histo- 
rian, a native  of  Athens;  so  called  be- 


cause the  style  of  his  composition  is  a 
model  of  elegance,  (b.c.  444-359. ) 

Attic  salt.  Elegant  and  delicate  wit. 
Salt,  both  in  Latin  and  Greek,  was  a 
common  term  for  wit,  or  sparkling  thought 
well  expressed : thus  Cicero  says,  ‘^Scipio 
omnes  sale  superolhaV  (Scipio  surpassed 
all  in  wit).  The  Athenians  were  noted 
for  their  wit  and  elegant  'Hums  of 
thought,”  and  hence  Attic  salt  means  wit 
as  pointed  and  delicately  expressed  as 
by  the  Athenians. 

A ttic  storey.  The  head  : the  body  being 
compared  to  a house,  the  head  is  the 
highest,  or  attic  storey.  Professor  Gold- 
stucker  refers  the  word  "attic”  in  this 
sense  to  the  Sanskrit  attakaj  a room  on 
the  top  of  a house. 

Queer  in  the  attic  storey.  Fuddled,  par- 
tially intoxicated. 

Ill  furnished  in  the  attic  storey.  Not 
clever,  dull. 

At'ticus.  The  most  elegant  and 
finished  scholar  of  the  Eomans.  His 
admirable  taste  and  sound  judgment 
were  so  highly  thought  of  that  even 
Cicero  submitted  to  him  several  of  his 
treatises. 

The  English  A tticus.  Joseph  Addison ; 
so  called  by  Pope,  on  account  of  his 
refined  taste  and  philosophical  mind. 
(1672-1719.)^ 

The  Christian  A tticus.  Eeginald  Heber, 
Bishop  of  Calcutta.  (1783-1826.) 

The  Irish  A tticus.  George  Faulkner  ; 
so  called  by  Lord  Chesterfield.  (1700- 
1775.) 

Attin'gians.  Heretics  of  the  eighth 
century,  who  solemnised  baptism  with 
the  words,  “ I am  the  living  water  ” 

Attire  originally  meant  a head- 
dress. (French  atour^  a tour  de  tite.) 
Subsequently  extended  to  the  dress 
generally. 

With  a linen  mitre  shall  he  (the  high  priest)  bo 
attired— i.e.,  dressed  as  to  the  head  (Lev.  xvi.  4). 

(Aholah  and  Aholibah)  exceeded  in  dyed  attiro 
upon  their  heads  (Ezek.  xxiii.  15). 

Attoek.  The  forbidden  river,  beyond 
which  no  pure  Hindu  can  pass. 

Attorney  means  a substitute 
(French,  ad  tourner.^  to  turn-to,  to  sub- 
stitute for),  meaning  one  substituted  for 
another,  one  who  has  deputed  power  to 
act  on  his  client’s  behalf.  Hence  the 
deed  "which  formally  assigns  to  another 
the  power  of  acting  on  our  behalf  is 


52 


ATYS. 


AUGUSTUS. 


called  'power  of  attorney.  A solicitor 
is  one  who  solicits  or  petitions  in  the 
Court  of  Chancery  on  behalf  of  his 
clients.  Properly  speaking,  solicitors 
belong  to  the  Chancery  Court,  and  at- 
torneys to  the  other  courts. 

A'tys.  Metamorphosed  into  a fir- 
tree  by  Cyb'ele. 

Au  Courant  (French),  '^ac- 
quainted with.”  To  Iceep  one  au  courant 
of  everything  that  passes.,  is  to  keep  one 
familiar  with,  or  informed  of,  passing 
events. 

Au  Fait  (French).  Skilful,  thorough 
master  of  ; as  He  is  quite  au  fait  in  those 
matters,  i.e.,  quite  master  of  them  or 
conversant  with  them. 

Au  Re  voir.  (French.)  "Goodby’e 
for  the  present.”  Literally,  till  seeing 
you  again, 

Aubry’s  Dog.  {See  Dog.) 

Au'deanism.  The  doctrine  of 
Au'deus  of  Mesopotamia,  who  lived  in 
the  fourth  century.  He  maintained  that 
the  Old  Testament  justifies  the  belief 
that  God  has  a sensible  form  (Gen.  i.  26). 

AudhumTa  {the  nourishing-power), 
in  Scandinavian  mythology,  is  the  cow 
created  by  Surt  to  nourish  Ymir.  She 
supplied  him  with  four  rivers  of  milk, 
and  was  herself  nourished  by  licking  the 
rocks.  {See  Ymir.) 

Audley.  We  will  John  Audley  it — 
i.e.j  abridge  it.  A theatrical  phrase. 
In  the  eighteenth  century  one  Shuter 
had  a travelling  company  which  visited 
different  fairs.  It  was  his  custom  to 
lengthen  out  his  performance  till  a 
goodly  number  of  new  comers  had  col- 
lected on  the  open  stage  of  his  theatre, 
when  a boy  called  out  John  Audley,  and 
the  play  which  was  going  on  inside 
was  brought  to  an  end  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

Aud'rey,  A country  wench,  who 
jilted  William  for  Touchstone. — Shake- 
speare, "Hs  You  Like  Itf 

Au'gean  Stable?.  An  accumula- 
tion of  corruption  or  filth  almost  beyond 
the  power  of  man  to  remedy.  Au'geas, 
king  of  Elis,  in  Greece,  had  never 
cleansed  his  stalls  for  thirty  years,  though 
he  kept  in  them  a herd  of  3,000  oxen. 
One  of  the  tasks  assigned  to  Hercules 


was  to  cleanse  this  stew,  which  he  did  by 
causing  two  rivers  to  run  through  it. 

Augsburg  Confession.  The  chief 
standard  of  faith  in  the  Lutheran  church ; 
so  called  because,  while  the  diet  of  the 
German  empire  was  sitting  at  Augsburg, 
in  1530,  the  confession  of  faith  drawn  up 
by  Melancthon  and  Luther  was  presented 
to  Charles  V. 

Au'gury  means  properly  the  science 
of  bird- talk  {avium  garritus),  St.  Pierre 
says:  "The  first  navigators,  when  out 
of  sight  of  land,  watched  the  seed  and 
the  flight  of  birds,  as  indications  of  the 
shore,  and  with  no  other  guidance  dis- 
covered many  new  islands.”  From  this 
custom  (he  says)  arose  the  practice  of 
consulting  the  flight  of  birds  before 
entering  on  any  important  enterprise,— 
Studies. 

August.  The  eighth  month  ; so 
called  in  compliment  to  Augustus  Csesar 
of  Kome,  whose  "lucky  month”  it  was, 
in  which  occurred  many  of  his  most 
fortunate  events. 

Augusta.  London ; so  called  by  the 
Eomans. 

Oft  let  me  wander  o’er  the  dewy  fields, 

or  ascend 

Some  eminence,  Augusta,  in  thy  plains. 

And  see  the  country  far  diffused  around. 

Thomson,  **  Spring,” 

Augustan.  Augustan  Age  of  English 
Literature  — i.e.,  its  best  period.  Be- 
ginning in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  and 
ending  with  the  Eestoration.  The  term 
Augustan  is  from  Augustus,  the  emperor 
of  Eome,  the  most  palmy  time  of  Latin 
literature. 

The  Augustan  Age  of  French  Literature 
The  age  of  Louis  XIV.  (1640-1740.) 

Augustine.  A monk  or  nun  of  the 
Augustine  order,  established  in  the 
eleventh  century  in  commemoration  of 
St.  Augustine,  and  in  imitation  of  the 
ancient  order  founded  by  him  in  the 
fourth  century. 

The  Second  Augustine.  Thomas  Aqui- 
nas, also  called  the  Angelic  Doctor.  (1224- 
1275.) 

Augustin'ians.  Divines  who  main- 
tained, on  the  authority  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, that  grace  is  effectual  absolutely, 
quite  independent  of  the  person  who 
receives  it. 

Augustus.  No  proper  name,  but 
a mere  title  given  to  Octa'vian,  because 


AULD. 


AUT  C^SAR. 


53 


he  was  head  of  the  priesthood.  In  the 
reign  of  Diocle'tian,  the  two  emperors 
were  each  styled  Augustus  (sacred 
majesty),  and  the  two  viceroys  Ccesar, 
Prior  to  that  time  Ha'drian  limited  the 
title  of  Ccesar  to  the  heir  presumptive. 

Augustus.  Philippe  II.  of  France  ; so 
called  because  he  was  born  in  the  month 
of  August.  (1165,  1180-1223.) 

Sigismund  II.  of  Poland.  (1520,  1548- 
1572.) 

Auld  Brig  and  New  Brig,  of 
Robert  Bums,  refers  to  the  bridges  over 
the  river  Ayr,  in  Scotland. 

Auld  Hornie.  After  the  esta- 
blishment of  Christianity,  the  heathen 
deities  were  degraded  by  the  Church 
into  fallen  angels,  and  Pan,  with  his 
horns,  crooked  nose,  goat’s  beard, 
pointed  ears,  and  goat’s  feet,  was  trans- 
formed to  his  Satanic  majesty,  and  called 
Old  Horny. 

O thou,  whatever  title  suit  thee, 

Auld  Hornie,  Satan,  Nick,  or  Clootie. 

Burns. 

Auld  Beekie.  Edinburgh  old  town, 
so  called  from  the  filthy  state  of  its 
streets,  always  reeking  with  exhalations. 

Au'lic  Council,  from  the  Latin 
aula  (a  court),  was  one  of  the  highest 
courts  of  the  old  German  empire,  from 
which  there  was  no  appeal.  (1495-1806.) 

Aunt  Sally.  A game  in  which  a 
wooden  head  is  mounted  on  a pole.  The 
fun  of  the  game  is  to  knock  the  nose  of 
the  figure,  or  break  the  pipe  stuck  in  its 
mouth.  This  is  to  be  done  by  throwing 
at  it,  from  a stated  distance,  a short 
club.  The  word  aunt  was  anciently  ap- 
plied to  any  old  woman : thus  in  Shake- 
speare, Puck  speaks  of 

The  wisest  aunt  telling  the  saddest  tale. 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream”  ii.  1. 

Sally  is  a play  upon  the  common  name, 
and  the  verb  sally  (to  dart  or  shoot  at 
something). 

Aure'ola.  A circle  of  light,  emble- 
matical of  glory,  placed  by  the  old 
painters  round  the  heads  of  martyrs  and 
saints.  The  notion  was  derived  from 
Exod.  XXV.  25.  Facies  coro'nam  aur^olam 
(thou  shalt  make  another  crown  of  gold), 
besides  the  crown  of  gold  which  God 
promised  to  the  faithful. — Donne's 

Sermons,* 


Au'ri.  Auri  sacra  fames  (the  cursed 
hunger  for  wealth),  applied  to  that  rest- 
less craving  for  money  which  is  almost  a 
monomania. 

Auro'ra.  Early  morning.  According 
to  Grecian  mythology,  the  goddess 
Aurora,  called  by  Homer  rosy- fingered,” 
sets  out  before  the  sun,  and  is  the  pioneer 
of  his  rising. 

You  cannot  shut  the  windows  of  the  sky, 

Through  which  Aurora  shows  her  brightening 
face. 

Thomson,  “ Oastle of  Indolence”  canto  11. 

Auro'ra  Borea'lis  (Latin).  The  elec- 
trical lights  occasionally  seen  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  sky  ; also  called 

Merry  Dancers.” 

Auro'ra  Roby.  A rich,  noble  English 
orphan ; left  to  the  care  of  guardians  ; a 
Catholic  in  religion ; and  in  person 

A rose  with  all  its  sweetest  leaves  yet  folded. 

Byron,  '‘Don  Juan,”  canto  15. 

Auso'nia.  An  anoient  name  of  Italy, 
so  called  from  Auson,  son  of  Uljsses,  and 
father  of  the  Auso'nes. 

All  the  green  delights  Ausonia  pours. 

Thomson,  '^Summer.” 

Aus'pices.  Under  your  good  auspices^ 
^.e.,  through  your  influence,  or  the  in- 
fluence of  your  good  name.  In  Rome 
only  the  commander-in-chief  was  allowed 
to  take  the  auspices  of  war.  If  a legate 
gained  a victory,  he  was  said  to  win  it 
under  the  good  auspices  of  his  superior 
in  commani 

Aus'ter.  A wind  pernicious  to  flowers 
and  health.  In  Italy  one  of  the  South 
winds  was  so  called;  its  modern  name  is 
the  Sirocco.  (Greek,  auste'ros,  hot,  dry.) 
In  England  it  is  a damp  wind,  generally 
bringing  wet  weather. 

Naught  hut  putrid  streams  and  noisome  fogs, 

For  ever  hung  on  drizzly  Auster’s  heard. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence^  canto  11. 

Austin  Friars.  Friars  of  the  order 
of  St.  Augustine.  Begging.) 

Austrian  Lip.  The  thick  lip,  so 
characteristic  of  the  house  of  Haps'burg, 
derived  from  Cymbarga,  daughter  of 
Ziemovitz,  duke  of  Maso'via,  and  niece 
of  the  then  king  of  Poland.  Cymbarga 
was  noted  for  her  beauty  and  unusual 
strength. 

Aut  Csesar  aut  nullus  (Latin 
Either  Ccesar  or  no  one),  everything  or 
nothing;  all  or  not  at  all.  Caesar  used 
to  say,  ‘‘ho  would  sooner  be  first  in  9, 


54 


AUTHENTIC, 


AVEKNUS, 


village  than  second  at  Rome.’*  Milton 
makes  Satan  say,  ‘^Better  to  reign  in 
Hell  than  serve  in  Heaven.”  (See  Six.) 

Authen'tic  Doctor.  Gregory  of 
Rim'ini.  (Fourteenth  century.) 

Auto  da  (Portuguese,  and  Auto 
de  Fe,  Spanish),  “an  act  of  faith.”  A 
day  set  apart  by  the  Inquisition  for  the 
examination  of  “heretics.”  Those  not 
acquitted  were  burnt.  The  reason  why 
inquisitors  hurnt  their  victims  was,  be- 
cause they  are  forbidden  ^‘to  shed  blood 
an  axiom  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
being,  ^‘Fccldda  non  novit  san'guinem” 
(the  church  is  untainted  with  blood). 

Autol'yeos.  The  craftiest  of  thieves. 
He  stole  the  flocks  of  his  neighbours,  and 
changed  their  marks.  Sfsyphos  out- 
witted him  by  marking  his  sheep  under 
their  feet,  a device  which  so  tickled  the 
rogue  that  he  instantly  “cottoned”  to 
him.  Shakespeare  introduces  him  in 
“The  Winter’s  Tale”  as  a pedlar,  and 
says  he  was  called  the  son  of  Mercury, 
because  he  was  born  under  that  “thiev- 
ing planet.” 

Autolycus  is  no  lapidary?  though  he  drives  a 
roaring  trade  in  flash  jewellery.— PaZi  Mall  Gazette. 

Autom'at on— plural,  automatons  or 
automata.  Machines  which  imitate  the 
actions,  &c.,  of  living  creatures.  The 
most  famous  are  the  following  : — (1)  The 
pigeon  that  could  fly,  made,  B.C.  400,  by 
Archy'tos,  of  Tarentum  ; (2)  the  wooden 
eagle  of  Regiomonta'nus,  the  German, 
which  flew  from  the  city  of  Koenigsberg 
to  meet  the  emperor,  saluted  him,  and 
returned,  1436  - 1476  ; (3)  the  duck  of 
Vaucanson  of  Grenoble,  which  could  eat 
and  drink,  and  even  in  a way  digest 
food  ; its  wings,  viscera,  bones,  &c., 
minutely  resembled  those  of  a living 
animal.  (Greek,  autos-mao^  I self-move). 
(See  Android.) 

Autom'edon.  A coachman.  He 
was  the  charioteer  of  Achilles. 

Autumn.  He  is  come  to  Ms  autumn 
— i.e.y  to  be  hanged,  to  “his  fall.”  A 
pun  on  the  plan  of  ‘ ^ turning  a man  off  ” 
by  dropping  the  plank  on  which  he 
stands.  The  drop  is  the  “leaf,”  and 
autumn  is  called  the  “fall,”  or  “fall  of 
the  leaf.” 

A'va,  in  Birmah,  has  marble  quarries 
of  which  idols  are  made,  and  only  priests 


are  allowed  to  trade  there. — Symes,  voL 
ii.,  p.  376. 

As  on  Ava’s  shore, 

Wliere  none  "but  priests  are  privileged  to  trade 
In  that  best  marble  of  whicn  gods  are  made. 

T.  Moore,  “ PaZZa  Rookh,**  part  i. 

Av'alanehe  (3  syl.  ) means  pro- 
perly a “gulp,”  something  swallowed 
(French,  aveler,  to  swallow).  The  word 
is  applied  to  land-slips  and  snow-slips, 
which  swallow  up  or  overwhelm  forests, 
villages,  and  all  they  fall  upon.  Meta- 
phorically, we  speak  of  an  “avalanche  of 
applause,”  an  “avalanche  of  bouquets  ’ 
showered  on  the  stage,  &c. 

Av'alon.  An  ocean  island,  where 
king  Arthur  resided  and  was  buried. 
The  word  means  “Apple-green  island” 
{aval,  apple  ; yn\  island) ; and  it  is  gene- 
rally thought  to  mean  Glastonbury,  a 
name  derived  from  the  Saxon  glastn 
(green  like  grass). 

Avant  Courier.  French  for  a 
“messenger  sent  before”  to  get  things 
ready  for  a party  of  travellers,  or  to 
announce  their  approach.  Anything 
said  or  done  to  prepare  the  way  for 
something  more  important  to  follow ; a 
feeler,  a harbinger. 

A-vast  there!  Stop,  not  so  fast, 
hold  tight.  A sailor’s  phrase.  (German, 
hastaj  stop;  Italian,  tastay  enough.) 

Ava'tar.  The  incarnation  of  deity 
in  Hindu  mythology,  or  the  appearance 
of  a god  in  a visible  form.  It  properly 
means  “ out  of  the  boat,”  and  the  allusion 
is  to  the  wide-spread  tradition  of  Noah 
coming  out  of  the  ark.  The  ten  avatars 
of  Yishnh  are  the  most  celebrated. 

Ave  Mari'a  (Haily  Mary!).  The 
first  two  words  of  the  angel’s  salutation 
to  the  Virgin  Mary  (Luke  i.  28).  In  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  the  phrase  is 
applied  to  an  invocation  to  the  Virgin 
beginning  with  those  words  ; and  also  to 
the  smaller  beads  of  a rosary,  the  larger 
ones  being  termed  jgater-nosters. 

Avenel  (2  syl.).  WMte  Lady  of 
Avenel.  A tutelary  spirit  in  Scott’s 
“ Monastery.” 

Aver'nus  (Greek  a-ornosy  “without 
birds”).  A lake  in  Campa'nia,  so  called 
from  the  belief  that  its  sulphurous  and 
mephitic  vapours  killed  any  bird  that 
happened  to  inhale  them.  Poets  call  it 
the  entrance  to  the  infernal  regions; 
hence  the  proverb,  The  descent  to  Avernus 


AVERTIN. 


AZIM. 


55 


is  easy,  tut  coming  haclc  again  is  quite 
another  matter,  meaning  that  all  bad 
habits  are  easily  acquired,  but  very  hard 
to  be  abandoned. 

Av'ertin,  St.  The  patron  saint  of 
lunatics;  so  called  from  the  French 
avertineux  (lunatics). 

Aves'ta.  The  sacred  scriptures  of 
the  Magians,  composed  by  Zoroaster. 

Aveu'gle.  Son  of  Erebus  and  Nox. 
^Sjpenser,  Faxry  Queen.** 

Avie'nus.  A writer  of  fables  in  the 
decline  of  the  Roman  empire.  In  the 
Middle  Ages,  a collection  of  fables  used 
to  be  called  Av'ynet,  or  E'sopet. 

Aviz.  An  order  of  knighthood  in 
Portugal,  founded  by  Sancho  I.,  and 
having  for  its  object  the  subjugation  of 
the  Moors. 

Avoid  Extremes.  The  wise  saw 
of  Pit'tacos  of  Mityle'ne.  (b.c.  652-569.) 

Avoir.  Avoir  Martel  en  tUe  (French), 
‘^to  be  jealous.”  Martel  is  the  Italian 
martello  (jealousy). 

Av'oirdupois.  Avers,  old  French 
for  ‘'goods  in  general,”  and  poise 
(weights).  Whence  avoirdupois  weight 
means  the  '‘weights  for  goods  and 
chattels  generally.”  {See  Troy  Weight.  ) 

Awake.  "Awake  ! arise  ! or  be  for 
ever  fallen.” — Paradise  Lost. 

A wide-awaJce.  A hat  which  has  no 
nap  in  its  material ; as  it  never  has  a 
" nap,”  it  must  always  be  ivide  awake. 

He  is  wide  awake.  On  his  guard,  on 
the  watch,  alive  to  all  the  difficulties, 
well  aware  of  what  he  is  doing. 

A-weather.  The  reverse  of  a-lee. 
" A-weather”  is  towards  the  weather,  or 
the  side  on  which  the  wind  strikes. 
"A-lee”  is  in  the  lee  or  shelter,  and  there- 
fore opposite  to  the  wind  side. 

Awkward.  Not  dexterous  or  right- 
handed.  Awk  means  the  left  hand. 
Hence  in  Holland’s  " Plutarch”  we  have 
" The  awke  or  left  hand ;”  and  again, 
"They  receive  her  awkly  when  she  pre- 
senteth  . . . the  right  hand.” 

Awl.  ril  pack  up  my  awh  and 
hegone'*—i.e.,  all  my  goods.  The  play  is 
on  awl  and  all. 

Axe.  " To  hang  up  onds  axe.'**  To 
retire  from  business,  to  give  over  a use- 


less project.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
ancient  battle-axe,  hung  up  to  the  gods 
when  the  fight  was  done.  All  classical 
scholars  will  call  to  mind  the  allusion  of 
Horace  to  a similar  Roman  custom. 
Being  snubbed  by  Pyrrha,  he  says,  " He 
will  hang  up  his  axe  upon  her  wall,”  or. 
more  literally,  his  " drenched  garments 
on  the  temple- walls  of  Neptune.”  {See 
Ask.) 

Ax'inoman'ey,  Divination  by  an 
axe ; much  practised  by  the  ancient 
Greeks  with  the  view  of  discovering 
crime.  An  agate  was  placed  on  a red-hot 
axe,  and  indicated  the  guilty  person  by 
its  motion.  (Greek,  ax'ine  manteia.) 

A'yah.  (Anglo-Indian).  A nurse  or 
lady’s  maid. 

Aye'shah  (3syl.).  Mahomet’s  second 
and  favourite  wife.  He  married  her 
when  she  was  only  nine  years  old,  and 
died  in  her  arms.  She  was  called  The 
Virgin,  because,  of  all  the  wives  that  the 
Arabian  "prophet”  married,  she  alone 
was  a maiden  at  the  time. 

Ayr'shire  Poet.  Robert  Burns, 
born  near  the  town  of  Ayr.  (1759-1796.) 

Azaz'el.  The  scape-goat ; so  called  by 
the  Jews,  because  the  high  priest  cast 
lots  on  two  goats ; one  lot  was  for  the 
Lord,  and  th^e  other  lot  for  Azaz'el  or 
Satan,  and  the  goat  on  which  the  latter 
lot  fell  was  the  scape -goat. 

Azaz'iel.  A seraph  who  fell  in  love 
with  An'ah,  a grand-daughter  of  Cain. 
When  the  fiood  came,  he  carried  her 
under  his  wing  to  some  other  planet. — 
Byron,  Heaven  and  Earth.** 

Azaz'il.  In  Milton’s  "Paradise  Lost,” 
Azaz'il  is  the  standard-bearer  of  the  in- 
fernal host.  According  to  the  Koran, 
,when  God  commanded  the  angels  to 
worship  Adam,  Azaz'il  replied,  "Why 
should  the  son  of  fire  fall  down  before  a 
son  of  clay  ? ” and  God  cast  him  out  of 
heaven.  His  name  was  then  changed  to 
Ehlis,  which  means  " despair.” 

Then  straight  commands  that,  at  the  warlike 
sound 

Of  trumpets  loud  and  clarions,  he  upreared 
His  mighty  standard;  that  proud  honour  claimed 
Azazil,  as  his  right,  a cherub  tall. 

“ Paradise  Lost,"  bk.  i. 

A^zlm.  The  young  convert  who  joined 
"the  creed  and  standard”  of  the  veiled 
prophet  of  Khorassan,  in  Moore’s  " Lalla 
Rookh.”  When  he  was  witness  of  the 


56 


AZO. 


BAAL. 


prophet’s  infamy,  he  joined  the  caliph’s 
army,  and  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
defeating  that  of  the  veiled  prophet. 

Az'o,  marquis  of  Este,  married  Pari- 
si'na,  who  fell  in  love  with  Hugo,  a 
natural  son  of  Azo.  The  marquis 
ordered  Hugo  to  be  beheaded ; but  no 
one  knows  what  the  fate  of  Parisi'na  was. 
Azo,  at  any  rate,  married  again,  and  had 
a family.  This  Azo  was  in  reality  Niccolo 
of  Ferra'ra,— ParisinaJ* 

A'zor’s  Mirror.  Zemi'ra  is  the 
name  of  the  lady,  and  Azor  that  of  the 
bear,  in  Marmontel’s  tale  of  “Beauty 
and  the  Beast.”  Zemi'ra  entreats  the 
kind  monster  to  let  her  see  her  father,  if 
only  for  a few  moments;  so  drawing 
aside  a curtain,  he  shows  him  to  her  in  a 
magic  mirror.  This  mirror  was  a sort  of 
telescope,  which  rendered  objects  other- 
wise too  far  off  distinctly  visible. 

Az'oth.  The  panace'a  of  Paracelsus, 
regarded  by  his  followers  as  “ the  tinc- 
ture of  life.” 

Az'rael  (3  syl.).  The  angel  that 
watches  over  the  djing,  and  takes  the 
soul  from  the  body.  The  angel  of  death. 
He  will  be  the  last  to  die,  but  will  do  so 
at  the  second  trump  of  the  archangel. 

The  Mohammedan  doctors  say  that  Azrail  was 
commissioned  to  inflict  the  penalty  of  death  on  all 
mankind.— JEf.  Christmas. 

Az'rafil.  The  archangel  commissioned 
to  blow  the  trumpet  of  the  resurrection. 
—The  Koran, 

Azuee'na.  An  old  gipsy  who  stole 
Man'rico,  the  infant  son  of  the  contend! 
Luna’s  brother.  She  brought  up  the 
child  as  her  own  son,  and  justified  her 
conduct  on  the  plea  that  Garzia,  his 
father,  had  ordered  her  daughter  to  bo 
burnt  to  death  as  a witch. — Verdi* s o'pera 
Trovatore.** 

Azu'riel.  The  fairy  who  owned  what 
we  call  Holland  Park.  King  O'beron 
gave  him  his  daughter  Kenna  in  mar- 
riage when  he  drove  Albion  from  his 
empire.  Albion  invaded  Kensington,  the 
territory  of  king  Oberon,  but  was  slain 
in  battle  by  Azuriel.— 

Az'ymites  (3  syl.).  The  Eoman 
Catholics  are  so  called  by  the  Greek 
Church,  because  the  holy  wafers  used  by 
them  in  the  eucharist  are  made  of  un- 
leavened bread.  (Greek,  azumos,  un- 
leavened.) 


B 

B.  This  letter  is  the  outline  of  a 
house.  It  is  called  in  Hebrew  leth  (a 
house). 

Mariced  with  a B (French)  — i.e.,  a 
poor  thing.  In  the  French  language  al- 
most all  personal  defects  begin  with  the 
letter  B;  e.g.,  high  (squint-eyed),  horgne 
(one-eyed),  hossu  (humpty),  hoiteux  (lame), 
&c. 

Not  to  Tcnow  B from  a hattledove. 
Not  to  know  the  simplest  thing;  to 
be  very  stupid.  Miege  tells  us  that  horn- 
hoohs  used  to  be  called  battledores.  The 
phrase,  therefore,  means  not  to  know 
your  A B from  {i.e.,  out  of)  your  horn 
book. 

I know  B from  a Buli*s  foot,  similar 
to  the  proverb,  “ I know  a hawk  from 
a hernshaw.”  (iSe^HAWK.)  The  bull’s 
parted  hoof  somewhat  resembles  a B. 

B.  C.  Marked  with  B.  C.  (bad  cha- 
racter). When  a soldier  has  disgraced 
himself  by  insubordination  or  treason, 
he  is  marked  with  B.  C.  before  he  is 
drummed  out  of  the  regiment. 

Be  called  me  a B.C.  A genteel-look- 
ing young  woman  complained  to  Mr. 
Ingham  of  having  been  abused  by  a per- 
son who  called  her  a B.  C.  The  magis- 
trate asked  what  B.  C.  meant,  when  he 
was  told  that  C.  meant  “cat,”  but  B. 
was  too  shocking  to  be  uttered  aloud. 
She  consented,  however,  to  whisper  the 
naughty  word  into  his  worship’s  ear. 
Mr.  Ingham  heard  the  mysterious  “libel,” 
and,  though  he  could  not  grant  the  sum- 
mons, B.  C.  has  become  the  stereotyped 
exponent  of  a ridiculous  charge  of  libel. 
— 22nd  July,  1866,  Wandsioorih. 

B.  K.  S.  The  name  of  “residence” 
given  by  officers  in  mufti,  who  do  not 
wish  to  give  up  their  address.  The  word 
stands  for  BarracKS. 

B Flats.  Bugs.  The  pun  is  “B” 
(the  initial  letter),  and  “ flat,”  from  the 
flatness  of  the  obnoxious  insect.  Also 
called  Norfolk  Howards,  from  Mr.  Bugg, 
who  advertised  in  the  Times  that  he 
should  in  future  change  his  name  into 
“Norfolk  Howard.”  (See  F Sharp.) 

Baal,  plur.,  Baalim,  a title  of  honour. 
The  chief  male  deity  of  the  Phoenicians. 
The  name  was  very  commonly  adopted 
by  the  Phoenicians  and  Carthaginians,  as 
in  Hanni-bal,  Hasdru-bal,  and  so  on. 


BAAL-PEOR. 


BACHELOR. 


57 


Baal-Peor  ov  Belph^gor.  The  PnV- 
pus  of  the  Mo'abites  and  Midianites. 

Baiba.  Same  o.'s.papa  (Turkish).  Ali- 
baba is  father  Ali.” 

Babes  in  the  Wood.  {See  Chil- 
dren.) 

Babies.  Babies  in  the  eyes.  The  re- 
flection of  oneself  in  the  eyes  of  another. 

She  clung  about  his  neck,  gave  him  ten  kisses, 

Toyed  with  his  locks,  looked  babies  in  his  eyes. 

Heywood,  “ Love's  Mistress.’* 

Babel.  A perfect  Babel.  A thorough 
confusion.  ‘‘A  Babel  of  sounds.”  A 
confused  uproar,  in  which  nothing  can 
be  heard  but  hubbub.  The  allusion  is 
to  the  confusion  of  tongues  at  Babel.— 
Genesis  xi. 

God  . . . comes  down  to  see  their  city, 

. . . and  in  derision  sets 
Upon  their  tongue  a various  spirit,  to  raze 
Quite  out  their  native  language,  and  instead 
To  sow  a jangling  noise  of  words  unknown. 
Forthwith  a hideous  gabble  rises  loud 
Among  the  builders;  each  to  other  calls. 

Not  understood.  . . . Thus  was  the  building  left 
Ridiculous,  and  the  work  “ Confusion  ” named. 

MUton,  ^‘Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  xii. 

Baby  Charles.  So  James  I.  used 
to  call  his  son  Charles,  afterwards 
Charles  I. 

Babylon.  The  modern  Babylon.  So 
London  is  sometimes  called,  on  account 
of  its  wealth,  luxury,  and  dissipation. 

Babylonish  Captivity.  The 
seventy  years  that  the  Jews  were  cap- 
tives in  Babylon.  They  were  made  cap- 
tives by  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  released 
by  Cyrus  (B.o.  538). 

Ba'ca.  The  Valley  of  Baca.  The 
vale  of  tears.  This  world  is  so  called  in 
Scripture,  because  of  sin  and  its  conse- 
quent sorrow.— Psa/m  Ixxxiv.  6. 

Our  sources  of  common  pleasure  dry  up  as  we 
journey  on  through  the  vale  of  Ba'cha.— Sir  Walter 
Scott,  “ The  Antiquary.” 

Baccant.  A person  given  to  habits 
of  drinking ; so  called  from  the  bac- 
cants,”  or  men  admitted  to  the  feasts  of 
Bacchus. 

Baecante  (2  syl.).  A female  wine- 
bibber  ; so  called  from  the  baccantes,” 
or  female  priestesses  of  Bacchus. 

Baeehana'lia.  Festivals  in  honour 
of  Bacchus,  distinguished  for  their  licen- 
tiousness and  debauchery.  Plato  says  he 
has  seen  the  whole  population  of  Athens 
drunk  at  these  festivals. 


Bacchanalian.  Drunken,  rollick- 
some,  devoted  or  pertaining  to  Bacchus 

(q.V.). 

Bacchus  (wme).  In  Roman  mythology 
the  god  of  wine.  (Greek,  iacho^  I shout.) 
As  jolly  Bacchus,  god  of  pleasure, 

Charmed  the  wide  world  with  drink  and  dances. 
And  all  his  thousand  airy  fancies, 

Alas ! he  quite  forgot  the  while 

His  favourite  vines  in  Lesbo’s  isle.— ParneM. 

Bacchus,  in  the  ''Lusiad,”  is  the  evil 
demon  or  antagonist  of  Jupiter,  the  lord 
of  destiny.  As  Mars  is  the  guardian 
power  of  Christianity,  Bacchus  is  the 
guardian  power  of  Mahometanism. 

Bacchus  sprang  from  the  thigh  of  Zeus. 
The  tale  is  that  Sem'ele  asked  Zeus  to 
appear  before  her  in  all  her  glory,  but 
the  foolish  request  proved  her  death. 
Zeus  saved  the  child  which  was  prema- 
turely born  by  sewing  it  up  in  his  thigh 
till  it  came  to  maturity.  The  Arabian 
tradition  is  that  the  infant  Bacchus  was 
nourished  during  infancy  in  a cave  of 
Mount  Meros.  As  ^^Meros”  is  Greek 
for  a thigh,  the  Greek  fable  is  readily 
explained. 

What  has  that  to  do  with  Bacchus  l—i.e., 
what  has  that  to  do  with  the  matter  in 
hand?  When  Thespis  introduced  reci- 
tations in  the  vintage  songs,  the  innova- 
tion was  suffered  to  pass,  so  long  as  the 
subject  of  recitation  bore  on  the  exploits 
of  Bacchus ; but  when,  for  variety  sake, 
he  wandered  toother  subjects,  the  Greeks 
pulled  him  up  with  the  exclamation, 

What  has  that  to  do  with  Bacchus  ? ” 

Bachelor.  In  Hindusta'ni,  bacha^ 
larJca  (a  young  man) ; Scotch,  baich  (a 
child);  Welsh,  bachgen  (a  boy  child); 
Portuguese,  bacillo  (the  shoot  of  a vine, 
&c.) ; French,  bachelette  (a  damsel). 

A Bachelor  of  Arts.  Talbot  derives 
this  word  from  the  Spanish  bachillir  (a 
babbler),  so  called  from  the  disputations 
held  in  the  school  before  the  first  degree 
is  conferred,  whence  also  a good  disputer 
is  in  Cambridge  still  termed  a wrangler. 
The  word  used  to  be  spelt  bachiller  ; thus 
in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil,” vol.  i.,  p.  72,  we  read ; — ‘'The  king 
ordered  that  the  bachillers  should  have 
reasonable  pay  for  their  trouble.” 

N.  B. — It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the 
French  bachelette  should  mean  a damsel, 
and  the  Norman  damoiselle  should  mean 
a young  gentleman.  {See  Domisellus.) 

Bachelor’s  Buttons.  The  campion  flower. 


58 


BACK. 


BACON. 


So  called  from  a custom  still  sometimes 
observed  by  rustics  of  carrying  tbe  flower 
in  their  pockets  to  know  how  they  stand 
with  their  sweethearts.  If  the  flower 
dies,  it  is  a bad  omen  ; but  if  it  does  not 
fade,  they  may  hope  for  the  best. 

To  wear  ’bachelor' s buttons  is  to  remain 
a bachelor.  In  allusion  to  the  custom 
mentioned  above,  and  by  a play  on  the 
word  bachelor. 

Back.  To  support : as  to  ^^back  a 
friend.”  A commercial  term  meaning  to 
endorse.  When  a merchant  backs  or 
endorses  a bill,  he  guarantees  its  value. 

Falstaff  says  to  the  Prince — 

You  care  not  who  sees  your  hack.  Call  you  that 
hacking  of  your  friends  ? A plague  upon  such 
hacking ! 

Shakespeare,  “1  Henry  IV.,”  ii.  4. 

To  bach  and  fill.  A mode  of  tacking, 
when  the  tide  is  with  the  vessel  and  the 
wind  against  it. 

To  back  the  sails.  So  to  arrange  them 
that  the  ship  may  move  backwards. 

To  see  his  bach  ; to  see  the  bach  of  any^ 
thing.  To  get  rid  of  a person  or  thing ; 
to  see  it  leave. 

Bach  the  oars  is  to  row  them  back- 
wards, that  the  boat  may  move  the  re- 
verse of  its  ordinary  direction. 

Backgammon  is  the  Saxon  bac 
gamen  (back  game) ; so  called  because  the 
art  of  the  game  is  for  each  player  to  bring 
his  men  bach  into  his  adversary’s  table. 

Background.  Placed  in  the  bach- 
ground— i.e.,  made  of  no  consequence. 
Pictures  have  three  distances,  called 
grounds  : the  foreground,  where  the 
artist  is  supposed  to  be;  the  middle 
ground,  where  the  most  salient  part  of 
the  picture  is  placed ; and  the  background 
or  distance,  beyond  which  the  eye  cannot 
penetrate. 

Back-hander.  A blow  on  the  face 
with  the  back  of  the  hand.  Also  one 
who  keeps  bach  the  decanter  in  order  to 
hand  himself  a second  glass  before  he 
passes  it. 

Back-out.  To  retreat  from  a promise 
not  convenient  to  perform.  Many  horses 
are  unwilling  to  go  out  of  a stable  head 
foremost,  and  are  backed  out. 

Back-stair  Influence.  Private 
or  unrecognised  influence.  It  was  cus- 
tomary to  build  royal  palaces  with  a 
staircase  for  state  visitors,  and  another 
for  those  who  sought  the  sovereign  upon 


private  matters.  If  any  one  wanted  a 
private  interview  with  royalty,  it  was 
highly  desirable  to  conciliate  those  ap- 
pointed to  guard  the  back  stairs,  as  they 
had  full  power  to  admit  or  exclude  a 
visitor.  Back-stair  influence  is  influence 
gained  over  functionaries,  who,  in- 
directly, have  immense  power  to  promote 
your  object. 

Once,  we  confess,  beneath  the  patriot’s  cloak 
From  the  cracked  hag  the  dropping  guineas  broke. 
And,  jingling  down  the  back  stairs,  told  the  crew 
“Old  Cato  is  as  great  a rogue  as  you.” 

Fope,  “Epistle  to  Lord  Bathurst.” 

Back  "Water.  (1)  Water  not  re- 
quired for  a water-wheel ; so  called 
because  arrangements  are  made  for 
backing  it,  or  diverting  it  into  another 
channel.  (2)  A current  of  water  from 
the  inland,  which  clears  off  the  deposit 
of  sand  and  silt  left  by  the  action  of  the 
sea ; as  the  Backwater  of  Weymouth. 

Bacon.  The  Bacon  of  Theology.  Bishop 
Butler,  author  of  the  ‘^Analogy.”  (1692- 
1752.) 

BacorCs  brazen  head.  (^(?e  Brazen.) 

To  save  one's  bacon.  To  baste  your 
bacon.  The  Saxons  were  called  hogst 
by  their  Norman  lords.  Henry  VIII. 
speaks  of  the  common  people  as  the 

swinish  multitude  ; ” and  Falstaff  says 
to  the  travellers  at  Gadshill,  ‘‘On,  bacons, 
on  ! ” (“1st  Henry  lY.,”  ii.  2).  Bacon  is 
the  outside  portion  of  the  back  and  sides 
of  pork,  and  may  be  considered  gene- 
rally as  the  part  which  would  receive  a 
blow.  To  “ baste  one’s  bacon  ” is  to 
strike  one;  and  to  “ save  one's  bacon”  is 
to  escape  a castigation. 

There  seems  to  be  another  sense  in 
which  the  term  is  used — viz.,  to  escape 
loss  ; and  in  this  sense  the  allusion  is  to 
the  care  taken  by  our  forefathers  to  save 
from  the  numerous  dogs  that  frequented 
their  houses  the  bacon  which  was  laid  up 
for  winter  store,  the  loss  of  which  would 
have  been  a very  serious  calamity. 

Re  may  fetch  a flitch  of  bacon  from, 
Dunmoio—i.e.,  he  is  so  amiable  and  good- 
tempered  he  will  never  quarrel  with  his 
wife.  The  allusion  is  to  a custom  founded 
by  Juga,  a noble  lady,  in  1111,  and 
restored  by  Kobert  de  Fitzwalter  in 
1244;  which  was,  that  “any  person  from 
any  part  of  England  going  to  D unmow, 
in  Essex,  and  humbly  kneeling  on  two 
stones  at  the  church- door,  may  claim  a 
gammon  of  bacon,  if  he  can  swear  that 
for  twelve  months  and  a day  he  has 


BACONIAN. 


BAIL. 


59 


never  had  a household  brawl  or  wished 
himself  unmarried.’* 

Baco'nian  Philosophy.  A system 
of  philosophy  based  on  principles  laid 
down  by  Francis  Bacon,  lord  Ver'ulam, 
in  the  2nd  book  of  his  Novum  Or'ga- 
num.”  It  is  also  called  inductive  philo- 
sophy. 

Bae'trian  Sage.  Zoroaster,  a 
native  of  Bactria  (Balkh),  about  500 
years  before  the  birth  of  Christ. 

Bad.  Charles  Umaiivais.  Charles  II. 
of  Navarre.  (1332-1387.) 

He  is  gone  to  the  had.  Has  become  a 
ruined  man,  or  a depraved  character. 
He  has  gone  amongst  bad  people,  in  bad 
ways,  or  to  bad  circumstances. 

Badge  of  Poverty.  In  the  reign 
of  William  III.,  those  who  received 
parish  relief  had  to  wear  a badge.  It 
was  the  letter  P,  with  the  initial  of  the 
parish  to  which  they  belonged,  in  red  or 
blue  cloth,  on  the  shoulder  of  the  right 
sleeve.  Dyvour.  ) 

Might  I hut  know  thee  hy  thy  household  badge. 

Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  VI.,”  v.  1. 

Badge-men.  Alms-house  men ; so 
called  because  they  wear  some  special 
dress,  or  other  badge,  to  indicate  that 
they  belong  to  a particular  foundation. 

He  quits  the  gay  and  rich,  the  young  and  free, 

Among  the  hadge-men  with  a badge  to  be. 

Crdbbe,  “ Borough” 

Badger.  To  tease  or  annoy  by  su- 
perior numbers.  In  allusion  to  the 
ancient  custom  of  badger-baiting.  A 
badger  was  kennelled  in  a tub,  where 
dogs  were  set  upon  him  to  worry  him  out. 
When  dragged  from  his  tub  by  his  tor- 
mentors, the  poor  beast  was  allowed  to 
retire  to  it  till  he  recovered  from  the  at- 
tack. This  process  was  repeated  several 
times  a day,  especially  in  public-houses, 
where  a badger  was  kept  for  the  delec- 
tation of  the  customers. 

Badger.  It  is  a vulgar  error  that  the 
legs  of  a badger  are  shorter  on  one  side 
than  on  the  other. 

I think  that  Titus  Oates  was  as  uneven  as  a 
badger.— iord  Macaulay. 

Draioing  a badger  is  drawing  him  out 
of  his  tub  by  means  of  dogs. 

Badinage.  Playful  raillery,  quizzing. 
From  the  French  hadin  (a  switch).  In 
France  they  catch  wild  ducks  by  covering 
a boat  with  switches,  in  which  the  ducks 
seek  protection.  A person  quizzed  is  like 
these  wild  ducks. 


Bad'minton  is  properly  a copus 
cup,”  made  of  claret  spiced  and  sweet- 
ened, a favourite  with  the  duke  of  Beau- 
fort of  Badminton.  As  the  duke  used  to 
be  a great  patron  of  the  prize  ring,  the 
“ gentlemen  of  that  ilk  ” use  Badminton 
or  claret  as  the  synonym  of  blood. 

Bad'oura.  A Chinese  princess,  who 
fell  in  love  with  prince  CamaraFzaman 
the  moment  she  seteyes  on  him. — Ara- 
bian Nights,'  Prince  CamaraV zaman. 

Bag.  Bag  and  baggage,  as  Get  away 
with  you,  bag  and  baggage” — i.  e. , get 
away,  and  carry  with  you  all  your  belong- 
ings. The  bag  or  sack  is  the  pouch  in 
which  a soldier  packs  his  few  articles  when 
he  moves  from  place  to  place.  Baggage 
is  a contemptuous  term  for  a woman, 
either  because  soldiers  send  their  wives 
in  the  baggage  wagons,  or  from  the  Italian 
bagascia  (a  harlot),  French  bagasse, 
Spanish  bagazo,  Persian  baga. 

Got  the  bag.  {See  Sack.) 

Bags.  A slang  word  for  trousers,  which 
are  the  bags  of  the  body.  When  the 
pattern  is  very  staring  and  ‘^loud,”  they 
are  called  holding  bags. 

Bag-man.  A commercial  traveller, 
who  carries  a bag  with  specimens  to  show 
to  those  whose  custom  he  solicits.  In  for- 
mer times  commercial  travellers  used  to 
ride  a horse  with  saddle-bags  sometimes 
so  large  as  almost  to  conceal  the  rider. 

Bag  o’  ISTails.  Some  hundreds  of 
years  ago  there  stood  in  the  Tyburn 
Hoad,  Oxford  Street,  a public-house 
called  The  Bacchanals  : ” the  sign  was 
Bacchus  and  the  Satyrs.  The  jolly  god, 
with  his  cloven  hoof  and  his  horns,  was 
called  The  devil ; ” and  the  word  Bac- 
chanals soon  got  corrupted  into  Bag  o’ 
Nails.”  The  Devil  and  the  Bag  o’ 
Nails”  is  a sign  not  uncommon  even  now 
in  the  midland  counties. 

Bail  (French,  bailler').  To  deliver  up. 

Common  bail  or  bail  beloio.  A bail 
given  to  the  sheriff,  after  arresting  a 
person,  to  guarantee  that  the  defendant 
will  appear  in  court  at  any  day  and  time 
the  court  demands. 

Special  bail  or  bail  above,  consists  of 
persons  who  undertake  to  satisfy  all 
claims  made  on  the  defendant,  and  to 
guarantee  his  rendering  himself  up  to 
justice  when  required ; if  he  fails  to  do 
what  they  guarantee,  they  undertake  to 
do  it  themselves. 


60 


BAILEY. 


BALANCE. 


BaiL  {See  Leg-bail.) 

Bailey.  The  rampart  of  a castle. 
(Middle-age  Latin,  halivm  or  lallium,  a 
corruption  of  vallum,') 

When  there  were  two  courts  to  a castle, 
they  were  distinguished  as  the  outer  and 
inner  bailey  (rampart).  Subsequently, 
the  word  included  the  court  and  all  its 
buildings ; and  when  the  court  Wi&s  abo- 
lished, the  term  was  attached  to  the 
castle,  as  the  Old  Bailey  (London)  and 
the  Bailey  (Oxford). 

Bailiff.  At  Constantinople,  the  per- 
son who  had  charge  of  the  imperial 
children  used  to  be  called  the  bajulos, 
from  haios,  a child.  The  word  was  subse- 
quently attached  to  the  Venetian  consul 
at  Constantinople,  and  the  Venetian 
ambassador  was  called  the  halio,  a word 
afterwards  extended  to  any  superinten- 
dent or  magistrate.  In  France  the  haili 
was  a superintendent  of  the  royal  do- 
mains and  commander  of  the  troops.  In 
time,  any  superintendent  of  even  a private 
estate  was  so  called,  whence  onv  farmer's 
bailiff.  The  sheriff  is  the  king's  bailiff — 
a title  now  applied  almost  exclusively 
to  his  deputies  or  officers.  {See  Bum- 
BAILIFF.) 

Baillif,  Kerry.  Mine  host  in  Chaucer’s 
'^Canterbury  Tales.’*  When  the  poet 
began  the  second  "Fit’*  of  the  "Rime 
of  Sir  Thopas,”  Kerry  Baillif  interrupts 
him  with  unmitigated  contempt : — 

“No  mor  of  this,  for  Goddes  dignity !” 

Quod  our  host,  “for  thou  makest  me 

So  wery  . . . that 

Mine  eerea  aken  for  thy  nasty  ^eeche.” 

Verse  15,327. 

Bair  am  (2  syl.).  The  name  given  to 
two  movable  Moslem  feasts.  The  first, 
which  begins  on  the  first  day  of  Lent,  and 
lasts  three  days,  is  a kind  of  Paschal  feast. 
The  second  occurs  seventy  days  later, 
and  is  not  unlike  the  Jewish  Feast  of 
Tabernacles. 

Bait.  Food  to  entice  or  allure,  as 
bait  for  fish.  Bait  for  travellers  is  a 
'‘feed”  by  way  of  refreshment  taken 
tn  passant.  (Saxon,  batarij  to  bait  or  feed.) 

Bajura.  Mahomet’s  standard. 

Baker’s  Dozen.  Thirteen  for 
twelve.  When  a heavy  penalty  was  in- 
flicted for  short  weight,  bakers  used  to 
give  a surplus  number  of  loaves,  called 
the  inbread,  to  avoid  all  risk  of  incurring 
the  fine. 

To  givt  a man  a baher's  dozen,  in  slang 


phraseology,  is  to  give  him  a sound 
drubbing — i.e.,  all  he  deserves  and  one 
stroke  more. 

Bakshish.  A Persian  word  for  a 
gratuity.  These  gifts  are  insolently  de- 
manded by  all  sorts  of  officials  in  Turkey, 
Egypt,  and  Asia  Minor,  more  as  a claim 
than  a gratuity. 

Balaam.  The  earl  of  Huntingdon, 
one  of  the  rebels  in  Monmouth’s  army. 

And,  therefore,  in  the  name  of  dulness,  he 
The  well  -hung  Balaam. 

Drj/den,  **Abgalom  and  Achitophel.’* 

Balaam.  A " citizen  of  sober  fame,” 
who  lived  hard  by  the  monument  of 
London ; '‘he  was  a plain,  good  man  ; 
religious,  punctual,  and  frugal,”  his 
week-day  meal  being  only  " one  solid 
dish.”  He  grew  rich;  got  knighted; 
seldom  went  to  church  ; became  a cour- 
tier ; "took  a bribe  from  France  ;”  was 
hanged  for  treason,  and  all  his  goods 
were  confiscated  to  the  state.— Pope, 
" J/oraZ Essays'*  Rp.  hi. 

Balaam.  Matter  kept  in  type  for  fill- 
ing up  odd  spaces  in  periodicals.  These 
are  generally  refuse  bits — the  words  of 
an  oaf,  who  talks  like  " Balaam’s  ass.”— 
Numb.  xxii.  30.  (American.) 

Balaam-box,  in  printers*  slang  of 
America,  is  the  place  where  rejected 
articles  are  deposited.  (See  above.) 

Balafre,  Le  (the  gashed).  Henri,  son 
of  Fran9ois,  second  duke  of  Guise.  In 
the  battle  of  Dormans  ho  received  a 
sword-cut  which  left  a frightful  scar  on 
his  face.  (1550-1588.) 

Le  Balafre.  So  Ludovic  Lesly,  an  old 
archer  of  the  Scottish  Guards,  is  called, 
in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  "Quentin  Dur- 
ward.’* 

Balak,  in  the  second  part  of  "Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel,”  a satire  by  Dryden 
and  Tate,  is  meant  for  Dr.  Burnet, 
author  of  " Burnet’s  Own  Time.” 

Balam  the  ox,  and  the  fish  Nun,  are 
the  food  of  Mahomet’s  paradise ; the 
mere  lobes  of  the  livers  of  these  animals 
will  suffice  for  70,000  saints.— ^4^  Koran. 

Balan.  A cruel  giant  in  the  " Am'adis 
of  Gaul.” 

Balance,  according  to  Martial,  is  the 
Latin  bilanx  or  bis-lanx  (a  couple  of 
dishes  or  pans). 


BALAND. 


BALMUNa 


61 


Balance  of  power.  The  states  of  Europe 
being  so  balanced  that  no  one  nation 
shall  have  such  a preponderance  as  to 
endanger  the  independence  of  another. 

Balance  of  trade.  The  money-value 
difference  between  the  exports  and  im- 
ports of  a nation. 

Baland  of  Spain.  A man  of 
herculean  strength,  who  called  himself 
Fierabras  {q^.v.). 

Bald.  Charles  le  Chaiire.  Charles  I., 
son  of  Louis  le  Dehonnaire,  (823,  840- 
877.) 

Baldassa^re.  Chief  of  the  monastery 
of  St.  Jacopo  di  Compostella. — Doni- 
zetti's opera  La  Favorita.'' 

Balder,  the  god  of  peace,  was  the  son 
of  Odin  and  Frigga.  He  was  killed  by 
the  blind  war-god  Hoder,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  Loki,  but  restored  to  life  at  the 
general  request  of  the  gods.  {Scan- 
dinavian Mythology, ) 

N.B. — Sydney  Dobell  (born  1824)  has  a 
poem  entitled  Balder,,  published  in  1854. 

Balderdash.  Eibaldry,  jargon. 
(Spanish,  halda^  a trifle ; haldonar,  to 
insult  with  abuse;  Welsh,  haldorddns, 
tattling. 

Baldwin.  The  youngest  and  come- 
liest  of  Charlemagne’s  paladins ; and  the 
nephew  of  Sir  Koland. 

Baldwin  (in  ^‘Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
The  restless  and  ambitious  duke  of  Bo- 
loigna,  leader  of  1,200  horse  in  the  allied 
Christian  army.  He  was  Godfrey’s  bro- 
ther ; not  so  tall,  but  very  like  him. 

Baldwin,,  the  Ass  (in  the  tale  of  Rey- 
nard the  Fox  ”).  In  the  third  part  of  the 
Beast-epic  he  is  called  “Dr.  Baldwin.” 
(Old  German,  hold  friend.) 

Bale  up.  Deliver  up,  stand  and  de- 
liver. A phrase  imported  from  the  Aus- 
tralian bush-rangers.  (French,  hailler^ 
to  deliver.) 

Ba'liol  College,  Oxford,  founded, 
in  1263,  by  John  de  Baliol,  knight  (father 
to  Baliol,  king  of  the  Scots), 

Balios.  One  of  the  horses  given  by 
Neptune  to  Peleus  on  his  wedding-day. 
It  afterwards  belonged  to  Achilles. 

Balitsa'ma.  The  realm  of  Bali,  the 
Indian  Pluto, 


Balisar'da  or  Balisardo.  Roge'ro’s 
sword,  made  by  a sorceress,  and  capable 
of  cutting  through  enchanted  substances. 

With  Balisarda’s  slightest  blow 
Nor  helm,  nor  shield,  nor  cuirass  could  avail, 

Nor  strongly-tempered  plate,  nor  twisted  mail. 

“ Orlando  Furioso,"  h.  xziii. 

Baliverso  (in  ''  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
The  basest  knight  in  the  Saracen  army. 

Balk  means  the  high  ridge  between 
furrows  (Saxon  and  Welsh,  hale)',  hence 
a rising  ground.  A balker  is  one  who 
takes  up  his  position  on  an  eminence  to 
direct  herring- fishers. 

A hoik  of  timber  is  a beam  running 
across  the  ceiling,  &c.,  like  a ridge.  As 
the  balk  is  the  part  not  cut  by  the  plough, 
therefore  “to  balk”  means  to  leave  un- 
touched, cr  to  disappoint. 

Balkis.  The  queen  of  Sheba  or  Saba, 
who  visited  Solomon. — ^""Al  Koran f c.  ii. 

Balls.  The  three  golden  halls.  The 
emblem  of  St.  Nicholas,  who  is  said  to 
have  given  three  purses  of  gold  to  three 
virgin  sisters  to  enable  them  to  marry. 

As  the  cognisance  of  the  Medici  family, 
it  probably  represents  three  golden  pills 
— a punning  device  on  the  name.  Be  this, 
however,  as  it  may,  it  is  from  the  Lom- 
bard family  (the  first  great  money-lenders 
in  England)  that  the  sign  has  been  ap- 
propriated by  pawnbrokers. 

Ballad  means,  strictly,  a song  to 
dance-music,  or  a song  sung  while 
dancing.  (Italian,  hallare,  to  dance ; our 
ballet,  q.v.) 

Ballads.  ‘‘  Let  me  make  the  ballads, 
and  who  will  may  make  the  laws'* 
Andrew  Fletcher  of  Saltoun  said  to  the 
earl  of  Cromarty,  “I  knew  a very  wise 
man  of  Sir  Christopher  Mnsgrave’s  senti- 
ment. He  believed,  if  a man  were  per- 
mitted to  make  all  the  ballads,  he  need 
not  care  who  should  make  the  laws.” 
(1703.) 

Ballet  is  the  recital  of  some  adven- 
ture or  intrigue  by  gesture  and  dancing, 
Baltazari'ni,  director  of  music  to  Catha- 
rine de’  Medici,  was  the  inventor  of 
modern  ballets. 

Balmung  or  Gram.  The  sword  of 
Siegfried,  forged  by  Wieland,  the  Vulcan 
of  the  Scandinavians.  Wieland,  in  a 
trial  of  merit,  clove  Amil'ias,  a brother 
smith,  through  steel  helmet  and  armour, 
down  to  the  waist;  but  the  cut  was  so 
fine  that  Amilias  was  not  even  aware 


62 


BALMY. 


BANBE. 


that  he  was  wounded  till  he  attempted 
to  move,  when  he  fell  into  two  pieces. 
{Scandinavian  Mythology. ) 

Balmy,  am  going  to  the  balmy  — 
i.e,,  to  Balmy  sleep;”  one  of  Dick 
Swiveller’s  pet  phrases.— 

Cnriodty  Sho;p.” 

Balnibar'bi.  A land  occupied  by 
projectors. — Swift,  ‘^Gulliver's  Travels.’' 

Baltba'zar.  One  of  the  kings  of 
Cologne — i.e.,  the  three  Magi,  who  came 
from  the  East  to  pay  reverence  to  the 
infant  Jesus. 

Baltic.  The  Mediterranean  of  the 
north  (Swedish,  bait;  Danish,  bcelte ; 
Latin,  battens  ; English,  belt),  the  sea  of 
the  Belts.” 

Bambi'no.  A picture  of  the  infant 
Jesus,  swaddled,  and  watched  by  angels. 
(Italian,  bambi'no,  a little  boy.) 

Bamboc'eiades  (pron.  bam-box'-se- 
aids).  Grotesque  scenes  in  low  life,  such 
as  country  wakes,  penny  weddings,  and 
so  on.  They  are  so  called  from  the 
Italian  word  bamboccio  (a  cripple),  a 
nickname  given  to  Pieter  van  Laer,  the 
first  Dutch  painter  of  such  scenes,  dis- 
tinguished in  Borne. 

Bamboc'cio  or  Bamboche.  {See 
Michael- Angelo  des  Bamboches.) 

Bamboo'zle.  To  cheat  by  cunning, 
or  daze  with  tricks.  It  is  a Chinese  and 
gipsy  word,  meaning  to  dress  a man  in 
bamboos  to  teach  him  swimming.  Like 
the  bladders  used  for  the  same  purpose 
by  little  wanton  boys,  the  apparatus  is 
dangerous  and  deceitful. 

Bampton  Lectures.  Founded  by 
the  Bev.  John  Bampton,  canon  of  Salis- 
bury. He  left  an  estate  to  the  university 
of  Oxford,  to  pay  for  eight  divinity  lec- 
tures on  given  subjects,  to  be  preached 
at  Great  St.  Mary’s,  and  printed  after- 
wards. 

Baa  is  from  the  Saxon  bannan,  to 
proclaim  or  publish. 

Marriage  bans.  The  publication  of  mar- 
riage in  church  for  three  successive  Sun- 
days by  the  officiating  minister. 

To  ban  is  to  make  a proclamation  of 
outlawry.  To  banish  is  to  proclaim  a 
man  an  exile.  {See  Bandit.) 


Lever  le  ban  et  VarrUre  ban.  To  levy 
the  national  army  by  proclamation.  In 
this  phrase,  the  arrih'e  ban  is  a corrup- 
tion of  heribannum,  from  here,  an  army. 

Ban'at,  A territory  under  a ban 
(lord),  from  the  Illyrican  word  bojan,  a 
lord.  The  Turks  gave  this  title  to  the 
lords  of  frontier  provinces— hence  the 
Banat  of  Temes,  which  now  belongs  to 
Austria. 

Banbury.  A Banbury-man—i.e,  a 
puritan  ( Ben  Jonson) ; a bigot.  From  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth  to  that  of  Charles  II. 
Banbury  was  noted  for  its  number  of 
Puritans. and  its  religious  ^^zeal.” 

^5  thin  as  Banbury  cheese.  In  Jack 
Drum’s  Entertainment”  we  read,  ^‘You 
are  like  a Banbury  cheese,  nothing  but 
paring ; ” and  Bardolph  compares  Slender 
to  Banbury  cheese  (^^  Merry  Wives,”  i.  1). 
The  Banbury  cheese  is  a rich  milk  cheese 
about  an  inch  in  thickness. 

Banco.  Sittings  in  Banco.  In  term 
time  the  superior  courts  of  common  law 
sit  in  banco  ; that  is,  the  judges  thereof 
occupy  their  respective  benches.  {Banc 
is  Italian  for  “ bench  ” or  seat  of  jus- 
tice.”) 

So  much  banco— i.e.,  in  bank  money.  , 
The  current  money  of  Hamburg,  &c.,  is 
inferior  to  ‘^bank  money.” 

Barida'na.  A pocket-handkerchief. 
It  is  an  Indian  word,  properly  applied  to 
silk  goods,  but  now  restricted  to  cot f on 
handkerchiefs  having  a dark  ground  of 
Turkey  red  or  blue,  with  little  white 
or  yellow  spots. 

Bandbox.  He  comes  out  of  a bandbox 
— i.e.,  he  is  so  neat  and  precise,  so  care- 
fully got  up  in  his  dress  and  person,  that 
he  looks  like  some  company  dress,  care- 
fully kept  in  a bandbox. 

Neat  as  a bandbox.  Neat  as  clothes 
folded  and  put  by  in  a bandbox. 

Bande  iN’oire.  Properly,  the  blaci 
band;  metaphorically,  the  Vandal  So" 
ciety.  Those  capitalists  that  bought  up 
the  church  property  confiscated  in  the 
great  French  Bevolution  were  so  called, 
because  they  recklessly  pulled  down 
ancient  buildings  and  destroyed  relics  of 
great  antiquity. 


BANDIT. 


BANNS. 


63 


iBandit  is  the  French  han  dit  (pro- 
nounced an  outlaw).  As  these  outlaws 
very  often  became  robbers,  the  term  soon 
came  to  signify  banded  highwaymen. 

Bands.  Clerical  hands  are  a relic  of 
the  ancient  amice ^ a square  linen  tippet 
tied  about  the  neck  of  priests  during  the 
administration  of  mass. 

Legal  hands  are  a relic  of  the  wide  col- 
lars which  formed  a part  of  the  ordinary 
dress  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  and 
which  were  especially  conspicuous  in  the 
reign  of  the  Stuarts.  In  the  showy  days 
of  Charles  II.  the  plain  bands  were 
changed  for  lace  ends. 

The  eighth  Henry,  as  I understand. 

Wag  the'  first  prince  that  ever  wore  a hand. 

Taylor^  the  Water  Poet. 

Bandy.  I am  not  going  to  handy  words 
with  you — t.e.,  to  dispute  about  words. 
The  reference  is  to  a game  called  Bandy. 
The  players  have  each  a stick  with  a 
crook  at  the  end  to  strike  a wooden  or 
other  hard  ball.  The  ball  is  bandied  from 
side  to  side,  each  party  trying  to  beat  it 
home  to  the  opposite  goal.  (Bandy  is 
from  '‘bend;”  Saxon,  hendan ; Yvonoh., 
hander;  German,  hinden;  Latin,  jgando; 
whence  “bandy-legged.”) 

Bang-up,  or  Slap-hang.  First-rate, 
thumping,  as  a “ thumping  legacy,”  or 
“ thumping  baby.”  It  is  a slang  punning 
synonym  of  thumping  or  striking.  Slap- 
bang  is  double  bang,  or  doubly  striking. 

Bango'rian  Controversy.  A 
theological  paper-war  stirred  up  by  a 
sermon  preached  March  31,  1717,  before 
George  I.,  by  Dr.  Hoadley,  bishop  of 
Bangor,  on  the  text  “ My  kingdom  is  not 
of  this  world.”  The  best  reply  is  by 
Law,  in  a series  of  “ Letters  to  Hoadley." 

Banian  Bays(-Baw-y<*?i).  Dayswhen 
no  meat  is  served  to  a ship’s  crew.  The 
term  is  derived  from  the  Banians,  a class 
of  Hindu  merchants,  who  carried  on  a 
most  extensive  trade  with  the  interior  of 
Asia,  but  being  a caste  of  the  Vaisya, 
abstained  from  the  use  of  meat.  (Sanskrit, 
hanij^  a merchant.) 

Bank,  from  the  Italian  banco  {ahench. 
or  table).  In  Greek  a money-changer  is 
called  trapez'ites,  from  trapez'a  (a  four- 
legged table).  In  Latin  a banker  is 
rntnsa'mus.^  from  mensa  (a  table). 


Bankrupt.  Money-lenders  in  Italy 
used  to  display  the  money  they  had  to 
lend  out  on  a banco  or  bench.  When  one  of 
these  money-lenders  was  unable  to  con- 
tinue business,  his  bench  or  counter  was 
broken  up,  and  he  himself  was  spoken 
of  as  a hancorotto — i.e.,  a bankrupt. 

Banks’  Koise.  A learned  horse, 
called  Morocco,  belonging  to  one  Banks, 
in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth.  It  is 
said  that  his  shoes  were  of  silver ; and 
one  of  his  exploits  was  “the  ascent  of 
St.  Paul’s  steeple.” 

Bankside.  Part  of  the  borough  of 
Southwark,  noted  in  the  time  of  Shake- 
speare for  its  theatres  and  retreats  of  the 
demi-monde. 

Ban'natyne  Club.  A literary  club 
which  takes  its  name  from  George  Ban- 
natyne,  to  whose  industry  we  owe  the 
preservation  of  very  much  of  the  early 
Scotch  poetry.  It  was  instituted  in  1823 
by  .Sir  Walter  Scott,  and  had  for  its 
object  the  publication  of  rare  works 
illustrative  of  Scotch  history,  poetry, 
and  general  literature.  The  club  was 
dissolved  in  1859. 

Banner  means  a piece  of  cloth. 
(Saxon, Latin,  pannus ; Welsh, 
haner;  Italian,  handidra;  French,  ban- 
nih'e. ) 

An  emperor’s  banner  should  be  sixe  foote  longe, 
and  the  same  in  breadth ; a king’s  banner  five 
foote ; a prince’s  and  a duke’s  banner,  four  foote ; 
a marquys’s,  an  erle’s,  a viscount’s,  a baron’s, 
and  a banneret’s  banner  shall  be  but  three  foote 
square.— ParA:. 

The  banner  of  the  Prophet  is  called 
SanjaJc-sherif  and  is  kept  in  the  Eyab 
mosque  of  Constantinople. 

The  two  black  banners  borne  before  the 
Califs  of  the  house  of  Abbas  were  called 
Night  and  Shadoiv. 

The  sacred  banner  of  France  is  the 
Orifiamme  {q.v.). 

Banners  in  churches.  These  are  sus- 
pended as  thank-offerings  to  God.  Those 
in  St.  George’s  Chapel,  Windsor ; Henry 
VII. ’s  Chapel,  Westminster,  &c.,  are  to 
indicate  that  the  knight  whose  banner  is 
hung  up,  avows  himself  devoted  to  God’s 
service. 

Ban'neret.  One  who  leads  his  vassals 
to  battle  under  his  own  banner.  A knight 
made  in  the  field  was  called  a banneret, 
because  the  chief  ceremony  was  cutting 
or  tearing  off  the  pointed  ends  of  his 
banner. 

Banns  of  Marriage.  {See  Ban.) 


C4 


BANQUO. 


BARBABY. 


Ban'quo.  A Scotch  general  of  royal 
extraction,  who  obtained  several  victories 
over  the  Highlanders  and  Danes  in  the 
reign  of  Donald  VII.  He  was  murdered 
by  the  order  of  Macbeth,  and  his  ghost 
haunted  the  guilty  usurper. — Shakespearef 
^^Macbeihr 

Banshee.  {See  Benshee.) 

Bantam.  A little  hantam  cock.  A 
little,  plucky  fellow  that  will  not  be 
bullied  by  a person  bigger  than  himself. 
The  bantam  cock  will  encounter  a dung- 
hill cock  five  times  his  own  weight,  and 
is  therefore  said  to  “have  a great  soul  in 
a little  body.”  The  bantam  originally 
came  from  Bantam,  in  Java. 

Banting.  Doing  Banting.  Reducing 
superfluous  fat  by  living  on  meat  diet, 
and  abstaining  from  beer,  farinaceous 
food,  and  vegetables,  according  to  the 
method  adopted  by  William  Banting,  a 
London  undertaker,  once  a very  fat  man 
(1863). 

Bantling.  A child.  {Ivi^hj  handle- 
ling^  a little  two-foot  thing.) 

Banns.  One  of  Actaeon’s  dogs.  {See 
Asbolos.) 

Bap  or  Bap'homet.  An  imaginary  idol 
or  symbol,  which  the  Templars  were  said 
to  employ  in  their  mysterious  rites.  The 
word  is  a corruption  of  Mahomet. 

Bap'tes  (2  syl.).  Priests  of  the  god- 
dess Cotyt'to,  whose  mddni^  ht  orgies 
were  so  obscene  that  they  disgu  ted  even 
Cotytto,  the  goddess  of  obscenity.  They 
received  their  name  from  the  Greek  verb 
haptOj  to  wash,  because  they  bathed 
themselves  in  the  most  effeminate  man- 
ner.— Juvenal^  ii.  91. 

Baptist.  John  the  Baptist.  His 
symbol  is  a sword,  the  instrument  by 
which  he  was  beheaded. 

Barata'ria.  Sancho  Panza’s  island- 
city,  over  which  he  was  appointed  go- 
vernor. The  table  was  presided  over  by 
doctor  Pedro  Rezio  de  Ague'ro,  who 
caused  every  dish  set  upon  the  board  to 
be  removed  without  being  tasted—  some 
because  they  heated  the  blood,  and  others 
because  they  chilled  it ; some  for  one  ill 
effect,  and  some  for  another  ; so  that 
Sancho  was  allowed  to  eat  nothing.  The 
word  is  from  harato  (cheap). 

The  meat  was  put  on  the  table,  and  whisked 
away,  like  Sancho’s  inauguration  feast  at  Bara- 
taria.— 27ic<  iJcQray. 


Barb.  An  arrow.  The  feathe*-s  under 
the  beak  of  a hawk  were  called  harh 
feathers  (beard  feathers).  The  point  of 
an  arrow  has  two  iron  “feathers,”  which 
stick  out  so  as  to  hinder  the  extraction 
of  the  arrow. 

Barh.  A Barbary  steed,  noted  for 
docility,  speed,  endurance,  and  spirit. 

B arb  ari.  Quod  non  fece' runt  Bar'hari, 
fece' runt  Barhen'ni  (What  the  barbarians 
left  standing,  Barberini  contrived  to  de- 
stroy). Pope  Barberini  robbed  the  roof 
of  the  Pantheon  to  build  the  Baldachi'no, 
or  canopy  of  St.  Peter’s.  It  is  made  en- 
tirely of  bronze,  and  weighs  ninety  tons. 

Barbarians  is  certainly  not  derived 
from  the  Latin  harha  (a  beard),  as  many 
suppose,  because  it  is  a Greek  word,  and 
has  many  analogous  ones  (the  Chaldee 
harhar,  from  hara,  means  abroad ; Irish, 
harha;  Russian,  varvar').  The  Greeks 
and  Romans  called  all  foreigners  har- 
harians  (outsiders);  the  Jews  called  them 
Gentiles  (other  nations)  ; the  Russians 
Ostiaks  (foreigners).  The  reproachful 
meaning  crept  in  from  the  natural  ego- 
tism of  man.  It  is  not  very  long  ago 
that  an  Englishman  looked  with  disdain- 
ful pity  on  a foreigner,  and  the  French 
still  retain  much  of  the  same  national 
exclusiveness. 

If  I know  not  the  meaning  of  the  voice  {words)  t 
I shall  be  unto  him  that  speaketh  a barbarian  (a 
foreigner),  and  he  that  speaketh  will  be  a barba- 
rian unto  me.  (l  Cor.  xiv.  ll.) 

Barbarossa  {Bed-Beard,  similar  to 
Rufus).  The  surname  of  Frederick  I.  of 
Germany.  (1121-1190.) 

Barb  ary.  St.  Barhary,  the  patron 
saint  of  arsenals  and  powder  magazines. 
Her  father  delivered  her  up  to  Martian, 
governor  of  Nicome'dia,  for  being  a 
Christian.  After  she  had  been  subjected 
to  the  most  cruel  tortures,  her  unnatural 
father  was  about  to  strike  off  her  head, 
when  a lightning-flash  laid  him  dead  at 
her  feet.  Hence,  those  who  invoke 
saints  select  St.  Barbary  in  thunder- 
storms. {See  Barbe.) 

Roan  Barhary.  The  favourite  horse 
of  Richard  II. 

O,  how  it  yearned  my  heart  when  I beheld 
In  London  streets  that  coronation  day, 

When  Bolingbroke  rode  on  roan  Barbary! 

That  horse  that  thou  {Rich.  II.)  so  often  hast 
bestrid. 

That  horse  that  I so  carefully  have  dressed. 

Shakespeare,  Richard  ll.,”  v.  5* 


BARBASON. 


BAREBONE. 


65 


Bar'bason.  A fiend  mentioned  by 
Shakespeare  in  the  Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor,”  ii.  2,  and  in  Henry  V.,”  ii.  1. 

Barbe,  Ste.  The  powder-room  in  a 
French  ship,  so  called  from  St.  Barbary, 
the  patron  saint  of  artillery.  {See  Bar- 
bary.) 

Bar'becue  (3  syl.).  A West  Indian 
dish,  consisting  of  a hog  roasted  whole, 
stuffed  with  spice,  and  basted  with 
Madeira  wine.  Any  animal  roasted 
whole  is  so  called. 

Oldfield,  with  more  than  harpy  throat  subdued, 
Cries,  “ Send  me,  ye  gods,  a whole  hog  barbecued !” 

Pope, ''  Imitations  of  Horace.” 

Barbed  Steed  (a  corruption  of 
harded).  A horse  in  armour.  (French, 
harde,  caparisoned.) 

Barbel.  Latin,  harha  (the  barbed 
fish),  so  called  from  the  dorsal  fin,  which 
is  armed  with  a barb  or  strong  spine, 
having  an  edge  like  a saw. 

Barber.  Every  barber  Jcnoivs  that 
(Omni'bus  notum  ton'soribus. — Hor.'),  In 
Rome  the  tonstri'noe  or  barbers’  shops 
were  the  fashionable  resort  of  loungers 
and  idlers.  Here  every  scandal  was 
known,  and  all  the  talk  of  the  town  was 
repeated. 

Barber  Poet.  Jacques  Jasmin,  last 
of  the  Troubadours,  who  was  a barber  of 
Gascony.  (1798-1864.) 

Barber’s  Pole.  The  gilt  knob  at 
the  end  represents  a brass  basin,  which 
is  sometimes  actually  suspended  on  the 
pole.  The  basin  has  a notch  cut  in  it  to 
lit  the  throat,  and  was  used  for  lathering 
customers  who  came  to  be  shaved.  The 
pole  represents  the  staff  held  by  persons 
in  venesection ; and  the  two  spiral  ribbons 
painted  round  it  represent  the  two  ban- 
dages, one  for  twisting  round  the  arm 
previous  to  blood-letting,  and  the  other 
for  binding.  Barbers  used  to  be  the 
surgeons,  but  have  fallen  from  'Hheir 
high  estate  ” since  science  has  made  its 
voice  to  be  heard  on  high.” 

N.B. — The  ‘‘ barber- surgeons  ” still 
retain  their  ancient  ^^hall”  in  Monkwell 
Street,  Cripplegate. 

Bar  clay  ans.  {See  Bere'ans.) 
Barcocbelball.  Antichrist. 

Shared  the  fall  of  the  Antichrist  Barcoohehah. 
— JEtce  Homo, 


Barde'sanists.  Followers  of  Bar- 
de'san,  founder  of  the  Gnostic  sect  in  the 
second  century. 

Bardit.  The  ancient  German  chant, 
which  incited  to  war. 

Bardoipb.  One  of  Falstaff’s  inferior 
officers.  Falstaff  calls  him ‘Hhe  knight 
of  the  burning  lamp,”  because  his  nose 
was  so  red,  and  his  face  so  full  of 
meteors.”  He  is  a low-bred,  drunken 
swaggerer,  without  principle,  and  poor 
as  a church  mouse. — Merry  Wives;** 

Henry  IV.**  i.,  ii. 

We  must  have  better  assurance  for  Sir  John 
than  Bardolf’s.  We  like  not  the  security.— Lord 
Macaulay. 

Bards.  The  oldest  bardic  compo- 
sitions that  have  been  preserved  are  of 
the  fifth  century;  the  oldest  existing 
manuscript  is  the  ‘‘Psalter  of  Cashel,” 
a collection  of  bardic  legends,  compiled 
in  the  ninth  century  by  Cormac  Mac 
Culinan,  bishop  of  Cashel  and  king  of 
Munster. 

Bard  of  Avon.  Shakespeare,  who  was 
born  and  buried  at  Stratford-upon-Avon. 
(1564-1616.) 

Bard  of  Ayrshire.  Robert  Burns,  a 
native  of  Ayrshire.  (1759-1796.) 

Bard  of  Hope.  Thomas  Campbell, 
author  of  “ The  Pleasures  of  Hope.” 
(1777-1844.) 

Bard  of  the  Imagination.  Mark  Aken- 
side,  author  of  “ Pleasures  of  the  Ima- 
gination.” (1721-1770.) 

Bard  of  Memory.  Rogers,  author  of 
“The  Pleasures  of  Memory.”  (1762-1855.) 

Bard  of  Olney.  Cowper,  who  resided 
at  Olney,  in  Bucks,  for  many  years, 
(1731-1800.) 

The  Bard  of  Prose.  “He  of  the  Hun- 
dred Tales  of  Love,”  i.e.^  Boccaccio. 
— “ Childe  Harold;*  iv.  56. 

The  Bard  of  Rydal  Mount.  William 
Wordsworth,  so  called  because  Rydal 
Mount  was  his  mountain  home.  Also 
called  the  “Poet  of  the  Excursion,” from 
his  principal  poem.  (1770-1850.) 

Bard  of  Twiclcenham.  Alexander  Pope, 
whoresided  at  Twickenham.  (1688-1744.) 

Bare.  Sailing  under  bare  poles  means 
that  the  ship  has  no  sail  exposed,  because 
the  wind  is  so  high. 

Barebone’s  Parliament.  The 
parliament  convened  by  Cromwell  in 
1653 ; so  called  from  Praise-God  Bare- 
bone,  a fanatical  leader,  who  overruled  it. 

F 


BAEEFOOTED. 


BARNACLE. 


/ 


m 


Barefooted.  Certain  monks  and 
nnns,  who  either  for  a time  or  alto- 
gether abandoned  the  use  of  shoes.  The 
Jews  and  Romans  used  to  put  off  their 
shoes  in  mourning  and  public  calamities, 
by  way  of  humiliation.  The  practice  is 
defended  by  the  command  of  our  Lord 
to  his  disciples  : ‘ ‘ Carry  neither  purse, 
nor  scrip,  nor  shoes.” — Luke  x.  4. 

Bar'guest.  a frightful  goblin,  armed 
with  teeth  and  claws,  who  passes  along 
the  streets  at  night,  making  the  most 
horrid  shrieks,  to  scare  folks  from  their 
Bleep.  {JVortk  of  England.) 

Barking  Bog.  A harking  dog  will 
never  hite.  Dogs  in  their  wild  state  never 
bark  ; they  howl,  whine,  and  growl,  but 
do  not  bark.  Barking  is  an  acquired 
habit ; and  as  only  domesticated  dogs 
bark,  this  effort  of  a dog  to  speak  is  no 
indication  of  a savage  temper. 

Barlaam.  A hermit  who  converted 
Jos'aphat,  an  Indian  prince.  This  Greek 
romance,  entitled  Barlaam  and  Josaphat^ 
(vas  immensely  popular  in  the  Middle 
Ages,  and  has  been  erroneously  attributed 
to  John  Damascene. 

Barley-bree.  Ale  ; liquor  brewed 
from  barley.  {Scotch.) 

The  cock  may  craw,  the  day  may  daw. 

And  aye  we’ll  taste  the  barley  hree. 

Burns,  “ Willie  Brew'd  a Peck  o’  Maut.'* 

Barleycorn.  John  or  Sir  John  Bar- 
leycorn, A personifi  cation  of  malt  liquor ; 
the  term  has  been  made  popular  by 
Robert  Burns. 

Inspiring  hold  John  Barleycorn, 

"Wlxat  dangers  thou  oanst  make  us  scorn ! 

Burns. 

Barley-mow.  A heap  of  barley 
housed,  or  where  it  is  housed.  (Saxon, 
mowCf  a heap  ; Italian,  mucchio;  Spanish, 
muclho.) 

Bar'mecide  (3  syl.).  The  word  is 
used  to  express  the  uncertainty  of  things 
on  which  we  set  our  heart.  As  the  beggar 
looked  forward  to  a feast,  but  found  only 
empty  dishes;  so  many  a joy  is  found  to 
be  mere  illusion  when  we  come  to  partake 
of  it. 

To-morrow  ! the  mysterious,  unknown  guest 

Who  cries  aloud,  ‘Eem ember  Barmecide  ! 

And  tremble  to  be  happy  with  the  rest.  ’ 

Longfellow. 


Bar'mecide’s  Feast.  A feast 
where  there  is  nothing  to  eat ; any  illu- 
sion. Barmecide  asked  Schac'abac,  a 
poor,  starving  wretch,  to  dinner,  and 
set  before  him  an  empty  plate.  “ How 
do  you  like  your  soup  ? ” asked  the 
merchant.  “ Excellently  well,”  replied 
Schac'abac.  Did  you  ever  see  whiter 
bread?”  Never,  honourable  sir,” 
was  the  civil  answer.  Wine  was  then 
brought  in,  and  Schacabac  was  pressed 
to  drink,  but  excused  himself  by  saying 
he  was  always  quarrelsome  in  his  cups. 
Being  over-persuaded,  he  fell  foul  of  his 
host,  and  was  provided  with  food  to  his 
heart’s  content.  — Arabian  Nights, 
Barber'' s Sixth  Brother. 

Bar'nabas.  aS^^.  Barnabas  Day.  June 
11.  St.  Barnabas  was  a fellow-iabourer 
of  St.  Paul . 

Bar'nabites  (3  syl.).  An  order  of 
monks,  so  called,  because  the  Church  of 
St.  Barnabas,  in  Milan,  was  given  to 
them  to  preach  in.  They  are  also  called 

Canons  of  St.  Paul,”  because  the  origi- 
nal society  made  a point  of  reading  St. 
Paul’s  Epistles. 

Bar'naby,  St.  His  symbol  is  a rake, 
because  the  11th  of  June,  St.  Barnaby’s 
Day,  is  the  time  of  hay -harvest. 

Barnaby  Lecturers.  Four  lec- 
turers in  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
elected  annually  on  St.  Barnabas’  Day 
(June  11),  to  lecture  on  mathematics, 
philosophy,  rhetoric,  and  logic. 

Barnaby  Budge.  A half-witted 
lad  whose  companion  is  a raven. — Dickens, 

Barnaby  Rudge.'^ 

Bar'nacle.  The  Solan  goose.  The 
strange  tales  of  this  creature  have  arisen 
from  a tissue  of  blunders.  The  Latin 
pernac'ula  is  a “ small  limpet,”  and  ber- 
nacula  (Portuguese  bernaca,  French  Jar- 
nacle)  is  the  Scotch  bren-clake  or  Solan 
goose.”  Both  words  being  corrupted 
into  barnacle,”  it  was  natural  to  look 
for  an  identity  of  nature  in  the  two  crea- 
tures, and  the  cirri  of  the  limpet  were 
soon  found  to  resemble  the  feathers  of  a 
bird  ; so  it  was  given  out  that  the  goose 
was  the  offspring  of  the  limpet.  Gerard, 
in  1636,  speaks  of  “ broken  pieces  of  old 
ships  on  which  is  found  certain  spume 
or  froth,  which  in  time  breedeth  into 
shells,  and  the  fish  which  is  hatched  there- 
from is  in  shape  and  habit  like  a bird.” 


BAENACLES. 


BAREIKIN. 


67 


Bar’nacles.  Spectacles,  or  rather 
reading-glasses ; so  called  because  in  shape 
they  resemble  the  twitchers  used  by 
farriers  to  keep  under  restraint  unruly 
horses  during  the  process  of  bleeding, 
dressing,  or  shoeing.  This  instrument, 
formerly  called  a barnacle,  consisting  of 
two  branches  joined  at  one  end  by  a 
hinge,  was  fixed  on  the  horse’s  nose. 
Dr.  Latham  considers  the  word  a corrup- 
tion of  hinodes  (double-eyes). 

Barn-burners.  A term  of  reproach 
given  to  an  American  democratic  section, 
supposed  to  be  in  sympathy  with  the 
Anti*  renters. 

Barnwell,  George.  The  chief  cha* 
racter  in  a prose  tragedy,  so  called,  by 
George  Lillo.  He  was  a London  appren- 
tice, who  fell  in  with  a wanton  in  Shore- 
ditch, named  Sarah  Millwood,  whom  he 
visited,  and  to  whom  he  gave  <£200  of  his 
master’s  money,  and  ran  away.  He  next 
robbed  his  uncle,  a rich  grazier  at  Lud- 
low, and  beat  out  his  brains.  Having 
spent  the  money,  Sarah  turned  him  out 
of  doors,  and  each  informed  against  the 
other.  Sarah  Millwood  and  George  Barn- 
well were  both  hanged. — Lillo^  1693-1739. 

Bare  “Bevel.  The  great  god  of  the 
gipsies.  His  son  is  named  Alako. 

Baron  properly  means  a dolt,  from 
the  Latin Aaro  (a  thorough  fool).  It  was 
a term  applied  to  a serving- soldier,  then 
to  a military  chief,  and  ultimately  to  a 
lord.  The  reverse  of  this  is  seen  in  our 
word  slave  (a  servile  menial),  which  is  the 
Slavonic  word  slav  (noble,  illustrious) ; 
but  the  Slavi  being  conquered  by  the 
Romans,  were  reduced  to  the  hard  con- 
dition of  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers 
of  water.”  {See  Idiot.) 

The  Baron.  So  Italians  call  the  baron 
Eicaso'li,  a first-rate  statesman  and  true 
patriot.  I know  lands  (said  the  baron 
to  the  Italian  parliament)  which  Italy 
has  to  conquer,  but  I know  no  one  in 
Italy  who  either  can  or  will  give  up.” 

Baron  Munchausen.  Said  to  be 
a satire  on  Bruce,  the  Abyssinian  tra- 
veller, to  whom  the  work  was  dedicated. 
The  author  was  Raspe,  a German  fugi- 
tive from  the  officers  of  justice,  living  in 
Cornwall  (1785).  The  chief  incidents 
were  compiled  from  various  sources,  such 
as  the  “Meiida'cia  Eidic'ula”  of  J.  P. 
Lange  ; Lucian’s  “ True  History  of 


Things  Discovered  in  the  Moon  ^'Ra- 
belais;” and  the  "Folhe'to  de  Ambas 
Lis'boa.” 

Baron  of  Beef.  So  called  because 
it  is  the  haron  (back  part)  of  the  ox,  called 
in  Danish  the  rug.  It  is  not  so  called 
because  it  is  “ greater”  than  the  sir-loin 

Barracks  means  huts  made  of  the 
branches  of  trees  (Gaelic,  harr,  the  top 
of  anything ; harrach,  the  top-branches 
of  trees ; harrachad,  a hut  made  of 
branches).  Our  word  is  plural,  indicative 
of  the  whole  collection  ; but  the  French 
haraque  is  singular.  {See  B.K.S.) 

Barren’s  Blues.  The  4th  Foot; 
so  called  from  the  colour  of  their  facings, 
and  William  Barrell,  colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment. (1734-1749.) 

Barrica'de  (3  syl.).  To  block  up.  The 
term  rose  in  France  in  1588,  v/hen  Henri 
de  Guise  returned  to  Paris  in  defiance  of 
the  king’s  order.  The  king  sent  for  his 
Swiss  guards,  and  the  Parisians  tore  up 
the  pavement,  threw  chains  across  the 
streets,  and  piled  up  barrels  filled  with 
earth  and  stones,  behind  which  they  shot 
down  the  Swiss  as  they  passed  through 
the  streets.  The  French  for  barrel  is 
harriqne,  and  to  barricade  is  to  stop  up 
the  streets  with  these  barrels. 

The  day  of  the  Barricades : 

(1.)  May  12,  1588,  when  the  people  in- 
vested the  Swiss  guards  in  the  Louvre, 
and  forced  Henri  HI.  to  flee  from  Paris. 

(2.)  June  27,  1830,  the  first  day  of  le 
grand  seinain  which  drove  Charles  X. 
from  the  throne. 

(3.)  Feb.  24,  1848,  which  drove  Louis 
Philippe  to  abdicate  and  seek  refuge  in 
England. 

(4.)  June  23,  1848,  when  Affre,  Arch- 
bishop of  Paris,  was  shot  in  his  attempt 
to  quell  the  insurrection. 

(5.)  Dec.  2,  1851,  the  day  of  the  coup 
d'Uat,  when  Louis  Napoleon  made  his 
appeal  to  the  people  for  re-election  to  the 
presidency  for  ten  years. 

Barrier  Treaty.  Nov.  5, 1715,  by 
which  the  Dutch  reserved  the  right  of 
holding  garrisons  in  certain  fortresses  oC 
the  Spanish  Netherlands. 

Bar'rikin.  Jargon,  words  not  under- 
stood. (Old  French,  baracan ; modern 
French,  haragouin,  gibberish.) 

F 2 


68 


BARRING-OUT. 


BASE. 


Barring-out.  A practice  of  barring 
the  master  out  of  the  schoolroom,  in 
order  to  dictate  terms  to  him.  It  was 
once  common,  but  is  now  numbered  with 
past  customs.  Miss  Edgeworth  has  a 
tale  so  called. 

Bar'rister.  One  admitted  to  plead 
at  the  bar ; one  who  has  been  called  to 
th  e bar.  ” The  bar  is  the  rail  which  divides 
the  counsel  from  the  audience ; tanta- 
mount to  the  rood-screen  of  a church, 
which  separates  the  chancel  from  the 
rest  of  the  building.  Both  these  are 
relics  of  the  ancient  notion  that  the  laity- 
are  an  inferior  order  to  the  privileged 
class. 

Barrow.  A tumulus.  It  is  the  same 
as  horough,  hury^  hurg,  &c.,  and  means 
a hill.  (Saxon,  heorg,  a mound.) 

A havroio  pig,  A baronet ; so  called 
because  he  is  not  looked  upon  as  a noble- 
man by  the  aristocracy,  nor  as  a com- 
moner by  the  people.  In  like  manner  a 
barrow  pig  is  neither  male  nor  female ; 
neither  hog  or  sow. 

Barry  Cornwall.  A nom  de  phime 
of  Bryan  Waller  Proctor.  It  is  an  im- 
perfect anagram  of  his  name. 

Barsa'nians.  Heretics  which  arose 
in  the  sixth  century.  They  made  their 
sacrifices  consist  in  taking  wheat  flour  on 
the  tip  of  their  first  finger,  and  carrying 
it  to  their  mouth. 

BarthoPomew,  St.  The  symbol  of 
this  saint  is  a knife,  in  allusion  to  the 
knife  with  which  he  was  flayed  alive. 

St.  Bartholomew' s Bay.,  August  24. 
Probably  Bartholomew  is  the  apostle 
called  ‘^Nathanael”  by  St.  John  the 
Evangelist  (i.  45-51). 

Bartholomew  Fair.  Held  in  West 
Smithfield  (1133-1855)  on  St.  Bartholo- 
mew’s  day. 

Massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew.  The 
slaughter  of  the  French  Protestants  in 
the  reign  of  Cbarles  IX.,  begun  on  St. 
Bartholomew’s  day,  i.e..,  between  the  24th 
and  25th  August,  1572.  It  is  said  that 
30,000  persons  fell  in  this  dreadful  per- 
secution. 

A Bartholomew  'pig.  A very  fat  person. 
At  Bartholomew  fair  one  of  the  chief 
attractions  used  to  be  a pig,  roasted 
whole,  and  sold  piping  hot.  Falstaff 
calls  himself 

A little  tidy  Bartiiolomew  boar-pig.— “ 2 Henry 


Barthram’s  Dirge  (in  Sir  Walter 
Scott’s  Border^Minstrelsy”).  Sir  Noel 
Baton,  in  a private  letter  to  me,  says  : 
‘‘The  subject  of  this  dirge  was  com- 
municated to  Sir  Walter  as  a genuine 
fragment  of  the  ancient  “ Border  Muse  ” 
by  his  friend  Mr.  Surtees,  who  is  in 
reality  its  author.  The  ballad  has  no 
foundation  in  history  ; and  the  fair  lady, 
her  lover,  and  the  nine  brothers,  are  but 
the  creation  of  the  poet’s  fancy.”  Sir 
Noel  adds  : “I  never  painted  a picture 
of  this  subject,  though  I have  often 
thought  of  doing  so ; the  engraving 
which  appeared  in  the  Art  Journal  was 
executed  without  my  concurrence  from 
the  oil  sketch,  still,  I presume,  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  Pender,  the  late  M.P., 
by  whom  it  was  brought  to  the  Exhi- 
bition of  the  Royal  Scottish  Academy 
here  ” (at  Edinburgh).  (Nov.  19,  1866.) 

BartoPdo.  A rich  old  miser,  who 
died  of  fear  and  penurious  self-denial. 
Fazio  rifled  his  treasures,  and  being  ac- 
cused by  his  own  wife  Bianca,  was  put  to 
death. — Dean  Milman^  “ Fazio." 

Bartole  (2  syl.).  He  hioios  his  “ Bar- 
tole"  as  well  as  a cordelier  his  Dormi." 
(French.)  Bartole  was  a lawyer  of  the  1 4th 
century,  whose  authority  amongst  French 
barristers  is  equal  to  that  of  Blackstoue 
with  us.  The  cordeliers  were  instituted 
especially  for  preaching;  and  the  most 
noted  recueil  of  sermons  was  a compi- 
lation called  Dormi,  containing  the  best 
specimens  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries.  This  compilation  was  called 
“Dormi,”  from  the  first  word  in  the 
book.  The  compilation  is  anonymous. 

Barzillai  (3  syl.).  The  duke  of 
Ormond,  a friend  and  staunch  adherent 
of  Charles  II.  The  allusion  is  to  Barzillai, 
who  assisted  David  when  he  was  expelled 
by  Absalom  from  his  kingdom  (2  Sam. 
xvii.  27 — 29). 

Barz'llai  crowned  with  honours  and  with  years 

In  exile  with  his  godlike  prince  he  mourned, 

For  him  he  suft'ered,  and  with  him  returned. 

Dry  den,  “ Ahsilom  and  AcMtopxel." 

Bas  Bleu.  {See  Blue  Stocking.) 

Base.  The  basis,  or  that  on  which 
an  animal  walks  (G-reek,  haino,  to  go). 
The  foot  is  the  foundation — hence,  base 
of  a pillar,  &c.  It  is  also  the  lowest 
part,  and  hence  the  notion  of  worthless. 
Bass  in  music  (Italian,  hassoi)  is  the  lowest 
part,  or  the  part  for  the  lowest  compass 
of  voice. 


BASHAW. 


Bashaw'.  An  arrogant,  domineering 
man ; so  called  from  the’  Turkish  viceroys 
and  provincial  governors,  each  of  whom 
bears  the  title  of  hasch  (pacha). 

A three-tailed  hashaw.  A beglerbeg  or 
prince  of  princes  among  the  Turks, 
having  a standard  of  three  horse-tails 
borne  before  him.  The  next  in  rank  is 
the  bashaw  with  two  tails,  and  then  the 
bey,  who  has  only  one  horse-tail. 

BasiTian  Monks.  Monks  of  the 
order  of  St.  Basil,  who  lived  in  the  fourth 
century.  This  order  has  produced  four- 
teen popes,  1,805  bishops,  3,010  abbots, 
and  11,085  martyrs. 

Basilies  or  Basil' ica.  A digest  of 
laws  begun  by  the  Byzantine  emperor 
Basilius  in  867,  and  completed  by  his 
son  Leo  the  philosopher  in  880. 

Basil'ica.  Originally  the  court  of 
the  Athenian  archon,  called  the  basileusj 
who  used  to  give  judgment  in  the  stoa 
basin' os.  At  Rome  these  courts  of  justice 
had  their  nave,  aisles,  porticoes,  and  tri- 
bunals ; so  that  when  used  for  Christian 
worship  very  little  alteration  was  needed. 
The  church  of  St.  John  Lat'eranatRome 
was  an  ancient  basilica. 

Basilid'ians.  A sect  of  Gnostic 
heretics,  followers  of  Basil'ides,  who 
taught  that  from  the  unborn  Father 
^^Mind”  was  begotten ; from  Mind  pro- 
ceeded ‘^The  Word from  the  Word  or 
Logos  proceeded  “Understanding;”  from 
Understanding  “Wisdom ’’and  “Power;” 
from  Wisdom  and  Power  “Excellencies,” 
“Princes,”  and  “Angels,’^  the  agents 
which  created  heaven.  Next  to  these 
high  mightinesses  come  365  celestial 
beings,  the  chief  of  whom  is  Abraxas  {q.r.), 
and  each  of  whom  has  his  special  heaven. 
What  we  call  Christ  is  what  the  Basili- 
dians  term  The  first-begotten  Mind.’’ 

Basiliseo.  A braggart ; a character 
in  an  old  play  entitled  “Soliman  and 
Perseda.”  Shakespeare  makes  the  Bas- 
tard say  to  his  mother,  who  asks  him  why 
he  boasted  of  his  ill-birth,  “Knight, 
knight,  good  mother,  Basilisco-like” — 
i.e.,  my  boasting  has  made  me  a knight. 
— “ King  John,”  i.  1. 

Basilisk.  The  king  of  serpents 
(Greek,  basileus,  a king),  supposed  to 
have  the  power  of  “ looking  any  one 
dead  on  whom  it  fixed  its  eyes.”  Hence 
Dryden  makes  .Clytus  say  to  Alexander, 


BAT.  69 


“Nay,  frown  not  so;  you  cannot  look 
me  dead.”  This  creature  is  called  a king 
from  having  on  its  head  a mitre-shaped 
crest. 

Like  a boar 

Plunging  his  tusk  in  mastiff’s  gore, 

Or  basilisk,  when  roused,  whose  breath. 
Teeth,  sting,  and  eyeballs  all  are  death. 

King,  '‘Art  of  Love” 

Basilissa.  The  Venus  of  the  Ta- 
rentines. 

Baso'eliians.  French  lawyers.  When 
the  French  'parlement  ceased  to  be 
the  council  of  the  king,  and  confined 
itself  to  the  administration  of  justice,  a 
distinction  of  name  became  imperative  ; 
so  the  nobles  or  court  party  called  them- 
selves courtiers,  and  the  lawyers  took  the 
name  of  baso'chians  or  king’s-men,  from 
the  Greek  basileus  (a  king). 

Basra  has  120,000  rivers  or  streams. 
— Ebn  HauJcal. 

Basso  Believo  {rel-i-a'-vo).  I^ow 
relief  (Italian).  Figures  cut  on  wood, 
stone,  or  marble,  with  very  slight  relief 
— i.e.,  not  much  raised  {See  Alto, 
Mezzo.) 

Ba'ste  (1  syl.).  Tllbaste  your  jacket  for 
you — i.e.,  cane  you.  Til  give  you  a thorough 
basting — i.e.,  beating.  (Spanish,  baston, 
a stick  ; Italian,  bastone  ; French,  bdton.) 

Bastille  means  simply  a building 
(French,  bastir,  now  bdtir,  to  build). 
Charles  V.  built  it  as  a royal  chateau  ; 
Philippe- Auguste  enclosed  it  with  a high 
wall;  St.  Louis  administered  justice  in 
the  pa/rk,  under  the  oak-trees ; Philippe 
de  Valois  demolished  the  old  chllteau 
and  commenced  a new  one ; Louis  XI. 
first  used  it  as  a state  prison  ; and  it  was 
demolished  by  the  rabble  in  the  French 
revolution,  July  14,  1789. 

Bastina'do.  A beating  (Italian,  bas~ 
tonato,  from  baston,  a stick).  The 
Chinese,  Turks,  and  Persians  punish  of- 
fenders by  beating  them  on  the  soles  of 
the  feet.  The  Turks  call  the  punishment 
zarb. 

Bat.  On  his  own  bat.  On  his  own 
hook ; on  his  own  account.  A cricketer’s 
phrase. 

Bat-horses  and  Bat-men.  Bat-horses 
are  those  which  carry  officers’  baggage 
during  a campaign  (French,  bdt,  a pack- 
saddle).  Bat-men  are  those  who  look 
after  the  pack-horses. 


70 


BATAVIA. 


BATTLE. 


Bat  a Via  The  Netherlands ; so  called 
from  the  Bata  Vi,  a Celtic  tribe  who 
dwelt  there. 

Flat  Batavia’s  willowy  groves. 

Wordsworth. 

Bate  me  an  ace.  {See  Bolton.) 

Bath..  Knights  of  the  Bath.  This 
name  is  derived  from  the  ceremony  of 
bathing,  which  used  to  be  practised  at 
the  inauguration  of  a knight,  as  a symbol 
of  purity.  The  last  knights  created  in 
this  ancient  form  were  at  the  coronation 
of  Charles  II.  in  1661.  G.C.B.  stands  for 
Grand  Cross  of  the  Bath  (the  first  class) ; 
K.C.B.  Knight  Commander  of  the  Bath 
(the  second  class) ; C.B.  Companion  of 
the  Bath  (the  third  class). 

King  of  Bath.  Eichard  Nash,  generally 
called  Beau  Nash,  a celebrated  master  of 
the  ceremonies  at  Bath  for  fifteen  years. 
(1674-1761.) 

There,  go  to  Bath  with  you!  Don’t 
talk  nonsense.  Insane  persons  used  to 
be  sent  to  Bath  for  the  benefit  of  its 
mineral  waters.  The  implied  reproof  is, 
what  you  say  is  so  silly,  you  ought  to  go 
to  Bath  and  get  your  head  shaved. 

Batli-kol  {daughter  of  the  voice).  A 
sort  of  divination  common  among  the 
ancient  Jews  after  the  gift  of  prophecy 
had  ceased.  When  an  appeal  was  made 
to  Bath-kol,  the  first  words  uttered  after 
the  appeal  were  considered  oracular. 

Bath'sheba.  The  duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth, a favourite  court  lady  of  Charles 
II.  The  allusion  is  to  the  wife  of  Uri'ah 
the  Hittite,  criminally  beloved  by  David 
(2  Sam.  xi.).  The  duke  of  Monmouth 
says — 

My  father,  whom  with  reverence  I name, 

Charmed  into  ease,  is  careless  of  his  fame ; 

And,  bribed  with  petty  sums  of  foreign  gold, 

Is  grown  in  Bathsheba’s  embraces  old. 

Dry  den’s  ''Absalom  and  Achitophel.*’ 

Ba'trachomy'omacMa.  A storm 
in  a puddle;  much  ado  about  nothing. 
The  word  is  the  name  of  a mock  heroic 
poem  in  Greek,  supposed  to  be  by  Pi'gres 
of  Caria,  and  means  The  Battle  of  the 
Frogs  and  Mice. 

Batta  or  Batty  (Hindustanee).  Per- 
quisites ; wages.  Properly,  an  allowance 
to  East  Indian  troops  in  the  field.  In 
garrison  they  are  put  on  half-batta. 

Battar,  Al  {the  Trenchant).  One  of 
Mahomet’s  swords,  confiscated  from  the 
Jews  when  they  were  exiled  from  Medi'na. 


Battersea.  You  must  go  to  Battersea 
to  get  your  simples  cut.  A reproof  to  a 
simpleton,  or  one  who  makes  a very  fool- 
ish observation.  The  market  gardeners 
of  Battersea  used  to  grow  simples  (me- 
dical herbs),  and  the  London  apothecaries 
went  there  to  select  or  cut  such  as  they 
wanted. 

Battle.  Professor  Creasy  says  there 
are  fifteen  decisive  battles ; that  is, 
battles  which  have  decided  some  political 
change  : 490,  Mar'athon ; 413,  Syracuse ; 
331,  Arbe'la;  207,  MetauVus;  the  defeat 
of  the  Eomans  by  Varus,  9 ; Chalons, 
451;  Tours,  732;  Hastings,  1066;  Joan 
of  Arc’s  victory  at  Orleans,  1429  ; the 
Arma'da,  1588 ; Blenheim,  1704 ; Pultow'a, 
1709;  Sarato'ga,  1777;  Valmy,  1792; 
and  Waterloo,  1815. 

Battle  royal.  A certain  number  of 
cocks,  say  sixteen,  are  pitted  together ; 
the  eight  victors  are  then  pitted,  then 
the  four,  and  last  of  all  the  two ; and 
the  winner  is  victor  of  the  battle  royal. 
Metaphorically,  the  term  is  applied  to 
chess,  &c. 

Battle  scenes.  Le  Clerc  could  arrange 
on  a small  piece  of  paper  not  larger  than 
one’s  hand  an  army  of  20,000  men. 

The  Battle-painter  or  Belle  Battaglie. 
{See  Michael  Angelo.) 

Battle  of  the  Boohs.  A satire,  by  dean 
Swift,  on  the  contention  among  literary 
men  whether  ancient  or  modern  authors 
were  the  better.  In  the  battle  the 
ancient  books  fight  against  the  modern 
books  in  St.  James’s  Library. 

Battle  oj-  the  Giaivts  ; i.e.,  the  battle  of 
Marignan  {Ma-rin'-yan')  in  1515,  when 
Frangois  I.  won  a complete  victory  over 
12,000  Swiss,  allies  of  the  Milanese. 

Battle  of  the  Herrings,  in  1428.  A sortie 
made  by  the  men  of  Orleans,  during  the 
siege  of  their  city,  to  intercept  a supply 
of  salt  herrings  sent  to  the  besiegers. 

Battle  of  the  Moat.  A skirmish  or  battle 
between  Mahomet  and  Abu  Sofian  (chief 
of  the  Koreishites)  before  Medi'na ; so 
called  because  the  ^‘prophet”  had  a moat 
dug  before  the  city  to  keep  off  the 
invaders ; and  in  the  moat  much  of  the 
fighting  took  place. 

Battle  of  the  Standard,  in  1138,  when 
the  English  overthrew  the  Scotch,  at 
Northallerton,  in  Yorkshire.  The  standard 
was  a high  crucifix  bon>^  by  the  English 
on  a wagon. 


BATTLEDGEE. 


BAYADERE. 


71 


Battle  of  the  Simrs  (1302),  in  which  the 
allied  citizens  of  Ghent  and  Bruges  won 
a famous  victory  over  the  chivalry  of 
France  under  the  walls  of  Courtray. 
After  the  battle  more  than  700  gilt  spurs 
(worn  by  French  nobles)  were  gathered 
from  the  field. 

In  English  history  the  battle  of  Guine- 
gate  (1513)  is  so  called,  ‘‘because  the 
French  spurred  their  horses  to  flight, 
almost  as  soon  as  they  came  in  sight  of 
the  English  troops.” 

Waget'  of  Battle.  One  of  the  forms  of 
ordeal  or  appeal  to  the  judgment  of  God, 
in  the  old  Norman  courts  of  the  kingdom. 
It  consisted  of  a personal  combat  between 
the  plaintiff  and  defendant,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  court  itself.  Abolished  by 
59  Geo.  III.,  c.  46. 

Bat'tledore  (3  syl. ) means,  properly, 
a baton  or  beetle  for  washing  linen  by 
striking  on  it  to  knock  out  the  dirt.  The 
plan  is  still  common  in  France.  The 
word  is  hattre  d'eau,  or  hat  d'eau-er  (a 
thing  for  beating  out  the  water  of  wet 
linen).  {See  B.) 

Battles.  Rations  or  “commons” 
allowed  to  students  at  the  University  of 
Oxford.  A corruption  of  battens,  from 
the  verb  batten  (to  feed). 

Battle  Bills.  Buttery  bills  at  the 
universities.  (See  above!) 

Baubee.  Jenny's  baubee.  Her  mar- 
riage portion.  The  word  means,  properly, 
a debased  copper  coin,  equal  in  value  to 
a halfpenny,  issued  in  the  reign  of  James 
VI.  of  Scotland.  (French,  has  billon,  de- 
based copper  money.) 

Bauble.  A fool  should  never  hold  a 
bauble  in  his  hand.  “’Tis  a foolish  bird 
that  fouls  its  own  nest.”  The  bauble  was  . 
a short  stick,  ornamented  with  ass’s 
ears,  carried  by  licensed  fools.  (French, 
babiole,  a plaything. ) 

Ba'viad,  The.  A merciless  satire  by 
Gifford  on  the  Della  Cruscan  poetry, 
published  1794.  The  word  is  from 
Virgil’s  “Eclogue,”  iii.  9. 

He  may  with  foxes  plough,  and  milk  he-goats, 
Who  praises  Eavius  or  on  Maevius  dotes, 

Bavie'ca.  The  Cid’s  horse. 

Ba'vius.  Any  bad  poet.  {See  Ba- 

VIAD. ) 

May  some  choice  patron  bless  each  grey  goose 

quill, 

May  every  Bavius  have  his  Bufo  still. 

Pope,  ''Prologue  to  the  Satirea.” 


Baxte'riaus.  Those  who  entertain 
the  same  religious  views  as  Richard  Bax- 
ter. The  chief  points  are — (1)  that  Christ 
died  in  a spiritual  sense  for  the  elect,  and 
in  a general  sense  for  all ; (2)  that  there 
is  no  such  thing  as  reprobation  ; (3)  that 
even  saints  may  fall  from  grace.  Dr. 
Isaac  Watts  and  Dr.  Doddridge  held 
these  views. 

Bay.  The  colour  of  a withered  bay 
leaf. 

Bay.  The  withering  of  a bay-tree  was 
supposed  to  be  the  omen  of  a death. 

’Tis  thought  the  king  is  dead.  We’ll  not  stay— 

The  bay-trees  in  our  country  are  withered. 

Shakespeare,  ''Richard  ii.  4. 

Bay.  Supposed  to  be  an  antidote 
against  thunder,  because  it  was  the  tree 
of  Apollo.  Hence  Tibe'rius  and  some 
other  of  the  Roman  emperors  wore  a 
wreath  of  bay  as  an  amulet,  especially  in 
thunder-storms.  — Pliny, 

Beach  the  bays— 

I’ll  tie  a garland  here  about  his  h(  a I ; 

’Twill  keep  my  boy  from  lightnitig. 

The  Whi'e  Devil. 

Croimed  with  bays,  in  sign  of  victory. 
The  general  who  obtained  a victory 
among  the  Romans  was  crowned  with  a 
wreath  of  bay  leaves. 

The  Queen's  Bays.  The  2nd  Dragoon 
Guards ; so  called  because  they  are 
mounted  on  bay  horses.  Now  called  The 
Queen's. 

Bay  Salt  is  salt  of  a bay  colour.  It 
is  the  salt  of  sea- water  hardened  by  the 
heat  of  the  sun. 

Bayes’s  Troops.  Dead  men  may 
rise  again,  like  Bayes's  troops,  or  the  savages 
in  the  Fantoci'ni  (“  Something  New ”).  In 
the  “Rehearsal,”  by  George  Villiers,duke 
of  Buckingham, a battle  is  fought  between 
foot-soldiers  and  great  hobby-horses.  At 
last  Drawcansir  kills  all  on  both  sides. 
Smith  then  asks  how  they  are  to  go  off ; 
to  which  Bayes  replies,  “ As  they  came 
on — upon  their  legs;”  upon  which  they 
all  jump  up  alive  again. 

^ Bayadere  {bah-ya-dare).  A dancing 
girl  dressed  in  Eastern  costume ; so  called 
from  the  “bajaderes”  of  India,  whose 
duty  is  to  dance  before  the  images  of  the 
gods;  but  the  grandees  employ  similar 
dancers  for  their  private  amusements. 
The  word  is  a corruption  of  the  Portu- 
guese haitadeira. 


72 


BAYARD. 


BEAM. 


Ba'yard.  Le  chevalier  sans  peur  et 
sans  reproche.  (1476-1524.) 

The  British  Bayard.  Sir  Philip  Sidney. 
(1554-1584.) 

The  Polish  Bayard.  Prince  Joseph 
Poniatowski.  (1763-1814.) 

Ba'yard.  A horse  of  incredible  swift- 
ness,belonging  to  the  four  sons  of  Ay'mon. 
If  only  one  of  the  sons  mounted,  the 
horse  was  of  the  ordinary  size ; but  if 
all  four'  mounted,  his  body  became  elon- 
gated to  the  requisite  length.  The  name 
is  used  for  any  valuable  or  wonderful 
horse,  and  means  a ^4iigh  bay”  (fiay-ard). 
— Villenenvef  Les  Qnatre-Filz  Aymon.’’ 

Keep  Bayard  in  the  stable — i.e.,  keep 
what  is  of  value  under  lock  and  key. 
(See  above. ) 

Bold  as  blind  bayard.  Foolhardy. 
If  a blind  horse  leaps,  the  chance  is  he 
will  fall  into  a ditch.  Grose  mentions 
the  following  expression.  To  ride  bayard 
of  ten  toes — Going  by  the  marrow-bone 
stage”— ^.e.,  walking. 

Bayar'do.  The  famous  steed  of 
Binaldo,  which  once  belonged  to  Am'adis 
of  Gaul. 

Bayardds  Leap.  Three  stones,  about 
thirty  yards  apart,  near  Sleaford.  It 
is  said  that  Binaldo  was  riding  on  his 
favourite  steed  Bayardo,  when  the  de- 
mon of  the  place  sprang  behind  him ; but 
the  animal  in  terror  took  three  tremen- 
dous leaps  and  unhorsed  the  fiend. 

Bayes,  in  the  Rehearsal,”  by  the 
duke  of  Buckingham,  was  designed  to 
satirise  John  Dryden,  the  poet  laureate. 
(See  Bayes’s  Troops,  p.  71.) 

Bayeux  Tapestry.  Supposed  to 
be  the  work  of  Matilda,  wife  of  William 
the  Conqueror.  It  represents  the  mis- 
sion of  Harold  to  the  duke,  and  all  the 
incidents  of  his  history  from  that  event 
till  his  death  at  Hastings  in  1066.  It  is 
called  Bayeux  from  the  place  where  it  is 
preserved.  A drawing,  on  a reduced 
scale,  of  this  curious  antique  is  preserved 
in  the  Guildhall  Library. 

Bayle.  The  dances  of  the  common 
people  were  so  called  in  Spain,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  stately  court  dances,  called 
danza.  The  Bayle  were  of  Moorish  in- 
vention, the  Most  celebrated  being  La 
Sarabanda,  La  Chacona,  Las  Ganibdas, 
and  El  Hennano  Bartolo, 


Bay'onet.  So  called  from  La  Bayo- 
nette,  a lower  ridge  of  the  Montague 
d’Arrhune.  A Basque  regiment,  early  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  running  short 
of  powder,  stuck  their  knives  into  their 
muskets,  and  charged  the  Spaniards 
with  success.  It  is  an  error  to  derive 
this  word  from  Bayonne. 

Bead  (Saxon)  means  a prayer.  When 
little  balls  with  a hole  through  them  were 
used  for  keeping  account  of  the  number 
of  prayers  repeated,  the  term  was  ap- 
plied to  them  also.  (/8ee  Beadsman.) 

St.  Cuthberfs  Beads.  Single  joints  of 
the  articulated  stems  of  encrinites.  They 
are  perforated  in  the  centre,  and  bear  a 
fanciful  resemblance  to  a cross ; hence, 
they  were  once  used  for  rosaries  (beads). 
St.  Cuthbert  was  a Scotch  monk  of  the 
sixth  century,  and  may  be  called  the  St. 
Patrick  of  the  north  of  England  and 
south  of  Scotland. 

Bead-house.  An  almshouse  for  beads- 
men. 

Bead-roll.  A list  of  persons  to  be 
prayed  for ; hence,  also,  any  list. 

Beadle.  A person  whose  duty  it  is 
to  bid  or  cite  persons  to  appear  to  a sum- 
mons ; also  a church  servant,  whose  duty 
it  is  to  bid  the  parishioners  to  attend  the 
vestry,  or  to  give  notice  of  vestry  meet- 
ings. (Saxon,  boedclj  from  beodan,  to  bid 
or  summon.) 

Beadsman  or  Bedesman,  An  in- 
habitant of  an  almshouse,  so  called  be- 
cause in  Catholic  times  most  charities  of 
this  class  were  instituted  that  the  in- 
mates might  pray  for  the  soul  of  the 
founder.”  (See  Bead.) 

Seated  with  Bome  grey  headsman. 

Vrabbe,  ^'Borough” 

Beak.  A magistrate.  (Saxon  beag, 
a gold  collar  worn  by  civic  magistrates.) 

Bea^ker.  A drinking  glass  (German 
hedier,  Italian  beccar^  to  swallow.) 

Beam.  Thrown  on  my  beam- ends — 
driven  to  my  last  shift.  A ship  is  said 
to  be  on  her  beam-ends  when  she  is  laid 
by  a heavy  gale  completely  on  her  beams 
or  sides.  Not  unfrequently  the  only 
means  of  righting  her  in  such  a case  is 
to  cut  away  her  masts. 

On  the  starboard  beam.  A distant 
point  out  at  sea,  on  the  right-hand  side, 
and  at  right  angles  to  the  keel. 

On  the  larboard  beam,  A similar  point 
on  the  left-hand  side. 


BEAN. 


BEAB. 


73 


On  the  weather  heam.  On  that  side  of  a 
ship  which  faces  the  wind. 

JBean.  Every  hean  has  its  hlack. 
Nemo  sine  vitiis  nas'citur,  every  one  has 
his  faults.”  The  bean  has  a black  eye. 
(Ogni  grano  ha  la  sua  semola.') 

He  has  found  the  hean  in  the  cake,  he 
has  got  a prize  in  the  lottery,  has  come 
to  some  unexpected  good  fortune.  The 
allusion  is  to  twelfth  cakes  in  which  a 
bean  is  buried  ; when  the  cake  is  cut  up 
and  distributed,  he  who  gets  the  bean  is 
the  twelfth- night  king. 

Beans.  Property,  money.  (French, 
hiens,  goods.) 

Pythag'oras  forbade  the  use  of  beans 
to  his  disciples ; not  the  use  of  beans  as 
a food,  but  the  use  of  beans  for  political 
elections.  Magistrates  and  other  public 
officers  were  elected  by  beans  cast  by  the 
voters  into  a helmet,  and  what  Py- 
thag'oras advised  was,  that  his  disciples 
should  not  interfere  with  politics  or 
‘Move  beans” — i.e.,  office. 

Aristotle  says  the  word  hean  means 
ven'ery,  and  that  the  prohibition  to 
“ abstain  from  beans”  was  equivalent  to 
“ keeping  the  body  chaste.” 

Beans  are  in  flower,  “les  feves  fleuris- 
sent,”  and  this  will  account  for  your 
being  so  silly.  Our  forefathers  imagined 
that  the  perfume  of  the  flowering  bean 
was  bad  for  the  head,  and  made  men  silly 
or  light-headed. 

Bean  Feast.  Much  the  same  as 
Wayz-goose  {q.v.),  a feast  given  by  an 
employer  to  those  he  employs.  The 
bean- goose  is  next  in  size  to  the  Grey 
Lag- goose.  The  term  comes  from  the 
northern  counties,  where  the  bean  (^goose) 
is  common. 

Bean  King.  A king  elected  by 
ballot.  The  Greeks  used  beans  in  voting 
by  ballot.  {See  Beans.  ) 

Bean-King's  festival.  Twelfth-day, 
when  he  who  has  the  bean  is  king  for  the 
night.  {See  Bean.) 

Bear,  in  Stock-Exchange  slang,  is 
one  who  bears  or  forces  down  the  price 
of  stock,  in  order  to  make  a purchase.  A 
hull  is  one  who  tosses  or  forces  it  up,  in 
order  to  sell  stock.  Dr.  Warton  says  the 
term  came  from  the  proverb  of  Selling 
the  skin  before  you  have  caught  the 
bear,”  and  referred  to  those  who  entered 
into  contracts  in  the  South  Sea  Scheme 


to  transfer  stock  at  a stated  price.  It 
does  not  seem  necessary  to  go  to  the 
proverb  for  so  simple  a pun. 

So  was  the  huntsman  by  the  bear  oppressed, 
Whose  hide  he  sold  before  he  causcht  the  beast. 

Waller,  Battle  of  the  Summer  Islands,”  c.  ii. 

The  Bear.  Albert,  margrave  of  Bran- 
denburg. He  was  also  called  ‘^The 
Fair.”  (1106-1170.) 

The  Great  Bear  and  Little  Bear.  The 
constellations  so  called  are  specimens 
of  a large  class  of  blunders  founded  on 
approximate  sounds.  The  Sanskrit  arch 
means  ‘‘to  be  bright;”  the  Greeks  cor- 
rupted the  word  into  archtos,  arktos, 
which  means  a bear ; so  that  the  “ bear” 
should  in  reality  be  the  “ bright  ones.” 
The  fable  is  that  Calisto,  a nymph  of 
Diana,  had  two  sons  by  Jupiter,  which 
Juno  changed  into  bears,  and  J apiter 
converted  into  constellations. 

The  wind-shaked  surge,  with  high  and  monstrous 

mane. 

Seems  to  cast  water  on  the  burning  bear. 

And  quench  the  guards  of  th’  ever- fixed  pole. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,”  ii.  1. 

’Twas  here  we  saw  Calisto’s  star  retire 

Beneath  the  waves,  unawed  by  Juno’s  ire. 

Camoens,  ”Lusiad,”  bk.  v. 

The  Northern  Bear.  Russia. 

A Bridled  Bear.  A young  nobleman 
under  the  control  of  a travelling  tutor. 
{See  Bear-leader.) 

The  hloody  Bear,  in  Dryden’s  poem 
called  ‘^The  Hind  and  Panther,”  means 
the  Independents. 

The  bloody  bear,  an  independent  beast, 

ij  nlickedto  form,  iu  gx-oans  her  hate  expressed. 

Pt.  i. 

The  Bear  and  Ragged  Staff.  A public- 
house  sign  in  Smithfield,  &c.,  in  compli- 
ment to  Warwick,  the  king-maker,  whose 
cognisance  it  was;  The  first  earl  was 
Arth  or  Arthgal,  of  the  Round  Table, 
whose  cognisance  was  a hear,  because 
arth  means  a bear  (Latin,  iirs').  Morvid, 
the  second  earl,  overcame,  in  single  com- 
bat, a mighty  giant,  who  came  against 
him  with  a club,  which  was  a tree  pulled 
up  by  the  roots,  but  stripped  of  its 
branches.  In  remembrance  of  his  vic- 
tory over  the  giant,  he  added  “ the 
ragged  staff.” 

The  Bear  and  the  Tea-kettle  (Kams- 
chatka).  Said  of  a person  who  injures 
himself  by  foolish  rage.  One  day  a bear 
entered  a hut  in  Kamschatka,  where  a 
kettle  was  on  the  fire.  Master  Bruin 
went  to  the  kettle,  and  smelling  at  it 


74 


BEAR-GARDEN. 


BEARNAIS. 


/ 


burnt  his  nose ; being  greatly  irritated, 
he  seized  the  kettle  with  his  paws,  and 
squeezed  it  against  his  breast.  This,  of 
course,  made  matters  worse,  for  the 
boiling  water  scalded  him  terribly,  and 
he  growled  in  agony  till  some  neighbours 
put  an  end  to  his  life  with  their  guns. 

As  the  hear  has  no  tail,  for  a lion  MU 
fail.  The  same  as  Ne  sutor  supra  crep'idam, 
^ Get  not  the  cobbler  aspire  above  his  last.’^ 
Robert  Dudley,  earl  of  Leicester,  being 
a descendant  of  the  Warwick  family, 
changed  his  own  crest,  which  was  a green 
lion  with  two  tails,”  for  the  Warwick  crest, 
a bear  and  ragged  staff.”  When  made 
governor  of  the  Low  Countries,  he  was 
suspected  of  aiming  at  absolute  supre- 
macy,  or  the  desire  of  being  the  monarch 
of  his  fellows,  as  the  lion  is  monarch 
among  beasts.  Some  wit  wrote  under 
his  crest  the  Latin  verse,  Ursa  caret 
cauda  non  queat  esse  leo.” 

Your  bear  for  lion  needs  must  fail. 

Because  your  true  bears  have  no  tail. 

Bear-garden.  This  place  is  a perfect 
hear-garden — that  is,  full  of  confusion, 
noise,  tumult,  and  quarrels.  Bear-gar- 
dens were  places  where  bears  used  to  be 
kept  and  baited  for  public  amusement. 

Bear’s  Garlic.  A translation  of 
Allium  ursHnum,  a Latin  corruption  of 
curs-inon  or  urs-inon,  a hot,  pungent 
onion.  {See  Horse.) 

Bear-leader.  One  who  undertakes 
the  charge  of  a young  man  of  rank 
on  his  travels.  It  was  once  customary 
to  lead  muzzled  bears  about  the  streets, 
and  to  make  them  show  off  in  order  to 
attract  notice  and  gain  money. 

Bear!  (said Br.  PawgZoss to  his  pupil).  Under 
favour,  young  gentleman,  I am  the  bear-leader, 
being  appointed  your  tutor.— G*.  Colman’s  Heir- 
at-Law.” 

Beard.  Kissing  the  heard.  In  Turkey 
wives  kiss  their  husband,  and  children 
their  father,  on  the  beard. 

To  make  ooie’s  heard  (Chaucer).  This  is 
the  French  faire  la  harhe  d quelqu^un,  and 
refers  to  a barber’s  taking  hold  of  a man’s 
beard  to  dress  it,  or  to  his  shaving  the 
chin  of  a customer.  To  make  one’s  beard 
is  to  have  him  wholly  at  your  mercy. 

To  heard  one  is  to  defy  him,  to  contra- 
dict him  flatly,  to  insult  by  plucking  the 
beard.  Among  the  Jews,  no  greater 
insult  could  be  offered  to  a man  than  to 
pluck  or  even  touch  his  beard. 


To  laugh  at  one's  heard.  To  attempt 
to  make  a fool  of  a person— to  deceive 
by  ridiculous  exaggeration. 

" By  tbe  prophet ! but  he  laughs  at  our  beards,” 
exclaimed  the  Pacha,  angrily.  “ These  are  foolish 
lies.”— l/arryafi,  “Pacha  of  Many  Tales.” 

Tax  upon  heards.  Czar  Peter  imposed 
a tax  upon  beards.  Every  one  above  the 
lowest  class  had  to  pay  100  rubles,  and 
the  lowest  class  had  to  pay  a copec,  for 
enjoying  this  ^Guxury.”  Clerks  were 
stationed  at  the  gates  of  every  town  to 
collect  the  beard-tax. 

Cutting^  the  heard.  The  Turks  think  it 
a dire  disgrace  to  have  the  beard  cut. 
Slaves  who  serve  in  the  seraglio  have 
clean  chins,  as  a sign  of  their  servitude. 

Bearded  Master  (Magistrum  barba'tum). 
So  Persius  styled  Socrates,  under  the 
notion  that  the  beard  is  the  symbol  of 
wisdom,  (b.c.  468-399.) 

Pogona'tus  (Bearded).  Constantine  IV. , 
emperor  of  Rome.  (648-685.) 

The  Bearded.  Geoffrey  the  Crusader, 
and  Bouchard  of  the  house  of  Mont- 
morency. 

Handsome-heard.  Baldwin  IV.,  earl  of 
Flanders.  (1160-1186.) 

J ohn  the  Bearded.  Johann  Mayo,  the 
German  painter,  whose  beard  touched 
the  ground  when  he  stood  upright. 

Bearded  Women: 

Bartel  Grsetje,  of  Stuttgard,  born  1562. 

The  duke  of  Saxony  had  the  portrait 
taken  of  a poor  Swiss  woman,  remarkable 
for  her  large,  bushy  beard. 

In  1726  a female  dancer  appeared  at 
V enice  with  a large,  bushy  beard. 

Charles  XII.  had  in  his  army  a woman 
whose  beard  was  a yard  and  a half  long. 
She  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of 
Pultowa,  and  presented  to  the  Czar,  1724. 

Mdlle.  Bois  de  Ch^ne,  born  at  Geneva 
in  1834,  was  exhibited  in  London  in 
1852-3  ; she  had  a profuse  head  of  hair, 
a strong  black  beard,  large  whiskers,  and 
thick  hair  on  her  arms  and  back. 

Julia  Pastra'na  was  exhibited  in  Lon- 
don in  1857  ; died,  1862,  at  Moscow;  was 
embalmed  by  professor  Suckaloff ; and 
the  embalmed  body  was  exhibited  at 
191,  Piccadilly,  She  was  found  among 
the  Digger  Indians  of  Mexico. 

Margaret  of  Holland  had  a long,  stiff 
beard. 

Bearnais,  Le.  Henri  IV.  of  France  ; 
so  called  from  Le  Be'arn,  his  native  pro- 
vince. (1553-1610.) 


BEASTS. 


BEATIFIC. 


75 


Beasts,  heraldic: 

Couchant^  lying  down. 

Counter-'passant,  moving  in  opposite 
directions. 

Dormant,  sleeping. 

Gardant,  full-faced. 

Issuant,  rising  from  the  top  or  bottom 
of  an  ordinary. 

Nascent,  rising  out  of  the  middle  of  an 
ordinary. 

Passant,  walking. 

Passant  gardant,  walking,  and  with 
full  face. 

Passant  regardant,  walking  and  looking 
behind. 

Rampant,  rearing. 

Regardant,  looking  back. 

Sejant,  seated. 

Salient,  springing. 

Statant,  standing  still. 

Beastly  Drunk.  It  was  an  ancient 
notion  that  men  in  their  cups  exhibited 
the  vicious  qualities  of  beasts.  Nash 
describes  seven  kinds  of  drunkards  : — 

(1)  The  Ape-drunk,  who  leaps  and  sings ; 

(2)  The  Lion- drunk,  who  is  quarrelsome  ; 

(3)  The  Swine-drunk,  who  is  sleepy  and 
puking;  (4)  The  Sheep-drunk,  wise  in 
his  own  conceit,  but  unable  to  speak; 
(5)  The  Martin-drunk,  who  drinks  him- 
self sober  again  ; (6)  The  Goat-drunk, 
who  is  lascivious  ; and  (7)  The  Fox- 
drunk,  who  is  crafty,  like  a Dutchman 
in  his  cups.  Besides  these,  there  is  the 
Maudlin-drunk,  which  does  not  belong 
to  the  ^'beasts,”  but  means  the  man  who 
weeps  with  kindness. 

Beat.  A track,  line,  or  appointed 
range.  A policeman’s  heat.  The  man  was 
out  of  his  heat — i.e.,  his  proper  appointed 
walk.  It  is  not  in  my  heat— in  my  way, 
in  the  range  of  my  talents.  The  word 
means  a beaten  path. 

To  heat  in  a game  of  skill  does  not  mean 
to  strike,  which  is  the  Saxon  heatan,  but 
to  be  the  better,  from  the  Saxon  hetan 
(to  be  the  superior). 

To  heat  hollow  is  to  beat  wholly. 

Dead  heat.  So  completely  beaten  or 
vanquished  that  he  is  like  one  dead — 
there  is  no  longer  any  fight  left  in  him. 

That  heats  Termagant.  Your  ranting, 
raging,  pomposity,  or  exaggeration  sur- 
passes that  of  Termagant  {q.v.'). 

That  heats  Ban'agher.  Wonderfully 
inconsistent  and  absurd — exceedingly 
ridiculous.  Banagher  is  a town  in  Ire- 
land, on  the  Shannon,  in  the  King’s 


County.  It  formerly  sent  two  members  to 
parliament,  and  was,  of  course,  a famous 
pocket  borough.  When  a member  spoke 
of  a family  borough  where  every  voter 
was  a man  employed  by  the  lord,  it  was 
not  unusua!  to  reply,  Well,  that  beats 
Banagher.” 

Beat.  To  strike.  (Saxon,  heatan?) 

To  heat  or  drum  a thing  into  one.  To 
repeat,  as  a drummer  repeats  his  strokes 
on  a drum. 

To  heat  up  our  supporters.  To  hunt 
them  up  or  call  them  together,  as  soldiers 
are  by  call  of  drum. 

To  heat  an  alarm.  To  give  notice  of 
danger  by  beat  of  drum. 

To  heat  a retreat;  to  heat  to  arms;  to 
heat  a charge.  Military  terms  similar  to 
the  above. 

To  he  heat  out.  To  be  dog-tired.  The 
allusion  is  to  beating  out  metal,  &c.,  in 
order  to  make  it  very  thin. 

Beat.  (French,  ahattre,  to  abate.) 

To  heat  down.  To  make  a seller 

abate”  his  price. 

Beaten  to  a Mummy.  Beaten 
so  that  one  can  distinguish  neither  form 
nor  feature.  Diodo'rus  Sic'ulus  says  the 
people  of  the  Balea'ric  Isles  beat  with 
clubs  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  to  render 
them  flexible,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
deposited  in  earthen  pots,  called  mum- 
mae  ” (v.  1).  They  beat  them  to  mam- 
mocks (pieces). 

Beating  about  the  Bush.  Not 
coming  directly  to  the  matter  in  hand, 
but  feeling  your  way  timidly  by  indirec- 
tions, as  persons  beat  bushes  to  ascertain 
if  game  is  lurking  under  them. 

Beating  the  Bounds.  On  Holy 
Thursday  or  Ascension  Day,  it  used  to 
be  customary  for  the  parish  school  chil- 
dren, accompanied  by  the  clergyman  and 
parish  officers,  to  walk  through  their 
parish  from  end  to  end.  The  boys  had 
willow  wands,  with  which  they  struck 
the  lines  of  boundary.  Before  maps 
were  common,  the  boys  were  thus  taught 
to  know  the  bounds  of  their  own  parish. 
The  custom  still  prevails  in  many  parishes. 

Beatific  Vision.  A vision  of  the 
blessed  in  the  realms  of  heaven.  Ma- 
homet had  such  a vision ; and  so  had  the 
apostles  Paul  and  John. 


76 


BEATEICE. 


BED-POST. 


Beatrice.  A warm-hearted,  witty, 
capricious,  proud  beauty,  with  whom  Be- 
nedict id\\^  in  love. — ’S]iaJc€s;peare,  Much 
Ado  about  Nothing B 

She  was  not  a Leshia,  nor  a Beatrice,  nor  a 
Laura,  nor  a Highland  Mary,  destined  to  live  in 
song  for  ever.— The  Times. 

Bean. 

Beau  Fielding,  called  Handsome 
Fielding’’  by  Charles  II. 

Beau  Nash.  Son  of  a Welsh  gen- 
tleman, a notorious  diner-out.  He  under- 
took the  management  of  the  bath-rooms 
at  Bath,  and  conducted  the  public  balls 
with  a splendour  and  decorum  never  be- 
fore witnessed.  In  old  age  he  sank  into 
poverty.  (1674-1761.) 

Beai(^  Brummel.  George  Bryan.  (1778- 
1840.) 

Beau  Tibbs,  noted  for  his  finery,  vanity, 
and  poverty. — In  Goldsmith' s “ Citizen 
of  the  World." 

Beau  Ide'al.  The  model  of  beauty 
or  excellency  formed  by  fancy.  The 
statue  called  the  Apollo  Belvidere”  is 
the  beau  ideal  of  manly  beauty.  The 
Uto'pia  of  Sir  Thomas  More  is  his  beau 
ideal  of  a good  government.  The  eclec- 
tics, whether  in  painting,  sculpture,  ar- 
chitecture, drama,  or  philosophy,  select 
the  beauties  of  different  systems  to  form 
a beau  ideal  after  their  own  conception. 
(French  for  ideal  beauty.) 

Beau  Monde.  The  fashionable 
world ; people  who  make  up  the  coterie 
of  fashion.  {English- French.) 

Beau  Trap.  A loose  pavement 
under  which  water  lodges,  and  which 
squirts  up  filth  when  trodden  on,  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  smartly  dressed. 

Beauclere  {good  scholar').  Applied  to 
Henry  I.,  who  had  clerk-like  accomplish- 
ments, very  rare  in  the  times  in  which  he 
lived.  (1068,  1100-1135.) 

Beaune’s  Problem.  A problem 
which  entitles  Florimond  de  Beaune,  the 
French  mathematician,  to  be  considered 
the  founder  of  the  integral  calculus. 
(1601-1652.) 

Beautiful.  Beautiful  or  fair  as  an 
angel.  Throughout  the  Middle  Ages  it  was 
common  to  associate  beauty  with  virtue, 
and  ugliness  with  sin ; henc^the  expres- 
sions given  above,  and  the  following  also 
— Seraphic  beauty,”  Cherubic  love- 
liness,” Ugly  as  sin,”  &c. 


Beautiful  Parricide.  Beatrice 
Cenci,  the  daughter  of  a Eoman  noble- 
man, who  plotted  the  death  of  her 
father,  because  he  violently  defiled  her. 
(Died  1599.) 

Beauty  and  the  Beast.  The  hero 
and  heroine  of  Mdme.  Villeneuve’s  fairy 
tale.  Beauty  saved  the  life  of  her 
father  by  consenting  to  live  with  the 
Beast ; and  the  Beast,  being  disenchanted 
by  Beauty’s  love,  became  a handsome 
prince,  who  married  her. — Contes  Ma- 
rines, 1740. 

Beauty  of  Buttermere.  Mary 
Robinson,  married  to  John  Hath  eld,  a 
heartless  impostor,  executed  for  forgery 
at  Carlisle  in  1803. 

Beaver.  A hat,  so  called  from  its 
being  made  of  beaver-skins. 

Beaver.  That  part  of  the  helmet 
which  lifted  up  to  enable  the  wearer  to 
drink.  Similarly  bever,  the  afternoon 
draught  in  the  harvest-field,  called/o%r5’5. 
(Italian,  bever e,  to  drink ; Spanish,  beber  ; 
Latin,  bibo ; French,  buveur,  a drinker; 
Armoric,  beuvrauh,  beverage,  &c.) 

Bed.  The  great  bed  of  Ware.  A bed 
twelve  feet  square,  and  capable  of  hold- 
ing twelve  persons ; assigned  by  tradition 
to  the  earl  of  Warwick,  the  king-maker. 

Although  the  sheet  were  hig  enough  for  the  bed 
of  Ware  in  England. 

Shakespeare,  “ Twdfth  Night, iii.  2. 

You  got  out  of  bed  the  wrong  way,  or 
with  the  left  leg  foremost.  Said  of  a person 
who  is  patchy  and  ill-tempered.  It  was 
an  ancient  superstition  that  it  was  un- 
lucky to  set  the  left  foot  on  the  ground 
first  on  getting  out  of  bed.  The  same 
superstition  applies  to  putting  on  the 
left  shoe  first,  a fancy  ” not  yet  wholly 
exploded. 

Bed  of  Justice.  (See  Lit.) 

Bed-post.  In  the  twinlchng  of  a bed- 
post. As  quickly  as  possible.  In  the 
ancient  bed- frames  a movable  post  or 
staff  was  inserted  on  each  side  to  keep 
the  clothes  from  falling  off.  These 
bed-staffs  were  sometimes  used  in  self- 
defence,  and  in  making  the  bed  to  beat 
the  feathers.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  I. 
Sir  John  Chichester  had  a mock  skir- 
mish with  his  servant  (Sir  John  with  his 
rapier  and  the  servant  with  the  bed- 
staff),  in  which  the  servant  was  acci- 
dentally killed.  Wright,  in  his  ^^Do- 


BEDER, 


BEEF-STEAK. 


77 


mestic  Manners/’  shows  us  a chamber- 
maid of  the  seventeenth  century  using 
a bed-staff  to  beat  up  the  bedding. 
‘^Twinkling”  means  a rapid  twist  or 
turn.  (Old  French,  guincher ; Welsh, 
gioing,  gwingaii),  our  loriggle.') 

I’ll  do  it  instantly,  in  the  twinkling  of  a bed- 
staff.— “ Virtuoso”  1676. 

He  would  have  cur,  him  down  in  the  twinkling 
of  a bed-post.— “ R tbelais,”  done  into  English. 

Bobadil,  in  Every  Man  in  his 
Humour,”  and  Lord  Duberley,  in  the 

Heir-at-Law,”  use  the  same  expression. 

Be'der.  A valley  famous  for  the 
victory  gained  by  Mahomet,  in  which 

he  was  assisted  by  3,000  angels,  led  by 
Gabriel,  mounted  on  his  horse  Hiazum.” — 
A I Koran. 

Beeler.  Prince  of  Persia,  who  marries 
queen  Labe,  and  turns  her  into  a 
mare ; being  restored  to  her  proper 
shape  by  the  assistance  of  her  mother, 
she  turns  Beder  into  an  owl. — AraMan 
Nights,  Beder,  Prince  of  Persia.'^ 

Bedford.  Saxon,  Bedeari-forda  (for- 
tress ford)— that  is,  the  ford  at  the  for- 
tress of  the  river  Ouse. 

Bedfordshire.  I am  off  to  Bedford- 
shire, i.e.,  to  bed.  A similar  pun  is  “to 
the  land  of  Nod.” 

Bedlver.  A knight  of  the  Round 
Table,  and  the  butler  of  king  Arthur. 

Bedlam.  A lunatic  asylum  or  mad- 
house ; a contraction  for  Bethlehem,  the 
name  of  a religious  house  in  London, 
converted  into  a hospital  for  lunatics. 

Tom  o’  Bedlam.  {See  Tom.) 

Bedlamite  (3  syl.).  A madman,  a 
fool,  an  inhabitant  of  a Bedlam. 

Bedouins  {Bed-ivins).  The  homeless 
street  poor  are  so  called.  Thus  the 
Times  calls  the  ragged  houseless  boys 
“the  Bedouins  of  London.”  The  Bedouins 
are  the  nomadic  tribes  of  Arabia. 

Bed'reddin'  Hassan,  in  the  story 
of  “Nour'eddin'  and  his  Son,”  in  the 
“Arabian  Nights.” 

Comparing  herself  to  Bedreddin  Hassan,  whom 
the  vizier  . . . discovered  by  his  superlative  skill 
In  composing  cream-tarts  with  pepper  in  them.— 
Scott,  Heart  of  Midlothian.” 

Bee.  The  Athenian  Bee.  Plato,  so 
called  from  the  sweetness  of  his  style 
(B.c.  429-348.) 

The  Bee  of  Athens.  Soph'ocles,  the 
tragic  poet  (b.c.  495-405.) 


Bee.  Yon  have  «■  hee  in  your  honnet ; 
your  head  is  fall  of  hees ; full  of  devices, 
crotchets,  fancies,  inventions,  and  dreamy 
theories.  The  connection  between  bees 
and  the  soul  was  once  generally  main- 
tained ; hence  Mahomet  admits  bees  to 
Paradise.  Porphyry  says  of  fountains 
they  are  “adapted  to  the  nymphs,  or 
those  souls  which  the  ancients  called 
bees.”  The  moon  was  called  a hee  by  the 
priestesses  of  Ceres,  and  the  word 
lunatic  or  moon-struck  still  means  one 
with  “bees  in  his  head.”  {See  Maggot.) 
Spenser,  describing  the  human  body, 
refers  to  the  bees  and  flies  in  the  chamber 
of  Fantasy : — 

And  all  his  chamber  filled  was  with  flies, 

Which  buzzed  about  him 

Like  many  swarms  of  bees 

These  flies  are  idle  thoughts  and  fantasies, 

Devices,  dreams,  opinions,  schemes  unsound 

Faery  Queen”  bk. ii. 

To  have  a hee  in  your  honnet,  is,  also, 
to  carry  a jewel  or  ornament  in  your  cap ; 
from  the  Anglo-Saxon,  heigh.  {See  above.) 

Bees.  In  the  empire  of  France  the 
royal  mantle  and  standard  have  both 
been  thickly  sown  with  golden  bees,  in- 
stead of  Louis  flowers,  because  more 
than  300  golden  bees  were  found  in  the 
tomb  of  Chil'deric,  when  it  was  opened 
in  1653.  The  modern  opinion  is  that 
what  we  call  a jieur  de  Us  is  a bee  with 
its  wings  outstretched.  (See  Fleur  de 
LIS.) 

Beef,  Ox.  The  former  is  Norman,  and 
the  latter  Saxon.  The  Normans  had  the 
cooked  meat,  and  when  set  before  them 
used  the  word  they  were  accustomed  to. 
The  Saxon  was  the  herdsman,  and  while 
the  beast  was  under  his  charge  called  it 
by  its  Saxon  name. 

Old  Alderman  Ox  continues  to  hold  his  Saxon 
title  while  he  is  under  the  cliarge  of  serfs  and 
bondsmen;  but  becomes  Beef,  a fiery  French 
gallant,  when  he  ari-ives  b-Tore  the  worshipful 
jaws  that  are  destined  to  consume  \\\m.—Ioanhoe. 

Weaver's  beef  of  Colchester — i.e.,  sprats, 
caught  abundantly  in  the  neighbourhood. 
— Fuller,  “ Worthies." 

Beef-eaters.  Yeomen  of  the  Guard; 
so  called  because  they  used  to  watch 
the  buffet,  and  hence  were  called  buffetiers 
or  boufitiers  in  N orman - French — e., 
“waiters  at  the  side-board.” 

Beef-steak  Club  owed  its  origin  to 
an  accidental  dinner  taken  by  lord  Peter- 
borough in  the  ^ene-room  of  Rich,  over 
Covent  Garden  Theatre.  The  original 


78 


BEEFINGTON. 


BEGUINES. 


gridiron  on  which  Kich  broiled  the  peer’s 
steak  is  still  preserved  in  the  palladium 
of  the  club,  and  the  members  have  it 
engraved  on  their  buttons.— of 
the  Clubs  of  Loudon. 

N.B. — The  club  is  still  held  at  the 
Lyceum  Theatre. 

Beefington  or  Milor  Beefington,  in- 
troduced in  ^^The  Eovers.”  Casimere  is 
a Polish  emigrant,  and  Beefingtpn  an 
English  nobleman,  exiled  by  the  tyranny 
of  king  John. 

“Will  without  power,”  said  the  sagacious  Casi- 
mir  to  Milor  Beefangton,  “ is  like  children  playing 
at  soldiers.”— ifacawZay. 

Beelzebub.  God  of  flies,  supposed 
to  ward  off  flies  from  his  votaries.  One 
of  the  gods  of  the  Philistians.  (See 
Achor.)  The  Greeks  had  a similar  deity, 
Zeus  A'pomy'ios.  The  Jews,  by  way  of 
reproach,  changed  Beelzebub  into  Bal- 
zebul  \god  of  dung'),  and  placed  him 
among  the  daemons.  Milton  says  he 
was  next  in  rank  to  Satan,  and  stood 
^^with  Atlante'an  shoulders,  fit  to  bear 
the  weight  of  mightiest  monarchies.” 
(Bk.  ii.) 

One  next  himself  in  power,  and  next  in  crime. 

Long  after  known  in  Palestine,  and  named 

Beelzebub.  “ Paradise  Lost/*  i. 

Beer.  (>S'eeALE.) 

Beetle-crusher.  A large,  flat  foot. 
The  expression  was  first  used  in  Punch, 
in  one  of  Leech’s  caricatures.  Those 
who  know  London,  know  how  it  is  over- 
run with  black-beetles  or  cockroaches. 

Beffa'na.  The  good  fairy  of  German 
children,  who  is  supposed  to  fill  their 
stockings  with  toys  when  they  go  to  bed 
on  Twelfth  night.  Some  one  enters  the 
children’s  bedroom  for  the  purpose,  and 
the  wakeful  youngsters  cry  out,  “ Ecco  la 
Beffalnod'  According  to  legend,  Beffana 
was  too  busy  with  house  affairs  to  look 
after  the  Magi  when  they  went  to  offer 
their  gifts,  and  said  she  would  wait  to 
see  them  on  their  return  ; but  they  went 
another  way,  and  Beffana  every  Twelfth 
night  watches  to  see  them.  The  name 
is  a corruption  of  E/gi/ghania. 

Beggars.  King  of  the  Beggars.  Bamp- 
fylde  Moore  Carew.  (1693-1770.) 

Beggar’s  Bush.  To  go  by  beggar's 
bush  (or)  Go  home  by  beggar's  bush—  i.e.,io 
go  to  ruin.  Beggar’s  bush  is  the  name 
of  a tree  which  once  stood  on  the  left 


hand  of  the  London  road  from  Hunting- 
don to  Caxton,  so  called  because  it  was  a 
noted  rendezvous  for  beggars.  These 
punning  phrases  and  proverbs  are  very 
common. 

Beggar’s  Daughter.  Bessee,  the 
beggar's  daughter  ofBednall  Green.  Bessee 
was  very  beautiful,  and  was  courted  by 
four  suitors  at  once,  a knight,  a gentle- 
man of  fortune,  a London  merchant,  and 
the  son  of  the  innkeeper  at  Eomford. 
She  told  them  that  they  must  obtain  the 
consent  of  her  father,  the  poor  blind  beg- 
gar of  Bethnal  Green.  When  they  heard 
that,  they  all  slunk  off,  except  the  knight, 
who  went  to  ask  the  beggar’s  leave  to 
wed  the  pretty  Bessee”’  The  beggar 
gave  her  d83,000  for  her  dower,  and  <£100 
to  buy  her  wedding  gown.  At  the  wed- 
ding feast  he  explained  to  the  guests  that 
he  was  Henry,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Simon 
de  Montfort.  At  the  battle  of  Evesham, 
the  barons  were  routed,  Montfort  slain, 
and  himself  left  on  the  field  for  dead.  A 
baron’s  daughter  discovered  him,  nursed 
him  with  care,  and  married  him  ; the 
fruit  of  this  marriage  was  pretty  Bes- 
see.” Henry  de  Montfort  assumed  the 
garb  and  semblance  of  a beggar  to  escape 
the  vigilance  of  king  Henry’s  spies. — • 
Percy's  Reliques." 

Begging  Hermits  were  of  the 
Augustine  order ; they  renounced  all 
property,  and  lived  on  the  voluntary  alms 
of the  faithful.” 

Begging  the  Question.  Assum- 
ing a proposition,  which,  in  reality,  in- 
volves the  conclusion.  Thus,  to  say  that 
parallel  lines  will  never  meet  because 
they  are  parallel,  is  simply  to  assume  as 
a fact  the  very  thing  you  profess  to  prove. 
The  phrase  is  a translation  of  the  Latin 
term,  getitio  grincijfii,  and  was  first  used 
by  Aristotle. 

Beghards.  A religious  order  of 
St.  Francis  established  at  Antwerp  in 
1228,  and  so  named  from  St.  Begghe, 
their  patroness. 

Begtasli'i.  A religious  order  in  the 
Ottoman  empire,  which  had  its  origin  in 
the  fourteenth  century.  The  word  is 
derived  from  Hadji  Begtash,  a dervise, 
its  founder. 

Beguines  {Beg-wins).  The  earliest 
of  all  lay  societies  of  women  united  for 
religious  purposes.  So  called  from  their 
beguin,  or  linen  cap. 


BEHEMOTH, 


BELISABIUS. 


79 


Behe'moth  {Uelrew).  The  hippo- 
pot'amns,  once  thought  to  be  the  rhino- 
ceros. (/See  Job  xl.  15.) 

Behold ! in  plaited  mail, 
Behe'moth  rears  his  head. 

Thomson. 

Behestli.  The  Elysian  fields  of 
Persian  mythology. 

Beh'menists.  A sect  of  visionary 
religionists,  so  called  from  J acob  Behmen, 
their  founder.  (1575-1625.) 

Behram.  The  most  holy  kind  of 
fire,  according  to  Parseeism.  (/See  Aba- 
kan.) 

Be'jan.  A freshman  or  greenhorn. 
This  term  is  employed  in  the  French  and 
Scotch  universities,  and  is  evidently  a 
corruption  of  hec  jaune  (yellow  beak),  a 
French  expression  to  designate  a nestling 
or  unfledged  bird.  In  the  university  of 
Vienna  the  freshman  is  termed  beanuSy 
and  in  France  footing- money  is  bejaunia. 

Bel  Esprit  (jFrench).  A vivacious 
wit ; a man  or  woman  of  quick  and  lively 
parts,  ready  at  repartee.  (Plural,  beaux 
esj[>rits. ) 

Belch..  Sir  Toby  Belch.  A reckless, 
roistering,  jolly  knight  of  the  Eliza- 
bethan period.  — ShakesjyearCy  Twelfth 
Night.'' 

Belcher.  A pocket-handkerchief — 
properly,  a blue  ground  with  white  spots. 
So  called  from  Jim  Belcher,  the  pugilist 
who  adopted  it. 

Beldam.  An  old  woman;  literally, 
a ‘^beautiful  lady.”  The  French  also 
use  belle  cuge  for  old  age. 

Old  men  and  beldams  in  the  streets 
Do  prophesy  upon  it  dangerously. 

Shakespeare,  “ King  John”  iv.  2. 

Bel'enus.  The  Apollo  of  the  Druids. 

Bele'ses  (3  syk).  A Chaldean  sooth- 
sayer and  Assyrian  satrap,  who  told 
Arba'ces,  governor  of  Me'dia,  that  he 
would  one  day  sit  on  the  throne  of  Sar- 
danapalus,  king  of  Nineveh  and  Assyria. 
His  prophecy  was  verified,  and  he  was 
rewarded  by  Arba'ces  with  the  govern- 
ment of  Babylon. — Byron^  Sardana- 
jpalus." 

Bel'ford.  A friend  of  Lovelace,  in 
Eichardson’s  “ Clarissa  Harlow.”  These 
^‘friends”  made  a covenant  to  pardon 
every  sort  of  liberty  which  they  took  with 
each  other. 


Belfry.  A military  tower,  pushed 
by  besiegers  against  the  wall  of  a be- 
sieged city,  that  missiles  may  be  thrown 
more  easily  against  the  defenders.  (Greek 
beloSy  a missile,  and^/treo,  to  dart  forth.) 
Probably  a church  steeple  is  called  a 
belfry  from  its  resemblance  to  these 
towers,  and  not  because  bells  are  hung 
in  it. 

Belial  (Hebrew).  The  worthless  or 
lawless  one— ^.e.,  the  devil.  Milton,  in 
his  pandemonium,  makes  him  a very 
high  and  distinguished  prince  of  dark- 
ness.—Paratiwe  Lost. 

What  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial  ?— 2 Cor. 
vi.  16. 

Belial  came  last— than  whom  a spirit  more  lewd 

Fell  not  from  heaven,  or  more  gross  to  love 

Vice  for  itself. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost”  bk.  ii. 

So7is  of  Belial.  Lawless,  worthless, 
rebellious  people.  {See  above.) 

Now  the  sons  of  Eli  were  sons  of  Belial.— 1 Sam. 
ii.  12. 

Belin'da.  The  heroine  of  Pope’s 
heroi-comical  poem,  entitled  the  ^^Eape 
of  the  Lock.”  The  poem  is  based  on  a 
real  incident : — Lord  Petre  cut  off  a lock 
of  Miss  Fermor’s  hair,  and  this  liberty 
gave  rise  to  a bitter  feud  between  the 
two  noble  families.  The  poet  says  that 
Belinda  wore  on  her  neck  two  curls,  one 
of  which  the  baron  cut  off  with  a pair  of 
scissors  borrowed  of  Clarissa.  Belinda, 
in  anger,  demanded  back  the  ringlet ; 
but  it  had  flown  to  the  skies  and  become 
a meteor,  which  shot  through  liquid  air, 
and  drew  behind  a radiant  trail  of  hair.” 

If  to  her  share  some  female  errors  fall. 

Look  on  her  face,  and  you’ll  forget  them  all. 

Canto  ii. 

Belinun'cia.  A herb  sacred  to 
Belis,  with  the  juice  of  which  the  Gauls 
used  to  poison  their  arrows. 

Belisa'ma  (queen  of  heaveii).  The 
supreme  goddess  of  the  Gauls. 

Belisa'rius.  Belisa'rius  begging  for 
an  obolus.  Belisa'rius,  the  greatest  of 
Justinian’s  generals,  being  accused  of 
conspiring  against  the  life  of  the  empe- 
ror, was  deprived  of  all  his  property ; and 
his  eyes  being  put  out,  he  lived  a beggar 
in  Constantinople.  The  tale  is  that  he 
fastened  a bag  to  his  road-side  hut,  and 
had  inscribed  over  it — Give  an  obolus 
to  poor  old  Belisarius.”  This  tradition 
is  of  no  historic  value. 


80 


BELL. 


BELL, 


Bell.  Acton,  Currer,  and  Ellis.  As- 
sumed names  of  Anne,  Charlotte,  and 
Emily  Bronte. 

Bell,  The  Giant.  {See  Belle. ^ 

In  spite  of  hell,  hooh,  and  candle — i.e., 
in  spite  of  all  the  opposition  which  the 
Christian  hierarchy  can  offer.  {See 
Cursing.) 

Of  the  students,  233,  in  spite  of  bell,  book,  and 
candle,  are  Catholics— T/ie  Times. 

Bell,  book,  and  candle  shall  not  drive  me  back. 

King  John,  iii.  3. 

Who  is  to  hell  the  cat  ? — who  will  risk 
his  own  life  to  save  his  neighbours? 
Any  one  who  encounters  great  personal 
hazard  for  the  sake  of  others  undertakes 
to  “ bell  the  cat.”  The  allusion  is  to  the 
fable  of  the  cunning  old  mouse,  who  sug- 
gested that  they  should  hang  a bell  on 
the  cat’s  neck  to  give  notice  to  all  mice 
of  her  approach.  Excellent,”  said  awise 
young  mouse,  “ but  who  is  to  undertake 
the  job  ? ” (See  Bell-the-Cat.) 

Is  there  a man  in  all  Spain  able  and  willing 
to  bell  the  c it  ii.e.,  persuade  the  queen  to  abdi- 
cate).—T/ie  Times. 

To  hear  the  hell.  To  be  first  fiddle  ; to 
carry  off  the  palm  ; to  be  the  best.  Be- 
fore cups  were  presented  to  winners  of 
horse-races,  &c.,  a little  gold  or  silver 
bell  used  to  be  given  for  the  prize. 

Jockey  and  his  horse  were  by  their  masters  sent, 
To  put  in  for  the  bell.  . . . 

They  are  to  run,  and  cannot  miss  the  bell. 

North’s  '■'Forest  of  Varieties.'* 

Bunging  the  hallowed  hell.  Bells  were 
believed  to  disperse  storms  and  pestilence, 
drive  away  devils,  and  extinguish  fire.  In 
France  it  is  still  by  no  means  unusual 
to  ring  church  bells  to  ward  off  the 
effects  of  lightning.  Nor  is  this  peculiar 
to  France,  for  even  in  1852  the  bishop 
of  Malta  ordered  the  church  bells  to  be 
rung  for  an  hour,  to  “ lay  a gale  of  wind.” 
Of  course,  the  superstitious  efficacy  of  a 
bell  resides  in  its  having  been  conse- 
crated. 

Ku'nera  plango,  ful'iruri  frango,  sab'bata  pango, 
Lxci'to  lentos,  dib'^ipo  ven'os,  paco  craentos. 

Death’s  tale  I tell,  the  winds  dispel,  ill-feeling  quell, 
'the  sloti.ful  shake,  the  storm-clouds  break,  the  Sab- 
bath wake. 

1' oiling  for  church.  A relic  of  the  Ave 
Bell,  which,  before  the  Reformation,  was 
tolled  before  service  to  invite  worshippers 
to  a preparatory  prayer  to  the  Virgin. 

The  Passing  Bell  is  the  hallowed 
bell  which  used  to  be  rung  when  per- 
sons were  in  extre'mis,  to  scare  away 
evil  spirits,  which  were  supposed  to  lurk 


about  the  dying  to  pounce  on  the  soul 
while  passing  from  the  body  to  its 
resting-place.”  A.  secondary  object  was 
to  announce  to  the  neighbourhood  the 
fact  that  all  good  Christians  might  offer 
up  a prayer  for  the  safe  passage  of  the 
dying  person  into  Paradise.  We  now 
call  the  bell  rung  at  a person’s  decease 
the  passing  bell.” 

The  Athenians  used  to  beat  on  brazen 
kettles  at  the  moment  of  a decease  to 
scare  away  the  Furies. 

Bells.  The  Koran  says  that  bells  hang 
on  the  trees  of  Paradise,  and  are  set  in 
motion  by  wind  from  the  throne  of  God, 
as  often  as  the  blessed  wish  for  music.— 
Sale. 

Bells  as  musical 

As  those  that,  on  thegolden-shafted  trees 
Of  Eden,  shook  by  the  eternal  breeze. 

T.  Moore,  " Lalla  Rookh,”  part  i. 

The  sweet  hells  of  his  intellect  are  jangled, 
out  of  tune  Hamlet,”  iii.  1).  A most 
exquisite  metaphor  for  a deranged  mind, 
such  as  that  of  Don  Quixote. 

Ringing  the  hells  hachwards,  is  ringing 
a muffled  peal.  Backwards  is  often  used 
to  denote  in  a contrary  direction  ” 
{tout  le  contraire),  as,  hear  you  are 
grown  rich.” — Yes,  backwards.”  To 
ring  a muffled  peal,  is  to  ring  a peal 
over  the  left.” 

I’ll  not  hang  all  my  hells  on  one  horse; 
I’ll  not  leave  all  my  property  to  one  son. 
The  allusion  is  manifest. 

Give  her  the  hells  and  let  her  fly. 
Don’t  throw  good  money  after  bad ; 
make  the  best  of  the  matter,  but  do  not 
attempt  to  bolster  it  up  ; pay  the  fellow 
his  wages,  and  dismiss  him.  When 
a hawk  was  worthless,  the  bells  were 
taken  off,  and  the  bird  was  suffered  to 
escape  ; but  the  advice  given  above  is  to 
leave  the  bells,”  and  let  the  hawk  go. 
At  three  hells,  at  five  hells,  &c.  A 
term  on  board  ship  pretty  nearly  tan- 
tamount to  our  expression  o’clock.  Five 
out  of  the  seven  watches  last  four  hours, 
and  each  half-hour  is  marked  by  a bell, 
which  gives  a number  of  strokes  corre- 
sponding to  the  number  of  half-hours 
passed.  Thus,  “three  bells”  denotes 
the  third  half-hour  of  the  watch,”  “ five 
bells  ” the  fifth  half-hour  of  the  watch, 
and  so  on.  The  two  short  watches, 
which  last  only  two  hours  each,  are  from 
four  to  six  and  six  to  eight  in  the  after- 
noon. (See  Watch.) 

Bo  yo'  ' here  beat  ? Clean  shirt  and  a shave  for 
muster  , Ave  belis~j?.jsii  Hall. 


BELL. 


BELLISANT. 


81 


Bell  of  Patrick’s  Will  {dog  an 
eadhadita  Phatraic)  is  six  inches  high, 
five  broad,  and  four  deep.  It  certainly 
was  in  existence  in  the  sixth  century.  In 
the  eleventh  century  a shrine  was  made 
for  it  of  gold  and  silver  filigree,  adorned 
with  jewels. 

Bell  Savage.  A contraction  of 
Isabelle  Savage,  who  originally  kept  the 
inn.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the 
sign  of  the  inn  was  a pun  on  the  Christian 
name,  a “bell  on  the  Hope”  (hoop), 
as  may  be  seen  in  the  Close  Koll  of  1453. 
The  hoop  seems  to  have  formed  a garter 
or  frame  to  most  signs. 

They  now  returned  to  their  inn,  the  famous  Bell 
Savage.— “ Kenilworth,’'  xiii. 

Bell-the-Cat.  Archibald  Douglas, 
earl  of  Angus,  was  so  called.  James 
III.  made  favourites  of  architects  and 
masons ; one  mason,  named  Cochrane,  he 
created  earl  of  Mar.  The  Scotch  nobles 
held  a council  in  the  church  of  Lauder 
for  the  purpose  of  putting  down  these 
upstarts,  when  lord  Gray  asked,  “ Who 
will  bell  the  cat  ? ” “ That  will  I,”  said 

Douglas,  and  he  fearlessly  put  to  death 
in  the  king’s  presence  the  obnoxious 
minions,  Bell.) 

Bella  Wilfer.  A lovely,  laughing, 
wilful,  spoilt  darling,  who  loves  every 
one,  and  whom  every  one  loves.  She 
marries  John  Rokesmith.  Bella  Wilfer 
is  one  of  the  most  charming  characters 
of  fiction. — Dickens,  Mutual  Friend.” 

Belladonna  (Italian,  beautiful  lady). 
This  name  was  given  to  the  Deadly 
Nightshade,  from  a practice  once  com- 
mon among  ladies  of  touching  their  eyes 
with  it  to  make  the  pupils  large  and 
lustrous. 

BeU'aston,  Lady.  A profligate, 
whose  conduct  and  conversation  are  a life- 
like photograph  of  the  court  “ beauties  ” 
of  Louis  XV. — Fielding,  ^‘Tom  .Jones.’’' 

Belle.  A beauty.  The  belle  of  the 
room,  the  most  beautiful  lady  in  the 
room.  (French.') 

He  leaps  like  a Belle  giant,  i.e.,  tells 
the  most  marvellous  stories.  It  is  said 
that  a giant  named  Belle  mounted  his 
sorrel  horse  at  a place  since  called 
“Mount  Sorrel:”  he  leaped  a mile,  and 
the  spot  on  which  he  lighted  was  called 
“ One-leap  ” (Wanlip) ; thence  he  leaped 
another  mile,  but  in  so  doing  burst  all 


his  girths,  whence  the  spot  was  called 
“ Burstall.”  Once  more  he  leaped  a 
mile,  but  died  from  over- exertion,  and 
the  spot  of  his  death  and  interment  was 
called  “ Belle-grave.” 

La  belle  France.  A common  French 
phrase  applied  to  France,  as  “ Merry 
England  ” is  to  our  own  country. 

Belle  de  INuit  {beauty  of  the  night). 
A species  of  convolvolus  which  blooms 
only  after  sunset. 

Belles  Lettres.  Polite  literature. 
(French. ) 

Bellefontaine,  Benedict.  The  most 
wealthy  farmer  of  Grand  Pre  {Nova 
Scotia),  and  father  of  Evangeline.  When 
the  inhabitants  of  his  village  were  exiled, 
and  he  was  about  to  embark,  he  died  of 
a broken  heart,  and  was  buried  on  the 
sea-shore. — Longfellow,  “ Evangeline.” 

Beller'ophon.  The  Joseph  of  Greek 
mythology,  Antaea,  the  wife  of  Proetos, 
being  the  “Potiphar’s  wife”  who  tempted 
him,  and  afterwards  falsely  accused  him. 
Being  successful  in  various  enterprises, 
he  attempted  to  fly  to  heaven  on  the 
winged  horse  Peg'asos,  but  Zeus  sent  a 
gad-fly  to  sting  the  horse,  and  the  rider 
was  overthrown. 

Letters  of  Bellerophon.  Letters  or  other 
documents  either  dangerous  or  preju- 
dicial to  the  bearer.  Proetos  sent  Bel- 
lerophon  with  a letter  to  the  king  of 
Lycia,  his  wife’s  father,  recounting  the 
charge,  and  praying  that  the  bearer 
might  be  put  to  death. 

Pausa'nias,  the  Spartan,  sent  messen- 
gers from  time  to  time  to  king  Xerxes, 
with  similar  letters  ; the  discovery  by 
one  of  the  bearers  proved  the  ruin  of  the 
traitor. 

Belle'ms.  Belle'rium  is  the  Land’s 
End,  Cornwall,  the  fabled  land  of  the 
giant  Belle'rus. 

Sleep’st  l3y  tlie  fable  of  Bellerus  old. 

Milton,  “ Comus.” 

Beilin.  The  ram,  in  the  tale  of 
“ Reynard  the  Fox.”  The  word  means 
gentleness.  Grimm  says  bel  lenitas,  pla- 
ciditas.  {Deutsch  Mythology.) 

Bellisant.  Sister  to  king  Pepin  of 
France,  wife  of  Alexander,  emperor  of 
Constantinople.  Being  accused  of  infi- 
delity, the  emperor  banished  her,  and 
she  became  the  mother  of  Valentine 
and  Orson. — Valentine  and  Orson, 


Q 


82 


BELLMAN. 


BEMUSE. 


Bellman.  Before  the  new  police 
force  was  established,  watchmen  or  bell- 
men used  to  parade  the  streets  at  night, 
and  at  Easter  a copy  of  verses  was  left 
at  the  chief  houses,  under  the  hope  of 
obtaining  an  offering.  These  verses  were 
the  relics  of  the  old  incantations  sung 
or  said  by  the  bellman  to  keep  off  elves 
and  hobgoblins. 

Bello'na.  Goddess  of  war  and  wife 
of  Mars.  (Roman  Mythology,') 

Her  features,  late  so  exquisitely  lovely,  in- 
flamed with  the  fury  of  frenzy,  resembled  those  of 
a Bellona.— <S'ir  Walter  Scott. 

Bellwether  of  the  Block.  A 

jocose  and  rather  depreciating  term 
applied  to  the  leader  of  a party.  Of 
course,  the  allusion  is  to  the  wether  or 
sheep  which  leads  the  flock  with  a bell 
fastened  to  its  neck. 

Belly.  The  helly  has  no  ears.  A 
hungry  man  wdll  not  listen  to  advice 
or  arguments.  The  Komans  had  the 
same  proverb.  Venter  non  hahet  aw'es; 
and  in  French,  Ventre  affame  n’a  ]point 
(Toreilles. 

The  helly  and  its  member s.  The  fable 
of  Menenius  Agrippa  to  the  Eoman  people 
when  they  seceded  to  the  Sacred  Mount : 

Once  on  a time  the  members  refused  to 
work  for  the  lazy  belly ; but  as  the  supply 
of  food  was  thus  stopped,  they  found 
there  was  a necessary  and  mutual  depen- 
dence between  them.”  Shakespeare  in- 
troduces the  fable  in  his  Coriolanus,” 
i.  1. 

Belomaney  (Greek).  Divination  by 
arrows.  Labels  being  attached  to  a given 
number  of  arrows,  the  archers  let  them 
fly,  and  the  advice  on  the  label  of  the 
arrow  which  flies  furthest  is  accepted  and 
acted  on.  This  practice  is  common  with 
the  Arabs. 

Beloved  Disciple.  St.John.  (John 
xiii.  23,  &c.) 

Beloved  Physician.  St.  Luke. 
(Col.  iv.  14.) 

Belplie'gor.  A nasty,  licentious, 
obscene  fellow.  Bel-Phe'gor  was  a Mo- 
abitish  deity,  whose  rites  were  celebrated 
on  mount  Phe'gor,  and  were  noted  for 
their  obscenity.  The  Standard,  speaking 
of  certain  museums  in  London,  says. 

When  will  men  cease  to  be  deluded  by 
these  unscrupulous  Belphe'gors  ? ” 


Belphoehe,  meant  for  queen  Eliza- 
beth. She  was  sister  of  Am'oret. 
Equally  chaste,  but  of  the  Diana  and 
Minerva  type.  Cold  as  an  icicle,  pas- 
sionless, immovable.  She  is  a white 
flower  without  perfume,  and  her  only 
tender  passion  is  that  of  chivalry. 
Like  a moonbeam,  she  is  light  without 
warmth.  You  admire  her  as  you  admire 
a marble  statue.  She  is  one  of  those 
strong-minded  and  correct  virgins  who 
would  go  to  a battle-field  and  nurse  her 
dying  lover  with  propriety.  — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen,''  book  iii. 

BeTtane  (2  syl.).  A festival  observed 
in  Ireland  on  June  21,  and  in  some  parts 
of  Scotland  on  May- day.  A fire  is  kindled 
on  the  hills,  and  the  young  people  dance 
round  it,  and  feast  on  cakes  made  of 
milk  and  eggs.  It  is  supposed  to  be  a 
relic  of  the  worship  of  Baal.  The  word 
is  Gaelic,  and  means  Bel's  fire;  and  the 
cakes  are  called  heltane-cakes. 

Belted  Knight.  The  right  of  wear- 
ing belt  and  spurs  was  restricted  to 
knights.  Even  to  the  present  day  knights 
of  the  shire  are  girt  with  a belt  and 
sword,”  when  the  declaration  of  their 
election  is  officially  made. 

Belted  Will.  Lord  William  Howard, 
warden  of  the  western  marches.  (1563- 
1640.) 

His  Bilboa  blade,  by  marchmen  felt, 

Hung  in  a broad  and  studded  belt; 

H6nce,  in  rude  pbrase,  the  borderers  still 
Called  noble  Howard  Belted  Will.— Scott. 

Beltene'bros.  Am'adis  of  Gaul  so 
calls  himself  after  he  retires  to  the  Poor 
Dock.  His  lady-love  is  Oria'na. — ^^Amadis 
de  Gaul,"  \\.  6. 

Belvedere  (hel-ve-dear).  A sort  of 
pleasure-house  or  look-out  on  the  top  of 
a house.  The  word  is  Italian,  and  means 
define  'prospect. 

Belvide'ra  (in  Otway’s  Venice  Pre- 
served ").  Sir  V^alter  Scott  says,  More 
tears  have  been  shed  for  the  sorrows  of 
Belvide'ra  and  Monim'ia  than  for  those  of 
Juliet  and  Desdemona.” 

And  Belvidera  pours  her  soul  in  love. 

Thomson,  “ Winter." 

Be'ly.  A famous  Indian  giant. 

Bemuse  (2  syl.).  To  get  into  a 
dreamy,  half- intoxicated  state. 

Bemusing  himself  with  hmr.—Sala,  “ Gaslifjkt 
and  Daylight." 


BEN. 


BENEDICK. 


83 


Ben.  The  Neptune  of  the  Saxons. 

Big  Ben  of  Westininster.  A name  given 
to  the  large  bell,  which  weighs  13  tons 
10  cwt.,  and  is  named  after  Sir  Benjamin 
Hall,  the  chief  commissioner  of  works 
when  the  bell  was  cast.  (1856.) 

Ben  Joc'hanan',  in  the  satire  of 

Absalom  and  Achitophel/’ by  Dryden 
and  Tate,  is  meant  for  the  Bev.  Samuel 
Johnson,  who  suffered  much  persecution 
for  his  defence  of  the  right  of  private 
judgment. 

A Jew  (Englishman)  of  humble  parentage  was  he; 
By  trade  a Levite  (cZerpyman),  though  of  low  degree. 

Part  ii. 

Bena'eus,  i.e.,  the  Lago  di  Garde. 

Benai'ah  (3  syl.),  in  the  satire  of 

Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden 
and  Tate,  is  meant  for  George  Edward 
Sackville,  called  General  Sackville,  a 
gentleman  of  family,  and  a zealous  parti- 
san of  the  duke  of  York.  Benaiah  was 
captain  in  David’s  army,  and  was  made 
by  Solomon  generalissimo.  (1  Kings  ii. 
35.) 

Nor  can  Benaiah’s  worth  forgotten  lie, 

Of  steady  soul  when  public  storms  were  high ; 

Whose  conduct,  while  the  Moors  fierce  onsets 
made. 

Secured  at  once  our  honour  and  our  trade. 

Part  ii. 

Bena'res  (3  syl.).  One  of  the  '^most 
holy”  cities  of  the  Hindus,  equally  re- 
verenced by  them  as  Mecca  is  by  the 
Mahometans. 

Admiral,  in  an  engagement 
with  the  French  near  St,  Martha,  on  the 
Spanish  coast,  in  1701,  had  his  legs  and 
thighs  shivered  into  splinters  by  a chain- 
shot,  but,  supported  in  a wooden  frame, 
he  remained  on  the  quarter-deck  till 
morning,  when  Du  Casse  bore  away. 
Almey'da,  the  Portuguese  governor  of 
India,  in  his  engagement  with  the  united 
fleet  of  Cambay'a  and  Egypt,  had  his 
legs  and  thighs  shattered  in  a similar 
manner ; but,  instead  of  retreating,  had 
himself  bound  to  the  ship’s  mast,  where 
he  “waved  his  sword  to  cheer  on  the 
combatants,”  till  he  died  from  loss  of 
blood. 

Whirled  by  the  cannon’s  rage,  in  shivers  tom, 

His  thighs  far  shattered  o’er  the  waves  are  borne : 
^und  to  the  mast  the  god-like  hero  stands, 

Waves  his  proud  sword  and  cheers  h s woeful  bands; 
Though  winds  and  seas  their  wonted  aid  deny, 

To  yield  he  knows  not,  but  he  knows  to  die. 

Oamoens,  “iueiad,”  bk.  z« 


Benbow.  A sot,  generous,  free,  idle, 
and  always  hanging  about  the  ale-house. 
He  inherited  a good  estate,  spent  it  all, 
and  ended  life  in  the  workhouse.  The 
tale  is  in  Crabbe’s  Borough : ” 

Benbow,  a boon  companion,  long  approved 

By  jovial  sets,  and  (as  he  thought)  beloved. 

Was  judged  as  one  to  joy  and  friendship  prone 

And  deemed  injurious  to  himself  alone. 

Letter  xvi. 

Bench.  Bench  of  bishops.  The  whole 
body  of  English  prelates,  who  sit  to- 
gether on  a bench  in  council. 

Bench  and  Bar.  Judges  and 
pleaders.  The  bench  is  the  seat  on  which 
a judge  sits.  The  bar  of  a court  was 
formerly  a wooden  barrier,  to  separate 
the  superior  from  the  lower  pleaders. 
The  inferior  counsel  used  to  sit  outside 
the  barrier,  and  were  called  outer  barris- 
ters ; but  the  superior  sat  within  the 
barrier,  and  were  termed  inner  barristers. 
The  bar  does  not  now  exist,  but  the 
serjeonts  and  queen’s  counsel  sit  in  the 
front  rows,  and  the  juniors  behind. 

Benchers.  Senior  members  of  the 
Inns  of  Court ; so  called  from  the  bench 
on  which  they  used  to  sit.  They  exercise 
the  function  of  calling  students  to  the 
bar,  and  even  claim  the  right  of  expelling 
the  obnoxious. 

Bend  Sinister.  He  has  a bend 
sinister.  He  was  not  born  in  lawful 
wedlock.  In  heraldry,  a band  running 
from  the  upper  right-hand  corner  to  the 
lower  left-hand  corner  (as  the  shield 
appears  before  you  on  paper)  is  called  a 
bend-sinister,  and  indicates  bastardy. 

Ben'demeer'.  A river  that  flows 
near  the  ruins  of  Chil'minar'  or  Istachar', 
in  the  province  of  Chusistan'  in  Persia. 

The're’s  a bower  of  roses  by  Bendemeer’s  stream. 
And  the  nightingale  sings  round  it  all  the  day 
long. 

T.  Moore,  “ Lalla  Roolch”  part  i. 

Bender.  Sixpence ; so  called  b^ 
cause  it  is  easily  bent. 

Ben'digo.  A rough  fur  cap,  named 
from  a noted  pugilist. 

Benedicite  (5  syl.)  is  two  words, 
benedici  te  (bless  you). 

Ben'edick.  A young  lord  of  Padua 
who  vows  celibacy,  but  falls  in  love  with 
Beatrice,  whom  he  moixries.—Shakespeare^ 

Much  Ado  About  Nothing.* 

Q 2 


84 


BENEDICT. 


BEPPO. 


BeTiedict.  A married  man  ; from  the 
I^tin,  henedict-iis  (a  happy  man),  and  a 
skit  on  the  order  of  St.  Benedict,  famous 
for  their  ascetic  habits,  and,  of  course, 
rigidly  bound  to  celibacy.  Shakespeare, 
in  “ Much  Ado  About  Nothing,”  avails 
himself  of  this  joke  in  making  Benedick, 
the  young  lord  of  Padua,  ^^rail  against 
marriage,”  but  afterwards  marry  Beatrice, 
with  whom  he  falls  in  love. 

Benedictines  (4  syl.).  Monks  who 
follow  the  rule  of  St.  Benedict,  viz., 
implicit  obedience,  celibacy,  abstaining 
from  laughter,  spare  diet,  poverty,  the 
exercise  of  hospitality,  and  unremitted 
industry. 

Ben'eliee  (3  syl.).  Under  the 
Eomans,  certain  grants  of  lands  made  to 
veteran  soldiers  were  called  benedcia,  and 
in  the  Middle  Ages  an  estate  held  ex  mero 
heneficio  of  the  donor  was  called  “a  bene- 
fice.” When  the  popes  assumed  the 
power  of  the  feudal  lords  with  reference 
to  ecclesiastical  patronage,  a living” 
was  termed  by  them  a benefice  held 
under  the  pope  as  superior  lord.  This 
assumption  roused  the  jealousy  of  France 
and  England,  and  was  stoutly  resisted. 

Benefit  of  Clergy.  Exemption  of 
the  clerical  order  from  civil  punishment, 
based  on  the  text,  Touch  not  mine 
anointed,  and  do  my  prophets  no  harm  ” 
(I  Chron.  xvi.  22).  In  time  it  compre- 
hended not  only  the  ordained  clergy,  but 
all  who,  being  able  to  write  and  read, 
were  capable  of  entering  into  holy  orders. 
This  law  was  abolished  in  the  reign  of 
George  IV. 

Ben'en-geli.  {See  Hamet.) 

Benet  (French).  A simpleton,  so 
called  from  the  ben§t  or  exorcist  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  whose  office  is 
to  cast  out  evil  spirits  by  eau  benite  (holy 
water)  or  water  from  the  benetoire.” 

Benevolence.  A forced”  gra- 
tuity, under  the  excuse  of  a loan,  exacted 
by  some  of  the  Plantagenet  kings.  It 
was  declared  illegal  by  the  Bill  of  Eights 
in  1689. 

Benev'olus,  in  Cowper’s  Task,”  is 
John  Courtney  Throckmorton,  of  Weston 
Underwood. 

Bengal  Tigers.  The  17th  Foot, 
whose  badge  is  a green  tiger. 


Bengalese  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Bengal. 

Benicia  Boy.  John  C.  Heenan, 
the  American  pugilist,  who  challenged 
and  fought  Tom  Sayers  for  ‘‘  the  belt  ” 
in  1860 ; so  called  from  Benicia,  in  Cali- 
fornia, his  birth-place. 

Benjamin.  The  pet,  the  youngest* 
Queensland  is  the  Benjamin  of  our  colo- 
nial possessions.  The  allusion  is  to 
Benjamin,  the  youngest  son  of  Jacob 
(Gen.  XXXV.  18). 

Benjamin.  A smart  coat ; so  called 
from  a tailor  of  the  name,  and  rendered 
popular  by  its  association  with  Joseph’s 

coat  of  many  colours.” 

Benjamin’s  Mess.  The  largest 
share.  The  allusion  is  to  the  banquet 
given  by  Joseph,  viceroy  of  Egypt,  to 
his  brethren.  ‘^Benjamin’s  mess  was 
five  times  so  much  as  any  of  theirs.” 
(Gen.  xliii.  34.) 

Benshie,  Benshee,  or  Banshee.  Each 
Highland  family  has  a domestic  spirit, 
called  a Benshie,  who  takes  a lively  in- 
terest in  its  prosperity,  and  intimates 
approaching  disaster  or  death  by  wail- 
ings and  shrieks  ( Irish  Celtic,  beuj 
“woman,”  and  sighe,  “fairy”).  The 
Scottish  Bodach  Glay,  or  “ Grey  Spectre,” 
is  a similar  superstition. 

Bent.  Inclination  ; talent  for  some- 
thing. Out  of  my  bent,  not  in  my  way, 
not  in  the  range  of  my  talent.  Bent  on 
it,  inclined  to  it.  As  a thing  bent  is  in- 
clined, so  a bent  is  an  inclination  or  bias. 
Genius  or  talent  is  a bent  or  bias. 

They  fool  me  to  the  top  of  my  bent — i.e., 
as  far  as  the  bow  can  be  bent  without 
snapping. — ‘^Hamlet,*’  hi.  2. 

Benvolio.  Nephew  to  Montague, 
a testy,  litigious  gentleman,  who  would 
‘ ‘ quarrel  with  a man  that  had  a hair  more 
or  a hair  less  in  his  beard  than  he  had.” 
Mercutio  says  to  him,  “ Thou  hast  quar- 
relled with  a man  for  coughing  in  the 
street,  because  he  hath  wakened  thy 
dog  that  hath  lain  asleep  in  the  sun.” — 
ShaJcespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet,^’  hi.  1. 

Beppo.  The  contraction  of  Guiseppe, 
and  therefore  equal  to  our  Joe.  Hus- 
band of  Laura,  a Venetian  lady.  He  was 
taken  captive  in  Troy,  turned  Turk,  joined 
a band  of  pirates,  grew  rich,  and,  after 
several  years’  absence,  retumed  to  his 
native  land,  where  he  discovered  his  wife 


BERCHTA. 


BERTH. 


85 


at  a carnival  ball  with  her  cavilie^'  ser- 
vent'4.  He  made  himself  known  to  her. 
and  they  lived  together  again  as  man  and 
wife.  — Byron y ^ ^ Be'pjyo.  ’ ’ 

Bereh'ta  {the  white  lady).  This  fairy, 
in  Southern  Germany,  answers  to  Hulda 
{the  gracious  lady)  of  Northern  Germany ; 
but  after  the  introduction  of  Christianity, 
when  pagan  deities  were  represented  as 
demons,  Berchta  lost  her  former  charac- 
ter, and  became  a bogie  to  frighten 
children. 

Bere'ans.  The  followers  of  the  Rev. 
John  Barclay,  of  Kincardineshire  (1773). 
They  believe  that  all  we  know  of  God  is 
from  revelation  ; that  all  the  Psalms  refer 
to  Christ ; that  assurance  is  the  proof  of 
faith ; and  that  unbelief  is  the  unpardon- 
able sin.  They  took  their  name  from 
the  Bereans,  mentioned  in  the  book  of 
the  Acts  (xvii.  11),  who  ‘^received  the 
word  with  all  readiness  of  mind,  and 
searched  the  Scriptures  daily.” 

Berecyn'thian  Hero.  Midas,  the 
Phrygian  king ; so  called  from  mount 
Berecyntus,  in  Phrygia. 

Berenga'rians.  Followers  of  Be- 
renger,  archdeacon  of  Angers,  the  learned 
opponent  of  Lanfranc  (eleventh  century). 
He  said  that  the  bread  by  consecration 
did  not  become  the  very  body  of  Christ 
‘^generated  on  earth  so  many  years  be- 
fore, but  becomes  to  the  faithful,  never- 
theless, the  blessed  body  of  Christ.” 

Bereni'ce  (4  syl.).  The  sister-wife  of 
Ptolemy  III.,  who  vowed  to  sacrifice  her 
hair  to  the  gods,  if  her  husband  returned 
home  the  vanquisher  of  Asia.  She  sus- 
pended her  hair  in  the  temple  of  the 
war-god,  but  it  was  stolen  the  first  night, 
and  Conon  of  Samos  told  the  king  that 
the  winds  had  wafted  it  to  heaven,  where 
it  still  forms  the  seven  stars  near  the 
tail  of  Leo. 

Berg-Folk.  Pagan  spirits  doomed  to 
live  on  the  Scandinavian  hills  till  the  day 
of  redemption.  {Scandinavian  myth.) 

Bergelmir.  A frost-giant,  father  of 
the  Jotuns,  or  second  djmasty  of  giants. 
{Scandinavian  mythology.) 

Berkshire.  Saxon,  Bearoc  - scire 
(forest-shire),  a name  peculiarly  appro- 
priate to  this  county,  which  contains  the 
forest  districts  of  Windsor  and  Bagshot. 


Berlin  Decree.  A decree  issued  at 
Berlin  by  Napoleon  I.,  forbidding  any  of 
the  nations  of  Europe  to  trade  with 
Great  Britain  (1806).  This  mad  fancy 
was  the  first  step  to  the  great  man’s  fall. 

Berlin  Time.  The  new  Berlin  Ob- 
servatory is  44'  14"  east  of  Paris,  and 
53'  35"  east  of  Greenwich.  The  Berlin 
day  begins  at  noon,  but  our  civil  day 
begins  the  midnight  preceding. 

Berliners.  The  people  of  Berlin,  in 
Prussia. 

Berme'ja.  Insula  de  la  Torre,  from 
which  Am'adis  of  Gaul  starts  when  ho 
goes  in  quest  of  the  Enchantress-Damsel, 
daughter  of  Fin'etor  the  necromancer. 

Bernard,  St.  Abbot  of  the  monas- 
tery of  Clairvaux  in  the  twelfth  century. 
His  fame  for  wisdom  was  very  great,  and 
few  church  matters  were  undertaken 
without  his  being  consulted. 

Petit  Bernard.  Solomon  Bernard,  en- 
graver, of  Lyons.  (Sixteenth  century.) 

Poor  Bernard.  Claude  Bernard,  of 
Dijon,  philanthropist.  (1588-1641.) 

Lucullus.  Samuel  Bernard,  capitalist. 
(1651-1739.) 

Legentil  Bernard.  Pierre  Joseph  Ber- 
nard, the  French  poet.  (1710-1775.) 

Bernar'do  del  Car'pio.  One  ol 
the  most  favourite  subjects  of  the  Spanish 
minstrels;  the  other  two  being  the  Cid 
and  Lara’s  seven  infants.  • 

Bernesque  Poetry.  Serio-eomic 
poetry,  so  called  from  Francesco  Berni, 
of  Tuscany,  who  greatly  excelled  in  it. 
(1490-1536.) 

Bernouilli’s  Humbers  or  Num^ 
hers  of  Bernouilli.  A series  of  numbers 
of  great  importance  in  algebra,  first  used 
by  James  Bernouilli,  professor  of  mathe- 
matics at  Basle.  (1654-1705.) 

Berser'ker.  Grandson  of  the  eight- 
handed Starka'der  and  the  beautiful 
Alfhilde.  He  was  called  her-serlcr  (bare 
of  mail),  because  he  always  went  into 
battle  unharnessed.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  Swafurlam,  and  h-ad  twelve 
sons.  {Scandinavian  mythology.') 

Bertll.  lie  has  tumbled  into  a nice 
berth.  A nice  situation  or  fortune.  The 
place  in  which  a ship  is  anchored  is 
called  its  berth,  and  the  s dlors  call  it  a 
good  or  bad  berth  as  they  think  it  favour- 


86 


BERTHA. 


BETE  NOIRE. 


able  or  otherwise.  The  space  also 
allotted  to  a seaman  for  his  hamraock  is 
called  his  berth.  (Norman,  berth,  a 
cradle.) 

BertRa.  The  betrothed  of  John  of 
Leyden,  but  being  a vassal  of  count 
Oberthal,  she  was  unable  to  marry  with- 
out her  lord’s  consent.  When  she  went 
with  her  mother  to  ask  permission  of 
marriage,  the  count,  struck  with  her 
beauty,  determined  to  make  her  his 
mistress.  She  afterwards  makes  her 
escape  from  the  castle,  and,  fancying 
that  the  ^^prophet”  had  caused  the  death 
of  her  lover,  goes  to  Munster  fully  re- 
solved to  compass  his  death  by  setting 
fire  to  the  palace.  She  is  apprehended, 
and  being  brought  before  the  prophet- 
king,  recognises  her  lover  in  him,  saying,. 
‘^I  loved  thee  once,  but  now  my  love  is 
turned  to  hate,”  and  stabs  herself. — 
Meyerbeer’s  o'perra  Le  Prophete” 

Berthe  au  Grand  Pied.  Mother  of 
Charlemagne,  and  great-granddaughter 
of  Charles  Martel ; so  called  because  she 
had  a club-foot. 

Bertolde  {Bar-told).  Imperturbable 
as  Bertolde,  i.e,,  not  to  be  taken  by  sur- 
prise, thrown  off  your  guard,  or  dis- 
concerted at  anything.  Bertolde  is  the 
hero  of  a little  jeu  d’ esprit  in  Italian 
prose,  entitled  Croce.  He  is  a comedian 
by  profession,  whom  nothing  astonishes  ; 
and  is  as  much  at  his  ease  with  kings  and 
queens  as  with  persons  of  his  own  rank 
and  vocation. 

Bertram,  One  of  the  conspirators 
against  the  republic  of  Venice  in  whom 
there  was  a hesitating  softness,  fatal  to 
a great  enterprise.”  He  betrayed  the 
conspiracy  to  the  senate.— Ma- 
rino Faliero.” 

Bertram  B-isingham.  The  vassal 
of  Philip  of  Mortham.  Oswald  Wycliffe 
induced  him  to  shoot  his  lord  at  Marston 
Moor,  and  for  this  vile  deed  the  vassal 
demanded  of  him  all  the  gold  and 
movables  of  his  late  master.  Oswald, 
being  a villain,  tried  to  outwit  Bertram, 
and  even  murder  him ; but  in  the  end  it 
turns  out  that  Mortham  was  not  killed, 
neither  was  Oswald  his  heir ; for  Red- 
mond O’Neale,  the  page  of  Rokeby,  is 
found  to  be  Mortham’s  son.  — Bcott. 
“RokAy." 


Bertra'mo.  The  fiend-father  of 
Robert  le  Diable.  After  alluring  his  son 
to  gamble  away  all  his  possessions,  he 
meets  him  near  the  rocks  St.  Ire'ne,  and 
Hel'ena  seduces  him  in  the  “Dance  of 
Love.”  When  Bertra'mo  at  last  comes 
to  claim  his  victim,  he  is  resisted  by 
Alice,  the  foster-sister  of  the  duke,  who 
reads  to  him  his  mother’s  will,  and 
angels  come  to  celebrate  the  triumph  of 
good  over  evil. — Meyerbeer’s  opera  of 

Roberto  il  Biavolo.” 

Beryl  Molozane  (3  syl.).  The 
lady  beloved  by  George  Geith ; a laugh- 
ing, loving  beauty,  all  sunshine  and  art- 
lessness, tender,  frank,  full  of  innocent 
chatter,  helping  every  one,  and  loving 
every  one.  Her  lot  is  painfully  unhappy, 
and  she  dies. — F.  O.  Trafford  {J.  H. 
Riddell),  “ Geoi'ge  Geith.” 

Berzak  {the  interval).  The  space 
between  death  and  the  resurrection. — 
The  Koran. 

Besants  or  Bezants.  Circular 
pieces  of  bullion  without  any  impression, 
supposed  to  represent  the  old  coinage  of 
Byzantium,  and  to  have  been  brought 
to  Europe  by  the  Crusaders. 

Bess.  Good  queen  Bess.  Queen 
Elizabeth.  (1533-1603.) 

Bess  o’  Bedlam.  A female  lunatic 
vagrant.  Bedlam  is  a common  name  for 
a madhouse,  and  Bess  is  a national 
name  for  a woman,  especially  of  the 
lower  order.  The  male  lunatic  is  a Tom 
o’  Bedlam. 

Bessemer  Iron.  Iron  refined  by 
the  process  patented  in  1856-7  by  Mr. 
Bessemer. 

Bessus.  A cowardly,  bragging  cap- 
tain, a sort  of  Bob'adil  {q.v.). — Beaumont 
and  Fletcher,  A King  and  No  King.” 

Bestials.  Books  on  zoology  were  so 
called  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

Bete  INoire.  The  thorn  in  the 
side,  the  bitter  in  the  cup,  the  spoke  in 
the  wheel,  the  black  sheep,  the  object  of 
aversion.  A black  sheep  has  always 
been  considered  an  eyesore  in  a fiock, 
and  its  wool  is  really  less  valuable.  In 
times  of  superstition  it  was  looked  on  as 
bearing  the  devil’s  mark. 

The  Butch  sale  of  tin  is  the  hdtenoireot  the 
Cornish  miners.— T/ie  Times. 


BETHLEMENITES. 


BIBLE. 


87 


BetMemenites  (4  syl.).  Followers 
of  John  Huss,  so  called  because  he  used 
to  preach  in  the  church  called  Bethlemen 
of  Prague. 

Betty.  A name  of  contempt  given  to 
a man  who  interferes  with  the  duties  of 
female  servants,  or  occupies  himself  in 
female  pursuits  ; also  called  a Molly.” 

Betu'bium.  Dumsby  or  the  Cape 
of  St.  Andrew,  in  Scotland. 

The  north-inflated  tempest  foams 

O’er  Orka’s  and  Betuhium’s  highest  peak. 

Thomson, Autumn.** 

Beuves  (1  syl.)  or  Buo'vo  of  Aygre- 
mont.  The  father  of  Malagigi,  and  uncle 
of  Rinaldo. 

Bev'er.  A drink”  between  meals 
Cltaliau,  hevere,  to  drink— our  beverage; 
Latin,  bibere—ouY  im-bibe).  At  Eton 
they  have  '^Bever  days,”  when  extra 
beer  is  served  to  the  students. 

He . . . will  devour  three  breakfasts . . . without 
prejudice  to  his  hevers. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  '‘Woman  Hater,**  i.  3. 

Bev'il.  A model  gentleman  in  Steele’s 
“ Conscious  Lovers.” 

Whate’er  can  deck  mankind, 

Or  charm  the  heart,  in  generous  Bevil  shewed. 

Thomson,  "Winter.** 

Be'vis.  The  horse  of  lord  Marmion. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Bevis  of  Southampton.  A knight  of 
romance,  whose  exploits  are  recounted 
in  Drayton’s  ^^Polyolbion.”  The  French 
call  him  Beuves  de  Hantone. 

Bev'y.  A bevy  of  ladies.  A throng 
or  company ; properly  applied  to  roe- 
bucks, quails,  and  pheasants.  The 
word  is  allied  to  bivouac,  i.e.,  be-awahe  (to 
be  on  the  watch),  because  one  of  the  bevy 
is  on  the  watch  to  warn  the  herd  of 
danger. 

Bezaliel,  in  the  satire  of  Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
is  meant  for  the  marquis  of  Worcester, 
afterwards  duke  of  Beaufort. 

Bezaliel  with  each  grace  and  virtue  fraught, 

Serene  his  looks,  serene  his  life  and  thouuht ; 

On  whom  so  largely  Nature  heaped  her  store. 

There  scarce  remained  for  arts  to  give  him  more. 

Part  ii. 

Bezo'nian.  A beggar  (French,  besoin; 
Italian,  bisogno,  want).  Sir  Walter  Scott 
adopted  in  his  Waverley  ” the  motto — 

Under  which  king,  Bezonian  ? speak  or  die. 

Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  I V.,**  v.  3. 


Bhava'ni.  Wife  of  Shiva.  {Hindu 
mythology.) 

Bheem  or  Bhima.  One  of  the  five 
Pandoos,  or  brotherhoods  of  Indian  demi- 
gods, famous  for  his  strength.  He  slew 
t^he  giant  Kin  chick,  and  dragged  his 
body  from  the  hills,  thereby  making  the 
Kinchick  ravine. 

Bian'ca.  Wife  of  Fazio.  When  Fazio 
became  rich,  and  got  entangled  with  the 
marchioness  Aldabella,  she  accused  him 
to  the  duke  of  Florence  of  being  privy 
to  the  death  of  Bartoldo,  an  old  miser. 
Fazio  was  arrested  and  condemned  to 
death.  Bianca  now  repented  of  her 
jealous  rashness,  and  tried  to  save  her 
husband,  but  failing  in  her  endeavours, 
went  road,  and  died  of  a broken  heart. — 
Dean  Milman,  Fazio. 

N.  B.  — The  name  is  employed  by 
Shakespeare  both  in  his  Taming  of  the 
Shrew  ” and  also  in  Othello.” 

Bias.  The  weight  in  bowls  which 
makes  them  deviate  from  the  straight 
line ; hence  any  favourite  idea  or  pur- 
suit, or  whatever  predisposes  the  mind 
in  a particular  direction. 

Bible  means  simply  a book,  but  is 
now  exclusively  confined  to  the  ^^Book 
of  Books.” 

The  headings  of  the  chapters  were  pre- 
fixed by  Miles  Smith,  bishop  of  Glou- 
cester, one  of  the  translators. 

The  division  into  chapters  is  ascribed 
to  archbishop  Lanfranc  in  the  eleventh 
century,  and  archbishop  Langton  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  But  T.  Hartwell 
Horne  says  the  real  author  was  cardinal 
Hugo  de  Sancto  Caro,  in  the  thirteenth 
century. 

The  division  into  chapters.  The  Jewish 
scribes  divided  the  Old  Testament  into 
669  parashahs  (sections)  ; subsequently 
the  Pentateuch  was  portioned  out  into 
54  lessons.  In  the  thirteenth  century 
the  Vulgate  was  divided  into  chapters, 
subdivided  by  paragraphs  marked  A,  B, 
C,  &c.,  by  Langton,  and  improved  by 
Cardinal  Hugo  de  Sancto  Caro. 

The  division  into  verses  was  begun  by 
rabbi  Nathan  about  1445,  and  finished 
by  Athias,  a Jew,  in  1662.  Robert 
Stephens  introduced  verses  into  his 
Greek  Testament,  published  in  1551. 

The  Breeches  Bible.  So  called  because 
Gen.  hi.  7 was  rendered,  ^^The  eyes  of 
them  botbe  were  opened  ....  and  they 


88 


BIBLE. 


BIGHES, 


sewed  figg-e-tree  leaves  together,  and 
made  themselves  breeches.*’  Printed 
1579. 

The  Vinegar  Bible.  So  called  because 
the  heading  to  Luke  xx.  is  given  as 
“ The  parable  of  the  Vinegar”  (instead 
of  Vineyard).  Printed  at  the  Clarendon 
Press  in  1717. 

The  Wicked  Bible.  So  called  because 
the  word  not  is  omitted  in  the  seventh 
commandment,  making  it,  ^^Thou  shalt 
commit  adultery.”  Printed  by  Barker 
and  Lucas,  1632. 

Bishop's  Bible.  The  revised  edition  of 
archbishop  Parker’s  version.  Published 
1568. 

Cranmer's  Bible.  So  called  because 
archbishop  Cranmer  wrote  the  preface. 
This  was  Tindal’s  Bible,  revised  by  Miles 
Coverdale.  (1540.) 

King  James's  Bible.  The  present  ver- 
sion ; so  called  because  it  was  undertaken 
by  command  of  Janies  I.  Published  1613. 

Matthews'  Bible  is  Tindal’s  version ; it 
was  so  called  by  John  Eogers,  super- 
intendent of  the  English  churches  in 
Germany.  It  was  published  with  notes 
under  the  fictitious  name  of  Thomas 
Matthews.  (1537.) 

Bible- Clerk.  A sizar  of  the  Oxford 
university ; a student  who  gets  certain 
pecuniary  advantages  for  reading  the 
Bible  aloud  at  chapel.  The  office  is 
almost  a sinecure  now,  but  the  emolu- 
ment is  given  to  the  sons  of  poor  gentle- 
men, either  as  a free  gift,  or  as  the 
reward  of  merit  tested  by  examination. 

Biblia  Pau'perum  {the  'poor-man's 
Bible).  Some  forty  or  fifty  pictures  of 
Bible  subjects  used  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
when  few  could  read,  to  teach  the  leading 
events  of  Scripture  history.  {See  Mirror 
OF  Human  Salvation.) 

Biblical.  Father  of  Biblical  criticism 
and  exegesis.  Origen.  (185-254.) 

Biblomaney.  Forecasting  future 
events  by  the  Bible.  The  plan  was  to 
open  the  sacred  volume  at  random,  and 
lay  your  finger  on  a passage  without 
looking  at  it.  The  text  thus  pointed  out 
was  supposed  to  be  applicable  to  the  per- 
son who  pointed  it  out.  (Greek,  biblia, 
Bible ; manteia,  prophecy.)  {See  Sortes.) 

Bib'ulus.  Colleague  of  Julius  Csesar, 
a mere  cipher  in  office,  whence  his  name 
has  become  proverbial  for  one  in  ofiice 
who  is  a mQYQ  faineant. 


Biceps.  A man’s  arm ; properly,  the 
protruding  muscles  of  his  arm  or  leg,  so 
called  because  it  has  two  heads.  (Latin, 
bicepSy  two  heads. ) 

Bick'erstalf,  Isaac.  A name  as- 
sumed by  dean  Swift  in  a satirical  pam- 
phlet against  Partridge,  the  almanack- 
maker.  This  produced  a paper  war, 
so  diverting  that  Steele  issued  the 
^^Tatler,”  under  the  editorial  name  of 
“ Isaac  Bickerstaff,  Esq.,  Astrologer  ” 
(1709). 

Bidding-Prayer.  The  prayer  for 
the  souls  of  benefactors  said  before  the 
sermon;  a relic  of  this  remains  in  the 
prayer  used  in  cathedrals,  university 
churches,  &c.  Bidding  is  from  bead  or 
bede.  (Saxon,  biddan.,  to  pray  for  the 
souls  of  benefactors.)  {See  Beadsman.) 

Bideford  Postman.  Edward 
Capern,  the  poet,  so  called  because  at  one 
time  he  was  a letter-carrier  in  Bideford. 

Bidi.  A Malabar  deity,  about  equal 
to  the  classic  Destiny. 

Bidpai.  {See  Pilpai.) 

Biel  (2  syl.).  The  god-protector  of 
forests.  {Scandinavian  mythology . ) 

Bif'rost,  in  Scandinavian  mythology, 
is  the  name  of  the  bridge  between  heaven 
and  earth ; the  rainbow  may  be  consi- 
dered to  be  this  bridge,  and  its  various 
colours  are  the  reflections  of  its  precious 
stones.  (Old  Norse,  bifa-rost,  to  move 
through  space.) 

Big-bird.  To  get  the  big  bird  {i.e., 
the  goose).  To  be  hissed  on  the  stage.  A 
theatrical  expression. 

Big-en'dians.  A religious  party  in 
the  empire  of  Lilliput,  who  made  it  a 
matter  of  conscience  to  break  their  eggs 
at  the  big  end ; they  were  looked  on  as 
heretics  by  the  orthodox  party,  who 
broke  theirs  at  the  small  end.  The  Big- 
endians  are  the  Catholics,  and  the  Little- 
endians  the  Protestants. 

Big-wig.  A person  in  authority, 
a '^nob.”  Of  course,  the  term  arises 
from  the  custom  of  judges,  bishops,  and 
so  on,  wearing  large  wigs.  Bishops  no 
longer  wear  them. 

Biggen.  A coffee-pot  made  in  imita- 
tion of  a Beguine  (cap). 

Bighes  (pron.  bees).  Jewels,  female 
ornaments. 

She  is  all  in  her  highes  to-day — i.e.,  in 


BIGHT. 


BILLS. 


89 


full  fig,  in  excellent  spirits,  in  good 
humour. 

Bight.  To  hooJc  the  'bight— i.e.,  to  get 
entangled.  The  bight  is  the  bend  or 
doubled  part  of  a rope,  and  when  the 
rope  of  one  anchor  gets  into  the  bight” 
of  another,  it  gets  ‘‘hooked.” 

Biglow  Papers  are  by  Professor 
James  Russell  Lowell,  of  Boston,  U.S. 

Big'ot  means  simply  a worshipper 
(Anglo-Saxon,  bigaii,  to  worship,  whence 
hegiiie,  a religious  woman ; German, 
beigott).  M.  Bescherelle  insists  that  the 
English  word  is  a corruption  of  the  oath 
By-God;  and  the  German  Bei  Gott,  he 
says,  confirms  it. — Diet.  Nation. 

Archbishop  Trench  says  it  means  the 
mustachio-maii  the  Spaniard),  and 

derives  the  word  from  the  Spanish  bigote  (a 
mustachio).  H ombre  de  bigote  is  a “man  of 
resolution,”  one  that  wears  a mustachio ; 
tener  bigotes  is  “to  stand  firm.”  Bishop 
Hall  calls  a pervert  to  Rome  a “ bigot 
and  we  all  know  that  Spain  is  still  the 
land  proverbial  for  mustachios  and 
bigotry. — Study  of  Words. 

The  grey  friars  were  called  in  Italy 
bigiotti,  from  bigio,  grey;  and  bizocco,  a 
word  derived  from  bigiotto,  means  hypo- 
crite. 

Biinbilis  (Spain).  Famed  for  its 
highly-tempered  steel  blades. 

Billbo.  A rapier  or  sword.  So  called 
from  Bilba'o,  in  Spain,  once  famous  for 
its  finely-tempered  blades.  Ealstaff  says 
to  Ford — 

1 suffered  the  pangs  of  three  several  deaths ; first, 
an  intolerable  fright,  to  be  detected . . . . ; next,  to  be 

compassed,  like  a good  bilbo hilt  to  pc,int,*heel 

to  head  ; and  then . . . “ Merry  Wives”  iii.  6. 

BilboeSi  A bar  of  iron  with  fetters 
annexed  to  it,  by  which  mutinous  sailors 
are  linked  together.  The  word  is  de- 
rived from  Bilba'o,  in  Spain,  where  they 
were  first  made.  Some  of  the  bilboes 
taken  from  the  Spanish  arma'da  are  still 
kept  in  the  Tower  of  London. 

Bilge  Wateri  Filthy  drainings. 
The  bilge  is  the  lowest  part  of  a ship, 
and  as  the  rain  or  sea-water  which  trickles 
down  to  this  part  is  hard  to  get  at,  it  is 
apt  to  become  foul  and  very  offensive. 

Bilk.  To  cheat,  to  obtain  goods  and 
decamp  without  paying  for  them.  (Gothic, 
hilaikaUf  to  mock  or  deceive.) 


Bill.  To  fay  a bill.  The  word  bill 
means  a stick  (French,  bille^  a billet  or 
rod),  and  the  allusion  is  to  the  custom  of 
keeping  accounts  by  tallies,  or  notches 
cut  on  small  billets  of  wood.  {See  Tally.) 

A true  bill.  I confess  what  you  say  is 
true.  The  case  against  the  accused  is 
first  submitted  to  the  grand  jury.  If 
they  think  the  charge  has  a fair  colour, 
they  write  on  the  declaration  “A  true 
bill,”  and  the  case  is  submitted  to  the 
petty  jury.  Otherwise  they  write  “No 
true  bill,”  and  the  case  is  at  once  dis- 
missed or  “ ignored.” 

Bill  of  Health.  A clean  bill  of 
health.  A document  duly  signed  by  the 
proper  authorities,  to  certify  that  when 
the  ship  set  sail,  no  infectious  disorder 
existed  in  the  place. 

A foul  bill  of  health  is  a document  to 
show  that  the  place  was  suffering  from 
some  infection  when  the  ship  set  sail.  If 
a captain  cannot  show  a clean  bill^  he  is 
supposed  to  have  a foul  one. 

Bill  of  Lading.  A document  signed 
by  the  master  of  a ship  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  goods  laden  in  his  vessel.  In 
this  document  he  binds  himself  to  deliver 
the  articles  in  good  condition  to  the  per- 
sons named  in  the  bill,  certain  exceptions 
being  duly  provided  for.  These  bills  are 
generally  in  triplicate,  one  for  the  sender, 
one  for  the  receiver,  and  one  for  the 
master  of  the  vessel. 

Bill  of  Quantities.  An  abstract  of 
the  probable  cost  of  a building. 

Bill  of  Bights.  The  declaration 
delivered  to  the  prince  of  Orange  on  his 
election  to  the  British  throne,  confirming 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  people. 
(Feb.  13,  1689.) 

Bill  of  Sale.  When  a person  bor- 
rows money  and  delivers  goods  as  secu- 
rity, he  gives  him  a bill  of  sale,  that  is, 
permission  to  sell  the  goods,  if  the  money 
is  not  returned  on  a stated  day. 

Bills  of  Mortality  took  their  rise 
in  1592,  when  a great  pestilence  broke 
out,  which  continued  till  1595.  We  use 
the  term  now  for  those  abstracts  from 
parish  registers  which  show  the  births, 
deaths,  and  baptisms  of  the  district. 
These  bills,  which  are  weekly,  monthly, 
or  yearly,  are  very  useful  to  show  the 
sanitary  condition  of  a parish,  the  causes 
of  death,  the  increase  or  decrease  of 
population,  and  so  on. 


90 


BILLET-DOUX. 


BIKDS. 


Billet-doux  (pron.  hilly-do).  A love- 
letter.  French  for  a sweet  or  affec- 
tionate letter. 

Billingsgate.  That's  Billingsgate. 
Vulgar  and  coarse,  like  the  manners  and 
language  of  Billingsgate  fish-fags. 

Parnassus  spoke  the  cant  of  Billingsgr.te. —Drj/fien, 
Art  of  Poetry,*'  c.  1. 

To  talk  Billingsgate— i.e.j  to  slang,  to 
scold  in  a vulgar,  coarse  style. 

You  are  no  better  than  a Billingsgate 
fish-fag—i.e.,  you  are  as  rude  and  ill- 
mannered  as  the  women  of  Billingsgate 
fish- market  (Saxon,  hellan^  ^^to  bawl,’* 
and  gatef  ‘^quay,”  meaning  the  noisy 
quay).  The  French  say  Maubert,” 
instead  of  Billingsgate,  as  Your  compli- 
ments are  like  those  of  the  Place  Mauhert— 
i.e.y  no  compliments  at  all,  but  vulgar 
dirt-flinging.  The  Place  Maubert”  has 
long  been  noted  for  its  market. 

Billy.  A policeman’s  staff,  which  is  a 
little  bill  or  billet. 

Billy  Barlow.  A street  droll,  a 
merry  Andrew.  So  called  from  a half- 
idiot of  the  name,  who  fancied  himself 
‘^some  great  personage.”  He  was  well 
known  in  the  east  of  London,  and  died  in 
Whitechapel  workhouse.  Some  of  his 
sayings  were  really  witty,  and  some  of 
his  attitudes  really  droll. 

Billy  "Wix.  An  owl.  Billy  is  a play 
upon  the  beak  or  bill,  which  is  very  strik- 
ing in  the  owl,  and  Wix  is  the  German 
week  (a  wig),  alluding  to  the  judge-like” 
appearance  of  Master  Madge. 

Bi'nary  Theory.  A theory  which 
supposes  that  all  definite  chemical  salts 
are  combinations  of  two  bodies. 

Bingham’s  Dandies.  The  17th 
Lancers.  So  called  from  their  colonel, 
the  earl  of  Lucan,  formerly  lord  Bingham. 
The  uniform  is  noted  for  its  admirable 
fit  and  smartness. 

Bin'naele.  The  case  of  the  mariner’s 
compass,  which  used  to  be  written 
hittacle,  a corruption  of  the  French  hoite 
d' aiguille  (box  of  the  needle). 

Birchin  Lane.  I must  send  you  to 
Birchin  Lane — i.e.,  whip  you.  The  play 
is  on  hirch  (a  rod). 


Bird.  An  endearing  name  for  girl. 

And  by  my  word,  your  bonnie  bird 
In  danyjer  shall  not  tarry; 

So  though  the  waves  are  raging  white, 

111  row  you  o’er  the  ferry. 

Campbell,  “ Lord  Ullin*s  Daughter" 

The  green  bird  tells  everything  a person 
wishes  to  know.—  Chery  and  Fairstar. 

The  talking  bird  spoke  with  a human 
voice,  and  could  bid  all  other  birds  join 
in  concert. — Arabian  Nights. 

Bird.  A little  bird  told  me  so.  From 
Eccles.  X.  20  : Curse  not  the  king,  no  not 
in  thy  thought  . . . for  a bird  of  the  air 
shall  carry  the  voice,  and  that  which  hath 
wings  shall  tell  the  matter.”  Bellenden 
Ker  saj's  it  is  the  Dutch  Er  lij  t'el  baerd 
{i.e.,  By  telling  you  I shall  betray  the 
person  who  told  me),  and  certainly  that 
is  the  meaning  implied. 

A Bird  of  ill-omen.  A person  who  is 
regarded  as  unlucky ; one  who  is  in  the 
habit  of  bringing  ill-news.  The  ancients 
thought  that  some  birds  indicated  good 
luck,  and  others  evil.  Even  to  the  pre- 
sent day  many  look  upon  owls,  crows, 
and  ravens  as  unlucky  birds ; swallows 
and  storks  as  lucky  ones. 

Eavens,  by  their  acute  sense  of  smell, 
discern  the  savour  of  dying  bodies  (like 
sharks),  and,  under  the  hope  of  preying 
on  them,  light  on  chimney-tops  or  flutter 
about  sick  rooms ; hence  the  raven  indi- 
cates death.  Owls  screech  when  bad 
weather  is  at  hand,  and  as  foul  weather 
often  precedes  sickness,  so  the  owl  is 
looked  on  as  a funeral  bird. 

Bird  of  Este.  The  white  eagle, 
the  cognisance  of  the  house. 

His  dazzling  way 

Tbe  bird  of  Est6  soars  beyond  the  solar  ray. 

"Jerusalem  Deliv.,**  x. 

Birds  of  Paradise  are  described 
by  old  naturalists  as  being  destitute  of 
feet,  dwelling  ever  in  the  air,  wafted 
about  in  the  bright  sunbeams  without 
the  mechanism  of  wings,  nourished  on 
dew  and  the  odour  of  flowers,  like  houris 
or  the  spirits  of  paradise. 

Tavernier  says  that  birds  of  paradise 
come  in  flocks  during  the  nutmeg  season 
to  the  south  isles  of  India.  The  strength 
of  the  nutmeg  intoxicates  them,  and, 
while  they  lie  in  this  state  on  the  earth, 
the  ants  eat  off  their  legs,  whence  it  is 
said  that  birds  of  paradise  have  no  feet. 

Those  golden  birds  that  in  the  spice-time  drop 
About  the  gardens,  drunk  with  that  sweet  food 
Whose  scent  hath  lured  them  o’er  the  summer 
flood.  T.  Moore,  "Lalla  Rookh,”  i. 


BIRDS. 


BITELAS. 


91 


Bird’s-eye  View.  A mode  of  per- 
spective drawing  in  which  the  artist  is 
supposed  to  be  over  the  objects  de- 
lineated, in  which  case  he  beholds  them 
as  a bird  in  the  air  would  see  them. 

Birmingham  Poet.  J ohn  Freeth, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  in 
1808.  He  was  wit,  poet,  and  publican, 
who  not  only  wrote  the  words  and  tunes 
of  songs,  but  sang  them  also,  and  sang 
them  well. 

Bis.  Bis  dat,  qui  cito  dat  (he  gives 
twice  who  gives  promptly) — i.e.,  prompt 
relief  will  do  as  much  good  as  twice  the 
sum  at  a future  period. 

Purple  and  bis,  i.e.,  purple  and  fine 
linen  (Latin,  byssus,  fine  flax).  The 
spelling  is  sometimes  biss,  bys,  &c. 

Biscuit  (French-Latin,  bis,  twice ; 
cuit,  baked).  So  called  because  it  was 
originally  twice  evened.  The  Romans 
had  a bread  of  this  kind. 

In  pottery,  earthenware  or  porcelain, 
after  it  has  been  hardened  in  the  fire,  but 
has  not  yet  been  glazed,  is  so  called. 

Bise.  A wind  that  acts  notably  on 
the  nervous  system.  It  is  prevalent  in 
those  valleys  of  Savoy  that  open  to  the 
north. 

Bishop.  The  bishop  hath 'put  his  foot 
in  it.  Said  of  milk  or  porridge  that  is 
burnt,  or  of  meat  over-roasted.  Tyndale 
says,  *^If  the  podech  be  burned-to^  or 
the  meate  oner  rested,  we  saye  the 
byshope  hath  put  his  fote  in  the  potte,” 
and  explains  it  thus  — because  the 
bishopes  burn  who  they  lust.’’  Such 
food  is  also  said  to  be  bishopjped. 

Bishop  Barnaby.  The  May-bug, 
lady-bird,  &c. 

‘^Barnaby”  is  bairn-bye  or  bairnie-bye, 
the  bairn’s  insect,  the  child’s  favourite. 

Another  suggestion  is  worth  notice— 
the  Low  Dutch  Barn-bie  (fire-fly),  in 
allusion  to  the  fiery  red  colour  of  its 
wings.  This  may  have  suggested  the 
nursery  rhyme — 

Barnaby,  Barnaby,  fly  away  home ; 

Your  house  is  on  fii'e,  your  children  will  burn. 

Your  house  is  on  fire  is,  ‘^you  are  your- 
self on  fire,”  and  your  fiery  wings  will 
burn  your  children. 

“ Bishop  ” is  a corruption  of  the  Saxon 
bysig  (busy) ; Dutch  bezig,  verb  bysgian, 
{See  Lady- BIRD.) 


Bishop  Middleham  is  said  to 
have  been  always  ranting  in  praise  of 
water-drinking,  but  to  have  killed  him- 
self by  secret  intoxication. 

Bismarquer.  To  cheat ; to  play 
foul  at  cards  or  billiards.^  A word  made 
out  of  the  name  of  prince  Bismarck,  the 
Prussian  minister,  whose  tricksy  policy  in 
1865-1866  roused  the  indignation  of  all 
Europe. 

Bissextile.  Leap-year.  We  add  a 
day  to  February  in  leap-year,  but  the 
Romans  counted  the  24th  of  February 
twice.  Now,  the  24th  of  February  was 
called  by  them  ^^sexti'lis”  {sexto  calendas 
Martii),  the  sextile  or  sixth  day  before 
the  1st  of  March ; and  this  day,  being 
reckoned  twice  {bis)  in  leap-year,  was 
called  the  bis-sextile,  or  sextile  repeated. 

Bisson  or  Beesen  (blind)  is  the  Saxon 
bisen.  Shakespeare  (“Hamlet,”  ii.  2) 
speaks  of  bisson  rheum  (blinding  tears), 
and  in  “ Coriolanus,”  ii.  1,  “ What  harm 
can  your  bisson  conspectuities  glean  out 
of  this  character  ?” 

Biston'ians.  The  Thracians ; so 
called  from  Biston,  son  of  Mars,  who 
built  Biston'ia  on  the  lake  Bis'tonis. 

So  the  Bistonian  race,  a maddening  train. 

Exult  and  revel  on  the  Thracian  plain ; 

With  milk  their  bloody  banquets  they  allay 

Or  from  the  lion  rend  his  panting  prey ; 

On  some  abandoned  savage  fiercely  fly. 

Seize,  tear,  devour,  and  think  it  luxury. 

Pitt,  “ Statius”  bk.  ii. 

Bit.  To  bit  the  cable  is  to  fasten  it 
round  the  “bit”  or  frame  made  for  the 
purpose,  and  placed  in  the  fore  part  of 
the  vessel. 

Bit.  Money.  The  word  is  used  in 
the  West  Indies  for  a half  pistareeu 
(5d.).  In  Jamaica,  a bit  is  worth  6d. 
English  ; in  America,  12}  cents  ; in  Ire- 
land, lOd.  In  England  it  is  the  slang 
term  for  a fourpenny  piece. 

Bite.  A cheat  ; one  who  bites  us. 
“The  biter  bit”  explains  the  origin. 
We  say  “a  man  was  bitten”  when  he 
“ burns  his  fingers”  meddling  with  some- 
thing which  promised  well  but  turned 
out  a failure. 

Bit'elas.  Sister  of  Fairlimb,  and 
daughter  of  Rukenaw,  the  ape,  in  the 
story  of  “Reynard  the  Fox.” 


92 


BITING. 


black. 


Biting.  A hiting  remarlc.  Nearchos 
ordered  Zeno,  the ' dialectician,  to  be 
pounded  to  death  in  a mortar.  When 
the  philosopher  was  nearly  bruised  out  of 
his  life,  he  called  the  tyrant  to  his  side, 
as  if  to  make  an  important  communica- 
tion. Nearchos  bent  over  the  mortar, 
and  put  his  ear  close  to  the  lips  of  the 
dying  man,  when  Zeno  bit  it  off.  Hence 
the  proverb,  remark  more  biting 
than  Zeno’s.”  {See  Bridle.) 

Black  for  mourning  was  a Eoman 
custom  (Juvenal,  x.  245)  borrowed  from 
the  Egyptians. 

Black  in  blazonry  means  constancy, 
wisdom,  and  prudence. 

Black  in  several  of  the  Oriental  nations 
is  a badge  of  servitude,  slavery,  and  low 
birth.  Our  word  blackguard  seems  to 
point  to  this  meaning.  The  Latin  niger 
meant  had,  unjpropitious.  {See  Black- 
guard.) 

Beaten  black  and  blue,  so  that  the 
skin  is  black  and  blue  with  the  marks  of 
the  beating. 

I must  have  it  in  black  and  white,  i.e., 
in  plain  writing  ; the  paper  being  white 
and  the  ink  black. 

To  say  black's  his  eye,  i.e.,  to  vituperate, 
to  blame.  The  expression,  Black's  the 
white  of  his  eye,  is  a modern  corruption. 
Here  black  is  the  Latin  niger,  meaning 
evil.  ‘^If  thine  eye  be  evil,  thy  whole 
body  is  full  of  darkness”  (Matt.  vi.  23). 
To  say  the  eye  is  black  or  evil,  is,  there- 
fore, to  accuse  a person  of  an  evil  heart  or 
great  ignorance.  {See  Black  Prince.) 

A fool  may  do  all  things,  and  no  man  say  Black's 

his  eye.  The  “ Tell  Tale.” 

Blackacre,  Widow.  The  best  of 
Wycherley’s  comic  characters;  a mascu- 
line, litigious,  pettifogging,  headstrong 
woman. — The  Plain  Dealer," 

Black  Act.  9 Geo.  I.  c.  22  is  so  called, 
because  it  was  directed  against  the  Wal- 
tham deer- stealers,  who  blackened  their 
faces  for  disguise,  and,  under  the  name  of 
Blacks,  appeared  in  Epping  Forest.  This 
Act  was  repealed  in  1827. 

Black  Acts.  Acts  of  the  Scottish 
parliament  between  the  accession  of 
James  I.  and  the  year  1587,  so  called  be- 
cause they  were  printed  in  black  or  Saxon 
characters. 

Black  Art.  The  art  practised  by 
conjurors,  wizards,  and  others,  who  pro- 


fessed to  have  dealings  with  the  devil. 
Black  here  means  diabolical  or  wicked. 

Black  Assize.  6th  July,  1577,  when 
a putrid  pestilence  broke  out  at  Oxford 
during  the  time  of  assize. 

Black-balled.  Not  admitted  to  a 
club  ; the  candidate  proposed  is  not  ac- 
cepted as  a member.  In  voting  by  bal- 
lot, those  who  accept  the  person  proposed 
drop  a white  or  red  ball  into  the  box,  but 
those  who  would  exclude  the  candidate 
drop  into  it  a black  one. 

Black  Book.  A book  exposing 
abuses  in  Church  and  State,  which  fur- 
nished much  material  for  political  reform 
in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 
{See  Black  Books.) 

Black  Books.  To  be  in  my  black 
books.  In  bad  odour ; in  disgrace  ; out  of 
favour.  The  black  books  were  those 
compiled  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V'lll.  to 
set  forth  the  scandalous  proceedings  of 
the  English  monasteries,  and  were  so 
called  from  the  colour  of  their  binding. 
We  have  similarly  the  Blue  Book,  the 
Bed  Book,  and  so  on. 

Black  Cap,  or  the  Judgment  Cap, 
worn  by  a judge  when  he  passes  sentence 
of  death  on  a prisoner.  This  cap  is  part 
of  the  judge’s  full  dress.  The  judges 
wear  their  black  caps  on  November  9, 
when  the  Lord  Mayor  is  presented  in  the 
Court  of  Exchequer.  Covering  the  head 
was  a sign  of  mourning  among  the  Is- 
raelites, Greeks,  Homans,  and  Anglo- 
Saxons.  (2  Sam.  XV.  30.) 

Black  Brunswickers.  A corps  of 
700  volunteer  hussars  under  the  command 
of  Frederick  William,  duke  of  Brunswick, 
who  had  been  forbidden  by  Napoleon  to 
succeed  to  his  father’s  dukedom.  They 
were  called  Black”  because  they  wore 
mourning  for  the  deceased  duke.  Fre- 
derick William  fell  at  Quatre-Bras,  1815. 
One  of  Millais’  best  pictures  is  called 

The  Black  Brunswicker.” 

Black  Cattle.  Oxen  for  slaughter  ; 
so  called  because  black  is  their  prevailing 
colour,  at  least  in  the  north. 

Black  Death.  A putrid  typhus, 
in  which  the  body  turned  black  with 
rapid  putrefaction.  It  occurred  in  1348, 
and  carried  off  25  millions  in  Europe 
alone,  while  in  Asia  and  Africa  the  mor- 
tality was  even  greater. 


BLACK. 


BLACK. 


93 


Black  Diamonds.  Coals ; also 
clever  fellows  of  the  lower  orders.  Coals 
and  diamonds  are  both  carbon. 

Black  Dog.  A fiend  still  dreaded 
in  many  country  places.  {See  Dog.) 

Black  Douglas.  William  Douglas, 
lord  of  Nithsdale.  Died,  1390. 

Black  Friars.  The  Dominicans  are 
so  called  from  the  colour  of  their  habit. 

Black  Friday.  The  6th  December, 
1745,  the  day  on  which  the  news  arrived 
in  London  that  the  Pretender  had  reached 
Derby. 

Black-guards.  Miss  Strickland 
says  : “ The  scullions  and  inferior  ser- 
vants of  the  English  court  for  many 
centuries  were  clad  in  hlacJc,  and  were 
familiarly  called  the  royal  black- guard,  or 
the  black-guards  of  England.” — Henry 
VII L,  vol.  iii.,  p.  245. 

Gifford,  in  his  edition  of  Ben  Jonson, 
says  : ‘^In  all  great  houses  there  were  a 
number  of  dirty  dependents,  whose  office 
it  was  to  attend  the  wool-yards,  sculleries, 
&c.  Of  these  the  most  forlorn  were  se- 
lected to  carry  coals  to  the  kitchen.  They 
rode  with  the  pots  and  pans,  and  were  in 
derision  called  the  black-guards.” 

In  the  lord  steward’s  office  a pro- 
clamation (May  7,  1683)  begins  thus  : 

'^Whereas a sort  of  vicious,  idle,  and 

masterless  boyes  and  rogues,  commonly 
called  the  Black-guard,  with  divers  other 

lewd  and  loose  fellows do  usually 

haunt  and  follow  the  court Wee  do 

hereby  strictly  charge all  those  so 

called with  all  other  loose,  idle 

men who  have  intruded  themselves 

into  his  Majesty’s  court  and  stables 

to  depart  upon  pain  of  imprisonment.” 

A mob  is  called  the  fourth  regiment  of 
Foot  Guards.  The  first  is  the  Grena- 
diers ; the  second,  the  Coldstream ; the 
third,  the  Scotch  Fusiliers;  and  the 
fourth,  the  Black-guards. 

Black  Hole  of  Calcutta.  A dark 
cell  in  a prison  into  which  Suraja  Dow- 
lah  thrust  146  British  prisoners.  Next 
morning  only  twenty-three  were  found 
alive.  (1756.) 

Black  Horse.  The  7th  Hussars  are 
called  “ The  Black  Horse,”  because  they 
are  a horse  regiment,  and  their  regimental 
facings  are  Hack. 


Black  Jack.  Black  Jack  rides  a 
good  horse  (Cornish).  The  miners  call 
blende  or  sulphide  of  zinc  Black  Jack,” 
the  occurrence  of  which  is  considered  by 
them  a favourable  indication.  The  blende 
rides  upon  a lode  of  good  ore. 

Black-leg.  A swindler,  especially  in 
cards  and  races.  So  called  from  game- 
cocks, whose  legs  are  always  black. 

Black  Letter.  The  Gothic  or  Ger- 
man type.  So  called  because  of  its  black 
appearance. 

Black  Letter  Day.  An  unlucky 
day  ; one  to  be  recalled  with  regret.  The 
Komans  marked  their  unlucky  days  with 
a piece  of  black  charcoal,  and  their  lucky 
ones  with  white  chalk. 

Black-letter  dogs.  Literary  antiquaries 
who  poke  and  pry  into  every  hole  and 
corner  to  find  out  black-letter  copies  of 
books. 

By  fell  black-letter  dogs 

That  from  Gothic  kennels  eager  strut. 

Matthias,  “ Pursuits  of  Litemture.'* 

Black  Lists.  Lists  of  insolvency 
and  bankruptcy,  for  the  private  guidance 
of  the  mercantile  community.  {See  Black 
Books.) 

Black  Mail.  Money  given  to  free- 
booters by  way  of  exempting  property 
from  depredation.  (Saxon,  mat,  rent- 
tax  French  maille,  an  old  coin  worth  *083 
farthing).  Grass  mail  was  rent  paid  for 
pasturage.  Mails  and  duties  (Scotch) 
are  rents  of  an  estate  in  money  or  other- 
wise. Black,”  meaning  unlawful, 
wicked,  is  found  in  such  expressions  as 
hlack-art,  Hack-guard^  &c. 

To  levy  Hack  mail  now  means  to  exact 
exorbitant  charges;  thus  the  cabs  and 
omnibuses  during  the  Great  Exhibition 
years  ^Hevied  black  mail”  on  the  public. 

Black  Man.  The  Evil  One. 

Black  Monday.  Easter  Monday, 
April  14, 1360,  was  so  called.  Edward  III. 
was  with  his  army  lying  before  Paris, 
and  the  day  was  so  dark,  with  mist  and 
hail,  so  bitterly  cold  and  so  windy,  that 
many  of  his  horses  and  men  died.  Mon- 
day after  Easter  holidays  is  called  Black 
Monday,”  in  allusion  to  this  fatal  day. 
Launcelot  says — 

It  was  not  for  nothing  that  my  nose  fell  a- 
bleeding  on  Black  Monday  last,  at  six  o’clock  i’ 
the  Shakespeare,  Merchant  of  Venice,” 

ii.  5, 

February  27, 1865,  was  so  called  in  Mel- 
bourne from  a terrible  sirocco  from  the 


94 


BLACK. 


BLADUD. 


N.N.W.,  which  produced  dreadful  havoc 
between  Sandhurst  and  Castlemaine. 

Black  Money.  Base  coin  brought 
to  England  by  foreigners,  and  prohibited 
by  Edward  III. 

Black  Ox.  The  black  ox  has  trod  on 
his  foot—i.e.,  misfortune  has  come  to 
him.  Black  oxen  were  sacrificed  to  Pluto 
and  other  infernal  deities,  consequently 
they  were  held  accursed,  and  for  one  of 
these  animals  to  tread  on  your  foot  was 
a sign  of  evil  at  hand. 

Black  Prince.  Edward,  prince  of 
Wales,  son  of  Edward  III.  Froissart 
says  he  was  styled  black  by  terror  of 
his  arms  ” (c.  169).  Strutt  confirms  this 
saying  : for  his  martial  deeds  surnamed 
Black  the  Prince”  {Antiquities).  Mey- 
rick  says  there  is  not  the  slightest  proof 
that  Edward,  prince  of  Wales,  ever  wore 
black  armour  (vol.  ii. ) ; indeed,  we  have 
much  indirect  proof  against  the  supposi- 
tion. Thus  Shaw  (vol.  i.,  plate  31)  gives 
a fac- simile  from  a picture  on  the  wall  of 
St.  Stephen’s  Chapel,  Westminster,  in 
which  the  prince  is  clad  in  gilt  armour. 
Stothard  says  ‘Hhe  effigy  is  of  copper 
gilt.”  In  the  British  Museum  is  an  illu- 
mination of  Edward  III.  granting  to  his 
son  the  duchy  of  Aquitaine,  in  which  both 
figures  are  represented  in  silver  armour 
with  gilt  joints.  The  first  mention  of 
the  terra  Black  Prince”  occurs  in  a 
parliamentary  paper  of  the  second  year 
of  Eichard  II.  ; so  that  Shakespeare  has 
good  reason  for  the  use  of  the  word  in 
his  tragedy  of  that  king — 

Brave  Gaunt,  tliy  father  and  myself 
llescued  the  Black  Prince,  that  young  Mars  of  men, 
From  forth  the  ranks  of  many  thousand  French. 

“ Richard  II.”  ii.  3. 

Black  Bepublicans.  The  Eepub- 
licans  were  so  called  by  the  pro-slavery 
party  of  the  States,  because  they  resisted 
the  introduction  of  slavery  into  any  State 
where  it  was  not  already  recognised. 

Black  Hood  of  Scotland.  The 

piece  of  the  true  cross  ” or  rood,  set  in 
an  ebony  crucifix,  which  Margaret,  the 
wife  of  king  Malcolm,  left  at  death  to  the 
Scottish  nation.  It  passed  into  various 
hands,  but  was  lost  at  the  Eeformation. 

Black  Saturday.  The  4th  August, 
1621  ; so  called  in  Scotland,  because  a 
violent  storm  occurred  at  the  very 
moment  the  Parliament  was  sitting  to 
enforce  episcopacy  on  the  people. 


Black  Sea.  So  called  from  the 
abounding  black  rock  in  the  extensive 
coal-fields  between  the  Bos'phorus  and 
Herac'lea. 

Black  Sheep  {Kdrd-Koin-loo).  A 
tribe  of  Turkomans,  so  called  from  their 
standards.  This  tribe  was  extirpated  by 
the  White  Sheep  (q.v.) 

A Black  Sheep.  A disgrace  to  the 
family;  a mauvais  sujetj  a workman  who 
will  not  join  in  a strike.  Black  sheep 
are  looked  on  with  dislike  by  shepherds, 
and  are  not  so  valuable  as  white  ones. 

Black  Standard.  The  dress,  tur- 
bans, and  standards  of  the  Abasside 
caliphs  were  all  black. — D'Herbelot. 

Black  Swan.  {See  Bara  Avis.) 

Black  Thursday.  February  6, 
1851  ; so  called  in  the  colony  of  Victoria, 
from  a terrible  bush- fire  which  then 
occurred. 

Black  W ateh.  Companies  employed 
to  watch  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 
They  dressed  in  a black”  or  dark  tar- 
tan (1725).  Subsequently  they  were  en- 
rolled into  the  42nd  regiment,  under  the 
earl  of  Crawford,  in  1737.  Their  tartan  is 
still  called  The  Black  Watch  Tartan.” 

Blackamoor.  Washing  the  blacka- 
moor white — i.e.,  engaged  upon  a hope- 
less and  useless  task.  The  allusion  is  to 
one  of  .^sop’s  fables  so  entitled. 

Blackness.  All  faces  shall  gather 
blackness  (Joel  ii.  6) — i.e.,  be  downcast  in 
consequence  of  trouble. 

Blacksmith.  The  learned  blacksmith. 
Elihu  Burritt,  U.S.  Born,  1811. 

Blad'amour.  The  friend  of  Par'idel, 
in  Spenser’s  Faery  Queen.”  The  poet 
had  his  eye  upon  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland, one  of  the  leaders  in  the  northern 
insurrection  of  1569.  {See  ParTdel.) 

Blade.  A knowing  blade,  a sharp 
fellow ; a regular  blade,  a buck  or  fop. 
(Saxon,  blad  or  bleed,  a branch  or  sprig.) 

Bladud.  A mythical  king  of  Eng- 
land, and  father  of  king  Lear.  He 
built  the  city  of  Bath,  and  dedicated  the 
medicinal  springs  to  Minerva.  Bladud 
studied  magic,  and  attempting  to  fly, 
fell  into  the  temple  of  Apollo,  and  was 
dashed  to  pieces. — Geoffrey  of  Monmouth. 

Inexhaustible  as  Bladud’ s weYL—Thackiray. 


BLAISE. 


BLEMMYES. 


95 


Blaise,  St,  Patron  saint  of  wool- 
combers,  because  he  suffered  martyrdom 
by  being  torn  to  pieces  with  iron  combs. 

Blanche'fleur.  The  heroine  of 
Boccaccio’s  prose  romance  called  II 
Filocopo.”  Her  lover  Flores  is  Boccaccio 
himself,  and  Blanchefleur  was  a young 
lady  passionately  beloved  by  him,  the 
natural  daughter  of  king  Eobert.  The 
story  of  Blanchefleur  and  Flores  is  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  that  of  Dor'igen 
and  Aurelius,  by  Chaucer,  and  that  of 
Diano'ra  and  Ansaldo  in  the  ^^Deca- 
meron.” (^eeDiANORA  and  Dorigen.) 

Blan'diman.  The  faithful  man- 
servant of  fair  Bellisant  {q.v.'),  who 
attended  her  when  she  was  divorced. — 
Valentine  and  Orson, 

Blaney.  A wealthy  heir,  ruined  by 
dissipation,  in  Crabbe’s  ‘^Borough.” 

Misery  and  mirth  are  blended  in  his  face, 

Much  innate  vileness  and  some  outward  grace : . . . 
The  serpent’s  cunning  and  the  sinner’s  fall. 

Letter  xiv. 

Blanket.  So  called  from  Thomas 
Blanket,  who  established  a manufactory 
for  these  goods  at  Bristol,  in  1340. 

Blare.  To  cry  with  a great  noise, 
like  a child  in  a tricky  temper ; to  bellow. 
(Old  Belgic,  Uaren;  Teutonic,  hlarren ; 
Latin,  ploroy  to  weep  with  noise.) 

Blarney.  None  of  your  hlarney.  Soft, 
wheedling  speeches  to  gain  some  end ; 
sugar-words.  Cormuck  Macarthy  held 
the  castle  of  Blarney  in  1602,  and  con- 
cluded an  armistice  with  Carew,  the 
lord  president,  on  condition  of  sur- 
rendering the  fort  to  the  English  garri- 
son. Day  after  day  his  lordship  looked 
for  the  fulfilment  of  the  terms,  but  re- 
ceived nothing  except  protocols  and  soft 
speeches,  till  he  became  the  laughing- 
stock of  Elizabeth’s  ministers,  and  the 
dupe  of  the  lord  of  Blarney. 

To  Jciss  the  Blarney  Stone.  Whoever 
does  this  shall  be  able  to  persuade  to 
anything.  The  Blarney  Stone  is  tri- 
angular, lowered  from  the  north  angle  of 
the  castle,  about  twenty  feet  from  the 
top,  and  containing  this  inscription  : 
'^Cormack  Mac  Carthy  fortis  me  fieri 
fecit,  A.D.  1446.” 

The  word  Blarney,  which  is  Bladh-ey 
(flowery  island),  may  have  given  use  to 
the  strange  tradition. 


Blasphemous  Balfour.  Sir  J ames 
Balfour,  the  Scottish  judge,  was  so  called 
because  of  his  apostacy.  He  died  1583. 

Blatant  Beast.  ‘‘A  dreadful  fiend 
of  gods  and  men,  yd  rad ; ” type  of  Com- 
mon Rumour”  or  Slander.”  He  has 
100  tongues  and  a sting ; with  his  tongues 
he  speaks  things  '^most  shameful,  most 
unrighteous,  most  untrue  ; ” and  with 
his  sting  steeps  them  in  poison.”  Sir 
Calidore  muzzled  the  monster,  and  drew 
him  with  a chain  to  Faery  Land.  After 
a time  the  beast  broke  his  chain  and  re- 
gained his  liberty.  (Saxon,  hlcetan^  to 
bellow.) — Sjpenserj  Faery  Queen f bks. 
V.,  vi. 

Blayney’s  Bloodhounds.  The 
89th  Foot  is  so  called  because  of  their 
unei*ring  certainty,  and  untiring  perse- 
verance in  hunting  down  the  Irish  rebels 
in  1798,  when  the  corps  was  commanded 
by  lord  Blayney. 

Blazon,  Blazonry.  To  blazon  is  to 
announce  with  a trumpet,  hence  the 
Ghost  in  Hamlet  ” says,  ‘‘  But  this  eter- 
nal blazon  must  not  be  to  ears  of  flesh 
and  blood” — i.e.^  this  babbling  about 
eternal  things,  or  things  of  the  other 
world,  must  not  be  made  to  persons  still 
in  the  flesh.  Knights  were  wont  to  be 
announced  by  the  blast  of  a trumpet 
on  their  entrance  into  the  lists ; the 
flourish  was  answered  by  the  heralds, 
who  described  aloud  the  arms  and  devices 
borne  by  the  knight;  hence  to  blazon 
came  to  signify  to  describe  the  charges 
borne  ; ” and  blazonry  is  ^Hhe  science  of 
describing  or  deciphering  arms.”  (Ger- 
man, Uasen,  to  blow.) 

Blear-eyed,  The.  Aurelius  Bran- 
doli'ni,  the  Italian  poet,  called  II  Lipyo. 
(1440-1497.) 

Bleed.  To  maTce  a man  Meed  is  to 
make  him  pay  dearly  for  something ; to 
victimise  him.  Money  is  the  life-blood 
of  commerce. 

Blefus'ca.  An  island  severed  from 
Lilli  put  by  a channel  800  yards  wide, 
inhabited  by  pigmies.  Swift  meant  it 
for  France. — Gulliver's  Travels. 

Blemmyes  (of  Africa).  Men  said 
to  have  no  head,  their  eyes  and  mouth 
being  placed  in  the  breast.  {See  Acepha- 
UTES.) 


95 


BLENHEIM. 


BLOOD. 


Blenheim  Dog.  A small  spaniel, 
so  called  from  Blenheim  palace  in  Oxford- 
shire, where  the  breed  has  been  preserved 
ever  since  the  palace  was  built. 

Blenheim  House  (Oxfordshire). 
The  house  given  by  the  nation  to  the 
duke  of  Marlborough,  for  his  victory 
over  the  French  at  Blenheim,  in  Bavaria, 
in  the  reign  of  queen  Anne  (1704). 

When  Europe  freed  confessed  the  saving  power 
Of  Marlborough’s  hand,"  Britain,  who  sent  him 

forth, 

Chief  of  confederate  hosts,  to  fight  the  cause 
Of  liberty  and  justice,  grateful  raised 
This  palace,  sacred  to  the  leader’s  fame, 

Littleton,  “ Blenheim'^ 

Blessing. 

The  Pope  blesses  with  three  fingers, 
symbolical  of  the  Trinity,  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

The  inferior  orders  of  the  hierarchy 
bless  with  both  hands,  in  the  name  of  the 
holy  archangels  and  angels.  Utra'que 
manus  in  benedicendo  clerhcis  inferioTi- 
bus  necessaria  est.” 

The  humblest  clerks,  such  as  deacons 
and  sacristans,  bless  with  brushes  which 
sprinkle  holy  water,  the  superiority  of 
number  making  up  for  the  ioferiority  of 
rank. 

Blest,  ril  be  blest  if  I do  it.  I am 
resolved  not  to  do  it.  A euphemism  for 
curst. 

Blets.  Eotten  spots  upon  apples, 
pears,  &c.  (Saxon,  hlcectha,  a blotch. 
Bletting  means  rotting.) 

Blikian'dabol  (splendid  misery). 
The  canopy  of  the  goddess  Hel  (q.v.). 

Blimber.  Miss  Blimber.  A blue 
stocking,  who  knows  the  dead  languages, 
and  wears  learned  spectacles.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  Blimber,  a fossil 
schoolmaster  of  the  high  and  dry  gram- 
mar type. — BicTcens,  I) ombey  and  Son.’* 

Blind.  Blind  leaders  of  the  blind. 
The  allusion  is  to  a sect  of  the  Pharisees, 
who  were  wont  to  shut  their  eyes  when 
they  walked  abroad,  and  often  ran  their 
heads  against  a wall  or  fell  into  a ditch. 
(Matt.  XV.  14.) 

That’s  a mere  blind.  A pretence ; 
something  ostensible  to  conceal  a covert 
design.  The  metaphor  is  from  window- 
blinds,  which  prevent  outsiders  from 
seeing  into  a room. 


A blind  alley.  A ^^cul  de  sac,”  an 
alley  with  no  outlet.  It  is  blind  because 
it  has  no  eye  ” or  passage  through  it. 

A blind  ditch.  One  which  cannot  be 
seen.  Here  blind  means  obscure,  as  a 
blind  milage. 

Blind  as  a beetle.  Beetles  are  not  blind, 
but  the  dor-beetle  or  hedge-chafer,  in  its 
rapid  flight,  will  occasionally  bump 
against  one  as  if  it  could  not  see.  {See 
Mole.) 

The  Blind : — 

Francesco  Bello,  called  II  deco. 

Lui'gi  Groto,  called  II  Cieco,  the  Italian 
poet.  (1541-1585.) 

Lieutenant  James  Holman,  The  Blind 
Traveller.  (1787-1857.) 

Ludwig  III.,  emperor  of  Germany, 
L’Aveugle.  (880,  890  934.) 

John  Parry,  the  blind  harper,  died 
1739. 

Blind  Beggar  of  Bethnal  Green.  A 
public-house  sign  in  the  Whitechapel 
Road. — Rotten,  ^‘History  of  Sign-boards.” 
{See  Beggar.) 

Blind  Harry.  A Scotch  minstrel  of 
the  fifteenth  century.  His  epic  of  ^‘Sir 
William  Wallace  ” runs  to  11,861  lines. 

Blindman’s  Holiday.  The  hour 
of  dusk,  when  it  is  too  dark  to  work, 
and  too  soon  to  light  candles.  All  then 
are  exempt  from  work,  like  blind  men, 
who,  for  the  most  part,  keep  perpetual 
holiday. 

Blockhead.  A stupid  person ; one 
without  brains.  The  allusion  is  to  a 
wig-maker’s  dummy  or  tete  d jperruque, 
on  which  he  fits  his  wigs. 

Your  wit  will  not  so  soon  out  as  another  man’s 
will ; ’tis  strongly  wedged  up  in  a hlock-head.— 
Shakespeare,  “ Coriolanus,”  ii.  3. 

Blood.  A rake,  a fast  man ; common 
in  the  regency  of  George  IV.  A term 
taken  from  blood  horses. 

Blood  of  our  Saviour.  An  order  of 
knighthood  in  Mantua,  so  cal'ed  because 
their  special  office  was  to  guard  ‘^the 
drops  of  the  Saviour’s  blood  ” preserved 
in  St.  Andrew’s  church,  Maaitua. 

Blood  and  iron  policy — i.e.,  war  policy. 
No  explanation  needed. 

Laws  written  in  blood.  Dema'des  said 
that  the  laws  of  Draco  were  written  in 
blood,  because  every  offence  was  punished 
by  death. 

The  field  of  blood.  Acel'dama  (Acts 
i.  19),  the  piece  of  ground  purchased  with 
the  blood-money  of  our  Saviour,  and  sot 
apart  for  the  burial  of  strangers. 


BLOODHOUND. 


BLUE. 


97 


The  field  of  the  battle  of  Camifc,  wliere 
Hannibal  defeated  the  Romans,  b c.  216. 

Bloodliound.  Figuratively,  one  who 
follows  up  an  enemy  with  pertinacity. 
Bloodhounds  used  to  be  employed  for 
tracking  wounded  game  by  the  blood 
spilt ; subsequently  they  were  employed 
for  tracking  criminals  and  slaves  who 
had  made  their  escape,  and  were  hunters 
of  blood,  not  hunters  hy  blood. 

Bloody,  The.  Otho  H.,  emperor  of 
Germany.  (955,  973-983.) 

The  Bloody  Eleventh,  go  called  from 
their  having  been  several  times  nearly 
annihilated,  as  at  Alamanza,  Foiitenoy. 
Boucoux,  Ostend,  and  Salamanca. 

Bloody  Assizes.  The  infamous 
assizes  held  by  Judge  Jeffreys  in  1685, 
when  some  300  persons  were  executed, 
more  whipped  or  imprisoned,  and  nearly 
a thousand  sent  to  the  plantations  as 
slaves. 

Bloody  Bill.  The  31st  Henry  VIII., 
c.  14,  which  denounced  death  by  hanging 
or  burning  on  all  who  denied  the  doctrine 
of  transubstantiation. 

Bloody-bones.  A hobgoblin. 

Bloody  Butcher.  {See  Butcher.) 

Bloody  Wedding.  St.  Bartholo- 
mew’s slaughter  in  1572  is  so  called  be- 
cause it  took  place  during  the  marriage 
feast  of  Henri  (afterwards  Henri  IV.)  and 
Marguerite  (daughter  of  Catharine  de’ 
Medici). 

Bloom'erism.  A female  costume, 
so  called  from  Mrs.  Amelia  Bloomer,  of 
New  York,  who  tried  in  1849  to  introduce 
the  fashion. 

Blount,  Charles.  Author  of  some 
deist ical  writings  in  the  time  of  Charles 
II.  (1654-1693.) 

He  heard  of  Blount,  &c.—Crabbe,  Borough^ 

Blouse.  A short  smock-frock,  worn 
by  the  artisans  of  France ; so  called  from 
its  ordinary  colour,  which  is  blue. 

N.B. — The  French  mob  is  often  called 
The  blouses. 

Blow.  To  inform  against  a com- 
panion; to  ^^peach.”  The  reference  is 
to  the  announcing  of  knights  by  blast 
of  trumpet. 

To  hlmv  hot  and  oold  (or)  To  blow  hot 
and  cola  ivith  the  same  breath.  To  be  in- 
consistent. The  allusion  is  the  fable  of  a 


traveller  who  was  entertained  by  a satyr. 
Being  cold,  the  traveller  blew  his  fingers 
to  warm  them,  and  afterwards  blew  his 
hot  broth  to  cool  it.  The  satyr,  in  great 
indignation,  turned  him  out  of  doors,  be- 
cause he  blew  both  hot  and  cold  with  the 
same  breath. 

I will  bhiv  him  up  shy  high.  Give  him 
a good  scolding.  A regular  bloioing  wp 
is  a thorough  jobation.  The  metaphor 
is  from  blasting  by  gunpowder. 

Blow  a Cloud.  To  smoke  a cigar  or 
pipe.  This  term  was  in  use  in  Queen 
Elizabeth’s  reign. 

Blow  Me  (an  oath).  You  be  blowed 
(an  oath),  a play  on  the  word  Dash  me, 
which  is  a euphemism  for  a more  offen- 
sive oath. 

Blow  Out.  A 'Huck  in,’^  or  feast 
which  swells  out  th©  paunch. 

Blown  Herrings  are  bloated  her- 
rings, so  dried  with  smoke  as  to  bloat  or 
swell  them.  The  French  bouffli  (blown) 
is  analogous  to  both  expressions. 

Blowzelin'da.  A country  maiden 
in  Gay’s  pastoral  called  The  Shepherd’s 
Week.” 

Sweet  is  my  toil  when  Blowzelind  is  near ; 

Of  her  hereft,  ’tis  winter  all  the  year.  . . . 

Come,  Blowzelinda,  ease  thy  swain’s  desire, 

My  summer’s  shadow  and  my  winter’s  tire. 
Pastoral  i. 

Blubber.  To  cry  like  a child,  with 
noise  and  slavering.  Connected  with 
slobber,  slaver. 

Blue  or  Azure  is  the  symbol  of 
Divine  eternity  and  human  immortality. 
Consequently,  it  is  a mortuary  colour— 
hence  its  use  in  covering  the  coffins  of 
young  persons.  When  used  for  the  gar- 
ment of  an  angel,  it  signifies  faith  and 
fidelity.  As  the  dress  of  the  Virgin,  it 
indicates  modesty.  When  worn  at  the 
celebration  of  the  mass^  it  denotes 
humanity  and  expiation.  In  blazonry,  it 
signifies  chastity,  loyalty,  fidelity,  and  a 
spotless  reputation. 

The  Covenanters  wore  blue  as  their 
badge,  in  opposition  to  the  scarlet  of 
royalty.  They  based  their  choice  on 
Numb.  XV.  38,  Speak  unto  the  children 
of  Israel,  and  bid  them  that  they  make 
them  fringes  in  the  borders  of  their 
garments  . . . and  that  they  put  upon 
the  fringe  ...  a ribband  of  blue.” 


a 


98 


BLUES, 


BLUE  DEVILS. 


Butchers  wear  blue  aprons  and  blouses, 
because  blue  does  not  show  the  stains  of 
blood,  like  white,  &c.  A blood-stain  on 
blue  does  not  dry  red,  but  purple. 

True  Blue.  This  is  a Spanish  phrase, 
and  refers  to  the  notion  that  real  aristo- 
cratic families  have  blue  blood  in  their 
veins,  while  the  blood  of  inferior  persons 
approaches  more  or  less  to  a black  hue. 
Hence  the  French  phrases,  sang  hleu 
(aristocratic  blood)  and  sang  noir  (com- 
moners’ blood).  {See  Sang.) 

True  blue  will  never  stain.  A really 
noble  heart  will  never  disgrace  itself. 
The  reference  is  to  blue  aprons,  &c., 
which  do  not  show  stains.  {See  the  two 
lireceding. ) 

^ Tu-as  Pre^ibytei'ian  true  blue  (Hudibras, 
1.  1).  The  allusion  is  to  the  blue  apron 
which  some  of  the  Presbyterian  preachers 
used  to  throw  over  their  preaching-tub 
before  they  began  to  address  the  people. 
In  one  of  the  Rump  songs  we  read  of  a 
person  going  to  hear  a lecture,  and  the 
song  says — 

Where  I a tub  did  view, 

Hung  with  an  apron  blue; 

’Twas  the  preacher’s,  I conjecture. 

The  Blue  Ribbon  of  the  Turf.  The 
Derby.  Lord  George  Bentinck  sold  his 
stud,  and  found  to  his  vexation  that  one 
of  the  horses  sold  won  the  Derby  a few 
months  afterwards.  Bewailing  his  ill- 
luck,  he  said  to  Disraeli,  Ah  ! you  don’t 
know  what  the  Derby  is.”  Yes,  I do,” 
replied  Disraeli ; ‘‘  it  is  the  blue  ribbon 
of  the  turf,”  alluding  to  the  term  cordon 
blue  {q.v.). 

To  look  blue.  To  be  disconcerted.  He 
was  blue  in  the  face : aghast  with  wonder. 
The  effect  of  fear  and  wonder  is  to  drive 
the  colour  from  the  cheeks,  and  give 
them  a pale-bluish  tinge. 

Blues.  The  Blues  of  Constantinople 
were  a political  party  in  the  reign  of 
Tustinian,  opposed  to  the  Greens  of  Anas- 
ta'sius.  Ever  since  this  time  blue  has 
been  the  emblem  of  royalty  at  Rome. 

Blue-apron.  A blue-apron  states- 
man. A lay  politician,  a tradesman  who 
interferes  with  the  affairs  of  the  nation. 
The  reference  is  to  the  blue  apron  once 
worn  by  almost  all  tradesmen,  but  now 
restricted  to  butchers,  poulterers,  fish- 
jnongers,  and  eo  on. 


Bluebeard.  A bogey,  a merciless 
tyrant,  in  Charles  Perrault’s  “ Contes  du 
Temps.”  The  tale  of  Bluebeard  (Cheva- 
lier Raoul)  is  known  to  every  child,  but 
many  have  speculated  on  the  original 
of  this  despot.  Some  say  it  was  a satire 
on  Henry  VIII.,  of  wife-killing  notoriety. 
Dr.  C.  Taylor  thinks  it  is  a type  of  the 
castle  lords  in  the  days  of  knight- 
errantry.  Hoi  in  shed  calls  Giles  de  Retz, 
Marquis  de  Laval,  the  original  Bluebeard. 
This  Giles  or  Gilles  lived  at  Machecoul, 
in  Brittany,  was  accused  of  murdering 
six  of  his  seven  wives,  and  was  ultimately 
strangled  and  burnt  in  1440. 

The  Bluebeard  chamber  of  his  mind,  into  which 
no  eye  but  liis  own  must  look.— Carlyle. 

Blue  Blood.  {See  Sang  Bleu.)' 

Blue  Boar.  A public-house  sign ; 
the  cognisance  of  Richard  III.  In 
Leicester,  is  a lane  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Nicholas,  called  the  Blue  Boar  Lane,  be- 
cause Richard  slept  there  the  night 
before  the  battle  of  Bosworth  Field. 

The  bristly  boar,  in  infant  gore, 

Wallows  beneath  the  thorny  shade. 

Gray,  “ The  Bard.'* 

Blue  Book.  Parliamentary  reports 
presented  by  royalty  to  both  Houses  of 
Parliament.  Each  volume  is  in  folio,  and 
covered  with  a blue  wrapper. 

Blue  Bottle.  A policeman ; so  called 
from  the  colour  of  his  dress.  Shake- 
speare makes  Doll  Tearsheet  denounce 
the  Beadle  as  a ^‘blue-bottle  rogue” 
(2  Hen.  IV.,  v.  4). 

Blue  Caps  or  Blue  Bonnets.  The 
Scotch. 

He  is  there,  too,  . . . and  a thousand  blue  caps 

moYO.— Shakespeare,  “ 1 Hem'y  IV.”  ii.  4. 

England  shall  many  a day 
Tell  of  the  bloody  fray. 

When  the  blue  bonnets  came  over  the  border. 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Blue-coat  School.  Christ’s  Hos- 
pital is  so  called  because  the  boys  there 
wear  a long  blue  coat  girded  at  the  loins 
with  a leather  belt.  Some  who  attend 
the  mathematical  school  are  termed 
King’s  boys,  and  those  who  constitute 
the  highest  class  are  Grecians. 

Blue  Devils  (or)  A fit  of  the  blues. 
A ht  of  spleen,  low  spirits.  Roach 
and  Esquirol  affirm,  from  observation, 
that  indigo  dyers  are  especially  subject 
to  melancholy;  and  that  those  who  dye 
scarlet  are  choleric.  Paracelsus  also 


BLUE  GOWNS. 


BOA. 


99 


asserts  that  blue  is  injurious  to  the  health 
und  spirits.  There  may,  therefore,  be 
more  science  in  calling  melancholy  hliie 
than  is  generally  allowed.  The  German 
hlei  (lead)  which  gives  rise  to  our  slang 
word  hlue  or  Ijhiey  (lead),  seems  to  bear 
upon  the  ^Geaden  downcast  eyes”  of 
melancholy. 

Blue-gowns.  The  bedesmen,  to 
whom  the  kings  of  Scotland  distributed 
certain  alms.  Their  dress  was  a cloak  or 
gown  of  coarse  blue  cloth,  with  a pewter 
badge ; and  their  number  was  equal  to 
that  of  the  king’s  years,  so  that  an  extra 
one  was  added  every  returning  birthday. 
These  paupers  were  privileged  to  ask 
alms  through  the  whole  realm  of  Scotland. 
No  new  member  has  been  added  since 
1833.  {See  GABERLrNziE.) 

Blue  Hen.  Captain  Caldwell  used 
to  say  that  no  cock  could  be  truly  game 
whose  mother  was  not  a blue  hen.  As 
Caldwell  commanded  the  1st  Delaware 
regiment  in  the  war,  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware was  nicknamed  hlue  hen. 

Your  mother  was  a hlue  hen,  no  doiiht. 
A reproof  given  to  a braggart.  {See  above. ) 

Blue-light  Federalists.  A name 
given  to  those  Americans  who  were  be- 
lieved to  have  made  friendly  (‘^blue- 
light”)  signals  to  British  ships  in  the 
war.  (1812.) 

Blue-mantle.  The  English  pur- 
suivant-at-arms is  so  called  from  his  offi- 
cial robe. 

Blue-noses.  The  Nova  Scotians. 

Blue  Peter.  A flag  with  a blue 
ground  and  white  square  in  the  centre, 
hoisted  as  a signal  that  the  ship  is  about 
to  sail.  Peter  is  a corruption  of  the 
French  pavtir  (leave  or  notice  of  depar- 
ture), the  flag  being  hoisted  to  give  notice 
to  the  town  that  any  person  having  a 
money-claim  may  make  it  before  the 
ship  starts,  and  that  all  about  to  sail  are 
to  come  on  board. 

Blue  Buin.  Gin.  Called  hlue  from 
its  tint,  and  ruin  from  its  effects. 

Blue  Stocking.  A female  pedant. 
Tn  1400  a society  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men was  formed  at  Venice,  distinguished 
by  the  colour  of  their  stockings,  and 
tailed  de  la  calza.  It  lasted  till  1590, 
when  it  appeared  in  Paris,  and  was  the 
rage  among  the  lady  savantes.  From 


France  it  came  to  England  in  1780,  when 
Mrs.  Mon'tague  displayed  the  badge  of 
the  Bas-bleu  club  at  her  evening  assem- 
blies. Mr.  Stillingfleet  was  a constant 
attendant  of  the  soirees,  and  went  by  the 
name  of  Blue  Stockings.  The  last  of  the 
clique  was  Miss  Monckton,  afterwards 
countess  of  Cork,  who  died  1840. 

Bluff  Harry  or  Henry  VII 1., 

so  called  from  his  bluff  and  burly  man- 
ners. (1491-1547.) 

Blunderbore.  The  giant  who  was 
drowned,  because  Jack  scuttled  his  boat. 
— Jack  the  Giant  Killer. 

Blunderbuss.  A blunderer;  the 
pun  is  on  the  word  hhmder. 

Blunt.  Silver  money,  from  the  French 
blond.  So  copper  coins  are  called  hroivns  ; 
gold,  yellow  hoys  ; and  the  silver  or  white 
penny  a wyn  ( W elsh,  gwyn,  white).  There 
is  also  a small  white  Moorish  coin  called 
hlanquillo. 

Blunt,  Major-General.  An  old  cava- 
lier officer,  rough  in  speech,  but  very 
brave  and  honest,  of  good  understanding, 
and  a true  patriot.  — Shadwell,  “ The 
Volunteers.'' 

Bo  or  Boh,  in  old  Hunic,  was  a fierce 
Gothic  captain,  son  of  Odin.  His  name 
was  used  by  his  soldiers  when  they  would 
fight  or  surprise  the  enemy. — Sir  William 
Tem'ple. 

From  this  name  comes  our  bogie,  a hob- 
goblin or  little  Bo.  Gifford  castle  is 
called  Bo  Hall,  being  said  to  have  been 
constructed  by  bogies  or  magic.  {See 
Bogie.  ) 

You  cannot  say  Bo!  to  a goose — i.e., 
you  are  a coward  who  dare  not  say  bo ! 
even  to  a fool.  Vvhen  Ben  Jonson  was 
introduced  to  a nobleman,  the  peer  was 
so  struck  with  his  homely  appearance 
that  he  exclaimed,  “ What ! are  you 
Ben  Jonson  ? Why,  you  look  as  if  you 
could  not  say  Bo!  to  a goose.”  “Bo!” 
exclaimed  the  witty  dramatist,  turning 
to  the  peer,  and  making  his  bow. 

Bo-tree.  A corruption  of  Bodhidru'ma 
(the  tree  of  wisdom),  under  which  Sakya- 
muni  used  to  sit,  when  he  concocted  the 
system  called  Buddhism. 

Boa.  Pliny  says  the  word  is  from 
hos  (a  cow),  and  arose  from  the  suppo- 
sition that  the  boa  sucked  the  milk  of 
cows. 

H 2 


100 


BOANERGES. 


BOB. 


Boaner'ges  (4  syl.)*  A pet  parson  of 
the  lion  genus,  who  anathematises  and 
deals  out  his  doctrines  of  election  and 
reprobation  with  fearless  assurance. 
Mrs.  Oliphant,  in  her  Salem  Chapel,” 
describes  this  popular  pulpiteer  as  one 
who  preaches  real  rousing-up  dis- 
courses, but  sits  down  pleasant  to  his 
tea,  and  makes  hisself  friendly.” 

Boanerges  (sons  of  thunder).  A name 
given  to  James  and  John,  the  sons  of 
Zeb'edee,  because  they  wanted  to  call 
down  fire  from heaA^’en ” to  consume  the 
Samaritans  for  not  receiving”  the  Lord 
Jesus  (Luke  ix.  54;  see  Mark  iii.  17). 

Boar.  The  Boar.  Richard  III. ; so 
called  from  his  cognisance. 

The  wretched,  Woody,  and  usurping  hoar 
That  spoiled  your  summer  fields  and  fruitful  vines; 
. . . This  foul  swine  . . . lies  now  . . . 

Near  to  the  town  of  Leicester,  as  we  learn. 

ShakesTJeare,  ''Richard  III.”  v.  3. 

The  hristled  Baptist  hoar.  So  Dryden 
denominates  the  Anabaptists  in  his 

Hind  and  Panther.” 

The  hristled  Baptist  hoar,  impure  as  he  [the  ape) , 

But  whitened  with  the  foam  of  sanctity. 

With  fat  pollutions  filled  the  sacred  place. 

And  mountains  levelled  in  his  furious  race. 

Pt.  i. 

The  wild  hoar  of  Ardennes  (Le  sanglier 
des  Ardennes),  Guillaume,  comte  de  la 
Marck,  so  called  because  he  was  fierce 
as  the  wild  boar,  which  he  delighted  to 
hunt.  Introduced  by  Sir  Walter  Scott 
as  William,  coimt  of  la  Marck,  in  Quen- 
tin Durward.” 

Boar’s  Head.  The  Christmas  dish. 
Freyr,  the  Scandinavian  god  of  peace 
and  plenty,  used  to  ride  on  the  boar 
Gullinbursti ; his  festival  was  held  at 
Yuletide  {loinier  sol  slice) , when  a boar 
was  sacri6ced  to  his  honour. . 

The  Boar's  Head.  This  tavern,  made 
immortal  by  Shakespeare,  used  to  stand 
in  Eastcheap,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
statue  of  William  IV.  It  was  the  cog- 
nisance of  the  Gordons,  the  progenitor 
of  which  clan  slew,  in  the  forest  of 
Huntley,  a wild  boar,  the  terror  of  all 
the  Merse.  (1093.) 

Board.  The  Board  of  Trade,  Board 
of  Adniiraliy,  Board  of  Directors,  ke. 
So  called  from  the  custom  still  observed 
at  the  universities,  of  writing  the  mem- 
bers’ names  on  a board.  Hence,  to  be  a 
member  is  to  have  one’s  name  on  the 
board. 


To  hoard.  To  feed  and  lodge  together, 
is  taken  from  the  custom  of  the  univer- 
sity members,  &c.,  dining  together  at  a 
common  table  or  board. 

Board,  in  sea-phrase,  is  all  that  space 
of  the  sea  which  a ship  passes  over  in 
tacking.  Hence  the  phrases — 

To  make  a good  hoard, 

To  make  a short  hoard, 

To  make  a stern  hoard. 

To  leave  the  land  on  hack-hoard^  &c. 

Til  hoard  him  presently  (^'Hamlet,” 
ii.  2).  Accost.  (French,  ahorder,  to 
accost. ) 

I will  board  her,  tho’  she  chide  as  loud 
As  thunder. 

Shakespeare,  " Taming  of  the  Shrew”  i.  2. 

Boat.  Both  in  the  same  boat.  Both 
treated  alike  ; both  placed  in  the  same 
conditions.  The  reference  is  to  tho  boat 
launched  when  a ship  is  a-wreck. 

To  be  represented  in  a boat  is  the 
ordinary  symbol  of  apotheo'sis.  Many 
sovereigns  are  so  represented  on  coins. 

Boatswain.  The  officer  who  has 
charge  of  the  boats,  sails,  rigging,  anchors, 
cordage,  cables,  and  colours.  Sw<ain  is 
the  Saxon  sivein  (a  boy,  servant),  Swodish 
sven.  Hence,  a shepherd  is  a swain,  and 
a sweetheart  is  a woman’s  servant  or 
swain. 

Boatswain.  The  name  of  Byron’s 
favourite  dog,  buried  in  Newstead  Abbey 
garden. 

Boaz  and  Jacliin,  The  names  of 
the  two  brazen  pillars  set  up  by  Solomon 
at  the  entrance  of  his  temple  — Boaz 
{strength)  on  the  left  hand,  and  Jachin 
(stahility)  on  the  right  (1  Kings  vii.  21). 

Two  pillars  raising  by  their  skill  profound, 
Boaz  and  Jachin,  thro’  the  East  renowned. 

Crahbe,  "Borough.” 

Bob.  A shilling.  A contraction  of 
hauhee  {q.v.). 

To  give  the  hoh  to  any  one.  To 
deceive,  to  balk.  The  word  is  a corrup- 
tion of  pop.  The  bob  of  a pendulum  or 
mason’s  plumb-line  is  the  weight  that 
pops  backwards  and  forwards.  The  bob 
of  a fishing-line  pops  up  and  down  when 
fish  nibble  at  the  bait.  To  bob  for  apples 
or  cherries  is  to  try  and  catch  them 
while  they  swing  backwards  and  for- 
wards. As  this  is  very  deceptive,  it  is 
easy  to  see  how  the  word  signifies  to 
balk,  &c.  {See  Bo-peep.) 


BOBADIL. 


BOGUS. 


101 


To  bob  means  also  to  thump,  and  a bob 
is  a blow. 

Whom  our  fathers 

Have  in  their  own  land  beaten,  bobbed,  and 

thumped.  , , 

Shakespeare,  “Richard  77/.,”  v.  3. 

He  that  a fool  doth  very  wisely  hit, 

Doth  very  foolishly,  although  he  smart, 

Not  to  seem  senseless  of  the  bob. 

Shakespeare,  “As  You  Like  It,''  ii.  7. 

Bear  a bob.  Be  brisk.  The  allusion  is 
to  the  bobbing  of  apples,  in  which  it 
requires  great  agility  and  quickness  to 
avoid  a thump  on  the  mouth. 

Bob'adil.  A military  braggart  of  the 
first  water.  Captain  Bobadil  is  a cha- 
racter in  Ben  Jonson’s  comedy  of  Every 
Man  in  his  Humour.’’ 

Bobadil  is  the  author’s  best  invention,  and  is 
worthy  to  march  in  the  same  regiment  with 
Bessus  and  Pistol,  Parolles,  and  the  Copper  Cap- 
tain {q.v.).—B.  W.  Procter. 

Bobbish.  Pretty  bobbish.  Pretty  well 
(in  spirits  and  health),  from  bob,  brisk. 
{See  above.)  A very  ancient  expression. 

Bobby.  A policeman  ; so  called 
either  because  they  bob  or  beat  with  a 
staff,  or  because  Sir  Robert  Peel  intro- 
duced the  force,  at  least  into  Ireland. 
Probably  the  pun  has  given  currency  to 
the  word. 

Bockland  or  BooJcland.  Land 
severed  from  the  foldand,  and  converted 
into  a private  estate  of  perpetual  in- 
heritance by  a short  and  simple  deed  or 
bock. 

Bod.  The  divinity  invoked  by  Indian 
women  who  desire  fecundity;  Children 
born  after  an  invocation  to  Bod  must  be 
redeemed,  or  else  serve  in  the  temple  of 
the  goddess.  {Indian  mythology.) 

Boden-See.  The  Lake  of  Constance 
is  so  called  because  the  Bodmanno,  or 
king's  messenger  of  the  Carlo vint^ian 
dynasty,  used  t^o  reside  in  the  vicinity. 

Bodkin.  To  ride  bodlin.  To  ride 
in  a carriage  between  two  others,  the 
accommodation  being  only  for  two.  You 
are  a little  instrument  sheathed  like  a 
bodkin  or  small  dagger,  and  thrust  at  the 
side  of  your  companions. 

He  himself  might  his  quietus  make 
With  a bare  bodkin. 

Shakespeare,  “Hamlet,"  iii.  1. 

Bodle.  A Scotch  coin,  worth  the 
sixth  of  a penny ; so  called  from  Both- 
well,  a mint-master* 


Bodleian  Library  (Oxford).  So 
called  because  it  was  restored  by  Sir 
Thomas  Bodley,  in  1597. 

Boemond  Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
The  Christian  king  of  Antioch  who  tried 
to  teach  his  subjects  arts,  laws,  and 
religion.  Pyrrhus  delivered  to  him  a 
fort,  by  which  Antioch  was  taken  by  the 
Christians  after  an  eight  months’  siege. 
Boemond  and  Roge'ro  were  two  brothers, 
the  sons  of  Roberto  Guiscardo,  of  the 
Norman  race. 

Boeo'tian.  A rude,  unlettered  per- 
son ; a dull  blockhead.  The  ancient 
Boeotians  took  no  interest  in  the  Athenian 
refinement  and  intellectual  greatness. 
They  loved  agriculture  and  pastoral  pur- 
suits far  better;  so  the  witty  Athenians 
used  to  say  they  were  dull  and  thick  as 
their  own  atmosphere.  Yet  Hesiod, 
Pindar,  Corinna,  Plutarch,  Pelop'idas, 
and  Epaminon'das  were  all  Boeotians. 

Boe'tliius.  Last  of  the  Latin  authors, 
properly  so  called.  Alfred  the  Great 
translated  his  ^^De  Consolatio'ne  Philo- 
sophise ” into  Anglo-Saxon. 

Bogie.  A scarecrow,  a goblin.  (Bul- 
garian, bog,  a god ; Slavonic,  bogu;  W elsh, 
bwg,  a goblin,  our  bngbear.) 

The  Assyrian  mothers  used  to  scare 
their  children  with  the  name  of  Narses 
( Gibbon) ; the  Syrians  with  that  of  Richard 
Coeur  de  Lion  ; the  Dutch  with  Boh,  the 
Gothic  general  ( Warton) ; the  J ews  witli 
Lilith  ; the  Turks  with  Mathias  Corvi'nus, 
the  Hungarian  king;  and  the  English 
with  the  name  of  Lunsfort  {q. v,).  (See Bo. ) 

Bo'gio  (in  Orlando  Furioso”).  One 
of  the  allies  of  Charlemagne.  He  pro- 
mised his  wife  to  return  within  six 
moons,  but  was  slain  by  Dardinello. 

BogomiTi.  A religious  sect  of  tho 
twelfth  century,  whose  chief  seat  was 
Thrace.  So  called  from  their  constant 
repetition  of  the  words,  ^‘Lord,  havo 
mercy  upon  us,”  which,  in  Bulgarian,  is 
bog  (Lord),  milui  (have  mercy). 

Bogtrotters.  Irish  tramps.  So 
called  from  their  skill  in  crossing  tho 
Irish  bogs,  from  tussock  to  tussock, 
either  as  guides  or  to  escape  pursuit. 

Bogus.  Bogus  currency.  Forged  or 
sham  bills.  Bogus  transactions.  Fraudu- 
lent transactions.  The  word  is  a corrup- 
tion of  Borghese,  a swindler  who  did  a 


102 


BOHEMIA. 


BOLT. 


great  business  in  suppl3dng  America 
with  ceunterfeit  bills,  bills  on  fictitious 
banks,  and  sham  mortgages. — Boston 
Daily  Courier. 

Bolie'niia.  The  Queen  of  Bohemia. 
A public-house  sign  in  honour  of  lady 
Elizabeth  Stuart,  daughter  of  James  I., 
who  was  married  to  Frederick,  elector 
palatine,  for  whom  Bohemia  was  raised 
into  a separate  kingdom.  It  is  through 
this  lady  that  the  Brunswick  family  suc- 
ceeded to  the  throne  of  Great  Britain. 

Bohe'mian.  A gipsy,  an  impostor. 
The  first  gipsies  that  entered  France 
came  from  Bohemia,  and  appeared  before 
Paris  in  1427.  They  were  not  allowed  to 
enter  the  city,  but  were  lodged  at  La 
Chapelle  St.  Denis. 

A slang  term  applied  to  literary  men 
and  artists  of  loose  and  irregular  habits, 
living  by  what  they  can  pick  up  bj"  their 
brains. 

Never  was  there  an  editor  with  less  about 
him  of  the  literary  Bohemian.  A strong  contrast 
to  his  unhappy  contemporary,  Chatterton.  — 
Fortnightly  Review,  Paston  Letter.” 

Bohe'mian  Brethren.  A religious 
sect,  formed  out  of  the  remnants  of  the 
Hussites.  They  rose  at  Prague  in  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  were  nicknamed 
Cave-divellers,  because  they  lurked  in  caves 
to  avoid  persecution. 

BoPes  (2  syl.).  Priests  of  the  savages 
of  Florida.  Each  priest  has  his  special 
idol,  which  must  be  invoked  by  the  fumes 
of  tobacco.  {American  Indian  mythology. ) 

Boil.  Old  'peo'plds  hoil.  A ^^push,” 
or  boil,  on  the  nape  of  the  neck.  So 
called  because  the  elderly  are  most  sub- 
ject to  it. 

Boiling-point.  He  was  at  boiling^ 
point.  Very  angry  indeed.  Properly 
the  point  of  heat  at  which  water,  under 
ordinary  conditions,  boils.  (212°  Fah- 
renheit, 100°  Centigrade,  80°Keaumur.) 

Boissere'an  Collection.  A col- 
lection at  Stuttgart  of  the  early  specimens 
of  German  art,  made  by  the  three  brothers 
Boisseree. 

Boiva'ni.  Goddess  of  destruction. 
{Hindu  Mythology.') 

Bo'lay  or  Boley.  The  giant  which  the 
Indians  say  conquered  heaven,  earth, 
and  the  inferno.  {Indian  mytliology.) 


Bold.  Bold  as  Beauchamp  (Beech-um). 
It  is  said  that  Thomas  Beauchamp,  earl 
of  Warwick,  with  one  squire  and  six 
archers,  overthrew  100  armed  men  at 
Hogges,  in  Normandy,  in  1346. 

This  exploit  is  not  more  incredible 
than  that  attributed  to  Captal-de-Buch, 
who,  with  forty  followers,  cleared  Meaux 
of  the  insurgents  called  “ La  Jaquerie,’^ 
7,000  of  whom  were  slain  by  this  little 
band,  or  trampled  to  death  in  the  narrow 
streets  as  they  fled  panic-struck  (1358). 

Bole'rium  Promontory*  The 

Land’s  End. 

Bole'ro.  A Spanish  dance ; so  called 
from  the  name  of  the  inventor. 

Bolingbroke.  Henry  IV.  of  England ; 
so  called  from  Bolingbroke,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, where  he  was  born.  (1366,  1399- 
1413.) 

Bollen.  Swollen.  (Saxon,  holge.) 
Hence  ‘‘joints  bolne-big”  {Golding) ^ and 
“ bolne  in  pride”  {Phaer), 

The  barley  was  in  the  ear,  and  the  flax  was  boiled. 
— Exod.  ix.  31. 

Bolo'gna  Stone,  being  placed  in  the 
light,  will  imbibe  and  for  some  time  re- 
tain it,  so  as  to  illuminate  a dark  place. — 
Richardson. 

Bolognese  School.  There  were 
three  periods  to  the  Bolognese  School  in 
painting— the  Early,  the  Koman,  and  the 
Eclectic.  The  first  was  founded  by 
Marco  Zoppo,  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
and  its  best  exponent  was  Francia.  The 
second  was  founded  in  the  sixteenth 
century  by  Bagnacavallo,  and  its  chief 
exponents  were  Primatic'io,  Tibaldi,  and 
Nicolo  deir  Aba'te.  The  third  was 
founded  by  the  Carracci,  at  the  close  ©f 
the  sixteenth  century,  and  its  best  mas- 
ters have  been  Domenichi'no,  Lanfranco, 
Guido,  Schido'ne,  Guerci'no,  and  Alba'ni. 

Bolt.  An  arrow,  a shaft  (Saxon, 
bolta;  Danish,  bolt;  Greek,  ballo,  to  cast ; 
Latin,  pelloy  to  drive).  A door  bolt  is  a 
shaft  of  wood  or  iron,  which  may  be 
shot  or  driven  forward  to  secure  a door. 
A thunderbolt  is  a shaft  cast  from  the 
clouds.  CupiTs  bolt  is  Cupid’s  arrow. 

The  fooVs  bolt  is  soon  spent.  A foolish 
archer  shoots  all  his  arrows  so  heedlessly 
that  he  leaves  himself  no  resources  in 
case  of  need. 


BOLT. 


BONA-ROBA. 


103 


I must  holt:  be  off  quickly.  To  holt  out 
of  the  house:  to  run  off  unceremoniously. 

To  holt  food:  to  swallow  it  quickly  with- 
out waiting  to  chew  it. 

To  holt  out  the  truth : to  blurt  it  out  with- 
out consideration. 

All  these  expressions  refer  to  the  flight 
of  bolts  or  aiTows. 

Bolt  in  Tun,  a public-house  sign, 
is  heraldic.  In  heraldry  it  is  applied  to 
a bird-bolt,  in  pale  piercing  through  a 
cun.  The  punning  crest  of  Serjeant 
Bolton,  who  died  1787,  was  on  a wreath 
a tun  erect  proper,  transpierced  by  an 
arrow  fesseways  or.”  Another  family 
of  the  same  name  has  for  crest  a tun 
with  a bird-bolt  through  it  proper.”  A 
third,  harping  on  the  same  string,  has 
^^a  bolt'  gule  in  a tun  or.”  The  public- 
house  sign  distinguished  by  this  device 
or  name  adopted  it  in  honour  of  some 
family  claiming  one  of  the  devices  men- 
tioned above. 

Bolt  Upright.  Straight  as  an 
arrow.  A bolt  is  an  arrow  with  a round 
knob  at  the  end,  used  for  shooting  at 
rooks,  &c. 

Bolton.  The  Bolton  A 55.  This  crea- 
ture is  said  to  have  chewed  tobacco  and 
taken  snuff. — Dr.  Doran. 

Bate  me  an  ace,  quoth  Bolton.  Give 
me  some  advantage.  What  you  say 
must  be  qualified,  as  it  is  too  strong. 
Ray  says  that  a collection  of  proverbs 
were  once  presented  to  the  Virgin  Queen, 
with  the  assurance  that  it  contained  all 
the  proverbs  in  the  language  ; but  the 
queen  rebuked  the  boaster  with  the  pro- 
verb, ^^Bate  mean  ace,  quoth  Bolton,” 
a proverb  omitted  in  the  compilation. 
John  Bolton  was  one  of  the  courtiers 
who  used  to  play  cards  and  dice  with 
Henry  VIII.,  and  flattered  the  king  by 
asking  him  to  allow  him  an  ace  or  some 
advantage  in  the  game. 

Bolus.  An  apothecary.  Apothecaries 
are  so  called  because  they  administer 
boluses.  Similarly  Mrs.  Suds  is  a washer- 
woman; Boots  is  the  shoeblack  of  an 
inn,  &c. 

George  Colman  adopts  the  name  for 
his  apothecary,  who  wrote  his  labels  in 
rhyme,  one  of  which  was — 

When  taken, 

To  he  well  shaken ; 

but  the  patient  being  shaken,  instead  of 
the  mixture,  died. 


Bomba.  King  Bomha.  A nickname 
given  to  Ferdinand  II.,  late  king  of 
Naples,  in  consequence  of  his  cruel  bom- 
bardment of  Messi'na  in  1848,  in  which 
the  slaughter  and  destruction  of  pro- 
perty was  most  wanton. 

Bomba  II.  is  the  nickname  given  to 
his  son  Francis  II.  for  bombarding  Pa- 
lermo in  1860.  He  is  also  called  Bom- 
hali'no  (Little  Bomba). 

Another  meaning  equally  applicable  is 
^Wox  et  preeteFea  nihil,”  Bomba  being 
the  explosion  made  by  puffing  out  the 
cheeks,  and  causing  them  suddenly  to 
collapse.  Liar,  break-promise,  worthless. 

Bombast  literally  means  the  por- 
duce  of  the  bombyx,  but  is  applied  to 
cotton  used  instead  of  silk ; hence  horn- 
base  (cotton),  bombazine  (silk  cloth  crossed 
with  wool),  fustian.  In  literature  bom- 
bast is  cotton  palmed  off  on  the  public 
for  silk.  Bomb,  the  shell  filled  with 
gunpowder,  is  the  bombycia  arundo,  or 
cane  in  which  silk- worms  were  carried 
from  place  to  place. 

We  have  received  your  letters  full  of  love,  . . . 

And  in  our  maiden  council  rated  them  . . . 

As  bombast  and  as  lining  to  the  time. 

/Shakespeare,  Love's  Labour’s  Lost,’’  v.  2. 

Bombastes  Purio'so.  One  who 
talks  big  and  uses  long  sesquipedalian 
words ; the  ideal  of  bombast.  He  is  the 
hero  of  a burlesque  opera  so  called,  by 
William  Barnes  Rhodes. 

Bombas'tus.  The  family  name  of 
Paracelsus.  He  is  said  to  have  kept  a 
small  devil  prisoner  in  the  pommel  of  his 
sword. 

Bombastus  kept  a devil’s  bird 
Shut  in  the  pommel  of  his  sword, 

That  taught  him  all  the  cunning  pranks 
Of  past  and  future  mountebanks. 

Hudibras,  pt.  ii.  8. 

Bon  Mot  (French).  A good  or  witty 
saying ; a pun ; a clever  repartee. 

Bon  Vivant  (French).  A free  liver ; 
one  who  indulges  in  the  “ good  things  of 
the  table.” 

Bona  Fide.  Without  subterfuge  or 
deception  ; really  and  truly.  Literally, 
in  goodjaith  (Latin). 

Bona-ro'ba.  A courtesan  (Italian). 
So  called  from  the  smartness  of  their 
robes  or  dresses. 

We  know  where  the  bonarobas  were. 

Shakespeare.  “2  Henry  IV.,”  iii.  Z, 


104 


BONE. 


BONNET. 


Bone  (1  syl.).  To  filch.  Probably  a 
corruption  of  honnet  (a  gambling  cheat, 
■who  sharks  your  money  slyly).  A sham 
bidder  at  an  auction  is  a lomiet,  his  object 
being  to  run  up  the  pr  ice  of  the  articles. 
These  cheats  honiiet,  or  thrust  the  bon- 
net over  the  eyes  of  their  victim,  that 
their  deception  may  not  be  detected. 

I have  a hone  to  pick  ivith  you.  An 
unpleasant  matter  to  settle  with  you.  At 
the  marriage  banquets  of  the  Sicilian 
poor,  the  bride's  father,  after  the  meal, 
used  to  hand  the  bridegroom  a bone, 
saying,  ^‘Pick  this  bone;  for  you  have 
taken  in  hand  a much  harder  task.” 

Bone  of  Contention.  A disputed 
point ; a point  not  yet  settled.  The 
metaphor  is  taken  from  the  proverb 
about  ^‘Two  dogs  fighting  for  a bone,” 
&c. 

Bones.  Deucalion,  after  the  deluge, 
was  ordered  to  cast  behind  him  the  hones 
of  his  mother,  •i.e.,  the  stones  of  mother 
earth.  Those  thrown  by  Deucalion  be- 
came men,  and  those  thrown  by  his  wife, 
Pyrrha,  became  women. 

To  make  no  hones  about  the  matter,  i.e., 
no  difficulty,  no  scruple.  Dice  are  called 

bones  ” and  the  French  flatter  le  de  (to 
mince  tne  matter)  is  the  opposite  of  our 
expression.  To  make  no  bones  of  a thing 
is  not  to  flatter,  or  “ make  much  of,”  or 
humour  the  dice,  in  order  to  show  favour. 
I do  not  think  the  phrase  has  anything 
to  do  with  a dog  that  eats  meat,  bones 
and  all. 

Boned.  I honed  h im.  Caught  or  seized 
him.  {See  Bone.) 

Bonese  (2  syl.).  The  inhabitants  of 
Bo'ni,  one  of  the  Celebes. 

Bonfire.  A beacon-fire.  (Welsh, 
han,  a beacon,  whence  hanjfagl,  a lofty 
blaze;  Danish,  haun ; Scotch,  hane-jire.') 
The  Athenaeum,  Oct.  6,  1866,  gives  several 
quotations  from  the  materials  prepared 
for  the  Philological  Society’s  English 
Dictionary,  to  show  that  the  word  means 
a fire  made  of  hones ; one  runs  thus,  In 
the  worship  of  St.  John,  the  people  . . . 
made  three  man*.er  of  fires : one  was  of 
clean  bones  and  no  wood,  and  that  is 
called  a bonefire  ; another  of  clean  wood 
and  no  bones,  and  that  is  called  a wood- 
1 re  . . . and  the  third  is  made  of 

wood  and  bones,  and  is  called  St. 
John’s  fire”  {Quatuor  Sermones,  1499). 


Another  quotation  is  from  Leland’s  ^^Col- 
lectanea,” 1550 : I have  heard  of  a 
custom  that  is  practised  in  some  parts  of 
Lincolnshire,  where,  on  some  peculiar 
nights,  they  make  great  fires  in  the 
public  streets  . . . with  bones  . . . 

in  memory  of  burning  their  dead.”  This 
was  on  the  22nd  of  May,  or  Ascension 
Day.  Certainly  hone  is  the  more  an- 
cient way  of  spelling  the  first  syllable 
of  the  word. 

Bon'homie'.  Kindness,  good  nature ; 
free  and  easy  manners ; cordial  bene- 
volence. (^French.) 

Bonliomnie  (2  syl.).  Jacques  Bon- 
homme  {French).  A peasant  who  ven- 
tures to  interfere  in  politics.  Hence  the 
peasants’  rebellion,  in  1358,  was  called 
La  Jacquerie.  The  term  means  “James 
Goodfellow;”  we  also  often  address  the 
poor  as  “ My  good  fellow.” 

Bon'iface.  A sleek,  good-tempered, 
jolly  landlord.  From  Farquhar’s  comedy 
of  “The  Beaux  Stratagem.” 

A regular  British  Boniface.— John  Bull. 

St.  Boniface,  The  apostle  of  Germany, 
an  Anglo-Saxon,  whose  original  name 
was  Winifrid  or  Winfrith,  (680-750.) 

Bonnet.  A pretended  player  at  a 
gaming  table,  or  bidder  at  an  auction,  to 
lure  others  to  play.  So  called  because 
he  blinds  the  eyes  of  his  dupes,  just  as  if 
he  had  struck  their  bonnet  over  their 
eyes.  (^SeeBoNE.) 

A man  who  sits  at  a gaming  table,  and  appears 
to  lie  playing  against  the  table;  when  a stranger 
appears  the  Bonnet  generally  wins.— TAe  Times. 

Bonnet  Rouge.  The  red  cap  of  Liberty 
worn  by  the  leaders  of  the  French  re- 
volution. It  is  the  eml^lem  of  Bed 
Republicanism. 

Braid  Bannet.  The  old  Scotch  cap, 
made  of  milled  woollen,  without  seam  or 
lining. 

Bonnet  Lairds.  Local  magnates  of 
Scotland,  who  wore  the  Braid  &nnet. 

Glengarry  Bonnet.  The  highland  bon- 
net, which  rises  to  a point  in  front. 

Bonnet-piece.  A gold  coin  of  James  V. 
of  Scotland,  the  king’s  head  on  which 
wears  a bonnet.  {See  Bee.) 

He  has  a green  honnet.  Has  failed  in 
trade.  In  France  it  used  to  be  customary, 
even  in  the  seventeenth  century,  for 
bankrupts  to  wear  a green  bonnet  (cloth 
cap). 


BONNYCLABBER. 


BOOT. 


105 


Bonnyelabber.  A drink  made  of  beer 
and  buttermilk.  (Irish,  haine,  milk;  clahar, 
anything  that  thickens  it,  as  rennet,  &c.) 


With  beer  and  buttermilk,  mingled  together  . . . 
To  drink  such  . . bonnj-clapper. 

Ben  Jonscn,  “ The  Nev)  Inn,  i.  3. 


Bontemps.  Roger  Bontemps(¥vQnc,h.). 
The  personification  of'  ' Never  say  die.” 
The  phrase  is  from  Beranger. 

Vous  pauvres,  pleios  d’envie ; 

Vous  rich,  d^sireux ; 

Vous,  dont  le  char  devie 
Apres  un  cours  heureux; 

Vous,  qui  perdrez  peut-etre 
Des  titres  ^clatans. 

Eh!  gai ! prenez  pour  mMtre 
Le  gros  JJoger  Bontemps.— iJerangrer. 

Ye  poor,  with  envy  goaded ; 

y e rich,  for  more  who  long ; 

Ye  who  by  fortune  loaded. 

Find  all  things  going  wrong; 

Ye  who  by  some  disaster 
See  all  your  cables  break, 

From  henceforth  for  your  master 
Bluff  Roger  Bontemps  take. 

Bonus.  A bounty  over  and  above 
the  interest  of  a share  in  any  company. 
(Latin,  bonus  quccstus,  a good  profit  or 
bounty.  The  interest  or  fruit  of  money 
put  out  in  an  invest  in  ent  was  by  the 
Romans  called  the  qumtus. ) 

Bonzes  (sing.  Bon'ze).  Indian  priests. 
In  China  they  are  the  priests  of  the 
Fohists  ; their  number  is  50,000,  and 
they  are  represented  as  idle  and  dis- 
solute. In  Japan  they  are  men  of  rank 
and  family.  In  Ton  quin  every  pagoda 
has  at  least  two  bonzes,  and  some  as 
many  as  fifty. 

Booby.  A spiritless  fool,  who  suffers 
himself  to  be  imposed  upon.  In  the  W est 
Indies  there  is  a sort  of  pelican,  called  a 
booby,  which  allows  itself  to  be  attacked 
by  other  birds,  and  yields  to  them  the 
fish  it  has  taken  almost  without  resistance. 
In  England  the  Solan  goose  is  called  a 
booby  or  noddy. 

Lady  Booby.  A caricature  on  Richard- 
son’s " Pam'ela.”  A vulgar  upstart,  who 
tries  to  seduce  Joseph  Andrews.— 
ing,  ' ' J oseqyli  A ndreivs!  ’ 

A booby  ivill  never  make  a liatdk.  The 
booby  pelican,  that  allows  itself  tr  be 
fleeced  by  other  birds,  will  never  become 
a bird  of  prey  itself. 

Book  (Saxon,  boc,  a beech-tree ; 
Danish,  beuke;  German,  buche).  Beech- 
bark  was  employed  for  carving  names  on, 
before  the  invention  of  printing. 

Here  on  my  trunk’s  surviving  frame. 

Carved  many  a long-forgotten  name.  . . . 

As  love’s  own  altar,  honour  me: 

Spare,  woodman,  spare  the  heechen  tree. 

Campbell. 


Booh.  Logistilla  gave  Astolpho,  at 
parting,  a book  w^iich  would  tell  him 
anything  he  wanted  to  know,  and  save 
him  from  the  power  of  enchantment. — 
" Orlando  Furioso,”  bk.  viii. 

Book,  bell,  and  candle.  {See  Bell.) 

He  is  in  my  books  (or)  in  my  good  boohs. 
The  former  is  the  older  form  ; both  mean 
to  be  in  favour.  The  word  book  was  at 
one  time  used  more  widely,  a single  sheet 
or  even  a list  being  called  a book.  To 
be  in  my  books  is  to  be  on  my  list  of 
friends.  {See  Black  Books.) 

Bring  him  to  book.  Make  him  give  an 
account. 

To  speak  by  the  book.  With  minute 
exactness. 

To  speak  without  book.  Without  au- 
thority. 

He  ivas  booked  at  last.  Caught  and  dis- 
posed of. 

All  these  are  mercantile  terms,  and 
refer  to  book  keeping. 

Beivare  of  a man  of  one  book.  Never 
attempt  to  controvert  the  statement 
of  any  one  in  his  own  special  subject. 
A shepherd  who  cannot  read  will  know 
more  about  sheep  than  the  wisest  book- 
worm. This  caution  is  given  by  St. 
Thomas  AquTnas. 

That  does  not  suit  my  book.  Does  not 
accord  with  my  arrangements.  The 
reference  is  to  betting-books,  in  which 
the  bets  are  formally  entered. 
Book-keeping. 

Waste-book.  A book  in  which  items  are 
not  posted  under  heads,  but  are  left 
scattered,  as  each  transaction  occurred. 
(Welsh,  gwasgaru,  to  scatter;  Spanish, 
gastar  ; Portuguese,  &c.) 

Ledger  (Dutch,  legen,  to  lay).  Tlie 
book  which  is  laid  up  in  counting-houses ; 
from  the  same  word  we  have  ledger  lines 
in  fish-tackling. 

Ledger  lines  in  music  are  lines  which 
lie  over  or  below  the  staff.  (Dutch,  legger, 
to  lie.) 

Bookworm.  One  always  poring 
over  his  books.  So  called  in  allusion  to 
the  insect  that  eats  holes  in  books,  and 
lives  both  in  and  on  its  leaves. 

Books.  Battle  of  the  books.  The  Boylo 
controversy.  {See  Battle,  Boyle  Con 

TROVERSY.) 

Boot.  I will  give  you  that  to  boot,  i.e., 
in  addition.  The  Anglo-Saxon  boot  or  bot 
means  "compensation.”  (Gothic,  botyan, 
profit.) 


106 


BOOTS, 


BORDLODE 


As  any  one  shall  be  more  powerful  ....  or 
higher  in  degree,  shall  he  the  more  deeply  mal<e 
boot  for  sin,  and  pay  for  every  misdeed— Laws  of 
King  Ethelred. 

Boot  of  a carriage,  A corruption  of  the 
French  hoUcy  a box. 

Boots.  Seven-leagued  boots.  The  boots 
worn  by  the  giant  in  the  fairy  tale,  called 

The  Seven-leagued  Boots.”  These  boots 
would  stride  over  seven  leagues  at  a pace. 

I measure  fire  feet  ten  inches  without  my 
hoots.  The  allusion  is  to  the  chopine  or 
high-heeled  boot,  worn  at  one  time  to 
increase  the  stature.  Hamlet  says  of  the 
lady  actress,  ^‘You  are  nearer  heaven 
than  when  I saw  you  last,  by  the  altitude 
of  a chopine.” — ii.  2. 

Boots.  An  instrument  of  torture  made 
of  four  pieces  of  narrow  board  nailed 
together,  of  a competent  length  to  tit  the 
leg.  The  leg  being  placed  therein, 
wedges  were  inserted  till  the  sufferer 
confessed  or  fainted. 

All  your  empirics  could  never  do  the  like  cure 
upon  the  gout  as  the  rack  in  England,  or  your 
Scotch  boots.— ifdrsion,  “ The  Malcontent'* 

To  he  in  his  hoots.  To  be  very  tipsy. 
(Welsh,  hozij  pron.  hoot-zi,  to  be  saturated 
with  liquor.) 

Booth.  Husband  of  Amelia.— 
ing,  ‘‘  Amelia.” 

Bootless  errand.  An  unprofitable 
or  futile  message.  The  Saxon  hot  means 
* reparation  ’ — * overplus  to  profit ; * as 
will  give  you  that  to  boot;”  ^‘what 
boots  it  me  ?”  (what  does  it  profit  me). 

I sent  him, 

Bootless  home  and  weather-beaten  back. 

“1  Henry  IV.”  hi.  1. 

You  have  often 

Begun  to  tell  me  what  I am,  but  stopped. 
And  left  me  to  a bootless  inquisition. 

Miranda  to  Frospero,  “ The  Tempest”  i.  2, 

Bootes  (Bo-o'-tees),  or  the  ox-driver, 
a constellation.  According  to  ancient 
mythology,  Bootes  invented  the  plough, 
to  which  he  yoked  two  oxen,  and  at 
death,  being  taken  to  heaven  with  his 
plough  and  oxen,  was  made  a constel- 
lation. Homer  calls  it  ‘Hhe  wagoner.” 

"Wide  o’er  the  spacious  regions  of  the  north, 
That  see  Bootes  urge  his  tardy  wain. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.” 

Boozy.  Partly  intoxicated.  (Russian, 
husa,  millet-beer ; Medical  Latin,  huzuy 
iromhuOy  to  fill ; Welsh,  hozij  OldDutch, 
huyzeny  to  tipple. ) 

In  Egypt  there  is  a beer  called  " Boozer,”  which 
ts  intoxicating.— Jforninp  Chronicle,  Aug.  27,  1852. 


Bor,  in  Norfolk,  is  a familiar  term  of 
address  to  a lad  or  young  man ; as. 

Well,  bor,  T saw  the  morther  you  spoke 
of”— ^.e.,  Well,  sir,  I saw  the  lass.  ...” 
‘^Bor  ” is  the  Dutch  hoevy  a farmer ; and 

mor”  the  Dutch  moevy  a female. 

Boraehlo.  A drunkard.  From  the 
Spanish  horach'oe  or  horrach'Oy  a bottle 
made  of  pig’s  skin,  with  the  hair  inside, 
dressed  with  resin  and  pitch  to  keep 
the  wine  sweet. — Minsheu. 

Borachio.  A follower  of  Don  John,  in 

Much  Ado  About  Nothing,”  who  thus 
plays  upon  his  own  name: — 

I will,  like  a true  drunkard  [Borachio),  utter  all 
to  thee.  (iii.  6.) 

Borak  or  Al  Borah  (the  lightning). 
The  horse  brought  by  Gabriel  to  carry 
Mahomet  to  the  seventh  heaven.  It  had 
the  face  of  a man,  but  the  cheeks  of  a 
horse ; its  eyes  were  like  jacinths,  but 
brilliant  as  the  stars;  it  had  the  wings  of 
an  eagle,  spoke  with  the  voice  of  a man, 
and  glittered  all  over  with  radiant  light. 
This  creature  was  received  into  Paradise. 
{See  Camel.) 

Bord  Halfpenny.  A toll  paid  by 
the  Saxons  to  the  lord  for  the  privilege 
of  having  a bord  or  bench  at  some  fair 
for  the  sale  of  articles. 

Borda'rii  or  Bordmen.  A class  of 
agriculturists  superior  to  the  Villa'ni, 
who  paid  their  rent  by  supplying  the 
lord’s  board  with  eggs  and  poultry. — 
Domesday  Booh. 

Border  Minstrel.  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  who  traced  his  descent  to  the 
dukes  of  Buccleuch,  the  great  border 
family.  (1771-1832.) 

The  Border.  The  frontier  of  England 
and  Scotland,  which,  from  the  eleventh 
to  the  fifteenth  century,  was  the  field 
of  constant  forays,  and  a most  fertile 
source  of  ill  blood  between  north  and 
south  Britain. 

March,  march,  Ettrick  and  Teviotdale ; 

Why,  my  lads,  dinna  march  forward  in  order  ? 
March,  march,  Eskdale  and  Liddesdale— 

All  the  blue  bonnets  are  over  the  border. 

bir  Walter  Scott. 

Bordlands.  Lands  kept  by  lords  in 
Saxon  times  for  the  supply  of  their  own 
board  or  table. 

Bordlode.  Service  paid  by  bordmen, 
or  borda'rii,  for  the  use  of  the  land  which 
they  occupied. 


BOPvDON. 


BOTTLF 


107 


Bordon.  This  family  name  is  from 
their  heraldic  device,  three  hordons  or 
pilgrims’  staves. 

Bore,  in  pugilistic  language,  is  one 
who  bears  or  presses  on  a man  so  as  to 
force  him  to  the  ropes  of  the  ring  by 
his  physical  weight;  figuratively,  one 
who  bears  or  presses  on  you  by  his  per- 
tinacity. 

All  beggars  are  liable  to  rebuffs,  with  the  cer- 
tainty besides  of  being  considered  bores. 

Prince  AlbeH,  1859, 

Bor'eal.  Having  an  Auro'ra  Borea'lis. 

In  radiant  streams, 

Bright  over  Europe,  bursts  the  Boreal  movn. 

Thomson,  ^'AutumnJ* 

Bor'eas.  The  north  wind.  According 
to  mythology,  he  was  the  son  of  Astrseus, 
a Titan,  and  Eos,  the  morning,'{and  lived 
in  a cave  of  M«unt  Haemus,  in  Thrace. 
(Greek,  boros,  voracious,  or  boa-reo,  to 
flow  with  violence;  Kussian,  boria,  storm; 
Hebrew,  boraacli,  rapidity.) 

Cease,  rude  Boreas ! blustering  railer. 

Dihdin. 

Borgese  (JBor-ga' -zy).  The  princess 
Borgese  pulled  down  a church  contiguous 
to  her  palace,  because  the  incense  turned 
her  sick  and  the  organ  made  her  head 
ache. 

Bor'gia.  {Bee  Lucrezia.) 

Bormo'nia  or  Borvo.  Two  divinities 
of  the  ancient  Sequanians  and  Eduans  of 
Gaul,  who  presided  over  the  hot  springs. 
It  is  said  that  Bourbonne-des-Bains  is 
named  from  Bormon. 

Boroon.  An  Indian  sea-god. 

Borough.  English  is  where  the 
youngest  son  inherits  instead  of  the 
eldest.  It  is  of  Saxon  origin,  and  is  so 
called  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Norman 
custom.  Wharton  says  that  the  custom 
obtains  in  the  manors  of  Lambeth, 
Hackney,  part  of  Islington,  Heston, 
Edmonton,  &c. — Law  Lexicon. 

Borowe.  St.  George  to  borowe,  i.e., 
St.  George  being  surety.  (Danish,  borgen, 
bail;  Swedish,  borgan,  a giving  of  bail.) 

Borr.  Son  of  Ymer,  and  father  of 
Odin,  Ville,  Ve,  and  Hertha  or  Earth. 
The  Celtic  priests  claimed  descent  from 
this  deity.  {Celtic  mythology.') 

Borrow.  A pledge.  To  borroio  is  to 
take  something  which  we  pledge  ourselves 
to  return. 

Ye  may  retain  as  borrows  my  two  priests.— (Sco«, 
*'Ivanhoe,”  c.  xxxiii. 


Bortell.  The  bull,  in  the  tale  of 

Keynard  the  Eox.” 

Bosh.  Nonsense  (Turkish,  bosh 
laker di,  silly  talk ; German,  bossch,  swipes). 
A gipsy  word  introduced  with  Morier’s 
novel,  Hajji  Baba,”  in  1828. 

Bossum.  One  of  the  two  chief 
deities  of  the  negroes  on  the  Gold  Coast, 
the  other  being  Demonio.  Bossum,  the 
principle  of  good,  is  said  to  be  white; 
and  Demonio,  the  principle  of  evil, 
black.  {African  mythology.) 

Bostal  or  Borstal.  A narrow  road- 
way up  the  steep  ascent  of  hills  or  downs. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  biorh,  a hill ; stigele,  a rising 
path.;  owv  stile.) 

Bot'any  means  a treatise  on  fodder 
(Greek,  bot'ane,  fodder,  from  boskein,  to 
feed).  The  science  of  plants  would  be 

phytol'ogy,”  from  'phyton-logos  (plant- 
spell). 

Botch.  A patch.  Botch  and  patch  are 
the  same  word ; the  older  form  was  bodge, 
whence  boggle.  (Italian,  pezzo,  pronounced 
patzo.) 

Bother,  i.e., pother  (Hibernian).  Halli- 
well  gives  us  which  he  says  means 

to  chatter  idly. 

Grose  suggests  both- ears  as  the  deriva- 
tion, and  defends  his  guess  by  the  remark 
that  when  two  persons  are  talking  at  the 
same  time,  one  on  one  side  and  one  on 
the  other,  the  person  talked  to  is  per- 
plexed and  annoyed.  The  fact  is  cer- 
tain, and  the  derivation  must  go  for  what 
it  is  worth. 

Sir,  cries  the  umpire,  cease  your  pother. 

The  creature’s  neither  one  nor  t’other. 

Lloyd,  “ The  Chameleon.” 

Bothie  System.  The  Scotch  system 
of  building  a sort  of  barrack  in  different 
parts  of  the  town  for  young  unmarried 
men.  (Gaelic,  bothag,  a cot  or  hut,  our 
booth.) 

The  bothie  system  prevails,  more  or  less,  in  the 
eastern  and  north-eastern  districts.— J”.  Begg,  D.D 

Botley  Assizes.  The  joke  is  to  ask 
a Botley  man,  When  the  assizes  are 
coming  on  ?”  and  an  inuendo  is  supposed 
to  be  implied  to  the  tradition  that  the 
men  of  Botley  once  hanged  a man  because 
he  could  not  drink  so  deep  as  his  neigh- 
bours. 

Bottle.  Looking  for  a needle  in  a 
bottle  of  hay.  Looking  for  a very  small 
article  amidst  a mass  of  other  things. 


1C8 


BOTTLE  CHART. 


/ 


BOUQUET. 


Bottle  is  a diminutive  of  the  French 
hotte,  a bundle ; as  lotte  de  foin,  a bundle 
of  hay. 

Hang  me  in  a lottle.  (*See  Cat.) 

Bottle-eliart.  A chart  to  show  the 
track  of  sealed  bottles  thrown  from  ships 
into  the  sea. 

Bottle-holder.  One  who  gives  moral 
but  not  material  support.  The  allusion 
is  to  boxing  or  prize-fighting,  where  each 
combatant  has  a bottle-holder  to  wipe  off 
blood,  refresh  with  water,  and  do  other 
services  to  encourage  his  man  to  persevere 
and  win. 

Lord  Palmerston  considered  himself  the  hottle- 
holderof  oppressed  States.  ..He  was  the  stedfast 
partisan  of  constitutional  liberty  in  every  part  of 
the  world.— r/ie  Times. 

Bottle-imps.  The  Hebrew  word  for 
familiar  spirits  is  oboth,  leather  bottles, 
to  indicate  that  the  magicians  were  wont 
to  imprison  in  bottles  those  spirits  which 
their  spells  had  subdued. 

Bottled  Beer  is  said  to  have  been 
discovered  by  dean  Nowell  as  a most  ex- 
cellent beverage.  The  dean  was  very 
fond  of  fishing,  and  took  a bottle  of  beer 
with  him  in  his  excursions.  One  day, 
being  disturbed,  he  buried  his  bottle 
under  the  grass,  and  when  he  disinterred 
it  some  ten  days  afterwards,  found  it  so 
greatly  improved  that  he  ever  after  drank 
bottled  beer. 

Bottom.  Nich  Bottom,  the  imami\  A 
man  who  fancies  he  can  do  everything, 
and  do  it  better  than  any  one  else.  Shake- 
speare has  drawn  him  as  profoundly 
ignorant,  brawny,  mock  heroic,  and  with 
an  overflow  of  self-conceit.  He  is  in  one 
part  of  Midsummer  Night’s  Dream” 
represented  with  an  ass’s  head,  and 
Titania,  queen  of  the  fairies,  under  a 
spell,  caresses  him  as  an  Ado'nis. 

When  Goldsmith,  jealous  of  the  attention  which 
a dancing  monkey  attracted,  said.  “ I can  do 
that,”  he  was  hut  playing  Bottom.— it.  G.  White. 

A ship's  bottom  is  that  part  which  is 
used  for  freight  or  stowage. 

Goods  imported  in  British  bottoms  are 
those  which  come  in  our  own  vessels. 

Goods  im'portcd  in  foreign  bottoms  are 
those  which  come  in  foreign  ships. 

A fidl  bottom  is  where  the  lower  half  of 
the  hull  is  so  disposed  as  to  allow  large 
stowage. 

Ax  sharp  bottom  is  when  a ship  is  capable 
of  speed. 


Never  venture  all  in  one  bottom — i.e., 
one  ship.  Do  not  put  all  your  eggs 
into  one  basket.” 

A horse  of  good  bottom  means  of  good 
stamina,  good  foundation. 

Bottomless.  The  bottomless  pit.  A 
ludicrous  skit  on  William  Pitt,  who  was 
remarkably  thin. 

Botty.  Conceited.  The  frog  that  tried 
to  look  as  big  as  an  ox  was  a botty” 
frog  {Norfolk).  A similar  word  is 
“swell,”  though  not  identical  in  mean- 
ing. “Bumpkin”  and  “bumptious”  are 
of  similar  construction.  (Welsh,  bot,  a 
round  body,  our  bottle;  both,  the  boss 
of  a shield  ; boihel,  a rotundity. ) 

Bouders  or  Bondons.  A tribe  of 
giants  and  evil  genii,  the  guard  of  Shiva. 
{Indian  mythology .) 

Boudoir,  properly  speaking,  is  the 
room  to  which  a lady  retires  when  she  is 
in  the  sulks.  (French,  bonder,  to  pout  or 
sulk.) 

The  first  boudoirs  were  those  of  the 
mistresses  of  Louis  XV.  {See  Bower.  ) 

Bougie.  A wax  candle ; so  called  from 
Bougiah,  in  Algeria,  whence  the  wax  was 
imported. 

Boule  or  Boide-work.  A kind  of  mar- 
quetry ; so  called  from  Andre  Charles 
Boule,  a cabinetmaker,  to  whom  Louis 
XIV.  gave  apartments  in  the  Louvre. 
(1642-1732.) 

Boul'janus.  An  idol  worshipped  at 
Nantes,  in  ancient  Gaul.  An  inscription 
was  found  to  this  god  in  1592.  {Celtic 
mythology. ) 

Bouncer.  That's  a bouncer,  a gross 
exaggeration,  a braggart’s  lie.  (French, 
bondir,  to  leap ; Dutch,  bonzen ; our 
bounce.) 

He  speaks  plain  cannon,  fire,  and  smoke,  and  bounce. 

Shakespeare,  “ King  John;’  ii.  2. 

Bounty.  Queen  Annds  Bounty.  The 
produce  of  the  first-fruits  and  tenths  due 
to  the  crown,  made  over  by  queen  Anno 
to  a corporation  established  in  the  year 
1704,  for  the  purpose  of  augmenting 
church  livings  under  £50  a-year. 

Bouquet.  French  for  nosegay. 

The  bouquet  of  ivine,  also  called  its  nose- 
gay, is  its  aro'ma. 


BOURBON. 


BOWING. 


109 


Boiiqvet  de  crotte.  Splashes  of  mud, 
especially  on  the  lower  part  of  the 
trousers. 

Bourbon.  So  named  from  the  castle 
and  seigniory  of  Bourbon,  in  the  old  pro- 
vince of  Bourbonnais.  The  Bourbon  family 
is  a branch  of  the  Cap'et  stock,  through 
the  brother  of  Philippe  le  Bel. 

Bourgeoisie  {French),  The  mer- 
chants, manufacturers,  and  master- 
tradesmen  considered  as  a class.  Cito- 
yen  is  a freeman,  a citizen  of  the  state  ; 
bourgeois,  an  individual  of  the  Bour- 
geoisie class.  Moliere  has  a comedy 
entitled  Le  Bourgeois  Gentilhomme.” 

Bouse.  {See  Boozy.) 

Boustrap'a.  Napoleon  III.  The 
word  is  compounded  of  the  first  syllables 
^oit-logne  and  Stra-sboni'g,  and  alludes 
to  his  escapades  in  1840  and  1836. 

Boustrophe'don.  A method  of 
writing  or  printing,  alternately  from 
right  to  left  and  leh  to  right,  like  the 
path  of  oxen  in  ploughing.  (Greek, 
bouS‘Strepho,  ox-turning. ) 

Bouts-rimes  {end-rhymes).  A person 
writes  a line,  and  gives  the  last  word 
to  another  person,  who  writes  a second 
line  to  rhyme  with  it,  and  so  on.  Dean 
Swift  employs  the  term  for  a poem,  each 
stanza  of  which  terminates  with  the  same 
word.  He  has  given  a poem  of  nine 
versefi,  each  of  which  ends  with  Domitilla, 
to  which,  of  course,  he  finds  nine  rhymes. 
(^French.) 

Bovey  Coal.  A lignite  found  at 
Bovey,  in  Devonshire. 

Bow  (to  rhyme  wiiLfloio). 

He  has  tioo  strings  to  his  boro.  Two 
means  of  accomplishing  his  object ; 
one  fails,  he  can  try  the  other.  Tne 
allusion  is  to  the  custom  of  the  British 
bowmen  carrying  a reserve  string  in  case 
of  accident. 

D rarv  not  your  boro  till  your  arrorv  is 
fxed.  Have  everything  ready  before 
you  begin.  The  allusion  is  to  the  custom 
of  fixing  the  arrow  to  the  bowstring 
before  drawing  it. 

lie  has  a famous  boro  up  at  the  castle. 
Said  of  a braggart  or  pretender. 

To  unstring  the  boro  will  not  heal  the 
'iroimd  (Italian).  Rend  of  Anjou,  king  of 
Sicily,  on  the  death  of  his  wife,  Isabeau 
of  Lorraine,  adopted  the  emblem  of  a 


bow  with  the  string  broken,  and  with 
the  words  given  above  for  the  motto,  by 
which  he  meant,  “Lamentation  for  the 
loss  of  his  wife  was  but  poor  satisfaction.” 

Bow  (to  rhyme  with  now). 

On  the  boro.  Something  seen  over  the 
bow  of  a ship  within  a range  of  45°  on 
one  side  or  the  other  of  the  prow. 

Bow-bells.  Born  within  sound  oj 
Boio-bells.  A true  cockney.  St.  Mary-le- 
Bow  has  long  had  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated bell-peals  in  London.  John  Dun, 
mercer,  gave  in  1472  two  tenements  to 
maintain  the  ringing  of  Bow-bell  every 
night  at  nine  o’clock,  to  direct  travellers 
on  the  road  to  town ; and  in  1520  William 
Copland  gave  a bigger  bell  for  the  purpose 
of  “sounding  a retreat  from  work.” 
Bow  Church  is  nearly  the  centre  of  the 
city. 

Bow-hand.  The  left  hand,  the  hand 
which  holds  the  bow. 

To  be  too  much  of  the  boro-hand.  To  fail 
in  a design ; not  be  sufficiently  dexterous. 

Bow-wow  Word.  A word  in  imi- 
tation of  the  sound  made,  as  hiss,  cackle, 
murmur,  cuckoo,  whip-poor-will,  ke. 
The  word  is  suggested  by  Max  Muller. 
I should  prefer  the  word  sound-spell  in 
imitation  of  the  word  god- spell  (gospel). 

Bowden.  Not  every  man  can  be  vicar 
of  Boioden.  Not  every  one  can  occupy 
the  first  place.  Bowden  is  one  of  the 
best  livings  in  Cheshire.  {Cheshire  pro- 
verb.) 

Bower.  A lady’s  private  room. 
(Saxon,  bur,  a chamber. ) {See  Boudoir.  ) 

Bower  Anchor.  The  smaller  anchor 
or  anchors  carried  at  the  ship’s  bow. 

Bower  of  Bliss,  in  Wandering 
Island,  the  enchanted  residence  of  Acra'- 
sia,  destroyed  by  Sir  Guyon. — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen,”  bk.  ii. 

Bowie  Knife.  A long,  stout  knife, 
carried  by  hunters  in  the  Western  states 
of  America.  So  called  from  Colonel  Jim 
Bowie,  one  of  the  most  daring  characters 
of  the  States. 

Bowing.  W e uncover  the  head  when 
we  wish  to  salute  any  one  with  respect ; 
but  the  Jews,  Turks,  Siamese,  &c.,  un- 
cover their  feet.  The  reason  is  this: 
With  us  the  chief  act  of  investiture  is 


no 


BOWLED. 


BRABANCONNE. 


crowning  or  placing  a cap  on  the  head; 
hnt  in  the  East  it  is  putting  on  the  slip- 
pers. To  take  off  our  symbol  of  honour 
is  to  confess  we  are  but  ^^the  humble 
servant”  of  the  person  whom  we  thus 
salute. 

Bowled.  He  %vas  bowled  out.  Was 
ousted.  A term  in  cricket. 

Bowling.  Tom  Bowling.  The  type 
of  a model  sailor  in  Smollett’s  Roderick 
Random.” 

Here  a sheer  hulk  lies  poor  Tom  Howling, 

The  darling  of  the  crGw.—Dibdin. 

Bowyer  G-od.  The  same  as  the 
archer  god,”  meaning  Cupid. 

The  sylvan  goddess  and  the  howyer  god, 

Camoens,  ‘^Lusiad,'”  bk,  135. 

Box.  I ^ve  got  into  the  wrong  box.  I 
am  out  of  my  element.  Lord  Lyttelton 
used  to  say  he  ought  to  have  been  brought 
up  to  some  business ; that  whenever  he 
went  to  Vauxhall  and  heard  the  mirth  of 
his  neighbour-!,  he  used  to  fancy  pleasure 
was  in  every  box  but  his  own.  Wherever 
he  went  for  happiness,  he  somehow  always 
got  into  the  wrong  box.  {See,  Christmas 
Box.) 

A box  d the  ears.  This  is  the  Greek 
ux  (a  fist),  a blow  with  the  fist.  A 
oxer  is  one  who  uses  his  fists. 

For  the  box  o’  the  ear  that  the  prince  gave  you, 
he  gave  it  like  a rude  prince,  and  you  took  it  like  a 
sensible  lord.— Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  /F.,”  i.  2. 

Box  and  Cox.  The  two  chief 
characters  in  John  M.  Morton’s  farce, 
usually  called  '^Box  and  Cox.” 

Box  the  Compass  is  Spanish, 
boxar  (to  sail  round). 

Box  Bays.  Two  days  in  spring  and 
autumn,  and  one  at  Christmas,  during 
vacation,  in  which  pleadings  may  be  filed. 
This  custom  was  established  in  1690,  for 
the  purpose  of  expediting  business.  Each 
judge  has  a private  box  with  a slit,  into 
which  informations  may  be  placed  on 
box  days,  and  the  judge,  who  alone  has 
the  key,  examines  the  papers  in  private. 

Boxing.  (Greek,  the  fist ; Irish, 
bugsa;  German,  buchsbaum.') 

Boxing  Bay.  {See  Christmas  Box.) 

Boy  Bachelor.  William  Wotton, 
D.D.,  was  admitted  at  St.  Catherine’s 
Hall  before  he  was  ten,  and  took  his  B.  A. 
when  he  was  twelve  and  a-half,  (1666- 
1726. 


Boy  Bishop.  St.  Nicholas.  From 
his  cradle  he  is  said  to  have  manifested 
marvellous  indications  of  piety,  and  was 
therefore  selected  for  the  patron  saint  of 
boys.  (Fourth  century.) 

Bog  Bishop.  The  custom  of  choosing 
a boy  from  the  cathedral  choir,  &c.,  on 
St.  Nicholas  Day  (6th  December),  as  a 
mock  bishop,  is  very  ancient.  The  boy 
possessed  episcopal  honour  for  three 
weeks,  and  the  rest  of  the  choir  were  his 
prebends.  If  he  died  during  the  time  of 
his  prelacy,  he  was  buried  in  pontica' libus. 
Probably  the  reference  is  to  Jesus  Christ 
sitting  in  the  Temple  among  the  doctors 
while  he  was  a boy.  The  custom  was 
abolished  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 
In  Salisbury  cathedral  the  visitor  is 
shown  a very  small  sarcophagus  which 
the  verger  says  was  made  for  a boy 
bishop. 

Boyle  Controversy.  A book-bat- 
tle between  the  Hon.  Charles  Boyle,  third 
earl  of  Orrery,  and  the  famous  Bentley, 
respecting  the  Epistles  of  Phal'aris.” 
Charles  Boyle  edited  the  “Epistles  of 
Phalaris”  in  1695.  Two  years  later, 
Bentley  published  his  celebrated  “Dis- 
sertation,” to  prove  that  the  epistles 
were  not  written  till  the  second  century 
after  Christ,  instead  of  six  centuries 
before  that  epoch.  In  1699  he  published 
another  rejoinder,  and  utterly  annihi- 
lated the  Boyleists. 

Boyle’s  Law.  “The  volume  of  a 
gas  is  inversely  as  the  pressure.”  If  we 
double  the  pressure  on  a gas,  its  volume 
is  reduced  to  one-half  ; if  we  quadruple 
the  pressure,  it  will  be  reduced  to  one- 
fourth  ; and  so  on.  So  called  from  the 
Hon.  Robert  Boyle.  (1627-1691.) 

Boyle  Lectures.  Eight  sermons  a 
year  in  defence  of  Christianity,  founded 
by  the  Hon.  Robert  Boyle. 

Boz.  Charles  Dickens.  (1812-1870.) 

Boz,  my  signature  in  the  Morning  Chronicle  (he 
tells  us),  was  the  nickname  of  a pet  child,  a 
younger  brother,  whom  I had  duhhed  Moses,  in 
honour  of  the  “Vicar  of  Wakefield;”  which, 
being  pronounced  Bozes,  got  shortened  into  Boz. 

Bozzy.  James  Boswell,  the  bio' 
grapher  of  Dr.  Johnson.  (1740-1795.) 

Brabangonne.  ^ A Belgian  patri- 
otic song,  composed  in  the  revolution  of 
1830,  and  so  named  from  Brabant,  of 
which  Brussels  is  the  chief  city. 


BRABANCONS. 


BRAMBLE. 


Ill 


Brabancons.  Troops  of  adven- 
turers and  bandits,  who  made  war  a 
trade,  and  lent  themselves  for  money  to 
any  one  who  would  pay  them.  So  called 
from  Brabant,  their  great  nest.  (Twelfth 
century.) 

Brace.  The  Brace  Tavern,  south- 
east corner  of  King’s  Bench  ; originally 
kept  by  two  brothers  named  Partridge, 
i.e.,  a brace  of  birds. 

Brad'amant  or  Bradaman'te.  Sister 
of  Rinaldo,  in  Ariosto’s  Orlando  Furi- 
oso.”  She  is  represented  as  a most  won- 
derful Christian  Am'azon,  possessed  of 
an  irresistible  spear,  which  unhorsed 
every  knight  that  it  touched.  The  same 
character  appears  in  the  “ Orlando  Inna- 
mora'ta”  of  Bojardo. 

Bradley  Headstone.  An  upper 
village  schoolmaster,  iron-willed,  of  most 
headstrong  purpose,  and  uncontrolled 
passion.  He  loves  Lizzie  Hexham,  and 
dogs  Wrayburn  for  several  weeks  to 
murder  him,  because  Lizzie  loves  the 
gay  gentleman  better  than  the  ploddin^: 
pedagogue. — Dickens,  Mutual  Friend^ 

Brad'wardine,  Rose.  The  daughter 
of  Baron  Bradwardine,  and  the  heroine 
of  Scott’s  ^^Waverley.”  She  is  in  love 
with  young  Waverley,  and  ultimately 
marries  him. 

Brag.  A game  at  cards.  So  called 
because  the  players  brag  of  their  cards 
to  induce  the  company  to  make  bets. 
The  principal  sport  of  the  game  is  occa- 
sioned by  any  player  hragging  that  he 
holds  a better  hand  than  the  rest  of  the 
party,  which  is  declared  by  saying  I 
brag,”  and  staking  a sum  of  money  on 
the  issue. — Hoyle. 

Brag  is  a good  dog,  hut  Holdfast  is  a 
letter.  Talking  is  all  very  well,  but  doing 
is  far  better. 

Jack  Brag.  A vulgar,  pretentious 
braggart,  who  gets  into  aristocratic 
society,  where  his  vulgarity  stands  out 
in  strong  relief.  The  character  is  in 
Theodore  Hook’s  novel  of  the  same  name. 

He  was  a sort  of  literary  Jack  Brag. 

T.  H.  burton. 

iBraggado'chio.  A braggart.  One 
who  is  very  valiant  with  his  tongue,  but 
a great  coward  at  heart.  A barking  dog 
that  bites  not.  The  character  is  from 
Spenser’s  Faery  Queen,”  and  a type  of 
the  “ Intemperance  of  the  Tongue.”  After 


a time,  like  the  jackdaw  in  borrowed 
plumes,  Braggadochio  is  stripped  of  all  his 
‘‘glories:”  his  shield  is  claimed  by  Sir 
Mar'inel ; his  lady  is  proved  by  the 
golden  girdle  to  be  the  false  Florimel ; 
his  horse  is  claimed  by  Sir  Guyon  ; Talus 
shaves  off  his  beard  and  scourges  his 
squire  ; and  the  pretender  sneaks  off 
amidst  the  jeers  of  every  one.  It  is 
thought  that  the  poet  had  Felipe  of 
Spain  in  his  eye  when  he  drew  this  cha- 
racter. 

Brag'mar'do'.  When  Gargantua 
took  the  bells  of  Notre  Dame  de  Paris  to 
hang  about  the  neck  of  his  horse,  the 
citizens  sent  Bragmardo  to  him  with  a 
remonstrance.  — Rabelais,  “ Gargantua 
and  Pantag' ruel.^^ 

Bra'gi.  Son  of  Odin  and  Frigga.  Ac- 
cording to  Scandinavian  mythology,  he 
was  the  inventor  of  poetry ; but,  unlike 
Apollo,  he  is  always  represented  as  an  old 
man  with  a long  white  beard.  His  wife 
was  Idunna. 

Brali'nia  {Indian).  The  self- existing 
and  invisible  Creator  of  the  Universe  ; re- 
presented with  four  heads  looking  to  the 
four  corners  of  the  world.  The  divine 
triad  is  Brahma,  Vishnu,  and  Siva. 

Brahma.  One  of  the  three  beings 
created  by  God,  to  assist  in  the  creation 
of  the  world.  The  Brahmins  claim  him 
as  the  founder  of  their  religious  system. 

Wliate’er  in  India  holds  the  sacred  name 
Of  piety  or  lore,  the  Brahmins  claim ; 

In  wildest  rituals,  vain  and  painful,  lost, 
Brahma,  their  founder,  as  a god  they  boast. 

Camoens,  Lusiad”  hk.  vii. 

Brah'mi.  One  of  the  three  goddess- 
daughters  of  Vishnu,  representing  “ crea- 
tive energy.” 

Brahmin.  A worshipper  of  Brahma, 
the  highest  caste  in  the  system  of 
Hinduism,  and  of  the  priestly  order. 

Bramble,  Matthew.  A testy,  gouty, 
benevolent,  country  squire,  in  Smollett’s 
novel  of  “Humphrey  Clinker.”  Colman 
has  introduced  the  same  character  as  Sir 
Robert  Bramble  in  his  “Poor  Gentle- 
man.” Sheridan’s  “Sir  Anthony  Abso- 
lute ” is  of  the  same  type. 

A’n’t  I a baronet  ? Sir  Robert  Bramble,  at 
Blackberry  Hall,  in  the  county  of  Kent  ? ’Tis  time 
you  should  know  it,  for  you  have  been  my  clumsy, 
two-fisted  valet-de-chambre  these  thirty  years.— 
“ The  Poor  Gentleman”  iii.  1. 


112 


BRAN. 


BRAZEN. 


Bran.  If  not  Bran,  it  is  Bran's 
hrother.  If  not  the  real  Simon  Pure/’ 
it  is  just  as  good.  A complimentary 
expression.  Bran  was  Fingal’s  dog,  a 
mighty  favourite. 

Bran-new  is  fire-new,  fresh  from 
the  anvil  (Dutch,  brand-nieuw) ; like  a 
horse-shoe  or  piece  of  iron-work  just 
forged. 

Brand.  He  has  the  brand  of  villain  in 
his  looJcs.  It  was  once  customary  to  brand 
the  cheeks  of  felons  with  an  F.  The 
custom  was  abolished  by  law  in  1822. 

The  Cliqiiot  brandy  &c.,  the  best  brand, 
&c.  That  is  the  merchant’s,  or  excise 
mark  branded  on  the  article  itself,  the 
vessel  which  contains  the  article,  the 
wrapper  which  covers  it,  the  cork  of  a 
bottle,  &c.,  to  guarantee  its  being 
genuine,  (&:c.  Madame  Cliquot,  of  cham- 
pagne notoriety,  died  in  1866. 

Brandenburg.  Confession  of  Bran- 
denburg. A formulary  or  confession  of 
faith  drawn  up  in  the  city  of  Branden- 
burg by  order  of  the  elector,  with  the 
view  of  reconciliog  the  tenets  of  Luther 
with  those  of  Calvin,  and  to  put  an  end 
to  the  disputes  occasioned  by  the  con- 
fession of  Augsburg. 

Bran'dimarti,  in  Orlando  Furioso,” 
is  Orlando’s  brother-in-law,  husband  of 
For'delis,  and  son  of  Monodantes.  He 
was  one  of  the  bravest  knights  in 
Charlemagne’s  army,  and  was  slain  by 
Gradasso, 

Brandon,  the  juggler,  lived  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII. 

Brandy  INan.  Queen  Anne,  who 
was  very  fond  of  brandy.  (1661-1714.) 
On  the  statue  of  queen  Anne  in  St. 
Paul’s  Churchyard,  a wit  wrote — 

Brandy  JN'an,  Brandy  Nan,  left  in  the  lurch. 

Her  face  to  the  gin-shop,  her  back  to  the  church. 

On  the  site  of  Dakin’s  tea-shop  stood  a 
‘‘  gin  palace  ” at  the  time. 

Brangtons,  The.  Vulgar,  malicious, 
jealous  women.  The  characters  are  taken 
from  Miss  Burney’s  novel  called  ‘^Eve- 
lina.” One  of  the  brothers  is  a Cockney 
snob. 

Brank.  A.  gag  for  scolds.  (Dutch, 
yranghe,  the  yoke  of  a pillory.) 


Brasenose  (Oxford).  Over  the  gate 
is  a brass  nose,  the  arms  of  the  college  ; 
but  the  word  is  a corruption  of  brasen- 
huis,  a braserie  or  brew  house.  (Latin, 
brasin'ium. ) 

Brass.  Impudence.  A lawyer  said  to 
a troublesorne  witness,  Why,  man,  you 
have  brass  enough  in  your  head  to  make 
a teakettle.”  ‘^And  you,  sir,”  replied 
the  witness,  have  water  enough  in 
yours  to  fill  it.”. 

Sampson  Brass.  A knavish  attorney ; 
servile,  affecting  sympathy,  but  making 
his  clients  his  lawful  Dickens,  ‘‘Old 

Curiosity  Shop.'' 

Brat.  A child ; so  called  from  brat, 
a child’s  pinafore ; an<l  brat  is  a con- 
traction of  brattach,  a cloth,  also  a 
standard. 

Every  man  must  repair  to  the  brattach  of  his 
tribe.— >Scofi. 

Brave.  The  Brave. 

Alfonso  IV.  of  Portugal.  (1290- 1357.) 

John  Andr.  van  der  Mersch,  patriot. 
The  brave  Fleming.  (1734-1792.) 

Bravery.  Finery  is  the  French  brave- 
rie.  The  French  for  courage  is  bravoure. 

What  woman  in  the  city  do  I name 
When  I say,  “The  city  woman  bears 
The  cost  of  princes  on  unworthy  shoulders?” 
Who  can  come  in  and  say  that  I mean  her  ? . , 

Or  ■■  hat  is  he  of  baser  function 

That  says,  “ His  bravery  is  not  of  my  cost  ?” 

IShakespeare,  “.As  You  Like 

Bravest  of  the  Brave.  Marshal 
Ney.  So  called  by  the  troops  of  Fried- 
land  (1807),  on  account  of  his  fearless 
bravery.  Napoleon  said  of  him,  '^That 
man  is  a lion.”  (1769-1815.) 

Brawn.  The  test  of  the  branvn's  head. 
A little  boy  one  da}^  came  to  the  court  of 
king  Arthur,  and,  drawing  his  wand  over 
a boar’s  head,  declared,  ‘^There’s  never 
a cuckold’s  knife  can  carve  this  head  of 
brawn.”  No  knight  in  the  court  except 
Sir  Cradock  was  able  to  accomplish  the 
fqat. — Percy's  “ Reliques." 

Bray.  {See  Vicab.) 

Brazen.  To  brazen  out;  a face  of 
brass  (or)  brazen-faced  fellow.  Brass  is 
the  emblem  of  impudence,  insolence,  and 
self-will ; iron  symbolises  warfare  and 
military  adventure. 

What  a brazen-faced  varlet  art  th'  u ! 

tiliakespeare,  "King  Learp  ii.  £. 


BRAZEN. 


BRESSOMMER. 


113 


Brazen  Age.  The  age  of  war  and 
violence.  It  followed  the  silver  age. 

To  this  next  came  in  course  the  brazen  age, 

A Avarlike  offspring,  prompt  to  bloody  rage, 

JS  ot  impious  yet,  Hard  steel  succeeded  then. 
And  stubborn  as  the  metal  were  the  men. 

Di'yden,  “ illciawi.,  i. 

Brazen-faced.  Bold  (in  a bad 
sense),  without  shame. 

Brazen  Head. 

The  first  on  record  was  by  Albertus 
Magnus,  which  cost  him  thirty  years’ 
labour,  and  was  broken  into  a thousand 
pieces  by  Thomas  Aqui'nas,^  his  disciple. 

The  second  Avas  that  of  Friar  Bacon. 

Bacon  trembled  for  his  brazen  head. 

Dunciad,*'  iii.  104. 

Quoth  he,  My  head’s  not  made  of  brass. 

As  friar  Bacon’s  noddle  was.— BwWer,  ii.  2. 

The  third,  that  of  the  marquis  de  Vil- 
Ic'na,  of  Spain. 

The  fourth,  that  by  a Polander,  a dis- 
ciple o*f  Escotillo,  an  Italian. 

Probably  The  Invisible  Girl,  who  made 
the  tour  of  Europe,  explains  the  mystery. 

Brazen  Head.  A gigantic  head  kept 
in  the  castle  of  the  giant  Fer'ragus, 
of  Portugal.  It  was  omniscient,  and 
told  those  who  consulted  it  whatever 
they  required  to  know,  past,  present,  or 
to  come. — Valentine  and  Orson. 

Bread.  He  tool  bread  and  salt,  i.e., 
he  took  his  oath.  Bread  and  salt  were 
formerly  eaten  when  an  oath  was  taken. 

Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters,  for  thou 
shalt  find  it  after  many  days  (Eccles. 
xi.  1).  When  the  Nile  overflows  its 
banks,  the  weeds  perish  and  the  soil  is 
disintegrated.  The  rice-seed  being  cast 
into  the  water,  takes  root,  and  is 
found  in  due  time  growing  in  healthful 
vigour. 

Break. 

To  breah  your  bach.  Make  you  bank- 
rupt. The  metaphor  is  from  carrying 
burdens  on  the  back. 

To  breah  up  househeeping . To  discon- 
tinue keeping  a separate  house.  A school 
term. 

Breakers  Ahead.  Hidden  danger 
at  hand.  Breakers  in  the  open  sea 
always  announce  sunken  rocks,  sand- 
banks, &c. 

Breche  de  Boland.  A deep  defile 
in  the  crest  of  the  Pyrenees,  some  300 
^^eet  in  width,  between  two  precipitous 
rocks.  The  legend  is  that  Roland,  the 
paladin,  cleft  the  rock  in  two  with  his 


sword  Duran  dal,  when  he  was  set  upon 
by  the  Gascons  at  Roncesvalles. 

Then  would  I seek  the  Pyrenean  bi’each, 

Which  Boland  clove  with  huge  two-handed  sway 
Wordsworth. 

Breeches.  To  wear  thebreeches.  Said 
of  a woman  who  usurps  the  prerogative 
of  her  husband.  Similar  to  The  grey  mare 
is  the  better  horse.  {See  Grey.) 

The  phrase  is  common  to  the  French, 
Dutch,  Germans,  &c.,  as  Elle  porte  les 
braies.  De  vromo  draagder  de  broeh.  SU 
hat  die  Hosen. 

Breeches  Bible.  Bible.) 

Breeze.  House- sweepings,  as  fluff, 
dust,  ashes,  and  so  on,  thrown  as  refuse 
into  the  dust-bin.  We  generally  limit  the 
meaning  now  to  small  ashes  and  cinders 
used  for  coals  in  burning  bricks.  The 
word  is  a corruption  of  the  French  debris 
(rubbish,  or  rather  the  part  broken  or 
rubbed  off  by  wear,  tear,  and  stress  of 
weather). 

The  Breeze-fly.  The  gad-fly  ; so  called 
from  its  sting.  (Saxon,  briose ; Gothic, 
bry,  a sting.) 

Breidablik  ( w ide  - shining ).  The 
palace  of  Baldur.  {Scandinavian  mytho- 
logy.) 

Brenda  Troil.  Daughter  of  Magnus, 
and  sister  of  Minna  Troil.—  Scott,  “Pirate.'^ 

Brennns.  A Latin  form  of  the 
Kymric  word  Brenhin  (a  war-chief).  In 
times  of  danger  the  Druids  appointed  a 
brenn  to  lead  the  confederate  tribes  to 
battle. 

Brent-goose.  . A barnacle  or  goose 
the  colour  of  burnt  bread.  {Brent, 
burnt.) 

Brentford.  Like  the  two  hings  of 
Brentford  smelling  at  one  nosegay.  Said 
of  persons  who  were  once  rivals,  but  have 
become  reconciled.  The  allusion  is  to  an 
old  farce  called  The  Rehearsal,”  by  the 
duke  of  Buckingham.  ^^The  two  kings 
of  Brentford  enter  hand  in  hand,”  and 
the  actors,  to  heighten  the  absurdity, 
used  to  make  them  enter  ‘^smelling  at 
one  nosegay”  (Act  ii.,  s.  2). 

Bressommer  or  The 

beam  into  which  the  girders  are  framed. 
(German,  brets,  planks  ; sommer,  a master- 
beam -i.e.,  the  planks’  master-beam.  It 
is  not  correctly  derived  from  the  French 
brace  d mur.') 


114 


BEETWALDA. 


/ 


BETBE. 


Bretwalda  (ivielder  of  Britain).  The 
chief  of  the  kings  of  the  heptarchy  who 
exercised  a certain  undefined  power  over 
the  other  rulers,  something  like  that  of 
Hugues  Cap'et  over  his  peers. 

Brevet  Bank  is  rank  one  degree 
higher  than  your  pay.  Thus,  a brevet- 
major  has  the  title  of  major,  but  the  pay 
of  captain.  In  familiar  language,  we  say 
a man  who  addresses  an  unmarried 
woman  as  Mrs.,  gives  her  brevet  rank. 
(French,  hrezet^  a patent,  a concession. ) 

Breviary.  An  epitome  of  the  old 
office  of  matins  and  lauds  for  daily 
service  in  the  Eoman  Catholic  Church  at 
the  seven  different  hours,  according  to 
the  saying  of  David,  Seven  times  a 
day  do  I x^raise  thee.” — Psalm  cxix.  164. 

Brew.  Brew  me  a glass  of  grog,  i.e., 
mix  one  for  me.  Breiv  me  a cnp  of  tea, 
i.e.,  make  one  for  me.  The  tea  is  set  to 
breiv,  i.e.,  to  draw.  The  general  meaning 
of  the  word  is  to  boil  or  mix,  the  re- 
stricted meaning  is  to  make  malt  liquor. 
(Saxon,  briwan,  to  make  broth  ; Danish, 
brouwen,  to  mix  ; Welsh,  berw,  a boiling. ) 

Brewer.  The  Brewer  of  Ghent.  James 
van  Arteveld.  {Fourteenth  century.) 

It  may  here  be  remarked,  that  it  is 
a great  error  to  derive  proper  names  of 
any  antiquity  from  modern  words  of  a 
similar  sound  or  spelling.  As  a rule,  very 
few  ancient  names  are  the  names  of 
trades ; and  to  suppose  that  such  words 
as  Bacon,  Hogg,  and  Pigg  refer  to  swine- 
herds, or  Gaiter,  Miller,  Tanner,  Einger, 
and  Bottle  to  handicrafts,  is  a great 
mistake.  A few  examples  of  a more 
scientific  derivation  will  suffice  for  a 
hint : — 

Brewer.  This  name,  which  exists  in 
France  as  Bruhiere  and  Brugiere,  is  not 
derived  from  the  Saxon  briwan  (to  brew), 
but  the  French  brnyere  (heath),  and  is 
about  tantamount  to  the  German  Planta- 
genet”  {broom-plant). 

Bacon  is  from  the  High  German  verb 
bagan  (to  fight),  and  means  ^Hhe  fighter.” 

Pigg  and  Bigg  are  from  the  old  High 
German  pichan  (to  slash). 

Hogg  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  hyge  (scholar), 
from  the  verb  hogan  (to  study). 

Bottle  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  Bod' -el 
(little  envoy).  Norse,  bodi;  Danish,  bnd. 

Gaiter  is  the  Saxon  Gaid-er  (the 
darter),  Celtic,  gais,  our  goad. 


Miller  is  the  old  Norse  melia,  our 
mill  and  maul,  and  means  a mauler” 
or  fighter.” 

Ringer  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  hring  gar 
(the  mailed  warrior). 

Smith  is  the  man  who  smites. 

Tanner,  German  ‘^Thanger;”  old 
German  ‘‘Danegaud”  is  the  Dane-Goth. 

This  list  might  easily  be  extended. 

Bria,r'e6s  or  Mge'on.  A giant  with 
fifty  heads  and  a hundred  hands.  Homer 
says  the  gods  called  him  Briar'eds,  but 
men  called  him  .^geon. — ^Pliad,"  i.  403. 

Not  he  who  brandished  in  his  hundred  hands 
His  fifty  swords  and  fifty  sliields  in  fightf 
Could  have  surpassed  the  fierce  Argantes’  might. 

^‘Jerusalem  Delivered,”  hk.  vii. 

Then,  called  by  thee,  the  monster  Titan  came. 

Whom  gods  Briar'ebs,  men  iEgeon  name. 

Pope,  “ Iliad  f L 

Shakespeare  employs  the  word  as  a dis- 
syllable ; — 

He  is  a gouty  Briareus ; many  hands, 

And  of  no  use.— “ Troilus  and  Gressida”  i.  2. 

The  Briareus  of  languages.  Cardinal 
M ezzofanti,  who  knew  fifty-eight  different 
tongues.  Byron  called  him  a walking 
polyglot ; a monster  of  languages ; a 
Briareus  of  parts  of  speech.”  (1774-1849.) 

Bribo'ci.  Inhabitants  of  part  of 
Berkshire  and  the  adjacent  counties  re- 
ferred to  by  Csesar  in  his  ‘^Commen- 
taries.” 

Brick.  A regular  brick.  A jolly  good 
fellow. 

To  read  like  a brick.  To  read  hard. 

The  word  is  University  slang,  and  comes 
round  about  thus:  A brick  is  deep  red, 
so  a deep-read  man  is  a brick.  To  read 
like  a brick,  is  to  read  in  order  to  become 
deep  read. 

A deep  read  man  is  a “good  man”  in 
University  phrase  ; a good  man  is  a jolly 
fellow  with  non-reading  men  ; ergo,  a 
jolly  fellow  is  a brick. 

Brick -and -Mortar  Franchise. 
A Chartist  phrase  for  the  £10  household 
system. 

Brickdusts.  The  53rd  Foot  ; so 
called  from  the  brickdust-red  colour  of 
their  facings.  Also  called  Five  and 
thre'pennies,  a play  on  the  number  and 
daily  pay  of  the  ensigns. 

Bride.  The  bridal  wreath  is  a relic  of 
the  coro'na  nuptia'lis  used  by  the  Greeks 
and  Romans  to  indicate  triumph. 

Bride  Cake.  A relic  of  the  Roman 
ConfarreVtio,  a mode  of  marriage  prac- 


BRIDE. 


BRIGADORE. 


115 


tised  by  the  highest  class  in  Rome.  It 
was  performed  before  ten  witnesses  by 
the  Pon'tifex  Max^imus,  and  the  con- 
tracting parties  mutually  partook  of  a 
cake  made  of  salt,  water,  and  flower 
{far).  Only  those  born  in  such  wedlock 
were  eligible  for  the  high  sacred  offices. 

Bride  (or  Wedding)  Favours  repre- 
sent the  true  lover's  knoty  and  symbolise 
union. 

Bride’s  Maids.  A relic  of  the  ten 
witnesses  mentioned  above.  {See  Bride 
Cake.) 

Bride’s  Veil.  The  Anglo-Saxons 
used  to  hold  a veil  over  the  bride  and 
bridegroom,  to  conceal  the  blushes  of 
the  lady  from  the  company.  Widows 
were  not  veiled  on  being  re-married. 

Bride  of  Aby'dos.  Zuleika,  daughter 
of  Giaflir,  pacha  of  Aby'dos.  As  she 
was  never  wed,  she  should  be  called  the 
affianced  or  betrothed. — Byron. 

Bride  of  the  Sea.  Venice ; so 
called  from  the  ancient  ceremony  of  the 
doge,  who  threw  a ring  into  the  Adriatic, 
saying,  We  wed  thee,  0 sea,  in  token 
of  perpetual  domination.” 

Bridegroom  is  the  old  Dutch  grom 
(a  young  man).  Thus,  Groom  of  the  Stole 
is  the  young  man  over  the  wardrobe. 
Groom,  an  ostler,  is  quite  another  word, 
being  the  Persian  garma  (a  keeper  of 
horses),  unless,  indeed,  it  is  a contracted 
form  of  stable-groom  (stable-boy).  The 
Anglo-Saxon  gome  (a  man)  was  in  use 
even  in  the  civil  wars. 

Bridegroom’s  Men.  In  the  Roman 
marriage  by  confarreation,  the  bride  was 
led  to  the  Pon'tifex  Max'imus  by  bache- 
lors, but  was  conducted  home  by  married 
men.  Polydore  Virgil  says  that  a married 
man  preceded  the  bride  on  her  return, 
bearing  a vessel  of  gold  and  silver. 
Moresin  says  the  grooms-men  all  received 
from  the  bride  a pair  of  gloves  for  their 
service. 

Bridewell.  The  city  Bridewell, 
Bridge  Street,  Blackfriars,  was  built  over 
a holy  well  of  medical  water,  called  St. 
Bride’s  Well,  where  was  founded  a 
hospital  for  the  poor.  After  the  Re- 
formation, Edward  VI.  %hartered  this 
hospital  to  the  city.  Christ  Church  was 
given  to  the  education  of  the  young,  St. 
Thomas’s  Hospital  to  the  cure  of  the 
sick,  and  Bridewell  was  made  a peniten- 


tiary for  unruly  apprentices  and  vagrants. 
Strange  that  St.  Bride  or  St.  Bridget, 
the  model  of  purity  and  innocence, 
should  give  her  name  to  a penitentiary 
and  prison  ! 

Bridge  of  Jeliennam.  (iSf^e  Sera't.  ) 

Bridge  of  Sighs,  which  connects 
the  palace  of  the  doge  with  the  state 
prisons  of  Venice.  Over  this  bridge  the 
state  prisoners  were  conveyed  from  the 
judgment-hall  to  the  place  of  execution. 

I stood  in  Yeniee,  on  the  J3 ridge  of  Sighs, 

A palace  and  a prison  on  each  hand. 

"Childe  Harold's  Pilgrimage,'’  canto  iv.  1. 

Bridgenorth,  Major  B^aljih.  A 
Roundhead  in  Scott’s  ‘^Peveril  of  the 
Peak.” 

Bridgewater  Treatises.  Insti- 
tuted by  the  Rev.  Francis  Henry  Eger- 
ton,  earl  of  Bridgewater,  in  1825,  who 
left  the  interest  of  £8,000  to  be  given  to 
the  author  of  the  best  treatise  on  “ The 
power,  wisdom,  and  goodness  of  God,  as 
manifested  in  creation.”  Eight  are  pub- 
lished by  the  following  gentlemen  : — (1) 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Chalmers,  (2)  Dr.  John 
Kidd,  (3)  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whewell,  (4) 
Sir  Charles  Bell,  (5)  Dr.  Peter  M.  Roget, 
(6)  the  Rev.  Dr.  Buckland,  (7)  the  Rev. 
W.  Kirby,  and  (8)  Dr.  William  Prout. 

Bridle.  To  hite  on  the  hridle  is  to 
suffer  great  hardships.  The  bridle  was 
an  instrument  for  punishing  a scold ; to 
bite  on  the  bridle  is  to  suffer  this  punish- 
ment. 

Bridle  Hoad  or  Way.  A way  for  a 
riding-horse,  but  not  for  a horse  and  cart. 

Bridlegoose,  Judges  who  decided 
the  causes  brought  to  him  by  the  throw 
of  dice. — RabelaiSy  ^’‘Gargantua  and  Pan- 
tag'ruel." 

Bridport.  Stalled  with  a Bridport 
dagger j i.e.,  hanged.  Bridport,  in  Dorset- 
shire, was  once  famous  for  its  hempen 
goods,  and  monopolised  the  manufacture 
of  ropes,  cables,  and  tackling  for  the 
British  navy.  The  hangman’s  rope  being 
made  at  Bridport  gave  birth  to  the 
proverb.  —Fuller,  Worthies." 

Brig'adore  (3  syl.).  ^ Sir  Guyon’s 
horse,  which  had  a distinguishing  ‘‘  black 
spot  in  his  mouth.” — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen,"  v.  3. 

1 2 


116 


BRIGAND. 


BRITANNIA. 


/ 


Brigand  properly  means  light-armed 
people.  The  Brigands  were  light-armed, 
irreg^ular  troops,  like  the  Bashi-Bazouks, 
and  like  them  were  addicted  to  maraud- 
ing. The  Free  Companies  of  France  were 
Brigands. 

Brigandine.  The  armour  of  a brigand, 
consisting  of  small  plates  of  iron  on 
quilted  linen,  and  covered  with  leather, 
hemp,  or  something  of  the  kind. 

Another  derivation  is  the  Celtic  hrigant, 
a mountaineer,  from  hrig,  a summit. 

Bright’s  Disease.  A degeneration 
of  the  tissues  of  the  kidneys  into  fat, 
first  investigated  by  Dr.  Bright.  The 
patient  under  this  disease  has  a flabb}^ 
bloodless  appearance,  is  always  drowsy, 
and  easily  fatigued. 

Brigians.  The  Castilians ; so  called 
from  one  of  their  ancient  kings,  named 
Brix  or  Brigus,  said  by  monkish  fabulists 
to  be  the  grandson  of  Noah. 

Edward  and  Pedro,  emulous  of  fame  . . . 

Thro’  the  fierce  Krigian<5  hewed  their  bloody  way, 

Till  in  a cold  embrace  the  striplings  lay. 

Gamoens,  “ Lusiad”  v. 

Brigliado'ro  {golden  hridle).  The 
name  of  Orlando’s  and  also  of  Sir  Guyon’s 
steed.  (Nee  Horse.) 

Brilliant  Madman.  Charles  XII. 
of  Sweden.  (1682-1718.) 

Macedonia’s  madman  or  the  Swede. 

Johnson^  ^'Vanity  of  Human  Wishes." 

Brims.  You  have  hnms  in  your  tail. 
You  are  restless,  you  are  always  gadding 
about.  A brim  is  a gad-fly,  and  when  one 
of  these  insects  gets  on  the  tail  of  an 
animal,  the  creature  is  wild  and  restless. 

Briney  or  Briny.  Fm  on  the  hriny. 
The  sea,  which  is  salt  like  brine. 

Brioche  (2  syl.).  A sort  of  bun  or 
cake  common  in  France,  and  now  pretty 
generally  sold  in  England.  When  Marie 
Antoinette  was  talking  about  the  bread 
riots  of  Paris  during  the  5th  and  6th 
October,  1789,  the  duchesse  de  Polignac 
naively  exclaimed,  “ How  is  it  that  these 
silly  peojAe  are  so  clamorous  for  bread, 
when  they  can  buy  such  nice  brioches  for 
a few  sous  ! ” This  was  in  spirit  not  un- 
like the  remark  of  our  own  princess 
Charlotte,  who  avowed  that  she  would 
for  her  part  rather  eat  beef  than  starvef 
and  wondered  that  the  people  should  be 
so  obstinate  as  to  insist  upon  having  bread 
when  it  was  so  scarce. 


Bris.  II  conte  di  San  Bris,  governor 
of  the  Louvre,  was  father  of  Valentina, 
and  leader  of  the  St.  Bartholomew  mas- 
sacre.— Meyerbeer' s opera,’" ‘ Gli  Ugonotti.’* 

Brissotins.  A nickname  given  to 
the  advocates  of  reform  in  the  French 
Revolution,  because  they  were  ^‘led  by 
the  nose  ” by  Jean  Pierre  Brissot.  The 
party  was  subsequently  called  the  Gi- 
rondists. 

Bristol  Board.  A stiff  drawing- 
paper,  originally  manufactured  at  Bristol. 

Bristol  Boy,  The.  Thomas  Chat- 
terton,  the  poet.  Also  called  ‘^The 
Marvellous  Boy;”  or  as  Byron  has  it, 

The  wondrous  boy  who  perished  in  his 
pride.”  (1752-1770.) 

Bristol  Milk.  Sherry  sack,  at  one 
time  given  by  the  Bristol  people  to  their 
friends. 

Bristol  Diamonds.  Brilliant  crys- 
tals of  colourless  quartz  found  in  St. 
Vincent’s  Rock,  near  Bristol. 

Bristol  Waters.  Mineral  waters 
near  the  city  of  Bristol,  with  a tempera- 
ture not  exceeding  74°  ; especially  cele- 
brated in  cases  of  pulmonary  consump- 
tion. 

Britain.  By  far  the  most  probable 
derivation  of  this  word  is  that  given  by 
Bochart,  from  the  Phoenician  Barata,nic 
(country  of  tin),  contracted  into  B’ratan’. 
The  Greek  Cassiter'ides  (tin  islands)  is  a 
translation  of  Baratanic,  once  ap]3lied  to 
the  whole  known  group,  but  now  re- 
stricted to  the  Scilly  Isles.  Aristotle, 
who  lived  some  350  years  before  the 
Christian  era,  calls  the  island  Britannic, 
which  is  so  close  to  B'ratanic  that  the 
suggestion  of  Bochart  can  scarcely  admit 
of  a doubt. — De  Mundo,  sec.  3. 

Great  Britain  consists  of  “Britannia 
prima”  (England),  Britannia  secnnda” 
(Wales),  and  “North  Britain”  (Scot- 
land), united  under  one  sway. 

Britan'nia  was  first  struck  on  our 
coins  by  the  Romans.  Charles  II.,  in 
the  year  1667,  revived  the  device,  and 
the  new  Britannia  was  a fac-simile  of 
his  chere  amie,  Barbara  Villiers,  created 
by  him  duchess  of  Cleveland.  The 
figure  was  by  Evelyn,  and  engraved  by 
Roetier. 


BKITOMART. 


BROOM. 


117 


Britbmart  {sweet  maid).  Daughter 
of  king  Ryence  of  Wales,  whose  desire 
was  to  be  a heroine.  She  is  the  im- 
personation of  saintly  chastity  and  purity 
of  mind.  She  encounters  the  savage, 
fierce  bandit  and  mountaineer,”  without 
injury ; is  assailed  by  hag  and  unlaid 
ghost,  goblin,  and  swart  fairy  of  the 
mine,”  but  ‘‘  dashes  their  brute  violence 
into  sudden  adoration  and  blank  awe.” 
It  must  be  remembered  that  Britoraart 
is  not  the  impersonation  of  celibacy,  as 
she  is  in  love  with  an  unknown  hero,  but 
of  virgin  purity.”— “ Fah'y 
Queeiiy’  bk.  iii. 

She  charmed  at  once  and  tamed  the  heart. 
Incomparable  Britomart.— jScoW. 

Brit'omartis.  A Cretan  nymph, 
very  fond  of  the  chase.  King  Minos  fell 
in  love  with  her,  and  persisted  in  his 
advances  for  nine  months,  when  she 
threw  herself  into  the  sea.  (Cretan, 
hritus-martis,  sweet  maiden.) 

Brit'tany.  The  damsel  of  Brittany. 
Eleanora,  daughter  of  Geoffrey,  second 
son  of  Henry  II.,  king  of  England  and 
duke  of  Brittany.  At  the  death  of 
prince  Arthur,  she  was  the  real  heir  to 
the  crown,  but  John  confined  her  in  the 
castle  of  Bristol  till  death  (1241). 

Broaeli.  To  hroach  a neio  subject. 
To  start  one  in  conversation.  The 
allusion  is  to  beer  tubs.  If  one  is  flat, 
another  must  be  tapped.  A broach  is  a 
peg  or  pin,  and  to  broach  a cask  is  to 
bore  a hole  in  the  top  for  the  vent-peg. 

I did  broach  this  business  to  your  highness. 

Shakespeare,  ‘"Henry  4 

Broad  Arrow,  on  Government 
stores.  It  was  the  cognisance  of  Henry, 
viscount  Sydney,  earl  of  Romney,  master- 
general  of  the  ordnance.  (1693-1702.) 

Broadclotli.  The  best  cloth  for 
men’s  clothes.  So  called  from  its  great 
breadth.  It  required  two  weavers,  side 
by  side,  to  fling  the  shuttle  across  it. 

Broadside.  Printed  matter  spread 
over  an  entire  sheet  of  paper.  The 
whole  must  be  in  one  type  and  one 
measure,  i.e.,  must  not  be  divided  into 
columns.  A folio  is  when  the  sheet  is 
folded,  in  which  case  a page  occupies 
only  half  the  sheet. 

^ In  naval  language,  it  means  the  whole 
side  of  a ship  ; and  to  ^^open  a broadside 
on  the  enemy”  is  to  discharge  ail  the  guns 
on  one  side  at  the  same  moment. 


Brobdingnag.  The  country  of  gi- 
gantic giants,  to  whom  Gulliver  was  a 
pigmy  not  half  so  big  as  a round  little 
worm  plucked  from  the  lazy  finger  of  a 
maid.” 

You  high  church  steeple,  you  gawky  stag. 

Your  husband  must  come  from  Brobdingnag. 

Kane  O'Hara,  “Midas.’* 

Brobdingnag'ian.  Colossal ; tall 
as  a church  steeple.  {See  above.) 

Limbs  of  Brobdingnagian  proportions.— iS'iar. 

Brocken.  The  spectre  of  the  Brocken. 
This  is  the  shadow  of  men  and  other 
objects  greatly  magnified  and  reflected 
in  the  mist  and  cloud  of  the  mountain 
opposite.  The  Brocken  is  the  highest 
summit  of  the  Hartz  range. 

Brogue  properly  means  the  Irish 
brog^  or  shoe  of  rough  hide.  The  appli- 
cation of  brog  to  the  dialect  or  manner 
of  speaking  is  similar  to  that  of  buskin 
to  tragedy,  and  sock  to  comedy. 

Brogues.  Trousers.  From  the  Irish 
brog^  resembling  those  still  worn  by  some 
of  the  French  cavalry,  in  which  trousers 
and  boots  are  all  one  garment. 

And  put  my  clouted  brogues  from  oif  my  feet. 

Shakespeare,  “Cyrfibeline,"  iv.  2. 

Broker.  Properly  speaking,  is  one 
who  sells  refuse.  In  German,  called 
maklers,  that  is,  sellers  of  damaged 
stores.”  (Teutonic,  hr  ah  or  wrah^  refuse.) 

Brontes.  A blacksmith  personified ; 
one  of  the  Cyclops.  The  name  signifies 
Thunder. 

Not  with  such  weight,  to  frame  the  forky  brand, 

The  ponderous  hammer  falls  from  Brontes’  hand. 

Hoole,  “ Jerusalem  Delivered,”  bk.  xx. 

Bronzomar'te.  The  sorrel  horse  of 
Sir  Launcelot  Greaves. — Smollett,  A d- 
ventures.” 

Brook,  Master.  The  name  assumed 
by  Ford  when  he  visits  Sir  John  Falstaff. 
The  amorous  knight  tells  Master  Brook 
all  about  his  amour  with  Mrs.  Ford,  and 
how  he  duped  her  husband  by  being 
stowed  into  a basket  of  dirty  linen. 

Ford.  I'll  give  you  a pottle  of  burned  sack  to  give 
me  recourse  to  him,  and  tell  him  my  name  is  Brook, 
only  for  a jest. 

Host.  My  hand,  bully.  Thou  shalt  have  egresa 
and  regress,  . . . and  thy  name  shall  be  Brook. 

Shakespeare,  “Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,” W 1. 

Broom.  A broom  is  hung  at  the 
mast-head  of  ships  about  to  be  sold,  to 
indicate  that  they  are  to  be  swept  away. 
The  idea  is  popularly  taken  from  Admiral 
Trorni),  but  probably  this  allusion  is  more 


118  BEOSIEK.  BEOWNIE. 


witty  than  true.  The  custom  of  hanging 
up  something  to  attract  notice  seems 
very  common.  Thus,  an  old  piece  of 
carpet  from  a window  indicates  household 
furniture  for  sale;  a wisp  of  straw  indi- 
cates oysters  for  sale  ; a bush  means  wine 
for  sale  ; an  old  broom,  ships  to  sell, 
&c.  &c.  Pennant.) 

Srosier.  Eating  one  out  of  house 
and  home.  At  Eton,  when  a dame  keeps 
an  unusually  bad  table,  the  boys  agree 
together  on  a day  to  eat,  pocket,  or 
waste  everything  eatable  in  the  house. 
The  censure  is  well  understood,  and  the 
hint  generally  effective.  (Greek,  hroso, 
to  eat.) 

Brother  or  Frh'e.  A friar  not  in 
priest’s  orders.  {See  Father.) 

Brother  Benedict.  A married  man.  {See 
Benedict.) 

Brother  Blade.  Properly,  a fellow- 
soldier,  but  now  any  one  of  the  same 
calling  as  yourself. 

Brother  Brush.  A fellow-painter. 

Brother  Chip.  A fellow-carpenter. 

Brother  Clergyman.  A fellow-clergy- 
man. 

Brother  (M.  or  N. ).  A fellow-barrister. 

Brother  Whip.  A fellow- coachman. 

Brother  G-erman.  A real  brother. 
A uterine  brother  is  a brother  by  the 
mother’s  side  only. 

Brother  J onathan.  When  Wash- 
ington was  in  want  of  ammunition,  he 
called  a council  of  officers,  but  no  prac- 
tical suggestion  could  be  offered.  We 
must  consult  brother  Jonathan,”  said 
the  general,  meaning  his  excellency 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  the  elder  governor 
of  the  state  of  Connecticut.  This  was 
done,  and  the  difficulty  was  remedied.  To 
consult  brother  Jonathan  then  became  a 
set  phrase,  and  brother  Jonathan  grew 
to  be  the  John  Bull  of  the  United  States. 
— J.  R.  Bartlett j “ Dictionary  of  Ameri- 
canisms.^^ 


Brown.  A copper.  Blunt.) 

To  be  done  brown.  To  be  roasted, 
deceived,  taken  in. 

Brown,  Jones,  and  Bohinson. 
Three  Englishmen,  who  travel  together ; 
their  adventures  were  published  in  Punch, 
and  were  the  production  of  Eichard 
Doyle.  They  typify  the  middle-class 
English  abroad,  and  hold  up  to  ridicule 
their  gaucherie  and  contracted  notions, 
their  vulgarity  and  extravagance,  their 
conceit  and  snobbism. 

Brown  Bess  means  brown  barrel. 
The  barrels  were  browned  to  keep  them 
from  rusting.  (Dutch,  bus,  a gun-barrel ; 
Low  German,  biisse;  Swedish,  byssa.  Our 
arquebus,  blunderbuss.')  {See  beloiv.) 

Brown  Bill.  A kind  of  halbert, 
used  by  English  foot-soldiers  before  mus- 
kets were  employed.  We  find  in  the 
mediaeval  ballads  the  expressions  brown 
brand,”  brown  sword,”  brown  blade,” 
&c.  Sometimes  the  word  rusty  is  sub- 
stituted for  brown,  as  in  Chaucer  : And 
in  his  side  he  had  a rousty  blade ; ” which 
being  the  god  Mars,  cannot  mean  a bad 
one.  Keeping  the  weapons  bright  is  a 
modern  fashion ; our  forefathers  preferred 
the  honour  of  blood-stains.  Some  say 
the  weapons  were  varnished  with  a 
brown  varnish  to  prevent  rust,  and 
some  affirm  that  one  Brown  was  a famous 
maker  of  these  instruments,  and  that 
Brown  bill  is  a phrase  similar  to  Arm- 
strong gun  and  Colt’s  revolver.  {Sec 
above. ) 

So,  with  a band  of  bowmen  and  of  pikes, 

Brown  bills  and  targetiers. 

Marlowe,  ‘ ‘ Edward  //.”  1622. 

Brown  Study.  Absence  of  mind; 
apparent  thought,  but  real  vacuity.  The 
corresponding  French  expression  ex- 
plains it — sombre  reverie.  Sombre  and 
brun  both  mean  sad,  melancholy,  gloomy, 
dull. 

Invention  flags,  his  brain  grows  muddy, 

And  black  despair  succeeds  brown  study. 

Congreve,  “Aw  Impossible  Thing.” 


r' 


Brother  Sam.  The  brother  of 
Lord  Dundreary  {q.v.),  the  hero  of  a 
comedy  based  on  a German  drama,  by 
John  Oxenford,  with  additions  and  altera- 
tions by  E.  A.  Sothern  and  T.  B.  Buck- 
stone. — Supplied  by  T.  B.  Buckstone,  Esq. 

Browbeat.  To  beat  or  put  a man 
down  by  knitting  the  brows. 


Brownie.  The  house  spirit  in 
Scottish  superstition.  He  is  called  in 
England  Robin  Goodfellow.  At  night  he 
is  supposed  to  busy  himself  in  doing 
little  jobs  for  the  family  over  which  he 
presides.  Farms  are  his  favourite 
abode.  Brownies  are  brown  or  tawny 
spirits,  in  opposition  to  fairies,  which 
are  fair  or  elegant  ones. 


BROWNISTS. 


BRUTE. 


119 


It  is  not  long  since  every  family  of  considerable 
substance  was  haunted  by  a spirit  they  called 
Browny,  which  did  several  sorts  of  work ; and  this 
was  the  reason  why  they  gave  him  offerings  ...  on 
what  they  called  “ Browny’s  stone.” — Martin,  “ Scot- 
land.” 

Brownists.  Followers  of  Robert 
Brown,  of  Rutlandshire,  a violent  op- 
ponent of  the  Established  Church  in  the 
time  of  queen  Elizabeth.  The  present 
^^Independents”  hold  pretty  well  the 
same  religious  tenets  as  the  Brownists. 
Sir  Andrew  Aguecheek  says : — 

I’d  as  lief  be  a Brownist  as  a politician. 

Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night,'*  iii.  2. 

Bmel.  The  goose,  in  the  tale  of 

Reynard  the  Fox.”  The  word  means 
little-roarer. 

Bruin.  One  of  the  leaders  arrayed 
against  Hudibras.  He  was  Talgol,  a 
Newgat®  butcher,  who  obtained  a cap- 
tain’s commission  for  valour  at  Naseby. 
He  marched  next  Orsin  (Joshua?  Gosling, 
landlord  of  the  bear  gardens,  at  South- 
wark). 

Bruin,  Sir.  The  name  of  the  bear 
in  the  famous  German  beast-epic,  called 
'^Reynard  the  Fox.”  (Dutch  for  hroivn.') 

Brulgruddery  {Dennis  and  Mrs.). 
In  “John  Bull,”  a drama,  by  Colman. 

Brumaire.  The  celebrated  18th  of 
Brumaire  (9th  November,  1799)  was  the 
day  on  which  the  Directory  was  over- 
thrown, and  Napoleon  established  his 
supremacy. 

Brum'magem.  Worthless  or  very 
inferior  metallic  articles  made  in  imita- 
tion of  better  ones.  Birmingham,  once 
called  Brumwicham,  is  the  great  mart 
and  manufactory  of  gilt  toys,  cheap 
jewellery,  imitation  gems,  mosaic  gold, 
and  such  small  deer. 

Brunllild  or  BrunhiVda.  Daughter 
of  the  king  of  Issland,  beloved  by 
Gunther,  one  of  the  two  great  chieftains 
of  the  Kioebmgen  or  Teutonic  Iliad. 
She  was  to  be  carried  off  by  force,  and 
Gunther  asked  his  friend  Siegfried  to  help 
him.  Siegfried  contrived  the  matter  by 
snatching  from  her  the  talisman  which  was 
her  protector,  but  she  never  forgave  him 
for  his  treachery.  (Old  German,  hr  uni, 
coat  of  mail ; hilt,  battle.) 

Bmnello  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso”).  A 
deformed  dwarf  of  Biserta,  to  whom  king 
Ag'ra.mant  gave  a ring  which  had  the 


virtue  to  withstand  the  power  of  magic 
(Book  ii.).  He  was  leader  of  the  Tingi- 
ta'nians  in  the  Saracen  army.  He  also 
figures  in  BojaKdo’s  Orlando  Inna- 
morato.” 

Brunswieker.  A native  of  Bruns- 
wick. (iSee  Black  Bruns  WICKER.) 

Brush.  The  tail  of  a fox  or  squirrel, 
which  is  hrusliy. 

Brother  brush  is  a fellow-painter. 

Brush  away.  Get  along. 

Brush  off.  Move  on. 

He  brushed  by  me.  He  just  touched  mo 
as  he  went  quickly  past.  Hence  also 
brush,  a slight  skirmish. 

All  these  are  metaphors  from  brushing 
with  a brush. 

Give  ii  another  brush.  A little  more 
attention;  bestow  a little  more  labour  on 
it ; return  it  to  the  file  for  a little  more 
polish.  The  allusion  is  to  bread  baking. 
When  bread  was  baked  under  a tin,  if  it 
was  found  insufficiently  done,  the  house- 
wife used  to  sweeio  the  hearth,  and  put  it 
down  again. 

Brut.  A rhyming  chronicle,  as  the 
“ Brut  d’Angleterre,”  and  “ Le  Roman 
de  Brut,”  by  Wace  (twelfth  century). 
Brut  is  the  Romance  word  bruit  (a 
rumour,  hence  a tradition,  or  a chronicle 
based  on  tradition).  It  is  by  mere  acci- 
dent that  the  word  resembles  Brute” 
or  “Brutus,”  the  traditional  king.  {See 
below.) 

Brut  d’Angleterre.  A chronicle  of 
the  achievements  of  king  Arthur  and  his 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Arthur  is 
described  as  the  natural  son  of  Uther, 
pendragon  (or  chief)  of  the  ancient 
Britons.  He  succeeded  his  father,  in  516, 
by  the  aid  of  Merlin,  who  gave  him  a 
magic  sword,  with  which  he  conquered 
the  Saxons,  Piets,  Scots,  and  Irish. 
Besides  the  Brut  referred  to,  several 
other  romances  record  the  er.ploits  of 
this  heroic  king.  {See  Arthur.  ) 

Brute,  Sir  John.  A coarse,  pot- 
valiant  knight,  ignobly  noted  for  his 
absurdities. — Vanbrugh,  The  Provoked 
Wife.’^ 

Brute  or  Brutus,  in  the  mythological 
history  of  England,  the  first  king  of  the 
Britons,  was  son  of  Sylvius,  brother  of 
Ascanius,  and  therefore  grandson  of 
^ne'as.  Having  inadvertently  killed 
his  father,  he  first  took  refuge  in  Greece, 
and  then  in  Britain.  In  remembrance  of 


/ 

120  BRUTUM.  BUCEPHALOS. 


Troy,  he  called  the  capital  of  his  kingdom 
Troy-novant  (New  Troy),  now  London. 

Brute,  in  University  slang,  is  a man 
vho  has  not  yet  matriculated.  The  play 
is  evident.  A man,”  in  college  phrase, 
is  a collegian  ; and  as  matriculation  is 
the  sign  and  seal  of  acceptance,  a scholar 
before  that  ceremony  is  not  a ^"^man,” 
and  therefore  only  a biped  brute.” 

From  matriculation  to  the  end  of  the 
first  year,  a collegian  is  called  a Freshman  ; 
in  his  second  year  he  is  a Junior  Soph  ; in 
his  third  and  last  year  a Senior  Soph. 
Soph,  of  course,  is  the  Greek  soph- os  (a 
wise  man),  learned  in  all  the  learning  of 
the  University. 

Brutum  Fulmen  (Latin).  A noisy 
but  harmless  threatening ; an  innocuous 
thunderbolt. 

His  (the  Pope’s)  denunciations  are  but  a brutum 
fulmen.— T/ie  Standard. 

Brutus,  Junius,  the  first  consul  of 
Rome,  condemned  to  death  his  own  two 
sons  for  joining  a conspiracy  to  restore 
to  the  throne  the  b'^nished  Tarquin. 

The  public  Father  (Brutus),  who  the  private 
quelled, 

As  on  the  dread  tribunal  sternly  sad. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.'* 

The  Spanish  Brutus.  Alphonso  Perez 
de  Guzman.  (1258-1320.) 

Brutus,  Marcus,  Caesar’s  friend, 
joined  the  conspirators  to  murder  him, 
because  he  made  himself  a king. 

And  thou,  unhappy  Brutus,  kind  of  heart, 
Whose  steady  arm,  by  awful  virtue  urged, 
Lifted  the  Roman  steel  against  thy  friend. 

Thomson,  ‘'Winter.'* 

Bruxellois.  The  inhabitants  of 
Brussels  or  Bruxelles. 

Brydport  Dagger.  {See  Brid- 

PORT.) 

Bub.  Drink.  Connected  with — 
Latin,  hiho  (to  drink),  our  imhibe;  bubby, 
i.e.,  bubo  (a  woman’s  breast).  {See 
Grub.) 

Bubas'tis.  The  Diana  of  Egyptian 
mythology  ; daughter  of  Isis  and  sister 
of  Horus. 

Bubble.  A scheme  of  no  sterling 
worth  and  of  very  ephemeral  duration — 
as  worthless  and  frail  as  a bubble. 

The  Bubble  Act,  6 George  I.  cap.  18; 
published  1719,  and  repealed  July  5, 
1825.  Its  object  was  to  punish  the  pro- 
moters of  bubble  schemes. 


A bubble  scheme.  A project  for  getting 
money  from  subscribers  to  a scheme  of 
no  value. 

A bubble  company.  A company  whose 
object  is  to  enrich  themselves  at  the 
expense  of  subscribers  to  their  scheme. 

The  whole  scheme  [the  Fenian  raid  on  British 
America]  was  a collapsed  bubble.— T/ie  Times. 

Bubble  and  Squeak.  Cold  boiled 
meat  and  greens  fried.  They  first  bub- 
bled in  water  when  boiled,  and  after- 
wards hissed  or  squeaked  in  the  frying- 
pan. 

Bucca.  A goblin  of  the  wind,  sup- 
posed by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 
Cornwall  to  foretell  shipwrecks. 

Buc'eaneer'  means  sellers  of  smoke- 
dried  meat,  from  the  Caribbean  word 
boucan  (smoke-dried  meat).  The  term 
was  first  given  to  the  French  settlers  in 
Hayti,  Whose  business  it  was  to  hunt 
animals  for  their  skins.  The  flesh  they 
smoke-dried  and  sold,  chiefly  to  the 
Dutch. 

When  the  Spaniards  laid  claim  to  all 
Amer'ca,  many  English  and  French  ad- 
venturers lived  by  buccaneering,  and 
hunted  Spaniards  as  lawful  prey.  After 
the  peace  of  Ryswick,  this  was  no  longer 
tolerated,  and  the  term  was  then  ap- 
plied to  any  desperate,  lawless,  piratical 
adventurer. 

Buccleuch.  or  Buclccleuch.  Accord- 
ing to  tradition,  Kenneth  Mac-Alpin, 
king  of  Scotland,  was  one  day  hunting, 
when  a buck  stood  at  bay  in  a certain 
glen  or  cleuch.  John  of  Galloway  came 
up  at  this  juncture,  seized  the  buck  by 
the  horns,  threw  it  on  its  back,  and, 
running  to  the  king,  laid  it  at  his  feet. 
The  king  was  so  pleased  with  the  adven- 
ture, that  he  gave  the  bold  huntsman 
permission  to  add  Buck’s-cleuch  to  his 
name. 

Bucen'taur.  A monster,  half-man 
and  half- ox.  The  Venetian  state-galley 
employed  by  the  doge  when  he  went  to 
wed  the  Adriatic  was  so  called.  (Greek, 
bous,  ox;  centauros,  centaur.) 

Bueepb'alos  (bull-headed).  A horse. 
Strictly  speaking,  the  charger  of  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  bought  of  a Thessalian 
for  thirteen  talents  (£3,500). 

True,  true ; I forgot  your  Bucephalus. 

The  Antiquary. 


BUCHANITES. 


BUDGE. 


121 


Bue'hanites  (3  syl.).  A sec*-,  of 
fanatics  who  appeared  in  the  west  of 
Scotland  in  1783.  Th  ey  were  named  after 
Mrs.  or  Lucky  Buchan,  thoir  founder, 
who  called  herself  ‘^Friend  Mother  in 
the  Lord,”  claiming  to  be  the  woman 
mentioned  in  Eev.  xii.,  and  maintaining 
that  the  Eev.  Hugh  White,  a convert, 
was  the  man-child.” 

I never  heard  of  alewife  that  turned  preacher, 
except  Luckie  Buchan  in  the  West. 

Scott,  “ St,  Ronan's  Well'’  c.  ii. 

Buck.  A dandy.  {See  hetow.) 

Buck  - basket.  A linen  « basket. 
Buck  is  the  lye  or  liquor  in  which  clothes 
are  washed ; hence,  also,  the  clothes  so 
washed.  A buck  is  one  whose  clothes 
are  buck,  or  nicely  got  up.  When  Cade 
says  his  mother  was  descended  from 
the  Lacies,”  two  men  overhear  him,  and 
say,  ^^She  was  a pedlar’s  daughter,  but 
not  being  able  to  travel  with  her  furred 
pack,  she  washes  bucks  here  at  home.” — 
*‘2  Henry  F/.,”  iv.  2. 

Buck-bean.  A corruption  of  hog- 
heaiij  a native  of  wet  bog- lands. 

Buckh-Orse.  A severe  blow  or  slap 
on  the  face.  So  called  from  a boxer  of 
that  name. 

Buckingham.  Saxon,  hoccen-ham 
(beech -tree  village).  Fuller,  in  his 
‘^Worthies,”  speaks  of  the  beech-trees 
as  the  most  characteristic  feature  of  this 
county. 

Bucklaw  or  rather  Frank  Hayston^ 
lord  of  Bucklaw,  a wealthy  nobleman, 
who  marries  Lucia  di  Lammermoor  {Lucy 
Asl'don),  who  had  pledged  her  troth  to 
Edgar,  master  of  Eavenswood.  On  the 
wedding-night  Lucy  murders  him,  goes 
mad,  and  dies.  — Donizetti's  opera  of 

Luda  di  Lammermoor."  Sir  Walter 
Scott's  Bride  of  Lammermoor." 

Buckle.  I can't  huckle  to.  I cannot 
give  my  mind  to  work.  The  allusion  is 
to  buckling  on  one’s  armour  or  belt. 

He  cannot  buckle  his  distempered  cause 
Within  the  belt  of  rule. 

Shakespeare,  '^Macbeth’'  v.  2. 

Buckler sbury  (London)  was  at  one 
time  the  noted  street  for  druggists  and 
herbalists ; hence  Falstaff  says — 

I cannot  cog,  and  say  thou  art  this  and  that,  like 
a many  of  these  lisping  hawthorn  buds,  that  come 
like  women  in  men’s  apparel,  and  smell  like  Bucklers- 
bury  in  simple  time.— Shakespeare,  "Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor,"  iii,  3. 


Buckmaster’s  Light  Infantry. 
The  3rd  West  India  Eegiment  was  so 
called  from  Buckmaster,  the  tailor,  who 
used  to  issue  Light  Infantry  uniforms  ” 
to  the  officers  of  the  corps  without  any 
authority  from  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Buckra.  Superior,  excellent.  That's 
huckra.  A huckra  coat  is  a smart  coat; 
a huckra  man,  a man  of  consequence. 
This  word  among  the  West  Indians  does 
the  service  of  hurra  among  the  Anglo- 
Indians  : as  hurra  sa'ih  (great  master, 
i.e.,  white  man),  hurra  khana  (a  magni- 
ficent spread  or  dinner). 

Buckshish  or  Baksheesh.  A gratuity, 
jpour  hoire,  A term  common  to  India, 
Persia,  and  indeed  all  the  East. 

Buckwheat.  A corruption  of  hoc. 
German,  huche,  beech-wheat  ; it  is  so 
called  because  it  is  triangular,  like  beech- 
mast.  The  botanical  name  is  Fago~ 
pyrum  (beech-wheat). 

Buddha  means  the  Wise  one.  From 
the  Indian  word  hticlh  (to  know).  The 
title  was  given  to  prince  Siddhar'tha, 
generally  called  Saky'a-muni,  the  founder 
of  Buddhism. 

Buddhist.  One  whose  system  of 
religion  is  Buddhism. 

Buddhism.  A system  of  religion 
established  in  India  in  the  third  century. 
The  general  outline  of  the  system  is  that 
the  world  is  a transient  reflex  of  deity ; 
that  the  soul  is  a “ vital  spark  ” of  deity; 
and  that  after  death  it  will  be  bound  to 
matter  again  till  its  wearer”  has,  by 
divine  contemplation,  so  purged  and 
purified  it  that  it  is  fit  to  be  absorbed 
into  the  divine  essence. 

Bude  or  Gurney  Light.  The 
latter  is  the  name  of  the  inventor,  and 
the  former  the  place  of  his  abode.  Golds- 
worthy Gurney,  of  Bude,  Cornwall. 

Budge  is  lambskin  with  the  wool 
dressed  outwards,  worn  on  the  edge  of 
capes,  bachelors’  hoods,  and  so  on. 
‘Budge  Eow,  Cannon  Street,  is  so  called 
because  it  was  chiefly  occupied  by  budge- 
makers. 

O foolishness  of  men  1 that  lend  their  ears 
To  those  budge-doctors  of  the  stoic  fur. 

Milton,  “ Comus." 

The  verb  to  hudge  is  the  French 
longer,  to  stir. 


122 


BUDGE. 


BULIS. 


Budge  Bachelors.  A company  of 
men  clothed  in  long  gowns  lined  with 
budge  or  lambs’  wool,  who  used  to  accom- 
pany the  Lord  Mayor  of  London  at  his 
inauguration. 

Budget.  The  statement  which  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  lays  before 
the  House  of  Commons  every  session, 
respecting  the  national  income  and  expen- 
diture, taxes  and  salaries.  The  word  is 
the  old  French  lougette  (a  bag),  and  the 
present  use  arose  from  the  custom  of 
bringing  to  the  House  the  papers  per- 
taining to  these  matters  in  a leather  bag, 
and  laying  them  on  the  table.  Hence, 
to  ojgen  the  budget  or  bag,  ^.e.,  to  take  the. 
papers  from  the  bag  and  submit  them  to 
the  House.  Budget  of  News,”  &c. 

Cry  Budget.  A watchword  or  shib- 
boleth. Thus  Slender  says  to  Shallow : — 

We  have  a nay -'word  how  to  know  one  anothpr. 
I come  to  her  in  white  and  cry  'mum;  she  cries 
'budget ; and  by  that  we  know  one  another. 

Shakespeare,  '"Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,'^  v.  2. 

Buff.  To  stand  huff.  Stripped  to  the 
skin  like  boxers.  The  skin  is  called  huff 
by  a kind  of  play  on  the  words  huff- 
leather  and  huff,  a military  uniform. 
They  say  in  Yorkshire,  stand  in  buff.” 

And  for  the  good  old  cause  stood  buff 
’Gainst  many  a bitter  kick  and  cuff. 

Hudibras. 

Buffer  of  a railway  carriage  is  a spring 
to  rehuff  or  resist  with  a rebound  the 
carriages  that  bear  against  it. 

A regular  buffer  is  a jovial  companion  ; 
a buffet  man,  a huffetier.  Our  expression 
“ cupboard  love,”  which  indicates  regard 
founded  on  the  love  of  eating,  is  of  a 
similar  type. 

Buffoon  means  one  who  puffs  out  his 
cheeks,  and  makes  a ridiculous  explosion 
by  causing  them  suddenly  to  collapse. 
This  being  a standing  trick  with  clowns, 
caused  the  name  to  be  applied  to  low 
j'esters.  Buffa  (middle-age  Latin),  ^^a 
slap  on  the  face,”  our  buffet.  The  Italian 
huffare  is  ‘Ho  puff  out  the  cheeks  for  the 
purpose  of  making  an  explosion;”  our 

puff- 

Buffoons.  Names  synonymous  with 
Buffoon : — 

Boheche.  A clown  in  a small  theatre  in 
the  Boulevart  du  Temple,  Paris.  (1815- 
1825.) 

Galimafre.  A contemporary  and  rival  of 
the  former. 


Taharin.  \ (Of  the  seventeenth 

Bruscamhille.  S century.) 

Grimaldi.  (1779-1837.) 

Buffs.  The  3rd  Eegiment  of  Foot  in 
the  British  army,  once  called  the  Holland 
regiment ; so  called  because  their  coats 
were  lined  and  faced  with  buff  ; they  had 
buff  waistcoats,  buff  breeches,  and  buff 
stockings.  They  are  sometimes  called 
The  Old  Buffs. 

The  31st,  raised  in  1702,  wore  buff 
waistcoats,  breeches,  and  stockings,  and 
were  once  called  The  Young  Buffs. 

Buff  is  a contraction  of  huffle  or  buffalo; 
and  buff  skin  is  the  skin  of  the  buffalo 
prepared.  The  colour  so  called  resembles 
the  buffalo  skin  in  hue. 

Bug.  Snug  as  a hug  in  a rug.  A rug 
is  a shaggy  dog.  v German,  ranch,  shaggy ; 
Swedish,  rugg ; Danish,  rug,  rough;  our 
rugged.) 

Bugbear.  A scarecrow.  Bug  is  the 
Welsh  hwg,  a hobgoblin,  called  in  Eussia 
huJca.  Perhaps  hear  is  the  Welsh  harog, 
spiteful.  Spenser  says,  “A  ghastly  bug 
doth  greatly  them  affear”  (Bk.  ii.  cant.  3); 
and  “Hamlet”  has  “bugs  and  goblins” 
(v.  2). 

Warwick  wag  a bug  that  feared  us  all. 

Shakespeare,  “ 3 Henry  1 V.f‘  v.  2. 

To  the  world  no  bugbear  is  so  great 

As  want  of  figure  and  a small  estate.— Pope. 

Buggaboo.  A monster,  ore,  or 
goblin,  introduced  into  the  tales  of  the 
old  Italian  romancers.  {See  above.) 

Buggy.  A light  vehicle  without  a 
hood,  drawn  by  one  horse.  A carriage 
for  the  bourgeois. 

Buhl-work.  Cabinet-work,  inlaid 
with  brass ; so  called  from  Segr.  Boule, 
the  inventor,  who  settled  in  Paris  during 
the  reign  of  Louis  XIV. 

Build.  Make,  applied  to  dress.  Not 
so  had  a build  after  all,  not  so  badly 
made.  A man  of  strong  build  is  a man 
of  robust  make.  The  metaphor  is  evi- 
dent. A milliner  is  jestingly  called  a 
“ bonnet  builder.” 

Builder’s  Square.  Emblematic  of 
St.  Thomas,  patron  of  architects. 

Bulbul.  The  nightingale.  A Persian 
word,  familiarised  by  Tom  Moor6. 

Bulis,  metamorphosed  into  a drake  ; 
and  his  son,  Egypios,  into  a vulture- 


BULL. 


BULLY-BOOK.  12^ 


Bull.  One  of  the  twelve  signs  of  the 
Zodiac  (April  20  to  May  21).  The  time 
for  ploughing,  which  in  Egypt  was  per- 
formed by  oxen  or  bulls. 

At  last  from  Aries  I’olls  the  bounteous  sun, 

And  the  bright  Bull  receives  him. 

Thomson,  “ Spnng,*’ 

Bull.  A blunder,  or  inadvertent  con- 
tradiction of  terms,  for  which  the  Irish 
are  proverbial.  The  British  Apollo, 
1740,  says  the  term  is  derived  from  one 
Obadiah  Bull,  an  Irish  lawyer  of  London, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.,  whose  blun- 
dering in  this  way  was  notorious. 

Bull  is  a five-shilling  piece.  “ Half  a 
bull”  is  half-a-crown.”  From  lulla  (a 
great  leaden  seal).  Hood,  in  one  of  his 
comic  sketches,  speaks  of  a crier  who, 
being  apprehended,  swallowed  three 
hogs  (shillings)  and  a bull.” 

The  pope's  lull.  So  called  from  the  lolla 
or  capsule  of  the  seal  appended  to  the 
document.  Subsequently  the  seal  was 
called  the  holla,  and  then  the  document 
itself. 

The  edict  of  the  emperor  Charles  IV. 
had  a golden  holla,  and  was  therefore 
called  the  golden  bull.  {See  Golden 
Bull.) 

Bull.  A public-house  sign,  the  cogni- 
sance of  the  house  of  Clare.  The  bull 
and  the  boar  were  signs  used  by  the  par- 
tisans of  Clare,  and  Bichard  duke  of 
Gloucester  (Bichard  III.). 

To  hull  is  to  raise  the  price  of  stocks 
when  operating  for  a sale.  {See  Bear.) 

John  Bull.  An  Englishman.  Applied 
to  a native  of  England  in  Arbuthnot’s 
ludicrous  History  of  Europe.”  This 
history  is  sometimes  erroneously  ascribed 
to  dean  Swift.  In  this  satire  the  French 
are  called  Lewis  Baboon,  and  the  Dutch 
Nicholas  Frog. 

One  would  think,  in  personifying  itself,  a nation 
would  . . . picture  something  grand,  heroic,  and  im- 
posing ; but  it  is  characteristic  of  the  peculiar  humour 
of  the  English,  and  of  their  love  for  what  is  blunt, 
comic,  and  familiar,  that  they  have  embodied  their 
national  oddities  in  the  figure  of  a sturdy,:  corpulent 
old  fellow,  . . . with  red  waistcoat,  leather  breeches, 
and  a stout  oaken  cudgel, . . . (whom  they  call)  John 
HxxW.— Washington  Irving. 

Bull  and  Gate.  ) r>  n 
BuU  and  Mouth,  i Public-house 
signs.  A corruption  of  Boulogne  Gate 
or  Mouth,  adopted  out  of  compliment  to 
Henry  VIII.,  who  took  Boulogne  in  1544. 

Bull-dogs,  in  University  slang,  are 
tile  two  myrmidons  of  the  proctor,  who 


attend  his  heels  like  dogs,  and  are  ready 
to  spring  on  any  offending  undergraduate 
like  bull-dogs.  The  best  bait  to  elude 
their  fangs  is  to  drop  a half-crown. 

Bull’s  Eye.  A small  cloud  sud- 
denly appearing,  seemingly  in  violent 
motion,  and  growing  out  of  itself.  It 
soon  covers  the  entire  vault  of  heaven, 
producing  a tumult  of  wind  and  rain. 
(1  Kings  xviii.  44.) 

Bull's  Eye.  The  centre  of  a target. 

Bull  - necked.  The  Bull  - necJced 
Forger.  Cagliostro,  the  huge  impostor, 
was  so  called.  (1743-1795.) 

Bulletin.  French  for  a certificate. 
An  official  report  of  an  officer  to  his 
superior,  or  of  medical  attendants  re- 
specting the  health  of  persons  high  in 
rank.  So  called  because  they  were 
authenticated  by  an  official  hulla  or  seal. 
(Spanish,  holetin,  a warrant ; Italian, 
huUeitino,  a roll.) 

Bulling  the  Barrel  is  pouring 
water  into  a rum- cask,  when  it  is  nearly 
empty,  to  prevent  its  leaking.  The 
water  which  gets  impregnated  with  the 
spirit,  and  is  very  intoxicating,  is  called 
hull. 

Seamen  talk  of  hulling  thetcapot  (mak- 
ing a second  brew),  hulling  the  coffee, 
&c.  (French,  houllir,  whence  houilloire, 
a tea-kettle ; bouillon,  the  decoction  of 
meat,  to  which  vegetables,  salt,  and 
pepper  are  added.) 

Bullion  properly  means  the  mint 
where  holla,  little  round  coins,  are  made. 
Subsequently  the  metal  in  the  mint.  As 
this  metal  was  shamefully  alloyed  in 
France  during  the  monarchy,  mint- 
money  {billon)  came  to  signify  base 
metal. 

Bully.  To  overbear  with  words.  A 
bully  is  a blustering  menacer.  (Saxon, 
hulgian,  to  bellow  like  a bull.) 

It  is  often  used,  without  any  mixture 
of  reproof,  as  a term  of  endearment,  as, 
^^0  sweet  bully  Bottom.” — Midsummer 
Nigld's  Dreamff  iv.  2. 

Bully-rook.  A blustering  cheat. 
Like  bully,  it  is  sometimes  used  without 
any  offensive  meaning.  Thus  the  Host, 
in  “ The  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,”  ad- 
dresses Sir  John  Falstaff,  Ford,  the  page, 
&c.,  as  hully-rooh — ^^How  now,  my  bully- 
rook?”  equal  to  '^my  fine  fellow.” 


124 


BUM-BAILIFF. 


BUNGAY. 


/ 


Biim-baililF.  A corruption  of  hund 
or  hound  bailiff.  A bailiff  bound  by- 
sureties  to  the  sheriff,  who  is  responsible 
for  all  his  official  acts. — BlacJcstone. 

Scout  me  for  him  at  the  corner  of  the  orchard, 
like  a hum-hailiff.— (S/iaArespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night” 
iii.  4. 

Bum-boat.  A small  boat  to  carry 
provisions  to  vessels  lying  off  shore. 

Bumble.  A beadle.  So  called  from 
the  officious,  overbearing  beadle  in 
Dickens’s  Oliver  Twist.” 

Bumbledom.  The  dominion  of  an 
overbearing  parish  officer,  the  arrogance 
of  parish  authorities,  the  conceit  of  parish 
dignity. 

Bummarees.  A class  of  middlemen 
or  fish- jobbers  in  Billingsgate  market, 
who  get  a living  by  hummareeing , i.e., 
buying  parcels  of  fish  from  the  salesmen, 
and  then  retailing  them.  A corruption  of 
ho7ine  maree,  good  fresh  fish,  or  the  seller 
thereof.  According  to  the  Dictioiinaire 
de  V Academic,  maree  means  ^^toute  sorte 
de  poisson  de  mer  que  n’est  pas  salA” 
Bonne  maree,  maree  fraiche.” 

Bumper.  A full  glass.  Dr.  Ash  says 
a bumper  is  when  the  surface  of  the  wine 
hum'ps  up  in  the  middle,  so  that  the  centre 
lies  higher  than  the  brim.  While  the 
wine  is  concave,  the  full  glass  is  only  a 
brimmer.  A piece  of  cork  will  float  to 
the  edge  in  a brimmer,  but  in  a bumper 
it  will  remain  throned  in  the  centre. 

The  notion  that  the  word  is  au  hon  pere, 
meaning  ^^the  pope,”  and  refers  to  the 
bumpers  taken  by  the  monks  to  the  toast, 
is  wholly  untenable,  as  the  toast  would 
be  au  saint  fph'e,  and  not  au  hon  pere. 
“Phre”  is  applied  to  any  friar  in  priest’s 
orders,  and  ‘^bon  pere”  to  the  head  of 
a*  monastery. 

Bumpkin.  A loutish  person.  (Dutch, 
hoomJcen,  a sprout,  a fool.)  This  word 
very  closely  resembles  the  word  chit.” 
{See  Chitty.) 

Bumptious.  Arrogant,  botty,  full  of 
mighty  airs  and  graces ; apt  to  take 
offence  at  presumed  slights.  A corrup- 
tion of  presumptuous,  first  into  “ sump- 
tions,” then  to  bumptious. 

Bun.  The  Good  Friday  hot  cross 
bun,  says  Bryant,  is  derived  from  houn, 
the  sacred  cake  offered  at  the  Arkite 
temples  every  seventh  day.  Cecrops 
offered  to  Jupiter  Olympus  a sacred 
cake  called  hous  (accusative  houn).  This 


consecrated  bread,  if  we  believe  what  is 
told  us,  will  never  grow  mouldy,  will 
ward  off  witches,  cure  diarrhoea,  protect 
the  house  from  fire,  and  work  many  other 
wonders. 

G-ood  Friday  comes  this  month:  the  old  woman 
runs 

With  one  or  two  a penny  “hot  cross  huns,” 

Whose  virtue  is,  if  you  believe  Avhat’s  said, 

They’ll  not  grow  mouldy  like  the  common  bread. 

Poor  Robin t “Almanack,”  1733. 

Buncle, /o/m.  A prodigious  hand 
at  matrimony,  divinity,  a song,  and  a 
peck.”  He  marries  seven  wives,  loses  all 
in  the  flower  of  their  age,  is  inconsolable 
for  two  or  three  days,  then  resigns  him- 
self to  the  decrees  of  Providence,  and 
marries  again. — The  Life  and  Opinions  of 
John  Buncle,  Esq.,  by  Thomas  Amory. 

John  is  a kind  cf  innocent  Henry  VIII.  of  private 
Wfe.— Leigh  Hunt. 

Buneh  of  Fives.  A slang  term  for 
the  hand  or  fist. 

Bundle.  Bundle  off.  Get  away.  To 
bundle  a person  off,  is  -fco  send  him  away 
unceremoniously.  Similar  to  pack  off. 
The  allusion  is  obvious. 

Bundle  of  Sticks,  ^sop,  in  one  of 
his  fables,  shows  that  sticks  one  by  one 
may  be  readily  broken  ; not  so  when 
several  are  bound  together  in  a bundle. 
The  lesson  taught  is,  that  Union  gives 
strength.” 

They  now  lay  to  heart  the  lesson  of  the  bundle  of 
sticks.— Times. 

Bundschull  {highloivs).  An  insur- 
rection of  the  peasants  of  Germany  in 
the  sixteenth  century.  So  called  from 
the  highlows  or  clouted  shoon  of  the  in- 
surgents. 

Bung.  A cant  term  for  a toper. 

Away  . . . you  filthy  bung,”  says 

Doll  to  Pistol.— '^2  /U.,”  ii.  4. 

Brother  hung.  A cant  term  for  a pub- 
lican. 

Bung  up.  Close  up,  as  a bung  closes  a 
cask. 

Bungay.  Go  to  Bungay  with  you  ! — 
i.e.,  get  away  and  don’t  bother  me,  or 
don’t  talk  such  stuff.  Bungay,  in  Suffolk, 
used  to  be  famous  for  the  manufacture  of 
leather  breeches,  once  very  fashionable. 
Persons  who  required  new  ones,  or  to 
have  their  old  ones  new-seated,  went  to 
Bungay  for  that  purpose.  Hence  rose  the 
cant  saying,  ^‘Go  to  Bungay,  and  get 
your  breeches  mended,”  shortened  into 

Go  to  Bungay  with  you  ! ” 


BUNGALOW. 


BURKE. 


125 


Bung'alow  (Indian).  A house  of  a 
single  floor.  A dah-hungaloio  (thatched 
bungalow)  is  a caravansary  or  house 
built  by  the  government  for  the  use  of 
travellers. 

Bunkum.  Claptrap.  A representa- 
tive at  Washington  being  asked  why  he 
made  such  a flowery  and  angry  speech,  so 
wholly  uncalled  for,  made  answer, 
was  not  speaking  to  the  house,  but  to 
Buncombe,”  which  he  represented  (North 
Carolina).  N.B. — Bunk  means  chaff 
Danish,  bynke,  (meal-tub) ; Swedish,  hunch 
(milk- pan). 

Bunsby,  Jack.  Captain  Cuttle’s 
friend ; a Sir  Oracle  of  his  neighbours ; 
profoundly  mysterious,  and  keeping  his 
eye  always  fixed  upon  invisible  dream- 
land somewhere  beyond  the  limits  of 
infinite  space. — Dickens,  Domhey  and 
Son!' 

Burbon.  A knight  assailed  by  a 
rabble  rout,  who  b^'.tter  his  shield  to 
])ieces,  and  compel  him  to  cast  it  aside. 
Talus  renders  him  assistance,  and  is  in- 
formed by  the  rescued  knight  that  Four- 
deflis,  his  own  true  love,  had  been  en- 
ticed away  from  him  by  Grantorto.  When 
the  rabble  is  dispersed,  and  Fourdelis 
recovered,  Burbon  places  her  on  his 
steed,  and  rides  off  as  fast  as  possible. 
Burbon  is  Henri  IV.  of  France  ; Fourde'- 
li^,  the  kingdom  of  France;  the  rabble 
rout,  the  Roman  Catholic  fariy  that  tried 
to  set  him  aside;  the  shield  he  is  com- 
pelled to  abandon  is  Protestantism ; his 
carrying  off  Fourdeflis  is  his  obtaining 
the  kingdom  by  a coup  after  his  renuncia- 
tion of  the  Protestant  cause. — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen f v.  11. 

Burchell,  Mr.  A baronet  who  passes 
liimself  off  a.s  a poor  man,  his  real  name 
and  title  being  Sir  William  Thornhill. 
Ilis  favourite  cant  wo;-.l  is  “ Fudge.” — 
Goldsmith,  “ Vicar  of  WakeHeld." 

Burd,  Helen.  The  Scotch  female 
impersonation  of  the  French  preux  or 
prud'homim,  with  this  difference,  that 
she  is  discreet,  rather  than  brave  and 
Tise. 

Burden  of  a Song.  The  words  re- 
peated in  each  verse,  the  chorus  or  re- 
frain. It  is  the  French  bourdon,  the  big 
drone  of  a bagpipe,  or  double-diapason 
of  an  organ,  used  in  forte  parts  and 
choruses. 

Burden  of  Isaiah.  Tl/*  measure”  of 


a prophecy  announcing  a calamity,  or  a 
denunciation  of  hardships  on  those 
against  whom  the  burden  is  uttered — 
Isa.  xiii.  1,  &c. 

Burdon’s  Hotel.  Whitecross  Street 
Prison.  So  called  from  Mr.  Burdon,  its 
governor.  (Slang!) 

Bure  (2  syl.).  The  first  woman,  and 
sister  of  Borr,  father  of  Odin.  {Scan- 
dinavian mythology.) 

Bureauc'racy.  A system  of  govern- 
ment in  which  the  business  is  carried  on 
in  bureaux  or  departments.  The  French 
bureau  means  not  only  the  office  of  a 
public  functionary,  but  also  the  whole 
staff  of  officers  attached  to  the  depart- 
ment. As  a word  of  reproach,  bureau- 
cracy has  nearly  the  same  meaning  as 
Dickens’s  word,  red-tapism  {q.v.). 

Burglar  is  the  French-Latin  burgU 
larron  (robber  of  a burg,  castle,  or  house). 

Burgun'dian.  A Burgundian  blow, 
i.e.,  decapitation.  The  due  de  Biron, 
who  was  put  to  death  for  treason  by 
Henri  IV.,  was  told  in  his  youth,  by  a 
fortune-teller,  to  beware  of  a Burgun- 
dian blow.”  When  going  to  execution, 
he  asked  who  was  to  be  his  executioner, 
and  was  told  he  was  a man  from  Bur- 
gundy. 

Burial  of  an  Ass.  No  burial  at  all. 

He  shall  be  buried  with  the  burial  of  an  ass,  di  awn 
and  cast  forth  beyond  the  gates  of  Jerusalem.— Jer. 
xxii.  19. 

Bu'ridan’s  Ass.  A man  of  inde- 
cision; like  one  '^on  double  business 
bound,  who  stands  in  pause  where  he 
should  first  begin,  and  both  neglects.” 
Bu'ridan,  the  Greek  sophist,  said,  ^Hf  a 
hungry  ass  were  placed  exactly  between 
two  hay-stacks  in  every  respect  equal, 
it  would  starve  to  death,  because  there 
would  be  no  motive  why  it  should  go  to 
one  rather  than  to  the  other.” 

Burke.  To  murder  by  placing  some- 
thing over  the  mouth  of  the  person  at- 
tacked to  prevent  his  giving  alarm.  So 
called  from  Burke,  of  Edinburgh,  who, 
in  1832,  used  to  clap  a pitch,  plaister  over 
his  victims  and  murder  them,  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  selling  the  dead  bodies  to  sur- 
geons for  dissection. 

Burkers.  Body-snatchers  : those  who 
kill  by  burking. 

To  burk  a question:  to  strangle  it  in  its 
birth.  The  publication  was  burked:  sup- 
pressed before  it  was  circulated. 


m 


BURL. 


BUSIRIS. 


Burl,  Burle)\  In  Cumberland  a 
hurler  is  the  master  of  the  revels  at  a 
bidden  wedding,  who  is  to  see  that  the 
guests  are  well  furnished  with  drink.  To 
hurl  is  to  carouse  or  pour  out  liquor. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  hyrlian.) 

Mr.  H.  called  for  a quart  of  beer  . . . He  told 
me  to  burl  out  the  beer,  as  he  was  in  a hurry,  and  I 
burled  out  a glass,  and  gave  it  to  him. 

The  Times,  “ Law  Reports'* 

Burlaw  or  Byrlaw.  A sort  of  Lynch- 
law  in  the  rural  districts  of  Scotland. 
The  inhabitants  of  a district  used  to 
make  certain  laws  for  their  own  obser- 
vance, and  appoint  one  of  their  neigh- 
bours, called  the  Burlaw  man,  to  carry 
out  the  pains  and  penalties.  The  word 
is  compounded  of  the  Dutch  haur,  a 
boor  or  rustic. 

Burlesque.  Father  of  burlesque 
'poetry,  Hippo'nax  of  Ephesus.  (Sixth 
century  B.c.) 

Burlond.  A giant  whose  legs  Sir 
Try'amour  cut  off.  — Romance  of  Sir 
Tryamour, 

Burst.  To  inform  against  an  accom- 
plice. Slang  variety  of  ‘‘split”  (turn 
king’s  evidence,  impeach).  The  person 
who  does  this  s;plits  or  hw'sts  the  whole 
concern. 

Bury  the  Hatchet.  Let  by-gones 
be  by-gones.  The  “Great  Spirit”  com- 
manded the  North  American  Indians, 
when  they  smoked  the  caTumet  or  peace- 
pipe,  to  bury  their  hatchets,  scalping- 
knives,  and  war-clubs  in  the  ground, 
that  all  thought  of  hostility  might  be 
buried  out  of  sight. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  American 
government,  having  brought  the  great  war  to  a 
conclusion,  did  not  bury  the  hatchet  altogether.— 
The  Times. 

Baried  was  the  bloody  hatchet ; 

Buried  was  the  dreadful  war-club; 

Buried  were  all  warlike  weapons, 

And  the  war-cry  was  forgof^en  ; 

Then  was  peace  among  the  nations. 

Longfellow,  ''Hiawatha,”  xi'i. 

Bus.  A contraction  of  Omnibus, 

Bush..  One  heats  the  hush,  hut  another 
has  the  hare,  i.e.,  one  does  the  work,  but 
another  reaps  the  profit.  The  Latins 
said.  Sic  vos  non  vohis.  The  allusion  is 
to  beating  the  bush  to  start  game.  {See 
Beating.) 

Good  wine  needs  no  hush.  A good  ar- 
ticle will  make  itself  known  without  being 
puffed.  The  booths  in  fairs  used  to  be 


dressed  with  ivy,  to  indicate  that  wine 
was  sold  there,  ivy  being  sacred  to  Bac- 
chus. An  ivy-bush  half  a century  age 
was  the  common  sign  of  taverns,  and 
especially  of  private  houses  where  beer 
or  wine  could  be  obtained  by  travellers. 
In  France,  a peasant  who  sells  his  vine- 
yard has  to  put  a green  bush  over  his 
door. 

The  proverb  is  Latin,  and  shows  that 
the  Romans  introduced  the  custom  into 
Europe.  “Vino  vendib'ili  hed'era  non 
opus  est  ” (Columella).  It  was  also  com- 
mon to  France.  “ Au  vin  qui  se  vend 
bien,  il  ne  faut  point  de  lierre.” 

Bushrangers.  Australian,  or,  more 
strictly  speaking,  New  South  Wales 
highwaymen,who  range  the  bushes,  lying 
in  wait  for  travellers,  whom  they  strip  of 
all  they  have  about  them.  Gold  finders 
are  the  great  objects  of  their  attack. 

Business,  Busy.  Saxon,  hysgian,  the 
verb,  hysig  (busy);  Dutch,  hezigen;  Ger- 
man, hesorgnits  (care,  management) ; sorge 
(care) ; Saxon,  seogan  (to  see).  From  the 
German  sorgen  we  get  the  French  soigner 
(to  look  after  something),  soigne,  and 
he-sogne  (business,  or  that  which  is  our 
care  and  concern),  with  he-soin  (some- 
thing looked  after  but  not  found,  hence 
“ want  ” ) ; the  Italian  hesognio  (a  beggar). 

Business  To-morrow.  When  the 
Spartans  seized  upon  Thebes,  they  placed 
Arc'hias  over  the  garrison.  Pelop'idas, 
with  eleven  others,  banded  together  to 
put  Archias  to  the  sword.  A letter  con- 
taining full  details  of  the  plot  was  given 
to  the  Spartan  pole  march  at  the  banquet 
table ; but  Archias  thrust  the  letter 
under  his  cushion,  saying,  “Business  to- 
morrow.” But  long  ere  that  sun  arose 
he  was  numbered  with  the  dead. 

Bu'sirane  (3  syl.).  An  enchanter 
bound  by  Brit'omart. — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen, bk.  iii. 

Busi'ris.  A king  of  Egypt,  who 
used  to  immolate  to  the  gods  all  strangers 
who  set  foot  on  his  shores.  Hercules  was 
seized  by  him,  and  would  have  fallen  a 
victim ; but  he  broke  his  chain,  and  slew 
the  inhospitable  king. 

Busi'ris,  according  to  Milton,  is  the 
Pharaoh  who  was  drowned  in  the  Red  Sea, 

V ex’d  the  Red-Sea  coast,  whose  waves  o’erthrew 

Busiris  and  his  Memphian  chivalry. 

"Paradise  Los<,”hk,  t. 


BUSKIN. 


BY. 


127 


Buskin.  Tragedy.  The  Greek  tra- 
gic actors  used  to  wear  a sandal  some 
two  or  throe  inches  thick,  to  elevate 
their  stature.  To  this  sole  was  attached  a 
very  elegant  buskin,  and  the  whole  was 
QoXlQdi  cotliur'nus.  (iSee  Sock.) 

Or  what  (though  rare)  of  later  age 

Ermohled  hath  the  husldned  stage. 

Milton,  “ II  Penseroso.  ’ 

Buss.  To  kiss.  (Welsh,  his,  the 
human  lip ; Gaelic,  hits,  the  mouth ; 
French,  laiser,  a kiss.) 

Ton  tower*?,  who'^e  wanton  tops  do  buss  the  c'ouds, 
Must  kiss  their  own  feet. 

Shakespeai'e,  “Troilus  and  Cressida,”  iv.  5. 

Busterieh.  A German  god.  His 
idol  may  still  be  seen  at  Sondershusa, 
the  castle  of  Schwartzemburg. 

Butcher.  The  Butcher.  Achmed 
Pasha  was  called  cljezzar  (the  butcher), 
and  is  said  to  have  whipped  off  the  heads 
of  his  seven  wives  all  at  once.  He  is 
famous  for  his  defence  of  Acre  against 
Napoleon  I. 

The  Butcher.  J ohn,  ninth  lord  Clifford, 
also  called  The  BlacJc,  died  1461. 

The  Bloody  Butcher.  The  duke  of  Cum- 
berland, second  son  of  George  II.  So 
called  from  his  barbarities  in  suppressing 
the  rebellion  of  the  young  Pretender. 

The  Royalist  Butcher.  Blaise  de  Mont- 
luc,  distinguished  for  his  cruelties  to  the 
Protestants  in  the  reign  of  Charles  IX. 
of  France.  (1502-1572.) 

Butter.  Soft  soap,  soft  solder  (pron. 
saw-der),  wiping  down”  with  winning 
words.  Punch  expressively  calls  it  ^Hhe 
milk  of  human  kindness  churned  into 
butter.”  Soft  words  butter  no  parsnips. 
Saying  ^ Be  thou  fed,’  will  not  feed  a 
hungry  man.”  Mere  words  will  not  find 
salt  to  our  porridge,  or  butter  to  our  par- 
snips. 

Buttercups.  So  called  because  they 
were  once  supposed  to  increase  the  butter 
of  milk.  No  doubt  those  cows  give  the 
best  milk  that  pasture  in  fields  where 
buttercups  abound,  not  because  these 
flowers  produce  butter,  for  cows  never 
eat  them,  but  because  they  grow  only 
on  sound,  dry,  old  pastures,  which  afford 
the  best  food. 

r Butter-fingered.  Said  of  a person 
who  lets  things  fall  out  of  his  hand.  His 
fingers  are  slippery,  and  things  slip  from 
them  as  if  they  were  greased  with  butter. 


Button.  A decoy  in  an  auction- 
room.  So  called  because  he  bi^ttons  or 
ties  the  unwary  to  bargains  offered  for 
sale.  The  button  fastens  or  fixes  what 
else  would  slip  away. 

Thebiottonofthecaj).  The  tip-top.  Thus, 
in  Hamlet,”  Guildenstern  says,  ^^On 
fortune’s  cap  we  are  not  the  very  button  ” 
(Act  ii.,  sc.  2),  i.e.,  the  most  highly 
favoured.  The  button  on  the  cap  was  a 
mark  of  honour.  Thus,  in  China  to  the 
present  hour  the  first  grade  of  literary 
honour  is  the  privilege  of  adding  a gold 
button  to  the  cap,  a custom  adopted  in 
several  collegiate  schools  of  England. 
This  gives  the  expression  quoted  a 
further  force.  Also,  the  several  grades  of 
mandarins  are  distinguished  by  a different 
coloured  button  on  the  top  of  their  cap. 

He  has  not  all  his  buttons  (Provincial), 
for  he  is  half- silly. 

Buttons.  A page  whose  jacket  in 
front  is  remarkable  for  a row  of  small 
round  buttons,  as  close  as  they  can  be 
inserted,  from  chin  to  waist. 

’Tis  in  his  buttons.  He  is  destined  to 
obtain  the  prize  ; he  is  the  accepted 
lover.  It  is  still  common  to  hear  boys 
count  their  buttons,-  to  know  what  trade 
they  are  to  follovq  whether  they  are  to 
do  a thing  or  not,  and  whether  some 
favourite  favours  them.  {See  Bachelor.) 

’Tis  in  hig  buttons;  he  -will  f'arry’t. 

Shakespeare,  "'Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,” Hi.  2. 

Butzen.  An  Indian  god. 

Buzfuz,  Serjeant.  A driving,  chaff- 
ing, masculine  bar  orator,  who  twists 

Chops  and  Tomato  Sauce  ” into  a de- 
claration of  love. — DichenSy  PicTacick 
Papers.^* 

Buzz.  Empty  the  bottle.  A corrup- 
tion of  bouse  (to  drink). 

In  bousing  a bout  ’twas  his  gift  to  excel. 

And  of  all  jolly  topers  he  bore  off  the  bell. 

Buzzard,  The,  is  meant  for  Dr.  Bur- 
net, whose  figure  was  lusty. 

The  noble  Buzzard  ever  pleased  Jne  best. 

Dryden,  Hind  and  Panther,”  pt.  iii. 

Buzzard  called  Hawk  by  courtesy.  It  is 
a euphemism  — a brevet  rank— a com- 
plimentary title. 

Of  small  renown,  ’tis  true ; for.  not  to  lie, 

We  call  [youi-  buzzard]  “ hawk  ” by  courtesy. 

Dryden,  "Hind  and  Panther,”  iii. 

By.  Meaning  against,  I know 
nothing  by  myself,  yet  am  I not  thereby 
justified.”  (1  Cor.  iv.  4.) 


128 


BY-AND-BY. 


CABAL. 


By-and-by  now  means  a little  time 
hence,  but  when  the  Bible  was  trans- 
lated it  meant  instantly.  When  perse- 
cution ariseth  . . . by-and-by  he  is 

offended”  (Matt.  xiii.  21);  rendered  in 
Markiv.  17  by  the  word  ^^immediately.” 
Omy presently  means  in  a little  time  hence, 
but  in  French  {prhentement)  means  now, 
directly.  Thus,  in  France,  we  see  These 
apartments  to  he  let  presently^  meaning 
noiv — a phrase  which  would  in  English 
signify  by-and-by. 

JBy-laws.  Local  laws.  From  hy,  a 
borough.  Properly,  laws  by  a town 
council,  and  bearing  only  on  the  borough 
or  company  over  which  it  has  jurisdic- 
tion. 

By-the-by.  En  passant,  laterally  con- 
nected with  the  main  subject.  By- 
play” is  side  or  secondary  play;  By- 
lanes and  streets  ” are  those  which  branch 
out  of  the  main  thoroughfare.  The  first 
^^by”  means  passing  from  one  to  another, 
as  in  the  phrase  Day  by  day.”  Thus, 
‘•By-the-by”  is  passing  from  the  main 
subject  to  a hy  or  secondary  one. 

By  the  way  is  an  incidental  remark 
thrown  in,  and  tending  the  same  way  as 
the  disc'ourse  itself. 

Byron.  The  Polish  Byron.  Adam 
Mickiewicz.  (1798-1855.) 

The  Russian  Byron.  Alexander  Ser- 
gei vitch  Pusc-hkin.  (1799-1837.) 

Byzantine  Art.  That  symbolical 
system  which  was  developed  by  the  early 
Greek  or  Bj^zantine  artists  out  of  the 
Christian  symbolism.  Its  chief  features 
are  the  circle,  dome,  and  round  arch  ; and 
its  chief  symbols  the  lily,  cross,  vesica, 
and  nim'-us.  St.  Sophia,  at  Constan- 
tinople, and  St.  Mark,  at  Venice,  are  ex- 
cellent examples. 

Byzantine  Historians.  Certain 
Greek  historians  who  lived  under  the 
Eastern  empire  between  the  sixth  and 
fifteenth  centuries.  They  may  be  divided 
into  three  groups (1)  Those  whose 
works  form  a continuous  history  of  the 
Byzantine  empire,  from  the  fourth  cen- 
tury to  the  conquest  of  Constantinople 
by  the  Turks ; (2)  general  chroniclers 
who  wrote  histories  of  the  world  from 
the  oldest  period  ; and  (3)  writers  on 
Roman  antiquities,  statistics,  and  cus- 
toms. 

Byzantines.  Coins  of  the  Byzan- 
tine empire,  generalb^  called  Besants. 


C 

C.  This  letter  is  the  outline  of  the 
hollow  of  the  hand,  and  is  called  in  He- 
brew caph  (the  hollow  of  the  hand). 

C.  The  French  c,  when  it  is  to  be 
sounded  like  s,  has  a mark  under  it  {q) ; 
this  mark  is  called  a cedilla. 

Ca  Ira  {it  will  go).  Called  empha- 
tically Le  Carillon  National  of  the  French 
Revolution  (1790).  It  went  to  the  tune 
of  the  Carillon  National,  which  Marie 
Antoinette  was  for  ever  strumming  on 
her  harpsichord. 

Ca  Ira'^  was  the  rallying  cry  bor- 
rowed by  the  Federalists  from  Dr.  Frank- 
lin of  America,  who  used  to  say,  in 
reference  to  the  American  revolution, 
Ah!  ah  I qa  ira,  qa  ira!  (’twill  be  sure  to 
do).  The  refrain  of  the  carillon  is— 

Ha!  ha!  It  will  speed,  it  will  speed,  it  will  speed! 
Besistance  is  vain,  we  are  sure  to  succeed. 

Caa'ba  (3  syl.).  The  shrine  of  Mecca, 
said  by  the  Arabs  to  be  built  on  the 
exact  spot  of  the  tabernacle  let  down 
from  heaven  at  the  prayer  of  repentant 
Adam.  Adam  had  been  a wanderer  for 
200  years,  and  here  received  pardon. 
The  shrine  was  built,  according  to  Arab 
tradition,  by  Ishmael,  assisted  by  his 
father  Abraham,  who  inserted  in  the 
walls  a black  stone  ‘^presented  to  him  by 
the  angel  Gabriel.” 

Cab.  A contraction  of  cabriolet  (a 
little  caper er),  a small  carriage  that  scam- 
pers along  like  a kid.  As  cahri  means, 
in  French,  a ^‘kid,”  a hackney  coach  is 
wittily  called  a cahri  au  lait  (a  kid  cooked 
in  milk),  and  a private  brougham  a cahri 
d la  crime  (a  kid  cooked  in  cream). 

Cabal'.  A junto  or  council  of  in- 
triguers. One  of  the  ministries  of 
Charles  II.  was  called  a cabal  (1670), 
because  the  initial  letters  of  its  members 
formed  this  acrostic : Clifford,  Ashley, 
Buckingham,  Arlington,  and  Lauder- 
dale. This  accident  may  have  popularised 
the  word,  but,  without  doubt,  we  bor- 
rowed it  from  the  French  cahale,  “ an  in- 
triguing faction,”  and  Hebrew  cah'ala, 

secret  knowledge.”  A junto  is  merely 
an  assembly;  Spanish,  junta  (a  council). 
{Bee  Notarica.) 

In  dark  cal)als  and  mighty  juntos  met. 

Thomson. 


CABALISTIC. 


CAD. 


129 


Cabalistic.  Mystic,  word- juggling. 
{See  Cabbalist.) 

Caballe'ro.  A Spanish  dance,  grave 
and  stately  ; so  called  from  the  ballad- 
music  to  which  it  was  danced.  The 
ballad  begins — 

Esta  noclie  le  mataron  al  caballero. 

Cabbage.  To  filch.  The  word  is 
especially  applied  to  the  pieces  of  cloth 
kept  back  by  tailors  who  make  up 
gentlemen’s  own  materials.”  As  the 
smoothing-iron  is  called  a goose  {q.v.), 
much  wit  is  often  squandered  in  bandy- 
ing about  the  words  goose  and  cahhage. 
(butch,  kabassen ; Swedish,  grabba ; 
Danish,  gvibeTy  owe  grab.) 

Cabbage  is  also  a common  schoolboy 
term  for  a literary  crib,  or  other  petty 
theft. 

Your  tailor,  instead  of  shreds,  cabbages  whole 
yards  of  cloth..— Arhuthnot's  "'John  Bull.” 

Cabbala.  The  oral  law  of  the  Jews 
delivered  down  from  father  to  son  by 
word  of  mouth.  Some  of  the  rabbins 
say  that  the  angel  Raziel  instructed  Adam 
in  it,  the  angel  Japhiel  instructed  Shem, 
and  the  angel  Zedekiel  instructed  Abra- 
ham ; but  the  more  usual  belief  is  that 
God  instructed  Moses,  and  Moses  his 
brother  Aaron,  and  so  on  from  age  to 
age. 

Cabbalist.  A Jewish  doctor  who 
professed  the  study  of  the  Cab'bala,  a 
mysterious  science  said  to  have  been 
delivered  to  the  Jews  by  revelation, 
and  transmitted  by  oral  tradition.  This 
science  consisted  mainly  in  understand- 
ing the  combination  of  certain  letters, 
words,  and  numbers,  said  to  be  significant. 

Cabinet  Ministers.  The  chief 
officers  of  state  in  whom  the  adminis- 
trative government  is  vested.  It  con- 
tains the  first  lord  of  the  treasury  {the 
premier),  the  lord  high  chancellor,  lord 
president  of  the  council,  lort  privy  seal, 
chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  five  secre- 
taries of  state,  the  first  lord  of  the 
admiralty,  president  of  the  board  of 
trade,  postmaster-general,  chancellor  of 
the  duchy  of  Lancaster,  generally  the 
president  of  the  poor-law  board,  and  the 
first  commissioner  of  public  works.  The 
five  secretaries  of  state  are  those  of  the 
home  department,  foreign  affairs,  colo- 
nies, war,  and  India.  These  ministers 
are  privileged  to  consult  the  sovereign  in 
the  private  cabi»et  of  the  palace. 


Cabinet  Pictures.  Small  pictures 
suited  for  a cabinet  or  very  small  room. 

Cabibi.  Mystic  divinities  worshipped 
in  ancient  Egypt,  Phoenicia,  Asia  Minor, 
and  Greece.  They  were  inferior  to  the 
supreme  gods.  (Phoenician,  power- 

ful.) 

Cable’s  Length.  120  fathoms. 

Cachecope  Bell.  A bell  rung  at 
funerals,  when  the  pall  was  thrown  over 
the  coffin.  (French,  cache  coig^s^  cover 
over  the  body.) 

Cabhet.  Lettres  de  cachet  (letters 
sealed).  Under  the  old  French  r%ime, 
carte-blanche  warrants,  sealed  with  the 
king’s  seal,  might  be  obtained  for  a con- 
sideration, and  the  person  who  held  them 
might  fill  in  any  name.  Sometimes  the 
warrant  was  to  set  a prisoner  at  large, 
but  it  was  more  frequently  for  detention 
in  the  Bastille.  During  the  adminis- 
tration of  cardinal  Fleury,  80,000  of  these 
cachets  were  issued,  the  larger  number 
being  against  the  Jan'senists.  In  the 
reigns  of  Louis  XV.,  XVI.,  fifty-nine 
were  obtained  against  the  one  family  of 
Mirabeau.  This  scandal  was  abolished 
Jan.  15,  1790. 

Cacbdae'mon.  An  evil  spirit. 
(Greek,  kakos  daimon.) 

Hie  thee  to  hell  for  shame,  and  leave  the  world, 
Thou  cacodaemon. 

Shakespeare,  "Richard  III.”  i.  3. 

CacoeTbes  (Greek).  A ‘^badhabit,” 
as  cacoeLhes  scribendi  (a  mania  for  author- 
ship). 

Cac'ouac'.  An  unbeliever. 

Cac'ouae'qurie.  Infidelity.  Words 
used  by  Voltaire,  and  probably  coined 
from  the  name  of  some  Indian  tribe. 

Ca'cus.  A famous  robber,  repre- 
sented as  three-headed,  and  vomiting 
flames.  He  lived  in  Italy,  and  was 
strangled  by  Hercules.  Sancho  Panza 
says  of  the  lord  Rinaldo  and  his  friends. 

They  are  greater  thieves  than  Cacus.” 
— Don  Quixote. 

Cad.  A non-member  of  the  uni- 
versity. (Latin,  cada'ver.,  A dead  body.) 
Men  in  university  slang  are  sorted  under 
two  groups— those  who  are  members  of 
the  university,  and  those  who  are  not. 
As  the  former  are  called  men^  the  others 
must  be  no  men ; but  as  they  bear  the 
huDian  form,  th^'y  are  human  bodies 
{cads)i  though  not  human  beings  {mtn), 

J 


130 


CADDICE. 


CAERLEON. 


Cad.  An  omnibus  conductor.  Either 
another  application  of  the  preceding 
word,  by  grouping  members  of  the  road 
craft  into  whips  and  non- whips  ; or  a 
contraction  of  cadger  (a  packman).  The 
etymology  of  cad,  a cadendo^  is  only  a pun . 
N.B. — The  Scotch  cadie  ovcawdie  (a  little 
servant  or  errand-boy),  without  the 
diminutive,  becomes  caivd^  which  offers 
a plausible  suggestion. 

Caddice  or  Caddis.  Worsted  galloon; 
so  called  because  it  resembles  the  caddis- 
worm. 

He  bath  ribands  of  all  the  colours  i’  the  rainbow; 
. . . caddisses,  cambrics,  lawn‘s, 

Shakespeare, '' Winter’s  Tale,”iv.  3. 

Caddice-garter.  A servant,  a man  of 
mean  rank.  When  garters  were  worn  in 
sight,  the  gentry  used  very  expensive 
ones,  but  the  baser  sort  wore  worsted 
galloon  ones.  Prince  Henry  calls  Poins 
a ^^caddice-garter.’*  — Henry  IV. 
ii.  4. 

Dost  hear. 

My  honest  caddis-garter? 

Glapthorne,  " Wit  in  a ConstaMe.”  1839. 

Cade.  Jack  Cade  Legislation.  Pres- 
sure from  without.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  insurrection  of  Jack  Cade,  an  Irish- 
man, who  headed  about  20,000  armed 
men,  chiefly  of  Kent,  ^^to  procure  redress 
of  grievances”  (1450).  When  Bright, 
in  1866,  advised  the  favourers  of  reform 
to  march  in  a body  to  the  House  to  en- 
force their  wishes,  the  pressure  from 
without  was  justly  stigmatised  as  Jack 
Cade  Legislation.” 

You  that  love  the  commons,  follow  me  ; 

Now  show  yourselves  men;  ’tis  for  liberty. 

We  will  not  leave  one  lord,  one  gentleman ; 

Spare  none  but  such  as  go  in  clouted  shoon. 

* "2,  Henry  FJ.,”iv.  2. 

Cadet.  Younger  branches  of  noble 
families  are  so  called,  because  their  ar- 
morial shields  are  marked  with  a differ- 
ence called  a cadency. 

Cadet  is  a student  at  the  Royal  Military 
Academy  at  Woolwich,  the  Royal  Military 
College  at  Sandhurst,  or  in  one  of  her  Ma- 
jesty’s training  ships,  the  Excellent  and 
the  Britannia.  From  these  places  they  are 
sent  (after  passing  certain  examinations) 
into  the  army  as  ensigns  or  second  lieu- 
tenants, and  into  the  navy  as  midship- 
men. (French,  cadettCy  junior  member 
of  a family.) 

Cades'sia  {Battle  of)  gave  the  Arabs 
the  monarchy  of  Persia,  (a.d.  636.) 


Cadger.  One  who  carries  butter, 
eggs,  and  poultry  to  market;  a packman 
or  bucks 'Cr.  From  cadge  (to  carry). 
Hence  the  frame  on  which  hawks  were 
carried  was  called  ‘^a  cadge.” 

Ca'di,  among  the  Turks,  is  an  in- 
ferior judge.  Cadi  Lesker  ’ is  a supe- 
rior cadi.  The  Spanish  Alcayde  is  the 
Moorish  al  cadi.  (Arabic,  tie  judge. ) 

Cadmus  having  slain  the  dragon 
which  guarded  the  fountain  of  Dirce,  in 
Boeotia,  sowed  the  teeth  of  the  monster, 
when  a number  of  armed  men  sprang  up 
and  surrounded  Cadmus  with  intent  to 
kill  him.  By  the  counsel  of  Minerva,  he 
threw  a precious  stone  among  the  armed 
men,  who,  striving  for  it,  killed  one 
another.  The  foundation  of  the  fable  is 
this  : Cadmus  having  slain  a famous  free- 
booter that  infested  Boeotia,  his  banditti 
set  upon  him  to  revenge  their  captain’s 
death ; but  Cadmus  sent  a bribe,  for 
which  they  quarrelled  and  slew  each 
other. 

Cadu'ceus  (4  syl.).  A white  wand 
carried  by  Roman  officers  when  they 
went  to  treat  of  peace.  The  Egyptians 
adorned  the  rod  with  a male  and  female 
serpent  twisted  about  it,  and  kissing  each 
other.  From  this  use  of  the  rod,  it  be- 
came the  symbol  of  eloquence  and  also 
of  office.  In  mythology,  a caducous 
with  wings  is  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Mercury,  the  herald  of  the  gods,  and  the 
poets  feign  that  he  could  therewith  give 
sleep  to  whomsoever  he  chose  ; where- 
fore Milton  styles  it  ^^his  opiate  rod” 
in  Paradise  Lost,”  xi.  133. 

So  with  his  dread  caduceus  Hermes  led 

From  the  dark  regions  of  the  imprisoned  dead ; 

Or  drove  in  silent  shonls  tiie  lingering  train 

To  Night’s  dull  shore  and  Plnto^  dresii-y  reivn. 

Darwin,  "'Loves  of  the  Plants,”  ii.  291. 

Cadur'ci.  The  people  of  Aquita'nia. 
Cahors  is  the  modern  capital. 

Caedmon.  Cowherd  of  Whitby,  the 
greatest  poet  of  the  Anglo-Saxons.  In 
his  wonderful  romance  we  find  the  bold 
prototype  of  Milton’s  ^‘Paradise  Lost.’* 
The  portions  relating  to  the  fall  of  the 
angels  are  most  striking.  The  hero  en- 
counters, defeats,  and  finally  slays  Grin- 
del,  an  evil  being  of  supernatural  powers. 

Ca'erle'on,  on  the  Usk,  in  Wales. 
The  habitual  residence  of  king  Arthur, 
where  he  lived  in  splendid  state,  sur- 
rounded by  hundreds  of  knights,  twelve 


C^SAR. 


CALATRAVA. 


131 


of  whom  he  selected  as  Knights  of  the 
Round  Table. 

Caesar  was  made  by  Hadrian  a title, 
conferred  on  the  heir  presumptive  to  the 
throne  (A.D.  138).  Diocle'tian  conferred 
the  title  on  the  two  viceroys,  calling  the 
two  emperors  Augustus  (sacred  majesty). 
The  emperor  of  Austria  still  assumes  the 
title  of  kaiser  {g.v.). 

Thou  art  an  emperor,  Caesar,  keisar,  and  Pheezar. 

Shakespeare,  ''Merry  Wives  of  Windsor”  i.  3. 

No  bending  knee  shall  call  thee  Caesar  now. 

Sh-ikespe  ire,  “3  Henry  VI.,"  iii.  1. 

Caesar,  as  a title,  was  pretty  nearly 
eqiiivalent  to  our  prince  of  Wales  and 
the  French  dauphin. 

Gmar  won  320  triumphs. 

Ccesar's  wife  must  he  above  suspicion. 
The  name  of  Porape'ia  having  been 
mixed  up  with  an  accusation  against  P. 
Clodius,  Caesar  divorced  her ; not  be- 
cause he  believed  her  guilty,  but  because 
the  wife  of  Caesar  must  not  even  be  sus- 
pected of  crime.  — Suetonius , Julius 
Ccesarf  74. 

Ccesar.  {See  Aut  C^sar,  &c.) 

Julius  Ccesar's  sword.  Crocca  Mors 
{yellow  death), 

Caesa'rian  Operation.  The  ex- 
traction of  a child  from  the  womb  by 
cutting.  Julius  Caesar  is  said  to  have 
been  thus  brought  into  the  world. 

Caf,  Mount.  A fabulous  mountain 
encircling  the  earth,  as  a hedge  encloses 
a field.  The  earth,  of  course,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a flat  plain.  {Mahometan 
mythology.) 

CaPtan  (Persian).  A Turkish  vest. 

CSjg  Mag.  Tough  old  geese  ; food 
which  none  can  relish.  (Gaelic  and 
W elshj  cag  magic.) 

Caglios'tro.  Conte  de  Cagliostro  (or) 
Giuseppe  Balsamo  of  Palermo,  a char- 
latan who  offered  everlasting  youth  to 
all  who  would  pay  him  for  his  secret. 
(1743-1795.) 

Cagots.  A sort  of  gipsy  race  in 
Gas'cony  and  Bearne,  supposed  to  be 
descendants  of  theVisigoths,  and  shunned 
as  something  loathsome.  {See  Caqueux, 
COLLIBERTS.) 

Cahors.  Usuners  de  Cahors.  In  the 
thirteenth  century  there  was  a colony  of 


Jewish  money-lenders  settled  at  Cahors, 
which  was  to  France  what  Lombard  Street 
was  to  London. 

Cai'aplias.  The  country-house  oi 
Caiaphas,  in  which  Judas  concluded  hia 
bargain  to  betray  his  Master,  stood  on 
^^The  Hill  of  Evil  Counsel.” 

Cain-coloured  Beard.  Yellow. 
In  the  ancient  tapestries  Cain  and  Judas 
are  represented  with  yellow  beards. 

He  hath  but  a little  wee  face,  with  a little  yellow 
beard,  a Cain-coloured  \iQdiXd..— Shakespeare,  "‘Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor,"  i.  4. 

Cain'ites  (2  syl.).  Disciples  of  Cain, 
a pseudo-Gnostic  sect  of  the  second 
century.  They  renounced  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  received  instead  The  Gospel  of 
Jicdas,  which  justified  the  false  disciple 
and  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus.  This  sect 
maintained  that  heaven  and  earth  were 
created  by  the  evil  principle,  and  that 
Cain  with  his  descendants  were  the  per- 
secuted party. 

Caius,  Dr.  A French  physician  in 
Shakespeare’s  Merry  Wives.” 

The  clipped  English  of  Dr.  Cams.—Macavday. 

Caius  College,  Cambridge.  Elevated  by 
Dr.  John  Key  {Caius),  of  Norwich,  into  a 
college,  being  previously  only  a hall  called 
Gonville.  (1557.) 

Cake.  A fool,  a poor  thing.  In 
University  slang  a clever  man  is  called  a 
good  man,  and  the  opposite  is  a bad  one 
or  a cake.  (Greek,  kakos,  bad.) 

Cakes.  Land  of  Cakes.  Scotland, 
famous  for  its  oatmeal  cakes. 

Cal'abash.  A drinking  cup  or  water- 
holder  ; so  called  from  the  calabash  nut^ 
of  which  it  is  made. 

Calam'ity.  The  beating  down  of 
standing  corn  by  wind  or  storm.  The 
word  is  the  Latin  calamis{a  stalk  of  corn). 
Hence  Cicero  calls  a storm  Calamito'sa 
tempes'tas  (a  corn-levelling  tempest). 

CalandrPno.  A character  in  one 
of  Boccaccio’s  stories,  whose  “misfor- 
tunes have  made  all  Europe  merry  for 
four  centuries.” — Decameron. 

Calatra'va,  Red  Cross  Knights  of. 
Instituted  at  Calatra'va,  in  Spain,  by 
Sancho  III.  of  Castile,  in  1158 ; their 
badge  is  a red  cross  cut  out  in  the  form 
of  lilies,  on  the  left  breast  of  a white 
mantle. 

j 2 


132 


CALAYA. 


CALIDOEE. 


Calay'a.  The  third  paradise  of  the 
Hindus. 

Calceola'ria.  Little- shoe  flowers  ; 
so  called  from  their  resemblance  to  fairy 
slippers.  (Latin,  cal'ceolus.) 

Calculate  is  from  the  Latin  calculi 
(pebbles),  used  by  the  Eomans  for 
counters.  In  the  ab'acus,  the  round 
balls  were  called  cabculi,  and  it  was  by 
this  instrument  the  Roman  boys  were 
taught  to  count  and  calculate.  The 
Greeks  voted  by  pebbles  dropped  into 
an  urn,  a metbodadoj)tedboth  in  ancient 
Egypt  and  Syria  ; counting  these  pebbles 
was  calculating”  the  number  of  voters. 
{See  Abacus.) 

Calculators,  The.  Alfragan,  the 
Arabian  astronomer.  Died  820. 

Jedediah  Buxton,  of  Elmeton,  in 
Derbyshire.  (1705-1775.) 

George  Bidder  and  Zerah  Colburn,  who 
exhibited  publicly. 

Cale.  No  man  com  maTce  of  %ll  acates 
good  cale^  i.e.,  good  pottage  of  bad  vic- 
tuals. Acates  (2  syl.)  are  provisions 
bought  (French,  achete) ; hence  a buyer 
of  food  is  an  acater  or  caterer.  Cale  is 
pottage. 

Caleb.  The  enchantress  who  carried 
off  St.  George  in  infancy. 

Caleb,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  ‘^Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  is  meant  for  lord  Grey, 
one  of  the  adherents  of  the  duke  of 
Monmouth. 

Caleb  Quo'tem.  A parish  clerk  or 
jack-of- all-trades,  in  Colman’s  play  called 

The  Review.” 

I resolved,  like  Caleb  Quotem,  to  have  a place 
at  the  review.— FasTiing'^on  Irving. 

Calecue'gers.  A tribe  of  giants  in 
Indian  mythology. 

Caledo'nia.  Scotland.  A corruption 
of  Celyddon,  a Celtic  word  meaning  ^^a 
dweller  in  woods  and  forests.”  The  word 
Celt  is  itself  a contraction  of  the  same 
word  {Celyd),  and  means  the  same  thing. 

Sees  Caledonia  in  romantic  view. 

Thomson. 

O Caledonia,  stern  and  wild, 

Meet  nurse  for  a poetic  child.— /Sco«, 

Calembourg  {French).  A pun;  a 
jest.  From  the  Jester  of  Kahlenberg,” 
whose  name  was  Wigand  von  Theben  j a 
character  introduced  in  '^Tyll  Eulen- 
spiegel,”  a German  tale.  Eulenspiegel  (a  I 


fool  or  jester)  means  Owl’s  looking-glass, 
and  may  probably  have  suggested  the 
title  of  the  famous  periodical  called  the 
Owl,  the  witty  but  satirical  ^Gooking- 
glass  ” of  the  passing  follies  of  the  day. 
The  jester  of  Calembourg  visited  Paris 
in  the  reign  of  Louis  XV.,  and  soon  be- 
came noted  for  his  blunders  and  puns. 

Calendar.  So  called  from  calends 
(q.v.). 

The  Three  Calendars.  Three  royal 
princes,  disguised  as  begging  dervishes, 
the  subject  of  three  tales  in  the  Arabian 
Nights.” 

CaPends.  The  first  of  every  month 
was  so  called  by  the  Romans.  Varro 
says  the  term  originated  in  the  prac- 
tice of  calling  together  or  assembling  the 
people  on  the  first  day  of  the  month, 
when  the  pontifex  informed  them  of  the 
time  of  the  new  moon,  the  day  of  the 
nones,  with  the  festivals  and  sacred  days 
to  be  observed.  The  custom  continued 
till  A.u.c.  450,  when  the  fasti  or  calendar 
was  posted  in  public  places. 

Caliban.  New  or  unknown;  as  a 
Caliban  style,  a Caliban  language.  The 
allusion  is  to  Shakespeare’s  Caliban 
(^^The  Tempest”),  in  which  character 
lord  Falkland,  &c.,  said  that  Shakespeare 
had  not  only  invented  a new  creation,  but 
also  a new  language. 

Satan  had  not  the  privilege,  as  Caliban,  to  use 
new  phrases,  and  diction  unknown.— Bn  Bentley. 

Calibre.  A mind  of  no  calibre:  of 
no  capacity.  A mind  of  great  calibre : of 
large  capacity.  Calibre  is  the  bore  of  a 
gun,  and,  figuratively,  the  bore  or  com- 
pass of  our  intelligence. 

Calibhirn.  Same  as  Excalibar,  king 
Arthur’s  well-known  sword. 

Onward  Arthur  paced,  with  hand 
On  Caliburn’s  resistless  brand. 

Scott,  “ Bridal  of  Triermain.** 

Calico.  So  called  from  Calicut,  in 
Malabar,  once  the  chief  port  and  em- 
porium of  Hindustan. 

Calidore  (3  syl.).  Sir  Calidore  is 
the  type  of  courtesy,  and  hero  of  the 
fourth  book  of  Spenser’s  Faery  Queen.” 
He  is  described  as  the  most  courteous  of 
all  knights,  and  is  entitled  the  ^‘all- 
beloved.”  The  model  of  the  poet  was 
Sir  Philip  Sidney.  His  adventure  is 
against  the  Blatant  Beast,  whom  he 
muzzles,  chains,  and  drags  to  Faery 
Land. 


caLigorant. 


CALL. 


133 


Sir  Gawain  was  the  Calidore  of  the  Round  Table. 
—Southey. 

Calig'orant.  An  Egyptian  giant 
and  cannibal  who  used  to  entrap  strangers 
with  a hidden  net.  This  net  was  made 
by  Vulcan  to  catch  Mars  and  Venus  ; Mer- 
cury stole  it  for  the  purpose  of  catching 
Chloris,  and  left  it  in  the  temple  of  Anu'- 
bis ; Calig'orant  stole  it  thence.  At  length 
Astolpho  blew  his  magic  horn,  and  the 
giant  ran  affrighted  into  his  own  net, 
which  dragged  him  to  the  ground. 
Whereupon  Astolpho  made  the  giant  his 
captive,  and  despoiled  him  of  his  net. 
This  is  an  allegory.  Caligorant  was  a 
great  sophist  and  heretic  in  the  days  of 
Ariosto,  who  used  to  entangle  people 
with  his  talk  ; but  being  converted  by 
Astolpho  to  the  true  faith,  was,  as  it 
were,  caught  in  his  own  net,  and  both  his 
sophistry  and  heresy  were  taken,  from 
him.— Ariosto,  “ Orlando  Furioso.” 

Caligrapli'ic  Art.  Writing  very 
minutely  and  yet  clearly.  Peter  Bale, 
in  the  sixteenth  century,  wrote  in  the 
compass  of  a silver  penny  the  Lord’s 
Prayer,  the  Creed,  the  Ten  Command- 
ments, two  Latin  prayers,  his  own  name, 
the  day  of  the  month  and  date  of  the 
year,  the  year  since  the  accession  of 
queen  Elizabeth,  and  a motto.  With  a 
glass  this  writing  could  be  read.  By 
photography  a sheet  of  the  Times  news- 
paper has  been  reduced  to  a smaller  com- 
pass. (Greek,  calos-gra'pho,  I write  beauti- 
fully.) 

Calig'ula.  A Roman  emperor.  So 
called  because  he  wore  a military  sandal 
called  a cal'iga,  which  had  no  upper 
leather,  and  was  used  only  by  the  com- 
mon soldiers.  (12,  37-41.) 

“ The  word  caligce,  however,”  continued  the  Baron, 

. . . “means,  in  its  primitive  sense,  sandals  ; and 
Caius  Caesar  . . . received  the  cognomen  of  Caligula, 
a calig'is,  sive  cal'igis  levio'ribus,  quibus  adolescentior 
non  fu'erat  in  exercitu  German'ici  patris  sui.  And 
the  caligcB  were  also  proper  to  the  monastic  bodies; 
for  we  read  in  the  ancient  Glossarium,  upon  the 
rule  of  St.  Bene  lict  . . . that  caligce  were  tied  with 
latchets.”— <5)’cofi,  “ Waveiiey,’’  xlviii. 

Calig'ula’s  Horse.  Incita'tus.  It 
was  made  a priest  and  consul,  had  a 
manger  of  ivory,  and  drank  wine  from  a 
golden  goblet. 

Calipash,  Calipee.  W.  T.  M.,  in 

Notes  and  Queries,”  suggests,  as  the 
origin  of  these  terms,  the  Greek  words 
ckalepos,  cJtalepe  (hard  to  deal  with,  i.e.,  to 
digest). 


Caliph  or  Calif.  A title  given  to 
the  successors  of  Mahomet.  Among  the 
Saracens  a caliph  is  one  vested  with 
supreme  dignity.  The  caliphat  of  Bagdad 
reached  its  highest  splendour  under  Ha- 
roun  alRaschid,in  the  nineteenth  century. 
For  the  last  200  years  the  appellation  has 
been  swallowed  up  in  the  titles  of  Shah, 
Sultan,  Emir,  and  so  on.  (Arabic,  calafa, 
to  succeed.) 

Calis'ta.  The  heroine  of  Rowe’s 

Fair  Penitent.” 

Calis'to  and  Areas.  Calisto  was 
an  Arcadian  nymph  metamorphosed  into 
a she-bear  by  Jupiter.  Her  son  Areas 
having  met  her  in  the  chase,  would  have 
killed  her,  but  Jupiter  converted  him 
into  a he-bear,  and  placed  them  both  in 
the  heavens,  where  they  are  recognised  as 
the  Great  and  Little  Bear. 

Calix'tines  (3  syl.).  A religious  sect 
of  Bohemians  in  the  fifteenth  century ; 
so  called  from  Calix  (the  chalice),  which 
they  insisted  should  be  given  to  the  laity 
in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper, 
as  well  as  the  bread  or  wafer. 

Call  of  Qod.  An  invitation,  ex- 
hortation, or  warning,  by  the  dispensa- 
tions of  Providence  (Isa.  xxii.  12) ; divine 
influence  on  the  mind  to  do  or  avoid 
something  (Heb.  iii.  1). 

Call  of  Ahraham.  The  invitation  or 
command  of  God  to  Abraham,  to  leave 
his  idolatrous  country,  under  the  promise 
of  being  made  a great  nation. 

Call  to  the  Unconverted.  An  invitation, 
accompanied  with  promises  and  threats, 
to  induce  the  unconverted  to  receive  the 
gospel. 

Effectual  Calling.  An  invitation  to 
believe  in  Jesus,  rendered  effectual  by  the 
immediate  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Gospel  Call.  The  invitation  of  the 
gospel  to  men  to  believe  in  Jesus,  to  the 
saving  of  their  souls. 

Call  to  the  Pastorate.  An  invitation  to 
a minister  by  the  members  of  a church 
to  preside  over  a certain  congregation. 

Call  of  the  House.  An  imperative  sum- 
mons sent  to  every  member  of  Parliament 
to  attend.  This  is  done  when  the  sense 
of  the  whole  house  is  required.  At  the 
muster,  the  names  of  the  members  are 
called  over,  and  defaulters  reported. 

Call  to  the  Bar.  The  admission  of  a law 
student  to  the  privileges  of  a barrister. 
The  names  of  those  qualified  are  called  over. 


134 


CALLABEU. 


CALVES. 


Callalbre  or  Calaber.  A Calal^rian 
fur.  Ducange  says,  ^^At  Chichester  the 
Spriest  vicars’  and  at  St.  Paul’s  the 
^ minor  canons’  wore  a calabre  am3me 
an'i  Bale,  in  his  ^^Image  of  Both  Churches,” 
alludes  to  the  “fair  rochets  of  Raines 
{Rennes),  and  costly  grey  amices  of  calaber 
and  cats’  tails.” 

The  lord  mayor  and  those  aldermen  above  the 
chair  ought  to  have  their  coats  furred  with  grey 
amis,  and  also  with  changeable  taffeta;  and  those 
below  the  chair  with  calabre  and  Math  green 
taffeta.— “New  View  of  Lon  ion.” 

Callim'aehos.  The  Italian  Calli- 
machos.  Filippo  Buonaccorsi.  (1437-1496.) 

Calling.  A vocation,  trade,  or  profes- 
sion. The  allusion  is  to  the  calling  of  the 
apostles  .by  Jesus  Christ  to  follow  him. 
In  the  legal  profession  persons  must  still 
be  called  to  the  bar  before  they  can 
practise. 

Cadli'ope  {beautiful-voiced).  The  muse 
of  epic  or  heroic  poetry.  Her  emblems 
are  a stjdus  and  wax  tablets. 

Callippic  Period.  The  correction 
of  the  Meton'ic  cycle  by  Callippos.  In 
four  cycles,  or  seventy-six  years,  the 
Metonic  calculation  was  seven  and  a-half 
in  excess.  Callippos  proposed  to  quad- 
ruple the  period  of  Meton,  and  deduct  a 
day  at  the  end  of  it : at  the  expiration 
of  which  period  Callippos  imagined  that 
the  new  and  full  moons  returned  to  the 
same  day  of  the  solar  year. 

Callir'rhoe  (4syl.).  The  lady-love 
of  Chae'reas,  in  Char'iton’s  Greek  romance, 
entitled  the  Loves  of  Chse'reas  and 
Callirrhoe,”  written  in  the  eighth  century. 

Calottis'tes  (4  syl.).  (See  Regi- 
ment.) 

Calo'yers.  Monks  in  the  Greek 
Church,  who  follow  the  rule  of  St.  Basil. 
They  are  divided  into  cen'obites,  who  recite 
the  offices  from  midnight  to  sunrise ; 
an'chorites,  who  live  in  hermitages ; and 
recluses,  who  shut  themselves  up  in 
caverns  and  live  on  alms.  (Greek,  halo- 
geros.) 

Calpe  (2  syl.).  Calpe  and  Ab'yla. 
The  two  pillars  of  Hercules.  According 
to  one  account,  these  two  were  originally 
only  one  mountain,  which  Hercules  tore 
asunder ; but  some  say  he  piled  up  each 
mountain  separately,  and  poured  the  sea 
between  them. 


Heaves  up  huge  Abyla  on  Afric’s  sand, 

Crowns  with  nigh  Calpe  Europe’s  salient  strand. 
Crests  with  opposing  towers  the  splendid  scene, 
And  pours  from  urns  immense  the  sea  between. 

Darwin,  “ Economy  of  Vegetation.” 

CaFumet  {the  peace-pipe).  When 
the  North  American  Indians  make  peace 
or  form  an  alliance,  the  high  contracting 
parties  smoke  together  to  ratify  the 
arrangement. 

The  peace-pipe  is  about  two  and  a-half 
feet  long,  the  bowl  is  made  of  highly- 
polished  red  marble,  and  the  stem  of  a 
reed,  which  is  decorated  with  eagles’ 
quills,  women’s  hair,  and  so  on. 

“ The  Great  Spirit,  at  an  ancient  period, 
called  the  Indian  nations  together,  and 
standing  on  the  precipice  of  the  red 
pipe-stone  rock,  broke  off  a piece  which 
he  moulded  into  the  bowl  of  a pipe,  and 
fitting  on  it  a long  reed,  filled  the  pipe 
with  the  bark  of  red  willow,  and  smoked 
over  them,  turning  to  the  four  winds. 
He  told  them  the  red  colour  of  the  pipe 
represented  their  flesh,  and  when  they 
smoked  it  they  must  bury  their  war- 
clubs  and  scalping-knives.  At  the  last 
whiff  the  Great  Spirit  disappeared.” 

To  present  the  calumet  to  a stranger 
is  a mark  of  hospitality  and  good-will ; 
to  refuse  the  offer  is  an  act  of  hostile 
defiance. 

Wash  the  war-paint  from  your  faces. 

Wash  the  war-stains  from  your  lingers, 

Bury  your  war-clubs  and  your  weapons ; . . . 

Smoke  the  calumet  together, 

And  as  brothers  live  henceforward. 

Longfellow,  “ Hiawatha,”  i. 

Cal'vary  {bare  shull),  Gol'gotlia 
(shull).  The  place  of  our  Lord’s  crucifixion; 
so  called  from  some  fanciful  resemblance 
which  it  bore  to  a human  skull.  The 
present  church  of  “ the  Holy  Sepulchre  ” 
has  no  claim  to  be  considered  the  site 
thereof;  it  is  far  more  likely  that  the 

mosque  of  Omar,”  called  the  dome  of 
the  roch,  occupies  the  real  site. 

Calvert’s  Entire.  The  14th  Foot. 
Called  Calvert  from  their  colonel.  Sir 
Harry  Calvert  (1806-1826),  and  entire,  be- 
cause three  entire  battalions  were  kept 
up  for  the  good  of  Sir  Harry,  when  ad- 
jutant-general. The  term  is,  of  course, 
a play  on  Calvert’s  malt  liquor. 

Calves.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Isle 
of  Wight  are  so  called  from  a legend arj’^ 
joke  which  states  that  a calf  once  got 
its  head  firmly  wedged  in  a wooden  pale, 
and,  instead  of  breaking  up  the  pale, 
the  farm-man  cut  off  the  calf’s  head. 


CALVES. 


CAMBRIAN. 


135 


Calves’  Head.  There  are  many 
ways  of  dressing  a calf's  head.  Many  ways 
of  saying  or  doing  a foolish  thing ; a 
simpleton  has  many  ways  of  showing  his 
fol'y;  or,  generally,  if  one  way  won’t  do, 
we  must  try  another.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  great  Calves’  Head  Club  banquet, 
w^hen  the  board  was  laden  with  calves’ 
leads  ^ooked  in  sundry  ways  and  divers 
fashions. 

Calves’  Head  Club.  Instituted  in 
ridicule  of  Charles  I.  The  great  annual 
banquet  was  held  on  the  30th  January, 
and  consisted  of  a cod’s  head,  to  repre- 
sent the  person  of  Charles  Stuart,  inde- 
pendent of  his  kingly  office ; a pike  with 
httle  ones  in  its  mouth,  an  emblem  of 
tyranny  ; a boar’s  head  with  an  apple  in 
its  mouth,  to  represent  the  king  preying 
on  his  subjects ; and  calves’  heads  dressed 
in  sundry  ways,  to  represent  Charles  in 
his  regal  capacity.  After  the  banquet, 
the  king’s  book  (^Icon  Basil' ike)  was  burnt, 
and  the  parting  cup  was  To  those 
worthy  patriots  who  killed  the  tyrant.” 

Calvin  is  said  to  have  caused  the 
death  of  ServeTus,  a heretic,  with  whom 
he  had  a religious  controversy.  Servetus 
was  seized,  condemned,  and  burnt  to 
death,  solely  for  his  heretical  views. 
(1553.) 

Calvinism.  The  five  moot  points 
are — 

Predestination,  or  particular  election. 

Irresistible  grace. 

Original  sin,  or  the  total  depravity  of 
the  natural  man. 

Particular  redemption. 

Final  perseverance  of  the  saints. 

CaPydon.  A forest,  supposed  in  the 
romances  relating  to  king  Arthur  to 
occupy  the  northern  portion  of  England. 

Calyp'so,  in  Fe'nelon’s  T^le- 
maque,”  is  meant  to  represent  Madame 
de  Montespan.  In  fairy  mythology  she 
was  queen  of  the  island  Ogyg'ia,  on 
which  Ulysses  was  wrecked,  and  where 
he  was  detained  for  seven  years. 

Calj^so’s  Isle.  Gozo,  near  Malta. 
Called  in  classic  mythology  Ogyg'ia. 

Cam  and  Isis.  The  universities  of 
Cambridge  and  Oxford.  So  called  from 
the  rivers  on  which  they  stand. 

May  yon,  tny  Cam  and  Isis,  preach  it  long, 

“The  right  divine  of  kings  to  govern  wrong.” 

“ V^nciad,'*  iv.  187. 


^ Cama.  The  god  of  love  and  mar- 
riage in  Indian  mythology. 

Cama'cllOj  richest  of  men,”  makes 
grand  preparations  for  his  wedding 
with  QuiteTia,  ‘^fairest  of  women;”  but 
as  the  bridal  party  were  on  their  way, 
Basikius  cheats  him  of  his  bride,  by  pre- 
tending to  kill  himself.  As  he  is  sup- 
posed to  be  dying,  Quiteria  is  given  to 
him  in  marriage  as  a mere  matter  of 
form ; but  as  soon  as  this  is  done,  up 
jumps  Basilius,  and  showsthat  his  wounds 
were  a mere  pretence. — Cervantes,  Don 
Quixote,"  p.  ii.  3,  4. 

Camal'dolites  (4  syl.).  A religious 
order  of  great  rigidity  of  life,  founded 
in  the  vale  of  Camakdoli,  in  the  Tuscan 
Apennines,  by  St.  Romuald,  a Bene- 
dictine. (Eleventh  century. ) 

CamaraPzaman  {prince)  fell  in  love 
with  Badou'ra,  princess  of  China,  the 
moment  he  saw  her. — “Arabian  Nights" 
Prince  Camaralzaman. 

Camarilla  (Spanish).  A clique ; 
the  confidants  or  private  advisers  of  the 
sovereign.  It  literally  means  a small 
private  chamber,  and  is  in  Spain  applied 
to  the  room  in  which  boys  are  flogged. 

Encircled  with  a dangerous  camarilla.  — The 
Times. 

Cambalo’s  Hing.  Given  him  by 
his  sister  Can'ace.  It  had  the  virtue  of 
healing  wounds.  {See  Cambel.) — Spenser, 
“Faery  Queen,"  bk.  iv. 

Cambel.  Called  by  Chaucer,  Cam'- 
balo.  Brother  of  Can'ace,  a female 
paragon.  He  challenged  every  suitor 
to  his  sister’s  hand,  and  overthrew  all 
except  Tri'amond,  who  married  the  lady. 
— Spenser,  “Faery  Queen"  bk.  iv. 

Camber.  Second  son  of  king  Brute, 
to  whom  Wales  was  left ; whence  its 
name  of  Cambria. — British  Fable. 

Cam'bria.  The  ancient  name  of 
Wales,  or  land  of  the  Cimbri. 

Cambria’s  fatal  day. 

Gray,  “ Bard.’* 

Cambrian.  Pertaining  to  Wales; 
Welsh.  {See  above.) 

The  Cambrian  mountains,  like  far  clouds. 

That  skii-t  the  blue  horizon,  dusky  rise. 

Thomson,  “ Spring.** 

Cambrian  Series  (in  geology). 
The  earliest  fossiliferous  rocks  in  North 
Wales.  So  named  by  professor  Sedg- 
wick. 


136 


CAMBEIC. 


CAMEEONIAKS. 


Cambric.  From  Cambray,  in  France, 
where  it  is-  still  the  chief  manufacture. 

Cambus'can.  King  of  Sarra,  in 
the  land  of  Tart  ary ; the  model  of  all 
royal  virtues.  His  wife  was  El'f eta ; his 
two  sons,  Algarsife  and  Cambalo ; and 
his  daughter  Can'ace.  On  her  birthday 
(15th  Oct.)  the  king  of  Arabia  and  India 
sent  Cambuscan  a steed  of  brass, 
which,  between  sunrise  and  sunset, 
would  carry  its  rider  to  any  spot  on  the 
earth.”  All  that  was  required  was  to 
whisper  the  name  of  the  place  in  the 
horse’s  ear,  mount  upon  his  back,  and 
turn  a pin  set  in  his  ear.  When  the 
rider  had  arrived  at  the  place  required, 
he  had  to  turn  another  pin,  and  the 
horse  instantly  descended,  and,  with 
another  screw  of  the  pin,  vanished  till  it 
was  again  required.  This  story  is  told 
by  Chaucer,  in  the  ‘^Squire’s  Tale,”  but 
was  never  finished.  Probably  the  end 
of  the  tale  would  have  been  the  victories 
of  Cambuscan ; Algarsife  winning  Theo- 
dora ; and  the  marriage  of  Canace  to 
some  knight  who  overmastered  in  single 
combat  her  two  brothers.  Spenser  took 
up  the  same  tale  in  his  Faery  Queen,” 
iv.  Milton  talks  of  calling  up 
Him  that  left  half-told 
The  story  of  Cambuscan  hold. 

Camby'ses  (3  syL).  A pompous, 
ranting  character  in  Preston’s  lamentable 
tragedy  of  that  name. 

Give  me  a cup  of  sack,  to  make  mine  eyes  look 
red ; for  I must  speak  in  passion,  and  I will  do  it 
in  king  Camhyses’  vein. — Henry  /g./’h.  4. 

Camden  Society,  for  the  publica- 
tion of  early  historic  and  literary  remains, 
is  named  in  honour  of  William  Camden, 
the  historian. 

Cam'deo.  God  of  love  in  Hindu 
mythology. 

Camel.  The  name  of  Mahomet’s 
favourite  camel  was  A1  Kaswa.  The 
mosque  at  Koba  covers  the  spot  where 
it  knelt  when  Mahomet  fled  from  Mecca. 
Mahomet  considered  the  kneeling  of  the 
camel  as  a sign  sent  by  God,  and  re- 
mained at  Koba  in  safety  for  four  days. 
The  swiftest  of  his  camels  was  Al  Adlia. 

Camel.  The  prophet  Mahomet’s  camel 
performed  the  whole  journey  from  Jeru- 
salem to  Mecca  in  four  bounds,  for  which 
service  he  has  a place  in  heaven  with 
Borak  (the  prophet’s  horse),  Balaam’s 
ass,  Tobit’s  dog,  and  Ketmir  (the  dog  of 
the  seven  sleepers). — Curzon, 


Camel.  ‘‘It  is  easier  for  a camel  to 
go  through  the  eye  of  a needle,  than  for 
a rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  God”  (Matt.  xix.  24).  In  the  Koran 
we  find  a similar  expression : “ The  im- 
pious shall  find  the  gates  of  heaven  shut 
nor  shall  he  enter,  till  a camel  shall  pass 
through  the  eye  of  a needle.”  In  the 
Babbinical  writings  we  have  a slight 
variety  which  goes  to  prove  that  the 
word  “camel”  should  not  be  changed 
into  “cable,”  as  Theophylact  suggests : 
“Perhaps  thou  art  one  of  the  Pampe- 
dith'ians,  who  can  make  an  elephant  pass 
through  the  eye  of  a needle.” 

It  is  as  hard  to  come,  as  for  a camel 
To  thiead  the  postern  of  a needle’s  eye. 

Shakespeare^  '‘Richard  II.”  v.  5. 

Cameleon.  You  are  a cameleon, 
i.e.,  very  changeable— shifting  according 
to  the  opinions  of  others,  as  th^e  cameleon 
changes  its  hue  to  that  of  contiguous 
objects. 

As  the  cameleon,  who  is  known 
To  have  no  colours  of  its  own. 

But  borrows  from  his  neighbour’s  hue 
His  white  or  black,  his  green  or  blue.— Pnor. 

Camellia.  A shrub,  or  rather  genus 
of  evergreen  shrubs  ; so  named  in  honour 
of  G.  J.  Kamel  (Latin,  Camellius),  a 
Spanish  Jesuit. 

Cam'elot  (Somersetshire), where  king 
Arthur  held  his  court.  {iSee  Winchester.) 

Camelote  (2  syl.).  Fustian,  rubbish, 
trash.  The  cloth  so  called  ought  to  be 
made  of  goats’  hair,  but  is  a mixture  of 
wool  and  silk,  wool  and  hair,  or  wool, 
silk,  and  hair,  &c.  (See  Camlet.) 

Cam'eo.  An  anaglyph  on  a precious 
stone.  The  anagly'pli  is  when  the  figure 
is  raised  in  relief ; an  intaglio  is  when  the 
figure  is  hollowed  out.  The  word  cameo 
means  an  onyx,  and  the  most  famous 
cameo  in  the  world  is  the  onyx  contain- 
ing the  apoth'eo' sis  of  Augustus. 

Cam'eron  Highlanders.  The 
79th  Eciiment  of  Infantry,  raised  by 
Allan  Cameron,  of  Errock,  in  1793. 

Cameronian  Regiment.  The 
26th  Infantry,  which  had  its  origin  in  a 
body  of  Cameronians  (q.v.),  in  the  Kevo- 
lution  of  1688. 

Camero'nians.  The  strictest  sect 
of  Scotch  Presbyterians,  organised  in 
1688,  by  Archibald  Cam'eron,  who  suf- 
fered death  in  1680  for  his  religious  views. 
He  objected  to  the  alliance  of  church  and 
state. 


CAMILLA. 


CANCER. 


137 


Camilla.  Virgin  queen  of  the  Vol- 
scians.  Virgil  says  that  she  was  so  swift 
that  she  could  run  over  a field  of  corn 
without  bending  a single  blade,  or  make 
her  way  over  the  sea  without  even  wet- 
ting her  feet. 

Not  so  when  swift  Camilla  scours  the  plain, 

Flies  o’er  the  unbending  corn  and  skims  along 
the  main.  Pope. 

Camillus,  five  times  dictator  of 
Rome,  was  falsely  accused  of  embezzle- 
ment, and  went  into  voluntary  exile ; 
but  when  the  Gauls  besieged  Rome,  be 
returned  and  delivered  his  country. 

Camillus,  only  vengeful  to  his  foes. 

Thomson.,  “ Winter 

Camlsard  or  Camisa'do.  A night 
attack.  In  French  history  the  Camisards 
are  the  Protestant  insurgents  of  the 
C^vennes,  who  resisted  the  violence  of 
the  dragonnades,  after  the  revocation  of 
the  edict  of  Nantes.  They  were  so  called 
because  they  wore  a camise  or  peasant’s 
smock  over  their  armour,  both  to  conceal 
it,  and  that  they  might  the  better  re- 
cognise each  other  in  the  dark.  Their 
leader  was  Cavalier,  afterwards  governor 
of  Jersey. 

Camlan,  Battle  of  (Cornwall),  which 
put  an  end  to  the  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table.  Here  Arthur  received  his  death 
wound  from  the  hand  of  his  nephew 
Modred.  (a.d.  542.) 

CamTet  is  not  connected  with  the 
word  camel ; it  is  a fine  cloth  made  of 
goats'  hair,  called  Turkish  yarn,  and  is 
from  the  Arabic  word  chamal  (fine). 

Cam'mock.  As  crooTced  as  a cammoch 
The  cammock  is  a piece  of  timber  bent 
for  the  knee  of  a ship.  (Saxon.) 

Though  the  cammock,  the  more  it  is  bowed  the 
better  it  is ; yet  the  bow,  the  more  it  is  bent  the 
weaker  it  waxeth.— iiZy. 

Campa'nia.  Properly  the  Terra  di 
Lavo'ro  of  Italy,  i.e.,  the  plain  country 
about  Cap'ua. 

Disdainful  of  Campania’s  gentle  plains. 

Thomson,  Summer.” 

Campeador  (Cam-jga'-dor).  The  Cid 
(q.v.). 

Can'ace  (3  syl. ).  A paragon  of  women, 
the  daughter  of  king  Cambus'can,  to 
whom  the  king  of  AraMa  and  India  sent 
as  a present  a mirror  and  a ring.  The 
mirror  would  tell  the  lady  if  any  man  on 
whom  she  set  her  heart  would  prove  true 


or  false,  and  the  ring  (which  was  to  be 
worn  on  her  thumb)  would  enable  her  to 
understand  the  language  of  birds  and 
converse  with  th  em.  It  would  also  give  the 
wearer  perfect  knowledge  of  the  medicinal 
properties  of  all  roots.  Chaucer  never 
finished  the  tale,  but  probably  he  meant 
to  marry  Can'ace  to  some  knight  who 
would  be  able  to  overthrow  her  two 
brothers,  Cam'balo  and  Al'garsife,  in  the 
tournament.  (See  below.) 

Can'ace  was  courted  by  a crowd  of 
suitors,  but  her  brother  Cam'balo  or 
Cambel  gave  out  that  any  one  who  pre- 
tended to  her  hand  must  encounter  him 
in  single  combat,  and  overthrow  him. 
She  ultimately  married  Tri'amond,  son 
of  the  fairy  Ag'ape. — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen  f bk.  iv.  2. 

Can'ache  (3  syl.).  One  of  Actaeon's 
dogs.  (Greek,  having  a sharp,  ringing 
voice.”) 

Can'ada  Balsam.  Made  from  the 
Finns  halsamea,  a native  of  Canada. 

Canaille  (French,  can-nay' -e).  The 
rabble,  the  roughs.  Its  primary  mean- 
ing is  the  coarse  part  of  meal,  dregs. 

Canard.  A hoax.  Cornelissen,  to 
try  the  gullibility  of  the  public,  reported 
in  the  papers  that  he  had  twenty  ducks, 
one  of  which  he  cut  up  and  threw  to  the 
nineteen,  who  devoured  it  greedily.  He 
then  cut  up  another,  then  a third,  and  so 
on  till  nineteen  were  cut  up  ; and  as  the 
nineteenth  was  gobbled  up  by  the  surviv- 
ing duck,  it  followed  that  this  one  duck 
actually  ate  nineteen  ducks — a wonderful 
proof  of  duck  voracity.  This  tale  had 
the  run  of  all  the  papers,  and  gave  a 
new  word  to  the  language. — Quetelet. 

Cancan.  Dance  the  cancan.  A licen- 
tious free-and-easy  way  of  dancing 
quadrilles  adopted  in  the  public  gardens, 
opera  comique,  and  casi'noes  of  Paris. 
(Cancan,  tittle-tattle,  familiarity.) 

Cancel,  to  blot  out,  is  merely  '^to 
make  lattice- work.”  This  is  done  by 
making  a cross  over  the  part  to  be 
omitted.  (Latin,  cancello,  to  make 
trellis.) 

Cancer  (the  Crab)  appears  when  the 
sun  has  reached  his  highest  northern 
limit,  and  begins  to  go  backward  towards 
the  south ; but,  like  a crab,  the  return  is 
sideways.  (June  21  to  July  23.; 


188 


CANDAULES, 


CANOBA. 


Candaules  (3  syl.).  King  of  Lydia, 
who  exposed  the  charms  of  his  wife  to 
Gy'ges;  whereupon  the  queen  compelled 
Gyges  to  assassinate  her  husband,  after 
which  she  married  the  murderer,  who 
became  king,  and  reigned  twenty-eight 
years.  (716-678.) 

Caii'didate  (3 syl.)  means  ''clothed 
in  white.”  Those  who  solicited  the  office 
of  consul,  qusestor,  prpetor,  &c.,  among 
the  Romans,  arrayed  themselves  in  a 
loose  white  robe.  It  was  loose  that  they 
might  show  the  people  their  scars,  and 
white  in  sign  of  fidelity  and  humility. 

Candide  (2  syl.).  The  hero  of  Vol- 
taire’s novel  so  called.  All  sorts  of  mis- 
fortunes are  heaped  upon  him,  and  he 
bears  them  all  with  cynical  indifference. 

Candle.  What  is  the  Latin  for  candle  1 
— Tace.  Here  is  a play  of  words  : ta'ce 
means  hold  your  tongue,  don’t  bother 
me.  {See  Goose.) 

To  hold  a candle  to  the  devil.  To  aid  or 
countenance  that  which  is  wrong.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  practice  of  Roman 
Catholics,  who  burn  candles  before  the 
image  of  a favourite  saint,  carry  them  in 
funeral  processions,  and  place  them  on 
their  altars. 

What!  must  I hold  a can  lie  to  my  shames  ? 

Shakespeire,  '■'Merchant  of  Venice,"  ii.  6. 

Candles  used  by  Roman  Catholics  at 
funerals  are  the  relic  of  an  ancient 
Roman  custom.  In  order  to  diminish 
the  expenses  of  funerals,  candles  and 
tapers  made  of  wax  were  carried  in  the 
procession. 

The  game  is  not  worth  the  candle  (Le 
jeu  ne  vaut  pas  la  chandelle).  Not  worth 
even  the  cost  of  the  candle  that  lights 
the  players. 

Candlemas  Day.  The  2nd  of 
February,  when,  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  there  is  a candle  procession,  to 
consecrate  all  the  candles  which  will  be 
needed  in  the  church  during  the  year. 
The  candles  symbolise  Jesus  Christ, 
called  ‘'the  light  of  the  world,”  and  "a 
light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles.”  It  was 
the  old  Roman  custom  of  burning  candles 
to  the  goddess  Feb'rua,  mother  of  Mars, 
to  scare  away  evil  spirits. 

On  Candlemas  day 

Candies  and  candlesticks  throw  all  away. 


Candour,  Mrs.  A type  of  female 
backbiters.  In  Sheridan’s  comedy  of 
" The  Rivals.” 

The  name  of  “Mrs.  Candour”  has  become  one  of 
those  formidable  by-words,  which  have  had  more 
power  in  puttinar  folly  and  ill-nature  out  of  coun- 
tenance than  whole  volumes  of  remonstrance. 

T.  Moore. 

Caneph'orSB  (in  architecture). 
Figures  of  young  persons  of  either  sex 
bearing  a basket  on  their  head.  (Greek, 
hashet-hearers.) 

Canie'ular  Year.  The  ancient 
solar  year  of  the  Egyptians,  which  began 
and  ended  with  the  rising  of  the  Dog- 
star,  and  corresponded  with  the  over- 
flow of  the  Nile. 

CanidTa.  A sorceress,  who  could 
bring  the  moon  from  heaven  ; mentioned 
by  Horace. 

Your  ancient  conjurors  were  wont 

To  make  her  [the  moon)  from  her  sphere  dismount, 

And  to  their  incantations  stoop. 

Hudibrasf'  pt.  ii.  3. 

Canker.  The  briar  or  dog-rose. 

Put  down  Richard,  that  sweet  lovely  rose. 

And  plant  this  thorn,  this  canker,  Bolitmbroke. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  IV.,”  i.  3. 

Cannse.  The  place  where  Han'nibal 
was  defeated  by  the  Romans  under  Paulus 
.-Emikius.  Any  fatal  battle  that  is  the 
turning  point  of  a great  general’s  pros- 
perity is  called  his  Cannae.  Thus,  we 
say  "Moscow  was  the  Cannae  of  Napoleon 
Buonaparte.” 

Cannel  Coal.  Either  a corruption 
of  candle  coal,  so  called  from  the  bright 
flame,  unmixed  with  smoke,  v/hich  it 
yields  in  combustion;  or  else  Kendal 
coal,  where  it  abounds. 

Cannibal.  An  Indian  word  applied 
to  those  who  eat  flesh.  (Hindustani, 
Chanewal  or  kha'nen'a'la' , an  eater  of 
flesh).  The  usual  derivation  is  Canibhee, 
corrupted  into  Caribbee,  supposed  to  be 
man-eaters.  Some  of  the  tribes  of  these 
islands  have  no  r.  At  the  present  day 
the  Battas  of  Suma'tra,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Fiji'  islands,  devour  human 
flesh. 

The  natives  live  in  great  fear  of  the  cani’oals  (t.e., 
Caribals,  or  people  of  Qaxiha).— Columbus. 

Cannibals.  Learners  in  the  art  of 
rowing  ; those  under  tr  lining.  The  word 
is  a pun  on  Cannot  fgulls. 

Cano'ba.  The  Indian  Apollo,  or^od 
of  inspiration. 


CANOE. 


CANTERBURY. 


139 


Canoe'.  A boat.  (German,  Tcahn^ 
a boat ; Old  French,  cane,  a ship,  and 
canot,  a boat ; Latin,  canna,  a.  hollow  stem 
or  reed;  our  cane,  can,  a jug;  cannon, 
canal,  &c.) 

Canon.  The  canons  used  to  be  those 
persons  who  resided  in  the  buildings  con- 
tiguous to  the  cathedral,  employed  either 
in  the  daily  service,  or  in  the  education 
of  the  choristers.  The  word  is  Greek,  and 
means  weighed”  or  choice  men.” 

Canon.  A divine  or  ecclesiastical  law. 
Or  that  the  Everlasting  had  not  fixed 
His  canon  ’gainst  self-slaughter. 

iShakespeare,  ''Hamlet,”  i.  2. 

Cannon  Law.  A collection  of  eccle- 
siastical laws  which  serve  as  the  rule  of 
church  government.  {See  Canonical.) 

Canon'ieal.  Canon  is  a Greek  word, 
and  means  the  index  of  a balance,  hence 
a law. 

The  sacred  canon  means  the  accepted 
books  of  Holy  Scripture,  which  contain 
the  inspired  laws  of  salvation  and  mo- 
rality ; also  called  The  Canonical  Boohs. 

Canon'ieal  Hours.  The  times 
within  which  the  sacred  offices  may  be 
performed.  In  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  they  are  seven — viz.,  matins, 
prime,  tierce,  sext,  nones,  vespers, 
and  compline.  Prime,  tierce,  sext,  and 
nones  are  the  first,  third,  sixth,  and  ninth 
hours  of  the  day,  counting  from  six  in 
the  morning.  Compline  is  a corruption 
of  coinpleto'rinin  (that  which  completes 
the  services  of  the  day).  The  reason 
why  there  are  seven  canonical  hours  is 
because  David  says,  Seven  times  a day 
do  I praise  thee”  (Psalm  cxix.  161). 

Canon'ieal  Punislinients  are 
those  which  the  church  is  authorised  to 
inflict. 

Canonicals. 

The  pouch  on  the  gown  of  an  M.D., 
designed  for  carrying  drugs. 

The  coif  oi  a serjeant-at-law,  designed 
for  concealing  the  tonsure. 

The  lamb-skin  on  a B.A.  hood,  in  imi- 
tation of  the  toga  caiddida  of  the  Romans. 

The  strings  of  an  Oxford  undergraduate, 
to  show  the  wearer  is  still  in  leading 
strings. 

The  tippet  on  a barrister’s  gown,  meant 
for  a wallet  to  carry  briefs  in. 

The  proctors’  and  pro-proctors’  tippet, 
for  papers — a sort  of  sabretache. 


Cano 'pic  Vases.  Used  by  the 
Egyptian  priests  for  the  viscera  of  bodies 
em’oalmed,  four  vases  being  provided  for 
each  body.  So  called  from  Cano'pus,  in 
Egypt,  where  they  were  first  used. 

Cano'pus.  The  Egyptian  god  of 
water.  The  Chaldeans  worshipped  fire, 
and  sent  all  the  other  gods  a challenge, 
which  *was  accepted  by  a priest  of  Cano'- 
pus. The  Chaldeans  lighted  a vast  fire 
round  the  god  Canopus,  when  the  Egyp- 
tian deity  spouted  out  torrents  of  water 
and  quenched  the  fire,  thereby  obtaining 
the  triumph  of  water  over  fire. 

Can'opy  properly  means  a gnat  cur- 
tain. Herod'otus  tells  us  (ii.  95)  that 
the  fishermen  of  the  Nile  used  to  lift 
their  nets  on  a pole,  and  form  thereby 
a rude  sort  of  tent  under  which  they 
slept  securely,  as  gnats  will  not  pass 
through  the  meshes  of  a net.  Subse- 
quently the  tester  of  a bed  was  so  called, 
and  lastly  the  canopy  borne  over  kings. 
(Greek,  honops,  a gnat.) 

Cant.  Mock  humility.  Alexander 
and  Andrew  Cant  maintained  that  all 
those  who  refused  the  Covenant”  ought 
to  be  excommunicated,  and  that  those 
were  cursed  who  made  use  of  the  prayer- 
book.  These  same  Cants,  in  their  grace 
before  meat,  used  to  pray  for  all  those 
who  suffered  persecution  for  their  reli- 
gious opinions.”— Aferc2trm.9  Publicus, 
No.  ix.  (1661.) 

Canteen'  means  properly  a wine- 
cellar.  Then  a refreshment-house  in  a 
barrack  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers.  Then 
a vessel,  holding  about  three  pints,  for 
the  use  of  soldiers  on  the  march.  (Latin, 
can'tina.) 

C ant erbnry . Canterbury  is  the  higher 
rank,  but  Winchester  the  better  manger. 
Canterbury  is  the  higher  see  in  rank,  but 
Winchester  the  one  which  produces  the 
most  money.  This  was  the  reply  of  Wil- 
liam Edington,  bishop  of  Winchester, 
when  offered  the  archbishopric  of  Can- 
terbury. (1366.) 

Canterbury  Tales.  Chaucer  sup- 
posed that  he  was  in  company  with  a 
party  of  pilgrims  going  to  Canterbury 
to -pay  their  devotions  at  the  shrine  of 
Thomas  a Becket.  The  party  assembled 
atan  inn  in  Southwark,  called  the  Tabard, 
and  there  agreed  to  tell  one  tale  each. 


CAPITE. 


140  CANVAS. 


both  in  going  and  returning.  He  who 
told  the  best  tale  was  to  be  treated  with 
a supper  on  their  homeward  journey. 
The  work  is  incomplete,  and  we  have 
none  of  the  tales  told  in  the  homeward 
route. 

A Canterhury  Tale.  A cock-and-bull 
story;  a romance.  So  called  from  Chau- 
cer’s ‘^Canterbury  Tales.” 

Canvas  means  cloth  made  of  hemp. 
To  canvas  a subject  is  to  strain  it  through 
a hemp  strainer,  to  sift  it ; and  to  canvass 
a borough  is  to  sift  the  votes.  (Latin, 
can'nabiSj  hemp.) 

Ca'ora.  A river,  on  the  banks  of 
which  are  a people  whose  heads  grow 
beneath  their  shoulders.  Their  eyes  are 
in  their  shoulders,  and  their  mouths  in 
the  middle  of  their  breasts. — HacMuyt^ 
“ Voyage,”  1598.  Ealeigh,  in  his  “De- 
scription of  Guiana,”  gives  a similar 
account  of  a race  of  men. 

The  Anthropophagi  and  men  whose  heads 
Do  grow  beneath  their  shoulders. 

Shakespeare,-  “ Othello,^'  i.  3. 

Cap.  Wearing  the  cap  and  bells. 
Said  of  a person  w^ho  is  the  butt  of  the 
company,  or  one  who  excites  laughter  at 
his  own  expense.  The  reference  is  to 
licensed  jesters  formerly  attached  to 
noblemen’s  establishments.  Their  head- 
gear  was  a cap  with  bells. 

I cap  to  that,  i.e.,  assent  to  it.  The 
allusion  is  to  a custom  observed  in  France 
amongst  the  judges  in  deliberation. 
Those  who  assent  to  the  opinion  stated 
by  any  of  the  bench  signify  it  by  lifting 
their  toque  from  their  heads. 

Cap  in  hand.  Submissively.  To  wait 
on  a man  cap  in  hand  is  to  wait  on  him 
like  a servant,  ready  to  do  his  bidding. 

Cap-a-pie  is  the  Spanish  capa  y 
paza  (helmet  and  sword),  meaning  fully 
equipped.  The  general  etymology  is 
the  French  cap  d pie,  but  the  French 
phrase  is  de pied  en  cap. 

Armed  at  all  points  exactly,  cap-a-pe. 

Shakespexre,  Hamlet,”  i.  2. 

I am  courtier,  cap-a-pe. 

Shakespeare,  “ Winter's  Tale,”vf.  3. 

Cap  of  Liberty.  When  a slave 
was  manumitted  by  the  Eomans,  a small 
red  cloth  cap,  called  pil'eus,  was  placed 
on  his  head.  As  soon  as  this  was  done, 
he  was  termed  liberti'nus  (a  freedrnan), 
and  his  name  was  registered  in  the  city 
tribes.  When  Saturnbnus,  in  263,  pos- 
sessed himself  of  the  capitol,  he  hoisted 


a cap  on  the  top  of  his  spear,  to  indi- 
cate that  all  slaves  who  joined  his 
standard  should  be  free.  When  Ma'rius 
incited  the  slaves  to  take  up  arms  against 
Sylla,  he  employed  the  same  symbol; 
and  when  Caesar  was  murdered,  the 
conspirators  marched  forth  in  a body, 
with  a cap  elevated  on  a spear,  in  token 
of  liberty.  {See  Liberty.  ) 

Cap  of  Maintenance.  A cap  of 
dignity  anciently  belonging  to  the  rank 
of  duke  ; the  fur  cap  of  the  Lord  Mayor 
of  London,  worn  on  days  of  state;  a cap 
carried  before  the  British  sovereigns  at 
their  coronation.  Maintenance  here 
means  defence. 

Capfull  of  Wind.  Olaus  Magnus 
tells  us  that  Eric,  king  of  Sweden,  was  so 
familiar  with  evil  spirits  that  what  way 
soever  he  turned  his  cap,  the  wind  would 
blow,  and  for  this  was  he  called  Windy 
Cap.  The  Laplanders  drove  a profitable 
trade  in  selling  winds  ; but  even  so  late  as 
1814,  Bessie  Millie,  of  Pomo'na  (Orkney 
Islands),  helped  out  her  living  by  selling 
favourable  winds  to  mariners  for  the 
small  sum  of  sixpence. 

Cape.  Spirit  of  the  Cape.  (See 
Adamastor.) 

Capel  Court.  A speculation  in 
stocks  of  such  magnitude  as  to  affect  the 
money  market.  Capel  Court  is  the  name 
of  the  place  where  transactions  in  the 
stocks  are  carried  on. 

Caper  Merchant.  A dancing- 
master,  who  cuts  “capers.” 

Capet  (Cap-pay).  Hugues,  the 
founder  of  the  French  monarchy,  was 
surnamed  Cap'etus  (clothed  with  a capot 
or  monk’s  hood),  because  he  always  wore 
a clerical  costume,  as  abbot  of  St.  Martin 
de  Tours.  This  was  considered  the  family 
name  of  the  kings  of  France ; hence  Louis 
XVI.  was  arraigned  before  the  National 
Convention  under  the  name  of  Louis 
Capet. 

Capital.  Political  capital  is  some- 
thing employed  to  serve  a political  pur- 
pose. Thus,  the  Whigs  make  political 
capital  out  of  the  errors  of  the  Tories, 
and  vice  versd. 

He  tried  to  make  capital  out  of  his  rival’s 
discomfiture.— Times. 

Cap'ite  Censi.  The  lowest  rank  of 
Eoman  citizens.  So  called  because  they 


CAPITULAKES. 


CAEADOC. 


141 


were  counted  simply  by  the  poll,  as  they 
had  no  taxable  property. 

Capit'ulares  (4  syl.).  The  laws  of 
the  first  two  dynasties  of  France  were 
so  called,  because  they  were  divided  into 
chapters.  (French,  capitulaire.') 

Capon.  A fish  out  of  the  coup.  So 
called  by  those  friars  who  wished  to 
evade  the  Friday  fast  by  eating  chickens 
instead  of  fish.  {See  Yaemouth,) 

Cap'ricorn.  Called  by  Thomson,  in 
his  ‘^Winter,”  ^^the  centaur  archer.” 
Anciently  the  winter  solstice  occurred 
on  the  entry  of  the  sun  into  Capricorn  ; 
but  the  stars  having  advanced  a whole 
sign  to  the  east,  the  winter  solstice  now 
falls  at  the  sun’s  entrance  into  Sagit- 
tarius (the  centaur  archer),  so  that  the 
poet  is  strictly  right,  though  we  vulgarly 
retain  the  ancient  classical  manner  of 
speaking.  Capricornus  is  the  tenth,  or, 
strictly  speaking,  the  eleventh  sign  of 
the  Zodiac.  (Dec.  21— Jan.  20.) 

Captain,  Capitano  del  Popolo,  i.e.. 
Garibaldi. 

The  Great  Captain  {el  gran  capita'no). 
Gonzalvo  di  Cor'dova.  (1453-1515.) 

Manuel  Comne'nus  of  Treb'izond. 
(1143-1180.) 

Cap'tious.  Fallacious,  deceitful  ; 
now  it  means  ill-tempered,  carping. 
(Latin,  captio'sus.') 

I know  I love  in  vain,  strive  against  hope; 

Yet  in  this  captious  and  intenible  sieve, 

I still  pour  in  the  waters  of  my  love. 

Shakespeare,  All's  Well  that  Ends  Well,"  i.  3. 

Cap'ua.  Capua  corrupted  Hannibal. 
Luxury  and  self-indulgence  will  ruin 
any  one.  Hannibal  was  everywhere  vic- 
torious over  the  Komans  till  he  took  up  his 
winter  quarters  at  Capua,  the  most  luxu- 
rious city  of  Italy.  When  he  left  Capua 
his  star  began  to  wane,  and  ere  long  Car- 
thage was  in  ruins,  and  himself  an  exile. 

Cap'ucllill.  A nickname  given  to 
a branch  of  Franciscans  from  the 
‘^cap'ace”  or  pointed  cowl  which  they 
wore,  in  imitation  of  St.  Francis. 

Cap'ulet.  A noble  house  in  Vero'na, 
the  rival  of  that  of  Mon'tague  (3  syl.); 
Juliet  is  of  the  former,  and  Pvomeo  of  the 
latter.  Lady  Capulet  is  the  beau-ideal 
©f  a proud  Italian  matron  of  the  fifteenth 
*cntury.  The  expres.sion  so  familiar, 

the  tomb  of  all  the  Capulets,^  is  from 
Burke. — Shakespeare,  ^Piom,eo  and  Jidietfi 


Cap'ut  Mor'tunm.  Latin  for  head 
of  the  dead,  used  by  the  old  chemists  to 
designate  the  residuum  of  chemicals, 
when  all  their  volatile  matters  had  es- 
caped. Anything  from  which  all  that 
rendered  it  valuable  has  been  taken 
away.  Thus,  a learned  scholar  paralysed 
is  a mere  caput  mortuuin  of  his  former 
self.  The  French  Directory  ” towards 
its  close  was  the  mere  caput  mortuum  of 
a governing  body. 

Caqueux.  A sort  of  gipsy  race  in 
Brittany,  similar  to  the  Cagots  of  Gas- 
cony, and  Colliberts  of  Poitou. 

Car'abas.  He  is  a marquis  of  Carabas. 
A fossil  nobleman,  of  unbounded  pre- 
tensions and  vanity,  who  would  fain 
restore  the  slavish  foolery  of  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIV. ; one  withFortunatus’s  purse, 
which  was  never  empty.  The  character 
is  taken  from  Perrault’s  tale  of  ^^Puss  in 
Boots.” 

Pretres  qne  nous  vengeons 
Levez  la  clime  et  partageons; 

Et  toi,  peuple  animal, 

Porte  en cor  le  feodal,  . • • 

Chapeau  has ! Chapeau  has ! 

Gloire  au  marquis  de  Carahas  ! 

Ber  anger,  1816. 

Caracal'la.  Aurefiius  Antoni'nus  was 
so  called  because  he  adopted  the  Gaulish 
caracalla  in  preference  to  the  Eoman 
toga.  It  was  a large,  close-fitting, 
hooded  mantle,  reaching  to  the  heels,  and 
slit  up  before  and  behind  to  the  waist. 
Aurelius  was  himself  born  in  Gaul. 

Carac'ci.  Founder  of  the  eclectic 
school  in  Italy.  Luis  and  his  two  cousins, 
Augustin  and  Annibale,  founded  the  school 
called  Incammina'ti  (progressive),  which 
had  for  its  chief  principle  the  strict 
observance  of  nature.  Luis  (1554-1619), 
Augustin  (1558-1601),  Annibale  (1560- 
1609). 

The  Caracci  of  France.  Jean  Jouvenet, 
who  was  paralysed  on  the  right  side,  and 
painted  with  his  left  hand.  (1647-1707.) 

The  Annibale  Caracci  of  the  Eclectic 
School.  Bernardi'no  Campi,  the  Italian, 
is  so  called  by  Lanzi.  (1522-1590.) 

Carack.  A ship  of  great  bulk, 
constructed  to  carry  heavy  freights. 
(Spanish,  caraca.) 

Car'adoc.  A Knight  of  the  Bound 
Table,  noted  for  being  the  husband  of  the 
only  lady  in  the  queen’s  train  who  could 
wear  ^‘the  mantle  of  matrimonial 
fidelity.” 


142 


CAEAITES. 


CAKD. 


Car'aites  (3  syl.).  A religious  sect 
amoug  the  Jews,  who  rigidly  adhered 
to  the  words  and  letters  of  Scripture, 
regardless  of  metaphor,  &c.  Of  course, 
they  rejected  the  rabbinical  interpreta- 
tions and  the  Cab'bala.  The  word  is 
derived  from  Cardim,  equivalent  to  scrip- 
iU7Xirii  (textualish). 

Carat  of  Gold.  So  called  from  the 
carat  seed,  or  seed  of  the  Abyssinian 
coral  flower,  formerly  employed  in  weigh- 
ing gold  and  precious  stones.  Hence  the 
expressions  ‘‘22  carats  fine,'’  “18  carats 
fine,”  &c.,  meaning  that  out  of  24  parts, 
22  or  18  are  gold,  and  the  rest  alloy. 

Here’s  the  note 

How  much  your  chain  weighs  to  the  utmost  carat. 

Shakespeare,  “ Comedy  of  Errors,''  iv.  1. 

Carbineer'  or  Carabmeer.  Properly 
a skirmisher  or  light  horseman,  from  the 
Arabic  carabine.  A carbine  is  the  light 
musket  used  by  cavalry  soldiers. 

Carbona'do.  A chop  ; mince-meat. 
Strictly  speaking,  a carbonado  is  a piece 
of  meat  cut  crosswise  for  the  gridiron. 
(Latin,  carbOj  a coal.) 

If  he  do  come  in  my  way,  so ; if  he  do  not,— if  I 
come  in  his  willingly,  Jet  him  make  a carbonado  of 
me.  Shakespeare,  “ l Henry  IV.,"  v.  3. 

Carbona'ri  means  chai'coal-burners^ 
a name  assumed  by  a secret  political 
society  in  Italy,  which  rose  in  1820. 
Their  place  of  muster  they  called  a 
“ hut;  ” its  inside,  “ the  place  for  selling 
charcoal;  ” and  the  outside,  the  “ forest.” 
Their  political  opponents  they  called 
“ wolves.”  {See  CHAUBONi^Eiin:.) 

Car 'carnet.  A small  chain  of  jewels 
for  the  neck.  (French,  caran,  a chain.) 
Around  the  white  necks  of  the  nymphs  who  danced 
Hung  carcanots  of  orient  pearls. 

T.  Moore,  “ Lalla  Rookh,”  pt.  i. 

Carcase.  The  shell  of  a house  before 
the  floors  are  laid  and  walls  plastered  ; 
the  skeleton  of  a ship,  a wreck,  &c. 
The  body  of  a dead  animal,  so  called  from 
the  Latin  caro-cassa  (lifeless  flesh). 

The  Goodwins,  I think  they  call  the  place;  a 
very  dangerous  flat  and  fatal,  where  the  carcases 
of  many  a tall  ship  lie  burit'd. 

Shakespeare, Merchant  of  Venice,"  iii.  1. 

Card.  In  Spain,  spades  used  to  be 
columbmes ; clubs,  rabbits;  diarnmnds, 
pinks;  and  hearts,  roses.  The  present 
name  for  spades  is  espados  (swords) ; of 
clubs,  hastos  (cudgels)  ; of  diamonds, 
dinc7'os  (square  pieces  of  money  used  for 
paying  wages);  of  hearts,  copas  (cha- 
lices). 


The  French  for  spades  is  pique  (pike- 
men  or  soldiers) ; for  clubs,  trefle  (clover, 
or  husbandmen) ; of  diamonds,  cari'eaux 
(building  tiles,  or  artisans) ; of  hearts, 
choeur  (choir- men,  or  ecclesiastics). 

The  English  spades  is  the  French  form 
of  a pike,  and  the  Spanish  name ; the 
clubs  is  the  French  trefoil,  and  the 
Spanish  name ; the  hearts  is  a corruption 
of  choeur  into  coeur. 

He  is  the  card  of  our  house.  The  man 
of  mark,  the  most  distingue.  Osric  tells 
Hamlet  that  Laer'tes  is  “the  card  and 
calendar  of  gentry”  (v.  2).  The  card  is 
the  card  of  a compass,  containing  all  its 
points.  Laertes  is  the  card  of  gentry,  in 
whom  may  be  seen  all  its  points.  We 
also  say,  “a  queer  card,”  meaning  an 
odd  fish. 

To  speak  by  the  card.  To  speak  by  the 
book ; be  as  i^recise  as  a map  or  book.  A 
merchant’s  expression.  The  card  is  the 
document  in  writing  containing  the 
agreements  made  between  a merchant 
and  the  captain  of  a vessel.  Sometimes 
the  owner  binds  himself,  ship,  tackle, 
and  furniture  for  due  performance,  and 
the  captain  is  bound  to  deliver  the  cargo 
committed  to  him  in  good  condition.  To 
speak  by  the  card  is  to  speak  according 
to  the  indentures  or  written  instructions. 

Law  ...  is  tlie  card  to  guide  the  world  by. 

Hooker,  " Ecc.  Pol.,”  p.  ii.  sec.  5. 

We  must  speak  by  the  card,  or  equivocation  will 
undo  us.  Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,"  v.  1. 

That  was  my  best  ti'ump  card.  My  best 
chance.  The  allusion  is  to  loo,  wliist, 
and  other  games  played  with  cards. 

Coui't  cards.  So  called  because  of  their 
heraldic  devices.  The  king  of  clubs 
originally  represented  the  arms  of  the 
pope  ; of  spades,  the  king  of  France ; of 
diamonds,  the  king  of  Spain ; and  of 
hearts,  the  king  of  England.  The  French 
kings  in  cards  are  called  David  (spades), 
Alexander  (clubs),  Caesar  (diamonds), 
and  Charles  (hearts),  representing  the 
Jewish,  Greek,  Pmman,  and  Frankish 
empires.  The  queens  or  dames  are  Ar- 
fmQ  — i.e.,  Juno  (hearts),  Judith  (clubs), 
Eachel  (diamonds),  and  Pallas  (spades), 
representing  royalty,  fortitude,  piety,  and 
wisdom.  They  were  likenesses  of  Mario 
d’ Anjou,  the  queen  of  Charles  VII. ; 
Isabeau,  the  queen-mother ; Agnes  Sorel, 
the  queen’s  mistress ; and  Joan  d’Arc, 
the  dame  of  spades,  or  war. 


CARDINAL' 


CARNEY. 


143 


He  felt  that  he  held  the  cards  in  his  oivn 
hands.  That  he  had  the  whip- end  of 
the  stick ; that  he  had  the  upper  hand, 
and  could  do  as  he  liked.  The  allusion 
is  to  games  played  with  cards,  such  as 
whist. 

He  jplayed  his  cards  \cell.  He  acted 
judiciously  and  skilfully,  like  a whist- 
player  who  plays  his  hand  with  judgment. 

Cards.  Lookup,  the  great  Bath  player, 
died  playing  his  favourite  game  of 
‘^Double  Dummy.” 

Cardinal  Points  of  tlie  Com- 
pass. Due  north,  west,  east,  and  south. 
So  called  because  they  are  the  points  on 
which  the  intermediate  ones,  such  as 
N.B.,  N.W.,  N.E.N.,  &c.,  hinge  or  hang. 
(Latin,  cardo,  a hinge.) 

Cardinal  Virtues.  Justice,  pru- 
dence, temperance,  and  fortitude,  on 
which  all  other  virtues  hang  or  depend. 

Cardinals.  Hinges,  {haim,  cardo.) 
The  election  of  the  pope  ‘Hiinges”  on 
the  voice  of  the  sacred  college,  and  on 
the  pope  the  doctrines  of  the  Church 
depend  ; so  that  the  cardinals  are  in  fact 
the  hinges  on  which  the  Christian  Church 
turns. 

Cardinal’s  Ped  Hat.  Bayle  says 
Sun-day  is  the  day  of  the  sun,  Rome  the 
city  of  Sun- days  or  the  holy  city,  and 
cardinals  the  princes  of  the  Roman 
Church,  and  therefore  of  the  sun.  Red 
is  the  colour  of  the  sun.  Others  assert 
that  Innocent  IV.  made  the  cardinals 
wear  a red  hat  token  of  their  being 
ready  to  lay  down  their  life  for  the 
gospel.” 

Car'duel  or  Kartel.  Carlisle.  The 
place  where  Merlin  pre^Dared  the  Round 
Table. 

Careme  (2  syl.).  Lent;  a corruption 
of  quadragesima  .(quadrage’me). 

Caricatures  mean  sketches  over- 
drawn.” (Italian  caricatu'ra,  from  cari- 
ca'rS,  to  overcharge.) 

Carillons,  in  France,  are  chimes  or 
tunes  played  on  bells  ; but  in  England  the 
suites  of  bells  that  play  the  tunes.  Our 
word  carol  approaches  the  French  mean- 
ing nearer  than  our  own.  The  best 
chimes  in  the  world  are  those  in  Les 
Halles,  at  Bruges. 


Cari'ns8.  Women  hired  by  the 
Romans  to  weep  at  funerals ; so  called 
from  Caria,  whence  most  of  them  came. 

Carle  or  Carling  Sunday  {Pea  Sun- 
day)  is  the  octave  preceding  Palm  Sun- 
day ; so  called  because  the  special  food  of 
the  day  was  carling—i.e.,  peas  fried  in 
butter.  The  custom  is  a continuation  of 
the  pagan  bean-feast. 

Carlovin'gian  Dyn'asty.  So  called 

from  Car'olus  or  Charles  Martel. 

Carludovi'ca.  A Pan'ama  hat, 
made  of  the  Carludovica  'paVmata ; so 
called  in  compliment  to  Carlos  IV.  of 
Spain,  whose  second  name  was  Ludovic. 

Carmagnole.  A red  republican 
song  and  dance  in  the  first  French  revo- 
lution ; so  called  from  Carmag'nola,  in 
Piedmont,  the  great  nest  of  the  Savoy- 
ards, noted  for  street  music  and  dancing. 
The  refrain  of  Madame  Veto,”  the 
Carmagnole  song,  is,  Dansons  la  Car- 
magnole—vive  le  son— du  canon  !”  The 
word  was  subsequently  applied  to  other 
revolutionary  songs,  such  as  ‘^Ca  ira,”  the 

Marseillaise,”  the  Chant  du  Depart.” 
Besides  the  songs,  the  word  is  applied  to 
the  dress  worn  by  the  Jacobins,  coniiisting 
of  a blouse,  red  cap,  and  tri- coloured 
girdle  ; to  the  wearer  of  this  dress  or 
any  violent  revolutionist ; to  the  speeches 
in  favour  of  the  execution  of  Louis  XVI., 
called  by  M.  Barriere  des  Carmagnoles ; 
and,  lastly,  to  the  dance  performed  by 
the  mob  round  the  guillotine. 

Car'melites  (3  syl.).  The  monks  of 
Mount  Carmel,  the  monastery  of  which 
is  named  Eli'as,  from  Elijah  the  prophet, 
who  on  Mount  Carmel  told  Ahab  that 
rain  was  at  hand. 

Car'miilian.  The  phantom  ship  on 
which  the  Kobold  of  the  Baltic  sits  when 
he  appears  to  doomed  vessels. 

Carmin'ative.  A charm  medicine. 
Magic  and  charms  were  at  one  time  the 
chief  medicines,”  and  the  fact  is  per- 
petuated by  the  word  carminative,  among 
others.  (Latin,  carmen,  a charm.) 

Carmi'ne  (2  syl.).  The  dye  made 
from  the  carmes  or  kermes  insect. 

Carnation.  ^^Flesh-colour.”  (Latin, 
caro  carnis,  flesh.) 

Car'ney.  To  wheedle,  to  keep  caress- 
ing, and  calling  another  cara  (dear). 


? / 


144  CARNIVAL. 


CARTHAGENA. 


Car'nival  means  Good-bye  meat.” 
This  festival  ends  on  Ash- Wednesday, 
when  the  Lent  fast  begins.  {Latin, 
carnem-vale. ) 

Carotid  Artery.  An  artery  on  each 
side  of  the  neck,  supposed  by  the  ancients 
to  be  the  seat  of  drowsiness,  brought  on  by 
an  increased  flow  of  blood  through  it  to  the 
head.  (Greek,  caro'ticos,  inducing  sleep.) 

Carou'se  (2  syh).  Mr.  Gifford  says 
the  Lanes  called  their  large  drinking  cup 
a rouse,  and  to  rouse  is  to  drink  from  a 
rouse  ; ca-rouse  is  gar-rouse,  to  drink  all 
up,  or  to  drink  oW—i.e.,  in  company. 

The  king  doth  wake  to-night,  and  takes  his  rouse. 

Shakespeare, ''  Han  let”  i.  4. 

Carouse  the  Hunter's  Hoop.  Drinking 
cups  were  anciently  marked  with  hooj:»s, 
by  which  every  drinker  knew  his  stint. 
Shakespeare  makes  Jack  Cade  promise 
his  friends  that  ^^.seven  halfpenny  loaves 
shall  be  sold  for  a penny  ; and  the  three- 
hooped  pot  have  ten  hoops.”  Pegs  or 
pins  {q.v.)  are  other  means  of  limiting 
the  draught  of  individuals  who  drank  out 
of  the  same  tankard. 

Carp  is  formed  from  the  Latin  carp-io 
(that  which  snatches  at  the  bait). 

Carpathian  Wizard.  Proteus 
(2  syh),  who  lived  in  the  island  of  Car'- 
pathos,  between  Rhodes  and  Crete.  He 
was  a wizard  and  prophet,  who  could 
transform  himself  into  any  shape  he 
pleased.  He  is  represented  as  carrying 
a sort  of  crook  in  his  hand. 

By  the  Carpathian  wizard’s  hook. 

Milton,  “ Gomus” 

Carpet.  Such  and  such  a question  is 
on  the  carpet.  The  French  sur  le  tapis  (on 
the  table-cloth),  i.e.,  before  the  house, 
under  consideration.  The  question  has 
been  laid  on  the  table-cloth  of  the  house, 
and  is  now  under  debate. 

Solomon's  carpet.  The  Eastern  writers 
say  that  Solomon  had  a green  silk  carpet, 
on  which  his  throne  was  placed  when  he 
travelled.  This  carpet  was  large  enough 
for  all  his  forces  to  stand  upon  ; the  men 
and  women  stood  on  his  right  hand,  and 
the  spirits  on  his  left.  When  all  were 
arranged  in  order,  Solomon  told  the  wind 
where  he  wished  to  go,  and  the  carpet 
with  all  Its  contents  rose  in  the  air,  and 
alighted  at  the  place  indicated.  In  order 
to  screen  the  party  from  the  sun,  the 
birds  of  the  air  with  outspread  wings 
formed  a canopy  over  the  whole  party. — 
Sale,  Koran."  {Seeheloiv.) 


The  magic  carpet  of  Tangu.  A carpet 
to  all  appearances  worthless,  but  if  any 
one  sat  thereon,  it  would  transport  him 
instantaneously  to  the  place  he  wished 
to  go.  So  called  because  it  came  from 
Tangu,  in  Persia.  It  is  sometimes  termed 
Prince  Housain's  carpet,  because  it  came 
into  his  hands,  and  he  made  use  of  it. — 
Arabian  Nights,  Prince  Ahmed."  {See 
above.) 

Carpet  Knight.  One  dubbed  at 
court  by  favour,  not  having  won  his  spurs 
by  military  service  in  the  field.  Mayors, 
lawyers,  and  other  civilians  knighted  as 
they  kneel  on  a carpet  before  their  sove- 
reign. 

Carpoera'tians.  The  Gnostic  sect 
so  called  fromCarpoc'rates,  who  flourished 
in  the  middle  of  the  second  century.  They 
maintained  that  the  world  was  made  by 
angels,  that  only  the  soul  of  Christ 
ascended  into  heaven,  and  that  the  body 
will  have  no  resurrection. 

Car'riages.  Things  carried,  luggage. 

And  after  those  days  we  took  up  our  carriages,  and 
went  up  to  Jeiusaltm.— .Acts  xxi.  15. 

Car'rona'des  (3  syh).  Short  guns 
invented  by  Mr.  Gascoigne,  director  of 
the  Carron  foundry  in  Scotland.  (1779.) 

Carry  Coals.  {See  Coals.) 

Carte  Blanche  (French).  A blank 
sheet  of  paper  signed  by  the  giver,  but 
left  to  be  filled  in  by  the  receiver,  with  a 
sum  of  money  drawn  on  the  bank  account 
of  the  giver.  Power  to  act  at  discretion 
in  an  affair  placed  under  your  charge. 

Carte  de  Visite  (French).  A 
visiting  card,  now  generally  applied  to  a 
photographic  likeness  on  a card  for  the 
albums  of  friends,  &c. 

Carte'sian  Philosophy.  The  philo- 
sophical system  of  Ren6  Descartes  (Latin, 
Carte' silts),  of  La  Haye,  in  Touraine.  The 
basis  of  his  system  is  cog'ito  ergo  sum, 
thought  must  proceed  from  soul,  and 
therefore  man  is  not  wholly  material; 
that  soul  must  be  from  some  Being  not 
material,  and  that  Being  is  God.  As  for 
physical  phenomena,  they  must  be  the 
result  of  motion  excited  by  God,  and 
these  motions  he  termed  vortices.  (1596- 
1650.) 

Carthage'na.  Capital  of  New  Gra- 
na'da,  in  South  America,  unsuccessfully 
attacked  in  1747  by  admiral  Vernon. 


CARTHAGINEM. 


CASSIBELAN. 


145 


Wasteful,  forth 

Walks  the  dire  power  of  pestilent  disease  . , . 

Such  as,  of  late,  at  Carthagena  quenched 

The  Briiish  fire.  You,  gallant  Vernon,  saw 

The  miserable  scene ; you,  pitying,  saw 

To  infant-weakness  sunk  the  warrior’s  arm. 

Thomson,  ''Summer.'^ 

Carthag'inem  esse  Delendam 
(censeo)  were  the  words  with  which  Cato 
the  Elder  concluded  every  speech  in  the 
Roman  senate.  They  are  now  proverbial, 
and  mean,  ‘^That  which  stands  in  the 
way  of  cur  greatness  must  be  removed  at 
all  hazards.” 

Carthu'sians.  Founded,  in  1086, 
by  St.  Bruno,  of  Cologne,  who,  with 
six  companions,  retired  to  the  solitude  of 
La  Chartreuse,  near  Greno'ble,  in  Vienne. 

Cartoons.  Designs  drawn  on  cartone 
(pasteboard),  like  those  of  Raffaelle,  for- 
merly at  Hampton  Court,  but  now  at 
Kensington  Museum.  They  were  bought 
by  Charles  I.,  and  are  seven  in  number : 
“The  Miraculous  Draught  of  Fishes,” 
“Feed  my  Lambs,”  “ The  Beautiful  Gate 
of  the  Temple,”  Death  of  AnanFas,” 
“El'ymas  the  Sorcerer,”  “Paul  at  Lystra,” 
and  “Paul  on  the  Mars  Hill.” 

Cartridge  Paper  was  originally 
manufactured  for  soldiers’  cartridges. 
The  word  is  a corruption  of  cartouche^ 
from  carta  (paper). 

Ca'rus.  Slow  Carus^  in  Garth’s  “Dis- 
pensary,” is  Dr.  Tyson. 

Carya'tes,  Caryatides.  Figures  of 
women  in  Greek  costume,  used  in  archi- 
tecture to  support  entablatures.  Ca^rya, 
in  Arca'dia,  sided  with  the  Persians  after 
the  battle  of  Thermop'^ylie,  in  consequence 
of  which  the  victorious  Greeks  destroyed 
the  city,  slew  the  men,  and  made  the 
women  slaves.  Praxit'eles,  to  perpetuate 
the  disgrace,  employed  figures  of  Caryan 
women  with  Persian  men,  instead  of 
columns. 

A single  figure  is  called  a Caryatid. 
{See  At L ANTES.) 

Caryatlc  Order.  Architecture  in 
which  Caryatides  are  introduced  to 
support  the  entablature. 

Cas'ca.  A blunt-witted  Roman,  one 
of  the  con-pirators  against  Julius  Caesar. 
— Shakespeare^  Casar” 

Case-hardened.  Impenetrable  to 
all  sense  of  honjur  or  shame.  The 
a.lusion  is  to  iron  which  is  case  hardened 


by  putting  it  into  an  iron  box,  with  a 
cement,  and  exposing  it  for  several  hours 
to  a red  heat. 

Cashier'  (2  syl.).  To  dismiss  an 
officer  from  the  army,  to  discard  from 
society.  (French,  casser,  to  break ; 
Italian,  cassa're,  to  blot  out. ) 

Casi'no.  Originally,  a little  casa  or 
room  near  a theatre,  where  persons  might 
retire  after  the  play  was  over,  for  dan- 
cing or  music. 

Casket  Homer.  Alexander  the 
Great’s  edition,  with  Aristotle’s  correc- 
tions. After  the  battle  of  Arbela,  a 
golden  casket,  studded  with  jewels,  was 
found  in  the  tent  of  Dari'us.  Alexander 
being  asked  to  what  purpose  it  should 
be  applied,  made  answer,  “There  is  but 
one  production  in  the  world  worthy  of 
so  costly  a depository;”  and  placed 
therein  his  edition  of  Homer,  which 
received  from  this  circumstance  the  term 
of  Casket  Homer. 

Caspar.  A huntsman  who  sold 
himself  to  Za  miel,  the  Black  Hunts- 
man. The  night  before  the  expiration 
of  his  lease  of  life,  he  bargained  for  three 
years’  respite  on  con  lition  of  bringing 
Max  into  the  power  of  the  evil  one. 
Zamiel  replied,  “ To-morrow  either  he  or 
you.”  On  the  day  appointed  for  the  triad- 
shot,  Caspar  places  himself  in  a tree.  Max 
is  told  by  the  prince  to  aim  at  a dove. 
The  dove  flies  to  the  tree  where  Caspar 
is  concealed.  Max  shoots  at  the  dove, 
but  kills  Caspar,  and  Zamiel  comes  to 
carry  off  his  victim. — Wehers  Opera  of 
Der  Freisckuiz'’ 

Cassan'dra.  Daughter  of  Priam, 
gifted  with  the  power  of  prophecy  ; but 
Apollo,  whom  she  had  offended,  brought 
it  to  pass  that  no  one  believed  her  pre- 
dictions. — Shakespeare j “ Troilus  and 
Cvessida^ 

Those  who  foresee  and  predict  the  downfall, 
meet  with  the  fate  of  Cassandra.— 77ie  Times. 

Cassa'tion.  The  court  of  cassation, 
in  France,  is  the  court  which  can  casser 
(or  quash)  the  judgment  of  other  courts. 

Cassi.  Inhabitants  of  Cassio  hundred, 
Hertfordshire,  referred  to  by  Cmsar  in 
his  “Commentaries.” 

Cassib'elan.  Great-uncle  to  C^m- 
beline.  He  granted  Ccesar  a yearly 
tribute  of  3,000  Tpoauas.— Shakespeare, 

“ C jnihelineF 


K 


/ 


146  CASSIO. 


CAT. 


Cassio  (in  Shakespeare’s  Othello”). 
Michael  Cassio  was  a Florentine,  and 
Othello’s  lieutenant.  lago  made  him 
drunk,  and  then  set  on  Koderi'go  to 
quarrel  with  him.  Cassio  wounded 
Koderigo,  and  a brawl  ensued,  which 
aroused  Othello.  Othello  suspended 
Cassio,  but  lago  induced  Desdemo'na  to 
plead  for  his  restoration.  This  interest 
in  Cassio  being  regarded  by  the  Moor  as 
a confirmation  of  Desdemona’s  illicit  love, 
hinted  at  broadly  by  lago,  provoked  the 
jealousy  of  Othello.  After  the  death  of 
the  Moor,  Cassio  was  appointed  governor 
of  Cyprus. 

Cassiopeia  {the  lady  in  the  chair). 
The  chief  stars  of  this  constellation  form 
the  outline  of  a chair.  The  lady  referred 
to  is  the  wife  of  Ce'pheus,  king  of  Ethi- 
opia ; having  had  the  audacity  to  com- 
pare her  beauty  with  that  of  the  Nereides, 
she  was  exposed  to  be  devoured  by  a sea- 
monster,  but  was  liberated  by  Perseus. 
That  starred  Ethiop  queen,  that  strove 
To  set  her  beauty’s  praise  above 
The  sea-nymphs,  and  their  powers  offended. 

Milton,  “ II  Penseroso.*' 

Castagnette,  Captain.  A hero 
noted  for  having  his  stomach  replaced 
by  Desgenettes  by  a leather  one.  His 
career  is  ended  by  a bomb,  which  blows 
him  into  fragments.  An  extravaganza 
from  the  French  of  Manuel. 

Cas'taly.  The  river  of  poetic  inspi- 
ration. It  is  a fountain  of  Parnassos 
sacred  to  the  Muses,  and  its  waters  had 
the  power  of  inspiring  those  who  drank 
of  them. 

The  drooping  Muses  (Sir  Industry) 

Brought  to  another  Castalie, 
Where  Isis  many  a famous  nursling  breeds, 

Or  where  old  Cam  soft  paces  o’er  the  lea 
In  pensive  mood. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,’'  canto  i. 

^'Isis”  means  the  University  of  Oxford, 
and  ^^Cam”  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
so  called  from  the  rivers  on  which  they 
stand. 

Caste  {race).  The  Portuguese  casta. 
In  Sanskrit  the  wwd  used  for  the  same 
purpose  is  varna  (colour).  The  four 
Hindu  castes  are  Brahmins  (the  sacred 
order),  Shatri'ya  (soldiers  and  rulers), 
Vaisy'a  (husbandmen  and  merchants), 
Sudra  (agricultural  labourers  and  me- 
chanics). The  first  issued  from  the 
mouth  of  Brahma,  the  second  from  his 
arms,  the  third  from  his  thighs,  and  the 
fourth  from  his  feet.  Below  these  come 


thirty-six  inferior  classes,  to  whom  the 
Vedas  are  sealed,  and  who  are  held  cursed 
in  this  world  and  without  hope  in  the 
next.  The  Jews  seem  to  have  enter- 
tained the  same  notion  respecting  the 
common  people,  and  hence  the  Sanhe- 
drim say  to  the  officers,  “ This  penple, 
who  know  not  the  law,  are  cursed.”  ( J ohn 
vii.  49.) 

To  lose  caste.  To  lose  position  in  so- 
ciety. To  get  degraded  from  one  caste 
to  an  inferior  one. 

Castle.  Castle  in  the  air.  A splendid 
edidce,  but  one  which  has  no  existence. 
In  fairy  tales  we  often  have  these  castles 
built  at  a word,  and  vanishing  as  soon, 
like  that  built  for  Aladdin  by  the  Genius 
of  the  Lamp.  These  air-castles  are 
called  by  the  French  Chdteaux  d'Espagoie, 
because  Spain  has  no  chateaux.  We  also 
find  the  expression  Chdteaux  en  Asie  for 
a similar  reason. 

Castle  of  Indolence.  In  the  land 
of  Drowsiness,  where  every  sense  is 
steeped  in  enervating  delights.  The 
owner  of  the  castle  was  an  enchanter, 
who  deprived  all  who  entered  his  domains 
of  their  energy  and  free-will. — Thomson, 
Castle  of  Indolence.'^ 

Castlewood  ( Bcairix) . The  heroine 
of  Esmond,”  by  Thackeray. 

Castor  and  Pollnx,  what  we  call 
comazants.  Electric  flames  sometimes 
seen  in  stormy  weather,  playing  about 
the  masts  of  ships.  If  only  one  flame 
showed  itself,  the  Romans  called  it  Helen, 
and  said  that  it  portended  that  the  worst 
of  the  storm  was  yet  to  come ; but  two 
or  more  luminous  flames  they  called 
Castor  and  Pollnx,  and  said  that  they 
boded  the  termination  of  the  storm. 

But  when  tlie  s^'ns  of  Leda  shed 
Their  star-lamps  on  our  vessel’s  head, 

The  storm-winds  cease,  the  troubled  spray 
Ball  from  the  rocks,  clouds  flee  away. 

And  on  the  bosom  of  the  deep 
In  peace  the  angry  billows  sleep. 

Horace,  ‘‘  Odes,”  i.  12. 

Castor’s  Horse.  Cyll'aros.  Virgil 
ascribes  him  to  Pollux.  (Geor.  iii.) 

Cas^uist  (3  syl.).  One  who  resolves 
casus  conscientice  (cases  of  conscience). 
M.  le  Fevre  calls  casuistry  “the  art  of 
quibbling  with  God.” 

Casus  Belli  {Latin).  A ground  for 
war ; a plea  for  going  to  war. 

Cat-  Superslitiously  called  a “fa- 
miliar,” from  the  mediaeval  superstition 


CAT, 


CAT. 


147 


that  Satan’s  favourite  form  was  a black 
cat.  Hence  ‘^witches”  were  said  to  have 
a cat  as  their  familiar. 

Cat.  A symbol  of  liberty.  The  Eoman 
goddess  of  Liberty  was  represented  as 
holding  a cup  in  one  hand,  a broken 
sceptre  in  the  other,  and  with  a cat  lying 
at  her  feet.  No  animal  is  so  great  an 
enemy  to  all  constraint  as  a cat. 

Cat.  Held  in  veneration  by  the  Egyp- 
tians under  the  name  of  ^lu'rus.  This 
deity  is  represented  with  a human  body 
and  a cat’s  head.  Diodo'rus  tells  us  that 
whoever  killed  a cat,  even  by  accident, 
was  by  the  Egyptians  punished  by  death. 
According  to  Egyptian  tradition,  Diana 
assumed  the  form  of  a cat,  and  thus  ex- 
cited the  fury  of  the  giants. 

The  London  Review  says  the  Egyptians 
worshipped  the  cat  as  a symbol  of  the 
moon,  not  only  because  it  is  more  active 
after  sunset,  but  from  the  dilation  and 
contraction  of  its  orb,  symbolical  of  the 
waxing  and  waning  of  the  night  goddess. 
{See  Puss.) 

Cat.  A sort  of  tripod  for  holding  a 
plate  before  the  fire.  It  is  so  called 
because  in  whatever  position  it  is  placed, 
three  of  the  spokes  hold  the  plate,  and 
three  rest  on  the  ground.  As  the  cat 
always  lights  on  its  feet,  so  this  plate- 
holder  will  stand  in  any  direction. 

Cat.  The  tackle  of  a ship  is  so  called, 
being,  probably,  the  abbreviation  tad 
inverted.  We  have  several  such  inver- 
sions. 

C at- 0- nine- tails.  A whip  with  three 
lashes,  used  for  punishing  offenders,  and 
briefly  called  a cat.  The  punishment  was 
first  used  on  board  ship,  where  ropes 
would  be  handy,  and  several  ropes  are 
called  cats,  as  cat-lvar^pings,  for  bracing 
the  shrouds  ; cat-falls^  which  pass  over 
the  “ cat-head,”  and  communicate  with 
the  ‘^cat-block,”  &c.  The  French  for  a 
‘^cat  o’-nine- tails”  is  martinet  {q.v.). 

The  Kilkenny  cats.  The  story  is,  that 
two  cats  fought  in  a sawpit  so  ferociously, 
that  when  the  battle  was  over,  only  the 
tail  of  each  was  left.  This  is  an  allegory  of 
the  municipalities  of  Kilkenny  and  Irish- 
town,  who  contended  so  stoutly  about 
boundaries  and  rights  to  the  end  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  that  they  mutally 
impoverished  each  other~ate  up  each 
other,  leaving  only  a tail  behind. 

The  faction  grows  in  intensity  daily . . . and  the 
Kilke  my  ca^^lght  is  rapidly  approaching  the  vital 
^arcs.— iVie  Times  [Re  Fenians j. 


Whittington  amd  his  cat.  A cat  is  a 
ship  formed  on  the  Norwegian  model, 
having  a narrow  stern,  projecting  quar- 
ters, and  deep  waist.  It  is  strongly  built, 
and  used  in  the  coal  trade.  Harrison 
speaks  of  it  as  a '‘cat”  or  “catch.” 
According  to  tradition,  Sir  Richard 
Whittington  made  his  money  by  trading 
in  coals,  which  he  conveyed  in  his  “cat” 
from  Newcastle  to  London.  The  black 
faces  of  his  coal-heavers  gave  rise  to  the 
tale  about  the  Moors.  In  confirmation 
of  this  suggestion,  it  may  be  added  that 
Whittington  was  lord  mayor  in  1397,  and 
coal  was  first  made  an  article  of  trade 
from  Newcastle  to  London  in  1381. 

A cat  has  nine  lives.  A cat  is  more 
tenacious  of  hfe  than  other  animals, 
because  it  generally  lights  upon  its  feet 
without  injury  ; the  foot  and  toes  being 
padded  so  as  to  break  the  fall.  {See 
Nine.) 

Tyh.  What  wouldst  thou  have  with  me  ? 

Mer.  Good  king  of  cats,  nothing  hut  one  of  your 

nine  lives  . “ Romeo  and  Juliet,’'  iii.  1. 

Hang  me  in  a bottle  like  a cat  (“Much 
Ado  About  Nothing,”  i.  1).  In  olden 
times  a cat  was  for  sport  enclosed  in  a bag 
or  leather  bottle,  and  hung  to  the  branch 
of  a tree,  as  a mark  for  bowmen  to  shoot 
at.  Steevens  tells  us  of  another  sport : 
“A  cat  was  placed  in  a soot-bag,  and 
hung  on  a line  ; the  players  had  to  beat 
out  the  bottom  of  the  bag  without  get- 
ting besmudged  with  smoke,  and  he  who 
succeeded  in  so  doing  was  allowed  to 
hunt  the  cat  afterwards. 

He  grins  like  a Cheshire  cat.  Cheese 
was  formerly  sold  in  Cheshire  moulded 
like  a cat.  The  allusion  is  to  the  grin- 
ning cheese-cat,  but  is  applied  to  persons 
who  show  their  teeth  and  gums  when 
they  laugh. 

Let  the  cat  out  of  the  bag.  It  was  for- 
merly a trick  among  countryfolk  to  sub- 
stitute a cat  for  a sucking-pig,  and  bring 
it  in  a bag  to  market.  If  any  greenhorn 
chose  to  buy  a “ pig  in  a poke”  without 
examination,  all  very  well;  but  if  he 
opened  the  sack,  “he  let  the  cat  out  of 
the  bag,”  and  the  trick  was  disclosed. 

Sick  as  a cat.  Cats  are  very  subject 
to  vomiting.  Hence  the  vomit  of  a 
drunkard  is  called  “a  cat,”  and  the  act 
of  discarding  it  is  called  “ shooting  the 
cat.” 

Some  . . . are  mad  if  they  behold  a cat 
(“  Merchant  of  Venice,”  iv.  1).  Henri  HI. 
of  France  swooned  if  he  caught  sight  of 
K 2 


/ 


148  CAT. 


CAT-CALL. 


a cat,  and  Napoleon  I.  showed  a morbid 
horror  of  the  same  harmless,  necessary” 
creature.  {See  Antipathy,  Pig.) 

To  hell  the  cat  {See  Bell.) 

To  turn  cat-in-pan.  To  turn  traitor, 
to  be  a turn-coat.  The  phrase  seems  to 
be  the  French  tourner  cote  en  p)elne  (to 
turn  sides  in  trouble).  I do  not  think  it 
refers  to  turning  pancakes. 

When  Georsce  in  puddins-tinie  came  o’er. 

And  moderate  men  looked  big,  sir, 

I turned  a cat-in-pan  once  more. 

And  so  became  a Whig,  sir. 

'‘Vicar  of  Brayy 

Touch  not  a cat  hut  a glove.  Here  ^^but” 
is  used  in  its  original  meaning  of  “be- 
out”  i.e.,  without.  If  you  play  with  a 
cat  you  will  get  a scratch,  unless  you  wear 
a glove.  The  words  are  the  motto  of 
Mackintosh,  whose  crest  is  ^^cat-a- 
mo  .ntain  salient  guardant  proper 
supporters.,  two  cats  proper.  The  whole 
is  a pun  on  the  word  Catti,  the  Teutonic 
settlers  of  Caithness,  i.e.,  Catti-ness, 
and  mean,  Touch  not  the  clan  Cattan 
or  Mountain  Cat  without  a glaive.”  The 
same  words  are  the  adopted  motto  of 
Grant  of  Ballindalloch,  and  are  explained 
by  the  second  motto,  ense  et  an'imo. 

What  can  you  have  of  a cat  hut  her 
sldnl  The  thing  is  useless  for  any  pur- 
pose but  one.  In  former  times  the 
cat’s  fur  was  used  for  trimming  cloaks 
and  coats,  but  the  flesh  is  utterly  use- 
less. 

Who  ate  the  catl  A gentleman  who 
had  his  larder  frequently  assailed  by 
bargees,  had  a cat  cooked  and  placed 
there  as  a decoy.  It  was  taken  like  the 
other  foods,  and  became  a standing  jest 
against  these  larder  pilferers. 

Cat  and  Dog.  They  live  cat  and 
dog.  They  are  always  snarling  and  quar- 
relling, as  a cat  and  dog,  whose  aversion 
to  each  other  is  intense. 

It  is  raining  cats  and  dogs.  A per- 
version of  the  word  (a  waterfall). 

It  is  raining  catadupes  or  cataracts.  Mr. 
Ford  ingeniously,  though  not  with  much 
probability,  suggests  the  Greek  cata  doxas 
(contrary  to  experience),  i.e.,  in  an  un- 
usual manner.  Dean  Swift,  describing  a 
fall  of  rain,  says  the  kennels  were  over- 
flowed, and  that 

Dead  puppies,  stinking  sprats,  all  drenched  in 
mud ; 

Drowned  cats,  and  turnip -tor  s,  came  tumbling 
down  the  flood.  ‘ A City  Shower."' 


^ Cat  and  Fiddle,  a public -house 
sign,  is  a corruption  either  of  the  French 
Catherine  lafidHe,  wife  of  czar  Peter  the 
Great  of  Eussia ; or  of  Caton  le  fidele, 
meaning  Caton,  governor  of  Calais. 

^ Cat  and  Kittens.  A public-house 
sign,  alluding  to  the  pewter-pots  so 
called.  Stealing  these  pots  is  termed 
‘^Cat  and  kitten  sneaking.”  We  still 
call  a large  kettle  a kitchen,  and  speak 
of  a soldier’s  kit.  (Saxon,  cytel.,  a pot, 
pan,  or  vessel  generally. ) 

Cat  and  Tortoise,  or  Boar  and 
Sow.  Names  given  to  the  testu'do. 

Cat’s  Cradle.  A child’s  play,  with 
a piece  of  twine.  Corrupt  for  cratch- 
cradle  or  manger  cradle,  in  which  the 
infant  Saviour  was  laid.  Cratch  is  the 
French  creche  (a  rack  or  manger),  and  to 
the  present  hour  the  racks  which  stand 
in  fields  for  cattle  to  eat  from  are  called 
cratches. 

Cat’s  Pa.w.  To  he  made  a cats  paw 
of —i.e.,  the  tool  of  another,  the  medium 
of  doing  another’s  dirty  work.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  fable  of  the  monkey 
who  wanted  to  get  from  the  fire  some 
roasted  chestnuts,  and  took  the  paw  of 
the  cat  to  get  them  from  the  hot  ashes. 

I had  no  intention  of  becoming  a cat’s  paw  to 
draw  European  chestnuts  out  of  the  fire. 

Com.  Rodgers. 

At  sea,  light  air  during  a calm  causing 
a ripple  on  the  water,  and  indicating  a 
storm,  is  called  by  sailors  a cats  paw, 
and  seamen  affirm  that  the  frolics  of  a cat 
indicate  a gale.  These  are  relics  of  a 
superstition  that  cats  are  witches  or 
dmmons  in  disguise. 

Cat’s  Sleep.  A sham  sleep,  like 
that  of  a cat  watching  a mouse. 

Cat  Staiie.  Battle  stone.  A mono- 
lith in  Scotland  (sometimes  falsely  called 
a Druidical  stone).  The  Norwegian  term, 
hauta  stein,  means  the  same  thing.  (Celtic, 
cath,  battle.) 

Cat-call.  A tin  whistle.  The  ancients 
divided  their  dramas  into  four  parts : 
the  pro'tasis  {introduction'),  epit'asis  {con- 
tinuation),  catas'tasis  {climax),  and  catas'- 
trophe  {conclusion  or  denouement).  The 
cat- call  is  the  call  for  the  cat’  or  catas- 
trophe. 

Sound,  sound  ye  viols,  be  the  cat-call  dumb. 

‘‘  Duneiad,”  i. 


CATGUT, 


CATHAEINE. 


149 


Catgut.  A corruption  of  gut-cord. 

Cat-kins.  The  inflorescence  of  hazel, 
birch,  willow,  and  some  other  trees ; so 
called  from  their  resemblance  to  a cat’s 
tail. 

Cat-lap.  Weak  tea,  only  fit  for  the 
cat  to  lap. 

Cat-water  (Plymouth).  This  is  a 
remarkable  instance  of  mis-translation. 
The  castle  at  the  mouth  of  the  Plym  used 
to  be  called  the  Chateau  ; but  some  one, 
thinking  it  would  be  better  to  Anglicise 
the  French,  divided  the  word  into  two 
parts— (cat),  eau,  (water). 

Catacomb.  A subterranean  place 
for  the  burial  of  the  dead.  The  Persians 
have  a city  they  call  Comb  or  Coom,  full 
of  mausoleums  and  the  sepulchres  of 
the  Persian  saints.  (Greek,  Jcata-liumbef 
a hollow  place  underground).  (See 
Room.) 

Catai'an  (3  syl . ) . A native  of  Cathay 
or  China ; outlandish,  a foreigner  gene- 
rally, a liar. 

I will  not  bel  eve  such  a Catalan,  though  the  priest 
o'  the  town  commended  him  for  a true  man. 

Shakespeare,  Merry  Wives,’*  n.  1. 

Catapliryg'ians.  Christian  here- 
tics, which  arose  in  the  second  century ; 
so  called  because  the  first  came  out  of 
Phrygia.  They  followed  the  errors  of 
Monta'nus. 

Catarrh.  A down-running;  from 
the  Greek  katarreo  (to  flow  down). 

Catas'trophe  (4  syl.).  A turning 
upside  down.  (Greek,  kata-strepho).  A 
tragedy  begins  all  sunshine,  but  at  the 
close  all  the  bright  prospects  are  over- 
thrown. A comedy  begins  overcast  with 
troubles,  but  at  the  close  all  the  troubles 
are  surmounted,  and  every  bad  character 
is  cast  down. 

Catch.  To  lie  at  the  catch.  To  lie  in 
wait  to  find  one  tripping.  The  allusion 
is  to  a fowler  lying  in  wait  to  catch  the 
bird  that  ventures  into  his  net. 

Catch  a Tartar.  The  biter  bit. 
Grose  says,  an  Irish  soldier  in  the  im- 
perial service,  in  a battle  against  the 
Turks,  shouted  to  his  comrade  that  he 
had  caught  a Tartar.  Bring  him  along, 
then,”  said  his  mate.  ^^But  he  won’t 
come,”  cried  Paddy.  Then  come  along 
yourself,”  said  his  comrade.  Arrah  ! ” 


replied  Paddy,  I wish  I could,  but  he 
won’t  let  me.” 

"We  are  like  the  man  who  boasted  of  having  caught 
a Tartar,  when  the  fact  was  that  the  Tartar  had 
caught  him.— Cautions  for  the  Times. 

Catcli-penny.  A worthless  article 
puffed  off  to  catch  the  pennies  of  those 
who  are  foolish  enough  to  buy  them. 

Catchpole.  A constable;  a law 
officer  whose  business  it  was  to  apprehend 
criminals.  Pole  or  poll  means  head, 
person ; and  the  word  means  one  who 
catches  persons  by  the  poll  or  neck. 
This  was  done  by  means  of  an  instrument 
something  like  a shepherd’s  crook. 

Cacchepoles,  from  catch  and  pole,  because  these 
officers  lay  hold  of  a man's  neck.— 

Testament”  (Acts  xvi,.  Glossary). 

Catechu'men  {kafy-ku  men).  One 
taught  by  word  of  mouth  (Greek,  kate- 
chou'menos).  Those  about  to  be  baptised 
in  the  early  Church  were  first  taught 
by  word  of  mouth,  and  then  catechised 
on  their  religious  faith  and  duties. 

Cater-cousin.  An  intimate  friend; 
a remote  kinsman.  (French,  qitaire- 
cousin,  a fourth  cousin.) 

His  master  and  he  (saving  your  ^7or3hip’s  reve 
rence)  are  scarce  cater-cousins. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merchant  of  Venice’*  ii.  2. 

Caterwauling.  The  wrawl  of  cats 
in  rutting  times  ; any  hideous  noise. 
Topsel  gives  catwralling,  to  *^wrall”  or 
“ wrawl,”  to  rail  or  quarrel  with  a loud 
voice : hence  the  Yorkshire  expression, 
‘^raising  a wrow,”  meaning  a row  or 
quarrel.  There  is  also  the  archaic  adjec- 
tive wraio  (angry).  Cater-waul,  there- 
fore, is  the  wawl  or  wrawl  of  cats ; the 
er  being  either  a plural,  similar  to 
^^childer”  {dvildren),  or  a corrupted 
genitive. 

What  a caterwauling  do  you  keep  here ! 

■Shakespeare  “ Twelfth  Night,**  ii.  3. 

Catll'arists.  The  last  surviving  sect 
of  the  Gnostics,  so  called  from  their  pro- 
fessed purity  of  faith.  (Greek,  kath'aroSy 
pure).  They  maintained  that  matter  is 
the  source  of  all  evil ; that  Christ  had 
not  a real  body ; that  the  human  body 
is  incapable  of  newness  of  life,  and  that 
the  sacraments  do  not  convey  grace. 

Cath'arine.  To  braid  St.  Catharine's 
tresses.  To  live  a virgin. 

Thou  art  too  fair  to  be  left  to  braid  St.  Catharine’s 

tresses. 

Longfellow,  “ Evangeline.** 


150 


CATHAY. 


CAUDLE. 


St.  Catharine^ s Wheel.  A wheel-win- 
dow,  sometimes  called  a rose-window, 
with  radiating  divisions ; a sort  of  fire- 
work. St.  Catharine  was  a virgin  of 
royal  descent  in  Alexandria,  who  publicly 
confessed  the  Christian  faith  at  a sacri- 
ficial feast  appointed  by  the  emperor 
Maximi'nns  ; for  which  confession  she 
was  put  to  death  by  torture  by  means  of 
a wheel,  like  that  of  a chaff-cutter. 

Cathay'.  China,  or  rather  Tartary, 
the  capital  of  which  was  Albrac'ca,  ac- 
cording to  ‘^Orlando  Furioso."  It  was 
called  Khita'i  by  the  Tartars,  and  China 
was  first  entered  by  Europeans  in  the 
middle  ages  from  the  side  of  Tartary. 

Better  fifty  years  of  Europe  than  a cycle  of  Calhay. 

Tennyson^  Lock sley  Hall.*’ 

Cathed'rae  Molles  (Latin).  Luxu- 
rious women.  Properly,  soft  chairs.  The 
cathedra  was  a chair  for  women,  like  our 
ottoman  ; and  Juvenal  applies  the  soft 
chair  used  by  women  of  dainty  habits  to 
the  women  who  use  them. 

Catholic.  The  Catholic. 

Alfonso  I. , king  of  Astu'rias  ; so  called, 
in  739,  by  Gregory  I.  (693,  739-757.) 

Ferdinand  II.  of  Ar'agon  and  V.  of 
Castile,  husband  of  Isabella.  Called  The 
Catholic.,  from  his  great  zeal  in  combating 
the  Infidel.”  He  was  also  called  Iluse, 
or  The  Wily.  (1452,  1474-1516.) 

Isabella,  queen  of  Castile,  wife  of 
Ferdinand  II.  of  Ar'agon  ; so  called  for 
her  zeal  in  establishing  the  Inquisition. 
(1450,  1474-1504.) 

Cathol'icon.  A panace'a.  (Greek, 
Jcatholicon  ia'ma^  a universal  remedy.) 

Meanwhile,  permit  me  to  recommend. 

As  the  matter  admits  of  no  delay. 

My  wonderful  catholicon. 

Longfellow,  “ The  Golden  Legend,”  i. 

Cato.  He  is  a Cato.  A man  of  simple 
life,  severe  morals,  self-denying  habits, 
strict  justice,  brusque  manners,  blunt  of 
speech,  and  of  undoubted  patriotism, 
like  the  Koman  censor  of  that  name. 

Cato  - Street  Conspiracy.  A 
scheme  entertained  by  Arthur  Thistle- 
wood  and  his  fellow-conspirators  to 
overthrow  the  government,  by  assassina- 
ting the  Cabinet  ministers.  So  called 
from  Cato  Street,  where  their  meetings 
were  held.  (1820.) 

Catsup  or  Ketchup,  The  Eastern 
hitjah  (soy  sauce). 


Cat'ual.  Chief  minister  of  theZam'orin 
or  ancient  sovereign  of  India. 

Ee»irt  with  high-plumed  nobles,  by  the  flood 

The  first  great  minister  of  India  stood, 

His  name  “ the  Catual  ” in  India’s  tongue. 

Camoens,  “ Lusiad,”  bk.  vii. 

Catum,  Al  (the  strong).  A bow 
which  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mahomet 
when  the  property  of  the  Jews  of  Medi'na 
was  confiscated.  In  the  first  battle  the 
prophet  drew  it  with  such  force  that  it 
snapped  in  two. 

Caucasians,  according  to  Blumen- 
bach’s  ethnological  system,  represent 
the  European  or  highest  type  of  the 
human  race.  So  called  from  Cau'casus, 
the  mountainous  range.  Whilst  the 
professor  was  studying  ethnology,  he  was 
supplied  with  a skull  from  these  regions, 
which  he  considered  the  standard  of  the 
human  type. 

Cau'cus.  A meeting  of  citizens  in 
America  to  agree  upon  what  members 
they  intend  to  support,  and  to  concert 
measures  for  carrying  out  their  political 
wishes.  The  word  arose  from  the  caulkers 
of  Boston,  who  had  a dispute  with  the 
British  soldiers  a little  before  the  Revo- 
lution. Several  citizens  were  killed,  and 
meetings  were  held  at  the  caulkers’  house 
or  calk-house,  to  concert  measures  for 
redress  of  grievances. 

The  whole  Fenian  affair  is  merely  a caucus  in 
disguise.— TTie  Times. 

At  a Republican  Congressional  caucus  held  on 
Saturday  last,  a hostile  feeling  was  manifested  to- 
wards President  Johnson.— T/ie  Times. 

Caudine  Forks.  A narrow  pass  in 
the  mountains  near  Capua,  now  called 
the  Valley  of  Arpaia.  It  was  here  that 
the  Roman  army,  under  the  consuls 
V.  Calvi'nus  and  S.  Postu'mius  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Samnites,  and 
were  made  to  pass  under  the  yoke. 

Hard  as  it  was  to  abandon  an  enterprise  so  very 
dear  to  him  ....  he  did  not  hesitate  to  take  the 
moi-e  prudent  course  of  passing  under  [sic })  the 
Caudine  Forks  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  and  leave 
Maximilian  and  the  french  bondholders  to  their 
taXQ.— Standard,  ov.  17, 1866. 

Caudle  (Mrs.).  A curtain  lecturer. 
The  term  is  derived  from  a series  of 
papers  by  Douglas  Jerrold,  which  were 
published  in  Punch.  These  papers  re- 
present Job  Caudle  as  a patient  sufferer 
of  the  curtain  lectures  of  his  nagging 
wife. 

Caudle  is  any  sloppy  mess,  especially 
that  sweet  mixture  given  by  nurses  to 
gossips  who  call  to  see  the  baby  during 


CAUL. 


CAVE. 


151 


the  first  month.  The  word  simply  means 
something  warm.  (Latin,  French, 

cliaudeau;  Italian,  caldo.) 

Caul.  The  membrane  on  the  heads 
of  some  new-born  infants,  supposed  to 
be  a charm  against  death  by  drowning. 

Cauline,  Sir  (2  syh).  A knight  who 
lived  in  the  palace  of  the  king  of  Ireland, 
and  “ used  to  serve  the  wine.”  He  fell 
in  love  with  Christabelle,  the  king’s 
daughter,  who  plighted  her  troth  to  him 
secretly,  for  fear  of  the  king.  The  king 
discovered  the  lovers  in  a bower,  and 
banished  Sir  Cauline.  After  a time  an 
eldridge  came,  and  demanded  the  lady 
in  marriage.  Sir  Cauline  slew  the 

Soldain,”  but  died  of  the  wounds 
received  in  the  combat ; and  the  fair 
Christabelle  died  of  grief,  having  burst 
her  gentle  hearte  in  twayne.”  — Percy's 

F\.eliq\ieSy'  iv. 

Cau'rus  or  Co'rus.  The  west-north- 
west win-'i,  which  blew  from  Caurus 
(ArgesteB). 

The  sjvomid  by  piercing  Caurus  seared. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence  ” canto  ii. 

Cau^telous.  Cautions,  cunning, 
treacherous.  (Latin,  cau'tela;  French, 
cauteleuxi) 

Caught  with  cautelous  baits. 

Shakespeare,  “ Coriolanus,'*  iv.  1. 

Swear  priests,  and  cowards,  and  men  cautelous. 

Shakespeare,  “ Jidius  Cmar,"  ii.  1. 

Cail'ther  {AL).  The  lake  of  Paradise, 
the  waters  of  which  are  sweet  as  honey, 
cold  as  snow,  and  clear  as  crystal.  He 
who  once  tastes  thereof  will  never  thirst 
again. — The  Kwan. 

Caution  Money.  A sum  of  c£15 
paid  before  entering  college,  by  way  of 
security.  This  money  is  deducted  from 
the  account  of  the  last  term,  when  only 
the  balance  has  to  be  paid. 

Caut'ser.  (/S’ee  Cauther.) 

Cava.  CavoCs  traitor  sire.  Cava  or 
Florinda  was  the  daughter  of  St.  Julian. 
It  was  the  violation  of  Cava  by  Roderick 
that  brought  about  the  war  between  the 
Goths  and  the  Moors.  St.  Julian,  to 
avenge  his  daughter,  turned  traitor  to 
Roderick,  and  induced  the  Moors  to 
invade  Spain.  King  Roderick  was  slain 
at  Xeres  on  the  third  day.  (a.D.  711.) 


Cavalie'r  (3  syh).  A horseman. 
Whence  a knight,  a gentleman.  (Latin, 
caballuSy  a horse.) 

The  Cavalier. 

Eon  de  Beaumont,  the  French  soldier ; 
Chevalier  d' Eon.  (1728-1810.) 

Charles  Breydel,  the  Flemish  landscape 
painter.  (1677-1744.) 

Francis  Cairo  {Cavaliere  del  Cairo), 
historian.  (1598-1674.) 

Jean  le  Clerc,  le  chevalier.  (1587-1633  ) 

J.  Bapt.  Marini,  Italian  poet ; 11  cava- 
liere. (1569-1625). 

Andrew  Michael  Ramsay.  (1686-1743.) 

Cavalier'  or  ChevaVier  de  St.  George. 
James  Francis  Edward  Stuart,  called 
‘Hhe  Pretender,”  or  the  Old  Pretender.” 
(1688-1765.) 

The  Young  Cavedier  or  the  Bonnie 
Chevalier.'  Charles-Ed ward,  the  Young 
Pretender.”  (1720-1788.) 

Cavalie'rs.  Adherents  of  Charles  I. 
Those  of  the  opposing  Parliament  party 
were  called  Roundheads  {q.v.). 

Cavalier  Servente,  called  for- 
merly in  Italian  cicishe'o,  and  in  Spanish 
cortejo.  A gentleman  that  chaperones 
married  ladies. 

Coacb,  servants,  gondAa,  he  goes  to  call, 

And  carries  fan  and  tippet,  gloves  and  shawl. 

Byron,  “ 

Cavall'.  ‘ ‘ King  Arthur’s  hound  of 
deepest  mouth.” — Idylls  of  the  King, 

Enid.'' 

Cave  in.  Shut  up,  have  done.  Fll 
cave  in  his  head  (break  it).  His  fortune 
has  caved  in  (has  failed).  The  hank  has 
caved  in  ^come  to  a smash).  The  affair 
caved  in  (fell  through).  Common  Ameri- 
can expressions. 

In  the  lead  diggings,  after  a shaft  has 
been  sunk,  the  earth  round  the  sides  falls 
or  caves  in,  unless  properly  boarded;  and 
if  the  mine  does  not  answer,  no  care  is 
taken  to  prevent  a caving  in. 

Cave  of  Achadh  Aldai.  A 
cairn  in  Ireland,  so  called  from  Aldai, 
the  ancestor  of  the  Tuatha  de  Danaan 
kings. 

Cave  of  Mammon.  The  abode  of 
the  god  of  wealth  in  Spenser  s “ Faery 
Queen”  (ii.  7). 

Cave-dv/ellers.  {See  BoiiE^tiiAN 

Bretiiuen.) 


152 


CAVEAT. 


CENOBITES. 


Cav'eat.  To  enter  a caveat.  To  ob- 
ject to.  It  is  a law  term,  and  means  a 
notice  to  stay  legal  proceedings.  (Latin, 
caveat,  let  him  proceed  at  his  peril.) 

Cav'elL  A parcel  or  allotment  of 
land,  measured  by  a cord  or  cable. 
(German,  kahel  or  havel,  whence  Tcavel- 
loten,  “2^  cavell  by  lot.”) 

Cav'iare  (3  syl.).  Caviare  to  the 
general.  Above  the  taste  or  comprehen- 
sion of  ordinary  people.  Caviare  is  a 
kind  of  pickle  made  from  the  roe  of  stur- 
geons, much  esteemed  in  Muscovy.  It  is 
a dish  for  the  greo.t,  but  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  general  public. — ^‘Hamlet,''  ii.  2. 

All  popular  talk  about  lacnstrine  villages  and 
flint  implements  ...  is  caviare  to  the  multitude. 
—Pidl  Mall  Gazette. 

Ce'an.  The  Cean  poet.  Simonides, 
of  Ce'os. 

The  Cean  and  the  Teian  muse. 

Byron,  ''Don  Juan."" 

CeciTia.,  St.  A Koman  lady,  who 
underwent  martyrdom  in  the  third  cen- 
tury ; she  is  the  patron  saint  of  the  itlind, 
being  herself  blind  ; she  is  also  patroness 
of  musicians,  and  “inventor  of  the  organ.” 

At  length  Divine  Cecilia  came, 

Inventress  of  the  vocal  frame. 

Dryden,  “ Alexander's  Feast.'* 

According  to  tradition,  an  angel  fell  in 
love  with  her  for  her  musical  skill,  and 
used  nightly  to  visit  her.  Her  husband 
saw  the  heavenly  visitant,  who  gave  to 
both  a crown  of  martyrdom  which  he 
brought  from  Paradise.  Dryden  and 
Pope  have  written  odes  in  her  honour, 
and  both  speak  of  her  charming  an  angel 
by  her  musical  powers — 

He  [Timoiheus]  raised  a mortal  to  the  skies. 

She  [Cecilia]  brought  an  angel  down. 

Dryden,  " Alexander's  Feast.'* 

Ced,  Ked,  or  Ceridiven.  The  Arkite 
goddess  or  Ceres  of  the  Britons. 

I was  first  modelled  into  the  form  of  a pure  man 
in  the  hall  of  Ceridwen,  who  subjected  me  to 
penance.— TaZiesin  [Davies's  Translation). 

Ce'dar.  Curzon  says  that  Solomon 
cut  down  a cedar,  and  buried  it  on  the 
spot  where  the  pool  of  Bethes'da  used  to 
stand.  A few  claj^'s  before  the  crucifixion 
this  cedar  floated  to  the  surface  of  the 
pool,  and  was  employed  as  the  upright 
of  the  Saviour’s  cross.— Monasteries  of 
the  Levant. 

Cee'lict  {St.)  or  St.  Calixtus,  whose 
day  is  the  14th  of  October,  the  day  of  the 
battle  of  Plastings- 


Brown  Willis  tells  us  there  was  a tablet 
once  in  Battle  parish  church,  with  these 
words — 

This  place  of  war  is  Battle  called,  because  in  battle 
here 

Quite  conquered  and  o’erthrown  the  English  nation 
were. 

This  slaughter  happened  to  them  upon  St.  Ceelict’s 
day,  &c. 

Celestial  City.  Heaven  is  so  called 
by  John  Bunyan  in  his  “ Pilgrim’s  Pro- 
gress.” 

Celes'tial  Empire.  China ; so 
called  because  the  first  emperors  were 
all  celestial  deities. 

Celes'tians.  Followers  of  Celes'tius, 
disciple  of  Pela'gius.  St.  Jerome  calls 
him  “a  blockhead  swollen  with  Scotch 
pottage” — Scotch  being,  in  this  case, 
what  we  now  call  Irish. 

CePestines  (3  syl.).  A religious 
order  founded,  1254,  by  Pietro  Moro'ne, 
afterwards  pope  Cel  estine  V.  Suppressed 
1778. 

Celia  {heavenliness).  Mother  of  Faith, 
Hope,  and  Charity.  She  lived  in  the 
hospice  called  Holiness. — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen f bk.  i. 

Celia  or  Ccelia.  A common  poetical 
name  for  a lady  or  lady-love.  Thus, 
Swift  has  an  ode  in  which  Strephon 
describes  Caelia’s  dressing-room. 

Fire  hours,  and  wbo  enn  do  it  less  in, 

By  haughty  Caelia  spent  in  dressiug. 

Celt.  A piece  of  stone,  ground  arti- 
ficially into  a wedge-like  shape ; with  a 
cutting  edge.  Used,  before  the  employ- 
ment of  bronze  and  iron,  for  knives, 
hatchets,  and  chisels.  (Latin,  celtis,  a 
chisel.) 

Celtic  Homer.  Ossian. 

Cem'etery  properly  means  sleeping- 
places.  The  Jews  used  to  speak  of  death 
as  sleeiJ.  The  Persians  call  their  ceme- 
teries “The  Cities  of  the  Silent.”  The 
Greeks  thought  it  unlucky  to  pronounce 
the  name  of  death.  (Greek,  hoimeterion.') 

Cenimag'ni.  The  inhabitants  of 
Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Cambridge ; re- 
ferred to  by  Caesar  in  his  “Commen- 
taries.” 

Cen'obites  (3  sjd.).  Monks.  So 
called  because  they  live  in  common. 
Hermits  and  anchorites  are  not  cenobites, 
as  they  live  alone,  (Greek,  hoinohiotes.') 


CENSORIUS. 


CESTUS, 


153 


Censo'rius  et  Sapiens.  Cato 
Major  was  so  called,  (b.c.  2.34-149.) 

Cent  K'ouvelles  T^onvelles. 
French  imitations  of  Granuc'ci,  Males- 
pi'ni,  and  Campeg'gi,  Italian  tale- writers 
of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Cen'taur  (2  syl.).  A huntsman.  The 
Thessalian  centaurs  were  half-horses, 
half-men.  They  were  invited  to  a mar- 
riage feast,  and,  being  intoxicated,  be- 
haved with  great  rudeness  to  the  women. 
The  Lap'ithse  took  the  women’s  part,  fell 
on  the  centaurs,  and  drove  them  out  of 
the  country. 

Feasts  that  Thessalian  centaurs  never  knew. 

Thomson,  ' Autumn” 

Cento.  Poetry  made  up  of  lines  bor- 
rowed from  ostal'lished  authors.  Auso'- 
nius  has  a nuptial  idyll  composed  from 
verses  selected  from  Virgil.  (Latin, 
cento,  patchwork.) 

Central  Sun.  That  body  or  point 
about  which  our  whole  system  revolves. 
Madler  believes  that  point  to  be  eta  in 
Taurus. 

Cen'tre.  In  the  Legislative  Assem- 
bly The  Centre  were  the  friends  of  order. 
In  the  Fenian  rebellion,  1866,  the  chief 
movers  were  called  Head  Centres,  and 
their  subordinates  Centres. 

Centum'viri.  A court  under  whose 
jurisdiction  the  Romans  placed  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  testaments  and  in- 
heritances. It  consisted  of  three  repre- 
sentatives from  each  of  the  thirty- five 
tribes;  the  full  complement,  therefore, 
was  105. 

Centn'rion.  A Roman  officer  who 
had  the  command  of  100  men.  His 
badge  was  a vine- rod.  (Latin,  centum j 
a hundred.) 

Century  White.  John  White,  the 
nonconformist  lawyer.  So  called  from 
his  chief  publication,  '^The  First  Cen- 
tury of  Scandalous,  Malignant  Priests, 
made  and  admitted  into  Benefices  by 
the  Prelates,”  &c.  (1590-1645.) 

Ce'pheus  (2  syl.).  One  of  the  north- 
ern constellations,  which  takes  its  name 
from  Cepheus,  king  of  Ethiopia,  husband 
of  Cassiope'ia  and  father  of  Androm'eda. 

Ce'quiel  (3  syl.).  A spirit  'vho  trans- 
ported Torral'ba  from  Vali'adolid'  to 
Rome  and  back  again  in  an  hour  and  a 
hdli,— Pellicer, 


Cerau'nmm.  The  opal.  So  called 
by  the  ancients  from  a notion  that  it  was 
a thunder- stone.  (Latin,  ceraunium ; 
Greek,  herau'nios,) 

Cer'berus.  A grim,  watchful  keeper, 
governess,  guardian,  &c.  Cerberus,  ac- 
cording to  Roman  mythology,  is  the 
three-headed  dog  that  keeps  the  en^ 
trance  of  the  infernal  regions.  Hercules 
dragged  the  monster  to  earth,  and  then 
let  him  go  again.  {See  Sor. ) 

Never  suffered  to  stir  'beyond  the  watchful  eyes 
of  a grim  Cerberus.— London  Review. 

Cer'd-OUi  The  boldest  of  the  rabble 
leaders  in  the  encounter  with  Hudibras 
at  the  bear-baiting.  The  character  is 
modelled  from  Hewson,  the  one-eyed  cob- 
bler, who  was  a colonel  in  the  Rump  army 
and  a preacher.— pt.  i.  2. 

Cerdo'nians.  A sect  of  heretics, 
established  by  Cerdon  of  Syria,  who  lived 
in  the  time  of  pope  Hygi'nus,  and  main- 
tained most  of  the  errors  of  the  Mani- 
chees. 

Ceremonious  {The).  Pierre  IV.  of 
Aragon.  (1319,  1336-1387.) 

Cer'emony.  When  the  Romans  fied 
before  Brennus,  one  Albinus,  who  was 
carrying  his  wife  and  children  in  a cart 
to  a place  of  safety,  overtook  at  Janic'u- 
lum  the  Vestal  virgins  bending  under 
their  load,  took  them  up,  and  conveyed 
them  to  Coere,  in  Etru'ria.  Here  they 
remained,  and  continued  to  perform  their 
sacred  rites,  which  were  consequently 
called  Coere- monia.” — Livy^  v. 

Ce'res  (2  syl.).  Corn.  Ceres  was  the 
Roman  name  of  Mother-Earth,  the  pro- 
tectress of  agriculture  and  of  all  the 
fruits  of  the  earth. 

Dark  frowning  heaths  grow  bright  with  Ceres’ 

store.  Thomson,  " Autumn.’* 

Cerin'tliians.  Disciples  of  Cerin'- 
thus,  a heresiarch  of  the  first  century. 
They  denied  the  divinity  of  Christ,  but 
held  that  a certain  virtue  descended  into 
him  at  baptism,  which  filled  him  with 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

Cess.  Measure,  as  ex-cess,  excess-ive. 
Out  of  all  cess  means  excessively. 

The  poor  jade  is  wrung  in  the  withers  out  of  all  cess. 

iShakespeare,  “1  Henry  IV.  ”n.  1. 

Ces'tus,  in  Homer,  is  the  girdle  of 
Venus,  of  magical  power  to  move  to 
ardent  love.  In  “Jerusalem  Delivered,” 
Ar'mida  wore  a similar  cestus  made  of 


154 


CHABOUK. 


CHAM. 


potent  spells  to  win  to  irresistible 
amorous  love. 

In  this  was  every  art,  and  every  charm 

To  win  the  wisest,  and  the  coldest  warm ; 

Fond  love,  the  genile  vow,  the  gay  desire. 

The  kind  deceit,  the  still  reviving  fire. 

Persuasive  speech,  and  more  persuasive  sighs, 

Silence  that  spoke,  and  eloquence  of  eyes. 

Pope,  “ Homer's  Iliad,"  xiv. 

Cliabouk:.  A long  whip,  or  the 
api:>lication  of  whips  and  rods  ; a Persian 
and  Chinese  punishment. — Dubois. 

Drag  forward  that  fakir,  and  cut  his  robe  into 
tatters  on  his  hack  with  your  chabouks.— <Scoii, 
“ The  Surgeon's  Daughter"  c.  xiv. 

If  that  monarch  did  not  give  the  chabuk  to  Fera- 
morz,  there  would  be  an  end  of  all  legitimate  govern- 
ment in  Bucharia. — T.  Moore,  Lalla  Rookh.'* 

The  criticism  of  the  chabuk.  The  applica- 
tion of  whips  or  rods.  {Persian.) — Ditbois. 

Cliad-pennies.  Pennies  paid  at  the 
cathedral  of  Lichfield,  dedicated  to  St. 
Chad,  on  Whit  Sunday,  in  aid  of  the 
repairs. 

Chaff.  A n old  bird  is  not  to  be  caught 
with  chaff.  An  experienced  man,  or  one 
with  his  wits  about  him,  is  not  to  be 
deluded  by  humbug.  The  reference  is 
to  throwing  chaff  instead  of  bird-seed 
to  allure  birds. 

You  are  chaffng  me.  Making  fun  of 
me.  You  are  trying  to  roast  me  (French, 
echauffer,  to  cook,  chaff,  or  vex).  A 
singular  custom  used  to  exist  in  Notts 
and  Leicestershire  some  half  century 
ago.  When  a husband  ill-treated  his 
wife,  the  villagers  emptied  a sack  of 
chaff  at  his  door,  to  intimate  that 
'thrashing  was  done  within,”  which 
some  think  to  be  the  origin  of  the  word. 

Chair.  When  members  of  the  House 
of  Commons  and  other  debaters  call  out 

Chair,”  they  mean  that  the  chairman  is 
not  properly  supported,  and  his  words 
not  obeyed  as  they  ought  to  be.  Another 
form  of  the  same  expression  is,  Pray 
support  the  chair.” 

Groaning  chair.  The  chair  in  which 
a woman  is  confined  or  sits  afterwards 
to  receive  congratulations.  Similarly 
‘^groaning  cake”  and  groaning  cheese” 
are  the  cake  and  cheese  which  used  to 
be  provided  in  Goose  month.” 

For  a nurse,  the  child  to  dandle. 

Sugar,  soap,  spiced  pots,  and  candle. 

A groaning  chair,  and  eke  a cradle. 

Poor  Robin’s  Almanack,  1676. 

^ Chalced'ony  {kalced'ony).  A pre- 
cious stone,  consisting  of  half-transparent 
quartz,  so  called  from  ChaFcedon,  in  Asia 
Minor,  where  it  was  first  found.  Its  chief 


varieties  are  agate,  carnelian,  cat’s  eye, 
chrysoprase,  flint,  hornstone,  onyx, 
plasma,  and  sard. 

Chaldee's  {Kal-dees).  The  Land  of 
the  Chaldees.  Babylo'nia. 

Chalk.  Vll  chalk  out  your 'path  for  you 
—i.e.y  lay  it  down  or  plan  it  out  as  a 
carpenter  or  ship-builder  plans  out  his 
work  with  a piece  of  chalk. 

Chalk  it  up.  Put  it  down  to  my 
credit.  The  allusion  is  to  the  old  custom 
of  keeping  a tally  on  which  what  was  not 
paid  for  was  chalked  down.  This  method 
of  keeping  scores  especially  prevailed 
with  publicans  and  in  weekly  milk-bills. 

I beat  him  by  long  chalks.  Thoroughly. 
In  allusion  to  the  ancient  custom  of 
making  the  merit  marks  with  chalk, 
before  lead  pencils  were  so  common. 

Walk  your  chalks.  Get  you  gone. 
Lodgings  wanted  for  the  royal  retinue 
used  to  be  taken  arbitrarily  by  the 
marshal  and  sergeant- chamberlain,  the 
inhabitants  were  sent  to  the  right  about, 
and  the  houses  selected  were  notified  by 
a chalk  mark.  When  Mary  de  Medicis, 
in  1638,  came  to  England,  Sieur  de  Labat 
was  employed  to  mark  ‘^all  sorts  of 
houses  commodious  for  her  retinue  in 
Colchester.”  The  same  custom  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Life  and  Acts  of  Sir 
William  Wallace,”  in  Edinburgh.  The 
phrase  is  ^^Walk,  you’re  chalked,”  cor- 
rupted into  Walk  your  chalks. 

I can  walk  a chalk  as  well  as  you. 
I am  no  more  drunk  than  you  are.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  ordeal  on  board  ship  of 
trying  men  suspected  of  drunkenness. 
They  were  required  to  walk  along  a line 
chalked  on  the  deck,  without  deviating 
to  the  right  or  left. 

Challenging  a Jury.  This  may 
be  to  object  to  all  the  jurors  from  some 
informality  in  the  way  they  have  been 
‘^arrayed”  or  empannelled,  or  to  one  or 
more  of  the  jurors,  from  some  real  or 
supposed  disqualification  or  bias  of  judg- 
ment. The  word  ^‘challenge*’  is  Norman, 
and  is  exactly  equivalent  to  call  out ; ” 
hence  we  say  captain  A challenged  or 
called  out  captain  B. 

Cham  {kam).  The  sovereign  princo 
of  Tartary,  now  written  ^^khan.” 

Fetch  you  a hair  off  the  great  Cham’s  heard.— 
Shakespeare,  ‘*Mtcch  Ado  About  Nothing,"  ii.  1. 

The  great  Cham  of  literature.  Dr.  Sar:uel 
Johnson,  (1709-1784.) 


CHAMBRE. 


CHAOS. 


155 


Chambre  Ardente  (French),  meta- 
phorically, means  a severe  test ; literally, 
a fiery  chamber.”  It  was  an  inquisi- 
torial court  of  France,  so  called  because 
the  general  punishment  awarded  was 
death  by  fire.  Devised  by  cardinal  de 
Lorraine,  1559. 

Champak'.  A strong  aromatic 
plant  very  offensive  to  bees,  worn  in  the 
black  hair  of  Indian  women. 

Cham'perty  (Latin,  campi  pariiiio, 
division  of  the  land)  is  a bargain  with 
some  person  who  undertakes  at  his  own 
cost  to  recover  property  on  condition  of 
receiving  a share  thereof  if  he  succeeds. 

Cham'pion  of  England.  A person 
whose  office  it  is  to  ride  up  Westminster 
Hall  on  a coronation  day,  and  challenge 
any  one  who  disputes  the  right  of  succes- 
sion. The  office  was  established  by 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  was  given  to 
Marmion  and  his  male  descendants,  with 
the  manor  of  broad  Scrivelsby.”  De 
Ludlow  received  the  office  and  manor 
through  the  female  line  ; and  in  the  reign 
of  Richard  II.  Sir  John  Dymoke  suc- 
ceeded through  the  female  line  also. 
Since  then  the  office  has  continued  in 
the  Dymoke  family. 

These  Lincoln  lands  the  Conqueror  gave. 

That  Eng.and’s  glove  they  might  convey 
To  knight  renowned  amongst  the  brave— 

The  baron  hold  of  Fonteney. 

An  Anglo-Norman  Ballad  modernised. 

Champs  de  Mars.  The  March 
meetings  held  by  Clovis  and  his  imme- 
diate followers,  sometimes  as  mere 
pageants,  for  the  amusement  of  the 
freedmen  who  came  to  offer  homage  to 
their  lord,  and  pay  their  annual  gifts; 
sometimes  for  business  purposes,  espe- 
cially when  the  king  wished  to  consult 
his  warriors  about  some  expedition. 

Champs  de  Mai.  The  same  as  the 
Champs  de  Mars  {q.v.),  transferred  after 
755  to  the  month  of  May.  Napoleon  I. 
revived  these  meetings  during  the 
‘‘Hundred  Days”  (June  1,  1815). 

Chan'cel  means  a lattice- screen. 
In  the  Roman  law-courts  the  lawyers 
were  cut  off  from  the  public  by  such  a 
screen.  (Latin,  cancellus.) 

Chan'cellor.  The  scribe  who  sat 
with  the  emperor  in  the  chancel,  cut  off 
from  the  populace  by  the  screen. 

Chan'cery.  The  p^irt  of  the  court 
occupied  by  the  lawyers 

To  get  a man's  head  into  chancery  is 


to  get  it  under  your  arm,  where  you  can 
pummel  it  as  long  as  you  like,  and  ho 
cannot  get  it  free  without  great  difficulty. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  long  and  exhausting 
nature  of  a chancery  suit.  If  a man  once 
gets  his  head  there,  the  lawyers  punish 
him  to  their  heart’s  content. 

Chan'dika.  One  of  the  three  goddess 
daughters  of  Vishnu,  representing  his 
“ destroying  energy.” 

Cliange.  TaTce  your  change  out  oj 
that.  When  a person  insults  you,  you 
give  him  a “ quid  pro  quo,”  and  tell  him 
to  take  the  change.  It  is  in  allusion  to 
shopping  transactions,  where  you  settle 
the  price  of  the  article,  and  put  the  sur- 
plus or  change  in  your  pocket. 

Changeling  (2  syl.).  A peevish, 
sickly  child.  The  notion  used  to  be  that 
the  fairies  took  a healthy  child,  and  left 
in  its  place  one  of  their  starveling  elves 
which  never  did  kindly. 

Oh,  that  it  could  he  proved 
That  some  night-tripping  fairy  had  exchanged, 
In  cradle-ciothes,  our  children  as  they  lay; 

And  called  mine  Percy,  his  Plantagenet ! 

Then  would  I have  his  Harry,  and  he  mine. 

Shakespeare,  “1  Henry  IV.,"  i.  1. 

Chant  du  Depart.  After  the  Mar- 
seillaise, the  most  celebrated  song  of  the 
first  French  Revolution.  It  was  written 
by  J.  M.  Chenier  for  a public  festival, 
held  June  II,  1794,  to  commemorate 
the  taking  of  the  Bastille.  The  music  is 
by  Me'hul.  A mother,  an  old  man, 
a child,  a wife,  a girl,  and  three  war- 
riors sing  a verse  in  turn,  and  the  sen- 
timent of  each  is,  “We  give  up  our 
claims  on  the  men  of  France  for  the  good 
of  the  Republic.”  {See  Carmagnole.) 

La  repuhlique  nous  appelle, 

Sachons  vancre  ou  sachons  perir; 

Un  Fi-an(?ais  doit  vivre  pour  elle. 

Pour  elle  un  Franpais  doit  mourir! 

J.  M.  Chenier. 

The  republic  invites, 

Let  us  conquer  or  fall ; 
ror  France  Frenchmen  live, 

And  can  die  at  her  calL 

Chan'ticleer  (3  syl.).  The  cock,  in 
the  tale  of  “Reynard  the  Fox,”  and  in 
Chaucer’s  “ Nonne  Prestes  Tale.”  The 
word  means  “shrill- singer.” 

My  lungs  began  to  crow  like  chanticleer. 

Shakespeare,  "As  You  Like  It,"  ii.  7. 

Cha'os  {Jca'os).  Confusion ; that  con- 
fused mass  of  elemental  subtances  sup- 
posed to  have  existed  before  God  reduced 


156 


CHAP. 


CHARLES. 


creation  into  order.  The  poet  Hesiod  is 
the  first  extant  writer  that  speaks  of  it. 

Light,  uncollected,  through  the  chaos  urged 

Its  infant  way;  nor  order  yet  had  drawn 

His  lovely  train  from  out  the  dubious  gloom. 

Thomson,  “ Autumn.'* 

Chap,  as  A clever  chap,  a good  sort 
of  chaj),  &c. ; meaning  a boy  or  young 
man,  or  a man  with  whom  you  are  very 
familiar.  (French,  charpe  and  chapeau, 
either  ‘^hat”  or  ^‘man;”  Latin,  caput.) 

Chapeau  or  Chapel  de  Roses. 
C’est  un  petit  mariage,  ear  quand  on  de- 
mande  ce  qu’un  pere  donne  a une  fiile, 
et  qu’on  veut  repondre  qu’il  donne  peu, 
on  dit  qu’il  lui  donne  un  chapeau  de 
roses.  Les  roses  sont  consacr^s  a Venus, 
aux  Graces,  et  I’Amour. — Les  Origines 
de  qudques  Coutumes  Ancienius,  1672. 

N.B.  — Chapel  is  what  we  now  call  a 
chapelet  or  chaplet. 

Chapel  is  the  chest  containing  relics, 
or  the  shrine  thereof.  (Latin,  capa.) 
Another  etymology  is  capella  (a  hat  or 
cope).  The  kings  of  France  in  war  car- 
ried St.  Martin’s  cope  into  the  field,  and 
kept  it  in  a tent  as  a talisman.  The 
place  in  which  the  cope  was  kept  was 
called  the  chapelle,  and  the  keeper  thereof 
the  chaplain. 

Chapel.  The  caucus”  of  journeyman 
printers  assembled  to  decide  any  point 
of  common  interest.  The  chairman  is 
called  the  father  of  the  chapel.”  This 
term  is  a relic  of  Caxton’s  establishment 
in  Westminster  Abbey.  {8ee  Friars, 
Monks.) 

Cliap'eron.  A lady’s  attendant  and 
protector  in  public.  So  called  from  the 
Spanish  hood  worn  by  duennas.  {English- 
French.') 

Cliarboil'nerie  DemoeratTque. 
A new  Carbona'ri  society,  founded  in 
Paris  on  the  principles  of  JBabeuf.  The 
object  of  these  republicans  was  to  make 
Paris  the  centre  of  all  political  move- 
ments. {See  Carbonari.) 

CharicleTa.  The  lady-love  of  The- 
ag'enes  in  the  exquisite  erotic  Greek  ro- 
mance, called  The  Loves  of  Theagenes 
and  Chariclefia,”  by  Heliodo'ros,  bishop 
of  Trikka,  in  the  fourth  century. 

Charing  Cross  is  the  cross  erected 
to  the  chere  reine  (dear  queen)  Eleanor, 
wife  of  Edward  I.,  who  died  at  Herdeiie, 
near  Lincoln,  and  was  buried  at  W est- 
minster.  In  every  town  where  the  corpse 


rested,  the  king  caused  a cross  of  cun- 
ning workmanship  ” to  be  erected  in  re- 
membrance of  her.  There  were  probably 
fourteen  altogether ; but  only  three  re- 
main—viz.,  Waltham,  Northampton,  and 
Geddington,  in  Northamptonshire.  In 
front  of  the  South  - Eastern  Railway 
station.  Strand,  is  a model  of  Charing 
Cross  of  the  original  dimensions.  The 
original  one  built  of  Caen  stone  by  Ed- 
ward I.  was  voted  down  by  the  Long 
Parliament  in  1647.  Cheapside  Cross 
was  demolished  in  1643. 

Chariot.  According  to  Greek  my- 
tholog-y,  the  chariot  was  invented  by 
Erichtho'nius  to  conceal  his  feet,  which 
were  those  of  a dragon. 

Seated  in  car,  by  him  constructed  first 
To  hide  his  hideous  feet. 

Rose,  “ Orlando  Furioso’*  xxxvii  27. 

Chariot  of  the  Gods.  So  the 
Greeks  called  Sierra  Leolie,  a ridge  of 
mountains  of  great  height.  The  Portu- 
guese Serra  Lioa  means  ^^the  Rock  of 
Lions.” 

Her  palmy  forests,  minffling  with  the  skies, 
Leona’s  rugged  steep  behind  us  flies. 

Camoens,  ''Lusiad,”  bk.  6. 

Charity  begins  at  Home.  Let 
them  learn  first  to  show  piety  at  home  ” 
(1  Tim.  V.  4). 

Chariva'ri.  The  clatter  made  with 
pots  and  pans,  whistling,  bawling,  hiss- 
ing, and  so  on.  Our  concert  of  “ marrow- 
bones and  cleavers  the  German  Kaizen- 
musicJc,  got  up  to  salute  with  ridicule  un- 
equal marriages.  Punch  is  our  national 
Charivari,  and  clatters  weekly  against 
political  and  social  wrong- sidedness. 

Charlatan  means  a babbler.  (Ita- 
lian, ciarla're,  to  babble ; ciarlata’no,  a 
quack ; Spanish,  charlar,  to  prate  ; Latin, 
garrulo.) 

Charlemagne.  His  nine  wives  were 
Hamiltrude,  a poor  Frenchwoman,  who 
bore  him  several  children  ; DesideraTa, 
who  was  divorced ; Hildegarde,  Fastrade 
(daughter  of  count  Rodolph,  the  Saxon), 
and  Luitgarde  the  German,  all  three  of 
whom  died  before  him ; Maltegarde ; 
Gersuinde,  the  Saxon;  Regi'na;  and 
Adalinda. 

Charlemagne’s  Peers.  {See  Paladins.) 

Charlemagnd s Sivord.  La  Joyeuse. 

Charles  and  the  Oak.  When 
Charles  II.  fled  from  the  Parliamentary 
army,  he  took  refug^in  Boscobel-house 
but  when  he  deemed  it  no  longer  safe  to 


CHARLES. 


CHEAP. 


157 


remain  there,  he  concealed  himself  in  an 
oak.  Dr.  Stukeley  says  that  this  tree 

stood  just  by  a horse-track  passing 
through  the  wood,  and  the  king,  with 
Colonel  Carlos,  climbed  into  it  by  means 
of  the  hen-roost  ladder.  The  family 
reached  them  victuals  with  a n ut-hook.  ’ ’ — 
Itinerarium  Curio' sum,’'  1724,  iii.,  p.  57. 

Charles’s  Wain.  The  constellation 
called  the  Great  Bear,  which  forms  the 
outline  of  a wheelbarrow  or  rustic  wagon. 
(German,  KerVs  uagen,  the  countryman’s 
wagon. ) 

Charlies.  The  old  night  watch,  be- 
fore the  police  force  was  organised  in 
1829.  So  called  from  Charles  I.,  in  whose 
reign  the  system  was  re-organised. 

Charlotte  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Tonna. 
(1792-1846.) 

Charm  means  a song.  Incantation 
is  singing  on  or  against  some  one.  En- 
chant is  the  same.  Verses  supposed  to 
have  a baleful  effect  on  those  against 
whom  they  are  sung.  (Latin,  carmen.) 

Charon’s  Toll  (care’-un).  A coin, 
about  equal  to  a penny,  placed  in  the 
mouth  or  hand  of  the  dead  to  pay  Charon 
for  ferrying  the  spirit  across  the  river 
Styx  to  the  Elysian  fields.  The  Greeks 
put  a coin,  called  dan'ake,  in  the  mouth 
of  the  deceased  for  a similar  purpose. 
The  Danes,  and,  indeed,  all  the  Scan- 
dinavians, observed  the  same  custom. 

Chartism.  The  political  system  of 
the  Chartists,  who,  in  1838,  demanded 
the  Peoples  Charter,  consisting  of  five 
principles ; universal  suffrage,  annual 
parliaments,  stipendiary  members,  vote 
by  ballot,  and  electoral  districts. 

Charyb'dis  {Karih'dis).  A whirlpool 
on  the  coast  of  Sicily.  Scylla  and  Cha- 
rybdis  are  employed  to  signify  two  equal 
dangers.  Thus  Horace  says  an  author 
trying  to  avoid  Scylla,  drifts  into  Cha- 
rybdis— ^.e.,  seeking  to  avoid  one  fault, 
falls  into  another. 

Thus  when  I shun  Scylla  your  father,  I fall  into 
Charybciis  your  mothQx.— Shakespeare,  ''  Merchant 
of  Venice,”  iii.  5. 

Chas'ca.  The  name  under  which  the 
Peruvians  used  to  adore  the  planet 
Venus. 

Chase.  An  iron  frame  used  by  printers 
for  holding  sufficient  type  for  one  side  of 
a sheet.  The  type  is  first  set  up  letter  by 
letter  in  the  composing  stick,”  and  is 
then  transferred  to  the  ‘^galley,”  where  it 


appears  in  columns.  It  is  next  divided 
into  pages,  and  then  transferred  to  the 
chase,  where  it  is  held  tight  by  q noins, 
or  small  blocks  of  wood.  The  word  is 
French,  chasse  (a  frame) ; our  case-ment. 
{See  Stick.  ) 

Chas'idim  and  Zad'ikim.  After 
the  Babylonish  ciptivity  the  Jews  Were 
divided  into  two  groups— those  who  ac- 
cepted and  those  who  rejected  the  Persian 
innovation.  The  former  were  called 
pietists  (chasidim),  and  the  latter  uprights 
(zadikim). 

Chasseurs  de  Vincennes 
(French).  The  duke  of  Orleans’  rifle 
corps  ; so  called  because  they  were  gar- 
risoned at  Vincennes.  (1835.) 

Chaste  {The),  Alfonso  II.,  king  of 
Asturias  and  Leon.  ( Born  758,  crowned 
791,  abdicated  835,  died  842.) 

Chat.  Nid  d’une  souris  dans  Voreille 
d'un  chat.  A mare’s  nest.  This  French 
phrase  is  the  translation  of  a line  in 
Wynkin  de  Worde’s  Amusing  Ques- 
tions,” printed  in  English  in  1511.  De- 
mand: What  is  that  that  never  was  and 
never  will  be?  Response:  A mouse’s 
nest  in  a cat’s  ear.”  (^See  Mare’s  Nest.) 

Chateaux  en  Espagne.  A castle 
in  the  air,  something  that  exists  only  in 
the  imagination.  In  Spain  there  are  no 
chateaux.  {See  Castle.) 

Chat'telin’s.  A fashionable  coffee- 
house in  the  reign  of  Charles  JI. 

Chatter-box.  A talkative  person. 
The  Germans  hoNe plauder  tasche  (chatter- 
bag).  Shakespeare  speaks  of  the  clack- 
dish.  His  use  was  to  put  a ducat  in 
her  clack- dish”  (^^  Measure  for  Measure,” 
iii.  2)—i.e.,  the  box  or  dish  used  by 
beggars  for  collecting  alms,  which  the 
holder  clatters  to  attract  attention.  We 
find  also  chatter-basket  in  old  writers, 
referring  to  the  child’s  rattle. 

Chatter  Pie.  Same  as  chatter-box. 
The  pie  means  the  magpie. 

Chauvin.  A blind  idolater  of  Napo- 
leon the  Great.  The  character  is  taken 
from  Scribe’s  Soldat  Laboureur.” 

Chawed  up.  Done  for,  gone  to  the 
bad,  good  for  nothing.  Like  a quid  of 
tobacco,  which  has  been  ‘^chawed”  till 
all  the  goodness  is  extracted  from  it. 

Cheap  Jack.  Not  cheap,  meaning 
low-priced,  but  cheap  meaning  sale,  as  in 

chap-man,”  Cheap  side,”  &c.  Jack 


CHEATEE. 


CSEEir. 


15^ 


is  a term  applied  to  inferior  persons,  &c. 
(Saxon,  cliepe,  a market.)  {See  Jack.) 

Cheater  (2  syl. ) originally  meant  an 
Escheator  or  officer  of  the  king-’s  exchequer 
appointed  to  receive  dues  and  taxes.  The 
present  use  of  the  word  shows  how  these 
officers  were  wont  to  fleece  the  people. 
{See  Catch  POLE.) 

Cheatly.  A rascal  who,  by  reason 
of  debt,  does  not  stir  out  of  Whitefriars, 
but  there  inveigles  young  hei^s  of  entail, 
helps  them  to  money  upon  great  dis- 
advantage, and  is  bound  for  them.  A 
lewd,  impudent  debauchee  about  town. 
—Shadivellf  Squire  ofAlsatia” 

Chech,  called  also  stone  chest,  kist- 
vaen  (a  sepulchral  monument  or  crom- 
lech). 

We  find  a rude  chech  or  fiat  stone  of  an  oval 
form,  about  three  yards  in  length,  five  feet  over 
where  broadest,  and  ten  or  twelve  inches  thick.— 
Camden. 

Check  Mate  {Kir^  dead).  Sheik 
means  king,  and  wct^Jr  in  Spanish  means 
to  kill.  Hence,  Sheik  mate;  Spanish, 
xaque  de  mate;  German,  schach  matt; 
Italian,  scacco  matto.  {See  Chess.) 

ChediaeTros  {Ked'iae'tros).  One  of 
Actaeon’s  dogs.  {See  Canache.) 

Cheek  by  Jowl.  In  intimate  con- 
fabulation ; tete-a-tete.  Jowl  is  the 
Saxon  ceole  (cheek),  Irish  gial.  * 

I’ll  go  with  thee,  cheek  by  \ow\.—ShalcespeaTe^ 
“ Midsummer  Night's  Dream’’  iii.  2. 

Cheek.  None  of  your  cheek.  None 
of  your  insolence.  Cheek,  jowl,  and  jaw 
are  only  varieties  of  the  same  word;  so 
that  ‘^none  of  your  cheek”  and  ^^none  of 
your  jaw”  were  at  one  time  interchange- 
able ; but  now  the  former  implies  more 
impudence  and  insolence  of  demeanour, 
and  the  latter  more  scolding  or  word 
irritation. 

Thus,  wo  say  a man  is  very  cheeky, 
meaning  that  he  is  vain -glorious  and 
presumptuous,  depreciating  others  by 
words  and  demeanour. 

Cheese.  It  is  not  the  cheese.  Not  the 
right  thing  ; not  what  I should  choose. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  ceosan,  to  choose;  Ger- 
man, hiesen ; French,  choisir;  Persian, 
chiz ; Hindu,  cheez,  thing.)  Chaucer 
says,  ‘‘To  cheese  whether  she  wold  him 
marry  or  no.” 

Now  thou  might  cheese 

How  thou  couetist  to  cal  me,  now  thou  knowst 
all  mi  names.  P.  Ploughman,  “ Vision.’* 

lie  is  quite  the  cheese  (or)  just  the  cheese 


— i.e.,  quite  the  thing.  By  a double  re- 
finement we  get  the  slang  varieties,  Thafs 
prime  Stilton,  or  double  Gldster—i.e.,  slap 
bang  up.  {See  above. ) 

Cheesewring  (Cornwall).  A mass 
of  eight  stones,  towering  to  the  height 
of  thirty-two  feet:  so  called  because  it 
looks  like  a gigantic  cheese-press.  This 
is  probably  a natural  work,  the  effect  of 
some  convulsion.  The  Kilmarth  Rocks, 
and  part  of  ^ugh  Lloyd’s  Pulpit,  present 
somewhat  similar  piles  of  stone. 

Chef  d’CBuvre.  A master-piece. 
{French. ) 

Cheleule.  A god  of  the  Patagonians, 
but  inferior  to  Set'ebos,  the  supreme  devil. 


Chemistry  fcem'istry')  is  from  the 
Arabic  kimia,  whence  al-kimia  (the  occult 
art),  from  kamai  (to  conceal).  Chemia 
occurs  in  the  Lexicon  of  Suidas.  To  spell 
the  word  with  a 3/  is  an  error,  arising 
from  the  notion  that  it  is  derived  from 
the  Graeco- Latin  chyo  (to  fuse). 

Che'mos  or  Che'mosh  {Kee'mosh). 
The  war-god  of  the  Moabites;  god  of 
lust. 


Next,  Chemos,  the  obscene  dread  of  Moab’s  sons, 
From  Ar'oer  to  Nebo,  and  the  wild 
Of  southmost  Ab'arim. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  i. 


Chennap'pa.  The  city  of  Chen- 
nappa.  So  Madras  is  called  by  the 
natives. 


Chequers.  A public-house  sign, 
the  arms  of  Fitzwarren,  the  head^  of 
which  house,  in  the  days  of  the  Henries, 
was  invested  with  the  power  of  licensing 
vintners  and  publicans. 


Cherone'an  or  Cheronean  Sage 
{Kerone'an).  Plutarch,  who  was  born  at 
Chaerone'a,  in  Boeotia.  (46-120.) 

This  praise,  O Cheronean  sage,  is  thine, 

Beattie,  “ Minstrel.** 

Cher'ubims.  The  11th  Hussars  are 
so  called,  by  a bad  pun,  because  their 
trousers  are  of  a cherry  colour. 

Chery  and  Fair-Star.  Chery 
was  the  son  of  a king’s  brother  and 
Brunetta  ; Fair-star  was  the  daughter  of 
the  king  and  Blondlna,  the  two  fathers 
being  brothers,  and  the  two  mothers 
sisters.  They  were  cast  on  the  sea 
adrift,  but  were  found  and  brought  up 
by  a corsair  and  his  wife.  Ultimately 
they  are  told  of  their  birth  by  a green 
bird,  and  marry  each  other.  This  tale  is 


CHESHIHE. 


CHICHI-VACHE. 


159 


imitated  from  ^^The  Sisters  who  Envied 
their  Younger  Sister,”  in  the  “ Arabian 
Nights.”  N.B.— The  name  is  from  the 
French  clier  (dear),  and  is  about  equal  to 

deary”  or  ^^dear  one.”  It  is  quite 
wrong  to  spell  it  with  a double  r. — 
Comtesse  (V  Aidnoy , Fairy  Tales’’ 

Cheshire  is  the  Latin  castra-shire, 
called  by  the  Romans  Deva'na  castra  (the 
camp  town  of  Deva,  or  Dee-mouth). 

Chess,  called  by  the  Hindus  clietur- 
anga  (the  four  angas)— ■i.e.,  the  four 
members  of  the  army — viz.,  elephants, 
horses,  chariots,  and  foot-soldiers ; called 
by  the  ancient  Persians  chetrang.  'J'he 
Arabs,  who  have  neither  c nor^,  called 
it  slietranj,  which  modern  Persians  cor- 
rupted into  sacchi,  whence  the  Italian 
scacchi,  German  schach,  French  ^chec,  our 
chess.  (Nee  Check  Mate.) 

Ches'terfield,  lauded  by  Thomson 
in  his  ^‘Winter,”  is  the  fourth  earl, 
author  of  Chesterfield’s  Letters  to  his 
Son.”  (1694-1773.) 

Chesterfield  House  (London)  was  built 
by  Isaac  Ware  for  Philip,  fourth  earl 
of  Chesterfield.  {See  above.) 

Chet'owaik  (North- Amerian  In- 

dian). The  plover. 

All  the  wild  fowls  sang  them  to  him. 

In  the  moorlands  and  the  fenlands, 

In  the  melancholy  marshes  : 

Chetowaik,  the  plover,  sang  them. 

Longfellow.  Hiawatha  ” {Introduction). 

A Cheval  (French).  On  each  side, 
so  as  to  command  the  space  between. 

The  Western  powers  will  assuredly  never  permit 
Russia  to  place  herself  again  d cheval  between  the 
Ottoman  empire  and  Persia.— I’/ie  Times. 

In  military  language,  troops  are  ar- 
ranged d cheval  when  they  command  two 
roads,  as  Wellington’s  army  at  Waterloo, 
which,  being  at  the  apex  of  two  roads, 
commanded  that  between  Charleroy  and 
Brussels,  as  well  as  that  to  Mons. 

. Chevalier.  (Nee  Cavalier.) 

Chevaux  de  Frise  (French). 
Horses  of  Friesland.  A beam  filled  with 
spikes  to  keep  off  horses ; so  called  from 
its  use  in  the  siege  of  Groningen,  Fries- 
land, in  1594.  A somewhat  similar 
engine  had  been  used  before,  but  was 
not  called  by  the  same  name.  In 
German  it  is  A Spanish  horseman” 
{ein  Spanischer  Reiter). 

Chev'eril.  He  has  a cheveril  con- 
scicTice.  One  that  will  easily  stretch  like 
cheveril  or  kid  leather. 


Oh,  here’s  a wit  of  cheveril,  that  stretches  from  an 
inch  narrow  to  an  ell  hxo%d.—Shakespeare,'' Romeo 
and  Juliet  f ii.  4. 

Your  soft  cheveril  conscience  would  receive, 

If  you  might  please  to  stretch  it. 

Shakespeare,  “ Henry  VIII.T  ii.  3. 

Chevy  Chase.  There  had  long 
been  a rivalry  between  the  families  of 
Percy  and  Douglas,  which  showed  itself 
by  incessant  raids  into  each  other’s  ter- 
ritory. Percy  of  Northumberland  one 
day  vowed  he  would  hunt  for  three  days 
in  the  Scottish  border,  without  conde- 
scending to  ask  leave  of  earl  Douglas. 
The  Scotch  warden  said  in  his  anger, 
“ Tell  this  vaunter  he  shall  find  one  day 
more  than  sufficient.”  The  ballad  called 
Chevy  Chase”  mixes  up  this  hunt  with 
the  battle  of  Otterburn,  which.  Dr.  Percy 
justly  observes,  was  '‘a  very  different 
event.”  Chevy  Chase  means  the  chase  or 
hunt  among  the  Chyviat  hyls.” 

To  louder  strains  he  raised  his  voice,  t ) tell 
What  woful  wars  in  “ Chevy  Chace  ” befell, 

When  Percy  drove  the  deer  with  hound  and  hom. 
Wars  to  be  wept  by  children  yet  unbora. 

Gay,  “ Pastoral  VI.'* 

Chiabreres'eo  (Italian).  Poetry 
formed  on  the  Greek  model;  so  called 
from  Gabriel  Chiabre'ra,  surnamed  the 
Pindar  of  Italy  ” (1552-1637). 
Chia'ro-oseu'ro  (fie-ar'-ro).  Light 
and  shadow  judiciously  distributed  in  a 
picture.  The  word  is  compounded  of  two 
Italian  words  meaning  light  (and)  shadow. 

ChibTa'bos.  The  musician ; the 
harmony  of  nature  personified.  He 
teaches  the  birds  to  sing  and  the  brooks 
to  warble  as  they  flow.  All  the  many 
sounds  of  nature  borrow  sweetness  from 
his  singing.  ’ 

V ery  dear  to  Hiawatha 
Was  the  gentle  Chibiabos.  .. 
i'or  his  gentleness  he  level  him, 

And  the  magic  of  his  singing. 

Longfellow,  "Hiawatha,"  vi. 

Chicb'i-vaehe  (3  syl.).  French  for 
the  sorry  cow,”  a monster  that  lived 
only  on  good  women—  all  skin  and  bone, 
because  its  food  was  so  extreme'y  scarce. 
The  old  English  romancers  invented 
another  monster,  which  they  called 
Bycorn,  as  fat  as  the  other  was  lean; 
but,  luckily,  he  had  for  food  “good  and 
enduring  husbands,”  of  which  there  is  no 
lack. 

O noble  wyve^,  fnl  of  heigh  pruden'ce, 

Let  noon  huinilitie  your  tonges  nayle ; 

Ne  lat  no  clerk  have  cause  or  diligen'ce 
To  write  of  you  a story  of  such  mervayle 
As  of  Griseldes,  pacienr,  and  kyude. 

Lest  Chichi-vnche  you  swo'we  in  hir  entraile. 

Chaucer,  “ Murchandes  Tale,”  y059. 


/ 


160  CHICKEN. 


CHILLON.’ 


Chicken.  She^s  no  chicken.  Not 
young.  The  young  child  as  well  as  the 
young  fowl  is  called  a chicken  or  chick. 

To  count  your  chickens  ere  they  are 
hatched (Hudibras).  To  anticipate  prohts 
before  they  come.  One  of  ^sop’s  fables 
describes  a market-woman  saying  she 
would  get  so  much  for  her  eggs^  with 
the  money  she  would  buy  a goose  ; the 
goose  in  time  would  bring  her  so  much, 
with  which  she  would  buy  a cow,  and  so 
on ; but  in  her  excitement  she  kicked 
over  her  basket,  and  all  her  eggs  were 
broken.  The  Latins  said,  Don’t  sing 
your  song  of  triumph  before  you  have 
won  the  victory’'  {ante  victo'riam  can' ere 
triumphum),  Don’t  crow  till  you  are 
out  of  the  wood”  has  a similar  meaning. 

Chicken-hearted.  Cowardly. 
Young  fowls  are  remarkably  timid,  and 
run  to  the  wing  of  the  hen  upon  the 
slightest  cause  of  alarm. 

Childe,  as  childe  Harold,  childe  ofEUc’ 
childe  Waters,  childe  Roland,  childe  Tris- 
tram, childe  Arthur,  <kc. ; also  Childeric 
(Child-eric),  (childe  bert),  Chil- 

peric  (child  p’-eric).  In  all  these  c ises 
the  word  ‘‘childe”  is  a title  of  honour, 
like  the  infante  and  infanta  of  Spain.  In 
the  times  of  chivalry,  the  noble  youths 
who  were  candidates  for  knighthood 
were,  during  their  time  of  probation, 
called  infans,  valets,  damoysels,  and 
1)  icheliers.  Childe  or  infant  was  the  term 
given  only  to  the  most  noble.  The  Saxon 
cnihz  means  both  child  and  knight. 

Childe  Harold.  A man  sated  of 
the  world,  who  roams  from  place  to  place 
to  flee  from  himself.  The  “childe”  is, 
in  fact.  Lord  Byron  himself,  who  was 
only  twenty-one  when  he  began,  and 
twenty-eight  when  he  finished  the  poem. 
In  canto  i,  (1809),  he  visited  Portugal 
and  Spain;  in  canto  ii.  (1810),  Turkey 
in  Europe  ; in  canto  iii.  (1816),  Belgium 
and  Switzerland ; and  in  canto  iv.  (1817), 
Venice,  Rome,  and  Florence. 

Children.  The  children  in  the  wood, 
A Norfolk  gentleman  on  his  deathbed 
left  a little  son,  three  years  old,  and  a 
still  younger  daughter,  named  Jane,  to 
the  care  of  his  wife’s  brother.  The  toy 
was  to  have  £300  a year  when  he  came 
of  age,  and  the  girl  .£500  as  a wedding 
portion;  but  if  the  children  died  pre- 
viously, the  uncle  was  to  inherit.  After 
twelve  months  had  elapsed,  the  uncle 


hired  two  ruffians  to  murder  the  two 
babes.  As  they  went  along  one  of  the 
ruffians  relented,  and  killed  his  fellow' ; 
then  putting  down  the  children  in  a wood, 
left  them.  The  poor  babes  gathered 
blackberries  to  allay  their  hunger,  but 
died  during  the  night,  and  “ Robin  Red- 
breast'’ covered  them  over  with  straw- 
berry leaves.  All  things  went  ill  with 
the  cruel  uncle;  his  sons  died,  his  barns 
were  fired,  his  cattle  died,  and  he  hi  u self 
perished  in  gaol.  After  the  lapse  of  seven 
years,  the  ruffian  was  taken  up  for  high- 
way robbery,  and  confessed  the  whole 
affair. 

Then  sad  he  sung  “The  Children  in  the  tVood.” 
(Ah!  barbarous  uncle,  stained  with  infant  blood!) 
How  *d  ickberries  they  pliicke  1 indeseris  wild, 

And  fear  e-'S  at  the  i;littering  falch  on  smiled  ; 

The'r  little  corpse  the  robin-redbreast  found. 

And  strewed  with  pious  bill  the  leave  -!  a'oaud. 

Gay.  “ Padoral  VI” 

Children.  Three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  at  a birth.  It  is  said  that  the  countess 
of  Hennesberg  accused  a beggar  of  adul- 
tery because  she  carried  twins,  where- 
upon the  beggar  prayed  tb-xt  the  countess 
might  carry  as  many  children  as  there 
are  days  in  the  year.  According  to  the 
legend,  this  happened  on  Good  Friday, 
1276.  All  the  males  were  named  John, 
and  all  the  females  Elizabeth.  The 
countess  was  forty-two  at  the  time. 

Chile'nos.  People  of  Chili. 

ChiTian,  A native  of  Chili,  pertain- 
ing to  Chili,  &c. 

ChiPiasts  (Jcil'iasts).  Another  word 
for  Millen'arians  j those  who  believe  that 
Christ  will  come  again  to  this  earth, 
and  reign  a thousand  years  in  the 
midst  of  his  saints.  (Greek,  chilias,  a 
thousand.) 

Chillon',  Prisoner  of  Chillon.  Fran- 
cesco di  Bonnivard,  of  Lunes.  Lord 
Byron  makes  him  one  of  six  brothers,  ?dl 
of  whom  suffered  as  martyrs.  The  father 
and  two  sons  died  on  the  battle-field  ; 
one  was  burnt  at  the  stake ; three  were 
incarcerated  in  the  dungeon  of  Chillon, 
near  the  lake  of  Gene'va— of  these,  two 
died,  and  Francesco  was  set  at  liberty  by 
“the  Bearnais.”  Byron  says  that  Bon- 
nivard has  left  traces  of  his  footsteps  in 
the  pavement  of  the  dungeon.  He  was 
put  in  prison  for  “republican  principles” 
by  the  duke-bishop  of  Shivoy.  (1406- 
1570.) 


CHILMINAE. 


CHIVALEY 


101 


Cliilminar'and  Balbee.  Two  cities 
built  by  the  Genii,  acting  under  the 
orders  of  Jan  ben  Jan,  who  governed  the 
world  long  before  the  time  of  Adam. 
Chilminar,  or  the  Forty  Pillars,”  is 
Persep'olis.  These  two  cities  were  built 
as  lurking  places  for  the  Genii  to  hide  in. 

Chiltern  Hundreds.  To  accept  the 
Chiltey'ii  Hitndreds  is  to  resign  one's  seat 
in  Parliament.  The  steward  of  the 
Chiltern  Hundreds  is  an  officer  of  the 
crown,  appointed  to  protect  the  people 
of  Bucks  from  the  robbers  of  the 
Chiltern  hills.  This  office  is  now  a,  sine- 
cure, but  as  a member  can  only  resign 
his  seat  by  accepting  office,  he  accepts 
this  sinecure,  which  he  immediately 
vacates  for  the  benedt  of  others.  The 
stewardship  of  the  manors  of  East  Hen  - 
dred,  Northshead,  and  Hempholme,  are 
other  sinecure  offices  made  use  of  for 
the  same  purpose. 

CliimSDra  {Hme'ra).  An  illusory 
fancy,  a wild,  incongruous  scheme,  a castle 
in  the  air.  Homer  describes  the  chimsera 
as  a monster  with  a goat’s  body,  a lion’s 
head,  and  a dragon’s  tail. 

Chin.  (Greek,  ,^671* Its;  Latin, 
Persian,  jam;  German,  hinn;  Dutch, 
hin;  Saxon,  ciiine.) 

Chine'se  (2  syl.>.  A native  of  China; 
the  language  of  China ; pertaining  or 
special  to  China. 

Cliingachcook.  The  Indian  chief 
in  Fenimore  Cooper’s  “Last  of  the 
Mohicans,”  “Pathfinder,”  “Deerslayer,” 
and  “Pioneer.”  Called  in  French  Le 
Gros  Serpent. 

Chink  or  Jink.  Money;  so  called 
because  it  chinks  or  jingles  in  the  purse. 

Thus,  if  a person  is  asked  if  he  has 
money,  he  rattles  that  which  he  has  in 
his  purse  or  pocket. 

Have  cliinks  in  tliy  purse.— ■Titsser. 

Chintz  means  spotted.  The  cotton 
goods  originally  manufactured  in  the 
East.  (Persian,  spotted,  stained.) 

Chios  {Ki'os).  The  man  of  Chios. 
Homer,  who  lived  at  Chios,  near  the 
J^ge'an  Sea.  Seven  cities  claim  to  be 
his  place  of  birth — 

Smyrna.  Bhoios.  Col'oplion,  Sal^amis,  Chios, 
Argos,  Athe'naft. — Vurro 


Chip.  Chip  of  the  old  hloclc.  A son 
or  child  of  the  same  stuff  as  his  father. 
The  chip  is  the  same  wood  as  the  block 
from  which  it  was  cut. 

Brother  chip.  Properly  a brother  car- 
penter, but  in  its  extended  meaning 
applied  to  any  one  of  the  same  vocation 
as  ourselves. 

Chir'achee'.  Chariot.  {Chaucer.) 

Cicle'nius  [Mey'cury]  riding  in  hig  cliirachee. 

“ Compl.  Of  Mars  and  VerMS.’’ 

Chi'ron  {Ki'ron).  The  centaur  who 
taught  Achilles  music,  medicine,  and 
hunting.  Jupiter  placed  him  in  heaven 
among  the  stars,  where  he  is  called 
Sagitta'rius  {the  Archer). 

Chi'ron,  according  to  Dante,  has  watch 
over  the  lake  of  boiling  blood,  in  the 
seventh  circle  of  hell. 

Chisel.  I chiselled  him  means,  I 
cheated  him,  or  did  him  out  of  some- 
thing. As  the  chisel  cuts  pieces  out  of 
wood  very  neitly  and  cleverly,  so  the 
skilful  cheat  cuts  a “cho”  from  the 
person  chiselled. 

Chitty-faeed.  Baby-faced,  lean.  A 
chit  is  a child  or  sprout.  Both  chit  and 
chitty  faced  are  tor  .ns  of  contempt. 
(Saxon,  cith,  a twig,  &c.) 

Chivalry. 

The  paladins  of  Charlemagne  were  all 
scattered  by  the  battle  of  Roncesvalles. 

The  champions  of  Did'erick  were  all 
assassinated  at  the  instigation  of  (ffiriem- 
hil'da,  the  bride  of  Ezzel,  king  of  the 
Huns. 

The  Knights  of  the  Bound  Table  were 
all  extirpated  by  the  fatal  battle  of 
Camlan. 

Chivalry.  The  six  following  clauses 
niay  be  considered  almost  as  axioms  of 
the  Arthu'rian  romances ; — 

(1)  There  was  no  braver  or  more  noble 
king  than  Arthur. 

(2)  No  fairer  or  more  faithless  wife 
than  Guin'iver. 

(3)  No  truer  pair  of  lovers  than  Tristan 
and  Iseult. 

(4)  No  knight  more  faithful  than  Sir 
Kaye. 

(5)  None  so  brave  and  amorous  as  Sir 
Laun'celot. 

(6)  None  so  virtuous  as  Sir  Gal'ahad. 

The  flower  of  Chivalry.  William 

Douglas,  lord  of  Liddesdale.  (14th  cen- 
tury.) 


L 


162 


CHIVY. 


CHRISOME. 


Cliiv'y.  A chase  in  the  school 
game  of  ‘^Prisoners’  Base”  or  “Prison 
Bars.”  So  called  from  Chevy  Chase 
iq.v.).  One  boy  sets  a chivy,  by  leaving 
his  bar,  when  one  of  the  opposite  side 
chases  him,  and  if  he  succeeds  in  touch- 
ing him  before  he  reaches  “home,”  he 
becomes  a prisoner. 

Chlo'e  {KWee).  The  shepherdess  be- 
loved by  Daphnis  in  the  pastoral  romance 
of  Longus, entitled  “Daphnis  and  Chloe.” 
St.  Pierre’s  tale  of  “Paul  and  Virginia” 
is  founded  on  the  exquisite  romance  of 
Longus. 

Choe'reas  {Ke'reas).  The  lover  of  Cal- 
lir'rhoe,  in  Cha'riton’s  Greek  romance, 
called  the  “ Loves  of  Choereas  and  Cal- 
lir'rhoe.”  (Eighth  century. ) 

Choke.  May  this  'piece  of  bread  choice 
me,  if  what  I say  is  not  true.  In  ancient 
times  a person  accused  of  robbery  had  a 
piece  of  barley  bread,  on  which  the  mass 
had  been  said,  given  him  to  swallow.  He 
put  it  in  his  mouth  uttering  the  words 
given  above,  and  if  he  could  swallow  it 
without  being  choked,  he  was  pronounced 
innocent.  Tradition  ascribes  the  death 
of  the  earl  Godwin  to  choking  with  a 
piece  of  bread,  after  this  solemn  appeal. 

Choke-pear.  An  argument  to  which 
there  is  no  answer.  Bobbers  in  Hol- 
land at  one  time  made  use  of  a piece 
of  iron  in  the  shape  of  a pear,  which 
they  forced  into  the  mouth  of  their  vic- 
tim. On  turning  a key,  a number  of 
springs  thrust  forth  points  of  iron  in  all 
directions,  so  that  the  instrument  of  tor- 
ture could  never  be  taken  out  except  by 
means  of  the  keJ^ 

Chon.  The  Egyptian  Hercules. 

Chondar'avali.  The  daugliter  of 
Vishnu.  {Hindu  'mythology.) 

Chop'ine  (2  syl.).  A high-heeled 
shoe.  The  Venetian  ladies  used  to  v/ear 
“ high-heeled  shoes  like  stilts.”  Hamlet 
says  of  the  actress,  “Your  ladyship  is 
nearer  to  heaven,  than  when  I saw  you 
last,  by  the  al'itude  of  achopine”  (act 
ii.  s.  2).  (Spanish,  chapin,  a high  cork 
shoe. ) 

Chop  Logic.  To  bandy  words  ; to 
altercate.  J^ord  Bacon  says,  “Let  not 
the  council  chop  with  the  judge.” 

How  now,  how  now,  chop  logic!  What  is  this? 

“ Pj  oud,’  and  “ I thank  you,”  and  “I  thank  vou  not,” 
^nd  yet  not  proud.” 

tfukespr,:ire,  “ Romeo  anX  5. 


Chops.  Dotvn  ioi  the  chops — i.e., 
down  in  the  mouth  ; in  a melancholy 
state ; with  the  mouth  drawn  down. 
Chop  or  chap  is  Saxon  for  mouth ; we 
still  say  a pig’s  chap. 

Choreu'tse  {Koru'tee).  A sect  of 
heretics,  who,  among  other  errors,  per- 
sisted in  keeping  the  Sunday  a fast. 

Chouans  (2  syl.).  French  insurgents 
of  the  Royalist  party  during  the  Revo- 
lution. Jean  Cottereau  was  their  leader, 
nick-named  chouain  (owl),  because  he  was 
accustomed  to  warn  his  companions  of 
danger  by  imitating  the  screech  of  an 
owl.  Cottereau  was  followed  by  George 
Cadoudal. 

Chouse  (1  syl.).  To  cheat  out  of 
something.  Gifford  says  the  interpreter 
of  the  Turkish  embassy  in  England  is 
called  chiaus,  and  in  1609  this  chiaus 
contrived  to  defraud  his  government  of 
c£4,000,  an  enormous  sum  at  that  period. 
From  the  notoriety  of  the  swindle  the 
word  chiaus  or  to  chouse  was  adopted. 
What  do  you  think  of  me— 

That  I am  a chiaus? 

Ben  Jonson,  “ AlchymisV’  (1010.) 

Cliriem-hirda  or  Chriem-hild. 
A woman  of  unrivalled  beauty,  sister  of 
Gunther,  and  beloved  by  Siegfried,  the 
two  chief  heroes  of  the  Nibeluugen- 
lied.  Siegfried  gives  her  a talisman  taken 
from  Gunther’s  lady-love,  and  Gunther, 
in  a fit  of  jealousy,  induces  Hagen  to 
murder  his  brother-in-law.  Chriemhild  in 
revenge  marries  Ezzel,  king  of  the  Huns  ; 
invites  the  Hibelungs  to  the  wedding 
feast ; and  there  they  are  all  put  to  the 
sword,  except  Hagen  and  Gunther,  who 
are  taken  prisoners,  and  put  to  death  by 
the  bride.  (^See  Kriemhild.) 

Clirisome  {Jcris'um)  signifies  properly 
“the  white  cloth  set  by  the  minister  at 
bap ‘ism  on  the  head  of  the  newly 
anointed  with  chrism  (i.e.,  a compo- 
sition of  oil  and  balm).  In  the  Form 
of  Private  Baptism  is  this  direction  : 
“Then  the  minister  shall  put  the  white 
vesture,  commonly  called  the  chrisome, 
upon  the  child.”  The  child  thus  bap- 
tised is  called  a chrisom  or  chrisom 
child.  If  it  dies  within  the  month,  it  is 
shrouded  in  the  vesture ; and  hence,  in 
the  bills  of  mortality,  even  to  the  year 
1726,  infants  that  died  within  the  month 
were  termed  chrisoms. 

A’  made  a fine  end,  and  went  away  an  it  liad 
been  any  chrisom  child.  —Shakespeare,  “ Henry  F.,” 
li. .. 


CHEISTABEL. 


CHEISTOPHER. 


163 


Christabel  {Kris'tabeV).  The  hero- 
ine of  Coleridge’s  fragmentary  poem  of 
that  name. 

Cliristabelle  {Kristalel).  Daughter 
of  a ^^bonnie  king”  in  Ireland.  She  fell 
in  love  with  Sir  Cauline  {q.v.). 

Christendom  {Kris' -en-dum)  gene- 
rally means  all  Christian  countries ; but 
Shakespeare  uses  it  for  hajptism,  or 
'^Christian  citizenship.”  Thus,  in  ^‘King 
John,”  the  young  prince  says — 

By  my  clu’istendom ! 

So  were  I out  of  prison,  and  kept  sheep, 

I should  he  merry  as  the  day  is  Jong. 

Act  iv.  s.  1. 

Christian  {Kris'tian).  The  hero  of 
John  Bunyan’s  allegory  called  The  Pil- 
grim’s Progress.”  He  flees  from  the  “ City 
of  Destruction,”  and  journeys  on  to  the 
‘^Celestial  City.”  He  starts  with  a heavy 
burden  on  his  back,  but  it  falls  off  when 
he  stands  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 

Christian.  A follower  of  Christ.  So 
called  first  at  Antioch  (Acts  xi.  26). 

Most  Christian  Doctor.  John  Charlier 
de  Gerson.  ^ (1363-1429.) 

Most  Christian  King.  The  style  of  the 
king  of  France. 

Pepin  le  Bref  was  so  styled  by  pope 
Stephen  III.  (714-768.) 

Charles  le  Chauve  was  so  styled  by  the 
council  of  Savonnieres.  (823-877.) 

Louis  XI.  was  so  styled  by  pope  Paul  II. 
(1423-1483.)^ 

Since  which  time  it  has  been  uni- 
versally adopted  in  Franco.  (1469.) 

And  thou,  O Gaul,  with  gaudy  trophies  plumed, 
“ Most  Christian  King.”  Alas ! in  vain  assumed. 

Camoens,  “ Lusiad,”  bk.  vii. 

Founder  of  Christiar^  Eloquence.  Louis 
Bourdaloue,  the  French  preacher.  (1632- 
1704.) 

Christian'a  {Kristian' a).  The  wife 
of  Christian,  who  started  with  her  children 
and  Mercy  from  the  City  of  Destruc- 
tion” long  after  her  husband.  She  was 
placed  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Great- 
Heart,  and  went,  therefore,  in  silver 
slippers  ” along  the  thorny  road. — 
Bunyan^  The  Pilgrim* s Progress f pt.  ii. 

Cbristmas  {Krist'mas).  Christmas 
comes  but  once  a year.” — Thomas  Tusser. 

Christmas  Box.  A small  gra- 
tuity given  to  servants,  &c.,  on  Boxing 
day  (the  day  after  Christmas  day).  In 
the  early  days  of  Christi  mity  boxes  were 
placed  in  churches  for  promiscuous  cha- 


rities, and  opened  on  Christmas  Day. 
The  contents  were  distributed  next  day 
by  the  priests,  and  called  the  ^ ^ dole  of 
the  Christmas  box,”  or  the  box  money.” 
It  was  customary  for  heads  of  houses  to 
give  small  sums  of  money  to  their  sub- 
ordinates to  put  into  the  box,”  before 
mass  on  Christmas  Day. 

Somewhat  later,  apprentices  carried  a 
b ‘X  round  to  their  master’s  customers 
for  small  gratuities.  The  custom  since 
1836  has  been  gradually  dying  out. 

Gladly  the  boy,  with  Christmas  box  in  hand, 
Throughout  the  town  his  devious  route  pursues. 
And  of  his  master’s  customers  implores 
The  yearly  mite. 

Christmas. 

Christmas  Carols  are  in  com- 
memoration of  the  song  of  the  angels  to 
the  shepherds  at  the  nativity.  Durand 
tells  us  that  the  bishops  with  the  clergy 
used  to  sing  carols  and  play  games  on 
Christmas  day.  (Welsh,  carol,  a love- 
song;  Italian,  ca.rola;  &c.) 

Christmas  Day.  Transferred  from 
the  6th  of  January  to  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber by  Julius  I.  (337-352.) 

Christmas  Decorations.  The 
great  feast  of  Saturn  was  held  in  Decem- 
ber, when  the  people  decorated  the  tem- 
ples with  such  green  things  as  they  could 
find.  The  Christian  custom  is  the  same 
transferred  to  Him  who  was  born  in 
Bethlehem  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month.  The  holly  or  holy-tree  is  called 
Christ’s-thorn  in  Germany  and  Scandi- 
navia, from  its  use  in  church  decorations 
and  its  putting  forth  its  berries  at  Christ- 
mas time.  The  early  Christians  gave 
an  emblematic  turn  to  the  custom,  refer- 
ring to  the  righteous  branch,”  and  jus- 
tifying the  custom  from  Isa.  lx.  13 — ‘‘The 
glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto  thee ; 
the  fir-tree,  the  pine-tree,  and  the  box 
together,  to  beautify  the  place  of  my 
sanctuary.” 

ChrisTolytes  {Kris' do-lites).  A sect 
of  Christians  that  appeared  in  the  sixth 
century.  They  maintained  that  when 
Christ  descended  into  hell,  he  left  his 
soul  and  body  there,  and  rose  only  with 
his  heavenly  nature. 

Christoplier  (>8^.).  The  giant  carried 
a child  over  a brook,  and  said,  “ Chylde, 
thou  hast  put  me  in  grete  peryll.  I 
mi-ht  here  no  greater  burden.”  To 
which  the  child  answered,  “ Marvel  thou 
nothing,  for  thou  hast  borne  all  the  world 
L 2 


164 


CHRONICON. 


CICERO. 


upon  thee,  and  its  sins  likewise.”  This 
is  an  allegory : Christopher  means  cross- 
hearer — i.e.,  Jesus  Christ;  ihe  child  is 
the  offspring  of  Adam ; the  river  is  death. 
The  saint  is  called  a giant  because  the 
Redeemer  was  equal  to  so  great  a burden. 

Cliron'ieoii  ex  Chron'icis  is  by 
Florence,  a monk  of  Worcester,  the  ear- 
liest of  our  English  chroniclers.  It  be- 
gins from  Creation,  and  goes  down  to 
1119,  in  which  year  the  author  died  ; but 
it  was  continued  by  another  hand  to 
1141.  Printed  in  4to  at  London,  1592. 
Its  chief  value  consists  in  its  serving  as 
a key  to  the  Saxon  chronicle. 

Chronon-lioton-tliorogos  {Kro- 
noiiy  &c.).  A burlesque  pomposo  in 
Henry  Carey’s  farce,  so  called.  Any 
one  who  delivers  an  inflated  address. 

Aldiborontophoscophoruio,  where  left  you  Chro- 
nonhotonthologos  ?— ^T.  Carey. 

Clirysa'or  (krisa'oi).  Sir  Artegal’s 
sword,  “ that  all  other  swords  excelled.” 
— S])enser,  FaMry  Queen.'' 

Chrys'alis  (krys'alis).  The  form 
which  caterpillars  assume  before  they 
are  converted  into  butterflies.  The 
chrysalis  is  also  called  an  aure'lia,  from 
the  Latin  aurum,  gold.  The  external 
covering  of  some  species  has  a metallic, 
golden  hue,  but  others  are  green,  red, 
black,  &c.  (Greek,  chrusos,  gold.) 

Chubb  {Thomas).  A deist ical  writer, 
who  wrote  upon  miracles  in  the  first  half 
of  the  eighteenth  century. 

He  heard  of  Blount,  of  Mandeville,  and  Chubb. 

Crabb,  “ Boroujh.’’ 

Chum.  A crony,  a familiar  com- 
panion,jproperly  a bedfellow.  (Armoric, 
chom;  French,  chdimr,  to  rest;  Saxon, 
ham  ; our  home. 

Church.  The  etymology  of  this 
word  is  generally  assumed  to  be  from 
the  Greek  Kuriou  oikos  (house  of  God) ; 
but  this  is  most  improbable,  as  the  word 
existed  in  all  the  Celtic  dialects  long  be- 
fore the  introduction  of  Greek.  No 
doubt  the  word  means  ^'^a  circle.” 
The  places  of  worship  among  the  German 
and  Celtic  nations  were  always  circular  : 
witness  the  cromlechs  of  Stonehenge, 
Avebury,  Silbury  Hill,  Stanton  Drew, 
&c.,  the  dolmens  of  Brittany,  and  the  relic 
shrines  of  India.  (Welsh,  cyrch  ; French, 
cirque:  Scotch,  Gr. ek,  &c.) 

High,  Low,  and  Broad  Church.  Dr. 
South  says^  The  High  Church  are  those 


who  think  highly  of  the  church  and  lowly 
of  themselves  ; the  Low  Church  those 
who  think  lowly  of  the  church  and  highly 
of  themselves.”  The  Broad  Church  are 
those  who  think  the  church  is  broad 
enough  for  all  religious  parties,  and  their 
own  views  of  religion  are  chiefly  of  a 
moral  nature,  their  doctrinal  views  being 
so  rounded  and  elastic,  that  they  can 
come  into  collision  with  no  one. 

Chureb  Militant  and  Church  Tri- 
umjphant.  The  church  on  earth  means 
the  whole  body  of  believers,  who  are  said 
to  be  ‘^waging  the  war  of  faith”  against 
“the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.”  It 
is  therefore  militant,  or  in  warfare  ; but 
some  have  gone  to  their  rest,  and  have 
entered  into  glory,  having  fought  the 
fight  and  triumphed—  these  belong  to  the 
“church  triumphant”  in  heaven. 

Churcli  Porch.  {The')  was  used  in 
ancient  times  for  settling  money  trans- 
actions, paying  dowries,  rents,  and  pur- 
chases of  estates.  Consequently  it  was 
furnished  with  benches  on  both  sides. 
Hence,  lord  Stourton  sent  to  invite  the 
Hartgills  to  meet  him  in  the  porch  of 
Kilmington  church  to  receive  the  .^82,000 
awarded  them  by  the  Star  Chamber. — 
Lord  de  Ros,  “ Tower  of  London." 

Churching  of  Women.  In  imi- 
tation of  the  Jewish  custom  of  purifica- 
tion. The  Virgin  Mary  went  up  to  be 
purified  and  to  make  her  offering  (Luke 
ii.  22,  &c.). 

Chuz'zlewit  {Martin).  The  hero  of 
Dickens’s  novel  so  called.  Jonas  Chuzzle- 
vdt  is  a type  of  mean  tyranny,  delighting 
in  petty  cruelty. 

Chyndo'nax.  A chief  Druid,  whose 
tomb,  with  a Greek  inscription,  was  dis- 
covered near  Dijon,  in  1598. 

Cic'ero.  So  called  from  the  Latin 
cicer  (a  wart  or  vetch).  Plutarch  says, 
“a  flat  excrescence,  on  the  t p of  his 
nose,  gave  him  this  name.”  His  real 
name  was  Tully. 

The  British  Cicero.  William  Pitt,  earl 
of  Chatham.  (1708-1778.) 

The  Cicero  of  the  British  Senate.  George 
Canning.  (1770-1827.) 

The  Christian  Cicero.  Lucius  Coelius 
Lactantius,  a Christian  father,  who  died 
330. 

The  Cicero  of  France,  Jean  Baptist© 
MassiUon.  (1663-1742.) 


CICEKONE. 


CIECLE. 


165 


La  Bouche  de  Ciceron.  Philippe  Pot, 
prime  minister  of  Louis  XI.  (1428- 
1494.) 

The  Cicero  of  Germany.  Johann  III., 
elector  of  Brandenburg.  (1455-1499.) 

The  German  Cicero.  Johann  Sturm, 
printer  and  scholar.  (1507-1589.) 

Cicero'ne  (4  syl.).  A guide  to  point 
out  objects  of  interest  to  strangers.  So 
called  in  the  same  way  as  Paul  was  called 
by  the  men  of  Lystra  Mercu''rius,  be- 
cause he  was  the  chief  speaker”  (Acts 
xiv.  12).  Cicero  was  the  speaker  of 
speakers  at  Rome ; and  certainly,  in  a 
party  of  sight-seers,  the  guide  is  ^^the 
chief  speaker.”  It  is  no  compliment  to 
the  great  orator  to  call  the  glib  patterer 
of  a show-place  a Cicero ; but  we  must 
not  throw  stones  at  our  Italian  neigh- 
bours, as  we  have  conferred  similar 
honour  on  our  great  epic  poet  in  chang- 
ing ^^Grub  Street”  into ‘^Milton  Street.” 

Cicis'beo  {che-chiz-heo).  A dangler 
about  women  ; the  professed  gallant  of  a 
married  woman.  Also  the  knot  of  silk 
or  ribbon  which  is  attached  to  fans, 
walking-sticks,  umbrellas,  &c.  Cicis- 
leism,  the  practice  of  dangling  about 
women. 

Ciele'nius  or  Cylle'nius.  Mercury. 
So  called  from  mount  Cylle'ne,  in  Pelo- 
ponne'sus,  where  he  was  born. 

Ciclenius  riding  in  his  chirachee. 

Chaucer,  “ Compl.  of  Mars  and  Venus.” 

Cid.  Arabic  for  lord.  Don  Roderi'go 
Laynez,  Ruy  Diaz  (son  of  Diaz),  count  of 
Bivari.  He  was  called  mio  cid  el  cam- 
peador,”  my  lord  the  champion.  (1040- 
1099.) 

The  Portuguese  Cid.  Nunez  Alva'rez 
Perei'ra,  general  and  diplomatist.  (1360- 
1431.) 

The  CiTs  horse.  Bavie'ca. 

The  Cid's  sword.  Cola'da.  The  sword 
taken  by  the  cid  Roderi'go  from  king 
Bucar  was  called  Tizo'na. 

Ci-devant  (French).  Former  ; of 
times  gone  by.  As  Ci-devant  governor' — 
i.e.,  once  a governor,  but  no  longer  so. 
Ci-devant  philosophers  philosophers 

of  former  days. 

CiPlaros.  The  name  of  Castor’s 
horse.  {See  Horse.) 

Cimmer'ian  Bos'phorus.  The 
strait  of  Kaffa. 


Cimmer'ian  Darkness.  Homer 
supposes  the  Cimmerians  to  dwell  in  a 
land  beyond  the  ocean-stream,”  where 
the  sun  never  shone. — Odys.j*  xi.  14. 

In  dark  Cimmerian  desert  ever  dwell. 

Milton,  “L’Allegro.'* 

Cincho'na  or  Quinine.  So  named 
from  the  countess  del  Cinchon,  wife  of 
the  conde  del  Cinchon,  viceroy  of  Peru, 
whence  the  bark  was  first  sent  to  Europe. 
{See  Peruvian  Bark.) 

Cineinna'tus,  the  Roman,  was 
ploughing  his  field,  when  he  was  sa- 
luted as  Dictator.  After  he  had  con- 
quered the  Volsci  and  delivered  his 
country  from  danger,  he  laid  down  his 
office  and  returned  to  his  plough. 

And  Cincinnatus,  awful  from  the  plough. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.” 

The  Cincinnatus  of  the  Americans. 
George  Washington.  (1732-1799.) 

Cinderel'la  (little  cinder  girt),  hero- 
ine of  a fairy  tale.  She  is  the  drudge  of 
the  house,  dirty  with  housework,  while 
her  elder  sisters  go  to  fine  balls.  At 
length  a fairy  enables  her  to  go  to  the 
prince’s  ball ; the  prince  falls  in  love  with 
her,  and  she  is  discovered  by  means  of  a 
glass  slipper  which  she  drops,  and  which 
will  fit  no  foot  but  her  own. 

The  glass  slipper  is  a strange  mistrans- 
lation of  pantoufie  en  vair  (a  fur  slipper), 
as  if  pantoufie  en  verre. 

Cinque  Cento.  Inferior  or  de- 
graded art.  The  words  are  Italian  for 
500.  In  1500  the  great  schools  of  art 
had  closed,  and  the  artists  that  fol- 
lowed them  were  very  inferior. 

Cin'yplius.  A river  of  Africa. — 
Orlando  Furioso. 

Cir'ce  (2  syl.).  A sorceress.  She 
lived  in  the  island  of  -^oea.  When 
IJlysses  landed  there,  Circe  turned  his 
companions  into  swine,  but  Ulysses 
resisted  this  metamorphose  by  virtue  of 
a herb  called  moly,  given  him  by  Mercury. 

Who  knows  not  Circe, 

The  daughter  of  the  Sun,  whose  charmed  cup 

Whoever  tasted  lost  his  upright  shape,  , 

And  downward  fell  into  a grovelling  swine  ? 

Milton,  “ Gomus.” 

Circle  of  UTloa.  A white  rainbow 
or  luminous  ring  sometimes  seen  in 
Alpine  regions  opposite  the  sun  in  foggy 
weather. 


166 


CIRCUIT, 


CITY. 


Circuit.  The  journey  made  through 
the  counties  of  Great  Britain  by  the 
judges  twice  a year.  There  are  six  cir- 
cuits in  England,  two  in  Wales,  and 
three  in  Scotland.  Those  in  England 
are  called  the  Home,  Norfolk,  Midland, 
Oxford,  Western,  and  Northern  ; those  of 
Wales,  the  North  and  South  circuits ; and 
those  of  Scotland,  the  Southern,  W estern, 
and  Northern. 

Circumceirians.  A sect  of  the 
African  Don'atists  in  the  fourth  century  ; 
so  called  because  they  rambled  from  town 
to  town  to  redress  grievances,  forgive 
debts,  manumit  slaves,  and  set  them- 
selves up  as  the  oracles  of  right  and 
wrong.  (Latin,  cir cum- cello ^ to  beat 
about. ) 

Circumcised  Brethren  (in  Hu- 
dibras  ”).  They  were  Prynne,  Bertie  or 
Burton,  and  Bastwdck,  who  lost  their  ears 
and  had  their  noses  slit  for  lampooning 
Henrietta  Maria  and  the  bishops. 

Circumlocu'tion  Office.  A term 
applied  in  ridicule  to  our  public  offices, 
because  each  person  tries  to  shuffie  off 
every  act  to  some  one  else,  and  before  any- 
thing is  done  it  has  to  pass  through  so 
many  departments,  that  every  fly  is 
crushed  on  a wheel.  The  term  was  in- 
vented by  Charles  Dickens,  and  appears 
in  Little  Dorrit.” 

Ciric-Sceat  or  Church-Scot.  An 
ecclesiastical  due,  paid  chiefly  in  corn, 
in  the  reign  of  Canute,  &c.,  on  St. 
Martin’s  Day. 

Cisse'ta.  One  of  the  dogs  of  Actseon. 

Cist  or  Cyst.  Properly  a bladder 
(Greek,  cystis),  but  generally  used  for  a 
stone  chest  containing  the  remains  of 
those  who  are  buried  in  barrows. 

Cister'cians.  A religious  order,  so 
called  from  the  monastery  of  Cister'cium, 
near  Dijon,  in  France.  The  abbey  of 
Cistercium  or  Citeaux  was  founded  by 
Robert,  abbot  of  Moleme,  in  Burgundy, 
at  the  close  of  the  eleventh  century. 

Cities.  The  Cities  of  the  Plain, 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 

Abram  dwelled  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  Lot 
dwelled  in  the  cities  of  the  plain,  and  pitched  his 
tent  toward  Sodom,— xiii.  12. 

The  Seven  Cities.  Egypt,  Jerusalem, 
Babylon,  Athens,  Rome,  Constantinople, 


and  either  London  for  commerce  or  Paris 
for  beauty. 

Citizen  King.  Louis  Philippe  of 
France.  So  called  because  he  was 
elected  king  by  the  citizens  of  Paris. 
(Born  1773,  reigned  1830-1848,  died  1850.) 

City  of  David.  Jerusalem.  So 
called  in  compliment  to  King  David. 
(2  Sam.  V.  7,  9.) 

City  of  Destruction.  This  world, 
or  rather,  the  world  of  the  unconverted. 
Bunyan  makes  Christian  flee  from  the 
^^City  of  Destruction”  and  journey  to 
the  ‘^Celestial  City,”  by  which  he  alle- 
gorises the  ‘‘walk  of  a Christian  ” from 
conversion  to  death. 

City  of  God.  The  church  or  whole 
body  of  believers  ; the  kingdom  of  Jesus 
Christ,  in  contradistinction  to  the  city  of 
the  World,  called  by  John  Bunyan  the 
City  of  Destruction.  The  phrase  is  that 
of  St.  Augustine. 

City  of  Lanterns.  A supposititious 
city  in  Lucian’s  “Verse  Historise,”  situate 
somewhere  beyond  the  zodiac. 

City  of  Palaces.  Agrippa,  in  the 
reign  of  Augustus,  converted  Rome  from 
“ a city  of  brick  huts  to  one  of  marble 
palaces.” 

Calcutta  is  called  the  “City  of  Palaces.” 
Modern  Paris  well  deserves  the  compli- 
ment of  being  so  called. 

City  of  Refuge.  Medi'na,  in 
Arabia,  where  Mahomet  took  refuge 
when  driven  by  conspirators  from  Mecca. 
He  entered  the  city,  not  as  a fugitive,  but 
in  triumph,  a.d.  622. 

Cities  of  Refuge.  Moses,  at  the  com- 
mand of  God,  set  apart  three  cities  on 
the  east  of  Jordan,  and  Joshua  added 
three  others  on  the  west,  whither  any 
person  might  flee  for  refuge  who  had 
killed  a human  creature  inadvertently. 
The  three  on  the  east  of  Jordan  were 
Bezer,  Ramoth,  and  Golan ; the  three  on 
the  west  were  Hebron,  Shecbem,  and 
Kedesh.  (Deut.  iv.  43;  Josh.  xx.l — 8.) 

City  of  the  Great  King— ^^e., 

Jerusalem.  (Ps.  xlviii.  2;  Matt.  v.  35.) 

City  of  the  Sun.  A romance  by 
Campanella,  similar  to  the  “Republic” 
of  Plato,  the  “Utopia”  of  Sir  Thomas 
More,  and  the  “ Atlantis  ” of  Lord  Bacon. 
(,15(38-1639.) 


CIVIL. 


CLARENCIEUX. 


1G7 


Civil  List.  Now  applied  to  expenses 
proper  for  the  maintenance  of  the  sove- 
reign’s household ; but  before  the  reign 
of  William  III.  it  embraced  all  the  heads 
of  public  expenditure,  except  those  of 
the  army  and  navy. 

Civil  Service  Estimates  (C.S.E.) 
include  the  national  expenses  for — 

Public  works. 

Salaries. 

Law  expenses. 

Education,  science,  and  art. 

Colonial  and  consular  expenses. 

Pensions. 

Miscellaneous. 

Civila'tion.  Intoxication.  A Cork 
orator  at  a debating  society  was  speaking 
on  the  state  of  Ireland  before  it  was  added 
to  England,  and  said,  Sir,  the  Irish  had 
no  civilation — cilivation,  I mean — no 
civilation,”  and  sat  down,  too  far  gone  to 
pronounce  the  word  civilisation. 

Clabber  tapper’s  Hole.  Near 
Gravesend ; said  to  be  so  called  from  a 
freebooter  ; but  more  likely  the  Celtic 
Caer-her  Varher  (water-town  lower  camp). 

Clack  Disli.  Some  two  or  three 
centuries  ago,  beggars  used  to  proclaim 
their  want  by  clacking  the  lid  of  a wooden 
dish. 

“Can  you  think  I get  my  living  by  a bell  and 
clack-dish  ?” 

“ . . . How’s  that  ? ” 

“ Why,  begging,  sir.”  ^'Family  of  Love'’  (1008.) 

Claire  {St).  A religious  order  of 
women,  the  second  that  St.  Francis  in- 
stituted. It  was  founded  in  1213,  and 
took  its  name  from  its  first  abbess,  Claire 
of  Assise. 

Clak-ho-har'yab.  At  Fort  Van- 
couver, the  medium  of  intercourse  is  a 
mixture  of  Canadian  French,  English, 
Indian,  and  Chinese.  An  Englishman  goes 
by  the  name  of  Kint-shosli^  a corruption  of 
king  George ; an  American  is  called  Bos- 
ton ; and  the  ordinary  salutation  is  clak- 
lio-haryah.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact 
that  the  Indians,  frequently  hearing  a 
trader  named  Clark  addressed  by  his 
companions,  “Clark,  how  are  you?” 
imagined  this  to  be  the  correct  English 
form  of  salutation. — Taylor^  “ Words  and 
Places.^’ 

Clam.  Better  clam  than  go  to  the 
union.  Better  be  pinched  or  half-starved. 


(Clam  is  the  German  Iclemmen,  to  pinch  ; 
Danish,  klemmer  ; owe  clammy^  sticky.) 

I could  not  let  him  clam,  I was  clamming  my- 
self, mornm.— Shadow  of  Ashlydat. 

Clap-trap.  Something  introduced 
to  win  applause  ; something  really  worth- 
less, but  sure  to  take  with  the  ground- 
lings. It  is  a trap  to  catch  a round  of 
applause. 

Clapper.  A plank  bridge  over  a 
stream ; a ferry-gate. 

Clapper  Claw.  To  jangle  and  claw 
each  other  about.  (Dutch  and  German, 
Happen,  to  strike,  clatter.) 

Now  they  are  clapper-clawing  one  another;  I’ll 
go  look  on. — “ Troilus  and  Cressida,”  v.  4. 

Clapper-dudgeons.  Abram-men 
{g.v.').  The  clapper  is  the  tongue  of  a 
bell,  and  in  cant  language  the  human 
“tongue.”  Dudgeon  (Welsh,  dygen) 
means  resentment,  and  in  slang  language 
one  who  resents,  a madman.  A clapper- 
dudgeon  is  a madman,  patter er,  or  beg- 
gar. 

Clapping  the  prayer-books,  or 
stamping  the  feet,  in  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic church,  on  Good  Friday,  is  designed  to 
signify  the  abandonment  of  our  Saviour 
by  his  disciples.  This  is  done  when 
twelve  of  the  thirteen  burning  candles 
are  put  out.  The  noise  comes  from  within 
the  choir. 

Claque;  Claqueurs.  Applause  by 
clapping  the  hands ; persons  paid  for 
doing  so.  M.  Sauton,  in  1820,  established 
in  Paris  an  office  to  ensure  the  success  of 
dramatic  pieces.  He  was  the  first  to 
organise  the  Parisian  claque.  The  manager 
sends  an  order  to  his  office  for  any  num- 
ber of  claqueurs,  sometimes  for  500,  or 
even  more.  The  class  is  divided  into 
commissars,  those  who  commit  the  pieces 
to  memory,  and  are  noisy  in  pointing 
out  its  merits ; rieurs,  who  laugh  at  the 
puns  and  jokes  ; pleureurs,  chiefly  women, 
who  are  to  hold  their  pocket-handkerchiefs 
to  their  eyes  at  the  moving  parts  ; cha~ 
touilleurs,  who  are  to  keep  the  audience 
in  good  humour;  and  hisseurs,  who  are 
to  cry  {his)  encore.  The  Romans  had 
their  Laudicoeni  (ff.v.). 

Clarencieux  (3  syl.).  The  first  of  th^ 
two  provincial  king-at-arms,  the  other  is 
Norroy  {north  king).  So  named  from  the 
duke  of  Clarence,  third  son  of  Edward 
III.,  who  first  bore  the  office. 


/ 


168  CLAEENDON. 


CLEMENT. 


Clarendon.  The  constitutions  of 
Clarendon.  Laws  made  by  a general 
council  of  nobles  and  prelates,  held  at 
Clarendon,  in  Wiltshire,  in  1 164,  to  check 
the  power  of  the  church,  and  restrain  the 
prerogatives  of  ecclesiastics.  These 
famous  ordinances,  sixteen  in  number, 
define  the  limits  of  the  patronage  and 
jurisdiction  of  the  pope  in  these  realms. 

Claret.  The  wine  so  called  does  not 
receive  its  name  from  its  colour,  but  the 
colour  so  called  receives  its  name  from 
the  witje.  The  word  means  clarified 
wine  {vinum  clave' turn).  What  we  called 
hippocras  was  called  clave' turn,  which  was 
a liquor  made  of  wine  and  honey  clarified. 

Classics.  The  best  authors.  The 
Eomans  were  divided  by  Ser'vius  into  six 
classes.  Any  citizen  who  belonged  to 
the  highest  class  was  called  class'icus,  all 
the  rest  were  said  to  be  infra  classem. 
From  this  the  best  authors  were  termed 
class'ici  aucto'ves  (classic  authors)— -i.e., 
authors  of  the  best  or  first  class.  The 
high  esteem  in  which  Greek  and  Latin 
were  held  at  the  revival  of  letters  ob- 
tained for  these  authors  the  name  of 
classic,  emphatically ; and  when  other 
first-rate  works  are  intended  some  dis- 
tinctive name  is  added,  as  the  English, 
French,  Sj^anish,  &c.,  classics. 

Claude  Lorraine.  Claude  Gelee, 
the  French  landscape  painter,  who  was 
born  at  the  Chateau-de-Chamage,  in 
Lorraine.  (1600-1682.) 

Claus  (Santa).  The  Kriss  Kringle 
of  the  Dutch,  and  the  St.  Nicholas  of  the 
Germans  (q.v.). 

Clause.  Letter-clause,  a close  letter, 
sealed  with  the  royal  signet  or  privy- 
seal  ; in  opposition  to  letters -patent,  which 
are  left  open,  the  seal  being  attached 
simply  as  a legal  form.  Clause,”  Latin 
clausus,  shut,  closed.  ‘^Patent,’’  Latin 
fatens,  spread,  open.) 

Clavile'no.  The  wooden  horse  on 
which  Don  Quixote  got  astride,  in  order 
to  disenchant  the  infanta  Antonoma'sia 
and  her  husband,  who  were  shut  up  in 
the  tomb  of  queen  Magun'cia,  of  Can- 
day'a.  It  was  the  very  horse  on  which 
Peter  of  Provence  carried  off  the  fair 
Magalo'na;  it  was  constructed  by  Merlin, 
and  was  governed  by  a wooden  pin  in 
the  forehead.  (The  word  means  Wooden 
Peg.)—^‘Don  Q^dxote'' ii.,  bk.  3,  c.  4, 5. 


Claw  means  the  foot  of  an  animal 
armed  with  claws  ; a hand.  To  claw  is 
to  lay  one’s  hands  upon  things.  It  also 
means  to  tickle  with  the  hand  ; hence  to 
please  or  flatter,  puff  or  praise.  Claw 
me  and  I %vill  claw  thee,  means,  praise 
me,  and  I will  praise  you.” 

Laugh  when  I am  merry,  and  claw  no  man  in  his 
humour.  Shakespeare,  “ Much  Ado,'"  do.,  i.  3. 

Claw-backs.  Flatterers.  Bishop 
J ewel  speaks  of  the  pope’s  claw- 
backs.” 

Clay'more  or  Glay'more  (2  syl.)  is 
the  Celtic  glaif  (a  bent  sword)  and  maivr 
(large).  (See  Moeglay.) 

Clean  Bill.  To  exhibit  a clean  hill 
of  health.  (See  Bill  of  Health.) 

Cleaned.  Cleaned  out.  Impoverished 
of  everything.  De  Quincey  says  that 
Richard  BenGey,  after  his  lawsuit  with 
Dr.  Colbatch,  ‘^must  have  been  pretty 
well  cleaned  out.” 

Clearing  House.  A building  in 
Lombard  Street,  set  apart,  since  1775, 
for  interchanging  bankers’  cheques  and 
bills.  Each  bank  sends  to  it  daily  all 
the  bills  and  cheques  not  drawn  on  its . 
own  firm ; these  are  sorted  and  dis- 
tributed to  their  respective  houses,  and 
the  balance  is  settled  by  transfer  tickets. 
The  origin  of  this  establishment  was  a 
post  at  the  corner  of  Birchin  Lane  and 
Lombard  Street,  where  banking  clerks 
met  and  exchanged  memoranda. 

Railway  lines  have  also  their  Clear- 
ing Houses,”  for  settling  the  ^‘tickets” 
of  the  different  lines. 

CleTia.  A vain,  frivolous  female 
butterfly,  with  a smattering  of  every- 
thing. In  youth  she  coquetted ; and, 
when  youth  was  passed,  tried  sundry 
ways  of  earning  a living,  but  always 
without  success.  It  is  a character  in 
Crabbe’s  Borough.” 

Clelie.  A character  in  Madame  Scu- 
dery’s  romance  so  called.  This  novel 
is  a type  of  the  buckram  formality  of 
Louis  XIV.  It  is  full  of  high-flown 
compliments,  theatrical  poses,  and  cut 
and  dry  sentiments. 

Clement  (St.).  Patron  saint  of  tan- 
ners, being  himself  a tanner.  His  symbol 
is  a pot,  because  the  23rd  of  November, 
St.  Clement’s  Day,  is  the  day  on  which 
the  early  Danes  used  to  go  about  begging 
for  ale. 


CLEMENTINA. 


CLERIMOND. 


169 


Clementi'na  {The  Lady).  In  love 
with  Sir  Charles  Grandison,  who  marries 
H rriet  Byron. — Ricliardsoiiy  Sir  Charles 
Grandisond^ 

Clen'cher.  I have  given  him  a clencher, 
{See  Clinch.) 

Cleom'brotos  (4  syl.).  A philoso- 
pher who  so  admired  Plato’s  Phjedon” 
that  he  jumped  into  the  sea  in  order  to 
exchange  this  life  for  a better.  He  was 
called  Amhracio'ta  of  Amhxi'cia,  from 
the  place  of  his  birth. 

He  who  to  enjoy 

Plato’s  elysium,  leaped  into  the  sea, 
Cleomhrotus. 

‘^Paradise  Lost’’ Hi. 

Cleon.  The  personification  of  glory 
in  Spenser’s  Faery  Queen.” 

Cleopa'tra  and  her  Pearl.  It  is 
said  that  Cleopatra  made  a banquet  for 
Antony,  the  costliness  of  which  excited 
his  astonishment  ; and  when  Antony 
expressed  his  surprise,  Cleopatra  took  a 
pearl  ear-drop,  which  she  dissolved  in  a 
strong  acid,  and  drank  to  the  health  of 
the  Roman  triumvirate,  saying,  ^^My 
draught  to  Anthony  shall  far  exceed  it.” 
There  are  two  difficulties  in  this  anec- 
dote— the  first  is,  that  vinegar  would  not 
dissolve  a pearl ; and  the  next  is,  that 
any  stronger  acid  would  be  wholly  unfit 
to  drink.  Probably  the  solution  is  this : 
the  pearl  was  sold  to  som.e  merchant 
whose  name  was  synonymous  with  a 
strong  acid,  and  the  money  given  to 
Antony  as  a present  by  the  fond  queen. 
The  pearl  melted,  and  Cleopatra  drank 
to  the  health  of  Antony  as  she  handed 
him  the  money. 

Clergy.  The  men  of  God’s  lot  or 
inheritance.  In  St.  Peter’s  first  epistle, 
V.  3,  the  church  is  called  God’s  heri- 
tage ” or  lot.  In  the  Old  Testament  the 
tribe  of  Levi  is  called  the  “ lot  or 
heritage  of  the  Lord.”  (Greek,  cleros ; 
Latin,  dents  and  cleidcus,  whence  Norman 
derex  and  derktts  ; French,  derge.') 

Benefit  of  Clergy.  {See  Benefit.) 

Cler'gymen.  The  dislike  of  sailors 
to  clergymen  on  board  ship  arises  from 
an  association  with  the  history  of  Jonah. 
Sailors  call  them  a hitile  cargo^  or  kittlish 
cargo,  meaning  dangerous.  Probably 
the  disastrous  voyage  of  St.  Paul  con- 
firms the  prejudice. 


Clerical  Titles. 

(1)  Paiison.  The  person  who  in 
parish  suits  represents  the  parish.  (Latin, 
'£erso'na. ) 

A good  man  was  ther  of  religioun, 

And  was  a pore  persoun  cf  aJ-oun. 

Chaucer,  Int.  of  Canterbury  Tales." 

(2)  Clerk.  As  in  ancient  times  the 

clergyman  was  about  the  only  person 
who  could  write  and  read,  the  word 
dericalf  as  ‘^clerical  error,”  came  to 
signify  an  error  in  spelling.  As  the 
respondent  in  church  was  able  to  read, 
he  received  the  name  of  and  the 

assistants  in  writing,  &c.,  are  so  termed 
in  business.  (Latin,  der'icus,  a clergy- 
man.) 

(3)  Curate.  One  who  has  the  cure 
of  souls.  As  the  cure  of  the  parish  used 
to  be  virtually  entrusted  to  the  clerical 
stipendiary,  the  word  curate  was  appro- 
priated to  this  assistant. 

(4)  Rector.  One  who  has  the  par- 
sonage and  the  tithes.  The  man  who 
rules  or  guides  the  parish.  (Latin,  “a 
ruler.”) 

(5)  Vicar.  One  who  does  the  ^^duty” 
of  a parish  for  the  person  who  receives 
the  tithes  — generally  a layman,  and 
therefore  not  qualified  to  officiate.  (Latin, 
mcaruis,  a deputy.) 

(6)  Incumbent.  This  term  has  been 
abolished,  and  all  ^‘incumbents”  are 
now  legally  termed  vicars. 

***  The  French  cure  equals  or.r  vicar,  and  their 
vicaire  our  curate. 

Clerical  Vestments. 

(1)  White.  Emblem  of  purity,  worn 
on  all  feasts,  saints’  days,  amd  sacra- 
mental occasions.  . 

(2)  Red.  The  colour  of  blood  and  of 
fire,  worn  on  the  days  of  martyrs,  and 
on  Whit- Sunday,  when  the  Holy  (Jhost 
came  down  like  tongues  of  fire. 

(3)  Green.  Worn  only  on  days  which 
are  neither  feasts  nor  fasts. 

(4)  Purple.  The  colour  of  mourning, 
worn  on  Advent  Sundays,  in  Lent,  and 
on  Ember  days. 

(5)  Black.  Worn  on  Good  Friday,  and 
when  masses  are  said  for  the  dead. 

Octkeley,  ‘‘On  the  Mass.” 

Clerlmond.  Niece  of  the  Green 
Knight  {q.v.),  bride  of  Valentine  the 
brave,  and  sister  of  Fer'ragus  the  giant, 
— Valentine  and  Orson. 


170 


CLERK. 


CLOD-HOPPER. 


Clerk.  A scholar.  Hence  heau-clerc* 
{See  Clerical  Titles.) 


All  the  clerks, 

I mean  the  learned  ones,  in  Christian  kingdoms 
Have  their  free  voices. 

Shakespeare," Henry  Fi//.,”ii.2. 


St.  Nicholas's  Clerics.  Thieves.  An 
equivoque  on  the  word  Nick. 

I think  there  come  prancing  down  the  hill  a couple 
of  St  Nicholas’s  clerks. 

Rowley,  “ Match  at  MidnigM,'*  1633. 


Clerk-ale  and  Church-ale.  Mr. 
Douce  says  the  word  ale”  is  used  in 
such  composite  words  as  bride-ale,  clerk- 
ale,  church-ale,  lamb-ale.  Midsummer-ale, 
Scot-ale,  Whitsun-ale,  &c.  ; for  revel  or 
feast,  ale  being  the  chief  liquor  given. 

The  multitude  call  (Church-ale  Sunday)  their 
revelyng  day,  which  day  is  spent  in  bulbeatings, 
bearbeatinar,  . . . dicyng,  . . . and  drunken- 
ness.— W.  Kethe,  1570. 


Clerkly.  Cleverly;  like  a scholar. 


I thank  you,  gentle  servant ; ‘tis  very  clerkly  done. 
Shakespeare,  “ Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona,”  ii.  1. 


Clifford  {Paul).  A highwayman,  re- 
formed by  the  power  of  love,  in  Sir  L. 
Bulwer  Lytton’s  novel  so  called. 


Climac'teric.  It  was  once  believed 
that  7 and  9,  with  their  multiples,  were 
critical  points  in  life ; and  63,  which  is 
produced  by  multiplying  7 and  9 together, 
was  termed  the  Grand  Climacteric^  which 
few  persons  succeeded  in  outliving. 

There  are  two  years,  the  seventh  and  the  ninth, 
that  commonly  bring  great  changes  in  a man’s  life, 
and  great  dangers ; wherefore  63,  that  contains 
both  these  numbers  multiplied  together,  comes  not 
without  heaps  of  dangers  — Lewinws  Lemnius. 

Climacteric  Years  are  7th  and 
9th,  with  their  multiples  by  the  odd 
numbers  3,  5,  7,  9 — viz.,  7,  9,  21,  27, 
35,  45,  63,  and  81,  over  which  astrologers 
supposed  Saturn,  the  malevolent  planet, 
presided.  (Nee  Nine.) 

Climax  means  a stair  (Greek),  applied 
to  the  last  of  a gradation  of  arguments, 
each  of  which  is  stronger  than  the  pre- 
ceding. The  last  of  a gradation  of  words 
of  a similar  character  is  also  called  a 
climax. 

Clinch..  To  bend  the  point  of  a nail 
after  it  is  driven  home.  The  word  is 
sometimes  written  c^e^icA,  from  the  French 
clencJie,  the  lift  of  a latch.  (Dutch, 
klinkenj  to  rivet.) 

That  was  a clencher.  That  argument 
was  not  to  be  gainsaid;  that  remark 
drove  the  matter  home,  and  fixed  it  ‘^as 
a nail  in  a sure  place.” 


A lie  is  called  a clencher  or  clincher 
from  the  tale  about  two  swaggerers,  one 
of  whom  said,  He  drove  a nail  right 
through  the  moon.”  ‘^Yes,”  said  the 
other,  ^‘I  remember  it  well,  for  I went 
the  other  side  and  clenched  it.”  The 
French  say,  Je  lui  ai  hien  rive  son  clou  (I 
have  clinched  his  nail  for  him), 

Clinkier  {Humphrey).  Hero  of  Smol- 
lett’s novel  so  called.  The  general  scheme 
of  Oliver  Twist  ” resembles  it.  Hum- 
phrey is  a workhouse  boy,  put  out 
apprentice ; but,  being  afterwards  re- 
duced to  great  want,  he  attracts  the 
notice  of  Mr.  Bramble,  who  takes  him 
into  his  service,  and  in  due  time  the 
parish  apprentice  marries  the  daughter 
of  his  patron. 

Clio  was  one  of  the  nine  Muses,  the 
inventress  of  historical  and  heroic  poetry. 

Clio.  Addison  is  so  called  because  his 
papers  in  the  Spectator”  are  signed  by 
one  of  the  four  letters  in  this  word,  pro- 
bably the  initial  letters  of  Chelsea, 
London,  Islington,  Ofiice.  {See  Nota- 
RICA. ) 

Cli'quot  (of  Punch  celebrity).  A 
nickname  of  Frederick  William  IV.  of 
Prussia ; so  called  from  his  fondness  of 
champagne.  (1795,  1840-1861.) 

Cloaci'na.  Goddess  of  sewers.  (Latin, 
cloa'ca,  a sewer.) 

Then  Cloacina,  goddess  of  the  tide, 

Whose  sable  streams  beneath  the  city  glide, 

Indulged  the  modish  flame  ; the  town  she  roved, 

A mortal  scavenger  she  saw,  she  loved. 

Gay,  “ Trivia,'*  ii. 

Clock.  So  church  bells  were  once 
called.  (German,  cloche;  French,  cloche  ; 
Medieval  Latin,  cloca.) 

Cloch.  The  tale  about  St.  Paul’s 
clock  striking  thirteen  is  given  in  Wal- 
cott’s Memorials  of  Westminster,”  and 
refers  to  John  Hatfield,  who  died  1770, 
aged  102.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  reign 
of  William  III.,  and  was  brought  before 
a court-martial  for  falling  asleep  on  duty 
upon  W indsor  terrace.  In  proof  of  his 
innocence  he  asserted  that  he  heard  St. 
Paul’s  clock  strike  thirteen,  which  state- 
ment was  confirmed  by  several  witnesses. 

Clod-hopper.  A farmer,  who  hops 
or  walks  amongst  the  clods.  The 
cavalry  call  the  infantry  clodhoppers, 
because  they  have  to  walk  instead  of 
riding  horseback. 


CLoa. 


CLYM. 


171 


Clog  Almanac.  A primitive  al- 
manac or  calendar,  called  in  Scandinavia 
a Kunic  staff,  from  the  Eunic  characters 
used  in  its  numerical  notation. 

Cloister.  He  retired  into  a cloister, 
a monastery.  Almost  all  monasteries 
used  to  have  a cloister  or  covered  walk, 
which  generally  occupied  the  four  sides 
of  a quadrangle. 

Clootie.  Aidd  Clootie.  Old  Nick. 
The  Scotch  call  a cloven  hoof  a cloot,  so 
that  Auld  Clootie  is  Old  Cloven-foot. 

Clorida'no  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
A humble  Moorish  youth,  who  joins  Me- 
do'ro  in  seeking  the  body  of  king  Dar- 
diuello  to  bury  it.  Medo'ro  being 
wounded,  Cloridano  rushed  madly  into 
the  ranks  of  the  enemy  and  was  slain. 

Clorin'da  (in  Jerusalem  De- 
livered”). A female  knight  who  came 
from  Persia  to  oppose  the  Crusaders, 
and  was  appointed  by  Al'adine  leader  of 
all  the  Pagan  forces.  Tancred  fell  in 
love  with  her ; but  not  knowing  her  in  a 
night  attack,  slew  her  after  a most 
dreadful  combat.  Before  she  died  she 
received  Christian  baptism  at  the  hands 
of  Tancred,  who  mourned  her  death 
with  great  sorrow  of  heart. — Bk.  xii. 

Sena'pus  of  Ethiopia  (a  Christian)  was 
her  father,  but  her  being  born  white 
alarmed  her  mother,  who  changed  her 
babe  for  a black  child.  Arse'tes,  the 
eunuch,  was  entrusted  with  the  infant 
Clorinda,  and  as  he  was  going  through  a 
forest  he  saw  a tiger,  dropped  the  child, 
and  sought  safety  in  a tree.  The  tiger 
took  the  babe  and  suckled  it,  after  which 
Arsetes  left  Ethiopia  with  the  child  for 
Egypt. 

Clo'ten.  A vindictive  lout  who  wore 
his  dagger  in  his  mouth.  He  fell  in 
love  with  Im'ogen,  but  his  love  was  not 
reciprocated. — Shakespeare,  Cyrnheline.” 

Cloth.  {The).  The  clergy;  thus  we 
talk  of  having  respect  for  the  cloth.” 
Formerly  the  clergy  used  to  wear  a dis- 
tinguishing costume,  made  of  grey  or 
black  cloth,  by  which  they  might  be 
recognised. 

Clotha'iius  or  Clothaire  (in  Jeru- 
salem Delivered”).  At  the  death  of 
Hugo  he  takes  the  lead  of  the  Franks, 
but  is  shot  by  Clorinda  with  an  arrow 


(bk.  xi).  After  his  death,  his  troops 
sneak  away  and  leave  the  Christian  army 
(bk.  xiii.). 

Cloud  (aS'^.).  Patron  saint  of  nail- 
smiths,  by  a play  upon  the  French  word 
clou,  a nail. 

He  is  under  a cloud.  Under  suspicion, 
in  disrepute. 

To  hlov)  a cloud  is  to  smoke  a cigar  or 
pipe. 

Cloven  Foot.  To  show  the  cloven 
foot — i.e.,  to  show  a knavish  intention ; a 
base  motive.  The  allusion  is  to  Satan, 
represented  with  the  legs  and  feet  of  a 
goat ; and,  however  he  might  disguise 
himself,  he  could  never  conceal  his  cloven 
feet.  {See  Bag  o’  Nails,  Goat.) 

Real  grief  little  influenced  its  composition 
....  and  the  cloven  foot  peeps  out  in  sotne 
letters  written  hy  him  at  the  period.— <S'^.  James's 
Magazine. 

Clover.  He's  in  clover.  In  luck,  in 
prosperous  circumstances,  in  a good 
situation.  The  allusion  is  to  cattle  sent 
to  feed  in  clover  fields. 

Clowns.  The  three  most  celebrated 
are  Joseph  Grimaldi  (1779-1837),  the 
French  Carlin  (1713-1783),  and  Richard 
Tarlton,  in  the  days  of  queen  Elizabeth, 
who  acted  at  the  galleried  inn  called  the 

Belle  Sauvage.” 

To  sit  with  Tarlton  on  an  alehouse  signe. 

Bishop  Halit  “ Satires.'* 

Club.  A society  of  persons  who  club 
together,  or  form  themselves  into  a knot 
or  lump.  (Welsh,  clopa  and  dob;  Ger- 
man, klopfel;  Danish,  kluhbe,  &c.) 

Club-bearer  (7%e).  Periphe'tes,  the 
robber  of  Ar'golis,  so  called  because  he 
murdered  his  victims  with  an  iron  club. 

Club-law.  The  law  of  might  or 
compulsion  through  fear  of  chastisement. 

Clue.  I have  not  yet  got  the  clue;  to 
give  a clue — i.e.,  a hint.  A clue  is  a ball 
of  thread  (Saxon,  cleow).  The  only  mode 
of  finding  the  way  out  of  the  Cretan 
labyrinth  was  by  a skein  of  thread, 
which,  being  laid  along  the  proper  route, 
indicated  the  right  path. 

Clu'rieaune  (3  syl.).  An  elf  of  evil 
disposition  who  usually  appears  as  a 
wrinkled  old  man,  and  has  knowledge  of 
hid  treasures.  (Jrish  mythology. ) 

Clym  of  the  Clough  with  Adam 
Bell  and  William  of  Cloudesly  were 
noted  outlaws,  whose  skill  in  archery 


/ 


172  GLYTIE. 


COBBLER. 


rendered  them  as  famous  in  the  north 
of  England  as  Robin  Hood  and  Little 
John  in  the  midland  counties.  Their 
place  of  resort  was  in  Englewood  Forest, 
near  Carlisle.  N.B. — Englewood  means 
firewood.  Clym  of  the  Clough  means 
Clement  of  the  Cliff. 

ClytTe  (3  syl.).  A water-nymph,  in 
love  with  Apollo.  Meeting  with  no  re- 
turn, she  was  changed  into  a sunflower, 
which  still  turns  to  the  sun,  following 
him  through  his  daily  course. 

Cnepll.  The  name  under  which  the 
Egyptians  adore  the  Creator  of  the 
world. 

Co.  A contraction  of  company;  as 
Smith  and  Co. 

Coacli  (A).  A private  tutor.  To  le 
coached  up : to  be  taught  by  a private 
tutor  for  examination.  The  term  is  a 
pun  on  getting  on  fast.  To  get  on  fast 
you  take  a coach  ; you  cannot  get  on  fast 
without  a private  tutor— e?yo,  a private 
tutor  is  the  coach  you  tak  e in  order  that 
you  may  get  on  quickly.  {Unwersity 
slang. ) 

To  dine  in  the  coach.  In  the  cap- 
tain’s private  room.  The  coach  or  couch 
of  a ship  is  a small  apartment  near  the 
stern,  the  floor  being  formed  of  the  aft- 
most  part  of  the  quarter-deck,  and  the 
roof  by  the  poop. 

Coach  Away.  Get  on.  Properly, 
drive  your  coach  off. 

Coal.  Hot  as  a coal.  A corruption 
of  the  French  ^^caile”  {Chaud  comme 
■iin  caile,  hot  as  a quail).  The  quail  is 
remarkable  for  its  hot  temperament  and 
its  amorous  tendencies.  The  expression 
has  now  a more  obvious  allusion,  but 
was  in  use  before  the  employment  of 
coals  for  domestic  purposes. 

Coals.  To  haul  over  the  coals.  To 
bring  to  task  for  short- comings ; to 
scold.  At  one  time  the  Jews  were 
‘^bled”  whenever  the  kings  or  barons 
wanted  money ; and  one  very  common 
torture,  if  they  resisted,  was  to  haul 
them  over  the  coals  of  a slow  fire,  to 
give  them  a ^boasting.”  {See  ^Hvanhoe,” 
where  Front- de-Boeuf  threatens  to  haul 
Isaac  over  the  coals.) 

Coals.  ‘^Gregory,  o’  my  word,  we’ll 
not  carry  coals” — i.e.,  submit  to  be  ^^put 
upon  ” Romeo  and  Juliet,”  i.  1).  So 
in  Every  Man  out  of  his  Humour,” 


Here  comes  one  that  will  carry  coals, 
ergo.,  will  hold  my  dog.”  The  allusion  is 
to  the  dirty,  laborious  occupation  of 
coal-carriers.  Gifford,  in  his  edition  of 
Ben  Jonson,  says,  ^^Of  these  (Le.,  scul- 
lions, &c.),  the  most  forlorn  wretches 
were  selected  to  carry  coals  to  the 
kitchen,  halls,  &c.”  {See  Blackguard.) 

To  carry  coals  to  Newcastle.  To  do 
what  is  superfluous.  As  Newcastle  is  the 
great  coal-field,  it  v/ould  be  quite  super- 
fluous to  carry  coals  thither.  The  French 
say.  Porter  de  Veau  d la  rivih'e  (to  carry 
water  to  the  river).  The  Latin  equiva- 
lent is  To  carry  wood  to  the  forests.’ 

Coal  Brandy.  Burnt  brandy.  The 
ancient  way  to  set  brandy  on  fire  was  to 
drop  in  it  a live  or  red-hot  coal. 

Coalition  Government.  A go- 
vernment formed  by  various  parties,  by 
a mutual  surrender  of  principles.  Tlie 
administration  of  lord  North  and  Charles 
Fox,  1783,  was  a coalition,  but  it  fell  to 
pieces  in  a few  months. 

Coast  Men  of  Attica.  The  mer- 
chant class  who  lived  along  the  coast- 
lands  [Par'ali). 

Coat.  Turning  one's  coat  for  Inch.  It 
was  an  ancient  superstition  that  this  was 
a charm  against  evil  spirits.  {See  Turn- 
coat.) 

William  found 

A means  for  our  deliverance  : “ Turn  your  cloalis,” 
Quoth  hee,  ‘‘  for  Pucke  is  busy  in  these  oakts/^ 

Bishop  Corbett,  ^*Iter  Boreale.'' 

Coat  of  Arms.  A surcoat  worn  by 
knights  over  their  armour,  decorated 
with  devices  by  which  heralds  described 
the  wearer.  Hence  the  heraldic  device 
of  a family.  Coat-armour  was  invented 
in  the  Crusading  expeditions,  to  distin- 
guish the  various  noble  warriors  when 
wrapped  in  complete  steel,  and  it  was 
introduced  into  England  by  Richard 
heart. 

Cobalt.  From  the  German  Kohold 
(a  gnome).  The  demon  of  mines.  This 
metal  was  so  called  by  miners,  because 
it  was  long  thought  to  be  useless  and 
troublesome.  It  was  consequently  at- 
tributed to  the  ill  offices  of  the  mine 
demon. 

Cobbler.  Let  not  the  collier  overstep 
his  last  (Ne  su'tor  ultra  crep'idam).  Let 
no  one  presume  to  interfere  in  matters 
of  which,  he  is  ignorant.  The  tale 
goes  that  a cobbler  detected  a fault 


COBHAM. 


COCK. 


173 


in  the  shoe-latchet  of  one  of  Apelles’ 
paintings,  and  the  artist  rectified  the 
fault.  The  cobbler,  thinking  himself 
very  wise,  next  ventured  to  criticise  the 
legs ; but  Apelles  answered,  Keep  to 
your  trade”  — you  understand  about 
shoes,  but  not  about  anatomy. 

Cob'ham,  referred  to  by  Thomson  in 
his  '^Autumn,”  was  Sir  Richard  Temple, 
created  lord  Cobham  in  1714. 

Cob-nut.  A nut  with  a tuft.  (Welsh, 
cob  or  cop,  a tuft ; German,  hopf,  the 
head.) 

Cob'web.  Cob,  Teutonic  for  spider.” 
Dutch,  spinnekop  ; Saxon,  atter-cop  (poi- 
sonous spider) ; Chaldee,  kojpi  (spider’s 
web). 

Cock.  Mahomet  found  in  the  first 
heaven  a cock  of  such  enormous  size, 
that  its  crest  touched  the  second  heaven. 
The  crowing  of  this  celestial  bird  arouses 
every  living  creature  from  sleep  except 
man.  The  Moslem  doctors  say  that  Allah 
lends  a willing  ear  to  him  who  reads  the 
Koran,  to  him  who  prays  for  pardon, 
and  to  the  cock  whose  chant  is  divine 
melody.  When  this  cock  ceases  to  crow, 
the  day  of  judgment  will  be  at  hand. 

Cock,  Dedicated  to  Apollo,  the  sun- 
god,  because  it  gives  notice  of  the  rising 
of  the  sun.  It  was  dedicated  to  Mercury, 
because  it  summons  men  to  business  by 
its  crowing. 

A cock  on  church  sipires  is  to  remind 
men  not  to  deny  their  Lord,  as  Peter 
did,  but  when  the  cock  crew  he  went 
out  and  wept  bitterly.”  Peter  Le  Neve 
affirms  that  a cock  was  the  warlike 
ensign  of  the  Goths,  and  therefore  used 
in  Gothic  churches  for  ornament. 

By  cock  and  pie,  sir,  you  shall  not  aivay 
tonight  (“2  Henry  IV.,”  v.  1).  We 
meet  with  cock’s  bones,  cock’s  ivouvds, 
cock’s  mother,  cock’s  body,  cock’s  passion, 
&c.,  where  we  can  have  no  doubt  that 
the  word  is  a minced  oath,  and  stands 
for  the  sacred  name  which  should  never 
be  taken  in  vain.  The  Pie  is  the  table 
or  rule  in  the  old  Roman  offices,  showing 
how  to  find  out  the  service  for  each  day, 
called  by  the  Greeks  pi'nax  (an  index). 
The  latter  part  of  the  oath  is  equivalent 
to  'Hhe  Mass  book.” 

Cock  of  the  North,  The  duke  of  Gor- 
don. So  called  on  a monument  erected 
to  his  honour  at  Fochabers,  in  Aberdeen- 
shire. (Died  1836.) 


Cocks.  The  French  are  so  called 
from  a pun  made  in  the  reign  of  Nero, 
against  whom  the  Gauls,  under  Julius 
Vindex,  conspired.  It  was  wittily  said 
that  the  emperor  would  be  disturbed  by 
the  crowing  of  a Gallus  {Gaul  or  code). 
The  pleasantry  took,  and,  as  there  were 
certain  marks  of  resemblance  between 
the  two,  the  nickname  became  perpetu- 
ated. 

Cock  of  the  Walk.  The  dominant 
bully  or  master  spirit.  The  place  where 
barn-door  fowls  are  fed  is  called  the  walk, 
and  if  there  is  more  than  one  cock  they 
will  fight  for  the  supremacy  of  this  do- 
main. 

Cock  and  Bottle.  A public-house 
sign,  meaning  draught  and  bottled  ale 
may  be  had  on  the  premises.  The  ^‘cock” 
here  means  the  tap.  It  does  not  mean 

The  Cork  and  Bottle.” 

Cock  and  Bull  Story.  A corrup- 
tion of  a concocted  and  bully  story'.  The 
catch-pennies  hawked  about  the  streets 
are  still  called  cocks— i.e.,  concocted 
things.  Bully  is  the  Danish  bidlen  (ex- 
aggerated), our  bull-rush  {djo  exaggerated 
rush),  bullfrog,  kc. 

Another  etymology  maybe  suggested: 
The  idol  Nergal  was  the  most  common 
idol  of  the  ancient  Phoenicians,  Indians, 
and  Persians,  and  Nergal  means  a dung- 
hill coch.  The  Egyptian  bull  is  equally 
notorious  under  the  name  of  Osi'ris.  A 
cock-and-bull  story  may  therefore  mean 
a myth,  in  reference  to  the  mythological 
fabies  of  Nergal  and  Osiris.  A third 
suggestion  refers  to  fables,  where  dumb 
animals  are  made  to  speak  and  act  like 
human  beings.  The  French  equivalents 
are  faire  un  coq  et  I’dne  and  U7i  conte  de 
ma  mere  I’oie  (a  mother  goose  tale.) 

Cock  a-lioop  or  Cock  a-houp.  To 
sit  cock  a-houp.  Boastful,  defiant,  like  a 
game-cock  with  his  houpe  or  crest  erect. 
(French,  coq  d huppe.) 

And  baying  routed  a whole  troop, 

With  victory  was  cock-a-hoop. 

Butler,  “ IludihrasP  i.  3. 

Cock  Boat  or  Cockle  Boat.  A 
small  boat  made  of  a wicker  frame,  and 
covered  with  leather  or  oil-cloth.  The 
Welsh  fishers  used  to  carry  them  on  their 
backs.  (Welsh,  cwrwgle,  a coracle; 
French,  coche,  a passage  boat ; Irish., 
coca;  Italian,  cocca;  Latin,  cochlea; 
Greek,  kocklos,  a cockle. ) 


/ 


174  COCK-CROW. 


COCKLES. 


Cock-crow.  The  Hebrews  divided 
the  night  into  four  watches : 1,  The 

beginning  of  the  watches  ” or  even  ” 
(Lam.  ii.  19) ; 2,  The  middle  watch  ” 
or  ^‘midnight”  (Judg.  vii.  19)  ; 3,  ‘^The 
cock-crowing ; ” 4,  “ The  morning  watch  ” 
or  ^‘dawning”  (Exod.  xiv.  24). 

Ye  know  not  when  the  master  of  the  house 
cometh,  at  even,  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  coek-crow- 
ing,  or  in  the  morning.— ilfarA:  xiii.  35. 

Apparitions  vanish  at  cock-crow.  This 
is  a Christian  superstition,  the  cock  being 
the  watch-bird  placed  on  church  spires, 
and  therefore  sacred. 

The  morning  cock  crew  loud, 

And  at  the  sound  it  (the  Ghost)  shrunk  in  haste  away, 
And  vanished  from  our  sight. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamletp  i.  2. 

Cock-figliting  was  introduced  into 
Britain  by  the  Romans.  It  was  a favourite 
sport  both  with  the  Greeks  and  Romans. 

Cock  Lane  Ghost.  A tale  of  ter- 
ror without  truth ; an  imaginary  tale  of 
horrors.  In  Cock  Lane,  Stockwell  (1762), 
certain  knockings  were  heard,  which  Mr. 
Parsons,  the  owner,  declared  proceeded 
from  the  ghost  of  Mrs.  Kemt,  who  (he 
wished  people  to  suppose)  had  been  mur- 
dered by  her  husband.  All  London  was 
agog  with  this  story ; but  it  was  found 
out  that  the  knockings  were  produced 
by  a girl  employed  by  Parson?^,  a.nd  were 
made  by  rapping  on  a board  which  she 
took  into  her  bed.  Parsons  was  con- 
demned to  stand  in  the  pillory.  (^See 
Stockwell  Ghost.) 

Cock-pit.  The  judicial  committee 
of  the  privy  council  is  so  called,  because 
the  council-room  is  built  on  the  old  cock- 
pit of  Whitehall  palace. 

Great  consultations  at  the  cockpit  about  battles, 
duels,  victories,  and  what  not. — Poor  Robin's  Alma- 
nack, 1730. 

Cock  Sure  is  cocky  sure  — pertly 
confident.  We  c^^ll  a self-confident, 
overbearing  p ig  a cocky  fellow,  from 
the  barnyard  despot ; but  Shakespeare 
employs  the  phrase  in  the  sense  of  sure 
as  the  cock  of  a firelock.” 

We  steal  as  in  a castle,  cock-sure. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  I VP  ii- 1. 

Cockade.  The  men-servants  of  the 
military  wear  a small  black  cockade  on 
their  hat,  the  Planoveriaii  badge.  The 
Stuart  cockade  was  white.  At  the  battle 
of  Sherra-Muir,  in  the  reign  of  George  I., 
the  English  soldiers  wore  a black  rosette 
in  their  hats.  In  the  song  of  Sherra- 


Muir,  the  English  soldiers  are  called 

the  red-coat  lads  wi’  black  cockades.” 

The  word  cockade  is  the  ^^aid  of  the 
cock,”  the  thing  that  helps  to  cock  the 
military  hat.  Subsequently,  loops,  laces, 
and  ribbons  were  used  for  the  purpose 
as  well  as  rosettes. 

Black  enters  into  all  the  German  cock- 
ades: thus  the  Austrian  is  black  and 
yellow ; the  Prussian  black  and  white ; 
the  Hanoverian  all  black;  the  Belgian 
black,  yellow,  and  red.  The  French 
before  the  revolution  was  white. 

To  mount  the  cockade.  To  become  a 
soldier.  From  time  immemorial  the 
partisans  of  different  leaders  have  adopted 
some  emblem  to  show  their  party ; in 
1767  an  authoritative  regulation  deter- 
mined that  every  French  soldier  should 
wear  a white  cockade,  and  in  1782  the 
badge  was  restricted  to  the  military. 
The  phrase  given  above  is  common  both 
to  England  and  France. 

Cockaigne  (Land  of).  An  imaginary 
land  of  idleness  and  luxury.  The  subject 
of  a burlesque,  probably  ^Hhe  earliest 
specimen  of  English  poetry  which  we 
possess.”  London  is  generally  so  called, 
but  Boileau  applies  the  phrase  to  Paris. 
{See  Cockney.) 

Cock'atriee  (3  syl.).  A monster  with 
the  wings  of  a fowl,  tail  of  a dragon,  and 
head  of  a cock.  So  called  because  it 
was  said  to  be  produced  from  a cock’s 
egg  hatched  by  a serpent.  According  to 
legend,  the  very  look  of  this  monster 
would  cause  instant  death.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  crest  with  which  the  head 
is  c-^  owned,  the  creature  is  called  a ba- 
silisk, from  the  Greek  hasiliskos  (king  of 
animals).  Isaiah  says,  ‘^The  weaned 
child  shall  put  his  hand  on  the  cockatrice’ 
den  ” (xi.  8),  to  signify  that  the  most 
noxious  animal  should  not  hurt  the  most 
feeble  of  God's  creatures. 

Figuratively,  it  means  an  insidious, 
treacherous  person,  bent  on  mischief. 

They  will  kill  one  another  by  the  look,  like  cocka- 
trices. Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night,”  iii.  4. 

Coek'er.  According  to  Cocker.  All 
right  according  to  Cocker,  Cocker  pub- 
lished an  arithmetic  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.,  which  was  very  popular.  The 
phrase  was  popularised  by  Murphy  in 
his  farce  called  The  Apprentice.” 

Cockles.  To  cry  cockles.  To  be 
hanged  ; from  the  gurgling  noise  made 
in  strangulation. 


COCKLE. 


COGGESHALL. 


175 


Cockle  Hat.  A pilgrim’s  hat. 
Warburton  says,  as  the  chief  places  of 
devotion  were  beyond  sea,  or  on  the 
coasts,  pilgrims  used  to  put  cockle-shells 
upon  their  hats,  to  indicate  that  they 
were  pilgrims.  Cockles  are  symbols  of 
St.  James,  patron  saint  of  Spain. 

And  liow  shall  I your  true  love  know 
From  many  another  one  ? 

Oh,  by  his  cockle  hat  and  staff, 

And  by  his  sandal  shoon. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher^  The  Friar  of  Orders  Grey.'' 

Cockle  Shells.  Favourite  tokens 
worn  by  pilgrims  in  their  hats.  ’J'he 
polished  side  of  the  shell  was  scratched 
with  some  rude  drawing  of  the  ‘^blessed 
Virgin,”  the  crucifixion,  or  some  other 
subject  connected  with  the  pilgrimage. 
Being  blessed  by  the  priest,  they  were 
considered  amulets  against  spiritual  foes. 

Cockney.  A Londoner.  Camden 
says  the  Thames  was  once  called  the 
Cockney,  and  therefore  a Cockney  means 
simply  one  who  lives  on  the  banks  of 
the  Thames.  (Saxon,  coc,  anything 
that  shoots  out,”  a spout,”  and  ea  or 
ey,  “running  water.”) 

Wedgwood  suggests  cocher  (to  fondle), 
and  says  a cockerney  or  cockney  is  one 
pampered  by  city  indulgence,  in  contra- 
distinction to  rustics  hardened  by  out- 
door work.  (Dutch,  hoheln,  to  pamper ; 
French,  coqueliner^  to  dangle.) 

Chambers,  in  his  “ Journal,”  derives 
the  word  from  a French  poem  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  called  “The Land  of 
Cockaigne,”  where  the  houses  were  made 
of  barley-sugar  and  cakes,  the  streets 
paved  with  pastry,  and  the  shops  sup- 
plied goods  without  requiring  money  in 
payment.  The  French,  at  a very  early 
period,  called  the  English  cocTcaigne  men — 
^.e.,  hons-vivants  (beef  and  pudding  men). 

Cry  to  it,  nuncle,  as  the  cockney  did  to  the  eels, 
when  she  put  them  into  the  paste  alive. 

Shakespeare,  “ Lear,"  ii.  4.  ^ 

Cockney  School.  Leigh  Hunt, 
Hazlitt,  Shelley,  and  Keats;  so  called 
by  Lockhart,  1817. 

If  I may  be  permitted  to  have  the  honour  of 
christening  it,  it  may  henceforth  be  referred  to 
oy  the  designation  of  the  “ Cockney  School.”— Z., 

Blackwood's  Magazine,”  Oct.,  1S17. 

Cockswain.  The  swain  or  servant 
of  the  cock  or  boat,  together  with  its 
crew,  (Saxon,  swan  or  swein^  a youth  or 
servant,  and  cock,  a boat.  {See  Cock- 
boat. ) 


Cocy'tus  {Ko-hy’-tus).  One  of  the  five 
rivers  of  hell.  The  word  means  thg 
“ river  of  lamentation.  (Greek,  kohuJo, 
to  weep.) 

Cocytus,  named  of  lamentation  loud 
Heard  on  the  rueful  stream. 

Milton, Paradise  Lost,”  ii. 

Codds.  Codgers.  Thackeray  says, 
“ The  Cistercian  lads  call  the  poor 
brethren  of  the  Charter-house 
adding,  “but  I know  not  wherefore.” 
They  are  cotiers  or  codgers,  who  live  in 
alms- cots.  We  still  have  the  words  cotes 
and  doYQ-cotes.  “ Cotter”  is  the  Norman 
cotier,  a word  which  occurs  hundreds  of 
times  in  Domesday  Book,  but  is  spelt  in 
three  or  four  different  ways. 

Coe'horns.  Small  howitzers  of  about 
4|  inches  calibre ; so  called  from  baron 
van  Coe'horn,  of  Holland. 

Coe'nobites  (3  syl.).  Monks  who  live 
in  common,  in  contradistinction  to  the 
hermits  or  anchorites.  (Greek,  Tcoinos- 
hios.') 

Coeur  de  Lion. 

Eichard  I.  of  England  ; so  called  from 
the  prodigies  of  personal  valour  per- 
formed by  him  in  the  Holy  Land.  (1157, 
1189-1199.) 

Louis  VIII.  of  France,  more  frequently 
called  Le  Lion.  (1187,  1223-1226. ) 

Bolaslas  I.  of  Poland,  also  called  “The 
Intrepid.”  (992-1025.) 

Coffee.  The  Turkish  word  is  Kauhi. 

Coffee.  In  Ardennes  ten  cups  of  coffee 
are  taken  after  dinner,  and  each  cup  has 
its  special  name.  (1)  Cafe,  (2)  Gloria,  (3) 
Pousse  Caf€,  (4)  Goutte,  (5)  Ee-goutte, 
(6)  Sur-goutte,  (7)  Eincette,  (8)  Ee- 
riacette,  (9)  Sur-rincette,  and  (10)  Cory 
de  I’etrier. 

Gloria  is  coffee  with  a small  glass  of 
brandy  in  lieu  of  milk;  all  the  following 
have  more  and  more  I’eau  de  vie ; and 
the  last  is  the  “ stirrup-cup.” 

Coffin.  A raised  crust,  like  the  lid 
of  a basket.  Hence  Shakespeare  speaks 
of  a “custard  coffin”  (“  Taming  of  the 
Shrew,”  iv.  3).  (Greek,  koffiiinos,  a 
basket.)  {See  Mahomet’s  Coffin.) 

Of  the  paste  a coffin  will  I rear. 

Shakespeare,  ” Titus  Andronicus,”  v.  2. 

Cog'geshall.  A Coggeshall  joh.  The 
saying  is,  that  the  Coggeshall  folk  wanted 
to  divert  the  current  of  a stream,  and 
fixed  hurdles  in  the  bed  of  it  for  the  pur- 
pose. Another  tale  is  that  a mad  dog 


COGNOSCENTE. 


COLLEGE. 


i7e 


bit  a wheelbarrow^  and  the  people, 
fearing  it  would  gc  mad,  chained  it  up 
in  a shed.  {See  Gotham.) 

Cogno'scente  (4syl.).  Plural,  co^?io- 
scejiti  (Italian).  A knowing  one,  a walk- 
ing cyclopaedia. 

Coif  (1  syh).  The  coif  of  the  serjeant- 
at-law  is  a relic  of  his  ecclesiastical  cha- 
racter. The  original  serjea'.ts-at-law 
were  clerical  lawyers,  and  tiie  coif  is 
the  representation  of  the  tonsure. 

Serjeants  oj  the  Coif.  Serjeants-at-law. 
{See  above.) 

Coiffe.  II  est  coiffe.  He  is  born 
with  a silver  spoon  in  his  mouth ; born 
to  fortune. 

Qu-'lques  enfans  viennent,  au  monde  ave^  une 
pellicule  . . que  Ton  appelle  du  nom  de  coefFe  ; et 
que  Ton  croit  estre  une  marque  de  bonheur.  Ce  qui 
a doun6  lieu  au  pvoverbe  frangois.  . Jl  est  ne 
coeffe.—*‘  Traite  des  Superst.^"  1679. 

Coins  {Anglo-Saxon). 

The  most  ancient  is  the  little  silver 
sceatta ; next  tho  penny,  also  of  silve”, 
the  chief  coin  of  the  Heptarchy,  with  its 
half  and  quarter  (halfpenny  and  farthing). 
Those  of  Offa,  king  of  Mercia,  are  the 
best. 

Coke.  To  cry  coTce.  To  cry  pecca'vi : 
to  ask  for  mercy.  Kuddiman  says  ‘ ‘ coke ” 
is  the  sound  which  cocks  utter  when  they 
are  beaten. 

CoTbronde  or  Colhrand.  The  Danish 
giant  slain  by  Sir  Guy  of  Warwick.  By 
the  death  of  this  giant  the  land  was 
delivered  from  Danish  tribute. 

I am  not  Samson,  nor  Sir  Guy,  nor  Col  brand,  to 
mow  'em  down  before  mo. 

Shakespeare^  “ Henry  VIll.,"  v.  4. 

Cold  Blood.  A cold-hlooded  murder 
is  one  committed  without  provocation,  or 
after  ill-temper  has  had  time  to  subside. 
In  rage  the  blood  is  said  to  boil,  and 
the  roused  blood  gives  a red  tinge  to  the 
head,  hands,  &c. 

Asa  rule,  all  invertebrate  animals,  and 
all  fishes  and  reptiles,  are  called  cold- 
blooded, because  the  temperature  of 
their  blood  never  exceeds  90^^  Fah. 

We  also  call  insensible  persons  cold- 
blooded, because  their  passions  cannot 
be  excited. 

Cold  Drawn  Oil.  Castor  oil,  ob- 
tained by  pressure  in  the  cold. 

Cold  Blioiilder.  To  show  (or)  give  one 
the  cold  shoulder,  is  to  assume  a distant 
manner  toward^i  a person,  to  indicate 


that  you  wish  to  cut  his  acquaintance. 
The  reference  is  to  a cold  shoulder  of  mut- 
ton served  to  a stranger  at  dinner ; there 
is  not  much  of  it,  and  even  what  is  left  is 
but  moderate  fare. 

Cold  Steel.  The  'persuasion  of  cold 
steel  is  persuasion  enforced  at  the  point 
of  the  sword  or  bayonet. 

Cold  Water  Ordeal.  An  ancient 
method  of  testing  the  guilt  or  innocence 
of  the  common  sort  of  people.  The 
accused,  being  tied  under  the  arms,  was 
thrown  into  a river.  If  he  sank  to  the 
bottom,  he  was  held  to  be  guiltless,  and 
drawn  up  by  the  cord  ; but  if  he  floated, 
the  water  rejected  him,  because  of  his 
guilt. 

Cold  Without.  An  elliptical  ex- 
pression, meaning  spirits  mixed  with 
cold  water  loithout  sugar. 

Cold  brand.  {See  Colbkonde.) 

Coldstream  Guards.  So  called 
becaus  ^ the  regiment  was  first  raised  at 
Coldstream,  in  Berwickshire,  by  General 
Monk,  in  1660,  with  the  object  of  bring- 
ing back  Charles  II.  to  the  throne. 

Cole  (King).  A legendary  British 
king,  described  as  ^^a  merry  old  soul,” 
fond  of  his  pipe,  fond  of  his  glass,  and 
fond  of  his  fiddlers  three.” 

Colemi'ra  (3  syl.).  A poetical  name 
for  a cook  ; being,  of  course,  compounded 
of  coal  and  mire. 

“ Could  I,”  he  cried,  “ express  how  bright  a grace 
Ado'  ns  thy  morning  han^ls  and  well-washed  face, 
Tiiou  wouidst,  Colemira.  grant  what  I inn  lore, 
And  yield  me  love,  or  wash  fhy  face  no  more.” 

Shenstone,  ‘‘  Colemira,  an  Eclogue.’' 

Colin  Clout.  A name  which  Spenser 
assumes  in  ^‘The  Shepherd’s  Calendar,” 
and  in  the  pastoral  entitled  “ Colin 
Clout’s  come  Home  again,”  which  repre- 
sents his  return  from  a visit  to  Sir  Walter 
Ealeigh,  ^^the  Shepherd  of  the  Ocean.” 

Colin  Tampon.  The  nickname  of 
a Swiss,  as  John  Bull  is  of  an  English- 
man, Brother  Jonathan  of  a North 
American,  and  Monsieur  Crapaud  of  a 
Frenchman. 

College  Port.  The  worst  species  of 
red  wine  that  can  be  manufactured,  and 
palmed  off  upon  young  men  at  college. 
It  is  chiefly  made  from  potatoes,  sloes, 
and  logwood.  {See  Widows’  Port.) 

We  all  know  what  college  po:t  is  like  —The  Times. 


COLLAPSE. 


COLOUR. 


177 


Collapse.  The  scheme  collapsed. 
Came  to  nothing.  An  inflated  balloon  is 
said  to  collapse  when  the  gas  has  escaped 
and  the  sides  fall  together,  or  pucker 
into  wrinkles.  As  a collapsed  balloon 
will  not  mount,  a collapsed  scheme  will 
not  go  off. 

Collar.  To  collar  one  is  to  seize  one 
by  the  collar. 

"^0111  of  collar.  Out  of  work,  out  of 
place.  The  allusion  is  to  a horse,  which 
has  a collar  on  when  put  to  work. 

ColTiberts.  A sort  of  gipsy  race  in 
Poitou,  Maine,  and  Anjou,  similar  to  the 
Cagots  of  Gascony  and  the  Caqiieux  of 
Brittany. 

Collu'tllians.  A religious  sect  which 
rose  in  the  fourth  century;  so  called 
from  Collu'thos  of  Alexandria,  their 
found-r. 

Colly  my  Cow.  A corruption  of 
Galainos,  the  most  ancient  of  Spanish 
ballads.  Calainos  the  Mo  )r  asked  a 
damsel  to  wife,  who  said  the  price  of 
winning  her  should  be  the  heads  of  the 
three  paladins  of  Charlemagne,  named 
Rinaldo,  Roland,  and  Olivier.  Calainos 
went  to  Paris,  and  challenged  the  paladins. 
First  Sir  Baldwin,  the  youngest  knight, 
accepted  the  challenge,  and  was  over- 
thrown; then  his  uncle  Roland  went 
against  the  Moor,  and  smote  him. 

Collyrid'ians.  A sect  of  Arabian 
Christians,  chiefly  women,  which  first 
appeared  in  373.  They  worshipped  the 
Virgin  Mary,  and  made  offerings  to  her 
in  a twisted  cake,  called  a collyrls. 
(Greek,  Tcollwra,  a little  cake.) 

Cologne.  The  three  kings  of  Cologne. 
The  three  magi,  called  Gaspar,  Melchior, 
and  Baltha'zar.  They  are  called  by  other 
names,  but  those  given  are  the  most 
generally  accepted. 

Colon.  One  of  the  rabble  leaders  in 
‘‘Hudibras”  was  Noel  Perry  an  or  Ned 
Perry,  an  ostler,  who  loved  bear-baiting, 
but  was  a very  strait-laced  Puritan,  of 
low  morals. 

CoPophon.  The  end  of  a book. 
Col'ophon  was  a city  of  lo'nia,  the  inha- 
bitants of  whicli  were  such  excellent 
horsemen,  that  they  would  turn  the  scale 
of  battle  to  the  side  on  which  they 
fought ; hence  the  Greek  phrase,  To  add 


a colopho'nian,  means  ^Ho  put  a finishing 
stroke  to  any  matter.”  In  the  early 
times  of  printing,  the  statement  contain- 
ing the  date,  place,  printer,  and  edition 
was  given  at  the  end  of  the  book,  and 
was  called  the  colophon. 

Tlie  volume  was  uninjured  . . . from  title-page  to 
colopiion.— “ The  Antiquary.” 

Coloquin'tida.  Bitter-apple  or  colo- 
cynth.  (Greek,  kolokunihis.) 

The  food  that  to  him  now  is  luscious  as  locusts, 
shall  be  to  him  shortly  as  bitter  as  coloquiutida. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,'*  i.  3. 

Colossal.  Gigantic.  As  a colossal 
scheme.  {See  below.) 

Colossos  (Latin,  colossus).  A giant. 
The  Rhodian  Colossos  was  a gigantic 
statue  of  brass,  126  feet  high,  exe- 
cuted by  Chares.  It  is  said  that  ships 
could  pass  full  sail  under  the  legs  of 
this  statue,  but  the  notion  of  a striding 
statue  rose  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and 
is  due  to  Blaise  de  Vigenere,  who  was 
the  first  to  give  the  chef  d’ oeuvre  of 
Chares  this  impossible  position.  The 
comte  de  Caylus  has  demonstrated  that 
the  Apollo  of  Rhodes  was  never  planted 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Rhodian  port,  that  it 
was  not  a striding  statue,  and  that  ships 
never  passed  under  it.  Neither  Strabo 
nor  Pliny  makes  mention  of  any  of  these 
things,  though  both  describe  the  gigantic 
statue  minutely.  Philo  (the  architect,  of 
Byzantium,  third  century)  has  a treatise 
on  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world,  and 
says  that  the  Colossos  stood  on  a block  of 
white  marble,  and  Lucius  Ampellius,  in  a 
similar  treatise,  says  it  stood  in  a car, 
Tickell  outherods  Herod  in  the  following 
lines  : — 

So,  near  proud  Rhodes,  across  the  raging  flood, 
Stu-iendous  form!  the  vast  Colossus  stood, 

While  at  one  foot  the  thronging  galleys  rile, 

A whole  hour’s  s.ail  scarce  reached  the  further  side  ; 
Betwixt  his  brazen  thighs,  in  loose  array. 

Ten  thousand  streamers  on  the  billows  play. 

On  the  Pi  aspect  of  Peace. 

He  doth  bestride  the  narrow  world  like  a Colossus. 

Shakespeare,"*  Julius  Ccesar,*'i.  2. 

Colour.  The  symbolism  of  colour-^ 

Black  and  brown,  death  and  sorrow. 

Green,  fickleness. 

Blue,  constancy. 

White,  purity. 

I’eHow,  jealousy. 

Purple,  royalty. 

In  railway  symbols,  red  signifies  danger 
or  stopi  green  caution,  and  white  clear  or 
safe. 


H 


/ 


178  COLOUKS. 


COMEDY. 


Colours.  National  colours — 


Great  Biitain 
Ameiica,  U.S. 

Ausilria 

Bavaria 

Denmark 

DrancPi 

Netherlands... 

Portugal 

Prussia 

Russia  

Spain  

Sweden 

Switzerland... 


Red  and  blue. 

Stars  on  bluet  white  tvith  red 
strides. 

Red,  white,  and  red. 

Red. 

Red,  with  white  cross. 

Blue,  white,  and  red. 

Red,  white,  and  blue. 

Blue  and  white. 

White. 

White,  with  blue  cross. 

Red,  yellow, and  red. 

Bluf’,  with  yellow  c^oss. 
Bed,  with  white  cross. 


Colporteur'.  A hawker  or  pedlar ; 
so  called  because  he  carries  his  basket  or 
pack  round  his  neck.  The  term  is  more 
especially  applied  to  hawkers  of  books. 
(Latin^  collum,  the  neck ; 'portOj  to  carry. ) 


Colt  (7b).  To  befool,  to  gull.  (Italian, 
colto,  from  the  verb  coglie' re j to  catch ; our 
cog,  to  cheat. ) 

Colt’s  Foot  ( Tussila'go  far'fara)^  is 

calt’s  futter”  or  “ cold's  food” — i.e., 
food  for  colds  and  coughs.  The  Latin 
word  tussilago  is  tussis,  a cough ; and 
lag'anum,  a sort  of  lozenge. 

Colt’s  Revolver.  A rifle  to  which 
a revolving  chamber  pierced  with  five  or 
more  barrels  is  attached,  each  of  which 
is  brought  in  rotation  to  the  orifice  of 
the  rifle  by  the  motion  of  the  trigger. 
This  instrument  was  patented  by  colonel 
Samuel  Colt,  U.S.,  in  1835. 

Colts-tootll.  The  love  of  youthful 
pleasure.  A corruption  of  Chaucer’s 
word  ^'coltish”  (skittishness). 


Co'ma  Bereni'ces  (4 syl. ).  Berenice, 
daughter  6f  Magas,  king  of  C.yre'ne,  and 
wife  of  Ptolemy  IV.  She  dedicated  her 
beautiful  hair  for  her  husband’s  safe 
return  from  his  Syrian  expedition.  This 
hair  was  made  one  of  the  constellations, 
(^See  Belinda.) 

Com'azants,  called  St.  Elmo  fires 
by  the  French,  Castor  and  Pollux  by  the 
Romans.  A celestial  -light  seen  occa- 
sionally to  play  round  mast-heads,  &c. 
(Latin,  co'ma,  hair.) 

Comb.  Reynard's  wonderful  comb. 
This  comb  existed  only  in  the  brain  of 
Master  Fox.  He  said  it  was  made  of  the 
PanThera’s  bone,  the  perfume  of  which 
was  so  fragrant  that  no  one  could  resist 
following  it ; and  the  wearer  of  the  comb 
was  always  cheerful  and  merry. — '‘^Rey- 
nard the  Fox,”  ch.  xii. 

To  comb  your  noddle  with  a three-legged 
stool  Taming  of  the  Shrew,”  i.  1),  is  to 
beat  you  about  the  head  with  a stool. 
Many  stools,  such  as  those  used  by  milk- 
maids, are  still  made  with  three  legs ; and 
these  handy  weapons  seem  to  have  been 
used  at  one  time  pretty  freely,  especially 
by  angry  women. 

Come  and  take  them.  The  reply 
of  Leonfidas,  king  of  Sparta,  to  the  mes- 
sengers sent  by  Xerxes  to  Thermop'ylse. 
Xerxes  said,  “ Go,  and  tell  those  madmen 
to  deliver  up  their  arms.”  Leonidas 
replied,  ‘^Go,  and  tell  Xerxes  to  come 
and  take  them.” 


Her  merry  dancing-(iays  are  done ; 

She  has  a colt’s-tooth  still,  1 warrant. 

King,  “ Orpheus  and  Burydice.” 

Well  said.  Lord  Sands  ; 
your  coltVtooth  is  not  cast  yet. 

Shukespeai e,  “Henry  Vlll.t'i-  3. 

Columbine  (3  syl.).  The  wife  of 
Harlequin,  and,  hke  him,  supposed,  to  be 
invisible  to  mortal  eyes.  Cotumbina  in 
Italian  is  a pet  n ^me  for  a lady-love,  and 
means  a little  d*;  ;e,  a young  coquette. 
Columbua  His  signature  was — 

S.  i.e.  Servidor 
S.  A.  S.  Sus  Altezas  Sacras 

X.  M.  Y.  Jesus  Maria  Isabel 

Xpo.  FERENS  Christo-pher 

El  Almirante  El  Almirante. 

In  English,  ‘‘Servant — of  their  Sacred 
Highnesses --Jesus  Mary  and  Isabella 
— Christopher  — the  Admiral.” — Ca'pt. 
Becher, 


Come  Ather  (pron.  ar-ther)  means, 
when  addressed  to  horses,  “come  hither” 
— i.e.,  to  the  left,  the  side  on  which  the 
teamsman  walks.  (See  Woo’iSH.) 

Come  it  Strong.  Lay  it  on  thick ; 
exaggerate  as  much  as  you  like.  It  is 
a musical  expression  : the  leader  tells 
the  violin-players  to  come  it  strong — i.e., 
to  play  loud  or  forte  ; to  exaggerate  the 
notes  as  much  as  possible.  {See  Draw  it 
Mild.) 

Comedy  means  a village-song  (Greek, 
home -ode),  referring  to  the  village  merry- 
makings, in  which  comic  songs  still  take 
a conspicuous  place.  The  Greeks  had 
certain  festal  processions  of  great  licen- 
tiousness, held  in  honour  of  Dionu'sos, 
in  the  suburbs  of  their  cities,  and  termed 
ko'moi  or  village-revels.  On  these  occa- 
sions an  ode  was  generally  sung,  and 


COMET. 


COMPLEXION. 


179 


this  ode  was  the  foundation  of  Greek 
comedy.  Tragedy.) 

The  Father  of  Comedy.  Aristoph'anes 
the  Athenian,  (b.c.  444-380.) 

Comet  Wine.  A term  of  praise  to 
signify  wine  of  superior  quality.  A notion 
prevails  that  the  grapes  in  comet  years 
are  better  in  flavour  than  in  other  years, 
either  because  the  weather  is  warmer 
and  ripens  them  better,  or  because  the 
comets  themselves  exercise  some  chemical 
influence  on  them.  Thus,  wine  of  the 
years  1811,  1826,  1839,  1845,  1852,  1858, 
1861,  &c.,  have  a repute. 

The  old  gentleman  yet  nurses  some  few  bottles  of 
the  famous  comer  year  (i.e.,  ibll),  emphatically  called 
comet  wine.— T/ie  Times. 

Coming  Round.  He  is  coming  round. 
Eecovering  from  sickness,  recovering 
from  a fit  of  the  sulks,  returning  to 
friendship.  Death  is  the  end  of  life,  and 
therefore  recovering  from  sickness  nigh 
unto  death”  is  coming  back  to  health,  or 
coming  round  the  corner. 

Commen'dam.  A living  in  com- 
mendam  is  a living  held  by  a bishop  till 
an  incumbent  is  appointed.  When  a 
clergyman  accepts  a bishopric,  he  loses 
all  his  previous  preferment ; but  in  order 
that  these  livings  may  not  be  uncared 
for,  they  are  commended  by  the  crown  to 
the  care  of  the  new  bishop,  till  they  can 
be  properly  transferred. 

Commendation  INinepence.  A 
bent  silver  ninepence,  supposed  to  be 
lucky,  and  commonly  used  in  the  seven- 
teenth century  as  love-tokens,  the  giver 
or  sender  using  these  words,  From  my 
love,  to  my  love.”  Sometimes  the  coin 
was  broken,  and  each  kept  a part. 

Like  commendation  ninepence,  crooked. 

\V itli  “ To  and  from  my  love,”  it  looked. 

Butler,  “ Hudihras,''  i.  1. 

Filbert.  As  this  divides,  thus  are  we  torn  in  twain . 
Kitty.  And  as  this  meets,  thus  may  we  meet  again. 

yVhat  d'ye  Call  ILi" 

Committee.  A committee  of  the  whole 
house,  in  parliamentary  language,  is  when 
the  speaker  leaves  the  chair,  and  all  the 
members  form  a committee,  where  any 
one  may  speak  once  or  more  than  once. 
In  such  cases  the  chair  is  occupied  by 
the  chairman  of  committees,  elected  with 
each  new  parliament. 

A standing  committee,  in  parliamentary 
language,  is  a committee  which  continues  ) 
to  the  end  of  the  current  se.ssion.  To  , 


this  committee  are  referred  all  questions 
which  fall  within  the  scope  of  their  ap- 
pointment. 

Common.  To  put  one  on  short  com- 
mons. To  stint  him,  to  give  him  scanty 
meals.  In  the  University  of  Cambridge 
the  food  provided  for  each  student  at 
breakfast  is  called  his  commons;  hence 
food  in  general  or  meals. 

Common  Sense  does  not  mean  that 
good  sense  which  is  common,  or  com- 
monly needed  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of 
life,  but  the  sense  which  is  common  to  all 
the  five,  or  the  point  where  the  five 
senses  meet,  supposed  to  be  the  seat  of 
the  soul,  where  it  judges  what  is  pre- 
sented by  the  senses,  and  decides  the 
mode  of  action.  {See  Seven  Senses.) 

Companion  Ladder.  The  ladder 
leading  from  the  companion”  to  the 
cabin.  The  companion  ” is  the  lid  of 
the  staircase,  or  the  porch  or  penthouse 
which  accompanies  it. 

Companions  of  Je'hu.  The  Chouans 
were  so  called,  from  a fanciful  analogy 
between  their  self-imposed  task  and  that 
appointed  to  Jehu,  on  being  set  over  the 
kingdom  of  Israel.  Jehu  was  to  cut  off 
Ahab  and  Jez'ebel,  with  all  their  house, 
and  all  the  priests  of  Baal.  The  Chouans 
were  to  cut  off  all  who  assassinated  Louis 
XVI.,  and  see  that  his  brother  (Jehu) 
was  placed  on  the  throne. 

Comparisons  are  Odorous.  So 
says  Dogberry.  — Much  A do  about  Nothing, 
hi.  4. 

We  own  your  verses  are  melodious. 

But  then  comparisons  are  odious. 

SwiJ't,  ‘'Answer  to  Sheridan's  ‘ Simile.'  ” 

Complexion  literally  means  ^^whati 
embraces  or  contains,”  and  the  idea 
implies  that  the  colour  of  the  skin  cor- 
responds to  the  habit  of  body,  and  the 
habit  of  body  answers  to  the  element 
which  predominates.  If  fire  predominates, 
the  person  is  bilious  or  full  of  bile;  if 
air,  he  is  sanguine  or  full  of  blood ; if 
earth,  the  body  is  melancholic  or  full  of 
black  bile  ; if  water,  it  is  phleg'matic  or 
full  of  phlegm.  The  first  is  hot  and  dry, 
the  second  hot  and  cold,  the  third  cold 
and  dry,  and  the  last  moist  and  cold  like 
water. 

’Tisill,  tho’dififerentyour  complexions  are  fi.e.,  dis- 
positions). Dryden. 

Cl  etnns,  thro'  mere  complexion  lie. 

Tilt,''  Hymn  of  Callimachus." 

M 2 


180 


COMPLINE. 


CONDOTTIERI. 


Com'pline  (2  syl.).  The  last  service 
of  the  day  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
First  appointed  by  the  abbot  Benedict  in 
the  sixth  century.  The  word  is  a corrup- 
tion of  completo'rium. 

Com'rade  (2  syl.).  The  name  of 
Fortu'nio’s  fairy  horse.  It  ate  but  once 
a week ; knew  the  past,  present,  and 
future  ; and  spake  with  the  voice  of  a 
mdiii.— Grimm  s GohlinSf  Fortunio.” 

Com'rades  (2  syl. ).  Those  who  sleep 
in  the  same  bed-chamber.  It  is  a Spanish 
military  term  derived  from  the  custom  of 
dividing  soldiers  into  chambers.  The 
proper  spelling  is  camerades,  men  of  the 
same  cam'era  (chamber). 

Co'mus.  God  of  revelry.  Milton 
represents  him  as  a male  Circe. 

This  nymph  [Circe)^  that  gazed  upon  his  {Bacchus) 
clustering  locks,  .... 

Had  by  him,  ere  he  parted  thence,  a son, 

Much  like  his  father,  but  his  mother  more, 

"Whom  therefore  she  brought  up,  and  Comus  called. 

Milton,  “ Comus.” 

Comus,  The  elder  brother  in  this 
domestic  drama  is  meant  for  lord  vis- 
count Brackley,  eldest  son  of  John,  earl 
of  Bridgewater,  president  of  Wales.  The 
younger  brother  is  Mr.  Thomas  Egerton. 
The  lady  is  lady  Alice  Egerton. — Milton, 

Con  Amo're  (Italian).  With  heart 
and  soul;  as,  ‘'Hq  didiit  con  amo're  ” i.e.f 
lovingly,  with  delight,  and  therefore  in 
good  earnest. 

Co'nan.  The  Thersy'tes  of  Fingal 
brave  even  to  rashness.  He  made  a vow 
never  to  take  a blow  without  returning 
it ; and  when  he  descended  into  the  in- 
fernal regions,  the  arch-fiend  gave  him  a 
cuff,  which  Conan  instantly  returned, 
saying,  Claw  for  claw.” 

“ Blow  for  blow,”  as  Conan  said  to  the  devil.— /Sco«, 
**  Waverley”  c.  xxii. 

Concert  Pitch.  The  degree  of 
sharpness  or  flatness  adopted  by  a 
number  of  musicians  acting  in  concert, 
that  all  the  instruments  may  be  in  ac- 
cord. Generally,  a particular  note  is 
selected  for  the  standard,  as  A or  C ; this 
note  is  put  into  the  proper  pitch,  and  all 
other  notes  are  regulated  by  it. 

Con'cierge  (3  syl.).  A door-porter. 
When  Hugh  Capet  took  up  his  abode  in 
Paris,  he  added  two  large  buildings  to 
the  palace— a prison  and  a stable.  Over 


: the  former  he  placed  a keeper,  called 
i t\\Q  comte  des  Cierges;  over  the  latter  an 
I officer  called  the  comte  de  I’Etable. 

I Now,  concierge  means  a ^^door-porter,” 

I and  conciergerie  a ‘‘prison.”  The  title 
' comte  de  I’Etable  became  in  time  con- 
nHahle,  and  gave  us  our  word  “constable. ” 

Conclave  (2  syl.).  A set  of  rooms, 
all  of  which  are  entered  by  one  common 
key  (Latin,  con  cla'vis).  The  word  is 
applied  to  the  little  deal  cells  erected  in 
some  large  apartment  for  the  cardinals 
who  meet  to  choose  a new  pope,  because 
the  long  gallery  of  the  Vatican  between 
the  cells  and  the  windows  of  the  palace 
is  common  ground  to  all  the  conclavists. 
The  assembly  itself  is,  by  a figure  of 
speech,  also  called  a conclave. 

Conclama'tio,  amongst  the  ancient 
Romans,  was  similar  to  the  Irish  howl 
over  the  dead ; and,  as  in  Ireland,  women 
led  the  funeral  cortege,  weeping  osten- 
tatiously and  gesticulating.  “One  not 
howled  over”  {corpus  nondiiin  conclama'- 
tum)  meant  one  at  the  point  of  death; 
and  “one  howled  for”  was  one  given  up 
for  dead  or  really  deceased.  Virgil  tells 
us  that  the  ululation  was  a Phoenician  cus- 
tom ; and  therefore  he  makes  the  palace 
ring  with  howls  when  Dido  burnt  herself 
to  death. 

Lamentis,  gemi'tuqtue,  et  foemin'eo  ulula'fco, 
Tecta  freinunt.  ""jEneidp  iv.  667, 

Concord  is  Strength.  The  wise 
saw  of  Periander,  “ tyrant  ” of  Corinth. 
(B.c.  665-585.) 

Concor'dat.  An  agreement  made 
between  a ruler  and  the  pope  relative 
to  the  collation  of  benefices.  As  the 
Concordat  of  1801  between  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  and  pope  Pius  VI L ; the 
Concordat  of  1516  between  Francois  I. 
and  pope  Leo  X.  to  abolish  the  “prag- 
matic sanction;”  and  the  Germanic 
Concordat  of  1448  between  Frederick 
III.  and  pope  Nicholas  V. 

Con'dign.  Latin,  condignus  (well- 
worthy); as  condign  punishment — i.e., 
punishment  well  deserved. 

In  thy  con'dign  praise. 

Shakespeare,  “ Bove’s  Labour's  Lostp  i.  % 

Condottie'ri.  Leaders  of  military 
adventurers  in  the  fifteenth  century.  The 
most  noted  of  these  brigand  leaders  in 
Italy  were  Guarnie  ri,  Lnndo,  Frances'eo 
of  Carmag'nola,  and  Francesco  Sforza. 


confedekate. 


CONSCIENCE. 


181 


Giac'omo  Sforza,  son  of  Francesco,  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  the  duke  of  Milan, 
and  succeeded  his  father-in-law. 

Confed'erate  States.  The  eleven 
states  which  revolted  from  the  Union  in 
the  late  American  Civil  War  (1861-1866) — 
viz , Georgia,  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, Virgin'ia,  Tennessee',  Alaba'ma, 
Louisia'na,  Arkan'sas,  Mississip'pi,  Flo- 
rida, and  Texas. 

Confederation  of  the  Rhine. 
Sixteen  German  provinces  in  1806  dis- 
solved their  connection  with  Germany, 
and  allied  themselves  to  France.  At  the 
downfall  of  Napoleon  in  1814  this  con- 
federation melted  away  of  itself. 

Confession.  John  of  Nep'omuc, 
canon  of  Prague,  suffered  death  rather 
than  violate  the  seal  of  confession.  The 
emperor  Wenceslas  ordered  him  to  be 
thrown  off  a bridge  into  the  Muldaw,  be- 
cause he  refused  to  reveal  the  confession 
of  the  empress.  He  was  canonised  as 
St.  John  Nepomu'cen. 

Confiscate  (3  syl.).  To  forfeit  to 
the  public  treasury.  (Latin,  con  Jiscits, 
with  the  tribute  money.) 

If  thou  dost  shed  one  drop  of  Christian  blood. 
Thy  lands  and  goods  are,  t)y  the  laws  of  Venice, 
Confiscate  to  the  state  of  Venice. 

Shakespeare,  3Ierchant  of  Venice,”  iv.  1. 

Conge  d’Blire  (Norman-French, 
leave  to  elect).  A roj^'al  warrant  given  to 
the  dean  and  chapter  of  a diocese  to  elect 
the  person  nominated  by  the  crown  to 
their  vacant  see. 

Con'gleton  Bears.  The  men  of 
Congleton.  It  is  said  that  the  Congleton 
parish  clerk  sold  the  church  bible  to  buy 
a bear. 

Congrega'tionalists.  Those  Pro- 
testant Dissenters  who  maintain  that 
each  congregation  is  an  independent 
community,  and  has  a right  to  make  its 
own  laws  and  choose  its  own  minister. 
They  rose  in  the  time  of  queen  Elizabeth. 

Con'greve  Rockets.  So  called 
from  Sir  William  Congreve,  eldest  son  of 
lieut.-colonel  Sir  William  Congreve. 
(1772-1828.) 

Con'jugal.  What  pertains  to  con- 
jitges  (yoke-fellows).  In  ancient  times  a 
5"oke  {jugum)  was  put  on  a man  and 
woman  by  way  of  marriage  ceremony, 
and  the  two  were  said  to  be  yoked 
together  by  marriage. 


Con'juring  Cap.  I must  put  on  my 
conjuring  cap — i.e.,  your  question  re- 
qu.irfi«  deliberate  thought,  and  I must 
reflect  on  it.  Eric  XIV.,  king  of  Sweden, 
was  a great  admirer  of  magic,  and  had  an 

enchanted  cap  ” made,  either  to  keep 
his  head  warm  or  for  mystification.  Pie 
pretended  to  have  power  over  the  ele- 
ments ; and  when  a storm  arose,  his  sub- 
jects used  to  say,  ^^The  king  has  got  on 
his  conjuring  cap.” 

Conqueror.  The  Conqueror. 

Alexander  the  Great  The  conqueror 
of  the  world,  (b.c.  356,  336-323.) 

Alfonso  of  Portugal.  (1094,  1137" 
1185.) 

Aurungzebe  the  Great.  A lemgir.  The 
most  powerful  of  the  Great  Moguls. 
(1618,  1659-1707:) 

Jaymel.  of  Aragon.  (1206,  1213-1276.) 

Othman  or  Osman  I.  Founder  of  the 
Turkish  power.  (1259,  1299-1326. ) 

Francisco  Pizarro.  Conquistador.  So 
called  because  he  conquered  Peru.  (1475- 
1541.) 

William,  duke  of  Normandy.  So  called 
because  he  obtained  England  by  conquest. 
(1027,  1066-1087.) 

Conquest  {The).  The  accession  of 
William  I.  to  the  crown  of  England.  So 
called  because  his  right  depended  on  his 
conquest  of  Harold,  the  reigning  king. 
(1066.) 

Con'rad  {Lord).  Afterwards  called 
Lara,  the  corsair.  A proud,  ascetic,  but 
successful  captain.  Hearing  that  the 
sultan  Seyd  was  about  to  attack  the 
pirates,  Conrad  assumed  the  disguise  of 
a dervise  and  entered  the  palace,  while 
his  crew  set  fire  to  the  sultan’s  fleet. 
The  trick  being  discovered,  Conrad  was 
taken  prisoner,  but  was  released  by  Gul- 
nare,  the  sultan’s  favourite  concubine, 
whom  he  had  rescued  from  the  flaming 
palace.  Gulnare  escaped  with  the  cor- 
sair to  the  Pirates’  Isle,  and  when  Con- 
rad found  Medo'ra  dead,  he  left  the 
island,  and  no  one  knew  whither  he 
went.  The  rest  of  his  adventures  are 
recorded  under  his  new  name  of  Lara.  — 
Byron,  The  Corsair.” 

Conscience  {Court  of).  Established 
for  the  recovery  of  small  debts  in  Lon- 
don and  other  trading  places.  They 
were  su]->erseded  by  county  courts. 

Why  should  not  Conscience  have  vacation, 

As  well  as  other  courts  o’  the  nation? 

Butler,  lludibras,”  ii.  3, 


182 


CONSCRIPT. 


CONSTANTINE. 


Conscript  Fathers.  The  Roman 
senate.  So  called  because  their  names 
were  written  in  the  senate’s  register. 
(Latin,  con  scriptus^  written  together.) 

Consen'tes  Dii.  The  twelve  chief 
Roman  deities — 

Jupiter,  Apollo,  Mars,  Neptune,  Mer- 
cury, and  Vulcan. 

Juno,  Vesta,  Minerva,  Ceres,  Diana, 
and  Venus. 

Conservative  (4  syl.).  A medium 
Tory— one  who  wishes  to  preserve  the 
union  of  Church  and  State,  and  not 
radically  to  alter  the  constitution.  The 
word  was  first  used  in  this  sense  in  1830, 
in  the  January  number  of  the  Quarterly 
Revieio — ^^We  have  always  been  con- 
scientiously attached  to  what  is  called  the 
Tory,  and  which  might  with  more  pro- 
priety be  called  the  Conservative  party.” 

Consolidated  Fund.  A repository 
of  public  money,  pledged  for  the  pay- 
ment of  Government  expenses.  Till 
1816  the  exchequers  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  were  kept  separately,  but  they 
were  formed  that  year  into  a common 
fund,  out  of  which  is  paid  the  interest  of 
the  national  debt,  the  civil  list,  and  the 
salaries.  If  any  surplus  remains,  it  is 
applied  to  the  mutual  benefit  of  the 
united  kingdoms. 

Consols  (a  contraction  of  Consoli^ 
dated  Annuities).  In  1751  an  Act  was 
passed  for  consolidating  several  stocks 
bearing  an  interest  of  3 per  cent.  Those 
who  supply  the  funds  receive  interest  for 
their  money  (about  3 per  cent.),  but  if 
they  want  the  principal,  they  must  get 
some  one  to  take  their  place.  This 
new  man  hands  over  the  value  of  the 
stock,  and  has  his  name  substituted  in 
the  books  for  the  previous  holder. 

Con'sort  is,  properly,  one  whose  lot 
is  cast  in  ivitli  another.  As  the  queen 
does  not  lose  by  marriage  her  separate 
existence,  like  other  women,  her  husband 
is  called  a consort,  because  he  consorts 
with  the  queen. 

Wilt  thou  be  our  consort? 

Shakespeare,  “ Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona^’*  iv.  1. 

Con'stable  (Latin,  comes -staVuli) 
means  Master  of  the  Horse.”  The  con- 
stable of  England  and  France  was  at 
one  time  a military  officer  of  state,  next 
in  rank  to  the  crown.  {8ee  Concierge.) 

To  overrun  or  outrun  the  constable.  To 


get  into  debt ; spend  more  than  one’s 
income;  to  talk  about  what  you  do  not 
understand.  {See  heloiv. ) 

Quoth  Hudibras,  Friend  Ralph,  thou  hast 
Outrun  the  constable  at  last ; 

For  thou  hast  fallen  on  a new 
Dispute,  as  senseless  as  untrue. 

Butler,  “ Hudibrasy  i.3. 

Who's  to  pay  the  constable  ? Who  is  to 
pay  the  score  ? 

The  constable  arrests  debtors,  and,  of 
course,  represents  the  creditor  ; where- 
fore, to  overrun  the  constable  is  to 
overrun  your  credit  account.  To  pay 
the  constable  is  to  give  him  the  money 
due,  to  prevent  an  arrest. 

Constable  de  Bourbon.  Charles, 
due  de  Bourbon,  a powerful  enemy  of 
Francois  I.  He  was  killed  while  heading 
the  assault  on  Rome.  (1527.) 

Constantine’s  Cross.  In  Latin, 
Vinces  in  hoc;  in  English,  By  this  conquer. 
It  is  said  that  Constantine,  on  his  march 
to  Rome,  saw  a luminous  cross  v 
in  the  sky,  in  the  shape  and  with  ^ 
the  motto  here  given.  In  the  ^ ^ 
night  before  the  battle  of  Saxa 
Rubra,  a vision  appeared  to  him  ^ 
in  his  sleep,  commanding  him  to 
inscribe  them  on  the  shields  of  his  sol- 
diers. He  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  vision, 
and  prevailed.  The  monogram  is  XPtoroc 
(Christ). 

This  may  be  called  a standing  miracle 
in  legendary  history ; for,  besides  An- 
drew’s cross,  and  the  Dannebrog  or  red 
cross  of  Denmark  {q.v.),  we  have  the 
cross  which  appeared  to  don  Alonzo 
before  the  battle  of  Ourique  in  1139, 
when  the  Moors  were  totally  routed  with 
incredible  slaughter.  As  Alonzo  was 
drawing  up  his  men,  the  figure  of  a cross 
appeared  in  the  eastern  sky,  and  Christ, 
suspended  on  the  cross,  promised  the 
Christian  king  a complete  victory.  This 
legend  is  commemorated  by  the  device 
assumed  by  Alonzo,  in  a field  argent  five 
escutcheons  azure,  in  the  form  of  a cross, 
each  escutcheon  being  charged  with  five 
bezants,  in  memory  of  the  five  wounds  of 
Christ. 

Constantine  Tolman  (Cornwall). 
A vast  egg-like  stone,  thirty-three  feet 
in  length,  eighteen  in  width,  and  four- 
teen in  thickness,  placed  on  the  points  of 
two  natural  rocks,  so  that  a man  may 
creep  under  it.  The  stone  upheld  weighs 
750  tons. 


CONSTITUENT. 


COOKS. 


183 


Constit'uent  Assembly.  The  first 
of  the  national  assemblies  of  the  French 
Revolution.  So  called  because  it  took 
an  oath  never  to  separate  till  it  had 
given  to  France  a constitution.  (1788- 
1791.) 

Constit'uents.  Those  who  consti- 
tute or  elect  members  of  Parliament. 
(Latin,  constit'uOf  to  place  or  elect,  &c.) 

Constitution.  The  fundamental 
laws  of  a state.  It  may  be  either  des- 
potic, aristocratic,  democratic,  or  mixed. 
The  British  constitution  is  a mixture  of 
the  first  three,  the  queen  representing 
the  despotic  principle,  the  House  of  Lords 
the  aristocratic  element,  and  the  House 
of  Commons  the  democratic. 

Constitu'tions  of  Clar'endon. 

{See  Clarendon.) 

Con'strue.  To  translate.  It  means 
to  set  in  order,  one  with  another — i.e.,  to 
set  an  English  word  in  the  place  of  a 
foreign  word,  and  to  lay  the  whole  sen- 
tence in  good  grammatical  order. 

Consuelo  (4  syl.).  The  impersona- 
tion of  moral  purity  in  the  midst  of 
temptations.  The  heroine  of  George 
Sand’s  {Madame  Dudevant)  novel  of  the 
same  name. 

Contemplate  (3  syl. ).  To  inspect  or 
watch  the  temple.  The  augur  among  the 
Romans  having  taken  his  stand  on  the 
Capit'oline  Hill,  marked  out  with  his 
wand  the  space  in  the  heavens  he  in- 
tended to  consult.  This  space  he  called 
the  temjplum.  Having  divided  his 
templum  into  two  parts  from  top  to 
bottom,  he  watched  to  see  what  would 
occur ; the  watching  of  the  templum  was 
called  contem'plating. 

Contempt'  of  Court.  Refusing  to 
conform  to  the  rules  of  the  law  courts. 
Direct  contempt  is  an  open  insult  or  re- 
sistance to  the  judge  or  others  officially 
employed  in  the  court.  Consequential 
contempt  is  that  which  tends  to  obstruct 
the  business  or  lower  the  dignity  of  the 
court  by  indirection. 

Contenement.  A word  used  in 
Magna  Charta,  expressive  of  chattels 
necessary  to  each  man’s  station,  as  the 
arms  of  a gentleman,  the  merchandise  of 
a trader,  or  the  ploughs  and  wagons  of  a 
peasant.— .STa/Zawi. 

Contentment  is  True  Kiches. 
The  wise  saw  of  Democ'ritos,  the  laugh- 
ing philosopher.  (B.c.  509-400.) 


Content  is  wealth,  the  riches  of  the  mind; 

And  happy  he  who  can  such  riches  find. 

Dryden,  “ Wife  of  Bath's  Talef* 

Continence  of  a Scip'io.  It  is 
said  that  a beautiful  princess  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Scipio  Africa'nus,  and  he 
refused  to  see  her,  ^Mest  he  should  be 
tempted  to  forget  his  principles.” 

Continental  System.  A name 
given  to  Napoleon’s  plan  for  shutting  out 
(Ireat  Britain  from  all  commerce  with 
the  continent  of  Europe.  He  forbade 
under  pain  of  war  any  nation  of  Europe 
to  receive  British  exports,  or  to  send 
imports  to  any  of  the  British  dominions. 
It  began  Nov.  21,  1806. 

Contin'gent  {A).  The  quota  of 
troops  furnished  by  each  of  several  con- 
tracting powers,  according  to  agreement. 
The  word  properly  means  the  number 
which  falls  to  the  lot  of  each ; hence  we 
call  a fortuitous  event  a contingency. 

Centre  Temps  (French).  A mis- 
chance, something  inopportune.  Lite- 
rally, out  of  time.” 

Conven'tiele  means  a little  con- 
vent,” and  was  originally  applied  to  a 
cabal  of  monks  against  the  election  of  a 
proposed  abbot.  The  application  of 
chapel  and  conventicle  to  the  places  of 
worship  used  by  dissenters  is  certainly 
very  unsuitable.  {See  Chapel.  ) 

Conversation  Sharp.  Richard 
Sharp,  the  critic.  (1759-1835.) 

Con'nyger  or  Con'nigry.  A 
warren  for  conies,  a cony-burrow. 

Convey.  A polite  term  for  steal. 
Thieves  are,  by  a similar  euphemism, 
called  conveyers. 

Convey,  the  wise  it  call.  Steal ! foh ! a fico  for  the 
phrase. — Shakespeare^^'' Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,"  i.  3. 

Cooing  and  Billing,  like  Philip 
and  Mary  on  a shilling.  The  reference  is 
to  coins  struck  in  the  year  1555,  in  which 
Mary  and  her  consort  are  placed  face  to 
face,  and  not  cheek  by  jowl,  the  usual  way. 
Still  amorous,  and  fond,  and  billing, 

Like  Philip  and  Mary  on  a shilling. 

“ Hudibras,"  pt.  iii.  1. 

Cook  is  from  the  Norse  coge,  to  boil ; 
what  has  been  boiled  is  cogty  whence  our 
“cooked”  is  pronounced  cooht. 

Cooks.  Athensc'us  affirms  that  cooks 
were  the  first  kings  of  the  earth. 

Esau,  the  heroes  of  the  Greek  siege, 
and  the  old  Roman  magnates,  all  cooked 
“ savoury  messes.” 

In  the  luxurious  ages  of  ancient  Greece, 


/ 


184  COOKED. 


COPTS. 


Sicilian  cooks  were  most  esteemed,  and 
received  very  high  wages.  Among  them 
Trimal'cio  was  very  celebrated.  It  is 
said  that  he  could  cook  the  most  common 
fish,  and  give  it  the  flavour  and  look  of 
the  most  highly  esteemed. 

In  the  palmy  days  of  Eome,  a chief 
cook  had  £800  a year.  Antony  gave  the 
cook  who  arranged  his  banquet  for 
Cleopatra  the  present  of  a city. 

Vatel,  who  killed  himself  1671,.  during 
a banquet  given  by  the  prince  de  Conde 
to  the  king  at  Chantilly,  because  the 
lobsters  for  the  turbot  sauce  did  not 
arrive  in  time. 

Car§me  was  a very  celebrated  French 
cook,  called  the  Eegenerator  of  Cookery. 
(1784-1833.) 

Ude  and  Soyer  are  names  of  consi- 
derable celebrity  as  cooks. 

Cooked.  The  boohs  have  been  cooked. 
The  ledger  and  other  trade  books  have 
been  tampered  with,  in  order  to  show  a 
balance  in  favour  of  the  bankrupt.  The 
term  was  first  used  in  reference  to 
George  Hudson,  the  railway  king,  under 
whose  chairmanship  the  Eastern  Counties 
Eailway  accounts  were  falsified.  The 
allusion  is  to  preparing  meat  for  table. 

Coon.  A gone  coon.  One  who  has  no 
hope,  one  completely  done  for.  Colonel 
Crockett  was  out  racoon-shooting  in  N orth 
America,  when  he  levelled  his  gun  at  a 
tree  where  an  ^^old  coon”  was  concealed. 
Knowing  the  colonel’s  prowess,  it  cried 
out,  in  the  voice  of  a man,  Hallo,  there  ! 
air  you  colonel  Crockett?  for  if  you  air, 
ril  jist  come  down,  or  I know  I am  a 
gone  ’coon.” 

Cooper.  Half  stout  and  half  porter. 
The  term  arises  from  the  practice  at 
breweries  of  allowing  the  coopers  a daily 
portion  of  stout  and  porter.  As  they  do 
not  like  to  drink  porter  after  stout,  they 
mix  the  two  together. 

Cooper’s  Hill.  Near  Eunnymede 
and  Egham.  Both  Denham  and  Pope 
have  written  in  praise  of  this  hill. 

If  I can  be  to  thee 

A poet,  thou  Parnassus  art  to  me.— Denham. 

Coot.  A silly  old  coot.  SUipid  as  a 
coot.  Common  American  expressions. 
The  coot  is  a small  water-fowl,  which 
buries  its  head  in  mud  when  it  is  pur- 
sued, thinking  no  one  can  see  it,  as  it 
cannot  itself  see. 

Bald  as  a coot.  The  coot,  or  water 
hen,  has  a bald  forehead. 


Cop.  To  throw,  as  cop  it  here.  The 
word  properly  means  to  beat  or  strike, 
as  to  cop  a shuttlecock  or  ball  with  a 
bat  (Greek,  coptOj  to  beat) ; but  in 
Norfolk  it  means  to  hull  ” or  throw. 

Coper'niea-n  System  is  that  which 
re]3resents  the  sun  at  rest  in  the  centre, 
and  all  the  planets  revolving  round  it. 
So  called  after  Nicolas  Coper'nicus,  the 
Prussian  astronomer  (1473-1543). 

Copes^inate  (2  syl.).  A companion. 

Copesmate  of  ugly  night”  (“Eapeof 
Lucreece”),  a mate  who  copes  with  you. 

CopEet'ua.  An  imaginary  king  of 
Africa,  of  great  vrealth,  who  ‘^disdained 
all  womankind.”  One  day  he  saw  a 
beggar-girl  from  his  window,  and  fell  in 
love  with  her.  He  asked  her  name  ; it 
was  Penel'ophon,  called  by  Shakespeare 
Zenel'ophon  (^^Love’s  Labour’s  Lost,”iv. 
1).  They  lived  together  long  and  hapj^ily, 
and  at  death  were  universally  lamented. 
— Percy's  “ Reliques,"  bk.  ii.  6. 

King  Cophetua  loved  the  beggar-maid. 

Shakespeare,  “ Romeo  and  Juliet,^'  ii.  1. 

Copper.  Give  me  a copper— i.e.,  a 
piece  of  copper  money.  I have  no 
coppers — no  halfpence. 

Copper  Captain.  One  who  calls 
himself  a captain,  but  has  no  right  to 
the  title,  a counterfeit  captain.  Michael 
Perez  is  so  called  in  ^^Eule  a Wife  and 
have  a Wife,”  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher. 

To  tins  copper-captain  was  confided  the  command 
of  the  troops.— IV.  Irving. 

Copperheads.  Secret  foes.  Cop- 
perheads are  poisonous  serpents  of 
America  that  give  no  warning,  like  rattle- 
snakes, of  their  attack.  In  the  great 
civil  war  of  the  United  States  the  term 
was  applied  by  the  Federals  to  the  peace 
party,  supposed  to  be  the  covert  friends 
of  the  Confederates. 

Cop 'pie.  The  hen  killed  by  Eeynard, 
in  the  tale  of  “Eeynard  the  Fox.” 

Cops.  Copperheads  {q.v.). 

Copts.  The  Jacobite  Christians  of 
Egypt,  who  have  for  eleven  centuries 
been  in  possession  of  the  patriarchal 
chair  of  Alexandria.  The  word  is  pro- 
bably derived  from  Coptos,  the  metro- 
polis of  the  Theba'id.  These  Christians 
conduct  their  worship  in  a dead  language 
called  ‘^Coptic”  (the  language  of  the 
Copts). 


COPUS. 


CORUELIEES. 


185 


Co'pUS*  A drink  made  of  beer,  wine, 
and  spice  heated  together,  and  served  in 
a ‘‘  loving-cup/’  Dog- Latin  for  ciiiidloii 
Hippodratis  (a  cup  of  hippo  eras). 

Copy.  That's  a mere  copy  of  your 
countenance.  Not  your  real  wish  or 
meaning,  but  merely  one  you  choose  to 
present  to  me.  You  do  not  show  me  the 
real  draft,  but  a doctored  copy.  Perhaps 
the  word  copy  ” is  the  Spanish  capa  (dis- 
guise), as  la  cajpa  de  religion  (the  disguise 
of  religion) ; so  in  Portuguese,  com  capa. 
de  . . . (under  pretence  of  . . .). 

Copyhold  Estate.  Part  of  a 
manor,  held  for  a term  at  the  lord’s  will, 
and  the  terms  copied  into  the  court-roll 
or  document  kept  in  the  manor-house  for 
these  purposes.  As  all  copyholds  derive 
their  force  from  custom  only,  no  new 
ones  can  be  created  now.  Indeed,  none 
have  been  created  since  the  reign  of 
Eichard  II, 

Copyright.  The  right  of  an 
author  to  his  works  for  the  term  of  his 
natural  life,  or  for  forty-two  years  from 
publication.  For  the  benefit  of  sur- 
vivors, the  heirs  may  claim  the  right 
either  for  the  residue  of  the  forty-two 
years,  or  for  seven  years  from  his  de- 
cease. 

The  five  copies  of  a copyright  work 
are  thus  disposed  of  A copy  is  sent  to 
the  British  Museum,  the  Bodleian  of 
Oxford,  the  University  library  of  Cam- 
bridge, the  Advocates’  library  of  Scot- 
land, and  the  library  of  Trinity,  Dublin. 

Co'rah,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  is  meant  for  Dr. 
Titus  Oates  (Numbers  xvi.).  North 
describes  him  as  a short  man,  extremely 
ugly ; if  his  mouth  is  taken  for  the 
centre,  his  chin,  forehead,  and  cheek- 
bones would  fall  in  the  circumference. 
Sunk  were  liis  eyes,  his  voice  was  harsh  and  loud  ; 
Sure  signs  he  neither  choleric  was,  nor  proud  ; 

His  long  chin  proved  his  wit ; his  saint-like  grace 
A church  vermilion,  and  a Moses’  face. 

His  memory,  miraculously  great. 

Could  plots,  exceeding  man’s  belief,  repeat. 

Dryden,  ''Absalom  and  Achitophel.’^ 

Coral  Beads.  The  Eomans  used  to 
hang  beads  of  red  coral  on  the  cradles 
and  round  the  neck  of  infants,  to  pre- 
serve and  fasten  their  teeth,”  and  save 
them  from  '^the  falling  sickness.”  It 
was  considered  by  soothsayers  as  a 
charm  against  lightning,  whirlwind,  ship- 
wreck, and  fire.  Paracelsus  says  it 


should  be  worn  round  the  neck  of  chil- 
dren as  a preservative  against  fits, 
sorcery,  charms,  and  poison.”  The  coral 
hells  are  a Roman  Catholic  addition,  the 
object  being  to  frighten  away  evil  spirits 
by  their  jingle. 

Coral  is  good  to  be  hanged  about  the  neck  of 
children  ...  to  preserve  (hem  from  the  failing 
sickness.  It  hath  also  some  special  symrathy  with 
nature,  for  the  best  coral  . . . will  turn  pale  and 
wan  if  the  party  that  wears  it  be  sick,  and  it  comes 
to  its  former  colour  again  as  they  recover.— 

“ Jeivel-Ilouse  of  Art  and  Nature." 

Cor'al  Master.  A juggler.  So 
called  by  the  Spaniards.  In  ancient 
times  the  juggler,  when  he  threw  off  his 
mantle,  appeared  in  a tight  scarlet  or 
coral  dress. 

Co'ran  {cropped).  One  of  the  dogs  of 
Actseon.  (iS'ee  Cisseta.) 

Cor'anacli.  Lamentation  for  the 
dead,  as  anciently  practised  in  Ireland 
and  Celtic  Scotland.  (Gaelic,  cornh 
rdnaich,  crying  together.) 

Cor'bant.  The  rook,  in  the  tale  of 
^^Eeynard  the  Fox.”  (Latin,  corvus ; 
French,  corheau,) 

Corbett.  The  punningarmorial  device 
of  this  family  is  two  corheaux  or  ravens. 

CoreCB'ca  {Blind-heart).  Superstition 
is  so  named  in  Spenser’s  Faery  Queen.” 
Abessa  tried  to  m^ake  her  understand 
that  danger  was  at  hand ; but,  being 
blind,  she  was  dull  of  comprehension. 
At  length  she  was  induced  to  shut  her 
door,  and  when  Una  knocked  would  give 
no  answer.  Then  the  lion  broke  down 
the  door,  and  both  entered.  The  mean- 
ing is  that  England,  the  lion,  broke 
down  the  door  of  Superstition  at  the 
Eeformation.  Corcoeca  means  Eomanism 
in  England.— Bk.  i. 

Cordelia.  The  youngest  of  Lear’s 
three  daughters,  and  the  only  one  that 
loved  him. — Shakespeare,  King  Lear.” 

Cordeliers  means  cord- wearers.” 
Certain  Franciscan  friars  are  so  called 
because  they  wear  round  their  waist  a 
thong  of  knotted  cord  instead  of  a girdle. 
In  the  reign  of  St.  Louis,  these  Minorite 
monks  repulsed  an  army  of  infidels,  and 
the  king  asked  who  those  gens  de  cordelits 
(corded  people)  were.  From  this  they 
received  their  appellation. 

During  the  Ee volution,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  of  the  movement  party  was 
so  called,  because  they  held  their  meet- 


186 


COHDON. 


CORN  LAW. 


/ . 


iiigs  in  the  chapel  of  a Franciscan  monas- 
tery. Danton,  Hebert,  Chaumette, 
Camille  Desmoulins,  and  Marat  were 
members  of  this  club,  which  was  opposed 
to  the  Jacobins. 

Cordon  Bleu  (French).  A knight 
of  the  ancient  order  of  the  St.  Esprit 
(Holy  Ghost).  So  called  because  the 
decoration  is  suspended  on  a blue  ribbon. 
It  was  at  one  time  the  highest  order  in 
the  kingdom. 

Gordon  Bleu.  A first-rate  cook.  The 
commandeur  de  Souve,  comte  d’Olonne, 
and  some  others,  who  were  cordons  bleus 
{i.e.,  knights  of  St.  Esprit),  met  together 
as  a sort  of  club,  and  were  noted  for  their 
well-appointed  dinners.  Hence,  when 
any  one  had  dined  well  he  said,  ^'Bien, 
c’est  un  vrai  repas  de  cordon-bleu ; ” and 
a superior  cook  was  one  of  the  cordon 
bleu  type,  or,  briefly,  a cordon  bleu.  ^ 
\See  above. ) 

Cordon  Rouge  (French).  A cheva- 
lier of  the  order  of  St.  Louis,  the  deco- 
ration being  suspended  on  a red  ribbon. 

Grand  Gordon.  A member  of  Legion 
dlwnneur,  whose  cross  is  attached  to  a 
grand  or  broad  ribbon. 

Cord'uroy'.  A corded  fabric,  origi- 
nally made  of  silk,  and  worn  by  the  kings 
of  France  in  the  chase.  (French,  cord 
du  roy.) 

Gordntroy  Road.  A term  applied  to 
roads  in  the  backwoods  and  swampy 
districts  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
formed  of  the  halves  of  trees  sawn  in 
two  longitudinally,  and  laid  transversely 
across  the  track.  A road  thus  made 
presents  a ribbed  appearance,  like  the 
cloth  called  corduroy. 

Cord'wainer.  Not  a twister  of  cord, 
but  a worker  in  leather.  Our  word  is 
the  French  cordouannier  (a  maker  or 
worker  of  cordouan) ; the  former  a cor- 
ruption of  Gordovanier  (a  worker  in  Cor- 
dovan leather). 

Corflamnbo.  The  impersonation  of 
sensual  passion  in  Spenser’s  ‘‘  Faery 
Queen.” 

Co'ri.  Cape  Com'orin. 

Corin'eus  (3  syl.).  A mythical  hero 
in  the  suite  of  Brute,  who  conquered  the 
giant  Goem'agot,  for  which  achievement 
the  whole  western  horn  of  England  was 
allotted  him.  He  called  it  Corin'ea,  and 
the  people  Corin'eans,  from  his  own  name. 


In  meed  of  these  great  conquests  by  tlnm  got, 
Coriaeus  ha  l that  province  utmost  west 

To  him  assiyned  for  his  worthy  lot, 

Which  of  his  name  and  memorable  gest, 

He  called  Cornwall. 

Spenser,  “ Fa§ry  Queen,"  ii.  10. 

Corinth..  E'ot  every  one  can  go  to 
Gorinth — i.e.,  not  every  one  can  afford 
such  extravagance.  The  reference  is  to 
Lais,  a courtesan  of  Corinth,  who  made 
those  who  visited  her  pay  most  extrava- 
gantly for  her  favours.  Horace  says,  It 
does  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  every  man  to 
go  to  Corinth,”  meaning,  not  every  man 
is  fleeced  of  his  money  by  women  of  low 
character. 

Corinth’s  Pedagogue.  Dionys'ios 
the  younger,  on  being  banished  a second 
time  from  Syracuse,  went  to  Corinth  and 
became  schoolmaster.  He  is  called 
Dionysios  the  tyrant.  Hence  lord  Byron 
says  of  Napoleon — 

Corinth’s  pedagogue  hath  now 
Transferred  his  hy-word  to  thy  brow. 

Ode  to  Napoleon. 

Corin'thian  {A).  A licentious  liber- 
tine. The  immorality  of  Corinth  was 
proverbial  both  in  Greece  and  Rome.  To 
GoriiiJthianise  is  to  indulge  in  licentious 
conduct. 

Gorinthian  Tom.  The  sporting  rake 
in  Pierce  Egan’s  Life  in  London.”  A 

Corinthian ” was  the  ‘^fast  man”  of 
Shakespeare’s  period. 

I am  no  proud  Jack,  like  Falstaff;  but  a Co- 
rinthian, a lad  of  meitle,  a good  hoy  —Shakespeare, 
“ 1 Henry  1 F.,”  ii.  4. 

Corin'thian  Order.  The  most 
richly  decorated  of  the  five  orders  of 
Greek  architecture.  The  shaft  is  fluted, 
and  the  capital  adorned  with  acanthus 
leaves.  (See  Acanthus.) 

Coriola'nus.  The  chief  character 
of  Shakespeare’s  play  so  called. 

Corked.  This  wine  is  corhed—i.e., 
tastes  of  the  cork. 

Cor'moran'.  The  Cornish  giant  who 
fell  into  a pit  twenty  feet  deep,  dug  by 
Jack  the  Giant-killer,  and  filmed  over 
with  grass  and  gravel.  The  name  means 
cormorant  or  great  eater.  For  this 
doughty  achievement  Jack  received  a 
belt  from  king  Arthur,  with  this  in- 
scription— 

This  is  the  valiant  Cornish  man 
That  slew  the  giant  Cormoran. 

Jack  the  Giant-killer. 

Corn  - Law  Rhymer.  Ebenezer 
Elliott,  who  wrote  philippics  against  the 
corn  laws.  (1781-1849.) 

Is  not  the  corn-law  rhymer  already  a king?— 
Carlyle. 


CORNER 


CORPUSCULAR. 


187 


Corner  {The).  Tattersall’s  horse- 
stores  and  betting-rooms,  which  were  at 
one  time  at  the  corner  of  Hyde  Park,  are 
now  removed  to  Knightsbridge  Green. 

Cornette.  Porter  la  cornette.  To  be 
domineered  over  by  the  woman  of  the 
house;  to  be  a Jerry  Sneak.  The  cor- 
nette is  the  mob-cap  anciently  worn  by 
the  women  of  France.  Porter  les  culottes 
(to  wear  the  breeches)  is  the  same  idea  ; 
only  it  shows  who  has  the  mastery,  and 
not  who  is  mastered.  In  the  latter  case 
it  means  the  woman  wears  the  dress  of 
the  man,  and  assumes  his  position  in  the 
house.  Probably  our  expression  about 
“ wearing  the  horns  ” may  be  referred  to 
the  ‘^cornette”  rather  than  to  the  stag 
or  deer. 

Corn'grate  (2  syl.).  A term  given 
in  Wiltshire  to  the  soil  in  the  north- 
western border,  consisting  of  an  irregular 
mass  of  loose  gravel,  sand,  and  limestone. 

Cornish.  Hug.  A hug  to  overthrow 
you.  The  Cornish  men  were  famous 
wrestlers,  and  tried  to  throttle  their 
antagonist  with  a particular  lock,  called 
the  Cornish  hug. 

Cornish  Language  was  virtually 
extinct  150  years  ago.  Doll  Pentreath, 
the  last  person  who  could  speak  it,  died 
at  the  age  of  91,  in  1777. — Notes  and  Q. 

Cornish  Wonder  (77ie).  JohnOpie, 
of  Cornwall,  the  painter.  (1761-1807.) 

Cornu-co'pia.  (See  Amalth^a’s 
Horn.) 

Cornwall.  (See  Barry,  Corineus.) 

Coronation  Chair  consists  of  a 
stone  so  enclosed  as  to  form  a chair.  It 
is  a talisman,  and  the  notion  is,  wherever 
this  stone  is,  royalty  will  be  upheld ; 
but  with  the  removal  of  the  stone  will  be 
the  fall  of  royalty  in  that  nation. 

It  was  probably  the  stone  on  which 
the  kings  of  Ireland  were  inaugurated  on 
the  hill  of  Tara.  It  was  removed  by 
Fergus,  son  of  Eric,  to  Argyleshire,  and 
thence  by  king  Kenneth  (in  the  ninth 
century)  to  Scone,  where  it  was  enclosed 
in  a wooden  chair.  Edward  I.  transferred 
it  to  Westminster. 

The  monkish  legend  says  that  it  was 
the  very  stone  which  formed  ‘‘Jacob’s 
pillow.” 

The  tradition  is,  “ Wherever  this  stone 
is  found,  there  will  reign  some  of  the 
Scotch  race  of  kings.” 


Cor'onacll.  The  funeral  howl  of  the 
Highlanders,  called  by  the  Irish  ululoo. 

Cor'oner  means  properly  the  crown- 
officer  ; in  Saxon  times  it  was  his  duty  to 
collect  the  crown  revenues  ; next  to  take 
charge  of  crown  pleas ; but  at  present  to 
uphold  the  paternal  solicitude  of  the 
crown  by  searching  into  all  cases  of  sud- 
den or  suspicious  death.  (Vulgo,  cr owner. 
Latin,  coro'na,  the  crown. ) 

But  is  this  Jaw? 

Ay,  marry,  is’t ; crowner’s  quest  law. 

i^akespeare,  '"Hamlet,’’  v.  1. 

Cor'onet.  A crown  inferior  to  the 
royal  crown.  A duke’s  coronet  is  adorned 
with  strawberry  leaves  above  the  band  ; 
that  of  a marquis  with  strawberry  leaves 
alternating  with  pearls ; that  of  an  earl 
has  pearls  elevated  on  stalks,  alternating 
with  leaves  above  the  band ; that  of  a 
viscount  has  a string  of  pearls  above  the 
band,  but  no  leaves  ; that  of  a haron  has 
only  four  pearls. 

Coro'nis.  Daughter  of  a king  of 
Pho'cis,  changed  by  Athe'na  into  a crow. 
There  was  another  Coro'nis,  loved  by 
Apollo,  and  killed  by  him  for  infidelity. 

Corps  Legislatif  (French).  The 
lower  house  of  the  late  French  legislature. 
The  first  assembly  so  called  was  when 
Kapoleon  I.  substituted  a corps  legislatif 
and  a tribunal  for  the  two  councils  of  the 
Directory,  Dec.  24,  1799.  The  next  was 
the  corps  legislatif  and  conseil  d’etat  of 
1807.  The  third  was  the  corps  legislatif 
of  750  deputies  of  1849.  The  legislative 
power  under  Napoleon  HI.  was  vested 
in  the  emperor,  the  senate,  and  the  coiys 
legislatif.  (1852.) 

Corpse  Candle.  The  ignis  fatuus  is 
so  called  by  the  Welsh,  because  it  was  sup- 
posed to  forbode  death,  and  to  show  the 
road  that  the  corpse  would  take.  Also  a 
large  candle  used  at  lake  or  liche  wakes — 
i.e.,  watching  a corpse  before  interment. 

Corpus  Christi  {body  of  Christ).  A 
festival  of  the  Church,  kept  on  the  first 
Thursday  after  Trinity  Sunday,  in  honour 
of  the  eucharist.  There  is  a college  both 
at  Cambridge  and  Oxford  so  named. 

Corpus'eular  Theory  is,  that 
matter  is  only  divisible  to  its  elemental 
point  called  an  atom,  and  that  atoms  are 
the  corpuscles  of  which  everything  is 
made.  The  system  was  anciently  taught 
in  Greece  by  Leucippos  and  Democ'ritos. 
{See  Atomic.) 


/ 


188  COERECTOE. 


Corrector.  {See  Alexander.  ) 

Corre'gio.  The  Corre'gio  of  Sculptors. 
Jean  Goujon,  who  was  slain  in  the  mas- 
sacre of  St.  Bartholomew.  (1510-1572.) 

Corroiige.  The  sword  of  Sir  Ot'uel, 
in  mediaeval  romance. 

Cor'rugated  Iron.  Sheet  iron 
coated  with  zinc.  It  is  called  corruga.ted 
or  wrinkled  because  the  sheet  is  made 
wavy  by  the  rollers  between  which  it  has 
to  pass. 

Corruptie'olse.  A sect  of  heretics 
of  the  sixth  century,  who  maintained 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  corruptible. 

Corruption  of  Blood.  Loss  of 
title  and  entailed  estates  in  consequence 
of  treason,  by  which  a man’s  blood  is 
attainted,  and  his  issue  suffers. 

Corsair'  means  properly  ^^one  who 
gives  chase.”  Applied  to  the  pirates  of 
the  northern  coast  of  Africa.  (Italian, 
cor  so,  a chase.) 

Cors'ned  means  the  cursed  mouth- 
ful.” It  was  a piece  of  bread  ^'^conse- 
crated for  exorcism,”  and  given  to  a 
23erson  to  swallow  as  a test  of  his  guilt. 
The  words  of  “ consecration  ” were. 

May  this  morsel  cause  convulsions  and 
find  no  passage  if  the  accused  is  guilty, 
but  turn  to  wholesome  nourishment  if  he 
is  innocent.”  (Saxon,  corse,  curse;  snced, 
mouthful.) 

Cor'tes  (2  syl.).  The  Spanish  or 
Portuguese  parliament.  The  word  means 

court  officers.” 

Cort'iiia.  The  skin  of  the  serpent 
Pytho,  which  covered  the  tripod  of  the 
Pythoness  when  she  delivered  her  oracles. 

Corvi'nus  (raven').  J a'nos  Hun'yady, 
governor  of  Hungary,  is  so  called  from 
the  raven  in  his  shield. 

There  were  two  Romans  so  called— 
viz.,  Vale  rius  Max'imus  Corvi'nus  Mes- 
sa'la,  and  Vale'rius  Messala  Corviffius. 

Marcus  Valerius  was  called  Corvus” 
{raven)  because,  in  a single  combat  with 
a gigantic  Gaul,  during  the  Gallic  war,  a 
raven  flew  into  the  Gaul’s  face,  and  so 
harassed  him  that  he  could  neither  de- 
fend himself  nor  attack  his  adversary. 

Cor'ydon.  A swain;  a brainless, 
love-sick  spooney.  It  is  one  of  the 
shepherds  in  Virgil’s  eclogues. 


COTERIE. 


Coryphae'us.  The  Coryphaeus  of 
Grammarians.  Aristarchos  of  Sam'o- 
thrace.  A coryphaeus  was  the  leader  of 
the  Greek  chorus ; hence  the  chief  of  a 
department  in  any  of  the  sciences  or 
fine  arts.  Aristarchos,  in  the  second 
century  B.C.,  was  the  chief  or  prince  of 
grammarians.  (Greek,  horujphaios,  chorus- 
leader.  ) 

Coryphee.  A ballet-dancer.  {See 
above. ) 

Cos'miel  (3  syl.).  The  genius  of  the 
world.  He  gave  to  Theodidac'tus  a boat 
of  asbestos  in  which  he  sailed  to  the  sun 
and  planets. — Kircher,  Ecstatic  Journey 
to  Heaven.^’ 

Cosmop 'elite  (4  syl.).  A citizen  of 
the  world.  One  who  has  no  partiality  to 
any  one  country  as  his  abiding- place ; 
one  who  looks  on  the  whole  world  with 
^^an  equal  eye.”  (Greek,  cosmos-jpolUVes.') 

Cos'set.  A house  pet.  Applied  to 
a pet  lamb  brought  up  in  the  house  ; 
any  pet.  (Saxon,  cot-seat,  cottage- 
dweller  ; German,  kosscU.) 

Cos'tard.  A clown  in  Love’s 
Labour’s  Lost”  (Shakespeare),  who  apes 
the  court  wit  of  queen  Elizabeth’s  time, 
but  misapplies  and  miscalls  like  Mrs. 
Malaprop  or  Master  Dogberry. 

Cos'termonger.  A seller  of  eat- 
ables about  the  streets,  properly  an  apple- 
seller  (from  costard,  a sort  of  apple,  and 
monger,  ^^a  trader;”  Saxon,  mangian, 
^^to  trade”).  The  word  is  still  retained 
in  iron-monger,  cheese-monger,  fish- 
monger, news-monger,  fell -monger,  &c. 

Cote-liardi.  A tight-fitting  tunic 
buttoned  down  the  front. 

He  was  clothed  in  a cote-hardi  upon  the  gyse  of 
Alma3’ne  {Germany).— Qeoffroi  dela  Tour,  "'Landry'* 

Cotereaux  (French).  The  king  of 
England,  irritated  at  the  rising  in  Brit-* 
tany  in  the  twelfth  century,  sent  the 
Brabangons  {q.v.)  to  ravage  the  lands  of 
Raoul  de  Fougeres.  These  cut-throata 
carried  knives  {couteaux)  with  them, 
whence  their  name. 

Co'terie'  (3  syl.).  A French  word, 
originally  tantamount  to  our  guild,”  a 
society  where  each  paid  his  quota — i.e., 
his  quote-part  or  gild  {share).  The 
French  word  has  departed  from  its 
original  meaning,  and  is  now  applied  to 
an  exclusive  set,  more  especially  of 
ladies. 


COTILLON. 


COUP. 


189 


Cotillon  (co-til'-yon)  means  properly 
the  under-petticoat.”  The  word  was 
applied  to  a brisk  dance  by  eight  persons, 
in  which  the  ladies  held  up  their  gowns 
and  showed  their  under-petticoats. 

Cotset.  The  lowest  of  bondsmen. 
So  called  from  cot-seat  (a  cottage  dweller). 
These  slaves  were  bound  to  work  for 
their  feudal  lord.  The  word  occurs  fre- 
quently in  Domesday  Book.” 

Cotswold  Lion.  A sheep,  for  which 
Cotswold  hills  are  famous.  Fierce  as  a 
Cotswold  lion  (ironical). 

Cottage  Orne  (French).  A cottage 
residence  belonging  to  persons  in  good 
circumstances. 

Cotton.  To  cotton  to  a person.  To 
cling  to  one  or  take  a fancy  to  a person. 
To  stick  to  a person  as  cotton  sticks  to 
our  clothes. 

Cotton  Lord.  A great  cotton  lord. 
A rich  Manchester  cotton-manufacturer, 
a real  lord  in  wealth,  style  of  living, 
equipage,  and  tenantry. 

Cotto'nian  Library,  in  the  British 
Museum.  Collected  by  Sir  E.  Cotton, 
and  added  to  by  his  son  and  grandson, 
after  which  it  was  invested  in  trustees  for 
the  use  of  the  public. 

Cotyt'to.  The  Thracian  goddess  of 
immodesty,  worshipped  at  Athens  with 
nocturnal  rites. 

Hail ! goddess  of  nocturnal  sport. 
Dark-veiled  Coti'tto. 

Milton,  “ C'owins.” 

Con'beren.  God  of  wealth  in  Hindu 
mythology. 

Couleur  de  Rose  (French).  Highly 
coloured;  too  favourably  considered; 
overdrawn  with  romantic  embellish- 
ments, like  objects  viewed  through  glass 
tinted  with  rose  pink. 

Coulin.  A British  giant,  pursued 
by  Debon  (one  of  the  companions  of 
Brute)  till  he  came  to  a chasm  132  feet 
across,  which  he  leaped  ; but  slipping  on 
the  opposite  side,  he  fell  back  into  the 
chasm  and  was  kiWed.— Spenser , Faery 
Queen.” 

CoTineils.  (Ecumenical  Councils. 
There  are  twenty-one  recognised : nine 
Kastern  and  twelve  Western. 

The  Nine  Eastern:  (1)  Jerusalem; 
(2  and  8)  Nice,  325,  787  ; (3,  6,  7,  9) 


Constantinople,  381,  553,  681,  869;  (4) 
Ephesus,  431  ; (5)  Chabcedon,  451. 

The  Twelve  Western  : (10, 11, 12, 13, 
19)LaVeran,  1123,  1139, 1179, 1215, 1517  ; 
(14,  15)  Synod  of  Lyon,  1245,  1274 ; (16) 
Synod  of  Vienne,  in  Dauphine,  1311 ; (17) 
Constance,  1414;  (18)  Basil,  1431-1443; 
(20)  Trent,  1545-1563;  Vatican,  1869. 

Counter-caster.  One  who  keeps 
accounts,  or  casts  up  accounts  by  count- 
ers. Thus,  in  The  Winter’s  Tale,”  the 
Clown  says,  Fifteen  hundred  shorn  ; 
^7hat  comes  the  wool  to  ? I cannot  do ’t 
without  counters  ” (Act  iv.,  s.  3). 

And  what  was  he  ? 

Forsooth,  a great  arithmetician  . . . 

And  I . . . must  be  b"dee’d  and  calmed 

By  debitor  and  creditor,  this  counter-caster. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,”  1 1. 

Counter-jumper.  A draper’s  as- 
sistant, who  jumps  over  the  counter  to 
go  from  one  part  of  the  shop  to  another. 

Counterpane.  A corruption  of 
counterpoint^  from  the  Latin  cul'cita  (a 
wadded  wrapper,  a quilt).  When  the 
stitches  were  arranged  in  patterns  it  was 
called  cul'cita  puncta,  which  in  French 
became  coute-pointe,  corrupted  into  centre- 
pointe,  counter-point,  where  point  is  pro- 
nounced ‘^poyn,”  corrupted  into  ‘^pane.” 

Country.  Father  of  his  country. 
(A^ee  Father.) 

Country-dance.  A corruption  of 
the  French  centre  danse  (a  dance  where 
the  partners  face  each  other). 

Coup  (coo).  He  made  a good  coup. 
A good  hit  or  haul.  {French.) 

Coup  de  pied  de  Vdne  (kick  from  the 
ass’s  foot).  A blow  given  to  a vanquished 
or  fallen  man ; a cowardly  blow ; an  in- 
sult offered  to  one  who  has  not  the  power 
of  returning  or  revenging  it.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  the  fable  of  the  sick  lion  kicked 
by  the  ass.  {French. ) 

Coup  d’Etat  (French)  means  a 
state  stroke,  and  the  term  is  applied  to 
one  of  those  bold  measures  taken  by 
government  to  prevent  a supposed  or 
actual  danger ; as  when  a large  body  of 
men  are  arrested  sucldenly  for  fear  they 
should  overturn  the  government. 

The  famous  coup  d'Uat,  by  which  Louis 
Napoleon  became  possessed  of  absolute 
power,  took  place  on  the  2nd  of  Decem- 
ber, 1851. 


190 


COUP. 


COUTE. 


Coup  de  Grace.  Finishing  stroke. 
In  boxing,  the  victor  gives  a blow,  called 
the  grace-stroke,  which  is  not  returned. 
All  the  other  blows  were  given  in  battle, 
but  the  grace-stroke  is  given  in  sign  that 
the  battle  is  over.  {French.') 

The  Turks  dealt  the  coup  de  grace  to  the  Eastern 
empire.— Times. 

Earl  Russell’s  last  escapade  has  given  the  coup 
de  grace  to  his  repute.— Pali  Mall  Gazette. 

Coup  de  Main  (French).  A sudden 
stroke;  a stratagem  whereby  something 
is  effected  suddenly.  Sometimes  called 
a coup  only,  as  The  coup  [the  scheme] 
did  not  answer.” 

London  is  not  to  be  taken  hy  a coup  de  main.— 
Public  Opinion. 

Coup  d’CEil  (French).  A view; 
glance ; prospect ; effect  of  things  in  the 
mass. 

These  principles  are  presented  at  a 
single  coup  d’oeil. 

The  coup  d’oeil  was  grand  in  the  ex- 
treme. 

Coup  de  Soleil  (French).  A sun- 
stroke, any  malady  produced  by  exposure 
to  the  sun. 

Courage.  Anglo-Norman,  corage. 
(Latin,  cor,  heart ; ago,  to  do.) 

But  screw  your  courage  to  the  sticking-place, 

And  we’ll  not  fail. 

Shakespeare,  **  Macbeth”  i.  7. 

Court  originally  meant  a coop  or 
sheep-fold.  It  was  on  the  Latium  hills 
that  the  ancient  Latins  raised  their  cors 
or  cohors,  small  enclosures  with  hurdles 
for  sheep,  &c.  Subsequently,  as  many 
men  as  could  be  cooped  or  folded  together 
were  called  a corps  or  cohort.  The 
**  cors”  or  cattle-yard,  being  the  nucleus 
of  the  farm,  became  the  centre  of  a lot 
of  farm  cottages,  then  of  a hamlet,  town, 
fortified  place,  and  lastly  of  a royal  resi- 
dence. 

Court.  A short  cut,  alley,  or  paved 
way  between  two  main  streets.  (French, 
court,  short,”  as  prendre  un  cheinin 
court,  “ to  take  a short  cut.) 

Court-cupboard.  The  buffet  to 
hold  flagons,  cans,  cups,  and  beakers. 
There  are  two  in  Stationers’  Hall.  {See 
^‘Borneo  and  Juliet,”  i.  5.) 

Court  Fools.  {See  Fools.) 

Court  Plaster.  The  plaster  of 
which  the  court  ladies  made  their  patches. 
These  patches,  worn  on  the  face,  were  cut 
into  the  shape  of  crescents,  stars,  circles. 


diamonds,  hearts,  crosses ; and  some 
even  went  so  far  as  to  patch  their  face 
with  a coach  and  four,  a ship  in  full  sail, 
a chateau,  &c.  This  ridiculous  fashion 
was  in  vogue  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I., 
and  in  the  reign  of  Anne  was  employed 
as  the  badge  of  political  partisanship. 
{See  Patches.) 

Black  patches,  that  she  wears. 

Out  into  suns,  and  moons,  and  stars. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,”  pt.  ii.  1. 

Court  of  Love.  A judicial  court 
for  deciding  affairs  of  the  heart,  esta- 
blished in  Provence  during  the  palmy 
days  of  the  Troubadours.  The  following 
is  a case  submitted  to  their  judgment : 
A lady  listened  to  one  admirer,  squeezed 
the  hand  of  another,  and  touched  with 
her  toe  the  foot  of  a third.  Query, 
Which  of  these  three  was  the  favoured 
suitor  ? 

Cour'tesy.  Civility,  politeness.  It 
was  at  the  courts  of  princes  and  great 
feudatories  that  minstrels  and  pages 
practised  the  refinements  of  the  age  in 
which  they  lived.  The  word  originally 
meant  the  manners  of  the  court. 

Cousin.  Blackstone  says  that  Henry 
IV.,  being  related  or  allied  to  every  earl 
in  the  kingdom,  artfully  and  constantly 
acknowledged  the  connection  in  all  pub- 
lic acts.  The  usage  has  descended  to 
his  successors,  though  the  reason  has 
long  ago  failed.—  Commentaries”  i.  398. 

Cousin-german.  The  children  of 
brothers  and  sisters,  first  cousins  ; kins- 
folk. (Latin,  germa'nus,  a brother,  one 
of  the  same  stock.) 

There  is  three  cousin-germans,  that  has  cozened 
all  ttie  hosts  of  Reading,  of  Maidenhead,  of  Cole- 
brook,  of  horses  and  mone^.— Shakespeare, Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor P iv.  5. 

Cousin  Michael  (or)  Michel.  The 
Germans  are  so  called,  as  the  Americans 
are  called  brother  Jonathan,  and  the 
English  John  Bull.  Michel,  in  Old  Ger- 
man, means  gross;”  Saxon,  micel ; 
Scotch,  micTcle.  Cousin  Michel  means 
cousin  gourmand,  or  gross  feeder,  and 
is  meant  to  indicate  a slow,  heavy,  simple, 
unrefined,  coarse-feeding  people. 

Coute  que  Coute  (French).  Cost 
what  it  may,  at  any  price,  be  the  con- 
sequences what  they  may. 

His  object  is  to  serve  his  party  coftte  que  codte 
—Standard, 


COVE. 


COXCOMB. 


191 


Cove  (1  syl. ).  An  individual ; as  Si flash 
cove  (a  swell),  a rum  cove  (a  man  whose  posi- 
tion and  character  is  not  quite  palpable), 
a gentry  cove  (a  gentleman),  a downy  cove 
(a  very  knowing  individual),  &c.  Cove 
is  the  German  kopf  (an  individual). 

Cov'enanters.  A term  applied,  dur- 
ing the  civil  wars,  to  the  Scotch  presby- 
terians,  who  united  by  ‘ ‘ solemn  league 
and  covenant”  to  resist  the  encroach- 
ments of  Charles  I.  on  religious  liberty. 

Cov'entry.  To  send  one  to  Coventry. 
To  take  no  notice  of  him ; to  let  him  live 
and  move  and  have  his  being  with  you, 
but  pay  no  more  heed  to  him  than  to  the 
idle  winds  which  you  regard  not.  This 
is  a military  term,  according  to  Messrs. 
Chambers  (‘‘Cyclopaedia”) : The  citizens 
of  Coventry  had  at  one  time  so  great  a 
dislike  to  soldiers,  that  a woman  seen 
speaking  to  one  was  instantly  tabooed. 
No  intercourse  was  ever  allowed  between 
the  garrison  and  the  town  ; hence,  when 
a soldier  was  sent  to  Coventry,  he  was 
cut  off  from  all  social  intercourse. 

Hutton,  in  his  “ History  of  Birming- 
ham,” gives  a different  version.  He  says 
that  Coventry  was  a stronghold  of  the 
parliamentary  party  in  the  civil  wars, 
and  that  all  troublesome  and  refractory 
royalists  were  sent  there  for  safe  custody. 

The  former  explanation  meets  the 
general  scope  of  the  phrase  the  better. 

Cov'er.  To  hreah  cover.  To  start 
from  the  covert  or  temporary  lair.  The 
usual  earth-holes  of  a fox  being  covered 
up  the  night  before  a hunt,  the  creature 
makes  some  gorse-bush  or  other  cover  its 
temporary  resting-place,  and  as  soon  as 
it  quits  it  the  hunt  begins. 

Cov'erley.  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley.  A 
member  of  an  hypothetical  club  in  the 
“Spectator,”  “who  lived  in  Soho  Square, 
when  he  was  in  town.”  Sir  Roger  is  the 
type  of  an  English  squire  in  the  reign  of 
queen  Anne.  He  figures  in  thirty  papers 
of  the  “ Spectator.” 

Who  can  be  insensible  to  his  unpretending 
virtues  and  amiable  weaknesses ; his  modesty, 
generosity,  hospitality,  and  eccentric  whims ; 
the  respect  for  his  neighbours,  and  the  affection 
of  his  domestics  ?—Hazlitl. 

Cov'etous  Man.  A Tantalus  {q.v.). 

In  the  full  flood  stands  Tan'talus,  his  skin 
Washed  o’er  in  vain,  for  ever  dry  within. 

He  catches  at  the  stream  with  greedy  lips— 

Prom  his  touched  mouth  the  wanton  torrent  slips. , . 
Change  but  the  name,  this  fable  is  thy  story ; 
Thou  in  a flood  of  useless  wealth  dost  glory. 
Which  thou  canst  only  touch,  but  nevf*r  taste. 

CQwUyt  Horace,''  satire  i. 


Cow.  The  cow  that  nourished  Ymir 
with  four  streams  of  milk  was  called 
Audhumla.  This  cow,  by  licking  the 
frost-covered  stones,  produced,  the  first 
day,  a man’s  hair;  the  second  day,  a 
man’s  head ; and  the  third  day,  a com- 
plete human  being,  named  Buri.  {Scan- 
dinavian mythology.) 

The  cow  hnovcs  not  the  worth  of  her  tail 
till  she  loses  it,  and  is  troubled  with  flies, 
which  her  tail  brushed  off. 

What  we  have  we  prize  not  to  the  worth 

Whiles  we  enjoy  it ; but  being  lack’d  and  lost. 

Why,  then  we  rack  the  value. 

Shakespeare,  “ Much  Ado  Abuut  Nothing,"  iv.  1. 

Curst  COWS  have  short  horns.  (^See  Curst.) 

Coward  (anciently  written  culvard) 
is  either  from  the  French  couard,  ori- 
ginally written  culvert,  from  culver  (a 
pigeon),  pigeon  - livered  being  still  a 
common  expression  for  a coward;  or 
else  from  the  Latin  culum  ver'tere,  to 
turn  tail  (Spanish,  colarde;  Portuguese, 
covarde ; Italian,  codardo,  “a  coward;” 
Latin,  “a tail”).  cowarded, 

in  heraldry,  is  one  drawn  with  its  cone  or 
tail  between  its  legs.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  practice  of  beasts,  who  sneak  off  in 
this  manner  when  they  are  cowed. 

The  etymology  from  the  Italian  cadre 
tardo  (slow  or  faint-hearted)  is  not  ten- 
able. 

Cowper.  Called  “Auth*or  of  ‘The 
Task,’  ” from  his  principal  poem.  (1731- 
1800.) 

Cowper  Law,  a corruption  of 
Cupar,  &c.,  is  trying  a man  after  execu- 
tion. Similar  expressions  are  Jedwood, 
Jeddart,  and  Jedburgh  justice.  Cowper 
justice  had  its  rise  from  a baron-baile  in 
Coupar- Angus,  before  heritable  juris- 
dictions were  abolished.  {See  Lydford 
Law.) 

Cowper  Law,  as  we  say  in  Scotland— hang  a 
man  first,  and  then  judge  him.  — Lord  de  lioa, 
“ Tower  of  London." 

Coxcomb.  An  empty-headed,  vain 
person.  The  ancient  licensed  jesters 
were  so  called  because  they  wore  a cock’s 
comb  in  their  caps. 

Coxcombs,  an  ever  empty  race, 

Are  trumpets  of  their  own  disgrace. 

Gay,  "Fables,"  xix. 

Let  me  hire  him  too;  here’s  my  coxcomb. 

Shakespeare,  ‘ ‘ King  Lear,"  i.  4. 

The  Prince  of  Coxcombs.  Charles 
Joseph,  prince  de  Ligne.  (1535-1614.) 

Richard  II.  of  England  is  sometimes 
called  the  Coxcomb.  (1366  1400.) 

Henri  III.  of  France  was  called 


192 


COYSTRIL. 


CRAPAUD. 


le  Mignon,  whicli  means  pretty  well  the 
same  thing.  (1551-1589.) 

Goys'tril,  Coystrel,  or  Kestrel.  A 
degenerate  hawk  ; hence,  a paltry  fellow. 
Holinshed  says,  ^^costerels  or  bearers  of 
the  arms  of  barons  or  knights  ” (vol.  i., 
p.  162)  ; and  again,  women,  lackeys, 
and  vCosterels  are  considered  as  the  un- 
warlike attendants  on  an  army”  (vol.  hi. 
272).  Each  of  the  life  guards  of  Henry 
VIII.  had  an  attendant,  called  a coystrel 
or  coystril.  Some  think  the  word  is  a 
corruption  of  costerel,  which  they  derive 
from  the  Latin  coterellus  (a  peasant) ; but 
if  not  a corruption  of  kestrel,  I should 
derive  it  from  costrel  (a  small  wooden 
bottle  used  by  labourers  in  harvest  time). 

Vasa  qusedam  quae  costrelli  vocantur.” 
— Matthew  Paris. 

He's  a coward  and  a coystril  that  will  not  drink 
to  my  niece. — Shakespeare^  “ Tu'clfth  Night”  i.  3. 

Cozen.  To  cheat.  (Armoric,  couq- 
zyeiii;  Russian,  kosnodei ; Arabic,  gaiisa  ; 
Ethiopic,  chasawa;  onr  chouse.) 

I think  it  no  sin 

To  cozen  him  that  would  unjustly  win. 

Shakespeare,  All’s  Well  that  Ends  Well,”  iv.  2. 

Crab  {A').  An  ill-tempered  fellow. 
‘^You  old  crab”  (^^The  Poor  Gentle- 
man,” by  Colman).  Crabbed  is  ill-tem- 
pered, as  Crabbed  age  and  youth  ne’er 
can  dwell  together.”  The  word  is  from 
the  wild  apple  or  crab,  which  is  exceed- 
ingly sour. 


Crack  a Bottle — i.e.,  drink  one. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  mischievous  pranks 
of  the  drunken  frolics  of  times  gone  by, 
when  the  bottles  and  glasses  were  broken 
during  the  bout.  Miss  Oldbuck  says,  in 
reference  to  the  same  custom, 
never  were  glass- breakers  in  this  house, 
Mr.  Level”  (^‘Antiquary”);  meaning 
they  were  not  bottle-crackers,  or  given 
to  drunken  orgies.  {See  Crush.) 


ale. 


From  which  I now  drink  to  sweet  Nan  of  the  Vale, 
Was  once  Toby  Filpot’s,  a thirsty  old  soul 
As  e er  cracked  a bottle,  or  fathomed  a bowl. 

O'Keefe,  “ Poor  Soldier.'” 


Cracker.  A corruption  of  Greek 
Fire.  French,  feu  Grecque  ; Middle  Age 
perversion,  creyke.  {See  Greek  Fire.) 

^ Cracknells  (from  the  French  craque- 
liii).  A hard,  brittle  cake. 


Craigmillar  Castle.  So  called 
from  Henry  de  Craigmillar,  who  built 
the  castle  in  the  twelfth  century. 

Cra'kys  of  War.  Cannons  were  so 
called  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

Cram.  To  tell  what  is  not  true.  A 
crammer,  an  untruth.  The  allusion  is  to 
stuffing  a person  with  useless  rubbish. 

Crambo.  Repetition.  So  called  from 
a game  which  consists  in  some  one 
setting  a line,  which  another  is  to  rhyme 
to,  but  no  one  word  of  the  first  line  must 
occur  in  the  second. 


Crab-cart.  The  main  shell  or  cara- 
pace of  a crab.  So  called  because  it  is 
used  very  commonly  by  children  for  a 
toy-cart,  a piece  of  string  being  tied  to 
it  to  drag  it  about. 

Crabsbaw  {Timothy).  The  servant 
of  Sir  Launcelot  Greaves’s  squire.  — 
lett,  Adventures. 

Crack,  as  a crack  man,  a first- 
rate  fellow  ; a crack  hand  at  cards,  a 
first-rate  player ; a crack  article,  an  ex- 
cellent one.  This  is  University  slang, 
being  a translation  of  the  Latin  crepo  (to 
boast  of,  to  crack  up,  or  crack),  as  genus 
crepat  Lucretius  (he  cracks  or  boasts  of 
his  ancestry). 

Indeed,  la ! ’tis  a noble  child  ; a crack,  madam. 

Shakespeare,  “ Coriolanus,”  i 3. 

To  crack  up  a person.  To  praise  him 
highly.  {See  above.) 

In  a crack,  instantly.  In  a snap  of  the 
fingers,  crep'itu  digito'rum  (in  a crack  of 
the  fingers), 


Crane  means  long-shanks.  (Welsh, 
gar,  ‘Mhe  shanks,”  whence  our  gaiter  and 
garter).  Garan  is  the  long-shanked  bird, 
contracted  into  g'ran,  crane  ; heroiv  is 
another  form  of  the  same  word. 

Cranke  (1  syl.).  An  Abram  man 
(q.v.).  So  called  from  the  German 
(sickly),  whence  cranky,  ^^diotic, 
foolish,  full  of  whims,”  and  cranke  (simu- 
lated sickness).  These  beggars  were 
called  crankes  because  they  pretended 
madness  and  sickness  to  excite  com- 
passion. 

Cran'nook.  An  Irish  measure  which, 
in  the  days  of  Edward  II.,  contained 
either  eight  or  sixteen  pecks. 

Crannocus  continebit  xvj  pecks.  Crannoco  conti- 
nente  octo  E jcchequer  of  Ireland  (Rec). 

Cra'paud  or  Johnny  Crapaud.  A 
Frenchman  ; as  John  Bull  is  an  English- 
man. So  called  from  the  device  of  the 
ancient  kings  of  Franco,  ^Mhree  toads 
erect,  saltant”  (Givillim’s  Display  of 


CEAPE. 


CREOLE. 


193 


of  Heraldrie/’  1611).  Nostrada'mus,  in 
the  sixteenth  century,  called  the  French 
‘^crapauds.”  (iSee  Frogs.) 

Les  anciens  crapauds  prenderont  Sara 
(Nostrada'mus).  Sara  is  the  word  Aras 
reversed,  and  when  the  French  under 
Louis  XIV.  took  Aras  from  the  Spaniards, 
this  verse  was  quoted  as  a prophecy. 

Crape,  Lawn.  A saint  in  crape  is 
twice  a saint  in  lawn.  Crape  (a  sort  of 
bombazine  or  alpaca)  is  the  stuff  of 
which  cheap  clerical  gowns  are  made ; 
the  better  sort  are  of  silk.  Pope  means, 
a poor  person  who  can  only  afford  a 
stuff  gown,  would  be  looked  at  with 
thrice  as  much  veneration  if  he  became 
a bishop,  and  wore  episcopal  lawn. 

Cravat'.  A corruption  of  Crabat  or 
Croat.  It  was  introduced  into  France  by 
some  French  officers  on  their  return  from 
Germany  in  1636.  The  Croats,  who 
guarded  the  Turkish  frontiers  of  Austria, 
and  acted  as  scouts  on  the  flanks  of  the 
army,  wore  linen  round  their  necks,  tied 
in  front,  and  the  officers  wore  muslin  or 
silk.  When  France  organised  a regiment 
on  the  model  of  the  Croats,  these  linen 
neckcloths  were  imitated,  and  the  regi- 
ment was  called  The  Royal  Cravat.” 

Cra'ven  means  ^^your  mercy  is 
craved.”  It  was  usual  in  former  times 
to  decide  controversies  by  an  appeal  to 
battle.  The  combatants  fought  with 
batons,  and  if  the  accused  could  either 
kill  his  adversary  or  maintain  the  fight 
till  sundown,  he  was  acquitted.  If  he 
wished  to  call  off,  he  cried  out  Craven  ! ” 
and  was  held  infamous,  while  the  defend- 
ant was  advanced  to  Yiomomy.— BlacJcsto7ce. 

Crawley.  Crooked  as  Crawley  (or) 
Crawley  hrook,  a river  in  Bedfordshire. 
That  part  called  the  brook,  which  runs 
into  the  Ouse,  is  so  crooked  that  a boat 
would  have  to  go  eighty  miles  in  order 
to  make  a progress  direct  of  eighteen. 
— Fuller,  Worthies'' 

OvSbY'orY  (Geoffrey).  The  nom  deplume 
under  which  Washington  Irving  pub- 
lished ^^The  Sketch  Book.” 

Crazy  Crow.  Porter  to  the  Dublin 
theatre  in  the  reign  of  George  II.,  noted 
for  his  stentorian  voice,  which  frightful 
as  great  Etna  roared.” 

Crazy  Sally  of  Epsom.  A drunken 
impostor,  who  was  so  petted  and  sought 
after  that  she  soon  rode  in  her  carriage. 


Cre'denee-table.  The  table  near 
the  altar  on  which  the  bread  and  wine 
are  deposited  before  they  are  consecrated. 
In  former  times  food  was  placed  on  a 
credence-table  to  be  tasted  previously  to 
its  being  set  before  the  guests.  This 
was  done  to  assure  the  guests  that  the 
meat  was  not  poisoned.  The  Italian 
credenza're  means  to  taste  meats  placed 
on  the  creden'za.  (Italian,  la  credenza, 
a shelf  or  buffet ; Greek,  crear,  food.) 

Credit  Foneier  (French).  A com- 
pany  licensed  to  borrow  money  for  city 
and  other  improvements  connected  with 
estates.  A board  of  guardians  may  form 
such  a company,  and  their  security  would 
be  the  parish  rates.  The  money  bor- 
rowed is  repaid  by  instalments  with  in- 
terest. The  word /o?^c^er  means  ^Ganded,” 
as  imp6t  fonder  (land  tax),  lien  fonder 
(landed  property),  and  so  on. 

Credit  Mobilier  (French).  A 
company  licensed  to  take  in  hand  all 
sorts  of  trading  enterprises,  such  as  rail- 
ways, and  to  carry  on  the  business  of 
stock-jobbers.  The  word  mobilier  means 
personal  property,  general  stock,  as  lien 
mobilier  (personal  chattels),  mobilier  vif 
et  mort  (live  and  dead  stock). 

Cre'kenpit.  A fictitious  river  near 
Husterloe,  according  to  the  invention  of 
Master  Reynard,  who  calls  on  the  Hare 
to  attest  its  existence. — Reynard  the  Fox. 

Cremo'na.  An  organ  stop,  a cor- 
ruption of  the  Italian  cormorne,  which  is 
the  German  krummhorn,  an  organ  stop 
of  eight  feet  pitch ; so  called  from  a 
wind-instrument  made  of  wood,  and 
bent  outwards  in  a circular  arc  (krumm 
horn.,  crooked  horn). 

Cremo'nas.  Violins  of  the  greatest 
excellence.  So  called  from  Cremo'na, 
where  for  many  years  lived  some  makers 
of  them  who  have  gained  a world-wide 
notoriety,  such  as  An'drea  Ama'ti  and 
Antonio  his  son,  Anto'nius  Stradiva'rius 
his  pupil,  and  Giuseppe  Guarne'rius  the 
pupil  of  Stradiva'rius.  Cremona  has 
long  since  lost  its  reputation  for  this 
manufacture. 

In  silvis  viva  silui ; cano'rajam  mor'tua  cano. 

{A  motto  on  a Cremona.) 
Speecliles.s,  alive,  I hearrl  the  feathered  throng; 
Now,  being  dead,  1 emulate  their  song. 

Cre'ole  (2  syl.).  The  descendants  of 
white  people  born  in  Mexico,  South 
America,  and  the  W est  Indies.  As  these 


/ 


194  CREPIDAM. 


CRIKEY. 


people  are  of  a very  mixed  race,  the  word 
signifies,  one  between  a white  and  a 
negro. 

Greole  dialects » The  various  jargons 
spoken  by  the  West  India  slaves. 

Crep'idam.  Su;pra  crep'idam.  Med- 
dling with  what  does  not  concern  one ; 
putting  one’s  spoke  into  another  man’s 
wheel ; minding  business  which  does  not 
concern  you.  (See  Cobbler.) 

Cres'eent.  Tradition  says  that 
**  Philip,  the  father  of  Alexander,  meet- 
ing with  great  difficulties  in  the  siege  of 
Byzan'tium,  set  the  workmen  to  under- 
mine the  walls,  but  a crescent  moon  dis- 
covered the  design,  which  miscarried; 
consequently  the  Byzantines  erected  a 
statue  to  Diana,  and  the  crescent  became 
the  symbol  of  the  state.” 

Another  legend  is  that  Othman,  the 
sultan,  saw  in  a vision  a crescent  moon, 
which  kept  increasing  till  its  horns  ex- 
tended from  east  to  west,  and  he  adopted 
the  crescent  of  his  dream  for  his  stan- 
dard, adding  the  motto,  Donee  rep'ledt 
orbem, 

Cres'eit.  Crescit  sub  pon'dere  Virtus 
(Virtue  thrives  best  in  adversity).  The 
allusion  is  to  the  palm-tree,  which  grows 
better  when  pressed  by  an  incumbent 
weight. 

Cressell'e  (2  syl.).  A wooden  instru- 
ment used  in  the  Romish  Church  during 
Passion  week  instead  of  bells,  to  give 
notice  of  Divine  worship.  The  mystery 
of  the  Cresselle  represents  Christ  praying 
on  the  cross. 

Cres'set.  A beacon- light ; properly 

a little  cross.”  So  called  because  ori- 
ginally it  was  surmounted  by  a littlo 
cross.  (French,  croisetie.) 

Cress'ida,  daughter  of  Calchas  the 
Grecian  priest,  w^as  beloved  by  Tro'ilus, 
one  of  the  sons  of  Priam.  They  vowed 
eternal  fidelity  to  each  other,  and  as 
pledges  of  their  vow  Tro’ilus  gave  the 
maiden  a sleeve,  and  Cressid  gave  the 
Trojan  prince  a glove.  Scarce  had  the 
vow  been  made  when  an  exchange  of 
prisoners  was  agreed  to.  Diomed  gave 
up  three  Trojan  princes,  and  was  to 
receive  Cressid  in  lieu  thereof.  Cressid 
vowed  to  remain  constant,  and  Tro’ilus 
swore  to  rescue  her.  She  was  led  off  to 
the  Grecian’s  tent,  and  soon  gave  all 
her  affections  to  Diomed,  nay,  even  bade 


him  wear  the  sleeve  that  Tro’ilus  had 
given  her  in  token  of  her  love. 

As  false 

As  air,  as  water,  wind,  or  sandy  earth, 

As  fox  to  lamb,  as  wolf  to  heifer’s  calf, 

Pard  to  the  hind,  or  step-dame  to  her  son ; 

" Yea,”  let  them  say,  to  stick  the  heart  of  falsehood, 
“As  false  as  Cressid.” 

Shakespeare,  “ Troilus  and  Cressida,”  iii.  2. 

Cress  well  (Madame).  A woman  of 
infamous  character  who  bequeathed  .£10 
for  a funeral  sermon,  in  which  nothing 
ill  should  be  said  of  her.  The  duke  of 
Buckingham  wrote  the  sermon,  which  was 
as  follows ; All  I shall  say  of  her  is 
this— she  was  born  welly  she  married 
well,  lived  well,  and  died  well;  for  she 
was  born  at  Shad-well,  married  to  Cress- 
well,  lived  at  Clerken-well,  and  died  in 
Bride- well.’* 

Cressy  (Battle  of).  Won  by  Edward 
III.  and  the  Black  Prince  over  Philippe 
VI.  of  France,  August  26,  1346. 

Cressy  was  lost  by  kickshaws  and  soup  meagre. 

Fenton,'’^  Prol.  to  Southern's  Spartan  Fan  le.” 

Crestfallen.  Dispirited.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  fighting  cocks,  whose  crest 
falls  in  defeat  and  rises  rigid  and  of  a 
deep  red  colour  in  victory. 

Shall  I seem  crest-fallen  in  my  father’s  sight? 

Shakespeare,  ''Richard  II.  ” i.  1. 

Cre'tieus.  Metellus,  the  Roman 
general,  was  so  called  because  he  con- 
quered Crete  (Candia). 

Cre'tinism.  Prevalence  of  goitre; 
idiotcy.  So  called  from  the  Cretins  of 
the  Alps.  The  word  is  a corruption  of 
Christian  (Chretien),  because,  being  bap- 
tised, and  only  idiots,  they  were  washed 
from  original  sin,”  and  incapable  of 
actual  sin.  Similarly,  idiots  are  called 
innocents. 

Crex.  White  bullace.  (Dutch,  hrieche, 
cherry ; Latin,  cer'asum.) 

Crib.  To  steal  small  articles.  (Saxon, 
crybb ; Irish,  grib ; our  grab,  grapple, 
grip,  gripe,  &c. ) 

A literal  translation  of  a classic  author 
used  surreptitiously  by  a student  is 
called  a crib.  The  allusion  in  this  case 
to  the  stupidity  rather  than  to  the  dis- 
honesty of  the  act  may  punningly  refer 
to  some  such  quotation  as  Imbrem  in 
cribrum  gerere  (pouring  water  into  a 
sieve). 

Crie'ket.  A game  with  bat  and  ball. 
(Saxon,  cryce,  a stick  or  club.) 

Cri'key.  A profane  oath ; a per- 
verted form  of  the  word  Christ, 


CEILLON. 


CRITIC. 


195 


Crillon.  Where  wert  thou^  Crillonl 
Crillon,  surnamed  the  Brave,  in  his  old 
age  went  to  church,  and  listened  in- 
tensely to  the  story  of  the  Crucifixion. 
In  the  middle  of  the  narrative  he  grew 
excited,  and,  unable  to  contain  himself, 
cried  out,  Ovb  etais  tu,  Crillon  {What 
were  you  doing,  Crillon,  to  allow  of  such 
things  as  these?) 

N.B.— Louis  de  Berton  des  Balbes  de 
Crillon  was  one  of  the  greatest  captains 
of  the  sixteenth  century.  Born  in  Pro- 
vence, 1541 ; died  1615. 

Crimp.  A decoy;  a man  or  woman 
that  is  on  the  look-out  to  decoy  the  un- 
wary. It  is  more  properly  applied  to  an 
agent  for  supplying  ship- stores,  but  these 
agents  are  generally  in  league  with  pub- 
lic-houses and  private  lodging-houses  of 
low  character,  into  which  they  decoy  the 
sailors  and  clear  them  out  under  one 
pretence  or  another.  (Welsh,  crimpiaw, 
to  squeeze  or  pinch.) 

Crip'ple.  A battered  or  bent  six- 
pence ; so  called  because  it  is  hard  to 
make  it  go. 

Crip'plegate.  St.  Giles  is  the  patron 
saint  of  cripples  and  beggars,  and  was 
himself  a cripple.  Churches  dedicated 
to  this  saint  are,  therefore,  in  the  suburbs 
of  large  towns,  as  St.  Giles  of  London, 
Norwich,  Cambridge,  Salisbury,  &c. 
Cripplegate,  London,  was  so  called  before 
the  Conquest,  from  the  number  of  crip- 
ples who  resorted  thither  to  beg. — Stowe. 

Cris'-eross  How  {Christ-cross  roiv). 
The  ABC  horn-book,  containing  the 
alphabet  and  nine  digits.  The  most 
ancient  of  these  infant-school  books  had 
the  letters  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
Latin  cross,  with  A at  the  top  and  Z at 
the  bottom  ; but  afterwards  the  letters 
were  arranged  in  lines,  and  a -P  was 
placed  at  the  beginning  to  remind  the 
learner  that  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the 
beginning  of  wisdom.” 

Mortals  ne'er  shall  know 

More  than  contained  of  old  the  Chris’-cross  row. 

Tickell.  “ The  Horn  Book'* 

Crish'na.  An  incarnate  deity  of 
perfect  beauty.  King  Canza  being  in- 
formed that  a child  of  the  family  of  De'- 
vaci  would  overturn  his  throne,  gave 
orders  to  destroy  all  the  male  infants 
that  were  born.  When  Crishna  was 
born,  his  nurse  attempted  to  poison  him, 
but  failed,  and  the  mother  and  child  fled, 
and  were  taken  care  of  by  a shepherd. 


As  he  grew  up,  his  beauty  was  so  divine 
that  all  the  princesses  of  Hindustan  fell 
in  love  with  him,  and  even  to  the  present 
hour  he  is  the  Apollo  of  India  and  the 
^^idol  of  women.”  His  images  are  al- 
ways painted  a deep  azure  colour. — Sir 
W.  Jones.  {See  Rama.) 

Cri'sis  properly  means  the  '^ability 
to  judge.”  Hippoc'rates  said  that  all 
diseases  had  their  periods,  when  the 
humours  of  the  body  ebbed  and  flowed 
like  the  tide  of  the  sea.  These  tidal 
days  he  called  critical  days,  and  the  tide 
itself  a crisis,  because  it  was  on  these 
days  the  physician  could  determine 
whether  the  disorder  was  taking  a good 
or  a bad  turn.  The  seventh  and  all  its 
multiples  were  critical  days  of  a favour- 
able character.  (Greek,  \crino,  to  judge 
or  determine.) 

Cris'pin.  A shoemaker.  St.  Crispin 
was  a shoemaker,  and  was  therefore 
chosen  for  the  patron  saint  of  the  craft. 
It  is  said  that  two  brothers,  Crispin  and 
Crispian,  born  in  Rome,  went  to  Soissons, 
in  France  (a.d.  303),  to  propagate  the 
Christian  religion,  and  maintained  them- 
selves wholly  by  making  and  mending 
shoes.  Probably  the  tale  is  fabulous, 
for  crepis  is  Greek  for  a shoe,  Latin 
crepid-a,  and  St.  Crepis  or  Crepid  became 
Crepin  and  Crespin. 

St.  Crispin’s  Day.  The  25th  of  Octo- 
ber, the  day  of  the  battle  of  Agincourt. 
Shakespeare  makes  Crispin  Crispian  one 
person,  and  not  two  brothers.  Hence 
Henry  V.  says  to  his  soldiers — 

And  Crispin  Crispian  shall  ne’er  go  by.... 

But  we  in  it  shall  be  remembered. 

Act  iv.  B.  8. 

St.  Crispin’s  Holiday.  Every  Monday, 
with  those  who  begin  the  working  week 
on  Tuesday ; a no- work  day  with  shoe- 
makers. (iS'^e  Crispin.) 

Crite''rioii.  A standard  to  judge  by. 
(Greek,  Torino,  to  judge.) 

Critic.  A judge ; an  arbiter.  (Greek, 
crino,  to  judge.) 

Critic.  A captious,  malignant  critic 
is  called  a Zo'ilus  {q.v.). 

A Bossu  Critic.— i.e.,  TAbbd  Bossut. 

“ And  wliat  of  this  new  book  the  whole  world  makes 
such  a rout  about  ?”  “Oh,  ’tis  out  of  all  plumb,  my 
lord  ; quite  an  irregular  thing  ! not  one  of  the  angles 
at  the  four  corners  is  a right  angle.  1 had  my  rule 
and  compasses  in  rny  pocket.”  “ Excellent  critic ! ” 

“ And  for  the  epic  poem  your  lordship  bade  me  look 
at,  upon  taking  the  leugtlj,  breadth,  height,  and 
I depth  of  it,  and  trying  them  at  home  upon  an  exact 

N 2 


/ 


196  CROAKER. 


scale  of  Bossu's,  ’tis  out,  my  lord,  in  every  one  of  its 
dimensions.”  “ Admirable  connoisseur ! ^'—Sterne. 

Prince  of  Critics.  Aristarclios,  of  By- 
zantium, who  compiled  the  rhapsodies  of 
Homer.  (Second  century  B.c.) 

Stop‘ivaich  Critics. 

“And  how  did  Garrick  speak  the  soliloquy  last 
night  ?”  “ Oh,  against  all  rule,  my  lord,  most  un- 
grammatically. Betwixt  the  substantive  and  the  ad- 
jective, which  should  agree  together  in  number,  case, 

and  gender,  he  made  a breach,  thus stopping  as  if 

the  point  wanted  settling ; and  betwixtthe  nominative 
case,  which  your  lordship  knows  should  govern  the 
verb,  he  suspended  his  voice  in  the  epilogue  a dozen 
times,  three  seconds  and  three-tifths  by  a stop-watch, 
my  lord,  each  time.”  “ But  in  suspending  his  voice, 
was  the  sense  suspended  also?  Did  no  expression 
of  attitude  or  countenance  fill  up  the  chasm  ? Was 
• the  eye  silent  ? Did  you  narrowly  look  ? ” “I  looked 
only  at  the  stop-watch,  my  lord.”  “ Excellent  ob- 
server ! ''—Sterne. 

Croak'er  (2  syl.).  A raven,  so  called 
from  its  croak ; one  who  takes  a despond- 
ing view  of  things.  Goldsmith,  in  his 
‘ ^ Good-natured  Man,”  has  a character 
so  named. 

Croc'odile  (3  syl.).  A symbol  of 
deity  among  the  Egyptians,  because  it 
is  the  only  aquatic  animal,  says  Plutarch, 
which  has  its  eyes  covered  with  a thin 
transparent  membrane,  by  reason  of 
which  it  sees  and  is  not  seen  ; so  God 
sees  all,  himself  not  being  seen.  To 
this  he  subsequently  adds  another  reason, 
saying:  ‘^The  Egyptians  worship  God 
symbolically  in  the  crocodile,  that  being 
the  only  animal  without  a tongue,  like  the 
Divine  Logos,  which  standeth  not  in 
need  of  speech.”—  Iside  et  Osiridef 
vol.  ii.,  p.  381. 

Croc'odile.  The  marsh  crocodile  is 
afraid  of  man,  and  hides  its  snout  in 
mud  when  alarmed,  thinking  itself  per- 
fectly secure.  {See  Booby,  Ostrich.) 

Croc'odile.  The  humming  bird  and 
lapwing  enter  fearlessly  into  the  stretched 
mouth  of  the  crocodile,  and  the  creature 
never  injures  them.  Paul  Lucas  says 
he  has  seen  this,  and  that  the  birds  pick 
the  crocodile’s  teeth. — Voyage  fait  en 
1714.  {See  Fonda.) 

Crocodile’s  Eye.  Hieroglyphic  for 
the  morning. 

Croc'odile’s  Tears.  Hypocritical 
tears.  The  tale  is,  that  crocodiles  moan 
and  sigh  like  a person  in  deep  distress, 
to  allure  travellers  to  the  spot,  and  even 
shed  tears  over  their  prey  while  in  the 
act  of  devouring  it. 

As  the  mournful  crocodile 

With  sorrow  snares  relenting  passengers. 

Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  YI.”  iii.  i. 


CROP. 


Crcesus.  Rich  as  Croesus.  Croesus  king 
of  Lydia  was  so  rich  and  powerful,  that 
all  the  wise  men  of  Greece  were  drawn  to 
his  court,  and  his  name  became  pro- 
verbial for  wealth,  (b.c.  560-546.)  {See 
Gtges.) 

Crom'eraacli'.  Chief  idol  of  the 
Irish  before  the  preaching  of  St.  Patrick. 
It  was  a gold  or  silver  image  surrounded 
by  twelve  little  brazen  ones. 

Cromlech..  A large  stone  resting  on 
two  or  more  others,  like  a table.  (Welsh, 
crom,  ^‘bent;”  Ilec,  a flat  stone.”) 

Weyland  Smith’s  cave  (Berkshire),  Tre- 
vethy  stone  (Cornwall),  Kit’s  Coty  House 
(Kent).  Irby  and  Mangles  saw  twenty- 
seven  structures  just  like  these  on  the 
banks  of  the  Jordan  ; at  Plas  Newydd 
(Anglesey)  are  two  cromlechs ; in  Corn- 
wall they  are  numerous ; so  are  they  in 
Wales ; some  few  are  found  in  Ireland,  as 
the  killing- stone”  in  Louth.  In  Brit- 
tany, Denmark,  Germany,  and  some 
other  parts  of  Europe,  cromlechs  are  to 
be  found. 

Cro'nian  Sea.  The  north  polar 
sea.  Pliny  says,  ^‘A  Thule  unius  diei 
navigatio'ne  mare  concretum,  a nonnullis 
croniumo.'p'g^oH'ox.'^— ^Natural  History 
iv.  16. 

As  when  two  polar  winds,  blowing  adverse 
Upon  the  Cronian  sea. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,”  x.  390. 

Cro'ny.  A familiar  friend.  A71  old 
cfony  is  an  intimate  of  times  gone  by. 
Probably  c7'one  with  the  diminutive  ie  for 
endearment,  and  equivalent  to  ‘^dear  old 
fellow,”  dear  old  boy.” 

Crook  in  the  Lot.  There  is  a 
C7^ooJc  in  the  lot  of  every  one.  There  is 
vexation  bound  up-  in  every  person’s  lot 
of  life,  a skeleton  in  the  cupboard  of 
every  house.  A crook  in  a stick  is  a 
bend,  a part  where  the  stick  does  not  run 
straight,  hence  a shepherd’s  crook.” 
When  lots  were  drawn  by  bits  of  stick,  it 
was  desirable  to  get  sticks  which  were 
smooth  and  straight ; but  it  is  very  hard 
to  find  one  without  a crook,  knot,  or 
some  other  defect.  Boston  has  a book 
entitled  ‘^The  Crook  in  the  Lot.” 

Crooked  as  Crawley.  {See 

Crawley.) 

Crop  up  (or)  out.  To  rise  out  of, 
to  appear  at  the  surface.  A mining  term. 
Strata  which  rise  to  the  surface  are  said 
to  crop  out.  We  also  say,  such  and  such 
a subject  crops  up  from  time  to  time — ^.c., 


CROQUEMITATNE. 


CROTALUM. 


197 


rises  to  the  surface  ; such  and  such  a 
thing  crops  out  of  what  you  were  saying 
— is  apropos  thereof. 

Croquemitaine  {croahmit-taiiii),  the 
bogie  raised  by  fear.  The  romance  so 
called,  in  three  parts.  The  first  relates 
the  bloody  tournament  at  Fransac,  be- 
tween the  champions  of  the  Moorish 
king  Marsillus  and  the  paladins  of  Char- 
lemagne. The  second  is  the  siege  of 
Saragossa  by  Charlemagne.  The  third 
is  the  allegory  of  Fear-Fortress.  The 
epilogue  is  the  disaster  at  Roncesvalles. 
The  author  is  M.  TEpine.  There  is  an 
English  version  by  Tom  Hood,  illustrated 
by  Gustave  Dore  (1867).  {See  Feak- 
Fortress,  Mitaine,  &c.) 

Cross.  The  cross  is  said  to  have 
been  made  of  four  sorts  of  wood  (palm, 
cedar,  olive,  and  cypress)  to  signify  the 
four  quarters  of  the  globe. 

Ligna  crucis  palma,  cedrus,  cupressua,  oli'va. 

We  are  accustomed  to  consider  the 
sign  of  the  cross  as  wholly  a Christian 
symbol,  originating  with  the  crucifixion 
of  our  Redeemer  : this  is  quite  erroneous. 
The  ancient  Egyptians  employed  the 
same  as  a sacred  symbol,  and  we  see  on 
Greek  sculptures,  &c.,  a cake  with  a 
cross ; two  such  buns  were  discovered  at 
Hercula'neum. 

The  judgment  of  the  Cross.  An  ordeal 
instituted  in  the  reign  of  Charlemagne. 
The  plaintiff  and  defendant  were  re- 
quired to  cross  their  arms  upon  their 
breast,  and  he  who  could  hold  out  the 
longest  gained  the  suit. 

Every  one  must  hear  his  own  cross.  His 
own  burden  or  troubles.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  Jewish  law  that  the  person  con- 
demned to  be  crucified  was  to  carry  his 
cross  to  the  place  of  execution. 

Cross,  ill-tempered,  is  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  crous. 

Azeyn  (against)  hem  was  he  kene  and  crous. 

Cursor  Mundi. 

Cross  and  Ball,  so  universally 
marked  on  Egyptian  figures,  is  a circle 
and  the  letter  T.  The  circle  signifies 
the  eternal  preserver  of  the  world,  and 
the  T is  the  monogram  of  Thoth,  the 
Egyptian  Mercury,  meaning  wisdom. 

The  coronation  orb  is  a sphere  or  ball 
surmounted  by  a cross,  an  emblem  of 
empire  introduced  in  representations  of 
our  Saviour.  In  this  case  the  cross 
stands  dbowe  the  ball,  to  signify  that  the 
spiritual  power  is  above  the  temporal. 


Cross  and  Pile.  Money ; pitch  and 
toss.  Hilaire  le  Gai  tells  us  that  some  of 
the  ancient  French  coins  had  a cross,  and 
others  a column,  on  the  reverse;  the 
column  was  called  a pile,  from  which 
comes  our  word  pillar,”  and  the  phrase 

pile- driving.”  Scaliger  says  that  some 
of  the  old  French  coins  had  a ship  on  the 
reverse,  the  arms  of  Paris,  and  that  pile 
means  ^^a  ship,”  whence  our  word 

pilot.” 

A man  may  now  justifiably  throw  up  cross  and  pile 
for  his  opinions.— hocfce,  '"‘Human  Understanding.” 

Cross  or  PiUf  heads  or  tails.  The 
French  pile  ou  face.  The  face  ” or 
cross  was  the  oSvem  of  the  coin,  the  ^^pile” 
was  the  reverse  ; but  at  a later  period  the 
cross  was  transferred  to  the  reverse,  as 
in  our  florins,  and  the  obverse  bore  a 
‘^head”  or  ^^poll.” 

Marriage  is  worse  than  eross  I win,  pile  you  lose. 

Shadwell,  “ Epsom  Wells'* 

Cross  nor  Pile.  I have  neither  cross  nor 
pile.  Not  a penny  in  the  world.  The 
French  phrase  is,  N’avoir  ni  croix  ni 
pile  (to  have  neither  one  sort  of  coin  nor 
another). 

Whacum  had  neither  cross  nor  pile. 

Butler^  “ Hudibras”  pt.  ii.  3. 

Cross  Buns.  {See  Bums.) 

Cross-grained.  Patchy,  ill-tem- 
pered, self-willed.  Wood  must  be 
worked  with  the  grain  ; where  the  grain 
crosses  we  get  a knot  or  curling,  which 
would  be  very  hard  to  work  uniform 
with  the  rest. 

Cross-patch.  A peevish,  cross- 
grained  child.  A patch  is  a paltry 
fellow;  a patchy  person  is  one  who  is 
uncertain  in  temper  : he  is  like  a garment 
in  which  the  pattern  runs  one  way  and 
the  patch  another,  or  like  a patch  of  new 
cloth  in  an  old  garment,  which  destroys 
the  drape  and  greatly  disfigures  the 
garment. 

Cross-roads.  The  practice  of  bury- 
ing in  cross-roads  is  due  to  the  ancient 
practice  of  erecting  a cross  at  such 
places.  Those  who  were  excluded  from 
holy  rites  were  piously  buried  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross  erected  on  the  public  road, 
as  the  place  next  in  sanctity  to  conse- 
crated ground. 

Crot'alum.  A sort  of  castanet,  rattled 
in  dancing.  Aristopha'nes  calls  a great 
talker  krot'alon  (a  clack). 


/ 


198  CEOTCHET. 


CEOYSADO. 


Crot'cliet.  ^ A whim  ; a fancy ; a 
twist  of  the  mind,  like  the  crotch  or 
crome  of  a stick.  {See  Crook.  ) 

The  duke  hath  crotchets  in  him. 

Shakespeare^  “ Measure  for  Measure”  iii.  2. 

Croto'na’s  Sage.  Pytha'goras.  So 
called  because  at  Crotona  he  established 
his  first  and  chief  school  of  philosophy. 
Such  success  followed  his  teaching,  that 
the  whole  aspect  of  the  town  became  more 
moral  and.  decorous  in  a marvellously 
short  time. 

Crow.  As  the  croio  files.  The  shortest 
route  between  two  given  places.  The 
crow  hies  straight  to  its  point  of  desti- 
nation. 

To  crow  over  one  is  to  exult  over  a van- 
quished or  abased  person.  The  allusion 
is  to  cocks,  who  always  crow  when  they 
have  vanquished  an  adversary. 

I must  j^lucTc  a croiv  with  you;  I have  a 
crow  to  ;pich  with  you.  I am  displeased 
with  you,  and  must  call  you  to  account. 
I have  a small  complaint  to  make  against 
you.  In  Howell’s  proverbs  (1659)  we 
find  the  following,  have*  a goose  to 
pluck  with  you,”  used  in  the  same  sense ; 
and  Chaucer  has  the  phrase  ‘^Pull  a 
finch, but  means  thereby,  to  cheat  or 
filch.  Children  of  distinction  among 
the  Greeks  and  Eomans  had  birds  for 
their  amusement,  and  in  their  boyish 
quarrels  used  to  pluck  or  pull  the  feathers 
out  of  each  other’s  pets.  Tyn'darus,  in 
his  Captives,”  alludes  to  this,  l3ut 
instances  it  with  a lapwing.  In  hiero- 
glyphics, a crow  symbolises  contention, 
discord,  strife. 

If  a crow  help  us  in,  sirrah,  we’ll  pluck  a crow 
together. — Shakespeare^  “ Comedy  of  Errors,”  iii.  1, 

If  not,  resolve  before  we  go 
That  you  and  I must  pull  a crow. 

Butler, '' Rudibrasf'  pt.  ii.  9. 

Crow,  Why  black.  Eaven.) 

Crowbar.  A bar  with  a crook,  used 
for  leverage.  (Saxon,  Icroh ; oi&h.,  crug  ; 
Gothic,  llrugg  ; our  ci'ooh.) 

Crowd.  A fiddle.  (Welsh,  crwth.) 

O sweet^consent,  between  a crowd  and  a Jew’s 
harp ! Lyly. 

Crowd e'ro.  One  of  the  rabble 
leaders  encountered  by  Hudibras  at  a 
bear-baiting.  The  original  of  this  cha- 
racter was  one  Jackson  or  Jephson,  a 
milhner^  who  lived  in  the  New  Exchange, 
Strand.  He  lost  a leg  in  the  service  of 
the  Eoundheads,  and  was  reduced  to  the 
necessity  of  fiddling  from  alehouse  to 


alehouse  for  his  daily  bread.  The  word 
means  fiddler.  {See  Crowd.) 

Crowns.  In  heraldry  nine  crowns 
are  recognised:  The  oriental,  the  tri- 
umphal or  imperial,  the  diadem,  the 
obsidional  crown,  the  civic,  the  crown 
vallery,  the  mural  crown,  the  naval,  and 
the  crown  celestial . 

The  Bloclcade  Croim  (coro'na  obsidio- 
na'lis),  presented  by  the  Eomans  to  the 
general  who  liberated  a beleaguered 
army.  This  was  made  of  grass  and  wild 
flowers  gathered  from  the  spot. 

A Camp  Crown  was  given  by  the 
Eomans  to  him  who  first  forced  his  way 
into  the  enemy’s  camp.  It  was  made  of 
gold,  and  decorated  with  palisades. 

A Civil  Crown  was  presented  to  him 
who  preserved  the  life  of  a civis  or  Eoman 
citizen  in  battle.  This  crown  was  made 
of  oak  leaves,  and  bore  the  inscription, 
H.O.C.S. — i.e.,  hostem  oc'cidit,  ci'vem 
serva'vit  {a  foe  he  slew,  a citizen  saved), 

A Mural  Crown  was  given  by  the 
Eomans  to  that  man  who  first  scaled  the 
wall  of  a besieged  town.  It  was  made 
of  gold,  and  decorated  with  battlements. 

A Naval  Crown  was  by  the  Eomans 
given  to  him  who  won  a naval  victory. 
It  was  made  of  gold,  and  decorated  with 
the  beaks  of  ships. 

An  Olive  Crown  was  by  the  Eomans 
given  to  those  who  distinguished  them- 
selves in  battle  in  some  way  not  specially 
mentioned  in  other  clauses. 

An  Ova'tion  Crown  “(coro'na  ova'lis) 
was  by  the  Eomans  given  to  the  general 
who  vanquished  pirates  or  any  despised 
enemy.  It  was  made  of  myrtle. 

A Triumphal  Crown  was  by  the  Eomans 
given  to  the  general  who  obtained  a tri- 
umph. It  was  made  of  laurel  or  bay 
leaves.  Sometimes  a massive  gold  crown 
was  given  to  a victorious  general.  {See 
Laurel.) 

Crown  of  the  East— Antioch, 
capital  of  Syria,  which  consisted  of  four 
walled  cities,  encompassed  by  a common 
rampart,  which  enrounded  them  like  a 
coronet.”  It  was  also  surnamed  ‘‘the 
beautiful.” 

Crowner.  Coroner. 

The  crowner  hath  set  on  her,  and  finds  it  Christian 
burial.— “ Hamlet”  v.  1. 

Crowquill  {Alfred)  is  Alfred  H. 
Forrester.  (Born  1805.) 

Croysa'do.  The  Great  Croysado, 
General  lord  Fairfax. — Hudibras, 


CEOZIER, 


CRUSTED. 


199 


Cro'zier  (or)  Cro'sier.  An  archbishop’s 
staff  terminates  in  a floriated  cross,  while 
a bishop’s  crook  has  a curved,  bracken- 
like head.  A bishop  turns  his  crook 
outwards j to  denote  his  wider  authority ; 
an  abbot  (whose  crook  is  the  same  as  a 
bishop’s)  carries  it  turned  inwards , to 
show  that  his  jurisdiction  is  limited  to 
his  own  inmates.  When  walking  with  a 
bishop,  an  abbot  covers  his  crook  with  a 
veil  hanging  from  the  knob,  to  show  that 
his  authority  is  veiled  in  the  presence  of 
his  superior. 

Cru'cial.  A crucial  test.  A very 
severe  and  undeniable  one.  The  allusion 
is  to  a fancy  of  lord  Bacon’s,  who  said 
that  two  different  diseases  or  sciences 
might  run  parallel  for  a time,  but  would 
ultimately  cross  each  other : thus,  the 
plague  might  for  a time  resemble  other 
diseases,  but  when  the  hutio  or  boil  ap- 
peared, it  would  assume  its  specific  cha- 
racter. Hence  the  phrases  instan'tia  crucis 
(a  crucial  or  unmistakable  symptom),  a 
crucial  experiment,  a crucial  example,  a 
crucial  question,  &p. 

Crude  Forms  in  grammar ; the 
roots  or  essential  letters  of  words.  The 
words  are  crude  or  unfinished. 

Cruel  {The).  Pedro,  king  of  Castile. 
(1334,  1350-1369.) 

Pedro  I.  of  Portugal ; also  called  le 
Justicier.  (1320,  1357-1367.) 

Cruel  Garters.  Garters  made  of 
worsted  or  yarn. 

Ha ! ha ! look,  he  wears  cruel  garters. 

Shakespeare^  “ King  Lear”  ii.  4. 

Wearing  of  silk,  why  art  thou  so  cruel  ? 

**  Woman's  a Weathercock.”  (1612.) 

Crump.  DonH  you  wish  you  may  get 
itf  Mrs.  Crump  ? ” Grose  says  Mrs. 
Crump,  a farmer’s  wife,  was  invited  to 
dine  with  lady  Coventry,  who  was  very 
deaf.  Mrs.  Crump  wanted  some  beer, 
but  awed  by  the  purple  and  plush,  said, 
in  a half  whisper,  wish  I had  some 
beer,  now.”  Mr.  Flunkey,  conscious 
that  his  mistress  could  not  hear,  replied 
in  the  same  aside^  Don’t  you  wish  you 
may  get  it  ? ” At  this  the  farmer’s  wife 
rose  from  table,  and  helped  herself. 
Lady  Coventry,  of  course,  demanded  the 
reason,  and  the  anecdote  soon  became 
a standing  joke. 

Crusades  (2  syl.).  Holy  wars  in 
which  the  warriors  wore  a cross,  and 


fought,  nominally  at  least,  for  the 
honour  of  the  cross.  Each  nation  had 
its  special  colour,  which,  says  Matthew 
Paris  (i.  446),  was  red  for  France  ; white 
for  England ; green  for  Flanders  ; for  Italy 
it  was  blue  or  azure ; for  Spain,  gides  ; 
for  Scotland,  a St.  Andrew’s  cross ; for 
the  Knights  Templars,  red  on  white. 

The  seven  Crusades. 

1.  (1096-1100.)  Preached  up  by  Peter 
the  Hermit.  Led  by  Godfrey  of  Bouillon, 
who  took  Jerusalem. 

2.  (1147-1149.)  At  the  instigation  of 
St.  Bernard.  Led  by  Louis  VII.  and  the 
emperor  Conrad.  To  secure  the  union 
of  Europe. 

3.  (1189-1193.)  Led  by  Richard  Lion^ 
heart.  For  knightly  distinction.  This 
was  against  Saladin  or  Salah-Eddin. 

4.  (1202-1204.)  Led  by  Baldwin  of 
Flanders  and  the  doge.  To  glorify  the 
Venetians. 

5.  (1217.)  Led  by  John  of  Brienne, 
titular  king  of  Jerusalem.  To  suit  his 
own  purpose. 

6.  (1228-1229.)  Led  by  Frederick  II. 
To  suit  the  purposes  of  the  pope. 

7.  (1248-1254)  and  8 (1268-1270.)  To 
satisfy  the  religious  scruples  of  Louis  IX. 

Crush.  To  crush  a bottle— i.e.,  drink 
one.  From  the  Italian  croscia're  (to 
decant).  Shakespeare  has  also  burst 
a bottle  in  the  same  sense  (Induction 
of  Taming  the  Shrew”).  {See  Crack.) 

Come  and  crush  a cup  of  wine. 

Shakespeare,  “ Romeo  and  Juliet'^  i.  2, 

To  crush  a fly  on  a wheel.  To  crack  a 
nut  with  a stea.m-hammer ; to  employ 
power  far  too  valuable  for  the  purpose 
to  be  accomplished.  The  wheel  referred 
to  is  the  rack. 

Cru'soe  {A).  A solitary  man;  the 
only  inhabitant  of  a place.  The  tale  of 
Defoe  is  well  known,  which  describes 
Robinson  Crusoe  as  cast  on  a desert 
island,  where  he  employs  the  most  ad- 
mirable ingenuity  in  providing  for  his 
daily  wants. 

Whence  creeping  forth,  to  Duty’s  call  he  yields. 

And  strolls  the  Crusoe  of  the  lonely  fields. 

Bloomfield,  Farmer's  Boy.'* 

Crus'ted  Port.  When  port  is  first 
bottled  its  fermentation  is  not  complete ; 
in  time  it  precipitates  alcohol  on  the  sides 
of  the  bottle,  where  it  forms  a crust. 
Crusted  port,  therefore,  is  port  which 
has  completed  its  fermentation, 


200 


CEUSTY. 


CUDDY. 


Crus'ty.  Ill-tempered,  apt  to  take 
offence  ; from  crus  (wrathful) ; our  cross. 
Azeyn  (against)  hem  was  he  kene  and  crous, 
And  said,  “ Goth  out  of  my  Fader  hous.” 

Cursor  Mundi. 

Crutclied  Friars  is  the  Latin  a^u- 
cia'ti  (crossed) — i.e.^  having  a cross  em- 
broidered on  their  dress.  They  were  of 
the  Trinitarian  order. 

Cry.  Great  cry  and  little  wool.  This 
is  derived  from  the  ancient  mystery  of 

David  and  Abigail,”  in  which  Nabal 
is  represented  as  shearing  his  sheep,  and 
the  Devil,  who  is  made  to  attend  the 
churl,  imitates  the  act  by  shearing  a 
hog.”  Originally  the  proverb  ran  thus. 

Great  cry  and  little  wool,  as  the  devil 
said  when  he  sheared  the  hogs.”  N.B. — 
Hudibras  alters  the  proverb  into  ‘^All 
cry  and  no  wool.” 

Crystal  Hills.  On  the  coast  of  the 
Caspian,  near  Badku,  is  a mountain 
which  sparkles  like  diamonds,  from  the 
sea-glass  and  crystals  with  which  it 
abounds. 

Crystalline  (3  syl.).  The  Crystalline 
sphere.  According  to  Ptolemy,  beyond 
the  firmament  or  sphere  of  the  fixed 
stars  comes  the  crystalline  sphere,  which 
oscillates  or  has  a shimmering  motion 
which  interferes  with  the  regular  motion 
of  the  stars. 

They  pass  the  planets  seven,  and  pass  the  “ fixed,” 
And  that  crystariine  sphere,  whose  balance  weighs 
The  trepidation  talked  (ol ). 

Milton^  ^'Paradise  Lost,"  iii. 

Cub.  An  ill-mannered  lout.  The 
cub  of  a bear  is  said  to  have  no  shape 
until  its  dam  has  licked  it  into  form. 

A bear’s  a savage  beast,  of  all 
Most  ugly  and  unnatural ; 

Whelped  without  form  until  the  dam 
Has  licked  it  into  shape  and  frame. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras”  i.  3. 

Cubittop'olis.  The  Warwick  and 
Eccleston  Square  districts  of  London ; so 
called  from  Cubitt  the  builder. 

Cucking-stool  or  Chohing-stoolj  for 
ducking  scolds,  is  not  connected  with 
choice  (to  stifle),  but  the  French  choquer  ; 
hence  the  archaic  verb  cuck  (to  throw), 
and  one  still  in  use,  chuck  (chuck-farth- 
ing). The  cucking-stool  is  therefore  the 
chucking- stool,  the  stool  which  is  chucked 
or  thrown  into  the  water. 

Now,  if  one  cucking-stool  was  for  each  scold, 

fciome  towns,  I fear,  would  not  their  numbers  hold. 

Poor  Robin,"  (1746.) 

Cuckold.  (See  AcTiEON.) 


Cuckold  King  {The).  Mark  of 
Cornwall,  whose  wife  Yseult  intrigued 
with  Sir  Tristram,  one  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Bound  Table. 

Cuckold’s  Point.  A spot  on  the 
river-side  near  Deptford.  So  called  from 
a tradition  that  king  John  made  there 
successful  love  to  a labourer’s  wife. 

Cuckoo.  Cuckoo  oats  and  woodcock 
hay  make  the  farmer  min  aivay.  If  the 
spring  is  so  backward  that  the  cuckoo  is 
heard  when  oats  are  sown ; and  the 
autumn  so  wet  that  woodcocks  come 
over  before  the  eddish  hay  is  cut,  the 
farmer  must  suffer  great  loss. 

Cuckoo.  A cuckold.  The  cuckoo  oc- 
cupies the  nest  and  eats  the  eggs  of 
other  birds  ; and  Dr.  Johnson  says,  ^^It 
was  usual  to  alarm  a husband  at  the 
approach  of  an  adulterer  by  calling  out 
‘ Cuckoo,’  which  by  mistake  was  applied 
in  time  to  the  person  warned.”  Green 
calls  the  cuckoo  ^‘the  cuckold’s  quirister” 

Quip  for  an  Upstart  Courtier,”  1620). 
This  is  an  instance  of  how  words  get  in 
time  perverted  from  their  original  mean- 
ing. The  Eomans  used  to  call  an  adul- 
terer a cuckoo,”  as  ^^Te  cuc'ulum  uxor 
ex  lustris  rapit  ” (Plautus,  Asin.,”  v.  3), 
and  the  allusion  was  simple  and  correct ; 
but  Dr.  J ohnson’s  explanation  will  hardly 
satisfy  any  one  except  himself  for-'the 
modern  perversion  of  the  word. 

The  cuckoo  then,  on  every  tree. 

Mocks  married  men;  for  thus  sings  he, 
Cuckoo ! 

Cuckoo  ! cuckoo  ! O word  of  fear, 

Unpleasing  to  a married  ear ! 

Shakespeare,  **  Love's  Labour^s  Lost,”  y.  S. 

Cuckoo  Spit.  A spume  found  on 
lavender  bushes,  rosemary,  fly-catch,  and 
some  other  plants.  It  proceeds  from  a 
small  insect,  which,  like  the  cochineal, 
exudes  a foam  for  its  own  warmth  and 
protection  during  its  state  of  transition. 
The  term  cuckoo”  is  synonymous  with 
spring  or  cuckoo-time. 

Cu'eumber  Time.  The  dull  season 
in  the  tailoring  trade.  The  Germans  call 
it  Die  saure  Gurken  Zeit  (pickled  gherkin 
time).  Hence  the  expression  Tailors  are 
vegetarians,  because  they  live  on  ^‘cucum- 
ber” when  without  work,  and  on  “cab- 
bage ” when  in  full  employ.— and 
Queries, 

Cuddy.  An  ass;  a dolt.  A gipsy 
term,  from  the  Persian  gudda  and  the 
Hindustanee  ghudda  (an  ass). 

Hast  got  thy  breakfast,  brother  cuddy 

D.  Wingate, 


CUE. 


CUNSTANCE. 


201 


Cue  (1  syl.).  The  tail  of  a sentence 
(French,  queue) y the  catch- word  which 
indicates  when  another  actor  is  to  speak  ; 
a hint ; the  state  of  a person’s  temper, 
as,  So-and-so  is  in  a good  cue  (or)  bad 
cue.” 

When  my  cue  comes,  call  me,  and  I will  answer.— 
Shakespeare^  **3Iidsiimmer-Nighfs  Dream,”  iv.  1. 

CuTfey.  A negro.  A generic  name 
for  the  race.  Cuffen  and  Cudden  are 
different  forms  of  the  same  word,  also 
written  Cuddy  (a  dolt,  ass),  applied  to 
slaves,  who  are  used  like  asses. 

Sambo  and  CuflFey  expand  under  every  sky.-H. 
Beecher  Stowe, 

Cui  Bono  ? What  practical  use  is 
it?  what  would  be  gained  thereby? 
Literally,  to  what  or  whom  is  it  a gain  ? 
{Est  with  two  datives.) 

Cuirass.  Sir  Arthur’s  cuirass  was 

carved  of  one  emerald,  centred  in  a 
sun  of  silver  rays,  that  lightened  as  he 
breathed.” — TennysoTiy  Elaine.^' 

Cuish'es  or  Cuisses  (2  syl.).  Armour 
for  the  thighs.  (French,  cuisse,  the  thigh. ) 

Soon  o’er  his  thighs  he  placed  the  cuishes  bright. 

^‘Jei'usalem  Delivered,'’  bk.  xi. 

His  cuisses  on  his  thighs,  gallantly  armed. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  IV.,”  iv.  1. 

Cul  de  Sac  (French).  A blind  alley, 
or  alley  blocked  up  at  one  end  like  a 
sack.  Figuratively,  an  argument,  &c., 
that  leads  to  nothing. 

Culdees.  A religious  order  of  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  said  to  have  been  founded 
in  the  sixth  century  by  St.  Columba.  So 
called  from  the  Gaelic  cy lie-dee  (a  house 
of  cells)  or  Gille  De  (servants  of  God). 
Giraldus  Cambrensis,  going  to  the  Latin 
for  its  etymology,  according  to  a custom 
unhappily  not  yet  extinct,  derives  it  from 
colo-deus  (to  worship  God). 

CuTminate  (3  syl.).  Come  to  a crisis. 
The  passage  of  a celestial  body  over  the 
meridian  at  the  upper  transit  is  called  its 
culmination.  (Latin,  cidmen,  the  top.) 

Cul'prit.  Anciently,  when  a person 
pleaded  ^^not  guilty,”  the  clerk  pro- 
nounced these  words,  QuHl  paroit  (may 
it  appear  so  !).  It  is  an  outrage  to  derive 
it  from  the  Latin  culpa  and  French  prit ; 
a horse  and  an  ass  are  never  yoked  to- 
gether in  philology. 

Culross  G-irdles.  The  thin  plate 
of  iron  used  in  Scotland  for  the  manu- 


facture of  oaten  cakes  is  called  a '^girdle,” 
for  which  Culross  was  long  celebrated. 

Locks  and  bars,  plough-graith  and  harrow-teeth  ! 
and  why  not  grates  and  fireprongs,  and  Culross 
girdles  1— Scott,  ''Fair  Maid  of  Perth,”  c.  ii. 

CuFver.  Pigeon.  (Old  English, 
ver;  Latin,  cohtmba;  hence,  culver-house, 
a dove-cote.) 

On  liquid  wing 
The  sounding  culver  shoots. 

Thomson,  "Spring” 

Cul'verin  properly  means  a serpent 
(Latin,  colubri'nus,  the  col'uber),  but  is  ap- 
plied to  a long,  slender  piece  of  artillery 
employed  in  the  sixteenth  century  to 
carry  balls  to  a great  distance.  Queen 
Elizabeth’s  ‘^Pocket  Pistol”  in  Dover 
castle  is  a culverin. 

CuPverkeys.  The  keys  or  flowers 
of  the  culver  or  columba — i.e.y  colum- 
bine. 

Cumberland  Poet  {The).  William 
Wordsworth,  born  at  Cockermouth. 
(1770-1850.) 

Cuncta't-or  {the  delayer).  Quintus 
Fa'bius  Max'imus,  the  jSoman  general 
who  baffled  Hannibal  by  avoiding  direct 
engagements,  and  wearing  him  out  by 
marches,  countermarches,  and  skirmishes 
from  a distance.  This  was  the  policy 
by  which  Duguesclin  forced  the  English 
to  abandon  their  possessions  in  France 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  V.  {le  Sage). 

Cu'neiform  Letters.  Letters  like 
wedges  (Latin,  cu'neus,  a wedge).  These 
sort  of  letters  occur  in  old  Persian  and 
Babylonian  inscriptions.  They  are  some- 
times called  Arrow-headed  characters y and 
those  found  at  Babylon  are  called  uail~ 
headed.  This  species  of  writing  is  the 
most  ancient  of  which  we  have  any 
knowledge. 

Cu'no.  The  ranger,  father  of  Agatha, 
in  Weber’s  opera  of  ^^Der  Freischiitz.” 

Cu'nobelin’s  Gold  Mines.  Ca- 
verns in  the  chalk  beds  of  Little  Thur- 
rock, Essex.  So  called  from  the  tradition 
that  king  Cu'nobelin  hid  in  them  his  gold. 
They  are  sometimes  called  Dane-holes, 
because  they  were  used  as  lurking-pla^jes 
by  the  Norsemen. 

Cunstance.  A model  of  Kesigna- 
tion,  daughter  of  the  emperor  of 
Rome.  The  sultan  of  Syria,  in  order  to 
have  her  for  his  wife,  renounced  his  re- 
ligion and  turned  (Christian ; but  the 
sultan’s  mother  murdered  him,  and 


/ 


202  GUNTUR. 


CURRANT. 


turned  Cunstance  adrift  on  a raft.  After 
a time  the  raft  stranded  on  a rock 
near  Northumberland,  and  the  con- 
stable rescued  Cunstance,  and  took 
her  home,  where  she  converted  his 
wife,  Hermegild.  A young  lord  fell 
in  love  with  her ; but  his  suit  being 
rejected,  he  murdered  Hermegild,  and 
laid  the  charge  of  murder  against  Cun- 
stance. King  Ella  adjudged  the  cause, 
and  Cunstance  being  proved  innocent, 
he  married  her.  While  EUa  was  in  Scot- 
land, Cunstance  was  confined  with  a 
boy,  named  Maurice  ; and  Ella’s  mother, 
angry  with  Cunstance  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Christian  religion,  put  her  on 
a raft  adrift  with  her  baby  boy.  They 
were  accidentally  found  by  a senator, 
and  taken  to  Rome.  Ella  having  dis- 
covered that  his  mother  had  turned  his 
wife  and  child  adrift,  put  her  to  death, 
and  went  to  Rome  in  pilgrimage  to  atone 
for  his  crime.  Here  he  fell  in  with  his 
wife  and  son.  Maurice  succeeded  his 
grandfather  as  emperor  of  Rome,  and  at 
the  death  of  Ella,  Cunstance  returned  to 
her  native  land. — Chaucer j The  Man  of 
Lawes  Tale” 

Cuntur.  A bird  worshipped  by  the 
ancient  Peruvians.  It  is  generally  called 
the  condor,”  and  by  the  Arabians  the 

roc.” 

Cup.  We  must  drinh  the  cup.  We 
must  bear  the  burden  awarded  to  us,  the 
sorrow  which  falls  to  our  lot.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  the  words  of  our  Lord  in  the 
garden  of  Gethsem'ane  (Matt.  xxvi.  39 ; 
also  XX.  22).  One  way  of  putting 
criminals  to  death  in  ancient  times  was 
by  poison ; Socrates  had  hemlock  to 
drink.  In  allusion  to  this  it  is  said  that 
Jesus  Christ  tasted  death  for  every  man 
(Heb.  ii.  9). 

Many  a sliv  Hwixt  the  cup  and  the  lip. 
(See  Ano^usI) 

Cup  Tosser.  A juggler  (French, 
joueur  de  gohelet).  The  old  symbol  for  a 
juggler  was  a goblet.  The  phrase  and 
symbol  are  derived  from  the  practice  of 
jugglers  who  toss  in  the  air,  twist  on  a 
stick,  and  play  all  sorts  of  tricks  with 
goblets  or  cups. 

Cu'par.  He  that  will  to  Cupar  maun 
to  Cupar.  He  that  will  have  his  own 
way,  must  have  it  even  to  his  injury. 
The  reference  is  to  the  Cistercian  monas- 
tery, founded  here  by  Malcolm  lY. 


Cupboard  Love.  Love  from  in- 
terested motives.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
love  of  children  to  some  indulgent  per- 
son who  gives  them  something  nice  from 
her  cupboard. 

Cupl3oard  love  is  seldom  true.— Poo»*  Bdbin. 

Cupid  and  Psyche.  An  exquisite 
episode  in  the  Golden  Ass  ” of  Apu- 
le'ius.  It  is  an  allegory  representing 
the  progress  of  the  soul  to  perfection. 
Mrs.  Tighe  has  a poem  on  the  same 
subject ; and  Moliere  a drama  entitled 

Psyche.” 

Cur.  A fawning,  mean-spirited  fel- 
low; a crop-tailed  dog  (Latin,  curtus, 
crop-tailed;  French,  court;  OMYcurt).  Ac- 
cording to  forest  laws,  a man  who  had 
no  right  to  the  privilege  of  the  chase 
was  obliged  to  cut  off  the  tail  of  his  dog, 
for  if  a dog  has  no  rudder- tail  he  cannot 
hunt  game.  Hence  a degenerate  dog  or 
man  is  called  a cur. 

"What  would  you  have,  you  curs, 

That  like  nor  peace  nor  war  ? 

Shakespeare^  “ Coriolanus,'*  i.  1, 

Curate.  (See  Clerical  Titles.) 

Curchus.  A divinity  worshipped  by 
the  ancient  Prussians.  It  presided  over 
food  and  drink. 

Cure  de  Meudon— ^^e.,  Rabelais, 
who  was  first  a monk,  then  a leech,  then 
prebend  of  St.  Maur,  and  lastly  cure  of 
Meudon.  (1483-1553.) 

Cur'few  Bell.  The  bell  rung  in  the 
reigns  of  William  I.  and  II.  at  sunset, 
to  give  notice  to  their  subjects  that  they 
were  to  put  out  their  fires  and  candles 
(French,  couvre  feu,  cover-fire).  Prior  to 
the  Conquest,  the  ‘^Evensong Bell”  rang 
for  vespers. 

The  curfew  tolls  the  knell  of  parting  day. 

Gray,  ‘ ‘ Hiegy;* 

This  battell  begane  in  Chyviat 
An  owar  befor  the  none. 

And  when  the  even-song  bell  was  rang 
The  battell  was  not  half  done. 

Chevy  Chase. 

Curmud'geon  (3  syl. ) is  Saxon  ceol~ 
modigan  (churlish-minded).  Dr.  John- 
son gives  the  derivation  of  this  word 
thus,  coeur  mechant,  unknown  corre- 
spondent.” Dr.  Ash,  in  his  dictionary, 
says,  ccBur,  unknown ; mechant,  corre- 
spondent,” a blunder  only  paralleled  by 
the  schoolboy  translation  of  the  Greek 
me  genoito  by  me  (God)  geonito  (forbid) 
(Luke  XX.  6). 

Currant.  A corruption  of  Corinth, 
hence  called  by  Ju'venal  Corinthi' acce 


CUURENT. 


CUSTARD. 


203 


uvce  ; unless,  indeed,  it  is  a vitiated  form 
of  the  Greek  horumh  (a  bunch  of  grapes, 
a cluster). 

Current.  The  drift  of  the  current  is 
the  rate  per  hour  at  which  the  current 
runs. 

The  setting  of  the  current  is  that  point 
of  the  compass  towards  which  the  waters 
of  the  current  run. 

Ciirrer  Bell.  The  nom  de  'plume  of 
Charlotte  Bronte,  authoress  of  ‘^Jano 
Eyre.”  (1816-1855.) 

Curric'uluni.  The  whole  course  of 
study  adopted  in  a school,  college,  or  uni- 
versity. Properly,  a race  for  a prize.  The 
Romans  used  the  expression  curriculum 
vitce  (the  curriculum  of  life). 

Curse.  Not  'worth  a curse.  Worth 
nothing,  not  worth  a fig.  Curse  means  a 
wild  cherry  {Jcerse) ; German,  kirsch. 

Wisdom  and  witt  nowe  is  not  worthe  a kerse.— 
Robert  Langeland,  “ Piers  Ploughman'^ 

Curse  of  Scotland.  The  nine  of 
diamonds.  The  two  most  plausible 
suggestions  are  these  1.  The  nine  of 
diamonds  in  the  game  of  pope  Joan  is 
called  the  pope,  the  antichrist  of  the 
Scotch  reformers.  2.  In  the  game  of 
comette,  introduced  by  queen  Mary,  it  is 
the  great  winning  card,  and  the  game 
was  the  curse  of  Scotland,  because  it 
was  the  ruin  of  so  many  families. 

Other  suggestions  are  these.  3.  The 
word  curse”  is  a corruption  of  cross,  and 
the  nine  fof  diamonds  is  so  arranged  as 
to  form  a St.  Andrew’s  Cross ; but  as  the 
nine  of  hearts  would  do  as  well,  this  ex- 
planation must  be  abandoned.  4.  Some 
say  it  was  the  card  on  which  the 

Butcher  Duke  ” wrote  his  cruel  order 
after  the  battle  of  Collo'den ; but  the 
term  must  have  been  in  vogue  at  the 
period,  as  the  ladies  nicknamed  Justice- 
Clerk  Ormistone  “ The  Nine  of  Dia- 
monds” (1715).  5.  Similarly  we  must 
reject  the  suggestion  that  it  refers  to 
the  arms  of  Dairy mple,  earl  of  Stair — 
viz.,  or,  on  a saltire  azure,  nine  lozenges 
of  the  first.  The  earl  was  justly  held  in 
abhorrence  for  the  massacre  of  Glencoe  ; 
so  also  was  Colonel  Packer,  who  attended 
Charles  I.  on  the  scaffold,  and  had  for 
his  arms  gules  a cross  lozengy  or.” 

Cursing  by  Bell,  Book,  and 
Candle  is  reading  the  anathema  in  the 
church,  and  at  the  close  casting  the  Bible 


on  the  ground,  tolling  the  bell,  and  ex- 
tinguishing all  the  candles,  saying,  ^^Fiat, 
fiat!  Do -to  the  Book;  quench  the 
candles  ; ring  the  bell.  Amen,  amen.” 

Curst.  Curst  cows  have  curt  horns. 
Angry  men  cannot  do  all  the  mischief 
they  wish.  Curst  means  angry”  or 
‘^fierce,”  from  the  Dutch  Jcorsel,  and 
curt  is  short,”  as  in  curt-mantle,  curt- 
hose.  The  Latin  proverb  is  Bat  Beus 
immi'ti  coi^nua  curta  hovV* 

You  are  called  plain  Kate, 

And  bonny  Kate,  and  sometimes  Kate  the  curst. 

Shakespeare,  “ 'I'aming  of  the  Shrew,''  ii.  i. 

Curtail,  To  cut  short.  (French, 
court  tailU,  short  cut.) 

Curtain  Lecture.  The  nagging  of 
a wife  after  her  husband  is  in  bed.  The 
lectures  of  Mrs.  Caudle  in  Punch  are 
first-rate  caricatures  of  these  small 
cattle.” 

Curta'na.  The  sword  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  which  having  no  point, 
was  the  emblem  of  mercy.  The  royal 
sword  of  England  was  so  called  to  the 
reign  of  Henry  III. 

But  when  Curtana  will  not  do  the  deed 
You  lay  the  pointless  clergy- weapon  by, 

And  to  the  laws,  your  sword  of  justice,  fly. 

Dryden,  “ Hind  and  Panther”  pt.  ii. 

Curthose  (2  syl.).  Robert  II.,  duo 
de  Normandie.  (1087-1134.) 

Curtis'e  (2  syl.).  The  little  hound, 
in  the  tale  of  ‘^Reynard  the  Fox.” 
(High  German,  k%trz;  French,  courte, 
short  or  small.) 

Curtmantle.  The  surname  of 
Henry  II.  He  introduced  the  Anjou 
mantle,  which  was  shorter  than  the  robe 
worn  by  his  predecessors.  (1133,  1154- 
1189.) 

Curule  Chair.  Properly,  a chariot 
chair,  an  ornamental  stool  placed  by  the 
Romans  in  a chariot  for  the  chief  magis- 
trate when  he  went  to  attend  the  council. 
As  dictators,  consuls,  praetors,  censors, 
and  the  chief  ediles  occupied  such  a 
chair,  they  were  termed  curule  magis- 
trates or  curu'l'es. 

Curzon  Street  (London).  Named 
after  the  ground  landlord,  George 
Augustus  Curzon,  third  viscount  Howe. 

Cus'tard.  A slap  on  the  hand  with 
a ferula.  The  word  should  be  custid, 
unless  a play  is  meant.  (Latin,  custis,  a 
club  or  stick.) 


204 


CUSTAED. 


CUT. 


Custard  Coffin.  {See  Coffin.) 

Cus'tomer.  A man  or  acquaintance. 
A rum  customer  is  one  better  left  alone, 
as  he  is  likely  to  show  fight  if  interfered 
with.  A shop  term. 

Here  be  many  of  her  old  customers. 

Shakespeare,  “ Measure  for  Measure’*  vv.  3. 

Custos  Rotulo'rum  (keeper  of  the 
rolls).  The  chief  civil  officer  of  a county, 
to  whose  custody  are  committed  the 
records  or  rolls  of  the  sessions. 

Cut.  To  renounce  acquaintance.  There 
are  four  sorts  of  cut — 

(1.)  The  cut  direct y which  is  to  start 
direct  across  the  road  when  the  ob- 
noxious person  draws  near. 

(2.)  The  cut  indirect y to  look  another 
way,  and  pretend  not  to  see  him. 

(3.)  The  cut  sublimCy  to  admire  the  top 
of  some  tall  edifice  or  the  clouds  of 
heaven  till  the  person  cut  has  passed  by. 

(4. ) The  cut  infernal,  to  stoop  and  adjust 
your  boots  till  the  party  has  gone  past. 

There  is  a very  remarkable  Scripture 
illustration  of  the  word  cut,  meaning 
to  renounce  : Jehovah  took  a staff 

and  cut  it  asunder,  in  token  that  he 
would  break  his  covenant  with  his  people  ; 
and  he  cut  another  staff  asunder,  in  token 
that  he  would  break  the  brotherhood  of 
Judah  and  Israel.  (Zech.  xi.  7 — 14.) 

He  has  cut  his  eye-teeth.  He  is  wide 
awake,  he  is  a knowing  one.  The  eye- 
teeth are  the  canine  teeth,  just  under 
the  eyes,  and  the  phrase  means  he  can 
bite  as  well  as  bark.  Of  course,  the  play 
is  on  the  word  “ eye,”  and  those  who 
have  cut  their  eye-teeth  are  wide  awake. 

Cut  your  wisdom  teeth.  Wisdom  teeth 
are  those  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  jaws, 
which  do  not  make  their  appearance  till 
persons  have  come  to  years  of  discretion. 
When  persons  say  or  do  silly  things,  the 
remark  is  made  to  them  that  they  have 
not  yet  cut  their  wisdom  teeth,”  or 
reached  the  years  of  discretion. 

Cut  the  knot.  Break  through  an 
obstacle.  The  reference  is  to  the  Gor- 
dian knot  {q.v.)  shown  to  Alexander, 
with  the  assurance  that  whoever  loosed 
it  would  be  made  ruler  of  all  Asia ; 
whereupon  the  Macedonian  cut  it  in  two 
with  his  sword,  and  claimed  to  have  ful- 
filled the  prophecy. 

1 must  cut  my  stick — i.e.,  leave.  The 
Irish  usually  cut  a shill elah  before  they 
start  on  an  expedition.  Punch  gives  the 


following  witty  derivation  : — Pilgrims 
on  leaving  the  Holy  Land  used  to  cut  a 
palm  stick,  to  prove  that  they  had  really 
been  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  So  brother 
Francis  would  say  to  brother  Paul, 
^ Where  is  brother  Benedict  ? ’ ^ Oh 

(says  Paul),  he  has  cut  his  stick  ! ^ — i.e., 
he  is  on  his  way  home.”  (<SfgeCuT.) 

ril  cut  your  comb  for  you.  Take 
your  conceit  down.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  practice  of  cutting  the  combs  of 
capons. 

He'll  cut  u'p  well.  He  is  rich,  and  his 
property  will  cut  into  good  slices. 

Cut  a Dash.  Make  a show.  Cut  is 
the  French  couper,  better  seen  in  the 
noun  coup,  as  a grand  coup,  a coujp  de 
maitre  {a  masterly  stroke),  so  to  cut” 
means  to  make  a masterly  coup,  to  do 
something  to  be  looked  at  and  talked 
about.  Dashing  means  striking  — i.e., 
showy,  as  a ‘^dashing  fellow,”  a dash- 
ing equipage.”  To  cut  a dash,  is  to  get 
one’s-self  looked  at  and  talked  about  for 
a showy  or  striking  appearance. 

Cut  and  Dry.  Already  prepared. 

He  had  a speech  all  cut  and  dry.”  The 
allusion  is  to  timber  cut,  dry,  and  fit  for 
use. 

Cut  Away.  Be  off  at  once.  This  is  a 
French  phrase,  couper  (cut  away) — i.e.,  to 
break  through  the  enemy’s  ranks  by 
cutting  them  down  with  your  swords. 

Cut  it  Short.  {See  Audley.) 

Cut  of  his  Jib.  The  contour  or  ex- 
pression of  his  face.  This  is  a sailor’s 
phrase.  The  cut  of  a jib  or  foresail  of  a 
ship  indicates  her  character.  Thus,  a 
sailor  says  of  a suspicious  vessel,  he 
“ does  not  like  the  cut  of  her  jib.” 

Cut  Out.  He  is  cut  out  for  a sailor. 
Has  natural  propensities  suited  for  the 
vocation.  The  allusion  is  to  cutting  out 
cloth,  &c.,  for  specific  purposes. 

I mean  to  cut  him  out.  To  excel 
him,  to  carry  off  the  prize  he  is  aiming 
at.  A sea-phrase,  taken  from  cutting 
out  a ship  from  the  enemy’s  port. 

Cut  Short  is  to  shorten.  ^^Cut 
short  all  intermission  ” (‘^ Macbeth,”  iv. 
3).  To  cut  it  short  means  to  bring  to  an 
end  what  you  are  doing  or  saying. 

His  life  was  cut  short.  He  died  pre- 
maturely. The  allusion  is  to  At'ropos, 
one  of  the  three  Parcse,  cutting  the 
thread  of  life  spun  by  her  sister  Clo'tho. 


CUTPURSE. 


CYCLOPEAN. 


205 


Cutpurse.  Now  called  pickpocket.” 
The  two  words  are  of  historical  value. 
When  purses  were  worn  suspended  from  a 
girdle,  thieves  cut  the  string  by  which 
the  purse  was  attached ; but  when 
pockets  were  adopted,  and  purses  were 
no  longer  hung  on  the  girdle,  the  thief 
was  no  longer  a cut-purse,  but  became  a 
pickpocket. 

To  have  an  open  ear,  a quick  eye,  and  a nimble 
hand,  is  necessary  for  a cut-purse.  — Shakespeare^ 
“ Winter's  Tale”  iv.  3. 

Moll  Cut20urse.  Mary  Frith,  the  heroine 
of  Middleton’s  comedy  called  ‘^The 
Roaring  Girl.”  {See  Moll.) 

Cuthbert.  St.Cuthierfsheads.  Joints 
of  the  articulated  stems  of  encrinites, 
used  for  rosaries.  St.  Cuthbert  was  a 
Scotch  monk  of  the  sixth  century,  and 
may  be  termed  the  St.  Patrick  of  Great 
Britain.  He  is  said  to  sit  at  night  on  a 
rock  in  Holy  Island,  and  to  use  the  oppo- 
site rock  as  his  anvil  while  he  forges  the 
en'trochites  {en' -tro-kites),  {See  Bead.) 

On  a rock  of  Lindisfarn 
St.  Cuthbert  sits,  and  toils  to  frame 
The  sea-born  beads  that  bear  his  name. 

Scott,  “ Marmion. 

St.  Cuthbert* s Stane.  A granite  rock  in 
Cumberland. 

St.  Cuthbert* s Well.  A spring  of  water 
■xjlose  by  St.  Cuthbert’s  stane. 

Cuthbert  Bede.  A nom  de  xolume 
of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bradley,  author  of 

Verdant  Green.” 

Cutler’s  Poetry.  Mere  jingles  or 
rhymes.  Knives  had,  at  one  time,  a 
distich  inscribed  on  the  blade  by  means 
of  aqua  fortis. 

Whose  posy  was. 

For  all  the  world,  like  cutler’s  poetry 
Upon  a knife. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merchant  of  Venice*'  v.  1. 

Cutting  off  with  a Shilling.  The 
Romans  used  to  set  aside  testaments  if 
they  passed  over  natural  offspring  with- 
out mention  ; but  if  any  legacy  was  left, 
it  was  proof  that  the  testator  did  what 
was  done  purposely.  From  this  arose 
the  notion  that  it  is  necessary,  for  a testa- 
ment to  be  valid,  to  leave  the  heir  a 
shilling  at  least. 

Cuttle.  Ca]}tai7i  Cuttle.  An  eccen- 
tric, kind-hearted  sailor,  simple  as  a ; 
child,  credulous  of  every  tale,  and  gene-  | 
rous  as  the  sun.  He  is  immortalised  by 


the  motto  selected  by  Notes  and 
Queries,”  When  found  make  a note  of.” 
— Dickens,  Dombey  and  Son.** 

Unfortunately,  I neglected  Captain  Cuttle’s  advice, 
and  am  now  unable  to  find  it.— W.  H.  Husk,  “ JVotes 
and  Queries." 

Cutty  Pipe.  A short  clay  pipe. 
Scotch,  cutty  (short),  as  cutty  spoons, 
cutty  sark,  a cutty  (little  girl),  &c.,  a 
cutty  gun. 

Cuve'ra  (3  syl.).  The  Indian  Plutus. 

Cwt.  is  C wt. — i.e.,  C.  centum,  wt. 
weight,  meaning  hundred-weight. 

Cy'cle.  A period  or  series  of  events 
or  numbers  which  recur  everlastingly  in 
precisely  the  same  order. 

Cycle  of  the  moon,  called  Meton’s 
Cycle,”  from  Meton,  who  discovered  it,  is 
a period  of  nineteen  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  the  phases  of  the 
moon  repeat  themselves  on  the  same 
identical  days  as  they  did  nineteen  years 
previously. 

Cycle  of  the  sun.  A period  of  twenty- 
eight  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  the  Sunday  letters  recur  and  pro- 
ceed in  the  same  order  as  they  did 
twenty-eight  years  previously. 

The  Platonic  cycle  or  great  year 
is  that  space  of  time  which  elapses 
before  all  the  stars  and  constellations  re- 
turn to  any  given  state.  Tycho  Brahe 
calculated  this  period  at  25,816  years, 
and  Riccioli  at  25,920. 

Cyclic  Poets.  Inferior  epic  poets. 
On  the  death  of  Homer  a host  of  minstrels 
caught  the  contagion  of  his  poems,  and 
wrote  continuations,  illustrations,  or 
additions  thereto.  These  poets  were 
called  cyclic  because  they  confined  them- 
selves to  the  cycle  of  the  Trojan  war. 
The  chief  were  Strasi'nos,  Arcti'nos, 
Les'ches,  (Ae5-^'ey5),  Ag'ias,  and  Eu'gamon. 

Cyclo'pean.  Huge,  massive,  like  the 
Cyclops  of  classic  mythology. 

Cyclop 88 'dia.  The  living  cyclopccdia. 
Longi'nus,  so  called  for  his  extensive  in- 
formation. (213-273.) 

Cyclo'pean  Masonry.  Generally 
applied  to  the  old  Pelasgic  ruins  of 
Greece,  such  as  the  Gallery  of  Tilyns, 
the  Gate  of  Lions,  the  Treasury  of 
Athens,  and  the  Tombs  of  Phoro'neus 
and  Dan'aos.  They  are  said  to  have 
been  the  work  of  the  cyclops  {q.v.). 


/ 


206  CYCLOPS. 


CYPEESS. 


Cyclops.  Giants  with  only  one  eye, 
and  that  in  the  centre  of  their  forehead, 
whose  business  it  was  to  forge  iron  for 
Vulcan.  They  were  probably  Pelasgians, 
who  worked  in  quarries,  and  attached  a 
lantern  to  their  forehead  to  give  them 
light  underground.  The  lantern  was 
their  one  eye  as  l)ig  as  the  full  moon, 
(Greek,  ^^circular-eye.”)  {See  Arimas- 
PIANS.) 

Roused  with  the  sound,  the  mighty  family 

Of  one-eyed  brothers  hasten  to  the  shore, 

And  gather  round  the  bellowing  Polypheme. 

Addison,  *‘31ilto)i  Imitated." 

Cyll'aros,  according  to  Virgil,  was 
the  celebrated  horse  of  Pollux  Geor.,” 
iii.  90),  but  according  to  Ovid  it  was  Cas- 
tor’s steed  (‘‘Met.,”  xii.  408). 

He,  0 Cnstor,  was  a courser  worthy  thee  . . . 

Coal-black  his  colour,  but  like  jet  it  shone ; 

His  legs  and  flowing  tail  were  white  alone. 

Drijden,  “ Ovid's  Metamorphose,"  xii. 

Cyllo.  One  of  the  dogs  of  Actseon. 
It  means  “halt”  or  “lame.”  (fe Coran.) 

Cyllop'otes  (4  syl. ).  One  of  Actseon’s 
dogs.  It  means  “lame  in  flight.” 

Cymocllles.  A man  of  prodigious 
might,  brother  of  Pyrochfles,  son  of 
Malice  (Acra'tes)  and  Despite,  and 
husband  of  Acra'sia,  the  enchantress. 
He  sets  out  to  encounter  Sir  Guyon,  but 
is  ferried  over  the  Idle  Lake  by  Wanton- 
ness (Phse'dria),  and  forgets  himself  in 
self-indulgence ; he  is  slain  by  king 
Arthur  (canto  viii.).  The  word  is  com- 
pounded of  the  Greek  kumakleos,  and 
means,  “ one  who  seeks  glory  in  trou- 
bles.”— Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen  f ii.  5. 

Cynae'geros.  It  is  said  that  when 
the  Persians  were  pushing  off  from  shore 
after  the  battle  of  Mar'athon,  Cynsegeros, 
the  brother  of  ^schylos,  the  poet,  seized 
one  of  their  ships  with  his  right  hand, 
which  was  instantly  lopped  off ; he  then 
grasped  it  with  his  left,  which  was  cut 
off  also  ; lastly,  he  seized  hold  of  it  with 
his  teeth,  and  lost  his  head. 

Cynic.  A snarling,  churlish  person, 
like  a cynic.  The  cynics  were  so  called 
because  AntisThenes  held  his  school  in 
the  gymnasium  called  Cynosar'ges,  set 
apart  for  those  who  were  not  of  pure 
Athenian  blood.  Cynosarges  means  ivhite 
dog,  and  was  so  called  because  a white  dog 
once  carried  away  part  of  a victim  which 
Diome'os  wa,s  offering  to  Plercules.  The 


sect  was  often  called  the  Dog-sect ; and 
the  effigy  over  Diogenes’  pillar  was  a dog, 
with  this  inscription  : — 

” Say  dog,  I pray,  what  guard  you  in  that  tomb  ?” 

“ A dog. “ His  name  ? ” Diogenes.”— “ Prom 

far?” 

“Sino'pe.”— “ What ! who  made  a tub  his  home  ?” 

“ The  same ; now  dead,  amougst  the  stars  a star.” 

Cynics.  The  chief  were  Antis'thenes 
of  Athens  (the  founder),  Diogenes, 
Onesic'ritos,  Mon'imos,  Cra'tes  ai-k§^  his 
wife  Hippar'chia,  Metroc'les,  Menip'pos, 
and  Menede'mos  the  madman. 

Cy'nosure  (3  syl.).  The  polar  star, 
the  observed  of  all  observers.  Greek  for 
dog's  tail,  and  applied  to  the  constellation 
called  Ursa  Minor.  As  seamen  guide 
their  ships  by  the  north  star,  and  observe 
it  well,  the  word  “cynosure”  is  used  for 
whatever  attracts  attention,  as  “The 
cynosure  of  neighbouring  eyes”  {Milton) j 
especially  for  guidance  in  some  doubtful 
matter,  as— 

Richmond  was  the  cynosure  on  which  all  northern 
eyes  were  fixed  (in  the  American  war).— Times. 

Cyn'tliia.  The  moon  ; a surname  of 
Ar'temis  or  Diana.  The  Eoman  Diana, 
who  represented  the  moon,  was  called 
Cynthia  from  mount  Cynthus,  where  she 
was  born. 

And  from  embattled  clouds  emerging  slow 

Cynthia  came  riding  on  her  silver  car. 

Beattie,  “ Minstrel." 

Cynthia.  Pope,  speaking  of  the  in- 
constant character  of  woman,  “matter 
too  soft  a lasting  mark  to  bear,”  says— 

Come  then,  the  colours  and  the  ground  prepare  ! 

Dip  in  the  rainbow,  trick  her  off  in  air ; 

Choose  a firm  cloud,  before  it  fall,  and  in  it 

Catch,  ere  she  change,  the  Cynthia  of  the  minute. 

Bpistleii.  17— 2U. 

Cypress  {The)  is  a funeral  tree,  and 
was  dedicated  by  the  Eomans  to  Pluto, 
because  when  once  cut  it  never  grows 
again. 

Cypresse  garlands  are  of  great  account  at  funeralls 
amongst  the  gentiler  sort,  but  rosemary  and  bayes 
are  used  by  the  commons  both  at  funeralls  and  wed- 
dings. They  are  plants  which  fade  not  a good  while 
after  they  are  gathered  . . . and  intimate  that  the 
remembrance  of  the  present  solemnity  might  not  dye 
presently.— C'oZes,  Introduction  to  the  Knowledge  o/ 
Plants." 

The  magic  cypress  hranch.  In  the  opera 
of  “Eoberto  il  Diav'olo,”  after  the 
“ dance  of  love,”  in  which  Hel'ena 
seduces  the  duke,  he  removes  the  cypress 
branch,  which  has  the  power  of  imparting 
to  him  whatever  he  wishes.  With  this 
he  enters  the  palace  of  Isabella,  princess 
of  Sicily,  and  transfixes  the  princess  and 
her  attendants  in  a magic  sleep,  but  after- 


CYPKIAN. 


DAFFODIL. 


207 


wards  repenting,  breaks  the  branch,  and 
is  dragged  away  by  the  guards. 

Cyp'rian.  A woman  of  loose  morals. 
So  called  from  the  island  Cyprus,  one  of 
the  chief  seats  of  the  worship  of  Venus, 
hence  called  Cyp'ria. 

Cyp'rios.  One  of  Actseon’s  dogs.  It 
means  the  dog  from  Cyprus.  {See  Cyl- 
LOPOTES.) 

Cyp'riotes(3  syl.).  Natives  of  the 
isle  of  Cyprus. 

Cs^ena'ic  School.  Founded  by 
Aristippos  of  Cyre'ne,  in  Africa.  The 
chief  dogma  of  this  philosopher  was  that 
pleasure  and  pain  are  the  criterions  of 
what  is  good  and  bad. 

Cyre'nians.  Philosophers  of  a 
school  foimded  by  Aristip'pos  at  Cyrene, 
a Grecian  colony  on  the  northern  coast 
of  Africa.  They  were  an  offshoot  of 
the  Epicure'ans. 

Cyrus  is  no  proper  name,  but  a title. 
His  name  was  Kobad,  but  when  he 
ascended  the  Persian  throne  he  assumed 
the  royal  title  of  hai  (mighty),  and  was 
called  Kai- Kobad.  His  son  who  succeeded 
him  was  Kai-Kaus,  and  his  grandson  Kai- 
Khosru  (JJyrus  the  Great). 

CyzeTiis.  The  infamous  daughter  of 
Diomed,  who  killed  every  one  that  fell 
into  her  clutches,  and  made  fathers  eat 
their  own  children. 


D 

D.  This  letter  is  the  outline  of  a rude 
archway  or  door.  It  is  called  in  Hebrew 
daleth  (a  door). 

D or  d,  indicating  a penny  or 
pence,  is  the  initial  letter  of  the  Latin 
dena'riusy  a silver  coin  equal  to  8Jd. 
during  the  commonwealth  of  Pome,  but 
in  the  Middle  Ages  about  equivalent  to 
our  penny.  The  word  was  used  by  the 
Pomans  for  money  in  general. 

D stands  for  .500,  which  is  half  , a 
form  of  m or  m,  which  stands  for  mille. 

D stands  for  5,000. 

D.O.M.  DatiLT  omfi'nilus  mori  (It  is 
allotted  to  all  to  die). 

D.T.  Delirium  tremens.  So  called  by 
the  ‘‘  india-going  people.’^ 


They  get  a look,  after  a touch  of  D.T.,  which 
nothing  else,  that  I know  of,  can  give  them,— 

Tale. 

Da  Capo  (pron.  car-po)  or  D.C. 
From  the  beginning,  that  is,  finish  with  a 
repetition  of  the  first  strain.  A term  in 
music.  {Italian. ) 

Dab.  Clever,  skilled;  as  ‘^a  dab- 
hand  at  it ; a corrupt  contraction  of  the 
Latin  ade^tus  (an  adept).  Aj^t  is  another 
form. 

An  Eton  stripling,  training  for  the  law, 

A dunce  at  learning,  but  a dab  at  taw  (marbles). 

Anon.,  '‘Logic;  or,  the  Biter 

Daba'ira.  An  idol  of  the  savages  of 
Pan'ama',  to  whose  honour  slaves  are 
burnt  to  death.  {American  mythology.') 

Dab'bat  {the  Beast).  The  Beast  of 
the  Apocalypse,  which  the  Mahom.etans 
say  will  appear  with  Antichrist,  called  by 
dag'gial.  (Pev.  xix.  19;  xx.  10.) 

Dabble.  To  dahhle  in  the  funds ; to 
dabble  in  'politics — i.e.,  to  do  something 
in  them  in  a small  way.  (Dutch,  dabbeleiij 
our  dip  and  tap.) 

Dab'cbick.  A small  water-fowl. 
Dab  is  a corruption  of  dap,  the  old 
participle  of  dip,  and  chick  (any  young 
or  small  fowl),  literally  the  dipping  or 
diving  chick. 

DabTs.  A colossal  idol  of  brass 
worshipped  in  Japan. 

Dad  or  Daddy.  Father.  The  per- 
son who  acts  as  father  at  a wedding ; a 
stage-manager.  The  superintendent  of 
a casual  ward  is  termed  by  the  inmates 
^^Old  Daddy.” — A Night  in  a Work- 
house,  by  an  Amateur  Casual  (J.  Green~ 
loood). 

In  the  Fortunes  of  Nigel  ” by  Sir  W. 
Scott,  Steenie,  duke  of  Buckingham, 
calls  king  James  My  dear  dad  and 
gossip.”  (Welsh,  tad ; Irish,  taid,  an- 
cient ; Sanskrit,  tada ; Hindu,  dada. ) 

D^'dalos.  A Greek  who  formed  the 
Cretan  labyrinth,  and  made  for  himself 
wings,  by  means  of  which  he  liew  from 
Crete  across  the  Archipel'ago.  He  is  said 
to  have  invented  the  saw,  the  axe,  the 
gimlet,  and  other  carpenter’s  tools. 

DaTfodil.  A corruption  of  asphodel 
(French,  d'aspodUe).  It  was  once  called 
affadil. 

And  the  roses,  and  the  posies,  and  the  daffy-down- 
a-dillies.— GVowes  of  Blarney. 

Flour  of  daffodil  is  a cure  for  madness.— Jl/ed.  US. 
Lincoln  Cathedral,  f.  '282. 


/ 


2^8  BAG. 


BAIRI. 


Dag  (day).  Son  of  Natt  or  night. 
(Scandinavian  mythology.) 

Dagger  or  Long  Cross  (f),  used  for 
reference  to  a note  after  the  asterisk  (*), 
is  a Roman  Catholic  character,  originally- 
employed  in  church  books,  prayers  of 
exorcism,  at  benedictions,  and  so  on,  to 
remind  the  priest  where  to  make  the 
sign  of  the  cross.  This  sign  is  sometimes 
called  an  obelisk,  that  is,  “a  spit.” 
(Greek,  oVelos,  a spit.) 

Dagger,  in  the  city  arms  of  London, 
commemorates  Sir  William  Walworth’s 
dagger,  with  which  he  slew  Wat  Tyler 
in  1381.  Before  this  time  the  cogni- 
zance of  the  city  was  the  sword  of  St. 
Paul. 

Brave  Walworth,  knight,  lord  mayor,  that  slew 
Rebellious  Tyler  in  his  alarmes ; 

The  king,  therefore,  did  give  him  in  lieu 
The  daggpr  to  the  city  armes. 

FouHh  year  of  Richard  11.  (1381),  Fishmongers'  Hall. 

Dagger-ale  is  the  ale  of  the 
‘^Dagger,”  a celebrated  ordinary  in 
Holborn. 

My  lawyer’s  clerk  I lighted  on  last  night 
In  Holborn,  at  the  “ Dagger.” 

JBen  Jonson,  “ The  Alchemist.'' 

Daggle  - tail  or  Draggle-tail.  A 
slovenly  woman,  the  bottom  of  whose 
dress  trails  in  the  dirt.  Dag  (Saxon) 
means  loose  ends,  mire  or  dirt ; whence 
dag-lochs,  the  soiled  locks  of  a sheep’s 
fleece,  and  dag-wool,  refuse  wool. 

Dagobert.  King  Dagobert  and  St. 
Gloi.  There  is  a French  song  very 
popular  with  this  title.  St.  Gloi  tells 
the  king  his  coat  has  a hole  in  it,  and  the 
king  replies,  C’est  vrai,  le  tien  est  bon  ; 
prete-le  moi.”  Next  the  saint  complains 
of  the  king’s  stockings,  and  Dagobert 
makes  the  same  answer.  Then  of  his 
wig  and  cloak ; to  which  the  same 
answer  is  returned.  After  seventeen 
complaints,  St.  Gloi  said,  ‘^My  king, 
death  is  at  hand,  and  it  is  time  to  con- 
fess,” when  the  king  replied,  “Why  can’t 
you  confess,  and  die  instead  of  me  ? ” 

Da'gon  (fish-god ; Hebrew,  dag,  a 
fish).  The  idol  of  the  Philistines;  half 
woman  and  half  fish.  (See  Atergata.) 

Dagon  his  name ; sea-monster,  upward  man 

And  downward  fish  ; yet  had  his  temple  high 

Rear’d  in  Azo'tus,  dreaded  through  the  coast 

Of  Palestine,  in  Gath  and  As'calon, 

And  Accaron  and  Gaza’s  frontier  bounds. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,"  bk.  i.  462. 

Dag'onet  (Sir).  In  the  romance  “ La 
Mort  d’Arthure  ” he  is  called  the  fool  of  | 


king  Arthur,  but  in  Mallory’s  “Morte 
d’ Arthur  ” he  is  termed  his  squire. 

I remember  at  Mile-End  Green,  when  I lay  at 
Clement’s  Inn.  I was  then  Sir  Dagonet  in  Arthur’s 
show  (Justice  Shallow).—^'  2 Henry  IV.,"  iii.  3. 

Daguer'reotype  (4  syl.).  A photo- 
graphic process.  So  named  from  M. 
Daguerre,  who  greatly  improved  it  in 
1839. 

Da'gun.  A god  worshipped  in  Pegu. 
When  Kiak'iak  destroyed  the  world, 
Dagun  reconstructed  it.  {Indian  mytho- 
logy.) 

Dabak.  The  Satan  of  Persia.  Ac- 
cording to  Persian  mythology,  the  ages 
of  the  world  are  divided  into  periods  of 
1,000  years.  When  the  cycle  of  “ chil- 
isms  ” (1,000  year  periods)  is  complete, 
the  reign  of  Ormuzd  will  begin,  and  men 
will  be  all  good  and  all  happy ; but  this 
event  will  be  preceded  by  the  loosing  of 
Dahak,  who  will  break  his  chain  and 
fall  upon  the  world,  and  bring  on  man  the 
most  dreadful  calamities.  Two  prophets 
will  appear  to  cheer  the  oppressed,  and 
announce  the  advent  of  Ormuzd. 

Dablia.  A flower.  So  called  from 
Andrew  Dahl,  the  Swedish  botanist. 

DaPboth  (3  syl.).  A Japanese  idol  of 
colossal  size.  Each  of  her  hands  is  full 
of  hands.  (Japanese  mythology .) 

Dai'koku  (4  syl.).  The  god  invoked 
specially  by  the  artisans  of  Japan.  He 
sits  on  a ball  of  rice,  holding  a hammer 
in  his  hand,  with  which  he  beats  a sack  ; 
and  every  time  he  does  so  the  sack  be- 
comes full  of  silver,  rice,  cloth,  and  other 
useful  articles.  (Japanese  mythology.) 

Da’i'mio.  The  264  feudal  lords  of 
Japan,  eighteen  of  which  are  independent 
in  their  own  dominions.  The  temporary 
sovereign  is  called  the  T^moon. 

DaimonogPni  (6  syl.).  A deity 
greatly  venerated  in  Japan. 

Dai'niz-no-Hai.  The  Japanese 
sun-god. 

Dainty,  strictly  speaking,  means 
a venison  pasty,  from  the  French,  dain 
(a  deer),  whence  the  Old  French,  dain 
(delicate,  nice).  I do  not  think  it  means 
something  toothsome,  as  if  from  dens; 
Welsh,  dant ; French,  dent. 

Dai'ri  (3  syl.).  Chief  pontiff  of  the 
Japanese,  also  called  Ten-Sin  (son  of 
heaven.) 


DAIRY. 


DAME. 


209 


Dairy.  The  tiCj  or  dominion  of  a 
dey—i.e.j  a farm-woman. 

The  dey  or  farm-woman  entered  with  her  pitchers, 
to  deliver  the  milk  for  the  family.— ^co«,  “ Fair  Maid 
of  Perth’*  c.  xxxii. 

Da'is.  The  raised  floor  at  the  head 
of  a dining-room,  designed  for  guests  of 
distinction  (French,  dais,  a canopy).  So 
called  because  it  used  to  be  decorated 
with  a canopy.  The  proverb  Sous  le 
dais”  means  “in  the  midst  of  grandeur.” 

Dai'sy.  Ophelia  gives  the  queen  a 
daisy  to  signify  “thsit  her  light  and 
fickle  love  ought  not  to  expect  constancy 
in  her  husband.”  So  the  daisy  is  ex- 
plained by  Greene  to  mean  a Quip  for  an 
ujystart  courtier. 

The  word  is  Dafs  eye,  and  the  flower 
is  so  called  because  it  closes  its  pinky 
lashes  and  goes  to  sleep  when  the  sun 
sets,  but  in  the  morning  it  expands  its 
petals  to  the  light.  {See  Violet.) 

Daisy-roots,  like  dwarf- elder  berries, 
are  said  to  stunt  the  growth ; hence  the 
fairy  Milkah  fed  her  royal  foster-child 
on  this  food,  that  his  standard  might  not 
exceed  that  of  a pigmy.  This  super- 
stition arose  from  the  notion  that  every- 
thing had  the  property  of  bestowing  its 
own  speciality  on  others.  (See  Fern 
Seed.) 

She  robbed  dwarf-elders  of  their  fragrant  fruit, 

And  fed  him  early  with  the  daisy  root. 

Whence  through  his  veins  the  powerful  juices  ran, 

And  formed  the  beauteous  miniature  of  man. 

TicJcell,  “ Kensington  Gardens*' 

Dai'tyas.  The  demons  of  Hindu 
mythology. 

Dak'sHa,  in  Hindu  mythology,  is  a 
priest  to  whom  Siva  gave  a ram’s  head, 
out  of  revenge,  because  he  did  not  invite 
the  god  to  his  grand  sacrifice. 

Dala'i-Lama  (grand  lamai).  Chief 
of  the  Tartar  priests — a sort  of  living 
deity. 

DaFdah.  Mahomet’s  favourite  white 
mule. 

Dalgar'no  (Lord).  A heartless  profli- 
gate in  Scott’s  “ Fortunes  of  Nigel.” 

Dalget'ty  (Dugald).  Jeffrey  calls 
him  “a  compound  of  captain  Fluellen 
and  Bob'adil,”  but  this  is  scarcely  just. 
Without  doubt,  he  has  all  the  pedantry 
and  conceit  of  the  former,  and  all  the 
vulgar  assurance  of  the  latter ; but, 
unlike  Bobadil,  he  is  a man  of  real 
courage,  and  wholly  trustworthy  to  those 


who  pay  him  for  the  service  of  his  sword, 
which,  like  a thrifty  mercenary,  he  lets 
out  to  the  highest  bidder.—  Scott,  “Legen\ 
of  Montrose.” 

Neither  Schiller,  Strada,  Thuanus,  Monroe,  nor 
Dugald  Dalgetty  makes  any  mention  of  it— Carlyle. 

Dalmatlea  or  Dalmatic.  A white 
robe,  open  in  front,  reaching  to  the 
knees ; worn  at  one  time  by  deacons 
over  the  alb  or  stole,  when  the  Eucharist 
was  administered.  It  is  in  imitation  of 
the  regal  vest  of  Dalma'tia,  and  was 
imported  into  Rome  by  the  emperor 
Com'modus.  A similar  robe  was  worn 
by  kings,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  at  corona- 
tions and  other  great  solemnities,  to 
remind  them  of  their  duty  of  bountiful- 
ness to  the  poor.  The  right  sleeve  was 
plain  and  full,  but  the  left  was  fringed 
and  tasselled.  Deacons  had  broader 
sleeves  than  sub- deacons,  to  indicate 
their  duty  to  larger  generosity ; for  a 
similar  reason,  the  sleeves  of  a bishop 
are  larger  than  those  of  a priest.  The 
two  stripes  before  and  behind  were  to 
show  that  the  wearer  should  exercise  his 
charity  to  all. 

Dam'age.  Whals  the  damage  ? What 
have  I to  pay  ? how  much  is  the  bill  ? 
The  allusion  is  to  the  law  assessing 
damages  in  remuneration  to  the  plaintiff. 

Dam'ask  Linen.  So  called  from 
Damascus,  where  it  was  originally  manu- 
factured. 

Damaskeening.  Producing  upon 
steel  a blue  tinge  and  ornamental  figures, 
sometimes  inlaid  with  gold  and  silver, 
as  in  Damascus  blades.  So  called  from 
Damascus,  which  was  celebrated  in  the 
Middle  Ages  for  this  class  of  ornamental 
art. 

Dambe'a  or  Demhe'a.  A lake  in 
Gojam,  Abyssinia,  the  source  of  the 
Blue  Nile.  Captain  Speke  traced  the 
White  Nile  to  lake  Victoria  N’Yanza, 
which,  no  doubt,  is  fed  by  the  Mountains 
of  the  Moon. 

He  {the  Nile)  thro’  the  lucid  lake 
Of  fair  Dambea  rolls  his  infant  stream. 

Thomson,  “ Summer** 

Dame  du  Lac.  A fay,  named 
Vivienne,  who  plunged  with  the  infant 
Lancelot  into  a lake.  This  lake  was  a 
kind  of  mirage,  concealing  the  demesnes 
of  the  lady  en  la  marche  de  la  petite 
Bretaigne.”  (See  Vivienne.) 

En  ce  lieu  . . . avoifc  la  dame  moult  do  belles 
maisons  et  moult  riches ; et  au  plain  dessouhs'elle 
av’oit  une  gente  petite  riviere. 


0 


/ 


210  DAMOCLES. 


DANAIDES. 


In  the  romance  called  Perceforest  ” 
there  is  another  dame  du  Lac,  named 
Sebille  (2  syl.)  {q.v.). 

Dam'ocles’  Sword.  Evil  foreboded 
or  dreaded.  Dam'ocles,  the  sycophant 
of  Dionysius  the  elder,  of  Syracuse,  was 
invited  by  the  tyrant  to  try  the  felicity 
he  so  much  envied.  Accordingly,  he 
was  set  down  to  a sumptuous  banquet, 
but  overhead  was  a sword  suspended  by 
a hair.  Damocles  was  afraid  to  stir,  and 
the  banquet  was  a tantalising  torment  to 
him. — Cicero. 

These  fears  hang  like  Damocles’  sword  over  every 
feast,  and  make  enjoyment  impossible.— C’/iam&ers, 

Cyclopcedia.’^ 

Damoetas.  A poetical  term  for  a 
herdsman.  Theoc'ritos  and  Virgil  use  the 
name  for  a herdsman  in  their  pastorals. 

And  old  Damoctas  loved  to  hear  our  song. 

Milton,  *'Lycidas” 

Da'mon  and  Musido'ra.  Two 
lovers  in  Thomson’s  “ Summer.”  The 
tale  is  that  Musido'ra  loved  Damon,  but 
was  coy,  and  Damon  feared  her  coyness 
was  disdain  ; but  one  day  he  caught  her 
bathing,  and  his  delicacy  upon  the  occa- 
sion so  won  upon  the  damsel,  that  she  at 
once  accepted  his  proffered  love. 

Da'mon  and  Pythias.  Insepar- 
able friends.  They  were  two  Syracu'sian 
youths.  Damon  being  condemned  to 
death  by  Dionysius  the  tyrant,  begged 
leave  to  go  home  to  arrange  his  affairs, 
and  Pythias  became  his  security.  Damon 
being  delayed,  Pythias  was  led  to  exe- 
cution, but  his  friend  arrived  in  time  to 
save  him.  Dionysius  was  so  struck  with 
this  honourable  friendship,  that  he  par- 
doned both  of  them. 

Dam'sel.  {See  Domisellus.) 

Dam'son.  A corruption  of  Damas- 
cene, a fruit  from  Damascus. 

Pani'yan  (3  syl.).  A ^^silke  squyer,” 
whose  illicit  love  was  accepted  by  May, 
the  youthful  bride  of  January,  a Lom- 
bard knight,  sixty  years  old.— Chaucer, 
**  The  Marchaundes  Tale.” 

Dan.  A title  of  honour,  common 
with  the  old  poets,  as  Dan  Phoebus,  Dan 
Cupid,  Dan  Neptune,  Dan  Chaucer,  &c. 
(Spanish,  don;  Armenian,  dauna.) 

From  Dan  to  Beei'she'ba.  From  one  end 
of  the  kingdom  to  the  other;  all  over 
the  world  ; everywhere.  The  phrase  is 
scriptural,  Dan  being  the  most  northern 
and  Beersheba  the  most  southern  city  of 
the  Holy  Land.  We  have  a similar  ex- 


pression, '^From  John  o’  Groats  to  the 
Land’s  End.” 

Dan  Tucker.  Out  o’  de  way,  old 
Dan  TucJcer.  The  first  governor  of  Ber- 
mu'da  was  Mr.  Moore,  who  was  succeeded 
by  captain  Daniel  Tucker.  These  islands 
were  colonised  from  Virginia. 

Dan'ace  (3  syl.).  The  coin  placed 
by  the  Greeks  in  the  mouth  of  the  dead 
to  pay  their  passage  across  the  ferry  of 
the  Lower  World. 

Dan'ae.  An  Argive  princess  whom 
Zeus  (Jupiter)  seduced  under  the  form 
of  a shower  of  gold,  while  she  was  con- 
fined in  an  inaccessible  tower. 

Dana'ides  (4  syl.).  Daughters  of 
Dan'aos  (king  of  Argos).  They  were 
fifty  in  number,  and  married  the  fifty 
sons  of  -^gyptos.  They  all  but  one 
murdered  their  husbands  on  their  wed- 
ding-night, and  were  punished  in  the 
infernal  regions  by  having  to  draw  water 
everlastingly  in  sieves  from  a deep  well. 

This  is  an  allegory.  The  followers  of 
Dan'aos  taught  tbe  Argives  to  dig  wells 
and  irrigate  their  fields  in  the  Egyptian 
manner.  As  the  soil  of  Argos  was  very 
dry  and  porous,  it  was  like  a sieve. 

The  names  of  the  fifty  Dana’ides  and 
their  respective  husbands  are  as  follows : 


Actaea  .,  ,. 

wife  of  Per'iphas. 

Adianta 

Daiph'ron. 

Adyta  .. 

Menal'ces. 

Aga've  .. 

Lycos. 

Amymon'e 

Encel'ados. 

Anaxib'ia 

Archela'os. 

Antod'ica  .. 

Clytos. 

Aster'ia..  .. 

Choetos. 

Autho'lea 

Cisseus. 

Autom'ata 

Archite'Ios. 

Auton'oe 

Eurvl'ochos. 

Bry'cea  .. 

Chthon'ios. 

Callid'ice 

Pandi'on. 

Cele'no  . . 

Hyxo'bios. 

Chrysip'pe 

Chrysip'poS. 

Chrysoth'emis 

As'teris. 

Cleodo'ra 

Lixos. 

Oeopat'ra 

Age'nor. 

Cli'o 

Aster'ias. 

Critome'dia  .. 

Antipaph'os. 

Damo'ne  .. 

Amyn'tor. 

Dioxip'pe  .. 

.ffigyptos. 

Electra.. 

Peiis'fchenes. 

Er'ato  ..  ., 

Bro'mios. 

Euphe'no  .. 

Hyper' bios. 

Euryd'ice 

Dryas. 

Evip'pe  ,.  .. 

Imbros. 

Glauca  .. 

Aid’s. 

Glaucip'pa  .. 

Pot'amon. 

Gorga  .. 

Hyppoth'obs. 

Gorg'ophon  •• 

Pro'teus. 

Hel'cita.. 

Cassos. 

Hippodatni'a  .. 

Ister. 

Hippod'ica 

Idras. 

Hippomedu'se 

Alome'non. 

Hyper  ip'pa  .. 
Hypermnes'tra 

Hippocoria'tes. 

Euche'nor. 

Iphimedu'sa  .. 

Euche'nor, 

Muestra 

Egi'os. 

Ocyp'ete 

9i 

Lampos. 

DANAOS. 


DANDER. 


211 


Oi'me  , . 
Pharte  .. 
Pilar'ga . . 
Pire'ne  .. 
Podar'ca 
Rhoda  .. 
Bho'dia . . 
Sthen'ela 
Stj'gna  .. 
Thea'no.. 


Arbe'los. 

Euryd'amas. 

Idmon. 

Agaptole'mos. 

CE'neus. 

Hippol'ytos. 

Chalce'don. 

Sthen'elos. 

PoJyc'tor. 

Phanthes. 


Dan'aos.  According  to  the  “Roman 
de  Rose,”  Denmark  means  the  country 
of  Dan'aos,  who  settled  here  with  a 
colony  after  the  siege  of  Troy,  as  Brutus 
is  said  by  the  same  sort  of  Name-legend 
to  have  settled  in  Britain.  Saxo-Ger- 


man'icus,  with  equal  absurdity,  makes 
Dan  the  son  of  Humble,  the  first  king,  to 
account  for  the  name  of  the  country. 


Danaw.  The  Danube.  {German.) 


To  pass 

Rhene  or  the  Danaw. 

Milton,  Paradise  Lost^*'  bk.  i. 

Dance.  The  Spanish  danza  was  a 
grave  and  stately  court  dance.  Those 
of  the  seventeenth  century  were  called 
the  Tiirdion,  Paba'na,  Madama  Orleans, 
Piedelgiba'o,  El  Rey  Don  Alonzo,  and  El 
Cabalie'ro.  Most  of  the  names  are  taken 
from  the  ballad-music  to  which  they 
were  danced. 

The  light  dances  were  called  Bayle 
{q.v.). 

The  best  known  national  dances  are 
the  taranltella  of  the  Neapolitans;  the 
boUro  and  fandango  of  the  Spaniards ; 
the  mazourA  and  krakoviech  of  Poland ; 
the  cosack  of  Russia ; the  redo'wac  of 
Bohe'mia;  the  quadrille,  cotillon,  and 
contre  danse  of  the  French;  the  waltz 
and  gallopade  of  Germany  ; and  the  reel 
of  Scotland. 

Dance.  When  Handel  was  asked  to 
j)oint  out  the  peculiar  taste  of  the  dif- 
ferent nations  of  Europe  in  dancing,  he 
ascribed  the  minuet  to  the  French,  the 
sar'aband  to  the  Spaniard,  the  arietta  to 
the  Italian,  and  the  hornpipe  and  the 
morris-dance  to  the  English. 

What  do  you  dancel—i.e..  What  tribe 
do  you  belong  to  ? A South  African 
phrase,  where  each  tribe  has  its  peculiar 
dance.  — Livingstone. 

Dance  of  Death.  A series  of  wood- 
cuts,  said  to  be  by  Hans  Holbein  (1538), 
representing  Death  dancing  after  all 
sorts  of  persons,  beginning  with  Adam 
and  Eve.  He  is  beside  the  judge  on  his 
bench,  the  priest  in  the  pulpit,  the  nun 
in  her  cell,  the  doctor  in  his  study,  the 
oride  and  the  beggar,  the  king  and  the 
infant ; but  is  “ swallowed  up  at  last,” 


This  is  often  called  the  Dance  Maca'bre, 
probabl}^  from  St.  Macar'ius,  though  some 
have  suggested  as  the  etymon  the  Arabic 
word  maga'bir  (a  churchyard). 

On  the  north  side  of  Old  St.  Paul’s 
was  a cloister,  on  the  walls  of  which  was 
painted,  at  the  cost  of  John  Carpenter, 
town  clerk  of  London  (early  in  the 
fifteenth  century),  a “ Dance  of  Death,” 
or,  to  use  Stowe’s  descriptive  title, 
“ Death  leading  all  the  estate,  with 
speeches  of  Death,  and  answers,  by 
John  Lydgate.”  Probably  Holbein  was 
familiar  with  this  picture. 

I’ll  lead  you  a pretty  dance — i.e.,  I’ll 
bother  or  put  you  to  trouble.  The 
French  say,  Donner  le  bal  d quelqu'un. 
The  reference  is  to  the  complicated  dances 
of  former  times,  when  all  followed  the 
leader. 

To  dance  attendance.  To  wait  obse- 
quiously, to  be  at  the  beck  and  call  of 
another.  The  allusion  is  to  the  ancient 
custom  of  weddings,  where  the  bride  on 
the  wedding  night  had  to  dance  with 
every  guest,  and  play  the  amiable, 
though  greatly  annoyed.  In  1857,  I 
“ assisted”  at  a wedding  in  Paris,  where 
this  custom  was  most  strictly  observed. 

Then  must  the  poore  bryde  kepe  f^ote  with  a 
dauncers,  and  refuse  none,  how  scabbed,  foule, 
droncken,  rude,  and  shameless  soever  he  be.— 
Christen,  "State  of  Matrimony,'’  1543. 

I had  thought 

They  had  parted  so  much  honesty  among  them 

(At  least,  good  manners),  as  not  thus  to  sutfcr 

A man  of  his  place,  and  so  near  our  favour. 

To  dance  attendance  on  their  lordships’  pleasures. 

Shakespeare,  "Henry  VIII.,”  v.  2J. 

Dancing-water  (The),  which  beau- 
tifies ladies,  makes  them  young  again, 
and  enriches  them.  It  fell  in  a cascade 
in  the  Burning  Forest,  and  could  only  be 
reached  by  an  underground  passage. 
Prince  Chery  fetched  a bottle  of  this 
water  for  his  beloved  Fair-star,  but  was 
aided  by  a dove. — “ Fairy  Tales,”  by  the 
Comtesse  d’Aulnoy.  {See  Yellow  Water.) 

Dandeli'on.  A flower.  The  word 
is  a corruption  of  the  French  dent  de  lion 
(lion’s  tooth).  Also  called  Leon'todoA 
(lion-tooth,  Greek),  from  a supposed 
resemblance  between  its  petals  and  the 
teeth  of  lions. 

Dander.  Is  your  dander  up  or  riz  1 
Is  your  angry  passion  up?  The  word 

“dander”  is  a corruption  of  d anger, 

the  d being,  of  course,  an  oath. 

This  is  generally  considered  to  be  an 

O 2 


/ 


212  DANDIE. 


DAEBIES. 


Americanism ; but  Halliwell  gives,  in  his 
Archaic  Dictionary,  both  dander  (anger) 
and  dandy  (distracted),  the  former  com- 
mon to  several  counties,  and  the  latter 
peculiar  to  Somersetshire. 

Dandle  Dinmont.  A jovial,  true- 
hearted store -farmer,  in  Sir  Walter 
Scott’s  Guy  Mannering.” 

Dandin  (George).  A French  cit,  who 
m.arries  a sprig  of  nobility,  and  lives 
with  his  wife’s  parents.  Madame  appeals 
on  all  occasions  to  her  father  and  mother, 
who,  of  course,  take  her  part  against  her 
husband.  Poor  George  is  in  a sad  plight, 
and  is  for  ever  lamenting  his  fate  with 
the  expression,  Tu  Vas  voulu,  George 
Dandin  (’Tis  your  own  fault,  George 
Dandin).  George  Dandin  stands  for  any 
one  who  marries  above  his  sphere,  and 
is  pecked  by  his  wife  and  mother-in-law. 
The  word  means  '^a  ninny.” — MolUre's 
comedy  so  called. 

Perrin  Dandin.  A sort  of  Lynch 
judge  in  Eabelais,  who  seated  himself 
on  the  trunk  of  the  first  tree  he  came  to, 
and  there  decided  the  causes  submitted 
to  him. 

Dan'diprat  or  Dandepratj  according 
to  Camden,  is  a small  coin  issued  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII.  Applied  to  a little 
fellow,  it  is  about  equal  to  our  modern 
expression,  a little  ^‘twopenny  ha’penny” 
fellow. 

Dandy.  A coxcomb ; a fop.  The 
feminine  of  dandy  is  either  dandilly  or 
dandizbtte. 

Dan'dyism.  The  manners,  &c.,  of  a 
dandy  ; like  a dandy.  (French,  dandin, 
a ninny,  a vain,  conceited  fellow. ) 

Dangle.  A theatrical  amateur  in 
Sheridan’s  Critic.”  It  was  designed 
for  Thomas  Vaughan,  a playwright. 

Dan'nebrog.  The  red  cross  of  Den- 
mark. The  tradition  is  that  Waldemar  II. 
of  Denmark  saw  in  the  heavens  a fiery 
cross  which  betokened  his  victory  over 
the  Estho'nians  (1219) . This  story  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  Constantine  (q.v.),  and 
of  St.  Andrew’s  cross,  which  appeared  to 
Hungus.  (See  Andrew, 

The  order  of  Dannelrog.  The  second 
of  the  Danish  orders.  Brog  means 

cloth  ” or  banner. 

Dan'nocks.  Hedging  - gloves.  A 
corruption  of  Tournay,  where  they  were 
originally  manufactured, 


Dans'ker.  A Dane.  Denmark  used 
to  be  called  Danske.  Hence  Polo'nius 
says  to  Beynaldo,  Inquire  me  first  what 
Danskers  are  in  Paris.” — “ Hamlet  f ii.  1. 

Dante  and  Be^atri'ce— Bea- 
trice Portina'ri,  who  was  only  eight  years 
old  when  the  poet  first  saw  her.  His 
abiding  love  for  her  was  chaste  as  snow 
and  pure  as  it  was  tender.  Beatrice 
married  a nobleman  named  Simo'ne  de 
Bardi,  and  died  young,  in  1290.  Dante 
married  Gemma,  of  the  powerful  house 
of  Dona'ti.  In  the  ^^Divi'na  Comme'dia,” 
the  poet  is  conducted  first  by  Virgil  (the 
representative  of  human  reason)  through 
hell  and  purgatory ; then  by  the  spirit  of 
Be'atri'ce  (the  representative  of  revela- 
tion) ; and  finally  by  St.  Bernard,  through 
the  several  heavens. 

Dantes'que  (2  syh).  Dante-like; 
that  is,  a minute  life-like  representation 
of  the  infernal  horrors,  whether  by  words 
as  in  the  poet,  or  in  visible  form  as  in 
D ore’s  illustrations  of  the  Inferno.” 

Daphne.  Daughter  of  a river-god, 
loved  by  Apollo.  She  fled  Trom  the 
amorous  god,  and  escaped  by  being 
changed  into  a laurel,  thenceforth  the 
favourite  tree  of  the  sun-god. 

Nay,  lady,  sit.  If  I but  wave  this  wand. 

Your  nerves  are  all  chain’d  up  in  alabaster, 
And  you  a statue,  or,  as  Daphne  was, 
Koot-bound,  that  fled  Apollo. 

Milton,  “ Cornua'* 

Daph'nis.  A Sicilian  shepherd,  who 
invented  pastoral  poetry. 

Daph'nis.  The  lover  of  Chloe  in  the 
exquisite  Greek  pastoral  romance  of 
Longos,  in  the  fourth  century.  Daphnis 
was  the  model  of  Allan  Ramsay’s  Gentle 
Shepherd,”  and  the  tale  is  the  basis  of 
St.  Pierre’s  “ Paul  and  Virginia.” 

Dapper.  A little,  nimble,  spruce 
young  clerk  in  Ben  Jonson’s  Alchemist.’* 

Dap'ple.  The  name  of  Sancho 
Panza’s  donkey  in  Cervantes’  romance 
of  “Don  Quixote.”  Bailey  derives 
dapple  from  the  Teutonic  dapper 
(streaked  or  spotted  like  a pippin).  A 
dapple-grey  horse  is  one  of  a light  grey 
shaded  with  a deeper  hue  ; a dapple  hay 
is  a light  bay  spotted  with  bay  of  a 
deeper  colour. 

Dar'bies  (2  syh).  Handcuffs.  A 
contraction  of  J ohnny  Darbies,  which  is 
a corruption  of  the  French  gens-dh armes 
(policemen). 

I slipped  my  darbies  one  morning  in  May. 

Uarr  'mn  Ainaworih. 


DARBY. 


DAUPHIN. 


213 


Darby  and  Joan.  A loving,  old- 
fashioned,  virtuous  couple.  The  names 
belong  to  a ballad  written  by  Henry 
Woodfall,  and  the  characters  are  those 
of  John  Darby  of  Bartholomew  Close, 
who  died  1730,  and  his  wife,  As  chaste 
as  a picture  cut  in  alabaster.  You  might 
sooner  move  a Scythian  rock  than  shoot 
fire  into  her  bosom.”  Woodfall  served 
his  apprenticeship  to  John  Darby. 

Perhaps  some  day  or  other  we  may  be  Darby  and 
Joan.— Dord  Bulvier  Lytton, 

Dar'byites  (3  syl.).  The  Plymouth 
Brethren  are  so  called  on  the  continent 
from  Mr.  Darby,  a barrister,  who  aban- 
doned himself  to  the  work,  and  was  for 
years  the  organ  ” of  the  sect. 

Daries  (or)  State'res  Dari'ci.  Cele- 
brated Persian  coins.  So  called  from 
Dari'us.  They  bear  on  one  side  the 
head  of  the  king  and  on  the  other  a 
chariot  drawn  by  mules.  Their  value 
is  about  twenty-five  shillings. 

Dari'us.  A classic  way  of  spelling 
Damwesh  (king),  a Persian  title  of 
royalty.  Gushtasp  or  Kishtasp  assumed 
the  title  of  darawesh  on  ascending  the 
throne,  and  is  the  person  generally 
called  Darius  the  Great. 

Darius.  Seven  princes  of  Persia 
agreed  that  he  should  be  king  whose 
horse  neighed  first ; as  the  horse  of 
Darius  was  the  first  to  neigh,  Darius  was 
proclaimed  king. 

Dari'us,  conquered  by  Alexander,  was 
Dara,  surnamed  Icuclieic  (the  younger). 
When  Alexander  succeeded  to  the  throne, 
Dara  sent  to  him  for  the  tribute  of  golden 
eggs,  but  the  Macedonian  returned  for 
answer,  The  bird  which  laid  them  is 
flown  to  the  other  world,  where  Dara 
must  seek  them.”  The  Persian  king 
then  sent  him  a bat  and  ball,  in  ridicule 
of  his  youth;  but  Alexander  told  the 
messengers,  with  the  bat  he  would  beat 
the  ball  of  power  from  their  master’s 
hand.  Lastly,  Dara  sent  him  a bitter 
melon,  as  emblem  of  the  grief  in  store 
for  him ; but  the  Macedonian  declared 
that  he  would  make  the  shah  eat  his  own 
fruit. 

Dark  Ages.  The  era  between  the 
death  of  Charlemagne  and  the  close  of 
the  Carlovingian  dynasty  was  certainly 
the  most  barren  of  learned  men  of  any  age 
in  history. 


Darley  Arabians.  A breed  of 
English  racers,  from  an  Arab  stallion 
introduced  by  Mr.  Darley.  This  stallion 
was  the  sire  of  the  ‘^Flying  Childers,” 
and  great-grandsire  of  Eclipse.” 

Darmade've  (4  syl.).  God  of  virtue ; 
represented  by  the  Indians  as  an  ox. 
{Indian  mythology.) 

Dart.  (SeeABABis.) 

Darwinian  Theory.  Charles 
Darwin,  grandson  of  the  poet,  published 
in  1859  a work  entitled  Origin  of 
Species,”  to  prove  that  the  numerous 
species  now  existing  on  the  earth  sprang 
originally  from  one  or  at  most  a few 
primal  forms  ; and  that  the  present 
diversity  is  due  to  special  development 
and  natural  selection.  Those  plants  and 
creatures  which  are  best  suited  to  the 
conditions  of  their  existence  survive  and 
become  fruitful;  certain  organs  called 
into  play  by  peculiar  conditions  of  life 
grow  with  their  growth  and  strengthen 
with  their  strength  till  they  become  so 
much  a part  and  parcel  of  their  frames 
as  to  be  transmitted  to  their  offspring. 
The  conditions  of  life  being  very  diverse, 
cause  a great  diversity  of  organic  de- 
velopment, and,  of  course,  every  such 
diversity  which  has  become  radical  is  the 
parent  of  a new  species. 

Daughter.  Greek,  thugater,  con- 
tracted into  thug' ter ; Dutch,  dogter ; 
German,  tochter ; Persian,  dochtar; 
Saxon,  dohter,  &;c. 

Dau'phin.  The  heir  of  the  French 
crown  under  the  Valois  and  Bourbon 
dynasties.  Guy  VIII.,  count  of  Vienne, 
was  the  first  so  styled,  because  he  wore 
a dolphin  as  his  cognisance.  The  title 
descended  in  the  family  till  1349,  when 
Humbert  II.,  de  la  Tour  de  Pisa,  sold  his 
seigneurie,  called  the  Dauphine,  to  king 
Philippe  VI.  (de  Valois),  on  condition 
that  the  heir  of  France  assumed  the 
title  of  le  dau'phin.  The  first  French 
prince  so  called  was  Jean,  who  suc- 
ceeded Philippe  ; and  the  last  was  the 
due  d’Angouleme,  son  of  Charles  IX., 
who  renounced  the  title  in  1830. 

Grand  Dauphin.  Louis,  due  de  Bour- 
gogne, eldest  son  of  Louis  XIV.,  for 
whose  use  was  published  the  Latin 
classics,  entitled  ‘‘Ad  usum  Delphi'ni.” 
(1661-1711.) 

Second  or  Little  Dauphin.  Louis,  son 
of  the  Grand  Dauphin.  (1682-1712.) 


/ 


214  DAVENPOilT. 


i)AY. 


Dav'enport  (The  Brothers)  from 
America.  Two  impostors,  who  professed 
that  spirits  would  untie  them  when 
bound  with  cords,  and  even  that  spirits 
played  all  sorts  of  instruments  in  a dark 
cabinet.  The  imposition  was  exposed  in 
1865. 

David,  in  Dryden’s  satire  called 

Absalom  and  Achitophel,’'  represents 
Charles  II. ; Absalom,  his  beautiful  but 
rebellious  son,  represents  the  duke  of 
Monmouth;  Achitophel,  the  traitorous 
counsellor,  is  the  earl  of  Shaftesbury ; 
Barzillai,  the  faithful  old  man  who  pro- 
vided the  king  sustenance,  was  the  duke 
of  Ormond;  Husha’i,  who  defeated  the 
counsel  of  Achitophel,  was  Hyde,  duke 
of  Kochester;  Zadok  the  priest  was 
Sancroft,  archbishop  of  Canterbury ; 
Shimei,  who  cursed  the  king  in  his 
flight,  was  Bethel,  the  lord-mayor,  &c. 
&c.  (2  Sam.  xvii. — xix.). — Dryden,  Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel.^' 

David  (St.')  or  Detvidf  was  son  of 
Xantus,  prince  of  Cardiganshire ; he  was 
brought  up  a priest,  became  an  ascetic 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  preached  to  the 
Britons,  confuted  Pela'gius,  and  was  pre- 
ferred to  the  see  of  Caerleon,  since 
called  St.  David’s.  He  died  544.  (See 
Taffy.) 

St.  David's  (Wales)  was  originally 
called  Mene'via  (i.e.,  main  awy  narrow 
water  or  frith).  Here  St.  David  received 
his  early  education,  and  when  Dyvrig, 
archbishop  of  Caerleon,  resigned  to  him 
his  see,  St.  David  removed  the  archi- 
episcopal  residence  to  Mene'via,  which 
was  henceforth  called  by  his  name. 

Da'vus.  Davus  sum,  non  CEdijms  (I 
am  a plain,  simple  fellow,  and  no  solver 
of  riddles,  like  (Edipus).  The  words  are 
from  Terence’s  An'dria,”  i.  1. 

Davy.  I'll  take  my  davy  of  it.  I’ll 
take  my  ^^affidavit”  it  is  true. 

Davy  Jones’s  Locker.  He's  gone 
to  Davy  Jones's  Locker — i.e.,  he  is  dead. 
Jones  is  a corruption  of  Jonah  the  pro- 
phet, who  was  thrown  into  the  sea. 
Locker,  in  seaman’s  phrase,  means  any 
receptacle  for  private  stores  ; and  duffy 
is  a ghost  or  spirit  among  the  West 
Indian  negroes.  So  the  whole  phrase  is, 

He  is  gone  to  the  place  of  safe  keeping, 
where  duffy  Jonah  was  sent  to.” 

This  same  Davy  Jones,  according  to  the  mythology 
of  Bailors,  is  the  liend  that  presides  over  all  the  evil 


spirits  of  the  deep,  and  is  seen  in  various  shapes  . 
warning  the  devoted  wretch  of  death  and  woe. 

Smollett^  “ Peregrine  Pickle.,''  xiii. 

Da'vy’s  Sow.  Drunk  as  Davy’s  soio. 
Grose  says  : — One  David  Lloyd,  a Welsh- 
man, who  kept  an  ale-house  at  Hereford, 
had  a sow  with  six  legs,  which  was  an 
object  of  great  curiosity.  One  day 
David’s  wife,  having  indulged  too  freely, 
lay  down  in  the  sty  to  sleep,  and  a com- 
pany coming  to  see  the  sow,  David  led 
them  to  the  sty,  saying,  as  usual,  There 
is  a sow  for  you  ! Did  you  ever  see  the 
like?”  One  of  the  visitors  replied. 

Well,  it  is  the  drunkenest  sow  I ever 
beheld.”  Whence  the  woman  was  ever 
after  called  Davy’s  sow.”  — Classical 
Dictionary  of  the  Vulga^r  Tongue. 

Dawson  (Bully).  A noted  London 
sharper,  who  swaggered  and  led  a most 
abandoned  life  about  Blackfriars,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II. 

Bully  Dawson  kicked  by  half  the  town,  and  half 
the  town  kicked  by  Bully  Dawson.— C/iaWes  Lan^. 

Day.  When  it  begins.  (1.)  With 
sun-set : The  J ews  in  their  ‘ ^ sacred  year,” 
and  the  Church — hence  the  eve  of  feast- 
days  ; the  ancient  Britons  non  die'rum 
nu'merum,  ut  nos,  sed  noc'tium  compu'- 
tant,”  says  Tacitus— hence  ^^se’nnight” 
and  '^fort’night ; ’’the  Athenians,  Chi- 
nese, Mahometans,  &c.,  Italians,  Aus- 
trians, and  Bohemians.  (2.)  With  sun- 
rise : The  Babylonians,  Syrians,  Persians, 
and  modern  Greeks.  (3.)  With  noon: 
The  ancient  Egyptians  and  modern  as- 
tronomers. (4.)  With  midnight:  The 
English,  French,  Dutch,  Germans,  Spa- 
nish, Portuguese,  Americans,  &c. 

I have  lost  a day  (Per'didi  diem)  was 
the  exclamation  of  Titus,  the  Koman  em- 
peror, when  on  one  occasion  he  could 
call  to  mind  nothing  done  during  the 
past  day  for  the  benefit  of  his  subjects. 

Day  of  the  Barricades.  (See 

Barricades.  ) 

Day  of  the  Dupes,  in  French 
history,  was  November  11th,  1630,  when 
Marie  de  Me'dicis  and  Gaston  due 
d’Orleans  extorted  from  Louis  XIII.  a 
promise  that  he  would  dismiss  his 
minister,  the  cardinal  Kicheiieu.  The 
cardinal  went  in  all  speed  to  Versailles, 
the  king  repented,  and  Richelieu  became 
more  powerful  than  ever.  Marie  do 
Me'dicis  and  Gaston  were  the  dupes 
who  had  to  pay  dearly  for  their  short 
triumph. 


DAY-DREAM 


DEAF. 


215 


Day-dream.  A dream  of  the 
imagination  when  the  eyes  are  awake. 

Daylights.  The  eyes,  which  let 
day-light  into  the  sensorium. 

Dayspring.  The  dawn ; the  com- 
mencement of  the  Messiah’s  reign. 

The  dayspring  from  on  high  hath  visited  us.— 
Luke  i.  78. 

Daysman.  An  umpire,  judge,  or  in- 
tercessor. The  word  is  dais-man  (a  man 
who  sits  on  the  dais) ; a sort  of  lit  de 
justice.  Hence  Piers  Ploughman— 

And  at  the  day  of  doom 
At  the  height  Deys  sit. 

De  Facto,  Actually,  in  reality;  in 
opposition  to  de  jure,  lawfully  or  right- 
fully. Thus  John  was  de  facto  king,  but 
Arthur  was  so  de  jure. 

De  Profundis  (Out  of  the  depths). 
The  130th  Psalm  is  so  called  from  the 
first  two  words  in  the  Latin  version.  It 
is  sung  by  Roman  Catholics  when  the 
dead  are  committed  to  the  grave. 

Dead.  Dead  as  a door-nail.  The  door- 
nail is  the  plate  or  knob  on  which  the 
knocker  or  hammer  strikes.  As  this  nail 
is  knocked  on  tlie  head  several  times  a 
day,  it  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  much 
life  left  in  it. 

FaUtaff.  What ! is  the  old  king  dead  ? 

Pistol.  As  nail  in  door. 

/Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  IV.,  v.  3. 

Dead  as  a herring.  {See  Herring.) 

Dead  Heat.  A race  to  be  run  again 
between  two  horses  that  have  tied.” 
A heat  is  that  part  of  a race  run  without 
stopping.  Two  or  more  heats  make  a 
race.  A dead  heat  is  a heat  which  goes 
for  nothing ; it  is  dead,  as  if  it  had  never 
taken  place. 

Dead  Languages.  Languages  no 
longer  spoken.  They  belong  to  the  dead, 
and  not  to  the  living. 

Dead  Letter.  A written  document 
of  no  value ; a law  no  longer  acted 
upon.  Also  a letter  which  lies  buried  in 
the  post-office  because  the  address  is  in- 
correct, or  the  person  addressed  cannot 
be  found.  Such  letters  are  all  the  same 
as  if  they  existed  not. 

Dead  Lift.  I am  at  a dead  lift.  In 
a strait  or  difficulty  where  I greatly 
need  help ; a hopeless  exigency.  A dead 
lift  is  the  lifting  of  a dead  or  inactive 
body,  which  must  be  done  by  sheer  force. 


Dead  Lights.  Strong  wooden  shut- 
ters to  close  the  cabin  windows  of  a ship, 
so  called  because  they  deaden  or  kill  the 
daylight. 

Dead  Lock,  A lock  which  has  no 
spring  catch. 

Things  are  at  a dead-lock.— TAe  Times. 

Dead  Men.  Empty  bottles.  Doim 
among  the  dead  men  let  me  lie.  Let  me 
get  so  intoxicated  as  to  slip  from  my 
chair,  and  lie  under  the  table  with  the 
empty  bottles.  The  expression  is  a wit- 
ticism on  the  word  spirit.  Spirit  means 
life,  and  also  alcohol  (the  spirit  of  full 
bottles);  when  the  spirit  is  out  the  man 
is  dead,  and  when  the  bottle  is  empty  its 
spirit  is  departed. 

Dead  Men’s  Shoes.  Waiting  for 
dead  merCs  shoes.  Looking  out  for  lega- 
cies; looking  to  stand  in  the  place  of 
some  moneyed  man,  when  he  is  dead  and 
buried. 

Dead  Hopes.  Those  which  are  fixed, 
or  do  not  run  on  blocks;  so  called  because 
they  have  no  activity  or  life  in  them. 

Dead  Sea.  So  the  Romans  called 
the  ‘^Salt  Sea.”  Jose'phus  says  that 
the  vale  of  Siddim  was  changed  into 
the  Dead  Sea  at  the  destruction  of  So- 
dom Antiq.,”  i.  8,  3,  &c.).  The  water 
is  ver}"  salt,  and  of  a dull  green  colour. 
Few  fish  are  found  therein,  but  it  is  not 
true  that  birds  which  venture  near  its 
vapours  fall  down  dead.  The  shores  are 
almost  barren,  but  hyenas  and  other  wild 
beasts  lurk  there. 

Dead  Set.  He  made  a dead  set  at  her. 
A pointed  or  decided  determination  to 
bring  matters  to  a crisis.  The  allusion 
is  to  a setter  dog  that  has  discovered 
game,  and  makes  a dead  set  at  it. 

To  he  at  a dead  set  is  to  be  set  fast,  or 
locked  in,  so  as  not  to  be  able  to  move. 
The  allusion  is  to  machinery. 

To  make  a dead  set  upon  some  one  is  to 
attack  him  resolutely,  to  set  upon  him  ; 
the  allusion  being  to  dogs,  bulls,  &c.,  set 
on  each  other  to  fight. 

Dead  Weight.  The  weight  of  some- 
thing without  life  ; a burden  that  does 
nothing  towards  easing  its  own  weight  j 
a person  who  encumbers  us  and  renders 
no  assistance.  {See  Dead  Lift.) 

Deaf.  Deaf  as  a vMte  cat.  It  is  said 
that  white  cats  are  deaf  and  stupid. 


/ 


2i6  DEAF. 


Deaf  Adder.  ‘^The  deaf  adder 
stoppeth  her  ears,  and  will  not  hearken 
to  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  charm  he 
never  so  wisely  ” (Ps.  Iviii.  4,  5).  Captain 
Bruce  says,  If  a viper  enters  the  house, 
the  charmer  is  sent  for,  who  entices  the 
serpent,  and  puts  it  into  a bag.  I have 
seen  poisonous  vipers  twist  round  the 
bodies  of  these  psylli  in  all  directions, 
without  having  their  fangs  extracted.” 
According  to  tradition,  the  asp  stops  its 
ears  when  the  charmer  utters  his  incanta- 
tion, by  applying  one  ear  to  the  ground 
and  twisting  its  tail  into  the  other. 

Deal.  A portion.  A tenth  deal  of 
flour.” — Exod.  xxix.  40.  (German,  tlieil ; 
Saxon,  dcel ; Irish,  dail ; English,  dole.) 

To  deal  the  cards  is  to  give  each  his 
dole  or  portion. 

Deal-fisli.  So  called  because  the 
dorsal  fin  resembles  a deal  board. 

Dean  (the  Latin  decaJnus),  The  chief 
over  ten  prebends  or  canons. 

The  Dean  (/Z  Piova'no').  Arlotto,  the 
Italian  humorist.  (1395-1483.) 

Jonathan  Swift,  dean  of  St.  Patrick. 
(1667-1745.) 

Deans  (Dffie).  In  Scott’s  Heart  of 
Midlothian.”  She  is  abandoned  by  her 
lover,  Geordie  Eobertson,  and  condemned 
for  child-murder. 

Jeanie  Deans.  Sister  of  Effie  Deans, 
who  walks  all  the  way  to  London  to  plead 
for  her  sister.  She  is  a model  of  good 
sense,  strong  affection,  and  disinterested 
heroism. 

We  follow  Pilgrim  through  his  progress  with  an 
interest  not  inferior  to  that  with  which  we  follow 
Elizabeth  fiom  Siberia  to  Moscow,  and  Jeanie 
Deans  from  Edinburgh  to  London.— Dord  Macaulay. 

Dear.  Oh,  dear  me!  A corruption  of 
Oh,  Dens  mens  / E qui valent  to  the  French 
Oh,  mon  Dien!  and  the  Italian  0,  mio 
Dio!  &c. 

Dearest.  Most  hateful,  as  dearest 
foe.  The  word  dear,  meaning  beloved,” 
is  the  Saxon  deor  (dear,  rare) ; but  dear, 
'^hateful,”  is  the  Saxon  derian  (to  hurt), 
Scotch  dere  (to  annoy). 

Would  I had  met  my  dearest  foe  in  heaven, 

Or  ever  I had  seen  that  day,  Horatio. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet”  i.  2. 

Death,  according  to  Milton,  is  twin- 
keeper,  with  Sin,  of  Hell-gate. 

The  other  shape, 

If  shape  it  might  he  called  that  shape  had  none 
Distinguishable  in  member,  joint,  or  limb  ; 

Or  substance  might  be  called  that  shadow  seemed  ;.. 
The  likeness  of  a kingly  crown  had  on. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,”  ii. 


DECAMP. 


Death.  {See  Black.) 

Death  stands,  lihe  Mercuries,  in  every 
way.  {See  Mercury.) 

Till  death  us  do  part.  {See  Depart.) 

Angel  of  Death.  {See  Abou-Jahia, 
Azrael.) 

Death  in  the  Pot.  During  a dearth 
in  Gilgal,  there  was  made  for  the  sons  of 
the  prophets  a pottage  of  wild  herbs, 
some  of  which  were  poisonous.  When 
the  sons  of  the  prophets  tasted  the  pot- 
tage, they  cried  out,  “ There  is  death  in 
the  pot.”  Then  Elisha  put  into  it  some 
meal,  and  its  poisonous  qualities  were 
counteracted.  (2  Kings  iv.  40.) 

Death-bell.  A tinkling  in  the  ears, 
supposed  by  the  Scotch  peasantry  to  an- 
nounce the  death  of  a friend. 

O lady,  ’tis  dark,  an’  I heard  the  death-bell. 

An’  I darena  gae  yonder  for  gowd  nor  fee. 

James  Hogg.  “ Mountain  Bara. 

Deaths-man.  An  executioner;  a 
person  who  kills  another  brutally  but 
lawfully. 

Great  Hector’s  deaths-man. 

Hey  wood,  '•'‘Iron  Age. 

Debateable  Land.  A tract  of  land 
between  the  Esk  and  Sark,  claimed  by 
both  England  and  Scotland,  and  for  a 
long  time  the  subject  of  dispute.  This 
tract  of  land  was  the  hotbed  of  thieves 
and  vagabonds. 

Dehon.  One  of  the  heroes  who  ac- 
companied Brute  to  Britain.  According 
to  British  fable,  Devonshire  is  the  county 
of  Debon.  {See  Devonshire.) 

Debonair'  (Le  Debonnaire).  Louis  I. 
of  France,  sometimes  called  in  English 
The  Meeh,  son  and  successor  of  Charle- 
magne ; a man  of  courteous  manners, 
cheerful  temper,  but  effeminate  and  de- 
ficient in  moral  energy.  (778,  814-840.) 

Debris.  The  dibris  of  an  army. 
The  remnants  of  a routed  army.  Debris 
means  the  fragments  of  a worn-down 
rock.  It  is  a geological  term  {debriser, 
to  break  down). 

Decam'eron.  A volume  of  tales  re- 
lated in  ten  days  (Greek,  deha,  hem' era), 
as  the  ^‘Decameron  of  Boccac'cio,”  which 
contains  100  tales  related  in  ten  days. 

Decamp'.  He  decamged  in  the  middle 
of  the  night.  Left  without  paying  his 
debts.  A military  term  from  the  Latin 
dA-campus  (from  the  field) ; French,  de- 
camver,  to  march. 


BECEMBUR, 


DEFAULT. 


217 


December.  (Latin,  the  tenth  month.) 
So  it  was  when  the  year  began  in  March 
with  the  vernal  equinox;  but  since  Janu- 
ary and  February  have  been  inserted 
before  it,  the  term  is  quite  incorrect. 

Deception. 

Poubtless  the  pleasure  is  as  great 
Of  being  cheated  as  to  cheat; 

As  lookers-on  feel  most  delight 
That  least  perceive  a juggler’s  sleight, 

And  still  the  less  they  understand 
The  more  they  admire  his  sleight  of  hand. 

Rudibr as  ” pt.  ii.  3. 

Deci'de  (2  syl.)  means  ^^to  knock 
out.”  Several  things  being  set  before  a 
person,  he  knocks  out  all  but  one,  which 
he  selects  as  the  object  of  his  choice.  A 
decided  man  is  one  who  quickly  knocks 
out  every  idea  but  the  one  he  intends  to 
adhere  to. 

Decimo.  A man  in  decimo — ^.6.,  a 
hobby-de-hoy.  Johnson  uses  the  phrase 
in  decimo-sexto. 

Deck.  To  sweep  the  dech  To  clear 
off  all  the  stakes.  A pack  of  cards  piled 
in  order  is  called  a deck. 

To  dech  is  to  decorate  or  adorn. 

I thought  thy  bride-bed  to  have  decked,  sweet  maid, 
And  not  have  strewed  thy  grave. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,'’  v.  1. 

Clear  the  decks— i.e.,  get  out  of  the 
way;  your  room  is  better  than  your 
company ; I am  going  to  be  very  busy. 
A sea-term.  Decks  are  cleared  before 
action. 

Decollete  {da-coal-ta).  Nothing  even 
decollete  should  he  uttered  in  the  fresence  of 
ladies— i.e. f bearing  the  least  semblance 
to  a double  entendre,  D^collet^  is  the 
French  for  a dress  cut  low  about  the 
bosom.” 

Decoy  Duck.  A bait  or  lure  ; a 
duck  taught  to  allure  others  into  a net, 
and  employed  for  this  purpose. 

Decrepit.  Unable  to  make  a noise. 
It  refers  rather  to  the  mute  voice  and 
silent  footstep  of  old  age  than  to  its 
broken  strength.  (Latin,  de-crepo.) 

Dec'uman  Gate.  A gate  through 
which  ten  men  could  march  abreast. 
There  are  the  remains  of  one  in  the 
Roman  ruins  of  Richborough  (Kent). 

Dedalian.  Intricate ; variegated. 
So  called  from  Dce'daloSj  who  made  the 
Cietan  labyrinth. 


Dedlock  {Sir  Leicester).  An  honour- 
able and  truthful  gentleman,  but  of  such 
fossilised  ideas  that  no  ^Hongue  of  man” 
could  shake  his  prejudices.  — Bleak 
House,’'  hy  Charles  Dickens. 

Dee  (J)r.  Johi).  A man  of  vast 
knowledge,  whose  library,  museum,  and 
mathematical  instruments  were  valued 
at  <£2,000.  On  one  occasion  the  populace 
broke  into  his  house  and  destroyed  the 
greater  part  of  his  valuable  collection, 
under  the  notion  that  Dee  held  inter- 
course with  the  devil.  He  ultimately 
died  a pauper,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-one,  and  was  buried  at  Mortlake. 
He  professed  to  be  able  to  raise  the  dead, 
and  had  a magic  crystal,  afterwards  in 
Horace  Walpole’s  collection  at  Straw- 
berry Hill.  (1527-1608.) 

Dee  Mills.  If  you  had  the  rent  of 
Dee  Mills,  you  woidd  sipend  it  all.  Dee 
Mills,  in  Cheshire,  used  to  yield  a very 
large  annual  rent.  ( Cheshire  proverb. ) 

There  was  a jolly  miller 
Lived  on  the  river  Pee  ; 

He  danced  and  sang  from  morn  to  night— 

No  lark  so  blithe  as  he ; 

And  this  the  burden  of  his  song 
Por  ever  used  to  be— 

“ I care  for  nobody,  no,  not  I, 

If  nobody  cares  for  me.” 

Bicker  staffs'"'  Love  in  a Village."  (1762.) 

Deer.  Supposed  by  poets  to  shed 
tears.  The  drops,  however,  which  fall 
from  their  eyes  are  not  tears  from  the 
lachrymal  glands,  but  an  oily  secretion 
from  the  inner  angle  of  the  eye,  close  to 
the  nose. 

A poor  sequestered  stag  . . . 

Did  come  to  languish . . . aud  the  big  round  tears 

Coursed  one  another  down  his  innocent  nose 

In  piteous  chase. 

Shakespeare,  “As  You  Like  It,"  ii.  2. 

Deerslayer.  The  hero  of  a novel 
so  called,  by  F.  Cooper.  He  is  the  beau- 
ideal  of  a man  without  cultivation — 
honourable  in  sentiment,  truthful,  and 
brave  as  a lion  ; pure  of  heart,  and  with- 
out reproach  in  conduct.  The  character 
appears,  under  different  names,  in  five 
novels — ^^The  Deerslayer,”  ^^The  Path- 
finder,” '^The  Last  of  the  Mo'hicans,” 
'^The  Pioneers,”  and  ^^The  Prairie.” 
{See  Natty  Bumpo.) 

Deev-Binder.  Tahmuras,  king  of 
Persia,  who  defeated  the  Deev  king  and 
the  fierce  Demrush,  but  was  slain  by 
Houndkonz,  another  powerful  Deev. 

Default.  Judgment  by  defaidt  is 
when  the  defendant  does  not  appear  in 


DELLA. 


.218  DEFEAT. 


court  on  the  day  appointed.  The  judge 
gives  sentence  in  favour  of  the  plaintiff, 
not  because  the  plaintiff  is  right,  but 
from  the  default  of  the  defendant. 

Defeat.  What  though  the  field  be 
lost,  all  is  not  lost.” — Paradise  Lost. 

'^All  is  lost  but  honour”  {Tout  est 
perdu f madamej  fors  Vhonneur)  is  what 
Fran9ois  I.  is  said  to  have  written  to  Ms 
mother,  after  the  battle  of  Pavi'a  in  1525. 

Defen'der  of  the  Faith.  A title 
given  by  pope  Leo  X.  to  Henry  VIII.  of 
England,  in  1521,  for  a Latin  treatise 
^'On  the  Seven  Sacraments.”  Many 
previous  kings,  and  even  subjects,  had 
been  termed  defenders  of  the  Catholic 
faith,”  defenders  of  the  church,”  and 
so  on,  but  no  one  had  borne  it  as  a title. 
The  sovereign  of  Spain  is  entitled  Catho- 
lie,  and  of  France  Most  Christian, 

God  bless  the  king!  God  bless  the  “faith’s  de- 
fender !” 

God  bless No  harm  in  blessing  the  Pretender. 

Who  that  Pretender  is,  and  who  that  king — 

God  bless  us  all  I— is  quite  another  thing. 

Rejected  Addresses”  hut  ascribed  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott  to  Byrom. 

De  gen'erate  (4  syl.)  is  to  be  worse 
than  the  parent  stock.  (Latin,  de  genus.) 

De'iani'ra.  Wife  of  Hercules,  and 
the  inadvertent  cause  of  his  death. 
Nessos  told  her  that  any  one  to  whom  she 
gave  a shirt  steeped  in  his  blood,  would 
love  her  with  undying  love  ; she  gave  it 
to  her  husband,  and  it  burnt  him  to 
death.  De-i-a-ni'-ra  killed  herself  for 
grief. 

Dei'ph'obus  (4  syl.).  One  of  the 
sons  of  Priam,  and,  next  to  Hector,  the 
bravest  and  boldest  of  all  the  Trojans. 
On  the  death  of  his  brother  Paris,  he 
married  Helen  ; but  Helen  betrayed  him 
to  her  first  husband,  Menela'os,  who  slew 
him.  — Homer's  Iliad  ” and  Virgil's 
^jEneid." 

DejeCiner  a la  Fourehette 
(French).  Breakfast  with  forks ; a cold 
collation ; a breakfast  in  the  middle  of 
the  day,  with  meat  and  wine ; a lunch. 

DelecTable  Mountains  {The),  in 
Bunyan’s  ‘^Pilgrim’*s  Progress,”  are  a 
range  of  mountains  from  which  the 
'^Celestial  City”  may  be  seen.  They 
are  in  Immanuel’s  land,  and  are  covered 
with  sheep,  for  which  Immanuel  had 
died. 


Delf,  or  more  correctly  Delft,  a com- 
mon sort  of  pottery  made  at  Delft  in 
Holland. 

Delia,  of  Pope’s  line,  Slander  or 
poison  dread  from  Delia’s  rage,”  was 
Lady  Deloraine,  who  married  W.  Windam 
of  Carsham,  and  died  1744.  The  person 
said  to  have  been  poisoned  was  Miss 
Mackenzie. 

Delia  is  not  better  Tcnoim  to  our  yard- 
dog— i.e.,  the  person  is  so  intimate  and 
well  known  that  the  yard- dog  will  not 
bark  at  his  approach.  It  is  from  Virgil, 
who  makes  his  shepherd  Menalcas  boast 

That  his  sweetheart  is  as  well  known 
to  his  dog  as  Delia  the  shepherdess.” — 
Ed.  iii. 

Deliberate  (4  syl.)  is  to  weigh 
thoroughly  in  the  mind.  (Latin,  de  lihro.) 

Deligbt  is  to  make  light.”  Hence 
Shakespeare  speaks  of  the  disembodied 

soul  as  ‘Hhe  delighted  spirit 

blown  with  restless  violence  round  about 
the  pendant  world”  Measure  for 
Measure,”  iii.  1).  So  again  he  says  of 
gifts,  “the  more  delayed,  delighted” 
(^^Cymbeline,”  v.  5),  meaning  the  more 
light  or  worthless  the  longer  they  are 
delayed.  Delighted,  in  the  sense  of 
^‘pleased,”  means  light-hearted,  with 
buoyant  spirits. 

The  delight  of  manJcind.  So  Titus,  the 
Koman  emperor,  was  entitled.  (79-81). 

Delir'ium.  From  the  Latin  lira  (the 
ridge  left  by  the  plough),  hence  the  verb 
de-lira!re,  to  make  an  irregular  ridge  or 
balk  in  ploughing.  Deli'rus  is  one  whose 
mind  is  not  properly  tilled  or  cultivated, 
a person  of  irregular  intellect ; and  de- 
lirium is  the  state  of  a person  whose 
mental  faculties  are  like  a field  full  of 
balks  or  irregularities.  {See  Prevaki- 

CATION.) 

Della  Crus'eans  or  Della  Crus'ean 
School.  So  called  from  Crusca,  the 
Florentine  academy.  The  name  is  ap- 
plied to  a school  of  poetry  started  by 
some  young  Englishmen  at  Florence  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
These  silly,  sentimental  affectations, 
which  appeared  in  ^^The  World”  and 

The  Oracle,”  created  for  a time  quite  a 
furor.  The  whole  affair  was  mercilessly 
gibbeted  in  the  ‘^Baviad”  and  ^‘Mseviad” 
of  Mr.  Gifford, 


BELOS. 


DEMON. 


219 


Delos.  A floating  island  ultimately 
made  fast  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea  by 
Posi'don  (Neptune).  Apollo  having  be- 
come possessor  of  it  by  exchange,  made 
it  his  favourite  retreat. 

Delphi  or  DelpJios.  A town  of 
Pho'cis,  famous  for  its  oracle.  So  called 
from  its  twin  peaks,  which  the  Greeks 
called  brothers  {a-delplioi). 

Delphin  Classics.  A set  of  Latin 
classics  edited  in  France  by  thirty- nine 
scholars,  under  the  superintendence  of 
Montausier,  Bossuet,  and  Huet,  for  the 
use  of  the  son  of  Louis  XIV.,  called  the 
Grand  Dauphin.  They  are  of  no  value 
except  for  their  indexes. 


of  by  St.  J ohn,  in  the  first  chapter  of  his 
gospel,  is  the  Demiurgus  of  Platonising 
Christians. 

Demobilisa'tion  of  troops.  The 
disorganisation  of  them,  the  disarming 
of  them.  This  is  a French  military  term. 
To  mobilise  ” troops  is  to  render  them 
liable  to  be  moved  on  service  out  of  their 
quarters;  to  demobilise ” them  is  to 
send  them  home,  so  that  they  cannot  be 
moved  from  their  quarters  against  any 
one. 

Demoe'raey.  A republican  form  of 
government,  a commonwealth.  (Greek, 
demos-crat'eo,  the  - people  possess  - the  - 
power.) 


DeTta.  The  island  formed  at  the 
mouth  of  a river,  which  usually  assumes 
a triangular  form,  like  the  Greek  letter 
called  delta;  as,  the  delta  of  the  Nile, 
the  delta  of  the  Danube,  Khine,  Ganges, 
Indus,  Niger,  Mississippi,  Po,  and  so  on. 

DePuge.  After  me  the  Deluge  ( '^Aprbs 
moi  le  Deluge”).  When  I am  dead  the 
deluge  may  come  for  aught  I care.  Gene- 
rally ascribed  to  Prince  Metternich,  but 
the  prince  borrowed  it  from  Mdme.  Pom- 
padour, who  laughed  off  all  the  remon- 
strances of  ministers  at  her  extravagance 
by  saying,  “Aprbs  nous  le  deluge” 
(Ruin  if  you  like  when  we  are  dead  and 
gone). 

Del'uges  (3  syl.).  The  chief,  besides 
that  recorded  in  the  Bible,  are  the  fol- 
lowing The  deluge  of  Fohi,  the  Chinese ; 
the  Satyavra'ta  of  the  Indians ; the 
XisuthJrus  of  the  Assyrians ; the  Mexican 
deluge  ; and  the  Greek  deluges  of  Deu- 
ca'lion  and  Og'yges. 

De'marus.  The  Jupiter  of  the 
Phoenicians. 

Demi-monde.  Lorettes,  courtezans. 
Le  beau  monde  means  ^^fashionable  so- 
ciety,” and  demi-monde  the  society  only 
half  acknowledged. 

Demi-monde  implies  not  only  recognition  and  a 
status^  but  a certain  social  standing.  — Saturday 
Review, 

Demi-rep.  A woman  whose  charac- 
ter has  been  blown  upon.  Contraction  of 
demi-reputation. 

Demiur'gus  {GreeJc),  in  the  language 
of  Platonists,  means  that  mysterious 
agent  which  made  the  world,  and  all  that 
it  contains.  The  Logos  or  Word  spoken 


Demoe'ritos.  The  laughing  philoso- 
pher of  Ab'dera.  He  should  rather  be 
termed  the  deriding  philosopher,  because 
he  derided  or  laughed  at  people  for  their 
folly  or  vanity.  It  is  said  that  he  put 
out  his  eyes,  that  he  might  think  more 
deeply. 

Democritus,  dear  droll,  revisit  earth, 

And  with  our  follies  glut  thy  heightened  mirth. 

Prior, 


Demodritos  Junior,  Robert  Burton, 
author  of  ^^The  Anatomy  of  Melan- 
choly. (1576-1640.) 


Demod'ocos.  A minstrel  who,  ac- 
cording to  Homer,  sang  the  amours  of 
Mars  and  Venus  in  the  court  of  Alcin'oos, 
while  Ulysses  was  a guest  there. 


Demogorgon.  A terrible  deity, 
whose  very  name  was  capable  of  produc- 
ing the  most  horrible  effects.  Hence 
Milton  speaks  of  the  dreaded  name  of 
Demogorgon”  Paradise  Lost,”  ii.). 
This  tyrant  king  of  the  elves  and  fays 
lived  on  the  Himalayas,  and  once  in  five 
years  summoned  all  his  subjects  before 
him  to  give  an  account  of  their  steward- 
ship. He  was  the  great  power  in  incan- 
tations. The  word  means  demon  of  the 
earth. 


Must  I call  your  master  to  my  aid, 

At  whose  dread  name  the  trembling  furies  quake, 
Hell  stands  abashed,  and  earth’s  foundations  shake  t 
ilowCf*^ Lucan’s  Pharsalia  VI.** 
When  the  moon  arises, 

(Then)  cruel  Demogorgon  walks  his  round, 

And  if  he  finds  a fairy  lag  in  light. 

He  drives  the  wretch  before,  and  lashes  into  night. 

Dryden,  “ The  Flower  and  the  Leaf,* 


Demon  of  Matrimonial  Unhap- 
piness. Asmode'us,  who  slew  the  seven 
husbands  of  Sara. — Tobit. 

Prince  of  Demons.  Asmode'us. — TaU 
mud. 


/ 


220  DEMOSTHENES. 


DEPINGES. 


Demos'tlienes’  Lantern.  A cho- 
ra'gic  monument  erected  to  Lysic'rates, 
in  Athens.  A ^Hripod”  was  awarded  to 
every  one  in  Athens  who  produced  the 
best  drama  or  choral  piece  of  his  tribe. 
The  street  in  which  Demosthenes’  Lantern 
stood  was  full  of  these  tripods. 

Demy'.  A size  of  paper  between 
royal  and  crown.  Its  size  is  20  in.  by 
15  in.  It  is  from  the  French  word  demi 
(half),  and  means  demi-royal  (a  small 
royal),  royal  being  24  in.  by  19  in.  The 
old  water-mark  is  a fleur-de-lis. 

Den.  Evening.  God  ye  good  den  / — 
i.e.y  God  (give)  ye  good  evening. 

Dena'rius.  A Koman  silver  coin, 
equal  in  value  to  ten  ases  {deni-ases). 
The  word  was  used  in  France  and  Eng- 
land for  the  inferior  coins,  whether  silver 
or  copper,  and  for  ready  money  gene- 
rally. 

DenariusDei  (God’s  penny).  An  earnest 
of  a bargain,  which  was  given  to  the 
church  or  poor. 

Denarii  St.  Petri  (Peter’s  pence).  One 
penny  from  each  family,  given  to  the 
pope. 

Denarins  tertius  comita'tus.  One-third 
of  the  pence  of  the  county,  which  was 

aid  to  the  earl.  The  other  two-thirds 

elonged  to  the  crown.  {See  D.) 

Denieli'i  or  De'nix.  A Japanese 
idol,  with  three  heads  and  forty  hands. 
The  heads  symbolise  the  sun,  moon,  and 
elements,  and  the  forty  hands  the  bounty 
of  nature. 

Dennis  {John),  called  the  ^^best 
abused  man  in  England.”  Swift  and 
Pope  satirised  him. 

Den'izen.  A made  citizen — i.e.,  an 
alien  who  has  been  naturalised  by  letters 
patent.  (Old  French,  donaison,  free  gift.) 

De'nouement  {French).  The  unty- 
ing of  a plot,  the  winding  up  of  a novel 
or  play.  {Denouer,  to  unknot.) 

Denys  {St.),  according  to  tradition, 
carried  his  head,  after  martyrdom,  for  six 
miles,  and  then  deliberately  laid  it  down 
on  the  spot  where  stands  the  present 
cathedral  bearing  his  name.  This  absurd 
tale  took  its  rise  from  an  ancient  paint- 
ing, in  which  the  artist,  to  represent  the 
martyrdom  of  the  bishop,  drew  a headless 
body;  but,  in  order  that  the  trunk  might 


be  recognised,  placed  the  head  in  front, 
between  the  martyr’s  hands. 

Sir  Denys  Brand,  in  Grabbers  Bo- 
rough,” is  a country  magnate  who  apes 
humility.  He  rides  on  a sorry  brown 
pony  ^‘not  worth  £5,”  but  mounts  his 
lackey  on  a race-horse,  ^Hwice  victor  for 
a plate.”  Sir  Denys  Brand  is  the  type  of 
a character  by  no  means  uncommon. 

De'odaiid  means  something  given 
to  God”  {deo-dandum).  This  was  the 
case  when  a man  met  with  his  death 
through  injuries  inflicted  by  some  chattel, 
as  by  the  fall  of  a ladder,  the  toss  of  a 
bull,  or  the  kick  of  a horse.  In  such  cases 
the  cause  of  death  was  sold,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds given  to  the  church.  The  custom 
was  based  on  the  doctrine  of  purgatory. 
As  the  person  was  sent  to  his  account 
without  the  sacrament  of  extreme  unction, 
the  money  thus  raised  served  to  pay  for 
masses  for  his  repose.  Deodands  were 
abolished  September  1,  1846. 

Depart.  To  part  thoroughly ; to 
separate  effectually.  The  marriage  ser- 
vice in  the  ancient  prayer-books  had, 
^Hill  death  us  depart,”  or,  till  alimony 
or  death  us  departs,”  a sentence  which 
has  been  corrupted  into  ‘Hill  death  us 
do  part.” 

Before  they  settle  hands  and  hearts. 

Till  alimony  or  death  departs. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,"  iii.  S. 

Depart'ment.  France  is  divided 
into  departments,  as  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  are  divided  into  counties  or 
shires.  From  1768  it  was  divided  into 
governments,  of  which  thirty- two  were 
grand  and  eight  petit.  In  1790,  by  a 
decree  of  the  Constituent  Assembly,  it 
was  mapped  out  de  novo  into  eighty- 
three  departments.  In  1804  the  number 
of  departments  was  increased  to  107,  and 
in  1812  to  130.  In  1815  the  territory  was 
reduced  to  eighty-six  departments,  and 
continued  so  till  1860,  when  Savoy  and 
Nice  were  added.  The  present  number 
is  eighty-six. 

Dep'inges  (2  syl.)  or  Deep'ings.  A 
breadth  of  netting  to  be  sewed  on  a 
hoddy  (net)  to  make  it  sufficiently  large. 
Sometimes  the  breadth  is  called  a depth, 
and  the  act  of  sewing  one  depth  on 
another  is  called  deepening  the  net.  In 
1574  the  Dutch  settlers  at  Yarmouth 
were  required  “ to  provide  themselves 
with  twine  and  depinges  in  foreign 
places.” 


DEPUTATIONS. 


DEUCALION. 


221 


Deputa'^tions.  The  year  of  the  depu- 
tations.  The  eighth  of  the  Hedj'rah, 
after  Mahomet’s  victory  over  the  Arabs 
near  Ta’if,  vrhen  deputations  from  all 
parts  flocked  to  do  him  homage. 

Depu'te  (2  syl.).  To  depute  means 
to  prune  or  cut  off  a part ; deputation 
is  the  part  cut  off.  A deputation  is  a 
slip  cut  off  to  represent  the  whole. 
(Latin,  depii'to.) 

Der  Freisdiiitz.  The  most  Ger- 
man and  best  of  Weber’s  operas.  {See 
Freischutz.) 

Derbend  [iron  gates).  A narrow  pass 
in  the  mountains  of  Bulga'ria,  and  a 
town  in  the  province  of  Schirvan'. 

Beyond  the  Caspian’s  Iron  Gates. 

JIfoore,  “ Fire  Worshippers.  ” 

Derby  Stakes.  Started  by  Edward 
Smith  Stanley,  the  twelfth  earl  of  Derby, 
in  1780,  the  year  after  his  establishment 
of  the  Oaks  stakes  (q.v.). 

The  Derly  Day  is  the  day  when  the 
Derby  stakes  are  run  for ; it  is  the 
second  Wednesday  of  the  great  Epsom 
Spring  Meeting,  in  May. 

Deri've  (2  syl.)  means  ^^backtoits 
channel  or  source  ” (Latin,  de  rivo).  The 
Latin  rivus  (a  river)  does  not  mean  the 
stream  or  current,  but  the  source  whence 
it  flows,  or  the  channel  through  which  it 
runs.  As  Ulpiansays,  ^‘Fons  sive  locus 
per  longitu'dinem  depressus,  quo  aqua 
decurrat.” 

Der'rick.  A hangman  ; a temporary 
crane  to  remove  goods  from  the  hold  of 
a vessel.  So  called  from  Derrick,  the 
Tyburn  hangman  early  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  who  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years  gave  his  name  to  gibbets. 
{See  Hangman.  ) 

He  rides  circuit  with  the  devil,  and  Derrick  must 
be  his  host,  and  Tyborne  the  inn  at  which  he  will 
light. — Bellman  0/  London."  (1616.) 

Derry  Down.  This  chorus,  says 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  is  not  only  as  old  as 
the  heptarchy,  but  even  as  the  Dmidical 
times.  It  was  the  chorus  to  the  hymns 
sung  by  the  Druids  when  they  went  in 
grand  procession  to  gather  mistletoe. — 

Ivanhoef  c.  xvii. 

Der'wentwa'ter.  Lord  Derwent- 
water's  Lights.  The  Auro'ra  borea'lis ; 
^o  called  from  James,  earl  of  Derwent- 
water,  beheaded  for  rebellion  24th  Feb., 


1716.  It  is  said  that  the  northern  lights 
were  unusually  brilliant  on  that  night. 

Desdemo'na  (in  Shakespeare’s 

Othello^).  Daughter  of  Brabantio. 
She  fell  in  love  with  Othello,  and  eloped 
with  him.  lago,  acting  on  the  jealous 
temper  of  the  Moor,  made  him  believe 
that  his  wife  had  an  intrigue  with  Cassio, 
and  in  confirmation  of  this  statement 
told  the  Moor  that  she  had  given  Cassio 
a pocket-handkerchief,  the  fact  being 
that  lago’s  wife  had  purloined  it.  Othello 
asked  his  bride  for  it,  but  she  was  un- 
able to  find  it ; whereupon  the  Moor 
murdered  her  and  then  stabbed  himself. 

She  . . . was  ready  to  listen  and  weep,  like  Desde- 
mona,  at  the  stories  of  his  dangers  and  campaigns.— 
Thackeray. 

Desmas,  Dismas,  or  Dimas  (St.). 
The  penitent  thief  is  so  called  in  the 
ancient  mysteries. 

Despair.  The  Giant  Despair,  in 
Bunyan’s  “ Pilgrim’s  Progress,”  lived  in 

Doubting  Castle.”  Finding  Christian 
and  Hopeful  asleep,  he  locked  them  up 
in  his  dungeon  ; but  Christian  had  a key 
which  opened  the  door,  and  they  made 
their  escape. 

Dessert'  means  simply  the  cloth  re- 
moved (French,  desservir,  to  clear  the 
cloth) ; and  dessert  is  that  which  comes 
after  the  cloth  is  removed. 

Destruction.  Prince  of  Destruction. 
Tamerlane  or  Timour  the  Tartar.  (1335, 
1360-1405.) 

Des'ultory.  Those  who  rode  two  or 
more  horses  in  the  circus  of  Rome,  and 
used  to  leap  from  one  to  the  other,  were 
called  desulto'res ; hence  desuitor  came  in 
Latin  to  mean  one  inconstant,  or  who 
went  from  one  thing  to  another;  and 
desultory  means  after  the  manner  of  a 
desuitor. — Adam,  Roman  Antiquities'* 

Detest'  is  simply  to  witness  against. 
(Latin,  de-testor.) 

Deuca'lion.  {See  Bones.) 

Deucalion's  Flood.  According  to  Greek 
mythology,  Deucalion  was  a king  of  Thes- 
saly, in  whose  reign  the  whole  world  was 
covered  with  a deluge  in  consequence  of 
the  great  impiety  of  man.  (See  Deluges.) 

Old  Ocean,  too,  sucked  thro’  the  porous  globe, 

Had  long  ere  now  forsook  his  horrid  bed. 

And  brought  Deucalion’s  watery  times  again. 

^'homson^  * 'Autumn,  ’ 


/ 


222  DEUCE. 


DEVIL. 


Deuce  and  In'cubus.  The  night- 
mare. Tn'cubus  is  the  Latin  iii'cubo  (to 
lie  on),  and  deuce  is  the  Greek  cluso  (to 
sit  on).  Nightmares  were  by  the  Celts 
suijposed  to  be  caused  by  demons  called 
Dusiens  sitting  on  the  chest  of  a sleeper. 
St.  A^ustin,  in  his  ^^De  civita'te  Dei,’' 
mentions  them — Quosdam  dm'mones, 
quos  du'sios  Galli  nun'cupant”  (xv.  23). 
Dr.  Whitaker  says  Deuce  was  a goddess 
nymph  of  the  Brigan'tes ; but  Sharon 
Turner  says  it  appeared  to  men  as  a 
female,  and  to  women  as  a male  daemon. 

Deuce,  The  Deuce  is  in  you;  Deuce 
'.ake  you;  What  the  Deuce  is  the  matter  1 
These  all  refer  to  the  daemon  Deuce, 
mentioned  above.  {See  Play  the  Deuce.) 

Deuce.  The  two  of  cards  or  dice 
(French,  deux).  The  three  is  called 
‘^Tray”  (French,  trois ; Latin,  tres). 

A gentleman  being  punched  by  a butcher’s  tray, 
exclaimed,  “Deuce  take  the  tray.”  “Well,”  said 
the  boy,  “ I don’t  know  how  the  deuce  is  to  take  the 
tray.”— Jest  Boole. 

Deus  (2  syl. ).  Deus  ex  ma' china.  The 
intervention  of  a god  or  some  unlikely 
event  in  order  to  extricate  the  difficulties 
into  which  a clumsy  author  has  involved 
himself  ; any  forced  incident,  such  as  the 
arrival  of  a rich  uncle  from  the  Indies  to 
help  a young  couple  in  their  pecuniary 
embarrassments.  To  prove  that  the 
stars  are  inhabited  because  God  is  omni- 
potent is  to  bring  in  a deus  ex  ma' china. 
Literally,  it  means  ^'a  god  (let  down 
upon  the  stage  or  flying  in  the  air)  by 
machinery.” 

Deutas.  The  good  genii  of  Indian 
mythology.  They  dwell  at  Sorgon,  the 
paradise  of  the  demi-gods. 

De'va’s  Vale.  The  valley  of  the 
river  Dee  or  Deva,  in  Cheshire,  cele- 
brated for  its  pastures  and  dairy  produce. 

He  chose  a farm  in  Deva’s  vale, 

Where  his  long  alleys  peeped  upon  the  main. 

Thomson^  “ Castle  of  Indolence;’  canto  ii. 

Deven'dren,  king  of  the  demigods, 
who  lived  in  Sorgon  {paradise')^  where  he 
presided  over  330,000  divinities.  He  is 
represented  full  of  eyes,  and  with  four 
hands,  and  sits  on  an  elephant.  {Indian 
mythology. ) 

Devil,  The  Irish  is  diahhail,  which, 
according  to  O’Brien,  is  dia-hhal  (god  of 
the  air) ; Welsh,  diaul,  said  by  Owen  to 
be  di-awl  (not  light) — i.e.,  the  god  of 
darkness,  and  duwioli  (to  deify) ; Saxon, 


diafol;  Dutch,  durvel;  Swedish,  diefvul; 
Danish,  dicerel;  Russian,  diavol ; Tartar, 
diof.  The  gipsy  Petulengro  being  asked 
what  he  called  God,  answered  duvel,  and 
godly  he  called  duvelshoe.  The  evil 
spirit  the  gipsies  call  Beng.  Mr.  Barrow 
says  the  Hungarian  gipsies  call  God 
Devlis.  In  this  list  the  Latin  and  Greek 
didbol  has  been  purposely  omitted.  {See 
Auld  Hornie.) 

Devil  is  always  represented  with  a 
cloven  foot,  because  by  the  Rabbinical 
writers  the  devil  is  often  called  seirissim 
(a  goat) ; and  the  type  of  Satan  was  a 
hairy  goat.  As  the  goat  is  a type  of 
uncleanness,  the  prince  of  unclean  spirits 
is  aptly  represented  under  this  emblem. 

A Printer's  Devil.  Formerly  the  boy 
who  took  the  printed  sheets  from  the 
tympan  of  the  press.  Old  Moxon  says, 
^^They  do  commonly  so  black  and  bedaub 
themselves,  that  the  workmen  do  jocosely 
call  them  devils.”  The  errand-boy  is 
now  so  called,  because  he  is  the  servus 
servdrum  of  the  establishment ; and  the 
word  was  at  one  time  used  to  signify  a 
wretched,  poor,  persecuted,  or  ill-used 
creature. 

Robert  the  Devil,  of  Normandy.  So 
called  because  his  father  was  said  to 
have  been  a Nightmare,  or  rather  an 
In'cubus.  {See  Robert  le  Dtable.) 

The  French  Devil.  Jean  Bart,  an  in- 
trepid French  sailor,  born  at  Dunkirk, 
(1650-1702.) 

The  White  Devil  of  Walla' chia.  George 
Castrio'ta  was  so  called  by  the  Turks. 
(1404-1407.) 

Cheating  the  Devil.  Mincing  an  oath  ; 
doing  evil  for  gain,  and  giving  part  of 
the  profits  to  the  church,  &c.  It  is  by 
no  means  unusual  in  monkish  traditions. 
Thus  the  ‘^Devil’s  Bridge”  is  a single 
arch  over  a cataract.  It  is  said  that  his 
Satanic  majesty  had  knocked  down  seve- 
ral bridges,  but  promised  the  abbot 
Giraldus  of  Einsiedel  to  let  this  one 
stand,  provided  the  abbot  would  consign 
to  him  the  first  living  thing  that  crossed 
it.  When  the  bridge  was  finished,  the 
abbot  threw  across  it  a loaf  of  bread, 
which  a hungry  dog  ran  after,  and  the 
rocks  re-echoed  with  peals  of  laughter  to 
see  the  devil  thus  defeated.” — Long- 
fellow, Golden  Legend,"  v. 

Rabelais  says  that  a farmer  once  bar- 
gained with  the  devil  for  each  to  have  on 
alternate  years  what  grew  under  and 
over  the  soil.  The  cannie  farmer  sowed 


DEVIL. 


DEVIL. 


223 


carrots  and  turnips  when  it  was  his  turn 
to  have  the  under-soil  share,  and  wheat 
and  barley  the  year  following. 

Gone  to  the  Devil.  To  ruin.  The  Devil 
and  St.  Dunstan  was  the  sign  of  a public- 
house  near  Temple  Bar,  much  frequented 
by  lawyers.  When  they  went  to  dinner, 
they  placed  a notice  on  their  door,  “Gone 
to  the  Devil,”  and  as  those  who  neglected 
their  work  were  constantly  absent  from 
their  rooms,  the  expression  came  to  sig- 
nify “Gone  to  the  bad.” 

Dined  to-day  with  Dr.  Garth  and  Mr.  Addiscn  at 
the  Devil  Tavern,  near  Temple  Bar,  and  Garth 
treated.— iSw/f,  “ Letter  to  Stella.” 

Son  of  the  Devil.  Ezzeli'no,  chief  of  the 
Gibelins,  and  governor  of  Vicenza,  was  so 
called  for  his  infamous  cruelties.  1215- 
1259.) 

Fierce  Ezelin,  that  most  inhuman  lord. 

Who  shall  be  deemed  by  men  the  child  of  hell. 

Rose,  “ Orlando  Furioso,’’  iii.  32. 

Talk  of  the  devil  and  he’s  sure  to  come. 
Said  of  a person  who  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  conversation,  and  who  unex- 
pectedly makes  his  appearance.  An 
older  proverb  still  is,  “ Talk  of  the  dule, 
an  he’ll  put  out  his  horns ; ” but  the 
modern  euphemism  is,  “Talk  of  an 
angel,  and  you’ll  see  its  wings.”  If 
“from  the  fulness  of  the  heart  the 
mouth  speaketh,”  their  heart  must  be 
full  of  the  evil-one  who  talk  about  him, 
and  if  the  heart  is  full  of  him  he  cannot 
be  far  off. 

Since  therefore  ’tis  to  combat  evil, 

’Tis  lawful  to  employ  tke  Devil. 

Forthwith  the  Devil  did  appear, 

For  name  him  and  he’s  always  near. 

Prior,  “ Hans  Carvel.” 

The  Devil  and  his  Dam.  The  devil 
and  his  demons.  This  expression  occurs 
six  times  in  Shakespeare.  {See  fourth 
article fiirther  on.) 

The  Devil  and  Dr.  Faustus.  Faust 
was  the  first  printer  of  Bibles,  and 
issued  a large  number  in  imitation  of 
those  sold  as  manuscripts.  These  he 
passed  off  in  Paris  as  genuine,  and  sold 
for  sixty  crowns  apiece,  the  usual  price 
being  500  crowns.  The  uniformity  of 
the  books,  their  rapid  supply,  and  their 
unusual  cheapness,  excited  astonishment. 
Information  was  laid  against  him  for 
magic,  and  in  searching  his  lodgings  the 
brilliant  red  ink  with  which  his  copies 
were  adorned  was  declared  to  be  his 
blood.  He  was  charged  with  dealings 
with  the  devil,  and  condemned  to  be 
burnt  alive.  To  save  himself,  he  re- 


vealed his  secret  to  the  Paris  Parlement, 
and  his  invention  became  the  admiration 
of  the  world.  N.B.— This  tradition  is  not 
to  be  accepted  as  history. 

The  Devil  and  Tom  Walker.  An  Ame- 
rican proverb,  used  as  a caution  to 
usurers.  Tom  Walker  was  a poor  miserly 
man,  born  at  Massachusetts  in  1727,  and 
it  is  said  that  he  sold  himself  to  the 
devil  for  wealth.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
Tom  suddenly  became  very  rich,  and 
opened  a counting-house  at  Boston,  dur- 
ing the  money  panic  which  prevailed  in 
the  time  of  governor  Belcher.  By  usury 
he  grew  richer  and  richer  ; but  one  day, 
as  he  was  foreclosing  a mortgage  with  a 
poor  land-jobber,  a black  man  on  a black 
horse  knocked  at  the  office  door.  Tom 
went  to  open  it,  and  was  never  seen 
again.  Of  course  the  good  people  of 
Boston  searched  his  office,  but  all  his 
coffers  were  found  empty ; and  during 
the  night  his  house  caught  fire,  and 
was  burnt  to  the  groundi.— Washington 
Irving,  “ Tales  of  a Traveller.” 

The  Devil  catch  the  hindmost.  In  Scot- 
land it  is  said  when  a class  of  students 
have  made  a certain  progress  in  their 
mystic  studies,  they  are  obliged  to  run 
through  a subterranean  hall,  and  the 
last  man  is  seized  by  the  devil,  and 
becomes  his  imp. 

The  Devil  is  heating  his  mother  (Ger- 
man). Said  when  rain  and  sunshine 
quickly  alternate.  The  old  German  and 
Norse  mythologies  speak  of  male  and 
female  demons,  the  latter  mild  and 
gentle,  and  Ulfilas  translates  daimon  by 
unhultho  (she-devils).  The  Germans 
say,  “Where  the  devil  cannot  come, 
there  he  sends  his  grandmother  ” — mean- 
ing, where  a malignant  tempter  will  not 
succeed,  a mild  and  insinuating  tempta- 
tion will. 

The  devil  must  he  striking  (German). 
Said  when  it  thunders.  The  old  Norse 
Donar  means  Thor,  equal  to  Jupiter,  the 
god  of  thunder,  and  donner  is  the  Ger  - 
man for  thunder  or  devil,  as  may  be 
seen  in  the  expression,  “The  run-away 
goose  is  gone  to  the  devil  {donner).” 

The  devil  to  'pay.  The  entire  sentence 
is.  The  devil  to  pay,  and  no  pitch  hot.  To 
“ pay  ” the  seams  of  a ship  is  to  pitch 
them  with  hot  pitch.  (French,  payer, 
from  paix,  poix,  pitch ; Latin,  pix.) 
Devil  is  any  dirty  slab ; hence,  “ The 
devil  to  pay,  and  no  pitch  hot,”  means, 
the  slab  is  come  to  pitch  the  seams  of 


224 


DEVIL. 


DIABLE. 


the  ship,  and  there  is  no  pitch  hot — i.e., 
there  is  nothing  ready,  our  money  is  all 
thrown  away.  Hence,  Here’s  the  very 
devil  to  pay  ” means,  here’s  a shocking 
waste  of  money.  The  Devil  to  Pay”  is 
the  name  of  a farce  by  Jobson  and  Nelly. 

To  kindle  a fire  for  the  devil  is  to  offer 
sacrifice,  to  do  what  is  really  sinful, 
under  the  delusion  that  you  are  doing 
God  service. 

To  hold  a candle  to  the  devil  is  to 
abet  an  evildoer  out  of  fawning  fear. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  story  of  an  old 
woman  who  set  one  wax  taper  before  the 
image  of  St.  Michael,  and  another  before 
the  devil  whom  he  was  trampling  under 
foot.  Being  reproved  for  paying  such 
honour  to  Satan,  she  naively  replied : 

Ye  see,  your  honour,  it  is  quite  un- 
certain which  place  I shall  go  to  at  last, 
and  sure  you  will  not  blame  a poor 
woman  for  securing  a friend  in  each.” 

Devil’s  Arrows  (Yorkshire). 
Three  remarkable  Druid  ” stones,  near 
Boroughbridge,  similar  to  Harold's 
Stonesj  and  probably  marking  some  boun- 
dary. 

Devil’s  Bones.  Dice,  which  are 
made  of  bones  and  lead  to  ruin. 

Devil’s  Books.  Playing  cards.  A 
Presbyterian  phrase  used  in  reproof  of 
the  term  King’s  Books,  applied  to  a 
pack  of  cards  from  the  French  livre  des 
quatre  rois  (the  book  of  the  four  kings). 

Devil’s  Bridge.  {See  Cheating 
THE  Devil.) 

Devil’s  Candle.  So  the  Arabs  call 
the  mandrake,  from  its  shining  appear- 
ance at  night.  — Richardson, 

Those  hellish  fires  that  light 
The  mandrake’s  charnel  leaves  at  night. 

T.  Moore^  “ Fire  Worshippers.’* 

Devil’s  Den.  A cromlech  in  a val. 
ley,  near  Marlborough,  It  now  con- 
sists of  two  large  uprights  and  an  impost. 
The  third  upright  has  fallen.  Some  of 
the  farm  labourers  a few  years  ago 
fastened  a team  of  horses  to  the  impost 
and  tried,  but  without  effect,  to  drag  it 
down. 

In  the  valley  are  a vast  number  of  huge 
sandstones  called  Sarsens  (Sarsdens),  or 
when  unbroken.  Grey  Wethers. 

Devil’s  Dust.  The  dust  and  sweep- 
ings of  cloth,  made  into  a fabric  by  gum 
and  pressure,  Mr.  Ferrand  introduced  [ 


the  subject  to  the  attention  of  Parlia- 
ment, March  4,  1842.  It  is  so  called 
from  the  dishonesty  and  falsehood  which 
it  covers. 

Devil’s  Own.  The  88th  Foot.  So 
called  by  General  Picton  from  their 
great  bravery  in  battle  and  great  dis- 
order in  camp. 

Applied  also  to  the  Inns  of  Court 
Volunteers,  the  members  of  which  are 
lawyers. 

Devil’s  Throat  {The).  Cromer  bay. 
So  called  from  its  danger  to  navigation. 

Devon.  Saxon  defn-afon  (deep 
water),  contracted  into  deFon  or  dev'on> 

Devonshire,  according  to  English 
mythology,  is  a corruption  of  Devon’s- 
share.  This  Devon  was  one  of  the  heroes 
who  came  with  Brute  from  Troy.  One 
of  the  giants  that  he  slew  in  the  south 
coasts  of  England  was  Coulin,  whom  he 
chased  to  a vast  pit,  eight  leagues  across. 
The  monster  trying  to  leap  this  pit,  fell 
backwards,  and  lost  his  life  in  the  chasm. 
When  Brutus  allotted  out  the  island,  this 
portion  became  Devon’s-share. 

And  eke  that  ample  pit,  yet  far  renowned 
For  the  great  leap  which  D ebon  did  compell 

Coulin  to  make,  being  eight  lugs  of  grownd, 

Into  the  which  retour  uing  back  he  fell. . . 

In  mede  of  these  great  conquests  by  them  got 
Con'neus  had  that  province  utmost  west.. 

And  Debon’s  share  was  that  is  Devonshire. 

Spenser ^ “ Faery  Queen,''  ii.  10. 

Devonshire  Poet.  0.  Jones,  a 
journeyman  wool-comber,  who  lived  at 
the  close  of  the  last  century. 

Dew-beaters.  The  feet ; shoes  to 
resist  the  wet. 

Hold  out  your  dew-beaters  till  I take  off  the 
darbies  (iron  shoes  or  fetters).— PeyeriZ  of  the  PeaJe. 

D ew-drink.  A draught  before 
breakfast.  In  harvest  the  men  are  al- 
lowed, in  some  counties,  a drink  of  beer 
before  they  begin  work.  Deiv-hit  is  a 
snack  before  breakfast. 

Dgellabss^an.  The  Persian  era. 
Dgella  Eddin,  son  of  Togrul  Beg,  ap- 
pointed eight  astronomers  to  reform  the 
calendar.  The  era  began  a.d.  10/5,  and 
is  followed  to  this  day. 

DhuPdul.  The  famous  horse  of  Ali 
son-in-law  of  Mahomet. 

Diable  {Le).  Olivier  Ledain,  the  t. 
of  Louis  XI.,  and  once  the  king’s  barber. 
So  called  because  he  was  as  much  feared 


DIADEM. 


DIANORA. 


225 


as  his  Satanic  majesty,  and  even  more 
disliked.  (Hung  1484.) 

Diable,  Robert  le  Diable,”  Meyer- 
beer’s grand  opera.  {See  Robert.  ) 

Di'adem  meant,  originally,  a fillet 
wound  round  the  head.  The  diadem  of 
Bacchus  was  a broad  band,  which  might 
be  unfolded  so  as  to  make  a veil.  Con- 
stantine the  Great  was  the  first  of  the 
Roman  emperors  who  wore  a diadem. 
After  his  time  it  was  set  with  rows  of 
pearls  and  precious  stones.  (Greek,  deo, 
to  bind.) 

Dialec'tics.  Metaphysics  ; the  art 
of  disputation  ; that  strictly  logical  dis- 
cussion which  leads  to  reliable  results. 
The  product  or  result  is  ideas,  which, 
being  classified,  produce  knowledge  ; but 
all  knowledge  being  of  the  divine  types, 
must  conduce  more  or  less  to  practical 
results  and  good  morals.  (Greek,  dia- 
lego,  to  speak  thoroughly.) 

The  following  questions  from  John 
of  Salisbury  are  fair  specimens  of  the 
Middle-age  "subjects  of  discussion  : — 

(1)  When  a person  buys  a whole  cloals,  does  the 
cowl  belong  to'  his  purchase  ? 

(2)  When  a hog  is  driven  to  market  with  a rope 
round  its  neck,  does  the  man  or  the  rope  take  him  ? 

Di'amond.  A corruption  of  ada- 
mant. So  called  because  the  diamond, 
which  cuts  other  substances,  can  be  cut 
or  polished  with  no  substance  but  itself. 
(Greek,  a damaOj  what  cannot  be  sub- 
dued.) 

Di'amond  (3  syl.).  Son  of  Ag'ape,  a 
fairy.  He  was  very  strong,  and  fought 
either  on  foot  or  horse  with  a battle-axe. 
He  was  slain  in  single  combat  by  Cam'- 
balo.  {See  Triamond.)— Faery 
Queen,’*  bk.  iv. 

Diamond  cut  diamond.  Cunning  out- 
witting cunning;  a hard  bargain  over- 
reached. A diamond  is  so  hard  that  it 
can  only  be  ground  by  diamond  dust,  or 
by  rubbing  one  against  another. 

A diamond  of  the  first  ivater.  A man 
of  the  highest  merit.  The  colour  or 
lustre  of  a pearl  or  diamond  is  called  its 

water.”  One  of  the  ‘‘first  water”  is 
one  of  the  best  colour  and  most  brilliant 
lustre.  We  say  also,  “A  man  of  the 
first  water.” 

The  Diamond  Jousts.  Jousts  insti- 
tuted by  king  Arthur,  “who  by  that 
name  had  named  them,  since  a diamond 
was  the  prize.”  Ere  he  was  king,  he 
came,  by  accident,  to  a glen  in  Lyonnesse, 


where  two  brothers  had  met  in  combat. 
Each  was  slain  ; but  one  had  worn  a 
crown  of  diamonds,  which  Arthur  picked 
up,  and  when  he  became  king  offered 
the  nine  diamonds  as  the  prize  of  nine 
several  jousts,  “one  every  year,  a joust 
for  one.”  Lancelot  had  won  eight,  and 
intended  to  present  them  all  to  the 
queen  “when  all  were  won.”  When  the 
knight  laid  them  before  the  queen, 
Guinevere,  in  a fit  of  jealousy,  flung  them 
out  of  the  palace  window  into  the  river 
which  ran  hQ\oY7 .—Idylls  of  the  King, 

Elaine.** 

Diamonds.  {See  Black.) 

Dian'a  (3  syl.).  The  temple  of  Diana 
at  Eph'esus  was  set  on  fire  by  Heros'tra- 
tos,  for  the  sake  of  perpetuating  his 
name.  The  lonians  decreed  that  any 
one  who  mentioned  his  name  should  be 
put  to  death,  but  this  very  decree  gave 
it  immortality. 

Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians.  No- 
thing like  leather  ; self-interest  blinds 
the  eyes.  Derae'trios  was  a silversmith 
of  Eph'esus,  who  made  gold  and  silver 
shrines  for  the  temple  of  Diana.  When 
Christianity  was  preached  in  the  city, 
and  there  was  danger  of  substituting  the 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel  for  the  grandeur 
of  idolatry,  the  silversmiths,  headed  by 
Demetrios,  stirred  the  people  to  a riot, 
and  they  cried  out  with  one  voice  for 
the  space  of  two  hours,  “Great  is  Diana 
of  the  Ephesians  ! ” 

Dian’s  Worshippers.  Midnight 
revellers.  So  called  because  they  return 
home  by  moonlight,  and  Dian  means  the 
moon. 

Diano'ra  was  the  wife  of  Gilbeido  of 
Friu'li,  but  was  passionately  beloved  by 
Ansaldo.  In  order  to  get  rid  of  his 
importunity,  she  told  him  she  would 
never  grant  his  suit  and  prove  untrue 
till  he  made  her  garden  at  midwinter  as 
full  of  flowers  and  odours  as  if  it  were 
midsummer.  By  the  aid  of  a magician, 
Ansaldo  accomplished  this,  and  claimed 
his  reward.  Diano'ra  went  to  meet  him, 
and  told  him  she  had  obeyed  the  com- 
mand of  her  husband  in  so  doing.  An- 
saldo, not  to  be  outdone  in  courtesy, 
released  her;  and  Gilberto  became  the 
firm  friend  of  Ansaldo  trom  that  day  to 
the  end  of  his  Boccaccio,  Deca- 

mcrouj*  day  x.  5.  {See  Dorigen.) 

P 


226 


DIAPASON. 


DIE. 


Diapa'son.  Dryden  says — 

Trom  haxmony,  from  heavenly  harmony 
The  universal  frame  began ; 

From  harmony  to  harmony 

Thro’  all  the  compass  of  the  notes  it  ran, 

The  diapason  closing  full  in  man. 

Song  for  St.  Cecilia's  Bay. 

According  to  the  Pythagore'an  system, 
the  world  is  a piece  of  harmony,  and 
man  the  full  chord,  which  consists  of  a 
fundamental  or  tonic,  its  major  third,  its 
just  fifth,  and  its  octave. 


% 

From  this  diagram  it  will  be  seen  at  a 
glance  that  dia-pason  {through  all)  means 
the  complete  chord,  or,  according  to 
another  system,  a ‘^microcosm  of  nature.” 
Man  touches  Deity,  passes  through  all 
the  planets,  and  touches  earth.  It  is 
because  he  touches  Deity  that  he  has  an 
immortal  soul,  and  it  is  because  he  runs 
through  the  planets  that  the  planets  in- 
fluence his  nature.  {See  Microcosm.) 

Diar  or  Drottnar.  A kind  of  priest, 
twelve  of  whom  presided  over  the  tem- 
ples of  Odin.  {Scandinavian  mythology.) 

Diav'olo  {Fra).  Michele  Pezza,  an  in- 
surgent of  Cala'bria.  (1760-1806.)  Scribe 
wrote  a libretto  on  this  hero  for  Auber. 

Dibs  or  Dihhs.  Money.  A college 
perversion  of  diohs  — ^.e.,  diobolus,  a 
classic  coin  equal  to  2^d.  The  school- 
boy word  tip  is  another  form  of  dibbs, 
as  in  the  phrase,  He  gave  me  a famous 
tip  ^^e.,  present  of  money. 

The  huckle-bones  of  sheep  used  for 
gambling  purposes  are  called  dibbs ; and 
Locke  speaks  of  stones  used  for  the  same 
game,  which  he  calls  dihstones. 

Dieilla  (in  Orlando  Furioso”).  One 
of  Logistilla’s  handmaids,  famous  for  her 
chastity. 

Dick.  That  happened  in  th^_  reign  of 
queen  Dich — i.e.,  never  j there  never  was 
a queen  Richard, 


Dick’s  Hatband. 

(1.)  As  tight  as  Fields  hathand.  The 
hatband  of  Richard  Cromwell  was  the 
crown,  which  was  too  tight  for  him  to 
wear  with  safety. 

(2.)  Fields  hatband f which  was  made  of 
sand.  His  regal  honours  were  ^'a  rope 
of  sand.” 

(3.)  As  queer  as  Fields  hatband.  Few 
things  have  been  more  ridiculous  than 
the  exaltation  and  abdication  of  the 
Protector’s  son. 

(4. ) As  fine  as  Fields  hatband.  The 
crown  of  England  would  be  a very 
fine  thing  for  any  one  to  get. 

Dickens.  A perverted  oath,  cor- 
rupted from  ^^Nick.”  Mrs.  Pago 
says — 

I cannot  tell  what  the  dickens  his  name  is. 
Shakespeare,  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,"  iii.  2. 

Dickey  or  Fichy.  A donkey ; an- 
ciently called  a Dick-ass,  now  termed 
Jack-ass.  It  is  a term  of  endearment, 
as  we  call  a pet  bird  a dichy-bird.  The 
ass  is  called  Dick-y  (little  Richard), 
Cuddy  (little  Cuthbert),  Neddy  (little 
Edward),  Jack-ass,  Moke  or  Mike,  &c. 

Fichey.  The  rumble  behind  a car- 
riage ; also  a leather  apron,  a child’s  bib, 
and  a false  shirt  or  front.  All  these  are 
from  the  same  root  (Dutch,  dehhen;  Ger- 
man, decken;  Saxon,  thecan;  Latin,  tego, 
to  cover). 

Dicta'tor  of  Letters.  Francois 
Marie  Arouet  de  Voltaire,  called  the 
Great  Pan.  (1694-1778.) 

Didactic  Poetry  is  poetry  that 
teaches  some  moral  lesson,  as  Pope’s 

Essay  on  Man.”  (Greek,  didasko,  I 
teach). 

Diddler  {Jeremy').  An  artful  swin- 
dler ; a clever,  seedy  vagabond,  borrow- 
ing money  or  obtaining  credit  by  his  wit 
and  wits.  From  Kenny’s  farce  called 

Raising  the  Wind.” 

Did'erick.  {See  Dietrich.) 

DFdo.  It  was  Person  who  said  he 
could  rhyme  on  any  subject,  and  being 
asked  to  rhyme  upon  the  three  Latin 
gerunds,  gave  this  couplet — 

When  Dido  found  Eneas  would  not  come, 

She  mourned  in  silence,  and  was  Di-do  dum(b). 

Die.  The  die  is  cast.  The  step  is 
taken,  and  I cannot  draw  back.  So  said 
J ulius  Caesar  when  he  crossed  the  Rubicon. 
I have  set  my  life  upon  the  cast. 

And  I will  stand  the  hazard  of  the  dye. 

Shakespeare,  “ Richard  III,"  v.  4. 


BIE-HAUDS. 


DILIGENCE. 


227 


Die-hards.  The  57th  Foot,  so  called 
from  their  gallantry  at  Albue'ra. 

Dies  Irae.  A famous  mediaeval  hymn 
on  the  last  judgment,  probably  the  com- 
position of  Thomas  of  Cela'no,  a native 
of  Abruzzi,  who  died  in  1255.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  has  introduced  the  former  part  of 
it  into  his  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel.” 
Dies  iroe,  dies  ilia, 

Solvet  saeclura  in  favilla, 

Teste  David  cum  Sibylla. 

On  that  day,  that  day  of  ire, 

Saith  the  King  of  Wisdom’s  sire. 

Earth  shall  melt  with  fervent  fire. 

Dies  Non.  A non-business  day. 
A law  phrase,  meaning  a day  when  the 
courts  do  not  sit,  as  on  Sundays;  the 
Purification,  in  Hilary  term ; the  Ascen- 
sion, in  Easter  term  ; St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist, in  Trinity  term  ; and  All  Saints  with 
All  Souls,  in  Michaelmas  term. 

Dies  San'guinis.  The  24th  March, 
called  Bello'na’s  Day,  when  the  Koman 
votaries  of  the  war-goddess  cut  them- 
selves and  drank  the  sacrificial  blood  to 
propitiate  the  deity. 

Dietrich.  (2  syl.),  of  Berne  or  Vero'na, 
a name  given  by  the  German  minne- 
sangers  {minstrels)  to  Theod'oric  the 
Great,  king  of  the  Ostrogoths.  One  of  the 
liegemen  of  king  Etzel.  In  the  terrible 
broil  stirred  up  by  queen  Kriemhild  in 
the  banquet- hall  of  the  Hunnish  king, 
after  the  slaughter  of  Sir  Budiger,  his 
friend  Dietrich  interfered,  and  succeeded 
in  taking  prisoners  the  only  two  surviving 
Burgundians,  kings  Gunther  and  Hagan, 
whom  he  handed  over  to  Kriemhild, 
praying  that  she  would  set  them  free, 
but  the  angry  queen  cut  off  both  their 
heads  with  her  own  hands. — The  Nihe- 
lungen-Lied. 

Dieu.  Dieu  et  mon  droit  (God  and  my 
right).  The  [parole  of  Eichard  I.  at  the 
battle  of  Gisors  (1198),  meaning  that  he 
was  no  vassal  of  France,  but  owed  his 
royalty  to  God  alone.  As  the  French 
were  signally  beaten,  the  battle-word  was 
adopted  as  the  royal  motto  of  England. 

Difference.  Ophelia  says  to  the 
Queen,  ^^You  may  wear  your  rue  with 
a difference.”  In  heraldry  differences  or 
marhs  of  cadency  indicate  the  various 
branches  of  a family. 

The  eldest  son  (during  the  life-time  of 
his  father)  bears  a label. 

The  second  son  a crescent, 


The  third,  a mullet. 

The  fourth,  a martlet. 

The  fifth,  an  annulet. 

The  sixth,  a fleur-de-lis. 

The  seventh,  a rose. 

The  eighth,  a cross-moline. 

The  ninth,  a double  quatrefoil. 

Ophelia  says  both  she  and  the  Queen  are 
to  wear  rue,  the  one  as  the  affianced  of 
Hamlet,  eldest  son  of  the  late  king,  the 
other  as  the  wife  of  Claudius  his  brother, 
and  the  cadet  branch.  The  latter  was  to 
have  a difference,”  to  signify  it  was  a 
cadet  branch.  Ophelia  says,  ^^I  shall 
wear  the  rue,  but  you  (the  Queen)  must 
now  wear  it  with  a ' difference.’  ” 

Diggin’s.  He  is  gone  to  the  diggings. 
To  California  or  Australia,  to  dig  for 
gold. 

Dig'gory.  A barn  labourer,  taken 
on  grand  occasions  for  butler  and  foot- 
man to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardcastle.  He 
laughs  and  talks  while  serving,  and  is 
as  gauche  as  possible. — Goldsmith^  She 
Stoops  to  Conquer.'' 

Digit.  The  first  nine  numerals,  so 
called  from  the  habit  of  counting  as  far 
as  ten  on  the  fingers.  (Latin,  digitus^  a 
finger.) 

Dilem'ma.  The  horns  of  a dilemma. 

Lemma”  means  a thing  taken  for 
granted  (Greek,  lam'bano,  to  take).  '^Di- 
lemma ” is  a double  lemma,  a two-edged 
sword  which  strikes  both  ways,  or  a bull 
» which  will  toss  you  whichever  horn  you 
lay  hold  of.  A young  rhetorician  said  to 
an  old  sophist,  Teach  me  to  plead,  and 
I will  pay  you  when  1 gain  a cause.” 
The  master  sued  for  payment,  and  the 
scholar  pleaded,  If  I gain  the  cause  I 
shall  not  pay  you,  because  the  judge  will 
say  I am  not  to  pay ; and  if  I lose  my 
cause  I shall  not  be  required  to  pay,  ac- 
cording to  the  terms  of  our  agreement.” 
To  this  the  master  replied,  Not  so  ; if 
you  gain  your  cause  you  must  pay  me 
according  to  the  terms  of  our  agreement ; 
and  if  you  lose  your  cause,  the  judge  will 
condemn  you  to  pay  me.” 

Dilettan'te  (Italian).  An  amateur 
of  the  fine  arts,  in  opposition  to  a pro- 
fessor. Plural,  dilettanti. 

These  gentlemen  are  to  be  judged,  not  as  dilet- 
tanti, but  as  professors.— J-i/ienfewm. 

Diligence  is  that  energy  and  in- 
dustry which  wo  show  when  we  do  what 

V 3 


228 


DIMANCHE. 


DIONYSIUS. 


we  like  (Latin,  dil'igOy  I like) ; but 
indolence  is  that  listless  manner  with 
which  we  do  what  thoroughly  vexes  us. 
(Latin,  m,  intensive;  doleoy  to  grieve.) 

Diman'elie  (Afb9i5ie^ir).  A dun.  The 
term  is  from  Moli^re’s  ^^Don  Juan,”  and 
would  be  in  English,  Mr.  Sunday.  The 
word  dimanche  is  a corruption  and  con- 
traction of  dies  Domin' ica  (the  Lord’s 
day). 

Dim'issory.  A letter  dimissory  is  a 
letter  from  the  bishop  of  one  diocese  to 
some  other  bishop,  giving  leave  for  the 
bearer  to  be  ordained  by  him.  (Latin, 
di-mittOy  to  send  away.) 

Dim'ity.  A cloth  so  called  from 
Damietta,  in  Egypt,  where  it  was  ori- 
ginally manufactured.  Parsons  suggests 
the  Greek  di-mitos  (double  thread). 

Di'nah.  {Aimt),  in  Sterne’s  ‘^Tristram 
Shandy.”  She  leaves  Mr.  Walter  Shandy 
£1,000,  which  he  fancies  will  enable  him 
to  carry  out  all  the  wild  schemes  that 
enter  into  his  head. 

Dinde  (1  syl.).  The  French  for  a 
turkey  is  poulet  d^Inde  (an  Indian  fowl). 
This  is  an  error,  as  the  bird  comes  from 
America ; unless,  indeed,  the  whole 
Western  continent,  with  all  its  con- 
tiguous islands,  be  called  by  the  name 
of  West  Indies.  Our  word  turkey”  is 
no  better,  as  it  seems  to  indicate  that 
the  bird  is  a native  of  Turkey ; but  all 
that  is  meant  is  the  turkey-red  bird, 
referring  to  the  deep  red  of  the  wattle. 

Dine.  {See  Dinnerless,  Hu-mphret.) 

Ding-dong.  They  went  at  it  ding- 
dong.  Fighting  in  good  earnest.  To 
ding  is  to  beat  or  bruise  (Saxon,  denegan) ; 
dong  is  a responsive  word.  One  gives  a 
ding  and  the  other  a dong. 

Dinmont.  (iS^ee  Dandie.) 

Dinnerless.  Their  hosts  are  the  cross^ 
legged  knights.  That  is,  the  stone  effigies 
of  the  Pound  church.  In  this  church 
at  one  time  lawyers  met  their  clients, 
and  here  a host  of  vagabonds  used  to 
loiter  about  all  day,  under  the  hope  of 
being  hired  as  witnesses.  Dining  with 
the  cross-legged  knights  meant  much 
the  same  thing  as  dining  with  duke 
Humphrey  {q.v.). 

Di'nos.  One  of  the  horses  of  Diomed. 


Dint.  By  dint  of  war ; ly  dint  oj 
argument;  by  dint  of  hard  work.  Dint 
means  a blow  or  striking  (Saxon,  dynt) ; 
whence  perseverance,  power  exerted, 
force ; it  also  means  the  indentation 
made  by  a blow. 

Diocle'tian.  The  Eoman  emperor, 
noted  for  his  fierce  persecution  of  the 
Christians,  303.  The  emperor  Constan- 
tine, on  the  other  hand,  was  the  nurs- 
ing father  ’*  of  the  Church. 

To  make  the  Church’s  glory  shine, 
Should  Diocletian  reign,  not  Constantine. 

Crabbe,  “ Boroiigh.” 

Diocle'tian  was  the  king,  and  Erastus 
the  prince  his  son,  in  the  Italian  version 
of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  (q.v.). 

Diog'enes  (4  syl.).  The  cynic  phi- 
losopher is  said  to  have  lived  in  a tub. 
The  whole  world  was  not  half  so  wide 
To  Alexander,  when  he  cried 
Because  he  had  but  one  to  sub'due. 

As  was  a paltry  narrow  tub  to 


Diog'enes.  Eomanus  IV.,  emperor  of 
the  East.  (1067-1071.) 

Di'omed’s  Horses.  Dinos  {dread- 
ful) and  Lampon  {bright-eyed). 

Dio'medes  or  Diomed.  King  of 
jEto'lia,  in  Greece,  brave  and  obedient 
to  authority.  He  survived  the  siege  of 
Troy,  but  on  his  return  home  found  his 
wife  living  in  adultery,  and  saved  his 
life  by  living  an  exile  in  Italy. — H ornery 
“ Iliad'' 

Diom'ede'an  Swop.  An  exchange 
in  which  all  the  benefit  is  on  one  side. 
This  proverbial  expression  is  founded  on 
an  incident  related  by  Homer  in  the 

Iliad.”  Claucus  recognises  Diomed  on 
the  battle-field,  and  the  friends  change 
armour. 

For  Diomed’s  brass  arms,  of  mean  device, 

For  which  nine  oxen  paid  (a  vulgar  price). 

He  (Glaucus)  gavehisown,  of  gold  diviuely  wrought, 
An  hundred  beeves  the  shining  purchase  bought. 

Pope,  “ Iliad,;*  vi. 

Dio'ne  (3  syl.).  Venus,  who  sprang 
from  the  froth  of  the  sea,  after  the  muti- 
lated body  of  U'ranus  {the  sky)  had  been 
thrown  there  by  Saturn. 

So  young  Dione,  nursed  benpath  the  waves. 

And  rocked  by  Nereids  in  their  coral  caves,,. 

Lisped  her  sweet  tones,  and  tried  her  tender  smiles. 

Darwin,  “ Economy  of  VegetuUon,*'  ii. 

Dionys'ius  {the  younger) y being  ban- 
ished a second  time  from  Syracuse,  retired 
to  Corinth,  where  he  turned  schoolmaster 


BIOPHANTiNE. 


DISCUSS. 


229 


for  a living.  Posterity  called  him  a tyrant, 
Byron,  in  his  Ode  to  Napoleon,”  alludes 
to  these  facts  in  the  following  lines : — 
Corinth’s  pedagogue  hath  now 
Transferred  his  byword  to  thy  brow. 

That  is,  Napoleon  is  now  called  tyrant, 
like  Dionysius. 

Diophan'tine  AnaTysis.  Finding 
commensurate  values  of  squares,  cubes, 
triangles,  &c. ; or  the  sum  of  a given  num- 
ber of  squares  which  is  itself  a square ; 
or  a certain  number  of  squares,  &c.,  which 
are  in  arithmetical  progression.  These 
mathematical  puzzles  were  first  treated 
of  by  Diophantes,  the  mathematician  of 
Alexandria. 

Dios'curi.  Castor  and  Pollux. 
(Greek,  sons  of  Zeus.) 

The  horses  of  the  Dioscuri.  Cyl'laros 
and  Har'pagos. 

Dipli'tliera.  The  skin  of  the  goat 
Amalthe'a,  on  which  Jove  wrote  the 
destiny  of  man. 

Diplo'ma  literally  means  something 
folded  (Greek).  Diplomas  used  to  be 
written  on  parchment,  folded,  and  sealed. 
The  word  is  applied  to  licences  given  to 
graduates  to  assume  a degree,  to  clergy- 
men, physicians,  agents,  and  so  on. 

Diplom'acy.  The  tact,  negotiations, 
privileges,  &c.,  of  a diplomatist,  or  one 
who  carries  a diploma  to  a foreign  court 
to  authorise  him  to  represent  the  govern- 
ment which  sends  him  out. 

Diptych,  {dip'tih).  A register  folded 
into  two  leaves,  opening  like  our  books, 
and  not  like  the  ancient  scrolls.  The 
Eomans  kept  in  a book  of  this  sort  the 
names  of  their  magistrates,  and  the 
Roman  Catholics  employed  the  word  for 
the  registers  in  which  were  written  the 
names  of  those  bishops,  saints,  and  mar- 
tyrs who  were  to  be  specially  commemo- 
rated when  oblations  were  made  for  the 
dead.  (Greek,  dijytuchos,  folded  in  two.) 

Direaean  Swan.  Pindar ; so  called 
from  Dirce,  a fountain  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Thebes,  the  poet’s  birthplace, 
(B.c.  518-442.) 

Direct  Tax  is  one  collected  directly 
from  the  owner  of  property  subject  to 
the  tax  : as  when  the  tax-gatherer  goes 
direct  to  the  owner  of  a house  and  de- 
mands five,  ten,  ov  twenty  pounds,  as  it 


may  be,  for  government  uses.  Indirect 
taxes  are  taxes  upon  marketable  commo- 
dities, such  as  tea  and  sugar,  the  tax  on 
which  is  added  to  the  article  taxed,  and 
paid  by  the  purchasers  indirectly. 

Diree'tory.  The  French  constitu- 
tion of  1795,  when  the  executive  was 
vested  in  five  persons  called  directors, 
one  of  whom  retired  every  year.  After 
a sickly  existence  of  four  years,  it  was 
quashed  by  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 

Dirlos  {Count).  A Paladin,  the  beau- 
ideal  of  valour,  generosity,  and  truth. 
The  story  says  he  was  sent  by  Charle- 
magne into  the  East,  where  he  conquered 
Aliar'de,  a great  Moorish  prince.  On  his 
return  he  found  his  young  wife,  who 
thought  he  was  dead,  betrothed  to  Ce- 
li'nos,  another  of  Charlemagne’s  peers. 
The  matter  being  set  right,  the  king  gave 
a grand  banquet.  Dirlos  is  D’Yrlos. 

Dirt.  To  eat  dirt  is  to  put  up  with 
insults  and  mortification.  An  Eastern 
method  of  punishment. 

Dirty.  {SeeDoot.) 

Dirty  Half-hundred.  The  50th 
Foot,  so  called  from  the  men  wiping 
their  faces  with  their  black  cuffs. 

Dirty  Lane.  Now  called  Abingdon 
Street,  Westminster. 

Dis.  Pluto. 

Proser'pine  gathering  flowers, 

Herself  a fairer  flower,  by  gloomy  Dis 
Was  gathered.— ifiZfon,  “ Paradise  Lost”  iv. 

Disas'ter  is  being  under  an  evil  star 
(Greek,  dus-aster,  evil  star).  An  astro- 
logical word. 

Disastrous  Peace  {La  Paix  Mal- 
heureuse).  It  followed  the  battle  of 
Gravelines,  and  was  signed  at  Cateau- 
Cambre'sis.  By  this  treaty  Henri  II. 
renounced  all  claim  to  Gen'oa,  Naples, 
Mil'an,  and  Cor'sica.  (1559.) 

Discard^  To  throw  out  of  one’s 
hands  such  cards  as  are  useless. 

Dis'cord  means  severance  of  hearts 
(Latin,  dis-corda).  It  is  the  opposite  of 
concord,  the  coming  together  of  hearts. 
In  music  it  means  disagreement  of  sounds, 
as  when  a note  is  followed  by  another 
which  is  disagreeable  to  the  ear.  {See 
Apple.) 

Discuss.  To  discuss  a 'bottle.  To 
drink  one  with  a friend.  Same  as 


230 


DISHED. 


DITTO. 


crush”  or  crach  a bottle.”  (Discuss 
is  the  Latin  dis-quatio ; French,  casser. 
The  Latin  quassa're  vasa  is  to  break  a 
drinking- vessel. ) 

Consider  the  threefold  effect  of  J upiter’s  trifulh— 
to  burn,  discuss,  and  terebrate. —iSrown.. 

Dislied  (1  syl.).  I was  dished  out  of  it. 
Cheated  out  of  it;  or  rather,  some  one 
else  contrived  to  obtain  it.  A contrac- 
tion of  disherit.  The  heir  is  dish’t  out 
of  his  inheritance  when  his  father  mar- 
ries again  and  leaves  his  property  to  the 
widow  and  widow’s  family. 

Where’s  Brummel  ? Dished ! 

Byron,  "Don,  Juan. 

Disney  Professor.  The  Professor 
of  Archaeology  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge. This  chair  was  founded  in  1851 
by  John  Disney,  Esq.,  of  the  Hyde, 
Ingatestone. 

Disor'der,  says  Franklin,  ^^break- 
fasts with  Plenty,  dines  with  Poverty, 
sups  with  Misery,  and  sleeps  with 
Death.” 

Dispensa'tion.  The  system  which 
God  chooses  to  dispense  or  establish  be- 
tween himself  and  man.  The  dispensa- 
tion of  Adam  was  that  between  Adam 
and  God  ; the  dispensation  of  Ahraham, 
and  that  of  Moses,  were  those  imparted 
to  these  holy  men  ; the  Gospel  dispensa- 
tion is  that  explained  in  the  Gospels. 
(Latin,  dis-pendo,  to  spread  forth,  unroll, 
explain,  reveal.) 

A dispensation  from  the  Pope.  Per- 
mission to  dispense  with  something  en- 
joined ; a licence  to  do  what  is  forbidden, 
or  to  omit  what  is  commanded. 

A dispensation  was  obtained  to  enable  Dr.  Barrow 
to  marry.—  Ward. 

Dispu'te  (2  syl.)  means,  literally,  to 
‘Hop  down”  (Latin,  dis-puto) ; debate 
means  to  knock  down”  (French,  dd- 
hattre) ; discuss  means  to  shake  down” 
(Latin,  dis-quatio) ; object'  is  to  cast 
against  ” (Latin,  oh-jacio) ; contend  is  to 
‘‘  pull  against”  (Latin,  contendo) ; quarrel 
is  to  throw  darts  at  each  other  (Welsh, 
Qimrel,  a dart) ; and  wrangle  is  to  strain 
by  twisting  (Swedish,  manga;  Saxon, 
wringan). 

Diss.  He  knows  nothing  about  Diss. 
He  is  an  ignoramus.  Diss  is  a pun  on 
the  town  so  called  in  Norfolk  and  dispu- 
tcUio'neSf  called  disses,  for  shortness. 


Dis'solute  is  one  that  runs  loose, 
not  restrained  by  laws  or  any  other  bonds 
(Latin,  dis-solvo),  like  horses  unhar- 
nessed. 

Dis'taff.  A woman.  Properly  the 
staff  from  which  the  flax  was  drawn  in 
spinning.  The  allusion  is  to  the  ancient 
custom  of  women,  who  spun  from  morn- 
ing to  night.  {See  Spinster.) 

The  crown  of  France  never  falls  to  the  distaff.— 
Kersey. 

To  have  tow  on  the  distaff.  To  have 
work  in  hand.  Froissart  says,  II  aura 
en  bref  temps  autres  estoupes  en  sa 
quenouille.” 

He  hadde  more  tow  on  his  distaf 
Than  Gerveys  knew. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,”  3,772. 

St.  Distaff's  Day.  The  7th  of  January. 
So  called  because  the  Christmas  festival 
terminates  on  Twelfth  Day,  and  on  the 
day  following  the  women  return  to  their 
distaffs  or  daily  occupations.  It  is  also 
called  Rock  Day,  a distaff  being  called  a 
rock.  ^^In  old  times  they  used  to  spin 
with  rocks.” — Aubrey,  Wilts.” 

Give  St.  Distaff  all  the  right. 

Then  give  Christmas  sport  good  night, 

And  next  morrow  every  one 

To  his  own  vocation.  (1657.) 

What ! shall  a woman  with  a rock  drive  thee  away  ? 
Fye  on  thee,  traitor ! Dighy,  “ 3Iystcries;’  p.  11. 

DistaffL'na.  To  whom  Bombastes 
Furio'so  makes  love.  — Thomas  Barnes 
Rhodes,  '‘^Bombastes  Furioso.” 

Distem'per  means  an  undue  mix- 
ture. In  medicine  a distemper  arises 
from  the  redundancy  of  certain  secre- 
tions or  morbid  humours.  The  distem- 
per in  dogs  is  an  undue  quantity  of 
secretions  manifested  by  a running  from 
the  eyes  and  nose.  (Latin,  dis-temp'ero, 
to  mix  amiss.) 

Applied  to  painting,  the  word  is  from 
another  source,  the  French  detremper 
(to  soak  in  water),  because  the  paints 
are  mixed  with  water  instead  of  oil. 

Dithyr  am'bic.  The  father  of  dithy- 
rambic  poetry.  Ari'on  of  Lesbos. 

Dit'tany.  When  Godfrey  was 
wounded  with  an  arrow,  an  '^odoriferous 
pan'acy  ” distilled  from  dittany  was  ap- 
plied to  the  wound ; whereupon  the 
arrow-head  fell  out,  and  the  wound 
healed  immediately.  — Jerusalem  De- 
liver ed”  bk.  xi. 

Ditto.  {See  Do.) 


DIVAN. 


DO. 


231 


Divan'  (Arabic  and  Persian  diwan) 
means  a register  kept  on  a white  table, 
exactly  similar  to  our  hoard.  Among 
the  Orientals  the  word  is  applied  to  a 
council-chamber  or  court  of  justice ; but 
in  England  we  mean  a coffee-house  where 
smoking  is  the  chief  attraction. 

Divert.  To  turn  aside.  Business  is 
the  regular  walk  or  current  of  our  life, 
but  pleasure  is  a diversion  or  turning 
aside  for  a time  from  the  straight  line. 
What  we  call  diversion  is  called  in 
French  distraction  (drawing  aside). 

Dives,  Divs,  or  Deevs.  Demons  of 
Persian  mythology.  According  to  the 
Koran,  they  are  ferocious  and  gigantic 
spirits,  under  the  sovereignty  of  Eblis. 

At  Lahore,  in  the  Mogul’s  palace,  are  pictures  of 
Dews  or  Dives  with  long  horns,  staring  eyes,  shaggy 
hair,  great  fangs,  ugly  paws,  long  tails,  and  such 
horrible  deformity,  that  I wonder  the  poor  women 
are  not  frightened.  — William  Finch,  “ Purchas* 
Pilgrims,"  vol.  i. 

Dives.  The  name  popularly  given  to 
the  rich  man  in  our  Lord’s  parable  of  the 
^^Rich  Man  and  Lazarus”  (Luke  xvi.). 
The  Latin  would  be  Dives  et  Lazarus. 

Divi'de  (2  syl.).  When  the  members 
in  the  House  of  Commons  interrupt  a 
speaker  by  crying  out  divide.^  they  mean, 
bring  the  debate  to  an  end  and  put  the 
motion  to  the  vote — i.e.,  let  the  ayes 
divide  from  the  noes,  one  going  on  one 
side  of  the  house,  and  the  other  on  the 
opposite  side. 

Divide  and  Govern.  Divide  a 
nation  into  parties,  or  set  your  enemies 
at  loggerheads,  and  you  can  have  your 
own  way.  A maxim  of  Machiavelli,  a 
noted  political  writer  of  Florence.  (1469- 
1527.) 

Every  city  or  house  divided  against  itself  shall 
not  standi.— Matthew  xii.  25. 

Divine.  The  divine  right  of  Icings. 
The  notion  that  kings  reign  by  divine 
right,  quite  independent  of  the  people’s 
will.  This  notion  arose  from  the  Old 
Testament  Scriptures,  where  kings  are 
called  ‘‘God’s  anointed,”  because  they 
were  Gods  vicars  on  earth,  when  the 
Jews  changed  their  theocracy  for  a 
monarchy. 

The  right  divine  of  kings  to  govern  wrong. 

Divine  {The).  Ferdinand  de  Herre'ra, 
a Spanish  poet.  . (1516-1595.) 

Raphael,  the  painter,  il  Divi'no.  (1483- 
1520.) 

Luis  Mora'les,  Spanish  painter,  el  Di- 
vi'no.  (1509-1586.) 


Divine  Doctor.  Jean  de  Ruys- 
broek,  the  mystic.  (1294-1381.) 

Divine  Speaker  (The).  So  Aris- 
totle called  Tyr'tamos,  who  therefore 
adopted  the  name  of  Theophrastos. 
(B.c.  370-287.) 

Divi'ning-rod.  A forked  branch 
of  hazel,  suspended  by  the  two  prongs 
between  the  balls  of  the  thumbs.  The 
inclination  of  the  rod  indicates  the  pre- 
sence of  water-springs,  precious  metal, 
and  anything  else  that  simpletons  will 
pay  for.  (/See  Dousterswivel.) 

Divi'no  Lodovi'co.  Ariosto,  author 
of  “Orlando  Furioso,”  an  epic  poem  m 
twenty-four  books.  (1474-1533.) 

Dixie  Land.  The  Uto'pia  of  the 
American  niggers.  Dixie  was  a slave- 
holder of  Manhattan  Island,  but  the  force 
of  public  opinion  induced  him  to  remove 
his  negroes  to  the  Southern  States. 
Here  they  were  strangers  in  a strange 
land,  and  had  to  work  harder  and  faro 
worse,  so  that  they  were  always  sighing 
for  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt,  their  dear 
old  Dixie  Land.  Imagination  and  dis- 
tance gave  charms  to  the  old  place, 
which  ultimately  became  the  ideal  para- 
dise of  negro  song. 

Dizzy.  A nickname  of  Benjamin 
Disraeli. 

Djin'nestan'.  The  realm  of  the 
djinns  or  genii  of  Oriental  mythology. 

Do.  A contraction  of  ditto,  which  is 
the  Italian  dHto  (said),  Latin  dictus. 

How  do  you  do  1 — i.e.,  fare.  How  fare 
you  ? 

Well  to  do.  To  fare.  This  is  not  the 
transitive  verb,  but  the  intransitive. 
(Saxon,  dugan,  equal  to  the  Latin  valeo ; 
whence  Quam'odo  vales  1 “ How  do  you 
do?”) 

To  do  him.  To  cheat,  or  rather  to  do 
a person  out  of  something.  I have  done 
the  Jeio — i.e.,  overreached  him.  Same  as 
outdo  (to  excel). 

Do,  re,  mi,  fa,  sol,  la,  Italian;  ut,  re, 
mi,  fa,  sol,  la,  French.  These  words  are 
from  an  old  monkish  hymn,  addressed  to 
St.  John,  which  Guido,  in  the  eleventh 
century,  used  in  teaching  singing. 

XJt  queant  laxis,  ^e-sonare  fibria, 

Mi-xsk  gostorum  i?’a-muli  tuorum, 

Sol-'^Q  pollutis  La-biis  reatum. 

(SancU  Joannis, 


282 


DO. 


DOCTOR. 


t/it-tered  be  thy  wondrous  story, 
ZJe-prehensive  though  I be, 

Me  make  mindful  of  thy  glory, 

Fa-mous  son  of  ZacUaree ; 

Sol-ace  to  my  spirit  bring, 

Xa-bouring  thy  praise  to  sing. 

A seventh  syllable  has  been  added,  to 
complete  the  octave  {si), 

IDo-for.  I’ll  do  for  him.  Ruin  him  ; 
literally,  provide  for  him  in  a bad  sense. 

Taken  in  and  done  for,”  is  taken  in 
and  provided  for ; but,  jocosely,  it  means 

cheated  and  fleeced.” 

Dobbin.  A steady  old  horse,  a 
child's  horse.  Dohlyy  a silly  old  man. 
DohlieSf  house-elves,  similar  to  brownies. 
All  these  are  one  and  the  same  word. 
The  dobbies  lived  in  the  house,  were 
very  thin  and  shaggy,  very  kind  to  ser- 
vants and  children,  and  did  many  a little 
service  when  people  had  their  hands  full, 

Bober  Pobbin  lifts  his  clumsy  heel. 

Bloomfiddt  ‘ ^Farmer’s  Boy.” 

Dobbins  {Humphrey).  The  valet-de- 
chambre  and  factotum  of  Sir  Robert 
Bramble,  of  Blackbury  Hall,  in  the 
county  of  Kent.  A blunt,  rough-spoken 
old  retainer,  full  of  the  milk  of  human 
kindness,  and  most  devoted  to  his  master. 
— G.  Colmaiij  The  Poor  Gentleman.” 

Doce'tes  (3  syl. ).  An  early  heretical 
sect,  which  maintained  that  Jesus  Christ 
was  only  God,  and  that  his  visible  form 
was  merely  a phantom;  that  the  cruci- 
fixion and  resurrection  were  illusions, 
something  like  Pepper’s  Ghost.  (The 
word  is  Greek,  and  means  phantomists.) 

Dock-Alfar.  The  dark  Alfs  whose 
abode  is  underground.  They  are  in  ap- 
pearance blacker  than  pitch.  {Scandi- 
navian  mythology.) 

Doctor  {The).  Brown  sherry,  so 
called  because  it  is  concocted  from  a 
harsh,  thin  wine,  by  the  addition  of  old 
boiled  mosto  stock.  Mosto  is  made  by 
heating  unfermented  juice  in  earthen 
vessels,  till  it  becomes  as  thick  and 
sweet  as  treacle.  This  syrup  being 
added  to  fresh  ^^must”  ferments,  and 
the  luscious  produce  is  used  for  doctor- 
ing very  inferior  qualities  of  wine. — 
Shaw,  On  Wine.” 

To  doctor  the  wine.  To  drug  it.  {See 
above.) 

To  doctor  the  accounts.  To  falsify  them. 
They  are  ill  (so  far  as  you  are  con- 
cerned), and  you  falsify  them  to  make 


them  look  better.  The  allusion  is  tc 
drugging  wine,  beer,  &c.,  and  to  adulte- 
ration generally. 

Dr.  Dove.  The  hero  of  Southey’s 

Doctor.” 

Dr.  Fell.  I do  not  liTce  thee,  Dr.  Fell. 
A correspondent  of  Notes  and  Queries” 
says  the  author  was  Tom  Brown,  who 
wrote  ‘^Dialogues  of  the  Dead,”  and  the 
person  referred  to  was  Dr.  Fell,  Dean  of 
Christchurch  (1625-1686),  who  expelled 
him,  but  said  he  would  remit  the  sen- 
tence if  he  translated  the  thirty-third 
Epigram  of  Martial — 

Non  arao  te,  Zabidi,  nec  possum  dicere  quare  j 

Hoc  tantum  possum  dicere,  non  amo  te. 

“ I do  not  like  thee,  Pr.  Fell, 

The  reason  why  I cannot  tell ; 

But  this  I know,  I know  full  well, 

I do  not  like  thee,  Pr.  Fell  ”—!’.  Brown. 

Doctor  Mirab'ilis.  Roger  Bacon. 
(1214-1292.) 

Doctor  My-Book.  Dr.  John  Aber- 
ne'thy,  so  called  because  he  used  to  say 
to  his  patients,  *^Read  my  booh”— on 

Surgical  Observations.”  (1765-1830.) 

Dr.  Bez'io  or  Pedro  Rezio  ofAgue'ro. 
The  doctor  of  Barata'ria,  who  forbade 
Sancho  Panza  to  taste  any  of  the  meats 
set  before  him.  Roasted  partridge  was 
forbidden  by  Hippoc'rates ; podri'da  was 
the  most  pernicious  food  in  the  world; 
rabbits  are  a sharp -haired  diet ; veal  is 
prejudicial  to  health  ; but  the  governor 
might  eat  a ^Hew  wafers,  and  a thin  slice 
or  two  of  quince.” — Don  Q^dxote,”  pt. 
ii.,  bk.  iii.,  c.  10. 

Dr.  Sangra'do,  of  Vall'adolid',  a 
tall,  meagre,  pale  man,  of  very  solemn 
appearance,  who  weighed  every  word  he 
uttered,  and  gave  an  emphasis  to  his 
sage  dicta.  “ His  reasoning  was  geo- 
metrical, and  his  opinions  angular.” 
He  said  to  the  licentiate  Sedillo,  who 
was  sick,  ^^If  you  had  drunk  nothing 
else  but  pure  water  all  your  life,  and 
eaten  only  such  simple  food  as  boiled 
apples,  you  would  not  now  be  tormented 
with  gout.”  He  then  took  from  him  six 
porringers  of  blood  to  begin  with;  in 
three  hours  he  repeated  the  operation; 
and  again  the  next  day,  saying:  ^Ht  is  a 
gross  error  to  suppose  that  blood  is  ne- 
cessary for  life.”  With  this  depletion, 
the  patient  was  to  drink  two  or  three 
pints  of  hot  water  every  two  hours.  The 
result  of  this  treatment  was  death  ^Hrom 
obstinacy.” — Gil  Bias,”  c.  ii. 


DOCTOR. 


DOE. 


233 


Doctor  Slop.  An  enthusiast,  who 
thinks  the  world  hinges  on  getting  Uncle 
Toby  to  understand  the  action  of  a new 
medical  instrument.— Tristram, 
ShandyT 

A nickname  given  by  William  Hone 
to  Sir  John  Stoddart,  editor  of  the  Neiv 
Times,  (1773-1856.) 

Doctor  Squintum.  George  White- 
field,  so  called  by  Foote  in  his  farce 
entitled  The  Minor.’*  (1714-1770.) 

Theodore  Hook  applied  the  same  so- 
briquet to  the  Rev.  Edward  Irving,  who 
had  an  obliquity  of  the  eyes.  (1792-1834.) 

Doctor  Syntax.  A simple-minded, 
pious,  henpecked  clergyman,  green  as 
grass,  but  of  excellent  taste  and  scholar- 
ship, who  left  home  in  search  of  the 
picturesque.  His  adventures  are  told 
in  eight- syllable  verse  in  The  Tour  of 
Dr.  Syntax,”  by  William  Combe.  {See 
Duke  Combe.) 

Dr.  Syntax's  horse.  Grizzle,  all  skin 
and  bone. 

Doctors.  False  dice,  which  are 
doctored,  or  made  to  turn  up  winning 
numbers. 

“The  whole  antechamber  is  full,  my  lord,— 
knichts  and  squires,  doctors  and  dicers.” 

“ The  dicers  with  their  doctors  in  their  pockets,  I 
presume.”— iScoW,  “Perenl  of  the  Peak,'’  c.  xxviii. ; 

Or  chaired  at  "White’s*  amidst  the  doctors  sit. 

Puneiad,”  bk.  i.  203. 

Doctors’  Commons.  A locality 
near  St.  Paul’s,  where  the  ecclesiastical 
courts  were  formerly  held,  and  where 
wills  are  preserved.  To  ‘^common” 
means  to  dine  together ; a term  still  used 
at  our  universities.  Doctors’  Commons 
was  so  called  because  the  doctors  of  civil 
law  had  to  dine  together  four  days  in 
each  term.  This  was  called  eating  their 
terms. 

Doctor’s  Stuff.  Medicine;  stuff 
sent  from  the  doctor. 

Doctour  of  Phisikes  Tale,  in 
Cliaucer,  is  the  Roman  story  of  Vir- 
ginius,  given  by  Livy.  There  is  a ver- 
sion of  this  tale  in  the  Roman  de  la 
Rose,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  74 ; and  another,  by 
Gower,  in  his  '‘Confessio  Amantis,” 
bk.  vii. 

^ Doctrinists  or  Doctrinaires.  A poli- 
tical party  which  has  existed  in  France 
since  1815.  They  maintain  that  true 
liberty  is  compatible  with  a monarchical 
Government;  and  are  so  called  because 


they  advocate  what  is  only  a doctrine  or 
dream.  M.  Guizot  is  one  of  this  party. 

Dodge  (1  syl.).  An  artful  device  to 
evade,  deceive,  or  bilk  some  one.  (Anglo- 
Saxon,  deogiany  to  conceal  or  colour.) 

Dodger.  The  Artful  Dodger.  A young 
thief,  up  to  every  artifice,  and  a perfect 
adept  in  villany.  A sobriquet  given  by 
Dickens  to  such  a rascal,  in  his  ‘^Oliver 
Twist.” 

Dodington,  whom  Thomson  invokes 
in  his  ^‘Summer,”  was  George  Bubb 
Dodington,  lord  Melcomb  - Regis,  a 
British  statesman,  who  associated  much 
with  the  wits  of  the  time.  Churchill 
and  Pope  ridiculed  him,  while  Hogarth 
introduced  him  in  his  wig  into  his  pic- 
ture called  the  Orders  of  Periwigs.” 

Dod'ipoll.  A 5 loise  as  Dr.  DodipoU 
(or)  Doddipole — i.e.,  not  wise  at  all ; a 
dunce.  The  verb  dote  is,  to  be  of  weak 
mind,  or  to  have  a mind  impaired  by  age ; 
hence,  dotard.  Dodipoll  is  one  who  has 
a poll  or  head  without  intellect. 

Dodman  or  Doddiman.  A snail.  A 
word  still  common  in  Norfolk ; but  Fair- 
fax, in  his  ^^Bulk  and  Selvedge  ” (1674), 
speaks  of  ^^a  snayl  or  dodman.”  The 
word,  like  Dodipoll  {q_.'o.)y  refers  to  the 
dull,  stupid  nature  of  the  snail,  which  is 
a doted  creature. 

Doddiman,  doddiman,  put  out  your  horns, 

Here  comes  a thief  to  steal  your  corns. 

Norfolk  rhyme. 

Dodo'na.  A famous  oracle  in  Epi'ros, 
and  the  most  ancient  of  Greece.  It  was 
dedicated  to  Zeus  {Jupiter) y and  situate 
in  the  village  of  Dodona. 

Dods  {Meg).  The  old  landlady  in 
Scott’s  novel  called  St.  Ronan’s  Well.” 
An  excellent  character,  made  up  of  con- 
sistent inconsistencies  ; a mosaic  of 
oddities,  all  fitting  together,  and  form- 
ing an  admirable  whole.  She  was  so 
good  a housewife  that  a cookery  book 
of  great  repute  bears  her  name. 

Dodson  and  Pog'g.  The  lawyers 
employed  by  the  plaintiff  in  the  famous 
case  of  Bardell  v.  Pickwick,”  in  the 
‘^Pickwick  Papers,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Doe.  John  Doe  and  Richard  Roe. 
Any  plaintiff  and  defendant  in  an  action 
of  ejectment.  They  were  sham  names 
used  at  one  time  to  save  certain  ‘‘niceties 
of  law;”  but  the  clumsy  device  was 
abolished  in  1852.  Any  mars  imagi- 


234 


DOEG. 


DOG. 


nary  persons,  or  men  of  straw.  John 
Doe,  Eichard  Eoe,  John  o’  Noakes,  and 
Tom  Styles,  are  the  four  sons  of  Mrs. 
Harris,”  all  bound  apprentices  to  the 
legal  profession. 

Doeg  (2  syh),  in  the  satire  of  Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel”  by  Dryden  and 
Tate,  is  meant  for  Elka'nah  Settle,  a 
poet  who  wrote  satires  upon  Dryden, 
but  was  no  match  for  his  great  rival. 
Doeg  was  Saul’s  herdsman,  who  had 
charge  of  his  mules  and  asses.  He  told 
Saul  that  the  priests  of  Nob  had  pro- 
vided David  with  food ; whereupon  Saul 
sent  him  to  put  them  to  death,  and 
eighty-five  were  ruthlessly  massacred. 
(1  Sam.  xxi.  7 ; xxii.  18.) 

Doeg,  though  without  knowing  how  or  why, 
Made  still  a blundering  kind  of  melody. . , . 
Let  him  rail  on ; let  his  invective  Muse 
Have  four-and-twenty  letters  to  abuse. 

Which  if  he  jumbles  to  one  line  of  sense, 
Indict  .him  of  a capital  oiFence. 

Absalom  and  Achitophel,’'  pt.  ii. 

Doff  is  do-off,  as  ^^Doff  your  hat.” 
So  Do7i  is  do-on,  as  ‘‘  Don  your  clothes.” 
Dup  is  do-up,  as  ^^Dup  the  door.”  {See 
Hamlet.) 

Doff  thy  harness,  youth. 

Shakespeare,  “ Troilus  and  Cressida,”  v.  3. 

Dog.  Barry.  The  famous  mastiff 
of  Great  St.  Bernard’s,  in  the  early  part 
of  the  present  century  instrumental  in 
saving  forty  human  beings.  His  most 
memorable  achievement  was  rescuing  a 
little  boy  whose  mother  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  an  avalanche.  The  dog  car- 
ried the  boy  on  his  back  to  the  hospice. 
The  stuffed  skin  of  this  noble  animal  is 
kept  in  the  museum  of  Berne. 

Dog  in  mommeiifs.  The  dog  is  placed 
at  the  feet  of  women  in  monuments  to 
symbolise  affection  and  fidelity,  as  a 
lion  is  placed  at  the  feet  of  men  to 
signify  courage  and  magnanimity.  Many 
of  the  Crusaders  are  represented  with 
their  feet  on  a dog,  to  show  that  they 
followed  the  standard  of  the  Lord  as 
faithfully  as  a dog  follows  the  footsteps 
of  his  master. 

Dog  of  God.  So  the  Laplanders  call 
the  bear.  The  Norwegians  say  it  ^^has 
the  strength  of  ten  men  and  the  wit  of 
twelve.”  They  never  presume  to  speak 
of  it  by  its  proper  appellation,  guouztija, 
lest  it  should  revenge  the  insult  on  their 
flocks  and  herds,  but  they  call  it  Modda- 
aigja  (the  old  man  with  a fur  cloak). 

Dog  of  Icay^ios.  Maora  {the  glistener). 
Icarios  was  slain  by  some  drunken  pea- 


sants, who  buried  the  body  under  a tree. 
His  daughter  Erig'one,  searching  for  her 
father,  was  directed  to  the  spot  by  the 
howling  of  Msera,  and  when  she  dis- 
covered the  body,  hung  herself  for  grief. 
Icarios  became  the  constellation  Bootes^ 
Erig'one  the  constellation  Virgo,  and 
Msera  the  star  Procfon,  which  rises  in 
July,  a little  before  the  Dog-star.  (Greek, 
piro-Tcuon.') 

Dog  of  Montdgis.  Thesame  as  Aubry’s 
dog.  A picture  of  the  combat  was  for 
many  years  preserved  in  the  castle  of 
Montagis.  {See  Aubry’s  Dog.) 

Dog  of  the  Seven  Sleeper's.  The  seven 
noble  youths  that  fell  asleep  for  200 
years  had  a dog,  which  accompanied 
them  to  the  cavern  in  which  they  were 
walled  up.  It  remained  standing  for 
the  two  centuries,  and  neither  moved 
from  the  spot,  ate,  drank,  nor  slept. 
This  dog,  called  in  the  Koran  Al  Rahim, 
has  been  admitted  by  Mahomet  into 
Paradise.  In  the  legend  of  the  Seven 
Sleepers  ” the  dog  is  called  Ketmir, 

Dogs  of  war.  The  horrors  of  war.  {See 
Ate.) 

Cry  Havoc,  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war. 

Shakespeare,  Julius  Ccesar,"  iii.  1. 

Actceon's  fifty  dogs.  Alee  {strength), 
Amaryn'thos  (/rom  A ma^'y'thia,  inEnhoea), 
As'bolos  {soot-colour),  Ban'os,  Bor'eas, 
Can'ache  {7'ingivood),  Chedise'tros,  Cis- 
se'ta,  Co'ran  {cropped,  crop-eai'ed),  Cyllo 
{halt),  Cyllop'otes  (zig-zag-runner),  Cyp'- 
rios  {the  Cyprian),  Draco  {the  dragon), 
Drom'as  {the  com'ser),  Dro'mios  {seize- e^n), 
Ech'nobas,  Eu'dromos  ( good  - runner ), 
Har'pale  {voracious),  Harpie'a  {tear-em), 
Ichnob'ate  {U'ach-follower),  La'bros  {fwn- 
ous),  Lacaena  {lioness),  Lach'ne  (glossy- 
coated),  Lacon  {Spa^daoi),  La'don  {from 
Ladon,  in  Arca'dia),  Laelaps  {hw'ricane) , 
Lampos  (shioiing-one),  Leu'eos  {g^'ay), 
Lycis'ea,  Lynce'a,  Mach'imos  {hoxer), 
Melampe  {black),  Melanche'te  {black-coat), 
Melan'ea  {black),  Menele'a,  Molossos 
{fi'om  Molossos),  Na'pa  {begotten  by  a 
wolf),  Nebroph'onos  {fawn-killei'),  Oc'y- 
droma  {swift  - rumier),  Or'esit'rophos 
{mountain  - bred),  Ori'basos  {mountain- 
ranger),  Pachy'tos  {thick- shinnied),  Pam'- 
phagos  {ravenous),  Poe'menis  {leader), 
Pter'elas  {winged),  Stricta  {spot),  Therid'- 
amas  {beast-tamer  or  subduer),  The'ron 
{savage- faced),  Thoos  {swift),  U'rani 
{Jieavenly-one). 

King  Arthur's  favourite  hound,  Cavall'. 


DOO. 


DOG. 


235 


Autry's  dog.  Aubry  of  Mondid'ier 
was  murdered,  in  1371,  in  the  forest  of 
Bondy.  His  dog  showed  a most  unusual 
hatred  to  a man  named  Kichard  of 
Macaire,  always  snarling  and  ready  to 
fly  at  his  throat  whenever  he  appeared. 
Suspicion  was  excited,  and  Eichard  of 
Macaire  was  condemned  to  a judicial 
combat  with  the  dog.  He  was  killed, 
and  in  his  dying  moments  confessed  the 
crime. 

Lord  ByroyCs  favourite  dog.  Boat- 
swain, buried  in  the  garden  of  Newstead 
Abbey. 

FingaVs  dog  was  named  Bran. 

“ Mar  e Bran,  is  e a brathair  ” (If  it  be  not  Bran, 
it  is  Bran’s  brother)  was  the  proverbial  reply  of 
Maccombich.— “IFayeWey,”  ch.  xlv. 

Gdryon's  dogs.  Gargittios  and  Orthos. 
The  latter  was  the  brother  of  Cer'beros, 
but  had  one  head  less.  Hercules  killed 
both  these  monsters. 

Llewellyn's  greyhound  was  named 
Gelert'  {q.v."). 

Ludlarn's  dog.  (^See  Lazy.) 

Orison's  dogs.  Arctoph'onos  {hear-hiller), 
and  Ptooph'agos  (Ptoon-glutton.  Ptoon 
is  in  Boeotia). 

A tlack  dog  has  walked  over  him.  Said 
of  a sullen  person.  Horace  tells  us  that 
the  sight  of  a black  dog  with  its  pups 
was  an  unlucky  omen.  {See  Black  Dog.  ) 

A dog  in  the  mauger.  A churlish 
fellow,  who  will  not  use  what  is  wanted 
by  another,  nor  yet  let  the  other  have  it 
to  use.  The  allusion  is  to  the  well-known 
fable  of  a dog  that  fixed  his  place  in  a 
manger,  and  would  not  allow  an  ox  to 
come  near  the  hay. 

Barking  dogs  never  hite.  {See  Bark- 
ing.) 

Dog  don't  eat  dog.  One  of  a craft  does 
not  backbite  another  of  the  same  craft. 

Dogs  howl  at  death.  A rabbinical 
superstition. 

In  the  rabbinical  book  it  saith 
The  dogs  howl  when,  with  icy  breath, 
Great  Sammael,  the  angel  of  death, 

Takes  thro’  the  town  his  flight. 

Longfellow,  “ Golden  Legend”  iii. 

Gone  to  the  dogs.  The  ace  in  dice  was 
by  the  Romans  called  canis  (dog),  and  a 
cast  at  dice  where  all  was  lost  was  throw- 
ing three  aces;  hence,  ^^dog”  meant 
ruin,  loss,  ill-luck,  and  to  ^^go  to  the 
dogs  ” meant  to  be  in  ill-luck,  to  go  to 
the  bad.  I do  not  think  it  means  ^‘gone 
to  the  gods”  {i.e.y  as  good  as  dead),  by  a 
perversion  of  the  word ; nor  yet  given 
to  the  dogs,”  like  a horse  in  a knacker’s 


yard.  Bellenden  Ker  says  it  is  the  Dutch 
toe  go^^  toe  de  dog's  (money  gone,  credit 
gone  too),  a suggestion  which  has  the 
merit  of  the  meaning  without  doubt. 
{See  Dog-cheap.) 

Is  thy  servant  a dog,  that  he  should  do 
this  thing  ? By  a Jew  a dog  was  regarded 
with  abhorrence,  not  only  because  it  was 
an  unclean  ” animal,  but  because  it  fed 
on  offal.  Even  the  ‘‘price  ” received  for 
a dog  was  not  accepted  as  an  offering  to 
God  (Deut.  xxiii.  18). 

Sydney  Smith  being  asked  if  it  was 
true  that  he  was  about  to  sit  to  Landseer, 
the  animal  painter,  for  his  portrait, 
replied,  “What!  is  thy  servant  a dog, 
that  he  should  do  this  thing  ? ” 

It  was  the  story  of  the  dog  and  the 
shadoio—i.e.,  of  one  who  throws  good 
money  after  bad ; of  one  who  gives 
“ certa  pro  incertis.”  The  allusion  is  to 
the  well-known  fable. 

Illudit  species,  ac  den'tibus  aera  mordit. 

(Down  sank  the  meat  in  the  stream  for  the  fishes 
to  hoard  it.) 

The  hair  of  the  dog  that  tit  you.  When 
a man  has  had  a debauch,  he  is  advised 
to  take  next  morning  “a  hair  of  the 
same  dog,”  in  allusion  to  an  ancient 
notion  that  the  burnt  hair  of  a dog  is  an 
antidote  to  its  bite. 

The  Thracian  dog.  Zo’ilus. 

Like  curs,  our  critics  haunt  the  poet’s  feast. 

And  feed  on  scraps  refused  by  every  guest ; 

From  the  old  Thracian  dog  they  learned  the  way 

To  snarl  in  want,  and  grumble  o’er  their  prey. 

Fitt,  “ To  Mr.  Spence.” 

To  call  off  the  dogs.  To  break  up 
a disagreeable  conversation.  In  the 
chase,  if  the  dogs  are  on  the  wrong 
track,  the  huntsman  calls  them  off. 
(French,  rompre  les  chiens.) 

You  dirty  dog.  In  the  East  the  dog 
is  still  held  in  abhorrence,  as  the  scaven- 
ger of  the  streets.  “ Him  that  dieth  in 
t^he  city  shall  the  dogs  eat”  (1  Kings 
xiv.  11).  The  French  say,  CrotU  comme 
un  tartet  (muddy  or  dirty  as  a poodle), 
whose  hair,  being  very  long,  becomes  filthy 
with  mud  and  dirt.  Generally  speaking, 
“a  dirty  dog”  is  one  morally  filthy,  and 
is  applied  to  those  who  talk  and  act 
nastily.  Mere  skin  dirt  is  quite  another 
matter,  and  those  who  are  so  defiled  we 
call  dirty  pigs. 

He  dogged  me.  He  followed  me  like  a 
dog,  or  as  a dog  follows  the  chase. 

Your  sins  will  dog  you,  pursue  you,  and  the 
terrors  of  the  Almij^hty  be  on  you.  — Bimoujlis 
on  ‘ 'Jioseu.” 


m 


Doa. 


DOGMA. 


Dog  and  Duck.  A public-house 
sign,  to  announce  that  ducks  were 
hunted  by  dogs  within.  The  sport  was 
to  see  the  duck  dive,  and  the  dog  after 
it.  At  Lambeth  there  was  a famous 
pleasure  resort  so  called,  on  the  spot 
where  Bethlehem  Hospital  now  stands. 

Dog  - cheap.  A perversion  of  the 
old  English  god-chepe  (a  good  bargain). 
French,  ton  marclie  (good-cheap  or  bar- 
gain). {See  Gone  to  the  Dogs.) 

The  sack  . . . would  have  bought  me  lights  as 
good-cheap  at  the  dearest  chandler’s  in  Europe.— 
Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  IV.”  iii.  3. 

Dog-days.  Days  of  great  heat.  The 
Romans  called  the  six  or  eight  hottest 
weeks  of  summer  caniculoJres  dies.  Ac- 
cording to  their  theory,  the  dog- star  or 
Sirius,  rising  with  the  sun,  added  to  its 
heat,  and  the  dog-days  bore  the  com- 
bined heat  of  the  dog-star  and  the  sun. 
(July  3rd  to  August  11th.) 

Dog-keaded  Tribes  of  India.  Men- 
tioned in  the  Italian  romance  of  Gue- 
rino  Meschi'no.’^ 

Dog-Latin.  Pretended  Latin,  as 
dog-sleep  is  pretended  sleep  and  doggerel 
is  pretended  verse.  Similarly,  dog-wheat, 
dog-grass,  dog-rose,  dog-brier,  dog-cab- 
bage, are  pretended  or  bad  imitations  of 
those  plants.  Perhaps  there  is  some 
fanciful  allusion  to  the  word  mongrel}  for 
which  dog  is  substitutional. 

Dirty  dog,  surly  dogj  dog-sick}  &c., 
allude  more  to  the  animal  called  a dog, 
but  imply  the  idea  of  badness. 

Dog-watch.  A corruption  of  dodge- 
watch  : two  short  watches,  one  from  four 
to  six,  and  the  other  from  six  to  eight  in 
the  evening,  introduced  to  dodge  the 
routine,  or  prevent  the  same  men  always 
keeping  watch  at  the  same  time.  {See 
Watch.) 

Dog-weary,  says  Bellenden  Ker,  is 
the  Dutch  doge  waere  Me  (being  long  on 
one’s  legs  tells  at  last). 

Oh,  master,  master,  I have  watched  so  long 
That  I’m  dog-weary. 

Shakespeare,  “ Taming  of  the  Shrew,”  iv.  2, 

Dogs.  Isle  of  Dogs.  When  Green- 
wich was  a place  of  royal  residence,  the 
kennel  for  the  monarch’s  hounds  was  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  hence 
called  the  ‘‘  Isle  of  Dogs.” 

Dogs’-ears.  The  corners  of  leaves, 
crumpled  and  folded  up.  Dogs-eared, 


Leaves  so  crumpled  and  turned  up.  The 
ears  of  many  dogs  turn  down  and  seem 
quite  limp. 

Dog’s-nose.  Gin  and  beer,  a mixture 
as  cold  as  a dog’s  nose. 

“ Dog’s-nose,  which  is,  I believe,  a mixture  of  gin 
and  beer.” 

“ So  it  is,”  said  an  old  l&dy.— Pickwick  Papers. 

Dog-star.  The  brightest  star  in  the 
firmament.  So  called  by  the  Egyptians, 
because  it  watches  the  rising  of  the  Nile, 
and  gives  notice  by  its  appearance  of 
that  important  event.  {See  Sirius.) 

Do'gares'sa.  The  wife  of  a doge. 

Dogberry.  An  ignorant,  self-satis- 
fied, overbearing,  but  good  - natured 
night-constable  in  Shakespeare’s  Much 
Ado  About  Nothing.” 

Doge.  The  chief  magistrate  in  Venice 
while  it  was  a republic.  The  first  duke 
or  doge  was  Anafesto  Paoluc'cio,  created 
697.  The  chief  magistrate  of  Gen'oa 
was  called  a doge  down  to  1797,  when 
the  republican  form  of  government  was 
abolished  by  the  French.  (Latin,  duX}  a 

duke”  or  leader.”) 

Doge.  The  ceremony  of  wedding  the 
Adriatic  was  instituted  in  1174  by  pope 
Alexander  III. , who  gave  the  doge  a gold 
ring  from  off  his  own  finger  in  token  of 
the  victory  achieved  by  the  Venetian 
fleet  at  Istria  over  Frederick  Barbarossa, 
in  defence  of  the  pope  s quarrel.  When 
his  holiness  gave  the  ring,  he  desired  the 
doge  to  throw  a similar  ring  into  the  sea 
every  year  on  Ascension  Day,  in  com- 
memoration of  the  event.  {See  Bucen- 

TAUR.) 

Dogged.  Sullen,  snappish,  like  a 
dog. 

Dogget.  Doggers  coat  and  badge.  The 
first  prize  in  the  Thames  rowing-match, 
given  on  the  1st  of  August  every  year.  So 
called  from  Thomas  Dogget,  an  actor  of 
Drury  Lane,  who  signalised  the  accession 
of  George  I.  to  the  throne  by  giving  a 
waterman’s  coat  and  badge  to  the  winner 
of  the  race.  The  Fishmongers’  Company 
add  a guinea  to  the  prize. 

Dogma  (Greek).  A religious  doc- 
trine formally  stated.  It  now  means  a 
statement  resting  on  the  ipse  dixit  of  the 
speaker.  Dogmatic  teaching  used  to 
mean  the  teaching  of  religious  doctrines, 
but  now  dogmatic  means  overbearing 
and  dictatorial. 


DOGMATIC. 


DOM. 


237 


Dogmatic  Facts. 

(1. ) The  supreme  authority  of  the  pope 
of  Rome  over  all  churches. 

(2.)  His  right  to  decide  arbitrarily  all 
controversies. 

(3.)  His  right  to  convoke  councils  at 
will. 

(4. ) His  right  to  revise,  repeal,  or  con- 
firm decrees. 

(5.)  His  right  to  issue  decrees  bearing 
on  discipline,  morals,  and  doctrine. 

(6.)  The  pope  is  the  centre  of  com- 
munion, and  separation  from  him  is  ex- 
communication. 

(7.)  He  has  ultimate  authority  to  ap- 
point all  bishops. 

(8. ) He  has  power  to  depose  any  eccle- 
siastic. 

(9.)  He  has  power  to  judge  every  ques- 
tion of  doctrine,  and  pronounce  infallibly 
what  the  church  shall  or  shall  not  accept. 

Dogmatic  School  of  Medicine. 
Founded  by  Hippoc'rates,  and  so  called 
because  it  set  out  certain  dogmas  or 
theoretical  principles,  which  it  made  the 
basis  of  practice. 

Dogmatic  Theology  is  that  which 
treats  of  the  dog'mata  (doctrines)  of  re- 
ligion. 

Doiley  or  Doily  is  the  Dutch  divaele 
(a  towel).  In  Norfolk  they  call  the  thick 
house-flannel  there  used  divyelling^  and  a 
single  length  for  use  a dioyel. 

Dola'bra.  The  knife  used  by  the 
priests  of  Rome  in  cutting  up  the  victims 
offered  in  sacrifice. 

DoU  Money.  A lady  of  Duxford 
left  a sum  of  money  to  be  given  away 
annually  in  the  parish,  and  to  be  called 
Doll  Money.  Doll  is  a corruption  of 
dole,  Saxon  dal  (a  share  distributed). 

Dollar.  Marked  thus  $— z.e.,  scutum. 
The  two  lines  drawn  through  it  indicate 
that  a contraction  is  made,  as  in  lb  for 
pounds  in  weight. 

The  word  is  a corruption  of  thaler 
(Low  German,  dahler ; Danish,  daler'), 
and  means  “a  valley,”  our  dale.  The 
counts  of  Schlick,  at  the  close  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  extracted  from  the 
mines  at  Joachim’s  that  (Joachim’s  valley) 
silver  which  they  coined  ‘ into  ounce- 
pieces.  These  pieces,  called  Joachim’s- 
thallers,  gained  such  high  repute  that 
they  became  a standard  coin.  Other 
coins  being  made  like  them  were  called 
thallers  only. 


Dolly  Murrey.  A character  in 
Crabbe’s  ^‘Borough,”  who  died  playing 
cards. 

“A  vole ! a vole  !”  she  cried,  “ ’tis  fairly  ■won.”.. 

This  said,  she  gently,  -mth  a single  sigh. 

Died  as  one  taught  and  practised  how  to  die. 

Crabbe,  “ Borough.^* 

Dolly  Shop.  A shop  where  rags 
and  refuse  are  bought  and  sold.  So 
called  from  the  black  doll  suspended 
over  it  as  a sign.  Dolly  shops  are,  in 
reality,  no  better  than  unlicensed  pawn- 
shops. A black  doll  used  to  be  the  sign 
hung  out  to  denote  the  sale  of  silks 
and  muslins  which  were  fabricated  by 
Indians. 

Dolmen.  A name  given  in  France 
to  what  we  term  '^cromlechs.”  These 
ancient  remains  are  often  called  by  the 
rural  population  devils’  tables,  fairies’ 
tables,  and  so  on.  (Celtic,  stone  tables.) 

Dolopa'tos.  A French  metrical  ver- 
sion of  San'dabar’s  Parables,  written  by 
Hebers  or  Herbers  for  prince  Philippe, 
afterwards  called  Philippe  le  Hardi, 
Dolopa'tos  is  the  Sicilian  king,  and  Virgil 
the  tutor  of  his  son  Lucinien.  (See  Seven 
Wise  Masters.) 

Dolphin.  Called  a sea-goose  {oie  de 
mer)  from  the  form  of  its  snout,  termed 
in  French  bee  d’oie  (a  goose’s  beak). 

Dom.  A title  applied  in  the  middle 
ages  to  the  pope,  and  at  a somewhat  later 
period  to  other  church  dignitaries.  In 
recent  times  it  was  restricted  to  the 
Benedictines  and  some  few  other  mo- 
nastic orders,  as  Dom  Mabillon,  Dom 
Calmet.  The  Spanish  don,  Portuguese 
dom,  German  wn,  and  French  de,  are 
pretty  well  equivalent  to  it.  (Latin, 
dorn'inus.) 

Dombey  (Florence').  A motherless 
child,  hungering  and  thirsting  to  be  loved, 
but  regarded  with  frigid  indifference  by 
her  father,  who  thinks  that  sons  alone 
are  worthy  of  his  regard. — Dickens, 

Dombey  and  Son.” 

Mr.  Dombey.  A self-sufficient,  purse- 
proud,  frigid  merchant,  who  feels  satis- 
fied there  is  but  one  Dombey  in  the 
world,  and  that  is  himself. — Dickens, 

Dombey  and  Son.” 

Dom-Daniel.  The  abode  of  evil 
spirits,  gnomes,  and  enchanters,  some- 
where under  the  roots  of  the  ocean,” 
but  not  far  from  'Qdbjlon.—Ccmtimiation 
of  the  Arabian  Tales. 


238 


DOMESDAY. 


DON. 


In  the  Domdaniel  caverns 
Under  the  roots  of  the  ocean. 

Southey. 

Domesday  Book  consists  of  two 
volumes,  one  a large  folio,  and  the  other 
a quarto,  the  material  of  each  being 
vellum.  It  was  formerly  kept  in  the 
Exchequer,  under  three  different  locks 
and  keys,  but  is  now  kept  in  the  Kecord 
Office.  The  date  of  the  survey  is  1086. 

Northumberland,  Cumberland,  West- 
moreland and  Durham  are  not  included 
in  the  survey,  though  parts  of  W estmore- 
land  and  Cumberland  are  taken. 

The  value  of  all  estates  is  given,  firstly, 
as  in  the  time  of  the  Confessor ; secondly, 
when  bestowed  by  the  Conqueror  ; and, 
thirdly,  at  the  time  of  the  survey.  The 
last  valuation  is  one-fourth  less  than  the 
first. 

Stowe  says  the  book  was  so  called  be- 
cause it  was  deposited  in  a part  of  Win- 
chester Cathedral  called  Domiis-dei,  and 
that  the  word  is  a contraction  of  Domus- 
dei  book ; more  likely  it  is  connected 
with  the  previous  surveys  made  by  the 
Saxon  kings,  and  called  dom-hocs  (libri 
judicia'les),  because  every  case  of  dispute 
was  decided  by  an  appeal  to  these  re- 
gisters. 

Then  seyde  Gamelyn  to  the  Justise.. 

Thou  hast  given  domes  that  bin  evil  dight. 

I will  sitten  in  thy  sete,  and  dressen  him  aright. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales’’  {The  Cookes  Tale). 

Domestic.  England’s  domestic  poet. 
William  Cowper,  author  of  ^^The  Task.” 
(1731-1800.) 

Domestic  Evil  Genius.  {See 

Alastor,  Asmodeus.) 

Domestic  Poultry,  in  Dry  den’s 

Hind  and  Panther,”  means  the  Eoman 
Catholic  clergy.  So  called  from  an  esta- 
blishment of  priests  in  the  private  chapel 
at  Whitehall.  The  nuns  are  termed 
“ sister  partlet  with  her  hooded  head.” 

Domin'ical  Letters.  The  letters 
which  denote  the  Sundays  or  dies  do- 
min'ica.  The  first  seven  letters  of  the 
alphabet  are  employed  ; so  that  if  A 
stands  for  the  first  Sunday  in  the  year, 
the  other  six  letters  will  stand  for  the 
other  days  of  the  week,  and  the  octave 
Sunday  will  come  round  to  A again.  In 
this^  case  A will  be  the  Sunday  or  Do- 
minical Letter  for  the  year. 

Domin'icans.  Preaching  friars 
founded  by  Dominic  de  Guzman,  at 
Toulouse,  in  1215.  Called  in  England 


Blach  FriarSy  from  their  black  dress, 
and  in  France  JadobinSy  because  their 
mother-establishment  in  Paris  was  in 
the  Eue  St.  Jacques. 

Dominie  Sampson.  A village 
schoolmaster  and  scholar,  poor  as  a 
church  mouse,  and  modest  as  a girl. 
He  cites  Latin  like  a 'porcus  litera'rum, 
and  exclaims  Prodigious  ! ” — Scotty 
^ ^ Guy  Manneringd*  {See  Stilling.  ) 

Dominoes  (3  syh).  The  teeth;  also 
called  ivories.  Dominoes  are  made  of 
ivory. 

Domisellus.  The  son  of  a king, 
prince,  knight,  or  lord,  before  he  has 
entered  on  the  order  of  knighthood. 
Also  an  attendant  on  some  abbot  or 
nobleman.  The  person  domiciled  in 
your  house.  As  these  pages,  &c.,  were 
generally  the  sons  of  gentlemen,  it  is 
plain  to  see  how  the  meaning  became 
extended.  (Norman  damoiselle  or  demi'- 
celle,  Italian  donzel.) 

The  English  damsel  and  the  French 
damoiselle  are  the  same  word,  but, 
strangely  enough,  the  sex  is  changed. 
Froissart  styles  Eichard  II.  le  jeune 
damoisel  Richart.  {See  Bachelor.) 

Don  is  do-on,  as  '^Don  your  bonnet.” 
{See  Doef,  Dup.) 

Then  up  he  rose,  and  donned  his  clothes, 

And  dupp’d  the  chamber  door. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,”  iv.  5. 

Don.  A man  of  mark,  an  aristocrat. 
At  the  universities  the  masters,  fellows, 
and  noblemen  are  termed  dons.  (Spanish.) 

Don  Felix,  in  ‘^The  Wonder,”  by 
Mrs.  Centlivre. 

Don  Giovan'ni.  Mozart’s  best 
opera.  {See  Don  Juan.) 

Don  Juan.  A native  of  Seville, 
son  of  Don  J ose  and  Donna  Inez,  a blue- 
stocking. When  Juan  was  sixteen  years 
old  he  got  into  trouble  with  Donna  J ulia, 
and  was  sent  by  his  mother,  then  a widow, 
on  his  travels.  His  adventures  form  the 
story  of  the  poem,  which  is  incomplete. — 
Byrony  ‘ ^ Bon  J nan.  ’ ’ 

A Bon  Juan.  A libertine  of  the  aris- 
tocratic class.  The  original  of  this  cha- 
racter was  Don  Juan  Teno'rio  of  Seville, 
who  lived  in  the  fourteenth  century.  The 
traditions  concerning  him  have  been 
dramatised  by  Tirso  de  Molina ; thence 
passed  into  Italy  and  France.  Gllick 
has  a musical  ballet  of  ^^Don  Juan,”  and 
Mozart  has  immortalised  the  character  in 
his  opera  of  ^^Don  Giovanni.”  (1787.) 


DON. 


DOOMSDAY. 


239 


Don  Quixote  (2  syl.).  A gaunt 
country  gentleman  of  La  Mancha,  gentle 
and  dignified,  affectionate  and  simple- 
minded,  but  so  crazed  by  reading  books 
of  knight-errantry,  that  he  believes  him- 
self called  upon  to  redress  the  wrongs  of 
the  whole  world,  and  actually  goes  forth 
to  avenge  the  oppressed  and  run  a tilt 
with  their  oppressors.  The  word  Quixote 
means  The  mish-armed.  Quixotic.) 

Don'atists.  Followers  of  Don'atus, 
a Numidian  bishop,  who  opposed  Ce- 
cilia'nus.  Their  chief  dogma  is  that  the 
outward  church  is  nothing,  ‘^for  the 
letter  killeth,  it  is  the  spirit  that  giveth 
life.”  (Founded  314.) 

Dondascli'.  An  Oriental  giant  con- 
temporary with  Seth,  to  whose  service 
he  was  attached.  He  needed  no  weapons, 
as  he  could  destroy  anything  by  the  mere 
force  of  his  arms. 

Done  Brown.  He  ivas  done  brown. 
Completely  bamboozled  or  made  a fool 
of.  This  is  a variety  of  the  many  ex- 
pressions of  a similar  meaning  con- 
nected with  cooking,  such  as  ‘‘I  gave 
him  a roasting,”  I cooked  his  goose,” 

I cut  him  into  mincemeat,”  I put  him 
into  a pretty  stew,”  I settled  his  hash,” 
with  many  others. 

Don'egild  (3  syl.).  The  wicked 
mother  of  Ella,  king  of  Northumberland. 
Hating  Cunstance  because  she  was  a 
Christian,  slije  put  her  on  a raft  with  her 
infant  son,  and  turned  her  adrift.  When 
Ella  returned  from  Scotland,  and  dis- 
covered this  cruelty  of  his  mother,  he 
put  her  to  death. — Chaucer ^ Man  of 
Lawes  Tale.’* 

Donkey,  properly  Dunlcey.  Chaucer 
calls  a donkey  a dun.  ‘^Dun  is  in  the 
mire”  Canterbury  Tales,”  v.  16,  937). 
Key  (kin)  is  seen  in  monkey,  jockey ; 
donkey,  therefore,  is  the  little  tawny 
animal,  or  the  little  dunning  animal, 
alluding  to  its  dinning  bray.  Mr.  Rix 
suggests  the  Low  Country  donher  or 
donkerheyd  (gloom). 

Donkey.  The  cross  of  the  donkey’s 
back  is  popularly  attributed  to  the 
honour  conferred  on  the  beast  by  our 
Lord  and  Saviour,  who  rode  on  an  ass  to 
Jerusalem  in  ^^his  triumphant  entry” 
into  that  city  on  Palm  Sunday.  A writer 
in  Blackwood  wittily  adds,  that  the  mark 
prior  to  that  occasion  was  premonitory. 

Eide  the  bl^h  donkey.  To  be  pig- 


headed, obstinate  like  a donkey.  Black 
is  added,  not  so  much  to  designate  the 
colour,  as  to  express  what  is  bad. 

The  donkey  means  one  thing  and  the 
driver  another.  Different  people  see  from 
different  standpoints,  their  own  interest 
in  every  case  directing  their  judgment. 
The  allusion  is  to  a fable  in  Phsedrus, 
where  a donkey-driver  exhorts  his  don- 
key to  flee,  as  the  enemy  is  at  hand.  The 
donkey  asks  if  the  enemy  will  load  him 
with  double  pack-saddles.  ^^No,”  says 
the  man.  ‘'Then,”  replies  the  donkey, 
“ what  care  1 whether  you  are  my  master 
or  some  one  else  ? ” 

Three  more,  and  up  goes  the  donkey— i.e., 
three  pennies  more,  and  the  donkey  shall 
be  balanced  on  the  top  of  the  pole  or 
ladder.  It  is  said  to  a braggart,  and 
means — what  you  have  said  is  wonderful, 
but  if  we  admit  it  without  gainsaying, 
we  shall  soon  be  treated  with  something 
still  more  astounding. 

Who  ate  the  donkey  ? When  the  French 
were  in  their  flight  from  Spain,  after  the 
battle  of  Vittoria,  some  stragglers  entered 
a village  and  demanded  rations.  The 
villagers  killed  a donkey,  and  served  it 
to  their  hated  foes.  Next  day  they  con- 
tinued their  flight,  and  were  waylaid  by 
the  villagers,  who  assaulted  them  most 
murderously,  jeering  them  as  they  did 
so  with  the  shout,  “Who  ate  the  don- 
key?” 

Do'ny.  Florimel’s  dwarf. — Spenser’s 

Faery  Queen  f bk.  iii.  cant.  5. 

Don'zel  (Italian).  A squire  or  young 
man  of  good  birth. 

Doolin  of  Mayence.  The  hero  of  a 
French  romance  of  chivalry,  and  the 
father  of  Ogier  the  Dane. 

Doolin’s  Sivord.  Marveilleuse  (won- 
derful). 

Doom  Book  (dom-boc)  is  the  book 
of  dooms  or  judgments  compiled  by  king 
Alfred.  {See  Domesday  Book.) 

Doom-rings,  or  Circles  of  Judgment. 
An  Icelandic  term  for  circles  of  stones  re- 
sembling Stonehenge  and  Avebury. 

Dooms'day  Sedgwick.  William 
Sedgwick,  a fanatical  prophet  and 
preacher  during  the  Commonwealth. 
He  pretended  to  have  had  it  revealed  to 
him  in  a vision  that  doomsday  was  at 
hand ; and,  going  to  the  house  of  Sir 
Francis  Bussell,  in  Cambridgeshire,  ho 


/ 


240  DOOE. 


DOEIGEN. 


called  upon  a party  of  gentlemen  playing 
at  bowls  to  leave  off  and  prepare  for  the 
approaching  dissolution. 

Door,  The  door  must  he  either  shut  or 
open.  It  must  be  one  way  or  the  other. 
This  is  from  a French  comedy  called  ^^Le 
Grondeur,”  where  the  master  scolds  his 
servant  for  leaving  the  door  open ; the 
servant  says  that  he  was  scolded  the  last 
time  for  shutting  it,  and  adds,  ^^Do  you 
wish  it  shut?”— No.”  ^^Do  you  wish 
it  open?” — ^^No.”  ^^Why,”  says  the 

man,  ‘4t  must  be  either  shut  or  open.” 

Door  ISTail.  (*S'eeDEAD.)  Scrooge’s 
partner  is  dead  as  a door-nail.” — 
Diclcens,  Christmas  Carols  ’ ch.  i. 

Door-opener  {The).  So  Crates,  the 
Theban,  was  called,  because  every  morn- 
ing he  used  to  go  round  Athens,  and  re- 
buke the  people  for  their  late  rising. 

Door'ga.  The  chief  goddess  of  the 
Hindu  triad ; the  other  two  are  Luckshmi 
or  Luximee,  and  Saraswatee. 

Doorm.  An  earl  called  the  Bull,” 
who  tried  to  make  Enid  his  handmaid ; 
but  when  she  would  neither  eat,  drink, 
nor  array  herself  in  bravery,  at  his  bid- 
ding, ‘^he  smote  her  on  the  cheek;” 
whereupon  her  lord  and  husband,  count 
Geraint,  starting  up,  slew  the  ^‘russet- 
bearded  earl”  in  his  own  laBX\.—Tennysonj 
Idylls  of  the  King^  “ Enid.’* 

Do'ra.  The  first  wife  of  David  Cop- 
perfield;  she  was  a child- wife,  but  no 
help -meet.  She  could  do  nothing  of 
practical  use,  but  looked  on  her  husband 
with  idolatrous  love,  and  thought  it  glory 
enough  to  hold  his  pen  or  wipe  it  dry 
after  it  was  done  with.  If  this  were  not 
a work-a-day  world,  who  would  not  envy 
the  simplicity,  the  gentleness,  the  love, 
the  single  affection  of  a Dora?  Tenny- 
son has  a poem  entitled  “Dora.” 

Dorado  {El).  {See  El.) 

Do'rax.  A Portuguese  renegade,  in 
Dryden’s  “Don  Sebastian;”  by  far  the 
best  of  all  his  characters. 

Dor'cas  Society.  A society  for 
supplying  the  poor  with  clothing.  So 
called  from  Dorcas,  mentioned  in  Acts 
ix.  39. 

Dor'cliester.  Ashig  as  a Dorchester 
butt.  Very  corpulent,  like  the  cider 


butts  of  Dorchester.  Of  Toby  Filpot  it 
is  said— 


His  breath^doorg  of  life  on  a sudden  were  shut. 
And  he  died  full  as  big  as  a Dorchester  butt. 

O'Keefe^  “ Poor  Soldier.** 

Do'rie.  The  oldest,  strongest,  and 
simplest  of  the  three  Grecian  orders  of 
architecture.  So  called  from  Doris,  in 
Greece,  or  the  Dorians  who  employed  it. 
The  Greek  Doric  is  simpler  than  the 
Koman  imitation.  The  former  stands 
on  the  pavement  without  fillet  or  other 
ornament,  and  the  flutes  are  not  scal- 
loped. The  Roman  column  is  placed  on 
a plinth,  has  fillets,  and  the  flutings,  both 
top  and  bottom,  are  scalloped. 


Doric  Land.  Greece,  Doris  being  a 
part  of  Greece. 


Through  all  the  bounds 
Of  Doric  land. 

Milton^  Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  i 


Do'rie  Reed.  Pastoral  poetry. 
Everything  Doric  was  very  plain,  but 
cheerful,  chaste,  and  solid.  The  Dorians 
were  the  pastoral  people  of  Greece,  and 
their  dialect  was  that  of  the  country 
rustics.  Our  own  Bloomfield  and  Robert 
Burns  are  examples  of  British  Doric. 

The  Doric  reed  once  more 
Well  pleased,  I tune. 

Thomson,  **  Autumn.** 


Dor'icourt.  A sort  of  Tremaine  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  who,  having  over- 
refined  his  taste  by  the  “grand  tour,” 
considers  English  beauties  insipid.  He 
falls  in  love  with  Letitia  Hardy  at  a 
masquerade,  after  feeling  aversion  to  her 
in  her  assumed  character  of  a hoyden. — 
Mrs.  Cowley f “ The  Belle's  Stratagem.” 

Dor'igen.  A lady  of  high  family, 
who  married  Arvir'agus  out  of  pity  for 
his  love  and  meekness.  She  was  greatly 
beloved  by  Aurelius,  to  whom  she  had 
been  long  known.  Aurelius,  during  the 
absence  of  Arviragus,  tried  to  win  the 
heart  of  the  young  wife ; but  Dorigen 
made  answer  that  she  would  never  listen 
to  him  till  the  rocks  that  beset  the  coast 
of  Britain  are  removed  “and  there  n’is 
no  stone  yseen.”  Aurelius,  by  the  aid  of 
a young  magician  of  Orleans,  caused  all 
the  rocks  to  disappear,  and  claimed  his 
reward.  Dorigen  was  very  sad,  but  her 
husband  insisted  that  she  should  keep 
her  word,  and  she  went  to  meet  Aurelius. 
When  Aurelius  saw  how  sad  she  was,  and 
heard  what  Arviragus  had  counselled,  he 
said  he  would  rather  die  than  injure  so 
true  a wife  and  noble  a gentleman.  So 


DORIMANT. 


DOUBTING. 


241 


she  returned  to  her  husband  happy  and 
untainted.  (See  BiAmRA.)— Chaucer's 

Franldines  Tale." 

Dor'imant.  A photograph  of  the 
earl  of  Rochester;  a witty  aristocratic 
libertine,  in  Etherege’s  ^^Man  of  Mode.” 

Dormer-window.  The  window  of 
an  attic  standing  out  from  the  slope  of 
the  roof.  (French,  dormii\  to  sleep ; 
Latin,  dormio.) 

Dornock.  Stout  figured  linen  for 
table-cloths.  So  called  from  a town  in 
Scotland,  where  it  was  originally  made. 

Dorsa'nes  (3  syl.).  The  Indian  Her- 
cules. 

Dorset.  Once  the  seat  of  a British 
tribe,  calling  themselves  Dwr -trigs  (water- 
dwellers).  The  Romans  colonised  the 
settlement,  and  Latinised  Dwr-trigs  into 
Duro-triges.  Lastly,  came  the  Saxons, 
and  translated  the  original  words  into 
their  own  tongue,  dor-se^tta  (water- 
dwellers). 

Dorse'tian  Downs.  The  Downs  of 
Dorsetshire. 

Spread  the  pure  Dorsetian  downs 
In  boundless  prospect. 

Thomson^  ‘^Autumn"' 

Dositll'eans.  A religious  sect  which 
sprang  up  in  the  first  century.  So  called 
because  they  believed  that  Dosith'eus  had 
a divine  mission,  superior  to  that  of  pro- 
phets and  apostles. 

Do  'son.  A promise-maker  and  a 
promise- breaker.  Antig'onos,  grandson 
of  Demetrios  the  besieger y was  so  called. 

Doss.  A hassock  stuffed  with  straw ; 
a bed—  properly,  a straw  bed ; whence 
the  cant  word  for  a lodging-house  is 
a dossken.  Dossel  is  an  old  word  for 
a bundle  of  hay  or  straw,  and  dosser 
for  a straw  basket.  These  words  were 
common  in  Elizabeth’s  reign.  The 
French  dossier  means  a ‘^bundle.”  All 
these  words  are  connected  with  dosey  a 
given  quantity.  (Greek,  dosis ; Italian, 
dosa;  French,  dose.) 

Do  - the  - Boys’  Hall.  A school 
where  boys  were  taken  in  and  done  for 
by  a Mr.  Squeers,  a puffing,  ignorant, 
overbearing  brute,  who  starved  them 
and  taught  them  nothing.  — Dickens y 

Nicholas  Nicklehy." 

Do'to.  One  of  the  Nereids  (j.v.). 


Dot'terel  or  Dottrel.  A doating  old 
fool ; an  old  man  easily  cajoled.  The 
bird  thus  called,  a species  of  plover,  is  so 
fond  of  imitation  that  any  one  may 
catch  it. 

Dou'ay  Bible.  The  English  trans- 
lation of  the  Bible  sanctioned  by  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  Old  Tes- 
tament was  published  by  the  English 
college  at  Douay,  in  France,  in  1609; 
but  the  New  Testament  was  published 
at  Rheims  in  1582.  The  English  college 
at  Douay  was  founded  by  William  Allen 
(afterwards  cardinal)  in  1568.  The  Douay 
Bible  translates  such  words  as  repentance 
by  the  word  penancCy  &c.,  and  the  whole 
contains  notes  by  Roman  Catholic  divines. 

Double  X.  {See  XX.) 

Double  or  quits.  The  winner  stakes 
his  stake,  and  the  loser  promises  to  pay 
twice  the  stake  if  he  loses  again ; but  if 
he  wins  the  second  throw  he  pays  no- 
thing, and  neither  player  loses  or  wins 
anything.  This  is  often  done  when  the 
stake  is  3d.,  and  the  parties  have  no 
copper  : if  the  loser  loses  again,  he  pays 
6d.  ; if  not,  the  winner  does  not  claim 
his  3d. 

Double  or  Double-walkers.  Those  aerial 
duplicates  of  men  or  women  who  repre- 
sent them  so  minutely  as  to  deceive 
those  that  know  them.  We  apply  the 
word  to  such  persons  as  the  Dromio 
brothers,  the  Corsican  brothers,  the 
brothers  Antiph'olus.  The  ^^head  centre 
Stephens  ” is  said  to  have  a double,  who 
is  perpetually  leading  astray  those  set 
to  hunt  him  down. 

Double -Dutch.  Gibberish,  jargon, 
or  a foreign  tongue  not  understood  by 
the  hearer.  Dutch  is  a synonym  for 
foreign  ; and  double  is  simply  excessive, 
in  a twofold  degree. 

Double-edged  Sword.  Literally, 
a sword  which  cuts  either  way;  meta^ 
phorically,  an  argument  which  makes 
both  for  and  against  the  person  employ- 
ing it,  or  which  has  a double  meaning. 

“ Your  Delphic  sword,”  the  panther  then  replied, 

“ Is  double-edged,  and  cuts  on  either  side,” 

Drydcn^  “ Hind  and  Fanther,”  pt.  iii. 

Double-tongued.  One  who  makes 
contrary  declarations  on  the  same  sub- 
ject at  different  times ; deceitful. 

Be  grave,  not  double-tongued.—!  Tim.  hi.  s. 

Doubting  Castle.  The  castle  of 
the  giant  Despair,  in  which  Christian 

Q 


/ 


242  DOUCEUk 


Down. 


and  Hopeful  were  incarcerated,  but  from 
which  they  escaped  by  means  of  the  key 
called  Promise.” — Biinyan,  Pilgrim* s 
Progress^ 

Douceur'.  French  for  sweetness. 
The  English  use  of  the  word,  meaning  a 
present  for  service  to  be  rendered,  is 
unknown  in  France. 

Douglas.  The  tutelary  saint  of  the 
house  of  Douglas  is  St.  Bridget.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  a Scottish  king  in 
770,  whose  ranks  had  been  broken  by 
the  fierce  onset  of  the  lord  of  Isles,  saw 
the  tide  of  battle  turned  in  his  favour 
by  an  unknown  chief.  After  the  battle, 
the  king  asked  who  was  the  Du-glass  ” 
chieftain,  his  deliverer,  and  received  for 
answer  Sholto  Du-glass  (Behold  the  dark- 
grey  man  you  inquired  for).  The  king 
then  rewarded  him  with  the  Clydesdale 
valley  for  his  services.  ^ 

Let  him  not  ctoss  or  thwart  me,”  said  the  page ; 
“ for  I will  not  yield  him  an  inch  of  way,  had  he 
in  his  body  the  soul  of  every  Douglas  that  has 
lived  since  the  time  of  the  Dark  Gray  Man.— <Sco«, 
“ The  Abbott'  ch.  xxviii. 

Black  Douglas,  introduced  by  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  Castle  Dangerous,”  is 
James,  eighth  lord  Douglas,  who  twice 
took  Douglas  Castle  from  the  English  by 
stratagem.  The  first  time  he  partly 
burnt  it,  and  the  second  time  he  utterly 
razed  it  to  the  ground.  The  castle,  says 
Godscroft,  was  nicknamed  the  hazardous 
or  dangerous,  because  every  one  who 
attempted  to  keep  it  from  the  gud 
schyr  James  ” was  in  constant  jeopardy 
by  his  wiles.  {See  Black.) 

The  Good  Sir  James,  the  dreadful  blacke  Douglas', 
That  in  his  dayes  so  wise  and  wortbie  was, 

Wha  here,  and  on  the  infidels  of  Spain, 

Such  honour,  praise,  and  triumphs  did  obtain. 

Gordon. 

Douster  - swivel.  A German 
swindler,  who  obtains  money  under  the 
promise  of  finding  buried  wealth  by  a 
divining-rod.  — Scott,  ‘ *A ntiquary.  ” 

Dout.  A contraction  of  do-out,  as 
don  is  of  do-on,  and  doff  of  do-off. 

In  Devonshire  and  other  southern 
counties  they  still  say  Dout  the  candle 
and  Dout  the  fire. 

The  dram  of  base 
Doth  all  the  noble  substance  dout. 

Shakespeare,  '^Hamlet,"  i.  4. 

Dove— the  diver-bird  ; so  called 
from  its  habit  of  ducking  the  head.  So, 
also,  columba  (the  Latin  for  dove)  is  the 
Greek  kolumba'o  (to  dive). 


Doves  or  Pigeons.  The  clergy  of  the 
Church  of  England  are  allegorised  under 
this  term  in  Dry  den’s  “ Hind  and  Pan- 
ther.” 

A sort  of  doves  were  housed  too  near  the  hall . . 
Our  pampered  pigeons,  with  malignant  eyes. 

Beheld  these  inmates  (the  Roman  Catholic  clergy). 
Tho’  hard  their  fare,  at  evening  and  at  mom, 

A cruse  of  water. 

Soiled  doves.  Young  women  of  the 
demi-monde. 

Dove-tail.  Metaphorically,  to  fit  on 
or  fit  in  nicely ; to  correspond.  It  is  a 
word  in  carpentry,  and  means  the  fitting 
one  board  into  another  by  triangular 
notches  or  wedges,  which  resemble  in 
shape  a dove’s  tail. 

Dover.  When  Dover  and  Calais  meet 
— i.e.,  never. 

A Jack  of  Dover.  A bottle  of  wine 
made  up  of  fragments  of  opened  bottles. 
It  is  customary  to  pour  the  refuse  into 
a bottle,  cork  it  up,  and  sell  it  as  a fresh 
bottle.  This  is  called  Dovering,  a cor- 
ruption of  do-over,  because  the  cork  is 
done  over  with  wax  or  resin. 

Many  a Jack  of  Dover  hast  thou  sold. 

Chaucer,  “ Cokes  Prologue.'* 

Dovereot  or  Dover-court.  A con- 
fused gabble;  a Babel.  According  to 
legend,  Dover  Court  Church,  in  Essex, 
once  possessed  a cross  that  spoke,  and 
Foxe  says  the  crowd  to  the  church  was 
so  great  '^that  no  man  could  shut  the 
door.”  The  confusion  of  this  daily 
throng  gave  rise  to  the  term.  (^See 
Babel.) 

And  now  the  rood  of  Dovereot  did  speak. 
Confirming  his  opinions  to  be  true. 

Collier  of  Croydon. 

Dowgate  Ward  (London).  Some 
derive  it  from  Dour  (water),  it  being 
next  to  the  Thames,  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill;  others  say  it  is  ^‘Down-gate,”  the 
gate  of  the  down,  dune,  or  hill,  as 
Brighton  Downs  (hills).  South- downs,  &c. 

D®wling  {Captain).  A character  in 
Crabbe’s  Borough  ; ” a great  drunkard, 
who  died  in  his  cups. 

“ Come,  fill  my  glass.”  He  took  it  and  he  went  (i.e.% 
died).  Letter  xvi. 

Down.  He  is  quite  down  in  the  mouth. 
Quite  in  the  dumps ; quite  cast  down  or 
disheartened.  When  persons  are  very 
sad  and  low-spirited,  the  corners  of  the 
mouth  are  drawn  down. 

Down  - hearted.  Without  spirit, 
cast  down ; the  heart  is  faint  and  pros- 
trate. 


DOWNING. 


DRAGON. 


243 


Downing  Professor.  The  Pro- 
fessor of  the  Laws  of  England  in  the 
University  of  Cambridge.  This  chair 
was  founded  in  1800  by  Sir  George 
Downing,  Bart. 

Doxy.  A baby ; a plaything ; a 
favourite  woman.  In  the  West  of  Eng- 
land babies  are  called  doxies.  Ortho-doxy 
has  been  wittily  called  our  own  doxy  or 
pet,  and  hetero-doxy  the  doxy  or  pet  of 
other  folks.  (Swedish,  docka,  a baby.) 
Dozen.  {See  Baker’s  Dozen.) 

Drac.  A sort  of  fairy  in  human 
form,  whose  abode  is  the  caverns  of 
rivers.  Sometimes  these  dracs  will  float 
like  golden  cups  along  a stream  to  entice 
women  and  children  bathing,  and  when 
they  attempt  to  catch  the  prize  drag  them 
under  water.  {South  of  France  Mythology. ) 

Fare  le  Drac^  same  as  ^'Faire  le  diable ; ” 
Irish,  ^^Play  the  Puck ; ” English,  Play 
the  deuce.” 

Belomen  qu’  yeu  fare  le  Drac 
Se  jamay  trebi  dins  un  sac 
Cine  6 si6s  milante  pistolos 
Espessos  como  de  redolos. 

Goudelitif  “ Castel  en  VAyre''* 

Dra'chenfels  (Dragon-rocks).  So 
called  from  the  legendary  dragon  killed 
there  by  the  horned  Siegfried,  the  hero 
of  the  Nibelungen-Lied. 

The  castled  crag  of  Drachenfels 
Frowns  o’er  the  wide  and  winding  Rhine, 

Whose  breast  of  waters  broadly  swells 
Between  the  banks  which  bear  the  vine. 

Byron^  “ Childe  Harold,"  iii. 

Dra'co.  One  of  Actseon’s  dogs.  {See 
Cyprios.) 

Draco'nian  Code.  One  very 
severe.  Draco  was  an  Athenian  law- 
maker. As  every  violation  of  a law 
was  made  in  this  code  a capital  offence, 
Dema'des  the  orator  said  ^Hhat  Draco’s 
code  was  written  in  human  blood.” 

Draft.  The  Druids  borrowed  money 
on  promises  of  repayment  after  death 
{Pairicius).  Purchas  tells  us  of  some 
priests  of  Pekin,  who  barter  with  the 
people  in  bills  of  exchange,  to  be  paid 
in  heaven  a hundredfold. 

Draggle-tail.  A slut ; a woman 
who  allows  her  petticoats  to  trail  in  the 
dirt.  The  word  should  be  ^Maggle- 
trail,”  from  the  Scotch  dag  (dew  on  the 
grass),  daggle  (wet  with  the  grass-dew), 
like  the  Latin  collu'tulo  irrdro. 

Drag'oman.  A cicerone ; a guide 
or  interpreter  to  foreigners.  The  word 


is  Turkish,  and  means  simply  a Turk 
{Ti^rJceman), 

Dragon.  An  imaginary  animal 
something  like  a winged  crocodile.  The 
Irish  draxf  means  ^^fire,”  and  the  Welsh 
dreigiaio  (silent  flashes  of  lightning), 
fiery  meteors ; hence  Shakespeare  says — 

Swift,  swift,  ye  dragons  of  the  night !— that 
dawniog 

May  bare  the  raven’s  eye. 

“ Cymheline,'*  ii.  S. 

Dragon.  This  word  is  used  by  eccle- 
siastics of  the  Middle  Ages  as  the  symbol 
of  sin  in  general  and  paganism  in  par- 
ticular. The  metaphor  is  derived  from 
Rev.  xii.  9,  where  Satan  is  termed  the 
great  dragon.”  In  Ps.  xci.  13  it  is  said 
that  the  saints  shall  trample  the  dragon 
under  their  feet,”  and  many  legends 
about  the  saints  encountering  dragons 
embody  these  ideas  in  an  allegorical 
form. 

Another  source  of  the  same  legends  is 
in  the  Celtic  use  of  the  word  ^'dragon” 
for  ‘‘a  chief.”  Hence  pen-dragon  (summus 
rex),  a sort  of  dictator,  created  in  times 
of  danger.  Those  knights  who  slew  a 
chief  in  battle  slew  a dragon,  and  the 
military  title  soon  got  confounded  with 
the  fabulous  monster. 

Some  great  inundations  have  also  been 
termed  serpents  or  dragons.  Hence 
Apollo  (the  sun)  is  said  to  have  destroyed 
the  serpent  Python  {i.e.,  dried  up  the 
overflow).  Similarly,  St.  Roma'nus  de- 
livered the  city  of  Rouen  from  a simi'ar 
dragon,  named  Gargouille  (waterspout), 
which  lived  in  the  river  Seine. 

Ladies  guarded  hy  dragons.  The  walls 
of  feudal  castles  ran  winding  round  the 
building,  and  the  ladies  were  kept  in  the 
securest  part.  As  adventurers  had  to 
scale  the  walls  to  gain  access  to  the 
ladies,  the  authors  of  romance  said  they 
overcame  the  serpent-like  defence,  or 
the  dragon  that  guarded  them.  Some- 
times there  were  two  walls,  and  then  the 
bold  invader  overcame  two  dragons  in 
his  bold  attempt  to  liberate  the  captive 
damsel.  {See  Enchanted  Castles.) 

The  Green  Dragon.  A public-house 
sign  in  compliment  to  St.  George. 

The  Red  Dragon.  A public-house  sign 
in  compliment  to  Henry  VII.,  who  adopted 
this  device  for  his  standard  at  Bosworth 
Field.  It  was  the  ensign  of  Cadwallader, 
the  last  of  the  British  kings,  from  whom 
the  Tudors  descended. 

Q 3 


/ 


244  DRAGON 


DRAW. 


Dragon  of  Wantley  (t.e.,  Warn- 
cliff,  in  Yorkshire)  a monster  slain  by 
More  of  More  Hall,  who  procured  a suit 
of  armour  studded  with  spikes,  and,  pro- 
ceeding to  the  well  where  the  dragon  had 
his  lair,  kicked  it  in  the  mouth,  where 
alone  it  was  vulnerable.  Dr.  Percy  says 
this  dragon  was  an  overgrown,  rascally 
attorney,  who  cheated  some  children  of 
their  estate,  but  was  made  to  disgorge 
by  a gentleman  named  More,  who  went 
against  him,  armed  with  the  spikes 
of  the  law,”  after  which  the  dragon 
attorney  died  of  vexation. — Rdigues  of 
Ancient  Poetry, 

Dragon’s  Plill  (Berkshire)  is  where 
the  legend  says  St.  George  killed  the 
dragon.  A bare  ^Dlace  is  shown  on  the 
hill,  where  nothing  will  grow,  and  there 
the  blood  of  the  dragon  ran  out. 

In  Saxon  annals  we  are  told  that 
Cedric,  founder  of  the  West  Saxon  king- 
dom, slew  there  Naud,  the  pen- dragon, 
with  5,000  men.  This  Naud  is  called 
Natan-leod,  a corruption  of  Naud- an 
ludk  (Naud,  the  people’s  refuge). 

Dragon- Slayers. 

1.  St.  Philip,  the  apostle,  is  said  to 
have  destroyed  a huge  dragon  at  Hiera- 
polis,  in  Phrygia. 

2.  St.  Martha  killed  the  terrible  dragon 
called  Tarasque  at  Aix  (la  Chapelle). 

3.  St.  Florent  killed  a similar  dragon 
which  haunted  the  Loire. 

4.  St.  Cado,  St.  Maudet,  and  St.  Pauli 
did  similar  feats  in  Brittany. 

5.  St.  Keyne  of  Cornwall  slew  a dragon. 

6.  St.  Michael,  St.  George,  St.  Mar- 
garet, pope  Sylvester,  St.  Samson,  arch- 
bishop  of  Dol ; Don'atus  (fourth  cen- 
tury), St.  Clement  of  Metz,  killed 
dragons. 

7.  St.  Romain  of  Rouen  destroyed  the 
huge  dragon  called  La  Gargouille,  which 
ravaged  the  Seine. 

Dragon’s  Teeth.  Subjects  of  civil 
strife ; whatever  rouses  citizens  to  rise  in 
arms.  The  allusion  is  to  the  dragon  that 
guarded  the  well  of  A'res.  Cadmos  slew 
it,  and  sowed  some  of  the  teeth,  from 
which  sprang  up  the  men  called  Spartans, 
who  all  killed  each  other  except  five,  who 
were  the  ancestors  of  the  Thebans. 
Those  teeth  which  Cadmos  did  not  sow 
came  to  the  possession  of  .^EeTes,  king  of 
Colchis ; and  one  of  the  tasks  he  en- 

Aed  Jason  was  to  sow  these  teeth  and 


slay  the  armed  warriors  that  rose  there- 
from. 

Citizens  rising  from  the  soil,  richly  sown  with 
dragon’s  teeth,  for  the  rights  of  their  several  states. 
—The  Times. 

Drag'onnades  (3  syl.).  A series  of 
religious  persecutions  by  Louis  XIV., 
which  drove  many  thousand  Protestants 
out  of  France.  Their  object  was  to  root 
out  heresy ; ” and  a bishop,  with  certain 
ecclesiastics,  was  sent  to  see  if  the  here- 
tics would  recant ; if  not,  they  were  left 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  dragoons 
who  followed  these  ‘^ministers  of  peace 
and  goodwill  to  man.” 

Dragoons.  So  called  because  they 
used  to  be  armed  with  dragons — i.e., 
short  muskets,  which  spouted  out  fire 
like  the  fabulous  beast  so  named.  The 
head  of  a dragon  was  wrought  on  the 
muzzle  of  these  muskets. 

Drama.  Father  of  the  French  Drama. 
Etienne  Jodelle.  (1532-1573.) 

Father  of  the  Greek  Drama.  Thespis. 
(Sixth  century  B.C.) 

Father  of  the  Spanish  Drama,  Lope  de 
Ve'ga.  (1562-1635.) 

Dram'atis  Perso'nae.  The  cha- 
racters of  a drama,  novel,  or  actual  trans- 
action. 

The  dramatis  personae  were  nobles,  country  gentle- 
men, justices  of  the  quorum,  and  custo'des  rotulo'- 
rum  (keepers  of  the  rolls).— Times. 

Drap.  One  of  queen  Mab’s  maids  of 
honour. — Drayton, 

Dra'pier’s  Letters.  A series  of 
letters  written  by  dean  Swift  to  the 
people  of  Ireland,  advising  them  not  to 
take  the  copper  money  coined  by  William 
Wood,  by  patent  granted  by  George  I. 
These  letters  crushed  the  infamous  job, 
and  the  patent  was  cancelled. 

Dean  Swift  signed  himself  M.  D.  Dra- 
pier  in  these  letters. 

Draw.  To  draw  amiss.  To  follow  the 
scent  in  the  wrong  direction.  A fox- 
hunting term,  where  to  draw  means  to 
follow  scent.  {See  Drawn  Fox.) 

Draw  it  mild — i.e.,  gently,  don’t  exag- 
gerate. A musical  expression : the 
leader  tells  the  violin -players  to  draw  it 
mild — i.e.,  to  play  piano,  to  draw  the  bow 
mildly  or  gently  over  the  strings,  and  not 
to  exaggerate  the  notes.  {See  Come  it 
Strong.) 


DRAWBACK. 


DRIVER. 


245 


Drawback.  Something  to  set  against 
the  profits  or  advantages  of  a concern.  In 
commerce,  it  is  duty  charged  on  goods 
paid  back  again  when  the  goods  are  ex- 
ported. 

Draw'cansir.  A burlesque  tyrant  in 
^^The  Rehearsal,”  by  G.  Villiers,  duke  of 
Buckingham  (1672).  He  kills  every  one, 

sparing  neither  friend  nor  foe.”  The 
name  stands  for  a blustering  braggart, 
and  the  farce  is  said  to  have  been  a satire 
on  Dryden’s  inflated  tragedies.  {See 
Bayes,  Bobadil.) 

(He)  frights  his  mistress,  snubs  up  kings,  baffles 
armies,  and  does  what  he  will,  without  regfird  to 
numbers,  good  sense,  or  justice.— “ The  Re- 
hearsal'' 

Drawing-room.  A room  to  which 
ladies  withdraio  or  retire  after  dinner. 
Also  a levee  where  ladies  are  presented 
to  the  sovereign. 

Drawn.  Hanged,  dr  awn, and  quartered 
— i.e.,  drawn  on  a hurdle  to  the  place  of 
execution,  then  hanged,  then  the  head 
cut  off,  and,  lastly,  the  body  divided  into 
four  quarters.  This  punishment  for 
treason  is  still  unrepealed. 

Drawn  Battle.  A battle  in  which 
the  troops  on  both  sides  are  draim  off, 
neither  combatants  claiming  the  victory. 

Drawn  Fox.  A cunning  fellow.  A 
fox-hunting  term,  meaning  a fox  drawn 
from  his  covei*,  and  started  for  the  chase. 

Dreadnought.  The  Seaman’s  Hos- 
pital Society  ; a floating  hospital. 

Dream  Authorship.  It  is  said 
that  Coleridge  wrote  his  ‘^KublaKhan,” 
a poem,  in  a dream. 

Dreamer.  The  Immortal  Dreamer, 
John  Bunyan.  (1628-1688.) 

Dreng.  A servant,  boy,  similar  to  the 
French  gargon  and  Latin  imer.  A Danish 
word,  which  occurs  in  Domesday  Book. 

Drink  Deep.  Drink  a deep 
draught.  The  allusion  is  to  the  peg 
tankards.  Those  who  drank  deep,  drank 
to  the  lower  pegs.  {See  Peg.) 

We’ll  teach  you  to  drink  deep  ere  yon  depart. 

Shakespeare^  *^Hamlet,"  i.  2. 

Drinking  Healths  was  a Roman 
custom.  Thus,  in  Plautus  we  read  of  a 
man  drinking  to  his  mistress  with  these 
words  : Bene  vos,  bene  nos,  bene  te,  bene  me, 
bene  nostrum  etiam  Stepha'nium  (Here’s  to 
you,  here’s  to  us  all,  here's  to  thee,  here’s 
to  me,  here’s  to  our  dear ). — Stick. 


V.  4.  Persius  (v.  1,  20)  has  a similar 
verse.  Bene  mihi,  bene  vobis,  bene  ami'cce 
nostrce  (Here’s  to  myself,  here’s  to  you, 
and  here’s  to  I shan’t  say  who).  Martial, 
Ovid,  Horace,  &c.,  refer  to  the  same 
custom. 

The  ancient  Saxons  followed  the  same 
habit,  and  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says 
that  Hengist  invited  king  Vortigern  to  a 
banquet  to  see  his  new  levies.  After  the 
meats  were  removed,  Rowe'na,  the  beau- 
tiful daughter  of  Hengist,  entered  with 
a golden  cup  full  of  wine,  and,  making 
obeisance,  said,  Lauerd  hyning,  loass  heil 
(Lord  king,  your  health).  The  king  then 
drank,  and  replied.  Brine  heil  (Here’s  to 
you).  Robert  de  Brunne  refers  to  this 
custom . 

This  is  ther  custom  and  hev  gest 
When  they  are  at  the  ale  or  fest : 

Ilk  man  that  levis  gware  liira  drink 
Salle  say  “ Wosseille”  to  him  drink ; 

He  that  biddis  sail  say  “ Wassaile,” 

The  tother  snlle  say  again  “ Drinkaille,** 

That  says  “ Woisseille  ” drinks  of  the  cup, 

Kiss  and  his  felaw  he  gives  it  up. 

Robert  de  Lmnne. 

Drinking-Song.  The  oldest  in  the 
language  is  in  the  second  act  of  Gammer 
Gurton’s  Needle,”  by  John  Still,  called 
“ The  Jolly  Bishop.”  It  begins— 

I cannot  eat  but  little  meat, 

My  stomach  is  not  good. 

Drive.  He  is  driving  pigs,  or  driving 
pigs  to  market— i.e.,  snoring  like  pigs, 
whose  grunt  resembles  the  snore  of  a 
sleeper. 

To  drive  a roaring  trade.  To  bo 
doing  a brisk  business.  The  allusion  is 
to  a coachman  and  team  of  horses;  as 
the  coachman  conducts  his  horses,  the 
tradesman  conducts  his  trade.  When 
horses  are  winded  they  are  called  roarers 
from  the  noise  they  make  in  breathing, 
and  to  drive  a roaring  trade  is  to  drive  it 
so  fast  that  the  team  gets  winded. 

To  drive  a good  bargain  is  to  make 
an  advantageous  one.  Here  the  word 

drive”  is  about  equal  to  push  or  urge 
home,  and  refers  to  driving  nails;  hence 
the  expression  ^^to  nail  him,”  ‘Ho  drive 
it  home,”  &c. 

Drive-off.  To  defer,  to  procras- 
tinate. The  idea  is,  running  away  or 
drawing  off  from  something  that  ought 
to  bo  done,  with  the  promise  of  coming 
to  it  at  a future  time. 

Driver  of  Europe  {Le  Cocker  de 
VEurope).  So  the  empress  of  Russia 
used  to  call  the  due  de  Choiseul,  minister 


24(3 


DEIVELLER. 


DRUPNER, 


of  Louis  XV.,  because  he  had  spies  all 
over  Europe,  and  thus  ruled  its  political 
Cabals. 

Driv'eller.  An  idiot,  an  imbecile, 
whose  saliva  drivels  out  of  his  mouth. 

Droit  d’Aubaine.  In  France,  the 
king  was  entitled  at  the  death  of  foreign 
residents  to  all  their  movable  estates ; 
the  law  was  only  abolished  in  1819. 
Aiibain  means  “alien,”  and  droit  d'au- 
laine  the  “right  over  an  alien’s  pro- 
perty.” 

Dromas  and  Drom'ios.  Two  of 
the  dogs  of  Actseon.  {See  Draco.) 

Dro'mio.  The  Brothers  Dromio.  Two 
brothers  exactly  alike,  who  serve  two 
brothers  exactly  alike,  and  the  mistakes 
of  masters  and  men  form  the  fun  of 
Shakespeare’s  “Comedy  of  Errors,”  a 
drama  borrowed  from  the  Mencech'mi  of 
Plautus. 

Drone  (1  syl.).  One  of  the  two  pipes 
of  a bagpipe.  So  called  because  it 
sounds  only  one  continuous  note.  The 
word  is  Saxon  {drcen). 

Drone,  An  idle  person  who  lives  on 
the  means  of  another,  as  drones  on  the 
honey  collected  by  bees  ; a sluggard. 

Drops.  To  take  one's  drops.  To 
drink  spirits  in  private.  To  take  a drop 
is  a euphemism  for  taking  what  the 
drinker  chooses  to  call  by  that  term.  It 
may  be  anything  from  a sip  to  a Dutch- 
man’s drau£>-ht. 

Drop  Serene  {gutta  serdna).  An  old 
name  for  amauro'sis.  It  was  at  one 
time  thought  that  a transparent  watery 
humour,  distrlling  on  the  optic  nerve, 
would  produce  blindness  without  chang- 
ing the  appearance  of  the  eye. 

So  thick  a “drop  serene”  hath  quenched  these 
orbs. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost”  iii. 

Drowned  Hat.  As  wet  as  a drowned^ 
rat—i.e.,  soaking  wet.  Drowned  rats 
certainly  look  deplorably  wet,  but  so 
also  do  drowned  mice,  drowned  cats, 
drowned  dogs,  and  all  sic  ilk. 

Drows  or  Trows.  A sort  of  fairy 
race,  residing  in  hills  and  caverns.  They 
are  curious  artificers  in  iron  and  precious 
metals.  {Zetland  superstition.') 

I hung  about  thy  neck  that  gifted  chain,  which  all 
in  our  isles  know  was  wrought  by  no  earthly  artist, 
but  by  the  Drows  in  the  secret  recesses  of  t!  eir 
oavernf.  Scott,  “ The  Pirate”  c.  x. 


Druid.  A chief  priest  (Celtic  der, 
superior;  wydd,  priest  or  ^instruct  or).  In  1 
Taliesin  we  read,  B'dmgioydd  yngwarth  an 
(at  length  I became  a priest  or  wydd).  , 
It  was  after  this  period  that  the  wydds  i 
were  divided  into  two  classes,  the  Der- 
wydds  and  the  Go-wydds  (D’ruids  and 
Ovidds).  We  have  the  Irish  draoi  or 
drui  (a  magician),  and  the  Hebrew 
drushim  (interpreter),  drsh  (Deut.  xviii.  j 
11),  and  Idrush  (2  Chron.  xv.  12).  Pliny  j 
derives  the  word  from  drus  (an  oak),  but  i i 
how  could  the  Celts  borrow  from  the  1 ^ 
Greeks  ? ■ 

Drum.  A crowded  evening  party;  1 
also  called  a “rout,”  a “hurricane,”  &c.  J = 
Drum  applies  to  the  close  packing,  as  a ‘ 
drum  of  figs.  Rout  is  the  Welsh  rhaivter  Ij 
(a  crowd).  Hurricane  alludes  to  the  * 
hurry,  bustle,  and  confusion  which  mark  ^ 

these  soirees. 

It  is  impossible  to  live  in  a drum.  ' 

Lady  M.  W.  Montagu.  \ 

John  Drum's  entertainment.  Turning 
an  unwelcome  guest  out  of  doors.  The 
allusion  is  to  drumming  a soldier  out  of 
a regiment. 

Drum  Ecclesiastic.  The  pulpit 
cushion,  often  vigorously  thumped  by 
what  are  termed  “rousing  preachers.”  , 

When  Gospel  trumpeter,  surrounded 
With  long-eared  rout,  to  battle  sounded  ; 

And  pulpit  drum  ecclesiastick 
Was  beat  with  fist  instead  of  a stick. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,”  pt.  i.,  ch.  i.,  v.  9.  # 

Drum-head  Court-martial.  One 
held  in  haste  ; like  a court-martial  sum-  | 
moned  on  the  field  round  the  big  drum 
to  deal  summarily  with  an  offender. 

Drum'mond  Light.  The  lime- 
light. So  named  from  Capt.  Thomas 
Drummond,  R.E.,  who  suggested  the 
idea,  and  prepared  the  necessary  appa- 
ratus, in  the  trigonometrical  survey  of 
Great  Britain. 

Drunk  as  Chloe  or  Drunk  as  a 
fiddler.  Chloe  is  a lady  mentioned  often 
in  Prior’s  “Poems,”  who  had  a great  pro- 
pensity for  strong  drinks.  The  fiddler 
referred  to  is  the  fiddler  at  wakes  and 
fairs,  on  board  ship,  and  other  places 
where  a fiddler  was  paid  in  drink  for 
playing  to  rustic  dancers. 

Drunk  as  David’s  Sow.  {See 

Davy’s  Sow.) 

Drupner  ( The  dripper) . A gold  ring 
given  to  Odin ; every  ninth  night  other 


DRUEY. 


DUCKS. 


247 


rings  dropped  from  it  of  equal  value  to 
itself.  — The  Edda. 

Drury  Lane  (London)  takes  its 
name  from  the  habitation  of  the  great 
Drury  family.  Sir  William  Drury,  K.  G., 
was  a most  able  commander  in  the  Irish 
wars.  Drury  House  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Olympic  Theatre. 

Dru'ees  (2  syl. ).  A people  of  Syria 
governed  by  emir's,  half  Christian  and 
half  Mahometan.  They  offer  up  their 
devotions  both  in  mosques  and  churches, 
worship  the  images  of  saints,  and  yet 
observe  the  fast  of  Ram'medan.  Their 
language  is  pure  Arabic. 

Dry-nurse.  When  a superior  officer 
does  not  know  his  duty,  and  is  instructed 
in  it  by  an  inferior  officer,  he  is  said  to 
be  dry-nursed.  The  interior  nurses  the 
superior  as  a dry-nurse  rears  an  infant. 

Dry  Rot.  The  spontaneous  rot  of 
timber  or  wall-paper,  not  unfrequently 
produced  by  certain  fungi  attaching  them- 
selves thereto.  It  is  called  dry  rot  because 
the  wood  is  not  purposely  exposed  to  wet, 
although,  without  doubt,  damp  from  de- 
fective ventilation  is  largely  present. 

Dry  Wine.  Wine  neither  sweet  nor 
sparkling.  In  sparkling  wine,  some  of 
the  carbonic  acid  gas  is  retained  to  pro- 
duce the  “moss ; ” in  sweet  wine,  some  of 
the  sugar  is  not  yet  decomposed ; but  in 
old  dry  wine  the  fermentation  is  complete, 
the  carbonic  acid  gas  has  escaped  and 
much  of  the  water,  leaving  the  spirit  dry 
or  alone. 

Dryads.  N ymphs  of  the  trees  (Greek, 
drus,  any  forest  tree).  They  were  sup- 
posed to  live  in  the  trees  and  die  when 
the  trees  died. 

Dry'asdust  {Rev.  Dr.).  A dull, 
plodding  author,  very  prosy,  very  dull, 
and  very  learned;  an  antiquary.  Sir 
Walter  Scott  employs  the  name  to  bring 
out  the  prefatory  matter  of  some  of  his 
novels. 

The  Prussian  Dryasdust . . . excels  all  other  “Dry- 
asdusts ” yet  kno  wn.  Carlyle. 

Dsis'oo.  The  Japanese  deity  that 
presides  over  roads  and  travellers. 

Du'alism.  A system  of  philosophy 
which  refers  all  things  that  exist  to  two 
ultimate  principles.  It  is  eminently  a 
Persian  doctrine.  The  Orphic  poets 
made  the  ultimate  principles  of  all  things 
to  be  Water  and  Night,  or  Time  and 


Necessity,  In  theology  the  Maniche'an 
doctrine  is  dualistic. 

Dub.  To  make  a knight  by  giving 
him  a Mow.  Dr.  Tusler  says,  “ The  an. 
cient  method  of  knighting  was  by  a box 
on  the  ear,  implying  that  it  would  be 
the  last  he  would  receive,  as  he  would 
henceforth  be  free  to  maintain  his  own 
honour.’’  The  present  ceremony  is  to 
tap  the  shoulder  with  a sword.  (Saxon, 
duhlan,  to  strike  with  a blow.) 

Dubrie  {St.).  A holy  monk  in  the 
court  of  king  Arthur. — Idylls  of  the  King, 

Enid.** 

Duc'at.  A piece  of  money.  So 
called  from  the  legend  on  the  early 
Sicilian  pieces  : Sit  tihi,  Christe^  datus, 
quern  tu  regis,  iste  ducdtus  (May  this 
duchy  [ducat-us']  which  you  rule  be  de- 
voted to  you,  O Christ). 

Duchesne  (2  syl. ).  Le  'pere  Duchesne. 
Jacques  Rene  Hebert,  chief  of  the  Cor- 
delier Club  in  the  French  Revolution, 
the  members  of  which  were  called 
Hebertists.  He  was  called  “ Father 
Duchesne,”  from  the  name  of  his  vile 
journal.  (1755-1794.) 

Duchess.  An  old  woman  is  often 
termed  A}i  old  duchess  or  a regular 
old  duchess.  The  longevity  of  the  peers 
and  peeresses  is  certainly  very  striking. 

Duck.  The  wild  duck  covers  up  her 
eggs  with  moss  or  hay  every  time  she 
leaves  them. 

Duck  Lane.  A row  for  old  and 
second-hand  books  which  stood  formerly 
near  Smithiield,  but  has  given  way  to 
city  improvements.  It  might  be  called 
the  Holywell  Street  of  Queen  Anne’s 
reign. 

Scotists  and  Thornists  now  in  peace  remain 

Amidst  their  kindred  cobwebs  in  Duck  Lane. 

Pope,  “ Eemy  on  Criticism.” 

Ducks-foot  Lane  (City).  A cor- 
ruption of  Dukes*  Foot  Lane.  So  called 
from  the  dukes  of  Suffolk,  whose  manor- 
house  was  there. 

Ducks  and  Drakes.  To  male 
Duels  Ojud  Drales  of  onds  money.  To 
squander  it  in  as  foolish  a manner  as  if 
it  were  a stone  to  make  “ Ducks  and 
Drakes”  with.  The  French  call  this 
rebound  of  a stone  on  water,  Ridochet. 

What  figured  slates  are  best  to  make 
On  watery  surface  duck  and  drake. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,*’  ii,  3. 


/ 


248  DUCKWEED. 


DUKES. 


Duckweed.  A corruption  of  dylce^ 
weed—i.e.,  ditch-weed.  So  called  because 
it  always  covers  old  moats  and  ponds ; but 
it  is  by  no  means  a favourite  food  of 
ducks.  Its  Latin  name  is  “Lemna,” 
from  the  Greek,  limne  (a  stagnant  pool). 

Dudley  Locust.  A fossil  trilobite 
(Calym'ene), 

Dud'man.  When  Dudman  and  Ram^ 
head  meet.  Never.  Dudman  and  Ram- 
head  are  two  forelands  on  the  Cornish 
coast,  about  twenty  miles  asunder.  I’ll 
have  it  done,  and  that  before  Dudman 
and  Ramhead  meet ! ” means  assuredly,” 
before  never  ” begins. 

Make  yourself  scarce ! depart ! vanish ! or  we’!! 
have  you  summoned  before  the  mayor  of  Hal'gaver, 
and  that  before  Dudman  and  Ramhead  meet. 

Scott,  '‘'■Kenilworth”  c.  iv. 

Duds.  Old  clothes,  tattered  gar- 
ments (Gaelic,  d^id,  a rag;  Dutch, 
tod;  Italian,  tozzi).  A dudder  or  duds- 
man  is  a scarecrow,  or  man  of  straw 
dressed  in  cast-off  garments  to  fray 
birds ; also  a pedlar  who  sells  duds  or 
gown-pieces. 

Dudu.  A pensive  maiden  of  seven- 
teen, ^^who  never  thought  about  herself 
at  all.” — Byron,  Bon  Juan,''  vi.,  vii. 

Duende  (3  syl.).  A Spanish  gobelin 
or  house-spirit.  Cal'deron  has  a comedy 
called  La  Dama  Duenda.” 

Disputase  por  los  hombres  entendidos 
Si  fu6  de  los  caidos  este  duende. 

Calderon. 

Duen'na  {Lady').  The  female  of 
don.  The  Spanish  don  is  the  same  word 
as  the  Welsh  dyn  and  Irish  duine.  A 
duenna  is  the  chief  lady-in-waiting  on 
the  queen  of  Spain  ; but  in  common  par- 
lance it  means  a lady  who  is  half  com- 
panion and  half  governess,  in  charge  of 
the  younger  female  members  of  a noble- 
man’s or  gentleman’s  family  in  Spain. 

Duer'gar  (2  syl.).  Dwarfs  who 
dwell  in  rocks  and  hills  ; noted  for  their 
strength,  subtilty,  magical  powers,  and 
skill  in  metallurgy.  They  are  the  per- 
sonification of  the  subterranean  powers 
of  nature.  According  to  the  Gotho- 
German  myth,  the  duergar  were  first 
maggots  in  Ymir’s  flesh,  but  afterwards 
assumed  the  likeness  of  men.  The  first 
duergar  was  Modsoirn'er ; the  next  Dyrin. 
N.B. — The  giant  Ymir  is  Chaos.  USee 
Heldenbuch.) 


Dues'sa  {Bouble-mind  or  False-faith), 
Daughter  of  Falsehood  and  Shame,  who 
assumes  divers  disguises  to  beguile  the 
Red  Cross  Knight.  At  one  time  she 
takes  the  name  of  Fidessa,  and  entices 
the  knight  into  the  Palace  of  Pride  {Luci- 
fe'ra).  The  knight  having  left  the  palace, 
is  overtaken  by  Duessa,  and  drinks  of  an 
enchanted  fountain,  which  paralyses  him, 
in  which  state  he  is  taken  captive  by  the 
giant  Orgoglio.  Prince  Arthur  slays  the 
giant  and  rescues  the  knight;  Duessa, 
being  stripped  of  her  gorgeous  disguise, 
is  found  to  be  a hideous  hag,  and  flees 
into  the  wilderness  for  concealment. 
She  appears  again  in  book  ii. — Sjyenser, 

Fciery  Queen,"  book  i. 

Duf'fer.  A make-believe ; a hawker 
of  ‘^Brummagem,”  whether  moral,  intel- 
lectual, or  material.  To  duff  is  to  rub  up 
the  nap  of  old  clothes  so  as  to  make  them 
look  amaist  as  weel  as  new ; ” a duffer 
is  one  who  performs  the  operation. 

Robinson,  a thorough  duffer  he. 

Alexander  Smith,  “ Summer  Idyll.” 

Duke.  The  Great  Dulce—i.e.,  the 
duke  of  Wellington.  (1769-1852.) 

Duke  and  Duchess  in  ^^Don 
Quixote,”  who  play  so  many  tricks  on 
the  Knight  of  the  Woeful  Countenance, 
were  don  Carlos  de  Borja,  count  of 
Ficallo,  who  married  donna  Maria  of 
Ar'agon,  duchess  of  Villaher'mora,  in 
whose  right  the  count  had  extensive 
estates  on  the  banks  of  the  Ebro  ; among 
others  he  had  a country  seat  called  Bue- 
na'via,  which  was  the  place  Cervantes 
referred  to. 

Duke  Combe.  William  Combe, 
author  of  ^^Dr.  Syntax,”  ^^The  Devil 
upon  Two  Sticks,”  &c.,  who  in  the  days 
of  his  prosperity  was  noted  for  the 
splendour  of  his  dress,  the  profusion  of 
his  table,  and  the  magnificence  of  his 
deportment.  Having  spent  all  his  money, 
he  turned  author,  but  passed  the  last 
fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  King’s 
Bench.  (1743-1823.) 

Duke  Humphrey.  {See  Hum- 
phrey.) 

Duke  or  Darling.  Heads  or  tails ; 
pitch  and  toss.  When  the  scandals 
about  the  duke  of  York  and  Mrs. 
Clarke  were  the  common  talk  of  the 
town,  the  street  boys,  instead  of  crying 


DUKE, 


DUMACHUS. 


249 


Heads  or  tails,  used  to  say  DuJce  or  Bar- 
ling. — Lord  Colchester  Diary,''  1861). 

Duke  Street  (Strand),  so  named 
from  George  Villiers,  duke  of  Bucking- 
ham. 

Duke’s.  A fashionable  theatre  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.  It  was  situate  in 
Portugal  Street,  Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields.  It 
was  named  from  its  great  patron,  James, 
duke  of  York,  afterwards  James  II. 

Duke’s  Walk.  To  meet  one  in  the 
DuJce's  Walk.  An  invitation  to  fight  a 
duel.  In  the  vicinity  of  Holyrood  House 
is  a place  called  the  Duke’s  Walk,  from 
being  the  favourite  promenade  of  the 
duke  of  York,  afterwards  James  II., 
during  his  residence  in  Scotland.  This 
walk  was  the  common  rendezvous  for 
settling  affairs  of  honour,  as  the  site  of 
the  British  Museum  was  in  England. 

If  a gentleman  shall  ask  me  the  same  question,  I 
shall  regard  the  incivility  as  equivalent  to  an  in- 
vitation to  meet  him  in  the  Duke’s  Walk.— /Sco«, 
'*Bride  of  Lammermoor^”  c.  xxxiv. 

Dulcar'non.  The  horns  of  a di- 
lemma (or  Syllogismum  cormltum) ; at 
my  wits’  end ; a puzzling  question. 
Dulcar'nein  is  the  Arabic  dhu'lkarnein 
(double  - horned,  having  two  horns). 
Hence  the  pons  asino'rum  of  Euclid  is 
called  the  Dulcarncn,  '^a  pons  asinorum 
to  some  good  Grecians.”  Alexander  the 
Great  is  called  Iscander  Dulcarnein,  and 
the  Macedonian  sera  the  cera  of  Did- 
carnein.  According  to  the  Koran,  c. 
xviii.,  {Alexander)  built  the 

famous  iron  walls  of  Jajuge  and  Majuge, 
within  which  Gog  and  Magog  are  con- 
fined till  the  end  of  the  world.”  Hence, 
to  send  one  to  Dulcarnein  is  to  send  one 
to  the  prison  of  Gog  and  Magog,  to 
daze  them  with  puzzles,  to  defeat  them, 
especially  in  argument. 

Dulee  Domum.  The  holiday  song 
of  Winchester  School.  Mr.  Brandon 
says  it  was  composed  by  a boy  of  St. 
Mary’s  College,  Winchester,  who  was 
confined  for  misconduct  during  the 
Whitsun  holidays,  as  report  says,  tied 
to  a pillar.”  On  the  evening  preceding 
the  Whitsun  holidays,  ‘Hhe  master, 
scholars,  and  choristers  of  the  above 
college  walk  in  procession  round  the 
‘ pillar,*  chanting  the  six  stanzas  of  the 
song.”  In  the  March  number  of  the 
‘‘  Gentleman’s  Magazine,”  1796,  a trans- 
lation, signed  J.R.,”  was  given  of  the 
song ; and  Dr.  Milner  thinks  the  original 


is  not  more  than  a century  old.  It  ia 
rather  remarkable  that  the  author  has 
made  domum”  a neuter  noun.  {See 
Adeste  Fideles.) 

CHORUS. 

Domum,  domum,  dulce  domum! 

Domum,  domum,  duica  domum  ; 

Dulce,  dulce,  dulce  domum  ! 

Dulce  domum,  resone'mus  ! 

Home,  home,  dearest  home  I 

Home,  home,  dearest  home  ! 

Dearest,  dearest,  dearest  home  I 

Hurrah  for  darling  home  ! 

DuPcimer  is  now  applied  chiefly  to  a 
stringed  musical  instrument,  played  by 
striking  the  wires  with  little  hammers ; 
but  the  word  so  translated  in  Daniel  iii. 
5 was  a species  of  bagpipe.  Furst  de- 
duces the  Hebrew  word  from  smpn  (a 
pipe),  and  the  Greek  is  symphonia. 
(Italian,  dolcimello.) 

In  a vision  once  I saw 
A damsel  with  a dulcimer. 

Coleridge,  “ Vision  of  Knbla  Khanf* 

Dulcin'ea.  A lady-love.  Taken 
from  Don  Quixote’s  amie  du  coeur.  Her 
real  name  was  Aldonza  Lorenzo,  but  the 
knight  dubbed  her  Dulcin'ea  del  Tobo'so. 

I must  ever  have  some  Dulcinea  in  my  head— it 
harmonises  the  souL— Sterne. 

Dul'einists.  Heretics  who  followed 
the  teaching  of  Dulcin,  who  lived  in  the 
fourteenth  century.  He  said  that  God 
reigned  from  the  beginning  to  the  com- 
ing of  Messiah  ; and  that  Christ  reigned 
from  his  ascension  to  the  fourteenth 
century,  when  he  gave  up  his  dominion 
to  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Duli'a.  An  inferior  degree  of  wor- 
ship or  veneration,  such  as  that  paid  by 
Roman  Catholics  to  saints  and  angels ; 
Hyper-duli'a  is  a superior  sort  of  venera- 
tion reserved  for  the  Virgin  ; but  that 
worship  which  is  paid  to  God  alone  is 
called  latri'a.  ^^Dulia”  means  that  sort 
of  veneration  which  slaves  pay  to  their 
lords  (Greek,  doulos,  a slave);  ^^Latria” 
means  that  sort  of  veneration  which 
mortals  pay  to  the  gods  (Greek,  latren'o, 
to  worship  the  gods). 

Dulness.  King  of  dulness.  Colley 
Cibber,  poet  laureate  after  Eusden. 

“ God  save  king  Cibber ! ’’mounts  on  every  note . , 

So,  when  Jove’s  block  descended  from  on  high . . . 
Loud  thunder  to  its  bottom  shook  the  bog. 

And  the  hoarse  nation  croaked,  “God  save  king 

Log  I”  Pope,  “ Duncind”  bk.  i. 

Du'maelius.  The  impenitent  thief. 
In  Longfellow’s  ''Golden  Legend,”  Du- 
machus  and  Titus  were  two  of  a band 
of  robbers  who  attacked  Joseph  in  his 


250 


DUMB. 


DUNCE. 


flight  into  Egypt.  Titus  said,  Let 
these  good  people  go  in  peace,”  but 
Dumachus  replied,  First  let  them  pay 
for  their  release.”  Upon  this  Titus  gave 
his  fellow-robber  forty  groats,  and  the 
infant  Jesus  said — 

When  thirty  years  shall  have  gone  by, 

I at  J erusalem  shall  die  . . . 

On  the  accursed  tree. 

Then  on  my  right  and  my  left  side, 

These  thieves  shall  both  be  crucified ; 

And  Titus  thenceforth  shall  abide 
In  Paradise  with  me. 

“ The  Miracle  Play^”  iiL 

Dumb-bells.  A corruption  of  Dum- 
pels  or  Dumpies,  the  same  word  as  Dum- 
plings, and  meaning  heavy  (weights), 
(German  and  Danish,  dumm,  heavy, 
dull,  insipid  ; dumplvig,  a heavy,  insipid 
pudding;  dumps,  heavy,  stupid  morose- 
ness.) {See  Dump.) 

Dumb-waiter.  A piece  of  dining- 
room furniture,  fitted  with  shelves,  to 
hold  glasses,  dishes,  and  plate.  So 
called  because  it  answers  all  the  pur- 
poses of  a waiter,  and  is  not  possessed 
of  an  insolent  tongue. 

Dum'my.  In  three-handed  whist, 
the  exposed  hand  is  called  dummy,  from 
the  German  dumm  (stupid),  meaning 
‘^rather  stupid  or  dull.”  The  French 
call  it  mort  (a  dead  man),  and  the  party 
is  said  jouer  avec  un  mort, 

Dum'mies  (2  syl.).  Empty  bottles 
or  drawers  in  a druggist’s  shop  ; wooden 
heads  in  a hairdresser’s  shop ; lay  figures 
in  a tailor’s  shop  ; persons  on  the  stage 
who  appear  before  the  lights,  but  have 
nothing  to  say.  These  all  are  dumb, 
actually  or  figuratively. 

Dump.  A Brazilian  copper  coin, 
worth  about  2 Jd. ; also  a round  flat  lump 
of  lead  used  on  board  ship  for  playing 
quoits  and  chuck-penny.  Hence,  dump>y 
or  dximpty  (squat  or  small).  An  egg  is 
called  a hum'pty-dum'pty  in  the  nursery 
verses  beginning  with  Humpty  Dumpty 
sat  on  a wall,”  &c. 

Dumps.  To  he  in  the  dumps.  Out 
of  spirits;  in  the  sullens.”  According 
to  etymological  fable,  it  is  derived  from 
Dumops,  Mng  of  Egypt,  who  built  a 
pyramid  and  died  of  melancholy.  Gay’s 
Third  Pastoral  is  Wednesday,  or  the 
Dumps.”  (German,  dumm,  stupid,  dull ; 
Dutch,  dom;  Hebrew,  dum,  &c.) 

Why,  how  now,  daughter  Katharine  ? in  your 
dumps  “i— Shakespeare,  ^'Taming  of  the  Shrew,”  ii.  1. 


Dun.  One  who  importunes  for  pay- 
ment of  a bill  (Saxon,  dunan,  to  din  or 
clamour).  The  tradition  is,  that  it  refers 
to  Joe  Dun,  a famous  bailiff  of  Lincoln 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  The  British 
Apollo  ” says  he  was  so  active  and  dex- 
terous in  collecting  bad  debts,  that  when 
any  one  became  ^'slow  to  pay,”  the 
neighbours  used  to 'say  to  the  creditors, 
‘^Dun  him”  (send  Dun  after  him). 

An  Universitie  dunne  ...  is  an  inferior  creditor 
of  some  ten  shillings  or  downe wards,  contracted  for 
horse-hire,  or  perchance  dririke,  too  weaae  to  be  put 
in  suite. — Bishop  Earle,  ^^Microcosmographia.'*  (1601- 
1695.) 

Squire  Dun.  The  hangman  between 
Kichard  Brandin  and  Jack  Ketch. 

And  presently  a halter  got. 

Made  of  the  best  strong  hempen  teer ; 

And.  ere  a cat  could  lick  his  ear. 

Had  tied  him  up  with  as  much  art 
As  Dun  himself  could  do  lor ’s  heart. 

Cotton,  “ Virgil  Travested,”  bk.  iv. 

As  dull  as  Dun  in  the  mire  (Chaucer). 
Dun  means  a donkey  or  dun-key,  so 
called  from  its  colour.  Kalph  calls  Hu- 
dibras  his  dunship”(  pt.  iii.  3).  Dun 
in  tbe  mire”  is  one  greatly  embarrassed. 
There  was  a game  so  called,  to  which 
Shakespeare  refers  in  Borneo  and 
Juliet”  (i.  4):  ‘^If  thou  art  dun,  we’ll 
draw  thee  from  the  mire.”  Gifford  has 
described  the  game  in  his  edition  of  Ben 
Jonson,  vii.  283. 

Well  done,  my  masters,  lend’s  your  hands, 
Draw  Dun  out  of  the  ditch ; 

Draw,  pull,  helpe  all ; so,  so,  well  done. 

( They  pull  him  out.)  Dutchesse  of  Suffolke.  (1631.) 

Dun-cow.  The  Dun- cow  of  Duns- 
more  heath  was  a savage  beast  slain  by 
Sir  Guy,  earl  of  Warwick.  A huge  tusk, 
probably  that  of  an  elephant,  is  still 
shown  at  Harwich  Castle,  as  one  of  the 
horns  of  the  dun- cow.  {See  Guy.) 

Dunce.  A dolt;  a stupid  person. 
The  word  is  taken  from  Duns  Scotus, 
the  learned  schoolman  and  great  sup- 
porter of  the  immaculate  conception. 
His  followers  were  called  Dunsers.  Tyn- 
dal  says,  when  they  saw  that  their  hair- 
splitting divinity  was  giving  way  to 
modern  theology,  '^the  old  barking  curs 
raged  in  every  pulpit”  against  the 
classics  and  new  notions,  so  that  the 
name  indicated  an  opponent  to  progress, 
to  learning,  and  hence  a dunce. 

He  knew  what’s  what,  and  that’s  as  high 
As  metaphysic  wit  can  fly.  . . 

A second  Thomas,  or  at  once 
To  name  them  all,  another  Dunse. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras”  I L 


DUNCIAD, 


DUNSTAN. 


251 


Dunce,  {See  Abderitan,  Arcadian, 
Bceotian.) 

Dun'ciad.  The  dunce-epic,  a satire 
by  Alexander  Pope.  Eusden,  the  poet  lau- 
reate, being  dead,  the  goddess  of  Dulness 
elects  Colley  Cibber  to  be  his  successor. 
The  installation  is  celebrated  by  games, 
the  most  important  being  the  proposal 
to  read  without  sleeping  two  voluminous 
works,  one  in  verse  and  the  other  in 
prose ; as  every  one  falls  asleep,  the  games 
come  to  an  end.  King  Cibber  is  now 
taken  to  the  temple  of  Dulness,  and  is 
lulled  to  sleep  on  the  lap  of  the  goddess ; 
and  during  his  slumber  sees  in  a vision 
the  past,  present,  and  future  triumphs 
of  the  empire.  Finally,  the  goddess, 
having  destroyed  order  and  science,  esta- 
blishes her  kingdom  on  a firm  basis,  and 
having  given  directions  to  her  several 
agents  to  prevent  thought  and  to  confine 
the  people  to  foolish  and  trifling  pursuits, 
Night  and  Chaos  are  restored,  and  the 
poem  ends. 

Dun'derliead.  A blockhead,  or, 
rather,  a muddle-headed  person.  Dunder 
is  the  lees  or  dregs  of  wine,  &c.  ; more 
correctly,  the  overflow  of  fermented 
liquors  (yeast).  (Spanish,  redundar,  to 
overflow  or  froth  over. ) 

The  use  of  Dunder  in  the  making  of  rum  answers 
the  purpose  of  yeast  in  the  fermentation  of  flour.— 
EdwardSt “ West  Indies” 

Dundrea'ry,  Lord  (3  syl.).  The 
impersonation  of  a good-natured,  indo- 
lent, blundering,  empty-headed  swell. 
The  chief  character  in  Tom  Taylor’s 
dramatic  piece,  called  Our  American 
Cousin.”  Mr.  Sothern  created  the  cha- 
racter of  Lord  Dundreary  by  the  power 
of  his  conception  and  the  genius  of  his 
acting.  (iSee  Brother  Sam.) 

Dungeon.  A corruption  of  domin'ium 
(dominjum,  contracted  into  dom’jum), 
that  part  of  the  castle  in  which  the  lord 
took  his  meals,  and  which  dominated 
over  the  whole  building.  The  under- 
ground storey  of  this  grand  tower  was 
used  for  a prison,  and  persons  of  rank 
were  confined  in  Keep-tower  itself,  as 
being  the  strongest  part  of  the  castle. 

The  word  is  sometimes  spelt  donjon^ 
and  at  Canterbury  is  a mound  corruptly 
called  the  Dane  John,  on  which  stood 
formerly  the  donjon  or  keep  of  the  castle. 

The  grete  tour,  that  was  so  thikke  and  strong. 

Which  of  the  castel  was  the  cheef  dongoun. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales.”  (1059.) 


Dunghill.  Thou  hast  it,  ad  dunghill, 
at  thy  fingers’  ends.  To  this  Holofernes 
replies,  Oh,  I smell  false  Latin ; ‘ dung- 
hill’ for  'unguem.’  —ShaTces'geare^  “ Love’s 
Labour’s  Lost,”  v.  1. 

Dunkers.  {See  Tunkers.) 

Dunmow,  To  eat  Dunmow  bacon. 
To  live  in  conjugal  amity,  without  even 
wishing  the  marriage  knot  to  be  less  firmly 
tied.  The  allusion  is  to  the  institution  of 
Robert  Fitzwalter.  Between  1244  and 
1772,  eight  claimants  have  been  admitted 
to  eat  the  flitch.  Their  names  merit  im- 
mortality. 

1445.  Richard  Wright,  labourer,  Bau- 
burgh,  near  Norwich. 

1467.  Steven  Samuel,  of  Little  Ayston, 
Essex. 

1510.  Thomas  Ley,  fuller,  Coggeshall, 
Essex. 

1701.  William  and  Jane  Parsley, 
butcher,  Much-Easton,  Essex.  Same 
year,  John  and  Ann  Reynolds,  Hatfield 
Regis. 

1751.  Thomas  Shapeshaft,  wool- 
comber,  Weathersfield,  Essex. 

1763.  Names  unknown  ! ! 

1772.  John  and  Susan  Gilder,  Tarling, 
Essex. 

The  recent  attempt  to  revive  this  pre- 
mium for  humbug  ” is  manifestly  a mere 
“get-up  ” for  the  benefit  of  the  town. 

Ah,  madam ! cease  to  be  mistaken ; 

Few  married  fowl  peck  Dunmow  bacon. 

Prior, 

Dunmow  Flitch.  {See  Bacon.) 

Dun'stable.  Bailey,  as  if  he  actu- 
ally believed  it,  gives  the  etymon  of 
this  word  Duns’  stable  ; adding  Duns  or 
“Dunus  was  a robber  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  I.,  who  made  it  dangerous  for 
travellers  to  pass  that  way.  {Dunes  or 
duns  tavell,  our  table — i.e.,  the  table-land 
or  flat  of  the  hills.) 

Plain  as  the  road  to  Dunstable ; or,  as 
Shakespeare  says,  “Plain  as  way  to  parish 
church.”  The  road  leading  to  Dunstable 
is  the  confluence  of  many  leading  to  Lou- 
don, but  the  play  is  on  the  word  dunce. 

Dun'stan  {St. ).  Patron  saint  of  gold- 
smiths, being  himself  a noted  worker  in 
gold. 

St.  Dunstanand  the  Devil.  Dunstan  was 
a painter,  jeweller,  and  blacksmith ; 
being  expelled  from  court,  he  built  a cell 
near  Glastonbury  church,  and  there  he 
worked  at  his  handicrafts.  It  was  in 


252 


DUODECIMO. 


DUST. 


this  cell  that  tradition  says  the  devil  had 
a gossip  with  the  saint  through  the  lat- 
tice window.  Dunstan  went  on  talking 
till  his  tongs  were  red-hot,  when  he 
turned  round  suddenly  and  caught  his 
Satanic  majesty  by  the  nose.  One  can 
trace  in  this  legend,  the  notion  that  all 
knowledge  belonged  to  the  Black  Art; 
that  the  saints”  are  always  more  than 
conquerors  over  the  spirits  of  evil;  and 
the  singular  cunning  which  our  fore- 
fathers so  delighted  to  honour. 

Duodee'imo.  A book  whose  sheets 
are  folded  into  twelve  leaves  each.  This 
word,  which  differs  from  both  the  Italian 
and  French,  is  from  the  Latin  duodecim 
(twelve).  It  is  now  called  twelve-mo 
from  the  contraction  12mo. 

Dup  is  do  up.  Thus  Ophelia  says,  in 
one  of  her  snatches,  he  ^^dupped  the 
chamber  door,”  ^.e.,  did  up  or  pushed  up 
the  latch,  in  order  to  open  the  door,  that 
he  might  ‘^et  in  the  maid”  Hamlet,” 
iv.  1).  ^^To  dup  the  gate”  sometimes 
means  to  do  it  up,  or  draw  up  the  port- 
cullis. 

Duranda'na  or  Dunn’dana.  Or- 
lando’s sword,  given  him  by  his  cousin 
Malagi'gi.  It  once  belonged  to  Hector, 
and  was  made  by  the  fairies.  It  could 
cleave  the  Pyrenees  at  a blow.  N.B. — In 
French  romance  Orlando  is  called 
Malagigi  Maugisy  and  the  sword  durandal 
or  durin'dal. 

Nor  plated  shield,  nor  tempered  casque  defends, 

Where  Durindana’s  trenchant  edge  descends. 

Hoole,  “ Orlando  Furioso,*’  bk.  v. 

Du'randar'te.  A knight  who  fell  at 
Eoncesvalles,  cousin  to  Montesi'nos.  The 
tale  says  he  loved  Belerma,  whom  he 
served  seven  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  was  slain.  In  his  last 
breath  he  told  Montesi'nos  to  take  his 
heart  and  give  it  to  Belerma.  He  is 
described  by  Lewis  as 

Sweet  in  manners,  fair  in  favour, 

Mild  in  temper,  fierce  in  fight. 

Dur'den  {Dame).  A notable  house- 
wife. Dame  Durden  of  the  famous  Eng- 
lish song  kept  five  serving  girls  to  carry 
the  milking  pails,  and  also  kept  five 
serving  men  to  use  the  spade  and  flail. 
The  five  men  loved  the  five  maids. 

’Twas  Moll  and  Bet,  and  Boll  and  Kate,  and  Borothy 

Bracgletail ; 

And  John  and  Dick,  and  Joe  and  Jack,  and  Hum- 
phrey with  his  flail 

Anon. 


Dur'ham  Book.  By  Eadfrid,  bishop 
of  Lindisfarne,  who  died  in  721,  one  of 
the  most  splendid  examples  of  illumina- 
tion in  the  world. 

Durham  Mustard.  So  called  from 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Clements,  who  first 
conceived  the  idea  of  grinding  mustard 
in  a mill,  instead  of  pounding  it  in  a 
mortar.  George  I.  stamped  it  with  his 
approval,  hence  the  pots  are  labelled  with 
the  words,  Durham  mustard,”  and  bear 
the  royal  initials  in  a medallion. 

Dus  or  Deuce.  The  chief  god  of  the 
Brigan'tes,  one  of  whose  altars,  bearing 
an  inscription,  was  discovered  at  Gret- 
land. — Camderiy  Britannia.^^ 

Du'siens.  The  name  given  by  the 
Gauls  to  those  demons  that  produce 
nightmares. 

Dust.  Money ; so  called  because  it 
is  made  of  gold-dust.  Dean  Swift  took 
for  the  text  of  a charity  sermon,  “ He 
who  giveth  to  the  poor,  lendeth  to  the 
Lord and  is  reported  to  have  said, 
'^Now,  brethren,  if  you  like  the  security, 
down  with  your  dust.” 

ril  dust  yoiir  jacket  for  you.  Give  you 
a good  beating.  The  allusion  is  to  dust- 
ing carpets,  &c.,  by  beating  them  with  a 
stick, 

To  throw  dust  in  one's  eyes.  To  mislead. 
The  allusion  is  to  a Mahometan  practice 
of  casting  dust  into  the  air  for  tjie  sake 
of  ‘^confounding”  the  enemies  of  the 
faith.  This  was  done  by  Mahomet  on 
two  or  three  occasions,  as  in  the  battle 
of  Honein ; and  the  Koran  refers  to  it 
when  it  says,  “ Neither  didst  thou,  0 
Mahomet,  cast  dust  into  their  eyes  ; but 
it  was  God  who  confounded  them.”  But 
the  following  incident  will  suffice : One 
day  the  Koreishites  surrounded  the  house 
of  Mahomet,  resolved  to  murder  him. 
They  peeped  through  the  crevice  of  his 
chamber-door,  and  saw  him  lying  asleep. 
Just  at  this  moment  his  son-in-law  Ali 
opened  the  door  silently,  and  threw  into 
the  air  a handful  of  dust.  Immediately 
the  conspirators  were  confounded.  They 
mistook  Ali  for  Mahomet,  and  Mahomet 
for  Ali ; allowed  the  prophet  to  walk 
through  their  midst  uninjured,  and  laid 
hands  on  Ali.  No  sooner  was  Mahomet 
safe,  than  their  eyes  were  opened,  and 
they  saw  their  mistake. 

Dust.  The  wild  Irish  peasantry  believe 
that  dust  is  raised  on  roads  by  fairies  on 


DUSTY. 


DWARF. 


253 


a journey,  and  raise  their  hats  to  it,  say- 
ing-, God  speed  you,  gentlemen.”  The 
Arabs  think  the  whirlwind  and  water- 
spout are  caused  by  evil  jinns. 

Dusty-foot.  {See  Pie  Poudre.) 

Dutch.  The  Dutch  have  talceii  Hol- 
land. A quiz  when  any  one  tells  what 
is  well  known  as  a piece  of  wonderful 
news.  Similar  to  Queen  Bess  (or  Queen 
Anne)  is  dead  ; the  Arh  rested  on  Mount 
Ararat;  &c. 

Dutch  Auction.  An  ^‘auction” 
in  which  the  bidders  decrease  their  bids 
till  they  come  to  the  minimum  price. 
Dutch  gold  is  no  gold  at  all ; Dutch 
courage  is  no  real  courage;  Dutch  con- 
cert is  no  music  at  all,  but  mere  hubbub ; 
and  Dutch  auction  is  no  auction,  or  in- 
crease of  bets,  but  quite  the  contrary. 

Dutch  Clocks.  A corruption  of 
Deutsche  clocJcs  (German  clocks),  chiefly 
made  in  the  Black  Forest.  As  many  as 
180,000  are  exported  annually  from  Fri- 
burg. 

A -woman,  that  is  like  a German  clock, 

Still  a-repairmg ; ever  out  of  frame  ; 

And  never  going  aright. 

Shakespeare,  “ Love’s  Labour’s  Lost,”  iii  1. 

Dutch  Concert.  A great  noise  and 
uproar,  like  that  made  by  a party  of 
Dutchmen  in  sundry  stages  of  intoxica- 
tion, some  singing,  others  quarrelling, 
speechifying,  wrangling,  and  so  on. 

Dutch  Courage.  The  courage  ex- 
cited by  drink  ; pot  valour. 

Dutch  Gold.  Deutsche  or  German 
gold.  An  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc,  in- 
vented by  prince  Rupert  of  Bavaria. 

Dutch  School  of  painting  is  a sort 
of  ^^pre-Raphaelite”  exactness  of  detail 
without  selection.  It  is,  in  fact,  photo- 
graphing exactly  what  appears  before 
the  artist,  as  faithfully  as  his  art  will 
allow.  The  subjects  are  generally  the 
lower  classes  of  social  life,  as  pothouse 
scenes,  drunken  orgies,  street  groups, 
Dutch  boors,  &c.,  with  landscapes  and 
still-life.  The  greatest  of  the  Dutch 
masters  are : for  portraits,  Rembrandt, 
Bol,  Flinck,  Hals,  and  Vanderhelst;  for 
conversation  pieces,  Gerhard  Douw,  Ter- 
burg,  Metzu,  Mieris,  and  Netscher;  for 
low  life,  Ostard,  Bower,  and  Jan  Steen ; 
for  lan^capes,  Ruysdael,  Hobbem.a,  Cuyp, 
Vanderneer,  Berchem,  and  A.  Both  ; for 
latile  scenes,  Wouvermans  and  Huchten- 


burg  ; for  marine  'pieces,  Vandevelde 
and  Bakhuizen ; for  still-life  and  flowers, 
Half,  A.  Van  Utrecht,  Van  Huy  sum, 
and  De  Heem. 

Dutch  Uncle.  I will  talk  to  you  like 
a Dutch  uncle.  Will  reprove  you  smartly. 
Uncle  is  the  Latin  notion  ol  pat' runs,  ‘^an 
uncle,”  ^^^severe  guardian,”  or  stern  cas 
tigator.”  Hence  Horace,  3 Od,  xii.  3, 
Metuentes  patruce  verhera  linguae  (dread- 
ing the  castigations  of  an  uncle’s  tongue); 
and  2 Sat.  iii.  88,  Ne  sis  patruus  mihi 
(Don’t  come  the  uncle  over  me). 

Dutchman.  Dm  a Dutchman  if  1 
do.  A strong  refusal.  During  the  rivalry 
between  England  and  Holland,  the  word 
Dutch  was  synonymous  with  all  that  was 
false  and  hateful,  and  when  a man  said, 

I would  rather  be  a Dutchman  than  do 
what  you  ask  me,”  he  used  the  strongest 
term  of  refusal  that  words  could  express. 

Duty  means  what  is  due  or  owing,  a 
debt  which  should  be  paid.  Thus  obe- 
dience is  the  debt  of  citizens  to  rulers 
for  protection,  and  service  is  the  debt 
of  persons  employed  for  wages  received, 

Duum'virs  (3  syl.).  Certain  Roman 
officers  who  were  appointed  in  pairs,  like 
our  London  sheriffs.  The  chief  were  the 
two  officers  who  had  charge  of  the  Sibyl- 
line books,  the  two  who  had  the  super- 
vision of  the  municipal  cities,  and  the  two 
who  were  charged  with  naval  matters. 

Dwarf  (YAe).  Richard  Gibson,  painter 
(1615-1690),  a page  of  the  back-stairs  in 
the  court  of  Charles  I.  He  married  Anne 
Shepherd,  a dwarf  also,  and  the  king 
honoured  the  wedding  with  his  presence. 
Each  measured  three  feet  ten  inches. 
Design  or  chance  makes  others  wive, 

But  I^ature  did  this  match  contrive. 

Waller. 

The  Black  Dwarf.  A fairy  of  the  most 
malignant  character ; a genuine  northern 
Duergar,  and  once  held  by  the  dalesmen 
of  the  border  as  the  author  of  all  the 
mischief  that  befell  their  flocks  and 
herds.  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  a novel  so 
called,  in  which  the  black  dwarf”  is 
introduced  under  the  aliases  of  Sir  Ed- 
ward Mauley ; Elshander,  the  recluse  ; 
Cannie  Elshie  ; and  the  Wise  Wight  of 
Mucklestane  Moor. 

Dwarf  Albrich.  (in  the  Nihelungen 
Lied)  is  the  guardian  of  the  famous 

hoard”  won  by  Siegfried  from  the 
Nibeluncrs-  dwarf  is  twice  van- 


/ 


254  DWARF. 


ilAGiLE. 


quished  by  the  hero,  who  gets  possession 
of  his  Tarn-lcajtpe  (cloak  of  invisibility). 
(/See  Elberich.) 

Dwarf  Peter  {das  Peter  MancJieri), 
An  allegorical  romance  by  Ludwig  Tieck. 
The  dwarf  is  a castle  spectre  that  ad- 
vises and  aids  the  family;  but  all  his 
advice  turns  out  evil,  and  all  his  aid 
productive  of  trouble.  The  dwarf  re- 
presents that  corrupt  part  of  human 
nature  called  by  St.  Paul  the  ^Haw  in 
our  members  which  wars  against  the  law 
of  our  minds,  and  brings  us  into  cap- 
tivity to  the  law  of  sin.” 

Dwarfs.  The  most  remarkable  are  : 

Phile'tas,  a poet  (contemporary  with 
Hippoc'rates),  so  small  ^^that  he  wore 
leaden  shoes  to  prevent  being  blown 
away  by  the  wind.”  (Died  B.c.  280.) 

Niceph'orus  Calistus  tells  us  of  an 
Egyptian  dwarf  not  bigger  than  a par- 
tridge. 

Aris'tratos,  the  poet,  was  so  small  that 
Athense'os  says  no  one  could  see  him. 

Sir  Jeffrey  Hudson,  born  at  Oakham, 
in  Rutlandshire,  at  the  age  of  thirty  was 
only  eighteen  inches  in  height.  (1619- 
1678.) 

Owen  Farrel,  the  Irish  dwarf,  born  at 
Ca'van,  hideously  ugly,  but  of  enormous 
muscular  strength.  Height,  three  feet 
nine  inches.  (Died  1742.) 

Count  J oseph  Boruwlaski,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  was  two  feet  four  inches,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-eight.  (1739-1837.) 

Nicholas  Ferry,  usually  called  Beb^,  a 
native  of  France,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty- three,  and  was  not  three  feet 
high.  A contemporary  of  Boruwlaski. 

General  Tom  Thumb  (Charles  S.  Strat- 
ton), born  1832,  at  Bridgeport,  Connec- 
ticut, U.S.,  was  twenty-five  inches  in 
height,  and  weighed  twenty-five  lbs.  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five. 

Tom  Thumb,  a Dutch  dwarf,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  was  two  feet  four  inches  high. 

Prince  Colo'bri  of  Sleswig,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five,  was  also  twenty-five  inches 
high,  and  weighed  twenty-five  lbs.  (1851.) 

Caroline  Crach'ami',  the  Sicilian  dwarf, 
born  at  Palermo,  was  twenty  inches  at 
death.  Exhibited  in  Bond  Street,  1824. 
(1814-1824.) 

Ther^se  Souvray,  {See  Addenda.) 

Dwergar.  Demi-gods  of  pigmy  size, 
who  preside  over  echoes.  {Scandinavian 
vi.yihology.') 


Dyeing  Scarlet.  Drinking  deep. 
Drinking  dyes  the  face  scarlet. 

They  call  drinnin?  deep,  dyeine  scarlet. 

Shakespeare^  “1  Henry  IV.,"  ii.  4. 

Dymph'na.  The  tutelar  saint  of 
those  stricken  in  spirit.  She  was  a 
native  of  Britain,  and  a woman  of  high 
rank.  It  is  said  that  she  was  murdered, 
at  Geel,  in  Belgium,  by  her  own  father, 
for  resisting  his  incestuous  passion.  Geel 
or  Gheel  has  long  been  a famous  colony 
for  the  insane,  who  are  sent  thither  from 
all  parts  of  Europe,  and  are  boarded 
with  the  peasantry. 

Dyser.  The  deities  who  conduct  the 
souls  of  the  deceased  to  the  palace  of 
Odin.  {Scandinavian  mythology.) 

Dy'vour.  The  debtor’s  badge  in 
Scotland  (French,  devoir,  to  own).  Bank- 
rupts were  compelled  to  wear  an  upper 
garment,  half  yellow  and  half  brown, 
with  a party-coloured  cap.  This  law 
was  abolished  in  the  reign  of  William  IV. 

Dyz'emas  Day.  Tithe  day.  (Por- 
tuguese, didimas,  tithes ; Law  Latin, 
dec'imce. ) 

Dzoha'ra.  The  Arabian  Venus.— 
Banier,  vol.  ii. 

Dzolil.  The  Saturn  of  the  Arabians. 
— Banier,  vol.  ii. 


^4  ^ 


E. 


E.  This  letter  represents  a window ; | 
in  Hebrew  it  is  called  he  (a  window).  I 

E.a.  or  e.g.  (Latin  for  exempli  gra'tia').  9 
By  way  of  example  ; for  instance.  | 

Eager  or  eagre.  Sharp,  keen,  acid  ; ^ 
the  French  aigre.  ^ 

Posset  and  curd,  like  eager  droppings  into  milk.  ^ 
Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet”  i.  5. 

It  is  a nipping  and  an  eager  air. 

“ Hamlet,”  i.  4. 

Vex  him  with  eager  words. 

Shakespeare,  “ 3 Henry  VI,”  ii-  4.  j 


Eagle  is  the  supporter  of  a lectern, 
because  the  eagle  is  the  natural  enemy 
of  the  serpent.  The  two  testaments  are 
the  two  outspread  wings  of  the  eagle. 

Eagle  is  emblematic  of  St.  John  the 
evangelist,  because,  like  the  eagle,  he 
looked  on  ^‘the  sun  of  glory  the  eagle 
was  one  of  the  four  figures  which  made 
up  the  cherub  (Ezek.  i.  10). 

Eagle  in  heraldry  signifies  fortitude. 


'I 


EAGLfi. 


EARING. 


255 


Eagle  in  royal  banners.  It  was  the 
ensign  of  the  ancient  kings  of  Babylon 
and  Persia,  of  the  Ptolemies  and  Se- 
leu'cides.  The  Romans  adopted  it  in  con- 
junction with  other  devices,  but  Ma'rius 
made  it  the  ensign  of  the  legion,  and 
confined  the  other  devices  to  the  cohorts. 
The  French  under  the  empire  have  as- 
sumed the  same  device. 

The  two-headed  eagle  signifies  a double 
empire.  Thus  Austria  has  one  for  the 
eastern  and  one  for  the  western  empire. 
She  claims  to  be  the  successor  of  the 
Caesars  of  Rome,  and  also  of  Charlemagne. 
She  added  the  second  head  to  her  stan- 
dard in  802,  to  denote  the  union  of  Rome 
and  Germany.  Russia,  also,  has  a double- 
headed eagle,  having  added  that  of  Poland 
to  her  own.  Constantine  was  the  first 
to  introduce  this  device,  to  intimate  that 
the  empire  had  two  heads  or  kings,  but 
was  nevertheless  one  body  or  empire. 

Eagle^  a public-house  sign,  is  in 
honour  of  queen  Mary,  whose  badge  it 
was.  She  put  it  on  the  dexter  side  of 
the  shield,  and  the  sun  on  the  sinister — 
a conjugal  compliment  which  gave  great 
offence  to  her  subjects. 

The  Golden  Eagle  and  the  Spread  Eagle 
are  commemorative  of  the  crusades ; 
they  were  the  devices  of  the  emperors  of 
the  East. 

Thy  youth  is  renewed  like  the  eaglds. 
This  refers  to  the  superstition  feigned 
by  poets  that  every  ten  years  the  eagle 
soars  into  the  fiery  region,”  and  plunges 
thence  into  the  sea,  where,  moulting  its 
feathers,  it  acquires  new  life. 

She  saw  where  he  upstarted  brave 
Out  of  the  well.  . . 

As  eagle  fresh  out  of  the  ocean  wave. 

Where  he  hath  lefte  his  plumes  all  hory  gray, 
And  decks  himself  with  fethers  youthly  gay. 

Spenser^  “ Faery  Queenp  i.  11. 

Eagle.  The  Romans  used  to  let  an 
eagle  fly  from  the  funeral  pile  of  a de- 
ceased emperor.  Dryden  alludes  to 
this  custom  in  his  stanzas  on  Oliver 
Cromwell  after  his  funeral,  when  he 
says,  Officious  haste  ‘^did  let  too  soon 
the  sacred  eagle  fly.” 

Eagle  of  Brittany.  Bertrand  Dugues- 
clin,  constable  of  France.  (1320-1380). 

Eagle  of  Meaux  {mo).  Jacques  B^- 
nigne  Bossuet,  bishop  of  Meaux,  the 
grandest  and  most  sublime  of  the  pulpic 
orators  of  France.  (1627-1704.) 

Eagle  of  the  doctors  of  France.  Pierre 
d’Ailiy,  a French  cardinal  and  great 
astrologer,  who  calculated  the  horoscope 


of  our  Lord,  and  maintained  that  the 
stars  foretold  the  great  deluge.  (1350- 
1425.) 

Ear.  I am  all  ear.  All  attention. 

I was  all  ear, 

And  took  in  strains  that  might  create  a soul 

Under  the  ribs  of  death. 

Milton,  “ Comus." 

Til  send  you  off  with  a flea  in  your  ear — 
with  a cuff  or  box  of  the  ear.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  domestic  animals,  who  are 
sometimes  greatly  annoyed  with  these 
'^tiny  torments.”  There  seems  also  to 
be  a pun  implied— /ea  oxidiflee. 

Ears.  If  your  ears  burn,  people  say 
some  one  is  talking  of  you.  This  is  very 
old,  for  Pliny  says,  When  our  ears  do 
glow  and  tingle,  some  do  talk  of  us  in 
our  absence.”  Shakespeare,  in  ^^Much 
Ado  About  Nothing”  (hi.  1.),  makes  Bea- 
trice say  to  Ur'sula  and  Hero,  who  had 
been  talking  of  her,  ^^What  fire  is  in 
mine  ears  ? ” Sir  Thomas  Browne  ascribes 
this  conceit  to  the  superstition  of  guardian 
angels,  who  touch  the  right  ear  if  the 
talk  is  favourable,  and  the  left  if  other- 
wise. This  is  done  to  cheer  or  warn. 

One  ear  tingles ; some  there  be 
That  are  snarling  now  at  me. 

Herrick,  “ HesperidSs.’* 

To  set  people  together  hy  the  ears.  To 
create  ill-will  among  them  ; to  set  them 
quarrelling.  It  is  a pot-house  metaphor, 
taken  from  the  metal  pots,  which  are 
collected,  and  being  slung  on  a rope  by 
their  handles  or  ears,  rattle  against  each 
other. 

Mine  ears  hast  thou  hored.  Thou  hast 
accepted  me  as  thy  bond-slave  for  life. 
If  a Hebrew  servant  declined  to  go  free 
after  six  years’  service,  the  master  was 
to  bring  him  to  the  doorpost,  and  bore 
his  ear  through  with  an  awl,  in  token  of 
his  voluntary  servitude  (Exod.  xxi.  fi). 
This  probably  was  an  Egyptian  custom, 
as  the  ear  is  an  hieroglyphic  of  obedience. 

Walls  hem  ears.  Things  uttered  in 
secret  get  rumoured  abroad.  Chaucer 
says,  '^That  field  hath  eyen,  and  the  wood 
hath  ears.” — Canterbury  Tales v.  1524. 

Ear-shot.  Within  ear-shot.  Within 
hearing.  The  allusion  is  palpable. 

Earing.  Ploughing.  (Anglo-Saxon, 
erian,  to  plough  ; Latin,  aro. ) 

And  yet  there  are  five  years,  in  the  which  there 
shall  neither  be  earing  nor  harvest.— (?en.  xlv.  6.  ^ 

In  earing  time  and  in  harvest  thou  shalt  rest.? 

Axorf.  xxxiv.  21. 


256 


EARL. 


EATING. 


Earl  means  an  elder.  The  words 
seigneur  and  senator  are  of  similar 
meaning.  (Danish,  jarl,  an  elder  ; our 
alderman. ) 

Earl  of  Mar’s  Grey  Breeks. 
The  21st  Foot  are  so  called,  because 
they  wore  grey  breeches  when  the  earl  of 
Mar  was  their  colonel.  (1678-1686.) 

Earth.  To  gather  strength  from  the 
earth.  The  reference  is  to  Antseos,  son 
of  Posei'don  and  Ge,  a giant  and  wrestler 
of  Lib'ya  (Africa).  So  long  as  he  touched 
the  earth,  his  strength  was  irresistible. 
Hercules,  knowing  this,  lifted  him  into 
the  air  and  crushed  him  to  death.  Near 
the  town  of  Tingis,  in  Maurita'nia,  is  a 
hill  in  the  shape  of  a man,  and  called 
The  hill  of  Antoeos.  Tradition  says  it  is 
the  wrestler’s  tomb.  {See  Malegea.) 

Earwig.  A corruption  of  the  Saxon 
ear-wiega  (ear-insect).  So  called  because 
the  hind  wings  resemble  in  shape  the 
human  ear. 

East.  The  custom  of  turning  to  the 
east  when  the  creed  is  repeated  is  a relic 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  notion  about  the 
real  presence ; but  the  custom  of  plac- 
ing the  altar  at  the  east  end  of  the 
church  is  to  remind  us  of  Christ,  the 

Day  - spring  ” and  ^^Resurrection.” 
Persons  are  buried  with  their  feet  to 
the  east,  because  they  '^look  for  the 
Day-spring  and  Resurrection.”  The 
ancient  Greeks  always  buried  their  dead 
with  the  feet  towards  the  east. — JJiog, 
Laert.f  Vit.  Solon f 

East  Indies. 

(1)  He  came  safe  from  the  East  Indies^ 
and  was  drowned  in  the  Thames.  He 
encountered  many  dangers  of  great 
magnitude,  but  was  at  last  killed  where 
he  thought  himself  secure. 

(2)  To  send  to  the  East  Indies  for 
Kentish  pippins.  To  go  round  about  to 
accomplij^h  a very  simple  thing.  To 
crush  a fly  on  a wheel.  To  send  to  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  for  a penny 
postage  stamp. 

Easter.  April  was  called  Oster- 
monah — the  month  of  the  Ost-end  wind 
(wind  from  the  east).  Easter  is  there- 
fore the  April  feast,  which  lasted  eight 
days.  Our  Easter  Sunday  is  the  first 
Sunday  after  the  first  full  moon  after 
the  21st  of  March.  It  may  fall  as  early 


as  the  22nd  of  March,  or  as  late  as  the  I 
25th  of  April.  (Teutonic,  ostara ; Anglo-  t 
Saxon,  eastre.)  j 

Easter.  The  Saxon  goddess  of  the  I 
east,  whose  festival  was  held  in  the  ^ 
spring. 

Easter-day  Sun.  It  was  formerly 
a common  belief  that  the  sun  danced  on 
Easter  Day.  Sir  Thomas  Browne  com- 
bats the  notion  in  his  Vulgar  Errors.”  ’ 

But  oh,  she  dances  such  a way, 

Ko  sun  upon  an  Easter  day 
Is  half  so  fine  a sight. 

Sir  John  Suckling, 

Easter  Eggs  or  Pasch  eggs  are  sym- 
bolical of  creation,  or  the  re-creation  of 
spring.  The  practice  of  presenting  eggs 
to  our  friends  at  Easter  is  Magian  or 
Persian,  and  bears  allusion  to  the  mun- 
dane egg,  for  which  Ormuzd  and  Ahri- 
man  were  to  contend  till  the  consumma- 
tion of  all  things.  It  prevailed  not  only 
with  the  Persians,  but  also  among  the 
Jews,  Egyptians,  and  Hindus.  Chris- 
tians adopted  the  custom  to  symbolise 
the  resurrection,  and  they  colour  the 
eggs  red  in  allusion  to  the  blood  of  their 
redemption.  There  is  a tradition,  also, 
that  the  world  was  ^^hatched”  or  created 
at  Easter-tide. 

Bless,  Lord,  we  beseech  thee,  this  thy  creature  of 
eggs,  that  it  may  become  a wholesome  sustenance  to 
thy  faithful  seivants,  eating  it  in  thankfulness  to 
thee,  on  account  of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord- 
Pope  Paul  V.,  RituaV* 

Eat.  To  eat  the  mad  cow.  A French 
phrase,  implying  that  a person  is  re- 
duced to  the  very  last  extremity,  and  is 
willing  to  eat  even  a cow  that  has  died 
of  madness ; glad  to  eat  cat’s  meat.  {See 
Lick.) 

II  mangea  de  cette  chose  inexprimable  qu’on 
appelle  de  la  vache  enragee.— Ftcior  Hugo^  Lqs 
Miserables.’* 

To  eat  one  out  of  house  and  home.  To 
eat  so  much  that  one  will  have  to  part 
with  house  and  home  in  order  to  pay 
for  it. 

Eating  Together.  To  eat  together 
in  the  East  was  at  one  time  a sure  pledge 
of  protection.  A Persian  nobleman  was 
once  sitting  in  his  garden,  when  a man 
prostrated  himself  before  him,  and  im- 
plored protection  from  the  rabble.  The 
nobleman  gave  him  the  remainder  of  a 
peach  which  he  was  eating,  and  when 
the  incensed  multitude  arrived,  and  de- 
clared that  the  man  had  slain  the  only 
son  of  the  nobleman,  the  heart-broken 
father  replied,  We  have  eaten  together 


EATING. 


ECHIDNA. 


257 


go  in  peace,”  and  would  not  allow  the 
murderer  to  be  punished. 

Eating  Terms.  (See  Doctors’ 
Commons.  ) 

Eau  de  Cologne.  A perfumed 
spirit  prepared  at  Cologne.  The  most 
famous  maker  was  Jean  Maria  Fari'na. 

Eau  de  Vie.  Brandy.  A French 
translation  of  the  Latin  aqua  vitce  {water 
of  life).  This  is  a curious  perversion  of 
the  Spanish  ojcqua  di  vite  (water  or  juice 
of  the  vine),  rendered  by  the  monks 
into  aqua  vitce  instead  of  aqua  vitis,  and 
confounding  the  juice  of  the  grape  with 
the  alchemists’  elixir  of  life.  The  same 
error  is  perpetuated  in  the  Italian  acqua 
mte ; the  Scotch  whisky,  which  is  the 
Celtic  uisc-lyf ; and  the  Irish  usque- 
ha'iigh,  which  is  the  Gaelic  and  Irish 
uisgce-heatha.  (See  Aqua  ViTiEJ.) 

Eaves-dropper.  A listener  under 
walls.  The  derivation  of  the  term  is 
not  usually  understood.  The  owners  of 
private  estates  in  Saxon  times  were  not 
allowed  to  cultivate  to  the  extremity  of 
their  possessions,  but  were  obliged  to 
leave  a space  for  eaves.  This  space  was 
called  the  yfesdrype  (eaves- drip).  An 
eaves-dropper  is  one  who  places  himself 
in  the  eaves-drip  to  overhear  what  is 
said  in  the  adjacent  house  or  field. 

Under  our  tents  I’ll  play  the  eaves-dropper. 

To  hear  if  any  mean  to  shrink  from  me. 

Shakespeare,** JRichard  3. 

Eb'ionism.  The  doctrine  that  the 
poor  only  shall  be  saved.  Ehion,  plural 
ehionim  (poor). 

At  the  end  of  the  second  century,  the  Ebionites 
were  treated  as  heretics,  and  a pretended  leader 
(Ebion)  was  invented  by  Tertullian  to  explain  the 
**  Life  of  Jesus,”  ch.  xL 

Eb'ionites  (4  syl.).  A religious  sect 
of  the  first  and  second  centuries,  who 
maintained  that  Jesus  Christ  was  merely 
an  inspired  messenger,  the  greatest  of  all 
prophets,  but  yet  a man  and  a man  only, 
without  any  existence  before  his  birth 
in  Bethlehem.  (See  above.) 

Eblis  or  Ihleis.  A jinn,  and  the 
ruler  of  the  evil  genii  or  fallen  angels. 
Before  his  fall  he  was  called  Azaz'el  or 
Hha'ris.  When  Adam  was  created,  God 
commanded  all  the  angels  to  worship  him ; 
but  Eblis  replied,  Me  thou  hast  created 
of  smokeless  fire,  and  shall  I reverence 
a creature  made  of  dust?”  God  was 
very  angry  at  this  insolent  answer,  and 


turned  the  disobedient  fay  into  a Shey- 
tlln  (devil),  and  he  became  the  father  of 
devils. 

His  majesty  was  100  feet  inheii^ht ; his  skin,  striped 
with  red,  was  covered  with  small  scales,  which  made 
it  glisten  like  armour.  His  hair  was  so  long  and  curly, 
a snake  might  have  lost  its  way  in  it.  His  flat  nose 
was  pierced  with  a ring  of  admirable  workmanship. 
His  small  eyes  assumed  all  the  prismatic  colours  ; his 
ears,  which  resembled  those  of  an  elephant,  flapped 
on  his  shouldeis;  and  his  tail,  sixty  feet  long,  ter- 
minated in  a hooked  claw.— “ Croquemitaine,”  ii.  lo. 

When  he  said  unto  the  angels,  “ Worship  Adam,’* 
all  worshipped  him  except  Eblis.— .Ai  Koran,  ii. 

Eb'ony.  God's  image  done  in  ebony. 
Negroes.  Thomas  Fuller  gave  birth  to 
this  expression. 

Ebu'da.  The  Hebri'des.  — Orlando 
Furioso. 

Ecce  Homo.  A painting  by  Cor- 
regg'io  of  our  Lord  crowned  with  thorns 
and  bound  with  ropes,  as  he  was  shown 
to  the  people  by  Pilate,  who  said  to 
them,  *^Ecce  homo!"  (Behold  the  man.) 
(John  xix.  5.) 

There  is  a semi- theological  work  so 
called,  published  anonymously,  but  at- 
tributed to  professor  Seeley,  of  Univer- 
sity College.  The  object  is  to  show  that 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  not  divine. 
'^Ecce  homo!"  (behold  a man),  not  Ecce 
Deus!"  nor  Ecce  homo-Deus ! ” 

Eccen'tric  means  deviating  from 
the  centre  ; hence  irregular,  not  accord- 
ing to  rule.  Originally  applied  to  those 
planets  which  wander  round  the  earth, 
like  comets,  the  earth  not  being  in  the 
centre  of  their  orbit.  (Latin,  ex  centrum.) 

Ecclesias'tical.  The  father  of  eccle- 
siastical history.  Euse'bius  of  Csesare'a. 
(264-340.) 

Ecclesias'ticus  is  so  ^ called,  not 
because  the  writer  was  a priest,  but  be- 
cause the  book  (in  the  opinion  of  the 
fathers)  was  the  chief  of  the  apocryphal 
books,  designated  by  them  Ecclesias'tici 
Libri  (books  to  be  read  in  churches),  to 
distinguish  them  from  the  canonical 
Scriptures. 

Echidna  (E-kid' -na).  Half  woman, 
half  serpent.  She  was  mother  of  the 
Chimaera,  the  many-headed  dog  Orthos, 
the  hundred- headed  dragon  of  the  Hes- 
perides,  the  Col'chian  dragon,  the  Sphinx, 
CeFberos,  Scylla,  the  Gorgons,  the  Ler- 
nsean  hydra,  the  vulture  that  gnawed 
away  the  liver  of  Prome'theus,  and  the 
Nem’ean  Mon.- -Hesiod. 


B 


258 


ECHNOBAS. 


EDDA. 


(She)  seemed  a woman  to  the  waist,  and  fair ; 

But  ended  foul  in  many  a scaly  fold, 

Voluminous  and  vast. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,'*  bk.  i. 

EchnolDas  {Elc~no'~has),  One  of  the 
dogs  of  Actseon. 

Eclio.  The  Eomans  say  that  Echo 
was  a nymph  in  love  with  Narcissus,  but 
her  love  not  being  returned,  she  pined 
away  till  only  her  voice  remained.  We 
use  the  word  to  imply  similarity  of  sen- 
timent, as  You  echo  my  ideas;  That  is  an 
echo  to  my  opinion. 

Sweet  Echo,  sweetest  nymph,  that  liv’st  unseen 
Within  thy  aery  shell. 

By  slow  Meander’s  m argent  green.  . . 

Canst  thou  not  tell  me  of  a gentle  pair 
That  likest  thy  Narcissus  are  ? 

Milton,  **Comus.** 

Eckliardt.  A faithful  Echhardt, 
who  warneth  every  one  (German).  Eck- 
hardt,  in  German  legends,  appears  on 
the  evening  of  Maunday-Thursday  to 
warn  all  persons  to  go  home,  that  they 
may  not  be  injured  by  the  headless  bodies 
and  two-legged  horses  which  traverse 
the  streets  on  that  night. 

Eclec'tics.  Ancient  philosophers, 
who  selected  what  they  thought  best  in 
all  other  systems,  and  made  a patchwork 
therefrom.  There  is  the  eclectic  school 
of  painters,  of  which  Paul  Delaroche 
was  the  founder  and  best  exponent ; the 
eclectic  school  of  modern  philosophy, 
founded  by  Victor  Cousin ; the  eclectic 
school  of  architecture ; and  so  on.  (Greek, 
eJcdegOj  to  pick  out. ) 

Eclectics  or  Modm  Platonists.  A 
Christian  sect  which  arose  in  the  second 
century.  They  professed  to  make  truth 
their  sole  object  of  inquiry,  and  adopted 
from  existing  systems  whatever,  in  their 
opinion,  was  true.  They  were  called  Pla- 
tonists, because  they  adopted  Plato’s 
notions  about  God  and  the  human  soul. 

Eclip'tie.  The  path  apparently  de- 
scribed by  the  sun  in  his  annual  course 
through  the  heavens.  Eclipses  happen 
only  when  the  moon  is  in  or  near  the 
same  plane. 

Eclogue  (2  syl.).  Pastoral  poetry 
not  expressed  in  rustic  speech,  but  in 
the  most  refined  and  elegant  of  which 
the  language  is  capable.  (Greek,  mean- 
ing elegant  extracts,”  ^‘select  poetry.”) 

Ecne'phia.  A sort  of  hurricane, 
similar  to  the  Typhon. 

The  circling  Typhon,  whirled  from  point  to  point, ,, 
And  dire  Ecnephia  reign, 

Thomson.  “ Summer.’* 


Ecole  des  Femmes.  Moli^re  bor- 
rowed the  plot  of  this  comedy  from  the 
novelletti  of  ^'Ser  Giovanni,  composed 
in  the  fourteenth  century. 

Econ'omy  means  the  rules  or  plans 
adopted  in  managing  one’s  own  house. 
As  we  generally  prevent  extravagant 
waste,  and  make  the  most  of  our  means 
in  our  own  homes,  so  the  careful  expen- 
diture of  money  in  general  is  termed 
house-management.  The  word  is  applied 
to  time  and  several  other  things,  as  well 
as  money.  (Greek,  oihos  nomoSj  house- 
law.) 

Ecorcheurs.  Freebooters  of  the 
twelfth  century,  in  France ; so  called 
because  they  stripped  their  victims  of 
everything,  even  their  clothes.  (French 
ecorcher,  to  flay. ) 

Ec'stasy  means  out  of  the  body.  St. 
Paul  refers  to  this  when  he  says  he  was 
caught  up  to  the  third  heaven  and  heard 
unutterable  words,  ^'whether  in  the 
body,  or  out  of  the  body,  I cannot  tell  ” 
(2  Cor.  xii.  2-4).  St.  John  also  says  he 
was  ‘^in  the  spirit,”  i.e.,  in  an  ecstasy, 
when  he  saw  the  apocalyptic  vision  (i.  10). 
The  belief  that  the  soul  left  the  body  at 
times  was  very  general  in  former  ages, 
and  is  still  the  belief  of  many.  {See 
Ecstatici.) 

Ecstat'ie  Doctor.  Jean  de  Ruys- 
brock,  the  mystic.  (1294-1381.) 

Ecstat'ici.  A class  of  diviners  among 
the  ancient  Greeks,  who  used  to  lie  in 
trances,  and  when  they  came  to  them- 
selves gave  strange  accounts  of  what 
they  saw  while  they  were  out  of  the 
body.”  (Greek,  ex-istdmi.) 

Ector  {Sir).  The  tutor  of  king 
Arthur. 

Edda.  There  are  two  religious  codes, 
so  called,  containing  the  ancient  Scandi- 
navian mythology.  One  is  in  verse,  com- 
posed in  Iceland  in  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury by  Saemund  Sigfusson,  the  Sage; 
and  the  other  in  prose,  compiled  a cen- 
tury later  by  Snorri  Sturleson,  who 
wrote  a commentary  on  the  first  edda. 
The  poetical  edda  contains  an  account 
of  creation,  the  history  of  Odin,  Then', 
Freyr,  Baldet',  &c.  &c.  The  prose  one 
contains  the  exploits  of  such  conquerors 
as  Voelsu'ug,  Sigurd,  Attle,  &c^  and  is 
divided  into  several  parts.  Tlie  first 
1 part  contains  historical  and  mythological 


EDEN. 


EDWARD. 


259 


traditions  ; the  second  a long  poetical 
vocabulary  ; and  the  third  Scandinavian 
prosody,  or  the  modes  of  composition 
adopted  by  the  ancient  Skalds.  The 
poetical  compilation  is  generally  called 
Soemund's  Edda,  and  the  prose  one 
Snorra  Edda. 

Eden.  Paradise,  the  country  and 
garden  in  which  Adam  and  Eve  were 
placed  by  God  (Gen.  ii.  15).  The  word 
means  delight  fulness,  'pleasure. 

Eden  Hall.  The  luck  of  Eden  Hall. 
An  old  painted  drinking-glass,  supposed 
to  be  sacred.  The  tale  is  that  the  butler 
once  went  to  draw  water  from  St.  Cuth- 
bert’s  Well,  in  Eden  Hall  garden,  when 
the  fairies  left  their  drinking-glass  on 
the  well,  to  enjoy  a little  fun.  The 
butler  seized  the  glass,  and  ran  off  with 
it.  The  superstition  is — 

If  that  class  either  break  or  fall, 

Farewell  the  luck  of  Eden  Hall. 

{See  Palladium.) 

Edgar  or  Edgar' do.  Master  of 

Ravenswood,  in  love  with  Lucy  Ashton 
{Lucia  di  Lam'niermoor).  While  absent 
in  France  on  an  important  embassy,  the 
lady  is  led  to  believe  that  her  lover  has 
proved  faithless  to  her,  and  in  the  tor- 
rent of  her  indignation  consents  to  marry 
the  laird  of  Bucklaw,  but  stabs  him  on 
the  wedding- night,  goes  mad,  and  dies. 
In  the  opera  Edgardo  stabs  himself  also ; i 
but  in  the  novel  he  is  lost  in  the  quick-  j 
sands  at  Kelpies-Flow,  in  accordance  j 
with  an  ancient  prophecy. — Donizetti's 
opera  of  Lucia  di  Lammermoor Sir  ! 
Waltefi'  Scott's  Bride  of  Laminerriioor." 

Edhilin'gi.  The  aristocratic  class 
among  the  Anglo-Saxons ; the  second 
rank  were  termed  the  Frilingi ; and 
the  third  ilaoLazzi.  (Anglo-Saxon,  cedele 
or  edele,  noble ; freeding,  free  - born. 
Ricardo  says  of  the  third  class,  they 
were  the  ^'unwilling  to  work,  the  dull” 
— quos  hodie  lazie  di'cimus.) 

Edict  of  MiPan.  Proclaimed  by 
Constantine,  after  the  conquest  of  Italy 
(313),  to  secure  to  Christians  the  resti- 
tution of  their  civil  and  religious  rights. 

Edict  of  Hantes.  An  edict  pub- 
lished by  Henri  IV.  of  France,  granting 
toleration  to  his  Protestant  subjects.  It 
was  published  from  Nantes  in  1598. 
This  edict  was  repealed  in  1685  by  Louis 
XIV. 


Edie  Ochiltree.  In  Scott’s  Anti- 
quary.” 

Charles  II.  would  be  as  sceptical  as  Edie  Ochiltree 
about  the  existence  of  circles  and  avenues,  altar- 
stones  and  cromlechs.— “ Old  England.’' 

Edlftr  is  to  build  a house  (Latin, 
cedes  f ado')  ; morally,  to  build  instruction 
in  the  mind  methodically,  like  an  archi- 
tect. The  Scripture  word  edification 
means  the  building  up  of  ‘^believers” 

: in  grace  and  holiness,  St.  Paul  says, 
i Ye  are  God’s  building,”  and  elsewhere 
f he  carries  out  the  figure  more  fully, 
saying— 

All  the  building  {or  body  of  Christians),  fitly 
framed  together,  groweth  unto  a holy  temple  in 
the  Lord.— ii.  21. 

E'diles  (2  syl.).  Roman  officers  who 
had  charge  of  the  streets,  bridges,  aque- 
ducts, temples,  and  city  buildings  gene- 
rally. W e call  our  surveyors  city  ediles 
sometimes.  (Latin,  cedes,  a house.) 

E'dith,  called  the  Maid  of  Lorn 
(Argyleshire),  was  about  to  be  married 
to  lord  Ronald,  when  Robert,  Edward, 
and  Isabel  Bruce,  tempest-tossed,  sought 
shelter  at  the  castle.  Edith’s  brother 
recognised  the  Bruce,  and  being  in  the 
English  interest,  a quarrel  ensued,  in 
the  course  of  which  the  abbot  arrived, 
but  refused  to  marry  the  bridal  pair 
amidst  such  discord.  Edith  fled,  and, 
assuming  the  chai’acter  of  a page,  passed 
through,  divers  adventures.  At  length 
Robert  Bruce  won  the  battle  of  Ban- 
nockburn, and  when  peace  was  restored 
Ronald  married  the  ‘^Maid  of  Lorn.” — 
Scott,  Lord  of  the  Isles." 

Ednam,  in  Roxburghshire,  near  the 
Tweed,  where  Thomson,  the  author  of 

The  Seasons,”  was  born. 

The  Tweed,  pure  parent-stream, 

"Whose  pastoral  banks  first  heard  my  Doric  reed. 

Autumn. 

Edolbe  (2  syl.).  Edohe  cottages  are 
those  made  of  sun-dried  bricks,  like 
the  buildings  of  ancient  Egypt. — W. 
Hepivorth  Dixon,  New  America,"  i.  16. 

Ed'ward.  Edward  the  Confessor's 
sioord.  Curta'na  {the  cutter),  a blunt 
sword  of  state,  emblematical  of  mercy. 

The  Chevalier  Prince  Charles  Edward. 
The  Young  Pretender.  Introduced  by  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  ^^Redgauntlet,”  first  as 

Father  Buenaventura,”  and  afterwards 
as  Pretender  to  the  crown.  Again  in 

Waverley.” 

R 2 


260 


EDWIDGE. 


EGGS. 


Ed'widge.  Wife  of  William  Tell. — 
Rossin'Cs  oj^era  of  Guglielmo  Tcliy 

Edwin.  The  hero  of  Beattie’s  Min- 
strel.” 

And  yet  poor  Edwin  was  no  vulgar  boy ; 

Deep  thought  oft  seemed  to  fix  his  infant  eye. 
Dainties  he  heeded  not,  nor  gaud,  nor  toy. 

Save  one  short  pipe  of  rudest  minstrelsy ; 

Silent  when  glad  ; aifectioiiale,  though  shy ; 

And  now  his  look  was  most  demurely  sad  ; 

And  now  he  laughed  aloud,  yet  none  knew  'why. 
The  neighbours  stared  and  sighed,  yet  blessed  the 
lad;  - 

Some  deemed  him  wondrous  wise,  and  some  believed 
him  mad.  Canto  i.  16. 

Ed'yrn.  Son  of  Nudd ; called  the 
^^Sparrow-hawk.”  He  ousted  the  earl 
of  Yn'iol  from  his  earldom,  and  tried  to 
win  E'nid,  the  earl’s  daughter,  but  fail- 
ing in  this,  became  the  evil  genius  of 
the  gentle  earl.  Being  overthrown  in  a 
tournament  by  prince  Geraint',  he  was 
sent  to  the  court  of  king  Arthur,  where 
his  whole  nature  was  completely  changed, 
and  subdued  to  that  gentleness  which, 
when  it  weds  with  manhood,  makes  a 
—Idylls  of  the  King^  Enid 

Eel.  To  shill  an  eel  hy  the  tail  is  to 
do  things  the  wrong  way. 

Eelkhance  Tables.  The  celebrated 
calculations  of  Nazir’  u Dien,  the  Persian 
astronomer,  grandson  of  Zenghis  Khan, 
brought  out  in  the  middle  of  the  thir- 
teenth century. 

EfFen'di.  A Turkish  title,  about 
equal  to  our  squire,”  given  to  emir's, 
men  of  learning,  and  the  high  priests  of 
mosques.  The  title  is  added  after  the 
name,  as  Ali  effendi  (Ali  Esquire), 

Ef'figy.  To  hum  or  hang  one  in  effigy. 
To  burn  or  hang  the  representation  of  a 
person,  instead  of  the  person  himself. 
The  custom  comes  from  France,  where 
the  public  executioner  used  to  hang  the 
effigy  of  the  criminal,  if  the  criminal  him- 
self could  not  be  found. 

EFfrontery.  Out-facing,  rude  per- 
sistence and  overbearing  impudence. 
(Latin,  effrons — i.e.,  exfrons,  out-face.) 

Egalite.  Philippe,  due  d’OrMans, 
father  of  Louis-Philippe,  king  of  the 
French,  was  so  called,  because  he  sided 
with  the  revolutionary  party,  whose 
motto  was  ^‘Liberty,  fraternity,  and 
equality.”  Philippe  Egalite  was  guillo- 
tined in  1793. 

Ege'ria.  The  nymph  who  instructed 
Numa  in  his  wise  legislation.  Numa 
used  to  meet  her  in  a grove  near  Aric'ia. 


Egg.  The  sei'pent  egg  of  the 
This  wonderful  egg  was  hatched  by  tho 
joint  labour  of  several  serpents,  and  was 
buoyed  into  the  air  by  their  hissing. 
The  person  who  caught  it  had  to  ride  off 
at  full  speed  to  avoid  being  stung  tO' 
death  ; but  the  possessor  was  sure  to 
prevail  in  every  contest  or  combat,  and 
to  be  courted  by  those  in  power.  Pliny 
says  he  had  seen  one  of  these  eggs,  and 
that  it  was  about  as  large  as  a moderate- 
sized  apple. 

The  mundane  egg.  The  Phoenicians, 
and  from  them  the  Egyptians,  Hindus, 
J apanese,  and  many  other  ancient  nations, 
maintained  that  the  world  was  hatched 
from  an  egg  made  by  the  Creator.  Or- 
pheus speaks  of  this  egg. 

From  the  egg  to  the  apples.  (Latin,  ab 
ovo  usque  ad  mala).”  From  first  to  last. 
Uhe  Komans  began  their  ‘^dinner”  witb 
eggs,  and  ended  with  fruits  called  “mala.’' 

Eggs.  Golden  eggs.  Great  profits. 
{See  Goose.) 

1 doubt  the  bird  is  flown  that  laid  the  golden  eggs^ 
—Scotty*''  The  Antiquary,** 

Pasch  eggs.  {See  Eastfr  Eggs.) 

DonH  put  all  your  eggs  in  one  hasJeeL 
Don’t  venture  all  you  have  in  one  specu- 
lation ; don’t  put  all  your  property  in 
one  bank.  The  allusion  is  obvious. 

I have  eggs  on  the  spit.  I am  very 
busy,  and  cannot  attend  to  anything 
else.  The  reference  is  to  roasting  eggs 
on  a spit.  They  were  first  boiled,  then 
the  yolk  was  taken  out,  braided  up  with 
spices,  and  put  back  again;  the  eggs 
were'then  drawn  on  a “ spit,”  and  roasted. 
As  this  required  both  dispatch  and  con- 
stant attention,  the  person  in  charge 
could  not  leave  them.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  word  “ spit  ” had  at  one 
time  a much  wider  meaning  than  it  has 
now.  Thus  toasting-forks  and  the  hooks 
of  a Dutch  oven  were  termed  spits. 

I forgot  to  tell  you,  I write  short  journals  now ; I 
have  e^gs  on  the  spit.— 

Lilce  as  two  eggs.  Exactly  alike. 

They  say  we  are  almost  as  like  as  eg&t.— Shakespeare, 
" Winter's  Tale,"  i. 

Sure  as  eggs  is  eggs.  Professor  De  Mor- 
gan suggests  that  this  is  a corruption  of 
the  logician’s  formula,  “a:  is  a?.” — Notes 
and  Queries'* 

Teach  your  grandmother  to  roast  eggs. 
Attempting  to  teach  your  elders  and  supe- 


EGG-FEAST. 


EITHEK. 


261 


riors.  The  French  say,  ^^The  goslings 
want  to  drive  the  geese  to  pasture”  {Les 
oisons  veident  mener  les  oies  paitre).  The 
great  art  of  roasting  eggs  is  to  keep 
turning  them  incessantly. 

Th€7‘e  is  reason  in  roasting  eggs.  Even 
the  most  trivial  thing  has  a reason  for 
being  done  in  one  way  rather  than  in 
some  other.  When  wood  fires  were 
usual,  it  was  more  common  to  roast  eggs 
than  to  boil  them,  and  some  care  was 
required  to  prevent  their  being  '^ill- 
roasted,  all  on  one  side,”  as  Touchstone 
gays  ("As  You  Like  It,”  iii.  2). 

One  likes  the  pheasant’s  wing,  and  one  the  leg; 

The  vulgar  boil,  the  learned  roast  an  egg. 

Pope,  ^'‘Episaesr  ii- 

Will  you  taJce  eggs  for  your  money  1 

Will  you  allow  yourself  to  be  imposed 
upon  1 will  you  take  kicks  for  halfpence  ? ” 
This  saying  was  in  vogue  when  eggs  were 
plentiful  as  blackberries.  The  phrase, 
/ got  eggs  for  Piy  money ^ means,  I gave 
valuable  money,  and  received  instead  such 
worthless  things  as  eggs.  When  Wolsey 
accused  the  earl  of  Kildare  for  not  taking 
Desmond  prisoner,  the  earl  replied.  He 
is  no  more  to  blame  than  his  " brother 
Ossory,  who  (notwithstanding  his  high 
promises)  is  glad  to  take  eggs  for  his 
money” — i.e.,  is  willing  to  be  imposed 
upon. — Campion.  ^‘History  of  Ireland'^ 
<1633.) 

My  honest  friend,  will  you  take  eggs  for  money  .?— 
Shakespeare,  “ Winter's  Tale,"'  i.  2. 

Egg-feast.  In  Oxford  the  Saturday 
preceding  Shrove  Tuesday  is  so  called  ; 
it  is  also  called  Egg- Saturday ; because 
pasch  eggs  are  provided  for  the  students 
•on  that  day. 

Egg-on  or  Edge-on.  A corruption 
of  the  Saxon  eggian  (to  incite).  The 
Anglo-Saxon  ecg,  and  Scandinavian  eg, 
means  a " sharp  point” — hence  edge-hog 
(hedge-hog),  a hog  with  sharp  points, 
called  in  Danish,  pin-sicin  (thorny  swine), 
and  in  French,  where  is  the 

Latin  spidula  (spikes). 

Egg-trot.  A cautious,  jog-trot  pace, 
like  that  of  a good  housewife  riding  to 
market  with  eggs  in  her  panniers. 

Egil.  Brother  of  Weland,  the  Vulcan 
of  Northern  mythology.  Egil  was  a 
great  archer,  and  a tale  is  told  of  him  the 
•exact  counterpart  of  the  famous  story 
about  William  Tell:— One  day  king 
Nidung  commanded  Egil  to  shoot  an 


apple  off  the  head  of  his  son.  Egil  took 
two  well-selected  arrows  from  his  quiver, 
and  when  asked  by  the  king  why  he  took 
two,  replied  (as  the  Swiss  peasant  to 
Gessler),  " To  shoot  thee,  0 tyrant,  with 
the  second,  if  I fail.” 

Egis.  {See  ^Egis.) 

Eglantine  (3  syl.).  Daughter  of 
king  Pepin,  and  bride  of  her  cousin 
Valentine,  the  brother  of  Orson.  She 
soon  died. — Valentine  and  Orson. 

Madame  Eglantine.  The  prioress  in 
Chaucer’s  "Canterbury  Tales.”  Good- 
natured,  wholly  ignorant  of  the  world, 
vain  ©f  her  courtly  manners,  and  noted 
for  her  partiality  to  lap-dogs,  her  delicate 
oath,  "by  seint  Eloy,”  her  "entuning 
the  service  swetely  in  her  nose,”  and  her 
speaking  French  "after  the  scole  of 
Stratford  atte  Bo  we.” 

Eg'otism.  The  too  frequent  use  of 
the  word  I ; the  habit  of  talking  about 
one’s-self,  or  of  parading  one’s  own 
doings.  (Latin,  ego,  I.) 

E'gypt,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  "Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  means  France. 

Egypt  and  Tyrus  ( Holland)  intercept  your  trade. 

And  Jebusites  {Papists)  your  sacred  rites  invade. 

Parti 

Eider-down.  The  down  of  the 
eider  duck.  Tnis  duck  is  common  in 
Greenland,  Iceland,  and  the  islands  north 
and  west  of  Scotland.  It  is  about  the 
size  of  a goose,  and  receives  its  distinctive 
name  from  the  river  Eider  in  Denmark. 

Eikon  Basil'ike  (a  regal  image).  A 
book  attributed  to  Charles  I. ; but  in 
reality  the  production  of  J ohn  Gauden, 
bishop  of  Exeter.  (1605-1662.) 

Eisell.  Wormwood  wine.  Hamlet 
says  to  Laertes,  WouVt  drink  up  eisell — 
i.e.,  drink  wormwood  wine  to  show  your 
love  to  the  dead  Ophelia.  In  the  " Troy 
Book”  of  Lydgate  we  have  the  line  "Of 
hitter  eysell  and  of  eager  {sour)  wine.” 
And  in  Shakespeare’s  sonnets — 

I will  drink 

Potions  of  eysell, ’gainst  my  strong  infection; 
bitterness  that  1 will  bitter  think, 

Nor  double  penance,  to  correct  correction. 

cxi. 

Eisteddfod.  The  meetings  of  the 
Welsh  bards.  (Welsh,  eistedd,  to  sit.) 

Eitker.  Greek,  heJcateV;  Irish,  ceach- 
tar ; Saxon,  cegther.  CeacK , our  "each,’' 
and  oegther,  our  " either.” 


262 


EL. 


ELECTRICITY. 


El  Dora'do.  Golden  illusion ; a 
land  or  means  of  unbounded  wealth. 
Orella'na,  lieutenant  of  Pizarro,  pre- 
tended he  had  discovered  a land  of  gold 
{el  dorado)  between  the  rivers  Orino'co 
and  Am'azon,  in  South  America.  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  twice  visited  Guia'na, 
as  the  spot  indicated,  and  published  a 
highlj^-coloured  account  of  its  enormous 
wealth. 

The  real  ^Hand  of  gold”  is  California, 
and  not  Guiana.  {See  Balnibaebi.) 

The  whole  comedy  is  a sort  of  El  dorado  of  wit— 
T,  Moore. 

El  Infante  de  Anteque'ra  is  the 
regent  Fernando,  who  took  the  city  of 
Anteque'ra  from  the  Moors  in  1419. 

El  Islam.  The  religion  of  the  Mos- 
lems. The  words  mean  The  resigning 
one's-self  to  God.” 

El  Khi'dr.  One  of  the  good  angels, 
according  to  the  Koran. 

Elagab'alus.  A Syro  - Phoenician 
sun-god.  One  of  the  Roman  emperors 
was  so  called  because  he  was  priest  of 
Elagabalus.  This  madman  invited  the 
principal  men  of  Rome  to  a banquet, 
and  smothered  them  in  a shower  of 
roses. 

Ela'ine  (2  syl.).  The  lily  maid  of 
As'tolat”  {Guildford  in  Surrey) ^ who 
loved  Sir  Lancelot  with  that  love  which 
was  her  doom.”  Sir  Lancelot,  being 
sworn  to  celibacy,  could  not  have  mar- 
ried her,  even  if  he  had  been  willicg; 
and,  unhappily,  what  little  love  he  had 
was  bestowed  on  the  queen.  Elaine  felt 
that  her  love  was  a vain  thing,  and  died. 
According  to  her  last  request,  the  bed  on 
which  she  died  was  placed  on  a barge, 
and  on  it  was  laid  her  dead  body,  ar- 
rayed in  white,  a lily  in  the  right  hand, 
and  a letter  avowing  her  love  in  the  left. 
An  old  dumb  servitor  steered  and  rowed 
the  barge  down  the  river,  and  when  it 
stopped  at  the  palace  staith,  king  Arthur 
ordered  the  body  to  be  brought  in.  The 
letter  being  read,  Arthur  directed  that 
the  maiden  should  be  buried  like  a 
queen,  with  her  sad  story  blazoned  on 
her  tomb.— Idylls  of  the  King,  ^‘Elaine.^^ 

EPamites  (3  syl.).  Persians.  So 
called  from  Elam,  son  of  Shem. 

Elas'mothe‘'rmm  (Greek,  the  metal- 
plate  beast).  An  extinct  animal,  between 
the  horse  and  the  rhinoceros. 


El^berich.  The  most  famous  dwarf 
of  German  romance.  He  aided  the 
emperor  Otnit  (who  ruled  over  Lom- 
bardy) to  gain  for  wife  the  Soldan’s 
daughter. — The  Heldenhuch. 

Elbow.  A constable  in  Shakespeare’s- 

Measure  for  Measure.” 

Elbow  Grease.  Perspiration  ex- 
cited by  hard  manual  labour.  They  say 

Elbow  grease  is  the  best  furniture  oil.” 
We  have  also  the  expression  Palm  oil, 
meaning  hand- work. 

Elden  Hole.  Elden  Hole  needs  filU 
ing.  A reproof  given  to  great  braggarts. 
Elden  Hole  is  a deep  pit  in  Derb^yshire 
Peak,  said  to  be  fathomless. 

Elder  Tree.  Sir  J ohn  Maundeville^ 
speaking  of  the  Pool  of  Sil'oe,  says,, 
^^Fast  by  is  the  elder-tree  on  which 
Judas  hanged  himself  . . . when  he  sold 
and  betrayed  our  Lord.”  Shakespeare, 
in  Love’s  Labour’s  Lost,”  v.  2,  says, 

Judas  was  hanged  on  an  elder.”  {Se^ 
Fig-tree.) 

Judas  he  japed 
With  Jewish  siller. 

And  sithen  on  an  elder  tree 
Hanged  himsel. 

Fiers  Plowman ^ Vision.'* 

EleatTc  Philosophy.  Founded 
by  Xenoph'anes  of  El'ea  about  B.c.  530. 
The  Ionic  school  believed  there,  was  but 
one  element;  the  Eleatics  said  there 
were  four  or  six,  as  heat  and  cold, 
moisture  and  dryness,  odd  and  even, 
from  the  anagonism  of  which  visible 
objects  sprang  ; Thus,  Fire  is  heat  act- 
ing on  dryness ; A ir  is  heat  acting 
on  moisture ; Water  is  cold  acting  on 
moisture ; and  Earth  is  cold  acting  on 
dryness.  {See  below.) 

The  Neu)  Eleatic  School  was  founded 
by  Leucippos  of  El'ea,  a disciple  of 
Zeno.  He  wholly  discarded  the  phan- 
tasmagoric theory,  and  confined  his 
attention  to  the  physical  properties  of 
the  visible  world.  He  was  the  father  of 
the  Atomic  System,  in  which  the  agency 
of  chance  was  again  revived. 

Elector.  A prince  who  had  a vote 
in  the  election  of  the  emperor  of  Ger- 
many. 

The  Great  Elector.  Frederick- Williani 
of  Brandenburg.  (1620-1688.) 

Electricity  means  the  special  pro- 
perty of  amber  (Greek,  electron,  amber). 


ELECTRO. 


ELEVEN. 


263 


Thales  (b.C.  600)  noticed  that  amber, 
when  rubbed,  had  the  property  of  at- 
tracting light  substances,  and  this  was 
the  fons  et  ori'go  of  this  most  important 
science. 

Bright  amber  shines  on  his  electric  throne, 

And  adds  ethereal  lustres  to  his  own. 

J>arui7i,  “ Economy  of  Nature"  L 2. 

Electro-Biology  means  the  influ- 
ence of  electricity  on  life— t.e.,  the  effect 
of  magnetism  on  the  affections,  passions, 
and  sensations  of  living  animals. 

Elec'tuary.  Something  to  be  licked 
up  ; a medicine  made  “ thick  and  slab,” 
which  cannot  be  imbibed  like  a liquid, 
nor  bolted  like  a pill,  but  which  must  be 
licked  up  like  honey.  (Greek,  eJc-leicTio.) 

Eleemos'ynam.  Eleemos'ynam 
se'pulcri  jpatris  tui  (Alms  on  your  father’s 
grave).  (*SeeMEAT.) 

Elegant  Extracts.  The  85th  Foot, 
remodelled  in  181*3,  after  the  numerous 
court-martials  which  then  occurred.  The 
officers  of  the  regiment  were  removed, 
and  officers  draughted  from  other  regi- 
ments were  substituted  in  their  places. 

At  the  University  of  Cambridge,  in 
the  good  old  times,  some  few  men  were 
too  good  to  be  plucked  and  not  good 
enough  for  the  poll : a line  was  drawn 
below  the  poll-list,  and  these  lucky  un- 
fortunates were  allowed  to  pass,  and 
were  nicknamed  the  Elegant  Extracts. 
There  was  a similar  iimbo  in  the 
honour-list,  called  the  Gulf,  in  allusion 
to  a Scripture  passage  well-known  and 
thus  parodied,  ^‘Between  them  {in  the 
poll)  and  us  {in  the  honour-lists)  there  is 
a great  gulf  fixed,”  &c. 

EFements.  Anstotle's  elements.  The 
ancient  Greeks  asserted  that  there  are 
four  elements — fire,  air,  water, 'and  earth ; 
and  this  assertion  has  been  the  subject 
of  very  unwise  ridicule.  Modern  chemists 
maintain  the  same  fact,  but  have  selected 
four  new  words  for  the  four  old  ones, 
and  instead  of  the  term  ‘^element,”  use 

material  forms.”  We  say  that  matter 
exists  under  four  forms,  the  imponder- 
able (fire),  the  gaseous  (air),  the  liquid 
(water),  and  the  solid  (earth),  and  this  is 
all  the  ancient  philosophers  meant  by 
their  four  elements  or  elemental  forms. 
It  was  Emped'ocles  of  Sicily  who  first 
maintained  that  fire,  air,  earth,  and 
water  are  the  four  elements ; but  he 


called  them  Zeus,  Hera,  Goea,  and  Posi'« 
don.  (Latin,  eleOj  to  grow  out  of. ) 

Let  us  the  great  philosopher  [Aristotle)  attend. . .. 

His  elements,  “Earth,  Water,  Air,  and  Eire;”.... 

Tell  why  these  simple  elements  are  four ; 

Why  just  BO  many ; why  not  less  or  more  ? 

Jtilackmo)-e^  “ Creation^'  v. 

Elephant  and  Castle.  A public- 
house  sign  at  Newington,  said  to  derive 
its  name  from  the  skeleton  of  an  ele- 
phant dug  up  near  Battle  Bridge  in 
1714.  A flint-headed  spear  lay  by  the 
remains,  whence  it  is  conjectured  that 
the  creature  was  killed  by  the  British  in 
a fight  with  the  Romans. — The  Times. 

There  is  another  publie-house  with 
the  same  sign  in  St.  Pan  eras,  probably 
intended  to  represent  an  elephant  with  a 
howdah. 

Elephan'ta,  in  Bombay,  is  so  called 
from  a stone  elephant,  which  carried  a 
tiger  on  its  back,  and  formerly  stood 
near  the  landing-place  on  the  south  side 
of  the  island.  It  has  now  nearly  dis- 
appeared. The  natives  call  it  Gahra- 
pooree  (cave  town),  from  its  cave,  130 
feet  \oiog.—Chow-choic. 

Elephan'tine  (4  syl.).  Heavy  and 
ungainly,  like  an  elephant.  In  Rome, 
the  registers  of  the  senate,  magistrates, 
generals,  and  emperors,  were  called  ele- 
phantine books,  because  they  were  made 
of  ivory.  In  geology,  the  elephantine 
period  was  that  noted  for  its  numerous 
large  thick-skinned  animals.  The  disease 
called  elephanti'asis  is  when  the  limbs 
swell  and  look  like  those  of  an  elephant 
more  than  those  of  a human  being. 

Eleusin'ian  Mysteries.  The  re- 
ligious rites  in  honour  of  Deme'ter  or 
Ceres  performed  at  Eleu'sis,  in  At'tica. 

Elevation  of  the  Host.  The 
lifting  up  of  the  sacred  elements  imme- 
diately after  consecration.  The  object 
is  that  the  people  may  see  them  and 
fall  down  in  adoration. 

Eleven.  The  eleven  thousand  virgins. 
Ur'sula  being  asked  in  marriage  by  a 
pagan  prince,  fled  towards  Rome  with 
her  eleven  thousand  virgins.  At  Cologne 
they  were  all  massacred  by  a party  of 
Huns,  and  even  to  the  present  hour 
^Hheir  bones”  are  exhibited  to  visitors 
through  windows  in  the  wall.  Maury 
says  that  Ursula’s  handmaid  was  named 
Undecimella,  and  that  the  legend  of  her 
eleven  thousand  virgins  rose  out  of  this 
nSkUiQ.—Legendes  Fieitses. 


264 


ELF, 


ELION. 


Elf,  plural  Elves  ; ” Swedish,  alp, 
alf.  Properly  a mountain  fay,  but  more 
loosely  applied  to  those  airy  creatures 
that  5ance  on  the  grass  or  sit  in  the 
leaves  of  trees  and  delight  in  the  full 
moon.  They  have  fair  golden  hair, 
sweet  musical  voices,  and  magic  harps. 
They  hav,e  a king  and  queen,  marry  and 
are  giveh  in  marriage.  They  imper- 
sonate the  shimmering  of  the  air,  the 
felt  but  indefinable  melody  of  Nature, 
and  all  the  little  prettinesses  which  a 
lover  of  the  country  sees,  or  thinks  he 
sees,  in  hill  and  dale,  copse  and  meadow, 
grass  and  tree,  river  and  moon-light, 
denser  says  that  Prome'theus  called 
the  man  he  made  ‘‘Elfe,”  who  found 
a maid  in  the  garden  of  Ado'nis  whom 
he  called  Fay,”  of  whom  all  Fayres 
spring.” 

Of  thcFe  a miglUy  people  shortly  grew. 

And  puissant  kings,  which  all  the  world  warrayd, 

And  to  themselves  all  nations  did  sujbdue. 

“ Faery  Queens*  ii.  9,  stan.  70, &0. 

Hed  Elf.  In  Iceland,  a person  gaily 
dressed  is  called  a red  elf  {raud  dlfv),  in 
allusion  to  a superstition  that  dwarfs 
wear  scarlet  or  red  clothes.  — NiaVs 
Sagas. 

Elf-arrows  are  what  we  call  celts — 
triangular  pieces  of  flint  occasionally 
found  under-ground,  and  superstitiously 
supposed  to  have  been  shot  by  elves 
against  cattle  for  the  purpose  of  be- 
witching them. 

There  every  herd  by  sad  experience  knows 

1 1 ow.  winged  with  fate,  their  elf  shot  arrows  fly, 

A\  he  n the  sick  ewe  her  summer  food  forgoes, 

Ur  stretched  on  earth  the  heart-smit  heifers  lie, 
Collins, Popular  Superstitions." 

Elf-fire.  The  ignis-fatuus.  The 
name  of  this  elf  is  Will  o’  the  Wisp, 
Jack  o’  lanthern,  Peg-a-lantern,  or  Kit 
o’  the  canstick  {candlestick). 

Elf-land.  The  realm  ruled  over  by 
Oberon,  king  of  Faery.  King  James 
says,  ‘^1  think  it  is  liker  ViFgilis  Campi 
Elysii  nor  anything  that  ought  to  be 
believed  by  Christians.” — Dcemonol.,*' 
iii.  5. 

Elf-locks.  Tangled  hair.  It  is  said 
that  one  of  the  favourite  amusements  of 
queen  Mab  is  to  tie  people’s  hair  in 
knots.  When  Edgar  impersonates  a 
madman,  ^^he  elfs  all  his  hair  in  knots.” 
— Lear,  ii.  3. 

This  is  that  very  Mab 

That  plats  the  manes  of  horses  in  the  night. 

And  bakes  the  elf-locks  in  foul  sluttish  hairs. 

Shakespeare^  “ Borneo  and  Juliet,"  L 4. 


Elf-marked.  Those  born  with  a 
natural  defect,  according  to  the  ancient 
Scottish  superstition,  are  marked  by  the 
elves  for  mischief.  Queen  Margaret 
called  Richard  III. — 

Thou  elvish-marked,  abortive,  rooting  hog  I 

Shakespeare,  **  liichard  III.,”  i.  3. 

Elf-shot.  Afflicted  with  some  un- 
known disease,  and  supposed  to  have 
been  wounded  by  an  elfin  arrow.  The 
rinderpest  would,  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
have  been  ascribed  to  elf- shots,  {See 
Elf- ARROWS.) 

Elfin.  The  first  fairy  king.  He 
ruled  over  India  and  America.  {Middle 
Age  Romance.) 

El'gin  Marbles.  A collection  of 
ancient  bas-reliefs  and  statues  made  by 
lord  Elgin,  and  sent  to  England  in  1812. 
They  are  chiefly  fragments  of  the  Par- 
thenon at  Athens,  and  were  purchased 
by  the  British  government  for  £35,000, 
to  be  placed  in  the  British  Museum. 
(1816.) 

E^lia.  A nom  de  plume  adopted  by 
Charles  Lamb. — Essays  of  Elia. 

The  adoption  of  this  signature  was  purely  acci- 
dental. Lamb’s  first  contribution  to  the  London  Maga~ 
zine  was  a description  of  the  old  South-Sea  House, 
where  he  had  passed  a few  months’  novitiate  as  a 
clerk,  . . . and,  remembering  the  name  of  a gay,  light- 
hearted foreigner,  who  fluttered  there  at  the  time, 
substituted  his  name  for  his  o'wa.—Tal/ourd. 

Eli'ab,  in  the  satire  of  Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
is  meant  for  Sir  Henry  Bonnet,  earl  of 
Arlington.  Eliab  was  one  of  the  chiefs  of 
the  Gadites  who  joined  David  at  Ziklag 
(1  Chron.  xii.  9). 

Hard  the  task  to  do  Eliab  right ; 
Long  with  the  royal  wanderer  (Charles  II.)  he  roved, 
And  firm  in  all  the  turns  of  fortune  proved. 

PartiL 

Eli'akim.  J ehoiakim,  king  of  J udah. 
(B.c.  635,  610-599.) 

EPidure  (3  syl.).  A legendary  king 
of  Britain,  advanced  to  the  throne  in 
place  of  his  elder  brother  Art'egal,  sup- 
posed by  him  to  be  dead.  Artegal,  after 
a long  exile,  returned  to  his  country,  and 
Elidure  resigned  to  him  the  throne. 
Wordsworth  has  a poem  on  the  subject. 

Eliminate  (4  syl.).  To  turn  out 
of  doors ; to  turn  out  of  an  equation 
everything  not  essential  to  its  conditions. 
(Latin,  e limine,  out  of  doors.) 

Elion.  Consort  of  Beruth  and  father 
of  Ghe. — SaRchoniatho. 


ELIOT, 


ELOHISTIC. 


2G5 


{George).  A nom  de  plume  of 
Miss  Evans,  author  of  Adam  Bede,”  &c. 

Elis'sa  {deficiency  or  parsimony  ; 
Greek,  ellipsis).  Step-sister  of  Medi'na 
and  Peris'sa,  but  they  could  never  agree 
upon  anv  subject.  — Spenser,  Faery 
^neen  ” bk.  ii. 

Eliva'ger  (4  syl.).  A cold  venomous 
stream  which  issued  from  Niflheim,  and 
in  the  abyss  called  the  Ginnunga  Gap 
hardening  into  layer  upon  layer  of  ice. 
{Scandinavian  mythology. ) 

Elixir  of  Life.  A tincture  or  de- 
■coction  supposed  by  the  alchemists  to 
prolong  life  indefinitely.  The  tincture 
for  transmuting  metals  was  also  called 
an  elixir.  (Arabic,  el  or  al  ecsir,  the  de- 
coction. Some  derive  it  from  the  Latin 
^lixo,  to  boil.)  {See  Amrita.) 

Elizabeth,  had  pet  names  for  all  her 
favourite  courtiers— 9'.  : 

The  mother  of  Sir  John  Norris  she 
called  ^'My  own  Crow.” 

Burghley  was  her  ^'Spirit.” 

Mount  joy  she  termed  her  “ Kitchen- 
maid  in  Ireland.” 

Elizabeth  of  Hungary  {St.). 
Patron  saint  of  queens,  being  herself  a 
queen.  (1207-1231.) 

Ehzabe'than.  After  the  style  of 
things  in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth. 
Elizabethan  architecture  is  a mixture  of 
Gothic  and  Italian,  prevalent  in  the 
reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James  I. 

Eli  means  the  arm  ; eVlow,  the  bow 
or  joint  of  the  arm ; the  ell  measure  was 
the  length  of  Henry  I.’s  arm.  (1101.)' 

Give  him  an  inch  and  he'll  take  an  ell. 
Give  him  a little  licence  and  he  will  take 
great  liberties,  or  make  great  encroach- 
ments. The  ell  was  no  definite  length. 
The  English  ell  was  a yard  and  a quarter, 
the  Scotch  ell  a little  more  than  a yard, 
while  the  Flemish  ell  was  only  three- 
quarters  of  a yard.  This  indefinite  mea- 
sure' expresses  the  uncertainty  of  the 
length  to  which  persons  will  go  to  whom 
you  give  the  inch  of  liberty.  Some  will 
go  the  English  ell ; while  others,  of  more 
modesty  or  more  limited  desires,  will  be 
satisfied  with  the  shorter  measures. 

Ella.  King  of  Northumberland,  who 
married  Cunstance.— “Man  of 
Lawes  Tale." 


Elliot.  In  the  “Black  Dwarf,”  by 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  are  seven  of  that  name 
— viz..  Halbert  or  Hobbie  Elliot,  of  the 
Heugh-foot  (a  farmer) ; Mrs.  Elliot,  his 
grandmother;  John  and  Harry,  his 
brothers ; and  Lilias,  Jean,  and  Arnot, 
his  sisters. 

EUyl'lon.  The  souls  of  the  ancient 
Druids,  which,  being  too  good  for  hell, 
and  not  good  enough  for  heaven,  are 
permitted  to  wander  upon  earth  till  the 
judgment  day,  when  they  will  be  ad- 
mitted to  a higher  state  of  being.  ( Welsh 
mythology. ) 

Elmo  {St.).  Gomazants  or  electric 
lights  occasionally  seen  on  the  masts  of 
ships  before  and  after  a storm.  So  called 
by  the  Spaniards,  but  by  the  Italians 
they  are  called  “ the  fires  of  St.  Peter 
and  St.  Nicholas.”  {See  Castor  and 
Pollux.) 

Sudden,  breaking  on  their  raptured  sight. 

Appeared  the  splendour  of  St.  Elmo’s  light. 

Hoole^  “ Orlando  Furiosop  book  ix 

Elohis'tic  and  Jehovis'tic  Scrip- 
tures. The  Pentateuch  is  supposed  by 
"bishop  Colenso  and  many  others  to  have 
been  written  at  two  widely  different 
periods,  because  God  is  invariably  called 
EloKim  in  some  paragraphs,  while  in 
others  he  is  no  less  invariably  called 
Jehovah.  The  Elohistic  paragraphs, 
being  more  simple,  more  primitive,  more 
narrative,  and  more  pastoral,  are  said  to 
be  the  older  ; while  the  Jehovistic  para- 
graphs indicate  a knowledge  of  geo- 
graphy and  history,  seem  to  exalt  the 
priestly  office,  and  are  altogether  of  a 
more  elaborate  character.  Those  who 
maintain  this  theory  think  that  some 
late  transcriber  has  compiled  the  two 
Scriptures  and  combined  them  into  one, 
much  the  same  as  if  the  four  Gospels 
were  collated  and  welded  together  into 
a single  one.  To  give  one  or  two  ex- 
amples : — Gen.  i.  27,  it  is  said,  “So 
God  {Elohim)  created  man  in  his  own 
image,  (both)  male  and  female ;”  whereas, 
in  the  next  chapter  (21—24),  it  is  said 
that  God  (Jehovali)  caused  a deep  sleep 
to  fall  on  Adam,  and  that  he  then  took 
from  the  sleeping  man  a rib  and  made  it 
a woman,  and  therefore  (says  the  writer) 
a man  shall  cleave  unto  his  wife,  and 
the  two  be  considered  one  flesh.  Again, 
Gen.  vi.  19,  Elohim  tells  Noah,  “ Two  of 
every  sort  shalt  thou  bring  into  the 
! ark,  a male  and  a female  ;”  and  (vii.  9) 


26S 


ELOI. 


EM. 


There  went  in  two  and  two  unto  Noah 
into  the  ark,  the  male  and  the  female, 
as  God  {Elokim)  commanded  Noah.’’ 
In  Gen.  vii.  2,  Jehovah  tells  Noah  he  is 
to  make  a distinction  between  clean  and 
unclean  beasts,  and  that  he  is  to  admit 
the  former  by  sevens  and  the  latter  by 
twos.  In  the  first  example,  the  priestly 
character  is  indicated  by  the  moral,  and 
in  the  latter,  by  the  distinction  made 
between  clean  and  unclean  animals.  We 
pass  no  opinion  upon  this  theory,  but 
state  it  as  fairly  as  we  can  in  a few  lines. 

Eloi  Patron  saint  of  artists 

and  smiths.  He  was  a celebrated  worker 
in  gold  and  silver,  and  was  made  bishop 
of  Noyon  in  the  reign  of  Dag'obert. 
Probably  the  St.  Eloi  of  Chaucer’s 
Prioress  was  St.  Louis  (St.  ’Loy). 

Ther  was  also  a nonne,  a prioresse, 

That  of  hire  smiling  was  full  simp*  and  coy; 
Hire  gretest  othe  n’as  but  by  Seint  Eloy. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  laid*’ 

Eloquent.  The  Old  Man  Eloquent. 
Isoc'rates,  the  Greek  orator.  When  he 
heard  that  Grecian  liberty  was  extin- 
guished by  the  battle  of  Chserone'a,  he 
died  of  grief. 

That  dishonest  victory 
At  Chgeronea,  fatal  to  liberty. 

Killed  with  report  that  Old  Man  Eloquent. 

Milton,  “ Sonnets,** 

The  Eloquent  Doctor.  Peter  Aure'olus, 
archbishop  of  Aix,  a schoolman. 

Elshander  or  Cannie  Elshie.  The 
Black  Dwarf,  alias  Sir  Edward  Mauley, 
alias  the  Kecluse,  alias  the  Wise  Wight 
of  Mucklestane  Moor.— Walter  Scott, 

The  BlacJc  Dwarf.'" 

Elsie.  The  daughter  of  Gottlieb,  a 
farm  tenant  of  prince  Henry  of  Hohe- 
neck.  The  prince  was  suffering  severely 
from  some  malady,  and  was  told  that  he 
would  be  cured  if  any  maiden  would 
give  her  life  as  a substitute.  Elsie 
vowed  to  do  so,  and  accompanied  the 
prince  from  Germany  to  Salerno.  Here 
Elsie  surrendered  herself  to  Lucifer, 
but  was  rescued  by  the  prince,  who 
married  her.  His  health  was  perfectly 
re-established  by  the  pilgrimage.— 
fellow,  The  Golden  Legend." 

Elvi'no.  A rich  farmer,  in  love 
with  Ami'na,  the  somnambulist.  Ami'na 
being  f®und  in  the  bed  of  count  Ko- 
dolpho,  the  day  before  the  wedding, 
induces  Elvino  to  reject  her  hand  and 
promise  marriage  to  Liza ; but  he  is 


soon  undeceived — ^Ami'na  is  found  to  be' 
innocent,  and  Liza  to  have  been  the 
paramour  of  another;  so  Ami'na  and 
Elvi'no  are  wedded  under  the  happiest 
auspices. — Belli' ni's  best  opera,  La  Son- 
namhuta." 

Elvi'ra  {Donna).  A lady  deceived 
by  don  Giovanni,  who  deluded  her  into- 
a liason  with  his  valet,  Leporello. — 
Mozart's  opera  of  ^‘Don  Giovanni." 

Elvira.  A lady  who  loves  Erna'ni, 
the  robber- captain  and  head  of  a league 
against  don  Carlos,  afterwards  Charles 
V.  of  Spain.  Being  betrothed  to  don 
Buy  Gomez  de  Silva,  an  old  Spanish 
grandee,  whom  she  detests,  Ernani  re- 
solves to  rescue  her ; but  it  so  happens 
that  the  king  himself  falls  in  love  with 
her,  and  tries  to  win  her.  When  Silva 
learns  this,  he  joins  the  league;  but  the 
king,  overhearing  the  plot  in  conceal- 
ment, arrests  the  conspirators.  Elvira 
intercedes  for  them,  and  the  king  grants 
them  a free  pardon.  When  Ernani  is 
on  the  point  of  wedding  Elvira,  Ernani, 
being  summoned  to  death  by  Silva, 
stabs  himself. — Verdi's  opera  of  Er^ 
nani." 

Ervish.  Irritable,  peevish,  spiteful ; 
full  of  little  mischievous  ways,  like  the 
elves.  Our  superstitious  forefathers 
thought  such  persons  were  actually 

possessed  ” by  elves. 

Elysian  Fields.  {See  Behesth.) 

Ely'sium.  Elysian  Fields.  The 
Paradise  or  Happy  Land  of  the  Greek 
poets.  Elysian  (the  adjective)  means 
happy,  delightful. 

O’er  each  were  shadowy  cast  Elysian  gleams. 

Thomson. 

Wrapped  my  spirit  in  Elysium. 

Milton,  “ Comus." 

El'zevir.  An  edition  of  a classic 
author,  published  and  printed  by  tho 
family  of  Elzevir,  and  said  to  be  im- 
maculate. Virgil,  one  of  the  master- 
pieces, is  certainly  incorrect  in  somo 
places.  (1592-1626.) 

Em.  The  unit  of  measure  in  printing. 
The  standard  is  a pica  M ; and  the  width 
of  a line  is  measured  by  the  number  of 
such  M’s  that  would  stand  side  by  side 
in  the  stick.”  This  dictionary  is  in 
double  columns,  each  column  equals  11 
pica  Ms  in  width,  and  one  M is  allowed 
for  the  space  between.  Some  work  is 
made  up  to  10^,  20^,  &c.,  ems ; and  for 


EMBARGO. 


EMOLUMENT. 


267 


the  half-em  printers  employ  the  letter  N, 
which  is  in  width  half  a letter  M.  As 
no  letter  is  wider  than  the  M,  and  all 
narrower  letters  are  fractions  of  it,  this 
letter  forms  a very  convenient  standard 
for  printing  purposes. 

Embargo.  To  lay  an  emlargo  on 
him  or  it  is  to  impose  certain  conditions 
before  you  give  your  consent.  It  is  a 
Portuguese  and  Spanish  word,  meaning 
an  order  issued  by  authority  to  prevent 
ships  leaving  port  for  a fixed  period. 

.Ember  Days  are  the  Wednesday, 
Friday,  and  Saturday  of  Ember  Weeks 

($.2;.). 

Ember  Weeks.  A corruption  of 
quat'uor  tem'qooraf  through  the  Dutch 
quatemper  and  German  quatemler.  The 
four  times  are  after  Quadragesima 
Sunday,  Whit  Sunday,  Holyrood  Day 
(Sepiemher),  and  St.  Lucia’s  Day  {Decern- 
her).  The  supposition  that  persons  sat 
in  embers  (or  ashes)  on  these  days  is 
without  foundation. 

Emblem  is  a picture  with  a hidden 
meaning  ; the  meaning  is  cast  into  ” 
or  ^Mnserted  in”  the  visible  device. 
Thus,  a balance  is  an  emblem  of  justice, 
white  of  purity,  a sceptre  of  sovereignty. 
(Greek,  en-hallo.')  {^See  Apostles,  Pa- 
tron Saints.) 

Some  of  the  most  common  and  simple 
emblems  of  the  Christian  church  are — 

The  circle  inscribed  in  an  equilateral 
triangle,  to  denote  the  co- equality  and 
co-eteinity  of  the  Trinity. 

A hand  from  the  clouds,  to  denote  God 
the  Father. 

A lamb,  fish,  pelican,  &c.  &c.  The 
Lord  J esus  Christ. 

A dove.  The  Holy  Ghost. 

A chalice.  The  eucharist. 

A phoenix.  The  resurrection. 

A cross.  The  Christian’s  life  and  con- 
flict ; the  death  of  Christ  for  man’s  re- 
demption. 

A crown.  The  reward  of  the  perse- 
verance of  the  saints. 

Emblers  de  Gentz  (French).  A 
stealing  from  the  people. — Old  Rolls. 

Em'bryo  means  that  which  swells 
inside  something  (Greek,  en-bru'o) ; hence, 
the  child  in  the  womb  ; the  rudiment  in 
a plant  before  it  shows  itself  in  a bud  ; 
an  idea  not  developed,  &c. 


Em'elye.  The  sister-in-law  of  duk0> 
Theseus,”  beloved  by  the  two  knights, 
Pal'amon  and  Ar'cyte,  the  former  of' 
whom  had  her  to  wife.  It  is  of  this  lady 
the  poet  says,  ‘^Up  roos  the  sun,  and 
up  roos  Emelye”  (v.  2275). 

This  passeth  yeer  by  yeer,  and  day  and  day, 

Till  it  fel  ©ones  in  a inorne  of  M ay. 

That  Emelie,  that  fairer  was  to  scene 
Than  is  the  lilie  on  hire  stalkes  grene, 

And  fresscher  than  the  May  withfloures  newe. . . , 
Er  it  was  day,  as  sche  was  wont  to  do, 

Sche  was  arisen. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales  "{TheKnigMes  Tale). 

Em'eralds.  According  to  tradition, 
if  a serpent  fixes  its  eyes  upon  an  emerald  ’ 
it  becomes  blind.— ben  Abdalaziz, 
Treatise  on  Jewels.'* 

Em'erald  Isle.  Ireland.  This  term 
was  first  used  by  Dr.  Drennan  (1754- 
1820),  in  the  poem  called  ^^Erin.”  Of 
course,  it  refers  to  the  bright  green  ver- 
dure of  the  island. 

An  emerald  set  in  the  ring  of  the  sea. 

Cushlamachree. 

Emer'gency.  A sudden  emergency  • 
is  something  which  starts  suddenly  into  . 
view,  or  which  rises  suddenly  out  of  the 
current  of  events.  (Latin,  e-mergo,  tO' 
rise  out  of  ^Hhe  water.”) 

Emeute  (French).  A seditious  rising 
or  small  riot.  Literally,  a moving-out. 
(Latin,  e-moJeo.) 

Emile  (2  syl.).  The  French  form  of 
Emil'ins.  The  hero  of  Jean  Jacques  ■ 
Rousseau’s  novel  of  the  same  name,  and 
his  ideal  of  a perfectly  educated  young 
man. 

Emilia  (in  Shakespeare’s  Othello”). 
Wife  of  lago.  She  is  induced  by  her  ■ 
husband  to  purloin  Desdemona’s  hand- 
kerchief, which  lago  conveys  to  Cassio’s 
chamber,  and  tells  the  Moor  that  Desde- 
mo'na  had  given  it  to  the  lieutenant  as  a . 
love-token.  At  the  death  of  Desdemona, 
Emilia  (who  till  then,  never  suspected 
the  real  state  of  the  case)  reveals  the 
fact,  and  lago  rushes  upon  her  and  kills 
her. 

Emil'ia.  The  sweetheart  of  Peregrine  ^ 
Pickle,  in  Smollett’s  novel. 

Emily.  {See  Emelye.) 

Eminence  (^His).  The  title  given- 
to  cardinals  since  1620. 

Emolliment.  Literally,  that  which 
comes  out  of  the  mill.  (Latin,  e-mola.) 
It  originally  meant  toll  on  what  was - 
ground.  {See  Grist.  ) 


-263 


EMOTION. 


ENCHANTED 


Emo'tion.  Literally,  the  movement 
of  the  mind  brought  out  by  something 
which  affects  it.  The  idea  is  this : The 
miind  is  passive  till  something  occurs  to 
affect  it,  when  it  becomes  roused;  the 
active  state  thus  produced  is  its  emotion, 
and  the  result  thereof  is  passion  or  affec- 
tion. Thus,  in  the  famous  ‘ ‘ Hermetic 
Books”  {q.v.')y  passion  is  said  to  be  the 
result  of  motion.  (Latin,  e-moveo^  to  move 
out  of.) 

Empan'nel  or  Impaoiiiel  is  to  write 
the  names  of  a jury  on  a pannel  or  piece 
of  parchment.  (French,  pannem(,—  i.e.j 
pan  depeau,  piece  of  skin.j 

Emped'ocles  (4  syl.)  of  Sicily.  A 
disciple  of  Pythag'oras.  According  to 
Lu'cian,  he  threw  himself  into  the  crater 
^of  Etna,  that  persons  might  suppose  he 
was  returned  to  the  gods  ; but  Etna 
threw  out  his  iran  sandal,  and  destroyed 
dhe  illusion. — Horace,  Ars  Poetica,’’ 
464.  {See  Cleombrotos.) 

He  who,  to  be  deemed 
A god,  leaped  londly  into  ^tua  flamee, 
Empedocles. 

Milton^  “ Paradise  Lostp  iii. 

Emperor.  Emperor  of  Believers. 
Omar  L,  father-in-law  of  Mahomet,  and 
“Second  caliph  of  the  Mussulmans.  (581- 
644.) 

Emperor  of  the  mountains,  Icing  of  the 
woods,  and  lord  of  the  highways  from 
Florence  to  Naples.  A title  assumed  by 
Peter  the  Calabrian,  a famous  bandit- 
chief.  (1812.) 

Emperor,  not  for  myself,  hut  for  my 
people.  The  maxim  of  Ha'drian,  the 
Homan  emperor.  (117-138.) 

Empire.  The  empire  of  reason;  the 
empire  of  truth  ; kc.—i.e. , reason  or  truth 
as  the  governing  principle.  Empire  is 
the  Latin  imper'ium,  a jurisdiction,  and 
.an  emperor  is  one  who  holds  command. 

Em'pirics.  Quacks.  A school  of 
medicine  founded  by  Serap'ion,  of  Alex- 
andria, who  contended  that  it  is  not 
necessary  to  obtain  a knowledge  of  the 
nature  and  functions  of  the  body  in  order 
to  treat  diseases,  but  that  experience  is 
the  surest  and  best  guide.  They  were 
■opposed  to  the  Dogmatics  {q.v.).  (Greek, 
^n-pira'o,  to  experimentalise  on.) 

We  must  not 

So  stain  our  judgment,  or  corrupt  our  hope. 

To  prostitute  our  past-cure  malady 
To  empirics. 

Shakespeare,  All's  Well  that  Ends  Well”  ii.  1. 


Employe  (French).  One  in  our  em- 
ploy ; such  as  clerks,  shopmen,  servants, 
&c. 

Empson.  The  favourite  flageolet- 
player  of  Charles  II.,  introduced  into 
Scott’s  ^^Peveril  of  the  Peak.” 

J ulian  c«uld  only  bow  obedience,  and  follow  Emp> 
son,  who  was  the  same  person  that  played  so  rarely 
on  the  flageolet.— Ch.  xxx. 

Empty  Cliaiice.  A chance  not 
worth  calculating  on.  The  ace  of  dice 
was,  by,  the  Greeks  and  Bomans,  left 
empty,  because  the  number  of  dice  was 
equal  to  the  number  of  aces  thrown.  As 
ace  is  the  lowest  chance,  the  empty 
chance  was  the  least  likely  to  win. 

Empyre'an.  According  to  Ptolemy, 
there  are  five  heavens,  the  last  of  which 
is  pure  elemental  fire  and  the  seat  of 
deity ; this  fifth  heaven  is  called  the 
empj^rean  (from  the  Greek,  en-pur,  in 
fire)“  (A^ee  Heaven.  ) 

Enal'io  - saurians  (Greek,  sea- 
lizards).  A group  of  fossil  saurians, 
including  the  Ich'thyosaur,  Ple'siosaur, 
Sauropter'ygy,  &c.  &c. 

Encel'ados.  The  most  powerful  of 
the  giants  that  conspired  against  Zeus 
(Jupiter).  The  king  of  gods  and  men 
cast  him  down,  and  threw  Mount  Etna 
over  him.  The  poets  say  that  the  flames 
of  this  volcano  arise  from  the  breath  of 
this  giant.  The  battle-field  of  his  contest 
was  Phleg'ra,  in  Macedonia. 

So  fierce  Enceladus  in  Phlegra  stood. 

Hoole,  “ Jerusalem  Delivered” 

I tell  you,  younglings,  not  Enceladus, 

With  all  his  threat’ning  band  of  Typhon’s  brood.  .. 
Shall  seize  this  prey  out  of  his  facer’s  hands. 

Shakespeare,  “ Titus  u^dronicus,”  iv.  2. 

Enclianter  is  one  who  sings  incan- 
tations. (Latin,  in-canto,  to  sing  over 
or  against  some  one.) 

Enchanted  Castles.  De  Saint 
Foix  says  that  women  and  girls  were 
subject  to  violence  whenever  they  passed 
by  an  abbey,  quite  as  much  as  when 
they  approached  a feudal  castle.  When 
these  victims  were  sought  for  and  de- 
manded back,  th-e  monks  would  sustain 
a siege  rather  than  relinquish  them,  and, 
if  close  pressed,  would  bring  to  the  walls 
some  sacred  relic,  which  so  awed  the 
assailants  that  they  would  desist  rather 
than  incur  the  risk  of  violating  such  holy 
articles.  This,  he  says,  is  the  origin  of 
enchanters,  enchantments,  and  enchanted 
castles. — Historical  Essays. 


ENCORE. 


ENSCONCE. 


2^9- 


Encore  (French).  Our  use  of  this 
word  is  unknown  to  the  French,  who  use 
the  word  his  (twice)  if  they  wish  a thing 
to  be  repeated.  The  French,  however, 
say,  encore  une  tasse  (another  cup),  encore 
iinefois  (still  once  more).  It  is  strange 
how  we  have  perverted  almost  every 
French  word  that  we  have  naturalised. 

Encrat'ites  (4  syl.).  A sect  of  the 
second  century,  who  condemned  mar- 
riage, forbade  eating  flesh  or  drinking 
wine,  and  rejected  all  the  luxuries  and 
comforts  of  life  as  ^Hhings  sinful.” 
The  sect  was  founded  by  Ta'tian,  a dis- 
ciple of  Justin  Martyr.  (Greek,  egcrates, 
self-mastery.) 

Encroach  means  literally  to  put  on 
a hook,  or  to  hook  on.  Those  who  hook 
on  a little  here  and  a little  there.  (French, 
eii  crocj  on  a hook.) 

End-irons.  Two  movable  iron  cheeks 
or  plates,  still  used  in  cooking-stoves  to 
enlarge  or  contract  the  grate  at  pleasure. 
The  term  explains  itself,  but  must  not 
be  mistaken  for  andirons  or  dogs.” 

Endorse.  I endw'se  that  statement. 
I accept  it ; I fully  accord  with  it.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  commercial  practice  of 
writing  your  name  on  the  back  of  a bill 
of  exchange  or  promissory  note  if  you 
choose  to  make  yourself  responsible  for 
it.  (Latin,  in-dorsum.^  on  the  back.) 

Endym'ion.  in  Greek  mythology, 
is  the  sunset,  with  which  the  moon  is 
in  love.  Endym'ion  was  condemned  to 
endless  sleep  and  everlasting  youth,  and 
Sile'ne  kisses  him  every  night  on  the 
Latmian  hills. 

The  moon  sleeps  with  Endymion, 

And  v\  ould  not  be  awaked. 

Shakespeare^  "‘Merchant  of  Venice,"  v.  1. 

Enemy.  Hoic  goes  the  enemy  1 or 
What  says  the  enemy  t What  o’clock  is 
it  ? Time  is  the  enemy  of  man,  especially 
of  those  who  are  behind  time. 

Enfield  Rifie.  So  called  from  the 
factory  at  Enfield  where  it  is  made. 

Enfilade  (French)  means  literally  to 
spin  out ; to  put  thread  in  [a  needle],  as 
enjiler  nne  aguille ; to  string  beads  by 
putting  them  on  a thread,  as  enjiler  des 
perles.  Soldiers  being  compared  to 
thread,  we  get  the  following  metaphors  ; 
to  go  through  a place  as  thread  through 
a needle— to  string  artillery  by  placing 
it  in  a line  and  directing  it  against  an 


enemy;  hence  to  scour  or  rake  with 
shot. 

England.  Verst egan  quaintly  says 
that  Egbert  was  '^chiefly  moved”  to 
call  his  kingdom  England  in  respect  of 
pope  Gregory’s  changing  the  name  of 
Engelisce  into  Angellyhe.”  And  this 

may  have  moved  our  kings  upon  their 
best  gold  coins  to  set  the  image  of  an 
angel.” — Restit.  of  Decayed  Intell.  in 
Antiq.f  p.  147. 

England  expects  that  every  man  will 
do  his  duty.  The  parole  signalled  by 
Horatio  Nelson  to  his  fleet  before  the* 
battle  of  Trafalgar. 

Englishman.  The  national  nick- 
name of  an  Englishman  is  '^A  John 
Bull.”  The  nation,  taken  in  the  aggre^ 
gate,  is  nicknamed  ^^John  Bull.”  The 
French  nickname  for  an  Englishman  is- 

Godam',”  from  a familiar  oath  once 
common,  and  still  too  frequently  usedv 
{See  Bull.) 

Englishman’s  Castle.  His  house 
is  so  called,  because  so  long  as  a man 
shuts  himself  up  in  his  own  house,  no’ 
bailiff  can  break  through  the  door  to 
arrest  him  or  seize  his  goods.  It  is  not 
so  in  Scotland. 

E'nid.  The  daughter  and  only  child 
of  Yn'iol,  and  wife  of  prince  Geraint', 
one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table. 
Ladies  called  her  Enid  the  Fair,”  but 
the  people  named  her  ‘^Enid  the  Good.” 
She  is  a model  of  conjugal  love  and  obe- 
dience, and  was  one  of  the  three  celebrated 
ladies  in  the  court  of  king  Arthur. — Idylls^ 
of  the  King f Enid.'’ 

Enlightened.  The  En  I igh  tened  Doc- 
tor. Raymond  Lully,  of  Palma,  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  thir- 
teenth century.  (1234-1315.) 

Enniskillens.  The  6th  Dragoons  ; 
instituted  1689,  on  account  of  their** 
brave  defence  of  the  town  of  Innis- 
killen,  in  favour  of  William  III. 

En'nius.  The  Chaucer  or  father  of 
Roman  poets,  (b.c.  239-169.) 

The  French  Ennins.  Guillaume  do 
Lorris  (1235-1265),  author  of  the  '^Ro- 
mance  of  the  Rose,”  called  the  **  Iliad  ” 
of  France. 

The  Spanish  Ennius.  Juan  de  Mena,, 
born  at  Cor'dova.  (1412-1456.) 

Enscon'ce  (2  syl.).  To  hide ; to  put 
under  cover.  Literally,  to  cover  with  a 


270 


ENSEMBLE. 


EPHIALTES. 


■sconce  or  fort.  (German,  sclian^Cy  a fort ; 
Danish,  sdians;  Swedish,  shans.') 

Ensemble.  The  tout  ensemhle.  The 
general  effect ; the  effect  when  the 
whole  is  regarded.  {French.') 

Ensign. 

Of  Ancient  Athens.  An  owl. 

The  British  Navy.  A double  cross  (St. 
■George  and  St.  Andrew)  on  a red,  white, 
-or  blue  field. 

China.  A dragon. 

Ancient  Corinth.  A fl3dng  horse— 
Peg'asos. 

A ncimt  Danes.  A raven. 

Ancient  Egypt.  A bull,  a crocodile,  a 
vulture. 

England  (in  the  Tudor  era).  St. 
George’s  cross. 

Ancient  France.  The  cape  of  St. 
Martin  ; then  the  oriflamme. 

The  FranJcs  (Ripua'rian).  A sword 
with  the  point  upwards. 

The  Franks  (Salian).  A bull’s  head. 

The  Gauls.  A wolf,  bear,  bull,  cock. 

The  ancierd  Lacedemonians.  The  letter 
alpha  (A). 

The  ancient  Messe'nians.  The  letter 
mu  (M). 

The  ancient  Pei'sians.  A golden  eagle, 
with  outstretched  wings  on  a white  field ; 
a dove. 

The  Paisdad'ian  Dynasty  of  Persia.  A 
blacksmith’s  apron.  {See  Standard.) 

The  ancient  Romans.  An  eagle  for  the 
legion  ; a wolf,  a horse,  a boar,  a mino- 
laur,  &c. 

Rom'uhis.  A handful  of  hay  or  fern 
(manip'ulus). 

The  ancient  Saxons.  A trotting  horse. 

The  Turks.  Horses’  tails. 

The  ancient  Welsh.  A dragon. 

Entail'.  An  entail  is  an  estate  cut 
irom  the  power  of  a testator.  The  tes- 
tator cannot  bequeath  it ; it  must  go  to 
the  legal  heirs.  (French,  en-tailler.) 

Entele'chie.  The  kingdom  of  queen 
■Quintessence,  in  the  famous  satirical 
romance  of  Rabelais  called  the  '^History 
•of  Gargan'tua  and  Pantagruel'.”  Panta- 
gruel  and  his  companions  went  thither 
in  search  of  the  Holy  Bottle.  It  may 
be  called  the  city  of  speculative  science. 

Entering  Short.  When  bills  are 
paid  into  a banker’s  hands  to  receive  the 
amount  when  due,  it  is  called  “entering 
them  short.”  In  this  case,  if  the  banker 
fails,  the  assignees  must  give  them  up. 


Bills  in  the  hands  of  factors  may  be  so 
entered. 

Enthn'siast  is  one  who  believes 
that  he  himself  is  in  God,  or  that  God  is 
in  him  (Greek,  en  theos).  Our  word  in- 
s'pired  is  very  similar,  being  the  Latin 
in  spiritu  (in  the  spirit). 

Entremets  {arn-tr  e-may).  Sweet 
foods  or  kickshaws  served  at  table 
between  the  main  dishes,  courses,  or 
removes ; literally,  entre-mets  (French), 
things  put  between.  We  now  use  two 
words,  entrees  and  entremets,  the  former 
being  meats  handed  round  between  the 
main  dishes,  and  the  latter  being  sweet 
made-dishes. 

Entre  iN'ous  (French).  Between 
you  and  me  ; in  confidence. 

Eolian.  An  Eolian  harp.  A box 
fitted  with  strings,  like  a fiddle.  The 
strings,  however,  are  not  sounded  by  a 
bow,  but  by  a current  of  air  or  wind 
passing  over  them. 

Eolus.  God  of  the  winds.  {Roman 
mythology.) 

Epact.  The  excess  of  the  solar 
above  the  lunar  year,  the  former  con- 
sisting of  365  days  and  the  latter  of 
354,  or  eleven  days  fewer.  The  epact 
of  any  year  is  the  number  of  days  from 
the  last  new  moon  of  the  old  year  to  the 
1st  of  the  following  January.  (Greek, 
epactos,  adscititious.) 

Eper'gne  (2  syl.).  A large  orna- 
mental stand  placed  in  the  middle  of  a 
dining-table.  It  is  generally  said  to  be 
a French  word,  but  is  not  known  in 
France.  The  French  call  such  an  orna- 
mental stand  a surtout,  strangely  adopted 
by  us  to  signify  a frock-coat,  which  the 
French  call  a pardessus. 

Ephe'bi.  Youths  between  the  age 
of  eighteen  and  twenty  were  so  called 
at  Athens.  (Greek,  arrived  at  puberty .) 

Ephe'sian.  A jovial  companion  ; a 
thief ; a roysterer.  A pun  on  the  verb 
to  pheese — A-pheeze-ian.  Pheeze  is  to 
flatter. 

It  is  thine  host,  thine  Eplips'an,  calls. 

Shakef^peare,  “ Merry  Wivjs  of  Windsor,"  iy,  5. 

The  Ephesian  Poet.  Hippo'nax,  born 
at  Ephesus  in  the  sixth  century  B.c. 

Ephlal'tes  (4  syl.).  A giant  who 
was  deprived  of  his  left  eye  by  Apollo, 
and  of  his  right  eye  by  Hercules. 


EPHORI. 


EQUIPAGE. 


271 


Eph'ori  or  Eplwrs.  Spartan  magis- 
trates, five  in  number,  annually  elected 
from  the  ruling  caste.  They  exercised 
control  even  over  the  kings  and  senate. 

Epic.  Father  of  epic  poetry.  Homer 
{about  950  B.C.),  author  of  the  Iliad” 
and  Odyssey.” 

The  great  Puritan  epic.  Milton’s 

Paradise  Lost.” 

Speaking  of  M,  Dore’s  performnnces  as  an  iHus- 
trator  of  the  great  Puritan  epic.— T/ie  Times. 

Epicure  (3  syl.).  A sensualist ; one 
-addicted  to  good  eating  and  drinking. 
Ho  called  from  EpicuTos  (q.v.). 

Sir  Epicure.  A worldly  sensualist  in 

The  Alchymist,”  by  Ben  Jonson.  His 
surname  is  Mammon.” 

Epicure'an.  Carnal;  sensual;  per- 
taining to  good  eating  and  drinking. 
i{See  Epicuros.) 

T.  Moore  has  a prose  romance  entitled 

The  Epicurean.” 

Epicurean  cooks 

Sliarpen  with  cloj’less  sauce  his  appetite. 

Shakespeare^  '^Antony  and  CleopatraP  ii.  1. 

Epicu'ros.  (Latin  form,  Epicurus.') 
‘The  Greek  philosopher  who  founded  the 
Epicure'an  school.  His  axiom  was,  that 
‘^happiness  or  enjoyment  is  the  summum 
bojium  of  life.”  His  disciples  corrupted 
his  doctrine  into  '^Good  living  is  the 
•object  we  should  all  seek,”  or,  according 
to  the  drinking  song,  Who  leads  a good 
life  is  sure  to  live  well.” 

Blest  be  the  day  I ’scaped  the  wrangling  crew. 
From  Pyrrho’s  maze  and  Epicurus’  sty. 

Beattie.  ‘‘  Minstrel.” 

The  Epicurus  of  China.  Tao-tse,  who 
commenced  the  search  for  the  elixir  of 
life.”  Several  of  the  Chinese  emperors 
lost  their  lives  by  drinking  his  ‘^Potion 
of  Immortality.  (B.c.  540.) 

Epi-dem'ic  is  from  the  two  Greek 
•words,  epi-d^mos  (upon  the  people),  a 
disease  that  attacks  a number  of  people 
at  once,  either  from  bad  air,  bad  drain- 
age, or  other  similar  cause. 

Epi-zoot'ic  is  epi-zoon  (upon  the  herds 
and  flocks).  Zoology  is  used  to  signify 
a treatise  on  animals,  but  we  generally 
•except  man ; so  epi-zobtic  is  used,  demos 
(man)  not  being  included. 

Ep'ilepsy  was  called  by  the  Eomans 
'the  ‘‘  Comitial  or  Congress  sickness  (mor- 
bus comitia'lis),  because  the  polling  for 
i;he  comitia  centuria'ta  was  null  and  void 
if  any  voter  was  taken  with  epilepsy 
while  the  votes  were  being  taken. 


Epimen'ides  (5  syl.).  A philosopher 
of  Crete,  who  fell  asleep  in  a cave  when 
a boy,  and  did  not  wake  again  for  fifty- 
seven  years,  when  he  found  himself 
endowed  with  miraculous  wisdom.  {See 
Kip  van  Winkle.) 

Like  Epimenidea,  I have  been  sleeping  in  a cave; 
and,  waking,  see  those  whom  I left  children  are 
bearded  men.— Nir  E.  L.  Bulwer  Lytton  [Lord  Lytton). 

Epipli'any.  The  time  of  appearance, 
meaning  the  period  when  the  star  ap- 
peared to  the  wise  men  of  the  East.  The 
bth  January  is  the  feast  of  the  Epiphany. 
(Greek,  epi-phaino.) 

Ep'isode  (3  syl.)  is  the  Greek  epU 
eis-odos  (coming  in  besides— ^.e.,  adven- 
titious), meaning  an  adventitious  tale 
introduced  into  the  main  story. 

Epis'tle  is  something  sent  to  another. 
A letter  sent  by  messenger  or  post. 
(Greek,  epi-stello.) 

E Plu'ribus  Unum  (Latin).  One 
unity  composed  of  many  parts.  The 
motto  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

E’poeh.  means  that  which  bounds  in 
or  holds  in  hand.  A sequence  of  events 
harnessed  together  like  a team  of  horses, 
(Greek,  epi-echo.) 

Ep'ode  (2  syl.).  Father  of  choral 
epode.  Stesic'horos  of  Sicily,  (b.c.  632- 
552.) 

Epsom  Salts.  A salt  formerly  ob- 
tained by  boiling  down  the  mineral  water 
in  the  vicinity  of  Epsom,  but  now  chen>i- 
cally  prepared.  It  is  the  sulphate  of 
magnesia. 

Equation  of  Time.  The  difference 
between  mean  and  apparent  time — i.e., 
the  difference  between  the  time  as  shown 
by  a good  clock  and  that  indicated  by 
a sun-dial.  The  greatest  difference  is  in 
November,  at  the  beginning  of  which 
month  the  sun  is  somewhat  more  than 
sixteen  minutes  too  slow.  There  are 
days  in  December,  April,  June,  and 
September,  when  the  sun  and  the  clocks 
agree. 

Eques  Aura'tus.  A knight 
bachelor,  caked  aura'tus  because  he  was 
allowed  to  gild  his  armour— a privilege 
confined  to  knights. 

Eq'uipage  (3  syl.).  Tea  equipage. 
A complete  tea-service.  To  equip  means 
to  arm  or  furnish,  and  equipage  is  the 
furniture  of  a military  man  or  body  of 


272 


ERACLIUS. 


EMIRENES. 


troops.  Hence  camp  equipage  (all  things 
necessary  for  an  encampment) ; field 
equipage  (all  things  necessary  for  the 
field  of  battle) ; a prince’s  equipage,  and 
so  on. 

Equity.  {See  Astr^a.) 

Eraelius,  the  emperor,  condemned 
a knight  to  death  because  the  companion 
who  went  out  with  him  returned  not. 
‘'Thou  hast  slain  thy  fellow,”  said  the 
emperor,  “and  must  die.  Go,”  con- 
tinued he,  to  another  knight,  “and  lead 
him  to  death.”  On  their  way,  they  met 
the  knight  supposed  to  be  dead,  and 
returned  to  Eraelius,  who,  instead  of 
revoking  his  sentence,  ordered  all  three 
to  be  put  to  death— the  first  because  he 
had  already  condemned  him  to  death  ; 
the  second  because  he  had  disobeyed  his 
orders ; and  the  third  because  he  was 
the  real  cause  of  the  death  of  the  other 
two.  Chaucer  tells  this  anecdote  in  his 
“Sompnoures  Tale.”  It  is  told  of  Cor- 
nelius Piso  by  Sene'ea  in  his  “ De  Ira,” 
lib.  i.  16  ; but  in  the  “ Gesta  Romano'- 
rum  ” it  is  ascribed  to  Eraelius. 

Eras'tians.  The  followers  of  Eras- 
tus,  a German  “heretic”  of  the  six- 
teenth century.  They  referred  the 
punishment  of  all  offences  in  the  church 
to  the  civil  magistrate. 

E 'rebus.  Darkness.  The  gloomy 
cavern  underground  through  which  the 
Shades  had  to  walk  in  their  passage  to 
Hades.  “A  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death.” 

Not  Erebus  itself  were  dim  enough 
To  hide  thee  from  prevention. 

Shakespeare^  '•*  Jtdius  CcBsat\”  ii.  1. 

Eret'rian.  The  Eretrian  hull.  Mene- 
de  mos  of  Eret'ria,  in  Euboea ; a Greek 
philosopher  of  the  fourth  century  B.c., 
and  founder  of  the  Eretrian  school, 
which  was  a branch  of  the  Socrat'ic. 
He  was  called  a “ bull  ” from  the  bull- 
like gravity  of  his  face. 

Eri'gena.  John  Scotus,  the  school- 
man. (1265-1308.) 

Erin.  Ireland  {q.v.). 

Erin'nys  or  Eri'nfys.  The  goddess  of 
vengeance,  one  of  the  Furies.  {GreeJc 
mythology.) 

EriphTla.  The  person! 6 cation  of 
Avarice,  who  guards  the  path  that  leads 
to  pleasitre,  in  “ Orlando  Furioso,”  vi.  61. 


Erl-kingi  King  of  the  elves,  wha 
prepares  mischief  for  children,  and  even 
deceives  men  with  his  seductions.  He  is* 
said  to  haunt  the  Black  Forest. 

Er'meline  (Dame).  Reynard’s  wife,, 
in  the  tale  of  “ Reynard  the  Fox.” 

Er 'min age  Street.  One  of  the  four 
great  public  ways  made  in  England  by 
the  Romans.  The  other  three  are  WaU 
ling  Street^  IJcenild  Street^  and  the  Fosse.- 
German'icus  derives  Ermin  from  Hernus, 
whence  Irniinsull  (a  column  of  Mercury), 
because  Mercury  presided  over  public- 
roads. 

Fair  weyes  many  on  ther  ben  in  Englond, 

But  four  moat  of  all  ben  zunrterstond  .. 

Fram  the  south  into  the  north  takit  Erming-strete 
Fram  the  east  into  the  west  goeth  Ikeneld-strete ; 
Fram  south-est  (east)  to  North-west  (that  is  sum  del 

grete) 

Fram  Borer  (Dover)  into  Chestre  go’th  Watling-strete  ; 
The  forth  is  most  of  all  that  tills  from  Toteueys— 
Fram  the  one  end  of  Cornwall  anon  to  Catenaya 

(Caithness)— 

Fram  the  south  to  North-est  into  Englondes  end 
Fosse  men  callith  thisk  voix.  Robert  of  Gloucester. 

Er'mine  (2  syl.).  A corruption  of 
Arme'nian,  the  ermine  being  the  mus^ 
Pon'ticus  or  Armenian  mustela. 

Ermin'ia.  The  heroine  of  “Jeru- 
salem Delivered.”  When  her  father,  the- 
king  of  Antioch,  was  slain  at  the  siege 
of  Antioch,  and  Erminia  fell  captive  into* 
the  crusaders’  hands,  Tancred  gave  her 
her  liberty,  and  restored  to  her  all  her 
father’s  treasures.  This  generous  con.- 
duct  quite  captivated  her  heart,  and 
she  fell  in  love  with  the  Christian  prince. 
Al'adine,  king  of  Jerusalem,  took  charge 
of  her.  When  the  Christian  army  be- 
sieged Jerusalem,  she  dressed  herself  in 
Clorinda’s  armour  to  go  to  Tancred,  but,, 
being  discovered,  fled,  and  lived  awhile 
with  some  shepherds  on  the  banks  of 
the  Jordan.  Meeting  with  Vafri'no,  sent 
as  a secret  spy  by  the  crusaders,  she 
revealed  to  him  the  design  against  the 
life  of  Godfrey,  and,  returning  with  him 
to  the  Christian  camp,  found  Tancred 
wounded.  She  cured  his  wounds  and 
nursed  him  tenderly,  so  that  he  was  able 
to  take  part  in  the  last  great  day  of  the 
siege.  We  are  not  told  the  ultimate  lot 
of  this  fair  Syrian. 

Emire'nes  (4  syl.).  A renegade 
Christian,  whose  name  was  Clement.. 
He  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of 
the  caliph’s  “regal  host,”  and  was  slain, 
by  Godfrey.  — Tasso ^ Jerusalem, 

livered.'' 


ERNANI. 


ESPRIT. 


273 


Erna'ni.  The  bandit- captain,  dnke 
of  Segor'bia  and  Cardo-na,  lord  of  Ar'a- 
gon,  and  count  of  Ernani,  in  love  with 
Elvi'ra,  who  is  betrothed  to  don  Ruy 
Gomez  de  Silva,  an  old  Spanish  grandee, 
whom  she  detests.  Charles  V.  of  Spain 
also  loves  her,  and  tries  to  win  her. 
Silva,  finding  that  the  king  has  been 
tampering  with  his  betrothed,  joins  the 
league  of  Ernani  against  the  king.  The 
king  in  concealment  overhears  the  plot- 
ters, and  at  a given  signal  they  are 
arrested  by  his  guards,  but  at  the  inter- 
cession of  Elvira  are  pardoned  and  set 
free.  Erna'ni  is  on  the  point  of  marry- 
ing Elvira,  when  a horn  is  heard.  This 
born  Ernani  had  given  to  Silva  when  he 
joined  the  league,  saying,  Sound  but 
this  horn,  and  at  that  moment  Ernani 
will  cease  to  live.”  Silva  insists  on  the 
fulfilment  of  the  compact,  and  Ernani 
stabs  himself. — Verdi's  opera  of  Er- 
nanif 

Erot'ic  Poetry.  Love  songs.  So 
called  from  Eros,  the  god  of  love  in 
Greek  mythology. 

Erra-Pater.  An  almanack.  William 
Lilly,  the  almanack-maker  and  astro- 
loger, is  so  called  by  Butler.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  the  '‘name”  of  an  eminent 
Jewish  astrologer. — HalliwelL  ‘^Archaic 
Diet:' 

In  mathemat’Cfl  he  was  greater 
Than  Tycho  Brahe  or  Erra  Pater, 

Butler,  “ Huaihras** 

Erse  (1  syl.).  The  native  language 
of  the  West  Highlanders  of  Scotland, 
who  are  of  Irish  origin.  It  is  a corruption 
of  Irish.  The  proper  name  is  Gaelic. 

Er 'udite.  Most  erudite  of  the  Romans. 
Marcus  Terentius  Varro,  a man  of  vast 
and  varied  erudition  in  almost  every 
-department  of  literature,  (b.c.  116-27.) 

Erytlire'oe.  One  of  the  horses  of 
the  sun.  (Greek,  the  red-jrroditcer.) 

Escapa'de  (3  syl.)  means,  literally, 
the  fling  of  a horse.  Applied  to  any 
“fling,”  prank,  or  spree. 

Eschales,  Escales,  &c.  These 
proper  names  have  for  their  armorial 
device,  six  escallops  or  scallop-shells. 

Escu'age  (3  syl.)  means  “ shield  ser- 
vice,” and  is  applied  to  that  obligation 
W'hich  bound  a vassal  to  follow  his  lord  to 
war  at  his  own  private  charge,  (French, 
^cuj  ecUf  a shield.) 


Escula'pios  (Latin,  Esculapius').  A 
disciple  of  Esculapius  means  a medical 
student.  Escula!pian,  medical.  Escu- 
la'pios,  in  Homer,  is  a “ blameless  phy- 
sician,” whose  sons  were  the  medical 
attendants  of  the  Greek  army.  Subse- 
quently he  was  held  to  be  the  “god  of 
the  medical  art.” 

Escu'rial.  The  palace  of  the  Spanish 
sovereigns,  about  fifteen  miles  north- 
west of  Madrid.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
superb  structures  in  Europe,  but  is  built 
among  rocks,  as  the  name  signifies. 

Esh-Bhea'ra-I-Aboor'.  The  name 
given  to  Sirius,  and  worshipped  by  the 
Keys,  an  Arab  tribe. 

Esin'gae.  A title  given  to  the  kings 
of  Kent,  from  Ese,  their  first  king, 
sometimes  called  Ochta. 

Esmond  {Henry).  A chivalrous 
cavalier  in  the  reign  of  queen  Anne. 
The  hero  of  Thackeray’s  novel  entitled 
“ Esmond.” 

Esoteric  (Greek,  those  within).  Exo- 
ter'ie,  those  without.  The  term  ori- 
ginated with  Pythag'oras,  who  stood 
behind  a curtain  when  he  gave  his  lec- 
tures. Those  who  were  allowed  to 
attend  the  lectures,  but  not  to  see  his 
faoe,  he  called  his  exoteric  disciples  ; but 
those  who  were  allowed  to  enter  the  veil, 
his  esoteric. 

Aristotle  adopted  the  same  terms, 
though  he  did  not  lecture  behind  a cur- 
tain. He  called  those  who  attended  his 
evening  lectures,  which  were  of  a popu- 
lar character,  his  exoterics;  and  those 
who  attended  his  more  abstruse  morning 
lectures,  his  esoterics. 

Espiet  {Es-pe-a).  Nephew  of  Oriande 
la  F^e.  A dwarf  not  more  than  three  feet 
high,  with  yellow  hair  as  fine  as  gold, 
and  though  above  a hundred  years  old, 
a seeming  child  of  seven.  He  was  one 
of  the  falsest  knaves  in  the  world,  and 
knew  every  kind  of  enchantment. — Ro' 
mance  of  Maugis  d'  Aygremont  et  de  Vivia- 
sonfr^re. 

Esplan'dian.  Son  of  Am'adis  and 
Oria'na.  He  is  the  hero  of  Montalvo’s 
continuation  of  “Am'adis,”  called  “The 
FifthBook.” 

Esprit  de  Corps.  Fellow-feelmg 
for  the  society  with  which  you  are  asso- 
ciated. A military  term — every  soldier 
will  stand  up  for  his  own  corps. 

a 


274 


ESQUIRE. 


ETERNAL. 


Esquire.  One  who  carried  the  ezcii 
or  shield  of  a knight.  (Latin,  scuiliger, 
a shield-bearer.) 

Esquire.  A title  given  to  the  younger 
sons  of  the  nobility,  to  officers  of  the 
queen’s  court  and  household,  to  coun- 
sellors of  law,  justices  of  the  peace, 
sheriffs,  gentlemen  who  hold  commis- 
sions in  the  army  and  navy,  and  gradu- 
ates of  the  universities  not  in  holy 
orders.  By  courtesy  it  is  given  to  at- 
torneys, solicitors,  surgeons,  merchants, 
bankers,  the  landed  gentry,  and  gentle- 
men living  in  independence. 

Es'says.  Lord  Bacon’s  essays  were 
the  first  that  bore  the  name. 

To  -write  just  treatises  requireth  leisure  in  the 
writer  and  leisure  in  the  reader  . . . which  is  the 
cause  which  bath  made  me  choose  to  write  certain 
brief  notes  . . . which  I have  called  essays.— 
cation  to  Prince  Henry. 

Esse'nes  (2  s}  1.).  A sect  among  the 
J ews  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour.  They 
took  no  part  in  public  matters,  but 
devoted  "Ehem selves  to  contemplative 
studies.  They  held  the  Jewish  Scrip- 
tures in  great  reverence,  but  interpreted 
them  allegorically. 

Essex.  East  seaxe  (the  territory  of 
the  East  Saxons). 

Essex  Lions.  Calves,  for  which 
the  county  is  famous. 

Valiant  as  an  Essex  lion  (ironical). 

Essex  Stile.  A ditch.  As  Essex  is 
very  marshy,  it  abounds  in  ditches,  and 
has  very  few  stiles. 

Est-il-possible.  A nickname  of 
prince  George  of  Denmark,  given  him  by 
James  II.  The  story  goes  that  James, 
speaking  of  those  who  had  deserted  his 
standard,  concluded  the  catalogue  with 
these  words,  ‘^And  who  do  you  think 
besides?  "Why,  little  Est-il-possible,  my 
w^orthy  son-in-law.”  James  applied  this 
cogncmen  to  the  prince  because,  when 
George  was  told  of  his  father-in-law’s 
abdication,  all  he  did  was  to  exclaim, 
'^Est-il-possible  !”  and  when  told  of  the 
several  noblemen  who  had  fallen  away 
from  him,  " Est-il-possible  1 ” exhausted 
his  indignation. 

Estafette  (French ; Spanish,  esta- 
fe’ta).  Military  couriers  sent  express. 
Their  duty  is  to  deliver  the  despatches 
consigned  to  them  to  the  postilions  ap- 
pointed to  receive  them. 

Estates.  Estates  of  the  realm.  The 
powers  that  have  the  administration  of 


affairs  in  their  hands.  The  three  estates 
of  our  own  realm  are  the  Lords  Spiritual, 
the  Lords  Temporal,  and  the  Commons ; 
popularly  speaking,  the  public  press  is 
termed  the  fourth  estate.  It  is  a great 
mistake  to  call  the  three  estates  of  Eng- 
land, the  Sovereign,  the  Lords,  and  the 
Commons,  as  many  do.  The  word  means 
that  on  which  the  realm  stands,  (Latin, 
stOy  to  stand.) 

Herod made  a Bupper  to  his.... chief  estates.— 

Mark  vi.  21. 

Este.  The  house  of  Este  had  for  their 
armorial  bearing  a white  eagle  on  an 
azure  shield.  Rinaldo,  in  "Jerusalem 
Delivered,”  adopted  this  device ; and 
Ariosto,  in  his  "Orlando  Furioso,”  gives 
it  both  to  Mandricardo  and  Roge'ro, 
adding  that  it  was  once  borne  by  Trojan 
Hector.  As  the  dukes  of  Brunswick 
are  a branch  of  the  house  of  Este,  our 
queen  is  a descendant  of  the  same  noble 
family. 

D’Este  was  the  surname  adopted  by  the 
children  of  the  duke  of  Sussex  and  lady 
Augusta  Murray. 

Estella.  Heroine  of  Dickens’s  "Great 
Expectations.” 

Estot'iland.  An  imaginary  tract  of 
land  near  the  Arctic  Circle  in  North 
America,  said  to  have  been  discovered 
by  John  Scalve,  a Pole. 

The  enow 

From  cold  Estotiland. 

Milton,  “Paradise  Lost,**  x.  685. 

Estrildis  or  Estrild.  Daughter  of 
a German  king,  and  handmaid  to  the 
mythical  king  Humber.  When  Humber 
was  drowned  in  the  river  that  bears  his 
name,  king  Locrine  fell  in  love  with 
Estrildis,  and  would  have  married  her, 
had  he  not  been  betrothed  already  to 
Guendoloe'na ; however,  he  kept  Estrildis 
for  seven  years  in  a palace  underground, 
and  had  by  her  a daughter  named  Sa- 
bri'na.  After  the  death  of  Locrine, 
Guendoloe'na  threw  both  Estrildis  and 
Sabri'na  into  the  Severn. — Geoffrey, 
" British  Histoo'yj'  ii.  c.  ii. — v. 

Es'tuary.  Literally,  the  boiling 
place  ; the  mouth  of  a river  is  so  called 
because  the  water  there  seems  to  seethe 
and  boil.  (Latin,  cestuo,  to  boil.) 

Eter'nal.  The  Eternal  City.  Rome. 
Virgil  makes  Jupiter  tell  Venus  he  would 
give  to  the  Romans  impefrium  sine  fini 
(an  eternal  empire).  (".Eneid,”  i.  79.) 


ETERNAL. 


EULALIE. 


275 


Eternal  Tables.  A white  pearl, 
extending  from  east  to  west,  and  from 
heaven  to  earth,  on  which,  according  to 
Mahomet,  God  has  recorded  every  event, 
past,  present,  and  to  come.  Thus  Ma- 
homet writes  in  the  Koran,  ‘‘As  Allah 
has  ordained,  and  recorded  on  the  eternal 
tables.” 

Eth'nic-plot.  The  Popish  plot.  In 
Dryden’s  satire  of  “Absalom  and  Achito- 
phel,”  Charles  II.  is  called  David,  the 
royalists  are  called  the  Jews,  and  the 
Papists  Gentiles  or  Ethnoi,  whence 
“Ethnic-plot”  means  the  Gentile  or 
Popish  plot. 

Saw  with  disdain  an  Ethnic  plot  begun .... 

’Gainst  form  and  order  they  their  power  employ, 

Nothing  to  build,  and  all  things  to  destroy. 

Pt.i. 

Etb'nopliro'nes  (4  syl.).  A sect 
of  heretics  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
who  practised  the  observances  of  the 
ancient  Pagans.  (Greek,  ethnos- 2yhrenj 
heathen-minded. ) 

E'tlion.  The  eagle  or  vulture  that 
gnawed  the  liver  of  Prome'theus. 

Etiquette  (3  syl.).  The  usages  of 
polite  society.  The  word  means  a ticket 
or  card,  and  refers  to  the  ancient  custom 
of  delivering  a card  of  directions  and  regu- 
lations to  be  observed  by  all  those  who 
attended  court. 

Et'na.  Virgil  ascribes  its  eruption 
to  Typhon,  a hundred-headed  giant,  who 
breathed  flames  of  devouring  fire,  and 
lies  buried  under  the  mountain. 

Etrenn'es  (2  syl.).  New-year’s  gifts 
are  so  called  in  Prance.  Stren'ia,  the 
Roman  goddess,  had  the  superintendence 
of  new-year’s  gifts,  which  the  Romans 
called  strenoe.  Ta'tius  entered  Rome  on 
New-year’s  Day,  and  received  from 
some  augurs  palms  cut  from  the  sacred 
grove,  dedicated  to  the  goddess  Strenia. 
Having  succeeded,  he  ordained  that  the 
1st  of  January  should  be  celebrated  by 
gifts  to  be  called  strence^  consisting  of 
figs,  dates,  and  honey  ; and  that  no  word 
of  ill  omen  should  be  uttered  on  that 
day. 

Ettrick  Shepberd.  James  Hogg, 
the  Scotch  poet,  who  was  born  in  the 
forest  of  Ettrick,  Selkirkshire.  (1772- 
1835.) 

The  Ettrick  Shepherd  was  my  guide. 

Wordswortlu 

Etzel — i.e.,  Aitila.  King  of  the  Huns, 
a monarch  ruling  over  three  kingdoms 


and  more  than  thirty  principalities ; being 
a widower,  he  married  Kriemhild,  the 
widow  of  Siegfried.  In  the  Nibelungen- 
Lied,  where  he  is  introduced  (partii.), 
he  is  made  very  insignificant,  and  sees 
his  liegemen,  and  even  his  son  and  heir, 
struck  down  without  any  effort  to  save 
them  or  avenge  their  destruction.  He 
is  as  unlike  the  Attila  of  history  as  pos- 
sible. 

Eu'charis,  in  Fenelon’s  ‘ ‘ Telemaque,” 
is  meant  to  represent  Mdlle.  de  Fon- 
tanges. 

Eu'cliarist  literally  means  a thank- 
offering.  Our  Lord  said,  “Do  this  in 
remembrance  of  me”— ^.e.,  out  of  gra- 
titude to  me.  The  elements  of  bread 
and  wine  in  the  Lord’s  supper.  (Greek, 
621- char  istia. ) 

Eu'clio.  A penurious  old  hunks  in 
one  of  the  comedies  of  Plautus  (“  Aulu- 
la'ria  ”). 

Eu'crateS  (3  syl.).  More  shifts  than 
Ev! crates.  Eucrates,  the  miller,  was  on© 
of  the  archons  of  Athens,  noted  for  his 
shifts  and  excuses  for  neglecting  the 
duties  of  the  office. 

Eudox'ians.  Heretics,  whose  founder 
was  Eudox'ius,  patriarch  of  Antioch  in 
the  fourth  century.  They  maintained 
that  the  Son  had  a will  independent  of 
the  Father,  and  that  sometimes  their 
wills  were  at  variance. 

Eu'dromos.  One  of  Actseon’s  dogs.. 
(Greek,  the  good  runner.) 

Euge'nius.  The  friend  and  wise 
counseller  of  Yorick  in  Sterne’s  “Tris- 
tram Shandy.” 

Eu'gubine  Tables.  Bronze  tables 
found  near  Eugu'bium  {Gohho)  in  1444. 
Of  the  inscriptions,  five  are  Umbrian 
and  Etruscan,  and  two  are  Latin. 

Eulalie  {St.).  Eu'lalon  is  one  of 
the  names  of  Apollo  ; but  in  the  calendar 
there  is  a virgin  martyr  called  Eu'lalie, 
born  at  Mer'ida,  in  Estramadu'ra.  When 
she  was  only  twelve  years  old,  the  great 
persecution  of  Diocle'tian  was  set  on 
foot,  whereupon  the  young  girl  left  her 
maternal  home,  and,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Roman  judge,  cast  down  the  idols 
he  had  set  up.  She  was  martyred  by 
torture,  12th  of  February,  303. 

Longfellow  calls  Evangeline  the  “ Sun- 
shine of  St.  Eulalie.” 

s 2 


276 


EQLEN-SPIEGEL.. 


EURYDICE. 


Eulen-spie'gel  {Tyll),  or  Tyll  Owl- 
glass.  The  hero  of  a German  tale,  which 
relates  the  pranks  and  drolleries,  the  ups 
and  downs,  the  freak  and  fun  of  a wan- 
dering mechanic  of  Brunswick.  The 
author  is  said  to  have  been  Dr.  Thomas 
Murner.  (1475-1530.) 

EumaB'os  or  EumcBUS.  A swineherd. 
So  called  from  the  slave  and  swineherd 
of  Ulysses. 

This  second  Eumaeus  strode  hastily  down  the 
forest-glade,  driving  before  him. ...the  whole  herd 
of  his  inharmonious  charge.— <S’ir  li  oXUr  Scott. 

Eumen'ides  {the  good-tempered  god- 
desses). A name  given  by  the  Greeks  to 
the  Furies,  as  it  would  have  been  omi- 
nous and  bad  policy  to  call  them  by  their 
right  name,  Erin'nyes. 

Eumes'tes  {Memory)^  who,  being 
very  old,  keeps  a little  boy  named 
Anamnestes  {Research)  to  fetch  books 
from  the  shelves.  — Spenser ^ FaJery 
Queen,^  book  ii, 

Euno'mians.  Heretics,  the  dis- 
ciples of  Euno'mius,  bishop  of  Cyz'icum 
in  the  fourth  century.  They  maintained 
that  the  Father  was  of  a different  nature 
to  the  Son,  and  that  the  Son  did  not  in 
reality  unite  himself  to  human  nature. 

Eupat'ridse.  The  oligarchy  of 
Attica.  These  lords  of  creation  were 
subsequently  set  aside,  and  a democratic 
form  of  government  established. 

Eu'plieinisms.  Words  or  phrases 
substituted,  to  soften  down  offensive 
expressions. 

Place  never  mentioned  to  ears  polite. 
In  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  a worthy 
divine  of  Whitehall  thus  concluded  his 
sermon:  ^'If  you  don’t  live  up  to  the 
precepts  of  the  Gospel  . . . you  must 
expect  to  receive  your  reward  in  a cer- 
tain place  which  ’tis  not  good  manners 
to  mention  here.” — Laconics.  Pope  tells 
us  this  worthy  divine  was  a dean 

To  rest  the  cushion  and  soft  dean  invite. 

Who  never  mentioned  “ hell”  to  ears  polite. 

Moral  Essays."  ep;st  iv. 

* ' His  Satanic  maj esty  ; ” **  light- fi n- 
gered  gentry;”  ''a  gentleman  on  his 
travels  ” {one  transpoo'ted) ; “ she  has 
met  with  an  accident”  {has  had  a child 
before  marriage) ; help  ” or  employe” 
(a  servant) ; not  quite  correct  ” {a  false- 
hood) ; an  obliquity  of  vision  ” (a  sqiiint) ; 


''an  innocent”  {a  fool) ^ and  hundreds  of 
others. 

Eure'ka  or  rather  Heure'Jca  (I  have 
found  it  out).  The  exclamation  of  Archi- 
me'des,  the  Syracusian  philosopher,  when 
he  discovered  how  to  test  the  purity  of 
Hi'ero’s  crown.  The  tale  is,  that  Hiero 
delivered  a certain  weight  of  gold  to  a 
workman,  to  be  made  into  a votive 
crown,  but  suspecting  that  the  workman 
had  alloyed  the  gold  with  an  inferior 
metal,  asked  Archimedes  to  test  the 
crown.  The  philosopher  went  to  bathe, 
and,  in  stepping  into  the  bath,  which 
was  quite  full,  observed  that  some  of  the 
water  ran  over.  It  immediately  struck 
him  that  a body  must  remove  its  own 
bulk  of  water  when  it  is  immersed,  and, 
putting  his  idea  to  the  test,  found  his 
surmise  to  be  correct.  Now,  then,  for 
the  crown.  Silver  is  lighter  than  gold, 
therefore  a pound-weight  of  silver  will 
be  more  bulky  than  a pound-w eight  of 
gold,  and  being  of  greater  bulk  will 
remove  more  water.  Vitru'vius  says : 
"When  the  idea  flashed  across  his  mind, 
the  philosopher  jumped  out  of  the  bath, 
exclaiming,  ' Heure'ka  ! heure'ka  !’  and, 
without  waiting  to  dress  himself,  ran 
home  to  try  the  experiment.”  Dryden 
has  mistaken  the  quantity  in  the  lines — 

The  deist  thinks  he  stands  on  firmer  ground. 
Cries **  Eu'reka  I”  the  mighty  secret’s  found. 

Rdigio  Laid. 

But  Byron  has  preserved  the  right  quan- 
tity— 

Now  we  clap 

Our  hands  and  cry  “Eureka!” 

“ ChUde  Harold"  iv.  st.  81. 

Eu'rus  (2  syl.).  The  east  wind.  So 
called,  sj^s  Buttmann,  from  eos,  the 
east.  Probably  it  is  eos  erntJo,  drawn 
from  the  east.  Ovid  confirms  this  ety- 
mology : Vires  capit  Burns  ah  ortu. 

While  southern  gales  o’er  western  oceans  roll. 
And  Eurus  steals  his  ice-\i  inds  from  the  pole. 

Darwin.  '^Economy  of  Vegetation,"  canto  vi. 

Eurydlce  (4  syl.).  Wife  of  Orpheus, 
killed  by  a serpent  on  her  wedding  night. 
Orpheus  went  down  to  the  infernal  re- 
gions to  seek  her,  and  was  promised  she 
should  return  on  condition  that  he  looked 
not  back  till  she  had  reached  the  upper 
world.  When  the  poet  got  to  the  con- 
fines of  his  journey,  he  turned  his  head 
to  see  if  Eurydice  were  following,  and 
she  was  instantly  caught  back  again  into 
Hades,  ^ 


EUSTACE. 


EX. 


277 


Restore,  restore  Euryd'ce  to  life; 

Oh,  take  tiie  husbaud  or  restore  the  wife. 

Pope,  “ Ode  on  St.  Cecilia's  Day." 

Eustace  (Father).  Abbot  of  St. 
Mary’s,  alias  William  Allan,  alias  Henry 
Wellwood. 

Eusta'thians.  A denomination  so 
called  from  E.usta'thius,  a monk  of  the 
fourth  century,  excommunicated  by  the 
council  of  Gangra. 

Eutych'ians.  Heretics  of  the  fifth 
century,  violently  opposed  to  the  Nes- 
to'rians.  They  maintained  that  Jesus 
Christ  was  entirely  God  previous  to  the 
incarnation,  and  entirely  man  during  his 
sojourn  on  earth.  The  founder  was 
Eu'tyches,  an  abbot  of  Constantinople, 
excommunicated  in  448. 

Evangel'ic.  The  Evangelic  Doctor. 
John  Wycliffe,  ‘'the  morning  star  of  the 
Eeformation.”  (1324-1384.) 

Evan'geline  (4  syl.).  The  heroine 
of  Longfellow’s  poem  so  called.  The 
subject  of  the  tale  is  the  expulsion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Aca'dia  (Nova  Scotia)  from 
their  homes  in  1755. 

Evan'gelist,  in  Bunyan’s  “ Pilgrim’s 
Progress,”  represents  the  effectual 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  who  opens  the 
gate  of  life  to  Christian. 

EvangeHsts.  Symbols  of  the  four : — 

Matthew.  A man  with  a pen  in  his 
hand,  and  a scroll  before  him,  looking 
over  his  left  shoulder  at  an  angel.  This 
Gospel  was  the  first,  and  the  angel  re- 
presents the  Being  who  dictated  it. 

Mark.  A man  seated  writing,  and  by 
his  side  a couchant  winged  lion,  em- 
blematical of  the  resurrection,  which  is 
most  fully  described  by  this  evangelist. 
{See  Lion.) 

Luke.  A man  with  a pen,  looking  in 
deep  thought  over  a scroll,  and  near  him 
a cow  or  ox  chewing  the  cud.  The  latter 
part  refers  to  the  eclectic  character  of 
St.  Luke’s  Gospel. 

John.  A young  man  of  great  delicacy, 
with  an  eagle  in  the  background  to 
denote  sublimity. 

The  more  ancient  symbols  were — for 
Matthew,  a man's  face;  for  Mark,  a lion; 
for  Luke,  an  ox;  and  for  John,  a flying 
eagle;  in  allusion  to  the  four  cherubim 
before  the  throne  of  God,  described  in 
the  Book  of  Revelation  : “ The  first  . . . 
was  like  a lion,  and  the  second  . . . like 
a calf,  and  the  third  . . . had  a face  as  a 


man,  and  the  fourth  . . . was  like  a flying 
eagle”  (iv.  7).  Irense'us  says:  “The  lion 
signifies  the  royalty  of  Christ ; the  calf 
his  sacerdotal  office  ; the  man’s  face  his 
incarnation  ; and  the  eagle  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.” 

Evans  ( William).  The  giant  porter 
of  Charles  I.,  who  carried  about  in  his 
pocket  Sir  Geoffrey  Hudson,  the  king’s 
dwarf.  He  was  nearly  eight  feet  high. 
(Died  1632.)  Fuller  speaks  of  him  in 
his  “Worthies,”  and  Sir  Walter  Scott 
introduces  him  in  “Peveril  of  the  Peak.” 

As  tall  a man  as  is  in  London,  always  excepting 
the  king’s  porter  Master  Evans,  that  carried  you 
about  in  his  pocket,  iSir  Greoffrey,  as  all  the  world 
has  heard  tell.— Ch.  xxxiii. 

Evans  (Sir Hugh).  A pedantic  Welsh 
parson  and  schoolmaster  of  wondrous 
simplicity  and  shrewdness. — Shakespeare, 

Merry  Wives  of  Windsor." 

Evap'orate  (4  syl.).  Be  off  ; vanish 
into  thin  air. 

Evil.  ''Of  two  evils,  I have  chosen 
the  least.” — Prior. 

Evil  Eye.  It  was  anciently  believed 
that  the  eyes  of  some  persons  darted 
noxious  rays  on  objects  which  they  glared 
upon.  The  first  morning  glance  of  such 
eyes  was  certain  destruction  to  man  or 
beast,  but  the  destruction  was  not  un- 
frequently  the  result  of  emaciation.  Vir- 
gil speaks  of  an  evil  eye  making  cattle 
lean. 

Nes'cio  quia  ten'eroa  oc'ulua  mihi  fas'cinat  agnos. 

Eel.  iii. 

“Who  haa  bewitched  my  lamba,  prithee  say,  if  any 
the  hag  knowa  ? 

E'vil  Principle.  {See  Ahriman, 
Arimanes,  Asalor.) 

Ex  Cathe'dra  (Latin).  With  autho- 
rity. The  pope,  speaking  ex  cathedra,  is 
said  to  speak  with  an  infallible  voice— to 
speak  as  the  successor  and  representative 
of  St.  Peter,  and  in  his  pontifical  cha- 
racter. The  words  are  Latin,  and  mean 
“from  the  chair” — i.e.,  the  throne  of  the 
pontiff.  The  phrase  is  applied  to  all  dicta 
uttered  by  authority,  and  ironically  to 
self-sufficient,  dogmatical  assertions. 

Ex  OflS-Cio  (Latin,  hy  virtue  of  his 
office).  As  the  Lord  Mayor  for  the  time 
being  shall  be  ex  officio  one  of  the  trustees. 

Ex  Parte  (Latin,  proceeding  only 
from  one  of  the  parties).  An  ex-parte 
statement  is  a one-sided  statement,  a 
partial  statement,  a statement  made  by 


278 


EX. 


EXEAT. 


one  of  the  litigants  without  being  modi- 
fied by  the  counter-statement. 

Ex  Ped'e  Her'culem.  From  this 
sample  you  can  judge  of  the  whole. 
Plutarch  says  that  Pythag'oras  inge- 
niously calculated  the  height  of  Her- 
cules by  comparing  the  length  of  various 
stadia  in  Greece.  A stadium  was  600 
feet  in  length,  but  Hercules’  stadium  at 
Olympia  was  much  longer.  Now,  says 
the  philosopher,  as  the  stedium  of  Olym- 
pia is  longer  than  an  ordinary  stadium, 
so  the  foot  of  Hercules  was  longer  than 
an  ordinary  foot ; and  as  the  foot  bears 
a certain  ratio  to  the  height,  so  the 
height  of  Hercules  can  be  easily  ascer- 
tained.— Varia  ScHjyta. 

Ex  Post  Facto  (Latin).  An  ex 
post  facto  law.  A law  made  to  meet 
and  punish  a crime  after  the  offence  has 
been  committed. 

Exalta'tion.  In  old  astrology,  a 
planet  was  said  to  be  in  its  ‘'exaltation” 
when  it  was  in  that  sign  of  the  zodiac 
in  which  it  was  supposed  to  exercise  its 
strongest  influence.  Thus  the  exaltation 
of  Venus  is  in  Pisces,  and  her  “ dejec- 
tion ” in  Virgo. 

And  thus,  God  wot,  Merc’ry'  is  desolate' 

In  Pisces,  wher  Venus'  is  exaltate'. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,*'  6,285. 

Exaltation  of  the  Cross.  A feast 
held  in  the  Eoman  Catholic  Church,  on 
September  14th,  to  commemorate  the 
restoration  of  the  cross  to  Calvary  in 
628.  It  had  been  carried  away  by 
Kosroes  the  Persian. 

Exeal'ibar.  Arthur’s  famous  sword, 
given  him  by  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 

No  sword  on  earth,  were  it  the  Excalibar  of  king 
Arthur,  can  cut  that  which  opposes  no  steady  re- 
sistance to  the  blow.— (Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Ex'cellency  (His).  A title  given  to 
colonial  and  provincial  governors,  am- 
bassadors, and  the  lord  - lieutenant  of 
Ireland. 

Excel'sior.  Aim  at  higher  things 
still.  It  is  the  motto  of  the  United 
States,  and  has  been  made  popular  by 
Longfellow’s  beautiful  poem  so  named. 
We  use  the  word,  also,  as  the  synonym 
of  super-excellent. 

Excep'tions.  Exceptions  prove  the 
rule.  They  prove  there  is  a rule,  or 
there  could  be  no  exceptions ; the  very 
fact  of  exceptions  proves  there  must  be 
A rule. 


Exclie9.'uer.  Court  of  Exchequer.  In 
the  subdivision  of  the  court  in  the  reign 
of  Edward  I.,  the  Exchequer  acquired  a 
separate  and  independent  position.  Its 
special  duty  was  to  order  the  revenues 
of  the  crown  and  recover  the  king’s 
debts.  It  was  denominated  Scaxca’rium, 
from  scaccum  (a  chess-board),  and  was 
so  called  because  a checkered  cloth  was 
laid  on  the  table  of  the  court.— 
‘^History  of  the  Exchequer.'^ 

Exci'se  (2  syl.)  means  literally,  a 
coupon,  or  piece  cut  off  (Latin,  exci'do). 
It  is  a toll  or  duty  levied  on  articles  of 
home  consumption — a slice  cut  off  from 
these  things  for  the  national  purse. 

Exclu'sion.  Bill  of  Exclusion.  A 
bill  to  exclude  the  duke  of  York  from 
the  throne,  on  account  of  his  being  a 
Papist.  Passed  by  the  Commons,  but 
rejected  by  the  Lords,  in  1679  ; revived 
in  1681. 

Exeommunica'tion.  (1)  The 
greater  is  exclusion  of  an  individual  from 
the  seven  sacraments,  from  every  legiti- 
mate act,  and  from  all  intercourse  with 
the  faithful.  (2)  The  lesser  excommu- 
nication is  sequestration  from  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church  only.  The  first 
Napoleon  was  excommunicated  by  pope 
Pius  VIL,  and  the  present  king  of 
Italy  is  still  under  the  anathema  of 
Pius  IX. 

Excommunication  ly  Bell,  Booh,  and 
Candle.  (/See  Cursing.  ) 

Excommunication  hy  the  ancient  Jews. 
This  was  of  three  sorts—  (1 ) Nid'ui  (separa- 
tion), called  in  the  New  Testament  “cast- 
ing out  of  the  synagogue”  (John  ix.  22); 
(2)  Cherem,  called  by  St.  Paul  “deliver- 
ing over  to  Satan  ” (1  Cor.  v.  5) ; (3) 
MaranaJtha,  delivered  over  to  divine 
vengeance.  The  Sadducees  had  an  in- 
terdict called  Tetragr am! melon,  which 
was  cursing  the  offender  by  Jeho'vah, 
by  the  decalogue,  by  the  inferior  courts, 
and  with  all  the  curses  of  the  superior 
courts. 

Excru'ciate  (4  syl.).  To  give  one 
as  much  pain  as  crucifying  him  would 
do.  (Latin,  ex  crux,  where  ex  is  in- 
tensitive.) 

Ex'eat  (Latin,  he  may  go  out).  Per- 
mission granted  by  a bishop  to  a priest 
to  leave  his  diocese.  In  the  universities, 
it  is  permission  to  a student  to  leave 
college  after  the  gates  are  closed. 


EXECRATE. 


EXPOSE. 


279 


Ex'ecrate  (3  syl.).  To  many  Roman 
laws,  this  tag  was  appended,  ‘‘If  any 
one  breaks  this  law,  sacer  esto” — i e.,  let 
his  body,  his  family,  and  his  goods  be 
consecrated  to  the  gods.  When  a man 
was  declared  sacer,  any  one  might  kill 
him  with  impunity.  Any  one  who  hurt 
a tribune  was  held  a sacer  to  the  goddess 
Ceres,  in  this  word  is  intensitive. 

Ex'ereises.  Week-day  sermons  were 
so  called  by  the  Puritans.  Hence  the 
title  of  Morning  Exercises,  week-day  ser- 
mons preached  in  the  morning. 

Ex'eter.  The  duke  of  Exeter's  daugh- 
ter was  a sort  of  rack  invented  by  the 
duke  of  Exeter  during  the  reign  of 
Henry  VI. — Blacksione. 

I was  the  lad  that  would  not  confess  one  word. . .. 
though  they  threatened  to  make  me  hug  the  duke 
of  Exeter’s  daughter.— Fortunes  of  Nigel,’' 

C.  XXV. 

Ex'eter  Controversy.  A contro- 
versy raised  upon  a tract  entitled  “Plain 
Truth,”  by  the  Rev.  John  Agate,  of 
Exeter,  an  Episcopalian;  replied  to  by 
■several  dissenting  ministers,  as  Withers, 
Trosse,  Pierce,  &c.  (1707-1715.) 

Exeter  Domesday.  A record  con- 
taining a description  of  Wilts,  Dorset, 
Somerset,  Devon,  and  Cornwall,  kept 
among  the  muniments  of  the  dean  and 
chapter  of  Exeter.  It  was  published  by 
Sir  Henry  Ellis,  as  a supplement  to  the 
Creat  Domesday,  in  1816. 

ExMbition.  Mg  son  has  got  an  exhi- 
bition at  Oxford.  An  allowance  of  meat 
and  drink ; a benefaction  for  mainten- 
ance. (Latin,  exhihitio,  an  allowance  of 
food  and  other  necessaries,  alimentis 
■exhibere  aliquem.") 

I crave  fit  disposition  for  my  wife, 

Due  reference  of  place,  and  exhibition. 

Shake^eare,  “ Othdlo*’  i.  3. 

Exile.  The  Neapolitan  Exile.  Baron 
Poe'rio.  One  of  the  kings  of  Naples  pro- 
mised the  people  a constitution,  but 
broke  his  word  ; whereupon  a revolution 
broke  out,  and  the  baron,  with  many 
others,  was  imprisoned  for  many  years 
in  a dreadful  dungeon  near  Naples.  He 
was  at  length  liberated  and  exiled  to 
America,  but  compelled  the  captain  to 
steer  for  Ireland,  and  landed  at  Cork, 
where  he  was  well  received. 

Ex'it  (Latin,  he  goes  out).  A theatrical 
term  placed  at  the  point  when  an  actor 
is  to  leave  the  stage.  We  also  say  of  an 
actor,  Exit  /So- a 71^30— that  is,  So-and-so 


leaves  the  stage  at  this  point  of  the 
drama. 

He  made  his  exit.  Left  under  shady 
circumstances ; he  died : as,  “ He  made 
his  exit  of  this  life  in  peace  with  all  the 
world.”  Except  in  the  drama,  we  say, 
“ made  or  makes  his  exit.”  {See  above.) 

Ex'odus.  The  Exodus  of  Israel.  The 
departure  of  the  Israelites  from  Egypt 
under  the  guidance  of  Moses.  We  now 
speak  of  the  Exodus  of  Ireland— i.e.,  the 
departure  of  the  Irish  in  large  numbers 
for  America;  the  Exodits  of  the  Aca'dians 
— i.e.,  the  expulsion  of  these  colonists 
from  Nova  Scotia  in  the  reign  of  George 
II.  ; &c.  (Greek,  ex  odos,  a journey  out.) 

Ex'ons  or  Exempts  of  the  Guards. 
Officers  who  commanded  when  the  lieu- 
tenant or  ensign  was  absent,  and  who 
had  charge  of  the  night  watch.  (French, 
Capitaines  exempts  des  gardes  du  corps. ) 

Exor'bitant  means  literally  out  of 
the  rut  (Latin,  ex  or'bita,  out  of  the 
wheel-rut) ; out  of  the  track ; extrava- 
gant {extra-vagant). 

Exoter'ic.  {See  Esoteric.) 

Expectation  Week.  Between  the 
Ascension  and  Whit  Sunday,  when  the 
apostles  continued  praying  “ in  earnest 
expectation  of  the  Comforter.” 

Experimental  Philosophy.  Sci- 
ence founded  on  experiments  or  data,  in 
contradistinction  to  moral  and  mathe- 
matical sciences.  Experimental  philo- 
sophy is  also  called  natural  philosophy, 
and  by  the  French  physics. 

Experimen'tum  Cru'cis  (Latin). 

A decisive  experiment.  {See  Crucial.) 

Explo'sion  means  literally,  driven 
out  by  clapping  the  hands  (Latin,  ex- 
plo'do — i.e.,  ex-plaudo) ; hence  the  noise 
made  by  clapping  the  hands,  a report 
made  by  ignited  gunpowder,  &c. 

Expo'nent.  One  who  explains  or 
sets  forth  the  views  of  another.  Thus,  a 
clergyman  should  be  the  exponent  of  the 
Bible  and  Thirty-nine  Articles.  (Latin, 
ex  pono,  to  expose  or  set  forth.) 

Expose  (French).  An  exposing  of 
something  which  should  have  been  kept 
out  of  sight.  Thus  we  say  a man  madt 
a dreadful  expose— i.e.,  told  or  did  some- 
thing which  should  have  been  kept  con- 
cealed. 


2S0 


EXPRESSED, 


EZOUR. 


Expressed  Oils  are  those  which 
are  obtained  by  pressure,  Unlike  animal 
and  essential  oils,  they  are  pressed  out 
of  the  bodies  which  contain  them. 

Expression.  A geographical  expres- 
sioiif  Vox  et  prseterga  nihil.  A word 
used  in  geography  to  describe  a people 
who  have  no  recognised  nationality. 

This  territory  is  to  a very  great  extent  occupied 
by  one  race..  ..and  yet  to  the  present  day  Germany 
is  little  more  than  a geographical  expression.— Daily 
Telegraph. 

Ex'quisite  (3  syl.).  One  sought  out; 
a coxcomb,  a dandy,  one  who  thinks 
himself  superlatively  well  dressed,  and 
of  most  unexceptionable  deportment. 

Exten'sive  (3  syl.)i  Rather  eocien- 
sire i that.  Rather  fast.  A slang  synonym 
for  a swell. 

Extravagantes  Constitutio'nes 
or  Extrav'agants.  The  papal  constitu- 
tions of  John  XXII.  and  some  few  of 
his  successors,  supplemental  to  the 
‘^Corpus  Juris  Canon'ici.^’  So  called 
because  they  were  not  ranged  in  order 
with  the  other  papal  constitutions,  but 
were  left  out-wanderers”  from  the 
general  code. 

Extreme  Unction.  One  of  the 
seven  sacraments  of  the  Romish  Church, 
founded  on  St.  James  v.  14,  Is  any 
sick  among  you?  let  him  call  for  the 
elders  of  the  church  ; and  let  them  pray 
over  him,  anointing  him  with  oil  in  tha 
name  of  the  Lord.” 

Extrin'sie  (Latin).  Without,  but 
near  to.  Thus  we  say  matter  cannot 
be  moved  without  extrinsic  agency — 
that  is,  some  power  from  without,  yet 
near  to  the  thing  moved.  Not  belong- 
ing to.  Intrinsic  is  the  correlative  term. 

Exul't  (Latin).  To  leap  out.  Thus- 
we  say,  I am  ready  to  leap  out  of  my 
skin to  leap  for  joy. 

Eye;  Latin,  oc'ulus ; Italian,  occhio  ; 
Spanish,  ojo  ; Russian,  oho  ; Dutch,  oog  ; 
Saxon,  edge  (where  g is  pronounced  like 
y) ; French,  ceil. 

The  Icing's  eyes.  His  chief  ofifioers.  An 
Eastern  expression. 

One  of  the  seven 

Who  in  God’s  presence,  nearest  to  the  throne 
S.tand  ready  at  command,  and  are  his  eyes 
That  run  thro’  all  the  heavens,  and  down  to  eartli. 
Bear  his  swift  errands.— “ Paradise  Lost,"  iii. 

Eye  of  the  storm.  An  opening  between 
the  storm  clouds.  {See  Bull’s  Eye.  ) 

One-eyed  people.  (^See  Arimaspians,, 
Cyclops.) 


Eyes.  Your  eyes  are  "bigger  than  your 
stomach.  You  fancied  you  could  eat 
more,  but  found  your  appetite  satisfied' 
with  less  than  you  expected.  A French 
phrase. 

To  r'end  the  eyes  with  paint  (Jer.  iv.  30). 
The  ladies  of  the  East  tinge  the  edge  of 
their  eye-lids  with  the  powder  of  lead-- 
ore.  They  dip  into  the  powder  a smalt 
wooden  bodkin,  which  they  draw‘‘  through 
the  eye-lids  over  the  ball  of  the  eye.” 
Jezebel  is  said  'Ho  have  adjusted  her 
eyes  with  kohol”  (a  powder  of  lead- 
ore),  2 Kings  ix.  30.  N.B. — The  word 
"face,” in  our  translation,  should  in  both 
these  cases  be  rendered  " eyes.” — ShaWy. 
" Travels.''' 

Eyes  to  the  blind.  A staff.  So  called 
in  allusion  to  the  staff  given  to  Tire'sias 
by  Athe'na,  to  serve  him  for  the  eyes- 
of  which  she  had  deprived  him.  {See 
Tiresias.) 

Eye-sore.  Something  offensive  to- 
the  sight.  Sore  is  the  Saxon  sar  (pain- 
ful) or  swer  (grievous).  It  is  painful  or 
grievous  to  the  eye. 

Mordecai  was  an  eyesore  to  Haman.— D’Dsfranpe. 

Eye-teeth.  The  canine  teeth  are  so> 
called  because  their  fangs  extend  up- 
wards nearly  to  the  orbits  of  the  eyes. 

To  draw  one's  eye-teeth.  To  take  the- 
conceit  out  of  a person ; to  fleece  one' 
without  mercy ; to  make  one  suffer  loss> 
without  seeing  the  manoeuvre  by  which-  it 
was  effected. 

I guess  these  Yanks  will  get  their  eye-teeth  drawn, 
if  they  f^on’t  look  sharp. 

W.  Hepworth  Dixon^  *'  New  America,”  voL  i. 

Ey'ra.  The  physician  of  the  gods.. 
{Scandinavian  mythology.") 

Eyre.  Justices  in  Eyre.  A corrup- 
tion of  "Justices  in  itin'ere.”  At  first, 
they  made  the  circuit  of  the  kingdom, 
every  seven  years,  but  Magna  Charta 
provided  that  it  should  be  done  annually^ 

Eyre  {Jane).  The  heroine  of  Char- 
lotte Bronte’s  novel  so  called.  Jane- 
Eyre  is  a governess,  who  stoutly  copes^ 
with  adverse  circumstances,  and  ulti- 
mately wins  the  love  of  a man  of  for- 
tune. 

Ezour  Ve'da  or  Atharva'na  Vdda. 
The  last  of  the  four  sacred  books  of  the 
Hindus.  It  regulates  ceremonials,  ofl’er- 
ings,  the  forms  of  worship,  and  the  plan) 
of  building  and  decorating  the  temples. 
The  whole  four  books  are  called  the* 
vedas  or  vedams. 


F. 


FACE. 


281 


F 

F.  F is  written  on  his  face.  “ Rogrie” 
is  written  on  his  face.  The  letter  F used 
to  be  branded  near  the  nose,  on  the  left 
cheek  of  felons,  on  their  being  admitted 
to  ‘^benefit  of  clergy.”  The  same  was 
used  for  brawling  in  church.  The  custom 
was  not  abolished  by  law  till  1822. 

F Sharp.  A flea.  The  pun  is  F, 
the  initial  letter,  and  sharp  because  the 
bite  is  acute.  {See  B Flats.) 

ff.  A corrupt  way  of  making  a capital 
JF  in  Old  English,  and  used  as  low  down 
as  1750  ; as  ttrance  for  France  ; ffarring- 
ton  for  Farrington ; &c. 

F.  E.  R.  T.  The  letters  of  the  Sar- 
dinian motto. 

Either  Foi'titu'do  Ejus  Rhodum  Ten'uity 
in  allusion  to  the  succour  rendered  to 
Pvhodes  by  the  house  of  Savoy,  1310 ; 

Or,  Foed'ere  Et  Religio'ne  TendmuVy  on 
the  golden  doubloon  of  Victor  Ama- 
deus I. ; 

Or,  Fortitu'do  Ejus  Renipuh'licam  Tenet. 

F.  O.  B.  Free  on  board ; meaning 
that  the  shipper,  from  the  time  of  ship- 
ment, is  free  from  all  risk. 

Faljian  Tactics  or  Policy— i.e.y 
delay.  Win  like  Fabius,  by  delay.” 
The  Roman  general  Fabius  wearied  out 
Hannibal  by  marches,  counter-marches, 
ambuscades,  and  skirmishes,  without  ever 
coming  to  an  open  engagement. 

Met  by  the  Fab’ an  tactics,  which  preyed  fatal  to 
its  predecessor.— Times. 

Fab'ila’s  Sad  Fate.  The  king  don 
Fab'ila  was  a man  of  very  obstinate  pur- 
pose and  fond  of  the  chase.  One  day  he 
encountered  a boar,  and  commanded 
those  who  rode  with  him  to  remain  quiet 
and  not  interfere,  but  the  boar  overthrew 
him  and  killed  him. — “ Chronica  Antiqua 
de  Espahaf  p.  121. 

Fabius.  The  American  FaUus. 
Washington  (1732-1799),  whose  military 
policy  was  similar  to  that  of  Fabius.  He 
wearied  out  the  English  troops  by  harass- 
ing them,  without  coming  to  a pitched 
battle.  Duguesclin  pursued  the  same 
policy  in  France,  by  the  advice  of  Charles 
V.,  whereby  all  the  conquests  of  Edward 
and  the  Black  Prince  were  retrieved. 

Fa'hius  of  the  French.  Anne,  due  de 
Montmorency,  grand  constable  of  France ; 
so  called  from  his  success  in  almost  an- 
nihilating the  Imperial  army  which  had 


invaded  Provence,  by  laying  the  country 
waste  and  prolonging  the  campaign. 
(1493-1567.) 

Fables.  The  most  famous  writers- 
of  fables  are — 

Pilpay,  among  the  Hindus. 

Lokman,  among  the  Arabs. 

iEsop  and  Babrios,  among  the  Greehs. 

Phsedrus  and  Aria'nus,  among  the 
Romans. 

Faerne,  Abste'mius,  and  Casti,  among 
the  Italians.  The  last  wrote  “ The 
Talking  Animals.” 

La  Fontaine  and  Florian,  among  the 

French. 

John  Gay  and  Edward  Moore,  among 
our  own  countrymen.  The  former  is 
sometimes  called  The  English  ^Esop.” 

Lessing  and  Pfeffel,  among  the  Ger-^ 
mans. 

Kryloff,  among  the  Russians. 

{See  iEsop.) 

Fabliaux.  The  metrical  fables  of: 
the  Trouveres,  or  early  poets  north  of 
the  Loire,  in  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth, 
centuries.  The  word in  this  case,  is- 
used  very  widely,  for  it  includes  not  only 
such  tales  as  “ Reynard  the  Fox,”  but 
all  sorts  of  familiar  incidents  of  knavery 
and  intrigue,  all  sorts  of  legends  and 
family  traditions.  The  fabliau  of  ^^Au- 
cassin  and  Nicolette  ” is  full  of  interesting 
incidents,  and  contains  much  true  pathos* 
and  beautiful  poetry. 

Fabricius  {Fa-hrich'-ius).  A Roman* 
hero,  representative  of  inflexible  purity 
and  honesty.  The  ancient  writers  love* 
to  tell  of  the  frugal  way  in  which  he- 
lived  on  his  hereditary  farm  ; how  he- 
refused  the  rich  presents  offered  him  by 
the  Samnite  ambassadors;  and  how  at. 
death  he  left  no  portion  for  his  daugh- 
ters, whom  the  senate  provided  for. 

Fabricius,  scorner  of  all-conquering  gold. 

Thomson^  Seasons"  {Winter). 

Face.  To  face  it  02(t.  To  persist  in. 
an  assertion  which  is  not  true.  To  main- 
tain without  changing  colour  or  hanging 
down  the  head. 

A rebec  face.  (French,  “visage  de^ 
rebec”.)  An  ugly,  grotesque  face,  like 
that  which  used  to  be  cut  on  the  upper 
part  of  a rebec  or  three-stringed  fiddle. 
Dead  is  the  noble  Badebec, 

Who  had  a f ice  like  a rebec. 

Rfxbelais,  “ Pantagruel,"  book  ii.  4, 

Face-card  or  Faced  card.  A courfe 
card,  a card  with  a face  on  it. 


282 


FACHIMAN. 


FAEIIY. 


Facli'iman.  The  Japanese  god  of 
war. 

Facile  Princeps.  By  far  the  best. 

But  the  facile  princeps  of  all  gypsologists  is  Pro- 
fessor Pott,  of  HaMe.— Chambers,  “ Cyclopaedia*' 

Pac'tion.  The  Romans  divided  the 
combatants  in  the  circus  into  classes, 
called  factions,  each  class  being  distin- 
guished by  its  special  colour,  like  the 
crews  of  a boat-race.  The  four  original 
factions  were  the  leek-green  {pras'ina)^ 
the  sea-blue  (ven'eta),  the  white  (alba), 
and  the  rose-red  (ros'ea).  Two  other 
factions  were  added  by  Domitian,  the 
colours  being  golden  - yellow  {aura'ta) 
and  purple.  As  these  combatants  strove 
against  each  other,  and  entertained  a 
strong  esprit  de  corps,  the  word  was 
easily  applied  to  political  partisans. 

Pac'tor.  An  agent;  a substitute  in 
mercantile  affairs ; a commission  mer- 
chant. (Latin,  facio,  to  do,  whence  the 
French  facteur,  one  who  does  something 
for  an  employer.) 

Asleep  and  naked,  as  an  Indian  lay, 

An  honest  factor  stole  a gem  aw  ay. 

Pope,  Moral  Essays,"  Ep.  iii.  361. 

Thomas  Pitt,  ancestor  of  the  earl  of 
Chatham,  was  appointed  by  queen  Anne 
governor  of  Fort  St.  George,  in  the  East 
Indies,  and  in  1702  purchased  there,  for 
^620,400,  a diamond  weighing  127  carats, 
which  he  sold  to  the  king  of  France. 
This  gem  is  still  called  the  Pitt  diamond. 
Pope  insinuates  that  Pitt  stole  the  dia- 
mond ; but,  although  there  were  many 
aigly  rumours,  no  definite  charge  was 
ever  brought  against  the  governor. 

Pacto'tum.  One  who  can  turn  his 
hand  to  anything ; or,  rather,  one  who 
does  for  his  employer  all  sorts  of  services. 
Sometimes  called  a Jokan'^ies  Facto'ium, 
Our  ^'Jack  of  All  Trades”  does  not  mean 
a factotum,  but  one  who  on  his  own  ac- 
count does  odd  jobs  for  any  one  who  will 
pay  him.  (Latin,  facer e totum,  to  do  all 
sorts  of  things.) 

Fada.  A Me  or  kobold  of  the  south 
of  France,  sometimes  called  ‘‘Hada.” 
These  house-spirits,  of  which,  strictly 
speaking,  there  are  but  three,  bring 
good  luck  in  their  right  hand  and  ill 
luck  in  their  left. 

Fadda.  Mahomet’s  white  mule. 

Fadge  (1  syl.).  To  suit  or  fit  to- 
gether, as.  It  word  fadge;  wc  cannot 
fadge  together ; he  does  not  fadge  ivith  me. 


(Saxon, to  fit  together;  Welsh, 
ffag,  what  tends  to  unite.) 

How  will  this  fadge  ? 

Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night;  ii  2. 

Fa'dha  (Al).  Mahomet’s  silver  cuirass, 
confiscated  from  the  Jews  on  their  expul- 
sion from  Medi'na. 

Fadladeen'.  The  great  Nazir'  or 
chamberlain  of  Aurungze'be’s  harem,  in 
'^Lalla  Rookh.”  The  criticism  of  this 
self-coQceited  courtier  upon  the  several 
tales  which  make  up  the  romance  are 
very  racy  and  full  of  humour,  and  his 
crest-fallen  conceit  when  he  finds  out 
that  the  poet  was  the  prince  in  disguise 
is  well  conceived. 

He  was  a judge  of  everything— from  the  pencil- 
ling of  a Circassian’s  eyelids  to  the  deepest  questions 
of  science  and  literature ; from  the  mixture  of  a 
conserve  of  rose-leaves  to  the  composition  of  an  epic 
poem.... all  the  cooks  and  poets  of  Delhi  stood  in 
awe  of  him.— r.  Moore. 

Faerie  or  F eerie.  The  land  of  the  fays 
or  faeries.  The  chief  fay-realms  are  Av'a- 
lon,  an  island  somewhere  in  the  ocean; 
O'beron’s  dominions,  situate  in  wilder- 
ness among  the  holtis  hairy ;”  and  a 
realm  somewhere  in  the  middle  of  the 
earth,  where  was  Pari  Banon’s  palace. 

For  learned  Colin  (Spenser)  lays  his  pipes  to  gage, 

And  is  to  Faery  gone  a pilatrimage. 

Drayton,  “ Eclogue,"  iii. 

FaSry  Queen.  A metrical  romance 
in  six  books,  by  Edmund  Spenser  (in- 
complete). It  details  the  adventures  of 
various  knights,  who  impersonate  dif- 
ferent virtues,  and  belong  to  the  court 
of  Gloria'na,  queen  of  faery  land. 

The  first  book  contains  the  legend  of 
the  Red  Cross  Knight  (the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity),  and  is  by  far  the  best.  The 
chief  subject  is  the  victory  of  Ploliness 
over  Error.  It  contains  twelve  cantos. 

The  second  book  is  the  legend  of  Sir 
Guyon  {the  golden  mean),  in  twelve  cantos. 

The  third  book  is  the  legend  of  Brito- 
martis  {love  without  hist),  in  twelve  cantos. 
Britomartis  is  Diana,  but  Spenser  uses 
the  word  equivocally  for  a Britoness. 

The  fourth  book  is  the  legend  of  Cambel 
and  Tri'amond  {fidelity),  in  twelve  cantos. 

The  fifth  book  is  the  legend  of  Ar'tegal 
{justice,)  in  twelve  cantos. 

The  sixth  book  is  the  legend  of  Sir 
Cal'idore  (courtesy),  in  twelve  cantos. 

There  are  parts  of  a seventh  book — 
viz.,  cantos  6 and  7,  and  two  stanzas  of 
canto  3.  The  subject  is  Mutability. 

The  plan  of  the  “ Faerj^  Queen  ” is  bor- 
rowed from  the  Orlando  Furioso,”  but 


FAG 


FAIRSERVICE. 


283 


tlie  creative  power  of  Spenser  is  more 
original  and  his  imagery  more  striking 
than  Ariosto’s.  Thomson  says  of  him — 
(He)  like  a copious  river,  poured  his  song 
O’er  all  the  mazes  of  enchanted  ground. 

“ Thi  Seasons,”  {Summer). 

Fag.  One  who  does,  and  perseveres 
in  doing.  In  public  schools,  it  means 
a little  boy  who  waits  upon  a bigger  one. 
(Saxon,  fegan;  Latin,  facio ; Scotch, 
faiJc.) 

Fag.  Servant  of  Captain  Absolute, 
who  apes  his  master  in  all  things. — 
Sheridan,  “ The  Rivals.'^ 

Even  the  mendacious  Mr.  Fag  assures  us,  though 
he  never  scruples  to  tell  a lie  at  his  master's  com- 
mand, yet  it  hurts  his  conscience  to  be  found  out.— 
Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Fa'gin.  An  infamous  Jew,  who 
teaches  boys  and  girls  to  rob  with  dex- 
terity.— DicJcens,  Oliver  TwisV* 

Fagot.  A badge  worn  in  mediaeval 
times  by  those  who  had  recanted  their 
‘‘heretical”  opinions.  It  was  designed 
to  show  what  they  merited,  but  had  nar- 
rowly escaped. 

II  y cbfogots  et  fagots.  There  are  divers 
sorts  of  fagots;  every  alike  is  not  the 
same.  The  expression  is  in  Moli^re’s 
“Le  Medecin  rnalgr^  lui,”  where  Sgana- 
relle  wants  to  show  that  his  fagots  are 
better  than  those  of  other  persons : 
“Ay,  but  those  fagots  are  not  so  good 
as  my  fagots.”  (Welsh,  that  which 
unites  ; Sax-on,  fxgan,  to  unite.) 

Sentir  les  fagots.  To  be  heretical;  to 
smack  of  the  fagots.  In  allusion  to  the 
custom  of  burning  heretics  by  surround- 
ing them  with  blazing  fagots. 

Fagots.  Cakes  made  of  the  ‘ ‘ insides”  of 
pigs,  with  scraps  of  pork,  sage  and  other 
herbs,  fried  together  in  grease,  and  eaten 
with  potatoes.  (Greek,  jphago,  to  eat.) 

Fagot  Votes.  Votes  given  by  elec- 
tors expressly  qualified  for  party  pur- 
poses. Bailey  says,  “ Ineffective  persons, 
who  receive  no  regular  pay,  but  are  hired 
to  appear  at  muster  and  fill  up  the  com- 
panies,” are  called  fagots. 

The  object  was  to  prevent  the  creation  of  fagot 
votes.— TAe  Times. 

Fah'fah.  One  of  the  rivers  of  para- 
dise in  Mahometan  mythology. 

Fa'ids.  The  second  class  of  Druids. 

Fai'ence  (2  syl.).  Majolica.  So 
called  from  Faen'za,  where  it  was  once 
largely  manufactured.  It  is  termed  ma- 
jolica because  the  first  specimens  the 
Italians  saw  came  from  Majorca. 


Fain'eant.  Les  Rois  Faineants  (the 
cipher  or  puppet  kings).  Clovis  II.  and 
his  ten  successors,  who  were  the  puppet 
kings  of  the  Palace  Mayors.  Louis  V. 
(last  of  the  Carlovingian  dynasty)  re- 
ceived the  same  designation. 

“My  signet  you  shall  command  with  all  my  heart, 
madam,”  said  earl  Philip... .“1  am,  you  know,  a 
complete  Boy  Faineant,  and  never  once  interfered 
with  my  Maire  de  Palais  in  her  proceedings.— 

W.  Scott,  “ Peveril  of  the  Peak,”  ch.  xv. 

Faint.  Faint  heart  ne'er  won  fair 
lady. 

The  bold  a way  will  find  or  make. 

King,  “ Orpheus  and  Eurydice.” 

Fair  {The). 

Charles  IV.,  king  of  France,  le  Bel. 
(1294,  1322-1328.) 

Philippe  IV.  of  France,  le  Bel,  (1208, 
1285-1314.) 

Fair  as  lady  Done.  A great  Cheshire 
family  that  has  long  occupied  a mansion 
at  U tkinton.  ( Cheshire  expression. ) 

Fair  Maid  of  Anjou.  Lady  Edith 
Plantagenet,  who  married  David,  prince 
royal  of  Scotland. 

Fair  Maid  of  February.  The  snow- 
drop, which  blossoms  in  February. 

Fair  Maid  of  Kent.  Joan  countess  of 
Salisbury,  wife  of  the  Black  Prince,  and 
only  daughter  of  Edmond  Plantagenet, 
earl  of  Kent.  She  had  been  twice  mar- 
ried ere  she  gave  her  hand  to  the  prince. 

Fair  Maid  of  Norway.  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Eric  II.  of  Norway,  and 
granddaughter  of  Alexander  III.  of  Scot- 
land. Being  recognised  by  the  states  of 
Scotland  as  successor  to  the  throne,  she 
set  out  for  her  new  kingdom,  but  died 
on  her  passage  from  sea-sickness.  (1290.) 

Fair  Maid  of  Perth.  Katie  Glover, 
the  most  beautiful  young  woman  of  Perth. 
Heroine  of  Scott’s  novel  of  the  same 
name. 

Fair.  {See  Geraldine,  Rosamond.) 

Too  late  for  the  fair.  A day  after  the 
fair.  Too  late  for  the  fun,  the  fair  being 
over. 

Fair  fall  you.  Good  befall  you. 

Fair  City.  Perth  ; so  called  from 
the  beauty  of  its  situation. 

Fairlimb.  The  sister  of  Bitelas, 
and  daughter  of  Rukeuaw,  the  ape ; in 
the  tale  of  “ Reynard  the  Fox.” 

Fair  service  {Andrew').  A shrewd 
Scotch  gardener  at  Osbaldis'tone  Hall. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Rob  Roy.'* 


284 


FAIR-STAR. 


FAKAR. 


Fair-star.  The  'princess  Fair-star^ 
in  love  with  prince  Chery,  whom  she  sets 
to  obtain  for  her  the  dancing  water/' 
'Hhe  singing  apple,"  anvi  “the  green 
bird  " {g.v.).  This  tale  is  borrowed  from 
the  fairy  tales  of  Straparo'la  the  Milanese. 
(1550.) — Chery  and  Fair-star, hy  the 
Countess  d^Aulnoy. 

Fairies  are  the  dispossessed  spirits 
which  once  inhabited  human  bodies,  but 
are  not  yet  meet  to  dwell  with  the 
‘^saints  in  light." 

All  those  airy  s-hapes  you  now  behold 
Were  human  bodies  once,  and  clothed  with  earthly 
mould ; 

Our  souls,  not  yet  prepa’Jed  for  upper  light, 

Till  dooms-day  wander  in  the  shades  of  night. 

Dryden,  “ The  Flower  and  the  Leaf*' 

Fairy  of  nursery  mythology  is  the 
personification  of  Providence.  The  good 
ones  are  called  fairies,  elves,  elle-folks, 
andfays ; the  evil  ones  are  urchins,  ouphes, 
eil-maids,  and  ell-women. 

Fairies,  black,  grey,  green,  and  white, 

You  moonshine  revellei-s,  and  shades  of  night. 
You  ouphen-heirs  of  fixed  destiny, 

Attend  your  office. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,’*  v.  5. 

The  dress  of  the  fairies.  They  wear  a 
red  conical  cap ; a mantle  of  green  cloth, 
inlaid  with  wild  flowers ; green  panta- 
loons, buttoned  with  bobs  of  silk ; and 
silver  shoon.  They  carry  quivers  of 
adder-slough,  and  bows  made  of  the  ribs 
of  a man  buried  where  “three  lairds’  lands 
meet ;"  their  arrows  are  made  of  bog- 
reed,  tipped  with  white  flints,  and  dipped 
in  the  dew  of  hemlock ; they  ride  on 
steeds  whose  hoofs  would  not  ‘ ^ dash  the 
dew  from  the  cup  of  aharebell." — CromeJc. 
Fairies  small,  two  foot  tall. 

With  caps  red  on  their  head. 

Dance  around  on  the  ground. 

Dodsley*s  Old  Plays,  Fuimus  TroSs,**\.  5. 

Fairy  of  the  Mine.  A malevolent 
being  supposed  to  live  in  mines,  busying 
itself  with  cutting  ore,  turning  the  wind- 
lass, &c.,  and  yet  effecting  nothing.  {See 
Gnome.) 

No  goblin,  or  sw'art  fairy  of  the  mine. 

Hath  hurtful  power  o’er  true  virginity. 

Milton,  “ Comus.'* 

Fairy-darts.  Flint  arrow-heads, 
now  called  celts ; supposed  at  one  time 
to  have  been  darted  by  fairies  in  their 
mischievous  pranks. 

Fairy-hillocks.  Little  knolls  of 
grass,  like  mole-hills,  said  in  the  “ good 
old  times  ” to  be  the  homes  of  fairies. 

Fairy-ladies  or  Mage,  such  as 
Urganda,  the  guardian  of  Amadi'gi ; the 


fair  Oria'na;  Silva'na,  the  guardian  of 
Alido'ro ; Luci'na,  the  protectress  of 
AlidoVo  and  his  lady-love,  the  maiden- 
warrior,  Mirinda;  Eufros'ina,  the  sister 
of  Luci'na ; Argea,  the  protectress  of 
Floridante ; and  Filide'a,  sister  of  Ardea ; 
all  in  Tasso’s  “ Amadi'gi.” 

Fairy-loaves  or  Fairy -stones.  Fossil 
sea-urchins  {eclii'ni),  said  to  be  made  by 
the  fairies. 

Fairy-money.  Found  money.  Said 
to  be  placed  where  it  was  picked  up  by 
some  good  fairy. 

Fairy-rings.  Circles  of  rank  or 
withered  grass,  often  seen  in  lawns, 
meadows,  and  grass-plots.  Said  to  be 
produced  by  the  fairies  dancing  on  the 
spot.  In  sober  truth,  these  fairies  are 
simply  an  ag'aric  or  fungus  below  the 
surface,  which  has  seeded  in  a circular 
range,  as  many  plants  do.  Where  the 
ring  is  hroivn  and  almost  hare,  the 
“ spawn"  is  of  a greyish-white  colour. 
The  grass  dies  because  the  spawn  en- 
velops the  roots  so  as  to  prevent  their  ab- 
sorbing moisture ; but  where  the  grass- 
is  rank,  the  “ spawn"  is  dead. 

You  demi-puppets,  that 

By  moonshine  do  the  green-sour  ringlets  make. 

Whereof  the  ewe  not  bites. 

Shakespeare,  “ Tempest,’*  v.  I. 

Fairy  Sparks.  The  phosphoric 
light  from  decaying  wood,  fish,  and 
other  substances.  Thought  at  one  time 
to  be  lights  prepared  for  the  fairies  at 
their  revels. 

Fait  Accompli  (French).  A scheme 
which  has  been  already  carried  out  with 
success. 

The  subjection  of  the  Souih  is  as  much  a fait 
accompli  as  the  declaration  of  independence  itse  «'.— 
The  Times. 

Faith.  Defender  of  the  Faith.  {See 
Defender.) 

Faithful,  in  Runyan’s  “Pilgrim’s 
Progress,"  is  seized  at  Vanity  Fair, 
burnt  to  death,  and  taken  to  heaven  in 
a chariot  of  fire.  A Puritan  used  to  be 
called  Brother  Faithful,  and  it  was  this,, 
no  doubt,  that  suggested  the  name. 

Jacob  Faithful.  The  hero  of  Captain 
Marryatt’s  novel  so  called. 

Father  of  the  Faithful,  Abraham  (Rom. 
iv. ; Gal.  iii.  6—9). 

Fakar  {Dhu'l).  The  scimitar  of  Ma- 
homet, which  fell  to  his  share  when  the 
SI  oil  was  divided  after  the  battle  of  Bekr. 
This  term  means  “ The  Trenchant." 


FAKE. 


FAN. 


285 


Fake(lsyl.).  Fake  away.  Cutaway, 
make  off  (Latin, /cic,  do,  make).  It  also 
means  to  do—i.e.y  to  cheat  or  swindle. 

Fake.  A single  fold  of  a coiled  cable. 
{Scotch,  faiky  a fold ; Swedish,  vikay  to 
involve;  Saxon, to  unite.) 

Fakenham  Ghost.  A ballad  by 
Robert  Bloomfield,  author  of  ‘^The 
Farmer’s  Boy.”  The  ghost  was  a donkey. 

Fakir'  {Indian).  A poor  man,  a 
mendicant,  a religious  beggar. 

Falcon  and  Falconet.  Pieces  of 
light  artillery,  the  names  of  which  are 
borrowed  from  hawks.  {See  Saker.) 

Falcon  Peregrine  or  PeVerin.  La 
seconde  lignie  est  faucons  que  horn  apele 
^‘pelerins,”  par  ce  que  nus  ne  trouve  son 
ni ; ains  est  pris  autresi  come  en  pelerin- 
age,  et  est  mult  legiers  a norrir,  et  mult 
cortois,  et  vaillans,  et  de  bone  maniere. — 
Tresor  de  Brunst  Latin  Des  F ancons.'^ 

A faukonn  peregryn  than  eemed  sche 
Of  fremde  {foreign)  land. 

ChauceVt  “ Canterbury  Tale$f’  10,742. 

Fald-stool.  A small  desk  at  which 
the  Litany  is  sung  or  said.  The  place  at 
the  south  side  of  the  altar  at  which  sove- 
reigns kneel  at  their  coronation.  (Barb. 
Latin,  falday  a thing  which  folds  or 
shuts  up.) 

Faldistory.  The  episcopal  seat  in  a 
chancel,  which  used  to  fold  or  lift  up. 

Falernian,  the  second  best  wine  in 
Italy,  was  so  called  by  the  ancient 
Romans,  because  it  was  made  of  grapes 
from  Falernum.  There  were  three  sorts 
—the  rough,  the  sweet,  and  the  dry. 

Falkland.  In  Godwin’s  novel  called 

Caleb  Williams.”  He  commits  murder, 
and  keeps  a narrative  of  the  transaction 
in  an  iron  chest.  Williams,  a lad  in  his 
employ,  opens  the  chest,  and  is  caught 
in  the  act  by  Falkland.  The  lad  runs 
away,  but  is  hunted  down.  This  tale, 
dramatised  by  Colman,  is  entitled  The 
Iron  Chest.” 

Fal-lals.  Nick-nacks  ; ornaments  of 
small  value.  (Greek,  jplialaray  metal 
ornaments  for  horses,  &c.) 

Fall.  In  the  fall.  In  the  autumn,  at 
the  fall  of  the  leaf.  {An  Americanism.) 

To  try  a fall.  To  wrestle,  when  each 
tries  to  fall  ” or  throw  the  other. 

I am  given,  sir,., to  understand  that  your  younger 
l)rother,  Orlando,  ha!  h a disposition  to  come  in  dis- 
guised against  me  to  try  a fall.— You  Like  It  1 1. 


Fall  Foul.  To  fall  fonl  of  one  is 
to  make  an  assault  on  some  one.  A sea 
term.  A rope  is  said  to  be  fowl  when  it 
is  entangled  ; and  one  ship  falls  fonl  of 
another  when  it  runs  against  her  and 
prevents  her  free  progress.  Hence  to 
run  up  against,  to  assault. 

Fall-in.  To  concur  with.  To  fall 
onty  to  disagree  with.  To  fall  in  with 
my  desire  ” is  to  come  or  fall  into  the 
lot  of  my  desire.  To  ^'fall  out  with 
one”  is  to  drop  out  of  one’s  lot,  and 
therefore  to  be  no  longer  united. 

Falling  Bands.  Neck-bands  which 
fall  on  the  shoulders,  common  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

Falling  Sickness.  Epilepsy,  in 
which  the  patient  falls  suddenly  to  the 
ground. 

Brutus.— Ae  (i.e.,  Ccesar)  hath  the  falling-sickuesa. 

Cassius.—  No,  Caasar  hath  it  not : but  you,  and  I, 
And  honest  Casca.  we  have  the/a?Zmflr-sickness, 

Shakespeare,  Julius  Coesar,”  i.  2. 

Falling  Stars  are  said  by  Ma- 
hometans to  be  firebrands  flung  by  goo<l 
angels  against  evil  spirits  when  they  ap- 
proach too  near  the  gates  of  heaven. 

Fallow  Land.  Land  ploughed,  but 
not  sown ; so  called  from  its  brown  or 
tawny  colour.  (German,  fahly  tawny; 
Saxon,  falewey  pale-red;  hence  fallow 
deevy  red  deer.) 

False  Ceiling.  The  space  between 
the  garret  ceiling  and  the  roof. 

Fal'stafF.  A fat,  sensual,  boastful, 
and  mendacious  knight,  full  of  wit  and 
humour;  he  was  the  boon  companion  of 
Henry  prince  of  Wales. — “ 1,  2 Henry 
IV. y*  and  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor.” 

Famil'iar.  A cat,  dog,  raven, 
or  other  dumb  creature,  petted  by  a 

witch,”  and  supposed  to  be  her  demon 
in  disguise.  {See  below.) 

Famil'iar  Spirits.  Spirit  slaves. 
From  the  Latin,  f am' ulus  (an  attendant). 
Away  with  him : he  has  a familiar  under  his  tongue. 

Shakespeare,  “2  Henry  VI.*’  iv.  7. 

Fam'ilists.  Members  of  the  Family 
of  Love,”  a fanatical  sect  founded  by 
David  George,  of  Delft,  in  1556.  They 
maintained  that  all  men  are  of  one  family, 
and  should  love  each  other  as  brothers 
and  sisters.  Their  system  is  called 
Familism. 

Fan.  / coidd  brain  him  with  his  lady's 
fan  (‘‘1  Henry  IV.,”  ii.  3)—i.e.y  knock 


286 


FANATIC. 


FAEINATA. 


his  brains  out  with  a fan  handle.  The 
ancient  fans  had  long  handles,  so  that 
ladies  used  their  fans  for  walking-sticks, 
and  it  was  by  no  means  unusual  for  testy 
dames  to  chastise  unruly  children  by 
beating  them  with  their  fan-sticks. 

"Wert  not  better 

Your  head  were  broken  with  the  handle  of  a fan? 
Beaumont  and  FletcheVt  “ Wit  at  Several  Weapons,*’  v. 

Panat'ic.  Those  transported  with 
religious  or  temple  madness.  Among 
the  Romans  there  were  certain  persons 
who  attended  the  temples  and  fell  into 
strange  fits,  in  which  they  pretended  to 
see  spectres,  and  uttered  what  were 
termed  predictions.  (Latin,  fd'numj  a 
temple.) 

Fancy.  Love — i.e.,  the  passion  of 
the  fantasy  or  imagination.  Fancy  free 
means  not  in  love  ; a faiicy-man  is  a man 
(not  your  husband)  whom  you  fancy  or 
select  for  chaperon. 

Tell  me  w^here  is  fancy  bred, 

Or  in  the  heart  or  in  the  head. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merchant  of  Venice,**  lit  2. 

The  fancy.  Pugilists.  So  called  be- 
cause boxing  is  the  chief  of  sports,  and 
fancy  means  sports,  pets,  or  fancies. 
Hence  dog- fancies,’^  pigeon-fancies,” 
&c. 

Fane  (1  syl.).  A weather  fane  is  a 
machine  to  show  which  way  the  wind 
blows,  from  which  the  weather  may  be 
pretty  accurately  prejudged.  (Greek, 
'phainOy  to  show.) 

Fane'sii.  A Scandinavian  tribe  far 
north,  whose  ears  were  so  long  that  they 
would  cover  their  whole  body. — Pliny. 

Fanfar'on.  A swaggering  bully; 
a cowardly  boaster  who  blows  his  own 
trumpet.  Sir  Walter  Scott  uses  the 
word  for  finery,  especially  for  the  gold 
chains  worn  by  military  men,  common  in 
Spain  amongst  the  conquerors  of  the  New 
World.  (Spanish,  fanfarr^ony  a bully; 
French,  fanfarCy  a flourish  of  trumpets, 
or  short  piece  of  military  music  performed 
by  brass  instruments  and  kettle-drums.) 

“ Marry,  bang  thee,  with  thy  fanfarona  about  thy 
neck  I ” said  the  falconer.— <ScoW,  “ The  Abbot,”  cxvii. 

Fanfar'onade  (4  syl.).  A swagger- 
ing ; vain  boasting ; ostentatious  display. 
{See  above.) 

The  bishop  copied  this  proceeding  from  the  fan- 
faronade of  M.  Bouiflers.— 

Fang'.  A sheriff’s  officer  in  Shake- 
speare’s 2 Henry  IV  ” 


Fangled.  A newfangled  notion  is. 
one  just  started  or  entertained.  (Saxon, 
fengaUy  to  begin.) 

Fangs.  I fell  into  his  fangs.  Into 
his  power,  his  clutches.  (Anglo-Saxon, 
fang,  a grasp.) 

Fanny  Fern.  A nom  de  plume  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Payson  Parton,  sister  of  Mr. 
N.  P.  Willis,  the  American  poet.  (Born 
1811.) 

Fantpgue  (2  syl.).  A function ; a 
fussy  anxiety ; that  restless,  nervous 
commotion  which  persons  have  who  are 
phantom-struck. 

Fantocci'ni  {fanto-che'ny).  A dra- 
matic performance  by  puppets.  (Italian, 
fantoecioy  a puppet.) 

Fantom-corn.  Unproductive  corn ; 
com  bewitched  by  ghosts  or  phantoms. 
(Freuch-y  fantome,  a ghost.) 

Fantom-fellow.  A person  who  is^ 
light-headed,  and  under  the  ban  of  some 
hobgoblin.  {See  above. ) 

Fantom-flesli.  Flesh  that  hangs 
loose  and  flabby — supposed  to  be  under 
the  evil  influence  of  some  spectre.  {See 
above.) 

Farce  (1  syl.).  Stuffing.  Dramatic 
pieces  of  no  solid  worth,  but  stuffed  full 
of  ludicrous  incidents  and  expressions. 
They  bear  the  same  analogy  to  the  regu- 
lar drama  as  force-meat  does  to  a solid 
joint. 

Farceur  ( The).  Angelo  Beolco,  sur- 
named  Ruzzantey  the  Italian  farce-writer. 
(1502-1542.) 

Farfarel'l0  4 A devil,  in  Dante’s 
^‘Inferno.” 

F a r i ' n a . EjuMem  farlnoe.  Other 
rubbish  of  the  same  sort.  Literally, 

Other  loaves  of  the  same  batch.”  Our 
more  usual  expressions  are,  Others  of 
the  same  kidney,”  others  of  the  same 
feather,”  others  tarred  with  the  same- 
brush.” 

Far'ina'ta  or  Fannata  Degli  Ubei'ti. 
A nobleman  of  Florence,  chief  of  the 
Ghibelline  faction,  placed  by  Dante,  in 
his  Inferno,”  in  a red-hot  coffin,  the 
lid  of  which  is  suspended  over  him  till 
the  day  of  judgment.  He  is  represented 
as  faithless  and  an  epicure.  (Thirteenth 
century.) 


FARLEU, 


FAl'. 


287 


Farleu  or  Farley.  A duty  of  6d. 
paid  to  the  lord  of  the  manor  of  West 
Slapton,  in  Devonshire. — Bailey. 

Farm  means  food.  So  called  because 
anciently  the  tenant  was  required  to  pro- 
vide the  landlord  with  food  by  way  of 
rent.  (Saxon,  fearme.) 

To  farm  taxes  is  the  French  affermer 
(to  let  or  lease),  from  ferme,  a letting  for 
the  supply  of  food. 

Farmer  George.  George  III.  So 
called  from  his  fanner-like  manners, 
taste,  dress,  and  amusements.  (1738- 
1820.) 

Farnese  Bull  {Far-na'-ze).  A name 
given  to  a colossal  group  attributed  to 
Apollo'nius  and  Tauriscus  of  Tralles,  in 
Asia  Minor.  They  belonged  to  the 
Rhodian  school,  and  lived  about  B.C. 
300.  The  group  represents  Dirce  bound 
to  the  horns  of  a bull  by  Zethus  and 
Amphi'on,  for  ill-using  her  mother.  It 
was  restored  by  Bian'chi  in  1546,  and 
placed  in  the  Farnese  palace,  in  Italy. 

Farnese  Hercules  {Far-na'ze  Her  - 
cu-lees).  A name  given  to  Glykon’s  copy 
of  the  famous  statue  of  Lysippos,  the 
Greek  sculptor  in  the  time  of  Alexander 
tlie  Great.  It  represents  the  hero  leaning 
on  his  club,  with  one  hand  on  his  back, 
as  if  he  had  just  got  possession  of  the 
apple  of  the  Hesperides.  Farne'se  is 
the  name  of  a celebrated  family  in  Italy, 
which  became  extinct  in  1731. 

It  struck  me  that  an  iron-clad  is  to  a wooden 
ves-el  what  the  Farnese  Hercules  is  to  the  Apollo 
Belvidere.  The  Hercules  is  not  without  a beauty  of 
its  own.— jTTie  Times  (Paris  correspondent). 

Farra'go.  A farrago  of  oionsense. 
A confused  heap  of  nonsense.  Farrago 
is  properly  a mixture  of  far  (meal)  with 
other  ingredients  for  the  use  of  cattle. 

Farringdon  Ward  (London).  The 
aldermanry,  &c.,  granted  by  John  le 
Feure  to  William  Farendon,  citizen  and 
goldsmith  of  London,  in  consideration  of 
twenty  marks  given  beforehand  as  a 
gersum  to  the  said  John  le  Feure.  (1279). 

Far'thing.  A fourth  part.  Penny 
pieces  used  to  be  divided  into  four 
parts,  thus,  0.  One  of  these  quarters 
was  a fcorthung  or  farthing,  and  two  a 
halfpenny.  (Saxon,  feorthung.) 

I don't  care  fen'  it  a brass  farthing. 
James  II.  debased  all  the  coinage,  and 
issued,  amongst  other  worthless  coins, 
brass  pence,  halfpence,  and  farthings. 


Far'thingale  (3  syl.).  A sort  of 
crinoline  petticoat.  The  word  means  a 

guard  for  modesty."  (French,  vertu- 
garde,  corrupted  into  verdingade,  and. 
then  into  farthingale.) 

Farymdon  Inn.  Serjeants’  Inn,. 
Chancery  Lane,  used  to  be  so  called. 

Fascina'tion  means  slain  or  over- 
come by  the  eyes."  The  allusion  is  ta 
the  ancient  notion  of  bewitching  by  the 
power  of  the  eye.  (Greek,  phaesi  Jcaim; 
Latin,  fas'eino. ) (^See  Evil  Eye. ) 

None  of  the  alfections  have  been  noted  to  fascinate- 
and  bewitch,  but  love  and  envy.— Bacon. 

Fast.  A fast  man  is  one  who  lives 
a continual  round  of  ‘^pleasure”  so  fast 
that  he  wears  himself  out.  A fast  young 
lady  is  one  who  talks  slang,  assumes  the 
airs  of  a knowing  one,  and  has  no  respect 
for  female  delicacy  and  retirement.  She 
is  the  ape  of  the  fast  young  man. 

To  flay  fast  and  loose.  To  run  with 
the  hare  and  hold  with  the  hounds ; to- 
blow  both  hot  and  cold  ; to  say  one  thing 
and  do  another.  The  allusion  is  to  a 
cheating  game  practised  at  fairs.  A belt 
is  folded,  and  the  player  is  asked  to  prick 
it  with  a skewer,  so  as  to  pin  it  fast  to 
the  table  ; having  so  done,  the  adversary 
takes  the  two  ends,  and  looses  it  or  draws 
it  away,  showing  that  it  has  not  been, 
pierced  at  all. 

He  forced  his  neck  into  a noose. 

To  show  his  play  at  fast  and  loose ; 

And  when  he  chanced  t 'escape,  mistook, 

For  art  and  subtlety,  his  luck. 

Sutler^  “ Hudibrasy  iii.  2. 

Fasti.  Working  days.  The  ^^dies 
non"  or  holy  days  were  called  by  the 
Romans  nefasti.  (Latin,  fas,  sacred  law ; 
fasti,  the  days  when  the  law  courts  were 
open.) 

Fastra'de  (2  syl.).  Daughter  of  the 
Saxon  count  Rodolph  and  Luitgarde  the 
German.  One  of  the  nine  wives  of 
Charlemagne. 

Those  same  soft  bells  at  eventide 
Kang  in  the  ears  of  Charlemagne, 

As,  seated  by  Fastra'da's  side 
At  Ingelheim,  in  all  his  pride, 

He  heard  their  sound  with  secret  pain. 

Longfellow,  “ Qolden  Legend"  W. 

Fat.  A ll  the  fat  is  in  the  fire.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  process  of  frying.  If 
the  grease  is  spilt  into  the  fire,  the  coals 
smoke  and  blaze,  so  as  to  spoil  the  food. 
The  proverb  signifies  that  something  has 
been  let  out  inadvertently  which  will 


288 


FAT. 


FATHER. 


cause  a terrible  blaze  of  wrath  and  sput- 
ter of  dissatisfaction. 

The  Fat: — 

Alfonzo  II.  of  Portugal.  (1212-1223. ) 

Charles  II.  of  France,  le  Gros.  (832- 

888.) 

Louis  VI.  of  France,  le  Gros.  (1078, 
n08-1137.) 

Fat  Men. 

Edward  Bright,  of  Essex,  weighed 
44  stone  or  616  pounds  at  death.  He 
was  5 feet  9 inches  high,  5 feet  round 
the  chest,  and  6 feet  11  inches  round  the 
paunch.  He  died  1750,  aged  thirty. 

Daniel  Lambert,  born  at  St.  Marga- 
ret’s, Leicester,  weighed  739  pounds. 
He  was  3 yards  4 inches  round  the  waist, 
and  1 yard  1 inch  round  the  leg.  (1770- 
1809.) 

Fata.  Women  introduced  in  medi- 
seval  romance  not  unlike  witches,  and 
under  the  sway  of  Demogorgon.  In  ‘‘Or- 
lando Innamora'to”  we  meet  with  the 
“ Fata  Morga'ua ; in  “ Bojardo  ” with 
the  “Fata  Silvanella;”  “Le  Fate  Nera 
and  Bianca,”  the  protectresses  of  Gui- 
do'ne  and  Aquilante ; the  “ Fata  della 
Fonti,”  from  whom  Mandricardo  obtains 
the  arms  of  Hector ; and  “ Alci'na,”  sister 
of  Morga'na,  who  carries  off  Astolfo. 
In  Tasso  we  have  the  three  daughters  of 
Morga'na,  whose  names  are  Morganetta, 
Nivetta,  and  Carvilia ; we  have  also 
Dragonti'na,  Monta'na,  Argea,  (called 
“La  reina  della  Fate,”  protectress  of 
Floridante),  Filidea  (sister  of  Argea),  and 
several  others.  In  the  “Ado'ne”  of 
Mari'ni,  we  have  the  Fata  named 

Falsire'na.” 

Fa'ta  Morga'na.  A sort  of  mirage 
occasionally  seen  in  the  Straits  of  Messi'na. 
Fata  is  Italian  for  a “fairy,”  and  the 
fairy  Morga'na  was  the  sister  of  Arthur 
;and  pupil  of  Merlin.  She  lived  at  the 
bottom  of  a lake,  and  dispensed  her 
treasures  to  whom  she  liked.  She  is  first 
introduced  in  the  “ Orlando  Innamora'to  ” 
as  “ Lady  Fortune,”  but  subsequently 
assumes  her  witch-like  attributes.  In 
Dante  her  three  daughters  are  introduced. 

Fa'tes  (1  syl.).  The  cruel  fates.  The 
Oreeks  and  Romans  supposed  there  were 
three  Parcm  or  Fates,  who  arbitrarily 
controlled  the  birth,  events,  and  death 
of  every  man.  They  are  called  cruel 
because  they  pay  no  regard  to  the  wishes 
and  requirements  of  any  one. 


Fa'tlier.  A friar  in  priest’s  orders. 
{See  Brother.  ) 

A father  suckled  hj  his  daughter.  Eu- 
phra'sia,  the  Grecian  daughter,  so  pre- 
served the  life  of  Evan'der,  her  aged 
father. 

Xantip'pe  so  preserved  the  life  of  her 
father  Cimo'nos  in  prison.  The  guard 
marvelling  the  old  man  held  out  so  long, 
set  a watch  and  discovered  the  fact. 
Byron  alludes  to  these  stories  in  his 
“ Childe  Harold.” 

There  is  a dungeon,  in  whose  dim,  drear  light 
What  do  I gaze  on?  . . , 

An  old  man,  and  a female  young  and  fair. 

Fresh  as  a nursing  mother,  in  whose  vein 
The  blood  is  nectar. 

Here  youth  offers  to  old  age  the  food. 

The  milk  of  his  own  gift.  ...  It  is  her  sire 
To  whom  she  renders  back  the  debt  of  blood.  . . . 
Drink,  drink  and  live,  old  man ; heaven’s  realm  holds 
no  such  tide. 

Byron^  * Childe  Harold  "iv.  st.  148. 
Without  father,  without  mother,  without 
descent,  hxiving  neither  beginning  of  days, 
nor  end  of  Ufe—i.e.,  Melchisedec  (Heb. 
vii.  3).  He  was  not  the  son  of  a priest, 
either  on  his  father’s  or  mother’s  side ; 
bis  pedigree  could  not  be  traced  in  the 
priestly  line,  like  that  of  the  ordinary 
high  priests,  which  can  be  traced  to 
Aaron  ; nor  did  he  serve  in  courtos  like 
the  Levites,  who  begin  and  end  their 
official  dutief.  at  stated  times. 

He  fathers  it  on  me.  He  imputes  it  to 
me ; he  sa3"s  it  is  my  bantling. 

Father  ISTeptune.  The  ocean. 

Father  Norbert.  Pierre  Parisot, 
the  French  missionary.  (1697-1769.) 

Father  Paul.  Pie'tro  Sarpi,  father 
of  the  order  of  Servites  in  Venice,  who 
changed  his  Christian  name  when  he 
assumed  the  religious  habit.  (1552-1623.) 

Father  Prout.  Francis  Mahoney, 
a humorous  writer  in  Fraser's  Maga- 
zine and  the  Globe  newspaper.  (1805- 
1866.) 

Father  Thames  or  Old  Father 
Thames.  The  Thames,  so  far  as  it  belongs 
to  London. 

Say,  Father  Thames,  for  thou  hast  seen 
Full  many  a sprightly  race 
Disporting  on  thy  margent  green 
The  paths  of  pleasure  trace. 

Gray,  **  Distant  Prospect  of  Eton  College.'" 

The  epithet  is  not  uncommonly  applied 
to  other  great  rivers,  especially  those  on 
which  cities  are  built.  The  river  is  the 
father  of  the  city,  or  the  reason  why  the 


FATHEK. 


FAUST. 


289 


site  was  selected  by  the  first  settlers 
there. 

O Tiber,  father  Tiber, 

To  whom  the  Romans  pray. 

Macaulay,  “ Lay  of  Horatius.*' 

The  Indian  name  Mississippi  ” means 

father  of  waters.” 

Father  Thoughtful.  Nicholas 
Cat'inat,  a marshal  of  France.  So  called 
by  his  soldiers  for  his  cautious  and 
thoughtful  policy.  (1637-1712.) 

Father  of  his  Country. 

Cicero  was  so  entitled  by  the  Eoman 
senate.  They  offered  the  same  title  to 
Ma'rius,  but  he  refused  to  accept  it. 

Several  of  the  Caesars  were  so  called— 
Julius,  after  quelling  the  insurrection  of 
Spain  ; Augustus,  &c. 

Cosmo  de’  Med'ici.  (1389-1464.) 

G.  Washington,  the  defender  and  pa- 
ternal counseller  of  the  American  States. 
(1732-1799.) 

Andrea  Do'rea  (1468-1560).  Inscribed 
on  the  base  of  his  statue  by  his  country- 
men of  Gen'oa. 

Androni'cus  Palaeofogus  II.  assumed 
the  title.  (1260-1332.) ' 

{See  also  1 Chron.  iv.  14.) 

Father  of  the  People. 

• Louis  XII.  of  France.  (1462,  1498- 
1515.)  Henri  IV.  was  also  termed  ^^the 
father  and  friend  of  the  people.”  (1553, 
1589-1610.) 

Christian  III.  of  Denmark.  (1502, 
1534.1559.)  {See  Father.) 

Gabriel  du  Pineau,  the  French  lawyer. 
(1573-1644.) 

Fathers  of  the  Church.  The 
early  advocates  of  . Christianity,  who 
may  be  thus  classified  : — 

(1)  Five  apostolic  fathers,  who  were 
contemporary  with  the  apostles —viz., 
Clement  of  Eome,  Bar'nabas,.  Hermas, 
Igna'tius,  and  Pol'ycarp. 

(2)  lihe  primitive  fathers.  Those  advo- 
cates of  Christianity  who  lived  in  the 
first  three  centuries.  They  consisted  of 
the  five  apostolic  fathers  {ff-v.),  together 
with  the  nine  following :— Justin,  The- 
oph'ilus  of  Antioch,  Irense'us,  Clement 
of  Alexandria,  Cyp'rian  of  Carthage, 
Or'igen,  Gregory  Thaumatur'gus,  Diony- 
sius of  Alexandria,  and  Tertullian. 

(3)  The  fathers,  or  those  of  the  fourth 
and  fifth  century,  who  v/ere  of  two 


groups,  those  of  the  Greek  and  those  of 
the  Latin  Church.  {See below.) 

Fathers  of  the  Greek  Church. 
Euse'bius,  Athana'sius,  Basil  the  Great, 
Gregory  Nazianze'nus,  Gregory  of  Nyssa, 
Cyril  of  Jerusalem,  Chrys'ostom,  Epi- 
pha'nius,  Cyril  of  Alexandria,  and 
Ephraim  deacon  of  Edessa. 

Fathers  of  the  Latin  Church. 
Lactantius,  Hil'ary,  Ambrose  of  Mil'an, 
Jer'ome,  Augustin  of  Hippo,  and  St. 
Bernard. 

The  last  of  the  fathers.  St.  Bernard 
(1091-1153).  The  schoolmen  who  fol- 
lowed treated  their  subjects  systemati- 
cally. 

Founder  of  the  fathers  of  Christian 
doctrine.  Caesar  de  Bus.  (1544-1607.) 

Fath'om  {Count).  A villain  in  Smol- 
let’s  novel  so  called.  After  robbing  his 
benefactors  and  fleecing  all  who  trusted 
him,  he  died  in  misery  and  despair. 

Fat'ima.  The  last  of  Bluebeard’s 
wives,  who  was  saved  from  death  by  the 
timely  arrival  of  her  brother  with  a 
party  of  friends.  Mahomet’s  daughter 
was  called  Fatima. 

Fat'ua  Muliei*.  A law  term  for  a 
courtesan.  Fatuus  with  jurisconsults 
means  one  not  in  a right  mind,  incor- 
rigibly foolish. 

Faul  and  Zab'ulus.  Two  evE 
spirits  much  dreaded  by  the  Saxons 

Fault.  At  fault.  Not  on  the  riglit 
track  ; doubtful  whether  right  or  wrong. 
Hounds  are  at  fault  when  the  scent  is 
broken  because  the  fox  has  jumped  upon 
a wall,  crossed  a river,  cut  through  ;.t 
flock  of  sheep,  or  doubled  like  a hare. 

Fau'na  (2  syk).  The  animals  of  a 
country  at  any  given  geological  period. 
So  called  from  the  mythological  fauns, 
w^ho  were  the  patrons  of  wild  animals. 

Nor  leas!  tbe  place  of  curious  plant  he  I novfs  — 
He  both  hiB  Flora  and  h.s  Faujia  fiho«  s. 

Otabbe,  “ Borough. ' ’ 

Faust  (1  syl.).  The  grandest  of  all 
Goethe’s  dramas.  Faust  makes  a com- 
pact with  Mephistoph'eles,  who  on  one 
occasion  provides  him  with  a cloak,  by 
means  of  which  he  is  w’afted  through 
the  air  whithersoever  he  chooses.  “All. 
that  is  weird,  mysterious,  and  magical, 
groups  round  this  story.”  Gounod  ha« 
an  opera  based  on  it.  An  English  dra- 


T 


290 


FAUX. 


FEATHER. 


matic  version  has  been  made  by  Bayle 
Bernard. 

Faux -jour  (French).  A false  or 
contrary  light ; meaning  that  a picture 
is  hung  so  that  the  light  falls  on  it  in  the 
opposite  direction  to  what  it  ought.  The 
artist  has  made  his  light  fall  in  one  di- 
rection, but  it  is  so  hung  that  the  light 
falls  the  other  way. 

Faux  Pas.  A ^Halse  step;”  a breach 
of  manners  or  moral  conduct.  {English- 
French.) 

Favo'nius.  The  zephyr  or  west 
wind.  It  means  the  wind  favourable  to 
vegetation. 

Favori'ta  {La),  Donizetti’s  opera. 

Leonora  di  Guzman.) 

Fa'vours.  Ribbons  made  into  a bow  > 
so  called  from  being  the /awwrs  bestowed 
by  ladies  on  the  successful  champions  of 
tournaments.  {See  True-love  Knot.) 

Here.  Fluellen ; wear  thou  this  favour  forme,  and 
fctick  it  in  thy  Shakespeare,  “ Henry  F.,”  iv.  7. 

Favourite.  One  to  whom  a lady 
gives  a “ favour”  or  token.  (^See  above.) 

Faye  (1  syl.)  The  way  to  Faye. 
(French,  Faie-la-vineuse.”)  A winding 
or  zigzag  manner,  like  ‘^Crooked  Lane 
at  Eastcheap.”  A person  who  tries  to 
do  something  indirectly,  goes  by  the 
pathway  to  Faye.  Faye  is  a little  village 
in  France,  built  on  an  eminence  so  steep 
that  there  is  no  getting  to  it  except  by 
a winding  or  very  zigzag  pathway. 

They  go  1o  Paradise  as  the  way  is  to  Faye. 

Rabelais,  “ Garyantua  and  Pantagruel,”  bk.  i.  27. 

Faz'io.  A native  of  Florence,  who 
first  tried  to  make  his  fortune  by  alchemy ; 
but  being  present  when  Bartoldo,  an  old 
miser,  died,  he  buried  the  body  secretly, 
and  stole  his  money-bags.  Being  now 
rich,  he  became  acquainted  with  the 
marchioness  Aldabella,  with  whom  he 
passed  his  time  in  licentious  pleasure, 
iiis  wife  Bianca,  out  of  jealousy,  accused 
him  to  the  duke  of  being  privy  to  the 
death  of  Bartoldo ; and  Fazio  was  con- 
demned to  death  for  murder.  Bianca 
now  tried  to  undo  the  mischief  she  had 
done,  but  it  was  too  late : she  went 
mad  with  grief,  and  died  of  a broken 
heart. — Dean  Milman,  ‘‘  Fazio. 

Fear  Fortress.  An  hypothetical 
castle  in  a forest  near  Saragossa.  It 
represents  that  terrible  obstacle  which 
Tear  conjures  up,  but  which  vanishes 


into  thin  air  as  it  is  approached  by  a 
stout  heart  and  clear  conscience.  The 
allegory  forms  the  third  part  of  the 
legend  of  Croquemitaine.” 

If  a child  disappeared,  or  any  cattle  were  carried 
off.  the  trembli'  g peasants  said,  “ The  lord  of  Fear- 
fortres-s  has  taken  them.”  If  a fire  broke  out  any- 
where, it  was  the  lord  of  t ear- fortress  who  must 
have  lit  it.  The  origin  of  all  accidents,  mishaps, 
and  disasters  was  traced  to  the  mysterious  owner  of 
this  invisible  castle.— “ Croquemitaine,^  iii.  1. 

It  sunk  before  my  earnest  face, 

It  vanished  quite  away. 

And  left  no  shadow  ou  the  place, 

Between  me  and  the  day. 

Such  castles  rise  to  strike  us  dumb ; 

But,  w'eak  in  every  part. 

They  melt  before  the  strong  man’s  eyes 
And  fly  the  true  of  heart. 

C.  Mackay,*'  The  Giant’*  (slightly  altered). 

Fearless  {Sans  peur).  Jean,  duke  of 
Burgundy.  (1371-1419.) 

Feasts.  Anniversary  days  of  joy. 
They  are  either  immovable  or  movable. 
The  chief  immovable  feasts  are  the  four 
rent-days — viz.,  the  Annunciation,  or 
Lady  Day  (March  25),  the  Nativity  of 
John  the  Baptist  (June  24),  Michaelma.s 
Day  (September  29),  St.  Thomas’s  Day, 
which  is  the  shortest  (Dec.  21),  and  the 
great  chui’ch  festivals— viz.,  Christmas 
Day  (Dec.  25),  the  Circumcision  (Jan. 
1),  Epiphany  (Jan.  6),  Candlemas  Day 
(Feb.  2),  Lady-Day  (as  abovef  All-Saints 
(Nov.  1),  All  Souls  (Nov.  2),  and  the 
several  Apostles’  days. 

The  movable  fesists  depend  upon  Easter : 
they  are  Palm  Sunday,  Good  Friday, 
Ash- Wednesday,  Sexagesima  Sunday, 
Ascension  Day,  Pentecost,  Trinity  Sun- 
day, and  so  on. 

Feather.  Meaning  species  or  kind. 
From  the  proverb,  Birds  of  a feather’* 
— i.e.,of  the  same  plumage,  and  thereforo 
of  the  same  sort. 

I am  not  of  that  feather  to  shake  off 
My  frieud,  wlien  he  must  need  me. 

Shakespeare,  “ Timon  of  Athens,”  i.  1. 

Feather.  A light,  volatile  person. 

A wit’s  a feather,  and  a chief’s  a rod ; 

An  honest  man’s  the  noblest  work  of  God. 

Pope,  ” Essay  on  Man.” 

In  full  feather.  Flush  of  money.  In 
allusion  to  birds  not  on  the  moult. 

He  has  feathered  his  nest  well.  He  has 
plenty  of  money ; has  married  a rich 
woman.  The  allusion  is  to  birds,  which 
line  their  nests  with  feathers  to  make 
them  soft  and  warm. 

That's  a feather  xn  your  cap.  An 
honour  to  you.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
very  general  custom  in  Asia  and  among 
the  American  Indians  of  adding  a new 


FEATHERS. 


FEEBLE. 


291 


feather  to  their  head-gear  for  every 
enemy  slain.  The  Caufirs  of  Cabul  stick 
a feather  in  their  turban  for  every  Mus- 
sulman slain  by  them.  The  Incas  and 
Caciques,  the  Meunitarris  and  Mandans 
(of  America),  the  Abyssinians  and 
Tur'comans,  &c.  &c.,  follow  the  same 
custom.  So  did  the  ancient  Lycians, 
and  many  others.  In  Scotland  and 
Wales  it  is  still  customary  for  the  sports- 
man who  kills  the  first  woodcock  to 
pluck  out  a feather  and  stick  it  in  his 
cap.  In  fact,  the  custom,  in  one  form 
or  another,  seems  to  be  almost  universal. 

To  feather  an  oar  is  to  turn  the  blade 
parallel  with  the  surface  of  the  water  as 
the  oar  is  drawn  home.  (The  Greek 
pteron  means  both  ^^an  oar”  and  “a 
feather;”  and  the  verb  to  ‘‘furnish 

with  oars”  or  “with  feathers.”)  Pro- 
bably the  movement  of  a bird’s  wings  in 
flying  suggested  the  word. 

He  feathered  his  oars  with  such  skill  and  dexterity 
Jolly  Young  Waterman. 

■ Cut  a feather.  A ship  going  fast  is 
said  to  cut  a feather,  in  allusion  to  the 
ripple  which  she  throws  off  from  her 
bows.  Metaphorically,  “to  cut  a dash.” 

Jack  could  never  cut  a feather. 

Sir  IT.  Scotty  “ The  PiratBy’  xxxiv. 

Feathers  {The).  A public-house 
sign  in  compliment  to  Henry  VI.,  whose 
cognizance  it  was. 

Fine  feathers  make  fine  birds.  (Latin, 
“Vestis  virum  facit,”  dress  makes  the 
man.) 

The  Prince  of  Waled  feathers.  The 
tradition  is,  that  the  Black  Prince,  having 
slain  John  of  Luxemburg,  king  of  Bohe- 
mia, in  the  battle  of  Cressy,  assumed 
his  crest  and  motto.  The  crest  con- 
sisted of  three  ostrich  feathers,  and  the 
motto  was,  “/c/t  dien'^  (I  serve).  John 
of  Arden  disoovered  a contemporary  MS. 
in  which  it  is  expressly  said  that  this 
was  the  case  ; but  much  controversy  has 
arisen  on  the  question.  Dr.  Bell  affirms 
that  the  crest  is  a rebus  of  queen  Philip- 
pa’s hereditary  title— viz.,  countess  of 
Ostre-vant  (ostrich-feather).  Randall 
Holmes  claims  an  old  British  origin ; 
and  the  Rev.  II.  Longueville  asserts  that 
the  arms  of  Roderick  Mawe,  prior  to  the 
division  of  Wales  into  principalities,  was 
thus  blazoned  : — “Argent,  three  lions 
passant  regardant,  with  their  tails  pass- 
ing between  their  legs  and  curling  over 
their  backs  in  a feathery  form.” 


Feather-stone.  A federal  stone, 
or  stone  table  at  which  the  ancient  courts 
baron  were  held  in  the  open  air,  and  at 
which  covenants  were  made.  (Latin, 
foedus,  a treaty.) 

Feature  means  the  “ make.”  Spenser 
speaks  of  God’s  “ secret  understanding 
of  our  feature’'— ^^e.,  make  or  structure. 
It  now  means  that  part  which  is  most 
conspicuous  or  important.  Thus  we 
speak  of  the  chief  feature  of  a painting, 
a garden,  a book,  &c.  &o.  (Norman, 
faiture  ; Latin,  factura. ) 

February.  The  month  of  purifica- 
tion  amongst  the  ancient  Romans.  (Latin, 
feb'ruo,  to  purify  by  sacritice.) 

The  2nd  of  Feh'ruary  (Candlemas  Day). 
It  is  said  if  the  weather  is  fine  and  frosty 
at  the  close  of  January  and  beginning  of 
February,  we  may  look  for  more  winter 
to  come  than  we  have  seen  up  to  that 
time. 

Si  sol  splendescat  Mari'a  Purificante, 

Major  erit  glacies  post  festum  quam  luit  ante. 

Sir  T.  Browne,  “ Vuigar  EriorsP 
If  Candlemas  Day  be  dry  and  fair. 

The  half  o’  winter’s  come  and  malr; 

If  Candlemas  Day  be  wet  au  i foul. 

The  half  o'  winter  was  gane  at  Youl. 

Scotch  Proverb. 

The  badger  peeps  out  of  his  hole  on  Candlemas 
Day,  and  if  he  finds  snow,  walks  abroad;  but  if  he 
sees  the  sun  shining,  he  draws  back  into  his  hole.— 
German  Proverb. 

Fe'cit  (Latin,  he  did  it).  A word 
inscribed  aRer  the  name  of  an  artist, 
sculptor,  &c.,  as  David /eaf,  Goujon /cftf 
— i.e.,  David  painted  it,  (Joujon  sculp- 
tured it,  &c. 

Fee'ula  means  sediment.  Starch 
is  a fee'ula,  being  the  sediment  of  flour 
steeped  in  water.  (Latin, dregs.) 

Fed'eral  States.  In  the  late  Ame- 
rican war  the  Unionists  were  so  called — 
^^e.,  those  northern  states  who  combined 
to  resist  the  eleven  southern  or  Con- 
federate states  (2'.v.). 

Fee-farm-rent  is  where  an  estate 
is  granted,  subject  to  a rent  in  fee  of  at 
least  one-fourth  its  value.  It  is  rent 
paid  on  lands  let  to  farm,  and  not  let  in 
recompense  of  service  at  a greatly  reduced 
value. 

Feeble.  3fost  forcible  feeble.  A writer 
whoso  language  is  very  “loud,”  but 
whose  ideas  are  very  jejune.  Feeble  is 
a “woman’s  tailor,”  brought  to  Sir  John 
Falstaff  as  a recruit.  He  tells  Sir  John 

T 2 


292 


FEED. 


FENTON. 


he  will  do  his  good  will,”  and  the  knight 
replies,  Well  said,  courageous  Feeble  ! 
Thou  wilt  be  as  valiant  as  the  wrathful 
dove,  or  most  magnanimous  mouse  . . . 
most  forcible  Feeble.’’ — ShaJcespearCj  ‘^2 
Henry  IF.,”  hi.  2. 

Feed  of  Corn.  A quartern  of  oats, 
the  quantity  given  to  a horse  on  a journey 
when  the  ostler  is  told  to  give  him  a feed. 

Fehm  - gericht  or  Vehmgericht  (3 
syh).  The  secret  tribunals  of  West- 
phalia, for  the  preservation  of  public 
peace,  suppression  of  crime,  and  main- 
tenance of  the  Catholic”  religion.  The 
judges  were  enveloped  in  profound  mys- 
tery ; they  had  their  secret  spies  through 
all  Germany  ; their  judgments  were  cer- 
tain, but  no  one  could  discover  the  exe- 
cutioner. These  tribunals  rose  in  the 
twelfth  century  and  disappeared  in  the 
sixteenth.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  Anne 
of  Geierstein,”  has  given  an  account  of 
the  Westphalian  Fehmgericht.  (Old 
German,  fehmen,  to  condemn ; Gericht,  a 
tribunal.) 

This  Vigilance  Committee  {of  Denver  city)  is  a 
modern  reproduction  of  the  famous  Vehmgericht.— 
The  Times. 

Felician  (Father).  The  priest  and 
schoolmaster  of  Grand  Pre,  who  accom- 
panied Evangeline  in  her  wanderings  to 
find  Gabriel,  her  affianced  husband. — 
Longfellotv,  ‘ ^ Evangeline.  ” 

Felixmar'te  (4  syh).  The  hero  of 
a Spanish  romance  of  chivalry  by  Mel- 
chior de  Or'teza,  Cahalle'ro  de  Uheda 
(1566).  The  curate  in  Don  Quixote” 
condemned  this  work  to  the  flames. 

Fellow  Comnioner.  A wealthy  or 
married  undergraduate  of  Cambridge, 
who  pays  extra  to  common”  (i.e.,  dine) 
at  the  fellows’  table.  In  Oxford,  these 
demi-dons  are  termed  Gentlemen  Com- 
moners. 

Fellow  Commoner  or  Gentleman  Com- 
moner. An  empty  bottle.  So  called 
because  these  sort  of  students  are,  as 
a class,  empty-headed. 

Felo  de  Se.  One  who  commits 
felony  on  himself.  Murder  is  felony,  and 
if  a man  murders  himself  he  is  a felon 
of  his  own  life. 

Feme-covert.  A married  woman, 
who  is  under  covert  of  her  husband,  and 
cannot,  therefore,  sue  or  be  sued  for 
debt.  (French, /m we,  a woman.) 


Feme-sole.  A single  woman.  Feme- 
sole  merchant.  A woman  who  carries  on 
a trade  on  her  own  account. 

Fem'ynye  (3  sy).).  A mediseval 
name  for  the  kingdom  of  the  Am'azons. 
Gower  terms  Penthesile'a  queen  of 
Feminee.” 

He  {Theseus)  conquered  al  the  regne  of  Femynye, 
Chaucevy  “ Canterbury  Tales,'*  868. 

Fen-Hightingale.  A frog,  which 
sings  at  night  in  the  fens,  as  nightingales 
sing  in  the  groves. 

Fenchurch.  Street  (London).  The 
church  in  the  fens  or  marshy  ground  by 
the  ^^Langbourne”  side. 

Fenella.  A pretended  deaf  and  dumb 
sylph- like  attendant  on  the  countess  of 
Derby,  in  Scott’s  ‘‘  Pev'eril  of  the  Peak.” 

Fe'nians.  An  anti-British  associa- 
tion of  disaffected  Irishmen,  incorpo- 
rated in  the  United  States  in  1865,  and 
having  for  its  object  the  separation  of 
Ireland  from  England.  They  gave  out 
that  they  intended  to  form  Ireland  into 
a republic.  The  word  Fenian  means  a 
hunter  — Gaelic,  jianna,  from  feadhach 
(pronounced  fee-agh)^  a hunt.  Before 
the  Germanic  invasion,  a Celtic  race  so 
called  occupied  not  only  parts  of  Ire- 
land and  Scotland,  but  also  the  north  of 
Germany  and  the  Scandinavian  shores. 
Oisin  (Ossian)  refers  to  them,  and  one 
passage  is  thus  rendered  in  The  Anti- 
quary ‘^Do  you  compare  your  psalms 
to  the  tales  of  the  bare- armed  Fenians?" 
Oisin  was  the  grandson  of  Fionn,  the 
‘‘fair-haired  righ  (chiej)  of  the  Fenians, 
and  all  the  high  officers  of  this  volunteer 
association  were  men  of  rank.  It  ap- 
pears that  the  Fenians  of  Ireland  (Eirin), 
Scotland  (Alba),  England  (Lochlin),  and 
Scandinavia,  had  a great  civil  battle  at 
Gabhra,  in  Ireland,  and  extirpated  each 
other.  Oisin  alone  escaped,  and  he  had 
slain  “twice  fifty  men  with  his  own 
hand.”  In  the  rebellion  of  1865,  &c., 
the  leaders  were  termed  “ head  centres,” 
and  their  subordinates,  “ centres.” 

Fen'rir.  The  demon  wolf,  brother  of 
Hel  (q.v.).  It  was  cast  by  the  gods  into- 
Niflheim. 

Fenton.  One  who  seeks  to  mend  his 
fortune  by  a matrimonial  alliance.  Fen- 
ton is  the  suitor  of  Anne  Page,  and  he 
tells  the  lady  that  her  father  objected 
to  his  suit,  saying— 


FERAMORZ. 


FERRARA. 


293 


I am  too  great  of  birth ; 

And  that,  my  state  being  gall’d  with  my  expense, 

I seek  to  heal  it  only  by  his  wealth. 

Shakespeare,'" Merry  Wives  of  IFindsoJ',” iii.  4. 

Fer'amorz.  The  young  Cashmere 
poet,  who  relates  poetical  tales  to  Lalla 
Rookh,  in  her  journey  from  Delhi  to 
Lesser  Buchar'ia.  Lalla  Rookh  is  going 
to  be  married  to  the  young  sultan,  but 
falls  in  love  with  the  poet.  On  the  wed- 
ding morn  she  is  led  to  her  future  hus- 
band, and  finds  that  the  poet  is  the 
sultan  himself,  who  had  gallantly  taken 
this  course  to  win  the  heart  of  his  bride 
and  beguile  her  journey. — T,  Moore. 

Fer'dinand.  Son  of  the  king  of 
Naples,  and  suitor  of  Miranda,  daughter 
of  Pros'pero,  the  banished  duke  of  Milan. 
— Sliakespearef  Tempest. 

In  ‘‘  Love’s  Labour’s  Lost,”  the  same 
name  is  given  to  the  king  of  Navarre. 

Ferdinan'do.  A brave  soldier  who 
obtained  a complete  victory  over  the 
king  of  Morocco  and  Grena'da,  near 
Tari'fa,  in  1340.  Being  in  love  with 
Leono'ra  de  Guzman,  Alfonzo  XI.,  whose 
life  he  had  saved  in  the  battle,  created 
him  count  of  Zamo'ra  and  marquis  of 
Montreal,  and  gave  him  the  hand  of 
Leonora  in  marriage.  No  sooner  was 
this  done,  than  Ferdinando  discovered 
that  Leonora  was  the  king’s  mistress  ; 
so  he  restored  his  ranks  and  honours  to 
the  king,  repudiated  his  bride,  and  re- 
tired to  the  monastery  of  St.  James  of 
Compostella.  Leonora  entered  the  same 
monastery  as  a novice,  obtained  the  for- 
giveness of  Ferdinando,  and  died. — 
Donizetti’s  opera  of  La  Favori'ta.” 

Ferdo'si.  A Persian  poet,  famous 
for  the  copious  flow  of  his  diction.  He 
wrote  in  verse  the  ^^Shah-N^meb,”  or 
history  of  the  Persian  kings,  which  took 
him  thirty  years,  and  contains  120,000 
verses. 

Fern.  Fanny.) 

Fern-seed.  We  hare  the  receipt  of 
fern-seedy  we  walk  invisible  (^^1  Henry 
IV.,”  act  iv.  4).  The  seed  of  certain 
species  of  fern  is  so  small  as  to  be  in- 
visible to  the  naked  eye,  and  hence  the 
plant  was  believed  to  confer  invisibility 
on  those  who  carried  it  about  their  per- 
son. It  was  at  one  time  believed  that 
plants  have  the  power  of  imparting  their 
own  speciality  to  their  wearer.  Thus  the 
herb-dragon  was  said  to  cure  the  poison 


of  serpents ; the  yellow  celandine  the 
jaundice;  wood-sorrel,  which  hasaheart- 
shaped  leaf,  to  cheer  the  heart ; liver-wort 
to  be  good  for  the  liver,  and  so  on. 

Why,  did  you  think  thfit  you  had  Gyges’ring, 

Or  the  herb  that  gives  invisibility  ? 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  '"Fair  Maid  of  the  Inn,”  i.  l. 

The  seeds  of  fern,  which,  by  prolific  heat 

Cheered  and  unfolded,  form  a plant  so  great, 

Are  less  a thousand  times  thnn  what  the  ej’e 

Can  unassisted  by  the  tube  descry. 

Blackmore,  “ Creation^  iv. 

Fernando  Florestan.  A state 
prisoner  of  Seville,  married  to  Leonora, 
who,  in  man’s  disguise,  and  under  the 
name  of  Fide'lio,  became  the  servant  of 
Rocco,  the  jailor.  Pizarro,  governor  of 
the  prison,  conceived  a hatred  to  Fer- 
nando, and  resolved  to  murder  him. 
Rocco  and  Leonora  were  sent  to  dig  his 
grave,  and  when  Fizarro  entered  the 
dungeon,  Leonora  intercepted  his  pur- 
pose. At  this  juncture  the  minister  of 
State  arrived,  and  commanded  the  pri- 
soner to  be  released.— Opera,  Fi- 
delio.” 

Ferney.  The  patriarch  of  Ferney. 
Voltaire.  So  called  because  he  retired 
to  Ferney,  a little  desert  village  near 
Gene'va,  from  which  obscure  retreat  he 
poured  forth  his  invectives  against  the 
FYench  Government,  the  Church,  nobles, 
nuns,  priests,  and  indeed  all  classes  of 
men. 

There  are  in  Paris  five  or  six  statues  of  the  patri- 
arch of  Ferney.— l imes. 

Fero'hers.  The  guardian  angels  of 
Persian  mythology.  They  are  countless 
in  number,  and  their  chief  tasks  are  for 
the  well-being  of  man. 

Fer'r acute  {sharp-iron).  A giant  in 
Turpin’s  Chronicle  of  Charlemagne.” 
He  had  the  strength  of  forty  men,  and 
was  thirty-six  feet  high.  Though  no  lance 
could  pierce  his  hide,  Orlando  slew  him 
by  Divine  interposition. 

Fer'ragus.  The  giant  of  Portugal, 
who  took  Bellisant  under  his  care  after 
she  had  been  divorced  by  Alexander, 
emperor  of  Constantinople.  — Valentine 
and  Orson. 

The  great  '^Brazen  Head,”  that  told 
those  who  consulted  it  whatever  they 
required  to  know,  was  kept  in  the  castle 
of  this  giant. — Valentine  and  Orson.  {See 
Feurau.) 

Ferra'ra.  An  Andrew  Ferrara.  A 
broadsword  or  claymore  of  the  best 


294 


FERRAU. 


FI 


quality,  bearing  the  name  of  Andrea 
Ferra'ra,  either  an  Italian  or  Spanish 
sword  cutler,  of  whom  nothing  is  known. 
Genuine  ^‘Andrew  Ferraras”  have  a 
crown  marked  on  the  blade. 

We’ll  put  in  bail,  boy  ; old  Andrew  Ferrara  shall 
lodge  his  security.— ;Sir  W.  acott^  “ Waverley”  ch.  i. 

Ferrau  (in  Orlando  Furioso”). 
Ferraute,  Fer'racute,  or  Fer'ragus,  a 
Saracen,  son  of  Lanfu'sa.  He  dropped 
his  helmet  in  a river,  and  vowed  he 
would  never  wear  another  till  he  had 
won  that  worn  by  Orlando.  Orlando 
slew  him  with  a wound  in  the  navel,  his 
only  vulnerable  part. 

Ferrex  and  Porrex.  Two  sons 
of  Gorbogu'do,  a mythical  British  king. 
Porrex  drove  his  brother  from  Britain, 
and  when  Ferrex  returned  with  an  army 
he  was  slain,  but  Porrex  was  shortly 
after  put  to  death  by  his  mother.  One 
of  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first,  his- 
torical play  in  the  English  language  was 
‘^Ferrex  and  Porrex,”  by  Thomas  Nor- 
ton and  Thomas  Sackville. 

Ferumbras.  {See  Fierabbas.) 

Fes'cennine  Verses.  Lampoons; 
so  called  from  Fescennia  in  Tuscany, 
where  performers  at  merry-meetings  used 
to  extemporise  scurrilous  jests  of  a per- 
sonal character  to  amuse  the  audience. 

Fest  (Saxon).  Apledge.  Festing-man, 
a surety  to  another.  Festing-penng,  a 
penny  given  in  earnest  to  secure  a bar- 
gain. 

Fetch.  A wraith — the  disembodied 
ghost  of  a living  person.  {See  Fetiche.) 

Fetches.  Excuses,  tricks,  artifices. 
{Saxon.) 

Peny  to  speak  with  me  ? They  are  sick  ? they  are 
weary  ? 

They  have  travelled  bard  to-night  ? Mere  fetches. 

Shukenpeare,  ''King  Lear"  ii.  4. 

Fetiche  or  Fet'ish.  The  African  idol, 
the  same  as  the  American  Man'itou.  The 
worship  of  this  idol  is  called  Fet'ichism 
or  FePishism.  (Portuguese,  fetisso,  ma- 
gician, fairy,  oracle.) 

The  Fetiche  or  Fetish  of  the  bottle.  The 
imp  drunkenness,  or  drunkenness  itself. 

Fetter  Lane  (London).  Howel  says 
it  is  a corruption  of  Feivior  Lane—i.e.y 
the  lane  where  worthless  fellows  were 
always  sawntering  about  on  their  way  to 
the  gardens.  (Latin,  jactc/i'y  means  ‘^an 
«vil-doer ; ” Norman-French,  faitowr.) 


Fettle,  as  a verb,  means  to  repair ; 
as  an  adjective,  it  means  well-knit,  all 
right  and  tight.  It  is  connected  with 
our  word  feat,  the  French  faire,  the 
hatm  fac^re. 

Fettled  ale,  in  Lancashire,  means  ale 
warmed  and  spiced. 

Feu  de  Joie  (French).  A running 
fire  of  guns  on  an  occasion  of  rejoicing. 

Feud,  meaning  hatred,”  is  the 
Saxon (hatred);  but  feud,  a ^^fief,” 
is  the  Teutonic  fee-odh  (trust -land).  {See 
below.) 

Feudal  or  Feodal  (2  syl.).  In  Gothic, 
odh  means  property,”  hence  odh-alL 
(entire  property) ; Flemish,  udal.  By 
transposition  we  getAll-ohd,  whence  our 
allodium  (absolute  property  claimed  by 
the  holders  of  fiefs) ; and  by  combining 
the  words  fee  and  odh  we  get  fee-odh, 
feodh,  or  feod  (property  given  by  way  of 
foe  for  services  conferred). — Pontoppidan. 

Feuillans.  A religious  order,  an 
offset  of  the  Bemardines.  So  called 
from  the  convent  of  Feuillant,  in  Lan- 
guedoc, where  they  were  established  in 
1577. 

The  club  of  the  Feuillants,  in  the  French 
Revolution,  composed  of  moderate  Jaco- 
bins. So  called  because  the  convent  of 
the  Feuillants,  near  the  Tuileries,  was 
their  original  club-room.  (1791-2.) 

Feuilleton  (feu-^-ton).  A fly-sheet. 
Applied  to  the  bottom  part  of  French 
newspapers,  generally  devoted  to  a tale 
or  some  other  light  literature. 

Fever-lurdan  or  Fever-lurgan.  A 
fit  of  idleness.  Lurden  means  a block- 
head. (French,  lourd,  heavy,  dull,  thick- 
headed; lourdand,  a blockhead.) 

Fever-lurk.  A corruption  of  Fever- 
lurg,  as  “Fever-lurgan”  is  of  Fever- 
lurdan,  The  disease  of  laziness. 

Fever-lurk, 

Neither  play  uor  work. 

Fe'zon.  Daughter  of  Savary,  duke 
of  Aquitaine,  demanded  in  marriage  by 
a pagan,  called  the  Green  Knight;  but 
Orson,  having  overthrown  the  pagan, 
was  accepted  by  the  lady  instead. — 
Valentine  and  Orson. 

Fi  or  Fie  / An  exclamation  indicating 
that  what  is  reproved  is  dirty  or  indecent. 
The  dung  of  many  animals,  as  the  boar, 
wolf,  fox,  marten,  and  badger,  is  called 


FI. 


FIELD, 


29^ 


fiantSf  and  the  orificium  ana'le  ” is 
called  a.  jij  a word  still  used  in  Lincoln- 
shire.  (Anglo-Norman, /o-y,  to  clean  out; 
Saxon,  a/3//a?i,  to  foul;  o\xv  defile  or  filCf 
to  make  foul ; filth,  &c. ) 

The  old  words, /e-com  (dross  corn),  fi- 
lands  (unenclosed  lands),  (the 

dung  of  any  wild  beast),  &c.,  are  com- 
pounds of  the  same  word. 

I had  another  process  against  the  dung-farmer. 
Master  Fifi.— iiofteZais,  Pantagru&l,"  book  li.  17. 

Fi.  Fa.  A contraction  of  the  two 
Latin  words,  fiferi  facias  (cause  it  to  be 
done).  A judicial  writ  for  one  who  has 
recovered  damages  in  the  Queen’s  courts, 
being  a command  to  the  sheriff  to  see 
the  judgment  of  the  court  duly  carried 
out. 

Fiars.  Striking  the  fiars.  Taking 
the  average  price  of  corn.  Fiars  is  a 
Gothic  word,  still  current  in  Ireland. 
{Scotch.) 

Fias'co.  A failure,  a mull.  In  Italy 
they  cry  Old,  old,  fiasco  ! to  an  unpopular 
singer.  This  word,  common  in  France 
and  Germany,  is  employed  as  the  opposite 
of  furore. 

Fiat.  I give  my  fiat  to  that  proposal. 
I consent  to  it.  (Latin,  fiat,  let  it  be 
done.) 

Fib.  An  attendant  on  queen  Mab  in 
Drayton’s  ‘‘Polyalbion.” 

Fi'co.  {See  Fig.) 

Fico  for  the  phrase. 

Shakespeare.  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor.*'  i.  3. 

I see  contempt  marching  forth,  giving  me  the  fico 
■with  this  thombe  in  his  mouth.— IFit’s  Miser ie. 
(1596.) 

Fiddle.  He  was  first  fiddle.  Chief 
man,  the  most  distinguished  of  the  com- 
pany. 

T 0 play  second  fiddle.  To  take  a sub- 
ordinate part.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
leader  of  concerts,  who  leads  with  a 
fiddle. 

Fiddleback.  The  name  of  Oliver 
Goldsmith’s  poor  unfortunate  pony,  on 
which  he  made  his  country  excursions. 

Fiddler.  Drunk  as  a fiddler.  Fiddlers 
at  wakes  and  fairs  were  allowed  meat 
and  drink  to  their  heart’s  content,  and 
seldom  left  a merry-making  in  sobriety. 

Fiddler’s-fare  or  Fiddler's  pay. 
Meat,  drink,  and  money. 

Fiddler’s  Money.  Sixpence.  The 
usual  fee  in  money  given  to  a tiddler  at 
a wake  was  sixpence  from  each  dancer. 


Fiddlestick.  In  the  great  German 
epic  called  The  Nibelungen-Lied,”  this 
word  is  used  six  or  eight  times  for  a 
broadsword. 

His  fiddlestick  he  grasped,  ’twas  massy,  broad,  and 
long. 

As  sharp  as  any  razor. 

Stanza  1,841. 

My  fiddlestick’s  no  feather;  on  whom  I let  it  fall. 

If  he  has  friends  that  love  him,  ’twill  set  tiiem  weep- 
ing all. 

Stanza  1,880. 

His  fiddlestick,  sharp -cutting,  can  hardest  steel 
divide, 

And  at  a stroke  can  shiver  the  morion’s  beamy  pride. 

Stanza  2,078. 

Fiddling  About.  Wasting  one’s 
time  in  trities ; like  fiddlers,  who  .spend 
the  day  in  scraping  catgut,  and  picking 
up  stray  gifts. 

Fidele  (3  syl.).  The  name  assumed 
by  Imogen  in  Shakespeare’s  Cymbeline.” 
Collins  has  a beautiful  elegy  on  Fidele. 

Fidelio.  Beethoven’s  best  opera. 
{See  Leonora.) 

Fides  (2  syl.).  Mother  of  John  of 
Leyden.  Not  knowing  that  her  son  was 
the  prophet”  and  ruler  of  Westphalia, 
but  thinking  that  the  prophet  had  caused 
his  death,  she  went  to  Munster  to  curse 
the  new-crowned,  monarch.  The  mo- 
ment she  saw  him,  she  recognised  him, 
but  the  prophet-king,”  surrounded  by 
his  courtiers,  pretended  not  to  know  her. 
Fides,  to  save  her  son  annoyance,  declared 
she  had  made  a mistake,  and  was  confined 
in  the  dungeon  of  the  palace  at  Munster, 
where  John  visited  her  and  was  forgiven. 
When  her  son  set  fire  to  his  palace,  Fides 
rushed  into  the  flames,  and  perished 
with  him.  — Meyerbeer* s op)era  of  **  Le 
Prophete,** 

Fides  Carbona'rii.  Blind  faith, 
faith  of  a child.  A carbona'ro  being 
asked  what  he  believed  replied,  “ What 
the  church  believes and  being  asked 
again  what  the  church  believes,  made 
answer,  “What  I believe.”  {See  Car- 
bonari.)— Roux,  ^^Dictionnaire  Comique.** 

Field  (The),  in  huntsman’s  language, 
means  all  the  riders.  To  keep  hack  the 
field  is  to  keep  back  the  riders. 

In  the  racing  world,  to  lay  against  the 
field  is  to  back  one  horse  against  all 
comers. 

To  keep  the  field.  To  continue  military 
operations. 

Field  of  Ice.  A large  body  of  float- 
ing ice. 


296 


FIELD. 


FIG. 


Field  of  Blood.  Acel'dama,  the 
piece  of  land  bought  by  the  chief  priests 
with  the  money  which  J udas  threw  down 
in  the  temple ; so  called  because  it  was 
bought  with  blood- money. — Matt,  xxvii. 
5 ; Acts  i.  19. 

Field  of  Vision.  The  space  in  a 
telescope,  microscope,  stereoscope,  &c., 
within  which  the  object  is  visible.  If  the 
object  is  not  distinctly  visible,  it  must  be 
’brought  into  the  field  by  adjustment. 

Field  of  tlie  Cloth  of  Gold.  The 
plain,  near  Guisnes,  where  Henry  VIII. 
had  his  interview  with  Fran9ois  I.,  in 
1520  ; so  called  from  the  splendour  and 
magnificence  displayed  there  on  the  occa- 
sion. 

Field  of  the  Forty  Footsteps. 
At  the  back  of  the  British  Museum,  once 
called  Southampton  Fields.  The  tradi- 
tion is  that  two  brothers,  in  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth’s  rebellion,  took  different 
sides,  and  engaged  each  other  in  fight. 
Both  were  killed,  and  forty  impressions 
of  their  feet  remained  on  the  field  for 
many  years,  where  no  grass  would 
grow.  The  encounter  took  place  at  the 
extreme  north-east  of  Upper  Montague 
Street.  The  Miss  Porters  wrote  a novel 
on  the  subject,  and  the  Messrs.  Mayhew 
a nielo-drama. 

Field-day.  Day  of  business.  Thus, 
a clergyman  jocosely  calls  a kept  festi- 
val” his  field  day.  A military  term, 
meaning  a day  when  a regiment  is  taken 
to  the  fields  for  practice. 

Field  Officer.  Any  officer  above 
the  rank  of  captain;  so  called  because  he 
is  qualified  to  command  whole  battalions, 
or  a “ field.” 

Field  Pieces.  Small  cannons  car- 
ried into  the  field  with  an  army. 

Field  Works.  Works  throvm  up 
by  an  army  in  besieging  or  defending  a 
fortress,  or  in  strengthening  its  position. 

Fielding.  The  Fielding  of  the  drama. 
George  Farquhar,  author  of  the  Beaux 
Stratagem,”  kc.  (1678-1707.) 

Fierabras  {Sir).  A Saracen  of 
Spain  who  made  himself  master  of  Rome, 
and  carried  away  the  crown  of  thorns  and 
the  balsam  which  embalmed  the  body  of 
the  Lord,  one  drop  of  which  would  cure 
any  sickness  or  heal  any  wound.  One  of 


his  chief  exploits  was  to  slay  the  fearful 
huge  giant”  that  guarded  the  bridge 
of  Mantible,  famous  for  its  thirty  arches 
of  black  marble.  Having  accomplished 
this  feat,  he  next  slew  an  innumerable 
multitude  of  pagans  under  his  command.” 
Sir  Fie'rabras  figures  in  several  mediaeval 
romances.  (yS'ee  Balakd.) 

Fie'rabras  of  Alexandria.  Tlie 
greatest  giant  that  ever  walked  the 
earth,  who  for  height  of  stature,  breadth 
of  shoulder,  and  hardness  of  muscle, 
never  had  his  equal.  He  possessed  all 
Babylon,  even  to  the  Red  Sea ; was 
seigneur  of  Russia,  lord  of  Cologne, 
master  of  Jerusalem,  and  even  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  itself.  His  pride  was 
laid  low  by  Oliv'ier.  The  giant  became 
a child  of  God,  and  ended  his  days  in  the 
odour  of  sanctity,  “meek  as  a lamb, 
and  humble  as  a chidden  slave.” 

Fifth-Monarchy  Men.  A sect  of 
English  fanatics  in  the  days  of  the  Puri- 
tans, who  maintained  that  Jesus  Christ 
was  about  to  come  a second  time  to  the 
earth,  and  establish  the  fifth  universal 
monarchy.  The  four  preceding  monar- 
chies were  the  Assyrian,  the  Persian,  the 
Macedonian,  and  the  Roman.  In  politics 
the  Fifth  - Monarchy  Men  were  arrant 
Radicals  and  levellers. 

Fig.  Full  fig.  Full  dress.  A cor- 
ruption of  the  Italian  in  fioc'chi  (in  gala 
costume).  It  was  derived  from  the  tas- 
sels with  which  horses  were  ornamented 
in  state  processions.  Thus  we  read  in 
Miss  Knight’s  “Autobiography,”  “The 
Pope’s  throne  was  set  out  for  mass,  and 
the  whole  building  was  in  perfect  fiocchi 
(in  full  fig).”  Another  etymology  has 
been  suggested  by  a correspondent  in 

Notes  and  Queries,”  that  it  is  taken 
from  the  word  full  fig.  (figure)  in  fashion 
books. 

Fig  or  Figo.  I don't  care  a fig  for 
you ; not  uorih  a fig.  Anything  at  all. 
Here  fig  is  fico — a fillip  or  snap  of  the 
fingers.  Thus  we  say,  “I  don’t  care 
that  for  you,”  snapping  the  fingers  at  the 
same  time.  (Italian,  far  le  fiche^  to  snap 
the  fingers  ; French,  faire  la  figue ; 
German,  dief eigen  weisen ; Dutch,  de 
vyghe  setten^  &c.)  (fe  Fico.) 

A fig  for  Peter. 

Shakespeare.  “ 2 Henry  VL”n.  3. 

The  figo  fur  tliy  friendship 

Shakespeare.  '•'Henry  61 


FIGS. 


FILIA. 


297 


Figs.  I slianH  huy  my  Attic  figs  in 
future,  hut  groio  them.  Don’t  count  your 
chickens  before  they  are  hatched.  It 
was  Xerxes  who  boasted  that  he  did  not 
intend  any  longer  to  buy  his  figs,  because 
he  meant  to  conquer  Att'ica  and  add  it 
to  his  own  empire  ; but  Xerxes  met  a 
signal  defeat  at  Sal'amis,  and  never 
loosed  his  sandal  till  he  reached  Abde'ra.” 

In  the  name  of  the  Prophet,  Figs!'^ 
A burlesque  of  the  solemn  language  em- 
ployed in  eastern  countries  in  the  com- 
mon business  of  life.  The  line  occurs  in 
the  imitation  of  Dr.  Johnson’s  pompous 
style,  in  “Rejected  Addresses,”  by  James 
and  Horace  Smith. 

Fig-tree.  It  is  said  that  Judas 
hanged  himself  on  a fig-tree.  (See 
Elder-tree.) 

Quaeret  aliquis  qua  ex  ar'bore  Judas  se  suspen'- 
derit?  Arbor  dcusfuisse  di'citur.— .Barradiits. 

Figged  out,  (See  Fig,  No.  1.) 

Fig'aro.  A type  of  cunning,  dex- 
terity, and  intrigue.  The  character  is  in 
the  “ Barbier  de  Seville”  and  “ Manage 
de  Figaro,”  by  Beaumarchais.  In  the 
former  he  is  a barber,  and  in  the  latter  a 
valet ; but  in  both  he  outwits  every  one. 
There  are  several  operas  founded  on 
these  dramas,  as  Mozart’s  “Nozze  di 
Figaro,”  Paisiello’s  “ II  Barbiere  di  Si- 
viglia,”  and  Rossini’s  “II  Barbiere  di 
Seviglia.” 

Fight. 

He  that  fights  and  runs  awr.y 
May  live  to  fight  anotlier  d ly ; 

But  he  that  is  in  battle  slain 
Can  never  rise  to  tight  again. 

James  Smiih,^*  Musarum  Delicice.'*  (1655.) 

Demosthenes,  being  reproached  for 
running  away  from  Philip  of  Macedon, 
at  Chserone'a,  replied,  “A  man  that  runs 
away  may  fight  again  (’Avi/p  6 <pevyicv  kuI 
irdXiv  ^axi](TeTai^f' 

Fighting-cocks.  To  live  lile  fight- 
ing-cocks. To  have  a profusion  of  the 
best  food.  Fighting-cocks  used  to  be 
high  fed  order  to  aggravate  their 
pugnacity  and  increase  their  powers  of 
endurance. 

Fighting  Fifth  {The).  The  5th 
Foot.  This  sobriquet  was  given  to  the 
regiment  during  the  Peninsular  war. 

Fighting  Kings  (Chen-kuo).  Cer- 
tain feudatories  of  China  incessantly 
contending  for  mastery  over  each  other. 
(B.c.  770-320.) 


Fighting  Prelate.  Henry  Spencer, 
bishop  of  Norwich,  who  greatly  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  rebellion  of  Wat 
Tyler.  He  met  the  rebels  in  the  field, 
with  the  temporal  sword,  then  absolved 
them,  and  sent  them  to  the  gibbet. 

Figure.  Whafs  the  figure  1 The 
price  ; what  am  I to  pay  ; what  “figure” 
or  sum  have  you  set  down  against  me  ? 

Figures.  A corruption  ol fingers,  that 
is,  “digits”  (Latin,  digiti,  finger^.  So 
called  from  the  primitive  method  of 
marking  the  monades  by  the  fingers. 
Thus  the  first  four  were  simply  i.,  ii.,  hi., 
iiii. ; five  was  the  outline  of  the  hand 
simplified  into  a V ; the  next  four  figures 
were  the  two  combined,  thus,  vi.,  vii., 
viii.,  viiii.  ; and  ten  was  a double  v,  thus 
X.  At  a later  period  iiii.  and  viiii.  were 
expressed  by  one  less  than  five  (i-v. ) and 
one  less  than  ten  (i-x.).  Nineteen  was 
ten-plus-nine  (x  + ix.),  &c.— a most 
clumsy  and  unphilosophical  device. 

Figure-head.  A figure  on  the  head 
or  projecting  cut- water  of  a ship. 

Filch.  To  steal  or  purloin.  A filch 
is  a staff  with  a hook  at  the  end,  for 
plucking  clothes  from  hedges  and  articles 
from  shop  windows.  Probably  it  is  a cor- 
ruption of  pilfer.  (Welsh,  yspeiUo  and 
yspeiliivr ; Spanish,  jje'ltzcar;  Frencli, 
'filler  and  peler  ; onx  pillage,  peel,  &c.) 
With  cunning  hast  thou  filched  my  daughter’s  heart. 

Shakespeare,  “ Midsummer  Night's  Dream,'’  i.  2. 

File.  To  cheat.  The  allusion  is  to 
filing  money  for  the  sake  of  the  dust 
which  can  be  used  or  sold.  A.  file  is  a 
cheat ; one  who  can  make  a sovereign  go 
further  than  twenty  shillings.  Hence 
“ a jolly  file,”  “a  rum  old  file,”  &c. 

Sorful  becom  that  fals  file. 

Cursor  Mundi  MS. 

In  single  file.  Single  row  ; one  behind 
another.  (French,  a row.) 

Rank  and  file.  CJommon  soldiers. 
Thus  we  say,  “ Ten  officers  and  three 
hundred  rank  and  file  fell  in  the  action.’* 
Rank  refers  to  men  standing  abreast, 
file  to  men  standing  behind  each  other. 
Thus  twenty-five  files  in  four  ranks  would 
be  one  hundred  men  four  deep. 

It  was  only  on  the  faith  of  some  grand  expedition 
that  tlie  credulous  riink  and  file  of  the  Brotherhood 
subscribed  their  dollars.— T/ie  Tim-iS. 

Filia  Poloro'sa.  The  Duchesse 
d’Angouleme,  daughter  of  Louis  XVI., 


298 


FILIBUSTEK. 


FINGEB. 


also  called  the  modern  Antig'one.  (1778- 
1851.) 

Filibuster.  A piratical  adventurer. 
The  most  notorious  was  William  Walker, 
who  was  shot  in  1855.  (French fjlibustier, 
C,  corruption  of  our  “freebooter;’*  Ger- 
man,y Dutch,  vryhidter,')  {See 
Buccaneer.) 

Fill-dike.  The  month  of  February, 
when  the  rain  and  melted  snow  fills  tho 
ditches  to  overflowing. 

Fillet.  A royal  diadem  anterior  to 
the  crown,  made  of  silk  or  wool.  Aure'- 
lian  was  the  first  Roman  emperor  that 
wore  one  in  public.  In  the  time  of 
Constantine  the  fillet  was  adorned  with 
precious  stones. 

Filome'na.  Longfellow  calls  Florence 
Nightingale  St.  Filomenay  not  only  be- 
cause Filomena  resembles  the  Latin  word 
for  a nightingale,  but  also  because  this 
saint,  in  Sabatelli’s  picture,  is  repre- 
sented as  hovering  over  a group  of  sick 
and  maimed,  healed  by  her  intercession. 
[See  Thaumaturges.) 

Filter.  To  run  through  felt  (Latin, 
feltrum),  as  jelly  is  strained  through 
flannel.  The  Romans  strained  the  juice  of 
their  grapes  through  felt  into  the  wine- 
vat,  after  which  it  was  put  into  the  casks. 

Fin.  The  hand.  A contraction  of 
finger.  Thus  we  say,  “Give  us  your  fin” 
— i.e.j  shake  hands.  The  derivation  from 
the  fin  of  a fish  is  good  only  for  a joke. 

Final'ity  John.  Earl  Russell,  who 
maintained  that  the  Reform  Bill  of  1832 
was  a finality,  yet  in  1854,  1860,  and 
1866,  brought  forth  other  Reform  Bills. 

Finance  (French).  Revenue  de- 
rived from  fines  or  subsidies.  In  feudal 
times,  finance  was  money  paid  to  a lord 
for  a privilege.  In  the  plural  we  use  the 
word  to  signify  available  money  resources. 
Thus  we  say,  “ My  finances  are  ex- 
hausted,” meaning  I have  no  more  funds 
or  available  money.  ( Armoric,  financz  ; 
Qimhric,  fiinio.) 

Finch  Lane  (London).  So  called 
from  a family  of  consideration  by  the 
name  of  Finch  or  Finke. 

Find.  You  know  what  you  leave  he- 
hind,  hut  not  what  you  will  find.  And 
this  it  is  that  “ makes  us  rather  bear  the 
ills  we  have,  than  fly  to  others  that  we 
know  not  of.” 


Findy.  Plump,  full,  {^cnaon,  findig.y 

A eold  May  and  a windy 
Make  barns  fat  and  findy. 

Old  Proverb, 

Fine  Arts.  Those  arts  which  chiefly 
depend  on  a delicate  or  fine  imagination, 
as  music,  painting,  poetry,  and  sculpture.. 

Fine-ear.  One  of  Fortu'nio’s  ser- 
vants, who  could  hear  the  grass  grow 
and  the  mole  work  underground. — 
“ Grimm^s  Goblins,*'  Fortunio. 

Fin'etor.  A necromancer,  father  of 
the  Enchantress -Damsel,  in  “ Am'adis  of 
Gaul.” 

Fingal’s  Cave.  The  basaltic  cavern- 
of  Staffa.  So  called  from  Fion  na  Gael 
(Fingal),  the  great  Gaelic  hero,  whose 
achievements  have  been  made  familiar 
by  the  “Fingal”  of  Macpherson,  in  six 
books. 

Finger.  The  custom  of  holding  up 
one’s  finger  in  an  auction  room,  by  way 
of  a bid,  comes  to  us  from  the  Romans. 
The  Latin  for  bidding  at  an  auction  is 
dig'Uuni  tolVere  (to  hold  up  the  finger). 

My  little  finger  told  me  that.  The  same 
as  “A  little  bird  told  me  that,”  meaning,. 
I know  it,  though  you  did  not  expect  it. 
The  former  expression  is  from  Moliere’s 
“Malade  Imaginaire.”  (^See  Bird.) 

By  the  pricking  of  my  thumbs, 

Somethiug  v/icked  this  way  comes. 

Shakespeare,  '"  Macbeth,”  iv.  1. 

Cry,  baby,  cry  ; p^it  your  finger  in  youn 
eye,  &c.  This  nursery  rhyme  seems  to- 
be  referred  to  by  Shakespeare  in  his- 
“ Comedy  of  Errors,”  ii.  2: — 

No  longer  will  I be  fool. 

To  put  the  finger  iii  the  eye  and  weep. 

The  Ring  Finger.  The  finger  between 
the  long  and  little  finger  was  used  by 
the  Romans  as  a ring-finger  from  the 
belief  that  a nerve  ran  through  it  to  the 
heart.  Hence  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
used  to  call  it  the  medical  finger,  and 
used  it  for  stirring  mixtures,  under  the 
notion  that  nothing  noxious  could  touch 
it  without  its  giving  instant  warning  to- 
the  heart.  It  is  still  a very  general  no- 
tion in  England  that  it  is  bad  to  rub  on 
salve  or  scratch  tho  skin  with  any  but 
the  ring-finger.  The  fact  that  there  was 
no  such  intimacy  between  the  finger  and 
the  heart  was  not  discovered  till  after 
the  notion  was  deeply  rooted. 

The  Medical  Finger. 

At  last  he  put  on  her  medical  finger  a pretty 
handsome  gold  ring,  whereuato  was  enchased  a. 
precious  loadstone,  Beausse.  — Rabelais,  “ PatUa- 
gruel/*  iii.  17. 


FINGERS. 


FIRE-BRAND. 


29& 


Fingers.  The  old  names  for  the 
fingers  are  : — 

Thumb. 

Towcker  (the  finger  that  touches),  fore- 
man, or  pointer. 

Long-man  or  long  finger. 

Lech-man  or  ring-finger.  The  former 
means  medical  finger,”  and  the  latter  is 
a Roman  expression,  digitus  annula'ris,^^ 

Little-man  or  little  finger. 

Fingers,  Ben  J onson  says — 

The  thumb,  in  chiromancy,  we  pive  to  Venus ; 

The  fore-liuger  to  Jove  ; the  midst  to  Saturn  ; 

The  ring  to  Sol ; the  least  to  Mercury. 

Alchemist,''  i.  2. 

Fingers  before  Forks. 

This  Vulcan  was  a smith,  they  tell  us, 

That  first  invented  tongs  and  bellows; 

Por  breath  and  fingers  did  their  works 
(We’d  fingers  long  before  we’d  forks)- 

King,  "‘Art  of  Love." 

Finger  Benediction.  In  the  Greek 
and  Roman  Church  the  thumb  and  first 
t’wo  fingers  represent  the  Trinity.  The 
thumb,  being  strong,  represents  the 
leather ; the  long  or  second  finger,  Jesus 
Christ;  and  the  first  finger,  the  Holy 
Ghost,  'which  proceedeth  from  the  Father 
and  the  Son.  {See  Blessing.) 

Some  bishops  of  the  Anglican  Church 
use  this  gesture  while  pronouncing  the 
benediction. 

Fingers’  Ends.  I have  it  at  my 
fingers'  ends.  I am  quite  familiar  with  it 
and  can  do  it  readily.  It  is  a Latin  pro- 
verb (Scire  tanquam  un'gues  dig'Itosq  :), 
-where  the  allusion  is  to  the  statuary, 
who  knows  every  item  of  his  subject  by 
the  touch.  (»Se^’ Unguem.) 

Go  to;  thou  hast  it  ^ dunghill  (Mnerwem),  at  the 
fingers’  ends,  as  they  s&y.  — Shakespeare,  “Love's 
Labour's  JLjsC,”  v.  1. 

Fingerstall.  A hutkin,  a cover  for 
a sore  finger.  The  Germans  call  a 
thimble  a finger-hut,  where  hut  is  evi- 
dently the  word  hut  or  huth  (a  tending, 
keeping,  or  guarding),  from  the  verb 
huten  (to  keep  watch  over).  Our  hutkin 
is  simply  a little  cap  for  guarding  a sore 
finger.  Stall  is  the  Saxon  steel  (a  place), 
whence  our  stall,  a place  for  horses. 

Finny  Tribe.  Fish.  So  called  be- 
cause they  are  furnished  with  fins. 

Finsbury  (London).  A corruption 
of  Fens- bury,  the  town  in  the  fens. 

Fiorgwyn,  in  Scandinavian  mytho- 
logy.  A giant,  father  of  Frigga  (g.i'.). 


Fir-cone  on  the  Thyrsus.  The  juic& 
of  the  fir-tree  {turpentine)  used  to  be- 
mixed  by  the  Greeks  with  new  wine^. 
to  make  it  keep ; hence  it  was  adopted 
as  one  of  the  symbols  of  Bacchus. 

Fire.  More  fire  in  the  hed-straio.  More 
mischief  brewing.  Alluding  to  the  times^ 
when  straw  was  used  for  carpets  and  beds. 

I have  myself  passed  through  the  fire — - 
been  afflipted  or  persecuted.  The  allusion 
is  to  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abedne'go, 
who  were  cast  into  the  fiery  furnace  by 
Nebuchadnezzar  for  not  worshipping  his 
golden  image.  (Dan.  hi.) 

/ have  smelt  the  smell  of  fire,  I have 
had  experience  in  trouble.  A similar 
allusion. 

If  you  ivill  enjoy  the  fire,  you  must  imt 
up  with  the  smoke.  (Latin,  Commod'- 
itas  qusevis  sua  fert  incommbda  secum.”) 
Every  convenience  has  its  inconvenience. 

No  fire  without  smoke.  (French,  ‘‘Nul 
feu  sans  fumee.”)  No  good  without  its 
mixture  of  evil. 

Where  there  is  smoke  there  is  fire.  Every 
effect  is  the  result  of  some  cause.  The 
cotyle'don  may  be  very  small,  but  it 
shows  that  the  seed  is  fructifying. 

Fir  Tree.  (iSeeATYs.) 

Fire  and  Sword.  Letters  of  fire  and 
sword.  If  a criminal  resisted  the  law 
and  refused  to  answer  his  citation,  it  was  • 
accounted  treason  in  the  Scottish  courts ; 
and  ^Metters  of  fire  and  sword”  wer& 
sent  to  the  sheriff,  authorising  him  to 
use  cither  or  both  these  instruments  in 
order  to  apprehend  the  contumacious 
party. 

Fire  Away.  Start  at  once,  get  on. 
A playful  substitution : If  you  firo 
away,”  your  gun  goes  off;”  and  if  yoa 
go  off,  you  ^‘get  on.” 

Fire  away,  Flan!agan.  A taunt  to  a 
boaster.  A man  threatening  you,  says 
he  will  do  this,  that,  and  the  other  ; you 
reply,  Fire  away,  Flanagan.”  Crom- 
well marched  against  a castle,  defended 
by  Flanagan,  who  threatened  to  open 
his  cannon  on  the  Parliamentarians  unless  - 
they  withdrew.  Cromwell  wrote  on  tho 
corner  of  the  missive  sent  to  him,  Firo 
away,  Flanagan,”  and  the  doughty  cham- 
pion took  to  his  heels  immediately. 

Fire-brand.  An  incendiary,  one 
who  incites  to  rebellion ; like  a blazing  ; 
brand  which  sets  on  fire  all  it  touches. 

Onr  fire-brand  brother,  Paris,  burns  us  all. 

Shakespeare,  “ Troilus  and  Cressida,"  ii.  2> 


300 


FIRE-DRAKE. 


FIVES. 


Fire-drake  or  Fire-dragon.  A fiery 
serpent,  an  ignis  fatuus  of  large  propor- 
tions, superstitiously  believed  to  be  a 
flying  dragon  keeping  guard  over  hid 
treasures. 

There  is  a fellow  somewhat  near  the  door,  he  should 
be  a brazier  by  his  face,  for,  o’  my  conscience,  twenty 
of  the  dog-days  now  reign  in  ’s  nose....  That  tire- 
drake  did  I hitthree  times  on  the  head. —(S/iaArespcare, 

Hmry  3. 

Fire-eaters.  Persons  ready  to  quar- 
rel for  anything.  The  allusioti  is  to  the 
jugglers  who  eat ’’flaming  tow,  pour 
melted  lead  down  their  throats,  and 
hold  red-hot  metal  between  their  teeth. 
Richardson,  in  the  seventeenth  century 
— Signora  Josephine  Girard elli  (the  origi- 
nal Salamander),  in  the  early  part  of 
the  present  century — and  Chaubert,  a 
Frenchman,  of  the  present  century,  are 
the  most  noted  of  these  exhibitors. 

The  great  fire-eater  lay  unconscious  upon  the  floor 
of  the  house, — Nashville  Banner. 

Fire-new.  Spick  and  span  new 
{q.v.). 

You  should  have  accosted  her;  and  with  some 
excellent  jests,  fire-new  from  the  iamt.-~Shakespeare, 
■*'  Twelfth  Night  "Hi.  % 

Fire-sllip.  A ship  filled  with  com- 
bustibles to  be  sent  against  adverse 
vessels  in  order  to  set  them  on  fire. 

Fire  Worsliip  was  introduced  into 
Persia  by  Phoe'dima,  widow  of  Smerdis 
and  wife  of  Gushtasp  daratveshy  usually 
called  Darius  (B.c.  521-485).  It  is  not 
the  sun  that  is  worshipped,  but  God, 
who  is  supposed  to  reside  in  it ; at  the 
same  time  they  reverence  the  sun,  not 
as  a deity,  but  as  the  throne  of  deity. 
(See  Parsees.) 

First-fruits.  The  first  profitable 
results  of  labour.  In  husbandry,  the  first 
corn  that  is  cut  at  harvest.  We  also 
use  the  word  in  an  evil  sense  ; as  the  first- 
fruits  of  sin,  the  first-fruits  of  repentance, 
&c.  &c. 

First  Gentleman  of  Europe. 
A nickname  given  to  George  IV.,  who 
certainly  was  first  in  rank,  but  it  would 
be  sad  indeed  to  think  he  was  ever  the 
most  gentlemanly  man  in  feeling,  man- 
ners, and  deportment. 

First  Grenadier  of  France.  A 
title  given  by  Napoleon  to  Latour  d’ Au- 
vergne. (1743-1800.) 

Fish.  The  reason  why  fish  are  em- 
ployed as  card  counters  is  from  a mis- 
apprehension of  the  French  word  Jiche 


(a  five- sou  piece).  The  two  points 
allowed  for  the  ‘^rub”  are  called  in 
French  la  ficlie  de  consolation.  The 
Spanish  word  pez  has  also  a double  mean- 
ing—a winning,”  or  a ^^fish;”  pez  is 
the  Welsh  Latin  pise’ , English  fish. 

Mute  as  a fish.  Fish  have  no  language 
like  birds,  beasts,  and  insects.  Their 
utmost  power  of  sound  is  a feeble  cry  of 
pain,  the  result  of  intestinal  respiration. 

I have  other  fish  to  fry.  Other  business 
to  attend  to.  (See  above.) 

A pretty  hettle  offish.  (See  Kittle.) 

Fisherman.  The  fisherman  ivho  ivas 
father  of  three  Icings.  Abu  Shujah  al 
Bony  ah  was  a Persian  fisherman  in  the 
province  of  Delem',  whose  three  sons, 
Iraad,  Ruken,  and  Mooz,  all  rose  to 
sovereign  power. 

Fishing.  Fishing  for  compliments. 
Laying  a bait  for  praise. 

Fisk  (in  ^^Hudibras”)  was  Nicholas 
Fisk,  a physician  and  astrologer,  who  used 
to  say  that  a physician  never  deserved 
his  bread  till  he  had  no  teeth  to  eat  it. 
In  his  old  age  he  was  almost  a beggar. 

Fitz  (Norman).  Son  of ; as  Fitz- 
Herbert,  Fitz-William,  Fitz-Peter,  &c. 
It  is  sometimes  applied  to  illegitimate 
children,  as  Fitz- Clarence,  Fitz-roy,  &c. 

Fitz-Fulke  (Ilehe).  ^‘A  gracious, 
graceful,  graceless  grace;”  ^^fat,  fair, 
and  forty.” — Byron,  Bon  Juan,”  c.  xvi. 

Fitz  william  Museum  (Cambridge 
University).  So  called  from  earl  Fitz- 
william,  who  left  £100,000,  with  books, 
paintings,  &c.,  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a 
museum  for  the  benefit  of  the  university. 

Five.  A mystical  number ; the  Greek 
diapante.  The  major  chord  consists  of  a 
fundamental  or  tonic,  its  major  third, 
and  its  just  fifth;  and  in  the  Har- 
mony” of  Nature  all  these  numbers  are 
mystical.  The  eighth  note,  or  comple- 
ment of  the  octave,  is  the  diapa'son  or 
man,  and  beyond  that  is  Deity.  (See 
Diapason.) 

Five-minute-clause.  A provision 
sometimes  inserted  in  deeds  of  separation, 
whereby  it  is  stipulated  that  the  deed  is 
null  and  void,  if  the  husband  and  wife 
remain  together  five  minutes  after  the 
separation  is  enjoined. 

Five  Points.  (/See  Calvinism.) 

Fives.  A hunch  of  fives.  The  fist,  in 
which  the  five  fingers  are  bound  in  a 
bunch. 


FIX. 


FLANEUE. 


301 


Fix.  l*m  in  a fix.  A predicament. 
The  allusion  is  to  machinery  which  will 
not  move.  The  Northumberland  was  in 
a terrible  fix  at  the  launch,  when  it 
refused  to  leave  the  dock.  (1866.) 

Fixed  Air.  Carbonic  acid  gas.  Dr. 
Black  gave  it  this  name,  because  car- 
bonate of  magnesia  evolved  by  heat 
carbonic  acid,  that  is,  MgO,  CO2  evolved 
CO2,  thereby  proving  that  CO2  (carbonic 
acid)  is  a fixed  air.” 

Fixed  Oils.  Oils  which  do  not 
readily  dry  or  fiy  off,  but  remain  fixed 
in  their  oily  character. 

Fixed  Stars.  Stars  whose  relative 
position  to  other  stars  is  fixed  or  always 
the  same.  Planets  are  always  shifting 
their  relative  positions. 

Flaccus.  Horace,  the  Roman  poet, 
whose  full  name  was  Quintus  Flaccus 
Hora'tius. 

Flag.  To  'unfurl  the  blach  fiag.  To 
declare  war.  The  curtain  which  used 
to  hang  before  the  door  of  Ayeshah, 
Mahomet’s  favourite  wife,  was  taken  for 
a national  flag,  and  is  regarded  by  Mus- 
sulmans as  the  most  precious  of  relics. 
It  is  black,  and  is  never  unfolded  except 
as  a declaration  of  war. 

To  display  the  red  fiag.  To  defy  or 
dare  to  battle.  Red  is  the  emblem  of 
blood. 

To  hang  out  the  ivhite  fiag.  To  sue  for 
quarter;  to  give  in.  The  white  flag 
throughout  the  world  is  a token  of 
peace. 

To  liang  the  flag  half-mast  high  is  in 
token  of  mourning  or  distress. 

To  strike  the  flag.  To  lower  it  or  pull 
it  down  upon  the  cap,  in  token  of  re- 
spect or  submission.  In  naval  warfare, 
it  moans  to  surrender. 

Flag  of  Distress.  A card  at 
one’s  window  announcing  ‘lodgings”  or 
“board  and  lodgings.”  The  allusion  is 
evident. 

Flag -officer.  Either  an  admiral, 
vice-admiral,  rear-admiral,  or  commo- 
dore. These  officers  alone  are  privileged 
to  carry  a flag  denoting  rank.  Admirals 
carry  their  flag  at  the  main,  vice-admi- 
rals at  the  fore,  and  rear-admirals  at  the 
mizen.  (*8ee  Admiral.  ) 

Flag-ship.  The  admiral’s  ship,  or 
the  ship  in  which  the  admiral  is  sailing. 
(fiee  Admiral.) 


Flagellants.  A sect  of  enthu- 
siasts in  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  who  ran  naked  about  the  streets 
inflicting  on  themselves  daily  flagella- 
tions, in  order  to  merit  thereby  the 
favour  of  God.  They  were  put  down 
soon  after  their  appearance,  but  revived 
in  the  fourteenth  century. 

Flam.  Flattery  for  an  object ; blar- 
ney. (Irish,  j^m.) 

Flamberge  or  Floberge.  The  sword 
which  Maugis  took  from  Anthenor,  the 
Saracen  admiral,  when  he  came  to  attack 
the  castle  of  Oriande  la  Fee.  It  was 
made  by  Weyland,  the  Vulcan  of  the 
Northern  Olympus. — Romance  of  Mau- 
gis d’ Aygremont  et  de  Vivian  son  Nrh's." 

Mats  si  une  fois  je  luy  fais  essayer  ceste-cy  plus 
tranchante  que  “ Joyeuse,  Uurandel,  llauteulaire, 
ou  I'lamberge,”  je  le  fendray  jusques  a restomach. 
—Fierre  de  VArivey,  *''Les  Jaloux,’'y.  6. 

Flamboroughs  {The  Miss).  The 
daughters  of  a village  farmer,  whose 
homeliness  contrasts  well  with  the  vul- 
gar, flashy  pretenders  to  fashion  intro- 
duced by  squire  Thornhill.— 

‘ ^ Vicar  0 f I Voice  field.  ’ ’ 

Flaming.  Superb,  captivating,  at- 
tractive. The  French  flambant.  This 
word  was  originally  applied  to  those 
persons  who  dressed  themselves  in  rich 
dresses  “flaming”  with  gold  and  silver 
thread.  We  now  speak  of  a “flaming, 
advertisement,”  &c. 

Le  velour,  trop  commun  en  France, 

Sous  toy  reprend  son  vieil  hoiineur. 
Tenement  que  ta  remontrancs 
I'lous  a fait  voir  la  difference 
Du  valet  et  de  son  seigneur, 

Et  du  muguet  charge  de  soye 
Qui  a tes  princes  s’esgaloit, 

Et  riche  en  draps  de  soye,  alloit 
Faisant  flamber  toute  la  voye. 

Eonsard,  “ Au  Roy  Henri  I IF  (1546. 

Fla'ming  Swords.  Swords  with  a 
wavy  or  flamboyant  edge,  generally  used 
for  state  purposes.  The  dukes  of  Bur- 
gundy carried  swords  of  this  sort,  and 
they  were  worn  in  our  own  country  till 
the  accession  of  William  III. 

Flamin'ian  Way.  The  great 
northern  road  of  ancient  Italy,  con- 
structed by  C.  Flamin'ius,  and  beginning 
at  the  Flaminian  gate  of  Romo. 

Flanders  {Moll).  The  chief  cha- 
racter of  De  Foe’s  novel  of  the  same 
name.  She  runs  through  the  whole 
career  of  female  profligacy,  and  then' 
turns  religious. 

Flaneur  (French).  A lounger,  go 
siper.  From  to  saunter  about. 


S02 


FLA^P-DRAGONS. 


FLECKNOE, 


riap-dragons.  Small  combustible 
^dies  blazing  at  one  end  and  floating  in 

glass  of  liquor.  The  liquor  was  stirred 
;U,bout  with  a candle-end  to  promote  com- 
bustion. A skilful  toper  would  swallow 
them  blazing,  as  we  swallow  the  blazing 
Taisins  of  snap-dragons. 

He  drinks  off  cmdles’  ends  for  flap-dragons. 

Shakespeare^  "'iHeni'y  /F.,”  ii.  4. 

Flare-up.  To  be  suddenly  very 
=angry,  as  a gas-jet  or  other  ignitible 
body  flares  wh^en  lighted  with  a sudden 
b)laze. 

Flash.  All  flash  in  the  pan.  All 
sound  and  fury,  signifying  nothing;  like 
the  explosion  of  a gun  which  ends  with 
-a  flash  in  the  lock-pan,  the  gun  itself 

hanging  fire.” 

To  cut  a flash  or  clash  is  to  make  a 
flashy  show — ^.e.,  a show  very  prononed 
but  of  short  duration,  like  the  flash  of  a 
gun. 

Flash  Men  and  Flash  ISTotes. 
Between  Buxton,  Leek,  and  Macclesfleld 
is  a wild  country,  called  the  Flash,  from 
a chapel  of  that  name.  Here  used  to 
live  a set  of  pedlars,  who  hawked  about 
buttons,  ribbons,  and  other  articles  made 
-at  Leek,  together  with  handkerchiefs 
and  small  wares  from  Manchester.  They 
were  known  on  the  road  as  Flash-men, 
and  frequented  fairs  and  farm-houses. 
The}^  paid,  at  first,  ready-money;  but 
when  they  had  established  a credit,  paid 
in  promissory  notes,  which  were  rarely 
honoured.  They  were  ultimately  put 
dov/n  by  the  magistracy.  Autol'icus,  in 

The  Winter’s  Tale,”  is  a Flash  Man.” 

Flat.  One  who  is  not  sharp. 

Oh,  Messrs. . . . what  flats  you  are  '.—The  Times. 

Flat  as  a flounder.  I knocked  him 
'down  flat  as  a flounder  ; I beat  him  flab 
ns  a flounder,  &c.  A flounder  is  one  of 
the  flat-fish. 

Flat  as  a pancahe.  Quite  flat.  A pan- 
cake is  a thin  flat  cake,  fried  in  a pan. 

Flat-fisli.  He  is  a regular  flat-fish. 
A dull,  stupid  feUow,  not  up  to  any- 
thing. The  play  is  upon  flat  (stupid), 
nnd  such  fi&h  as  plaice,  dabs,  and  soles. 

Fiat  Milk  cr  Fleet  Milh.  Skimmed 
milk.  The  verb  to  fleet,  meaning  ^Ho 
skim,”  has  several  forms  in  the  past 
paaticiple,  as  fleeted,  fleeten,  or  fleet; 
flatted,  flatten,  or  flat.  Same  word  as 
flit. 


Flath-innis  {Isle  of  the  Brave).  The 
Paradise  of  Celtic  mythology. 

Flatterer.  Vitellius,  the  Roman  sy- 
nonym of  flatterer. — Tacitus,  Ann.wi.  32. 

Flea.  When  the  princess  Badoura 
was  placed  on  prince  Camaral'zaman’s 
bed,  in  order  to  compare  their  claims  to 
beauty,  the  fairy  Maimoune  changed  her- 
self into  a flea,  and  bit  the  prince  on  the 
neck  in  order  to  awake  him.  Next,  the 
genius  Danhasch  changed  himself  into  a 
flea,  and  bit  the  princess  on  the  lip,  that 
she  might  open  her  eyes  and  see  the 
prince. — Arabian  Nights  {CamaraUaman 
and  Badourci). 

I sent  him  off  \cith  a flea  in  his  car. 
Peremptorily.  A dog  which  has  a flea 
in  the  ear  is  very  restless,  and  runs  off 
in  terror  and  distress.  Probably  there 
is  a pun  implied. 

Flea-bite.  It  is  a mere  flea-bite.  A 
thing  of  no  moment.  Thus,  a merchant 
who  has  suffered  loss  by  speculation  or 
failure  might  say  that  the  loss  is  a mere 
flea-bite  to  him.  A soldier  might  call 
a wound  a mere  flea-bite.  A passing 
inconvenience,  which  annoys  but  leaves 
no  permanent  injury.  Mr,  Disraeli 
spoke  of  the  National  Debt  as  a mere 
flea-bite. 

Flea’s  Jump.  Aristoph'anes,  in  the 

Clouds,”  says  that  Soc'rates  and  Chse'- 
rephon  tried  to  measure  how  many  times 
its  own  length  a flea  jumped.  They  took 
in  "wax  the  size  of  a flea’s  foot ; then  on 
the  principle  of  ex  pede  Herculem  cal- 
culated the  length  of  its  body.  Having 
found  this,  and  measured  the  distance  of 
the  flea’s  jump  from  the  hand  of  Socrates 
to  Chserephon,  the  knotty  problem  was 
resolved  by  simple  multiplication. 

Fle'ance  (2  syl.).  Son  of  Banquo.-- 
Shalespeare,  ^ ‘ M acbeth.  ’ ’ 

Fleclie.  Faive  fleche  de  tout  hois.  To 
turn  every  event  into  a cause  of  censure. 
To  make  whatever  wood  falls  in  your 
path  an  arrow  to  discharge  at  your  ad- 
versary. 

Flecknoe  {Richard).  An  Irish  priest, 
who  printed  a host  of  poems,  letters,  and 
travels.  As  a poet  his  name,  like  tho 
names  of  Mcevius  and  Bavins  among  the 
Romans,  is  proverbial  for  vileness.  Dry- 
den  says  he — 

Reigned  without  dispute 
Through  all  the  realms  of  nouseuse,  absolute. 

Mac  Flecknoe. 


FLEDGEBY. 


FLEUK-DE-LYS. 


3CG 


Fledgeby  (2  syl. ).  A q over-reaching, 
^cowardly  sneak,  who  conceals  his  dirty 
bill-broking  under  the  trade  name  of 
Pubsey  and  Co.  He  is  soundly  thrashed 
by  Alfred  Lammle,  and  quietly  pockets 
the  affront.— Mutual  Friend.'^ 

Fleeced  (1  syl.).  Cheated  of  one’s 
money  ; sheared  like  a sheep. 

Fleet-book  Evidence.  No  evi- 
dence at  all.  The  books  of  the  old  Fleet 
prison  are  not  admissible  as  evidence  to 
prove  a marriage. — Wharton^  Law  Dic- 
tionary.'*’ 

Fleet  Marriages.  Clandestine  mar- 
riages, at  one  time  performed  without 
banns  or  licence  by  needy  chaplains,  in 
Fleet  Prison,  London.  As  many  as  thirty 
marriages  a day  were  sometimes  con- 
•summated  in  i;his  disgraceful  manner  j 
-and  Malcolm  tells  us  that  2,954  were 
registered  in  the  four  months  ending 
with  February  12tb,  1705.  Suppressed 
by  the  Marriage  Act  in  1754. 

Fleet  Street  (London).  For  two 
hundred  yea  rs  after  the  Conquest,  London 
was  watered  on  the  west  by  ‘'the  river 
of  Wells,”  afterwards  called  “Fleet  dyke, 
because  (Stowe  says)  it  rumieth  past  the 
Fleete.”  In  the  middle  of  the  city  and 
falling  into  the  Thames  was  Wellbrooke ; 
on  the  east  side,  Langbourne ; and  in  the 
western  suburbs,  Oldbourne.  Along  the 
Fleete  and  Oldbourne  “ ships”  used  to 
ply  with  merchandise.  These  four, 
together  with  the  lloding,  the  Lea,  the 
Ravensbourne,  and  the  Wandle,  are  now 
merely  sewers  to  the  great  metropolis. 

Fleet  of  the  Desert.  A caravan. 
— Washington  Irving. 

Flemish  Account.  A sum  less 
than  that  expected.  In  Antwerp  ac- 
counts were  kept  in  Ihres,  sols,  and 
pence ; but  the  livre  or  pound  was  only 
12s.,  so  that  what  the  Antwerp  merchant 
called  one  livi’e  thirteen  and  fourpence, 
would  in  English  currency  be  only  20s. 
In  “Notes  and  Queries”  we  have  an 
example  of  a Flemish  account,  where 
£373  Flemish  becomes  £213  2s.  lOd. 
English. 

Flemish  School.  A school  of 
painting  established  by  the  brothers 
Van  Eyck,  in  the  fifteenth  century. 
The  chief  early  masters  were  Memiing, 
Weyden,  Matsys,  Mabus,  and  Moro.  6t 
the  second  period,  Rubens  and  Vandyck, 


Snyders,  Jordaens,  Gaspar  de  Grayer, 
and  the  younger  Teniers. 

Flesh.  He  jleshed  his  sivord.  Used 
it  for  the  first  time.  Men  jleshed  in 
cruelty — t.e.,  initiated  or  used  to  it.  A 
sportsman’s  expression.  When  a sports- 
man wishes  to  encourage  a young  dog  or 
hawk,  he  will  allow  it  to  have  the  first 
game  it  catches  for  its  own  eating.  This 
“flesh”  is  the  first  it  has  tasted,  and 
fleshing  its  tooth  thus  gives  the  creature 
a craving  for  similar  food.  Hence,  also, 
to  eat  with  avidity. 

The  wild  dog 

Shall  flesh  his  tooth  in  every  innocent. 

Shakespeare^  “ 2 Henry  IV,*’  iv.  4. 

Flesh-pots.  Sighing  for  the  jlesh- 
pots  of  Egypt.  Hankering  for  good 
things  no  longer  at  your  command.  The 
children  of  Israel  said  they  wished  they 
had  died  “ when  they  sat  by  the  flesh- 
pots  of  Egypt”  (Exodus  xvi.  3)— i.r., 
when  they  sat  watching  the  boilers  which 
contained  the  meat  they  were  to  have 
for  dinner.  The  expression  also  means 
abundance  of  appetising  food. 

Fle'ta.  An  excellent  treatise  on  the 
common  law  of  England,  written  in  the 
fourteenth  century  %an  unknown  writer, 
while  a prisoner  in  the  Fleet. 

Fleurs-de-Lys  {Louis’ 
jtoivers),  at  one  time  supposed  to 
be  the  iris  flower  or  blossom- 
ing flag,  which  was  accordingly 
adopted  by  Louis  VII.  (1137-1180), 
when  the  national  standard  was  thickly 
charged  with  these  flowers.  In  1365  the 
number  was  reduced  by  Charles  VI.  to 
three  (the  mystical  church  number). 
Givillim,  in  his  “Display  of  Heraldrie,” 
1611,  says  the  device  is  “Three  toads 
erect,  saltant ; ” in  allusion  to 
which  Nostrada'mus,  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  calls  French 
men  crapauds  (toads).  Recently 
it  has  been  thought  that  the  device  is 
really  a “ bee  flying,”  because  certain 
ornaments  resembling  bees  were  found 
in  the  tomb  of  Childeric,  father  of 
Clovis,  when  it  was  opened  in  1653. 
These  bees. are  now  generally  believed  to 
be  the  fieurons  of  horse-trappings,  and 
quite  independent  of  the  emblem. 

The  feur-de-lys  was  chosen  by  Flavio 
Gio'ja  to  mark  the  north  point  of  the 
compass,  out  of  compliment  to  the  king 
of  Naples,  who  was  of  French  descent. 
(1302.) 


804 


FLIBBEETIGIBBET. 


FLOEA. 


Flibbertigibbet.  One  of  the  five 
fiends  that  possessed  ‘^poor  Tom.” 
Shakespeare  got  it  from  Bishop  Harsnet’s 
account  of  the  Spanish  invasion,  where 
we  are  told  of  forty  fiends  which  the 
Jesuits  cast  out,  and  among  the  number 
was  Fliberdigibet.  Shakespeare  says, 
he  ^‘is  the  fiend  of  mopping  and  mowing', 
who  possesses  chambermaids  and  waiting 
women”  (^^King  Lear,”  iv.  2).  And, 
again,  that  he  “ begins  at  curfew  and 
walks  till  the  first  cock,”  giving  men 
pins  and  needles,  squint  eyes,  hare-lips, 
and  so  on.  — Shakespeare,  Lear, iii.  4. 

Flic  (French).  A policeman  or  ser- 
geant de  ville.  Une  allusion  a I’epee 
des  sergents  de  ville,  ou  plutot  aux  Arches 
des  archers  primitifs  ” {Raille).  Hence, 
*^flic-flacs,”  thumps  and  thwacks. 

Flick.  To  strike  with  a quick  jerk. 
To  “flick  a whip  in  one’s  face”  is  to 
strike  the  face  with  the  lash  and  draw 
the  whip  suddenly  back  again.  (Anglo- 
Saxon  '^Qoioh.,  flicker ; Danish, 

Hikkeren,  to  twinkle,  &c.) 

Flins  (a  stone).  An  idol  of  the  an- 
cient Vandals  settled  in  Lusace.  It  was 
a huge  stone,  draped,  wearing  a lion’s 
skin  over  its  shoulders,  and  designed 
to  represent  death.  Mr.  Lower  says 
that  the  town  of  Flint  in  North  Wales 
is  named  in  honour  of  this  stone  deity, 
and  gives  Alwin  Flint  in  Suffolk  as  an- 
other example. — Pat.  Brit. 

The  Welsh  call  Flint  Flird  Teg-cingl 
(Flin’s  beautiful  band  or  girdle). 

Flint  Im'plements.  Arrow-heads, 
axe-heads,  lance-heads,  and  knives,  made 
of  granite,  jade,  serpentine,  jasper,  ba- 
salt, and  other  hard  stones.  The  first 
were  discovered  on  the  banks  of  the 
Somme,  near  Amiens  and  .Abbeville,  but 
others  have  been  discovered  in  Belgium, 
Germany,  Italy,  &c.  They  were  the 
rude  instruments  of  men  before  the  use 
of  metal  was  known. 

Flint  Jack.  Edward  Simpson,  an 
occasional  servant  of  Dr.  Young',  of 
Whitby,  So  called  because  he  used  to 
tramp  the  kingdom  vending  spurious 
fossils,  flint  arrow-heads,  stone  celts,  and 
other  imitation  antiquities.  Professor 
Tennant  charged  him  with  forging  these 
wares,  and  in  1867  he  was  sent  to  prison 
for  theft. 


Flirt.  A coquette.  The  word  is  from 
the  verb  flirt  (to  move  to  and  fro  with  a 
pert  motion),  as  ‘Ho  flirt  a fan.”  The  fan 
being  used  for  coquetting,  those  who 
coquetted  were  called  fan-flirts.  Lady 
Frances  Shirley,  the  favourite  of  lord 
Chesterfield,  introduced  the  word.  Flirt 
is  allied  to  flutter,  flit,  jerk,  &c. 

Flitter-mouse.  A bat.  South  calls 
the  bat  n flinder -mouse.  (German, - 
maus. ) 

Flo  (French).  A crowd.  A contract 
tion  otflotj  Latin,  fluctus  (a  wave). 

Grant  flot  de  gens  apres  s’arrive. 

Guillaume  Guiart,  (1031.) 
Puis  lor  tramist  par  huiz  ouverz 
Grand  flo  d’Anglois  de  fer  couverz. 

Ditto,  verse.  (1692.) 

Flog.  Flogging  the  dead  horse.  Try* 
ing  to  revive  an  interest  in  a subject  out 
of  date.  Bright  said  that  earl  Bussell’s 
“ reform  bill”  was  a “ dead  horse,”  and 
every  attempt  to  create  any  enthusiasm 
in  its  favour  was  like  “ flogging  the  dead 
horse.” 

Floor.  I floored  him.  Knocked  him 
down  on  the  floor;  hence  to  overcome, 
beat,  or  surpass.  Thus,  we  say  at  the 
university,  “I  floored  that  paper” — i.e., 
answered  every  question  on  it.  “I  floored 
that  problem” — did  it  perfectly,  or  made 
myself  master  of  it. 

Floorer.  That  was  a floorer.  That 
blow  knocked  the  man  down  on  the  floor. 
In  the  university  we  say,  “ That  paper 
or  question  was  a floorer;”  meaning  it 
was  too  hard  to  be  mastered.  {See  above.) 

Flora.  Flowers  ; all  the  vegetable 
productions  of  a country  or  of  a geo- 
logical period,  as  the  flora  of  England, 
the  flora  of  the  coal  period.  Flora  was 
the  Eoman  goddess  of  flowers. 

Another  Flora  there,  of  bolder  hues. 

And  richer  sweets,  beyond  our  garden’s  pride. 

Thomson,  Summer.*’ 

Metrop)olis  of  Flora.  Aranjuez,  in 
Spain,  is  so  called,  from  its  many  beau- 
tiful gardens. 

Flora’s  Dial.  A dial  formed  by 
flowers  which  open  or  close  at  stated 
hours. 

I.  Dial  of  flowers  which  open — 

{a.)  The  first  twelve  hours. 

I A.  M.  OPENS. 

I ].  {Scrtndinavinji  Sotcthis’le  closes.) 

, 2.  Yellow  Goat’s-beard. 

3,  Common  0.x  tongue. 


DELIOE. 


FLOllIZEL. 


305 


4.  ITawkweed ; Late-flowering  Dandelion ; and 

Wild  Succor V. 

5.  White  Water-lily;  Naked-stalked  Poppy;  and 

Smooth  Sowthistle. 

fi.  Shrubby  Hawkweed  and  Spotted  Cat’s-ears, 

7.  AV  hite  AV ater-lily ; Garden  Lettu:e ; and  African 
Marigold. 

a Scarlet  Pimpernel:  Mouse-ear  Hawkweed; 
and  Proliferous  Pink. 

0.  Field  Marigold. 

J'».  Red  Sandwort. 

ll.  S‘ar  of  Bethlehem, 
oon.  Ice  Plant. 

(6.)  The  second  twelve  hours. 

IP.M.  ( PKNS. 

1.  Common  Purslane. 

2.  (Purple  Sandwort  closes.) 

3.  (Dandelion  closes.) 

4.  ( White  Spiderwort  closes.) 

5.  J ulap. 

6.  Dark  Crane’s-bill. 

7.  (Naked  stalked  Poppy  closes.) 

8.  (Orange  Day-lily  closes.) 

9.  Cactus  Opuntia. 

10.  Purple  Bindweed. 

11.  Night-blooming  Catch-fly. 

Midnight.  (Late-flowering  Dandelion  closes.) 

II.  Dial  of  closing  flowers — 

(a.)  The  first  twelve  hours. 

A.M.  CLOSES. 

1.  Scandinavian  Sowthiistle. 

2.  (Yellow  Goat's-beard  opens.) 

3.  (Common  Oxtongue  opens.) 

4.  ( Wild  Sticcory  opens.) 

5.  (Several  Sowthistles  ope?}.) 

6.  (Spotted  CaVs-ear  opens.) 

7.  Night-flowering  Catch-fly. 

8.  Evening  Primrose, 
y.  Purple  Bindweed. 

10.  Yellow  Goat’s-beard. 

11.  Alpine  Hawkweed. 

Noon.  Field  Sowthistle. 

(6  ) The  second  twelve  hours. 

P.M.  CLOSES. 

1.  Red  or  Proliferous  Pink. 

2.  Purple  Sandwort. 

3.  Dandelion,  or  Field  Marigold. 

4.  AV  hite  Spadewort  and  Field  Bindwort. 

5.  Common  Cat’s-ears. 
i6.  AVhire  Water-lily. 

7.  Naked-stalked  Poppy. 

y.  Orange  D>jy-lily  and  Wild  Succory. 

9.  Convoivulus  Linnae'ns  and  Chickweed. 

10.  Common  Nipple-wort. 

11.  Smooth  Sowthistle. 

Midnight.  Creeping  3Iallow  and  Late  Dandelion. 

Flor'deliee  (3  syl.).  The  mistress 
of  Bran'dimart, — Ariosto j Orlando  Fu- 
rioso.*’ 

Florence.  The  German  Florence, 
Dresden  is  so  called. 

Floren'tius.  A knight  who  bound 
himself  to  marry  a “ foul  and  ugly  witch,” 
if  she  would  teach  him  the  solution  of  a 
riddle  on  which  his  life  depended. — 
Gower,  Confessio  Amantis'* 

Flor'ian  (aS'^.).  Patron  saint  of  mer- 
cers, being  himself  of  the  same  craft. 

Floria'ni.  A sect  of  heretics  of  the 
second  century  who  maintained  that 


God  is  the  author  of  evil,  and  taught  the 
Gnostic  doctrine  of  two  principles.  Flo- 
riahus  was  their  founder. 

Florid  Architecture.  The  latter 
division  of  the  perpendicular  style,  often 
called  the  Tudor,  remarkable  for  its  florid 
character  or  profusion  of  ornament. 

Florlmel  {honey -flower).  A damsel 
of  great  beauty,  but  so  timid  that  she 
feared  the  smallest  monstrous  mouse 
that  creeps  on  floor,”  and  was  abused  by 
every  one.  Her  form  was  simulated  by 
a witch  out  of  wax,  but  the  wax  image 
melted,  leaving  nothing  behind  except 
the  girdle  that  was  round  the  waist. — 
Spenser,  **  FaMry  Queen 

Florimel  loved  Mar'inel,  but  Proteus  cast  her  into 
a dungeon,  from  whicb  be  ng  relea-ed  by  the  ordei 
of  Neptune,  she  marrifed  the  man  of  her  choice.— 
Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen,"  bk.  iv. 

St.  Amaiid  had  long  since  in  bitterness  repented  of 
a transient  infatuation,  had  long  since  distinguished 
the  true  Florimel  from  tite  false.— >Sir  E.  B.  Lytto?i, 
**Bilgrinis  of  the  Rhine,”  hi. 

Florlmers  Girdle  gave  to  those 
who  could  wear  it  the  virtue*  of  chaste 
love  and  wifehood  true but  if  any 
woman  not  chaste  and  faithful  put  it  on, 
it  ^Moosed  or  tore  asunder.”  It  was 
once  the  cestus  of  Venus,  made  by  her 
husband  Vulcan;  but  when  she  wan- 
toned with  Mars  it  fell  off,  and  was  left 
on  the  ^‘Acida'lian  mount.” — Spenser, 
**  Faery  Queen  bk.  iv. 

Florin.  A coin  ; so  called  from  Flo- 
rence, where  it  was  first  struck  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  It  had  a lily  on  one 
side  and  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist  on 
the  other. 

Flor'ipes  (3  syl.).  Sister  of  Sir  Fiera- 
bras,  daughter  of  Laban,  and  wife  of  Gny, 
the  nephew  of  Charlemagne. 

Florisan'do.  One  of  the  knights  of 
the  Spanish  version  of  ‘‘Am'adis  of 
Gaul,”  whose  exploits  and  adventures 
are  recounted  in  the  6th  and  following 
books.  This  part  of  the  romance  was 
added  by  Paez  de  Ribe'ra. 

Flor'isel  of  Nice'a.  A knight 
whose  exploits  and  adventures  form  a 
supplemental  part  of  the  Spanish  version 
of  “Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  This  part  was 
added  by  Felicia'no  de  Silva. 

Flor'ismart.  One  of  Charlemagne’s 
paladins,  and  the  bosom  friend  of  Roland. 

Flor'izel.  Prince  of  Bohemia  in 
love  with  Per'dita.  — Wire- 

ier's  Tale.’^ 


U 


FLOTSAM. 


FLUSH. 


S06 


Florizel,  George  the  Fourth,  when 
prince,  corresponded,  under  this  name, 
with  Mrs.  Robinson,  actress  and  poet, 
generally  known  as  Perdita,  that  being 
the  character  in  which  she  first  attracted 
the  prince’s  attention. 

Flotsam  and  Jetson.  Waifs 
found  in  the  sea  or  on  the  shore.  ‘^Flot- 
sam” means  goods  found  floating  on  the 
sea  after  a wreck.  Jetson,”  things 
thrown  out  of  a ship  to  lighten  it.  (Saxon, 
flotan,  to  float ; French,  jetevj  to  throw 
out.) 

Flower  of  Chivalry.  A name 
given  to  several  cavaliers— e.g.,  William 
Douglas,  lord  of  Liddesdale,  in  the  four- 
teenth century. 

Sir  Philip  Sidney.  (1554-1586.) 

Chevalier  de  Bayard  {le  chevalier  sans 
peur  et  sans  reproche) . (147 6-1524. ) 


Flower  of  Kings.  Arthur  is  so 
called  by  John  of  Exeter.  (Sixth  cen- 
tury.) 

Flower  of  Paradise.  The  Ipomoea 
or  Camala'ta,  called  by  Sir  W.  Jones 
Love’s  creeper.”  It  symbolises  that 
mythological  plant  which  fulfils  all  desire. 


Flowers  and  trees. — (I.)  Dedicated 
to  heathen  gods — 


The  Cornel  cberry-t 
„ Cypress 
„ Dittany 
„ Laurel 

•» 

„ Maiden’s-hair 
„ Myrtle 
„ Narcissus 
«,  Oak 
„ Olive 
„ Pine-cone 
„ Poppy 
V ine 


to  Apollo, 

.,  Pluto. 

„ The  Moon. 

„ Apollo. 

„ Juno. 

„ Pluto 
Venus. 

,,  Ceres. 

„ Jupiter. 

„ Minerva. 

,,  Assyrian  temples. 
„ Cei  es. 

„ Bacchus. 


(II.)  Dedicated  to  saints — 


Canterbury  Bells 
Crocus 

Crown  Imperial 
Da  sy 

Hei  b Christopher 
Lady  s-smock 
Rose 

St.  Johu’s-wort 
St.  Bamaby’s  Thistle 


to  St.  Augustine  of  England. 
„ St.  Valentine. 

„ Edward  the  Confessor. 

„ St.  Margaret. 

„ St.  Chriitopher. 

„ The  Virgin  Mary. 

„ Mary  Magdalene. 

„ St.John. 

„ St.  Barnabas. 


(HI.)  National  emblems — 


Leek 

Lily  (Flerir-de-hjs) 
«•  {Giglio  bianco) 
„ white 
«.  red 
Linden 
Mignonette 
Pomegranate 
Rose 
.1  red 
,,  white 
Shamrock 
Thistle 
V iolet 


emblem  of  Wales. 
^ Prance. 


Plorence. 

the  Chibeilinc badge, 
badge  of  the  Guelphs. 
Prussia, 

Saxony, 

Spain. 

Etigland, 

Lancastrians 

\oTkists. 

Ireland. 

Scotland. 

Athens  and  N apoleon. 


(IV.)  Symbols — 

Box 
Cedars 
Coru-ears 
Dates 
Grapes 
Holly 
Ivv 
Lily 
Olive 

Orange-blossom 
Palm 
Bose 
Vine 
Vew 


is  a symbol  of  the  resurreetion. 

„ the  faithful. 

„ the  Holy Communioo. 

,,  the  faithful. 

„ this  i.s  my  blood, 

•y  the  rtsurrec’ion. 

the  resurrection, 
pu  ity. 
peace. 

^irg  nity. 
victory, 
incorruption. 

Christ  our  Life, 
death. 


N.R.— The  laurel,  oak,  olive,  myrtle,  rosemary;, 
cypress,  aud  amaranth  are  all  funereal  plants. 


You  are  icelcome  as  flowers  in  May^ 
Your  coming  is  as  opportitne  and  givew 
me  as  much  pleasure  as  flowers  in  the- 
month  of  May. 

Fluellen.  A Welsh  captain  and? 
great  pedant,  who,  amongst  other  learned 
quiddities,  attempted  to  draw  a parallel 
between  Henry  V.  and  Alexander  the- 
Great;  but  when  he  had  said  that  one 
was  born  at  Monmouth,  and  the  other  at 
Macedon,  both  beginning  with  the  same 
letter,  and  that  there  was  a river  in  botit 
cities,  he  had  exhausted  his  best  paral- 
lelisms.— Henry  F.,”  iv.  7. 

His  parallel  is,  in  all  egs^ntial  circumstances,  an 
incorrect  as  that  which  Plueilen  drew  between. 
3Iacedon  and  Monmouth.— Lo?*ci  Macaulay. 


Fluke.  Hap-hazard.  (Saxon,  floe, 
vfhQxiQQ  fluJee,  a flounder.) 

We  seem  to  have  discovered,  as  it  were  by  a flukC;. 
a most  excellent  rule  for  all  future  Cabinet  arrange- 
ments.—Times. 


Flummery.  Flattering  nonsense, 
palaver.  In  Wales  it  is  a food  made  of 
oatmeal  steeped  in  water  and  kept  till  it 
has  become  sour.  In  Cheshire  and  Lan- 
cashire it  is  the  prepared  skin  of  oatmeal 
mixed  with  honey,  ale,  or  milk ; pap ; 
blanc-mange.  (Welsh,  llymryj  wash- 
brew,  from  llynif  sour  or  sharp.) 

Flunkey.  A livery  servant.  (OM 
French, /awgw ter,  a henchman.) 

Flur.  The  bride  of  Cas'sivelauny 
''  for  whose  love  the  Roman  Caesar  flr.st 
I invaded  Britain.” — Tennyson,  Enid.^' 

Flush,  i’m  all  of  a flush.  My  whole 
hand  of  cards  is  of  one  and  tbe  same  suit : 
as  a flush  of  clubs f a flush  of  hearts  f 
kc.  {^ee  below.") 

I am  flush  of  money.  Full  of  mone}'., 
A flush  of  water  is  a sudden  and  full  flow 
of  it.  (Latin, /w:r.) 

Strut  was  not  very  flush  in  [the]  ready.— 

' Atbuthnot. 


FLUTTER. 


FOIL. 


807 


Flutter.  A very  weak  specimen  of  a 
fop,  iu  the  Belle’s  Stratagem,”  by  Mrs. 
Cowley. 

Fly.  An  insect.  All  flies  shall  perish 
except  one,  and  that  is  the  bee-fly. — 
Koran, 

The  Mahometans  say  ten  animals  be- 
sides man  will  be  admitted  into  heaven. 
{See  Paradise,  p.  G54.) 

A Fly  has  three  eyes  and  two  com- 
pound eyes,  each  of  which  has  4,000  facets. 

Crushing  a fly  on  a wheel.  Making  a 
mountain  of  a mole-  hill.  Taking  a wheel 
used  for  torturing  criminals  and  heretics 
for  killing  a fly,  which  one  might  destroy 
with  a flapper. 

The  fly  on  the  coach-wheel.  One  who 
fancies  himself  of  mighty  importance, 
but  who  is  in  reality  of  none  at  all.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  fable  of  a fly  sitting  on 
a chariot- wheel  and  saying,  ‘^See  what 
a dust  we  make.” 

Not  a fly  with  him.  Domitian,  the 
Roman  emperor,  was  fond  of  catching 
flies,  and  one  of  his  slaves  being  asked  if 
the  emperor  was  alone,  wittily  replied. 

Not  a fly  with  him.” 

Flies  in  Amber.  An  incongruous 
mixture  of  natural  objects,  which  cause 
wonderment,  like  flies  in  amber.  Leaves 
and  insects  are  often  found  imbedded  in 
amber,  and  the  fact  gave  rise  to  a poli- 
tical satire,  where  a learned  philosopher 
is  represented  as  noting  the  phenomenon, 
and  puzzling  his  brains  to  account  for 
it.  Amber.) 

Fly.  A hackney  coach;  a cab.  A 
contraction  of  Fiy-hy-night,  as  sedan- 
chairs  on  wheels  used  to  be  called  in  the 
regency.  These  Fly-by-nights,”  pa- 
tronised greatly  by  George,  Prince  of 
Wales,  and  his  boon  companions,  during 
their  wild  night  pranks  at  Brighton, 
were  invented  1809,  by  John  Butcher,  a 
cai‘i»entcr  of  Jew  Street. 

To  fly  in  ones  face.  To  get  into  a pas- 
sion with  a person ; to  insult ; as  a 
hawk,  when  irritated,  flies  in  the  face  of 
its  master. 

To  fly  in  the  face  of  danger.  To  run  in 
a foolharfiy  manner  into  danger,  as  a 
hen  flies  in  the  face  of  a dog  or  cat. 

Fly-boy.  The  boy  in  a printing 
office  who  lifts  the  printed  sheets  off  the 
press.  He  is  called  the  fly -boy  because 
he  catches  the  sheets  as  they  fly  from  the 
tymj)nn  {g.v.)^  immediately  the  frisket 


(q.v.)  is  opened.  This  is  now  generally 
performed  by  the  pressmen. 

Fly-by-night.  One  who  defrauds 
his  creditors  by  decamping  at  night- 
time. (/See  Fly.) 

Flying  Dutchman.  A spectral 
ship,  seen  in  stormy  weather  off  the 
Caps  of  Good  Hope,  and  considered 
ominous  of  ill  luck.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
says  she  was  originally  a vessel  laden 
with  precious  metal,  but  a horrible  mur- 
der having  been  committed  on  board, 
the  plague  broke  out  among  the  crew, 
and  no  port  would  allow  the  vessel  to 
enter.  The  ill-fated  ship  still  wanders 
about  like  a ghost,  doomed  to  be  sea- 
tossed,  but  never  more  to  enjoy  rest. 

No  flying  without  iviugs.  Nothing  can 
be  done  without  the  proper  means. 

Sine  pennis  vola're  baud  facile  est — Plautus. 

Fogie  or  Fogey.  An  old  Fogey. 
Properly  an  old  military  pensioner.  This 
term  is  derived  from  the  old  pensioners 
of  Edinburgh  Castle,  whose  chief  occupa- 
tion was  to  fire  the  guns,  or  assist  in 
quelling  street  riots.  The  word  is  allied 
to  a host  of  Teutonic  words,  meaning 
policemen,  guards,  watchmen,  protectors, 
and  the  like  {q.v.')—fogatf  phogot,  voget, 
foged^  fogde,  &c.  Another  plausible 
derivation  is  the  French /owywewa;— pep- 
pery, irritable,  tetchy.  A correspondent 
in  Notes  and  Queries”  tells  us  that  the 
Scotch  use  the  word  fog  as  synonymous 
with  moss  ; ” as  the  fogie  rose” 
(moss  rose);  the  ‘‘fogie  bee”  (humble 
bee)  ; a “rolling  stone  gathers  no  fog” 
(moss);  and  thinks  that  “old  fogie” 
means  “old  mossy”  (like  a ruined  tower). 
The  suggestion  is  not  without  wit  and 
poetical  ingenuity. 

Fo-h-i  or  Foe.  One  of  the  chief  deities 
of  the  Chinese.  His  mother,  Moye,  was 
walking  one  day  along  a river  bank  when 
she  became  suddenly  encircled  by  a 
rainbow,  and  at  the  end  of  twelve  years 
was  the  mother  of  a son.  During  ges- 
tation she  dreamed  that  she  was  pregnant 
with  a white  elephant,  and  hence  iho- 
honours  paid  to  this  beast.  {Asiat.  Fes.) 

Foigard.  A humorous  French  re- 
fugee priest,  in  the  “ Beaux  Stratagem,”" 
by  Far qu bar. 

Foil.  That  which  sets  off  sometlnng 
to  advantage.  4 he  allusion  is  to  the 
metallic  leaf  used  by  jewellers  to  set  off 

u 2 


308 


FOLIO. 


FONDLE  WIFE. 


precious  stones.  (French, Latin, 
folium;  Greek  'phuUon,  a leaf. 

Hector  as  a foil  to  set  him  off.— Broome. 

I’ll  be  your  foil,  T.aertes.  In  mine  ignorance 

Your  skill  shall,  like  a star  i’  the  darkest  night, 

Stick  firy  off  indeed. 

Shakespeare^  '‘Hamlet"  v.  2. 

He  foiled  me.  He  outwitted  me.  The 
allusion  is  to  fighting  with  foils  or  blunt 
swords.  Similar  expressions  are  “ I 
speared  him/’  ‘‘I  harpooned  him/’ 
hooked  him,”  ‘'I  piked  him,”  &c.  &c. 
(Welsh, a thrust.) 

If  I be  foiled,  there  is  but  one  shamed  who  never  was 

gracious. 

Shakespeare,  “ As  You  Like  It"  i.  2. 

To  run  a foil.  To  puzzle ; to  lead 
astray.  The  track  of  game  is  called  its 
foil;  and  an  animal  hunted  will  some- 
times run  back  over  the  same  foil,  in 
order  to  mislead  its  pursuers.  This  is 
the  Saxon  ful,  German  faul  (foul),  in 
allusion  to  the  scent  left  behind. 

Folio.  A book  of  the  largest  size, 
formed  by  folding  the  paper  only  once, 
so  that  each  sheet  makes  two  leaves.  It 
is  from  the  Italian  un  lihro  in  foglio, 
through  the  French  in-folio.  Fol.  is  the 
contraction  for  folio. 

Folio  (so-and-so)  in  mercantile  books 
means  page  so-and-so,  and  sometimes 
the  two  pages  which  lie  exposed  at  the 
same  time,  one  containing  the  credit  and 
the  other  the  debit  of  one  and  the  same 
account.  So  called  because  ledgers,  &c., 
are  made  in  folio.  The  paging  is  called 
the  folio  also. 

Folio.  In  conveyances  seventy-two 
words,  and  in  Parliamentary  proceedings 
ninety  words,  make  a folio. 

Folk.  Latin,  vulg^  (the  common 
people);  German,  rolk ; Dutch,  volch  ; 
Saxon, /o^c;  Danish, our and 
vulgar. 

Folk,  fairies,  also  called  ''people,” 
‘'neighbours,”  "wights.”  The  Germans 
have  their  kleine  volk  (little  folk),  the 
Swiss  their  hill  people  and  earth  people. 

The  little  folk. 

So  happy  and  so  gay,  amuse  themselves 
?'ometime8  wit*i  singing 

Sometimes  with  dancing,  when  they  jump  and  spring 
Like  the  young  skipping  kids  in  the  Alp-grass. 

U'yss,  Idyll  of  Gertrude  and  Rosy." 
In  the  hinder  end  of  harvest,  at  All-hallow  e’en| 

^ W hen  our  good  neighbours  ride,  if  1 read  right. 

Some  buckled  on  beenwand,  and  some  on  a been 

MonUjomery.  “ Flytiny  against  Poiwart." 

I crouche  thee  from  the  elves,  snd  from  wights. 

Chaucer,  “ The  Millet  cs  Tale.” 


Folk-lore.  Legends,  traditions,  and 
superstitions  connected  with  fairy  my- 
thology, customs,  and  ways. 

Folk-mote  (a  folk  meeting').  A word 
used  in  England  before  the  conquest  for 
what  we  now  call  a Parliament. 

Follets.  Goblins  of  the  North  of 
France,  who  live  in  the  houses  of  simple 
rustics,  and  can  be  expelled  neither  by 
water  noi  exorcism.  They  can  be  heard 
but  are  never  seen.  In  the  singular 
number,  "Esprit  Follet.” 

Follower,  A male  sweetheart,  who 
follows  the  object  of  his  affections.  A 
word  very  common  among  servants. 
Mistresses  say  to  female  servants,  "I 
allow  no  followers,”— i.e.,  I do  not  allow 
men  to  come  into  my  house  to  see  you. 

Follow.  Follow  your  nose,  go  straight 
on.  He  followed  his  nose,  he  went  on  and 
on  without  any  discretion  or  thought  of 
consequences. 

Folly.  Father  of  Folly  (AhuJahl)  an 
aged  chief  who  led  100  horse  and  700 
camels  against  Mahomet,  and  fell  at  the 
battle  of  Bedr.  His  own  people  called 
him  Father  of  Wisdom  (Ahu  'Lhoem). 

Folly.  A country  seat  (French a 
mansion,  hall,  or  gentleman’s  house.  (See 
'‘  Spiers’  Dictionary.”) 

Fishery  Folly.  A large  and  beautiful 
house  in  Bishopsgate,  with  pleasure 
gardens,  bowling-green,  and  hot-houses, 
built  by  Jasper  Fisher,  one  of  the  six 
clerks  of  Chancery  and  a Justice  of  the 
Peace.  Queen  Elizabeth  lodged  there. 

Kirby’s  castle,  and  Fishers  fo  ly, 

Spinola’s  plei^sure,  and  j\Iegse‘s  glory. 

Stowe,  “ Stirvey." 

Fond.  A foolish,  fond  parent.  Here 
fond  does  not  mean  affectionate,  but  silly. 
Chaucer  uses  the  \wordi  fonne  for  a simple- 
ton, and  the  Scotch  fou  is  to  play  the 
fool.  Shakespeare  has  "fond  desire,” 
"fond  love,”  "fond  shekels  of  gold,” 
" fond  wretch,’’  "fond mad-woman,”  &c. 
" Fondling”  means  an  idiot,  or  one  fond. 

See  how  simple  and  how  fond  I am. 

Shakespeare.  "Midsummer  Night's  Dream,”  ii'.  2. 

Fonder  than  ienorance 
Shakespeare,  “ Troilus  and  CressHa"  i.  1. 

Fonda  del  Caiman,  or  the  sign  of 
the  Crocodile,  in  “ Croquemitaine.” 

Fondlewife.  An  uxorious  banker 
in  Congreve’s  “ Old  Bachelor.” 


FONT. 


FOOLS. 


309 


Pont,  in  printing*,  sometimes  called 
Fountf  a complete  set  of  type  of  any  one 
size  with  all  the  usual  points  and  accents ; 
a font  consists  of  about  100,000  charac- 
ters. The  word  is  French  Jonte  from 
foadre  (to  melt  or  cast).  When  a letter 
of  a different  type  to  the  rest  gets  into 
a page  it  is  called  a “ wrong  font,”  and 
is  signified  in  the  margin  by  the  two  let- 
ters w.f. 

Taken  to  the  font,  baptised.  The  font 
is  a vessel  employed  for  baptism. 


Pontara'bia.  Now  called  Fuenter- 
rabia  (in  Latin  Fons  rap'idus),  near  the 
Gulf  of  Gas'cony.  Here,  according  to 
Maria'na  and  other  Spanish  historians, 
Charlemagne  and  all  his  chivalry  fell  by 
the  sword  of  the  Spanish  Saracens. 
Mez'eray  and  the  French  writers  say  that 
the  rear  of  the  king’s  army  being  cut  to 
pieces,  Charlemagne  returned  and  re- 
venged their  death  by  a complete  victory. 


When  Charlemagne  with  all  his  peerage  fell 
By  Fontarabia. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost**  bk.  i. 


Pood.  Sir  Walter  Scott  remarks  that 
live  cattle  go  by  Saxon  names,  and  slain 
meat  by  Norman- French,  a standing  evi- 
dence that  the  Normans  were  the  lords 
who  ate  the  meat,  and  the  Saxons  the 
serfs  who  tended  the  cattle.  Examples : 

Sheep  Ox  Calf  Hog  Pig  [Saxon). 

Mutton  Beef  Veal  Bacon  Pork  [Norman-French). 

Food  of  the  gods.  (See  Ambrosia, 
Nectar.) 

Pool.  In  chess,  the  French  call  the 
**  bishop  ” fouy  and  used  to  represent  the 
piece  in  a fool’s  dress ; hence  Regnier 
says,  Les  fous  sont  aux  echecs  les  plus 
proches  des  Rois”  (14  Sat.).  Fou  is  a 
corruption  of  the  eastern  word  Fol  (an 
elephant),  as  Thomas  Hyde  remarks  in  his 
Lndis  (h'ientallhus  i.  4,  and  on  old  boards 
the  places  occupied  by  our  bishops” 
were  occupied  by  elephants. 

A Tom  Fool.  A person  who  makes 
himself  ridiculous.  (See  Tom.) 

The  ancient  and  noble  family  of  Tom  Fool.— Quar- 
terly  Review. 

Every  man  hath  a fool  in  his  sleeve.  No 
one  is  always  wise.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  tricks  of  jugglers. 

As  the  fool  thinks,  so  the  hell  clinks 
(Latin,  ‘'Quod  valde  voFumus  facile  cre'- 
dimush  A foolish  person  believes  what 
ho  desires. 


Pools. 

(I.)  The  most  celebrated  court  fools : 

(a)  Dag'onet,  jester  of  King  Arthur; 
Scogan,  of  Edward  IV.  ; Thomas  Killi- 
grew,  called  “King  Charles’s  jester” 
(1611-1682) ; Archie  Armstrong,  jester  in 
the  court  of  James  I. 

(h)  Trib'oulet,  jester  of  Louis  XII.  and 
Francois  I.  (1487-15361;  Brusquet,  of 
whom  Brantome  says  “he  never  had  his 
equal  in  repartee”  (1512-1563);  Chicot, 
jester  of  Henri  III.  and  IV.  (1553-1591)  ; 
and  An'geli,  jester  of  Louis  XIV.,  last  of 
the  titled  fools  of  France. 

(c)  Klaus  Narr,  jester  of  Frederick  the 
Wise,  elector  of  Prussia. 

(d)  Yorick,  in  the  court  of  Denmark, 
referred  to  by  Shakespeare  in  “ Hamlet,” 
V.  1. 

(II.)  Not  attached  to  the  court. 

(a)  Patrick  Bonny,  jester  of  the  regent 
Morton  ; John  Hey  wood,  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  VII. , author  of  numerous  dramatic 
pieces,  died  1565 ; Dickie  Pearce,  the 
fool  of  the  earl  of  Suffolk,  on  whom 
Swift  wrote  an  epitaph. 

(h)  Kunz  von  der  Rosen,  private  jester 
to  the  emperor  Maximilian  I. 

(c)  Gonnella  the  Italian  (q.v.). 

(d)  Le  Glorieux,  the  jester  of  Charles 
le  Hardi,  of  Burgundy. 

(III.)  Men  worthy  of  the  motley. 

(а)  Andrew  Borde,  physician  to  Henry 
VIII.,  usually  called  Merry  A ndrew  (1500- 
1549). 

(б)  Gen.  Kyaw,  a Saxon  officer,  famous 
for  his  blunt  jests. 

(c)  Jacob  Paul,  baron  Gundling,  who 
was  laden  with  titles  in  ridicule  by 
Frederick  William  I.  of  Prussia. 

(d)  Seigni  Jean  (Old  John),  so  called 
to  distinguish  him  from  Johan  “ fol  de 
Madame,”  of  whom  Marot  speaks  in  his 
epitaphs.  Seigni  Jean  lived  about  a 
century  before  Caillette. 

(e)  Caillette  “ flourished”  about  1494. 
In  the  frontispiece  of  the  “ Ship  of 
Fools,”  printed  1497,  there  is  a picture 
both  of  Seigni  Jean  and  also  of  Caillette. 

Feast  of  Fools.  A kind  of  Saturnalia, 
popular  in  the  Middle  Ages.  Its  chief 
object  was  to  honour  the  ass  on  which 
our  Lord  made  his  triumphant  entry 
into  Jerusalem.  This  ridiculous  mum- 
mery was  held  on  the  day  of  circum- 
cision (January  1).  The  office  of  the  day 
was  first  chanted  in  travesty;  then  a 
procession  being  formed,  all  sorts  of 


310 


FOOL’S  BOLT. 


FOOTING. 


absurdities,  both  of  dress,  manner,  and 
instrumentation,  were  indulged  in.  An 
ass  formed  an  essential  feature,  and  from 
time  to  time  the  whole  procession  imitated 
the  braying  of  this  animal. 

Fool’s  Bolt.  A fooVs  holt  is  soon 
shot  (‘‘Henry  V.,”  iii.  7).  Simpletons 
cannot  wait  for  the  proper  time,  but 
waste  their  resources  in  random  en- 
deavours ; a fool  and  his  money  are  soon 
parted.  The  allusion  is  to  the  British 
bowmen  in  battle,  where  the  good  soldier 
shot  with  a purpose,  but  the  foolish 
soldier  at  random.  {See  Prov.  xxix.  11.) 

Foolscap.  A corruption  of  the 
Italian /o/io-ca;90  (folio-sized  sheet).  The 
error  must  have  been  very  ancient,  as  the 
water -mark  of  this  sort  of  paper  from 
the  thirteenth  to  the  seventeenth  century 
was  a fool’s  head,  with  cap  and  bells. 

Fool’s  Paradise.  U nlawful  pleasure, 
illicit  love,  vain  hopes.  Thus,  in  “Borneo 
and  Juliet,”  the  Nurse  s^^ys  to  Romeo,  “If 
ye  should  lead  her  (Juliet)  into  a fool’s 
paradise,  it  were  a gross  . . behaviour.” 
The  old  schoolmen  said  there  were  three 
places  where  persons  not  good  enough 
for  paradise  were  admitted : (1)  The 
limbus  patrum,  for  those  good  men 
who  had  died  before  the  death  of  the 
Redeemer ; (2)  The  limbus  infantum  or 
paradise  of  unbaptised  infants ; and  (3) 
The  limbus  fatud rum  or  paradise  of  idiots 
and  others  who  were  non  com'pos  mentis. 
{See  Limbo.) 

F o o t . ^ Greek,  pod' ; Latin,  ped' ; 
French,  pied  ; Dutch,  voet ; Saxon,  fot ; 
owY  foot,  pedal,  &c. 

Foot  of  a page.  The  bottom  of  it. 

Foot-notes.  Notes  placed  at  the  bottom 
of  a page. 

A trifl'ng  sura  of  misery 
N ew  added  to  ihe  foot  of  thy  account. 

Dnjden. 

I have  not  yet  got  my  foot  in.  I am 
not  yet  familiar  and  easy  with  the 
work.  The  allusion  is  to  the  preliminary 
exercises  in  the  great  Roman  foot-race. 
While  the  signal  was  waited  for,  the 
candidates  made  essays  of  jumping,  run- 
ning, and  posturing,  to  excite  a suitable 
warmth  and  make  their  limbs  supple. 
This  was  “ getting  their  foot  in  ” for  the 
race.  (/See  Hand.) 

You  have  put  your  foot  in  it  nicely.  You 
hav^  got  yourself  into  a pretty  mess. 
(In  French,  vous  avez  mis  le  pied  dedans.) 


When  porridge  is  burnt  or  meat  over- 
roasted, we  say,  “ The  bishop  hath  put 
his  foot  in.”  (>SVe  Bishop.) 

Your  best  foot  foremost.  Use  all  pos- 
sible dispatch.  To  “set  on  foot”  is  to 
set  agoing;  so  here,  “your  best  foot” 
means  your  best  powers  of  motion.  If 
you  have  various  powers  of  motion,  set 
your  best  foremost. 

Nay,  but  make  haste ; the  better  foot  before. 

Shakespeare,  **King  John,'*  iv.  3. 

Turn  away  thy  foot  from  the  Sabbath 
(Isa.  Iviii.  13).  Abstain  from  working 
and  doing  your  own  pleasure  on  that 
day.  The  allusion  is  to  the  law  which 
prohibited  a Jew  from  walking  on  a 
Sabbath  more  than  a mile.  He  was  not 
to  “foot  it”  on  that  day,  but  was  to 
turn  away  his  foot  from  the  road  and 
street. 

I have  the  measure  or  length  of  his  foot, 
I know  the  exact  calibre  of  his  mind. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  Pythagore'an  ad- 
measurement of  Hercules  by  the  length 
of  his  foot.  {See  Ex  pede.) 

The  matter  is  now  afoot.  In  train,  stir- 
ring. II  marche  bien,  it  goes  on  well. 

Now  let  it  work.  Misch'ef,  thou  art  afoot, 

Take  thou  what  course  thou  wilt. 

Shakespeare,  '‘  Julius  Ccesar,”iii.  2. 

Foot-breadth  or  Quern-biter.  The 
sword  of  Thoralf  Skolinson  the  Strong, 
a companion  of  Hako  I.  of  Norway.  {See 
Swords.) 

Foot-lights.  To  appear  before  the 
foot-lights.  On  the  stage,  where  a row 
of  lights  is  placed  in  front  along  the 
floor  to  lighten  it  up. 

Foot  Monsters.  In  the  Italian  ro- 
mance of  “ Gueri'no  Meschi'no,”  Indians 
are  spoken  of  with  feet  so  large  that 
they  carry  them  over  their  heads  like 
umbrellas. 

Foot-pound.  The  unit  of  result 
in  estimating  woric  done  by  machinery. 
Thus,  if  we  take  1 lb.  as  the  unit  of 
weight  and  1 foot  as  the  unit  of  dis- 
tance, a foot-pound  would  be  1 lb.  weight 
raised  1 foot. 

Footing.  He  is  on  good  footing  loith 
the  world.  He  stands  well  with  the 
world.  This  is  a French  phrase,  fire 
sur  un  grand  pied  dans  le  m onde.  “ Grand 
pied”  means  “large  foot,”  and  the  allu- 
sion is  to  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  when 
the  rank  of  a man  was  designated  by 
the  size  of  his  shoe— the  higher  the  rank 


FOPPINGTON. 


FOI.LORN. 


311 


the  larger  the  shoe.  The  proverb  would 
be  more  correctly  rendered,  He  has  a 
large  foot  in  society.'’ 

To  'pay  your  footing.  To  give  money 
-for  drink  when  you  first  enter  on  a trade. 
Entry  money  for  being  allowed  to  put 
your  foot  in  the  premises  occupied  by 
fellow-craftsmen.  This  word  is  called 
foot-aU  by  ancient  writers.  {See  Garnish.  ) 

Foppington  {Lord).  An  empty 
<joxcomb,  in  Vanbrugh’s  Relapse/’  of 
which  Sheridan’s  ^^Trip  to  Scarborough” 
is  a modified  version. 

The  shoemaker  in  the“Relap?e”  tells  lord  Fop- 
pington  that  hi8  lordship  is  mistaken  in  supposing 
that  his  shoe  pinches.— I/orci  Macaulay. 

Forbes,  referred  to  by  Thomson  in 
his  Seasons,”  was  Duncan  Forbes,  of 
•Cullo'den,  lord  president  of  the  Court  of 
>Session.  For  many  years  he  ruled  the 
destinies  and  greatly  contributed  to  the 
prosperity  of  Scotland.  He  was  on 
friendly  terms  with  Pope,  Swift,  Ar- 
buthnot,  &c.  The  word  is  now  pro- 
si  ounced  as  a monosyllable. 

Thee,  Forbes,  too,  whom  every  worth  attends.... 

'rhy  country  feels  thro’  her  reviving  arts, 

Planned  by  thy  wisdom,  by  thy  soul  informed. 

Autumn. 

Forbidden  Fruit  {The),  Maho- 
metan doctors  aver,  was  the  banana  or 
Indian  fig,  because  fig-leaves  were  em- 
ployed to  cover  the  disobedient  pair 
when  they  felt  shame  as  the  result  of 
sin. 

Forcible  Feeble  School.  Ap- 
plied to  writers  who  crush  flies  upon 
wheels,  and  elaborate  things  not  worth 
-elaborating.  They  may  be  termed  lite- 
rary Nathos.  Feeble,  a recruit  (in 

Henry  IV.,”  pt.  2),  calls  him'^elf  a 

woman’s  tailor,”  but  says  he  will  do 
his  best,”  that  ^'no  one  can  die  more 
than  once,”  and  if  one  dies  this  year 
he  cannot  die  next.”  Falstaff  calls  him 
^•most  forcible  Feeble,”  ^Waliant  as  a 
wrathful  dove  or  most  magnanimous 
mouse.” 

Ford.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford  are  cha- 
racters in  ^’The  Merry  Wives  of  Wind- 
sor.” 1^1  rs.  Ford  pretends  to  accept  Sir 
John  Falstaff’ s nrotestations  of  love,  in 
order  to  punish  him  by  her  devices. 

For'delis  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
Wife  of  Bran'dimart,  Orlando’s  intimate 
friend.  When  Brandimart  was  slain, 
iihe  dwelt  for  a time  in  his  mausoleum 
in  Sicily,  and  died  broken-hearted. 


Fore  and  Aft.  The  whole  length 
of  a ship  from  stem  to  stern.  The  stem 
is  called  the  fore-end,  and  the  stern  the 
hind-part  or  aft-end.  {See  Stern.) 

A slight  spar  deck  fore  and  affc.— Sir  W.  Raleigh. 

Fore-castle.  Ancient  ships  had  a 
castle,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  tapestry  of 
the  House  of  Lords,  representing  the 
Spanish  Arma'da.  The  term  fore -castle 
means  before  the  castle.  The  Romans 
called  the  castled  ships  naves  tuidritce. 

That  part  of  the  fore-castle  which  is  aloft,  and 
not  in  the  hold,  is  called  the  prow.— Nir  W.  Raleigh. 

Fore-close.  To  put  an  end  to.  A 
legal  term,  meaning  to  close  before  the 
time  specified  ; ^.e.— suppose  I hold  the 
mortgage  of  a man  called  A,  and  A fails 
to  fulfil  his  part  of  the  agreement,  I can 
insist  upon  the  mortgage  being  cancelled, 
foreclosing  thus  our  agreement. 

The  embargo  with  Spain  foreclosed  this  trade.— 
Caretv, 

Fore-shortened.  Not  viewed  late- 
rally, but  more  or  less  in  the  line  of 
sight.  Thus  a man’s  leg  lying  on  the 
ground,  with  the  sole  of  the  foot  pre- 
sented foremost,  would  be  perspectively 
shortened. 

He  forbids  the  fore-shorteaings,  because  they 
make  the  parts  appear  little.— 

Forfar.  Do  as  the  cow  o’  Forfar  did, 
taS  a stannin!  drink.  A cow,  in  passing 
a door  in  Forfar,  where  a tub  of  ale  bad 
been  placed  to  cool,  drank  the  whole  of 
it.  The  owner  of  the  ale  prosecuted  the 
owner  of  the  cow,  but  a learned  bailie, 
in  giving  his  decision,  said,  ‘‘As  the  ale 
was  drank  by  the  cow  while  standing  at 
the  door,  it  must  be  considered  deoch  o.n' 
dorius  (stirrup-cup),  to  make  a charge 
for  which  would  be  to  outrage  Scotch 
hospitality.” — Waverley. 

Fork  out.  Hand  over ; pay  down  ; 
stand  treat.  Fingers  are  called  and 
this  may  suffice  to  explain  the  phrase ; 
if  not,  we  have  the  Saxon  verb  feccan  (to 
draw  out,  to  take),  and  “ fork  out”  would 
be  “fee  out.” 

Forks.  The  gallows.  (Latin,  jurea) ; 
hence  Cicero  {de  Dlv.  i.  26),  “ Ferens  fur- 
cam  ductus  est'*  (he  was  led  forth  bearing 
a gallows).  A slave  so  punished  was 
called  a “gallows-bearer”  {furefer). 

Forlorn  Hope  means  simply  the 
troop  sent  forward.  For-lorn  is  the 
Saxon  fore-Horan  (to  send  forward),  and 
hope  is  hauife  (a  troop).  Cromwell  says. 


312 


FORLOr. 


F0SC4RI, 


Omv  forlorn  of  horse  marched  within  a 
mile  of  the  enemy”— ^.e.,  our  horse 
picket  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre  ap- 
proached within  a mile  of  the  enemy’s 
camp.  In  huntsman’s  language,  a hound 
that  goes  before  the  rest  of  the  pack, 
and  follows  the  chase,  is  called  a 
ovforloyne  one. 

Porlot  or  FirloL  The  fourth  part  of 
a boll.  Yvomfeoiver  (four),  Mot  (part). 

Forma  Pau'peris  (Latin,  Under 
plea  of  poverty).  To  sue  iiiformd  pauperis. 
When  a person  has  just  cause  of  a suit, 
but  is  so  poor  that  he  cannot  raise  £5, 
the  judge  will  assign  him  lawyers  and 
counsel  without  the  usual  fees. 

For'seti.  God  of  Justice  in  Scandi- 
navian mythology.  Ho  was  a son  of 
Baldur,  and  lived  in  Glitner  Palace. 
(Old  Norse, /or  to  preside.) 

For'titer  in  He  (Latin).  Firmness 
in  doing  what  is  to  be  done ; an  unflinch- 
ing resolution  to  persevere  to  the  end. 

Fortunate  Islands.  Now  called 
the  Cana'ries. 

Fortuna'tus.  You  have  found  For- 
tunatus's  purse.  Are  in  luck’s  way.  The 
nursery  tale  of  Fortuna'tus”  records 
that  he  had  an  inexhaustible  purse.  It 
is  from  the  Italian  fairy  tales  of  Strapa- 
rola,  called  “ Nights.”  Translated  into 
French  in  1585.  {See  Wishing  Cup.) 

Fortune.  Fortune  favours  the  hrave, 
f Fortes  fortu'na  ad'juvat.)  — Terence, 

Phor'miof  i.  4. 

Fortu'nio.  The  assumed  name  of  a 
damsel,  youngest  of  three  sisters,  who 
dressed  herself  as  a cavalier  to  spare  her 
aged  father,  who  was  summoned  to  the 
army.  Fortunio  on  the  way  engaged 
seven  servants : Strong-back,  who  could 
carry  on  his  back  enough  liquor  to  fill  a 
river ; Lightfoot,  who  could  traverse  any 
distance  in  no  time;  Marksman,  who 
could  hit  an  object  at  any  distance ; Fine- 
ear,  who  could  hear  anything,  no  matter 
where  uttered ; Roisterer,  who  could  do 
any  amount  of  cudgelling ; Gourmand, 
who  could  eat  any  amount  of  food  ; and 
Tippler,  who  could  drink  a river  dry  and 
thirst  again.  Fortunio  having  rendered 
invaluable  services  to  king  Alfourite,  by 
the  aid  of  her  seven  servants,  at  last 
married  him. — Grimm's  Gohlins,  **  For- 
tunio." 


Forty.  A superstitious  number, 
arising  from  the  Scripture  use.  Thus 
Moses  was  forty  days  in  the  mount ; 
Elijah  was  forty  days  fed  by  ravens; 
the  rain  of  the  flood  fell  forty  days,  and 
another  forty  days,  expired  before  Noah 
opened  the  window  of  the  ark;  forty 
days  was  the  period  of  embalming;  Jonah 
gave  Nineveh  forty  days  to  repent ; our 
Lord  fasted  forty  days ; he  w'as  seen 
forty  days  after  his  resurrection  ; &c. 

St.  Swithin  betokens  forty  days’  rain 
or  dry  weather ; a quarantine  extends  to 
forty  days ; forty  days,  in  the  old  English 
law,  was  the  limit  for  the  payment  of  the 
fine  for  manslaughter;  the  privilege  of 
sanctuary  was  for  forty  days ; the  widow 
was  allowed  to  remain  in  her  husband’s 
house  for  forty  days  after  his  decease  ; a 
knight  enjoined  forty  days’ service  of  his 
tenant ; a stranger  at  the  expiration  of 
forty  days  was  compelled  to  be  enrolled 
in  some  tithing  ; members  of  parliament 
were  protected  from  arrest  forty  days 
after  the  prorogation  of  the  house,  and 
forty  days  before  the  house  was  con- 
vened ; a new-made  burgess  had  to 
forfeit  forty  pence  unless  he  built  a house 
within  forty  days  ; &c.  &c. 

The  ancient  physicians  ascribe  many 
strange  changes  to  the  period  of  forty ; the 
alchemists  looked  on  forty  days  as  the 
charmed  period  when  the  philosopher’s 
stone  and  elixir  of  life  were  to  appear. 

Forty  Thieves.  In  the  tale  of 
‘ ^ Ali  Baba'.  ” — Arabian  Nights'  Entertain^ 
ments. 

Forty  Winks.  A short  nap.  Forty 
is  an  indefinite  number,  meaning  a few. 
Thus  we  say,  ‘^A,  B,  C,  and  forty  more.”' 
Coriola'nus  says,  I could  beat  forty  of 
them,” hi.  1.  (NeeFoRTV.) 

The  slave  had  forty  thousand  lives. 

Shakespeare^  “ Othello  ” iii,  1. 

I loved  Ophelia ; forty  thousand  brothers 
Could  not,  with  all  their  quantity  of  love 
Make  up  my  sum, 

Shakespeare.  **  Hamlet^'  y.  l. 

Fos'cari  (Francis).  Doge  of  Venice. 
He  occupied  the  office  for  thirty- five, 
years,  added  Brescia,  Ber'gamo,  Crema, 
and  Ravenna  to  the  Republic,  greatly 
improved  the  city,  and  raised  Venice  to 
the  pinnacle  of  its  glory.  Of  his  four 
sons  only  one,  named  Jac'opo,  survived, 
who  was  thrice  tortured.  Before  his  final 
banishment,  the  old  doge,  then  eighty- 
four  years  of  age,  hobbled  on  crutches  to 
the  gaol  where  his  son  was  confined,  but 


FOSETA. 


FOUR. 


313 


would  not  mit’gate  the  sentence  of  The 
Ten.”  His  son,  being  banished  to  Candia, 
died,  and  Francis  was  deposed.  As  he 
descended  the  Giant  Staircase  he  heard 
the  bell  toll  for  the  election  of  his  suc- 
cessor, and  dropped  down  dead. — Byron, 
“ TJie  Tivo  FoscariJ*' 

Jacopo  Fos'cari.  Denounced  by  the 
Council  of  Ten  for  taking  bribes  of 
foreign  powers.  He  was  tried  before  his 
own  father,  confessed  his  guilt,  and  was 
banished.  During  his  banishment  a 
Venetian  senator  was  murdered,  and 
Jacopo,  being  suspected  of  complicity  in 
the  crime,  was  again  tortured  and  ban- 
ished. He  returned  to  Venice,  was  once 
more  brought  before  the  council,  sub- 
jected to  torture,  and  banished  to  Candia, 
where  in  a few  days  he  died. 

Nothing  can  sympathise  with  Foscari, 

Not  e’en  a Foscari. 

Byron ^ “ The  Two  Foscari.** 

Fos'eta.  A Frissian  goddess,  who 
had  a temple  in  Fos'etis-land.  Called, 
since  the  preaching  there  of  St.  Willibrod 
in  the  seventh  century,  Heligoland  (^Holy 
land). 

Foss  {Corporal).  An  attendant  on 
lieutenant  Worthington.  A similar  cha- 
racter to  Trim,  in  Sterne’s  “ Tristram 
Shandy.”—  G.  Colman,  The  Poor  Gen- 
tleman.^^ 

Foss-way.  One  of  the  four  prin- 
cipal highways  made  by  the  Romans  in 
England,  leading  from  Cornwall  to  Lin- 
coln. It  had  a foss  or  ditch  on  each  side 
of  it. 

Fossa  et  Furca  {Pit  and  Gallows). 
An  ancient  privilege  granted  by  the 
crown  to  its  vassals,  to  cast  female  felons 
into  a ditch,  and  hang  male  ones  on  a 
gallows. 

Fossils.  Things  dug  up,  animal  and 
vegetable  remains  dug  out  of  the  earth. 
(Latin, to  dig  up.) 

Many  other  bodies,  which,  because  we  discover 
them  by  digging  into  the  bowels  of  tlie  eai  th.  are 
called  by  one  common  name,  fossils,  under  which 
are  comprehended  metals  and  minerals.  [Notnow.l 
-Locke. 

Foster  Brother  or  Sistei'.  One 
brought  up  by  the  same  nurse. 

A foster-child  is  one  brought  up  by 
those  who  are  not  its  real  parents.  (Saxon, 
fostrian,  Danish, /o5^rer,  to  nurse.) 

Fot'tei  (3  syl.)  or  Miroku'.  God  of 
health  and  wealth,  represented  with  a 
very  projecting  paunch  {Japanese  my- 
thology). 


Fou  Drunk.  Wilbraham  has  fou- 
drunk’* — i.e.,  is  despicably  drunk,  dead 
drunk.  French,  fou,  f mad,”  as  fou- 
enrage;  or  simply  i.e.,  “full,”  “in- 
tensive,” as  in  fuLl-oft,  ‘ 'full-well  ye  reject 
the  commandment  of  God,”  Mark  vii.  9. 

Foul  Proof.  A proof  is  a rough 
impression  of  a manuscript  sot  up  im 
type,  or  of  a drawing  engraved,  for  the 
author’s  correction.  The  proof  with 
many  faults  is  a foul  proof,  but  the 

pull  ” after  the  errors  are  corrected  is- 
termed  a clean  proof.  These  impressions 
are  called  proofs  because  they  must  be 
approved  o/by  author  and  reader  before 
they  are  finally  printed. 

Foul-weather  Jack.  Commodore* 
Byron,  said  to  be  as  notorious  for  foul 
weather,  as  our  queen  is  for  fine.  (1723- 
1786.) 

Admiral  Sir  John  Norris,  who  died" 
1746. 

Fountain  of  Death.  In  “Jeru- 
salem Delivered,”  the  hermit  tells  Charles^ 
and  Ubald  of  a fountain,  the  sight  of 
which  excites  thirst,  but  those  who  taste 
its  water  die  with  laughter. 

Pompo'nius  Me'la  speaks  of  a fountain 
in  the  Fortunate  Islands,  “ Qui  potave're- 
risu  solvuntur  in  mortem.”  Petrarch 
alludes  to  the  same. 

These  fountains  symbolise  the  pleasures 
of  sin. 

Fountain  of  Youth.  A fountain 
supposed  to  possess  the  power  of  restoring 
youth.  It  was  thought  to  be  on  one  of  the 
Baha'ma  Islands,  and  was  the  object  of 
earnest  search  by  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon, 
the  Spanish  navigator. 

Four  Kings.  The  History  of  the 
Four  Kings  (Livre  des  Quatre  Rois).  A 
pack  of  cards.  In  a I’rench  pack  tho 
four  kings  are  Charlemagne,  David, 
Alexander,  and  Caesar,  representatives 
of  the  four  great  monarchies  - the  Franco- 
German,  Jewish  or  Christian,  Macedo- 
nian, and  Roman. 

Four  Letters,  containing  the  namo 
of  God,  and  called  by  divines  “ tetra- 
grammaton:”  Thus,  in  Hebrew,  JtlVH 
(JeHoVaH);  in  Greek,  oeoc;  in  Latin, 
Dens;  in  French,  Dteu;  in  Assyrian, 
Adad;  Dutch,  Godl;  German,  Goit; 
Danish,  Godh;  Swedish,  Uolh. 

Four  Masters.  Michael  and  Cu- 
coirighe  O’Clerighe,  Maurice  and  Fear- 


FOUETERISM, 


FRAME. 


CjU 


sfeafa  Conry,  authors  of  the  ''Annals  of 
Donegal.” 

Foii'rierism.  A communistic  sys- 
“tem  so  called  from  Charles  Fourier,  of 
Besanyon.  According  to  Fourier  all  the 
world  was  to  be  cantoned  into  groups, 
called  phalansteries,  consisting  each  of 
400  families  or  1,800  individuals,  who 
were  to  live  in  a common  edifice,  fur- 
nished with  workshops,  studios,  and 
all  sources  of  amusement.  The  several 
groups  were  at  the  same  time  to  be  asso- 
ciated together  under  a unitary  govern- 
ment, like  the  cantons  of  Switzerland  or 
the  States  of  America.  Only  one  lan- 
; guage  was  to  be  admitted  ; all  the  gains 
nf  each  phalanstery  were  to  belong  to 
the  common  purse;  and  though  talent 
and  industry  wer«  to  be  rewarded,  no 
one  was  tc  be  suffered  to  remain  indigent, 

■ or  without  the  enjoyment  of  certain 
luxuries  and  public  amusement.  (1772- 
1837). 

Fou'rierists.  French  communists, 

• 30  called,  from  Charles  Fourier.  {See 
<ibove.') 

Powler.  Henri/  the  Fowler.  Hein- 
. rich  I.,  emperor  of  Germany,  was  so  called, 
because  when  the  deputies  announced  to 
him  his  election  to  the  throne,  they  found, 
him  fowling  with  a hawk  on  his  fist. 
(876,  919-936.) 

Fox.  An  old.  English  broadsword. 

• (Latin,  falx;  French,  fauchon;  our  fal- 
chion. ) 

O signieur  Dew,  thou  dy’st  on  point  of  fox. 
Except,  O signieur,  thou  do  give  to  me 
Egregious  ransom, 

Shakespeare^  Henry  F.,”  iv.  4. 

I had  a sword,  ay,  the  flower  of  Smithfield  for  a 

■ sword,  a right  fox  i’ faitii.— Ta’o  Angry  Women  of 
Abinyton.  (L599.) 

Fox.  So  our  Lord  called  Herod  Agrippa 
II.,  whose  crafty  policy  was  thus  pointed 
r at,  ‘ ' Go  ye,  and  tell  that  fox.  Behold, 
I cast  out  devils”  (St.  Luke  xiii.  32). 
<31-100.) 

Marshal  Soult  was  nicknamed  The  old 
Fox^  from  his  strategic  talents  and  fer- 
tility of  resources.  (1769-1851.)  {See 
Reynard.) 

Fox.  In  illustration  of  Shylock’s 
. remark,  that  some  men  “ cannot  abide  a 
gaping  pig,  and  others  a harmless  cat,” 
it  may  be  stated  that  Tycho  Brahe  always 
fainted  at  sight  of  a.  fox;  marshal  d’ Albert 
at  a pic/;  Henri  III.  at  a cat;  and  duke 
d’Epernon  at  a leveret 


A wise  fox  will  never  rob  his  neighbour'*  s 
hen-roost,  because  it  would  soon  be  found 
out.  He  goes  further  from  home,  where 
he  is  not  known. 

Every  fox  must  pay  his  shin  to  the  fur- 
rier. (French,  En  jin  le  renard  se  trou  ve 
cliez  le  pelletier.)  The  crafty  shall  be 
taken  in  their  own  wiiiness. 

Tutte  le  volpi  si  trovano  in  pellicaria.— 
Proverb. 

He  sets  a fox  to  Tceep  his  geese.  (Latin, 
Ovem  lupo  commisisti.)  He  entrusted 
his  money  to  sharpers. 

Fox-glove,  called  by  the  Welsh 
Fairy* s gtove.axidi  by  the  Irish  Fairy-bells, 
is  either  a corruption  of  Folk’s  glove — 
i.e.,  the  glove  of  the  good  folks  or  fairies, 
or  else  of  the  Saxon  fox\es\-glofa,  red  oa- 
fox- coloured  glove. 

Fox-sleep.  A pretended  sleep.  The 
fox,  like  the  cat,  simulates  sleep  in  order 
to  deceive  its  prey.  It  is  said  that  a 
fox  alwaj's  sleeps  wdth  one  eye  open. 

Fox-tail.  I gave  him  a flap  with  a 
fox-tail.  I cajoled  him  ; made  a fool  of 
him.  The  fox-tail  was  one  of  the  badges 
of  the  motley,  and  to  flap  with  a fox- tail 
is  to  treat  one  like  a fool. 

Foxy.  Strong-smelling,  or  red-haired; 
like  a fox. 

Fra  Diav'olo  (Michele  Pezza).  A 
celebrated  brigand  and  renegade  monk, 
who  evaded  pursuit  for  many  years 
amidst  the  mountains  of  Calabria  (1760- 
1806).  Auber  has  made  him  the  subject 
of  an  opera. 

Fradil'bio  {Brother  Doubt),  says 
Spenser,  wooed  and  won  Duessa  {False- 
faith) ; but  one  day,  while  >'he  was  bathing, 
discovered  her  to  be  a " filthy  old  hag,” 
and  resolved  to  leave  her.  False-faith 
instantly  metamorphosed  him  into  a tree, 
and  he  will  never  be  relieved  till  "he 
can  be  bathed  from  the  well  of  living 
water.” — Faery  Qyieenfl  book  i. 

Frame  of  Mind.  Disposition.  A 
printers  frame  is  a stand  on  which  the 
type  is  dis-posed  ; a founder  s frame  is  a 
mould  into  which  molten  metal  is  dis- 
posed or  poured ; a weavei^s  frame  is  a 
loom  where  the  silk  or  thread  is  dis- 
posed or  stretched  for  quilting,  &c.  ; a 
picture  frame  is  an  ornamental  edging 
within  which  the  picture  is  dis-posed  ; a 
mental  frame,  therefore,  is  the  boundary 
within  which  the  feelings  of  the  mind 
are  dis-posed. 


FRANCESCA. 


FREA. 


315 


Prances'ca.  A Venetian  maiden, 
daughter  of  Minotti,  governor  of  Corinth. 
:Sbe  loved  Alp,  and  tried  to  restore  him 
to  his  country  and  faith,  but,  as  he  re- 
fused to  recant,  gave  him  up,  and  died 
broken-hearted. — Byron,  Siege  of  Co- 
rinth.^' 

France.  The  heraldic  device  of  the 
•city  of  Paris  is  a ship.  As  Sauval  sa3"s, 
“L’ile  de  la  cit^  est  faite  comme  un 
grand  navire  enfonc^  dans  la  vase,  et 
•echou^  au  fil  de  I’eau  vers  le  milieu  de  la 
Seine.”  This  form  of  a ship  struck  the 
heraldic  scribes,  who  in  the  latter  part 
•of  the  middle  ages  emblazoned  a ship  on 
the  shield  of  Paris. 

Franees'ea  da  Rim'ini.  Daugh- 
ter of  Guido  da  Polenta,  lord  of  Ravenna. 
Her  story  is  told  in  Dante’s  Inferno” 
(c.  V.),  from  which  it  seems  that  she 
committed  adultery  with  Lanciotto,  her 
husband’s  brother,  and  was  put  to  death, 
with  her  paramour,  by  her  husband  in 
1389.  Leigh  Hunt  has  a poem,  and 
Silvio  Pellico  a tragedy,  on  the  subject. 

Francis'cans,  or  Min'orites  (3  syl.). 
Founded  in  1208  by  St.  Francis  of  Assisi, 
v*^ho  called  poverty  ^^his  bride.”  Poverty 
was  the  ruling  principle  of  the  order. 
Duns  Scotus,  Roger  Bacon,  cardinal 
Ximenes,  Ganganelli,  &c.,  were  of  this 
■order. 

Frangipa'ni.  A powerful  Roman 
family.  So  called  from  their  benevolent 
•distribution  of  bread  during  a famine. 

Fvang^'pani.  A delicious  perfume, 
made  of  spices,  orris-root,  and  m^isk, 
in  imitation  of  real  Frangipani.  I\ier-  1 
cutio  Frangipani,  the  famous  Italian 
botanist,  v^isited  the  West  Indies  in 
1493.  The  sailors  perceived  a delicious 
fragrance  as  they  neared  Antig'ua,  and 
Mercutio  told  them  it  proceeded  from 
the  Plnm^ria  Alha.  The  plant  was 
re-named  Frangipani,  and  the  distilled 
essence  received  the  same  name. 

Frangipani  pudding  is  pudding  made 
of  broken  bread.  (Frangere,  to  break  ; 
panis,  bread.) 

Frank.  A name  given  by  the  Turks, 
Greeks,  and  Arabs,  to  any  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  western  parts  of  Europe,  as 
the  English,  Italians,  Germans,  Spaniards, 
French,  &c. 

Frank  Pledge.  Neighbours  bound 
for  each  other’s  good  conduct.  Hallam 


says  every  ten  men  in  a village  were 
answerable  for  each  other,  and  if  one  of 
them  committed  an  offence  the  other 
nine  were  bound  to  make  reparation. 
The  word  means  the  security  given  by 
Franklins  or  free-men. 

Frankele3mes  Tale,  in  Chaucer, 
resembles  one  in  Boccaccio,  ^^Decame- 
ron,” Day  X.  No.  5,  and  one  in  the  fifth 
book  of  his  ‘^Philocopo.”  (iSeeDoRiGEN.) 

Frank'enstein  (3  syl.).  A young 
student,  who  made  a soulless  monster 
out  of  fragments  of  men  picked  up  from 
churchyards  and  dissecting-rooms,  and 
endued  it  with  life  by  galvanism.  The 
tale,  written  by  Mrs.  Shelley,  shows  how 
the  creature  longed  for  sympathy,  but 
was  shunned  by  every  one.  It  was  only 
animal  life,  a parody  on  the  creature 
man,  powerful  for  evil,  and  the  instru- 
ment of  dreadful  retribution  on  the  stu- 
dent who  usurped  the  prerogative  of  the 
Creator. 

The  Southern  Confederacy  will  be  the  soulless 
monster  of  Frankenstein.— C/iarZes  Sumnsr. 

Frankforter s.  The  people  of 
Frankfort. 

Franklin.  The  Polish  FranJelin, 
Thaddeus  Czacki.  (1765-1813.) 

Frantic.  Brain-struck  (Greek,  phren, 
the  brain),  madness  being  a disorder  of 
the  brain. 

Cebel’8  frantic  rites  have  made  them  mad. 

Spenser. 

F rater.  An  Abram -man 
(Latin,  f rater,  a brother,  one  of  the  samo 
community  or  society.) 

Frat'eret'to.  A fiend  mentioned  by 
Edgar  in  the  tragedy  of  “ King  Lear.”  " 

Frateretto  calls  me,  and  tells  me  Nero  is  an  angler 
in  the  lake  of  darkness.  Pray,  innocent,  and  be- 
ware of  the  foul  fiend,— J-Ci  iii.  6. 

Frat'ery.  The  refectory  of  a monas- 
tery, or  chief  room  of  a frater-house.  A 
frater  is  a member  of  a fraternity  or 
society  of  monks.  (Latin,  frater,  a bro- 
ther. ) 

Fraticelliaiis  {Little  Brethren).  A 
sect  of  the  Middle  Ages,  who  claimed  to 
be  the  only  true  Church,  and  threw  off 
all  subjection  to  the  pope,  whom  they 
denounced  as  an  apostate.  They  wholly 
disappeared  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

Fre'a.  The  Anglo-Saxon  form  of 
Frigga,  wife  of  Odin.  Our  Friday  is 
Frea's  daeg. 


FREE. 


FRENCHMAN. 


m 


Free.  A free  and  easy,  a social 
^fathering  where  persons  meet  together 
without  formality  to  chat  and  smoke. 

Free  Beneli  {francus  bancus).  The 
widow’s  right  to  a copyhold.  It  is  not  a 
dower  or  gift,  but  a free  right  indepen- 
dent of  the  will  of  the  husband.  Called 
bench  because,  upon  acceding  to  the  estate, 
she  becomes  a tenant  of  the  manor,  and 
one  of  the  benchers — i.e.,  persons  who  sit 
on  the  bench  occupied  by  the  pares  curiae. 

Freebooter  means  a free  rover. 
(Dutch,  huiten,  to  rove,  whence  vry-huiter; 
German, &c.) 

His  forces  consisted  mostly  of  base  people  and 
free-booters. —Bacon, 

Freeliolds.  Estates  which  owe  no 
duty  or  service  to  any  lord  but  the  sove- 
reign. {See  Copyhold.) 

Free-lances.  Roving  companies  of 
knights,  &c,,  who  wandered  from  place 
to  place,  after  the  Crusades,  selling  their 
services  to  any  one  who  would  pay  for 
them.  In  Italy  they  were  termed  Con- 
dottie'ri. 

Freeman  {Mrs. ),  A name  assumed 
by  the  duchess  of  Marlborough  in  her 
correspondence  with  queen  Anne.  The 
queen  called  herself  Mrs.  Morley. 

Freeman  of  Bucks.  A cuckold. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  buck’s  horn.  {See 
Horns.) 

Freeman’s  Quay.  DrinUng  at 
Freeman's  Quay.  Free  of  cost.  There 
was  once  a celebrated  wharf  so  called, 
near  London  Bridge,  where  the  porters, 
carmen,  &c.,  had  beer  given  them  gratis. 

Freemasons.  In  the  Middle  Ages 
a guild  of  masons  specially  employed  in 
building  churches.  Called  ‘‘free”  be- 
cause exempted  by  several  papal  bulls 
from  the  laws  which  bore  upon  common 
craftsmen,  and  exempt  from  the  burdens 
thrown  on  the  working  classes. 

The  Lady  freemason  was  the  Hon.  Miss 
Elizabeth  St.  Leger,  daughter  of  Lord 
Doneraile,  who  (says  the  tale)  hid  herself 
in  an  empty  clock-case  when  the  lodge 
was  held  in  her  father’s  house,  and 
witnessed  the  proceedings.  She  was  dis- 
covered, and  compelled  to  submit  to 
initiation  as  a member  of  the  craft. 

Freeport  {Sir  Andrew).  A London 
merchant,  industrious,  generous,  and  of 
great  good  sense.  He  was  one  of  the 


members  of  the  hypothetical  club  under 
whose  auspices  the  “Spectator”  was 
published. 

Free-spirit.  Brethren  of  the  Free 
Spiritf  a fanatical  sect,  between  th^^ 
thirteenth  and  fifteenth  century,  diffused 
through  Italy,  France,  and  Germany. 
They  claimed  “freedom  of  spirit,”  and 
based  their  claims  on  Romans  viii.  2 — 14, 
“The  law  of  the  Spirit  hath  made  me 
free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death,” 

Freestone  is  Portland  stone,  which 
Gu.t^  f7'eely  in  any  direction. 

Free-thinker.  One  who  thinks 
unbiassed  by  revelation  or  ecclesiastical 
canons,  as  deists  and  atheists. 

Atheist  is  an  old-fashioned  word.  I am  a free- 
thinker.—.Addison. 

Free  Trade.  The  Apostle  of  Free 
Trade,  Richard  Cobden  (1804-65). 

Freezing-Point.^  We  generally 
mean  by  this  expression  that  degree  of 
Fahrenheit’s  thermometer  which  indi- 
cates the  temperature  of  frozen  water — 
viz.,  32°  above  zero.  If  we  mean  any 
other  liquid  we  add  the  name,  as  the 
freezing-point  of  milk,  sulphuric  ether, 
quicksilver,  and  so  on.  In  centigrade 
and  Reaumur’s  instruments  zero  marks 
the  freezing-point. 

Freischutz  (pronounce  fry-shoots), 
the  free-shooter,  a legendary  German 
archer  in  league  with  the  devil,  who  gave 
him  seven  balls,  six  of  which  were  to  hit 
infallibly  whatever  the  marksman  aimed 
at,  and  the  seventh  was  to  be  directed 
according  to  the  will  of  his  co-partner. 
F.  Kind  made  the  libretto,  and  Weber 
set  to  music,  the  opera  based  on  the 
legend,  called  “Der  Freischutz.” 

Freki  and  G-eri.  The  two  wolves 
of  Odin. 

French.  Cream.  Brandy.  In  France 
it  is  extremely  general  to  drink  after 
dinner  a cup  of  coffee  with  a glass  of 
brandy  in  it  instead  of  cream.  This 
“ patent  digester  ” is  called  a Gloria, 

French  Leave.  To  take  French 
leave.  To  take  without  asking  leave  or 
giving  any  equivalent.  The  allusion  is 
to  the  French  soldiers,  who  in  their  inva- 
sions take  what  they  require,  and  never 
wait  to  ask  permission  of  the  owners 
or  pay  any  price  for  what  they  take* 

Frenchman.  Done  like  a French- 
man, turn  and  turn  again  (“1  Henry 


FRESCO-PAINTING. 


FPIAP. 


317 


VT.,”  iii.  4).  The  French  are  usually 
satirised  by  mediaeval  English  authors  as 
a fickle,  wavering  nation.  Dr.  Johnson 
says  he  once  read  a treatise  the  object 
of  which  was  to  show  that  a weather- 
cock is  a satire  on  the  word  Galbis  (a 
Gaul  or  cock). 

Frenchman.  The  nickname  of  a French- 
man is  ‘^Crapaud”  {q.v.),  Johnny'’  or 
^^Jean,”  Moosoo,”  ‘^Eobert  Macaire  ” 
{q.v.)\  but  of  a Parisian  ‘‘ Grenouille  ” 
(Frog).  (>SeeBRissoTiNS.) 

They  stani  erect,  they  dance  whene’er  they  walk ; 

Monkeys  in  action,  perroquefs  in  talk. 

(ray,  “ Epistle  III.'* 

French  Canadian,  Jean  Baptiste.” 

French  Peasantry,  Jacques  Bon- 
homme.” 

French  Pi.ef or mers,  Brissotins”  {q.v.). 

Fres^CO-paintillg  means  fresh- 
painting, or  rather  paint  applied  to  walls 
while  the  plaster  is  fresh  and  damp. 
Only  so  much  plaster  must  be  spread  as 
the  artist  can  finish  painting  before  he 
retires  for  the  day.  There  are  three 
chambers  in  the  pope’s  palace  at  Rome 
done  in  fresco  by  Raphael  Urbino  and 
Julio  Roma'no ; at  Fontainebleau  there 
is  a famous  one,  containing  the  travels 
of  Ulysses  in  sixty  pieces,  the  work  of 
several  artists,  as  Bollame'o,  Martin 
Rouse,  and  others. 

A fading  fresco  here  demands  a sigh. 

Pope. 

FresB-man,  at  College,  is  a man 
not  salted.  It  was  anciently  a custom 
in  the  different  colleges  to  play  practical 
jokes  on  the  new-comers.  ()ne  of  the 
most  common  was  to  assemble  them  in  a 
room  and  make  them  deliver  a speech. 
Those  who  acquitted  themselves  well 
had  a cup  of  caudle ; those  who  passed 
muster  had  a caudle  with  salt  water;  the 
rest  had  the  salt  water  only.  Without 
scanning  so  deeply,  ‘^fresh-man”  may 
simply  mean  a fresh  or  new  student. 
(See  Bii JAN.) 

Freston.  An  enchanter  introduced 
into  the  romance  of  ^^Don  Belia'nis  of 
Greece.” 

Truly  I can’t  tell  whether  it  was  Preston  or  Fris- 
ton;  but  sure  I am  that  his  name  ended  in  “ ton.”— 
Don  Quixote. 

Freyja.  Daughter  of  Niord,  goddess 
of  love  ; drawn  in  a car  yoked  with  cats. 
She  is  the  Venus  of  the  north.  {Scandi- 
navian  mythology.) 


Frey.  (>See  Fpj£yr.) 

Freyr.  Son  of  Niord,  of  the  dynasty 
of  the  Vanagods  ; god  of  fertility  and 
peace,  and  the  dispenser  of  rain.  He 
was  the  patron  god  of  Sweden  and  Ice- 
land, and  rode  on  the  boar  called  Gullin- 
bursti.  {See  Gerda.) 

Fria-r,  in  printing.  A part  of  the 
sheet  which  has  failed  to  receive  the 
ink,  and  is  therefore  left  blank.  As 
Caxton  set  up  his  printing-press  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  it  is  but  natural  to 
suppose  that  monks  and  friars  should 
give  foundation  to  some  of  the  printers’ 
slang.  {See  Monk.) 

Friar  Dom'inic,  in  Dryden’s 

Spanish  Friar,”  designed  to  ridicule 
the  vices  of  the  priesthood. 

Friar  Ger'und.  Designed  to  ridi- 
cule the  pulpit  oratory  of  Spain  in  the 
eighteenth  century;  full  of  quips  and 
cranks,  tricks  an(i  startling  monstrosi- 
ties.—/osepA  Isla,  Life  of  Friar  Ge- 
rund:' (1714-1783.) 

Friar  JoBn.  A tall,  lean,  wide- 
mouthed, long-nosed  friar  of  Seville, 
who  dispatched  his  matins  with  wonder- 
ful celerity,  and  ran  through  his  vigils 
quicker  than  any  of  his  fraternity.  He 
swore  lustily,  and  was  a Trojan  to  fight. 
When  the  army  from  Lerne  pillaged  the 
convent  vineyard,  Friar  J ohn  seized  the 
staff  of  a cross,  and  pummelled  the 
rogues  most  lustily.  He  beat  out  the 
brains  of  some,  crushed  the  arms  of 
others,  battered  their  legs,  cracked  their 
ribs,  gashed  their  faces,  broke  their 
thighs,  tore  their  jaws,  dashed  in  their 
teeth,  dislocated  their  joints,  that  never 
corn  was  so  mauled  by  the  threshers 
flail,  as  were  these  pillagers  by  the 
baton  of  the  cross.” — Rabelais,  “ Gar- 
gantua  and  Pantagruel,"  bk.  i.  27. 

If  a joke  more  than  usually  profane ’S  to  be  uttered. 
Friar  John  is  the  spokesman — Amass  of  lewdness 
debauchery,  profanity,  and  ^oXonx.— Foreign  Quar- 
terly Review. 

Friar  Laurence,  in  “Romeo  and 
Juliet,”  by  Shakespeare. 

Friar  RusB.  A house-spirit,  sent 
from  the  infernal  regions  in  the  seven- 
teenth century  to  keep  the  monks  and 
friars  in  the  same  state  of  wickedness 
they  were  then  in.  The  legends  of  this 
roysterer  are  of  German  origin.  {Brnder 
R.ausch,  brother  Tipple.) 


S18 


FKIAE, 


FEIDAY. 


Friar  Tuck.  Chaplain  and  steward 
of  Robin  Hood.  Introduced  by  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  ^^Ivanhoe.”  He  is  a 
pudgy,  paunchy,  humorous,,  self-indul- 
gent, and  combative  clerical  Fal staff. 
His  costume  consisted  of  a russet  habit 
of  the  Franciscan  order,  a red  corded 
. girdle  with  gold  tassel,  red  stockings, 
and  a wallet.  A friar  was  nicknamed 
iuck^  because  his  dress  was  tucked  by  a 
girdle  at  the  waist.  Thus,  Chaucer 
says,  Tucked  ho  was,  as  is  a frere 
about.’^ 

In  this  our  epacious  isle  I think  there  is  not  one 
But  he  hath  heard  some  talk  of  Hood  and  Little 
John  ; 

Of  Tuck,  the  merry  friar,  which  many  a sermon 
made 

In  praise  of  Robin  Hood,  his  outlaws,  and  their 
trade.  Drayton,  ^^Folyalbion,”  s.  26. 

Friars  {hrothers).  Applied  to  the  four 
great  religious  orders  : Dominicans, 
Franciscans,  Augiistines,  and  Carme- 
lites. Later,  a fifth  order  was  added — 
that  of  the  Trinitarians.  The  first  two 
were  called  Black  and  Orey  friars,  the 
Carmelites  were  called  friars,  and 

the  Trinitarians  Grutched  friars  {q.v.). 

Friars.  Black.  ) 

Friar’s  Heel.  The  outstanding  up- 
right stone  at  Stonehenge  is  so  called. 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says  the  devil 
bought  the  stones  of  an  old  woman  in 
Ireland,  wrapped  them  up  in  a wyth  and 
brought  them  to  Salisbury  plain.  Just 
before  he  got  to  Mount  Ambre  the  wyth 
broke,  and  one  of  the  stones  fell  into  the 
Avon,  the  rest  were  carried  to  the  plain. 
After  the  fiend  had  fixed  them  in  the 
ground,  he  cried  out,  '‘No  man  will  ever 
find  out  how  these  stones  came  here.”  A 
friar  replied,  “That’s  more  than  thee 
canst  tell,”  whereupon  the  foul  fiend 
threw  one  of  the  stones  at  him  and 
struck  him  on  the  heel.  The  stone  stuck 
in  the  ground,  and  remains  so  to  the  pre- 
sent hour. 

Friar’s  Lantliern.  Milton  uses  the 
expression  as  a synonym  of  “Jack  o’ 
Lantern,”  but  Friar  Kush,  the  esprit 
foUet,  v/ho  got  admittance  into  a monas- 
tery as  a scullion,  and  plaj’ed  the  monks 
sad  pranks,  was  not  a field  bogie  but  a 
house  spirit,  and  is  never  called  “Jack.” 
The  poet  seems  to  have  considered  Friar 
Kush  the  same  as  “ Friar  with  the  Kush 
(light),”  and,  therefore.  Friar  with  the 
Lantern  or  Will  o’  the  Wisp. 


She  was  pinched  and  pulled,  she  said, 

And  he  by  JTriar’s  ianthern  led. 

Milton,  “ U Allegro." 
Better  we  had  through  mire  and  bush 
Been  lauthern-lsd  by  Frinr  Rush, 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  " Marmion.'* 

Friars  Major  (Fratres  majo'res). 
The  Dominicans. 

Friars  Minor  {Fratres  mind  res). 
The  Francis'eans. 

Friar’s  Tale.  A certain  archdeacon 
had  a sumpnour,  who  acted  as  his  secret 
spy,  to  bring  before  him  all  offenders.. 
One  day  as  he  was  riding  forth  on  his 
business  he  met  the  devil  disguised  as  a 
yeoman,  swore  eternal  friendship,  and 
promised  to  “go  snacks”  with  him. 
They  first  met  a carter  whose  cart  stuck 
in  the  road,  and  he  cried  in  his  anger,, 
“The  devil  take  it,  both  horse  and  cart 
and  hay ! ” Soon  the  horse  drew  it  out 
of  the  slough,  and  the  man  cried,  “ God 
bless  you,  my  brave  boy!”  “There,”' 
said  the  devil,  “is  my  own  true  brother,, 
the  churl  spake  one  thing  hut  he  thought 
another.”  They  next  came  to  an  old 
screw,  and  the  sumpnour  declared  he 
would  squeeze  twelve  pence  out  of  her 
for  sin,  “though  of  her  he  knew  no 
wrong ; ” so  he  knocked  at  her  door 
and  summoned  her  “for  cursing”  to 
the  archdeacon’s  court,  but  said  ho 
would  overlook  the  matter  for  twelvo 
pence,  but  she  pleaded  poverty  and  im- 
plored mercy.  “ The  foul  fiend  fetch  mo 
if  I excuse  thee,”  said  the  sumpnour,, 
whereat  the  devil  replied  that  he  would 
fetch  him  that  very  night,  and  seizing 
him  round  the  body,  made  off  with  him., 
— Chaucer j “ Canterbury  Tales. 

Fribble.  An  effeminate  coxcomb  of 
weak  nerves,  in  Garrick’s  farce  of  “ Mis^ 
in  her  Teens.” 

Friday  is  the  Mahometan  sabbaths 
It  was  the  day  on  which  Adam  was. 
created,  and  our  Lord  was  crucified. 
The  Sabe'ans  consecrate  it  to  Venus  or 
Astarte.  (*!>eeFREA.) 

Friday.  Fairies  and  all  the  tribes  of 
elves  of  every  description,  according  to 
mediaeval  romance,  are  converted  into 
hideous  animals  on  Friday,  and  remain 
so  till  Monday.  {See  the  romance  of 
“ Gueri'no  Meschi'no,”  and  others.) 

Friday,  Lucky.  In  America,  Friday 
is  a lucky  day,  and  a large  number  of 
their  greatest  political  events  have  beei> 
consummated  on  that  day. 


FRIDAY. 


FRISKET. 


319” 


Sir  William  Churcliill  saj's,  Friday  is 
my  lucky  day.  I was  born,  christened, 
married,  and  knighted  on  that  day  ; and 
all  my  best  accidents  have  befallen  mo 
on  a Friday.’" 

In  Scotland  Friday  is  tho  most  usual 
day  for  weddings,  but  they  are  very 
rarely  performed  on  that  day  in  England. 

Friday,  Unlucky.  Because  it  was 
the  day  of  our  Lord’s  crucifixion;  it  is 
accordingly  a fast-day  in  tho  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  Soames  says,  '^Adam 
and  Eve  ate  the  forbidden  fruit  on  a 
Friday,  and  died  on  a Friday.”  {Anglo^ 
Saxon  Churchy  p.  255.) 

Long  Friday,  Good  Friday,  long  being 
a synonym  of  great.  Thus  Mrs.  Quickly 
says,  ^‘’Tis  a long  loan  for  a poor  lone 
woman  to  bear  ” (‘‘  Henry  IV.”),  and  tho 
Scotch  proverb,  Between  you  and  the 
long  day” — i.  e. , the gi'eat  or  j udgment  day. 
Good  Friday  in  Danish  is  Langjiedag, 
and  in  Swedish  Ldngf redag. 

Be  who  laughs  on  Friday  will  weep  on 
Sunday.  Sorrow  follows  on  the  wake  of 
joy.  The  line  is  taken  from  Racine’s 
comedy  of  Les  Plaideurs.” 

Friday.  {See  Black.) 

My  Man  Friday.  The  young  savage 
found  by  Robinson  Crusoe  on  a Friday, 
and  kept  as  his  servant  and  companion 
on  the  desert  island. 

Friday  Street  (London).  A cor- 
ruption of  Friga  Street.  {See  Frigga.) 

Friends.  ^‘Lovely  and  pleasant  in 
their  lives,  and  in  their  death  they  are 
not  divided.”  Said  of  Saul  and  Jonathan 
(2  Sam.  i.  2—3.)  {See  Achates.) 

Friend  at  Court  properly  means  a 
friend  in  a court  of  law  who  watches  tlie 
trial,  and  tells  the  judge  if  he  can  nose 
out  an  error;  but  the  term  is  more 
generally  applied  to  a friend  in  the 
royal  court,  who  will  whisper  a good 
word  for  you  to  the  sovereign  at  the 
proper  place  and  season.  {See  Amicus 
CUKliE.) 

Friend  of  Man.  Marquis  de  Mira- 
beau.  So  called  from  one  of  his  works, 
^^L’ami  des  Hommes”  (5  vols.).  This 
was  the  father  of  the  great  Mirabeau, 
called  by  Barnave  ‘‘The  Shakespeare  of 
eloquence”  (1715.1789). 

Friendship,  examples  of— 

Hercules  and  lola'os ; Theseus  and 
Pirith'ods;  Py hades  and  Orestes ; Achilles  ! 


and  Patroc'lus;  Tdom'eneus  and  Mer'ionp 
Diome'des  and  Sthen'elos;  Harmo'dios 
and  Aristogi'ton ; Epaminon'das  and 
Pelop'idas ; Septim'ios  and  Alcander- 
(all  Greeks)  ; Damon  and  Pyth'ias ; Sa- 
charissa  and  Am'oret  (Syracusans) ; 
Amys  and  Amylion  {q.v  ) ; David  and 
Jonathan;  our  divine  Redeemer  and 
the  apostle  John. 

Friese.  The  central  part  of  the  en- 
tablature of  a building,  generally  en- 
riched with  sculpture.  (Italian,  fre'gio,. 
an  ornament,  &c.) 

Frigga,  in  the  genealogy  of  Ases,  is 
the  supreme  goddess,  wife  of  Odin,  and 
daughter  of  the  giant  Fidrgwyn.  She 
presides  over  marriages,  and  may  be- 
called  the  Juno  of  the  Valhalla.  {Scan- 
dinavian mythology. ) 

Frilingi.  The  second  rank  of  people'- 
among  the  ancient  Saxons.  {See  Edhi- 
LINGI.) 

Fringe.  The  Jews  wore  fringes  to 
their  garments,  and  these  fringes  on  the 
garments  of  the  priests  were  accounted 
sacred,  and  were  touched  by  the  common- 
people  as  a charm.  Hence  tho  desire  of 
the  woman  who  had  the  issue  of  blood 
to  touch  the  fringe  of  our  Lord’s  garment 
(Matt.  ix.  20-22). 

Frippery.  Rubbish  of  a tawdrj’ 
character;  worthless  finery;  foolish  levity. 
A friperer  or  fripperer  is  one  who  deals 
in  frippery,  either  to  sell  or  clean  old 
clothes.  (French,  friperie,  old  clothes- 
and  cast-olf  furniture.) 

We  know  what  belongs  to  a frippery, 

Shakespeare,  “ Tempest,"  iv.  1. 

Old  cloaths,  cast  dresses,  tattered  raais, 

■\Vho8e  works  are  e’en  the  frippery  of  wit, 

Ben  Jonson. 

Frippery  properly  means  rags  and  all 
sorts  of  odds  and  ends.  French,  fripe 
(a  rag),  friperie  (o‘d  clothes  and  furni- 
ture), fripier  (a  broker  of  old  clothes, 
&c.).  Applied  to  pastry.  Eugene 
Grandet  says,  “ En  Anjou  la  frippe  ex- 
prime I’accompagnemcnt  du  pain,  depui&- 
le  beurre  plus  distingu^e  des  frippes.” 

Frisket.  The  light  frame  of  the= 
printing-press,  which  folds  down  upon 
the  tympan  {q.v.)  over  the  sheet  of  paper 
to  be  printed.  Its  object  is  two-fold — 
to  hold  tho  sheet  in  its  place  and  to  keep 
the  margins  clean.  It  is  called  frisket 
because  it  frisks  or  skips  up  and  down 
very  rapidly— i.e.,  the  pressman  opens- 


320 


FJRISCO. 


l^KOZEN. 


it  and  slints  it  over  with  gi’eat  alacrity, 
the  movement  being  called  “ flying  the 
frisket.” 

Frisco'.  God  of  peace  and  pleasure 
among  the  ancient  Saxons. 

Frith.  By  frith  and  fdl.  By  wold 
and  wild,  wood  and  common.  Frith  is 
the  Welsh  frith  or  friz,  and  means  a 

woody  place.”  Fell  is  the  German 
fels  (rock),  and  means  barren  or  stony 
jflaces,  a common. 

Frith-iof  (pron.  Frit-yoff)  means 

peace-maker.”  In  the  Icelandic  myths 
he  married  Ingeborg  {In-ge-hoy'-e),  the 
daughter  of  a petty  king  of  Norway,  and 
widow  of  Hring,  to  whose  dominions  he 
succeeded.  His  adventures  are  recorded 
in  the  Saga  which  bears  his  name,  and 
which  was  written  at  the  close  of  the 
thirteenth  century. 

Fritliiof’s  Sword.  Angurva'del 
{stream  of  anguish). 

Fritz.  Old  Fritz.  Frederick  II.  the 
Oreat,  king  of  Prussia.  (1712,  1740- 
1786.) 

Fro.  God  of  the  air  and  tempests. 
'{Scandinavian  mythology. ) 

Frog.  A frog  offered  to  carry  a 
-mouse  across  a ditch  with  the  intention 
of  drowning  it,  but  both  were  carried  off 
by  a kite. 

Old  iEsops’  fable,  where  he  told 
What  fate  unto  the  mouse  and  frog  befell. 

Caj'y,  “ Dante,”  exxm. 

Nic  Frog  is  the  Dutchman  (not  French- 
man) in  Arbuthnot’s  ^‘History  of  John 
Bull.”  Frogs  are  called  ‘‘Dutch  Night- 
ingales.” 

Frogs.  Frenchmen,  properly  Paris- 
ians. So  called  from  their  ancient  heraldic 
device,  which  was  three  frogs  or  three 
toads.  Qu’en  disent  les  grenouilles  % What 
will  the  frogs  (people  of  Paris)  say,  was 
in  1791  a common  court  phrase  at  Ver- 
sailles. There  was  a point  in  the  plea- 
santry when  Paris  was  a quagmire,  called 
Luteitia  (mud-land)  because,  like  frogs  or 
toads,  they  lived  in  mud,  but  now  it  is 
-quite  an  anomaly.  {See  Crapaud.) 

Frogs.  The  L3^cian  shepherds  were 
changed  into  frogs  for  mocking  Lato'na. 
Ovid,  “ J/ei.,”  vi.  4. 

.As  when  those  hinds  Iha^  were  transformed  to  frogs 

Railed  at  Latona’s  twin-born  progeny. 

MiUm,  " :Sonnet”'ni. 


It  may  he  all  fun  to  you,  hut  it  is  death 
to  the  frogs.  The  allusion  is  to  the  fable 
of  the  boy  stoning  the  frogs,  who  was 
told  by  one  of  the  persecuted  creatures, 
“It  may  be  fun  to  you;  but  it  is  death 
to  us.” 

Frollo  {Archdeacon  Claude).  A priest 
who  has  a great  reputation  for  sanctity, 
but  falls  in  love  with  a gipsy  girl,  an<i. 
pursues  her  with  relentless  persecution, 
because  she  will  not  yield  to  him. — Victor 
Hugo,  “ Notre  Dame  de  Paris.’* 

Fronde.  A political  squabble  during 
the  ministry  of  cardinal  Maz'arin,  in  the 
minority  of  Louis  XIV.  (1648-1653.) 
The  malcontents  were  called  Frondeurs> 
from  a witty  illustration  of  a councillor, 
who  said  that  they  were  “like  school- 
boys who  sling  stones  about  the  streets. 
When  no  eye  is  upon  them  they  are  bold 
as  bullies  ; but  the  moment  a ‘ police- 
man’ approaches,  away  they  scamper  to 
the  ditches  for  concealment  ” {Alontglat). 
The  French  for  a sling  is  fronde,  and  for 
slingers,  frondeurs, 

Frondenr.  {See  Fronde.) 

Frontalet'to.  Name  of  Sa'cripant’s 
horse. — Orlando  Furioso. 

Fronti'no,  once  called  Balisarda. 
Name  of  BogeTo’s  horse.  — Orlando 
Furioso. 

The  renowned  Frontino,  which  Bradamanfe  pur- 
chased at  so  high  a price,  could  never  be  thought  thy 
equal.— Don  Quixote. 

Frost.  Jack  Frost.  The  personifica- 
tion of  frost. 

Jack  Frost  looked  forth,  one  still,  e’ear  night. 

And  he  said,  “Row  1 shall  be  out  of  sight; 

So  over  the  valley  and  over  the  height 
In  silence  I’ll  take  my  way.” 

Miss  Gould. 

Froth.  (Master).  “A  foolish  gentle- 
man” in  “ Measure  for  Measure.” 

Lord  Froth.  A pompous  coxcomb  in 
“ The  Double  Dealer,”  by  Congreve. 

Frozen  Music.  Architecture.  So 
called  by  F.  Schlegel. 

Frozen  Words  appears  to  have 
been  a household  joke  with  the  ancient 
Greeks,  for  Antiph'anes  applies  it  to  the 
discourses  of  Plato  : “As  the  cold  of  cer- 
tain cities  is  so  intense  that  it  freezes 
the  very  words  we  utter,  which  remain 
congealed  till  the  heat  of  summer  thaws 
them,  so  the  mind  of  youth  is  so  thought- 
less that  the  wisdom  of  Plato  lies  there 
frozen,  as  it  were,  till  it  is  thawed  by  the 


FRUMENTIUS. 


FUM, 


321 


ripened  judgment  of  mature  age.” — Plu- 
tarch! & Morals. 

The  moment  their  backs  were  turned,  little  Jacob 
thawed,  and  renewed  his  crying  from  the  point 
where  Quilp  had  frozen  him.— DicArens,  "'Curiositi/ 
Shop.** 

Truth  in  person  doth  appear 

Like  words  congealed  in  northern  a1r. 

Butler.  Hudibras”  pt.  i.  1. 

. Every  one  knows  the  incident  of  the 
'^Frozen  Horn”  related  in  Baron  Mun- 
chausen.” 

Frumen'tius  (St.).  Apostle  of  Ethi- 
opia and  the  Abyssinians  in  the  fourth 
century. 

Fry.  Children  (a  word  of  contempt). 
Get  away,  you  young  fry.  It  means  pro- 
perly a crowd  of  young  fishes,  and  its 
application  to  children  should  be  limited 
to  those  that  obstruct  your  path,  crowd 
about  you,  or  stand  in  your  way.  (French, 
frai,  spawn.) 

Nothing  to  fry  with  (French).  Nothing 
to  eat ; nothing  to  live  on.  (&  Widb- 
NOSTRILS.) 

Frying-pan.  Out  of  the  frying-pan 
into  the  fire.  In  trying  to  extricate 
yourself  from  one  evil,  you  fell  into  a 
greater.  The  Greeks  used  to  say,  Out 
of  the  smoke  into  the  flame  ; ” and  the 
French  say,  ^‘Tombre  de  la  poele  dans 
la  braise.” 

Fuaeam  et  Flagellum  (gallows 
and  whip).  The  meanest  of  all  servile 
tenures,  the  bondman  being  at  the  lord’s 
mercy,  both  life  and  limb. 

Fub.  To  steal,  to  prig.  (French, 
fourhi,  ^^a  Jew  who  conceals  a trap;” 
fourler,  ‘Ho  cheat  ;”/owr,  a false  pocket 
for  concealing  stolen  goods. ) 

Fuch  {fox).  A freshman  of  the  first 
year  in  the  German  University.  In  the 
second  year  he  is  called  a Bursch, 

Fudge.  Not  true,  stuff,  make-up. 
(Gaelic,  ffug,  deception  ; Welsh,  ffug, 
pretence  ; whence  jfugiwr,  a pretender 
or  deceiver.)  A word  of  contempt  be- 
stowed on  one  who  says  what  is  absurd 
or  untrue. 

Disraeli  quotes  the  following  clause  : 

There  was,  in  our  time,  one  Captain  Fudge,  a 
commanaer  of  a merchant -man  ; who,  upon  nis 
return  from  a voyage,  always  broU'.;ht  h .me  a 
go  ;tl  cargo  of  lies  ; insomuch  that  now,  aboard 
ship,  the  sailors,  w'hen  they  hear  a great  lie,  cry 
out,  Fudge !— Remarks  upon  the  Navy.  (1700.) 

We  were  put  on  board  the  Black  Eagle.  The 
master’s  name  was  Fudge  by  some  called  Lying 
J^udge.— Mr, Crouch.'*  AOollecUonof Papers.'*  inn.) 


Fudge  Family.  A series  of  metri- 
cal epistles  by  Thomas  Moore,  purport- 
ing to  be  written  by  a family  on  a visit 
to  Paris. 

Fuel.  Adding  fuel  to  fire.  Saying  or 
doing  something  to  increase  the  anger  of 
a person  already  angry.  The  French 
say,  pouring  oil  on  fire.” 

Fuggers.  German  merchants,  pro- 
verbial for  their  great  wealth.  ^^Kich 
as  a Fugger  ” is  common  in  old  English 
dramatists.  Charles  V.  introduced  some 
of  the  family  into  Spain,  where  they 
superintended  the  mines. 

I am  neither  an  Indian  merchant,  nor  yet  a 
Fugger,  but  a poor  boy  like  yourself.  — 
d'Alfarache. 

Fugleman  means  properly  wing- 
man,  but  is  applied  to  a soldier  who 
stands  in  front  of  men  at  drill  to  show 
them  what  to  do.  Their  proper  and 
original  post  was  in  front  of  the  right 
wing.  (German, a wing.) 

Fulliams,  or  Loaded  dice. 

So  called  from  the  suburb  where  the 
bishop  of  London  resides,  which,  in  the 
reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  was  the  most 
notorious  place  for  black-legs  in  all  Eng- 
land. Dice  made  with  a cavity  were 
called  “ Gourds.”  Those  made  to  throw 
the  high  numbers  (from  five  to  twelve) 
were  called  High  Fullams”  or  Gourds,” 
and  those  made  to  throw  the  low  num- 
bers (from  ace  to  four)  were  termed  Lovv 
Fullams”  or  ‘^Gourds.” 

For  gourd  and  fallam  holds, 

And  “high”  and  “ low  ’ beguile  the  rich  and  poor. 

Shakespeare,  "Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,"  i.  3. 

FiUhams.  Make-believes.  So  called 
from  false  or  loaded  dice.  {See  above.) 

Fulhams  of  poetic  fiction. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,"  pt.  ii,  1. 

Have  their  fulhams  at  commend, 
Brought  up  to  Uo  tiieir  fe  it'  at  hand. 

Butler,  “ Upon  G .irnlng.'* 

Full  Cry.  When  all  the  hounds 
have  caught  the  scent,  and  give  tongue 
in  chorus. 

Fum,  or  Fung  {the  phoenix).  One  of 
the  four  symbolical  animals  supposed  to 
preside  over  the  destinies  of  the  Chinese 
empire.  It  originated  from  the  element 
of  fire,  was  born  in  the  Hill  of  the  Sun  s 
Halo,  and  has  its  body  inscribed  with 
the  five  cardinal  virtues.  It  has  the 
forepart  of  a goose,  the  hind- quarters  of 
a stag,  the  neck  of  a snake,  the  tail  of  a 

V 


322 


FUMAGE. 


FYRAPEL, 


fish,  the  forehead  of  a fowl,  the  down  of 
a duck,  the  marks  of  a dragon,  the  back 
of  a tortoise,  the  face  of  a swallow,  the 
beak  of  a cock,  is  about  six  cubits  high, 
and  perches  only  on  the  woo-tung  tree. 
It  is  this  curious  creature  that  is  em- 
broidered on  the  dresses  of  certain  man- 
darins. 

Fu'mage  (2  syh).  A tax  for  having 
a fire,  mentioned  in  Domesday  Book, 
and  abolished  by  William  III.  (Latin, 
fumusy  smoke.) 

Fume.  In  a fume.  In  ill-  temper, 
especially  from  impatience.  The  French 
say,  Fumer  sans  iabac ; Fumer  sans  'pijpe 
(to  put  oneself  into  a rage).  Smoking 
with  rage,  or  rather  with  the  ineffectual 
vapour  of  anger. 

A!  Rignot,  il  est  courageulx 
Pour  un  homme  avantureulx 
Et  terrible  quant  il  se  fume. 

L'Aventureulx  (a  farce). 

Fund.  The  sinhing  fund  is  money 
set  aside  by  the  Government  for  paying 
off  a part  of  the  national  debt.  This 
money  is  '‘sunk,”  or  withdrawn  from 
circulation,  for  the  bonds  purchased  by 
it  are  destroyed. 

Funds  or  Public  Funds.  Money  lent 
at  interest  to  Government  on  Govern- 
ment security.  It  means  the  national 
stock,  which  is  the  foundation  of  its 
operations. 

To  he  interested  in  the  funds  is  to  have 
money  in  the  public  funds. 

A rise  in  the  funds  is  when  the  quota- 
tion is  higher  than  it  was  before. 

A fall  in  the  funds  is  when  the  quo- 
tation is  lower  than  when  it  was  last 
quoted. 

^ Funeral  means  a torchlight  proces- 
sion (from  the  Latin,  funus.  a torch), 
be  ause  funerals  am  mg  the  Romans 
took  place  at  night  by  torchlight,  that 
magistrates  and  priests  might  not  be 
violated  by  seeing  a corpse,  and  so  be 
prevented  from  performing  their  sacred 
duties. 

Funeral  Banquet.  The  custom 
of  giving  a feast  at  funerals  came  to 
us  from  the  Romans,  who  not  only 
feasted  the  friends  of  the  deceased,  but 
also  distributed  meat  to  the  persons  em- 
ployed. 

Thrift,  thrift,  Horatio ! the  funeral  baked  meats 
pjd  coldly  furnish  forth  the  marriage  tables. 

^teespcare,'‘ Hamlet,” 


Fungo'so.  A character  in  "Every 
Man  in  His  Humour,”  by  Ben  Jonson. 

Unlucky  as  Fungoso  in  the  play. 

Pope,  '‘JSssay  on  Criticism”  323. 

Funny  Bone.  A pun  on  the  word 
hu'merus.  The  bone  at  the  end  of  the 
05  hu'meri,  or  bone  which  runs  from  the 
shoulder  to  the  elbow. 

Fur'below.  A corruption  of  falbala, 
a word  in  French,  Italian,  and  Spanish, 
to  signify  a sort  of  flounce. 

Flounced  and  furbelowed  from  head  to  foot.— 
Addison. 

Furca.  (See  Fossa.) 

Furor.  Son  of  Occasion,  an  old  hag, 
who  was  quite  bald  behind.  Sir  Guyon 
bound  him  " with  a hundred  iron  chains 
and  a hundred  knots.” — Sjpenser,  " Faery 
Queen f bk.  ii. 

Fusber'ta.  Rinaldo's  sword  is  so 
called  in  " Orlando  Furioso.” 

This  awful  sword  was  as  dear  to  him  as  Durin- 
da'na  or  Fushberta  to  their  respective  masters.— 
Sir  W.  Scott. 

Fusilier's.  Foot-soldiers  that  used 
to  be  armed  with  a fusil  or  light  musket. 
The  word  is  now  a misnomer,  as  the  six 
British  and  two  Indian  regiments  so  called 
carry  Enfield  rifles  like  the  rest  of  the 
infantry. 

Fuss.  Much  ado  about  nothing.  (Al- 
lied to  fizz,  froth;  fuzz,  to  fly  off  in 
minute  particles.  Latin,  fundo,  to  pour 
out;  Greek,  phuza,  flight  with  terror, 
&c. ; Anglo-Saxon, /%5,  eager.) 

Nor  with  senates  keep  a fuss. 

Swift. 

Fus'tian-  Stuff,  bombast,  preten- 
tious words.  Properly,  a sort  of  cotton 
velvet.  (French,  futaine  ; Spanish,  Fus- 
tan,  the  name  of  a place.)  (iSee  Bombast.) 

Fustian  his  thoughts  and  words  ill-sorted. 

Dryden. 

Discourse  fustian  with  one’s  own  shadow. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,” ii.3. 

Futile  (2  syl.)  is  that  which  will  not 
hold  together;  inconsistent.  A futile 
scheme  is  a design  conceived  in  the  mind 
which  will  not  hold  good  in  practice. 
( Latin, to  run  off  like  water.)  (See 
Scheme.) 

Fylla.  Confidante  and  lady’s-maid  of 
queen  Frigga. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

F.v'rapel  (^Sir).  The  leopard,  king 
Lion’s  nearest  kinsman,  in  the  B^ast 
ppic  of  " Reynard  the  Fox,” 


GABRINA. 


323 


G. 


a. 

G.  This  letter  is  the  outline  of  a 
camel’s  head  and  neck.  It  is  called  in 
Hebrew  (a  camel). 

G.C.B.  (>Sf€eBATH.) 

G.H.V.Ii.  on  the  coin  of  William  III. 
of  the  Netherlands  is  Groot  Ilertog  Van 
Luxemburg  (grand  duke  of  Luxembourg). 

Gab  {g  hard).  The  gift  of  the  gab. 
Fluency  of  speech  ; or  rather,  the  gih  of 
boasting.  (French,  gaber,  to  gasconade  ; 
Danish  and  Scotch,  gab,  the  mouth; 
Gaelic,  gob  ; Irish,  cab  ; whence  our  gap 
and  gape,  gabble  and  gobble.  The  gable 
of  a house  is  its  beah.') 

There  was  a good  man  named  J ob, 

Who  lived  in  the  land  of  Uz, 

He  had  a good  gift  of  the  gob, 

The  same  thing  happened*  us. 

“ Book  of  Job,"  by  Zach.  Boyd. 

Thou  art  one  of  the  knights  of  France,  who  hold 
it  for  glee  and  pastime  to  gab,  as  they  term  it,  of 
exploits  that  are  beyond  human  power.— >Sir  W. 
Scott,  “ The  Talisman,"  ch.  ii. 

Gabel',  Gabelle  {g  hard).  A salt- 
tax.  A word  applied  in  French  history 
to  the  monopoly  of  salt.  All  the  salt 
made  in  France  had  to  be  brought  to  the 
royal  warehouses,  and  was  there  sold  at 
a price  fixed  by  the  government.  The 
iniquity  was  that  some  provinces  had  to 
pay  twice  as  much  as  others.  Edward 
III.  jokingly  called  this  monopoly  ^^King 
Philippe’s  Salic  law.”  It  was  abolished 
in  1789.  (German,  gabe^  a tax.) 

Gaberlunzie,  or  A gabevlunzie  man 
{g  hard).  A mendicant ; or,  more  strictly 
speaking,  one  of  the  king’s  bedesmen, 
who  were  licensed  beggars.  The  word 
gaban  is  French  and  Spanish  for  a cloak 
with  tight  sleeves  and  a hood.”  Hence 
gabardine  (the  Jewish  cassock).  Lunzic 
IS  a diminutive  of  laine  (wool),  as  in  linsey- 
woolsey  (half  linen  half  woollen).  So 
that  gaber-lunzie  means  coarse  woollen 
gown.”  These  bedesmen  were  also  called 
blue-godms  (g'.-y.),  from  the  colour  of  their 
cloaks. 

Ga'briel  [g  hard),  an  J ewish  mytho- 
logy, is  the  angel  of  death  to  the  favoured 
people  of  God,  the  prince  of  fire  and 
thunder,  and  the  only  angel  that  can 
speak  Syriac  and  Chaldee.  The  Maho- 
metans call  him  the  chief  of  the  four 
favoured  angels,  and  the  spirit  of  truth. 
In  mediaeval  romance  he  is  the  second  of 
the  seven  spirits  that  stand  before  the 


throne  of  God,  and,  as  God’s  messenger, 
carries  to  heaven  the  prayers  of  men 
(^^  Jerusalem  Delivered,”  bk.  i.)„  The 
word  means  power  of  God.”  Milton 
makes  him  chief  of  the  angelic  guards 
placed  over  Paradise. 

Betwixt  these  rocky  pillars  Gabriel  sat. 

Chief  of  the  angelic  guards. 

'^Paradise  Lost,"  iv. 

Longfellow,  in  his  Golden  Legend,” 
makes  him  the  angel  of  the  moon,  and 
says  he  brings  to  man  the  gift  of  hope. 

I am  the  angel  of  the  moon  . . . 

Nearest  the  earth,  it  is  my  ray 

That  best  illumes  the  miduight  way. 

I bring  the  gift  of  hope. 

“ The  31iracle  Play"  iii. 

GabrieVs  horse.  Ha'izum. 

GoibrieVs  hounds.  Wild  geese.  The 
noise  of  the  bean  goose  {gnser  segetum)  in 
flight  is  like  that  of  a pack  of  hounds  in 
full  cry. 

Ga'briel  Laj eunesse  (3  syl. ).  Son 
of  Basil,  the  blacksmith  of  Grand  Pre 
(Nova  Scotia),  the  affianced  husband  of 
Evangeline.  Longfellow,  ^‘Evangeline.'' 

Gab'riell'e  (3  syl. ; g hard).  La  Belle 
Gabrielle.  Daughter  of  Antoine  d’Estr^es, 
grand-master  of  artillery,  and  governor 
of  the  He  de  France.  Henri  IV.,  towards 
the  close  of  1590,  happened  to  sojourn 
for  a night  at  the  Ch5,teau  de  Coeuvres, 
and  fell  in  love  with  Gabrielle,  then  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  To  throw  a flimsy  veil 
over  his  intrigue,  he  married  her  to  Da- 
merval  de  Liancourt,  created  her  duchess 
de  Beaufort,  and  took  her  to  live  with 
him  at  court. 

Charraante  Gabrielle, 

Perc6  de  mille  dards, 

Quand  la  gloire  ra’appelle 
A la  suite  de  Mars.  Henri  TV. 

Gabri'na,  in  Orlando  Furioso,”  is 
a sort  of  Potiphar’s  wife.  She  was  the 
wife  of  Arge'o,  a baron  of  Servia.  While 
Philander,  a Dutch  knight,  was  enter- 
tained by  Arge'o,  Gabrina  assayed  his 
virtue,  but  Philander  fled  the  house. 
Gabrina,  in  revenge,  accused  him  to  her 
husband  of  adultery,  and  Arge'o  followed 
him,  brought  him  back,  and  locked  him 
in  the  castle  dungeon.  One  day  Gabri'na 
went  to  visit  him,  and  implored  him  to 
avenge  her  on  a faithless  knight  who  had 
tempted  her  virtue.  Philander  readily 
undertook  to  be  her  champion ; but  the 
pretended  lover  was  Arge'o,  whom  Phi- 
lander ignorantly  slew.  Gabrina  now 
threatened  to  deliver  up  her  champion 

V 2 


324 


GABRIOLETTA, 


GALEN, 


to  the  law  unless  he  married  her;  an 
alternative  that  Philander  accepted,  but 
ere  long  he  was  killed  by  poison.  The 
whole  affair  being  brought  to  light, 
Gabrina  was  shut  up  in  prison,  but 
effecting  her  escape,  wandered  about  the 
country  as  an  old  hag.  Knight  after 
knight  had  to  defend  her,  but  at  last  she 
was  committed  to  the  charge  of  Odori'co, 
who,  to  get  rid  of  her,  hung  her  on  an 
elm. 

Galbriolet'ta  {g  hard).  Governess  of 
Brittany,  rescued  by  Am'adis  of  Gaul 
from  the  hands  of  Balan,  “ the  bravest 
and  strongest  of  all  the  giants.’' — 
dis  of  Gaulf  bk.  iv.,  ch.  129. 

Gad  (g  hard).  Gadding  from  'glace,  to 
glace.  Wandering  from  pillar  to  post 
without  any  profitable  purpose.  (Irish, 
gad^  a roving;  Russian,  cliod^  &c.)  A 
gadabout  is  one  who  gads. 

Give  water  no  passage,  neither  a wicked  woman 
liberty  to  gad  abroad.— ^ccZus. 

Gad-fly  is  not  the  roving  but  the 
goading  fly.  (Saxon,  gad,  a goad.) 

I will  go  get  a leaf  of  brass. 

And,  with  a gad  of  steel,  w ill  write  these  words. 

Shakespeare,  Titus  Andronicus^'*  iv.  1. 

Gad-steel.  Flemish  steel.  So  called 
because  it  is  wrought  in  gads,  or  small 
bars.  (Saxon,  gad,  a small  bar  or  goad.) 

Gadshill,  in  Kent,  near  Rochester. 
Famous  for  the  attack  of  Sir  John  Fal- 
staff  and  three  of  his  knavish  companions 
on  a party  of  four  travellers,  whom  they 
robbed  of  their  purses.  While  the  rob- 
bers were  dividing  the  spoil,  Poins  and 
the  Prince  of  Wales  set  upon  them,  and 

outfaced  them  from  their  prize;”  and 
as  for  the  “ Hercules  of  flesh,”  he  ran 
and  roared  for  mercy,  and  still  ran  and 
roared,”  says  the  prince,  ^^as  ever  I 
heard  a bull-calf.”  Gadshill  is  also  the 
name  of  one  of  the  thievish  companions  of 
Sir  John. — Shakesgeare,  Henry  IV.,'* 

ii.  4. 

Gaels.  A contraction  of  Gad-hels 
(hidden  rovers).  The  inhabitants  of  Scot- 
land who  maintained  their  ground  in  the 
Highlands  against  the  Celts.  It  is  an 
error  to  derive  this  word  from  Gaul, 
Gallia, 

Ga-flfl  {g  hard).  Crooked  as  a gaff.  A 
gaff  is  an  iron  hoe  or  hook.  The  metal 
spurs  of  fighting  cocks  ; in  nautical  lan- 
guage, a boom  or  spar  used  to  extend  the 


upper  edge  of  the  mizen.  (Irish,  gaf; 
Spanish  and  Portuguese,  Shemitic, 
cafah,  to  bend.) 

Gaffer  {g  hard).  A title  of  address, 
as  Gaffer  Grey,”  '^Good-day,  Gaffer.” 
About  equal  to  ‘‘mate.”  (Saxon, 
a companion  or  mate.) 

Gather  is  {Sir).  Brother  of  Sir 
Gawain,  and  a knight  of  the  Round 
Table. 

Ga'ilan.  Forest  demon  of  Arabian 
mythology. 

Gaiter  {g  hard).  A proper  name.  {See 
Brewer.) 

Gala  Day  {g  hard).  A festive  day ; 
a day  when  people  put  on  their  best 
attire.  (Spanish,  gala,  court  dress ; 
Italian,  gala,  finery ; French,  gala, 
pomp.) 

Gal'ahad,  or  Sir  Galahalt  {g  hard). 
Son  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  GanoY{Guinevei'), 
one  of  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table, 
so  pure  in  life  that  he  was  successful  in 
his  search  for  the  sangrael.  Tennyson 
has  a poem  on  the  subject.  Mold 
d*  Arthur." 

There  Galaad  sat,  with  manly  grace, 

Yet  maiden  meekness  in  his  face. 

Sir  W.  Scott,  “ Bridal  of  Triermaini*  ii.  13. 

GaPaor  {Don).  Brother  of  Am'adis 
of  Gaul,  a gay  libertine,  whose  adven- 
tures form  a strong  contrast  to  those  of 
the  more  serious  hero. 

Galate'a  {g  hard).  A sea-nymph, 
beloved  by  Polyphe'me,  but  herself  in 
love  with  Acis.  Acis  was  crushed  under 
a huge  rock  by  the  jealous  giant. 
Handel  has  an  opera  entitled  “Acis  and 
Galatea.” 

GaPathe  (3  syl.).  Hector’s  horse. 

There  is  a thousand  Hectors  in  the  field ; 

Now  here  he  fights  on  Galathohis  horse, 

And  there  lacks  work. 

Shakespeare^  Troilus  and  Cms*dfl,”v.  5. 

GaPaxy  {g  hard).  A galaxy  of  beauty. 
A cluster,  assembly,  or  coterie  of  hand- 
some women.  The  galaxy  is  the  “ Milky 
Way”  sown  thick  with  stars.  (Greek, 
gala,  milk.) 

Gale’s  Compound.  Powdered 
glass  mixed  with  gunpowder  to  render  it 
non-explosive.  Gale  is  the  patentee. 

Galen  (g  hard).  Galen  says  “ Hay,*' 
and  lligpocraies  “ Yea."  The  doctors 
disagree,  and  who  is  to  decide?  Galeu 


GALEOfTl. 


GALLICENiE.  325 


was  a physician  of  Asia  Minor  in  the 
second  Christian  century.  Hippoc'rates — 
a native  of  Cos,  born  b.c.  460— was  the 
most  celebrated  physician  of  antiquity, 

Galen.  A generic  name  for  an  apothe^ 
cary.  Thus,  the  host  says  to  Dr.  Caius— 

Is  he  dead,  . . . my  Galen  ? . . . is  he  dead  ? 

Shakespeare^  ‘^Ilerry  Wives,”  ii.  3. 

Galeot'ti  (Martins').  Louis  XI. ’s 
Italian  astrologer.  Being  asked  by  the 
king  if  he  knew  the  day  of  his  own 
death,  he  craftily  replied  that  he  could 
not  name  the  exact  day,  but  he  knew 
this  much  : it  would  be  twenty-four  hours 
before  the  decease  of  his  majesty.  Thra- 
sullus,  the  soothsayer  of  Tiberius,  em- 
peror of  Dome,  made  verbally  the  same 
answer  to  the  same  question. 

“Can  thy  pretended  skill  ascertain  the  hour  of 
thine  own  death  ? ” 

“Only  by  referring  to  the  fate  of  another,”  sail 
Galeotti. 

“ 1 understand  not  thine  answer,”  said  Louis. 

“Know  then,  O king,”  said  Martius,  “that  this 
only  I can  tell  with  certainty  concerning  mine  own 
death,  that  it  shall  take  place  exactly  twenty-four 
hours  before  your  majesty’s.” 

Sir  W.  Scott,  “ Quentin  Durward”  ch.  xxix. 

Galera'na  (g  hard),  according  to 
Ariosto,  was  wife  of  Charlemagne. — 
**  Orlando  Furioso^'  bk.  xxi.  (See 
Charlemagne.) 

Galere.  Q,ne  didble  allait-il  faire  dans 
eette  galere  I (What  business  had  he  to 
be  on  this  galley  ? ) This  is  from  Moliere’s 
comedy  of  Les  Fourberies  de  Scapin.” 
Scapin  wants  to  bamboozle  Geronte  out 
of  his  money,  and  tells  him  that  his 
master  (Geronte’s  son)  is  detained  pri- 
soner on  a Turkish  galley,  where  he  went 
out  of  curiosity.  He  adds,  that  unless 
the  Old  man  will  ransom  him,  he  will  be 
taken  to  Algiers  as  a slave.  Geronte 
replies  to  all  that  Scapin  urges,  “What 
business  had  he  to  go  on  board  the 
galley?”  The  retort  is  given  to  those 
who  beg  money  to  help  them  out  of 
difficulties  which  they  have  brought  on 
themselves.  “I  grant  you  are  in  trouble, 
but  what  right  had  you  to  go  on  the 
galley?” 

Gale'sus  [g  hard).  ^ A river  of  Puglia, 
not  far  from  Tarentum.  The  sheep  that 
fed  on  the  meadows  of  Gale'sus  were 
noted  for  their  fine  wool. — Horace, 
“ Carm.,*'  ii.  6,  10. 

Galia'na  {g  hard).  A Moorish  prin- 
cess. Her  father,  king  Gadalfe  of  Tole'do, 
built  for  her  a palace  on  the  Tagus  so 


splendid  that  the  phrase,  “ a palace  of 
Galiana”  became  proverbial  in  Spain. 

Galimau'frey  {g  hard) . A medley ; 
any  confused  jumble  of  things ; but 
strictly  speaking,  a hotch-potch  made  up 
of  all  the  scraps  of  the  larder.  (French, 
galimafrh ; Spanish,  gallofa,  “ broken 
meat,”  from  gallofero,  a beggar.) 

He  wooes  both  high  and  low,  both  rich  and  poor. 

Both  young  and  old,  one  with  another,  Ford  ; 

He  loves  thy  gally-mawfry  {all  sorts). 

Shakespeare,  **  3Ierry  Wives”  ii.  1, 

Gall  {g  hard).  St.  GalVs  hell.  A 
four-sided  bell,  which  was  certainly  in 
existence  in  the  seventh  century,  and  is 
still  shown  in  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall, 
Switzerland. 

Gallant'  ig  hard).  Brave,  polite,  cour- 
teous, &c.  (Gael,  galLan,  “a  branch,” 
whence  also  callant^  “a  stripling”  or, 
in  Bible  language,  an  “olive  branch.”) 
Only  the  aristocracy  have  a genealogical 
tree,  and  therefore  gallant  applies  strictly 
to  them  alone. 

Galley  {g  hard).  A printer’s  frame 
into  which  type  from  the  stick  {q.v.)  is 
emptied.  In  the  galley  the  type  appears 
only  in  columns ; it  is  subsequently  di- 
vided into  pages,  and  transferred  to  the 
“ chase  ” {q.v.).  (French,  galee.) 

Galley  Pence.  Genoese  coin 
brought  over  by  merchants  who  im- 
ported their  wines  and  other  goods  in 
galleys.  These  pence,  or  rather  half- 
pence, were  larger  than  our  own. 

Gal'lia  {g  hard).  France. 

Impending  hangs  o’er  Gallia’s  humbled  coast. 

Thomson,  “ Summer.*^ 

Gall'ia  Bracca'ta  (trousered  Gaul). 
Gallia  Narbonen'sis  was  so  called  from 
the  “braccrn”  or  trousers  which  the 
natives  wore  in  common  with  the  Scy- 
thians and  Persians. 

Gall'ia  Coma'ta.  That  part  of 
Gaul  which  belonged  to  the  Roman  em- 
peror, and  was  governed  by  leg'ates 
{lega'ti^f  was  so  called  from  the  long  hair 
{coma)  worn  by  the  inhabitants  flowing 
over  their  shoulders. 

Gallice'nae.  The  nine  virgin  priest- 
esses of  the  Gallic  oracle.  By  their 
charms  they  could  raise  the  wind  and 
waves,  turn  themselves  into  any  animal 
form  they  liked,  cure  wounds  and  dis- 
eases, and  predict  future  events. — Gallic 
mythology. 


S26 


GALLICISM. 


GAMELYI^. 


Gall'icism  iq  hard).  A phrase  or 
sentence  constructed  after  the  French 
idiom  ; as  when  you  shall  have  returned 
home  you  will  find  a letter  on  your 
table.”  Government  documents  are 
especially  guilty  of  this  fault.  In  St. 
Matt.  xv.  32  is  a Gallicism  : I have 
compassion  on  the  multitude,  because 
they  continue  with  me  now  three  days, 
and  have  nothing  to  eat.”  Compare 
St.  Mark  viii.  2. 

Galligan'tus  {g  hard).  The  giant 
who  lived  with  Hocus-Pocus,  the  con- 
juror. Jack  the  Giant-killer  blew  the 
magic  horn,  and  both  the  giant  and  con- 
juror were  overthrown.” — Nursery  Tale 
of  Jack  the  Giant  Killer f 

Gallimaufry.  {See  Galimaufrey.) 

Gallipot  {g  hard)  means  a glazed 
pot,  as  galletyles  (3  syl.)  means  glazed 
tiles.  (Dutch,  gleipot,  glazed  pot.)  In 
farce  and  jest  it  forms  a by-name  for  an 
apothecary. 

Gallo-Bergieus.  An  annual  register 
in  Latin  for  European  circulation,  first 
published  in  1598. 

It  is  believed, 

And  told  for  news  with  as  much  diligi^nce 
Asif’twere  writ  in  Gallo-Belgicus. 

Thomas  May,  “ The  HeirJ-  (1615.) 

Galloon.  {See  Caddice.) 

Gall'oway  {g  hard).  A small  horse 
of  the  breed  which  originally  came  from 
Galloway  in  Scotland. 

Thrust  him  downstairs!  Know  we  not  Galloway 
naga^—lShakespeare,  2 Henry  ii.  4. 

Galor'e  (2  syl.,  g hard).  A sailor’s 
term,  meaning  ^^in  abundance,”  (Irish, 
go  leor,  in  abundance. ) 

For  his  Poll  he  had  trinkets  and  gold  galore, 
Besides  of  prize-money  quite  a store. 

Jack  RoMnson. 

Gal'vanism  {g  hard).  So  called  from 
Louis  Galva'ni,  of  Bologna.  Signora  Gal- 
vani  in  1790  had  frog-soup  prescribed  for 
her  diet,  and  one  day  some  skinned  frogs 
which  happened  to  be  placed  near  an 
electric  machine  in  motion  exhibited 
signs  of  vitality.  This  strange  pheno- 
menon excited  the  curiosity  of  the  experi- 
menter, who  subsequently  noticed  that 
similar  convulsive  effects  were  produced 
when  the  copper  hooks  on  which  the  frogs 
were  strung  were  suspended  on  the  iron 
hook  of  the  larder.  Experiments  being 
carefully  conducted,  soon  led  to  the  dis- 
covery of  this  important  science. 


Galway  Jury.  An  enlightened, 
independent  jury.  The  expression  has 
its  birth  in  certain  trials  held  in  Ire- 
land in  1635  upon  the  right  of  the  king 
to  the  counties  of  Ireland.  Leitrim, 
Eoscommon,  Sligo,  and  Mayo,  gave 
judgment  in  favour  of  the  crown,  but 
Galway  opposed  it ; whereupon  the 
sheriff  was  fined  ,£1,000,  and  each  of 
the  jurors  £4,000. 

Gam.  {See  Ganelon.) 

Ga'ma  {g  hard),  Vasco  de  Gama, 
the  Portuguese,  was  the  first  European 
navigator  who  doubled  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope. 

With  such  mad  seas  the  daring  Gama  fought  . . . 

Incessant  labouring  round  the  stormy  Cape. 

Thomson,  '•^Summer'' 

Vasco  de  Gama.  The  hero  of  Camoens’ 

Lusiad.”  He  is  represented  as  saga- 
cious, intrepid,  tender-hearted,  pious, 
fond  of  his  country,  and  holding  his 
temper  in  full  command.  He  is  also  the 
hero  of  Meyerbeer’s  posthumous  opera, 

L’Africaine.” 

Gama,  captain  of  the  venturous  band, 

Of  bold  emprise,  and  born  for  high  command, 

Whose  martial  fires,  with  prudence  close  allied, 

Ensured  the  smiles  of  fortune  on  his  side. 

Camoens,  “ Lusiad,”  bk  i. 

Gama'hes  {g  hard).  Stones  which 
contain  naturally  the  representation  of 
some  object,  such  as  a plant,  landscape, 
or  animal. 

The  word  is  used  by  Albertus  Magnus, 
and  is  from  the  French  camaieu  (an 
agate).  The  natural  ‘^cameos”  are 
called  agate-stones,  because  most  of  them 
belong  to  the  agate  family. 

Gambo'ge  (2  syl.,  firsts  hard,  second 
g soft).  So  called  from  Gambo'dia  or 
Cambogia,  whence  it  was  first  brought. 

Game  (1  syl.,  g hard).  Are  you 
game  for  a spree  1 Are  you  inclined  to 
join  in  a bit  of  fun?  The  allusion  is 
to  game-cocks,  which  never  show  the 
white  feather,  but  are  always  ready  for 
a fight. 

You  are  malcing  game  of  me.  You  are 
chaffing  me.  (Anglo-Saxon,  gamen, 
jest,  scoffing.) 

Game-leg.  A bad  or  lame  leg. 
(Welsh,  cam;  Irish,  gam,  bad,  crooked.) 

Gam'elyn  (3  syl.,  g hard).  The 
youngest  of  the  three  sons  of  Sir  Johan 
de  Boundys.  On  his  death -bed  the  old 
knight  left  five  plowes  of  land  ” to  each 


GAMMER. 


GANELON. 


327 


of  his  two  elder  sons,  and  the  rest  of  his 
property  to  Gamelyn.  The  eldest  took 
charge  of  the  boy,  but  entreated  him 
shamefully;  and  when  Gamelyn,  in  his 
manhood,  demanded  of  him  his  heritage, 
the  elder  brother  exclaimed,  Stand 
still,  gadelyng,  and  hold  thy  peace ! ” 
**  I am  no  gadelyng,^’  retorted  the  proud 
young  spirit ; but  the  lawful  son  of  a 
lady  and  true  knight.”  At  this  the  elder 
brother  sent  his  servants  to  chastise  the 
youngling,  but  Gamelyn  drove  them  off 
with  ‘^a  pestel.”  At  a wrestling-match 
held  in  the  neighbourhood,  young  Game- 
lyn threw  the  champion,  and  carried  off 
the  prize  ram;  but  on  reaching  home 
found  the  door  shut  against  him.  He  at 
once  kicked  down  the  door  and  threw 
the  porter  into  a well.  The  elder  bro- 
ther, by  a manoeuvre,  contrived  to  bind 
the  young  scapegrace  to  a tree,  and  left 
him  two  days  without  food ; but  Adam, 
the  spencer,  unloosed  him,  and  Gamelyn 
fell  upon  a party  of  ecclesiastics  who  had 
come  to  dine  with  his  brother,  ^^sprink- 
ling holy  water  on  the  guests  with  his 
stout  oaken  cudgel.”  The  sheriff  now 
sent  to  take  Gamelyn  and  Adam  into 
custody ; but  they  fled  into  the  woods  and 
came  upon  a party  of  foresters  sitting  at 
meat.  The  captain  gave  them  welcome, 
and  in  time  Gamelyn  rose  to  be  king 
of  the  outlaws.”  His  brother,  being  now 
sheriff,  would  have  put  him  to  death, 
but  Gamelyn  constituted  himself  a lynch 
judge,  and  hanged  his  brother.  After 
this  the  king  appointed  him  chief  ranger, 
and  he  married.  This  tale  is  the  foun- 
dation of  Lodge’s  novel,  called  ^^Euphue’s 
Golden  Legacy,”  and  the  novel  furnished 
Shakespeare  with  the  plot-  of  As  You 
Like  It.” 

Gammer  {g  hard).  A contraction 
of  grandmbre,  first  into  gan-mer,  then 
into  gammer. 

Gammer  Gurton^s  Needle,  The  earliest 
comedy  but  one  in  the  English  language. 
It  was  “Made  by  Mr.  S.,  Master  of  Arts.” 
The  author  is  said  to  have  been  Bishop 
Still  of  Bath  and  Wells.  (1543-1607.) 

Gam'mon  {g  hard).  A corruption 
of  gamene.  Stuff  to  impose  upon  one’s 
credulity;  chaff.  (Anglo-Saxon, 
scoffing ; our  game,  as  “You  are  making 
game  of  me.”) 

Gammon  {g  hard)  means  the  leg,  not 
the  buttock.  (French,  jamhon,  the  leg, 
jamle ; lioWan,  gamha.) 


Gam'mut,  or  Gamut  {g  hard).  It  i& 
gamma  lit,  “ut”  being  the  first  word  in 
the  Guido  von-Arrezzo  scale  of  ut,  re, 
mi,  fa,  sol,  la.  In  the  eleventh  century 
the  anciemt  scale  was  extended  a note 
below  the  Greek  proslamban'omy  note 
(our  A),  the  first  space  of  the  bass  staff. 
The  new  note  was  termed  7 (gamma), 
and  when  “ut”  was  substituted  by  Ar- 
rezzo,  the  “supernumerary”  note  was 
called  gamma  or  ut,  or  shortly  gamm*  ut 
— i.e.,  “Gut.”  The gammut,  therefore, 
properly  means  the  diatonic  scale  be- 
ginning in  the  bass  clef  with  “ G.” 

Gamp  (Mrs. ),  or  Sarah  Gamp  (g  hard). 
A monthly  nurse,  famous  for  her  gouty 
urn^  Telia  and  perpetual  reference  to  Mrs. 
Harris,  a purely  imaginary  person,  whose 
opinions  always  confirmed  her  own. — 
JJichens,  Martin  Chuzzlewit.'^ 

Punch  caricatures  the  Standard  as 
“ Mrs.  Sarah  Gamp,”  a little  woman  with 
an  enormous  bonnet  and  her  character- 
istic umbrella. 

A Sarah  Gamp,  or  Mrs.  Gamp.  A big, 
pawky  umbrella,  so  called  from  Sarah 
Gamp.  (See  above. ) 

In  France  it  is  called  un  Pohhison, 
from  Robinson  Crusoe’s  umbrella. — 
Defoe. 

Gamps  and  Harrises.  Work- 
house  nurses,  real  or  supposititious.  (See 
Gamp.) 

Mr.  Gathorne  Hardy  is  to  look  after  the  Gamps 
and  Harrises  of  Lambeth  and  the  fetrand.— T/ie 
Telegraph. 

Gan'abim.  The  island  of  thieves. 
So  called  from  the  Hebrew  gannah  (a 
thief). — Rabelais,  Pantagruel/’  iv,  66. 

Gander  (g  hard).  What's  sauce  for 
the  goose  is  sauce  for  the  gander.  Both 
must  be  treated  exactly  alike.  Apple- 
sauce is  just  as  good  for  one  as  the  other. 

Gander-eleugh.  Folly  cliff;  that 
mysterious  land  where  any  one  who 
makes  a “goose  of  himself”  takes  up 
his  temporary  residence.  The  hypothe- 
tical Jedediah  CJeishbotham,  who  edited 
the  “ Tales  of  my  Landlord,”  lived  there, 
as  Sir  Walter  Scott  assures  us. 

Gander-month.  Those  four  v/eeks 
when  the  “monthly  nurse”  rules  the 
house  with  despotic  sway,  and  the  master 
is  made  a goose  of. 

Gan'elon  {cj  hard).  Count  of  May- 
ence,  one  of  Charlemagne’s  paladins,  the 


328 


GANEM. 


GAHAGANTUA. 


Judas”  of  knights.  His  castle  was 
built  on  the  Blocksberg,  the  loftiest 
peak  of  the  Hartz  Mountains.  Jealousy 
of  Roland  made  him  a traitor;  and  in 
order  to  destroy  his  rival,  he  planned 
with  Marsillus,  the  Moorish  king,  the 
attack  of  Roncesvalles.  He  was  six  and 
a half  feet  high,  with  glaring  eyes  and 
fiery  hair;  he  loved  solitude,  was  very 
taciturn,  disbelieved  in  the  existence  of 
moral  good,  and  never  had  a friend.  His 
name  is  a by- word  for  a traitor  of  the 
basest  sort. 

Have  you  not  held  me  at  such  a distance  from 
your  counsels,  as  if  1 were  the  most  faithless  sny 
since  the  days  of  Qanelon  7— Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ The 
Abbot,’’  ch.  xxiv. 

You  would  have  thought  him  [Ganelon]  one  of 
Attila’s  Huns,  rather  than  one  of  the  paladins  of 
Charlemagne’s  court.— ' Groqxiemitaine,”  iii. 

Ga'nem  {g  hard),  having  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  Calif  Haroun-al- 
Raschid,  effected  his  escape  by  taking 
the  place  of  a slave,  who  was  carrying 
on  his  head  dishes  from  the  califs  table. 
— Arabian  Nights'  Entertainments. 

Gan'esa  {g  hard).  Son  of  Siva  and 
Parbutta ; also  called  Gunputty,  the 
elephant  god.  The  god  of  wisdom,  fore- 
thought, and  prudence.  The  Mercury 
of  the  Hindus. 

Camdeo  bright  and  Ganesa  sublime 

Shall  bless  with  juy  their  own  propitious  clime. 

Campbell. 

Ganga.  One  of  the  three  goddesses 
of  rivers. — Indian  mythology. 

Gangas.  Black  priests  of  Angola, 
Congo,  &c. — African  mythology. 

Gang-board,  or  Oang-way  {g  hard). 
The  board  or  way  made  for  the  rowers 
to  pass  from  stem  to  stern,  and  where 
the  mast  was  laid  when  it  was  unshipped. 
Now  it  means  the  board  with  cleats  or 
bars  of  wood  by  which  passengers  walk 
into  or  out  of  a ship  or  steamboat.  A 
gang  is  an  alloy  or  avenue. 

Gang-day  [g  hard).  The  day  when 
the  boys  qanq  round  the  parish  to  beat 
its  bounds. 

Gan'ges  (2  syl. ; first  g hard,  second 
g soft).  Pliny  tells  us  of  men  living  on 
the  smell  of  the  Ganges.,  ‘^Nat.  Hist.,” 
xii. 

By  Ganges’  bank,  as  wild  traditions  tell, 

Of  old  the  tribes  lived  healthful  by  the  smell ; 

2^  o food  they  knew,  such  fragrant  vapours  rose, 

Rich  from  the  flowery  lawn  where  Ganges  flows. 

Camoens,^*  Ltmiad,”  bk.  vii. 

Ganglati  (Slow-pace),  The  servant 
of  the  goddess  Hel  {q.v.). 


Gangway  (g  hard).  Below  the  gang- 
way. In  the  House  of  Commons  there 
is  a sort  of  bar  extending  across  the 
house,  which  separates  the  Ministry  and 
the  Opposition  from  the  rest  of  the  mem- 
bers. To  sit  below  the  gangway”  is 
to  ^ sit  amongst  the  general  members, 
neither  among  the  Ministers  nor  with 
the  Opposition. 

Clear  the  gangway.  Make  room  for 
the  passengers  from  the  boat,  clear  the 
passage.  {See  Gang-board.) 

Ganna.  A Celtic  prophetess,  who 
succeeded  Velle'da.  She  went  to  Rome, 
and  was  received  by  Domitian  with  great 
honours. — Tacitus,  Annals f 55. 

Ganor  (g  hard),  Gineura  {g  soft),  or 
Gitinever.  Arthur’s  wife. 

Gan'ymede  (3  syl. ; g hard).  Jove’s 
cup-bearer  ; the  most  beautiful  boy  ever 
born.  He  succeeded  Hebe  in  office. 

When  Ganymede  above 
His  service  ministers  to  mighty  Jove. 

Iloole’s  “ Ariosto.*’ 

Ga'ora.  A tract  of  land  inhabited 
by  a people  without  heads.  Their  eyes 
are  in  their  shoulders,  and  their  mouths 
in  their  breasts.— Voyages." 
{See  Blemmyes.) 

Gape  {g  hard).  Looking  for  gape- 
seed.  Gaping  about  and  doing  nothing. 
A corruption  of  ^Mjooking  a-gapesing  ; ” 
gapesing  is  staring  about  with  one’s 
mouth  open.  A-gapesing  and  a-trapes- 
ing  are  still  used  in  Norfolk. 

Seeking  a gape's  nest.  (Devonshire.)  A 
gape's  nest  is  a sight  which  people  stare 
at  with  wide-open  mouth.  The  word 

nest”  was  used  in  a much  wider  sense 
formerly  than  it  is  now.  Thus  we  read 
of  a *‘nest  of  shelves,”  a ^'nest  of 
thieves,”  a '^cozy  nest.”  A gape’s  nest 
is  the  nest  or  place  where  anything 
stared  at  is  to  be  found.  {See  Mare’s 
Nest.) 

Gar'agan'tua  {g  hard).  The  giant 
that  swallowed  five  pilgrims  with  their 
staves  and  all  in  a salad.  From  a book 
entitled  The  History  Of  Garagantua,” 
1594.  Laneham,  however,  mentions  the 
book  of  Garagantua  in  1575.  The  giant 
in  Rabelais  is  called  Gargantua  {q.v.). 

You  must  borrow  me  Garagantua’s  mouth  (before 
I can  utter  so  long  a word),  . . . ’tis  a word  too  gi  eat 
for  any  mouth  of  this  age’s  size, 

Shaktsj  eare,  “ As  You  Like  It,”  iii.  2. 


GABAGANTUAN. 


GARGANTUA. 


G-aragantua.n.  Threatening,  bul- 
ly ing.  {See  'preceding. ) 

Garble  {g  hard)  properly  means  to 
sift  out  the  refuse.  Thus,  by  the  statute 
of  1 James,  I.  19,  a penalty  is  imposed 
on  the  sale  of  drugs  not  garbled.  We 
now  use  the  word  to  express  a mutilated 
extract,  in  which  the  sense  of  the  author 
is  perverted  by  what  is  omitted.  (French, 
garheVy  to  make  clean;  Spanish,  garlil- 
lar ; Chaldee,  carhl ; our  cribhUy  a corn- 
sieve;  crihbled,  sifted.) 

Garci'as  {g  hard).  The  soul  of  Pedro 
Garcias.  Money.  It  is  said  that  two 
scholars  of  Salamanca  discovered  a 
tombstone  with  this  inscription  : — Here 
lies  the  soul  of  the  licentiate  Pedro 
Garci'as  j”  and  on  searching  for  this 
'^soul,”  found  a purse  with  a hundred 
golden  ducats. — Gil  Bias  {Preface). 

Gar'darike  (4  syl.,  g hard).  So 
Russia  is  called  in  the  Eddas. 

Garden  {g  hard).  The  garden  of 
Joseph  of  Arimathe'a  was  the  spot  where 
the  rotunda  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre 
stands. 

The  Garden  or  Garden  Sect.  The 
disciples  of  Epicu'rus,  who  taught  in  his 
own  private  garden. 

Epicurus  in  his  garden  was  languid  ; the  birds  of 
the  air  have  more  enjoyment  of  their  food.— jEcce 
Homo. 

Garden  of  England.  Worcestershire 
and  Kent  are  both  so  called. 

Garden  of  Europe.  Italy. 

Garden  of  France.  Amboise,  in  the 
department  of  Indre-et-Loire. 

Garden  of  Italy.  The  island  of  Sicily. 

Garden  o f Spain.  An dalu'ci a. 

Garden  of  the  West.  Illinois ; Kansas 
is  also  so  called. 

Garden  of  the  World.  The  region  of  the 
Mississippi. 

Gardener  {g  hard).  Get  on,  ga'r- 
dener  I Get  on,  you  slow  and  clumsy 
coachman.  The  allusion  is  to  a man  who 
is  both  gardener  and  coachman. 

Gardener,  Adam  is  so  called  by 
Tennyson. 

From  yon  blue  sky  above  us  bent. 

The  grand  old  gardener  and  his  wife  (Adam 
and  Eve) 

Smile  at  the  claims  of  long  descent. 

Lady  Clara  Vere  de  Vere.** 
Thou,  old  Adam’s  likeness, 

Set  to  dress  this  garden. 

Shakespeare, '' Richard  II.,”  iii.  4. 

Gardening  hard).  {See  Adam’s 
Profession.) 


Garder  le  Mulet  (To  hold  the  'inule). 
To  be  kept  waiting.  Till  recently,  per- 
sons went  on  mules  to  make  calls,  and 
the  servant  of  the  house  held  the  mule 
till  the  caller  had  finished  his  visit. 
Even  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  coun- 
sellors of  state  went  to  the  palace  on 
mules. 

Gargamelle  (3  syl.,  g hard)  was  the 
wife  of  Grangousier,  and  daughter  of  the 
king  of  the  Parpaillons  {butterflies).  On 
the  day  that  she  gave  birth  to  Gargantua 
she  ate  sixteen  quarters,  two  bushels, 
three  pecks,  and  a pipkin  of  dirt,  the 
mere  remains  left  in  the  tripe  which 
she  had  for  supper;  for,  as  the  proverb 
says — 

Scrape  tripe  as  clean  as  e’er  you  can, 

A tithe  of  filth  will  still  remain. 

Gargamelle.  Said  to  be  meant  for 
Anne  of  Brittany.  She  was  the  mother 
of  Gargantua,  in  the  satirical  romance  of 

Gargantua  and  Pan'tagruel',”  by  Ra- 
belais. Motteux,  who  makes  ^^Panta- 
gruel”  to  be  Anthony  de  Bourbon,  and 
‘^Gargantua”  to  be  Henri  d’Albret,  says 

Gargamelle  ” is  designed  for  Catherine 
de  Foix,  queen  of  Navarre. 

Gargan'tua  (g  hard)  according  to 
Rabelais,  was  son  of  Grangousier  and 
Gargamelle.  Immediately  he  was  born 
he  cried  out  Drink,  drink  ! ” so  lustily, 
that  the  words  were  heard  in  Beauce 
and  Bibarois ; whereupon  his  royal 
father  exclaimed,  ^^Que  grand  tu  as!” 
which,  being  the  first  words  he  uttered 
after  the  birth  of  the  child,  were  ac- 
cepted as  its  name ; so  it  was  called 
^^Gah-gran’-tu-as,”  corrupted  into  Gar- 
g’an-tu-a.  It  needed  17,913  cows  to 
supply  the  babe  with  milk.  When  he 
went  to  Paris  to  finish  his  education,  ho 
rode  on  a mare  as  big  as  six  elephants, 
and  took  the  bells  of  Notre  Dame  to 
hang  on  his  mare’s  neck  as  jingles.  At 
the  prayer  of  the  Parisians  he  restored 
the  bells,  and  they  consented  to  feed  his 
mare  for  nothing.  On  his  way  home, 
he  was  fired  at  from  the  castle  at  Vede 
Ford,  and  on  reaching  home  combed 
his  hair  with  a comb  900  feet  long,  when 
at  every  ‘^rake”  seven  bullet-balls  fell 
from  his  hair.  Being  desirous  of  a salad 
for  dinner,  he  went  to  cut  some  lettuces 
as  big  as  walnut-trees,  and  ate  up  six 
pilgrims  from  Sebastian,  who  had  hidden 
themselves  among  them  out  of  fear. 
Picrochole,  having  committed  certain 


330 


GARGANTUAN. 


GARLAND* 


offences,  was  attacked  by  Gargantua  in 
the  rock  Clermond,  and  utterly  de- 
feated, and  Gargantua,  in  remembrance 
of  this  victory,  founded  and  endowed 
the  abbey  of  Theleme. — Gargantyxi  and 
PaMagruel. 

Gargantua  is  said  to  be  a satire  on 
Frangois  I.,  but  this  cannot  be  correct, 
as  he  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  the 
butterflies,  was  sent  to  Paris  to  finish 
his  education,  and  left  it  again  to  suc- 
cour his  own  country.  Motteux,  perceiv- 
ing these  difficulties,  thinks  it  is  meant 
for  Henri  d’Albret,  king  of  Navarre. 

Gargantua' s Mare.  Those  who  make 
Gargantua  to  be  Francois  I.,  make  bis 

great  mare”  to  be  Mad.  d’Estampes. 
Motteux,  who  looks  upon  the  romance  as 
a satire  on  the  Reform  party,  is  at  a loss 
how  to  apply  this  word,  and  merely  , says, 
‘^It  is  some  lady.”  Rabelais  says,  She 
was  as  big  as  six  elephants,  and  had  her 
feet  cloven  into  fingers.  She  was  of  a 
burnt- sorel  hue,  with  a little  mixture  of 
dapple-grey ; but,  above  all,  she  had  a 
terrible  tafi,  for  it  was  every  whit  as 
great  as  the  steeple -pillar  of  St.  Mark.” 
When  the  beast  got  to  Orleans,  and  the 
wasps  assaulted  her,  she  switched  about 
her  tail  so  furiously  that  she  knocked 
down  all  the  trees  that  grew  in  the 
vicinity,  and  Gargantua,  delighted,  ex- 
claimed, ‘^Je  trouve  beau  ce!”  where- 
fore the  locality  has  been  called  ^^Beauce  ” 
ever  since.  The  satire  shows  the  wilful- 
ness and  extravagance  of  court  mis- 
tresses. — Rabelais,  Gargantua  and 
PaMagruel,^’  bk.  i.  16. 

Gargantua' s Shepherds,  according  to 
Motteux,  mean  Lutheran  preachers ; 
but  those  who  look  upon  the  romance  as 
a political  satire,  think  the  crown 
ministers  and  advisers  are  intended. 

Gargantua' s Thirst.  Motteux  says 
the  great  thirst”  of  Gargantua,  and 

mighty  drought  ” at  PantagrueFs  birth, 
refer  to  the  withholding  the  cup  from 
the  laity,  and  the  clamour  raised  by  the 
Reform  party  for  the  wine  as  well  as  the 
bread  in  the  eucharist. 

Gargan'tuan.  Enormous,  inordinate, 
great  beyond  all  limits.  It  needed  900 
ells  of  Ch§,telleraut  linen  to  make  the 
body  of  his  shirt,  and  200  more  for  the 
gussets  ; for  his  shoes  406  ells  of  blue  and 
crimson  velvet  were  required,  and  1, 100 
cow-hides  for  the  soles.  He  could  play 
207  different  games,  picked  his  teeth 


with  an  elephant’s  tusk,  and  did  every- 
thing in  the  same  ^ Marge  way.” 

It  sounded  like  a Gargantuan  order  for  a diam.— 
The  Standard. 

A Gargantuan  course  of  studies,  A 
course  including  all  languages,  as  well 
ancient  as  modern,  all  the  sciences,  all 
the  ologies  and  onomies,  together  with 
calisthenics  and  athletic  sports.  Gar- 
gantua wrote  to  his  son  Pantagruel,  com- 
manding him  to  learn  Greek,  Latin,  Chal- 
daic,  and  Arabic  ; all  history,  geometry, 
arithmetic,  and  music ; astronomy  and 
natural  philosophy,  so  that  ‘Hhere  be 
not  a river  in  the  world  thou  dost  not 
know  the  name  and  nature  of  all  its 
fishes;  all  the  fowls  of  the  air;  all  the 
several  kinds  of  shrubs  and  herbs ; all 
the  metals  hid  in  the  bowels  of  the 
earth ; with  all  gems  and  precious  stones. 
I would  furthermore  have  thee  study  the 
Talmudists  and  Cabalists,  and  get  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  man.  In  brief,  I 
would  have  thee  a bottomless  pit  of  all 
knowledge.”  — Rabelais,  Pantagruel," 
bk.  ii.  8. 

Gar'gery  {Joe).  A kind-hearted,  il- 
literate blacksmith,  in  Great  Expecta- 
tions,” by  Dickens.  Mrs.  Gargery  is  a 
virago  of  the  fiercest  type. 

Gargit'tios.  One  of  the  dogs  that 
guarded  the  herds  and  flocks  of  Ger'ydn, 
and  which  Hercules  killed.  The  other 
was  the  two-headed  dog,  named  Orthos, 
or  Orthros. 

Gargouille,  or  Gargoil  {g  hard).  A 
water-spout  in  church  architecture. 
Sometimes  also  spelt  Gurgogle.  They  are 
usually  carved  into  some  fantastic  shape, 
such  as  a dragon’s  head,  through  which 
the  water  flows.  Gargouille  was  the 
great  dragon  that  lived  in  the  Seine, 
ravaged  Rouen,  and  was  slain  by  St. 
Roma'nus,  bishop  of  Rouen,  in  the 
seventh  century.  {See  Dragon.  ) 

Garibaldi’s  Red  Shirt.  The  red 
shirt  is  the  habitual  upper  garment  of 
American  sailors.  Any  Liverpudlian  will 
tell  you  that  some  fifteen  years  ago  a 
British  tar  might  be  discerned  by  his 
blue  shirt,  and  a Yankee salt”  by  his  red. 
Garibaldi  first  adopted  the  American 
shirt,  when  he  took  the  command  of  the 
merchantman  in  Baltimore. 

Garland  {g  hard).  A head-dress,  so 
called  from  Domeni'co  Ghirlanda,  an 
eminent  goldsmith  of  Florence,  the  in- 


GARNISH. 


GASTROLATORS. 


331 


ventor  of  gold  and  silver  ornaments  of 
great  elegance  in  the  form  of  a wreath, 
which  became  in  the  fourteenth  century 
the  favourite  head-dress  of  the  Floren- 
tine beauties.  His  son  was  an  eminent 
fresco  painter. 

Garland.  A collection  of  ballads  in 
'^True  Lovers’  Garland,”  &c. 

Nu'ptial  Garlands  are  as  old  as  the 
hills.  The  ancient  Jews  used  them, 
according  to  Selden  (Uxor  Heb.  hi.  655), 
the  Greek  and  Roman  brides  did  the 
same  (Vaughan,  Golden  Grove”):  so 
did  the  Anglo-Saxons  and  Gauls. 

Thre  ornamentys  pryncipaly  to  a wyfe : A rynge 
on  hir  fynger,  a broch  on  hit  brest,  and  a garlond  on 
hir  hede.  The  rynge  betokenethe  true  love ; the 
broch  clennesse  in  herte  and  chastitye  ; the  garlond 
. . . gladness  and  the  dignity  of  the  bacreraent  of 
wedlock.— XeZand,  ''Dives  ana  Pauper."  (1493.) 

G-arnisli  {g  hard).  Entrance-money, 
to  be  spent  in  drink,  demanded  by  jail- 
birds of  new-comers.  In  prison  slang 
garnish  means  fetters,  and  garnish- 
money  is  money  given  for  the  ‘^honour” 
of  wearing  fetters.  (French,  garnisaire, 
a bailiff’s  man  put  into  a debtor’s  house.) 

Garrat  {g  hard).  The  Mayor  of 
Garrat.  Garrat  is  between  Wandsworth 
and  Tooting;  the  first  mayor  of  this 
village  was  elected  towards  the  close  of 
the  eighteenth  century ; and  his  election 
came  about  thus  : Garrat  Common  had 
been  often  encroached  on,  and  in  1780 
the  inhabitants  associated  themselves 
together  to  defend  their  rights.  The 
chairman  of  this  association  was  entitled 
Mayor,  and  as  it  happened  to  be  the 
time  of  a general  election,  the  society 
made  it  a law  that  a new  “mayor” 
should  be  chosen  at  every  general  elec- 
tion. The  addresses  of  these  mayors, 
written  by  Foote,  Garrick,  Wilks,  and 
others,  are  satires  on  the  corruption  of 
electors  and  political  squibs.  The  first 
Mayor  of  Garrat  was  ‘^Sir”  John 
Harper,  a retailer  of  brickdust  in  Lon- 
don ; and  the  last  was  ^^Sir”  Harry 
Dimsdale,  muffin-seller,  in  1796.  Foote 
has  a farce  entitled  ^‘The  Mayor  of 
Garrat.” 

Garrot'e  (2  syl.,  g hard)  is  the 
Spanish  garrote  (a  stick).  The  original 
way  of  garrotting  in  Spain  was  to  place 
the  victim  on  a chair  with  a cord  round 
fiis  neck,  then  to  twist  the  cord  with  a 
stick  tiW  strangulation  ensued.  In  1851 
General  Lopez  was  garrotted  by  the 
Spanish  authorities  for  attempting  to 


gain  possession  of  Cuba;  since  which 
time  the  thieves  of  London,  &c.,  have 
adopted  the  method  of  strangling  their 
victim  by  throwing  their  arms  round 
his  throat,  while  an  accomplice  rifles  his 
pockets. 

Garter  {g  hard).  Knights  of  the 
Garter.  The  popular  legend  is  that 
Joan,  countess  of  Salisbury,  accidentally 
slipped  her  garter  at  a court  ball.  It 
was  picked  up  by  her  royal  partner, 
Edward  HI.,  who  gallantly  diverted  the 
attention  of  the  guests  from  the  lady  by 
binding  the  blue  band  round  his  own 
knee,  saying  as  he  did  so,  ‘^Honi  soit 
qui  mal  y pense.” 

Wearing  the  garters  of  a pretty  maiden 
either  on  the  hat  or  knee  was  a common 
custom  with  our  forefathers.  Brides 
usually  wore  on  their  legs  a host  of  gay 
ribbons,  to  be  distributed  after  the 
marriage  ceremony  amongst  the  bride- 
groom’s friends ; and  the  piper  at  the 
wedding  dance  never  failed  to  tie  a piece 
of  the  bride’s  garter  round  his  pipe.  If 
there  is  any  truth  in  the  legend  given 
above,  the  impression  on  the  guests 
would  be  wholly  different  to  what  such 
an  accident  would  produce  in  our  days  ; 
but  perhaps  the  Order  of  the  Garter,” 
after  all,  may  be  about  tantamount  to 

The  Order  of  the  Ladies’  Champions,” 
or  The  Order  of  the  Ladies’  Favourites.” 

Gar'vies  (2  syl.,  g soft).  Sprats.  So 
called  from  Inch  Garvie,  an  isle  in  the 
Frith  of  Forth,  near  which  they  are 
caught. 

Gascona'de  (3  syl.,  ^ hard).  Talk 
like  that  of  a Gascon — absurd  boasting, 
vainglorious  braggadocio.  It  is  said  that 
a Gascon  was  asked  what  he  thought  of 
the  Louvre  in  Paris,  and  replied,  Pretty 
well ; it  reminds  me  op  the  back  part  of 
my  father’s  stables.”  The  vainglory  of 
this  answer  is  more  palpable  when  it  is 
borne  in  mind  that  the  Gascons  were 
proverbially  poor.  The  Dictionary  of  the 
French  Academy  gives  us  the  following 
specimen:  ‘^A  Gascon,  in  proof  of  his 
ancient  nobility,  asserted  that  they  used 
in  his  father’s  castle  no  other  fuel  than 
the  batons  of  the  family  marshals.” 

Gaston  {g  hard).  Lord  of  Claros, 
one  of  Charlemagne’s  paladins. 

GastroPators.  People  whose  god 
is  their  heWy.—Rahelais,  Pantagruel,*' 
iv.  58. 


332 


GATE  OE  ITALY. 


GAtJVAiNB. 


Gate  of  Italy.  That  part  of  the  valley 
of  the  Adige  which  is  in  the  vicinity  of 
Trent  and  Eovere'do.  It  is  a narrow 
gorge  between  two  mountain  ridges. 

Gate  of  Tears  {Balelmandel).  The 
passage  into  the  Ked  Sea.  So  called  by 
the  Arabs  from  the  danger  of  the  naviga- 
tion and  number  of  shipwrecks  that  took 
place  there. 

Like  some  ill-destined  bark  that  steers 
In  silence  thro’  the  Gate  of  Tears. 

T.  Moore,  “ Fire  Worshipper^.'* 

Gath,  {g  hard),  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 

Absolom  and  Achitophel,”  means  Brus- 
sels, where  Charles  II.  long  resided  while 
he  was  in  exile. 

Had  thus  old  David  (Charles  II.)  . , . 

Not  dared,  when  fortuue  called  him,  to  be  a king, 

At  Gath  an  exile  he  might  still  remain. 

Gathers  {g  hard).  Out  of  gathers. 
In  distress  ; in  a very  impoverished  con- 
dition. The  allusion  is  to  a woman’s 
gown,  which  certainly  looks  very  seedy 
when  ^^out  of  gathers” — i.e.y  when  the 
cotton  that  kept  the  pleats  ” together 
has  given  way. 

Gat -tooth  (g  hard).  Goat-tooth. 
(Saxon,  gad.)  Goat-toothed  is  having 
a liquorice  tooth.  Chaucer  makes  the 
wife  of  Bath  say,  “ Gat-toothed  I was, 
and  that  became  me  wele.” 

Gauch  (French,  the  left  hand).  Awk- 
ward. the  left  hand.  (^See  Adroit.) 

Gauch'erie  (3  syl.,  ^ hard).  Things 
not  commeil  faut ; behaviour  not  accord- 
ing to  the  received  forms  of  society  ; 
awkward  and  untoward  ways.  {Bee 
above. ) 

Gau'difer  {g  hard).  A champion, 
celebrated  in  the  romance  of  Alex- 
ander.” Notunlike  the  Scotch  Bruce. 

Gaul  {g  hard).  France. 

Insulting  Gaul  has  roused  the  world  to  war. 

Thomson,  '^Autumn.** 

Shall  haughty  Gaul  invasion  threat  Burns. 

Gaunt  {g  hard).  John  of  Gaunt. 
The  third  son  of  Edward  III.  ; so  called 
from  Ghent,  in  Flanders,  the  place  of  his 
birth. 

Gauntgrim  {g  hard).  The  wolf. 

For  my  part  (said  he),  I don’t  wonder  at  my 
cousin’s  refusing  Bruin  th<e  bear,  and  Gauntgrim  the 
wolf.  . . . Bruin  is  always  in  the  sulks,  and  Gaunt- 
grim always  in  a passion. 

E.  B.  Lytton,  *'•  Pilgrims  of  the  Rhine,**  ch.  xii. 

Gauntlet  {g  hard).  To  run  the 
gauntlet.  To  be  castigated  by  many. 


An  author  who  has  run  the  gauntlet  of 
all  the  papers”  is  a poor  wretch  whom 
all  the  critics  have  had  a fling  at.  The 
reference  is  to  a punishment  common 
among  sailors.  If  a companion  had  dis- 
graced himself,  the  crew,  provided  with 
gauntlets  or  ropes’  ends,  were  drawn  up 
in  two  rows  facing  each  other,  and  the 
delinquent  had  to  run  between  them, 
while  every  man  dealt  him,  in  passing, 
as  severe  a chastisement  as  he  could. 

To  throw  down  the  gauntlet.  To  chal- 
lenge. The  custom  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
when  one  knight  challenged  another,  was 
for  the  challenger  to  throw  his  gauntlet 
on  the  ground,  and  if  the  challenge  was 
accepted  the  person  to  whom  it  was 
thrown  picked  it  up. 

It  is  not  for  Spain,  reduced  as  she  is  to  the  lowest 
degree  of  financial  inanition,  to  throw  the  gauntlet 
to  the  right  and  left.— 2’Ae  Times. 

Gauta'ma  {g  hard).  The  chief  deity 
of  Burmah,  whose  favourite  offering  is  a 
paper  umbrella. 

The  four  sublime  verities  of  Gauta'ma 
are  as  follows  : — 

1.  Pain  exists. 

2.  The  cause  of  pain  is  ''birth  sin.” 
The  Buddhist  supposes  that  man  has 
passed  through  many  previous  exist- 
ences, and  all  the  heaped-up  sins  accu- 
mulated in  these  previous  states  consti- 
tute man’s  "birth  sin.” 

3.  Pain  is  ended  only  by  Nirva'na 
(annihilation). 

4.  The  way  that  leads  to  Nirvana  is — 
right  faith,  right  judgment,  right  lan- 
guage, right  purpose,  right  practice, 
right  obedience,  right  memory,  and 
right  meditation  (eight  in  all). 

Gau'tier  and  Garguille  (French). 
All  the  world  and  his  wife. 

Be  mocquer  de  Gautier  et  de  Garguille 
(to  make  fun  of  every  one).  Gautier- 
Garguille  was  a clown  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  who  gave  himself  unbounded 
licence,  and  provoked  against  himself  a 
storm  of  angry  feeling. 

Gau'vaine  (2  syl.,  g hard).  Bir 
Gauvaine  the  Courteous.  One  of  Arthur’s 
knights,  and  his  nephew.  He  challenged 
the  Green  Knight,  and  struck  off  his 
head  ; but  the  headless  knight  picked  up 
his  poll  again  and  walked  off,  telling  Sir 
Gauvaine  to  meet  him  twelve  months 
hence.  Sir  Gauvaine  kept  his  appoint- 
ment, and  was  hospitably  entertained ; 
but,  taking  possession  of  the  girdle  be- 


GAVANL 


GEEBE. 


833 


longing  to  the  lady  of  the  house,  was 
chastised  by  the  Green  Knight,  confessed 
his  fault,  and  was  forgiven. 

The  gentle  Gawain's  courteous  lore. 

Hector  de  Mares  and  Pellinore, 

And  Lancelot  that  evermore 

Looked  stol’nwise  on  the  queen. 

Sir  W,  Scott,  ^'Bridal  of  TnermaiUt**  ii.  13. 

Gava'ni  {g  hard).  The  pseudonym 
of  Sulpice-Paul  Chevalier,  the  John 
Leech  of  France.  He  was  the  great 
caricaturist  of  the  Chariva'ri,  as  John 
Leech  was  of  Punch.  (1803-1866.) 

Gav'elkind  (^'hard).  A tenure  in 
Wales,  Kent,  and  Northumberland, 
whereby  land  descended  from  the  father 
to  all  his  sons  in  equal  proportions.  The 
youngest  had  the  homestead,  and  the 
eldest  the  horse  and  arms.  The  usual 
etymology  is  the  Teutonic  gif  eal  cyii 
(give  all  the  kin,  or  children) ; but  a 
better  one  is  the  Welsh  gafad,  a tenure  ; 
Saxon,  gajol. 

Gawain  {g  hard).  {See  Gauvaine.) 

Gawrey  {q  hard).  The  flying  woman 
who  appeared  to  Peter  Wilkins  in  his 
solitary  cave.  She  was  one  of  a race  of 
flying  women. — Robert  Pultochj  Peter 
Wilkins.’* 

Gay  {g  hard).  Gay  as  the  king’s  can- 
die.  A French  phrase,  alluding  to  an 
ancient  custom  observed  on  the  6th  of 
January,  called  the  Eve  or  Vigil  of  the 
Kings,”  when  a candle  of  divers  colours 
was  burnt.  The  expression  is  used  to 
denote  a woman  who  is  more  showily 
dressed  than  is  consistent  with  good  taste. 

Gay  Girl.  A woman  of  light  or 
extravagant  habits.  Lady  Anne  Berke- 
ley, dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  her 
daughter-in-law  (lady  Catherine  Howard), 
exclaimed,  By  the  blessed  sacrament, 
this  gay  girl  will  beggar  my  son  Henry.” 
{See  above.) 

What  eyleth  you  ? Some  gay  gurl,  God  it  wot, 

Hath  brought  you  thus  upon  the  very  trot  (i.e.,  put 

you  on  your  high  horse,  or  into  a passion). 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales, 3,767. 

Gaze  (1  syh,  g hard).  To  stand  at 
gaze.  To  stand  in  doubt  what  to  do. 
A term  in  forestry.  When  a stag  first 
hears  the  hounds,  it  stands  dazed,  looking 
all  round,  and  in  doubt  what  to  do. 
Heralds  call  a stag  which  is  represented 
full-faced,  a stag  at  gaze.” 

The  American  army  in  the  central  states  remained 
wholly  at  gaze. — Lord  Mahon  (History). 

As  the  poor  frighted  deer,  that  stands  at  gaze, 
Wildly  determining  Avhich  way  to  fly, 

liape  o/Lucrece, 


Gazet'te  (2  syh,  g hard).  A news- 
paper. The  first  newspapers  were  issued 
in  Venice  by  the  Government,  and  came 
out  in  manuscript  once  a month,  during 
the  war  of  1563  between  the  Venetians 
and  Turks.  The  intelligence  was  read 
publicly  in  certain  places,  and  the  fee 
for  hearing  it  read  was  one  gazetta  (a 
Venetian  coin,  somewhat  less  than  a 
farthing  in  value). 

Gazet'ted  {g  hard).  Published  in 
the  Gazette,  or  official  London  newspaper, 
where  all  promotions,  bankruptcies,  and 
dissolutions  of  partnership  are  inserted. 
It  is  published  every  Tuesday  and  Satur- 
day. 

N.B. — The  first  English  gazette  was 
published  at  Oxford,  in  1665.  On  the 
removal  of  the  court  to  London,  the  title 
was  changed  to  the  London  Gazette. 

Gaz'nivides  (3  syh).  A dynasty  of 
Persia,  which  gave  four  kings  and  lasted 
fifty  years  (999-1049),  founded  by  Mah- 
moud Gazni,  who  reigned  from  the  Ganges 
to  the  Caspian  Sea. 

Gear  {g  hard)  properly  means 

dress.”  In  machinery  the  bands  and 
wheels  that  communicate  motion  to  the 
working  part  are  called  the  gearing. 
(Saxon,  gearwa,  clothing.) 

In  good  gear.  In  good  working  order. 

Out  of  gear.  Not  in  working  condition, 
when  the  “gearing”  does  not  act  pro- 
perly ; out  of  health. 

Gee-up  {g  soft)  is  get  up  or  gehen 
up,  meaning  “get  along,”  “jog  on.” 
{Horse  language.) 

Gee-wo  {g  soft),  addressed  to  a horse, 
is  the  Italian  gio  (get  on).  {See  Wo.) 

Et  cum  sic  gloriaretur,  et  cogitaret  cum  quanta 
gloria  duceretur  ad  ilium  virum  super  equum,  di- 
cendo,  “Gio!  gio!"  cepit  pedepercutereterram  quasi 
pungeret  equum  calcaribus.— Creaturarum. 
(1480.) 

Geese  {g  hard).  {See  Goose.) 

Geese  save  the  capitol.  The  tradition  is 
that  when  the  Gauls  invaded  Rome,  a 
detachment  in  single  file  clambered  up 
the  hill  of  the  capitol  so  silently  that  the 
foremost  man  reached  the  top  without 
being  challenged ; but  while  he  was 
striding  over  the  rampart,  some  sacred 
geese,  disturbed  by  the  noise,  began  to 
cackle  and  awoke  the  garrison.  Marcus 
Man'lius  rushed  to  the  wall  and  hurled 
the  fellow  over  the  precipice.  To  com- 
memorate this  event,  the  Romans  carried 


334 


GEFJON. 


GENEVA. 


a golden  goose  in  procession  to  the  capitol 
every  year.  (b.c.  390.) 

Those  consecrated  geese,  in  orders, 

That  to  the  capitol  were  warders, 

And  being  then  upon  patrol, 

"With  noise  alone  beat  off  the  Gaul. 

Butler^  “Htcdibras,'*  ii.  3. 

A ll  his  swans  are  geese,  or  A ll  his  swans 
are  turned  to  geese.  All  his  expecta- 
tions end  in  nothing;  all  his  boasting 
ends  in  smoke.  Like  a person  who  fan- 
cies he  sees  a swan  on  a river,  but  finds 
it  to  be  only  a goose. 

The  phrase  is  sometimes  reversed  thus, 

All  his  geese  are  swans  ; ” meaning  that 
everything  belonging  to  him  is  to  his 
own  thinHng  first-rate.  Commonly  ap- 
plied to  people  who  think  too  much  of 
the  beauty  and  talent  of  their  children. 

The  more  geese  the  more  lovers.  The 
French  newspaper  called  Li  Europe,  De- 
cember, 1865,  repeats  this  proverb,  and 
says : — ‘^It  is  customary  in  England  for 
every  gentleman  admitted  into  society 
to  send  a fat  goose  at  Christmas  to  the 
lady  of  the  house  he  is  in  the  habit  of 
visiting.  Beautiful  women  receive  a 
whole  magazine  . . and  are  thus  ena- 
bled to  tell  the  number  of  their  lovers 
by  the  number  of  fat  geese  sent  to 
them.”  The  Times,  27th  December,  1865  : 
— Truly  the  Frenchman  knows  much 
more  about  us  than  we  ever  dreamt  of 
in  our  philosophy.” 

Geese.  {See  Cag  Mag.) 

Gefjon  (Gafe'-yon).  Goddess  of  vir- 
ginity, to  whom  ali  maidens  go  at  death. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Gehen'na  (Hebrew,  g hard).  The 
place  of  eternal  torment.  Strictly  speak- 
ing, it  means  simply  the  Valley  of  Hin- 
nom  {Ge-Hinnom),  where  sacrifices  to 
Moloch  were  offered,  and  where  refuse 
of  all  sorts  was  subsequently  cast,  for 
the  consumption  of  which  fires  were  kept 
constantly  burning. 

And  made  his  grove 

The  pleasant  valley  of  Hinnom,  Tophet  thence 

And  black  Gehenna  called,  the  type  of  hell. 

Milton^  ‘^Paradise  Lost^’  bk.  i. 

Gel'ert  {g  hard).  The  name  of 
Llewellyn’s  dog.  One  day  a wolf  entered 
the  room  where  the  infant  son  of  the 
Welsh  prince  was  asleep ; Gelert  flew  at 
it  and  killed  it ; but  when  Llewellyn  re- 
turned home  and  saw  his  dog’s  mouth 
bloody,  he  hastily  concluded  that  it  had 
killed  his  child,  and  thrust  it  through 
with  his  sword.  The  howl  of  the  dog 
awoke  the  child,  and  the  prince  saw  too 


late  his  fatal  rashness.  Beth-gelert  is 
the  name  of  the  place  where  the  dog  was 
buried.  {See  Dog.) 

Gellatley  {Davie).  The  idiot  servant 
of  the  baron  of  Bradwardine. — Sir  W, 
Scott,  Waverley .” 

Gema'ra  {g  hard),  which  means 

complement,”  is  applied  to  the  second 
part  of  ^ the  Talmud,  which  consists  of 
annotations,  discussions,  and  amplifica- 
tions of  the  Jewish  Mishnah.  There  is 
the  Babylonian  Gema'ra  and  the  Pales - 
tinensian  Gema'ra.  The  former,  which  is 
the  more  complete,  is  by  the’ academies 
of  Babylon ; the  latter  by  those  of 
Palestine. 

Gend’armes  (pron.  zjon-darm). 
^^Men  at  arms,”  the  armed  police  of 
France.  The  term  was  first  applied  to 
those  who  marched  in  the  train  of  knights ; 
subsequently  to  the  cavalry ; in  the  time 
of  Louis  XIV.  to  a body  of  horse  charged 
with  the  preservation  of  order;  after  the 
revolution  to  a military  police  chosen 
from  old  soldiers  of  good  character  ; now 
it  is  applied  to  the  ordinary  police,  whose 
costume  is  half  civil  and  half  military. 

General  Issue  is  pleading  Not 
guilty”  to  a criminal  charge;  ''Never 
indebted”  to  a charge  of  debt. 

Generalis'simo  {g  soft).  Called 
Tagus  among  the  ancient  Thessalians, 
Brennus  among  the  ancient  Gauls,  Pen- 
dragon  among  the  ancient  Welsh  or  Celts. 

Gen'erous  {g  soft).  Generous  as 
Hatim.  An  Ara'bian  expression.  Hatim 
was  a Bedouin  chief  famous  for  his  war- 
like deeds  and  boundless  generosity. 
His  son  was  contemporary  with  Mahomet. 

Geneu'ra  (jg  soft).  Daughter  of  the 
king  of  Scotland.  Lurca'nio  carried  her 
off  captive,  and  confined  her  in  his  father’s 
castle.  She  loved  Ariodantes,  who  being 
told  that  she  was  false,  condemned  her  to 
die  for  incontinence,  unless  she  found  a 
champion  to  defend  her.  Ariodantes 
himself  became  her  champion,  and,  hav- 
ing vindicated  her  innocence,  married 
her.  This  is  a satire  on  Arthur,  v/hose 
wife  intrigued  with  Sir  Launcelot. — ^ 
Orlando  Furioso, 

GeneVa  {p  soft),  contracted  into 
Gin.  Originally  made  from  malt  and 
juniper-berries.  (French,  genevre^  a juni- 
per-berry.) 


GENEVA  BIBLE. 


GENOVEFA. 


335 


Gene'va  Bible.  The  English  ver- 
sion in  use  prior  to  the  present  one.  So 
called  because  it  was  originally  printed 
at  Geneva  (in  1560), 

Gene'va  Bull.  Stephen  Marshall, 
a preacher  who  roared  like  a bull  of 
Bashan.  Called  Geneva  because  he  was 
a disciple  of  John  Galvin. 

Gene'va  Doctrines.  Calvinism. 
Calvin,  in  1541,  was  invited  to  take  up 
his  residence  in  Geneva  as  the  public 
teacher  of  theology.  From  this  period 
Geneva  was  for  many  years  the  centre  of 
education  for  the  Protestant  youths  of 
Europe. 

Genevieve  {St),  (pron.  zjon-ve-ave). 
The  sainted  patroness  of  the  city  of 
Paris.  (422-512.) 

Ge'nius,  pi. , Genii  (Eastern  mytho- 
logy). A corruption  of  the  Arabic  Jin- 
nee,  m.,  Jinniyeh,  f.  A sort  of  fairy, 
somewhat  resembling  the  Persian  Peri 
and  Deev.  They  are  mortal,  marry  and 
are  given  in  marriage,  and  were  formed 
out  of  the  '^smokeless  fire”  of  the  simoom 
several  thousand  years  before  Adam.  As 
they  paid  no  heed  to  the  prophets  sent 
to  instruct  them,  they  were  driven  from 
the  earth  to  the  island  regions.”  The 
resemblance  of  this  word  to  the  Latin 
genius,  from  gigno,  is  accidental.  (^See 
JiNNS.) 

Genius,  Genii  (Koman  mythology),  were 
attendant  spirits.  Every  one  had  two  of 
these  tutelaries  from  his  cradle  to  his 
grave.  But  the  Roman  genii  differ  in 
many  respects  from  the  Eastern.  The 
Persian  and  Indian  genii  had  a corporeal 
form,  which  they  could  change  at  plea- 
sure. They  were  not  guardian  or  atten- 
dant spirits,  but  fallen  angels,  dwelling 
in  Ginnistan,  under  the  dominion  of 
Eblis.  They  were  naturally  hostile  to 
man,  though  compelled  sometimes  to 
serve  them  as  slaves.  The  Roman  genii 
were  tutelary  spirits,  very  similar  to  the 
guardian  angels  spoken  of  in  Scripture 
(St.  Matt,  xviii.  10).  (The  word  is  the  old 
Latin  geno,  to  be  born,  from  the  notion 
that  birth  and  life  were  due  to  these  dii 
genital  les.) 

Genius  (birth-wit)  is  innate  talent; 
hence  propensity,  nature,  inner  man. 

Crasgenium  merocura'bis”  (to-morrow 
you  shall  indulge  your  inner  man  with 
wine),  Horace,”  hi.  17.  “Indulgere 
fenio”  (to  give  loose  to  one’s  propensity), 


Persius,”  V.  151.  Defrauda're  geni- 
um  suum”  (to  stint  one’s  appetite,  to 
deny  one’s  self),  Terence,  ‘‘Phormio,” 
i.  1.  {See  above.) 

Genius.  Tom  Moore  says  that  Common 
Sense  went  out  one  moonlight  night  with 
Genius  on  his  rambles ; Common  Sense 
went  on  many  wise  things  saying,  but 
Genius  went  gazing  at  the  stars,  and  fell 
into  a river.  This  is  told  of  Thales  by 
Plato,  and  Chaucer  has  introduced  it  into 
his  Milleres  Tale.” 

So  ferde  another  clerk  with  astronomye : 

He  walked  in  the  feeldes  for  to  prye 
Upon  the  sterres,  what  ther  shuld  befall, 

Til  he  was  in  a marie  pit  i-fall. 

**  Canterbury  Tales  " Z,‘i57 . 

My  evil  genius  (my  ill-luck).  The 
Romans  maintained  that  two  genii  at- 
tended every  man  from  birth  to  death — 
one  good  and  the  other  evil.  Good  luck 
was  brought  about  by  the  agency  of  ‘‘  his 
good  genius,”  and  ill  luck  b^y  that  of  his 

evil  genius.” 

Genii-King.  King  Solomon  is  sup- 
posed to  preside  over  the  whole  race  of 
germ,— U Eerbelot,  Notes  to  the  Koran,'’ 

c.  2. 

Gen'itive  ease  means  the  genus 
case,  the  case  which  shows  the  genus. 
Thus — A bird  of  the  air,  of  the  sea,  of  the 
marshes,  &c.  The  part  in  italics  shows  to 
what  genus  the  bird  belongs.  Our  's  is 
the  adjective  sign,  the  same  as  the  Sans- 
krit syd,  as  udaka  (water),  udaka-sya  (of 
water,  or  aquatic).  So  in  Greek,  demos 
(people),  demo-sios  (belonging  to  the 
people),  or  genitive  demo-sio,  softened 
into  demo-io.  In  Chaucer,  &c.,  the 
genitive  is  written  in  full,  as  ‘^The 
Clerkes  Tale,”  The  Cokes  Tale,” 
'*The  Knightes  Tale,”  ‘‘The  Milleres 
Tale,”  &c. 

Genna'ro  {g  soft).  The  natural  son 
of  Lucrezia  BoPgia  (q.v.). 

Gen'oa,  from  the  Latin  genu  (the 
knee).  So  called  from  the  bend  made  there 
by  the  Adriatic.  The  whole  of  Italy  is 
called  a man’s  leg,  and  this  is  his  knee. 

Genove'fa  (g  soft).  Wife  of  count 
palatine  Siegfried,  of  Brabant,  in  the 
time  of  Charles  Martel.  Being  suspected 
of  infidelity,  she  was  driven  into  the 
forest  of  Ardennes,  where  she  gave  birth 
to  a son,  who  was  nourished  by  a white 
doe.  In  time  Siegfried  discovered  his 
error,  and  restored  his  wife  and  child  to 
their  proper  hom^. 


336  GENRE  PAINTER. 


GEORGE. 


Genre  Painter.  A painter  of  do- 
mestic, rural,  or  village  scenes,  such  as 
^^A  Village  Wedding,”  ^'The  Young 
Recruit,”  Blind -man’s  Buff,”  ‘^The 
Village  Politician,”  &c.  It  is  a French 
term,  and  means,  ^'Man:  his  customs, 
habits,  and  ways  of  life.”  Wilkie,  Ostade, 
Gerard  Dow,  &c.,  belonged  to  this  class. 
In  the  drama  Victor  Hugo  introduced 
the  genre  system  in  lieu  of  the  stilted, 
unnatural  style  of  Louis  XIV.’s  era. 

Gentle  {g  soft)  means  having  the 
manners  of  genteel  persons— i.e.,  persons 
of  family,  called  gens  in  Latin. 

We  must  be  gentle,  now  we  are  gentlemen. 

Shakespea.  e,  Winter's  Tale”v.  2. 

The  gentle  craft.  The  gentleman’s 
trade,  so  called  from  the  romance  of 
prince  Crispin,  who  is  said  to  have  made 
shoes.  It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the 
‘‘gentle  craft”  should  give  birth  to  our 
contemptuous  term  soioh. 

The  Gentle  Shepherd.  George  Gren- 
ville, the  statesman,  a nickname  de- 
rived from  a line  applied  to  him  by  Pitt, 
afterwards  earl  of  Chatham.  Grenville, 
in  the  course  of  one  of  his  speeches, 
addressed  the  House  interrogatively, 
“ Tell  me  where  ? tell  me  where  ?”  Pitt 
hummed  a line  of  a song  then  very  popu- 
lar, “Gentle  shepherd,  tell  me  where?  ” 
and  the  House  burst  into  laughter. 
(1712-1770.) 

Gentleman  {g  soft) . A translation  of 
the  French  gentilhomme,  one  who  belongs 
to  the  gens  or  stock.  According  to  the 
Roman  law,  gens-men,  or  gentlemen, 
were  those  only  who  had  a family  name, 
were  born  of  free  parents,  had  no  slave 
in  their  ancestral  line,  and  had  never 
been  degraded  to  a lower  rank. 

A gentleman  of  the  four  outs.  A vulgar 
upstart,  with-o%i  manners,  with-ow,^  wit, 
vfiih.-out  money,  and  with-o%^  credit. 

Geoffrey  Crayon.  The  hypo- 
thetical author  of  the  “ Sketch  Book.” 
Washington  Irving,  of  New  York.  (1783- 
1859.) 

Geology  {g  soft).  The  Father  of 
Geology.  William  Smith.  (1769-1840.) 

Ge'omaney  {g  soft).  Divining  by 
the  earth.  So  termed  because  these 
diviners  in  the  sixteenth  century  drew  on 
the  earth  their  magic  circles,  figures,  and 
lines.  (Greek,  ge^  the  earth ; mardei'a^ 
prophecy  h 


Geometry  {g  soft)  means  land- 
measuring. The  first  geometrician  was 
a ploughman  pacing  out  his  field.  (Greek, 
ge,  the  earth ; metron^  a measure.) 

George  {St.)  {g  soft).  Gibbon,  in  his 
“Decline  and  Fall,”  ii.  323,  asserts  that 
the  patron  saint  of  England  was  Georg'e 
of  Cappadocia,  the  turbulent  Arian 
bishop  of  Alexandria,  torn  to  pieces  by 
the  populace  in  360,  and  revered  as  a 
saint  by  the  opponents  of  Athanasius  ; 
but  this  assertion  has  been  fully  dis- 
proved by  the  Jesuit  Papebroch,  Milner, 
and  others. 

That  St.  George  is  a veritable  charac- 
ter is  beyond  all  reasonable  doubt,  and 
there  seems  no  reason  to  deny  that  he 
was  born  in  Armorica,  and  was  beheaded 
in  Diocletian’s  persecution  by  order  of 
Datianus,  April  23,  303.  St.  Jerome 
(331-420)  mentions  him  in  one  of  his 
martyrologies ; in  the  next  century  there 
were  many  churches  to  his  honour.  St. 
Gregory  (540-604)  has  in  his  Sacramentary 
a “Preface  for  St.  George’s  Day;”  and 
the  Venerable  Bede  (672-735),  in  his  mar- 
tyrology,  says,  “At  last  St.  George  truly 
finished  his  martyrdom  by  decapitation, 
although  the  gests  of  his  passion  are 
numbered  among  the  apocryphal  writ- 
ings.” 

In  regard  to  his  connection  with  Eng- 
land, Ashmole,  in  his  “History  of  the 
Order  of  the  Garter,”  says  that  king 
Arthur  in  the  sixth  century  placed  the 
picture  of  St.  George  on  his  banners ; 
and  Selden  tells  us  he  was  patron  saint  of 
England  in  the  Saxon  times.  It  is  quite 
certain  that  the  council  of  Oxford  in 
1222  commanded  his  festival  to  be  ob- 
served in  England  as  a holiday  of  lesser 
rank  ; and  in  1330  he  was  adopted  as 
the  patron  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 

The  dragon  slain  by  St.  George  is 
simply  a common  allegory  to  express  the 
triumph  of  the  Christian  hero  over  evil, 
which  John  the  Evangelist  beheld  under 
the  image  of  a dragon.  Similarly,  St. 
Michael,  St.  Margaret,  St.  Silvester,  and 
St.  Martha  are  all  depicted  as  slaying 
dragons  ; the  Saviour  and  the  Virgin  as 
treading  them  under  their  feet ; and  St. 
John  the  Evangelist  as  charming  a winged 
dragon  from  a poisoned  chalice  given 
him  to  drink.  Even  J ohn  Bunyan  avails 
himself  of  the  same  figure,  when  he 
makes  Christian  encounter  Apollyon 
and  prevail  against  him. 


GEOKGE. 


GEORGE  SAND. 


337 


St  Georges  Arm.  The  Hellespont  is 
so  called  by  the  Catholic  Church  in 
honour  of  St.  George,  the  patron  saint 
of  England. — Fapehroch,  Actes  des 
Saints."' 

St.  George's  Channel.  An  arm  of  the 
Atlantic,  separating  Ireland  from  Great 
Britain ; so  called  in  honour  of  St. 
George,  referred  to  above. 

Gem'ge  {St.)  the  Red  Cross  Knight  (in 
Spenser’s  “Faery  Queen,”  bk.  i.)  repre- 
sents “ Piety.”  He  starts  with  Una 
(Truth)  on  his  adventures,  and  is  driven 
into  Wandering  Wood,  where  he  en- 
counters Error,  and  passes  the  night 
with  Una  in  Hypocrisy’s  cell.  Being 
visited  by  a false  vision,  the  knight 
abandons  Una,  and  goes  with  Duessa 
(False-faith)  to  the  palace  of  Pride.  He 
leaves  this  palace  clandestinely,  but 
being  overtaken  by  Duessa,  is  persuaded 
to  drink  of  an  enchanted  fountain,  when 
he  becomes  paralysed,  and  is  taken  cap- 
tive by  Orgoglio.  Una  informs  Arthur 
of  the  sad  event,  and  the  prince  goes  to 
the  rescue.  He  slays  Orgoglio,  and  the 
Red  Cross  Knight  being  set  free,  is  taken 
by  Una  to  the  house  of  Holiness  to  be 
healed.  On  leaving  Holiness,  both  Una 
and  the  knight  journey  towards  Eden. 
As  they  draw  near,  the  dragon  porter 
flies  at  the  knight,  and  St.  George  has  to 
do  battle  with  it  for  three  whole  days 
before  he  succeeds  in  slaying  it.  The 
dragon  being  slain,  the  two  enter  Eden, 
and  the  Red  Cross  Knight  is  united  to 
Una  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony. 

St.  George  and  the  Dragon.  According 
to  the  ballad  given  in  Percy’s  “Reliques,” 
St.  George  was  the  son  of  lord  Albert  of 
Coventry.  His  mother  died  in  giving 
him  birth,  and  the  new-born  babe  was 
stolen  away  by  the  weird  lady  of  the 
woods,  who  brought  him  up  to  deeds  of 
arms.  His  body  had  three  marks : a 
dragon  on  the  breast,  a garter  round  one 
of  the  legs,  and  a blood-red  cross  on  the 
arm.  When  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
first  fought  against  the  Saracens,  and 
then  went  to  Syle'ne,  a city  of  Libya, 
where  was  a stagnant  lake  infested  by  a 
huge  dragon,  whose  poisonous  breath 
“Rad  many  a city  slain,”  and  whose 
hide  “no  spear  nor  sword  could  pierce.”  | 
Every  day  a virgin  was  sacrificed  to  it,  i 
and  at  length  it  came  to  the  lot  of  Sabra,  | 
the  king’s  daughter,  to  become  its  victim,  j 
She  was  tied  to  the  stake  and  left  to  be  j 
devoured,  when  St.  George  came  up,  and 


vowed  to  take  her  cause  in  hand.  On 
came  the  dragon,  and  St.  George  thrust- 
ing his  lance  into  its  mouth,  killed  it  on 
the  spot.  The  king  of  Morocco  and  the 
king  of  Egypt,  unwilling  that  Sabra 
should  marry  a Christian,  sent  St.  George 
to  Persia,  and  directed  the  “ sophy  ” to 
kill  him.  He  was  accordingly  thrust  into 
a dungeon,  but  making  good  his  escape, 
carried  off  Sabra  to  England,  where  she 
became  his  wife,  and  they  lived  happily 
together  at  Coventry  till  their  death. 

St.  George  he  loas  for  England,  St.  Denis 
was  for  France.  This  refers  to  the  war- 
cries  of  the  two  nations — that  of  Eng- 
land was  “St.  George  !”  that  of  France, 
“ Montjoye  St.  Denis  ! ” 

Our  ancient  word  of  courage,  fair  “ St.  George,” 

Inspire  us  with  the  spleen  of  fiery  dragons. 

Shakespea)  e,  "'Richard  HI."  v.  3. 

When  St.  George  goes  on  horsebacTc  St. 
Yves  goes  on  foot.  In  times  of  war  lawyers 
have  nothing  to  do.  St.  George  is  the 
patron  of  soldiers,  and  St.  Ives  of  lawyers. 

St.  George's  Cross  is  a red  on  a white 
field. 

Le  Chevalier  de  St.  George  (y  soft).  A 
name  assumed  by  James  the  Pretender 
(1688-1765). 

George  a’  Green.  As  good  as 
George  a'  Green.  Resolute- minded  ; one 
who  will  do  his  duty  come  what  may. 
George  a’  Green  was  the  famous  pinder 
or  pound-keeper  of  Wakefield,  who 
resisted  Robin  Hood,  Will  Scarlett,  and 
Little  John  single-handed  when  they 
attempted  to  commit  a trespass  in  Wake- 
field. 

Were  ye  bold  as  George-a-Green, 

I shall  make  bold  to  turn  again. 

S.  Butler,  “ Hudibras." 

George  Eliot.  The  literary  name  of 
Mary  A.  Evans  (Lewes),  authoress  of 
“Adam  Bede,”  “Mill  on  the  Floss,” 

Felix  Holt,”  &c. 

George  Geith.  The  hero  of  a novel 
by  Mrs.  Trafford  [Riddell].  He  is  one 
who  will  work  as  long  as  he  has  breath  to 
draw,  and  would  die  in  harness.  He  would 
fight  against  all  opposing  circumstances 
while  he  had  a drop  of  blood  left  in  his 
veins,  and  may  be  called  the  model  of 
untiring  industry  and  indomitable  moral 
courage. 

George  Sand.  A nom  de  plume  of 
Mad.  Dudevant,  bom  at  Paris  1804,  and 
descended,  on  the  father’s  side,  from  the 
famous  Marshal  Saxe.  Her  maiden  name 

W 


338  GEOEGE  STREET. 


GERTRUDE. 


was  Dupin.  Her  best  romances  are 
‘^Valentine/*  Andre/’  and  “ Consuelo/’ 
and  of  her  minor  pieces,  La  Mare  au 
Diable.” 

George  Street  (Strand,  London) 
commences  the  precinct  of  an  ancient 
mansion  which  originally  belonged  to  the 
bishops  of  Norwich.  After  passing  suc- 
cessively into  the  possession  of  Charles 
Brandon  duke  of  Suffolk,  the  archbishops 
of  York,  and  the  crown,  it  came  to  George 
Villiers  duke  of  Buckingham.  The  second 
duke  of  Buckingham  pulled  down  the 
mansion  and  built  the  streets  and  alley 
called  respectively  George”  (street), 
'^Villiers”  (street),  ^^Duke”  (street), 
‘'Of”  (alley),  and  “Buckingham” 
(street). 

Geraint'  {g  hard).  Tributary  prince 
of  Devon,  and  one  of  the  knights  of  the 
Round  Table.  Overhearing  part  of 
E'nid’s  words,  he  fancied  she  was  faith- 
less to  him,  and  treated  her  for  a time 
very  harshly;  but  Enid  nursed  him  so 
carefully  when  he  was  wounded  that  he 
saw  his  error,  "nor  did  he  doubt  her 
more,  but  rested  in  her  fealty,  till  he 
crowned  a happy  life  with  a fair  death.” 
— Tennyson^  Idylls  of  the  King,  Enid  f 

Geraldine  (3  syl.,  g soft).  The  fair 
Geraldine.  Lady  Elizabeth  Fitzgerald  is 
so  called  by  Surrey  in  his  poems. 

Gera'nium  {g  soft).  The  Turks  say 
this  was  a common  mallow  metamor- 
phosed by  the  touch  of  Mahomet’s 
g'arment. 

Gerda  {g  soft).  Wife  of  Freyr,  and 
daughter  of  the  giant  Gymer.  She  is  so 
beautiful  that  the  brightness  of  her 
naked  arms  illuminates  both  air  and  sea. 
{Scandinavian  mythology.) 

Ge'ri  and  Fre^ki.  The  two  wolves 
of  Odin.  {^Scandinavian  mythology.) 

German  or  Germaine  {g  soft).  Per- 
taining to,  related  to,  as  Cousins  german 
(first  cousins),  German  to  the  subject  (bear- 
ing on  or  pertinent  to  the  subject).  This 
word  has  no  connexion  with  German  (the 
nation),  but  comes  from  the  Latin germa'n- 
us  (of  the  same  germ  or  stock).  First 
cousins  have  a grandfather  or  grand- 
mother in  common. 

Those  that  are  germaine  to  him,  though  removed 
fifty  times,  shall  all  come  under  the  hangman. 

Shukesptaret  **  Winter's  Tale”  iv.  3. 


German.  Jehan  de  Maire  says, 
“Germany  is  so  called  from  Caesar’s 
sister  Germana,  wife  of  Salvius  Brabon.” 

Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says  that 
Ebrancus,  one  of  the  mythological  de- 
scendants of  Brute,  King  of  Britain,  had 
twenty  sons  and  thirty  daughters.  All 
the  sons,  except  the  eldest,  settled  in 
Germany,  which  was,  therefore,  called 
the  land  of  the  Germans  or  brothers. 
{See  above,) 

iEhrank.']  An  happy  man  in  his  first  days  he  was, 

And  happy  father  of  fair  progeny  ; 

For  all  80  many  weeks  as  the  year  has 

So  many  children  he  did  muliiply; 

Of  which  were  twenty  sons,  which  did  apply 

Their  minds  to  praise  and  chivalrous  desire. 

These  germans  did  subdue  all  Germany, 

Of  whom  it  hight 

Spenser,  Faery  Queen,"  ii.  10. 

Father  of  German  Literature.  Gotthold 
Ephraim  Lessing.  (1729-1781.) 

German  Comb.  The  four  fingers 
and  thumb.  “ Se  pygnoit  du  pygne  d’- 
Almaing  ” {Rabelais),  He  combed  his  hair 
with  his  fingers.  Gudin,  in  his  “ Dic- 
tionnaire,”  explains  pygne  d’ Aleman  by 
“los  dedos  et  la  dita.”  The  Germans 
were  the  last  to  adopt  periwigs,  and  while 
the  French  were  never  seen  without  a 
comb  in  one  hand,  the  Germans  adjusted 
their  hair  by  running  their  fingers 
through  it. 

He  appareled  himself  according  to  the  season,  and 
afterwards  combed  his  head  with  an  Alman  comb. 
—Rabelais,  “ Gargantua  and  Pantagruel,”  bk.i.  21. 

German  Silver  is  not  silver  at  all, 
but  white  copper,  or  copper,  zinc,  and 
nickel  mixed  together.  It  was  first  made 
in  Europe  at  Hildburg-hausen,  in  Ger- 
many, but  had  been  used  by  the  Chinese 
time  out  of  mind. 

Gerryman'der  {g  hard).  So  to 
divide  a county  or  nation  into  representa- 
tive districts  as  to  give  one  special  politi- 
cal party  undue  advantage  over  all  others. 
The  word  is  derived  from  Elbridge 
Gerry,  who  adopted  the  scheme  ^ Mas- 
sachusetts when  he  was  governor. 

Gerst-Monat.  Barley-month.  The 
Anglo-Saxon  name  for  September,  so 
called  because  it  was  the  time  of  barley- 
beer  making. 

G er'trude  (2  syl. , g hard).  Hamlet’s 
mother,  who  married  Claudius,  the  mur- 
derer of  her  late  husband.  She  inadver- 
tently poisoned  herself  by  drinking  a 
potion  prepared  for  her  son.  — Shakespeare, 
“ HamleL” 


GERYON. 


GIANTS. 


339 


Gertrude  of  Wyo'ming.  The  name  of 
one  of  Campbell’s  poems. 

St,  Gertrude,  in  Christian  art,  is  some- 
times represented  as  surrounded  with 
rats  and  mice ; and  sometimes  as  spin- 
ning, the  rats  and  mice  running  about 
her  distaff. 

Ger'yon  {g  hard).  A human  monster 
with  three  bodies  and  three  heads,  whose 
oxen  ate  human  flesh,  and  were  guarded 
by  a two-headed  dog.  Hercules  slew 
both  Geryon  and  the  dog.  This  fable 
means  simply  that  Geryon  reigned  over 
three  kingdoms,  and  was  defended  by  an 
ally  who  was  at  the  head  of  two  tribes. 

Ges'mas  {g  hard).  The  impenitent 
malefactor,  crucified  with  our  Lord,  ac- 
cording to  the  ancient  mysteries. 

Gessler  (y  hard).  The  Austrian 
governor  of  the  three  Forest  Cantons  of 
Switzerland.  A man  of  most  brutal  na- 
ture and  tyrannical  disposition.  He 
attempted  to  carry  off  the  daughter  of 
Leuthold,  a Swiss  herdsman ; but  Leut- 
hold  slew  the  ruffian  sent  to  seize  her, 
and  fled.  This  act  of  injustice  roused 
the  people  to  rebellion,  and  Gessler, 
having  put  to  death  Melch'tal,  the  patri- 
arch of  the  Forest  Cantons,  insulted  the 
people  by  commanding  them  to  bow 
down  to  his  cap,  hoisted  on  a high  pole. 
Tell  refusing  so  to  do,  was  arrest^ed  with 
his  son,  and  Gessler,  in  the  refinement 
of  cruelty,  imposed  on  him  the  task  of 
shooting  with  his  bow  and  arrow  an  apple 
from  the  head  of  his  own  son.  Tell  suc- 
ceeded in  this  dangerous  skill-trial,  but 
in  his  agitation  dropped  an  arrow  from 
his  robe.  The  governor  insolently  de- 
manded what  the  second  arrow  was  for, 
and  Tell  fearlessly  replied,  To  shoot 
you  with,  had  I failed  in  the  task  imposed 
upon  me.”  Gessler  now  ordered  him 
to  be  carried  in  chains  across  the  lake, 
and  cast  into  Kusnacht  castle,  a prey 

to  the  reptiles  that  lodged  there.”  He 
was,  however,  rescued  by  the  peasantry, 
and,  having  shot  Gessler,  freed  his  coun- 
try from  the  Austrian  yokQ.— Rossiuis 
opera  of  Guglielmo  TeLl.^^ 

Gesta  Romano'rum  (y  soft),  com- 
piled by  Pierre  Perch eur,  prior  of  the 
Benedictine  convent  of  St.  Eloi,  Paris, 
published  by  the  Roxburgh  Society,  and 
edited  by  Sir  F.  Madden. 


Geste  or  Gest  {g  soft).  A story, 
romance,  achievement.  From  the  Latin 
gesta  (exploits). 

The  scene  of  these  being  laid  in  ordinary  life, 
—Cydopcedia  Britan.  {Romance). 

Gew'gaw  {g  hard).  A showy  trifle. 
(Saxon,  a trifle;  French,  joujou, 

a toy.) 

Glielbers  or  Gue’hres.  The  original 
natives  of  Iran  (Persia,),  who  adhered  to 
the  religion  of  Zoroaster,  and  (after  the 
conquest  of  their  country  by  the  Arabs) 
became  waifs  and  outlaws.  The  term  is 
now  applied  to  fire-worshippers  generally. 
Han  way  says  that  the  ancient  Ghebers 
wore  a cushee  or  belt,  which  they  never 
laid  aside. 

Gliengis  Khan  (^King  of  Kings).  A 
title  assumed  by  Tam'ugin.  (1336-1405.) 

Ghillie.  {See  Gillie)  {g  hard). 

Ghoolee  Beer'abau,  or  Spirit  of 
the  Waste.  The  Afghans  believe  each  of 
the  deserts  of  their  country  to  be  infested 
by  a lonely  demon,  so  called. 

Ghoul  or  Ghole  {g  hard),  a church- 
yard demon  that  feeds  on  the  dead. 

Giaffir  (Djaf-fir).  Pacha  of  Aby'dos, 
and  father  of  Zule'ika.  He  tells  her  he 
intends  to  marry  her  to  Kara  Osman 
Ogloo,  governor  of  Magne'sia ; but  Zu- 
leika  has  betrothed  herself  to  her  cousin 
Selim.  The  lovers  flee,  Giaffir  shoots 
Selim,  Zuleika  dies  of  grief,  and  the 
pacha  lives  on  a heart-broken  old  man, 
ever  calling  to  the  winds,  “ Where  is  my 
daughter?”  and  echo  answers,  Where?” 
— Byron,  Bride  of  AbydosV 

Giall.  The  infernal  river  of  Scandi- 
navian mythology. 

Gian  ben  Gian  {g  soft).  King  of 
the  Ginns  or  Genii,  and  founder  of  the 
Pyramids.  He  was  overthrown  by  Aza'zil 
or  Lucifer.  {Arah  Sux^erstitions.) 

Giants  {g  soft)  (1)  of  Greek  mytho- 
logy, sons  of  Tar' taros  and  Go.  When 
they  attempted  to  storm  heaven,  they 
were  hurled  to  earth  by  the  aid  of  Her- 
cules, and  buried  under  Mount  Etna. 

ii.  Of  Scandinavian  mythology,  were 
evil  genii,  dwelling  in  Jotunheim  {giant- 
land),  who  had  the  power  of  reducing  or 
extending  their  stature  at  will. 

W 2 


340 


GIANTS. 


GIANTS. 


iii.  Of  Nursery  mythology,  are  canni- 
bals of  vast  stature  and  immense  mus- 
cular power,  but  as  stupid  as  they  are 
violent  and  treacherous. 

iv.  In  the  romance  of  Gargan'tua 
and  PantagrueT,”  by  Rabelais,  giants 
means  jjrinces. 

V.  My'hical  Giants.  (1)  AnGoulaffre 
of  the  Broken  Teeth  was  ^Hwelve  cubits 
in  height,  his  face  measured  three  feet 
across,  his  nose  was  nine  inches  long,  his 
arms  and  legs  were  each  six  feet,  his 
fingers  six  inches  and  two  lines.  His 
enormous  mouth  was  armed  with  sharp- 
pointed  yellow  tusks.  He  was  descended 
from  Goliath,  and  assumed  the  title  of 
Governor  of  Jerusalem.  He  had  the 
strength  of  thirty  men,  and  his  mace  was 
the  trunk  of  an  oak  tree,  300  years  old.” 
Some  say  the  Tower  of  Pisa  lost  its  per- 
pendicularity by  the  weight  of  Angou- 
laffre,  who  one  day  leaned  against  it  to 
rest  himself.  He  was  slain  by  Roland  in 
single  combat  at  the  Fronsac.  — Croque- 
mitaine.’' 

(2)  ANTiE'os,  said  by  Plutarch  to  have 
been  sixty  cubits  (eighty-five  feet. ) Plu- 
tarch adds  that  the  grave  of  this  giant 
was  opened  by  Berbo'nios. 

(3)  Ori'on  or  Otus,  according  to  Pliny, 
was  forty-six  cubits  (sixty- six  feet)  in 
height.  His  bones  were  disclosed  in 
Crete  by  an  earthquake. 

(4)  Poltphe'mos,  whose  skeleton  was 
supposed  to  have  been  found  at  Trapa'ni, 
in  Sicily,  in  the  fourteenth  century.  Ac- 
cepting this  as  a fact,  the  height  of  this 
monster  was  300  feet. 

(5)  TeutobociTus,  the  King,  whose  re- 
mains were  discovered  near  the  Rhone, 
in  1613,  occupied  a tomb  thirty  feet  long. 

The  bones  of  another  giant  were  ex- 
jx)sed  by  the  action  of  the  Rhone  in 
1456.  Presuming  that  these  bones  were 
part  of  a human  skeleton,  the  height  of 
the  living  giant  would  have  been  thirty 
feet. 

Another  skeleton  was  discovered  at 
Lucerne  in  1577.  If  this  was  a human 
skeleton,  the  height  of  the  man  would 
have  been  nineteen  feet,  according  to  Dr. 
Plater. 

N.B.  Numerous  other  examples  are 
given  in  the  body  of  the  Dictionary. 

vi.  Real  Giants  of  the  Human  Race. 

(1)  Anak,  whose  real  name  is  Joseph 
Brice,  born  at  Ram  on  champ  in  the  V osges, 
1840.  He  was  exhibited  in  London, 
1865.  Height,  at  the  age  of  twenty -six 


years,  seven  feet  eight  inches.  Some- 
times called  ^^The  Giant  of  the  Moun- 
tains.” 

(2)  Blacker  the  British  giant, 

born  at  Cuckfield,  in  Sussex,  172  k 
Height  seven  feet  four  inches,  and  most 
symmetrical. 

(3)  Bradley,  born  at  Market  Weighton, 
in  Yorkshire.  Height  at  death  seven 
feet  eight  inches.  His  right  hand  is 
preserved  in  the  museum  of  the  College 
of  Surgeons.  (1798-1820.) 

(4)  Chang,  of  Fychou,  the  Chinese  giant, 
exhibited  in  London  in  1866.  Height 
seven  feet  six  inches. 

(5)  Cotter  ( PatricJc),  the  Irish  giant, 
died  1802.  Height  eight  feet  seven  and  a 
half  inches.  A cast  of  his  hand  is  pre- 
served in  the  museum  of  the  College  of 
Surgeons. 

(6)  Eletzegue  (Joachim),  the  Spanish 
giant.  Height  seven  feet  ten  inches.  Ex- 
hibited in  the  Cosmorama,  Regent  Street. 

(7)  Evans  died  1632.  Height 

at  death  eight  feet. 

(8)  Goliath  of  Gath  was  about  eight 
feet  six  inches. 

(9)  Hale  ( Robert),  the  Norfolk  giant, 
born  at  Somerton.  Height  seven  feet  six 
inches.  (1820-1862.) 

(10)  Louis,  the  French  giant.  Height 
seven  feet  four  inches.  Plis  left  hand  is 
preserved  in  the  museum  of  the  College 
of  Surgeons. 

(11)  Loushken,  the  Russian  giant,  and 
drum-major  of  the  Imperial  Guards. 
Height  eight  feet  five  inches. 

(12)  Magrath,  an  orphan  reared  by 
bishop  Berkley.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  when  he  was  seven  feet  eight 
inches.  (1740-1760.) 

(13)  Mellon  (Edmund) , born  at  Port 
Leicester,  Ireland,  1665,  was,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen,  seven  feet  six  inches. 

(14)  Miller  (Maximilian-Christopher), 
the  Saxon  giant,  was  eight  feet  in  height. 
His  hand  measured  twelve  inches,  and 
his  fore-finger  was  nine  inches  long.  He 
died  in  London  at  the  age  of  sixty.  (1674- 
1734.) 

(15)  Murphy,  an  Irish  giant,  died  at 
Marseilles.  He  was  a contemporary  of 
O’Brien.  Height  eight  feet  ten  inches. 

(16)  O’Brien,  or  Charles  Byrne,  the  Irish 
giant,  was  eight  feet  four  inches.  His 
skeleton  is  preserved  in  the  museum  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons.  (1761-1783.) 

(17)  Og,  King  of  Bashan.  According  to 
tradition,  he  lived  3, 000  years,  and  walked 


GIANT'S  CAUSEWAY. 


GIGGLE. 


341 


beside  the  Ark  during  tbe  Deluge.  One 
of  his  bones  formed  abridge  over  a river. 
Moses  says  that  his  iron  bedstead  was 
fifteen  feet  nine  inches  in  length  (Deut. 
iii.  13). 

(18)  In  the  museum  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  is  a human  skeleton,  eight  feet 
six  inches  in  height. 

No  known  specimen  of  man  has  reached 
the  height  of  nine  feet.  Murphy  came 
the  nearest  to  it.  The  bones  of  bigger 
monsters  belonged  to  some  of  the  ante- 
diluvian beasts. 

The  Giant  of  Literature.  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson  (1709-1783).  Also  called  The 
great  moralist.” 

Giant’s  Causeway,  in  Ireland.  A 
basaltic  mole,  said  to  be  the  commence- 
ment of  a road  to  be  constructed  by  the 
giants  across  the  channel,  reaching  from 
Ireland  to  Scotland. 

Giaour  {jow'-er).  An  unbeliever, 
one  who  disbelieves  the  Mahometan  faith. 
A corruption  of  the  Arabic  Kiafir.  It 
has  now  become  so  common  that  it 
scarcely  implies  insult,  but  has  about 
the  force  of  the  word  ^‘(Jentile,”  meaning 

not  a Jew.”  Byron  has  a poetical  tale 
so  called,  but  he  has  not  given  the  giaour 
a name. 

Gib  {g  soft).  The  cut  of  his  gib.  {See 
Jib.) 

To  hang  one's  gib.  To  be  angry,  to 
pout.  The  lower  lip  of  a horse  is  called 
its  gib,  and  so  is  the  beak  of  a male 
salmon. 

Gib  Cat.  A tom-cat.  The  male 
cat  used  to  be  called  Gilbert.  Nares 
says  that  Tibert  or  Tybalt  is  the  French 
form  of  Gilbert,  and  hence  Chaucer  in 
his  Romance  of  the  Rose,”  renders 

Thibert  le  Cas  ” by  Gibbe,  our  Cat,” 
(v.  6204).  (fe  Tybalt.) 

I am  as  melancholy  as  a gib  cat,  or  a lugged  bear. 
—Shakespeare.  “ Henry  1 V.”  i.  t. 

Gibbed  (<7  soft).  As  melancholy  as  a 
gibbed  cat.  As  an  emasculated  or  old 
male  cat.  Gibbed  is  a corruption  of  kibbed, 
sore.  (In  Devonshire  kibby  means  sore ; in 
Salop,  kibble  is  to  biviise  pulse;  kibes, 
chilblains.) 

Gib'berish  {g  hard).  Geber,  the 
Arabian,  was  by  far  the  greatest  alche- 
mist of  the  eleventh  century,  and  wrote 
several  treatises  on  ^Hhe  art  of  making 
gold”  in  the  usual  mystical  jargon,  be- 


cause the  ecclesiastics  would  have  put  to 
death  any  one  who  had  openly  written 
on  the  subject.  Friar  Bacon,  in  1282, 
furnishes  a specimen  of  this  gibberish. 
He  is  giving  the  prescription  for  making 
gunpowder,  and  says  — 

Sed  tamen  sal's-petras 
LUHU  MONJjJ  CAP  URBE 
Et  sulphuris. 

The  second  line  is  merely  an  anagram  of 
Carbonum  pulvere  (pulverised  charcoal). 

Giblbet  {g  soft).  A foot-pad,  who 

piqued  himself  on  being  the  best-be- 
haved man  on  the  road.” — Geo.  Farguhar, 

Beaux'  Stratagem." 

To  gibbet  the  bread  (Lincolnshire)" 
When  bread  turns  out  ropy  and  is  sup- 
posed to  be  bewitched,  the  good  dame 
runs  a stick  through  it  and  hangs  it  in 
the  cupboard.  It  is  gibbeted  in  terrorem 
to  other  batches. 

Gib'elins  or  Ghib'ellines  {g  hard). 
{See  Guelph s.) 

Gib'eonite  (4  syl. , hard).  A slave’s 
slave,  a workman’s  labourer,  a farmer’s 
understrapper,  or  Jack-of-all-work.  The 
Gibeonites  were  made  hewers  of  wood 
and  drawers  of  water  ” to  the  Israelites. 
— Josh.  ix.  27. 

And  Giles  must  ti'udge,  whoever  gives  command, 

A Gibeonite,  that  serves  them  all  by  turn. 

Bloomhel'l.  *'  Firmer’ s Boy.” 

GibraTtar  {g  soft).  A contraction 
of  Gebel  at  Tarii  (Geb’  al’  Tar),  moun- 
tain of  Tarik.”  This  Tarik  was  an 
Arabian  general,  who,  under  the  orders 
of  Mousa,  landed  at  Calpe  in  710,  and 
utterly  defeated  Roderick,  the  Gothic 
King  of  Spain. 

Gig  or  Gigg  (g  hard).  A whipping 
top,  made  like  a v. 

Thou  disputest  like  an  infanh  Go,  whip  thy  gig. 
—Shakespeare.  ""Love's  Labour  Lost,”  v.  1. 

Gig-lamps.  Spectacles.  Gig-lamps 
are  the  spectacles”  of  a gig. 

Giggle  {g  hard).  Have  you  found  a 
giggle's  nest  1 A question  asked  in  Nor- 
folk when  any  one  laughs  immoderately 
and  senselessly.  The  meaning  is,  Have 
you  found  a nest  of  romping  girls  that 
you  laugh  so  ? Giglet  is  still  in  common 
use  in  the  West  of  England  for  a giddy, 
romping.  Tom-boy  girl,  and  in  Salop  a 
flighty  person  is  called  a “giggle." 
(Saxon,  geagle;  Dutch,  gidigelen  ; Italian, 
ghignare ; Irish,  giglim ; &c.)  {See 

Gape’s-nest.) 


342 


GIL  BLAS. 


GILPIN. 


Gil  Bias  {g  soft).  The  hero  of  Le 
Sage’s  novel  of  the  same  name.  Timid, 
but  audacious  ; well-disposed,  but  easily 
led  astray  ; shrewd,  but  easily  gulled  by 
practising  on  his  vanity ; good-natured, 
but  without  moral  principle.  The  tale,  ac- 
cording to  one  account,  is  based  on  Matteo 
Aleman’s  Spanish  romance,  called  the 

Life  of  Guzman  ; ” others  maintain  that 
the  original  was  the  comic  romance,  en- 
titled Eelaciones  de  la  Vida  del  Escu- 
dero  Marcos  de  Obregon.’^ 

GiTbertines  (3  syl.,  g hard).  A re- 
ligious order  founded  in  the  twelfth 
century  by  St.  Gilbert  of  Lincolnshire. 

Gildip'pe  (in  Jerusalem  Delivered). 
Wife  of  Edward,  an  English  baron,  who 
accompanied  her  husband  to  the  Holy 
War,  and  performed  prodigies  of  valour 
(bk.  ix.).  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were  slain  by  Solyman  (bk.  xx.). 

Gilder oy'  (3  syl. , g hard).  A famous 
robber,  who  robbed  Cardinal  Eichelieu 
and  Oliver  Cromwell.  There  was  a Scotch 
robber  of  the  same  name  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Mary.  Both  were  noted  for  their 
handsome  persons,  and  both  were  hanged. 

Giles  (1  syl.,  ,9^  soft).  The  ‘^farmer 
boy”  in  Bloomfield’s  poem  so  called. 

Giles  {St.).  Patron  saint  of  cripples. 
The  tradition  is  that  the  king  of  France, 
hunting  in  the  desert,  accidentally 
wounded  the  hermit  in  the  knee;  and 
the  hermit,  that  he  might  the  better 
mortify  the  flesh,  refusing  to  be  cured, 
remained  a cripple  for  life. 

The  symbol  of  this  saint  is  a hind, 
in  allusion  to  the  heaven-directed 
hind  ” which  went  daily  to  his  cave  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Ehone  to  give  him 
milk.  He  is  sometimes  represented 
as  an  old  man  with  an  arrow  in  his  knee, 
and  a hind  by  his  side. 

Hop'ping-ov  Hobbling  Giles.  A lame 
person ; so  called  from  St.  Giles,  the 
tutelar  saint  of  cripples.  {See  Cripple- 
gate.  ) 

Lame  as  St.  Giles',  Cripi)legate.  (See 
above. ) 

Sir  Giles  Overreach.  ‘^A  New  Way 
to  Pay  Old  Debts,”  by  Massinger.  The 

Academy  figure  ” of  this  character  was 
Sir  Giles  Mompesson,  a notorious  usurer, 
banished  the  kingdom  for  his  misdeeds. 

Giles  of  Antwerp  {g  soft).  Giles 
Coignet,  the  painter.  (1530-1600.) 


Gill,  i-e.y  Giles.  A contraction  of 
Argidius. 

Gill  {g  soft).  A corruption  of  Jill, 
that  is,  of  Julia  (Jyl).  A homely  woman, 
a sweetheart. 

Every  Ja^k  has  got  his  Jill  ; i.e.,  Ilka  laddie  has  his 
lassie.  Bums. 

Gill  {Harry).  A farmer  struck  with 
the  curse  of  ever  shivering  with  cold, 
because  he  would  not  allow  old  Goody 
Blake  to  keep  a few  stray  sticks  which 
she  had  picked  up  to  warm  herself  by. 

Oh  ! what’s  the  matter  ? what’s  the  matter  ? 

What  is’t  that  ails  young  Harry  Gill, 

That  evermore  his  tee  h they  shatter, 

Chatter,  chatter,  chatter,  still  ?..•• 

No  word  to  any  man  he  utters, 

A-bed  or  up,  to  young  or  old  ; 

But  ever  to  himself  he  mutters— 

“ Po(jr  Harry  Gill  is  very  cold.” 

Wordsivorth,  “ Goody  Blake  and  Harry  GUV' 

Gills  (g  hard).  Wipe  your  gills,  your 
mouth.  The  gills  of  fishes,  like  the 
mouth  of  man,  are  the  organs  of  respira- 
tion. 

Gillie  {g  hard).  A servant  or  at- 
tendant ; the  man  who  leads  a pony 
about  when  a child  is  riding.  A Gillie- 
ivet-foot  is  a bare-footed  Highland  lad. 

These  gillie-wet-foots,  as  they  were  called,  were 
destined  to  beat  the  bushes.— .sir  Walter  Seott, 
“ Waverley,"  a.  niii. 

Gillies  Hill.  In  the  battle  of  Ban- 
nockburn (1314),  king  Eobert  Bruce 
ordered  all  the  servants,  drivers  of  carts, 
and  camp  followers,  to  go  behind  a height. 
When  the  battle  seemed  to  favour  the 
Scotch,  these  servants,  or  gillies,  desirous 
of  sharing  in  the  plunder,  rushed  from 
their  concealment  with  such  arms  as 
they  could  lay  hands  on ; and  the  English, 
thinking  them  to  be  a new  army,  fled  in 
panic.  The  height  in  honour  was  ever 
after  called  The  Gillies’  Hill. — Sir  W. 
Scott,  Tales  of  a Grandfather,"  x. 

Gillyflower  {g  soft),  is  not  the  July- 
floiuer,  but  the  French  girojlee,  from  gilofre 
(a  clove),  called  by  Chaucer  gilofre.” 
Some  maintain  that  it  is  the  clove  pink, 
while  others  say  it  is  the  wall-:^ower. 

’J  he  fairest  flowers  o’  the  season 

Are  our  carnations  and  streaked  gillyflowers. 

Shakespeare,  “ Winter's  Tale,"  iv.  3. 

Gilpin  {John),  of  Cowper’s  famous 
ballad,  is  a caricature  of  Mr.  Beyer,  an 
eminent  linen-draper  at  the  end  of  Pater- 
noster Eow,  where  it  joins  Cheapside. 
He  died  1791,  at  the  age  of  98.  It  was 
Lady  Austin  who  told  the  adventure  to 
our  domestic  poet,  to  divert  him  from 


GILT. 


GIPSY, 


343 


his  melancholy.  The  marriage  adventure 
of  Commodore  Trunnion  in  Peregrine 
Pickle”  is  very  similar  to  the  wedding- 
day  adventure  of  John  Gilpin. 

John  Gilpin  was  a citizen 
Of  creait  and  renown ; 

A train-band  captain  eke  was  he 
Of  famous  London  town. 

Uowper,  “ John  Gilpin.** 

Q-ilt  (g  hard).  To  take  the  gilt  off  the 
gingerbread.  To  destroy  the  illusion. 
The  reference  is  to  gingerbread  watches, 
men,  and  other  gilded  toys,  sold  at  fairs. 
These  eatables  were  common  even  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  IV.,  but  were  then  made 
of  honey  instead  of  treacle. 

Giltspur  Street  (West  Smithfield), 
so  called  because  it  was  the  route  taken 
by  the  gilt- spurs,  or  knights,  on  their 
way  to  Smithfield,  where  tournaments 
were  held. 

Gimlet  Eye  {g  hard).  A squint- 
eye;  strictly  speaking,  “ an  eye  that 
wanders  obliquely,”  jocosely  called  a 
‘^piercer.”  (Welch,  pmm,  a movement 
round  ; givimlaw^  to  twist  or  move  in  a 
serpentine  direction  ; Celtic,  guimble). 

Gimli.  The  best  of  the  Elysian  abodes. 
— Scandinavian  Mythology. 

Gimmer  {g  soft),  ovJimmer,  a jointed 
hinge.  In  Somersetshire,  gimmace.  We 
have  also  gemel.  A gimmal  is  a double 
ring ; hence  gimmal  bit.  Shakespeare, 
Henry  F.,  iv.  2. 

Gines  de  Passamonte.  A galley- 
slave  and  puppet-show-man  in  ^^Don 
Quixote.” 

Gin'evra  {g  soft).  The  young  Italian 
bride,  who  hid  in  a trunk  with  a spring- 
lock.  The  lid  fell  upon  her,  and  she 
was  never  discovered  till  the  body  had 
become  a skeleton.— Italy.” 

Be  tbe  cause  what  it  might,  from  his  offer  she 
shruuk. 

And,  Gin'evra-like,  shut  herself  in  a trunk. 

Lowell. 

Gingerbread  {g  soft).  Brummagem 
wares,  showy  but  worthless.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  the  gilt  gingerbread  toys  sold 
at  fairs. 

Ginnunga-Gap.  The  abyss  be- 
tween Niflheim  (the  region  of  fog)  and 
Muspelheim  (the  region  of  heat).  It  ex- 
isted before  either  land  or  sea,  heaven  or 
QO.rXh.— Scandinavian  Mythology, 


Gi'ona  {g  soft).  A leader  of  the  Ana- 
baptists, once  a servant  of  Comte  d’O'ber- 
thal,  but  discharged  from  his  service  for 
theft.  In  the  rebellion  headed  by  the 
Anabaptists,  Giona  took  the  count  pri- 
soner, but  John  of  Leyden  set  him  free 
again.  Giona,  with  the  rest  of  the  con- 
spirators, betrayed  their  prophet  king  as 
soon  as  the  emperor  arrived  with  his 
army.  They  entered  the  banquet  room 
to  arrest  him,  but  perished  in  the  flaming 
palace. — Meyerbeer j Le  Proi^hete”  {an 
o'pera). 

Giovan'ni  {Bon).  A Spanish  liber- 
tine. (iSeeJuAN.)  His  valet,  Leporello, 
says  his  master  had  in  Italy  703  mis- 
tresses, in  Germany  800,  in  Turkey  and 
France  91,  in  Spain  1,003.”  When  the 
measure  of  his  iniquity  was  full,”  the 
ghost  of  the  commandant  whom  he  had 
slain  came  with  a legion  of  ^^foul  fiends,” 
and  carried  him  off  to  a dreadful 
gulf  that  opened  to  devour  him.” — Mo- 
zartj  ^^Don  Giovanni”  {Libretto  by  Lo- 
renzo da  Ponte). 

Gipsy  ig  soft).  Said  to  be  a corrup- 
tion of  Egyptian,  and  so  called  because 
in  1418  a band  of  them  appeared  in 
Europe,  commanded  by  a leader  named 
Duke  Michael  of  “ Little  Egypt.”  Other 
appellations  are : — 

(2)  Bohe'mians.  So  called  by  the  French, 
because  the  first  that  ever  arrived  in 
their  country  came  from  Bohemia  in 
1427,  and  presented  themselves  before 
the  gates  of  Paris.  They  were  not  al- 
lowed to  enter  the  city,  but  were  lodged 
at  La  Chapelle,  St.  Denis.  The  French 
nickname  for  gip'sies  is  cagoux  (un- 
sociables). 

(3)  Ciga'nos.  So  called  by  the  Portu- 
guese, a corruption  of  Zinga'ne.  {See 
Tchinga'ni.) 

(4)  Gita'nos.  So  called  by  the  Spa- 
niards, a corruption  of  Zinga'nb.  {See 
Tchinga'ni.) 

(5)  Heidens  (heathens).  So  called  by 
the  Dutch,  because  they  are  heathens. 

(6)  Pharaoh-nepeh  (Pharaoh’s  people}. 
So  called  in  Hungary,  from  the  notion 
that  they  came  from  Egypt. 

(7)  Sinte.  So  called  by  themselves, 
because  they  assert  that  they  come  from 
Sind,  i.e.,  Ind  (Hindustan).  {See  Tchin- 
gani.) 

(8)  Tatar.  So  called  by  the  Danes  and 
Swedes,  from  the  notion  that  they  came 
from  Tartary. 


GIEALDA. 


GIZZARD. 


844 


(9)  Tchinga^ni  or  Tshingani.  So  called 
by  the  Turks,  from  a tribe  still  existing 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Indus  {Tshin-calOy 
black  Indian). 

(10)  Wala'chians.  So  called  by  the 
Italians,  from  the  notion  that  they  came 
from  Walachia. 

(11)  Zigeu'ner  (wanderers).  So  called 
by  the  Germans. 

(12)  Zinca'li  and  Zinga'ni.  Said  to  be 
so  called  by  the  Turks,  because  in  1517 
they  were  led  by  Zinga'neusto  revolt  from 
Sultan  Selim  ; but  more  likely  a mere 
Variety  of  Tchingani,  q.v. 

The  Gipsy.  Anthony  de  Sola'rio,  the 
painter  and  illuminator,  II  Zingaro. 
(1382-1455.) 

G-iral'da  {g  soft).  The  giantess;  a 
statue  of  victory  on  the  top  of  an  old 
Moorish  tower  in  Seville. 

Gird.  To  gird  with  the  sivord^  to 
create  to  a peerage.  It  was  the  Saxon 
method  of  investiture  to  an  earldom, 
continued  after  the  conquest.  Thus 
Richard  I.  girded  with  the  sword  ’’ 
Hugh  de  Pudsey,  the  aged  bishop  of 
Durham,  making  (as  he  said)  a young 
earl  of  an  old  prelate.’* 

Girdle  {g  hard).  A good  name  is 
letter  than  a golden  girdle  (Solomon) ; a 
good  name  is  better  than  money.  It 
used  to  be  customary  to  carry  money  in 
the  girdle,  and  a girdle  of  gold  meant  a 

purse  of  gold.”  The  French  proverb. 
Bonne  renommee  rant  mienx  que  ceintnre 
doreey  refers  rather  to  the  custom  of 
wearing  girdles  of  gold  tissue,  forbidden, 
in  1420,  women  of  bad  character. 

Children  under  the  girdle,  not  yet  born. 

All  children  under  the  girdle  at  the  time  of  mar- 
riage are  held  to  be  legitimate,— iVofes  and  Queries. 

He  has  a large  mouth  hut  small  girdle  ; 
great  expenses  but  small  means.  The 
girdle  is  the  purse  or  purse-pocket.  {See 
above. ) 

He  has  undone  her  girdle;  taken  her 
for  his  wedded  wife.  The  Roman  bride 
wore  a chaplet  of  flowers  on  her  head, 
and  a girdle  of  sheep’s  wool  about  her 
waist.  A part  of  the  marriage  ceremony 
was  for  the  bridegroom  to  loose  this 
girdle. — Vaughan,  Golden  Grove.^’ 

If  he  he  angry,  he  knows  how  to  turn  his 
girdle  (^^Much  Ado  about  Nothing,’* 
V.  1).  If  he  is  angry,  let  him  prepare 
himself  to  fight,  if  he  likes.  Before 
wrestlers,  in  ancient  times,  engaged  in 


combat,  they  turned  the  buckle  of  their 
girdle  behind  them.  Thus  Sir  Ralph 
Win  wood  writes  to  Secretary  Cecil — 

I said,  “What  I spake  was  not  to  make  him 
angry.”  He  replied,  “ If  I were  angry  I might  turn 
the  buckle  of  my  girdle  behind  me.”— Dec.  17,  1602. 

The  Persian  regulation- girdle.  In  Per- 
sia a new  sort  of  Procrustes  Bed”  is 
adopted,  according  to  Kemper.  One  of 
the  officers  of  the  king  is  styled  the 

chief  holder  of  the  girdle,’*  and  his 
business  is  to  measure  the  ladies  of  the 
haram  by  a sort  of  regulation-girdle.  If 
any  lady  has  outgrown  the  standard,  she 
is  reduced,  like  a jockey,  by  spare  diet ; 
but  if  she  falls  short  thereof,  she  is  fatted 
up,  like  a Strasburg  goose,  to  regulation 
size.  {See  Procrustes.) 

To  put  a girdle  round  the  earth;  to 
travel  or  go  round  it.  Puck  says,  I’ll 
put  a girdle  round  about  the  earth  in 
forty  minutes.” — Midsummer  Night's 
Dream,''  ii.  2. 

Girdle  of  Venus.  {See  Cestus.) 

Giron'dists  {g  soft).  French,  Giron- 
dins,  moderate  republicans  in  the  first 
French  Revolution.  So  called  from  the 
department  of  Gironde,  which  chose  for 
the  Legislative  Assembly  five  men  who 
greatly  distinguished  themselves  for  their 
oratory,  and  formed  a political  party. 
Th  ey  were  subsequently  j oined  by  Brissot, 
Condorcet,  and  the  adherents  of  Roland. 
The  party  is  called  The  Gironde, 

Gir'ouet'te  (3  syl.,  g soft).  A turn- 
coat, a weathercock  (French).  The  Dic^ 
tionnaire  des  Girouettes  contains  the  names 
of  the  most  noted  turn-coats,  with  their 
political  veerings. 

Gis  {g  soft),  i.e.  Jesus.  A corruption 
of  Jesus  or  J.H.S.  Ophelia  says  ^‘By 
Gis  and  by  St.  Charity.” — “ Hamlet," 
iv.  5. 

Gis'li.  Nephew  of  Kol,  and  best  of 
the  Icelandic  poets,  died  978. 

Gita'nos.  (See  Gipsy.) 

Gitche  Man'ito  {N.  Am.  Ind.). 
The  Great  Spirit  and  Master  of  Life. 

Give.  Give  the  hoys  a holiday.  When 
Anaxag'oras  was  dying,  and  was  asked 
what  honour  should  be  conferred  upon 
him,  he  replied,  “Give  the  boys  a holi- 
day.” 

Gizzard  {g  hard).  That  stuck  in  his 
gizzard.  Annoyed  him,  was  more  than 


GJALLAR. 


GLAUBER  SALTS.  345 


he  could  stomach  or  digest.  The  gizzard 
is  the  strong  muscular  stomach  of  a fowl. 

Gjallar.  Heimdall’s  horn,  which  he 
blows  to  give  the  gods  notice  when  any 
one  is  approaching  the  bridge  Bifrost,  q^.v. 
— Scandinavian  Mythology. 

Gladheim  {Home  of  joy).  The  largest 
and  most  magnificent  mansion  of  the 
Scandinavian  gods.  It  contains  twelve 
seats  besides  the  throne  of  Odin. 

Glamorgan.  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
says  that  Cundah'  and  Morgan,  the  sons 
of  Gonorill  and  Regan,  usurped  the  crown 
at  the  death  of  Cordeilla.  The  former 
resolved  to  reign  alone,  chased  his  brother 
into  Wales,  and  slew  him  at  the  foot  of 
a hill,  hence  called  Gla-Morgan  or  Glyn- 
Morgan,  valley  of  Morgan.  (We  dare 
not  even  hint  against  this  tradition  the 
etymology  of  gwlad  m6r  gan  [wg\,  the 
city  connected  with  the  sea-[side],  or  the 
maritime  city,  synonymous  with  the  Celtic 
Armorica.  ( See  Spenser,  ‘ ^ Faery  Que en,  ” 
ii.  10.) 

Glasgow  (Celtic,  glas  gwy,  blue 
water).  The  town  is  on  the  bend  of  the 
Clyde,  the  blue  water  referred  to.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  it  receives  its  name 
from  some  mythical  blacksmith  (Gaelic, 
glas  gow,  the  dark  smith). 

Abstracted  from  the  bashful  expression,  which  was 
that  of  the  moment,  the  forehead  of  Henry  Gow  or 
Smith  (for  he  was  indifferently  so  called)  was  high 
and  noble.— /Sir  Walter  Hcott,  “ Fair  Maid  of  Perth” 
ch.  2. 

Glasgow  Arms.  An  oak  tree,  a 
bell  hanging  on  one  of  the  branches,  a 
bird  at  the  top  of  the  tree,  and  a salmon 
with  a ring  in  its  mouth  at  the  base. 

St.  Kentigern,  in  the  seventh  century, 
took  up  his  abode  on  the  banks  of  a little 
stream  which  falls  into  the  Clyde,  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Glasgow.  Upon 
an  oak  in  the  clearing  he  hung  a bell  to 
summon  the  savages  to  worship,  hence 
the  oak  and  the  bell.  Now  for  the  other 
two  emblems  : A queen  having  formed 
an  illicit  attachment  to  a soldier,  gave 
him  a precious  ring  which  the  king  had 
given  her.  The  king,  aware  of  the  fact, 
stole  upon  the  soldier  in  sleep,  abstracted 
the  ring,  threw  it  into  the  Clyde,  and 
then  asked  the  queen  for  it.  The  queen, 
in  alarm,  applied  to  St.  Kentigern,  who 
knew  the  whole  affair ; and  the  saint 
went  to  the  Clyde,  caught  a salmon  with 
the  ring  in  its  mouth,  handed  it  to  the 
que(3n,  and  was  thus  the  means  of  re- 


storing peace  to  the  royal  couple,  and  of 
reforming  the  repentant  queen. 

Glass  is  from  the  Celtic  glas  (bluish- 
green),  the  colour  produced  by  the  woad 
employed  by  the  ancient  Britons  in 
dyeing  their  bodies.  Pliny  calls  it  glas- 
trum,  and  Caesar  vitrum. 

Glass-eye.  A blind  eye,  not  an  eye 
made  of  glass,  but  the  Danish  glas-oie 
(wall-eye). 

Glass-houses.  Those  who  live  in 
glass  houses  should  not  throw  stones.  When, 
on  the  union  of  the  two  crowns,  London 
was  inundated  with  Scotchmen,  Bucking- 
ham was  a chief  instigator  of  the  move- 
ment against  them,  and  parties  used 
nightly  to  go  about  breaking  their  win- 
dows. In  retaliation,  a party  of  Scotch- 
men smashed  the  windows  of  the  duke’s 
mansion,  which  stood  in  St.  Martin’s 
Fields,  and  had  so  many  windows  that 
it  went  by  the  name  of  the  Glass 
House.”  The  court  favourite  appealed 
to  the  king,  and  the  British  Solomon  re- 
plied, “ Steenie,  Steenie,  those  wha  live 
in  glass  housen  should  be  carefu’  how 
they  fling  stanes.” 

Glass-slipper  (of  Cinderella).  A 
curious  blunder  of  the  translator,  who 
has  mistaken  vair  (sable)  for  verre  (glass). 
Sable  was  worn  only  by  kings  and  princes, 
so  the  fairy  gave  royal  slippers  to  her 
favourite.  Hamlet  says  he  shall  discard 
his  mourning  and  resume  ‘‘his  suit  of 
sables,”  iii.  2. 

Glasse  {Mrs.).  Immortalised  by  a 
reputed  saying  in  her  cookery-book — 
“ First  catch  your  hare,”  then  cook  it 
according  to  the  directions  given.  If 
there  is  any  truth  at  all  in  the  witticism, 
the  direction  was,  probably,  “First, 
scatch  (or)  scradge  your  hare  ” — -i.e.,  skin 
and  trim  it ; an  East  Anglian  word. 
Or  else,  “ first  scotch  your  hare  ” before 
you  jug  it — i.e.f  cut  it  into  small  pieces. 
It  must  be  observed  that  the  “pithy 
sentence  ” is  not  to  be  found  in  any 
extant  edition  of  Mrs.  Glasse’s  work. 

Glaswe'gian.  Belonging  to  Glas- 
gow. 

Glauber  Salts.  So  called  from 
Johann  Rudolph  Glauber,  a German  al- 
chemist, who  discovered  it  in  1658  in  his 
researches  after  the  philosopher’s  stone. 
It  is  the  sulphate  of  soda. 

A Glaucxis'  Sivop.  A one-sided  bargain. 


346 


GLAYMORE. 


GLORY, 


Alluding  to  the  exchange  of  armour  be- 
tween Glaucos  and  Diome'des.  As  the 
armour  of  the  Lycian  was  of  gold,  and 
that  of  the  Greek  of  brass,  it  was  like 
bartering  precious  stones  for  French 
paste.  Moses,  in  Goldsmith’s  Vicar  of 
Wakefield,”  made  ‘^a  Glaucus  swop” 
with  the  spectacle-seller. 

Glaymore  or  Claymore  (2  syl.).  The 
Scottish  great  sword.  It  used  to  be  a 
large  two-handled  sword,  but  was  subse- 
quently applied  to  the  broad-sword  with 
the  basket-hilt.  (Gaelic  claidhamhj  a 
sword ; more,  great.) 

Gleek.  A game  at  cards,  sometimes 
called  cleek.  Thus,  in  ‘‘Epsom  Wells,” 
Dorothy  says  to  Mrs.  Bisket,  “ Fll  make 
one  at  cleeky  ihaCs  better  than  any  two- 
handed  game.^*  Ben  J onson,  in  the  “ Al- 
chemist,” speaks  of  Gleek  and  Prim'ers 
as  “the  best  games  for  the  gallantest 
company.” 

Gleek  is  played  by  three  persons. 
Every  deuce  and  trois  is  thrown  out  of 
the  pack.  Twelve  cards  are  then  dealt 
to  each  player,  and  eight  are  left  for 
stock,  which  is  offered  in  rotation  to  the 
players  for  purchase.  The  trumps  are 
called  Tiddy,  Tumbler,  Tib,  Tom,  and 
Towser.  Gleek  is  the  German  gleich 
(like),  intimating  the  point  on  which  the 
game  turns,  Gleek  being  three  cards  all 
alike,  as  three  aces,  three  kings,  &c. 

Glenco'e  (2  syl.).  The  massacre  of 
Glencoe.  The  Edinburgh  authorities  ex- 
horted the  Jacobites  to  submit  to  Wil- 
liam and  Mary,  and  offered  pardon  to  all 
who  submitted  on  or  before  the  31st  of 
December,  1691.  Mac-Ian,  chief  of  the 
Macdonalds  of  Glencoe,  was  unable  to 
do  so  before  the  6th  of  January,  and  his 
excuse  was  sent  to  the  Council  at  Edin- 
burgh. The  Master  of  Stair  (Sir  J ohn 
Dalrymple)  resolved  to  make  an  example 
of  Mac-Ian,  and  obtained  the  king’s 
permission  “to  extirpate  the  set  of 
thieves.”  Accordingly,  on  the  1st  of 
February,  120  soldiers,  led  by  a Captain 
Campbell,  marched  to  Glencoe,  told  the 
clan  they  were  come  as  friends,  and  lived 
peaceably  among  them  for  twelve  days  ; 
but  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  glen- 
men,  to  the  number  of  thirty-eight, 
were  scandalously  murdered,  their  huts 
set  on  fire,  and  their  flocks  and  herds 
driven  off  as  plunder.  Campbell  has 


written  a poem,  and  Talfourd  a play  on 
the  subject. 

Glendoveer',  in  Hindu  Mythology, 
is  a kind  of  sylph,  the  most  lovely  of  the 
good  spirits, 

Glendower  {Owen).  A Welsh  chief, 
one  of  the  most  active  and  formidable 
enemies  of  Henry  IV.  He  was  descended 
from  Lllewellyn,  the  last  of  the  Welsh 
princes.  Sir  Edmund  Mortimer  married 
one  of  his  daughters,  and  the  husband 
of  Mortimer’s  sister  was  Earl  Percy, 
generally  called  “ Hotspur,”  who  took 
Douglas  prisoner  at  Homildon  Hill. 
Glendower,  Hotspur,  Douglas,  and  others 
conspired  to  dethrone  Henry,  but  the 
coalition  was  ruined  in  the  fatal  battle 
of  Shrewsbury.  Shakespeare  makes  the 
Welsh  nobleman  a wizard  of  great  di- 
versity of  talent,  but  especially  con- 
ceited of  the  prodigies  that  “announced” 
his  birth. — Shakespeare^  “1  Henry  IV T 

Glim.  Douse  the  glim^  put  out  the 
light.  Douse  is  do  out,  and  glim  is  from 
the  German  glimmen  (to  burn  faintly), 
our  glimmer. 

Gloria  in  Exeelsis.  The  latter 
portion  of  this  doxology  is  ascribed  to 
Telesphorus,  a.d.  139.  {See  Glory.) 

Gloria'na.  (Queen  Elizabeth  con- 
sidered as  a sovereign. ) Spenser  says  in 
his  “ Faery  Queen,”  that  she  kept  an 
annual  feast  for  twelve  days,  during  which 
time  adventurers  appeared  before  her 
to  undertake  whatever  tasks  she  chose  to 
impose  upon  them.  On  one  occasion 
twelve  knights  presented  themselves  be- 
fore her,  and  their  exploits  form  the 
scheme  of  Spenser’s  Allegory.  The  poet 
intended  to  give  a separate  book  to  each 
knight,  but  only  six  and  a half  books 
remain. 

Glorious  1st  of  June.  June  1st, 
1794,  when  lord  Howe,  who  commanded 
the  Channel  fleet,  gained  a decisive  vic- 
tory over  the  French. 

Glorious  John.  John  Dry  den,  the 
poet.  (1631-1701.) 

Glory.  Meaning  speech  (or)  the 
tongue,  so-called  by  the  Psalmist,  be- 
cause speech  is  man’s  speciality.  Other 
animals  see,  hear,  smell,  and  feel,  quite 
as  well  and  often  better  than  man,  but 
rational  speech  is  man’s  glory,  or  that 


GLORY  BE  TO  THE  FATHER. 


GLOVE  MONEY. 


347 


which  distinguishes  the  race  from  other 
animals. 

I will  sing  and  give  praise  even  with  my  glory.— 
Ps.  cviii.  1.  , . 

That  my  glory  may  sing  praise  to  thee  and  not  be 
silent— Ps.  XXX.  13. 

A wake  up  my  glory,  awake  psaltery  and  harp.— 
Ps.  Ivii.  & 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  &c. 
The  first  verse  of  this  doxology  is  said 
to  be  by  St.  Basil.  During  the  Arian 
controversy,  it  ran  thus:  Glory  be  to 
the  Father,  hy  the  Son,  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.’'  {See  Gloria.) 

Glory  Hand.  In  folk  lore,  a dead 
man’s  hand,  supposed  to  possess  certain 
magical  properties. 

De  hand  of  glory  is  hand  cut  off  from  a dead  man 
as  have  been  hanged  for  raurther,  and  dried  very 
nice  in  de  shmoke  of  juniper  wood.— /Sir  IK. /Scoii, 
“ The  Antiquary*'  {Dousterswivel). 

Glossin  {Lawyer)  purchases  Ellan- 
gowan  estate,  and  is  found  by  Counsellor 
Pleydell  to  be  implicated  in  carrying  off 
Henry  Bertrand,  the  heir  of  the  estate. 
Both  Glossin  and  Dirk  Hatterick,  his 
accomplice,  are  sent  to  prison,  and  in  the 
night  the  lawyer  contrives  to  enter  the 
smuggler’s  cell,  when  a quarrel  ensues, 
in  which  Hatterick  strangles  him,  and 
then  hangs  himself . — Sir  W.  Scott,  ‘‘  Guy 
Mannering.** 

Glouces'ter  (2  sylj.  The  ancient 
Britons  called  the  town  Uaer  Glou  (bright 
city).  The  Romans  Latinised  Glou  or 
Glov  in  Glev-um,  and  added  colonia  (the 
Roman  colony  of  Glev-um).  The  Saxons 
restored  the  old  British  word  Glou,  and 
added  ceaster,  to  signify  it  had  been  a 
Roman  camp.  Hence  the  word  means, 
*‘Glou,  the  camp  city.”  Geoffrey  of 
Monmouth  says,  when  Arvir'agus  married 
Genuissa,  daughter  of  Claudius  Csesar, 
he  induced  the  emperor  to  build  a city 
on  the  spot  where  the  nuptials  were  so- 
lemnised; this  city  was  called  Caer-Clau\ 
a contraction  of  Caer-Claud,  corrupted 
into  Caer-glou,  converted  by  the  Romans 
into  Glou-caster,  and  by  the  Saxons  into 
Glou-ceaster  or  Glou-cester.  Some,  con- 
tinues the  same  philologist,”  derive  the 
name  from  the  duke  Gloius,  a son  of 
Claudius,  born  in  Britain  on  the  very  spot. 

Glove.  Right  as  my  glove.  The 
phrase,  says  Sir  Walter  Scott,  comes 
from  the  custom  of  pledging  a glove  as 
the  signal  of  irrefragable  faith.— “ The 
Antiguary.'^ 

He  bit  his  glove.  He  resolved  on  mortal 


revenge.  On  the  Border,”  to  bite  the 
glove  was  considered  a pledge  of  deadly 
vengeance. 

stern  Rutherford  right  little  said, 

But  bit  his  glove  and  shook  his  head. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel'* 

Gloves  are  not  worn  in  the  presence 
of  royalty,  because  we  are  to  stand  un- 
armed, with  the  helmet  off  the  head  and 
gauntlets  off  the  hands,  to  show  we  have 
no  hostile  intention.  {See  Salutations.) 

Gloves  are  worn  by  the  clergy  to  indi- 
cate that  their  hands  are  clean  and  not 
open  to  bribes. 

Gloves  given  to  a judge  in  a maiden 
assize.  In  an  assize  without  a criminal, 
the  sheriff  presents  the  judge  with  a pair 
of  white  gloves.  Chambers  says,  an- 
ciently judges  were  not  allowed  to  wear 
gloves  on  the  bench  {Cyclopcedia).  To 
give  a judge  a pair  of  gloves,  therefore, 
symbolised  that  he  need  not  come  to  the 
bench,  but  might  wear  gloves. 

You  owe  me  a pair  of  gloves.  A small 
present.  The  gift  of  a pair  of  gloves 
was  at  one  time  a perquisite  of  those 
who  performed  small  services,  such  as 
pleading  your  cause,  arbitrating  your 
quarrel,  or  sh  owing  you  some  favour  which 
could  not  be  charged  for.  As  the  services 
became  more  important,  the  glove  was 
'Hined”  with  money,  or  made  to  contain 
some  coin  called  glove-money  {g.v.). 
Relics  of  this  ancient  custom  still  remain 
in  the  presentation  of  gloves  to  those 
who  attend  weddings  and  funerals,  and 
in  the  claim  of  a lady  who  chooses  to 
salute  a gentleman  caught  napping  in 
her  company.  In  The  Fair  Maid  of 
Perth,”  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Catharine 
steals  from  her  chamber  on  St.  Valen- 
tine’s morn,  and  catching  Henry  Smith 
asleep,  gives  him  a kiss.  The  glover 
says  to  him — 

Come  into  the  booth  with  me,  my  son,  and  I will 
furnish  thee  with  a fitting  theme.  Thou  knowest 
the  maiden  who  ventures  to  kiss  a sleeping  man, 
wins  of  him  a pair  of  gloves.— Ch.  v. 

In  the  next  chapter  Henry  presents  the 
gloves,  and  Catharine  accepts  them. 

Glove  Money.  A bribe,  a perqui- 
site ; so  called  from  the  ancient  custom 
of  presenting  a pair  of  gloves  to  a person 
who  undertook  a cause  for  you.  Mrs. 
Croaker  presented  Sir  Thomas  More,  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  with  a pair  of  gloves 
lined  with  forty  pounds  in  angels,”  as 


348 


GLUBDCJBDRIB, 


GOATSNOSE. 


a ‘ ^ token . Sir  Thomas  kept  the  gloves, 

but  returned  the  lining.  {See  above.) 

Glubdub'drib.  The  land  of  sor- 
cerers and  magicians  visited  by  Gulliver 
in  his  “ Travels.” — Swift. 

Gluekists  and  Pici'nists.  A foolish 
rivalry  excited  in  Paris  (1774-1780)  be- 
tween the  admirers  of  Gluck  and  those 
of  Pici'ni,  the  former  a German  musical 
composer,  and  the  latter  an  Italian. 
Marie  Antoinette  was  a Gluckist,  and 
consequently  Young  France  favoured  the 
rival  claimant.  In  the  streets,  coffee- 
houses, private  houses,  and  even  schools, 
the  merits  of  Gluck  and  Picini  were  can- 
vassed ; and  all  Paris  was  ranged  on  one 
side  or  the  other.  This  contention  was 
as  absurd  as  if  persons  were  to  contend 
about  the  relative  merits  of  beef  and 
sugar. 

Glum  had  a sword  and  cloak  given 
him  by  his  grandfather,  which  brought 
good  luck  to  their  possessors.  After  this 
present  everything  prospered  with  him. 
He  gave  the  spear  to  Asgrim  and  cloak 
to  Gizur  the  White,  after  which  every- 
thing went  wrong  with  him.  Old  and 
blind,  he  retained  his  cunning  long  after 
he  had  lost  his  luck. — The  Nials  Saga. 

To  look  glum.  To  look  dull  or  dis- 
pirited. (Scotch,  a frown  ; Dutch, 

loom,  heavy,  dull;  our  gloom,  gloaming, 
&c.) 

Glum-DaTelitcll.  A girl,  nine  years 
old  and  only  forty  feet  high,  who  had 
charge  of  Gulliver  in  Brobdingnag. — 
Sivift,  Gulliver's  Travels." 

Soon  as  Glumdalclitch  missed  her  pleasing  care, 

She  wept,  she  blubbered,  and  she  tore  her  hair. 
Pope. 

Gluttony.  {See  Adephagia,  Api- 
cius,  &c.) 

Glyp'todon  (Greek,  carved-tooth). 
An  extinct  quadruped  of  the  Armadillo 
class,  about  as  big  as  an  ox. 

Gna'tbo.  A vain,  boastful  parasite  in 
the  “Eunuch”  of  Terence  (Greek,  gnathon, 
jaw,  meaning  “tongue- doughty.”) 

Gno'mes  (1  syl.),  according  to  the 
Boscicru'cian  system,  are  the  elemental 
spirits  of  earth,  and  the  guardians  of 
mines  and  quarries.  (Greek,  gnoma, 
knowledge,  meaning  the  knowing-ones, 
the  wise-ones.)  {See  Salamanders.) 

The  four  elements  are  inhabited  by  spirits  called 
sylphs,  gnomes,  nymphs,  and  salamanders.  The 
gnomes,  or  demons  of  the  earth,  delight  in  mischief ; 


but  the  sylphs,  whose  habitation  is  in  air,  are  the 
best-conditioned  creatures  imaginable.— Pope,  Pre/. 
Letter  to  the  “ Rape  of  the  Lock.'' 

Gnostics.  The  icnowei'S,  opposed  to 
believers,  various  sects  in  the  first  ages 
of  Christianity,  who  tried  to  accommo- 
date Scripture  to  the  speculations  of 
Pythag'oras,  Plato,  and  other  ancient 
philosophers.  (Greek,  Gnos'ticos.') 

Go  of  Gin.  A quartern.  Two  well- 
known  actors  met  at  a bar  to  have  a 
wet  together.  “ One  more  glass  and  then 
we’ll  go,"  was  repeated  over  and  over 
again,  but  in  the  end  to  go  was  no  go 
with  them. — Slang  Dictionary  {a  corre- 
spondent). 

Go  it,  you  cripples.  Keep  up  the  fun, 
keep  the  ball  flying.  Mr.  Hotten  says 
it  is  a facetious  translation  of  Ite  capellx, 
in  the  following  Virgilian  line  : — 

Ite  domum  Sat'urae,  ven'it  Hes'rerus.ife  capelloe. 
Eel.  X.,  last  line. 

Go  on  all  fours.  Perfect  in  all  points. 
We  sa}^  of  a pun  or  riddle,  “ It  does  not 
go  on  all  fours,”  it  will  not  hold  good  in 
every  way.  Lord  Macaulay  says,  “ It  is 
not  easy  to  make  a simile  go  on  all  fours.” 
Sir  Edward  Coke  says,  “Nullum  simile 
quat'uor  ped'ibus  currit.  ” The  metaphor 
is  taken  from  a horse,  which  is  lame  if 
only  one  of  its  legs  is  injured.  All  four 
must  be  sound  in  order  that  it  may  go. 

Go  through  fire  and  water  to  serve  you.  Do 
anything,  even  at  personal  cost  and  in- 
convenience. The  reference  is  to  the 
ancient  ordeals  by  fire  and  water.  Those 
condemned  to  these  ordeals  might  em- 
ploy a substitute. 

Go-by.  To  give  one  the  go-by.  To 
pass  without  notice,  to  leave  in  the  lurch. 

Goat;  Usually  placed  under  seats 
in  church  stalls,  &c.,  as  a mark  of  dis- 
honour and  abhorrence,  especially  to 
ecclesiastics  who  take  a vow  of  conti- 
nence. 

The  seven  little  goats.  So  the  Pleiades 
are  vulgarly  called  in  Spain. 

Goat  in  Boots.  A public-house 
sign.  It  was  the  sign  of  Mercury,  der 
goden  boode  (the  gods’  messenger). 

Goat  and  Compasses.  A public- 
house  sign  in  the  Commonwealth ; a cor- 
ruption of  “ God  en- compasses  [us].” 

Goatsnose.  A prophet  born  deaf 
and  dumb,  who  uttered  his  prophecies 
by  signs. — Rabelais,  Pantag'ruel' ,"  iii. 
20. 


GOBBO. 


GODFATHER. 


349 


Grob'bo  {Launcelot).  A clown  in 
Shakespeare’s  “ Merchant  of  Venice.” 

Gob'elin  Tapestry.  So  called 
from  Giles  Gob'elin,  a French  dyer  in 
the  reign  of  Fran9ois  I.,  who  discovered 
the  Gobelin  scarlet-.  His  house  in  the 
suburbs  of  St.  Marcel,  in  Paris,  is  still 
called  the  Gobelins. 

Groblin.  A familiar  demon.  According 
to  popular  belief,  goblins  dwelt  in  private 
houses  and  chinks  of  trees.  As  a speci- 
men of  forced  etymology,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  Elf  and  Goblin  have  been 
derived  from  Guelph  and  Ghibelline. 
(French  gobelin^  a lubber-fiend  ; Armoric 
gohylin;  German  kobold,  the  demon  of 
mines;  Greek  kobalos ; Russian  colfy ; 
Welsh  coblyn,  a ‘^knocker  ; ” whence  the 
woodpecker  is  called  in  Welsh  coblyn 
y coed”.) 

Goblins.  In  Cardiganshire  the 
miners  attribute  those  strange  noises 
heard  in  mines  to  spirits  called  Knock- 
ers ” (goblins).  (See  above. ) 

Goblin-cave.  In  Celtic  called 

Coir  nan  Uriskin”  {cove  of  the  satyrs) f 
in  Benvenue,  Scotland. 

After  landin?  on  the  skirts  of  Benvenue,  we  reach 
the  cave  or  cove  of  the  goblins  by  a steep  and  narrow 
defile  of  one  hundied  yards  in  length.  It  is  a deep 
circular  amoliitheatre  of  at  least  six  hundred  yards 
extent  in  its  upper  diameter,  gradually  narrowing 
towards  the  base,  hemmed  in  all  round  by  steep 
and  towering  rocks,  and  rendered  impenetrable  to 
the  rays  of  the  sun  by  a close  covert  of  luxuriant 
trees.  On  the  south  and  west  it  is  bounded  by 
the  precipitous  shon'der  of  Benvenue  to  the  height 
of  at  least  500  feet;  towards  tlie  east  the  rock 
appears  at  some  former  period  to  have  tumb  ed 
down,  strewing  the  white  course  of  its  fall  with  im- 
mense fragments,  which  no  v serve  only  to  give 
shelter  to  foxes,  wild  cats,  and  badgers.  — Dr, 
Graham. 

God.  Greek  agath'  (good),  contracted 
mto 'gath;  Gothic  goth  (god);  German 
gott ; Saxon,  god  and  good.  {See  Alla, 
’Adonist,  Elohistic,  &c.) 

The  Nine  Gods  of  the  Etruscans.  Juno, 
Minerva,  and  Tinla  (the  three  chief)  ; 
to  which  add  Vulcan,  Mars,  Saturn, 
Hercules,  Summa'nus,  and  Vedius.  {See 
Asm  Asynier.) 

Chief  of  the  Greek  and,  Roman  dxities — 


Gods. 

Greek.. 

Latin. 

God  of  time 

Kron'os 

Rht'urn. 

King  of  gods 

Zeus 

J u'piter. 

God  of  light 

Apollon 

A' res 

Apollo. 

God  of  war 

Mers. 

God  of  water 

Posi'don 

Neptune. 

God  of  wine 

Piouy'sos 

Bacchus. 

God  of  the  infernaU 

Pluton 

Pluto. 

God  of  love 

Eros 

Cupi'do. 

The  gods'  messenger 

The  go  is'  smith 

Hermes 

Mercury. 

Hephaes'tos 

Vulcaa 

Goddesses. 

Rhe'a 

He'ra 

Athe'na 

Ar'temis 

Deme'ter 

Hes'tia 

Perseph'one 

Aphrodi'te 


GEEEK,.  LATIN, 

Wife  of  Kron'os  Cyb'ele  o/cSaturn, 
Wife  0/  Zeus  J uno  of  J u'piter. 

Of  wisdom  Minerva. 

Of  hunting  Dian'a. 

Of  tillage  Ceres. 

Of  hearths  Vesta. 

Wife  of  Pluton  Proserpine  of  Pluto. 
„ o/Hephaestcs  Venus  of  Vulcan. 


Among  the  gods.  In  the  uppermost 
gallery  of  a theatre,  which  is  near  the 
ceiling,  generally  painted  to  resemble 
the  sky.  The  French  call  this  celestial 
region  paradis. 

God  bless  the  duke  of  Argyle.  It  is  said 
that  the  duke  of  Argyle  erected  a row 
of  posts  to  mark  his  property,  and  these 
posts  were  used  by  the  neighbours,  when 
their  shoulders  itched,  to  rub  against. 
Those  who  live  on  oatmeal  porridge  are 
very  subject  to  cutaneous  eruptions. — 
Hotten^  Slang  Dictionary T 

God  save  the  king.''  It  is  said  by 
some  that  both  the  words  and  music  of 
the  anthem  were  composed  by  Dr.  John 
Bull  (1563-1622),  on  the  occasion  of  the 
discovery  of  Gunpowder  Plot.  Hence 
the  words,  “ Frustrate  their  knavish 
tricks.”  Dr.  Bull  was  afterwards  orga- 
nist at  Antwerp  Cathedral,  where  the 
original  MS.  is  still  preserved,  together 
with  an  account  of  the  circumstance 
which  gave  rise  to  it. 

Others  attribute  the  anthem  to  Henry 
Carey,  author  of  Sally  in  our  Alley  ; ” 
and  Dr.  Harrington  asserts  that  John 
‘Christopher  Smith  corrected  the  bass  at 
the  request  of  Mr.  Carey.  It  is  further 
said  that  it  was  composed,  in  1740,  for  a 
dinner  given  by  the  Mercers’  Company 
in  hbnour  of  George  II.  on  his  birthday. 
It  seems  to  have  first  come  into  general 
use  in  1745,  three  years  after  the  death 
of  Carey,  during  the  threatened  invasion 
of  the  young  Pretender.  The  truth  of 
the  matter  seems  to  be  this  : Dr.  John 
Bull  was  the  original  composer ; an 
Anthony  Young,  in  the  reign  of  James  II., 
made  some  alteration  in  the  score ; 
Henry  Carey  reset  the  music  and  added 
one  of  the  verses. 


God’s  Acre.  A churchyard  or  ce- 
metery. 

I like  that  ancient  Saxon  phrase,  which  calls 
The  burial-ground  God’s  Longfellow. 

Godfather.  To  stand  godfather,  to 
pay  the  reckoning,  godfathers  being  ge- 
nerally chosen  for  the  sake  of  the  pre- 
sent they  are  expected  to  make  the  child 
at  the  christening  or  in  their  wills. 


350 


GODFATHERS. 


GOLD-PURSE  OF  SPAIN. 


Godfathers.  Jurymen,  who  are  the 
sponsors  of  the  criminal. 

G o d'f  r e y.  The  Agamemnon  of 
Tasso’s  ‘^Jerusalem  Delivered,”  chosen 
by  God  as  chief  of  the  crusaders ; he  is 
represented  as  calm,  circumspect,  and 
prudent;  a despiser  of  worldly  em- 
pire, wealth,  and  fame.” 

Godliness.  Cleanliness  next  to 
godlinesf^  ‘^as  Matthew  Henry  says.” 
Whether  Matthew  Heury  used  the  pro- 
verb as  well  known,  or  invented  it,  depo- 
nent sayeth  not. 

Godmer.  A British  giant,  son  of 
Albion,  slain  by  Canu'tus,  one  of  the 
companions  of  Brute. 

Those  three  monstrous  stones.. 

Which  that  huge  son  of  hideous  Albion 

Great  Godmer  threw  in  fierce  contention 

At  bold  Canutus : but  of  him  was  slain 

Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen,’'  ii.  10. 

Godi'va  {lady).  Patroness  of  Coven- 
try. In  1040,  Leofric,  earl  of  Mercia  and 
lord  of  Coventry,  imposed  certain  exac- 
tions on  his  tenants,  which  his  lady  be- 
seeched  him  to  remove.  To  escape  her 
importunity,  he  said  he  would  do  so  if 
she  would  ride  naked  through  the  town. 
Lady  Godiva  took  him  at  his  word,  and 
the  earl  faithfully  kept  his  promise. 

The  legend  asserts  that  every  inhabi- 
tant of  Coventry  kept  indoors  at  the 
time,  but  a certain  tailor  peeped  through 
his  window  to  see  the  lady  pass.  Some 
say  he  was  struck  blind,  others  that  his 
eyes  were  put  out  by  the  indignant 
townsfolk,  and  some  that  he  was  put  to 
death.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he  has  ever 
since  been  called  “Peeping  Tom  of 
Coventry.”  Tennyson  has  a poem  on 
the  subject. 

Goel.  The  avenger  of  blood,  so  called 
by  the  Jews. 

Goe'mot  or  Goem'agot.  The  giant 
who  dominated  over  the  western  horn 
of  England,  slain  by  Corin'eus,  one  of 
the  companions  of  Brute.  — Geoffrey, 
“ Chronicles,*'  i.  16.  {See  Cortneus.) 

Gog  and  Magog.  The  emperor 
Diocletian  had  thirty-three  infamous 
daughters,  who  murdered  theirhusbands ; 
and  being  set  adrift  in  a ship,  reached 
Albion,  where  they  fell  in  with  a number 
of  demons.  The  offspring  of  this  un- 
natural alliance  was  a race  of  giants, 
afterwards  extirpated  by  Brute  and  his 
companions,  refugees  from  Troy.  Gog  and 


Magog,  the  last  two  of  the  giant  race, 
were  brought  in  chains  to  London,  then 
called  Troy-novant,  and  being  chained 
to  the  palace  of  Brute,  which  stood  on 
the  site  of  our  Guildhall,  did  duty  as 
porters.  We  cannot  pledge  ourselves  to 
the  truth  of  old  Caxton’s  narrative  ; but 
we  are  quite  certain  that  Gog  and  Magog 
had  their  effigies  at  Guildhall,  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  V.  The  old  giants  were 
destroyed  in  the  great  fire,  and  the  pre- 
sent ones,  fourteen  feet  high,  were  carved 
in  1708  by  Richard  Saunders. 

Gog'gles.  A corruption  of  ogles,  eye- 
shades.  (Danish,  oog,  an  eye  ; Spanish, 
ojo  ; or  from  the  W elsh,  gogelu,  to  shelter. ) 

Gokurakf.  The  paradise  of  Ja- 
panese mythology. 

Go 'jam.  A province  of  Abyssinia 
(Africa).  Captain  Speke  traced  it  to 
Lake  Victoria  N’Yanza,  near  the  Mount- 
ains of  the  Moon  (1861). 

The  swelling  Nile. 

From  his  two  springs  in  Gojam’s  sunny  realm 

Pure-welling  out.  Thomson , “ Summer.  ” 

Golcon'da,  in  Hindustan,  famous 
for  its  diamond  mines. 

Gold.  A ll  that  glitters  is  not  gold.  — 
Shakespeare,  “ Merchant  of  Venice”  ii.  7. 

All  thing  which  that  schineth  as  the  gold 
Is  nought  gold. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,”  12890. 
Non  teneas  aurum  totum  quod  spleiidet  ut  aurum 
Nec  pulchrum  pomum  quodlibet  essebonum. 

Ala'nus  ae  IWsulis,  “ Far  ah' dice.” 

The  gold  of  Nihelungen.  Brought  ill- 
luck  to  every  one  who  possessed  it. — 
Icelandic  Edda. 

He  has  got  the  gold  of  Tolo'sa.  His  ill 
gains  will  never  prosper.  Csepio,  the 
Roman  consul,  in  his  march  to  Gallia 
Narbonensis  stole  from  Tolo'sa  (Toulouse) 
the  gold  and  silver  consecrated  by  the 
Cimbrian  Druids  to  their  gods,  and  when 
he  encountered  the  Cimbrian s,  both  he 
andMallius,  his  brother- consul,  were  de- 
feated, and  112,000  of  their  men  were 
left  upon  the  field  (B.c.  106). 

Mosaic  gold  is  “aurum  musi'vum,”  a 
sulphuret  of  tin  used  by  the  ancients  in 
tesselating. 

Mannheim  Gold,  a,  sort  of  pinchbeck, 
made  of  copper  and  zinc,  invented  at 
Mannheim,  in  Germany. 

Gold -purse  of  Spain.  Andalusia 
is  so  called  because  it  is  the  city  from 
which  Spain  derives  its  chief  wealth. 


GOLDEN. 


GOLDEN  CAVE. 


351 


Golden.  The  Golden  Aura'tus”). 
So  Jean  Dorat,  one  of  the  Pleiad  poets 
of  France,  was  called  by  a complimentary 
pun  on  his  name.  This  pun  may  pass 
muster;  not  so  the  preposterous  title 
given  to  him  of  The  French  Pindar.” 
(1507-1588.) 

Golden-tongued  (Greek,  ClirysoV- 
ogos  ”).  So  St.  Peter,  bishop  of  Ravenna, 

. was  called.  (433-450.) 

The  golden  section  of  a line.  Its  division 
into  two  such  parts  that  the  rectangle  of 
the  smaller  segment  and  the  whole  line 
equal  the  square  of  the  larger  segment. 
— Euclid,  ii.  11. 

Golden  Age.  The  best  ago  ; as  the 
golden  age  of  innocence,  the  golden  age 
of  literature.  Chronologers  divide  the 
time  between  Creation  and  the  birth  of 
Christ  into  ages ; Hesiod  describes  five, 
and  Lord  Byron  adds  a sixth,  The  Age 
of  Bronze.”  {See  Age,  Augustan.) 

i . The  Golden  Age  of  A ncient  Nations : — 

(1)  New  Assyrian  Empire,  From 
the  reign  of  Esar-haddon  or  Assur  Adon 
{Assyria’s  'prince),  third  son  of  Sennach'- 
erib,  to  the  end  of  Sarac’s  reign,  (b.c. 
691-606.) 

(2)  Chald^o-Babtlonian  Empire. 
From  the  reign  of  Nabopolassar  or  Nebo- 
pul-Assur  {Neho  the  great  Assyrian)  to 
that  of  Belshazzar  or  Bel-shah-Assur 
(Bel  king-of  Assyria).  (B.C.  606-538.) 

(3)  China.  The  Tang  dynasty  (626- 
684),  and  especially  the  reign  of  Tae- 
tsong.  (618-626.) 

(4)  Egypt.  The  reigns  of  Sethos  I. 
and  Ram'eses  II.  (B.C.  1336-1224.) 

(6)  Media.  The  reign  of  Cyax'eres 
or  Kai-ax-Ares  {the-king  son-of  **  Mars  ”). 
(B.c.  634-594.) 

(6)  Persia.  The  reigns  of  Khosru  I.,  II. 
(531-628.) 

ii.  The  Golden  Age  of  Modern  Nations, 

(1)  England.  The  reign  of  Elizabeth. 
(1558-1603.) 

(2)  France.  Part  of  the  reigns  of  Louis 
XIV.  and  XV.  (1640-1740.) 

(3)  Germany.  The  reign  of  Charles  V. 
(1519-1558.) 

(4)  Portugal.  From  John  I.  to  the 
close  of  Sebastian’s  reign  (1383-1578). 
In  1580  the  crown  was  seized  by  Felipe  II. 
of  Spain. 

(5)  Prussia.  The  reign  of  Frederick 
the  Great.  (1740-1786.)  The  present  en- 
largement of  the  kingdom  may  possibly 
lead  to  an  important  epoch.  (1866.) 


(6)  Russia.  The  reign  of  czar  Peter 
the  Great.  (1672-1725. ^ 

(7)  Spain.  The  reign  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  when  the  crowns  of  Castile  and 
Aragon  were  united.  (1474-1516.) 

(8)  Sweden.  From  Gustavus  Vasa  to 
the  close  of  the  reign  of  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus. (1523-1632.) 

Golden  Apple*  What  female 
heart  can  gold  despise  V’— Gray.  In  al- 
lusion to  the  fable  of  Atalanta,  the  swiftest 
of  all  mortals.  She  vowed  to  marry  only 
that  man  who  could  outstrip  her  in  a 
race.  Milan'ion  threw  down  three  golden 
apples,  and  Atalanta,  stopping  to  pick 
them  up,  lost  the  race.  When  foul  play 
is  suspected  on  a race-course,  we  say 

the  race  was  lost  by  golden  apples.” 

Golden  Ass.  The  romance  of  Ap- 
pule'ius,  written  in  the  second  century, 
and  called  the  golden  because  of  its  ex- 
cellency, It  contains  the  adventures  of 
Lucian,  a young  man,  who  being  acci- 
dentally metamorphosed  into  an  ass  while 
sojourning  in  Thessaly,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  robbers,  eunuchs,  magistrates,  and  so 
on,  by  whom  he  was  ill-treated;  but 
ultimately  he  recovered  his  human  form. 
Boccaccio  has  borrowed  largely  from  this 
admirable  romance,  and  the  incidents  of 
the  robbers’  cave  in  Gil  Bias  ” are  taken 
from  it. 

Golden  Bay.  The  bay  Kieselarke 
is  so  called  because  the  sands  shine  like 
gold  or  fire. — Struy. 

Golden  Bonds.  Aurelian  allowed 
the  captive  Zenobia  a slave  to  hold  up 
her  golden  fetters. 

Golden  Bull.  An  edict  by  the 
emperor  Charles  IV.,  issued  at  the  diet 
of  Nuremberg  in  1356,  for  the  purpose 
of  fixing  how  the  German  emperors  were 
to  be  elected.  {See  Bull.  ) 

Golden  Calf.  According  to  a com- 
mon local  tradition,  Aaron’s  golden  calf 
is  buried  in  Rook’s  Hill,  Lavant,  near 
Chichester. 

Golden  Calf.  We  all  worship  the 
golden  calf,  i.e.,  money.  The  reference 
is  to  the  golden  calf  made  by  Aaron  when 
Moses  was  absent  on  Mount  Sinai. — 
Exod.  xxxii.  {See  Rook.) 

Golden  Cave.  Contained  a cistern 
guarded  by  two  giants  and  two  centaurs  ; 
the  waters  of  the  cistern  were  good  for 
quenching  the  fire  of  the  cave,  and 


352 


GOLDEN  CHAIN. 


GOLDEN  ROSE. 


when  this  fire  was  quenched  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Scobellum  would  return  to  their 
native  forms. — ^^The  Seven  ChampionSf^ 
iii.  10. 

Golden  Chain.  Faith  is  the  gol- 
den chain  to  link  the  fenitent  sinner  unto 
God''  (Jeremy  Taylor).  The  allusion  is 
to  a passage  in  Homer’s  Iliad”  (i.  19 
— 30),  where  Zeus  says,  If  a golden  chain 
were  let  down  from  heaven,  and  all  the 
gods  and  goddesses  pulled  at  one  end, 
they  would  not  be  able  to  pull  him  down 
to  earth  ; whereas  he  could  lift  with  ease 
all  the  deities  and  all  created  things  be- 
sides with  his  single  might. 

Golden  Fleece.  Ino  persuaded  her 
husband,  Ath'amas,  that  his  son  Phryxos 
was  the  cause  of  a famine  which  desolated 
the  land,  and  the  old  dotard  ordered 
him  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  angry  gods. 
Phryxos  being  apprised  of  this  order, 
made  his  escape  over  sea  on  a ram  which 
had  a golden  fleece.  When  he  arrived  at 
Colchis,  he  sacrificed  the  ram  to  Zeus, 
and  gave  the  fleece  to  king  iEe'tes,  who 
hung  it  on  a sacred  oak.  It  was  after- 
wards stolen  by  Jason  in  his  celebrated 
Argonautic  expedition. 

This  rising  Greece  with  indignation  viewed, 

And  youthful  Jason  an  attempt  conceived 

Lofty  and  bold  : along  Pene'us’  banks, 

Around  Olympus’  brows,  the  Muses'  haunts. 

He  roused  the  brave  to  re-demand  the  fleece. 

'*  The  Fleece."'  ii. 

Golden  Fountain.  The  property 
of  a wealthy  Jew  of  Jerusalem.  “ In 
twenty-four  hours  it  would  convert  any 
metal,  as  brass,  copper,  iron,  lead,  and 
tin,  into  refined  gold ; stony  flints  into 
pure  silver  ; and  any  kind  of  earth  into 
excellent  metal.”  — ^^The  Seven  Cham- 
pions of  Chr  istendom^  ii.  4. 

Golden  Horn.  The  inlet  of  the 
Bosphorus  on  which  Constantinople  is 
situated.  So  called  from  its  curved  shape 
and  great  beauty. 

Golden  House.  This  was  a palace 
erected  by  Nero  in  Rome.  It  was 
roofed  with  golden  tiles,  and  the  inside 
walls,  which  were  profusely  gilt,  were 
embellished  with  mother-of-pearl  and 
precious  stones  ; the  ceilings  were  inlaid 
with  ivory  and  gold.  The  banquet-hall 
had  a rotatory  motion,  and  its  vaulted 
ceiling  showered  flowers  and  perfumes 
on  the  guests.  The  Farne'se  popes  and 
princes  used  the  materials  of  Nero’s  house 
in  erecting  their  palaces  and  villas. 


Golden  Legend.  A collection  of 

hagiology  [lives  of  samts),  made  by 
Jaques  de  Voragine  in  the  thirteenth 
century ; valuable  for  the  picture  it  gives 
of  mediaeval  manners,  customs,  and 
thoughts.  Jortin  says  that  the  young 
students  of  religious  houses,  for  the  exer- 
cise of  their  talents,  were  set  to  accommo- 
date the  narratives  of  heathen  writers 
to  Christian  saints.  It  was  a correction 
of  these  lives”  that  Voragine  made, 
and  thought  deserving  to  be  called  “ Le- 
gends worth  their  Weight  in  Gold.” 
Longfellow  has  a dramatic  poem  en- 
titled The  Golden  Legend.” 

Golden  Mean.  Keep  the  golden 
mean.  The  wise  saw  of  Cleobu'los,  king 
of  Rhodes,  (b.c.  630-659.) 

Distant  alike  from  each,  to  neither  lean. 

But  ever  keep  the  happy  Golden  Mean. 

Rowe.  “ The  Golden  Verses.’* 

Golden-mouthed.  Chrysostom ; 
so  called  for  his  great  eloquence.  (a.D. 
347-407.) 

Golden  Ointment.  Eye  salve. 
In  allusion  to  the  ancient  practice  of 
rubbing  stynas  of  the  eye  ” with  a gold 
ring  to  cure  them. 

I have  a sty  here,  Chilax, 

I have  no  gold  to  cure  it. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher.  Mad  Lovers." 

Golden  Opinions.  have  bought 
golden  opinions  of  all  sorts  of  people.” 
— Shakespeare^  Macbeth  f i.  7. 

Golden  Palace  of  Nero,  built  on 
the  site  of  that  part  of  Rome  which  had 
been  burnt  down.  There  were  three 
galleries  on  three  rows  of  marble  pillars, 
each  row  a mile  in  length.  The  roof  and 
walls  were  gold  (gilt  ? ),  inlaid  with 
mother- o’ -pearl.  One  of  the  banqueting 
rooms,  made  of  glass,  revolved  with  the 
sun,  and  distilled  perfumes  on  the  guests. 

Golden  Pose.  A cluster  of  roses  and 
rosebuds  growing  on  one  thorny  stem,  all 
of  the  purest  gold,  chiselled  with  exqui- 
site workmanship.  In  its  cup,  among  its 
petals,  the  pope,  at  every  benediction  he 
pronounces  upon  it,  inserts  a few  parti- 
cles of  amber  and  musk.  It  is  blessed 
on  the  fourth  Sunday  in  Lent,  and  be- 
stowed during  the  ecclesiastical  year  on 
the  royal  lady  whose  zeal  for  the  church 
has  most  shown  itself  by  pious  deeds 
or  pious  intentions.  The  prince  who 
has  best  deserved  of  the  Holy  See  has 
the  blessed  sword  and  cap  [to  stocco  e il 


GOLDEN  EULE. 


GONEEIL. 


353 


beretto)  sent  him.  If  no  one  merits  the 
gift,  it  is  laid  up  in  the  Vatican.  In  the 
spring  of  1868,  the  pope  gave  the  golden 
rose  to  Isabella  of  Spain,  in  reward  of 

her  faith,  justice,  and  charity,”  and  to 

foretoken  the  protection  of  God  to  his 
well-beloved  daughter,  whose  high  vir- 
tues make  her  a shining  light  amongst 
women.”  Truly  the  church  sees  with 
other  eyes  than  the  ordinary  observer, 
and  judges  with  other  judgment  than  the 
ordinary  politician  or  moralist.  The 
empress  Eugene  of  France  also  received 
it,  and  the  gift  was  not  unworthily  be- 
stowed. 

Golden  Rule. 

In  morals— Bo  unto  others  as  you 
would  be  done  by. 

In  arithmetic — The  Eule  of  Three. 

Golden  Shower  or  Shoioer  of  gold. 
A bribe,  money.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
classic  tale  of  Jupiter  and  Dan'ae.  Ac- 
rislos,  king  of  Argos,  being  told  that  his 
daughter’s  son  would  put  him  to  death, 
resolved  that  Dan'ae  should  never  marry, 
and  accordingly  locked  her  up  in  a brazen 
tower.  Jupiter,  who  was  in  love  with  the 
princess,  foiled  the  king,  by  changing 
himself  into  a shower  of  gold,  under 
which  guise  he  readily  found  access  to 
the  fair  prisoner. 

Golden  State.  California ; so  called 
from  its  gold  diggins.” 

Golden  Stream.  Joannes  Damas- 
ce'nus,  author  of  ^‘Dogmatic  Theology” 
(died  756). 

Golden  Verses.  So  called  because 
they  are  good  as  gold.”  They  are  by 
some  attributed  to  Epicar'mos,  and  by 
others  to  Emped'ocles,  but  always  go 
under  the  name  of  Pythag'oras,  and  seem 
quite  in  accordance  with  his  excellent 
precepts.  They  are  as  follows : — 

Ne’er  suffer  sleep  thine  eyes  to  close 
Before  thy  mind  hath  run 
O’er  every  act,  and  thought,  and  word, 

From  dawn  to  set  of  sun  ; 

For  wrong  take  shame,  but  grateful  feel 
If  just  thy  course  hath  been  ; 

Such  effort  day  by  day  renewed 
Will  ward  thy  soul  from  sin; 

Gol'demar  (king).  A German  gob- 
lin, friend  of  Neveling  von  Hardenberg. 

GoTdy.  The  pet  name  given  by  Dr. 
Johnson  to  Oliver  Goldsmith.  Garrick 
said  of  him,  ^^He  wrote  like  an  angel, 
and  talked  like  poor  Poll.”  (1728-1774.) 

GoTgotlia  signifies  a slciill^  and  cor- 
responds to  the  French  word  ^^chau-  I 


mont.”  Probably  it  designated  a bare  hill 
or  rising  ground,  having  some  fanciful 
resemblance  to  the  form  of  a bald  skull. 

Golgotha  seems  not  entirely  unconnected  with 
the  hill  of  Gareb,  and  the  locality  of  Goatii,  men- 
tioned in  Jeremiah  xxxi.  39,  on  the  north-west  of 
the  city.  I am  inclined  to  fix  the  "place  where  Jesus 
was  crucified. . ..on  the  mounds  which  command  the 
valley  of  Hinnom,  above  Birket-Mamilla.— iJenan, 
“ Life  of  Jesus  ”c.  xxv. 

Golgotha,  at  the  University  Church, 
Cambridge,  is  the  gallery  in  which  the 
^^heads  of  the  houses”  sit;  so  called  be- 
cause it  is  the  place  of  skulls  or  heads.  It 
has  been  more  wittily  than  truly  said  that 
Golgotha  was  the  place  of  empty  skulls. 

Goli'ath.  The  Philistine  giant,  slain 
by  the  stripling  David  with  a small  stone 
hurled  from  a sling. — 1 Sam.  xvii.  23-54. 

Golosh.'.  It  is  said  that  Henry  VI. 
wore  half-boots  laced  at  the  side,  and 
about  the  same  time  was  introduced  the 
shoe  or  clog  called  the  galage  ” or 
^^gologe,”  meaning  simply  a covering; 
to  which  is  attributed  the  origin  of  our 
word  golosh.  This  cannot  be  correct, 
as  Chaucer,  who  died  twenty  years  be- 
fore Henry  VI.  was  born,  uses  the  word. 
Without  doubt  the  word  comes  to  us 
from  the  Spanish  golocha  (wooden  shoes) ; 
German,  gallosche,  which  is  the  Eoman 
word,  galliccB  (Gaulish  shoes).  The  word 
has  been  wittily  said  to  be  a corruption 
of  Goliath’s  shoes.” 

Ne  were  worthy  to  unbocle  his  galoche.— G^wcer, 
“ Squire's  Tale.’* 

Go'marists.  Opponents  of  Ar- 
min'ius.  So  called  from  Francis  Gomar, 
their  leader.  (1563-1641.) 

Gondula.  One  of  the  Celtic  war- 
goddesses.  Her  special  office  was  to 
conduct  to  Odin  the  souls  of  those  who 
fell  in  battle. 

Gone  up.  Put  out  of  the  way, 
hanged,  or  otherwise  got  rid  of.  In 
Denver  (America)  unruly  citizens  are 
summarily  hung  on  a cotton  tree,  and 
when  any  question  is  asked  about  them, 
the  answer  is  briefly  given,  ‘^Gone  up” 
— i.e.,  gone  up  the  cotton  tree,  or  sus- 
pended from  one  of  its  branches.  (^See 

New  America,”  by  W.  Hepworth 
Dixon,  i.  11.) 

Gon'eril.  One  of  Lear’s  three  daugh- 
ters. Having  received  her  moiety  of  Lear’s 
kingdom,  the  unnatural  daughter  first 
abridged  the  old  man’s  retinue,  then  gave 
him  to  understand  that  his  company  was 
trowhlQQomQ.Shahespeare,  King  Lear.” 

^ X 


354 


GONFALON. 


GOOD  WINE. 


Gon'falon  or  Gonfanon.  An  en- 
sign or  standard.  A gonfalonier  is  a 
magistrate  that  has  a gonfalon,  (Italian, 
gonfalo'ne ; French,  gonfalon;  Saxon, 
guthfana^  war-flag.)  Chaucer  uses  the 
word  gonfanon ; Milton  prefers  gonfalon. 
Thus  he  says — 

Ten  thousand  thousand  ensigns  high  advanced 

Standards  and  gonfalons,  ’twixt  van  and  rear 

Stream  in  the  air,  and  for  distinction  serve 

Of  hierarchies  (3  syl.),  of  orders,  and  degrees, 

“ Paradise  Lost,”  v. 

Gonfanon.  The  consecrated  banner 
of  the  Normans.  When  William  in- 
vaded England,  his  gonfanon  was  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  pope.  It  was 
made  of  purple  silk,  divided  at  the  end 
like  the  banner  attached  to  the  Cross 
of  the  Eesurrection.”  When  Harold 
was  wounded  in  the  eye,  he  was  borne 
to  the  foot  of  this  sacred  standard,  and 
the  English  rallied  round  him ; but  his 
death  gave  victory  to  the  invaders.  The 
high  altar  of  Battle  Abbey  marked  the 
spot  where  the  gonfanon  stood,  but  the 
only  traces  now  left  are  a few  stones 
recently  uncovered,  to  show  the  site  of 
this  memorable  place. 

Gonin.  Tin  tonr  de  maitre  Gonin  (a 
trick  of  Master  Gonin’s).  A cunning 
trick.  Gonin  was  a buffoon  cr  fool  of 
the  sixteenth  century,  who  acquired 
great  renown  for  his  clever  tricks. 

Gonnella’s  Horse.  Gonnella,  the 
domestic  jester  of  the  duke  of  Ferra'ra, 
rode  on  a horse  all  skin  and  bone.  The 
jests  of  Gonnella  are  in  print. 

His  horse  was  as  lean  as  Gonnella’s,  which  (as  the 
duke  said)  “Os^ta  atque  pellis  totus  erat”  (Plautus). 
—Cervantes,  *^Don  Quixote." 

Gonsal'ez  {Gon-zalley).  Fernan 
Gonsalez  was  a Spanish  hero  of  the  tenth 
century,  whose  life  was  twice  saved  by 
his  wife  Sancha,  daughter  of  Garcias,  king 
of  Navarre.  The  adventures  of  Gonsal'ez 
have  given  birth  to  a host  of  ballads. 

Gonville  College  (Cambridge). 
The  same  as  Key’s  College,  founded  in  1348 
by  Edmund  Gonville,  son  of  Sir  Nicholas 
Gonville,  rector  of  Terrington,  Norfolk, 

Good.  The  Good,. 

Alfonso  VIII.  (or  IX.)  of  Leon,  The 
Noble  and  Good.”  (1158-1214.) 

Sir  James  Douglas,  surnamed  The  Good 
Sir  James,  a friend  to  Bruce.  (Died  1330. ) 

Jean  II.  of  France,  le  Bon.  (1319, 
1350-1364.) 


Jean  III.,  due  de  Bourgogne.  (1286, 
1312-1341.) 

Jean  of  Brittany,  The  Good  and 
Wise.”  (1389-1442.) 

Philippe  III.,  due  de  Bourgogne.  (1396, 
1419-1467.) 

Eene,  called  The  Good  King  Rene, 
titular  king  of  Na'ples.  (1409-1452.) 

Eichard  II.,  due  de  Normandie.  (996- 
1026.) 

Eichard  de  Beauchamp,  twelfth  earl  of 
Warwick,  regent  of  France.  (Died  1439. ) 

Good  Duke  Humphrey.  Hum- 
phrey Plantagenet,  duke  of  Gloucester, 
youngest  son  of  Henry  IV.,  said  to  have 
been  murdered  by  Suffolk  and  cardinal 
Beaufort. — Shakespeare,  ^^2  Henry  F/.,” 
hi.  2. 

Good-bye.  A contraction  of  God  he 
with  you.  Similar  to  the  French  adieu, 
which  is  d Lieu  (I  commend  you  to  God). 

Good -Cheap.  The  French  hon 
marcM,  a good  bargain.  Cheap”  here 
means  market  or  bargain. 

Good  Friday.  The  anniversary  of 
the  Crucifixion.  Good”  means  holy. 

Born  on  Good  Friday.  According  to 
ancient  superstition,  those  born  on 
Christmas-day  or  Good  Friday  have  the 
power  of  seeing  and  commanding  spirits. 

Good-Folk  (Scotch  guid  folk)  are 
like  the  Shetland  land-Trows,  who  inhabit 
the  interior  of  green  hills.  {See  Trows.) 

Good  Hegent.  James  Stewart,  earl 
of  Murray,  appointed  regent  of  Scotland 
after  the  imprisonment  of  queen  Mary. 

Good  Samaritan.  One  who  suc- 
cours the  distressed.  The  character  is 
from  our  Lord’s  Parable  of  ^^The  Man  who 
fell  among  Thieves  ” (St.  Lukex.  30-37). 

Good  Time.  There  is  a good  time 
coming.”  This  has  been  for  a long,  long 
time  a familiar  saying  in  Scotland,  and 
is  introduced  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  his 
‘ ^ Eob  Eoy.”  Charles  Mackay  has  written 
a song  so  called,  set  to  music  by  Henry 
Eussell.  I 

Good  Wine  needs  no  Bush.  It 
was  customary  to  hang  out  ivy,  boughs 
of  trees,  flowers,  &c.,  at  private  houses 
to  notify  to  travellers  that  good  cheer  ” 
might  be  had  within.  This  is  still  usual 
in  Gloucester,  at  Barton  Fair  time,  and 
at  the  three  mops.” 

Some  ale-houses  upon  the  road  I saw, 

And  some  with  bushes  showing  they  wune  did  draw. 

“ Poor  Robin’s  Perambulations,"  1 378. 


GOODS. 


GOOSE. 


355 


Goods,  i carr;^  all  my  goods  loith  me 
(Om'nia  meame'cum  porto),  said  by  Bias, 
one  of  the  seven  sages,  when  Prie'ne  was 
besieged  and  the  inhabitants  were  pre- 
paring for  flight. 

Goodfellow  {Rohin).  Sometimes 
called  Puck,  son  of  Oberon,  a domestic 
spirit,  the  constant  attendant  on  the 
English  fairy-court ; full  of  tricks  and 
fond  of  practical  jokes. 

That  shrewd  and  knavish  sprite 
Called  Robin  Goodfellow. 

Shakespeare^  '^Midsummer  NigM's  Dream,” iL  1. 

Goodluck’s  Close  (Norfolk).  A 
corruption  of  Guthlac’s  Close,  so  called 
from  a chapel  founded  by  Allen,  son  of 
Godfrey  de  Swaffham,  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  II.,  and  dedicated  to  St.  Guthlac. 

Goodman.  A husband  or  master  is 
the  Saxon  guma  or  goma  (a  man),  which 
in  the  inflected  cases  becomes  guman  or 
goman.  In  St.  Matt.  xxiv.  43,  If  the 
goodman  of  the  house  had  known  in  what 
watch  the  thief  would  come,  he  would 
have  watched.”  Gomman  and  Gommer, 
for  the  master  and  mistress  of  a house, 
are  by  no  means  uncommon. 

There’s  nae  luck  about  the  house 
When  our  gudeman’s  awa. 

Mickle. 

Goodman  of  Ballengeicli.  The 
assumed  name  of  James  V.  of  Scotland, 
when  he  made  his  disguised  visits  through 
the  country  districts  around  Edinburgh 
and  Stirling,  after  the  fashion  of  Haroun- 
al-Easchid,  Louis  XL,  &c. 

Goodman  or  St.  Gutman.  Patron 
saint  of  tailors,  being  himself  of  the 
same  craft. 

Goodwin  Sands  consisted  at  one 
time  of  about  4,000  acres  of  low  land 
fenced  from  the  sea  by  a wall,  belonging 
to  earl  Goodwin  or  Godwin.  William 
the  Conqueror  bestowed  them  on  the 
abbey  of  St.  Augustine,  at  Canterbury, 
and  the  abbot  allowed  the  sea-wall  to 
fall  into  a dilapidated  state,  so  that  the 
sea  broke  through  in  1100  and  inundated 
the  whole. 

Goodwood  Races.  So  called  from 
the  park  in  which  they  are  held.  They 
begin  the  last  Tuesday  of  July,  and  last 
four  days ; but  the  principal  one  is 
Thursday,  called  the  Cup  Day.”  These 
races,  being  held  in  a private  park,  are 
very  select,  and  admirably  conducted. 
Goodwood  Park,  the  property  of  the  duke 


of  Eichmond,  was  purchased  by  Charles, 
the  first  duke,  of  the  Compton  family, 
then  resident  in  East  Lavant,  a village 
two  miles  north  of  Chichester. 

Goody  is  good-wife,  Chaucer’s  good- 
lefe.  As  goody  Dobson.  Good-woman 
means  the  mistress  of  the  house,  con- 
tracted sometimes  into  gommer,  as  good- 
man  is  into  gomman.  (Nee  Goodman.  ) 

Goody  Blake.  A poor  old  woman 
who  was  detected  by  Harry  Gill,  the 
farmer,  picking  up  sticks  for  a wee-bit 
fire  to  warm  herself  by.  The  farmer 
compelled  her  to  leave  them  on  the  field, 
and  Goody  Blake  invoked  on  him  the 
curse  that  he  might  never  more  be  warm. 
From  that  moment  neither  blazing  fire 
nor  accumulated  clothing  ever  made 
Harry  Gill  warm  again.  Do  what  he 
would,  his  teeth  went  chatter,  chatter 
still.”—  Wordsworth,  Goody  Blahe  and 
Harry  Gill.'” 

Goody  Two-Shoes.  This  tale  first 
appeared  in  1765,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  from  the  pen  of  Oliver  Goldsmith. 
Goody  is  a term  of  endearment,  as  we 
say  to  a child  ^‘my  little  old  woman.” 

Goose.  Chaldee,  auz ; Hebrew, 
auza;  by  prefixing  g we  get  the  Welsh 
gwyz;  Danish,  gaas ; Saxon,  Eus- 
sian,  gus  j &c. 

Goose.  A tailor’s  smoothing-iron,  so 
called  because  its  handle  resembles  the 
neck  of  a goose. 

Come  in,  taylor  ; here  you  may  roast  your  goose. 

Shakespeare,  '^Macbeth,"  ii.  3. 

Ferrara  geese.  Celebrated  for  the 
magnitude  of  their  livers.  The  French 
fdte  de  foie  gras,  for  which  Strasbourg  is 
so  noted,  is  not  a French  invention,  but 
a mere  imitation  of  a well-known  dish  of 
classic  times. 

I wish,  gentlemen,  it  was  one  of  the  geese  of  Fer- 
rara, so  much  celebrated  among  the  ancients  for  the 
uiagnitude  of  their  livers,  one  of  which  is  s lid  to  have 
weighed  upwards  of  t'vo  pounds  With  this  food, 
exquisite  as  it  was,  did  Heliogab'alus  regale  his 
hounds.  — Smollett,  “ Peregrine  Pickle.” 

A Winchester  goose.  An  aphroditial 
swelling,  so  called  because  the  bishop  of 
Winchester  had  the  licensing  of  the 
stews,  &c.,  in  Southwark. 

Wayze  Goose.  {See  Wayze.) 

He  killed  the  goose  to  get  the  eggs.  He 
grasped  at  what  was  more  than  his  due, 
and  lost  an  excellent  customer.  The 
Greek  fable  says  a countryman  had  a 
goose  that  laid  golden  eggs ; thinking  to 

X 2 


356  GOOSE  AT  MICHAELMAS, 


GORDIAN  KNOT. 


make  himself  rich,  he  killed  the  goose  to 
get  the  whole  stock  of  eggs,  but  lost 
everything. 

He  steals  a goose,  and  gives  the  giblets  in 
alms.  He  amasses  wealth  by  over-reach- 
ing, and  salves  his  conscience  by  giving 
small  sums  in  charity. 

Til  cooh  yonr  goose  for  you.  I’ll  pay 
you  out.  Eric,  king  of  Sweden,  coming 
to  a certain  town  with  very  few  soldiei  s, 
the  enemy,  in  mockery,  hung  out  a goose 
for  him  to  shoot,  but  finding  it  was  no 
laughing  matter,  sent  heralds  to  ask  him 
what  he  wanted.  To  cook  your  goose 
for  you,”  he  facetiously  replied. 

The  older  the  goose  the  harder  to  phich. 
Old  men  are  unwilling  to  part  with  their 
m oney.  The  reference  is  to  the  custom  of 
plucking  live  geese  for  the  sake  of  their 
quills.  Steel  pens  have  put  an  end  to 
this  barbarous  custom. 

To  get  the  goose.  To  get  hissed  on  the 
stage.  ( Theatrical. ) 

What  is  the  Latin  for  goose  I (Answer) 
Trandy.  The  pun  is  on  the  word  answer. 
Anser  is  the  Latin  for  goose,  which  brandy 
follows  as  surely  and  quickly  as  an  answer 
follows  a question. 

What  a goose  you  are.  In  the  Egyptian 
hieroglyphics  the  emblem  of  a vain  silly 
fellow  is  a goose. 

Goose  at  Michaelmas.  One  legend 
says  that  St.  Martin  was  tormented  by  a 
goose  which  he  killed  and  ate.  As  he 
died  from  the  repast,  good  Christians 
have  ever  since  sacrificed  the  goose  on 
the  day  of  the  saint. 

The  popular  tradition  is  that  queen 
Elizabeth,  on  her  way  to  Tilbury  Fort 
(Sept.  29,  1588),  dined  at  the  ancient  seat 
of  Sir  Neville  Umfreyville,  where,  among 
other  things,  two  fine  geese  were  provided 
for  dinner.  The  queen,  having  eaten 
heartily,  calledfor  a bumperof  Burgundy, 
and  gave  as  a toast,  ^‘Destruction  to  the 
Spanish  armada !”  Scarcely  had  she 
spoken  when  a messenger  announced  the 
destruction  of  the  fleet  by  a storm.  The 
queen  demanded  a second  bumper,  and 
said,  “ Henceforth  shall  a goose  com- 
memorate this  great  victory.”  This  tale 
is  marred  by  the  awkward  circumstance 
that  the  thanksgiving  sermon  for  the 
victory  was  preached  at  St.  Paul’s  on  the 
20th  August,  and  the  fleet  was  dispersed 
by  the  winds  in  July.  Gascoigne,  who 
died  1577,  refers  to  the  custom  of  goose- 
eating at  Michaelmas  as  common. 


At  Christmas  a capon,  at  Michaelmas  a goose, 

And  somewhat  else  at  Wew  Yere’s  tide,  for  feare  the 
lease  flies  loose. 

Goose  and  Gridiron.  A public- 
house  sign,  properly  a music-house,  like 
Evans’s.  When  it  ceased  to  be  a music- 
house,  some  facetious  landlord,  to  turn 
its  former  use  into  contempt,  chose  for 
his  sign  a “ goose  stroking  the  bars  of  a 
gridiron  with  its  foot,”  and  wrote  below, 
“The  Swan  and  Harp.” — The  Tatler, 
with  notes,  vol.  iv.,  p.  206. 

Gooseberry  is  gorse-berry  (rough 
berry ; Saxon,  qorst.  Cos  lettuce  is  also 
“gorse  lettuce.”)  (See  Beak’s  Garlic.) 

Gooseberry  Fool.  A corruption 
of  gooseberry  foul,  i.e.,  foule,  milled, 
mashed,  pressed.  The  French  foule 
des  pommes  ; foule  des  raisins  ; foult  des 
groseilles,  our  “gooseberry  fool.” 

Gooseberry  Picker.  One  who  has 
all  the  toil  and  trouble  of  picking  a trou- 
blesome fruit  for  the  delectation  of  others. 

Goose  Dubbs,  of  Glasgow.  A sort 
of  Seven  Dials,  or  Scottish  Alsa'tia.  The 
Scotch  use  dubbs  for  a filthy  puddle. 
(Welsh,  dwb,  mortar ; Irish,  doib,  plaster.) 

The  Guse-dubs  o’  Glasgow : O sirs,  what  a huddle 
o’  houses — the  green  middens  o’ baith  liquid  and 
solid  matter,  soomin’  wi’  dead  cats  and  auld  shoon.— 
**  Nodes  Ambrosiance." 

Goose  Gibbie.  A half-witted  lad, 
who  first  “kept  the  turkeys,  and  was 
afterwards  advanced  to  the  more  impor- 
tant office  of  minding  the  cows.” — Sir 
Walter  Scott,  “ Old  Mortality 

He  played  up  old  gooseberry  with  me. 
He  took  great  liberties  with  my  property, 
and  greatly  abused  it ; in  fact,  he  made 
gooseberry  fool  of  it.  (See  Gooseberry 
Fool.) 

To  do  gooseberry  is  to  go  with  two  lovers 
for  appearance-sake.  The  person  “who 
plays  propriety  ” is  expected  to  hear,  see, 
and  say  nothing.  (See  Gooseberry 
Picker.) 

Gopy'a.  Nymphs  and  muses  of 
Indian  mythology. 

Gordian  Knot.  A great  difficulty. 
Gordius,  a peasant,  being  chosen  king  of 
Phrygia,  dedicated  his  waggon  to  Jupiter, 
and  fastened  the  yoke  to  a beam  with  a rope 
of  bark  so  ingeniously  that  no  one  could 
untie  it.  Alexander  was  told  that  “who- 
ever undid  the  knot  would  reign  over  the 
whole  East.”  “ Well,  then,”  said  the 
conqueror,  “it  is  thus  I perform  the 
task,”  and,  so  saying,  he  cut  the  knot  in 
twain  with  his  sword. 


GORDON  RIOTS. 


GOTHAM. 


357 


To  cut  the  Tcnot  is  to  evade  a difficulty, 
or  get  out  of  it  in  a summary  manner. 

Such  praise  the  Macedonian  got 

j’or  having  rudely  cut  the  Gordian  Knot. 

Waller^  “ To  the  King” 

Turn  him  to  any  cause  of  policy. 

The  Gordian  Knot  of  it  he  will  unloose, 
JFamiliar  as  his  garter. 

Shakespeare,  “ Henry  F.,”  i.  1. 

Gordon  Riots.  Riots  in  1780, 
headed  by  lord  George  Gordon,  to  com- 
pel the  House  of  Commons  to  repeal  the 
bill  passed  in  1778  for  the  relief  of 
Roman  Catholics.  Gordon  was  of  un- 
sound mind,  and  died  in  1793,  a proselyte 
to  Judaism.  Dickens  has  introduced 
this  subject  in  his  ^‘Rarnaby  Rudge.” 


Gospellers.  Followers  of  Wicliffe, 
called  the  Gospel  Doctor;”  any  one 
who  believes  that  the  New  Testament 
has  in  part,  at  least,  superseded  the 
old ; the  priest  who  reads  the  Gospel  at 
the  altar. 

Hot  Gospellers.  A nickname  applied  to 
the  Puritans  after  the  Restoration. 

Gossip.  A sponsor  at  baptism,  a 
corruption  of  gossib,  which  is  God-sib,  a 
kinsman  in  the  lord.  Sib,gesib,^£UiiOii 
kinsman,  whence  sibman,  he  is  our  sib, 
still  used.) 

’Tis  not  a maid,  for  she  hath  had  gossips  {spon- 
sors for  her  child) ; yet  ’tis  a maid,  for  she  is  her 
master’s  servant,  and  serves  for  wages. 

Shakespeare,  “ Two  Gentlemen  of  VeronaP  iii.  ]. 


Gor'gibus.  An  honest,  simple- 
minded  burgess,  brought  into  all  sorts  of 
troubles  by  the  love  of  finery  and  the 
gingerbread  gentility  of  his  niece  and 
daughter. — Moliere,  Precieuses  Ridi- 
cules P 


Gorgon.  Anything  unusually  hide- 
ous. There  were  three  Gorgon s,  with 
serpents  on  their  heads  instead  of  hair ; 
Medu'sa  was  the  chief  of  the  three,  and 
the  only  one  that  was  mortal ; but  so 
hideous  was  her  face,  that  whoever  set 
eyes  on  it  was  instantly  turned  into 
stone.  She  was  slain  by  Perseus,  and 
her  head  placed  on  the  shield  of  Minerva. 

Lest  Gorgon  rising  from  the  infernal  lakes 
With  horrors  armed,  and  curls  of  hissing  snakes, 
Should  fix  me,  stiffened  at  the  monstrous  sight, 

A stony  image  in  eternal  night. 

“ Odyssey”  xi. 


Approach  the  chamber,  and  destroy  your  sight 
With  a new  gorgon. 

Shakespeare,  “Macbeth ii.  3. 


Gor'ham  Controversy.  This 
arose  out  of  the  refusal  of  the  bishop  of 
Exeter  to  institute  the  Rev.  Cornelius 
Gorham  to  the  vicarage  of  Brampford 
Speke,  because  he  held  unsound  views 
on  the  doctrine  of  baptism.”  Mr  Gor- 
ham maintained  that  spiritual  regene- 
ration is  not  conferred  on  children  by 
baptism.”  After  two  years’  controversy, 
the  Privy  Council  decided  in  favour  of 
Mr.  Gorham  (1851). 

Gorlois,  duke  of  Cornwall,  husband 
of  Igema,  who  was  the  mother  of  king 
Arthur  by  an  adulterous  connection  with 
Uther,  pendragon  of  the  Britons. 


Goslings.  The  catkins  of  nut-trees, 
pines,  &c.  The  word  is  gorse-lings,  little 
rough  things. 


Gossip.  A father  confessor  of  a good, 
easy,  jovial  frame. 

Here,  Andrew,  carry  thig  to  my  gossip,  jolly 
father  Boniface,  the  monk  of  St.  Martin’s. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Quentin  Durwardf* 

Gossyp'ia.  The  cotton-plant  per- 
sonified. 

The  nymph  Gossypia  heads  the  velvet  sod, 

And  wai  ms  with  rosy  smiles  the  watery  god. 

Darwin,  “Loves  of  the  Plants,”  canto  ii. 

Got  eh.  A large  stone  jug  with  a 
handle  (Norfolk).  Petch  the  gotch,  mor — 
i.e.,  fetch  the  great  water-jug,  lassie. 
(Wiltsh.,  goche ; Armenian,  gouzoucq ; 
Italian,  gozzo,  the  throat ; whence  our 
guzzle.  Anglo-Saxou,  geotan,  to  pour ; 
whence  goute,  a drop  ; gush,  glitter.) 

Goth.  Icelandic,  got  (a  horseman); 
whence  Woden— i.e.,  Gothen. 

Without  doubt,  got,  a horseman,  good, 
and  the  sacred  name  of  God  are  all  to  be 
traced  to  got  or  guth,  the  Teutonic  idea 
of  God  being  that  of  a mighty  warrior, 
ihe  Romans  called  valour  virtue,  and  the 
French  call  a ‘^good  fellow”  un  brave 
homme. 

Last  of  the  Goths.  Roderick,  the  thirty- 
fourth  of  the  Visigothic  line  of  kings 
(414-711).  {See  Roderick.) 

Gotham.  Wise  men  of  Gotham — 
fools.  Many  tales  of  folly  have  been 
fathered  on  the  Gothamites,  one  of  which 
is  their  joining  hands  round  a thorn- 
bush  to  shut  in  a cuckoo.  The  ^^bush” 
is  still  shewn  to  visitors. 

It  is  said  that  king  John  intended  to 
make  a progress  through  this  town  with 
the  view  of  purchasing  a castle  and 
grounds.  The  townsmen  had  no  desire 
to  be  saddled  with  this  expense,  and 
therefore  when  the  royal  messengers 


■58  GOTHIC  ARCHITECTURE. 


GRACE  CUP. 


appeared,  wherever  they  went  they  saw 
the  people  occupied  in  some  idiotic 
pursuit.  The  king  being  told  of  it, 
abandoned  his  intention,  and  the  ‘^wise 
men  ” of  the  village  cunningly  remarked  : 
'^We  ween  there  are  more  fools  pass 
through  Gotham  than  remain  in  it.’* 
Andrew  Boyde,  a native  of  Gotham, 
wrote  The  Merrie  Tales  of  the  Wise 
Men  of  Gotham,”  founded  on  a commis- 
sion signed  by  Henry  VIII.  to  the  magi- 
strates of  that  town  to  prevent  poaching. 

N.B.  All  nations  have  fixed  upon  some 
locality  as  their  limbus  of  fools  ; thus  we 
have  Phrygia  as  the  fools’  home  of  Asia 
Minor,  Ab'dera  of  the  Thracians,  Boeo'- 
tia  of  the  Greeks,  Swabia  of  the  modern 
Germans,  and  so  on. 

Gothic  Architecture  has  nothing 
to  do  with  the  Goths,  but  is  a term  of 
contempt  bestowed  by  the  architects  of 
the  Renaissance  period  on  mediaeval 
architecture,  which  they  termed  Gothic 
or  clumsy,  fit  for  barbarians. 

Gouk  or  Gowh.  In  the  Teutonic  the 
word  gauch  means  fool ; whence  the 
Saxon  ^eac,  a cuckoo,  and  the  Scotch  goJce 
or  gouk. 

Hunting  the  Goiok  [fool]  is  making  one 
an  April  fool.  April.) 

Goun'ja  Ticquo'a.  The  god  of 
gods  amongst  the  Hottentots. 

Gourd.  Used  in  the  middle  ages  for 
corks. — “ Orlando  Furioso”  x.  106. 

Gourds.  Dice  with  a secret  cavity. 
Those  loaded  with  lead  were  called 
Fullams  {q.v.) 

Gourds  and  fullam  holds. 

And  high  and  low  beguile  the  rich  and  poor. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,*'  i.  3. 

Gourmand  and  Gourmet 
(French).  The  gourmand  is  one  whose 
chief  pleasure  is  eating ; but  a gourmet 
is  a connoisseur  or  taster  of  wines. 
(Welsh,  gor,  excess;  gorm,  a fulness; 
gormodf  too  much;  gormant ; &c.  {See 
Apicius.) 

Gourre.  A debauched  woman.  The 
citizens  of  Paris  bestowed  the  name  on 
Isabella  of  Bavaria. 

We  have  here.. a man.. who  to  his  second  wife 
espoused  La  grande  G urre. 

Rahdais,  *'Pantag'ruel,"  iii.  21. 

Goven.  St.  Goven’s  Bell.  (^See 
Inchcape.) 


Govern  means  to  handle  the  rudder 
of  a ship,  or  steer  a vessel.  We  still 
speak  of  being  “ at  the  helm  of  affairs,” 
&c.  (Lsitinj  guhern* ; Greek,  kuhern’.) 

Gower,  called  by  Chaucer  ^^The 
moral  Gower.” 

O moral  Gower,  this  book  I direct 
To  thee,  and  to  the  philosophical  Strood, 

To  vouchsauf  there  need  is  to  correct 
Of  your  benignities  and  zeales  good. 

Chaucer. 

Go  wk-thr  apple  {Maister).  A pulpit - 
drumming  chosen  vessel,”  in  Scott’s 

Waverley.” 

Gowlee  (Indian).  A '^cow-herd.” 
One  of  the  Hindu  castes  is  so  called. 

Gown.  Gown  and  town  roto.  A 
skrimmage  between  the  students  of 
different  colleges,  on  one  side,  and  the 
townsmen,  on  the  other.  These  feuds  go 
back  to  the  reign  of  king  John,  when 
3,000  students  left  Oxford  for  Reading, 
owing  to  a quarrel  with  the  men  of  the 
town.  What  little  now  remains  of  this 

ancient  tenure  ” is  confined,  as  far  as 
the  town  is  concerned,  to  the  bargees  and 
their  tails.” 

Gowns  m an.  A student  at  one  of  the 
universities ; so  called  because  he  wears 
an  academical  gown. 

Graal.  (>SeeGREAL.) 

Grab.  To  clutch  or  seize.  I grabbed 
it;  he  grabbed  him,  i.e.,  the  bailiff  caught 
him.  (Swedish,  grabba,  to  grasp;  Danish, 
griber  ; owe  grip,  grippe,  grope,  grap'ple,  &c.) 

Grace.  The  sister  Graces.  The  Ro- 
mans said  there  were  three  sister  Graces, 
bosom  friends  of  the  Muses.  They  are 
represented  as  embracing  each  other, 
to  show  that  where  one  is  the  other  is 
welcome. 

Grace’s  Card  or  Grace-card.  The 
six  of  hearts  is  so  called  in  Kilkenny.  At 
the  Revolution  in  1688,  one  of  the  family 
of  Grace,  of  Courtstown,  in  Ireland, 
equipped  at  his  own  expense  a regiment 
of  foot  and  troop  of  horse,  in  the  service 
of  king  James.  William  of  Orange  pro- 
mised him  high  honours  if  he  would  join 
the  new  party,  but  the  indignant  baron 
wrote  on  a card,  ^^Tell  your  master  I 
despise  his  offer.”  The  card  was  the 
six  of  hearts,  and  hence  the  name. 

Grace  Cup  or  Loving  Cup.  The 
large  tankard  passed  round  the  table 


GBACE  DABLING. 


GBAMMABIANS. 


359 


after  grace.  It  is  still  seen  at  the  Lord 
Mayor’s  feasts,  at  college,  and  occasion- 
ally in  private  banquets. 

Grace  Darling,  daughter  of  William 
Darling,  lighthouse-keeper  on  Longstone, 
one  of  the  Fame  Islands.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  7th  Sept.,  1838,  Grace  and  her 
father  saved  nine  of  the  crew  of  the 
Forfarshire  steamer,  wrecked  among  the 
Fame  Isles,  opposite  Bamborough  Castle. 
(1815-1842.) 

Grace  Days  or  Da ys  of  Grace.  The 
three  days  over  and  above  the  time  stated 
in  a commercial  bill.  Thus,  if  a bill  is 
drawn  on  the  20th  June,  and  is  payable 
in  one  month,  it  ought  to  be  due  on  the 
20th  of  July,  but  three  days  of  grace  are 
to  be  added,  bringing  the  date  to  the 
23rd. 

Gracecliurcli  (London)  is  Gracs- 
church,  or  Grass- church,  the  church  built 
on  the  site  of  the  old  grass-market.  Grass 
at  one  time  included  all  sorts  of  herbs. 

Graceless  Florin.  The  first  issue 
of  the  English  florins,  so  called  because 
F.D.  {fidei  defensor)  was  omitted.  ' The 
omission  was  not  from  inadvertency,  but 
because  there  was  not  room  for  the  letters 
in  the  circumference. 

Gracio'sa.  A princess  beloved  by 
Percinet,  who  thwarts  the  malicious 
schemes  of  Grognon,  her  step-mother. — 
A fai'ty  tale. 

Gracio'so.  A Spanish  droll  or 
licensed  fool  in  pantomime.  With  his 
coxcomb  cap  and  truncheon  terminated 
in  a fool’s-head,  he  mingles  with  ever}^ 
event,  ever  and  anon  directing  his  gibes 
to  the  audience,  like  the  clowns  of  our 
own  pantomimes. 

Gradas'so.  A bully  ; so  called  from 
Gradasso,  king  of  Serica'na,  called  by 
Ariosto  the  bravest  of  the  Pagan 
knights.”  He  went  against  Charlemagne 
with  100,000  vassals  in  his  train,  all  dis- 
crowned kings,”  who  never  addressed 
him  but  on  their  knees.  — Orlando 
Furioso”  and  Orlando  Innamorato.” 

Gradely.  Orderly,  regularly:  as. 
Behave  yourself  gradely,  A gradely  fine 
day, 

Grad'grind  (^Thomas).  A man  who 
measures  everything  with  rule  and  com- 
pass, allows  nothing  for  the  weakness  of 
human  nature,  and  deals  with  men  and 
women  as  a mathematician  with  his 


figures.  He  shows  that  summum  jus  is 
su'prema  injur  a. — Dickens , Hard  Times  f 

The  Gradgrinds  undervalue  and  disparage  it.— 
“ (Jhurch  Review." 

Graham.  A charlatan  who  gave 
indecent  and  blasphemous  addresses  in 
the  Great  Apollo  Boom,”  Adelphi.  He 
some  times  made  mesmerism  a medium 
of  pandering  to  the  prurient  taste  of  his 
audience. 

Grahame’s  Dike.  The  Boman  wall 
between  the  friths  of  the  Clyde  and  Forth, 
so  called  from  the  first  person  who  leaped 
over  it  after  the  Bomans  left  Britain. 

This  wall  defended  the  Britons  for  a time,  but  the 
Scots  and  Piets  assembled  themselves  in  great  num- 
bers, and  climbed  over  it. . ..  A man  named  Grahame 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  soldier  who  got  over, 
and  the  common  people  still  call  the  remains  of  the 
wall  “ Grahame’s  Dike.”— 6’ir  Walter  Scott,  “ Tales 
of  a Grandfather." 

Grain.  A knave  ingrain.  A knave, 
though  a rich  man,  or  magnate.  Grain 
means  scarlet  (Latin,  gramtm,  the  coccus, 
or  scarlet  dye). 

A military  vest  of  purple  flowed 

Livelier  than  Melibe'an  (Thessalian),  or  the  grain 

Of  Sarra  [Tyre)  worn  by  kings  and  heroes  old 

In  time  of  truce. 

Paradise  Lost,"  xi. 

Rogue  in  grain.  A punning  application 
of  the  above  phrase  to  millers. 

To  go  against  the  grain.  Against  one’s 
inclination.  The  allusion  is  to  wood, 
which  cannot  be  easily  planed  the  wrong 
way  of  the  grain. 

Gramercy.  Thank  you  much  (the 
French,  grand  merci).  Thus  Shakespeare, 
^^Be  it  so,  Titus,  and  gramercy  too.” 
0^ Titus  Andronicusf  i.  2).  Again: 
^^Gramercies,  Tranio,  well  dost  thou  ad- 
vise.” Taming  of  the  Shrew fi  i.  1.) 
When  Gobbo  says  to  Bassanio,  God  bless 
your  worship  !”  he  replies,  ‘^Gramercy. 
Wouldst  thou  aught  with  me?” — ^‘Mer- 
chant of  Venicef  ii.  2. 

Grammar.  Zenod'otos  invented  the 
terms  singular,  plural,  and  dual. 

The  scholars  of  Alexandria  and  of  the 
rival  academy  of  Per'gamos  were  the  first 
to  distinguish  language  into  parts  of 
speech,  and  to  give  technical  terms  to 
the  various  functions  of  words. 

The  first  Greek  Grammar  was  by 
Dionysios  Thrax,  and  it  is  still  extant. 
He  was  a pupil  of  Aristarchos. 

Julius  Caesar  was  the  inventor  of  the 
term  ablative  case. 

Grammarians.  Prince  of  Gram- 
marians. Apollo'nios  of  Alexandria, 


360 


GRAMMONT. 


GRANGOUSIER. 


called  by  Priscian  Grammatico'rmyi  'prin- 
ceps,  (icent.  B.c.) 

Grammont.  The  count  de  Gram- 
mont’s  short  memory.  When  the  count 
left  England  he  was  followed  by  the 
brothers  of  la  belle  Hamilton,  who,  with 
drawn  swords,  asked  him  if  he  had  not 
forgotten  something.  True,  true,” 
said  the  count ; I promised  to  marry 
your  sister,”  and  instantly  went  back  to 
repair  the  lapse  by  making  the  young 
lady  countess  of  Grammont. 

Granary  of  Europe.  So  Sicily 
used  to  be  called. 

Granby.  The  marquis  of  Granby.  A 
public-house  sign  in  honour  of  John 
Manners,  marquis  of  Granby,  a popular 
English  general.  (1721-1770.) 

The  Times  says  the  old  marquis  owes 
his  sign-board  notoriety  partly  to  his 
personal  bravery  and  partly  to  the  bald- 
ness of  his  head.  He  still  presides  over 
eighteen  public-houses  in  London  alone.” 

Old  Weller,  in  Pickwick,”  married 
the  hostess  of  the  Marquis  of  Granby” 
at  Dorking. 

Grand  {French). 

Le  Grand  Corneille.  Corneille,  the 
French  dramatist.  (1606-1684.) 

Le  Grand  Dauph'in.  Louis,  son  of 
Louis  XIV.  (1661-1711.) 

La  Grande  Mademoiselle.  The  duchesse 
de  Montpensier,  daughter  of  Gaston,  due 
d'Orleans,  and  cousin  of  Louis  XIV. 

Le  Grand  Monarque.  Louis  XIV., 
also  called  The  Baboon.”  (1638,  1643- 
1715.) 

Le  Grand  Pan.  Voltaire.  (1696-1778.) 

Monsieur  le  Grand.  The  Grand  Equerry 
of  France  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  &c. 

Grand  Alliance.  Signed  May  12, 
1689,  between  England,  Germany,  and 
the  States  General,  subsequently  also  by 
Spain  and  Savoy,  to  prevent  the  union  of 
France  and  Spain. 

Grand  Lama.  The  object  of  wor- 
ship in  Thibet  and  Mongolia.  The  word 
lama  in  the  Tangutanese  dialect  means 

mother  of  souls.”  It  is  the  represen- 
tative of  the  Shigemooni,  the  highest  god. 

Grande  Jument.  Meant  for  Diane 
de  Poitiers. — Rabelais^  Gargantua  and 
Pantagruel.^* 

Grandison  {Sir  Charles).  The  union 
of  a Christian  and  a gentleman.  Richard- 
son’s novel  so  called.  Sir  Walter  Scott 


calls  Sir  Charles  ^^the  faultless  monster 
that  the  world  ne’er  saw.”  Robert  Nel- 
son, reputed  author  of  the  Whole  Duty 
of  Man,”  was  the  prototype. 
Grandison  Cromwell  Lafayette. 
Grandison  Cromwell  is  the  witty  nick- 
name given  by  Mirabeau  to  Lafayette, 
meaning  thereby  that  he  had  all  the 
ambition  of  a Cromwell  in  his  heart,  but 
wanted  to  appear  before  men  as  a Sir 
Charles  Grandison. 

Grandmother.  My  Grandmother's 
Review,  the  ^ ^ British  Review.  ” Lord  Byron 
said,  in  a sort  of  jest,  ^‘1  bribed  My 
Grandmother's  Revieiv.  The  editor  of  the 

British”  called  him  to  account,  and 
this  gave  the  poet  a fine  opportunity  of 
pointing  the  battery  of  his  satire  against 
the  periodical; 

Grane.  To  strangle,  throttle  (Anglo- 
Saxon,  gryn). 

Grane.  Siegfried’s  horse,  whose  swift- 
ness exceeded  that  of  the  winds. 

Grange.  Properly  the  granum 
(granery)  or  farm  of  a monastery,  where 
the  corn  was  kept  in  store.  In  Lincoln- 
shire and  other  northern  counties  any 
lone  farm  is  so  called.  These  granges” 
were  generally  moated. 

Mariana,  of  the  Moated  Grange,”  is 
the  title  of  a poem  by  Tennyson,  sug- 
gested by  the  character  of  Mariana  in 
Shakespeare’s  Measure  for  Measure.” 

Grangousier.  King  of  Uto'pia,  who 
married  in  ^Hhe  vigour  of  his  old  age” 
Gargamelle,  daughter  of  the  king  of  the 
Parpaillons,  and  became  the  father  of 
Gargantua,  the  giant.  He  is  described 
as  a man  in  his  dotage,  whose  delight 
was  to  draw  scratches  on  the  hearth  with 
a burnt  stick  while  watching  the  broiling 
of  his  chesnuts.  When  told  of  the  inva- 
sion of  Picrochole,  king  of  Lern^,  he 
exclaimed,  Alas ! alas ! do  I dream  ? can 
it  be  true  ?”  and  began  calling  on  all  the 
saints  of  the  calendar.  He  then  sent  to 
expostulate  with  Picrochole,  and  seeing 
this  would  not  do,  tried  what  bribes  by 
way  of  reparation  would  effect.  In  the 
meantime  he  sent  to  Paris  for  his  son, 
who  soon  came  to  his  rescue,  utterly 
defeated  Picrochole,  and  put  his  army  to 
full  rout.  Some  say  he  is  meant  for  Louis 
XII.,  but  this  is  most  improbable,  not 
only  because  there  is  very  little  resem- 
blance between  the'two,  but  because  he 
was  king  of  Utopia,  some  considerable 
distance  from  Paris.  Motteux  thinks  the 


GRANITE  REDOUBT. 


GRAY  CLOAK. 


361 


academy  figure  of  this  old  Priam  was 
John  d’Albret,  king  of  Navarre.  He 
certainly  was  no  true  Catholic,  for  he 
says  in  chap.  45  they  called  him  a heretic 
for  declaiming  against  the  saints. — Rabe- 
lais, Gargantua  and  Pantagruel” 

Granite  Redoubt.  The  grenadiers 
of  the  Consular  Guard  were  so  called  at 
the  battle  of  Marengo  in  1800,  because 
when  the  French  had  given  way,  they 
formed  into  a square,  stood  like  flints 
against  the  Austrians,  and  stopped  all 
further  advance. 

Granite  State.  New  Hampshire  is 
so  called  because  the  mountain  parts  are 
chiefly  granite. 

Grannus.  The  Celtic  Apollo. 

Grantorto.  A giant  who  withheld 
the  inheritance  of  Ire'na  {Ireland).  He 
is  meant  for  the  genius  of  the  Irish  re- 
bellion of  1580,  slain  by  Sir  Art'egal. — 
Sl^enser,  Faery  Queen,''  v. 

Grapes.  The  grapes  are  sour.  You 
disparage  it  because  it  is  beyond  your 
reach.  The  allusion  is  to  the  well-known 
fable  of  the  fox,  which  tried  in  vain  to 
get  at  some  grapes,  but  when  he  found 
they  were  beyond  his  reach,  went  away 
saying,  I see  they  are  sour.” 

Grass.  Gone  to  grass.  Dead.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  grass  which  grows  over 
the  dead.  Also,  Gone  to  rusticate,” 
the  allusion  being  to  a horse  which  is 
sent  to  grass  when  unfit  for  work. 

Grass-hopper,  as  the  sign  of  a 
grocer,  is  the  crest  of  Sir  Thomas 
Gresham,  the  merchant  grocer.  The 
Royal  Gresham  Exchange  used  to  be 
profusely  decorated  with  grass-hoppers, 
and  the  brass  one  on  the  eastern  part  of 
the  present  edifice  is  the  one  which 
escaped  the  fires  of  1666  and  1838. 

Grass-market.  At  one  time  the 
place  of  execution  in  Edinburgh. 

“ I like  nane  o’  your  sermons  that  end  in  a psalm 
at  the  Grass-market.”— Walter  Scott,  **  Old  Mor- 
tality,” chap.  XXXV. 

Grassum.  A fine  in  money  paid  by 
a lessee  for  the  renewal  of  his  lease. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  gcersum,  a treasure.) 

Grass-widow  was  anciently  an  un- 
married woman  who  has  had  a child,  but 
now  the  word  is  used  fora  wife  temporarily 
parted  from  her  husband.  The  word 
means  a grace  widow,  a widow  by  cour- 
tesy (French,  grace;  Italian,  grasa  ; &c.) 


A slightly  different  idea  has  been  re- 
cently attached  to  the  term.  During  the 
gold  mania  in  California  a man  would  not 
unfrequently  put  his  wife  and  children 
to  board  with  some  family  while  he  went 
to  the  diggings.  This  he  called  putting 
his  wife  to  grass,”  as  we  put  a horse  to 
grass  when  not  wanted  or  unfit  for  work. 

Gratia'no.  Brother  of  the  Vene- 
tian senator,  Brabantio. — Shakespeare, 

Othello.'* 

Also  a character  in  The  Merchant  of 
Venice,”  who  talks  an  infinite  deal  of 
nothing,  more  than  any  man  in  all 
Venice.”  He  marries  Nerissa,  Portia’s 
maid. 

Grave.  To  carry  away  the  meal  from 
the  grave.  The  Greeks  and  Persians  used 
to  make  feasts  at  certain  seasons  (when 
the  dead  were  supposed  to  return  to 
their  graves),  and  leave  the  fragments 
of  their  banquets  on  the  tombs  (Elee- 
mos'ynam  sepul'cri  pat'ris). 

With  one  foot  in  the  grave.  At  the  very 
verge  of  death.  The  expression  was  used 
by  Julian,  who  said  he  would  ‘'learn 
something  even  if  he  had  one  foot  in  the 
grave.”  The  parallel  Greek  phrase  is 
“With  one  foot  in  the  ferry-boat,”  mean- 
ing Charon’s. 

Grave-diggers  (“Hamlet”).  “If 
the  water  come  to  the  man  . . .”  The 
legal  case  referred  to  by  Shakespeare 
occurred  in  the  fifth  year  of  queen  Eliza- 
beth’s reign,  called  Hales  V.  Petit,  stated 
at  length  in  “Fotes  and  Queries  f vol.  viii. 
p.  123  (first  series). 

Grave  Maurice.  A public-house 
sign.  The  head  of  the  Graaf  Maurice, 
prince  of  Orange,  and  captain -general  of 
the  United  Provinces.  (1567-'1625.) — 
Rotten,  “ Book  of  Signs." 

Grave  Searchers.  Monkir  and 
Nakir,  so  called  by  the  Mahometans. — 
Ockley,  vol.  ii.  (/See  Monkir.) 

Gravel.  Pm  regularly  gravelled.  In 
a quandary,  in  a muddle,  confused  with 
too  many  things  at  once.  (Latin, 
dus,  laden,  burthened.) 

When  you  were  gravelled  for  lack  of  matter.— 
Shakespeare,  “ As  You  Like  It.” 

Gray.  The  authoress  of  Auld  Robin 
Gray  was  lady  Anne  Lindsay,  afterwards 
lady  Barnard.  (1750-1825.) 

Gray  Cloak.  An  alderman  above 
the  chair,  so  called  because  his  proper 


862 


GRAYHAM’S. 


GREAT. 


costume  is  a cloak  furred  witk  gray  amis. 
— Hutton f Neio  View  of  London,'^  intr. 
xxxii. 

Grayham’s.  {See  Geahame’s  Dike.  ) 

Gray  Man’s  Path.  A singular 
fissure  in  the  greenstone  precipice  near 
Ballycastle,  in  Ireland. 

Gray’s  Inn  (London)  was  the  inn  or 
mansion  of  the  lords  Gray. 

Graysteel.  The  sword  of  Kol,  fatal 
to  the  owner.  It  passed  to  several  hands, 
but  always  brought  ill-luck. — Icelandic 
Edda,  Gold  OF  Nibelungen.) 

Greal  (Grail).  The  St.  Greal  was 
the  vessel  from  which  our  Saviour  is  said 
to  have  taken  his  last  supper,  and  which 
was  subsequently  filled  with  the  blood 
that  flowed  from  the  wounds  inflicted  on 
Calvary.  It  was.  fabled  to  have  been 
preserved  by  Joseph  of  Arimathe'a.  The 
quest  of  this  is  the  most  fertile  source  of 
adventures  to  the  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table,  and  Merlin,  when  he  made  the 
table,  left  a place  for  the  Greal. 

The  word  is  immediately  from  the  old 
French  grasal  (the  sacramental  cup),  a 
corruption  of  Sanguis-Realis,  which  was 
contracted  to  San-grasal,  Sangraal,  and 
corrupted  into  St.  Greal.  Menage,  how- 
ever, says,  Grail,  un  vaisseau  de  terre, 
une  terrine  ; ce  mot  vient  de  grais,  parce- 
que  ces  vaisseaux  sent  faits  de  grais 
cuit.” 

Greasy  Sunday.  One  of  the  chief 
days  of  the  Carnival. 

Great  {The). 

(1)  Abbas  I.,  schah  of  Persia.  (1557, 
1685-1628.) 

(2)  Albertus  (Magnus),  the  school- 
man. (1193-1280.) 

(3)  Alfonso  III.,  king  of  Asturias  and 
Leon.  (848,  866-912.) 

(4)  Alfred  of  England.  (849,  871-901.) 

(5)  Alexander  of  Macedon.  (b.c.  356, 
340-323.) 

(6)  St.  Basil,  bishop  of  Csesare'a.  (329- 
379.) 

(7)  Canute,  of  England  and  Denmark. 
(995,  1014-1036.) 

(8)  Casimir  III.,  of  Poland.  (1309, 
1333-1370.) 

(9)  Charles  I.,  emperor  of  Germany, 
called  Charlemagne.  (742,  764-814.) 

(10)  Charles  III.  (or  II.),  duke  of  Lor- 
raine. (1543-1608.1 


(11)  Charles  Emmanuel  I.,  duke  of 
Savoy.  (1562-1630.) 

(12)  Lewis  I.,  of  Hungary.  (1326, 1342- 
1381.) 

(13)  Louis  II.,  prince  of  Conde,  due 
d’Enghien.  (1621-1686.) 

(14)  Constantine  I.,  emperor  of  Rome. 
(272,  306-337.) 

(15)  Francis  Couperin,  the  French 
musical  composer.  (1668-1733.) 

(16)  Archibald  Douglas,  great  earl  of 
Angus,  also  called  Bell-the-Cat.  a.v.  (Died 
1514.) 

(17)  Ferdinand  I.,  of  Castile  and  Leon. 
(*,  1034-1065.) 

(18)  Frederick  William,  elector  of 
Brandenburg,  surnamed  The  Great  Elec^ 
tor.  (1620,1640-1688.) 

(19)  Frederick  II.,  of  Prussia.  (1712, 
1740-1786.) 

(20)  Gregory  I.,  pope.  (544,  590-604.) 

(21)  Henri  IV.,  of  France.  (1553, 1589- 
1610.) 

(22)  Herod  Agrippa  I.,  tetrarch  of 
Abile'ne,  who  beheaded  James  (Acts  xii.). 
(Died  A.D.  44.) 

(23)  Hiao-wen-tee,  the  sovereign  of  the 
Hdn  dynasty  of  China.  He  forbad  the  use 
of  gold  and  silver  vessels  in  the  palace, 
and  appropriated  the  money  which  they 
fetched  to  the  aged  poor.  (B.c.  206,  179- 
157.) 

(24)  John  II.,  of  Portugal.  (1455, 1481- 
1495.) 

(25)  Justinian  I.  (483,  527-565.) 

(26)  Mahomet  II.,  sultan  of  the  Turks. 
(1430,  1451-1481.) 

(27)  Maximilian,  duke  of  Bavaria,  vic- 
tor of  Prague.  (1573-1651.) 

(28)  Cosmo  di’  Medici,  first  grand  duke 
of  Tuscany.  (1519,  1537-1574.) 

(29)  Gonzales  Pedro  de  Mendoza,  great 
cardinal  of  Spain,  statesman  and  scholar. 
(1503-1575.) 

(30)  Nicholas  I.,  pope.  (%  858-867.) 

(31)  Otho  I.,  emperor  of  Germany. 
(912,  936-973.) 

(32)  Pierre  HI.,  of  Aragon.  (1239, 
1276-1285.) 

(33)  James  Sforza,  the  Italian  general. 
(1369-1424.) 

(34)  Sapor  or  Shah-pour,  the  ninth  king 
of  the  Sassan'ides,  q.v.  (240,  307-379.) 

(35)  Sigismund,  king  of  Poland.  (1466, 
1506-1548.) 

(36)  Theo'doric,  king  of  the  Ostrogoths. 
(454,  475-526.) 

(37)  Theodo'sius  I.,  emperor.  (346,378r 
395.) 


GREAT  BULLET-HEAD. 


GREEK. 


(38)  Matteo  Visconti,  lord  of  Milan. 
(1250,  1295-1322.) 

(39)  Vladimir,  grand  duke  of  Russia. 
(*,  973-1014.) 

(40)  Waldemar  I.,  of  Denmark.  (1131, 
1157-1181.) 

Great  Bullet-head.  George  Cadou- 
dal,  leader  of  the  Chouans,  born  at  Brech, 
in  Mor'bihan.  (1769-1804.) 

Great  Captain.  {See  Captain.) 

Great  Cham  of  Literature.  So 
Smollett  calls  Dr.  Johnson.  (1709-1784.) 

Great  Cry  and  Little  Wool. 

Much  ado  about  nothing.  {See  Or?.) 

Great  Dauphin.  (/S^ee  Grand.) 

Great  Elector.  Frederick  William, 
elector  of  Brandenburg.  (1620, 1640-1688.) 

Great  Go.  A cant  term  for  a uni- 
versity examination  for  degrees ; the 

previous  examination  ” being  the 
^'Little  Go.” 

Great  Harry  (The').  A man-of-war 
built  by  Henry  VII.  , the  first  of  any  size 
constructed  in  England.  It  was  burnt  in 
1553.  (See  Henry  Grace  de  Died.) 

Great  Head.  Malcolm  III. , of  Scot- 
land ; also  called  Canmore.,  which  means 
the  same  thing.  (*,  1057-1093.) 

Malcolm  III.,  called  Canmore  orGieafc  Head.— 
Sir  W.  Scottt  “ Tales  of  a Grandfather  ” i.  4. 

Great-heart  (Mr.).  The  guide  of 
Christiana  and  her  family  to  the  Celestial 
City. — Bimyariy  Pilgrim' s Progress." 

Great  Mogul.  The  title  of  the  chief 
of  the  Mogul  empire,  which  came  to  an 
end  in  1806. 

Great  Mother.  The  earth.  When 
Junius  Brutus  and  the  sons  of  Tarquin 
asked  the  Delphic  Oracle  who  was  to 
succeed  Superbus  on  the  throne  of  Rome, 
they  received  for  answer,  He  who  shall 
first  kiss  his  mother.”  While  the  two 
princes  hastened  home  to  fulfil  what  they 
thought  was  meant,  Brutus  tell  to  the 
earth,  amd  exclaimed,  “ Thus  kiss  I thee, 
0 earth,  the  great  mother  of  us  all.” 

Great  Unknown.  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
who  published  the  W averley  Novels. oxiony- 
mously.  (1771-1832.) 

Great  Unwashed.  The  artisan 
class.  A term  first  used  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott. 


Great  Wits  Jump.  Think  alike, 
tally.  Thus  Shakespeare  says,  It  jumps 
with  my  humour.” — Henry  IV."  i.  2. 

Greaves  ( Sir  Launcelot ) . A sort  of 
Don  Quixote,  who,  in  the  reign  of  George 
II.,  wandered  over  England  to  redress 
wrongs,  discourage  moral  evils  not  re- 
cognisable by  law,  degrade  immodesty, 
punish  ingratitude,  and  reform  society. 
His  Sancho  Panza  was  an  old  sea  captain. 
— Smollett^  Adventures  of  Sir  Launcelot 
Greaves." 

Grebenski  Cossacks.  So  called 
from  the  Roman  word  grehen  (a  comb). 
This  title  was  conferred  upon  them  by 
czar  Ivan  I.,  because,  in  his  campaign 
against  the  Tartars  of  the  Caucasus,  they 
scaled  a mountain  fortified  with  sharp 
spurs,  sloping  down  from  its  summit,  and 
projecting  horizontally,  like  a comb. — 
Duncan f Russia." 

Grecian  Coffee-house,  in  Deve- 
reux-court,  the  oldest  in  London,  was 
originally  opened  by  Pasqua,  a (Jreek 
slave,  brought  to  England  in  1652  by 
Daniel  Edwards,  a Turkey  merchant. 
This  Greek  was  the  first  to  teach  the 
method  of  roasting  coffee,  to  introduce 
the  drink  into  the  island,  and  to  call 
himself  a coffee-man.” 

Grecian  Stairs.  A corruption  of 
greesing  stairs.  Greesings  (steps)  still 
survives  in  the  architectural  word  greeSy 
and  in  the  compound  word  de-grees.  There 
is  still  on  the  hill  at  Lincoln  a flight  of 
stone  steps  called  Grecian  stairs." 

(Justice).  In  ‘^A  New  Way 
to  Pay  Old  Debts,”  by  Massinger. 

Greegrees.  Charms. — African  supers 
stition. 

A gree-gree  man.  One  who  sells  charms. 

Greek  (The).  Manuel  Alva'rez  (el 
Griegojy  the  Spanish  sculptor.  (1727- 
1797.) 

Last  of  the  Greeks.  Philopce'men,  of 
Megalop'olis,  whose  great  object  was  to 
infuse  into  the  Achseans  a military  spirit, 
and  establish  their  independence.  (b.C. 
252-183.) 

Un  Grec  (French).  A cheat.  Towards 
the  close  of  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  a 
knight  of  Greek  origin,  named  Apoulos, 
was  caught  in  the  very  act  of  cheating  at 
play,  even  in  the  palace  of  the  grand 
monarque.  He  was  sent  to  the  galleys, 
1 and  the  opprobrious  nation  which  gave 


364 


GREEK  CALENDS. 


GREEN  BAG. 


him  birth  became  from  that  time  a by- 
word for  swindler  and  blackleg. 

To  play  the  Greek  (Latin,  grcecari).  To 
indulge  in  one’s  cups.  The  Greeks  have 
always  been  considered  a luxurious  race, 
fond  of  creature  comforts.  Thus  Cicero, 
in  his  oration  against  Verres,”  says  : 
‘^Discum'bitur ; fit  sermo  inter  eos  et 
invita'tio,  ut  Graeco  more  bibere'tur : 
hospes  horta'tur,  posount  majo'ribus 
poc'ulis;  celebra'tur  omnium  sermo'ne 
laetitiaq  : conviv'ium.”  The  law  in  Greek 
banquets  was  E piilii  e apithi  (Quaff, 
or  be  off!)  (Cut  in,  or  cut  off!).  In 

Troilus  and  Cressida,”  Shakespeare 
makes  Pan'darus,  bantering  Helen  for 
her  love  to  Tro'ilus,  say,  I think  Helen 
loves  him  better  than  Paris  ; ” to  which 
Cressida,  whose  wit  is  to  parry  and  per- 
vert, replies,  Then  she’s  a merry  Greek 
indeed,”  insinuating  that  she  was  a 
Greek,  not  by  birth  alone,  but  by  her 
habits  also. 

When  Greek  joins  Greek  then  is  the  tug 
of  war.  When  two  men  or  armies  of 
undoubted  courage  fight  the  contest  will 
be  very  severe.  The  line  is  a verse  from 
the  drama  of  ^‘Alexander  the  Great,” 
slightly  altered,  and  the  reference  is  to 
the  obstinate  resistance  of  the  Greek 
cities  to  Philip  and  Alexander,  the  Mace- 
donian kings. 

When  Greeks  joined  Greeks  then  was  the  tug  of 
'Wwc.—Nathanid  Lee. 

Greek  Calends.  Never.  To  defer 
anything  to  the  Greek  Calends  is  to  defer 
it  sine  die.  There  were  no  calends  in  the 
Greek  months.  The  Romans  used  to  pay 
rents,  taxes,  bills,  &c.,  on  the  calends, 
and  to  defer  paying  them  to  the  ‘'Greek 
Calends  ” was  virtually  to  repudiate 
them.  {See  St.  Tib’s  Eve,  Lammas,  Two 
Sundays.) 

Will  you  speak  of  your  paltry  prose  doings  in  my 

resence,  whose  great  historical  poem,  in  twenty 

ooks,  with  notes  m proportion,  has  been  postponed 
“ ad  Graecas  Kalendas  ? ”—Sir  W.  Scott,  “ The  Be- 
trothed" (Introduction). 

Greek  Chiircli,  includes  the  church 
within  the  Ottoman  empire  subject  to  the 
patriarch  of  Constantinople,  the  church 
in  the  kingdom  of  Greece,  and  the  Russo- 
Greek  Church.  It  formally  separated 
from  the  Roman  Church  in  1054.  They 
dissent  from  the  doctrine  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  proceeds  from  the  Father  and  the 
Son  {Tilioque)f  reject  the  papal  claim 
to  supremacy,  and  administer  the  eucha- 
rist  in  both  kinds  to  the  laity ; but  agree 


with  the  Romanists  in  their  belief  of  seven 
sacraments,  transubstantiation,  the  ado- 
ration of  the  host,  confession,  absolution, 
penance,  prayers  for  the  dead,  &c. 

Greek  Commentator.  Fernan 
Nunen  de  Guzman,  the  great  promoter 
of  Greek  literature  in  Spain.  (1470-1553.) 

Greek  Cross.  Same  shape  as  St. 
George’s  cross  +. 

Greek  Fire.  A composition  of  nitre, 
sulphur,  and  naphtha.  Tow  steeped  in 
the  mixture  was  hurled  in  a blazing  state 
through  tubes,  cr  tied  to  arrows.  The 
invention  is  ascribed  to  Callini'cos,  of 
Heliop'olis,  a.d.  668. 

A very  similar  projectile  was  used  by 
the  Federals  in  the  great  American  con- 
test, especially  at  the  siege  of  Charleston. 

Greek  Life.  A sound  mind  in  a 
sound  body. 

This  healthy  life,  which  was  the  Greek  life,  came 
from  keeping  the  body  in  good  txme.— Daily  Telegraph. 

Greek  Trust.  No  trust  at  all- 
Plautus  uses  the  phrase  Grcecd  fideraerca!ri 
(to  buy  for  ready  money),  and  Grcecafidls 
was  with  the  Romans  no  faith  at  all. 

Green.  Young,  fresh ; as  green 
cheese,  i.e.,  cream  cheese,  which  is  eaten 
fresh  ; green  goose,  a young  or  Midsummer 
goose;  di, green-horn  {q.v.) 

Green.  The  imperial  green  of  France 
is  the  old  Merovin'gian  colour  restored, 
and  the  golden  bees  are  the  ornaments 
found  on  the  tomb  of  Childeric,  the  father 
of  Clovis,  in  1653. 

Green  is  held  unlucky  to  particular  clans 
and  counties  of  Scotland.  The  Caith- 
ness men  look  on  it  as  fatal,  because  their 
bands  were  clad  in  green  at  the  battle  of 
Flodden.  It  is  disliked  by  all  who  bear 
the  name  of  Ogilvy,  and  is  especially 
unlucky  to  the  Grahame  clan.  One  day 
an  aged  man  of  that  name  was  thrown 
from  his  horse  in  a fox  chase,  and  he 
accounted  for  the  accident  from  his  having 
a green  lash  to  his  riding- whip. 

The  Greens  of  Constantinople  were  a 
political  party  opposed  to  the  Blues  in 
the  reign  of  Justinian. 

Green  Backs.  The  bank  notes 
issued  by  the  United  States  during  the 
civil  war  (1861-5).  So  called  from  the 
colour  of  the  chief  of  them. 

Green  Bag.  What’s  in  the  green 
lag  i What  charge  is  about  to  be  pre- 


GREEN  BAG  INQUIRY, 


GREGARINES. 


365 


f erred  against  me?  The  allusion  is  to 
the  Green  Bag  Inquiry  ” {q.'o.'). 

Green  Bag  Inquiry.  Certain  papers 
of  a seditious  character  packed  in  a 
green  bag  during  the  Regency.  The 
contents  were  laid  before  Parliament, 
and  the  committee  advised  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act.  (1817.) 

Green  Bird  ( The ) told  everything  a 
person  wished  to  know,  and  talked  like 
an  oracle.  — Fair  jstar  and  Prince 
Cheryl'  hy  Countess  D'Aulnoy, 

Green  Cloth.  The  Board  of  Green 
Cloth.  A board  connected  with  the 
royal  household,  having  power  to  cor- 
rect offenders  within  the  verge  of  the 
palace  and  two  hundred  yards  beyond 
the  gates.  A warrant  from  the  board 
must  be  obtained  before  a servant  of 
the  palace  can  be  arrested  for  debt. 
So  called  because  they  sit  with  the 
steward  of  the  household  at  a board 
covered  with  a green  cloth  in  the  count- 
ing-house, as  recorders  and  witnesses  to 
the  truth.”  It  existed  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  I.,  and  probably  at  a still  earlier 
period. 

Green-eyed  Jealousy  or  Green- 
eyed  Monster.  Expressions  used  by  Shake- 
speare {‘^  Merchant  of  Venice,”  hi.  2 ; 
“ Othello,”  hi.  3).  As  cats,  lions,  tigers, 
and  all  the  green-eyed  tribe  mock  the 
meat  they  feed  on,”  so  jealousy  mocks 
its  victim  by  loving  and  hating  it  at  the 
same  time. 

Greengage.  Introduced  into  Eng- 
land by  lord  Gage  from  the  Chartreuse 
Monastery,  near  Paris.  Called  by  the 
French  Reine  Claude,”  out  of  compli- 
ment to  the  daughter  of  Anne  de  Bre- 
tagne and  Louis  XII.,  generally  called 
la  bonne  reine.  (1499-1524:.) 

Green-Horn  means  an  ox  with  the 
horns  just  making  their  appearance ; 
metaphorically,  a lad  no  more  accus- 
tomed to  the  ways  of  the  world  than  a 
young  steer  to  the  plough.  {See  Green.) 

The  Greenhorn. 

Louis  II.,  emperor  of  Germany,  Le 
Jeune.  (822,  855-875.) 

Louis  yiL,  of  France,  Le  Jeune.  (1120, 
1137-1180.) 

Green  Horse  ( The ) . The  5th  Dra- 
goon Guards,  so  called  because  they  are 
a horse  regiment,  and  have  green  for  their 
regimental  facings. 


Green  Howards  (The).  The  19th 
Foot,  named  from  the  lion.  Chas,  Howard, 
colonel  from  1738  to  1748. 

Green  Isle  or  The  Emerald  Isle. 
Ireland,  so  called  from  the  brilliant 
green  hue  of  its  grass. 

Green  Knight  (The).  A Pagan, 
who  demanded  Fezon  in  marriage,  but 
being  overcome  by  Orson,  was  obliged  to 
resign  his  claim. — Valentine  andOrson.'^ 

Greenlander.  A greenhorn,  one 
from  the  verdant  country  called  the  land 
of  green  ones. 

Green  Linnets.  The  39th  Foot,  so 
called  from  the  colour  of  their  facings. 

Green  Man.  This  public-house  sign 
represents  the  gamekeeper  or  squire’s 
chief  man,  who  used  at  one  time  to  be 
dressed  in  green. 

But  the  “ Green  Man  ” shall  I pass  by  unsung. 

Which  mine  own  James  upon  his  sign-post  hung  ? 

His  sign,  his  image,— for  he  once  was  seen 

A squire’s  attendant,  clad  in  keeper’s  green. 

Crabbey  ''Borough.'^ 

Green  Man  and  Still.  This  public- 
house  sign  refers  to  the  distillation  of 
spirits  from  green  herbs,  such  as  pepper- 
mint cordial,  and  so  on.  The  green  man 
is  a herbalist,  or  green  grocer  of  herbs, 
and  the  still  is  the  apparatus  for  distilla- 
tion. Ritson,  in  his  ^^Life  of  Robin 
Hood,”  says  the  green  man  should  be 
represented  with  a bundle  of  peppermint 
and  pennyroyal  under  his  arm.” 

Green  Sea.  The  Persian  Gulf,  so 
called  from  a remarkable  strip  of  water 
of  a green  colour  along  the  Arabian  coast. 

Greenwich  is  the  Saxon  Grene-wic 
(green  village),  formerly  called  Grenawic, 
and  in  old  Latin  authors  Grenoviam 
viridis.'’  Some  think  it  is  a compound 
of  grian-wic  (the  sun  city),  as  Greenock 
in  Scotland  is  the  Gaelic  grian  aig  (the 
sun  bay)  ; and  Granard,  in  Longford,  is 
grian-ard  (the  sunny  height  or  hill). 

His  tibi  Grynsei  nem'oris  dica'tur  ori'go. 

Greenwich  Barbers.  Retailers  of 
sand,  so  called  because  the  inhabitants 
of  Greenwich  shave  the  pits  ” in  the 
neighbourhood  to  supply  London  with 
sand. 

Greg'arines  (3  syl.).  In  1867  the 
women  of  Europe  and  America,  from  the 
thrones  to  the  maid  servants,  adopted 
the  fashion  of  wearing  a pad  made  of 


866  GREGORIAN  CALENDAR. 


GREVE. 


false  liair  behind  their  head,  utterly 
destroying  its  natural  proportions.  The 
microscope  showed  that  the  hair  employed 
for  these  ^^uglies”  abounded  in  a pedic'- 
ulous  insect  called  a greg'arine  (or  little 
herding  animal),  from  the  Latin  grex  (a 
herd).  The  nests  on  the  filaments  of  hair 
resemble  those  of  spiders  and  silkworms, 
and  the  ‘^object’'  forms  one  of  the  ex- 
hibits in  microscopical  soiries. 

Grego'rian  Calendar.  One  which 
shows  the  new  and  full  moon,  with  the 
time  of  Easter  and  the  movable  feasts 
depending  thereon.  The  reformed  calen- 
dar of  the  Church  of  Rome,  introduced 
by  pope  Gregory  XIII.  in  1582,  corrected 
the  error  of  the  civil  year,  according  to 
the  Julian  calendar. 

Qrego'rian  Chant.  So  called  be- 
cause it  was  introduced  into  the  church 
service  by  Gregory  the  Great.  (600.) 

Grego'rian  Epoch.  The  epoch  or 
day  on  which  the  Gregorian  calendar 
commenced — March,  1582. 

Grego'rian  Telescope.  The  first 
form  of  the  reflecting  telescope,  invented 
by  James  Gregory,  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  the  university  of  St.  Andrews. 
(1663.) 

Grego'rian  Tree.  The  gallows,  so 
named  from  three  successive  hangmen — 
Gregory,  sen. , Gregory,  jun . , and  Gregory 
Brandon.  To  the  last  Sir  William  Segar, 
garter  knight  of  arms,  granted  a coat  of 
arms.  {See  Hangmen.) 

This  trembles  under  the  black  rod.  and  he 
Doth  fear  his  fate  from  the  Gregoi'ian  tree. 

Mercutius  Pragmaticus.  1941. 

Grego'rian  Water  or  Gringorian 
Water.  Holy  water,  so  called  beciiuse 
Gregory  I.  was  a most  strenuous  recom- 
mender  of  it. 

In  case  they  should  happen  to  encounter  with 
devils,  by  virtue  of  the  Gringorieue  water  they  might 
make  them  disappear. —iJa&eiais,  “ Gargantua”  book 
i.  43. 

Grego'rian  Year.  The  civil  year, 
according  to  the  correction  introduced 
by  pope  Gregory  XIII.  in  1582.^  The 
equinox  which  occurred  on  the  25th  of 
March,  in  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar,  fell 
on  the  11th  of  March  in  the  year  1582. 
This  was  because  the  Julian  calculation 
of  3651  days  to  a year  was  11  min.  10  sec. 
too  much.  Gregory  suppressed  ten  days, 


so  as  to  make  the  equinox  fall  on  the  21st 
of  March,  as  it  did  at  the  council  of  Nice, 
and,  by  some  simple  arrangements,  pre- 
vented the  recurrence  in  future  of  a 
similar  error. 

Greg'ories  (3  syh).  Hangmen.  {See 
Gregorian  Tree.) 

Gregory  (St).  The  last  pope  who 
has  been  canonised.  U sually  represented 
with  the  tiara,  pastoral  staff,  his  book  of 
homilies,  and  a dove.  The  last  is  his 
peculiar  attribute. 

Grenadier'  (3  syl.).  Originally  a 
soldier  employed  to  throw  the  hand- 
grenade. 

Grenadier  Guards.  The  first 
regiment  of  Foot  Guards. 

Grendel.  A superhuman  monster 
slain  by  Beowulf,  in  the  Anglo-Saxon 
romance  of  that  title.— Turner's 
dbridgemeiit. 

Gresham  College  (London). 
Founded  by  Sir  Thomas  Gresham  in  1575. 

Greta  Hall.  The  poet  of  Greta  Hall. 
Southey,  who  lived  at  Greta  Hall,  in  the 
Vale  of  Keswick.  (1771-1843. ) 

Gretehen.  A pet  German  diminu- 
tive of  Margaret. 

Greth'el  ( Gammer ) . The  hypo- 
thetical narrator  of  the  ‘^Nursery  Tales,’* 
edited  by  the  Brothers  Grimm. 

Gretna  Green  Marriages.  Run- 
away matches.  In  Scotland  all  that  is 
required  of  contracting  parties  is  a mutual 
declaration  before  witnesses  of  their  wil- 
lingness to  marry,  so  that  elopers  reach- 
ing the  parish  of  Graitney,  or  village  of 
Springfield,  could  getlegally  married  with- 
out licence,  banns,  or  priest.  The  decla- 
ration was  generally  mad  e to  a blacksmith . 

Crabbe  has  a metrical  tale  called  ‘ ^Gretna^ 
Green,”  in  which  young  Belwood  elopes 
with  Clara,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Sidmere, 
and  gets  married;  but  Belwood  was  a 

screw,”  and  Clara  a silly,  extravagant 
hussy,  so  they  soon  hated  each  other  and 
parted. — Tales  of  the  Hallf  book  xv. 

Greve  (1  syl.).  Place  de  Greve.  The 
Tyburn  of  ancient  Paris.  The  present 
H6tel  de  Ville  occupies  part  of  the  site. 
The  word  greve  means  the  strand  of  a 
river  or  shore  of  the  sea,  and  is  so  called 


GEEWNDS. 


GEIMES. 


367 


from  gravier  (gravel  or  sand).  The  Place 
de  Greve  was  on  the  bank  of  the  Seine. 

Who  has  e’er  been  to  Paris  must  needs  know  the 

Greve, 

The  fatal  retreat  of  th’  unfortunate  brave, 

Where  honour  and  justice  most  oddly  contribute 
To  ease  Hero’s  pains  by  a halter  or  gibbet. 

Prior,  “ The  Thief  anti  the  CordelierP 

Grewnds.  The  servants  of  the 
Eounfis  or  Breton  ogres. 

Grey  from  Grief. 

Ludovico  Sforza  became  grey  in  a 
single  night. 

Charles  I.  grew  grey  while  he  was  on 
his  trial. 

Marie  Antoinette  grew  grey  from  grief 
during  her  imprisonment. 

Greys.  The  Scotch  Greys.  The  2nd 
(Eoyal  North  British)  Dragoons,  so  called 
because  they  are  mounted  on  grey  horses. 

Grey  Friars.  Franciscan  friars,  so 
called  from  their  grey  habit. 

Greyhound.  A public-house  sign, 
in  honour  of  Henry  VII.,  whose  badge  it 
was. 

Grey  Mare.  The  Grey  Mare  is  the 
better  horse.  The  woman  is  paramount. 
It  is  said  that  a man  wished  to  buy  a 
horse,  but  his  wife  took  a fancy  to  a grey 
mare,  and  so  pertinaciously  insisted  that 
the  grey  mare  was  the  better  horse  that 
the  man  was  obliged  to  yield  the  point. 

The  French  say,  when  the  woman  is 
paramount,  Gest  le  mariage  d'epervier 
(’Tis  a hawk’s  marriage),  because  the 
female  hawk  is  both  larger  and  stronger 
than  the  male  bird. 

As  long  as  we  have  eyes,  or  hands,  or  breath, 

W e’ll  look,  or  write,  or  talk  you  all  to  dea  h. 

Yield,  or  she-Pegasiis  will  giin  her  course, 

And  the  grey  mare  will  prove  the  better  horse. 

Prior,  *•  Epilogue  to  Mis-  Manley's  * Lucius.^'* 

Grey  Mare’s  Tail.  A cataract 
made  by  the  Lock-skene,  in  Scotland,  so 
called  from  its  appearance. 

Grey  Wethers.  Huge  holders, 
either  embedded  or  not,  very  common 
in  the  Valley  of  Stones  ” near  Avebury, 
Wilts.  When  split  or  broken  up  they 
are  called  sarsens  or  sarsdens  (German, 
sarge  steins,  coffin  stones). 

Gridiron.  Emblematic  of  St.  Law- 
rence, because  in  his  martyrdom  he  was 
broiled  to  death  on  a gridiron.  In  allu- 
sion thereto  the  church  of  St.  Lawrence 
Jewry,  near  Guildhall,  has  a gilt  gridiron 
for  a vane.  The  gridiron  is  also  an  at- 


tribute of  St.  Faith,  who  was  martyred 
like  St.  Lawrence  ; and  St.  Vincent,  who 
was  partially  roasted  on  a gridiron  covered 
with  spikes.  {See  Escurial.) 

Griffon  Horse  (The),  belonged  to 
Atlantes,  the  magician,  but  was  made 
use  of  by  Eoge'ro,  Astolpho,  and  others. 
It  flew  through  the  air  at  the  bidding  oi 
the  rider,  and  landed  him  where  he  listed. 
— Ariosto,  Orlando  Furioso)* 

Griffin.  A cadet  newly  arrived  in 
India,  an  inexperienced  youngster,  a 
half-and-half  (half  English,  half  Indian). 
The  head  and  legs  may  be  English,  but 
his  body  being  in  India,  must  be  Indian. 

Griffon,  Griffen,  or  Griffin.  Off- 
spring of  the  lion  and  eagle.  Its  legs 
and  all  from  the  shoulder  to  the  head  is 
like  an  eagle,  the  rest  of  the  body  is  that 
of  a lion.  This  creature  was  sacred  to 
the  sun,  and  kept  guard  over  hidden 
treasures.  Sir  Thomas  Browne  says  it  is 
emblematical  of  watchfulness,  courage, 
perseverance,  and  rapidity  of  execution. — 
Vulgar  Errors,  ill.  2.  (*SeeARiMASPiANS.) 

Grig.  Merry  as  a Grig.  A grig  is  a 
small  eel.  There  was  also  a class  of  vaga- 
bond dancers  and  tumblers  who  visited 
ale-houses,  so  called.  Hence  Levi  Solo- 
mon, Cockleput,  who  lived  in  Sweet 
Apple  Court,  being  asked  in  his  examina- 
tion how  he  obtained  his  living,  replied 
that  he  went  a-grigging.”  Many  think 
the  expression  should  be  merry  as  a Greek, 
and  have  Shakespeare  to  back  them: 

Then  she’s  a merry  Greek  and  again, 
‘^Cressid  ’mongst  the  merry  Greeks” 
(ft  Troilus  and  Cressida,”  i.  2 ; iv.  4). 
Patrick  Gordon  also  says,  ^^No  people  in 
the  world  are  so  jovial  and  merry,  so 
given  to  singing  and  dancing,  as  the 
Greeks.” 

Grim  (Giant ),  in  Bunyan’s  '^Pilgrim’s 
Progress,”  pt.  ii.  He  tried  to  stop  the 
pilgrims  on  their  way  to  the  Celestial 
City,  but  was  slain  by  Mr.  Greatheart. 

Grima'ce  (2  syl.).  Cotgrave  says  this 
word  is  from  Grima'cier,  a celebrated 
carver  of  fantastic  heads  in  Gothic  archi- 
tecture; but  probably  the  Saxon  grim, 
Welsh  gremiaw,  Dutch  grinwiig,  may 
be  considered  the  basis  of  the  word. 

Grimes  ( Peter).  The  son  of  a steady 
fisherman,  was  a drunkard  and  a thief. 
He  had  a boy  whom  he  killed  by  ill- 
usage.  Two  others  he  made  away  with. 


368 


GRIMMALKIN. 


GRIST. 


but  was  not  convicted  for  want  of  evi- 
dence. As  no  one  would  live  with  him, 
he  dwelt  alone,  turned  mad,  and  was 
lodged  in  the  parish  poor-house,  confessed 
his  crime  in  his  delirium,  and  died. — 
Crahhe,  Borough,^  let.  xxii. 

Grimmal'kin  or  GrayinalJcin.  French, 
gris  malkin.  Shakespeare  makes  his 
Witch  in  '^Macbeth”  say,  come, 
Graymalkin,”  Malkin  being  the  name  of 
a foul  fiend.  The  cat,  supposed  to  be  a 
witch  and  the  companion  of  witches,  is 
called  by  the  same  name. 

Grimm’s  Law.  A law  discovered 
by  Jakob  L.  Grimm,  the  German  philolo- 
gist, to  show  how  the  mute  consonants 
interchange  as  corresponding  words  oc- 
cur in  different  branches  of  the  A'ryan 
family  of  languages.  Thus,  what  is  'p  in 
Greek,  Latin,  or  Sanskrit,  becomes  / in 
Gothic,  and  6 or /in  the  old  High  Ger- 
man ; what  is  t in  Greek,  Latin,  or  San- 
skrit, becomes  th  in  Gothic,  and  d in  old 
High  German ; &c. 

Grimsby  (Lincolnshire).  Grim  was 
a fisherman  who  rescued  from  a boat 
adrift  an  infant  named  Habloc,  whom  he 
adopted  and  brought  up.  This  infant 
turned  out  to  be  the  son  of  the  king  of 
Denmark,  and  when  the  boy  was  restored 
to  his  royal  sire.  Grim  was  laden  with 
gifts.  He  now  returned  to  Lincolnshire 
and  built  the  town  which  he  called  after 
his  own  name.  The  ancient  seal  of  the 
town  contains  the  names  of  Gryme  and 
Habloc.  This  is  the  foundation  of  the 
mediseval  tales  about  ‘‘  Havelock  the 
Dane.” 

Grim’s  Dyke  or  DeviVs  Dyke. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  grima,  a goblin  or  demon.) 

Grind.  To  work  up  for  an  examina- 
tion ; to  grind  up  the  subjects  set,  and 
to  grind  into  tbe  memory  the  necessary 
cram.  The  allusion  is  to  a mill,  and  the 
analogy  evident. 

To  take  a grind  is  to  take  a constitu- 
tional walk  ; to  cram  into  the  smallest 
space  the  greatest  amount  of  physical 
exercise.  This  is  the  physical  grind. 
The  literary  grind  is  a turn  »t  hard 
study. 

To  take  a grinder  is  to  insult  another 
by  applying  the  left  thumb  to  the  nose, 
and  revolving  the  right  hand  round  it, 
as  if  working  a hand- organ  or  coffee- 
mill.  This  insulting  retort  is  given  when 


some  one  has  tried  to  practise  on  your 
credulity,  or  to  impose  upon  your  good 
faith. 

Grinders.  The  double  teeth  which 
grind  the  food  put  into  the  mouth.  The 
preacher  speaks  of  old  age  as  the  time 
when  ‘‘  the  grinders  cease  because  they 
are  few  ” (Ecc.  xii.  3).  {See  Almond- 
tree.) 

Grise.  A step.  (Latin,  gradi^s). 

Which  as  a grise  or  step  may  help  these  lovers 

Into  your  favour. 

Shakespeare. “ Othello”  i. 8. 

Grisilda  or  Griselda.  The  model  of 
enduring  patience  and  conjugal  obe- 
dience. She  was  the  daughter  of  Janic'- 
ola,  a poor  charcoal-burner,  but  became 
the  wife  of  Walter,  marquis  of  Saluzzo. 
The  marquis  put  her  humility  and  obe- 
dience to  three  severe  trials,  but  she 
submitted  to  them  all  without  a murmur : 
(1)  Her  infant  daughter  was  taken  from 
her,  and  secretly  conveyed  to  the  queen 
of  Pavi'a  to  bring  up,  while  Grisilda  was 
made  to  believe  that  it  had  been  mur- 
dered. (2)  Four  years  later  she  had  a 
son,  who  was  also  taken  from  her,  and 
sent  to  be  brought  up  with  her  sister. 
When  the  little  girl  was  twelve  years  old, 
the  marquis  told  Grisilda  he  intended  to 
divorce  her  and  marry  another,  so  she 
was  stripped  of  all  her  fine  clothes  and 
sent  back  to  her  father’s  cottage.  On 
the  wedding  day”  the  much-abused 
Grisilda  was  sent  for  to  receive  her 
rival  ” and  prepare  her  for  the  ceremony. 
When  her  lord  saw  in  her  no  spark  of 
jealousy,  he  told  her  the  bride  ” was 
her  own  daughter.  The  moral  of  the 
tale  is  this  : If  Grisilda  submitted  with- 
out a murmur  to  these  trials  of  her  hus- 
band, how  much  more  ought  we  to  sub- 
mit without  repining  to  the  trials  sent 
us  by  God. 

This  tale  is  the  last  of  Boccaccio’s  ‘^De- 
cam'eron it  was  rendered  by  Petrarch 
into  a Latin  romance,  entitled  ‘‘De 
Obedientia  et  Fide  Uxo'ria  Mytholo'gia,” 
and  forms  The  Clerkes  Tale  ” in 
Chaucer’s  Canterbury  Tales.” 

Grist.  A ll  grist  that  comes  to  my  mill. 
All  is  appropriated  that  comes  to  me ; 
all  is  made  use  of  that  comes  in  my  way. 
Grist  is  all  that  quantity  of  corn  which 
is  to  be  ground  or  crushed  at  one  time. 
The  phrase  means,  all  that  is  brought, 
good,  bad,  and  indifferent  corn,  with  all 


GEIZEL. 


GEOTTO. 


369 


refuse  and  waste,  is  put  into  the  mill  and 
ground  together.  {See  Emolument.) 

Griz'el  or  Grissel.  Octavia,  wife  of 
Marc  Antony  and  sister  of  Augustus 
Caesar,  is  called  the  “ patient  Grizel  ” of 
Eoman  story.  {See  Grisilda.) 

For  patience  she  will  prove  a second  Grissel. 

Shakespeare,  Taming  of  the  Shrew,''  ii.  1. 

Groat.  From  John  o’  GroaH 8 house  to 
the  Land's  End,  From  Dan  to  Beer- 
sheba,  from  one  end  of  Great  Britain  to 
the  other.  John  o’  Groat  was  a Dutch- 
man, who  settled  in  the  most  northerly 
point  of  Scotland,  in  the  reign  of  James 
IV.,  and  immortalised  himself  by  the 
way  he  settled  a dispute  among  his  nine 
sons  respecting  precedency.  He  had 
nine  doors  to  his  cottage,  one  for  each 
son,  so  that  none  could  go  out  or  come 
in  before  another. 

Blood  without  groats  is  nothing  (North 
of  England),  meaning  family  without 
fortune  is  worthless.”  The  allusion  is  to 
black- pudding,  which  consists  chiefly  of 
blood  and  groats  formed  into  a sausage. 

Not  worth  a groat.  Of  no  value.  A 
groat  is  a silver  four-pence.  The  Dutch 
had  a coin  called  a grote,  a contraction  of 
grote-schware  (great  schware),  so  called 
because  it  was  equal  in  value  to  five  little 
schware.  So  the  coin  of  Edward  III.  was 
the  groat  or  great  silver  penny,  equal  to 
four  penny-pieces.  The  modern  groat 
was  first  issued  in  1835. 

GrCBmes  {The).  A class  of  free- 
booters, who  inhabited  the  debateable 
land,  and  were  transported  to  Ireland  at 
the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Grog.  Eum  and  water  cold  without. 
Admiral  Vernon  was  called  Old  Grog  by 
his  sailors,  because  he  was  accustomed 
to  walk  the  deck  in  rough  weather  in  a 
grogram  cloak.  As  he  was  the  first  to 
serve  water  in  the  rum  on  board  ship, 
the  mixture  went  by  the  name  of  grog. 
Six-water  grog]^  one  part  rum  to  six  parts 
of  sea- water.  Grog,  in  common  parlance, 
is  any  mixture  of  spirits  and  water, 
either  hot  or  cold. 

Gro'gram.  A coarse  kind  of  taffety, 
stiffened  with  gum.  A corruption  of  the 
French  gros-grain. 

Groined  Ceiling.  One  in  which 
the  arches  are  divided  or  intersected. 
(Swedish,  grena^  to  divide.) 


Gromet,  Grumet,  or  Grummet.  A 
younker  on  board  ship.  In  Smith’s  Sea 
Grammar  we  are  told  that  ^‘younkers 
are  the  young  men  whose  duty  it  is  to 
take  in  the  top-sails,  or  top  and  yard, 
for  furling  the  sails,  or  slinging  the  yards. 
. . .”  ^‘Sailers,’'  he  says,  ‘^are  the  elder 
men.”  Gromet  is  the  Flemish  grom  (a 
boy)  with  the  diminutive.  It  appears  in 
hride-groom,  &c. 

Grongar  Hill,  in  South  Wales, 
rendered  famous  by  Dyer’s  poem  so  called. 

Groom  of  tlie  Stole  {Grom  of  the 
Stole).  Keeper  of  the  stole  or  state- 
robe.  The  original  duty  of  this  officer 
was  to  invest  the  king  in  his  state-robe, 
but  he  had  also  to  hand  him  his  shirt 
when  he  dressed.  The  office  when  a 
queen  reigns  is  termed  Mistress  of  the 
Rohes,  though  queen  Anne  had  her 

Groom  of  the  Stole.”  (Greek,  stole,  a 
garment.)  {See  Bridegroom.) 

Gross.  (/Sfee  Advowson.) 

Grosted  or  Robert  Grosseteste,  bishop 
of  Lincoln,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III,, 
the  author  of  some  200  works.  He  was 
accused  of  dealings  in  the  black  arts,  and 
the  pope  ordered  a letter  to  be  written 
to  the  king  of  England,  enjoining  him  to 
disinter  the  bones  of  the  too-wise  bishop 
and  burn  them  to  powder.  (Died  1253.) 

None  a deeper  knowledge  boasted, 

Since  Hodge,  Bacon,  and  Bob  Orosted. 

Butler,  “ Huditn'as,”  ii.  3 

Grotes'que  (2  syl.)  means  in  Grotto 
style.”  Classical  ornaments  so  called 
were  found  in  the  thirteenth  century  in 
grottoes,  that  is,  excavations  made  in 
the  baths  of  Titus  and  in  other  Eoman 
buildings.  These  ornaments  abound  in 
fanciful  combinations,  and  hence  any- 
thing outre  is  termed  grotesque. 

Grotta  del  Cane  (Naples).  The 
Dog's  Gave,  so  called  from  the  practice  of 
sending  dogs  into  it  to  show  visitors  how 
the  carbonic  acid  gas  of  the  cave  kills 
them. 

Grotto.  Pray  Remember  the  Grotto. 
July  25  new  style,  and  August  5 old  style, 
is  the  day  dedicated  to  St.  James  the 
Greater,  and  the  correct  thing  to  do  in 
days  of  yore  was  to  stick  a shell  in  your 
hat  or  cloak,  and  pay  a visit  on  that  day 
to  the  shrine  of  St.  James  of  Compostella. 
Shell  grottoes  with  an  image  of  the  saint 
were  erected  for  the  behoof  of  those  who 


T 


370 


GROUNDLING. 


GUARINOS. 


could  not  afford  such  pilgrimage,  and  the 
keeper  reminded  the  passer-by  to  remem- 
ber it  was  St.  James’s  day,  and  not  to 
forget  their  offering  to  the  saint. 

Groundling.  One  who  stood  in  the 
pit,  which  was  the  ground  in  ancient 
theatres. 

To  split  the  ears  of  the  groundlings. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet”  iii.  2. 

Grove.  The  grove  for  which  the 
Jewish  women  wove  hangings,  and  which 
the  Jews  were  commanded  to  cut  down 
and  burn,  was  the  wooden  Ash'era,  a sort 
of  idol,  symbolising  the  generative  power 
of  Nature,  and  placed  on  the  stone  altar 
of  Baal.  It  was  called  P hallos  by  the 
Greeks.  The  Hindus  have  two  emblems, 
Linga  and  Yoni,  the  former  symbolising 
generative  power,  and  the  latter  produc- 
tive power. 

Grub  Street.  Since  1880  called 
Milton  Street,  near  Moorfields,  London, 
<®nce  famous  for  literary  hacks  and 
inferior  literary  productions.  The  word 
is  the  Gothic  gralan  (to  dig),  whence 
grab  (a  grave),  and  gy'oep  (a  ditch).— 
See  Dunciad,”  i.  38,  &c. 

Gruel.  To  give  him  his  gruel.  To 
kill  him.  The  allusion  is  to  the^very 
common  practice  in  France,  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  of  givingpoisoned  possets, 
an  art  brought  to  perfection  by  Catherine 
de  Medicis  and  her  Italian  advisers. 

Grumbo.  A giant  in  the  tale  of  Tom 
Thumb.  A raven  picked  up  Tom,  think- 
ing him  to  be  a grain  of  corn,  and  dropped 
him  on  the  flat  roof  of  the  giant’s  castle. 
Old  Grumbo  came  to  walk  on  the  roof 
terrace,  and  Tom  crept  up  his  sleeve. 
The  giant,  annoyed,  shook  his  sleeve,  and 
Tom  fell  into  the  sea,  where  a fish  swal- 
lowed him,  and  the  fish  being  caught  and 
sold  for  Arthur’s  table,  was  the  means  of 
introducing  Tom  to  the  British  king,  by 
whom  he  was  'kmghiQdi.— Nursery  Tale, 

Tom  Thumb P 

Grundy.  What  will  Mrs.  Grundy 
say  1 What  will  our  rivals  or  neighbours 
say  ? The  phrase  is  from  Tom  Morton’s 

Speed  the  Plough.”  In  the  first  scene 
Mrs.  Ashfield  shows  herself  very  jealous  of 
neighbour  Grundy,  and  farmer  Ashfield 
says  to  her,  ‘^Be  quiet,  woolye?  Ale- 
ways  ding,  dinging  Dame  Grundy  into 
my  ears.  What  will  Mrs.  Grundy  zay? 
What  will  Mrs.  Grundy  think  1 . P 


Grunth.  The  sacred  book  of  the 
Sikhs. 

Gryll.  Let  Gryll  he  Gryll,  and  keep 
his  hoggish  mind.  Don’t  attempt  to  wash 
a blackamoor  white ; the  leopard  will 
never  change  his  spots.  Gryll  is  from 
the  Greek  gru  (the  grunting  of  a hog). 
When  Sir  Guyon  disenchanted  the  forms 
in  the  Bower  of  Bliss  some  were  exceed- 
ingly angry,  and  one  in  particular,  named 
Grjll,  who  had  been  metamorphosed  by 
Acra'sia  into  a hog,  abused  him  most 
roundly.  ^^Come,”  says  the  palmer  to 
Sir  Guyon, 

Let  Gryll  be  Gryll,  and  keep  his  hoggish  mind, 

But  let  us  hence  depart  while  weather  serves  and 

wind. 

Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen,”  book  ii. 

Gryphon  (in  Orlando  Furioso”), 
son  of  Olive'ro  and  Sigismunda,  brother 
of  Aquilant,  in  love  with  Origilla,  who 
plays  him  false.  He  was  called  White 
from  his  armour,  and  his  brother  Black. 
He  overthrew  the  eight  champions  of 
Damascus  in  the  tournament  given  to 
celebrate  the  king’s  wedding-day.  While 
asleep  Marta'no  steals  his  armour,  and 
goes  to  the  king  Norandi'no  to  receive 
t^he  meed  of  high  deeds.  In  the  mean- 
time Gryphon  awakes,  finds  his  armour 
gone,  is  obliged  to  put  on  Marta'no’s, 
and  being  mistaken  for  the  coward, 
is  hooted  and  hustled  by  the  crowd. 
He  lays  about  him  stoutly,  and  kills 
many.  The  king  comes  up,  finds  out 
the  mistake,  and  offers  his  hand,  which 
Gryphon,  like  a true  knight,  receives. 
He  joined  the  army  of  Charlemagne. 

Gryphons.  {See  Griffon.) 

Guadia'na.  The  squire  of  Duran- 
darte.  Mourning  the  fall  of  his  master 
at  Roncesvalles,  he  was  turned  into  the 
river  which  bears  the  same  name. — 

Bon  Quixote,^’  ii.  23. 

Guaff.  Victor  Emmanuel  is  so  called 
from  his  nose. 

Gua'no  is  the  Peruvian  word  hua'no 
(dung),  and  consists  of  the  droppings  of 
sea-fowls. 

GuarPnos  [Admiral).  One  of  Char- 
lemagne’s paladins,  taken  captive  at  the 
battle  of  Roncesvalles.  He  fell  to  the  lot 
of  Marlo'tes,  a Moslem,  who  offered  him 
his  daughter  in  marriage  if  he  would 
become  a disciple  of  Mahomet.  Guari- 
nos  refused,  and  was  cast  into  a dungeon, 
where  he  lay  captive  for  seven  years.  A 


GUBBINGS. 


GUENDOLEN. 


371 


joust  was  then  held,  and  Admiral  Guari'- 
nos  was  allowed  to  try  his  hand  at  a 
target.  He  knelt  before  the  Moor, 
stabbed  him  to  the  heart,  vaulted  on  his 
grey  horse  Treb'ozond',  and  escaped  to 
France. 

Gubbings.  Anabaptists  near  Brent, 
in  Devonshire.  They  had  no  ecclesiasti- 
cal order  or  authority,  but  lived  in 
holes,  like  swine ; had  all  things  in  com- 
mon ; and  multiplied  without  marriage. 
Their  language  was  vulgar  Devonian.  . » 
They  lived  by  pilfering  sheep ; were  fleet 
as  horses  ; held  together  like  bees  ; and 
revenged  every  wrong.  One  of  the 
society  was  always  elected  chief,  and 
called  King  oj  the  Gubhings”  (Fuller). 

N.B.  Their  name  is  ivom.  gubbings^  the 
offal  of  fish  (Devonshire), 

Gudgeon.  Gaping  for  gudgeons. 
Looking  out  for  things  extremely  im- 
probable. As  a gudgeon  is  a bait  to 
deceive  fish,  it  means  a lie^  a deception. 

To  swallou)  a gudgeon.  To  be  bam- 
boozled with  a most  palpable  lie,  as  silly 
fish  are  caught  by  gudgeons. 

Make  fools  believe  in  their  foreseeing 

Of  things  before  they  are  in  being ; 

To  swaliow  gudgeons  ere  they’re  catchsd, 

And  count  their  chickens  ere  they’re  hatched. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,"  ii.  3. 

Gudrun.  A model  of  heroic  forti- 
tude and  pious  resignation.  She  was. a 
princess  betrothed  to  Herwig,  but  the 
king  of  Norway  carried  her  off  captive. 
As  she  would  not  marry  him,  he  put  her 
to  all  sorts  of  menial  work,  such  as  wash- 
ing the  dirty  linen.  One  day  her  brother 
and  lover  appeared  on  the  scene,  and  at 
the  end  she  married  Herwig,  pardoned 
the  naughty  ” king,  and  all  went  merry 
as  a marriage  bell.— J.  North- Saxonpoem. 

Gudule  (2  syl.)  or  St.  Gudu'la,  patron 
saint  of  Brussels,  was  daughter  of  Count 
Witger,  died  172.  She  is  represented 
with  a lantern,  from  a tradition  that  she 
was  one  day  going  to  the  church  of  St. 
Morgelle  with  a lantern,  which  went  out, 
but  the  holy  virgin  lighted  it  again  by 
her  prayers. 

St.  Gudule  in  Christian  art  is  repre- 
sented carrying  a lantern  which  a demon 
tries  to  put  out.  The  legend  is  a repeti- 
tion of  that  of  St.  Genevieve,  as  Brussels 
is  Paris  in  miniature. 

Gue'bres  (Fire-Worshippers).  Fol- 
lowers of  the  ancient  Persian  religion, 


reformed  by  Zoroaster.  They  are  called 
in  the  Talmud  Chebers,  and  by  Origen 
Kabirs,  a corruption  of  the  Arabic  Kafirs 
a non-Mahometan  or  infidel),  a term 
bestowed  upon  them  by  their  Arabian 
conquerors. 

Guelder  Eose  is  the  Kose  de  Guel- 
dres,  i.e.,  of  the  ancient  province  of 
Guelder  or  Guelderland,  in  Holland. 

Guelplio  (3  syl.),  son  of  Actius  IV.,. 
Marquis  d’Este  and  of  Cunigunda,  a 
German,  king  of  Carynth'ia.  He  led  an 
army  of  5,000  men  from  Germany,  but 
two-thirds  were  slain  by  the  Persians. 
He  was  noted  for  his  broad  shoulders 
and  ample  chest.  Guelpho  was  Einaldo’s 
uncle,  and  next  in  command  to  Godfrey. — 
Tasso,  Jerusalem  Delivered iii. 

Guelplis  and  Ghibellines.  Two 
great  parties,  whose  conflicts  make  up 
the  history  of  Italy  and  Germany  from 
the  eleventh  to  the  fourteenth  century. 
Guelph  is  the  Italian  form  of  Welfe,  and 
Ghibelline  of  Waiblingen,  and  the  origin 
of  these  two  words  is  this : At  the  battle 
of  Weinsberg,  in  Swabia  (1140),  Conrad, 
duke  of  Franconia,  rallied  his  followers 
with  the  war-cry  Hie  Waiblingen,  while 
Henry  the  Lion,  duke  of  Saxony,  used 
the  cry  of  Hie  Welfe  (the  family  names 
of  the  rival  chiefs).  The  former  were  the 
supporters  of  the  imperial  authority  in 
Italy,  and  the  latter  were  the  anti-im- 
perialists. 

Guen'dolen  (3  syl. ).  A fairy  whose 
mother  was  a human  being.  One  day  king 
Arthur  wandered  into  the  valley  of  St. 
John,  when  a fairy  palace  rose  to  view, 
and  a train  of  ladies  conducted  him  to 
their  queen.  King  Arthur  and  Guen'do- 
len fell  in  love  with  each  other,  and  the 
fruit  of  their  illicit  love  was  a daughter 
named  G}  neth.  After  the  lapse  of  three 
months  Arthur  left  Guen'dolen,  and  the 
deserted  fair  one  offered  him  a parting 
cup.  As  Arthur  raised  the  cup  a drop  of 
the  contents  fell  on  his  horse,  and  so 
burnt  it  that  the  horse  leaped  twenty 
feet  high,  and  then  ran  in  mad  career  up 
the  hills  till  it  was  exhausted.  Arthur 
dashed  the  cup  on  the  ground,  the  con- 
tents burnt  up  everything  they  touched, 
the  fairy  palace  vanished^,  and  Guen'do- 
len was  never  more  seen.  This  tale  is 
told  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  Tho  Bridal 
of  Triermain,”  It  is  called  LgulpK s’Tale, 

y 2 


372 


GUENDOLCENA. 


GUIDO. 


from  canto  i.  10  to  canto  ii.  28.  {See 
Gyneth.) 

Her  mother  wag  of  human  birth, 

Her  sire  a Genie  of  the  earth. 

In  days  of  old  deemed  to  preside 
O’er  lovers’  wiles  and  beauty’s  pride. 

“ Bridal  of  Triermain,’^  ii.  3, 

Guendoloe'na,  daughter  of  Corin'eus 
and  wife  of  Locrine,  son  of  Erute,  the 
legendary  king  of  Britain.  She  was 
divorced,  and  Locrine  married  Estrildis, 
by  whom  he  already  had  a daughter 
named  Sabri'na.  Guendoloe'na,  greatly 
indignant,  got  together  a great  army, 
and  a battle  was  fought  near  the  river 
Stour,  in  which  Locrine  was  slain.  Guen- 
doloe'na  now  assumed  the  government, 
and  one  of  her  first  acts  was  to  throw 
both  Estrildis  and  Sabri'na  into  the  river 
Severn. — Geoffrey ^ ^^Brit.  Hist.”  ii.,  c. 
iv.,  V. 

Guenever.  {See  Guinever.) 

Guerilla,  improperly  Guerilla  tears, 
means  a petty  war,  a partisan  conflict ; 
and  the  parties  are  called  Guerillas  or 
Guerilla  chiefs.  Spanish  guer'ra  (war). 
The  word  is  applied  to  the  armed  bands 
of  peasants  who  carry  on  irregular  war 
on  their  own  account,  especially  when 
Government  is  occupied  with  invading 
armies. 

Gueri'no  Meschi'noC^Ae  Wretched). 
An  Italian  romance,  half  chivalric  and 
half  spiritual,  first  printed  in  Padua  in 
1473.  Guerin  was  the  son  of  Millon,  king 
of  Alba'nia.  On  the  day  of  his  birth  his 
father  was  dethroned,  and  the  child  was 
rescued  by  a Greek  slave,  and  called 
Meschino.  When  he  grew  up  he  fell  in 
love  with  the  princess  Elize'na,  sister  of 
the  Greek  emperor,  at  Constantinople. 

Guest.  The  Ungrateful  Guest  was  the 
brand  fixed  by  Philip  of  Macedon  on  a 
Macedonian  soldier,  who  had  been  kindly 
entertained  by  a villager,  and  being  asked 
by  the  king  what  he  could  give  him, 
requested  the  farm  and  cottage  of  his 
entertainer. 

Gueux.  Les  Gueux.  The  ragamuf- 
fins. A nick-name  assumed  by  the  first 
revolutionists  of  Holland.  It  arose  thus : 
When  the  duchess  of  Parma  made  inquiry  j 
about  them  of  count  Barlamont,  he  told 
her  they  were  ‘Hhe  scum  and  offscouring 
of  the  people  ” {les  gueux).  This  being 
made  public,  the  party  took  the  name  in 
defiance,  and  from  that  moment  dressed 
like  beggars,  substituted  a fox’s  tail  in  | 
©f  ^ feather^  and  a wooden  platter  | 


instead  of  a brooch.  They  met  at  a 
public-house  which  had  for  its  sign  a 
code  crowing  these  words,  Vire  les  Gueux 
par  tout  le  monde  ! 

N.B.  The  revolters  of  Guienne  assumed 
the  name  of  Eaters  ; those  of  Normandy 
Barefoot;  those  of  Beausse  and  Boulogne 
Wooden-pattens ; and  in  the  French  revo- 
lution  the  most  violent  were  termed  Sans- 
culottes. 

Gugner.  A spear  made  by  the  dwarf 
Eitri,  and  given  to  Odin.  It  never  failed 
to  hit  and  slay  in  battle. — The  Edda. 

Gui.  Le  Gui  (French).  The  mis- 
tletoe or  Druid’s  plant.  The  Druids  used 
to  be  called  Guys,  meaning  guides” 
or  ‘Headers.”  (Spanish  and  Portuguese, 
guia,  from  guiar,  to  guide.)  (See  Guy- 
ropes.  ) 

Guide'rius.  The  elder  son  of  Cym- 
beline,  a legendary  king  of  Britain,  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  Augustus  Csesar.  Both 
Guiderius  and  his  brother  Arvir'agus 
were  stolen  -in  infancy  by  Bela'rius,  a 
banished  nobleman,  out  of  revenge,  and 
were  brought  up  by  him  in  a cave.  When 
grown  to  man’s  estate,  the  Homans  in- 
vaded Britain,  and  the  two  young  men 
so  distinguished  themselves  that  they 
were  introduced  to  the  king,  and  Belarius 
related  their  history.  Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth says  that  Guiderius  succeeded 
his  father,  and  was  slain  by  Hamo. — 
Shakespeare,  “ Cymheline.” 

Guides  (pron.  geed).  Contraction  of 
guidons.  A corps  of  French  cavalry 
which  carries  the  guidon,  a standard 
borne  by  light  horse-soldiers,  broad  at 
one  end  and  nearly  pointed  at  the  other. 
The  corps  des  Guides  was  organised  in 
1796  by  Napoleon  as  a personal  body 
guard ; in  1848  several  squadrons  were 
created,  but  Napoleon  HI.  made  the 
corps  a part  of  the  Imperial  Guard. 
Great  care  must  be  taken  not  to  confound 
the  Guides  with  the  Gardes,  as  they  are 
totally  distinct  terms. 

Guido,  surnamed  the  Savage  (in  Or- 
lando Furioso),  son  of  Constantia  and 
Amon,  therefore  younger  brother  of 
Binaldo.  He  was  also  Astolpho’s  kins- 
man. Being  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  the 
Amazons,  he  was  doomed  to  fight  their 
ten  male  champions.  He  slew  them  all, 
and  was  then  compelled  to  marry  ten  of 
the  Amazons.  He  made  his  escape  with 
Ale'ria,  his  favourite  wife,  and  joined  the 
army  of  Charlemagne, 


GUIDOBALDO. 


GULES. 


373 


Guidobardo.  Second  son  of  Fran- 
cesco Maria,  duke  of  Urbi'no. 

Giiildenstern.  (See  Kosencrantz.) 

GiiildhalL  The  hall  of  the  city 
guilds.  Here  are  the  Court  of  Common 
Council,  the  Court  of  Aldermen,  the 
Chamberlain’s  Court,  the  police  court 
presided  over  by  an  alderman,  &c.  The 
ancient  guilds  were  friendly  trade  socie- 
ties, in  which  each  member  paid  a certain 
fee,  called  a guild,  from  the  Bsixon  gildan 
(to  pay).  There  was  a separate  guild 
for  each  craft  of  importance. 

Guiriotine  (3  syl.).  So  named  from 
J oseph  Ignace  Guillotin,  a French  phy- 
sician, who  proposed  its  adoption  to  pre- 
vent unnecessary  pain.  (1738-1814.) 

The  Guillotine  is  not  unlike  the  Maiden, 
which  the  regent  Morton  of  Scotland 
introduced  when  the  laird  of  Pennycuick 
was  to  be  beheaded. 

Guinea.  Sir  H.  Holmes,  in  1666, 
captured  in  Schelling  Bay  160  Dutch 
sail,  containing  bullion  and  gold-dust 
from  Cape  Coast  Castle  in  Guinea.  This 
rich  prize  was  coined  into  gold  pieces, 
stamped  with  an  elephant,  and  called 
Guineas  to  memorialise  the  valuable  cap- 
ture. (/See  Dryden,  Annus  Mirabilis.”) 

Guinea.  The  legend  is  M.  B.  F.  et  H. 
Bex.  F.  D.  B.  L.  D.  S.  R.  I.  A.  T.  et  E. 
— Magnse  Britannise,  Franciae,  et  Hiber- 
niaeRex  ; Fidei  Defensor  ; Brunsvicensis, 
Lunenburgensis  Dux  ; Sacri  Romani  Im- 
perii Archi  Thesaurarius  et  Elector. 

Guinea-dropper.  A cheat.  The 
term  is  about  equal  to  thimble- rig,  and 
alludes  to  an  ancient  cheating  dodge  of 
dropping  counterfeit  guineas.  {See  Gay, 

Trivia,”  iii.) 

Guinea  Fowl.  So  called  because 
it  was  brought  to  us  from  the  coast  of 
Guinea,  where  it  is  very  common. 

Guinea-hen.  A courtesan  who  is 
won  by  money.  The  play  is  on  the  word 
guinea. 

Ere....  I would  drown  myself  for  the  love  of  a 
Guinea  hen,  I would  change  my  humanity  with  a 
baboon.— Othdlo,’’  i.  3. 

Guin'ever,  or  rather  Guanhuma'ra  {i 
syl.).  Daughter  of  Leodograunce  of  Cam'- 
elyard,  the  most  beautiful  of  women, 
and  wdfe  of  king  Arthur.  She  enter- 
tained a guilty  passion  for  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake,  one  of  the  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  but  during  the  absence  of 


king  Arthur  in  his  expedition  against  Leo, 
king  of  the  Romans,  she  married  ” 
Modred,  her  husband’s  nephew,  whom 
he  had  left  in  charge  of  the  kingdom. 
Soon  as  Arthur  heard  thereof  he  has- 
tened back,  Guinever  fled  from  York  and 
took  the  veil  in  the  nunnery  of  Julius 
the  Martyr,  and  Modred  set  his  forces  in 
array  at  Cam'bula,  in  Cornwall.  Here  a 
desperate  battle  was  fought,  in  which 
Modred  was  slain,  and  Arthur  mortally 
wounded.  Guinever  is  generally  called 
the  grey-eyed she  was  buried  at 
Meigle,  in  Strathmore,  and  her  name 
has  become  the  synonym  of  a wanton  or 
adulteress. — Geoffrey,  Brit.  Hist.’* 

In  the  romance  called  Sir  Launfal,” 
Gwenevere  is  called  the  daughter  of 
Ryon,  king  of  Ireland. 

That  was  a woman  when  queen  Guinever  of  Britain 
was  a I'ttle  wench. 

Hhakespeare,  “ Lovds  Labour's  Lost”  iv.  1. 

Guin'ever e (3  syl.).  Tennyson’s 

Idyll”  represents  her  as  loving  Sir 
Lancelot,  but  one  day,  when  they  were 
bidding  farev/ell,  Modred  tracked  them, 

and  brought  his  creatures  to  the  base- 
ment of  the  tower  for  testimony.”  Sir 
Lancelot  hurled  the  fellow  to  the  ground 
and  instantly  got  to  horse,  and  the  queen 
fled  to  a nunnery  at  Almesbury,  When 
the  abbess  died,  Guinevere  was  appointed 
her  successor,  and  remained  head  of  the 
nunnery  for  three  years,  when  she  died. 
{See  Guinever.) 

Guingelot.  The  boat  of  Wato  or 
Wade,  the  father  of  Weland,  and  son  of 
Vilkinr,  in  which  he  waded  over  the 
nine-ell  deep,  called  Groenasund,  with 
his  son  upon  his  shoulders.— 
vian  mythology. 

Guisan'do.  The  Bulls  of  Guisando. 
Five  monster  statues  of  antiquity,  to 
mark  the  scene  of  Ceesar’s  victory  over 
the  younger  Pompe^r. 

Guitar.  Greek  Idthara,  IjdMiicithara, 
Italian  chitarra,  French  guitar e.  The 
Greek  Jcithar  is  the  Hindu  cha*tar  (six- 
strings). 

Guitar.  The  best  players  on  this 
instrument  have  been  Guilia'ni,  Sor, 
Zoechi,  Stoll,  and  Horetzsky. 

Gules  (rod).  An  heraldic  term. 
The  most  honourable  heraldic  colour, 
signifying  valour,  justice,  and  veneration. 
Hence  it  was  given  to  kings  and  princes. 
The  royal  livery  of  England  is  gules  or 


374 


GULF. 


GUNTHER, 


scarlet.  (Persian,  gliul,  rose  or  rose- 
colour  ; French,  giieules^  the  mouth  and 
throat,  or  the  red  colour  thereof ; He- 
brew, guhf.de,  red  cloth.) 

With  man’s  blood  paint  the  ground,  gules,  gules. 

Shakespeare^  “ Timon  of  Athens^'  iv.  3, 

And  threw  warm  gules  on  Madeline’s  fair  breast. 

Keats,  “ Eve  of  St.  Agnes” 

Gulf.  A man  that  goes  in  for  honour 
at  Cambridge,  Le.,  a mathematical  degree, 
is  sometimes  too  bad  to  be  classed  with 
the  lowest  of  the  three  classes,  and  yet 
has  shown  sufficient  merit  to  pass.  When 
the  list  is  made  out  a line  is  drawn  after 
the  classes,  and  one  or  two  names  are 
appended.  These  names  are  in  the  gulf, 
and  those  so  honoured  are  gulfed.  In  the 
good  old  times  these  men  were  not 
qualified  to  stand  for  the  classical  tripos. 

The  ranks  of  our  curatehood  are  supplied  by  youths 
whom,  at  the  very  best,  merciful  examiners  have 
raised  from  the  very  gates  of  “ pluck  ” to  the  com- 
parative paradise  of  the  “ Gulf.”— Review. 

Gulf  Stream.  The  stream  which 
issues  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
extends  over  a range  of  3,000  miles,  rais- 
ing the  temperature  of  the  water  through 
which  it  passes,  and  of  the  lands  against 
which  it  flows.  It  washes  the  shores  of 
the  British  Isles,  and  runs  up  the  coast 
of  Norway. 

Gulistan  {garden  of  roses).  The 
famous  recueil  of  moral  sentences  by 
Saadi,  the  poet  of  Shiraz,  who  died  1291. 
(Persian  ghul,  a rose,  and  tan,  a region.) 

Gull.  A dupe,  one  easily  cheated. 
Wilbraham  says  all  unfledged  nestlings 
are  called  naked  gulls’’  yellow 

tint  of  their  skin.  (Icelandic  guls,  Danish 
guul,  yellow,  omv gold.)  {See  Bejan.) 

The  most  notorious  geek  and  gull 
That  e’er  invention  vdayed  on. 

Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night,”  v.  i. 

Gulliver  {Lemuel).  The  hero  of 
Swift’s  famous  Travels”  to  Lilliput, 
Brobdingnag,  Lapu'ta,  and  the  Houyhn- 
hnms  {Roo-nims). 

Gulna're  (2  syl.),  afterwards  called 
Kaled,  queen  of  the  haram,  and  fairest  of 
all  the  slaves  of  Seyd  {Seed).  She  was 
rescued  from  the  flaming  palace  by  lord 
Conrad,  the  corsair,  and  when  the  corsair 
was  imprisoned,  released  him  and  mur- 
dered the  sultan.  The  two  escaped  to 
the  Pirate’s  Isle,  but  when  Conrad  found 
that  Medo'ra,  his  betrothed,  was  dead, 
he  and  Gulnare  left  the  island  secretly, 
and  none  of  the  pirates  ever  knew  where 


they  went  to.  The  rest  of  the  tale  of 
Gulnare  is  under  the  new  name,  Kaled 
{g.v.).— Byron,  The  Corsair.^* 

Gummed  (1  syl.).  He  frets  like 
gummed  velvet  or  gummed  tajfety.  Velvet 
and  taffeta  were  sometimes  stiffened 
with  gum  to  make  them  sit  better,”  but 
being  very  stiff,  they  fretted  out  quickly. 

Gumption.  Wit  to  turn  things  to 
account,  capacity.  In  Yorkshire  we  hear 
the  phrase,  ^^I  canna  gaum  it”  (under- 
stand it,  make  it  out),  and  Gaum-tion  is 
the  capacity  of  understanding  or  making 
out. 

Gumption.  A nostrum  much  in  request 
by  painters  in  search  of  the  supposed 

lost  medium  ” of  the  old  masters,  and 
to  which  their  unapproachable  excellence 
is  ascribed.  The  medium  is  made  of  gum 
mastic  and  linseed-oil. 

Gun.  Sure  as  a gun  ; quite  certain. 
It  is  as  certain  to  happen  as  a gun  to  go 
off  if  the  trigger  is  pulled. 

Son  of  a gun.  A jovial  fellow.  A gun 
is  a large  flagon  of  ale. 

Hds  a great  gun.  A man  of  note.  The 
reference  is  not  to  artillery,  but  to  the 
ancient  flagons.  {See  above.) 

Gunner.  Kissing  the  Gunner's  daugh- 
ter ; being  flogged  on  board  ship.  Boys 
in  the  Royal  Navy  who  are  to  be  flogged 
are  first  tied  to  the  breech  of  a cannon. 

Gunpowder  Plot.  A project  of  a 
few  Roman  Catholics  to  destroy  James  I. 
with  the  lords  and  commons  assembled 
in  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  on  the  5th 
of  November,  1605.  It  was  to  be  done  by 
means  of  gunpowder  when  the  king  went 
in  |:)erson  to  open  Parliament.  Robert 
Catesby  originated  the  plot,  and  Guy 
Fawkes  undertook  to  fire  the  gunpowder. 

Gunter’s  Chain,  for  land  surveying, 
is  so  named  from  Edmund  Gunter,  its 
inventor  (1580-1626).  It  is  sixty- six  feet 
long,  and  divided  into  one  hundred  links. 
As  ten  square  chains  make  an  acre,  it  fol- 
lows that  an  acre  contains  100,000  square 
links. 

Gunther,  king  of  Burgundy  and 
brother  of  Kriem'hild.  He  resolved  to 
v/ed  Brunhild,  the  martial  queen  of  Iss- 
land,  who  had  made  a vow  that  none  should 
win  her  who  could  not  surpass  her  in 
three  trials  of  skill  and  strength.  The 
first  was  hurling  a spear,  the  second 
throwing  a stone,  and  the  third  was 


GUEGOILS. 


GUFON. 


375 


jumping.  The  spear  could  scarcely  be 
lifted  by  three  men.  The  queen  hurled 
it  towards  Gunther,  when  Siegfried,  in 
his  invisible  cloak,  reversed  it,  hurled  it 
back  again,  and  the  queen  was  knocked 
down.  The  stone  took  twelve  brawny 
champions  to  carry,  but  Brunhild  lifted 
it  on  high,  flung  it  twelve  fathoms,  and 
jumped  beyond  it.  Again  the  unseen 
Siegfried  came  to  his  friend’s  rescue,  and 
flung  the  stone  still  further,  and,  as  he 
leaped,  bore  Gunther  with  him.  The 
queen  was  overmastered,  and  exclaimed 
to  her  subjects,  I am  no  more  your 
mistress ; you  are  Gunther’s  liegemen 
now”  {Lied,  vii.).  After  the  marriage 
the  masculine  maid  behaved  so  obstre- 
perously that  Gunther  had  again  to  avail 
himself  of  his  friend’s  aid.  Siegfried 
entered  the  chamber  in  his  cloud-cloak, 
and  wrestled  with  the  bride  till  all  her 
strength  was  gone  ; then  he  drew  a ring 
from  her  finger,  and  took  away  her 
girdle.  After  which  he  left  her,  and  she 
became  a submissive  wife.  Gunther, 
with  unpardonable  ingratitude,  was  privy 
to  the  murder  of  his  friend  and  brother- 
in-law,  and  was  himself  slain  in  the 
dungeon  of  Etzel’s  palace  by  his  sister 
Kriemhild.  In  history  this  Burgundian 
king  is  called  Giin'tacher. — The  Nihel- 
ungen~Lied. 

Gurgoils.  {See  Gargouille.) 

Gurme  (2syl.).  The  Celtic  Cer'be- 
rus.  While  the  world  lasts  it  is  fastened 
at  the  mouth  of  a vast  cave,  but  at  the  end 
of  the  world  it  will  be  let  loose,  when  it 
will  attack  Tyr,  the  war-god,  and  kill  him. 
Gurney-Light,  {See  Bdde.) 

GuthTac  {St^,  of  Crowland,  Lincoln- 
shire, is  represented  in  Christian  art  as  a 
hermit  punishing  demons  with  a scourge, 
or  consoled  by  angels  while  demons 
torment  him. 

Guthrum.  Silwr  of  Guthrum,  or 
Silver  of  Guthrum’s  Lane.  Fine  silver 
was  at  one  time  so  called,  because  the 
chief  gold  and  silver  smiths  of  London 
resided  there  in  the  thirteenth  and  four- 
teenth centuries.  The  hall  of  the  Gold- 
smiths’ Company  is  still  in  the  same 
\oc,2i\\ty.— Riley,  Munimenta  GildhallceT 
Gutta  Percha.  Latin  gutta  (a  drop 
or  the  juice),  Percha  from  the  island  of 
Pulo  Percha.  The  juice  is  obtained  by 
cutting  the  bark  of  a variety  of  trees,  of 
the  order  called  Sapota'cea. 


^ Gutter  Lane  (London).  A corrup- 
tion of  Guthurun  Lane,  from  a Mr. 
Guthurun,  Goderoune,  or  Guthrum,  who, 
as  Stowe  informs  us,  possessed  the  chief 
property  therein.”  {See  Guthrum.) 

A ll  goes  down  Gutter  Lane.  He  spends 
everything  on  his  stomach.  The  play  is 
between  Gutter  Lane,  London,  oxidguttur 
(the  throat),  preserved  in  our  word  gut- 
tural (a  throat  letter). 

Guy.  The  Guiser  or  Guisard  was  the 
ancient  Scotch  mummer,  who  played  be- 
fore Yule ; hence  our  words  guise,  dis- 
g^iise,  guy,  &c. 

Guy.  The  Druids  were  called  Guys, 
whence  the  mistletoe  is  termed  in  French 
le gui.  {See  Guy-ropes.) 

Guy,  earl  of  Warwick.  An  Anglo - 
Danish  hero  of  wonderful  puissance. 
He  was  in  love  with  fair  Phelis  or  Felice, 
who  refused  to  listen  to  his  suit  till  he 
had  distinguished  himself  by  knightly 
deeds.  First,  he  rescued  the  daughter 
of  the  emperor  of  Germany  ‘^from  many 
a valiant  knight then  he  went  to 
Greece  to  fight  against  the  Saracens, 
and  slew  the  doughty  Coldran,  Elmaye 
, king  of  Tyre,  and  the  soldan  himself. 
Then  returned  he  to  England  and  wedded 
Phelis,  but  in  forty  days  he  returned  to 
the  Holy  Land,  where  he  redeemed  earl 
Jonas  out  of  prison,  slew  the  giant  Am'- 
arant,  and  many  others.  He  again  re- 
turned to  England,  andslewat  Wincho'^ter 
in  single  combat  Coibroiide  or  Colbrand, 
the  Danish  giant,  and  thus  redeemed 
England  from  Danish  tribute.  At  W ind- 
sor  he  slew  a boar  of  passing  might 
and  strength.”  On  Dunsmore  Heath  he 
slew  the  Dun-cow  of  Dunsmore,  a 
monstrous  wyld  and  cruell  beast.”  In 
Northumberland  he  slew  a dragon  “black 
as  any  cole,”  with  lion’s  paws,  wings, 
and  a hide  which  no  sword  could  pierce. 
Having  achieved  all  this,  he  became  a 
hermit  in  Warwick,  and  hewed  himself 
a cave  a mile  from  the  town.  Daily  he 
went  to  his  own  castle,  where  he  was  not 
known,  and  begged  bread  of  his  own 
wife  Phelis.  On  his  death-bed  he  sent 
Phelis  a ring,  by  which  she  recognised 
her  lord,  and  went  to  close  his  dying 
eyes.  (890-958.)  His  combat  with  Col- 
brand is  very  elaborately  told  in  Dray- 
ton’s “ Polyolbion.” 

I am  not  Sampson,  nor  Sir  Guy,  nor  Colbrand,  to 
mow  thorn  down  before  vae.— Shakespeare,  “ Henry 
VIII., " V.  3. 

Guyon  {Sir).  The  impersonation  of 


376  GUY-EOPES. 


GYEFALCOiT. 


Temperance  or  Self-government.  He 
destroys  the  witch  Acra'sia,  and  destroys 
her  bower,  called  the  Power  of  Bliss.” 
His  companion  was  Prudence. — S'pensevj 

Fcwry  Queen,'  bk.  ii. 

The  word  Guy  on  is  the  Spanish  guiar 
(to  guide),  and  the  word  Temperance 
is  the  Latin  tem'gyero  (to  guide). 

Guy-ropes.  Guide  or  guiding- 
ropes,  to  steady  heavy  goods  while  a- 
hoisting.  (Spanish  and  Portuguese, 
guia,  ixoxQ.  guiar,  to  guide.) 

Gwynn  (Nell).  An  actress,  and  one 
of  the  courtesans  of  Charles  II.  of  Eng- 
land (died  1687) . Sir  W alter  Scott  speaks 
of  her  twice  in  ^^Peveril  of  the  Peak;” 
in  ch.  xi.  he  speaks  of  the  smart  hu- 
mour of  Mrs.  Nelly,”  and  in  ch.  xl.  lord 
Chaffinch  says  of  Mrs.  Nelly,  wit  she 
has,  let  her  keep  herself  warm  with  it  in 
worse  company,  for  the  cant  of  strollers 
is  not  language  for  a prince’s  chamber.” 

Gyges’  King  rendered  the  wearer 
invisible.  Gyges,  the  Lydian,  is  the 
person  to  whom  Candau'les  showed  his 
wife  naked.  According  to  Plato,  Gyges 
descended  into  a chasm  of  the  earth, 
where  he  found  a brazen  horse  ; opening, 
the  sides  of  the  animal,  he  found  the 
carcase  of  a man,  from  whose  finger  he 
drew  off  a brazen  ring,  which  rendered 
him  invisible,  and  by  means  of  this  ring 
he  entered  the  king’s  chamber  and  mur- 
dered him. 

Why  did  you  think  that  you  had  Gvges’ring, 

Or  the  herb  that  gives  invisibility  ifern-seed)  ? 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher^  “ Fair  Maid  of  the  Inn’'  i.  1. 

The  wealth  of  Gyges.  Gyges  was  a 
Lydian  king,  who  married  Nyssia,  the 
young  widow  of  Candaules,  and  reigned 
thirty-eight  years.  He  amassed  such 
w^ealth  that  his  name  became  proverbial. 
(Reigned  b.c.  716-678.) 

Gymnas'ties.  Athletic  games.  The 
word  is  from  gymna'sium,  a public  place 
set  apart  in  Greece  for  athletic  sports, 
which  were  done  naked.  (Greek,  gumnos, 
naked.) 

Gymnos'opliists.  A sect  of  Indian 
philosophers  who  went  about  with  naked 
feet  and  almost  without  clothing.  They 
lived  in  woods,  subsisted  on  roots,  and 
never  married.  They  believed  in  the 
transmigration  of  souls.  Strabo  divides 
them  into  Brahmins  and  Samans.  (Greek, 
gumnos,  naked;  sophistes,  sages.) 

Gy'neth.  Natural  daughter  of  Guen'- 


dolen  and  king  Arthur.  Arthur  swore 
to  Guendolen  that  if  she  brought  forth  a 
boy,  he  should  be  his  heir,  and  if  a girl, 
he  would  give  her  in  marriage  to  the 
bravest  knight  of  his  kingdom.  One 
pentecost  a beautiful  damsel  presented 
herself  to  king  Arthur,  and  claimed  the 
promise  made  to  Guendolen ; accordingly 
a tournament  was  proclaimed,  and  the 
warder  given  to  (Jyneth.  The  king 
prayed  her  to  drop  the  warder  before 
the  combat  turned  to  earnest  warfare, 
but  Gyneth  haughtily  refused,  and  twenty 
knights  of  the  Round  Table  fell  in  the 
tournament,  amongst  whom  was  young 
Vanoc,  son  of  Merlin.  Immediately  Vanoc 
fell,  the  form  of  Merlin  rose,  put  a stop 
to  the  fight,  and  caused  Gyneth  to  fall 
into  a trance  in  the  Valley  of  St.  John, 
from  which  she  was  never  to  awake  till 
some  knight  came  forward  for  her  hand, 
as  brave  as  those  which  were  slain 
in  the  tournay.  Five  hundred  years 
passed  away  before  the  spell  was  broken, 
and  then  De  Vaux  undertook  the  adven- 
ture of  breaking  the  spell.  He  overcame 
four  temptations— fear,  avarice,  pleasure, 
and  ambition,  when  Gyneth  awoke,  the 
enchantment  was  dissolved,  and  Gyneth 
became  the  bride  of  the  bold  warrior. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bridal  of  Triermainf 
c.  ii. 

Gyp.  A college-servant,  whose  office 
is  that  of  a gentleman’s  servant,  waiting 
on  two  or  more  collegians  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Cambridge.  He  differs  from  a 
bed-maker,  inasmuch  as  he  does  not 
make  beds  ; but  he  runs  on  errands, 
waits  at  table,  wakes  men  for  morning 
chapel,  brushes  their  clothes,  and  so  on. 
His  perquisites  are  innumerable,  and 
he  is  called  a gyp  (vulture,  Greek)  be- 
cause he  preys  upon  his  employer  like  a 
vulture.  At^Oxford  they  are  called  scouts. 

Gypsy.  (See  Gipsy.) 

Gyr falcon.  Gerfalcon,  or  Jer falcon. 
A native  of  Iceland  and  Norway,  highest 
in  the  list  of  hawks  for  falconry.  Gyr  ” 
or  ^^Ger”  is,  I think,  the  Dutch  gier,  a 
vulture.  It  is  called  the  **  vulture- 
falcon  ” because,  like  the  vulture,  its 
beak  is  not  toothed.  The  common  ety- 
mology from  hieros,  sacrad,  ^^becausethe 
Egyptians  held  the  hawk  to  be  sacred,” 
is  utterly  worthless.  Besides  Ger-falcons, 
we  have  Gier-eagles,  Lammer-giers,  &c. 
(German,  gier,  greedy.)  (See  Hawk.) 


H. 


HAD  A, 


377 


H 

H.  This  letter  represents  a stile  or 
hedge.  It  is  called  in  Hebrew  heth  or  chetli 
(a  hedge). 

II.!B.(Mr.  Doyle,  father  of  Mr.  Kichard 
Doyle,  connected  with  Punch),  the  politi- 
cal caricaturist,  died  1868. 

H.M.S.  His  or  Her  Majesty’s  service 
or  ship,  as  H.M.S.  Wellington, 

Habeas  Corpus.  The  '^Habeas 
Corpus  Act  ” was  passed  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.,  and  defined  a provision  of 
similar  character  in  Magna  Charta,  to 
which  also  it  added  certain  details.  The 
Act  provides  (1)  That  any  man  taken  to 
prison  can  insist  that  the  person  who 
charges  him  with  crime  shall  bring  him 
bodily  before  a judge,  and  state  the  why 
and  wherefore  of  his  detention.  As  soon 
as  this  is  done,  the  judge  is  to  decide 
whether  or  not  the  accused  is  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  bail.  [No  one,  therefore,  can 
be  imprisoned  on  mere  suspicion,  and 
no  one  can  be  left  in  prison  any  indefinite 
time  at  the  caprice  of  the  powers  that  be. 
Imprisonment,  in  fact,  must  be  either  for 
punishment  after  conviction,  or  for  safe 
custody  till  the  time  of  trial.] 

(2)  It  provides  that  every  person  ac- 
cused of  crime  shall  have  the  question 
of  his  guilt  decided  by  a jury  of  twelve 
men,  and  not  by  a Government  agent  or 
nominee. 

(3)  No  prisoner  can  be  tried  a second 
time  on  the  same  charge. 

(4)  Every  prisoner  may  insist  on  being 
examined  within  twenty  days  of  his  arrest, 
and  tried  by  jury  the  next  session. 

(5)  No  defendant  is  to  be  sent  to  prison 
beyond  the  seas,  either  within  or  without 
the  British  dominions. 

The  exact  meaning  of  the  words  77a- 
heas  Corpus  is  this : You  are  to  produce 
the  body.”  That  is.  You,  the  accuser, 
are  to  bring  before  the  judge  the  body  of 
the  accused,  that  he  may  be  tried  and 
receive  the  av/ard  of  the  court,  and  you 
(the  accused)  are  to  abide  by  the  award 
of  the  judge. 

Suspension  of  Haheas  Corpus.  When 
the  Habeas  Corpus  Act  is  suspended  the 
Crown  can  imprison  persons  on  suspicion, 
without  giving  any  reason  for  so  doing  ; 
the  person  so  arrested  cannot  insist  on 
being  brought  before  a judge  to  decide 
whether  or  not  he  can  be  admitted  to 


bail ; it  is  not  needful  to  try  the  prisoner 
at  the  following  assize ; and  the  prisoner 
may  be  confined  in  any  prison  the  Crown 
chooses  to  select  for  the  purpose. 

Haberdaslier,  from  hapertas,  a cloth 
the  width  of  which  was  settled  by  Magna 
Charta.  A ‘Giapertas-er  ” is  the  seller 
of  hapertas-erie.  . 

To  match  this  saint  there  was  an:ther, 

As  busy  and  perverse  a brother, 

An  haberda-^her  of  small  wares 
In  politics  and  state  affairs. 

Butler,  “ HudibrasP  iii.  % 

Habit  is  Second  Hature.  The 
wise  saw  of  Diogenes,  the  cynic.  (B.C.  412- 
323.) 

Habsburg  is  a contraction  of 
Habichts-hurg  (Hawk’s  Tower),  so  called 
from  the  castle  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Aar,  built  in  the  eleventh  century  by 
Werner,  bishop  of  Strasburg,  whose  ne- 
phew (Werner  II.)  was  the  first  to  as- 
sume the  title  of  Count  of  Habsburg.” 
His  great-grandson,  Albrecht  II.,  as- 
sumed the  title  of  Landgraf  of  Sund- 
gau.”  tiis  grandson,  Albrecht  IV.,  in 
the  thirteenth  century,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  the  greatness  of  the  House  of 
Habsburg,  of  which  the  imperial  family 
of  Austria  are  the  representatives. 

H aekell’s  Coit.  A vast  stone  near 
Stantin  Drew,  in  Somersetshire ; so  called 
from  a tradition  that  it  was  a coit  thrown 
by  Sir  J ohn  Hautville.  In  Wiltshire  three 
huge  stones  near  Kennet  are  called  the 
Peril's  coits. 

Hackney,  from  the  French  hciqiienh 
(a  cob-horse),  Italian  acchinea.  The 
Romance  word  haque  is  a horse  (Latin 
equus).  The  French  were  accustomed  to 
let  out  their  cob-horses  for  short  jour- 
neys, and  at  a later  period  they  were 
harnessed  to  a plain  vehicle  called,  coche- 
ci-haquenie. 

The  knights  are  well  horsed,  and  the  common  people 
and  others  on  litell /inA;ene.y5  and  geldynges.— i'h’ots- 
sart. 

Hackum  (Ca^:>^am).  A thick-headed 
bully  of  Alsa'tia,  impudent  but  cowardly, 
tie  was  once  a sergeant  in  Flanders,  but 
ran  from  his  colours,  and  took  refuge  in 
7dsa'tia,  where  he  was  dubbed  captain. — 
Shadwell,  Squire  of  A Isatia." 

Haco  I.  His  sword  was  called  Quern- 
Biter  ifoot-breadi/i). 

Hada.  The  Juno  of  the  Babylonians. 


378 


Haddock. 


hagaH. 


Haddock.  According  to  tradition  it 
was  a haddock  in  whose  mouth  St.  Peter 
found  the  stater  (or  piece  of  money), 
and  the  two  marks  on  the  fish’s  neck  are 
said  to  be  the  impressions  of  the  apostle’s 
finger  and  thumb.  It  is  a pity  that  the 
person  who  invented  this  pretty  story 
forgot  that  salt-water  haddocks  cannot 
live  in  the  fresh  water  of  the  lake  Gen- 
nesaret. 

O superstitious  dainty,  Peter’s  fish. 

How  com’st  thou  here  to  make  so  goodly  dish  ? 

MetdluSy  “ Dialogues'*  (1G93.) 

liases.  Either  the  god  of  the  in- 
fernal regions,  or  the  infernal  regions 
themselves.  The  word  means  Unseen 
(Greek,  aides.). 

Ha'dith.  {a  legend').  The  traditions 
about  Mahomet  the  Prophet’s  sayings 
and  doings.  This  compilation  forms  a 
supplement  to  the  Koran,  as  the  Talmud 
to  the  Jewish  Scriptures.  Like  the 
Jewish  Gema'ra,  the  ^‘Ha'dith”  was  not 
allowed  originally  to  be  committed  to 
writing,  but  the  danger  of  the  traditions 
being  perverted  or  forgotten  led  to  their 
being  placed  on  record. 

Hadj.  The  pilgrimage  to  Kaa'ba 
(temple  of  Mecca),  which  every  Mahome- 
tan feels  bound  to  make  once  at  least 
before  death.  Those  who  neglect  to  do 
so  might  as  well  die  Jews  or  Chris- 
tians.” (Hebrew  hag,  the  festival  of 
Jewish  pilgrimages  to  Jerusalem.) 

Hadji.  A pilgrim,  a Mahometan  who 
has  made  the  Hadj  or  pilgrimage  to  the 
Prophet’s  tomb  at  Mecca.  Every  Hadji 
is  entitled  to  wear  a green  turban. 

Haemony.  Milton,  in  his  Comus,’* 
says  haemony  is  of  sovereign  use  ’gainst 
all  enchantments,  mildew,  blast,  or 
damp.”  Coleridge  says  the  word  is 
hcema-oinos  (blood-wine),  and  refers  to 
the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  destroys 
all  evil.  The  leaf,  says  Milton,  had 
prickles  on  it,”  but  it  bore  a bright 
golden  flower.”  The  'pricJcles  are  the 
crown  of  thorns,  the  jlower  the  fruits  of 
salvation. 

This  interpretation  is  so  in  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  Milton,  that  it  is  far 
preferable  to  the  suggestions  that  the 
plant  ag'rimony  or  allysum  was  intended, 
for  why  should  Milton  have  changed  the 
name? 

Dioscor'ides  ascribes  similar  powers  to 
the  herb  allysum,  which,  as  he  says. 


^H^eepeth  man  and  beast  from  enchant- 
ments and  witching.  ” 

Hsemos.  A range  of  mountains 
separating  Thrace  and  Moe'sia,  called  by 
the  classic  writers  Cold  Hcemos.  (Greek 
cheimon,  winter ; Latin  hiems,  Sanskrit 
hima.) 

O'er  high  Pier'ia  thence  her  course  she  bore, 

O'er  fair  Emath'ia’s  ever-pleasing  shore  ; 

O’er  Haemus’  hills  with  snows  eternal  crown’d, 

Nor  once  her  flying  foot  approached  the  ground. 

Pope,  ‘'Iliad'*  xiv, 

Hafed.  A Gheber  or  Fire-worshipper, 
in  love  with  Hinda,  the  Arabian  emir’s 
daughter,  whom  he  first  saw  when  he 
entered  the  palace  under  the  hope  of 
being  able  to  slay  her  father,  the  tyratit 
usurper  of  Persia.  He  was  the  leader  of 
a band  sworn  to  free  their  country  or  die, 
and  his  name  was  a terror  to  the  Arab, 
who  looked  upon  him  as  superhuman. 
His  rendezvous  was  betrayed  by  a traitor 
comrade,  but  when  the  Moslem  army 
came  to  take  him  he  threw  himself  into 
the  sacred  fire,  and  was  burnt  to  death. — 
Thomas  Moore. 

Hafiz,  the  great  Persian  lyrist,  called 
the  ‘‘Persian  Anacreon”  (fourteenth 
century).  His  odes  are  called  ghazels, 
and  are  both  sweet  and  graceful.  The 
word  hafiz  (retainer)  is  a degree  given  to 
those  who  know  by  heart  the  Koran  and 
Hadith  (traditions). 

Hag.  So  called  from  hah  (a  species 
of  snake),  whence  hag- worms  (snakes). 

How  now,  you  secret,  black,  and  midnight  hags  ? 

Shakespeare,  “Macbeth,"  iv,  l. 

Hagan  of  Trony  ovHaco  of  Norway, 
son  of  Aldrian,  liegeman  of  Giinther,  king 
of  Burgundy.  Gunther  invited  Siegfried 
to  a hunt  of  wild  beasts,  but  while  the 
king  of  Netherland  stooped  to  drink  from 
a brook,  Hagan  stabbed  him  between  the 
shoulders,  the  only  vulnerable  point  in 
his  whole  body.  He  then  deposited  the 
dead  body  at  the  door  of  Kriemhild’s 
chamber,  that  she  might  stumble  on  it 
when  she  went  to  matins,  and  suppose 
that  he  had  been  murdered  by  assassins. 
When  Kriemhild  sent  to  Worms  for  the 
“ Nibelung  Hoard,”  Hagan  seized  it,  and 
buried  it  secretly  somewhere  beneath  the 
Khine,  intending  himself  to  enjoy  it. 
Kriemhild,  with  a view  of  vengeance, 
married  Etzel,  king  of  the  Huns,  and 
after  the  lapse  of  seven  years,  invited 
the  king  of  Burgundy,  with  Hagan  and 
many  others,  to  the  court  of  her  hus- 


HAGGADA. 


HAiR. 


879 


band,  but  the  invitation  was  a mere  snare. 
A terrible  broil  was  stirred  up  in  the 
banquet  hall,  which  ended  in  the  slaugh- 
ter of  all  the  Burgundians  but  two  (Giin- 
ther  and  Hagan),  who  were  taken  prisoners 
and  given  to  Kriemhild,  who  cut  off  both 
their  heads.  Hagan  lost  an  eye  when  he 
fell  upon  Walter  of  Spain  as  he  was  dining 
on  the  chine  of  a wild  boar.  Walter  pelted 
him  with  the  bones,  one  of  which  struck 
him  in  the  eye.  His  person  is  thus  de- 
scribed in  the  great  German  epic  : — 

"Well-grown  and  well-compacted  was  1 hat  redoubted 
guest ; 

Long  were  his  legs  and  sinewy,  and  deep  and  broad 
his  chest ; 

His  hair,  that  once  was  sable,  with  grey  was  dashed 
of  late  ; 

Most  terrible  his  visage,  and  lordly  was  his  gait. 

The  “ Nibelungeu'Lied.’’  Stanza  1789. 

Hag'gada.  The  free  rabbinical 
interpretation  of  Scripture.  (Hebrew 
hogged^  to  relate.) 

Hag-knots.  Tangles  in  the  manes 
of  wild  ponies,  supposed  to  be  used  by 
witches  for  stirrups.  The  term  is  com- 
mon in  the  New  Forest.  Seamen  use  the 
word  hag's-teeth  to  express  those  parts  of 
a matting,  &c.,  which  spoil  its  general 
uniformity. 

Hagring.  The  Fata  Morga'na. — 
(Jicandinaviaii). 

Haknemann  (Samuet).  A German 
physician,  who  set  forth  in  his  ^'Organon 
of  Medicine  ” the  system  which  he  called 
^^homoeopathy,’.’  the  principles  of  which 
are  these  : (1)  that  diseases  are  cured  by 
those  medicines  which  would  produce 
the  disease  in  healthy  bodies ; (2)  that 
medicines  are  to  be  simple  and  not 
compounded ; (3)  that  doses  are  to  be 
exceedingly  minute.  (1755-1843.) 

Haidee.  A beautiful  Greek  girl, 
who  found  Don  Juan  when  he  was  cast 
ashore,  and  restored  him  to  animation. 
‘^Her  hair  was  auburn,  and  her  eyes 
were  black  as  death.”  Her  mother,  a 
Moorish  woman  from  Fez,  was  dead,  and 
her  father,  Lambro,  a rich  Greek  pirate, 
was  living  on  one  of  the  Cyclades.  She 
and  Juan  fell  in  love  with  each  other 
during  the  absence  of  Lambro  from  the 
island.  On  his  return  Juan  was  ar- 
rested, placed  in  a galliot,  and  sent  from 
the  island.  Haidee  went  mad,  and  after 
a lingering  illness,  died.  — Byron ^ Bon 
Juan/’  can.  ii.,  hi,,  iv. 


Hail.  Health,  an  exclamation  of 
welcome,  like  the  Latin  Salve  (Saxon, 
hael). 

All  hail,  Macbeth  ! Hail  to  thee,  thane  of  Gla'mis  ! 

Shakespeare,  “ Macbeth”  i.  3. 

He  ibas  Hail-jeUow  neU-met  with  every 
one;  on  easy,  familiar  terras.  Hailing 
every  one  with  courtesy,  and  making 
every  one  believe  that  it  was  well  they 
had  met  together.  {See  Jockey.) 

I f ail  fellow  well  met,  all  dirty  and  wrt ; 

Find  out,  if  you  can,  who’s  master,  who’s  man. 

Swift,  “ Jfy  Lady's  Lamentation;* 

Hair.  One  single  tuft  is  left  on  the 
shaven  crown  of  a Mussulman,  for  the 
angel  to  grasp  hold  of  when  conveying 
the  deceased  to  Paradise. 

The  scalp-lock  of  the  North  American 
Indians,  left  on  the  otherwise  bald  head 
for  a conquering  enemy  to  seize  when 
he  tears  off  the  scalp,  is  somewhat 
analagous. 

A hair  of  the  dog  that  hit  yon  (simiVia 
simiFibus  curantur).  In  Scotland  it  is  a 
popular  belief  that  a few  hairs  of  the  dog 
that  bit  you  applied  to  the  wound  will 
prevent  evil  consequences. 

Take  the  hair,  it’s  well  written. 

Of  the  dog  by  which  you’re  f itten  ; 

AVork  off  one  wine  by  his  brother. 

And  one  hibour  wii>h  another  ... 

Cook  with  cook,  and  strife  w th  strife  ; 
Business  with  business,  wife  Avitli  wife. 

Athenceus  [ascribed  to  Aristophanes). 

Hair  of  a dissemhling  colour.  Red  hair 
is  so  called,  from  the  notion  that  Judas 
had  red  hair. 

Rosalind.  His  very  hair  is  of  the  dissembling 
colour  {red). 

Celia.  Somewhat  browner  than  J udas’s. 

Shakespeare,  “As  You  Like  It,**  iii.  4. 

Against  the  hair.  Against  the  grain, 
contrary  to  its  nature. 

If  you  should  fight  you  go  against  the  hair  of  your 
prefeiSiODS.— iS^ftAres/ieaj’e,  "Merry  Wives  of  Windsor*’ 

ii.  3. 

Hair  hy  hair,  you  will  pidl  out  the  horse’s 
tail.  Plutarch  says  that  Serto'rius,  in 
order  to  teach  his  soldiers  that  persever- 
ance and  wit  are  better  than  brute  force, 
had  two  horses  brought  before  them,  and 
set  two  men  to  pull  out  their  tails.  One 
of  the  men  was  a burly  Hercules,  who 
tugged  and  tugged,  but  all  to  no  purpose ; 
the  other  was  a sharp,  weasen- faced  tailor, 
who  plucked  one  hair  at  a time,  amidst 
roars  of  laughter,  and  soon  left  the  tail 
quite  bare. 

The  three  hairs.  When  Reynard  wanted 


380 


HAIR  STANE. 


HALGAVER. 


to  get  talked  about,  be  told  Miss  Magpie, 
under  the  promise  of  secrecy,  that  ^Hhe 
lion  king  had  given  him  three  hairs  from 
the  fifth  leg  of  the  a'moronthol'ogos'pho- 
rus  ...  a beast  that  lives  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river  Cylinx  ; it  has  five 
leg’s,  and  on  the  fifth  leg  there  are  three 
hairs,  and  whoever  has  these  three  hairs 
will  be  young  and  beautiful  for  ever.” 
They  had  effect  only  on  the  fair  sex,  and 
could  be  given  only  to  the  lady  whom 
the  donor  married. — Si7'  E.  B.  Lytton, 

Pilgrims  of  the  Rhine  f xii. 

Hcdr-hreadth  'scape.  A very  narrow 
escape  from  some  evil.  In  measurement 
the  forty- eighth  part  of  an  inch  is  called 
a ^Hiair- breadth.” 

Wherein  I spahe  of  most  disastrous  chances. 

Of  moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field, 

Of  hair-breadth  ’scapes  i’th' imminent  deadly  breach. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,”  i.  3. 

Hair  Stane  {Celtic)  means  boun- 
dary stone ; a monolith  sometimes,  but 
erroneously  termed  a Druidical  stone. 
{Scotland.') 

Haiz'um  (3  syl.).  The  horse  on  which 
the  archangel  Gabriel  was  mounted  when 
he  led  a squadron  of  3,000  against  the 
Koreishites  (3  syl.),  in  the  famous  battle 
of  Bedr. 

Hajj.  Hadj.) 

Hake.  We  lose  in  halcCf  hid  gain  in 
herring.  Lose  one  way,  but  gain  in 
another.  Herrings  are  persecuted  by 
the  hakes,  which  are  therefore  driven 
away  from  a herring  fishery. 

Halaclia  {ride).  The  Jewish  oral 
law.  {See  Gemara,  Mishna.) 

Halberj  ects  or  Haulergets.  A coarse 
thick  cloth  used  for  the  habits  of  monks. 
Thomson  says  it  is  the  German  ahhergen 
(cover-all)  or  Hals-bergen  (neck-cover). — 
Essay  on  Magna  Charta. 

Halcyon  Days.  A time  of  happi- 
ness and  prosperity.  Halcyon,  is  the 
Greek  for  a king-fisher,  compounded  of 
hals  (the  sea)  and  hiio  (to  brood  on).  The 
ancient  Sicilians  believed  that  the  king- 
fisher laid  its  eggs  and  incubated  for 
fourteen  days,  before  the  winter  solstice, 
on  the  surface  of  the  sea,  during  which 
time  the  waves  of  the  sea  were  always 
unruffled. 

Amidst  our  arms  as  quiet  you  shall  be 
As  halcyon  brooding  on  a winter’s  sea, 

Dry  den. 

The  peaceful  king-fishers  are  met  together 
About  the  deck,  and  prophesie  calm  weather. 

Wild,  “ Iter  Boreale  " 


Half.  Half  is  more  than  the  whole. 
(nXeov  niaidv  TravTor),  This  is  what  Hesiod 
said  to  his  brother  Perseus,  when  he 
wished  him  to  settle  a dispute  without 
going  to  law.  He  meant  ‘^half  of  the 
estate  without  the  expense  of  law  will  be 
better  than  the  whole  after  the  lawyers 
have  had  their  pickings.”  The  remark, 
however,  has  a very  wide  signification. 
Thus  an  embarras  de  richesse  is  far  less 
profitable  than  a sufficiency.  A large 
estate  to  one  who  cannot  manage  it  is 
impoverishing.  A man  of  small  income 
will  be  poorer  with  a large  house  and 
garden  to  keep  up  than  if  he  lived  in  a 
smaller  tenement.  Increase  of  wealth,  if 
expenditure  is  more  in  proportion,  tend- 
eth  to  poverty. 

TJnharpy  they  to  whom  God  has  not  revealed. 

By  a strong  light  v/hich  must  their  sense  control. 
That  half  a great  e:'tate’s  more  than  the  whole. 

Cowley,  “ Essays  in  Verse  and  Prose,”  No.  iv. 

Half  Done.  Half  done,  as  Elgin 
was  burnt.  In  the  wars  between  James 
II.  of  Scotland  and  the  Douglases  in 
1452,  the  earl  of  Huntly  burnt  one-half  of 
the  town  of  Elgin,  being  the  side  which 
belonged  to  the  Douglases,  but  left  the 
other  side  standing,  because  it  belonged 
to  his  own  family.— /StV  Walter  Scott, 
Tales  of  a Grandfather  f xxi. 
Half-seas  over.  Almost  up  with 
one.  Now  applied  to  a person  almost 
dead  drunk.  The  phrase  seems  to  be  a 
corruption  of  the  Dutch  op-zee  zober, 
over-sea  beer,”  a strong  heady  beverage 
introduced  into  Holland  from  England 
{Gifford).  ‘^Up-zee  ITeese”  is  Frieze- 
land  beer.  The  German  zauber  means 
^^strong-beer”  and  ‘^bewitchment.” 

I am  half-seas  o’er  to  death. 

Dryden,. 

I do  not  like  the  dulness  of  your  eye, 

It  hath  a heavy  cast,  ’tis  upsee  Dutch, 

Ben  Jonson,  Alchemist,”  iv.  2. 

Halgaver.  Summoned  before  the 
Mayor  of  Halgaver.  The  mayor  of  Hal- 
gaver is  an  imaginary  person,  and  the 
threat  is  given  to  those  who  have  com- 
mitted no  offence  against  the  laws,  but 
are  simply  untidy  and  slovenly.  Hal- 
gaver is  a moor  in  Cornwall,  near  Bod- 
min, famous  for  an  annual  carnival  held 
there  in  the  middle  of  July.  Charles  II. 
was  so  pleased  with  the  diversions  when 
he  passed  through  the  place  on  his  way 
to  Scilly,  that  he  became  a member  of 
i the  “ self-constituted  ” corporation.  The 
i Mayor  of  Garratt  {q.v.)  is  a similar  “ mag- 
! nate.” 


HALIFAX, 


HALLOWEEN. 


381 


Halifax.  The  name  of  this  Y ork shire 
town  is  derived  from  Saxon  halig,  holy, 
and  feaXf  hair,  from  the  sacred  hair  of  a 
certain  virgin  who  was  murdered  because 
she  would  not  surrender  her  virtue,  and 
was  afterwards  canonised. 

Halifax  (in  Nova  Scotia).  So  called 
by  the  Hon.  Edward  Cornwallis,  the 
governor,  in  compliment  to  his  patron, 
the  Earl  of  Halifax.  (1749.) 

Halifax  Law.  By  this  Taw  whoever 
commits  theft  in  the  liberty  of  Halifax 
is  to  be  executed  on  the  Halifax  gibbet, 
a kind  of  guillotine. 

At  Hallifax  the  law  so  sliarpe  doth  d^ale, 

That  whoso  more  than  thirteen  pence  doth  steale, 

They  iiave  a jyn  that  wondrous  qnick  and  well 

Sends  thieves  all  headless  into  he  iven  or  hell. 

Taylor  (the  Water  poet),  “ Works,'’  ii.  (1630). 

Hall  Mark.  The  mark  on  gold  or 
silver  articles  after  they  have  been  as- 
sayed. Every  article  in  gold  is  compared 
with  a given  standard  of  pure  gold.  This 
standard  is  supposed  to  be  divided  into 
twenty-four  parts  called  carats ; gold 
equal  to  the  standard  is  said  to  be  twenty- 
four  carats  fine.  Manufactured  articles 
are  never  made  of  pure  gold,  but  the 
quantity  of  alloy  used  is  restricted.  Thus 
sovereigns  and  wedding  rings  contain 
two  parts  of  alloy  to  every  twenty-two 
of  gold  ; and  are  said  to  be  twenty- two 
cai’ats  fine.  Gold  watch-cases  contain 
six  parts  of  silver  or  copper  to  eighteen 
of  gold,  and  are  therefore  eighteen  carats 
fine.  Other  articles  may  contain  nine, 
twelve,  or  fifteen  parts  of  alloy,  and  only 
fifteen,  twelve,  or  nine  of  gold.  The 
Mint  price  of  standard  gold  is  £3  17s. 
lO^^d.  per  ounce,  or  £46  14s.  6d.  per 
pound. 

Standard  silver  consists  of  thirty-seven 
parts  of  pure  silver  and  three  of  copper. 
The  Mint  price  is  5s.  6d.  an  ounce,  but 
silver  to  be  melted  is  worth  sixpence  an 
ounce  less. 

Suppose  the  article  to  be  marked  is 
taken  to  the  assay  office  for  the  hall 
mark.  It  will  receive  a leopard’s  head 
for  London  ; an  anchor  for  Birmingham  ; 
three  wheat  sheaves  or  a dagger  for  Chester ; 
a castle  xciih  two  wings  for  Exeter ; five 
lions  and  a cross  for  York  ; a croivn  for 
Sheffield  ; three  castles  for  Newcastle- on- 
Tyne ; a thistle  or  castle  and  lion  for 
Edinburgh ; a tree  and  a salmon  with  a 
ring  in  its  mouth  for  Glasgow  ; a harp  or 
Hibernia  for  Dublin,  &c.  The  specific 


mark  shows  at  once  where  the  article 
was  assayed. 

Besides  the  hall  mark,  there  is  also 
the  standard  mark,  which  for  England 
is  a lion  passant ; for  Edinburgh  a thistle; 
for  Glasgow  a lion  rampant;  and  for 
Ireland  a croimied  harp.  If  the  article 
stamped  contains  less  pure  metal  than 
the  standard  coin  of  the  realm,  the 
number  of  carats  is  marked  on  it,  as 
eighteen,  fifteen,  twelve,  or  nine  carats 
fine. 

Besides  the  hall  mark,  the  standard 
mark,  and  the  figure,  there  is  a letter 
called  the  date  mark.  Only  twenty 
letters  are  used,  beginning  with  A,  omit- 
ting J,  and  ending  with  V ; one  year 
they  are  in  Roman  characters,  another 
year  in  Italian,  another  in  Gothic,  another 
in  Old  English ; sometimes  they  are  all 
capitals,  sometimes  all  small  letters ; so 
by  seeing  the  letter  and  referring  to  a 
table,  the  exact  year  of  the  mark  can  be 
discovered. 

Lastly,  the  head  of  the  reigning  sove- 
reign completes  the  marks. 

Hall’  Sunday.  The  Sunday  pre- 
ceding Shrove  Tuesday;  the  next  day 
is  called  Hall’  Monday,  and  Shrove 
Tuesday  eve  is  called  Hall’  Night.  The 
Tuesday  is  also  called  pancake-day,  and 
the  day  preceding  callop  Monday,  from 
the  special  foods  popularly  prepared  for 
those  days.  All  three  were  days  of 
merrymaking.  Hall’  or  Halle  is  a con- 
traction of  Hallow  or  Haloghe,  meaning 
holy  or  festival. 

Hall  of  Odin.  The  rocks,  such  as 
Halleberg  and  Hunneberg,  from  which 
the  Hyperboreans,  when  tired  of  life, 
used  to  cast  themselves  into  the  sea  ; so 
called  because  they  were  the  vestibule 
of  the  Scandinavian  Elysium. 

Hallelujah.  Victory.  A victory 
gained  by  some  newly-baptised  Bretons, 
led  by  Germa'nus,  bishop  of  Auxerre 
(a.D.  429).  The  conquerors  commenced 
the  battle  with  loud  shouts  of  Hallelu- 
jah ! ” 

Hallifax.  {See  Halifax.) 

Halloween,  according  to  Scotch 
superstition,  is  the  time  when  witches, 
devils,  fairies,  and  other  imps  of  earth 
and  air  hold  annual  holiday.  Robert 
Burns,  in  his  poem  called  Halloween,” 
has  recorded  the  chief  customs  observed 


382 


HALTIOS. 


HANAP. 


and  credulities  entertained  by  his  coun- 
trymen on  this  high  festival. 

Haltios.  In  Laplandic  mythology, 
the  guardian  spirits  of  mount  Nie'mi. 

From  this  heiaht  (Nie'mi,  in  Lapland)  v?e  had 
opportunity  several  times  to  see  those  vapours 
rise  from  the  lake,  ■which  the  people  of  the  counp  y 
call  Haltios,  and  which  they  deem  to  1 e the  guardian 
spirits  of  the  mountain.— 3/.  de  Maiipertuis. 

Ham  and  Heyd.  Storm- demons 
or  weather-sprites. — Scandinavian  my- 
thology. 

Though  valour  never  should  be  scorned, 

Yet  now  the  storm  rules  wide; 

By  now  again  to  life  returned 
ill  -wager  Ham  and  Heyd. 

Fnthiof  Saga,  “Lay  act.” 

Hameh.  In  Arabian  mythology,  a 
bird  formed  from  the  blood  near  the 
brains  of  a murdered  man.  This  bird 
cries  Iskoo'nee !”  (Give  me  drink!), 
meaning  drink  of  the  murderer’s  blood  ; 
and  this  it  cries  incessantly  till  the  death 
is  avenged,  when  it  flies  away. 

Hamet.  The  Cid  Hamet  Benengi'li. 
The  hypothetical  Moorish  chronicler  from 
whom  Cervantes  professes  to  derive  his 
adventures  of  Don  Quixote. 

Of  the  two  had  cassocks  I am  worth  . . I would 
have  given  the  latter  of  them  as  freely  as  even  Cid 
Hamet  oifered  his  ...  to  have  stood  by.— Sterne. 

Hamilton.  The  reik  of  Mr.  Patrick 
Hamilton  has  infected  as  many  as  it  did 
blow  upon,  i.e.,  all  who  came  under  his 
influence  were  converted  to  his  way  of 
thinking.  Patrick  Hamilton  was  one  of 
the  most  influential  precursors  of  the 
Scotch  Eeformation.  (1504-1528.) 

Hamilto'nian  System.  A method 
of  teaching  foreign  languages  by  inter- 
linear translations,  suggested  by  James 
Hamilton,  a merchant.  (1769-1831.) 

Hamlet.  A daft  person  (Icelandic 
amlodh),  one  who  is  irresolute  and  can  do 
nothing  fully.  Shakespeare’s  play  is 
based  on  the  Danish  story  of  Amleth’ 
recorded  in  Saxo-Grammat'icus. 

Hammer. 

(1)  Pierre  d’Ailly,  Le  Marteau  des 
HerUiques,  president  of  the  council  that 
condemned  John  Huss.  (1350-1425.) 

(2)  Judas  Asmonaeus,  surnanied  Mac- 
cahceus,  ‘^the  hammer.”  (b.c.  166-161.) 

(3)  St.  Augustine  is  called  by  Hake-  ! 
well  ^^That  renowned  pillar  of  truth  and  | 
hammer  of  heresies.”  (39.5-430.) 

(4)  John  Faber,  surnanied  Malleus  I 


Heretico'rum  from  the  title  of  one  of  his 
works.  (1470-1541.) 

(5)  St.  Hilary,  bishop  of  Poitiers, 
Malleus  Ariano'rum.  (350-867.) 

(6)  Charles  Martel.  (689-741.) 

On  pretend  qu’on  lui  donna  le  surnom  de  Martel, 
parcequ’il  avait  ecrase  comme  avec  un  marteau  les 
Savrasins,  qui,  sous  la  conduite  d’Abderarae,  avaient 
envahi  la  France.  — Boxdllet,  “ Dictionnaire  Uni- 
versel,"  &c. 

Hammer  of  the  Scotch.  Edward  I. 
On  his  tomb  in  Westminster  Abbey 
is  the  inscription,  Edwardus  longus 
Scotorum  Malleus  hie  est”  (Here  is  long 
Edward,  the  hammer  of  the  Scots). 

Gone  to  the  hammer  ; applied  to  goods 
sent  to  a sale  by  auction  ; the  auctioneer 
giving  a rap  with  a small  hammer  when 
a lot  is  sold,  to  intimate  that  there  is  an 
end  to  the  bidding. 

They  live  hammer  and  tongs;  are  always 
quarrelling.  They  beat  each  other  like 
hammers,  and  are  as  cross  as  the  tongs.” 

Hammer  Cloth.  The  cloth  that 
covers  the  coach-box,  in  which  hammer, 
nails,  bolts,  &c.,  used  to  be  carried  in 
case  of  accident.  Another  etymology  is 
from  the  Icelandic  hamr  (a  skin),  skin 
being  used  for  the  purpose.  Our  ^^yel- 
low-hammer” means  yellow-skin.  A third 
suggestion  is  that  the  word  hammer  is  a 
corruption  of  ^‘hammock,”  the  seat  which 
the  cloth  covers  being  formed  of  straps  or 
webbing  stretched  between  two  crutches 
like  a sailor’s  hammock. 

Hampton  Court  Conference.  A 
conference  held  at  Hampton  Court  in 
January,  1604,  to  settle  the  disputes 
between  the  Church  party  and  the  Puri- 
tans. It  lasted  three  days,  and  its  result 
was  a few  slight  alterations  in  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer. 

Plamshaekle.  A harum-scarum,  a 
wild  sort  of  a fe  low,  one  who  is  very  irre- 
gular. To  hamshackle  a horse  is  to 
shackle  his  head  to  one  of  his  fore-legs. 

Hamuli.  The  guardian  angel  of  the 
Gu  ebres. — Persian  mythology. 

Han.  Sons  of  Hdn.  The  Chinese  are 
so  called  from  Han  the  founder  of  the 
twenty-sixth  dynasty,  with  which  modern 
history  commences.  (206-220.) 

Hanap.  The  cup  out  of  which  our 
Lord  drank  at  the  last  supper,  afterward? 
called  the  San-greal.”  {See  Greal.) 


HANAPER. 


HAND-BOOK. 


383 


Han'aper.  Exchequer.  Hanaper- 
office,”  an  office  where  all  writs  relating 
to  the  public  were  formerly  kept  in  a 
hamper  {in  lianapeiHo).  Hanaper  is  Nor- 
man for  ‘‘  a hamper.” 

Hand.  The  whole  deal  of  cards  given 
to  a single  player.  The  cards  which  he 
holds  in  his  hand. 

A saint  in  heaven  would  grieve  to  see  such  “ hand” 
Cut  UD  by  one  who  will  not  understand. 

Crabbe,  “ Borough. 

Hand.  Previous  to  the  twelfth  century 
the  Supreme  Being  was  represented  “by  a 
hand  extended  from  the  clouds ; some- 
times the  hand  is  open,  with  rays  issuing 
from  the  fingers,  but  generally  it  is  in 
the  act  of  benediction,  i.e.,  with  two 
fingers  raised. 

Hand  of  Justice.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
sceptre  or  baton  anciently  used  by  kings, 
which  had  an  ivory  hand  at  the  top  of  it. 

An  em'pty  hand  is  no  lure  for  an  haiok. 
You  must  not  expect  to  receive  anything 
without  giving  a return.  The  Germans 
say  Wer  schmeert  der  fahert.  The  Latin 
proverb  is  Da^  si  vis  acceperey  or  Pro 
oiihUo,  nihil  fit. 

Putting  the  hand  under  the  thigh.  An 
ancient  ceremony  used  in  swearing. 

And  Abraham  said  unto  his  eldest  servant  . . . 
Put,  I pray  thee,  thy  hand  under  my  thigh,  and  1 
will  make  thee  swear  . . . that  thou  shalt  not  take 
a wife  unto  my  son  of  the  daughters  of  the  Canaan- 
ites. — Genesis  xxiv.  2, 3. 

And  the  time  drew  nigh  that  Israel  must  die ; and 
he  called  his  son  Joseph  and  said  unto  him  , . . 
Put  . . . thy  hand  under  my  thigh,  and  deal.  . . 
truly  with  me  : bury  me  not  ...  in  Egypt.— 
Genesis  xlviL  29. 

To  kiss  the  hand  (Job  xxxi.  27).  To 
worship  false  gods.  Cicero  (‘^In  Ver- 
rem,”  lib.  iv.  43)  speaks  of  a statue  of 
Hercules,  the  chin  and  lips  of  which  wore 
considerably  worn  by  the  kisses  of  his 
worshippers.  Hosea  (xiii.  2)  says,  “ Let 
the  men  that  sacrifice  kiss  the  calves.” 
{See  Adore.) 

I have  left  me  seven  thousand  in  Israel  .... 
which  have  not  bowed  unto  Baal,  and  . . . which 
[have]  not  kissed  [their  hand  to]  him.— 1 Kings 
xix.  18. 

To  strike  hands  (Prov.  xvii.  18).  To 
make  a contract,  to  become  surety  for 
another.  (^See  also  Prov.  vii.  1 and  xxii.  26.) 
The  English  custom  of  shaking  hands  in 
confirmation  of  a bargain  has  been 
common  to  all  nations  and  all  ages.  In 
feudal  times  the  vassal  put  his  hands  in 
the  hands  of  his  overlord  on  taking  the 
oath  of  fidelity  and  homage. 

The  open  red  hand,  forming  part  of  the 


arms  of  the  Province  of  Ulster,  comme- 
morates the  daring  of  O’Neile,  a bold 
adventurer,  who  vowed  to  be  first  to 
touch  the  shore  of  Ireland.  Finding  the 
boat  in  which  he  was  rowed  outstripped 
by  others,  he  cut  off  his  hand  and  flung 
it  to  the  shore,  to  touch  it  before  those 
in  advance  could  land. 

The  open  red  hand  in  the  armorial  coat 
of  baronets  arose  thus  : — James  I.  in  1611 
created  200  baronets  on  the  payment  of 
£1,000  each,  ostensibly  ^Uorthe  ameliora- 
tion of  Ulster,”  and  from  this  connection 
with  Ulster  they  were  allowed  to  place 
on  their  coat  armour  the  ^‘open  red 
hand,”  up  to  that  time  borne  by  the 
O’Neiles.  The  O’Neile  whose  estates 
were  made  forfeit  by  king  James  w^as 
surnamed  Lamb-derg  Eirin  (red-hand  of 
Erin). 

The  red  or  bloody  hand  in  coat  armour 
is  generally  connected  with  some  tra- 
ditional tale  of  blood,  and  the  badge  was 
never  to  be  expunged  till  the  bearer  had 
passed,  by  way  of  penance,  seven  years 
in  a cave,  without  companion,  without 
shaving,  and  without  uttering  a single 
word. 

In  Aston  Church,  near  Birmingham,  is 
a coat-armorial  of  the  Holts,  the  bloody 
hand”  of  which  is  thus  accounted  for  ; — 
It  is  said  that  Sir  Thomas  Holt,  some  200 
years  ago,  murdered  his  cook  in  a cellar 
with  a spit,  and  when  pardoned  for  the 
offence,  the  king  enjoined  him,. by  way 
of  penalty,  to  wear  ever  after  a bloody 
hand”  in  his  family  coat. 

In  the  church  of  Stoke  d’Abernon, 
Surrey,  there  is  a red  hand  upon  a monu- 
ment, the  legend  of  which  is,  that  a gentle- 
man shooting  with  a friend,  was  so  morti- 
fied at  meeting  with  no  game,  that  he 
swore  he  would  shoot  the  first  live  thing 
he  met.  A miller  was  the  victim  of  this 
rash  vow,  and  the  “bloody  hand”  was 
placed  in  his  family  coat  to  keep  up  a 
perpetual  memorial  of  the  crime. 

Similar  legends  are  told  of  the  red 
hand  in  Wateringbury  Church,  Kent ; of 
the  red  hand  on  a table  in  the  hall  of 
Church- Gresly,  in  Derbyshire;  and  of 
many  others. 

Hand-book.  Spelman  says  that 
king  Alfred  used  to  carry  in  his  bosom 
memorandum  leaves,  in  which  he  made 
observations,  and  took  so  much  pleasure 
therein  that  he  called  it  his  hand-book, 
because  it  was  always  in  his  hand. 


384 


HANDFASTING. 


HANGED. 


Handfasting.  A sort  of  marriage. 
A fair  was  at  one  time  held  in  Dumfries- 
shire, at  which  a young’man  was  allowed 
to  pick  out  a female  companion  to  live 
with  him.  They  lived  together  for  twelve 
months,  and  if  they  both  liked  the  ar- 
rangement, were  man  and  wife.  This 
was  called  hand-fasting  or  handfasteniiig. 

This  sort  of  contract  was  common 
among  the  Romans  and  Jews,  and  is  not 
unusual  in  the  East  even  to  the  present 
hour. 

Hand  Paper.  A particular  sort  of 
paper  well  known  in  the  Record-office, 
and  so  called  from  its  water- mark,  which 
goes  back  to  the  fifteenth  century. 

Handicap.  A game  at  cards  not 
unlike  Loo,  but  with  this  difference — the 
winner  of  one  trick  has  to  put  in  a double 
stake,  the  winner  of  two  tricks  a triple 
stake,  and  so  on.  Thus  : if  six  persons 
are  playing,  and  the  general  stake  is  Is., 
and  A gains  three  tricks,  he  gains  6s., 
and  has  to  hand  i’  the  cap  ” or  pool  3s. 
for  the  next  deal.  Suppose  A gains  two 
tricks  and  B one,  then  A gains  4s.  and  B 
2s.,  and  A has  to  stake  3s.  and  B 2s.  for 
the  next  deal. 

To  the  Mitre  Tavern  in  Wood  Street,  a house  of 
the  greatest  note  in  London.  Here  some  of  us  fell  to 
handicap,  a sport  I never  knew  before,  which  was 
very  good.  —Pepys,  “ His  Diary,'’  Sept.  18,  1660. 

Handicap,  in  racing,  is  the  adjudging  of 
various  weights  to  horses  differing  in  age, 
power,  or  speed,  in  order  to  place  them 
all,  as  far  as  possible,  on  an  equality.  If 
two  unequal  plaj’^ers  challenge  each  other 
at  chess,  the  superior  gives  up  a piece, 
and  this  is  his  handicap.  So  called 
from  the  ancient  game  referred  to  by 
Pepys. 

TJie  Winner's  Handicap.  The  winning 
horses  of  previous  races  being  pitted 
together  in  a' race  royal  are  first  handi- 
capped according  to  their  respective 
merits  : the  horse  that  has  won  three 
races  has  to  carry  a greater  weight  than 
the  horse  that  has  won  only  two,  and  this 
latter  more  than  its  competitor  who  is 
winner  of  a single  race  only. 

Handker chief.  ‘ ^ The  committee  wa^ 
at  a loss  to  know  whom  next  to  throw  the 
handkerchief  to""  (The  Times').  The  mean- 
ing is  that  the  committee  did  not  know 
whom  they  were  to  ask  next  to  make  a 
speech  for  them  ; and  the  allusion  is  to 
the  game  called  in  Norfolk  ‘‘Stir  up  the 


dumplings,”  and  by  girls  “Kiss  in  the 
ring.” 

Handle.  He  has  a handle  to  his  name. 
Some  title,  as  “lord,”  “sir,”  “doctor.” 
The  French  say  Monsieur  sans  queue,  a 
man  without  a tail  (handle  to  his  name). 

HandyeufFs.  Cuffs  or  blows  given 
by  the  hand.  “ Fisticuffs  ” is  now  more 
common. 

Hang.  To  hang  in  the  hell  ropes.  To 
be  asked  at  church,  and  then  defer  the 
marriage  so  that  the  bells  hang  fire. 

Hanged  or  Strangled.  Examples 
from  the  ancient  classic  writers  : — 

(1)  Ac'iiius,  king  of  Lydia,  endeavoured 
to  raise  a new  tribute  from  his  subjects, 
and  was  hanged  by  the  enraged  populace, 
who  threw  the  dead  body  into  the  river 
Pactolus. 

(2)  Ama'ta,  wife  of  king  La, tiffins,  pro- 
mised her  daughter  Lavin'ia  to  king 
Turnus;  when,  however,  she  was  given 
in  marriage  to  JEne'as,  Ama'ta  hanged 
herself  that  she  might  not  see  the  hated 
stranger.—  Virgil,  HLneidf  vii. 

(3)  Aeach'ne,  the  most  skilful  of 
needlewomen,  hanged  herself  because  she 
was  outdone  in  atrial  of  skill  by  Minerva. 
— Ovid,  “ Metamorphoses,^'  vi.,  fab.  1. 

(4)  Autol'yca,  mother  of  Ulysses, 
hanged  herself  in  despair  on  receiving 
false  news  of  her  son’s  death. 

(5)  Bono'sus,  a Spaniard  by  birth,  was 
strangled  by  the  emperor  Probus  for 
assuming  the  imperial  purple  in  Gaul. 
(A.H.  280.) 

(6)  Iphis,  a beautiful  youth  of  Salamis, 
of  mean  birth,  hanged  himself  because  his 
addresses  were  rejected  by  Anaxar'ete, 
a girl  of  Salamis  of  similar  rank  in  life.  — 
Ovid,  ^‘‘Metamorphoses,"  xiv.  708,  &c. 

(7)  Lati'nus,  wife  of.  {See  Amata, 
cbbove.) 

(8)  Ltcam'bes,  father  of  Neobula,  who 
betrothed  her  to  Archil'ochos,  the  poet. 
He  broke  his  promise,  and  gave  her  in 
marriage  to  a wealthier  man.  Archil'o- 
chos so  scourged  them  by  his  satires  that 
both  father  and  daughter  hanged  them- 
selves. 

(9)  Neobu'la.  {See  above.) 

(10)  Phyllis,  queen  of  Thrace,  the  ac- 
cepted of  Demoph'obn,  who  stopped  on  her 
coasts  on  his  return  from  Troy.  Demo- 
phobn  was  called  away  to  Athens,  and 
promised  to  return ; but  failing  so  to  do, 
Phyllis  hanged  herself. 


HANGER. 


HANSEATIC  LEAGUE.  385 


Hanger.  Properly  the  fringed  loop 
or  strap  hung  to  the  girdle  by  which  the 
dagger  was  suspended,  but  applied  by  a 
common  figure  of  speech  to  the  sword  or 
dagger  itself. 

Men’s  swords  in  hangers  hang  fast  by  their  side. 

J.  Taylor.  (1630.) 

Hanging.  Hanging  gardens  of  Baby- 
lon, Four  acres  of  garden  raised  on  a 
base  supported  by  pillars,  and  towering 
in  terraces  one  above  another,  300  feet  in 
height.  At  a distance  they  looked  like  a 
vast  pyramid  covered  with  trees.  This 
mound  was  constructed  by  Nebuchad- 
nezzar to  gratify  his  wife  Am'ytis,  who 
felt  weary  of  the  flat  plains  of  Babylon, 
and  longed  for  something  to  remind  her 
of  her  native  Me'dian  hills. 

Har  gmen  and  Executioners. 

(1)  Bull  is  the  earliest  hangman  whose 
name  survives  {ji.  1593). 

(2)  Jock  Sutherland. 

(3)  Derrick,  who  cut  off  the  head  of 
Essex  in  1601. 

(4)  Gregory.  Father  and  son,  men- 
tioned by  Sir  Walter  Scott  (1647). 

(5)  Gregory  Brandon,  about  1648. 

(6)  Richard  Brandon,  his  son,  who 
executed  Charles  I. 

(7)  Squire  Dun,  mentioned  by  Hudi- 
bras,  (pt.  hi.,  c.  2). 

(8)  Jack  Ketch  (1678)  executed  lord 
Russell  and  the  duke  of  Monmouth. 

(9)  Rose,  the  butcher  (1686),  but  Jack 
Ketch  was  restored  to  office  the  same 
year. 

(10)  Edward  Dennis  (1780),  introduced 
as  a character  in  Dickens’s  ^^Barnaby 
Rudge.” 

(11)  Thomas  Cheshire,  nicknamed 
‘*01d  Cheese.” 

(12)  John  Calcraft. 

(13)  Of  foreign  executioners  the  most 
celebrated  are  Little  John;  Capeluche, 
headsman  of  Paris  during  the  terrible  days 
of  the  Armagnacs  and  Burgundians ; and 
the  two  brothers  Sanson,  who  were  exe- 
cutioners during  the  first  French  Revolu- 
tion. 

*♦*  Hudibras,  under  the  name  of  Dun, 

personates  ” Sir  Arthur  Hazelrig,  the 
activest”  of  the  five  members  impeached 
by  King  Charles  I.  The  other  four  were 
Monk,  Walton,  Morley,  andAlured. 

Hangman’s  Wages.  13^.  The 
fee  given  to  the  executioner  at  Tyburn, 
with  lid,  for  the  rope.  This  was  the 


value  of  a Scotch  merk,  and  therefore 
points  to  the  reign  of  James,  who  decreed 
that  ‘‘  the  coin  of  silver  called  the  mark- 
piece  shall  be  current  within  the  king- 
dom at  the  value  of  13. jd.”  Whatever 
the  ancient  fee  might  be,  the  present 
price  is  14s.  6d.,  of  which  7s.  6d.  is  the 
fee,  4s.  6d.  for  stripping  the  body,  and 
2s.  6d.  for  the  use  of  the  shell.  Noblemen 
who  were  to  be  beheaded  were  expected 
to  give  the  executioner  from  £7  to  £10 
for  cutting  off  their  head. 

Hang-nail  is  a corruption  of  the 
Saxon  ang-ncegl  (pain-nail).  Our  word 
anguish  is  from  ange.  The  older  word  is 
ag-nail. 

Hanoverian  Shield.  This  escut- 
cheon used  to  be  added  to  the  arms  of 
England  ; it  was  placed  in  the  centre  of 
the  shield  to  show  that  the  House  of 
Hanover  came  to  the  crown  by  election, 
and  not  by  conquest.  Conquerors  strike 
out  arms  of  a conquered  country,  and 
place  their  own  in  lieu. 

Hans  von  E,ippaeh(H^-i9a^).  Jack 
of  Rippach,  a Monsieur  Nong-tong-pas, 
i.e.  some  one  asked-for  who  does  not  exist. 
A gay  German  spark  calls  at  a house  and 
asks  for  Herr  Hans  von  Rippach.  An 
English  spark  a ks  for  Monsieur  Nong- 
tong-pas.  Rippach  is  a village  near 
Leipsig. 

Hansard.  The  British  parliamentary 
records  and  debates,  printed  and  pub- 
lished by  the  Messrs.  Hansard.  The  pre- 
sent firm  print  only  the  bills  before  par- 
liament, the  reports  of  committees,  and 
some  of  the  accounts;  the  other  parlia- 
mentary records  are  printed  by  other 
firms.  Luke  Hansard,  the  founder  of  the 
present  family,  came  from  Norwich  iu 
1752. 

Hanse  Towns.  The  maritime  cities 
of  Germany,  which  belonged  to  the  Han- 
seatic  League  (q.v.). 

Hanseat'ic  League.  The  first  trade 
union  ; it  was  established  in  the  thir- 
teenth century  by  certain  cities  of  Nor- 
thern Germany  for  their  mutual  prospe- 
rity and  protection.  The  diet  which  used 
to  be  held  every  three  years  was  called 
the  Hansay  and  the  members  of  it  Hatlr 
sards.  The  league  was  virtually  broken 
up  in  1630.  (German,  am-see,  on  the  sea. 
The  league  was  originally  called  the  Am^ 
zee-stenen^  cities  on  the  sea). 


Z 


S88 


HANSEL. 


HARE. 


Hansel.  A gift  or  bribe,  the  first  mo- 
ney received  in  a day.  Hence  Hansel- 
Monday,  the  first  Monday  of  the  year. 
To  ‘‘  hansel  our  swords”  is  to  use  them 
for  the  first  time.  In  Norfolk  we  hear  of 
hanselling  a coat,  i.e.,  wearing  it  for  the 
first  time.  Lemon  tells  us  that  super- 
stitious people  will  spit  on  the  first  mo- 
ney taken  at  market  for  luck,  and  Misson 
says  Ils  le  baisent  en  le  recevant,  cras- 
chent  dessus,  et  le  mettent  dans  une 
poche  apart.” — Travels  in  England,^* 
p.  192. 

Hansel  Monday.  The  first  Monday  of 
the  new  year.  {See  above.) 

Happy  Arabia.  A mistranslation 
of  the  Latin  Arabia  feliXy  which  means 
simply  on  the  right  hand^  i.e.,  Arabia  on 
the  ^Helix”side  of  Mecca;  the  sinister 
city  is  Al-Shan. 

Happy  Valley,  in  Dr.  Johnson’s 
tale  of  Rasselas,  is  placed  in  the  kingdom 
of  Amhara,  and  was  inaccessible  except 
in  one  spot  through  a cave  in  a rock.  It 
was  a Garden  of  Paradise  where  resided 
the  princes  of  Abyssinia. 

Hapsburg.  {See  Habsburg.) 

Har.  The  second  person  of  the  In- 
dian Trinity.  He  has  already  passed  his 
ninth  incarnation  ; in  his  tenth  he  will 
take  the  forms  first  of  a peacock,  and 
then  of  a horse,  when  all  the  followers  of 
Mahomet  will  be  destroyed. 

Ha'ram  or  Ha'rem,  means  in  Ara- 
bic sacred  or  not  to  be  violated ; a name 
given  by  Mahometans  to  those  apart- 
ments which  are  appropriated  exclusively 
to  the  female  members  of  a family. 

Har'apha.  A descendant  of  Og  and 
Anak,  a giant  of  Gath,  who  went  to 
mock  Samson  in  prison,  but  durst  not 
venture  within  his  reach.  Rapha  in  He- 
brew means  a giant,  and  Arapha  was 
father  of  the  giants  of  Rephaim. — Mil- 
ton,  * ‘ Samson  A gonistes.  ” 

Harbinger.  One  who  looks  out  for 
lodgings  or  a harbour,  hence  a fore- 
runner, a messenger. 

I’ll  be  myself  the  harbinger,  and  make  joyful 

The  hearing  of  my  wife  with  your  approach. 

Shakespeare,  Macbeth"  L 4. 

Hard  by.  Near ; a corruption  of  the 
German  hierhei  (here-by). 

Hardouin  (2  syl.).  E'en  Hardouin 
would  not  object.  Said  in  apology  of  an 
historical  or  chronological  incident  intro- 


duced into  a treatise  against  which  some 
captious  persons  take  exception.  Jean 
Hardouin,  the  learned  jesuit,  waslibrarian 
to  Louis  le  Grand.  He  was  so  fastidious 
that  he  doubted  the  truth  of  all  received 
history,  denied  the  authenticity  of  the 
‘‘iEneid”  of  Virgil,  the  ‘^Odes”  of 
Horace,  &c. ; placed  no  faith  in  medals 
and  coins,  regarded  all  councils  before 
that  of  Trent  as  chimerical,  and  looked  on 
Descartes,  Malebranche,  Pascal,  and  all 
Jansenists  as  infidels.  (1646-1729.) 

Even  pere  Hardouin  would  not  enter  his  protest 
against  such  a collection. --Dr.  A,  Clarke,  “ Essay." 

Hardy  (Letitia).  Heroine  of  the 

Belle’s  Stratagem,”  by  Mrs.  Cowley. 
She  is  a young  lady  of  fortune  destined 
to  marry  Doricourt.  She  first  assumes 
the  air  of  a raw  country  hoyden  and  dis- 
gusts the  fastidious  man  of  fashion ; then 
she  appears  at  a masquerade,  and  wins 
him.  The  marriage  is  performed  at  mid- 
night, and  Doricourt  does  not  know  that 
the  masquerader  and  hoyden  are  the 
same  Miss  Hardy  till  after  the  ceremony 
is  over. 

The  Hardy,  i.e.,  brave  or  daring ; hence 
the  phrase  fiardi  coinme  un  lion. 

(1)  William  Douglas,  defender  of  Ber- 
wick. (Died  1302.) 

(2)  Philippe  III.  of  France,  le  Hardi. 
(1245,  1270-1285.) 

(3)  Philippe  IT.  due  de  Bourgogne,  le 
Hardi.  (1312,  1363-1382.) 

Hare.  It  is  unlucky  for  a hare  to 
cross  your  path,  because  witches  were 
said  to  transform  themselves  into  hares. 

Nor  did  we  m et,  with  nimble  feet, 

One  tittle  f avful  l^-pii'  ; 

Thar  certiiu  siirn.  as  s ane  divine, 

Of  ioriuue  "at  to  keep  'ig. 

Ellison,  " Trip  to  Benwell"  lx. 

Hold  with  the  hare  and  run  with  the 
hounds.  To  play  a double  and  deceitful 
game,  to  be  a traitor  in  the  camp.  To 
run  with  the  hounds  as  if  intent  to  catch 
the  hare,  but  all  the  while  being  the  se- 
cret friend  of  poor  Wat.  In  the  Ameri- 
can war  these  double  dealers  were  called 
Copperheads  [q.v.).  ' 

Mad  as  a March  hare.  Hares  are  un- 
usually shy  and  wild  in  March,  which  is 
their  rutting  season. 

Melancholy  as  a hare  (Shakespeare,  ^^1 
Henry  IV.,”  i.  2).  According  to  medioc- 
val  quackery  the  flesh  of  hare  was  sup- 
posed to  generate  melancholy,  and  all 
foods  imparted  their  own  speciality. 


HARE-BELL. 


HARM. 


187 


Th€  quaJcinq  harCf  in  Dryden’s  ‘^Hind 
and  Panther,”  means  the  Quakers. 

Amon»  the  timorous  kind,  the  quaking  hare 

Professed  neutrality,  but  would  not  swear. 

Part  i. 

Hare-bell.  A corruption  of  Ayr-bell, 
from  the  Welsh  awyT^pcl,  a balloon  or 
distended  globe. 

Hare-brained.  Mad  as  a March 
hare,  giddy,  fool-hardy. 

Let’s  leave  this  town,  for  they  (tM  English)  are  hair- 

brained  slaves, 

And  hunger  will  enforce  them  to  be  more  easer. 

Shakespeare,  “1  Henry  VI.'*  i.  2. 

Harefoot.  Swift  of  foot  as  a hare. 
The  surname  given  to  Harold  I.,  youngest 
son  of  Canute.  (1035-1040.) 

To  hiss  the  hare's  foot.  To  be  too  late 
for  anything,  to  be  a day  after  the  fair. 
The  hare  has  gone  by,  and  left  its  foot- 
print for  you  to  salute.  A similar  phrase 
is  To  kiss  the  post. 

Hare-lip.  A cleft  lip.  So  called  from 
its  supposed  resemblance  to  the  upper 
lip  of  a hare.  It  was  said  to  be  the 
mischievous  act  of  an  elf  or  malicious 
fairy. 

This  is  the  foul  fiend  Flibbertigibbet.  He  begins 
at  curfew,  and  walks  till  the  first  cock.  He  . . . 
squmts  the  eye  and  makes  the  hSkve-lip.— Shakespeare, 
“ King  Lear,**  iii.  4. 

Hare-stone.  Boundary-stone  in  the 
parish  of  Sancred  (Cornwall),  with  a heap 
of  stones  round  it.  It  is  thought  that 
these  stones  were  set  up  for  a similar 
purpose  as  the  column  set  up  by  Laban 
(Genesis,  xxxi.  51,  5*2).  Behold  this 
heap,  and  behold  this  pillar,”  said  Laban 
to  Jacob,  which  I have  cast  betwixt  me 
and  thee.  This  heap  be  witness,  and  this 
pillar  be  witness,  that  I will  not  pass  over 
this  heap  to  thee,  and  that  thou  shalt  not 
pass  over  this  heap  unto  me,  for  harm.” 

Haricot  Mutton.  A ragoht  made 
with  hashed  mutton  and  turnips.  In  old 
French  harigot,  harligot,  and  haligote  are 
found  meaning  a morsel,”  a piece.” 

Et  li  chevalier  tuit  monte, 

Letaillie  et  dehaligot§. 

Chauvenci,  “ Les  Tournois,**  p.  138. 

Har'idi.  A serpent  honoured  in 
upper  Egypt. 

Harlequin  means  a species  of  drama 
in  two  parts,  the  introduction  and  the 
harlequinade,  acted  in  dumb  show.  The 
prototype  is  the  Roman  atelldiice,  but  our 
Christmas  pantomime  or  harlequinade  is 
essentially  a British  entertainment,  first 
introduced  by  Mr.  Weaver,  a dancing- 


master  of  Shrewsbury,  in  1702.  (Se€ 
heloio.) 

What  Momus  was  of  old  to  Jove, 

The  same  a harlequiu  is  now 
The  former  was  buffoon  abjve. 

The  latter  is  a Punch  below. 

Smft,  “ The  Puppet  Show.** 

Harlequiny  in  the  British  pantomime, 
is  a sprite  supposed  to  be  invisible  to  all 
e5'-es  but  those  of  his  faithful  Columbine. 
His  office  is  to  dance  through  the  world 
and  frustrate  all  the  knavish  tricks  of  the 
Clown,  who  is  supposed  to  be  in  love  with 
Columbine.  In  Armoric  Harlequin  means 
‘^a  juggler,”  and  Harlequin  metamor- 
phoses everything  he  touches  with  his 
magic  wand. 

In  the  Italian  drama,  Arlecchino  is  the 
mischievous  and  tricky  low  comedian, 
almost  answering  to  the  Clown  of  our 
pantomime. 

Menage  derives  the  word  from  Achille 
de  Harlay,  a comedian  of  Paris  (1536- 
1616) ; and  Francisque  Michel  from  the 
old  French  word  ‘^harligot.”  {See  Hari- 
cot.) 

Harlequin.  So  Charles  Quint  was 
called  by  Francois  I.  of  France. 

Harlot  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
Harlotta,  the  mother  of  William  the 
Conqueror,  but  it  is  more  likely  to  be  a 
corruption  of  horelet  (a  little  hireling), 

hore  ” being  the  past  participle  of  hyran 
(to  hire).  It  was  once  applied  to  males 
as  well  as  females.  Hence  Chaucer  speaks 
of  a sturdy  harlot  . . . that  was 

her  hostes  man.”  The  word  varlet  is 
another  form  of  it. 

He  was  a gentil  harlot,  and  a kinde  ; 

A bettre  felaw  sbulde  man  no  wli^^r  finde. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,"  prol.  649. 

The  harlot  king  is  quite  beyond  mine  arm. 

Shakespeare,  “ Winter’s  Tale,"  ii.  3. 

Harlowe  {Clarissa).  The  heroine  of 
Richardson’s  novel  of  that  name.  In  order 
to  avoid  a marriage  urged  upon  her  by 
her  parents,  she  casts  herself  on  the 
protection  of  a lover,  who  grossly  abuses 
the  confidence  thus  reposed  in  him.  He 
subsequently  proposes  to  marry  her,  but 
Clarissa  rejects  the  offer,  and  retires 
from  the  world  to  cover  her  shame  and 
die. 

Harm.  Harm  set,  harm  get.  Those 
who  lay  traps  for  others  get  caught  them- 
selves. Haraan  was  hanged  on  his  own 
gallows.  Our  Lord  says,  They  that 
take  the  sword  shall  perish  with  the 
sword.” — Matt.  xxvi.  52. 


Z 


S88  HARMONIA’S  NECKLACE. 


HARPIES. 


Harmo'nia’s  IsTecklace.  An  un- 
lucky possession,  something  that  brings 
evil  to  all  who  possess  it.  Harmonia 
was  the  daughter  of  Mars  and  Venus. 
On  the  day  of  her  marriage  with  king 
Cadmos  she  received  a necklace,  which 
proved  fatal  to  all  who  possessed  it. 

Harmo'nia’s  Hobe.  On  the  mar- 
riage of  Harmonia,  Vulcan,  to  avenge 
the  infidelity  of  her  mother,  made  the 
bride  a present  of  a robe  dyed  in  all  sorts 
of  crimes,  which  infused  wickedness  and 
impiety  into  all  her  offspring.  Both 
Harmonia  and  Cadmos,  after  having 
suffered  many  misfortunes,  and  seen 
their  children  a sorrow  to  them,  were 
changed  into  serpents. — “ Fausanias/’ 
9,  10. 

Haro.  To  cry  out  haro  to  any  one.  To 
denounce  his  misdeeds,  to  follow  him  with 
hue  and  cry.  ‘^Ha  tlou”  was  the  ancient 
Norman  hue  and  cry,  and  the  exclama- 
tion made  by  those  who  wanted  assist- 
ance, their  person  or  property  being  in 
danger.  Similar  to  our  cry  of  ‘‘  Police  !” 
but  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  cry  was 
more  effectual.  Probably  our  halloo  is 
the  same  word. 

Haroe'ris.  The  elder  Horus.  His 
eyes  are  the  Sun  and  Moon,  which  illu- 
minate the  world. — Egyptian  mythology. 

Harold  the  Dauntless,  son  of  Witi- 
kirid,  the  Dane.  He  was  rocked  on  a 
buckler,  and  fed  from  a blade.”  He 
became  a Christiah,  like  his  father,  and 
married  Eivir,  a Danish  maid,  who  had 
been  his  page. — Sir  W,  Scotty  Harold 
the  Dauntless.” 

Harold’s  Stones  at  Trelech  (Mon- 
mouthshire). Three  stones,  one  of  which 
is  fourteen  feet  above  the  ground,  evi- 
dently no  part  of  a Druidical  circle. 
Probably  boundary  stones.  {See  Hare- 
stone.) 

Haroot  and  Maroot.  Two  angels 
who,  in  consequence  of  their  want  of 
compassion  to  man,  are  susceptible  of 
human  passions,  and  are  sent  upon  earth 
to  be  tempted.  They  were  at  one  time 
kings  of  Babel,  and  are  still  the  teachers 
of  magic  and  the  black  arts. 

Haroun  al  Rasehid.  Calif  of  the 
East,  of  the  Abbasside  race.  (765-809.) 
His  adventures  form  a part  of  the  Ara- 
bian Nights’  Entertainments.” 


Harp  . The  arms  of  Ireland.  According 
to  tradition,  one  of  the  early  kings  of  Ire- 
land was  named  David,  and  this  king  took 
for  arms  the  harp  of  Israel’s  sweet  psalm- 
ist. Probably  the  harp  is  altogether  a 
blunder  arising  from  the  invented 

in  the  reign  of  John  to  distinguish  his 
Irish  coins  from  the  English.  The  reason 
why  a triangle  was  chosen  may  have  been 
in  allusion  to  St.  Patrick’s  explanation  of 
the  trinity,  or  more  likely  to  signify  that 
he  was  king  of  England,  Ireland,  and 
France.  Henry  VIII.  was  the  first  to  as- 
sume the  harp  positive  as  the  Irish  device, 
and  James  I.  to  place  it  in  the  third 
quarter  of  the  royal  achievement  of  Great 
Britain. 

To  harp  for  ever  on  ihe  same  string.  To 
be  for  ever  teazing  one  about  the  same 
subject.  There  is  a Latin  proverb  (Ean- 
dem  cantile'nam  recin'ere).  I once  heard 
a man  with  a clarionet  play  the  first  half 
of  In  my  cottage  near  a wood  ” for  more 
than  an  hour  without  cessation  or  change. 
It  was  in  a crowded  market-place,  and 
the  annoyance  became  at  last  so  unbear- 
able that  he  collected  a rich  harvest  to 
move  on. 

Still  harping  on  my  daughter. 

“ Hamlet,'*  ii.  1. 

Har'pagon  {A).  A miser.  Harpa- 
gon  is  the  name  of  the  miser  in  Moli^re’s 
comedy  called  ‘^L’Avare.” 

Harpal'ice.  A Thracian  virago,  who 
liberated  her  father  Harpal'icos  when  he 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Getsc. 

With  such  array  Harpalice  bestrode 
Her  Thracian  courser.  Dryden. 

Harpe  (2  syl.).  The  cutlass  with 
which  Mercury  killed  Argus,  and  Perseus 
subsequently  cut  off  the  head  of  Medu'sa. 

Harpies  (2  syl.).  Vultures  with  the 
head  and  breasts  of  a woman,  very  fierce 
and  loathsome,  living  in  an  atmosphere 
of  filth  and  stench,  and  contaminating 
everything  which  they  came  near.  Homer 
mentions  but  one  harpy.  He'siod  gives 
twoy  and  later  writers  three.  The  names 
indicate  that  these  monsters  were  per- 
sonifications of  whirlwinds  and  storms. 
Their  names  were  Ocyp^eta  {rapid),  Cele'- 
no  {blackness),  and  AelPo  {storm). 

He  is  a regular  harpy.  One  who  wants 
to  appropriate  everything,  one  who 
sponges  on  another  without  mercy. 

I will ...  do  you  any  embassage  . . . rather  than 
hold  three  words  conference  with  this  harpy. 

Shukespearet  **Mach  Ado  About  Nothing,"  ii.  i. 


HARPOCRATES. 


HARVEST  MOON. 


389 


Harpoc'rates.  The  Greek  form  of 
the  Egyptian  god  Har-pi-kruti  (Horns  the 
Child)y  made  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
the  god  of  silence.  This  arose  from  a pure 
misapprehension.  It  is  an  Egyptian  god, 
and  was  represented  with  its  finger  on 
its  mouth,”  to  indicate  youths  but  the 
Greeks  thought  it  was  a symbol  of  silence. 

Har'ridan.  A haa^gard  old  beldame. 
So  called  from  the  French  haridclle,  a 
worn-out  jade  of  a horse. 

Har'rier  (3  syl.).  A dog  for  hare- 
hunting, whence  the  name. 

Harri-kari  (happy  despatch).  Official 
suicides  of  Japan.  All  persons  in  Japan 
holding  civil  appointments  are  bound  to 
kill  themselves  when  commanded  by  the 
Government.  This  they  do  by  ripping 
themselves  up  with  two  gashes  cross- 
wise, called  harri-kari. 

Harrington.  A farthing.  So  called 
from  lord  Harrington,  to  whom  James  I. 
granted  a patent  for  making  them  of 
brass.  Drunken  Barnaby  says — 

Thence  to  Hnrringtou  be  it  spoken. 

For  namf-sake  I f?ave  a token 
To  a beggar  that  did  crave  it. 

Harris.  Mrs.  Harris.  An  hypotheti- 
cal lady,  to  whom  Sarah  Gamp  referred 
for  the  corroboration  of  all  her  state- 
ments, and  the  bank  on  which  she  might 
draw  to  any  extent  for  self-praise. — 
Dickens f Martin  Chuzzlewit.^* 

Not  Mrs.  Harris  in  the  immortal  narrative  was 
more  quoted  and  more  mythical.  Lord  Lytton. 

Harry.  Old  Harry.  Old  Scratch.  To 
harry  (Saxon)  is  to  tear  in  pieces,  whence 
our  harrow.  There  is  an  ancient  pamph- 
let entitled  ^‘The  Harrowing  of  Hell.” 
I do  not  think  it  is  a corruption  of  ^^Old 
Hairy,”  although  the  Hebrew  Seirim 
(hairy  ones)  is  translated  devils  in  Lev. 
xvii.  7,  and  no  doubt  alludes  to  the  ho- 
goat,  an  object  of  worship  with  the  Egyp- 
tians. Moses  says  the  children  of  Israel 
are  no  longer  to  sacrifice  to  devils  (seirim) j 
as  they  did  in  Egypt. 

Harry  Soph.  A student  at  Cam- 
bridge who  has  declared  ” for  Law  or 
Physic,  and  wears  a full-sleeve  gown. 
The  word  is  a corruption  of  the  Greek 
Heri-sophos  (more  than  a Soph  or  com- 
mon second-year  student). — Cambridge 
Calendar. 

The  tale  goes  that  at  the  destruction 
of  the  monasteries,  in  the  reign  of  Henry 


VIII.,  certain  students  waited  to  see  how 
matters  would  turn  out  before  they  com- 
mitted themselves  by  taking  a clerical 
degree,  and  that  these  men  were  called 
SophistcB  HenricioJni  or  Henry  Sophis- 
ters.” 

Hart.  In  Christian  art,  the  emblem 
of  solitude  and  purity  of  life.  It  was  the 
attribute  of  St.  Hubert,  St.  Julian  and 
St.  Eustace.  It  was  also  the  type  of  piety 
and  religious  aspiration. — P6alm  xlii  1. 
(See  Hind,.) 

The  White  Hart  or  hind,  with  a golden 
chain,  in  public-house  signs,  is  the  badge 
of  Richard  II.,  which  was  worn  by  all  his 
courtiers  and  adherents.  It  was  adopted 
from  his  mother,  whose  cognizance  was  a 
white  hind. 

Hart  Royal.  A male  red  deer, 
when  the  crown  of  the  antler  has  made 
its  appearance,  and  the  creature  has 
been  hunted  by  a king. 

Hartnet.  'fhe  daughter  of  Rukenaw, 
the  ape  in  the  tale  of  Reyni.rd  the  Fox.” 
The  word  in  old  German  means  hard  or 
strong  strife. 

Harum  Scarum.  A hare-brained 
person  who  scares  quiet  folk.  Some 
derive  it  from  the  French  cLameur  de 
Haro  (hue  and  cry),  as  if  the  mad- cap 
were  one  against  whom  the  hue  and  cry 
is  raised,  but  probably  it  is  simply  a 
gingle-word  having  allusion  to  the  “mad- 
ness of  a March  hare^'  and  the  “scaring” 
of  honest  folks  from  their  proprieties. 

Who’s  there  ? I s’pose  young  harum  scarum. 

Cambridge  Facetvce,  “ Collegian  and  Porter.** 

Haruspex  (pi.  haru^ pices).  Persons 
who  interpreted  the  will  of  the  gods  by 
inspecting  the  entrails  of  animals  offered 
in  sacrifice  (old  Latin  harn' ga,  a victim  ; 
specto.  1 inspect).  Cato  said,  “ I wonder 
how  one  haruspex  can  keep  from  laugh- 
ing when  he  sees  another.” 

Harvard  College,  in  the  United 
States,  endowed  by  the  Rev.  John 
Harvard  in  1639.  Founded  1636. 

Harvest  Goose.  A corruption  of 
A rvyst  Gos  (a  stubble  goose).  (See  W ayz- 
GOOSB.) 

A young  wife  and  an  arvyst  gos, 
Mochegagil  Icldter]  with  both. 

*•  Reliquice  Antiques.”  ii.  113. 

Harvest  Moon.  The  full  moon 
nearest  the  autumnal  equinox.  The 
peculiarity  of  this  moon  is  that  it  rises 


390 


fiASSAN. 


flATTEMiSTS. 


for  several  days  nearly  at  sunset,  and 
about  the  same  time,  instead  of  tifty-two 
minutes  later  each  successive  day  as  usual. 

Hassan.  Caliph  of  the  Ottoman 
empire  ; noted  for  his  hospitality  and 
splendour.  His  palace  was  daily  thronged 
with  guests,  and  in  his  seraglio  was  a 
beautiful  young  slave  named  Leila  (2 
syl.')^  who  had  formed  an  unfortunate 
attachment  to  a Christian  called  the 
Giao'ur.  She  is  put  to  death  by  an  emir, 
and  Hassan  is  slain  by  the  Giaour  near 
Mount  Parnassus.  —Byroiiy  T he  Giaour  ” 

Al  JHassan.  The  Arabian  emir'  of 
Persia,  father  of  Hinda,  in  Moore’s  Fire- 
Worshippers.”  He  won  the  battle  of 
Cadessia,  and  thus  became  master  of 
Persia. 

Hassan-Ben-Sabah  (the  Old  Man 
of  the  Mountain),  founder  of  the  sect  of 
the  Assassins.  In  Kymer’s  Foedera  are 
two  letters  by  this  sheik. 

Hassock.  A doss  or  footstool  made 
of  Msg  (sedge  or  rushes). 

Ha«socks  should  be  gotten  in  the  fens,  and  laid  at 
the  foot  of  the  ‘ aid  bank  . . . where  need  required.— 
Dugdale,  Jmbanking p.  322. 

The  knees  and  hassocks  are  well-nigh  divorced. 

Cowper. 

Hat.  How  lord  Kingsale  acquired 
the  right  of  wearing  his  hat  in  the  royal 
presence  is  this  : King  John  and  Philippe 
II.  of  France  agreed  to  settle  a dispute 
respecting  the  duchy  of  Normandy  by 
single  combat.  John  de  Courcy,  earl  of 
Ulster,  was  the  English  champion,  and 
no  sooner  put  in  his  appearance  than  the 
French  champion  put  spurs  to  his  horse 
and  fled.  The  king  asked  the  earl  what 
reward  should  be  given  him,  and  he 
replied,  Titles  and  lands  I want  not,  of 
these  I have  enough ; but  in  remembrance 
of  this  day  I beg  the  boon  for  myself  and 
successors  to  remain  covered  in  the  pre- 
sence of  your  highness,  and  all  future 
sovereigns  of  the  realm.” 

Cockle  hat.  A pilgrim’s  hat.  So  called 
from  the  custom  of  putting  cockle-shells 
upon  their  hats,  to  indicate  their  inten- 
tion or  performance  of  a pilgrimage. 

How  should  1 your  true  love  know 
From  another  one  ? 

By  his  cockle-h.it  and  staff 
And  his  samlal  shoori. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet^  iv.  5. 

You  are  only  jit  to  wear  a steeple-crowned 
hat.  To  be  burnt  as  a heretic.  The 
victims  of  tl**?  Autos-da-Fe  of  the  ‘^Holy” 


Inquisition  were  always  decorated  with 
such  a head-gear. 

Never  wear  a hroim  hat  in  Friesland. 
Do  as  Rome  does.  If  people  have  a strong 
prejudice  do  not  run  counter  to  it.  Fries- 
land is  a province  of  the  Netherlands, 
where  they  cut  their  hair  short,  and  cover 
the  head  first  with  a knitted  cap,  then  a 
high  silk  skull-cap,  then  a metal  turban, 
and  lastly  a huge  flaunting  bonnet.  Four 
or  five  dresses  always  constitute  the  ordi- 
nary head-gear.  A traveller  once  passed 
through  the  province  with  a common 
brown  chimney-hat  or  wide-awake,  but 
was  hustled  by  the  workmen,  jeered  at 
by  the  women,  pelted  by  the  boys,  and 
sneered  at  by  the  magnates  as  a regular 
guy.  If,  therefore,  you  would  pass 
quietly  through  this  enlightened  ” 
province  never  wear  there  a brown  hat. 

Hats  and  Caps.  Two  political  fac- 
tions of  Sweden  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
the  former  favourable  to  France,  and  the 
latter  to  Russia.  Carlyle  says  the  latter 
were  called  caps,  meaning  night-caps,  be- 
cause they  were  averse  to  action  and  war ; 
but  the  fact  is  that  the  French  partisans 
wore  a French  chapeau  as  their  badge, 
and  the  Russian  partisans  a Russian  cap. 

Hat  Money.  A small  gratuity  paid 
to  the  master  of  a ship  for  his  care  and 
trouble,  originally  collected  in  a hat  at 
the  end  of  a good  voyage. 

Hatcliet.  Greek  axinCy  Latin  asciay 
Italian  accettay  French  hachettey  our  hatchet 
and  axe. 

To  throw  the  hatchet.  To  tell  falsehoods. 
In  allusion  to  an  ancient  game  where 
hatchets  were  thrown  at  a mark,  like 
quoits.  Same  as  drawing  the  long-bow 
(?■'!>•)• 

Bury  the  Hatchet.  {See  Burt.) 

Hatchway.  Lieutenant  Jack  Hatch- 
way. A retired  naval  officer,  the  com- 
panion of  Commodore  Trunnion,  in 
Smollett’s  Peregrine  Pickle.” 

Hatef  deadly).  One  of  Mahomet’s 
swords,  confiscated  from  the  Jews  when 
they  were  exiled  from  Medi'na. 

Hat'temists.  An  ecclesiastical  sect 
in  Holland,  so  called  from  Pontian  von 
Hattem,of  Zealand  (seventeenth  century). 
They  denied  the  expiatory  sacrifice  of 
Christ,  and  the  corruption  of  human 
nature. 


tlATTERAlCK. 


HAVERING. 


391 


Hatter aick  {Dirh).  Also  called 
Jans  Janson.”  A Dutch  smuggler  and 
thorough  villain,  bub  faithful  to  his  em- 
ployers. Being  an  accomplice  of  lawyer 
Glossin’s  in  carrying  off  Henry  Bertrand, 
both  he  and  the  lawyer  were  put  into 
prison.  During  the  night  Glossin  con- 
trived to  enter  the  smuggler’s  cell,  when  a 
quarrel  ensued,  and  Hatteraick  strangled 
Dlossin,  and  then  hanged  himself. 

Hatto.  Archbishop  of  Mainz,  ac- 
cording to  tradition,  was  devoured  by 
mice.  The  story  says  that  in  970  there 
was  a great  famine  in  Germany,  and 
Hatto,  that  there  might  be  better  store 
for  the  rich,  assembled  the  poor  in  a 
barn,  and  burnt  them  to  death,  saying. 
They  are  like  mice,  only  good  to  devour 
the  corn.”  By  and  by  an  army  of  mice 
came  against  the  archbishop,  and  the 
abbot,  to  escape  the  plague,  removed  to 
a tower  on  the  Rhine,  but;  hither  came 
the  mouse-army  by  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands, and  ate  the  bishop  up.  The  tower 
is  still  called  Mouse-tower.  Southey  has 
a ballad  on  the  subject,  but  makes  the 
invaders  an  army  of  rats.  (^See  MOUSE 
Tower.) 

A very  similar  legend  is  told  of  count 
Graaf,  a wicked  and  powerful  chief,  who 
raised  a tower  in  the  midst  of  the  Rhine 
for  the  purpose  of  exacting  tolls.  If  any 
boat  or  barge  attempted  to  evade  the 
exaction,  the  warders  of  the  tower  shot 
the  crew  with  cross-bows.  Amongst  other 
ways  of  making  himself  rich  was  buying 
up  corn.  One  year  a sad  famine  prevailed, 
and  the  count  made  a harvest  of  the  dis- 
tress ; but  an  army  of  rats,  pressed  by 
hunger,  invaded  his  tower,  and  falling  on 
the  old  baron,  worried  him  to  death,  and 
then  devoured  him. — Legends  of  the  Rhine. 

And  in  at  the  windows,  and  in  at  the  door, 

And  ttiTough  the  walls  by  thoosai'de  they  poor. 
And  down  through  the  ceiling,  and  up  ihrougti  the 
fl'  -or. 

From  the  riyht  and  the  left,  from  b-^hind  and  before, 
Fro.u  within  and  without,  from  above  and  below, 
And  all  at  once  to  the  bishop  they  go. 

They  have  whetted  their  teeth  acrainst  the  itones 
And  now  they  are  picking  the  bishop's  bones; 

'I'hey  gnawed  the  flesh  from  every  lim% 

For  they  were  sent  to  do  judgm  nt  on  him. 

Southey,  “ Bishop  Hcitto'* 

Hatton.  The  dancing  chancellor.  Sir 
Christopher  Hatton  was  brought  up  to 
the  law,  but  became  a courtier,  and  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  queen  Elizabeth 
by  his  very  graceful  dancing  at  a masque. 
The  queen  took  him  into  favour,  and  soon 


made  him  both  chancellor  and  knight  of 
the  garter.  (%  — 1591.) 

His  bushy  beard,  and  shoestrings  green, 

His  high-crowned  hat  and  satin  doublet, 

Movfd  the  stout  heart  of  England’s  queen. 

Though  pope  and  Spaniard  could  not  trouble  iU 
Gray. 

Hatton  Gardens  (London).  The 
place  of  Sir  Christopher  Hatton,  the 
dancing  chancellor.  {See  above.) 

Haul  over  the  Coals.  Take  to  task. 
Jamieson  thinks  it  refers  to  the  ordeal 
by  fire,  a suggestion  which  is  favoured 
by  the  French  corresponding  phrase, 
mettre  sur  la  selleite  {to  put  on  the  culprit’s 
stool). 

Hauss'manniza'tion.  The  pulling 
down  and  building  up  anew  of  streets 
and  cities,  as  baron  Haussmaun  re- 
modelled Paris,  at  the  expense  of  some 
100  millions  sterling.  In  1868  he  had 
saddled  Paris  with  a debt  of  about  twenty- 
eight  millions. 

Hautboy.  A strawberry.  So  called 
either  from  the  hant  hois  (high  woods)  of 
Bohemia  whence  it  was  imported,  or  from 
its  haut-bois  (long-stalk).  The  latter  is 
the  more  probable,  and  furnishes  the 
etymology  of  the  musical  instrument 
also,  which  has  a long  month-reed. 

Hav'elok  (3  syl.),  the  orphan  son 
of  Birkabegn,  king  of  Denmark,  was 
exposed  at  sea  through  the  treachery  of 
his  guardians,  and  the  raft  drifted  to  the 
poast  of  Lincolnshire.  Here  a fisherman 
named  Grim  fdund  the  young  prince,  and 
brought  him  up  as  his  own  son.  In  time 
it  so  happened  that  an  English  princess 
stood  in  the  way  of  certain  ambitious 
nobles,  who  resolved  to  degrade  her  by 
uniting  her  to  a peasant,  and  selected  the 
young  foundling  for  the  purpose ; but 
Havelok  having  learnt  the  story  of  his 
birth,  obtained  the  aid  of  the  king  his 
father  to  recover  his  wife’s  possessions, 
and  became  in  due  time  king  of  Denmark 
and  partof  England. — Haveloc  the  Dane’' 
ify  the  Tronveurs). 

Haver-eakes.  Oaten  cakes  (Scan- 
dinavian hafrey  German  haferj  oats). 

ITaveril  (3  syl.).  A simpleton,  April- 
fool.  French  poisson  d'Avril  (Islandio 
gijr,  foolish  talk). 

Havering  (Essex).  The  legend  says 
that  while  Edward  the  Confessor  was 
dwelling  in  this  locality  an  old  pilgrim 


392 


HAVIOH. 


HEAD. 


asked  alms,  and  the  king  replied, 
have  no  money,  but  I have-a-ring and 
drawing  it  from  his  fore-finger,  gave  it 
to  the  beggar.  Some  time  after  certain 
English  pilgrims  in  Jewry  met  the  same 
man,  who  drew  the  ring  from  his  finger, 
and  said,  Give  this  to  your  king,  and 
say  within  six  months  he  shall  die.”  The 
request  was  complied  with,  and  the  pre- 
diction fulfilled.  The  shrine  of  Edward 
the  Confessor  in  Westminster  Abbey 
gives  colour  to  this  legend. 

Havior,  Heavier,  Haiver,  or 
Hevor.  Ox-deer,  wilder  than  either 
hart  or  hind.  Colquhoun  says  they  are 
so  called  from  the  French  hiver  (winter) 
because  they  are  in  season  all  the  winter. 
Jamieson  says  the  derivation  is  averie 
(live  stock  generally). 

Havock.  A military  cry  to  general 
massacre  without  quarter.  This  cry  was 
forbidden  in  the  ninth  year  of  Kichard  II. 
on  pain  of  death.  Probably  it  was  ori- 
ginally used  in  hunting  wild  beasts,  such 
as  wolves,  lions,  &c.,  that  fell  on  sheep- 
folds,  and  Shakespeare  favours  this  sug- 
gestion in  his  ^‘Julius  Csesar,”  where  he 
says  At€  shall  cry  havock ! and  let 
slip  the  dogs  of  war.”  (Welsh,  hafog, 
devastation ; Irish,  arvach.') 

Havre  (France).  A contraction  of 
Le  harvre  de  notre  dame  de  grace. 

Hawks  are  thus  distinguished  : — 

Gerfalcon : a Tercellof  a Gerfalcon  are 
due  to  a king. 

Falcon  gentle  and  a Tercel  gentle,  for 
a prince. 

Falcon  of  the  rock,  for  a duke. 

Falcon  peregrine,  for  an  earl. 

Bastard  hawk,  for  a baron. 

Sacre  and  a Sacrit,  for  a knight. 

Lanare  and  Lanrell,  for  a squire. 

Merlyn,  for  a lady. 

Ho  by,  for  a young  man. 

Goshawk,  for  a yeomc\n. 

Tercel,  for  a poor  man. 

Sparehawk,  for  a priest. 

Murky te,  for  a holy-water  clerk. 

Hesterel>  for  a knave  or  servant. 

Dame  Juliana  Barges. 

The  Sore-hawk  ” is  a hawk  of  the 
first  year,  so  called  from  the  French  sor 
or  saure,  brownish  yellow. 

The  ‘^^Spar”  or  Sparrow”  hawk  is 
a small,  ignoble  hawk  (Saxon,  speara; 
Goth,  spanva;  our  spare,  spar,  spur. 


spear,  spire,  sparing,  sparse,  &c.  ; Latin, 
sparsusj  all  referring  to  minuteness). 

The  Hawk  was  the  ava'tar  of  Ra  or 
Horus,  the  sun-god  of  the  Egyptians. 

I know  a hawk  from  a handsaw.  Hand- 
saw is  a corruption  oihernshaw  (a  heron). 
I know  a hawk  from  a heron,  the  bird 
of  prey  from  the  game  flown  at.  ■ The 
proverb  means,  I know  one  thing  from 
another.  (>See  Hamlet,”  ii.  2.) 

Hawse-holes.  He  has  crept  through 
the  hawse-  holes.  Has  risen  from  the  ranks. 
A naval  phrase.  The  hawse-holes  are 
those  in  the  bow  of  a ship  through  which 
cables  pass. 

Hawthorn  was  chosen  by  Henry 
VII.  for  his  device,  because  the  crown  of 
Richard  III.  was  discovered  in  a haw- 
thorn bush  at  Bosworth. 

Hay.  A bottle  of  hay.  (French  **  botte 
de  foyne,”  bundle  of  hay.) 

Methinks  I have  a great  desire  to  a bottle  of  hpy, 
good  hay ; sweet  hay  hath  no  fellow.— S/tatespea?*;, 
'"'Midsummer  Night's  Dreamt"  iv,  1. 

Hayston  {Frank).  The  laird  of 
Bucklaw,  afterwards  laird  of  Girnington. 
— Sir  Walter  Scott,  ‘‘  Bride  of  Lammer- 
moor.'* 

Hayward.  A keeper  of  the  cattle 
or  common  herd  of  a village  or  parish. 
The  Word  hay  means  hedge,”  and  this 
herdsman  was  so  called  because  he  had 

ward  ” of  the  hedges  ” also. 

Hazel.  Dsed  for  discovering  metals 
and  wpvter.  It  must  be  forked  like  a 
Y,  and  the  diviner  walks  with  the  rod 
slowly  over  the  places  where  he  suspects 
mines  or  springs  to  be  concealed ; when 
he  passes  over  the  place,  the  rod  makes 
a dip  or  inclination.  This  is  a relic  of 
the  vir'gula  divi'na  superstition,  men- 
tioned more  than  once  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. 

My  people  ask  counsel  at  their  stocks,  and  their 
staff  declareth  unto  them.— ^osea,  iv-  12. 

he  Be  juans  .‘eek  to  leatn  beforehand  the 
issue  of  an  enterprise  by  consulting  ttieir  staffs  like 
th«  ancient  Jews.— "Travels  in  South 
Af'ica." 

•rfazis.  The  war-god  of  the  Syrians. 
The  word  means  “ terrible  in  battle.” 

Head.  Latin,  caput;  Saxon,  heafod; 
Scotch,  hafet ; contracted  into  head. 

Men  without  heads,  {See  Blemmyes.) 

Men  with  heads  beneath  the  shoulders. 
{See  Caora). 


HEADLANDS. 


HEART. 


393 


Better  he  the  head  of  an  ass  than  the  tail 
of  a horse.  Better  be  foremost  amongst 
commoners  than  the  lowest  of  the  aris- 
tocracy ; better  be  the  head  of  the  yeo- 
manry than  the  tail  of  the  gentry.  The 
Italians  say,  “E  meglio  esser  testa  di 
luccio  che  coda  di  sturione.’* 

ril  bundle  you  out  head  and  heels. 

Sans  cer^monie,”  altogether.  The 
allusion  is  to  a custom  at  one  time  far 
too  frequent  in  cottages,  for  a whole 
family  to  sleep  together  in  one  bed  head 
to  heels  or  pednam'ene,  as  it  was  termed 
in  Cornwall ; to  bundle  the  whole  lot  out 
of  bed,  was  to  turn  them  out  head  and 
heels. 

You  have  hit  the  nail  on  the  head.  You 
have  guessed  aright,  you  have  done  the 
right  thing.  The  allusion  is  obvious.  The 
French  say,  “ Vous  avez  frappe'  au  but” 
(You  have  hit  the  mark);  the  Italians 
have  the  phrase,  Havete  date  in 
brocca”  (You  have  hit  the  pitcher),  al- 
luding to  a game  where  a pitcher  stood 
in  the  place  of  Aunt  Sally  (^q.v.).  The 
Latin,  ^^Rem  acu  tetigisti”  (You  have 
touched  the  thing  wuth  a needle),  refers 
to  the  custom  of  probing  sores. 

Heads  or  tails.  Guess  whether  the 
coin  tossed  up  will  come  down  with  head- 
side  uppermost  or  not.  The,  side  not 
bearing  the  head  has  various  devices, 
sometimes  Britannia,  sometimes  George 
and  the  Dragon,  sometimes  a harp,  some- 
times the  royal  arms,  sometimes  an  in- 
scription, &c.  These  devices  are  all  in- 
cluded in  the  word  tail,  meaning  opposite 
to  the  head.  The  ancient  Romans  used 
to  play  this  game,  but  said,  Heads  or 
ships.” 

Cum  pueri  deuarios  in  sublime  js.ctentes, "capita 
aut  iiftvn,”  lusu  teste  vetustatis  exclamant.— 
Macro^ius, " S tui na  lxa.^  i.  7. 

Headlands.  A corruption  of  hege- 
lands y the  parts  against  the  hedgey  which 
at  one  time  were  left  uncultivated. 

Headrigg  {Cuddie).  A ploughman 
in  lady  Bell enden’s  service.— /S'tr  Walter 
Scotty  Old  Mortality.'* 

Heady,  wilful,  is  the  German  heftig, 
violent,  self-willed. 

Healing  Gold.  Gold  given  to  a 
king  for  '‘healing”  the  king’s  evil,  which 
was  done  by  a touch. 

Health.  Your  health.  The  story  is 
that  Vortigern  was  invited  to  dine  at 
the  house  of  Hengist,  when  Rowe'na, 


the  host’s  daughter,  brought  a cup  of 
wine  which  she  presented  to  their  royal 
guest,  saying, " Was  h^aly  hldford  cyning** 
(Your  health,  lord  king).  {See  Wassail.) 

William  of  Malmesbury  says,  the  cus- 
tom took  its  rise  from  the  death  of  young 
king  Edward  the  Martyr,  who  was  trai- 
torously stabbed  in  the  back  while  drink- 
ing a cup  of  wine  presented  to  him  by 
his  mother  Elfrida 

Drinking  healths.  The  Romans  adopted 
a curious  fashion  of  drinking  the  health 
of  their  lady-loves,  and  that  was  to  drink 
a bumper  to  each  letter  of  her  name. 
Hudibras  satirises  this  custom,  which  he 
calls  ‘'spelling  names  with  beer-glasses” 
(pt.  ii.,  c.  1). 

Nsevia  sex  cyathis,  septem  Justina  bibatur, 
Quinque  Lycas,  Lyde  quatuor,  Ida  tnbug. 

“ 31artial^"  \.  72. 

Three  cups  to  Amy,  four  to  Kate  be  given, 

To  Susan  five,  six  Rachel,  Bridget  seven. 

Hear  as  hog  in  harvest.  In  at  one  ear 
and  out  at  the  other,  hear  without  paying 
attention.  Giles  Firmin  says,  " If  you 
call  hogs  out  of  the  harvest  stubble,  they 
will  just  lift  up  their  heads  to  listen,  and 
fall  to  their  shack  again. — Real  Chris- 
tian.** (1670.) 

Hearse  (1  syl. ) means  simply  a harrow. 
Those  harrows  used  in  Roman  Catholic 
churches  (or  frames  with  spikes)  for 
holding  candles  are  called  in  France 
herses.  These  frames  at  a later  period 
were  covered  with  a canopy,  and  lastly 
were  mounted  on  wheels. 

Heart.  A variety  of  the  word  core, 
(Latin,  cord*,  the  heart ; Greek,  hard* ; 
Sanskrit,  hercC ; Saxon,  heorte). 

Heart  (in  Christian  art),  the  attribute 
of  St.  Theresa. 

A heart  pierced  with  arrows  (in  Christian 
art)  indicates  the  wounds  of  sorrow.  The 
heart  of  the  Virgin  Mary  is  frequently 
represented  as  pierced  with  seven  arrows 
or  daggers,  indicative  of  her  seven  sor- 
rows {q.v.). 

Yea,  an  arrow  shall  pierce  through  thine  own  soul 
[heart].— iSl-  Luke,  ii.  35. 

A bloody  heart.  Since  the  time  of  Good 
lord  James  the  Douglasses  have  carried 
upon  their  shields  a bloody  heart  w’th  a 
crown  upon  it,  in  memory  of  the  expedi- 
tion of  lord  James  to  Spain  with  the  heart 
of  king  Robert  Bruce.  King  Robert  com- 
missioned his  friend  to  carry  his  heart  to 
the  Holy  Land,  and  lord  James  had  it 
enclosed  in  a silver  casket,  which  he  wore 


HEBii. 


394  HEART  OF  MID-LOTHlAiT. 


round  his  neck.  On  his  way  to  the  Holy 
Land,  he  stopped  to  aid  Alphonso  of 
Castile  against  Osmyn  the  Moor,  and  was 
slain.  Sir  Simon  Lockhard  of  Lee  was 
commissioned  to  carry  the  heart  back  to 
Scotland. — Tales  of  a Grandfather,”  xi. 

The  jiaming  heart  (in  Christian  art),  the 
symbol  of  charity.  An  attribute  of  St. 
Augustine,  denoting  the  fervency  of  his 
devotion.  The  heart  of  the  Saviour  is 
frequently  so  represented. 

Heart  of  Mid-Lothian.  The  old 
jail,  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh,  taken 
down  in  1817.  Sir  "Walter  Scott  has  a 
novel  so  called. 

Heat.  One  course  in  a race.  So 
called  because  the  horses  must  be  allowed 
to  cool  down  before  they  run  again. 

Feigned  Zeal,  you  saw,  R“t  out  with  speedier  pace, 
But  the  last  heat,  Plaiu  Dealing  won  the  race- 

Li'yden, 

Heathen.  A dweller  on  a heath  or 
common.  Christian  doctrines  would  not 
reach  these  remote  people  till  long  after 
it  had  been  accepted  in  towns,  and  even 
villages.  Pagan.) 

Heaven.  The  first  heaven,  says  Ma- 
homet, is  of  pure  silver,  and  here  the 
stars  are  hung  out  like  lamps  on  golden 
chains.  Each  star  has  an  angel  for 
warder.  In  this  heaven  ^^the  prophet’* 
found  Adam  and  Eve. 

The  second  hto.ven,  says  Mahomet,  is  of 
polished  steel  and  dazzling  splendour. 
Here  the  prophet”  found  Noah. 

The  third  heaven,  says  Mahomet,  is 
studded  with  precious  stones  too  bril- 
liant for  the  eye  of  man.  Here  Az'rael, 
the  angel  of  death  is  stationed,  and  is  for 
ever  writing  in  a large  book,  or  blotting 
words  out.  The  former  are  the  names  of 
persons  born,  the  latter  those  of  the 
newly  dead,  heloiv  ‘^Heaven  of 

Heavens.”) 

The  fourth  heaven,  he  says,  is  of  the 
finest  silver.  Here  dwells  the  Angel  of 
Tears,  whose  height  is  500  days’  jour- 
ney,” and  he  sheds  ceaseless  tears  for 
the  sins  of  man. 

The  fifth  heaven  is  of  purest  gold,  and 
here  dwells  the  Avenging  Angel,  who 
presides  over  elemental  fire.  Here  “ the 
prophet”  met  Aaron.  {Seehelow.) 

The  sixth  heaven  is  composed  of  Has'ala, 
a sort  of  carbuncle.  Here  dwells  the 
Guardian  Angel  of  heaven  and  earth, 
half  snow  and  half  fire.  It  was  here  that 
Mahomet  saw  Moses,  who  wept  with  envy. 


The  seventh  heaven,  says  the  same  veri- 
table authority,  is  formed  of  divine  light 
beyond  the  power  of  tongue  to  describe. 
Each  inhabitant  is  bigger  than  the  whole 
earth,  and  has  70,000  heads,  each  head 
70,000  mouths,  each  mouth  70,000 
tongues,  and  each  tongue  speaks  70,000 
languages,  all  for  ever  employed  in 
chanting  the  praises  of  the  Most  High. 
Here  he  met  Abraham.  {See  lelow.) 

IF  The  fifth  heaven.  According  to  Ptolemy 
there  are  five  heavens : (I)  The  planetary 
heaven ; (2)  the  sphere  of  the  fixed  stars ; 
(3)  the  crystalline,  which  vibrates  ; (4) 
the  primum  mo'bile,  which  communicates 
motion  to  the  lower  spheres  ; (5)  the 
empyre'an  or  seat  of  deity  and  angels. 
(See  above.) 

SompfimeR  she  doeuncd  that  IVFars  had  from  above 

Left  his  fifth  heaven,  the  powers  of  men  1o  prove. 

Hoole,  “ Orlando  Furioso,"  bk.  xiiL 

^ To  he  in  the  seventh  heaven.  Supremely 
happy.  The  Cabbalists  maintained  that 
there  are  seven  heavens,  each  rising  in 
happiness  above  the  other,  the  seventh 
being  the  abode  of  God  and  the  highest 
class  of  angels.  {See  above.) 

^ The  ninth  heaven.  The  terra  heaven 
was  used  anciently  to  denote  the  orb  or 
sphere  in  which  a celestial  body  was 
supposed  to  move,  hence  the  number  of 
heavens  varied.  According  to  one  sys- 
tem, the  first  heaven  was  that  of  the 
Moon,  the  second  that  of  Venus,  the 
third  that  of  Mercury,  the  fourth  that 
of  the  Sun,  the  fifth  that  of  Mars,  the 
sixth  that  of  Jupiter,  the  seventh  that  of 
Saturn,  the  eighth  that  of  the  fixed  stars, 
and  the  ninth  that  of  the  primum  mo'bile. 

The  heaven  of  heavens.  The  H ebrews 
acknowledged  three  heavens : the  air, 
the  starry  firmament,  and  the  residence 
of  God.  Thus  ‘Hhe  fowls  of  heaven,” 
“the  dew  of  heaven,”  “the  clouds  of 
heaven,”  mean  of  the  air.  “Let  there 
be  lights  in  the  firmament  of  heaven” 
(Genesis  i.  14)  means  the  starry  vault. 
“Heaven  is  my  throne”  (Isa.  Ixvi.  1 and 
I Matt.  V.  34),  is  the  residence  of  God  and 
the  angels.  “Heaven  of  heavens”  is  a 
Hebrew  superlative  meaning  the  highest 
of  the  heavens. 

In  modern  phraseology  the  word 
heaven  is  used  for  the  starry  firmament, 
and  the  residence  of  God  and  angels. 

Helbe.  Goddess  of  youth,  and  cup- 
bearer to  the  celestial  gods.  She  had 


hebertistes. 


HEDGE-PRIES^. 


395 


the  power  of  restoring  the  aged  to  youth 
and  Greek  mythology. 

Wreathed  smiles 
Sach  as  hang  on  He^ie’s  cheek. 

And  love  to  live  in  dimple  sleek. 

Milton,  U Allegro'' 

Hebe  Vases.  Small  vases  like  a coty- 
liscos.  So  termed  because  Hebe  is  re- 
presented as  bearing  one  containing 
nectar  for  the  gods. 

Hebertistes  (3  syl.).  The  partisans 
of  the  vile  demagogue,  Jaques  Rene 
Hebert,  chief  of  the  Cordeliers,  a revo- 
lutionary club  which  boasted  of  such 
names  as  Anacharsis  Clootz,  Ronsin, 
Vincent,  andMomoro,  in  the  great  French 
Revolution. 

Heb'ron,  in  the  satire  of  ‘‘  Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  in  the  first  part  stands 
for  Holland,  but  in  the  second  part  for 
Scotland.  Heb'ronite  (3  syl.),  a native 
of  Holland,  or  Scotland. 

Hec'ate  (3  syl.  in  Greek,  2 in  Eng.). 
A triple  deity,  called  Phoebe  or  the  Moon 
in  heaven,  Diana  on  the  earth,  and  He- 
cate or  Proserpine  in  hell.  She  is  de- 
scribed as  having  three  heads— one  of  a 
horse,  one  of  a dog,  and  one  of  a lion. 
Her  offerings  consisted  of  dogs,  honey, 
and  black  lambs.  She  was  sometimes 
called  Tri'via,”  because  offerings  were 
presented  to  her  at  cross-roads.  Shakes- 
peare refers  to  the  triple  character  of 
this  goddess. 

And  we  fairies  that  do  run 
By  the  triple  Hecate’s  team. 

'^Midsummer  Alight's  Dream,"  v.  2. 

Hecate,  daughter  of  Perses  the  Titan, 
is  a very  different  person  to  the  Triple 
Hecate,”  who,  according  to  Hesiod,  was 
daughter  of  Zeus  and  Deme'ter.  This 
latter  was  a benevolent  goddess,  for 
whom  Zeus  had  more  regard  than  for 
any  other  deity.  The  former  was  a Titan 
who  poisoned  her  father,  raised  a tem- 
ple to  Diana  in  which  she  immolated 
strangers,  and  was  mother  of  Mede'a 
and  Circe.  She  presided  over  magic 
and  enchantments,  taught  sorcery  and 
witchcraft.  She  is  represented  with  a 
lighted  torch  and  a sword,  and  is  attended 
with  two  black  dogs. 

Wow  witchcraft  celebrates 
Pale  Hecate’s  otfermgs. 

iShakesptare,  '^Macbeth,"  ii.  1, 

Hector.  Eldest  son  of  Priam,  the 
noblest  and  most  magnanimous  of  all 


the  chieftains  in  Homer’s  Iliad”  (a 
Greek  epic).  After  holding  out  for  ten 
years,  he  was  slain  by  Achilles,  who 
lashed  him  to  his  chariot,  and  dragged 
the  dead  body  in  triumph  thrice  round 
the  walls  of  Troy.  The  Iliad  ” con- 
cludes with  the  funeral  obsequies  of 
Hector  and  Patrocdos. 

The  Hector  of  Germany.  Joachim  II., 
elector  of  Brandenburg.  (1514-1571.) 

Hector.  A leader  ; so  called  from  the 
son  of  Priam  and  generalissimo  of  the 
Trojans. 

Hector.  To  bully,  or  play  the  bully.  It  is 
hard  to  conceive  how  the  brave,  modest, 
noble-minded  patriot  came  to  be  made 
the  synonym  of  a braggart  and  blusterer 
like  Ajax. 

You  wear  HectoVs  cloak.  You  are 
paid  off  for  trying  to  deceive  another. 
You  are  paid  in  your  own  coin.  When 
Thomas  Percy,  earl  of  Northumberland, 
in  1569,  was  routed,  he  hid  himself  in 
the  house  of  Hector  Armstrong,  of  Har- 
law.  This  villain  betrayed  him  for  the 
reward  offered,  but  never  after  did  any- 
thing go  well  with  him  ; he  went  down, 
down,  down,  till  at  last  he  died  a beggar 
in  rags  on  the  road-side. 

Hee'uba.  Second  wife  of  Priam, 
and  mother  of  nineteen  children.  When 
Troy  was  taken  by  the  Greeks,  she  fell 
to  the  lot  of  Ulysses.  She  was  after- 
wards metamorphosed  into  a dog,  and 
threw  herself  into  the  sea.  The  place 
where  she  perished  was  afterwards  called 
the  Doq's-qrave  (eynos-se'ma). — Homer, 

Iliad 

On  to  Hecuba.  To  the  point  or  main 
incident.  The  story  of  Hecuba  has 
furnished  a host  of  Greek  tragedies. 

Hedge.  To  hedge  in  betting  is  to 
defend  oneself  from  loss  by  cross-bets. 
As  a hedge  is  a defence,  so  betters  defend 
themselves  by  hedging. 

Hedge  Lane  (London)  inelud<  s that 
whole  line  of  streets  (Dorset,  Whitcomb, 
Prince’s,  and  Wardour)  stretching  from 
Pall  Mall  East  to  Oxford  Street. 

Hedge-Priest.  A poor  or  vagabond 
parson.  The  use  of  hedge  for  vagabond 
or  very  inferior  is  common  : as  hedge- 
mustard,  hedge-writer  (a  Grub-street 
author),  hedge-marriage  (a  clandestine 
one),  &c.  Shakespeare  uses  the  phrase, 

hedge-born  swain  ” as  the  very  opposite 
of  ^^gentle  blood.” — '^1  Henry  U/.,”  iv.  1. 


SEELS. 


HELEN. 


H eels.  Out  at  heels.  In  a sad  plight, 
in  decayed  circumstances,  like  a beggar 
whose  stockings  are  worn  out  at  the  heels. 

A good  man’s  fortune  may  grow  out  at  heels. 

Shakespeare,  *^King  Lear,"  ii.  2. 

Heel-tap.  Bumpers  all  round,  and 
no  heel  taps,  i.e.,  the  bumpers  are  to  be 
drained  to  the  bottom  of  the  glass.  A 
heel-tap  is  the  peg  in  the  heel  of  a shoe, 
which  is  taken  out  when  the  shoe  is 
finished  ; metaphorically  the  wine  left  in 
a glass  when  the  drinker  sets  it  down  as 

empty  ’*  or  finished. 

Heenan.  In  Heenan  style.  ^'By 
apostolic  blows  and  knocks.”  Heenan, 
the  Bermcia  boy  of  North  America,  dis- 
puted for  the  champion’s  belt  against 
Sayers,  the  British  champion.  His  build 
and  muscle  were  the  admiration  of  the 
ring. 

Heep  {Uri'ah).  An  abject  toady, 
malignant  as  he  is  base ; always  boasting 
of  his  ^umble  birth,  ^umhle  position,  ^umble 
abode,  and  ^umhle  calling.  — Dichens, 

David  CojpperJiekV^ 

Hegem'ony  (4  syl.).  The  hegemony 
of  na* ions.  The  leadership.  (Greek,  hege- 
mon'ia,  from  ago,  to  lead.) 

Hegi'ra.  The  epoch  of  the  flight  of 
Mahomet  from  Mecca,  when  he  was 
expelled  by  the  magistrates,  July  16, 
622.  From  this  event  the  Mahometans 
begin  their  dates  (Arabic,  haja'ra,  to 
remove). 

He'il  (2  syl.).  An  idol  of  the  ancient 
Celts,  worshipped  in  Devonshire. 

Heimdall  (2  syl.).  In  Celtic  myth- 
ology, son  of  the  nine  virgins,  all  sisters. 
He  is  called  the  god  with  the  golden  tooth, 
or  ivith  golden  teeth.  He  is  said  to  live  at 
the  further  extremity  of  the  bridge 
Bifrost  {g.v.),  and  keep  the  keys  of 
heaven.  He  is  watchman  or  sentinel  of 
Asgard  {q.v.),  sleeps  less  than  a bird, 
sees  even  in  sleep,  can  hear  the  grass 
grow,  and  even  the  wool  on  a lamb’s 
back.  Heimdall,  at  the  end  of  the  world, 
will  wake  the  gods  with  his  trumpet, 
when  the  sons  of  Muspell  will  go  against 
them,  with  Loke,  the  wolf  Fenris,  and 
the  great  serpent  Jormungandar. 

Heimdaller.  The  learned  humbugs 
in  the  court  of  king  Dinu'be  of  Hisisburg. 
— ‘‘  Grimm^s  Goblins,^' 

Heimskrin'gla.  The  universe. — 
Scandinavian, 


Heims-Kringla  {The),  A prose 
legetid  of  historic  foundation  found  in 
the  Snorra  Edda. 

Heir  Apparent.  The  person  who 
is  heir  if  he  survives.  At  the  death  of 
his  predecessor  the  heir-apparent  be- 
comes heir-at-law. 

Heir  Presumptive.  One  who 
will  be  heir,  if  no  one  is  born  having  a 
prior  claim.  Thus  the  princess  royal 
was  heir-presumptive  till  the  prince  of 
Wales  was  born,  and  if  the  prince  of 
Wales  had  been  king  before  any  family 
had  been  born  to  him,  his  brother  prince 
Alfred  would  have  been  heir-presumptive. 

Hel  or  Hela  (in  Scandinavian  myth- 
ology) is  goddess  of  the  ninth  earth  or 
nether  world.  She  dwelt  beneath  the 
roots  of  the  sacred  ash  {yggdrasiV),  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Loki  or  Loke.  The 
All-father  sent  her  into  Niflheim,  where 
she  was  given  dominion  over  nine  worlds, 
and  to  one  or  other  of  these  nine  worlds 
she  sends  all  who  die  of  sickness  or  old 
age.  Her  dwelling  is  Elvid'nir  {dark 
clouds),  her  dish  Hungr  {hunger),  her 
knife  Suilt  {starvation),  her  servants 
Gangla'ti  {tardy -feet),  her  bed  Kor  {sick- 
ness), and  her  bed-curtains  Blikian'dabbl 
{splendid  misery), 

Down  the  yawning  steep  he  rode 
That  led  to  liela’s  drear  abode. 

Qray,  “ Descent  of  Odin.*’ 

Hel  Keplein.  A mantle  of  invisi- 
bility belonging  to  the  dwarf-king  Laurin. 
(German,  hehlen,  to  conceal). — The  Rel- 
denbuchJ^ 

Heldenbueh  (Book  of  Heroes).  A 
German  compilation  of  all  the  romances 
pertaining  to  Diderick  and  his  cham- 
pions, by  Wolfram  von  Eschenbach. 

Helen.  The  type  of  female  beauty, 
more  especially  in  those  who  have  reached 
womanhood.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Zeus  and  Leda,  and  the  wife  of  Menela'os, 
king  of  Sparta. 

She  moves  a goddess  and  she  looks  a queen. 

Pope,  “ Iliad,”  iii. 

The  Helen  of  Spain.  Cava  or  Florinda, 
daughter  of  count  Julian.  {See  Cava.) 

St.  Helen.  Represented  in  royal  robes, 
wearing  an  imperial  crown,  because  she 
was  empress.  Sometimes  she  carries  in 
her  hand  a model  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
an  edifice  raised  by  her  in  the  East; 
sometimes  she  bears  a large  cross. 


( 


HELENA. 


HELLENES. 


397 


typical  of  her  alleged  discovery  of  that 
upon  which  the  Saviour  was  crucified ; 
some'imes  she  also  bears  the  three  nails 
by  which  he  was  affixed  to  the  cross. 

St.  Helens  fire  (feu  d’ Helene)  ; also 
called  Feu  St.  Herme  (St.  Helme’s  or  St. 
Elmo’s  fire) ; and  by  the  Italians  ^Hhe  fires 
of  St.  Peter  and  St  Nicholas.”  Meteoric 
fires  seen  occasionally  on  the  masts  of 
ships,  &c.  If  the  flame  is  single,  foul  and 
tempestuous  weather  is  said  to  be  at 
hand  ; but  if  two  or  more  flames  appear, 
the  weather  will  improve.  {See  Castor.) 

Hel  'ena.  The  type  of  a lovely 
woman,  patient  and  hopeful,  strong  in 
feeling,  and  sustained  through  trials  by 
her  enduring  and  heroic  ioMh..  — Shake- 
speare, All's  Well  that  Ends  WelV* 

Hel'enos.  The  prophet,  the  only 
son  of  Priam  that  survived  the  fall  of 
Troy.  He  fell  to  the  share  of  Pyrrhos 
when  the  captives  were  awarded;  and 
because  he  saved  the  life  of  the  young 
Grecian,  was  allowed  to  marry  Androm'- 
acha,  his  brother  Hector’s  widow.  — 
Virgil,  JEneid.'' 

Helicon.  The  Muses’  Grove.  It  is 
part  of  the  Parnassos,  a mountain  range 
in  Greece. 

Helicon’s  harmonious  stream  is  th  e stream 
which  flowed  from  the  mountains  to  tbe 
fountains  of  the  Muses,  called  Aganippe 
and  Hip'pocrene  (3  syl.). 

Heligh-Monat  (Holy-month).  The 
name  given  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  to  the 
month  of  December,  in  allusion  to  Christ- 
mas-day. 

Helios.  The  Greek  Sun-god,  who 
rode  to  his  palace  in  Colchis  every  night 
in  a golden  boat  furnished  with  wings. 

Heliotrope  (4  syl.).  Apollo  loved 
Clytla,  but  forsook  her  for  her  sister 
Leucoth'oe.  On  discovering  this,  Clytia 
pined  away,  and  Apollo  changed  her  at 
death  to  a flower,  which,  always  turning 
towards  the  sun,  is  called  heliotrope 
(Greek,  ^^turn-to-sun”). 

Hell.  In  the  Buddhist  system  there 
are  136  places  of  punishment  after  death, 
where  the  dead  are  sent  according  to 
their  degree  of  demerit.  {See  Euphem- 
isms.) 

Descended  into  hell  (Creed)  means  the 
place  of  the  dead.  Anglo-Saxon  helan, 
to  cover  or  conceal,  like  the  Greek 

Ha'des,”  the  abode  of  the  dead,  from 


the  verb  a-eid.o,  not  to  see.  In  both  cases 
it  means  “the  unseen  wmrld”  or  “the 
world  concealed  from  sight.”  The  god  of 
this  nether  world  was  called  “Hades”  by 
the  Greeks,  and  “Hel”  or  “Hella”  by 
the  Scandinavians.  In  some  counties  of 
England  to  cover  in  with  a roof  is  “to 
hell  the  building,”  and  thatch ers  or  tilers 
are  termed  “ helliers.” 

Lead  apes  in  hell.  Die  an  old  maid. 
As  an  old  maid  would  not  lead  a husband 
in  this  world,  she  will  be  doomed  to  lead 
or  marry  an  ape  in  the  realms  infernal. 
Beatrice  says — 

He  that  is  more  than  youth  is  not  for  me,  and  he 
that  is  less  thm  man  I am  not  for  him ; therefore  I 
will  . . . even  lead  Hi's  apes  into  hell. 

Shakespeare,  “ Much  Ado  About  Nothing,'*  ii.  1. 

But  ’tis  an  old  proverb,  and  you  k"Ow  it  well, 

That  women,  dying  maids,  lead  apes  in  hell. 

The  London  Prodigal,"  it 

Hell  Gate.  A dangerous  pass  be- 
tween Great  Barn  Island  and  Long 
Island  (North  America).  The  Dutch 
settlers  of  New  York  gave  it  this  name 
because  its  navigation  was  very  dan- 
gerous. 

Hell-gates,  according  to  Milton,  are 
nine-fold — three  of  brass,  three  of  iron, 
and  three  of  adamant ; the  keepers  are 
Sin  and  Death.  This  allegory  is  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  passages  of  “Para- 
dise Lost.”  {See  Book  ii.,  643-676.) 

Hell  Kettles.  Cavities  three  miles 
long  at  Oxen-le-field,  in  Durham. 

Hell  Shoe.  In  Icelandic  mythology, 
indispensable  for  the  journey  to  Valhalla 
as  the  obolus  for  crossing  the  Styx. 

Hellanod'icse.  Umpires  of  the 
public  games  in  Greece.  They  might 
chastise  with  a stick  any  one  who  created 
a disturbance.  Lichas,  a Spartan  noble- 
man, was  so  punished  by  them. 

Helle'nes  (3  syl.).  “This  word  had 
in  Palestine  three  several  meanings : 
Sometimes  it  designated  the  pagans; 
sometimes  the  Jews,  speaking  Greek, 
and  dwelling  among  the  pagans ; and 
sometimes  men  of  pagan  origin  converted 
to  Judaism”  (John,  vii.  35,  xii.  20;  Acts, 
xiv.  1,  xvii.  4,  xviii.  4,  xxi.  28). — Rhian, 

Life  of  Jesus,”  xiv. 

N.B. — The  present  Greeks  call  them- 
selves “ Helle'nes,”  and  the  king  is 
termed  “ King  of  the  Helle'nes.”  The 
ancient  Greeks  called  their  country 
“ Hellas  ;”  it  was  the  Romans  who  mis- 
named it  “ Grsecia,” 


198 


HELLENIC, 


HEMUS. 


Helle'nic.  The  common  dialect  of 
the  Greek  writers  after  the  age  of  Alex- 
ander. It  was  based  on  the  Attic. 

Hellenis'tic.  The  dialect  of  the 
Greek  language  used  by  the  Jews.  It 
was  full  of  Oriental  idioms  and  metaphors. 

HelTenists.  Those  Jews  who  used 
the  Greek  or  Hellenic  language.  (All 
these  four  words  are  derived  from  Hellas, 
in  Thessaly,  the  cradle  of  the  race.) 

Hellespont  (3  syl.),  now  called  the 
Dardanelles,  means  the  “sea  of  Helle,’’ 
and  was  so  called  because  Helle,  the 
sister  of  Phryxos,  was  drowned  there 
while  seeking  to  escape  from  Ino,  her 
mother-in-law,  who  most  cruelly  op- 
pressed her.  Both  Helle  and  Phryxos 
were  transported  through  the  air  on  a 
golden  ram,  but  Helle,  turning  giddy, 
fell  into  the  sea,  which  was  accordingly 
called  after  her  name. 

Helmets.  Those  of  Saragossa  were 
most  in  repute  in  the  days  of  chivalry. 

Close  helmet.  The  complete  head-piece, 
having  in  front  two  movable  parts, 
which  could  be  lifted  up  or  let  down  at 
pleasure. 

Visor,  One  of  the  movable  parts  ; it 
was  to  look  through. 

Bever,  or  drinking -’piece.  One  of  the 
movable  parts,  which  was  lifted  up 
when  the  wearer  ate  or  drank.  It  comes 
from  the  Italian  verb  hevere  (to  drink). 

Mo'rion.  A low  iron  cap,  worn  only  by 
infantry. 

Mahomet^s  Helmet.  Mahomet  wore  a 
double  helmet ; the  exterior  one  was 
called  al  mawashah  (the  wreathed  gar- 
land). 

The  helmet  of  Perseus,  which  rendered 
the  wearer  invisible.  This  was  the 
“Helmet  of  Ha'des,”  which,  with  the 
winged  sandals  and  magic  wallet,  he 
took  from  certain  nymphs  who  held 
them  in  possession ; but  after  he  had 
slain  Medusa  he  restored  them  again, 
and  presented  the  gorgon’s  head  to 
Athe'na  [Minerva],  who  placed  it  in  the 
middle  of  her  segis. 

Helon,  in  the  satire  of  “Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
is  meant  for  the  earl  of  Feversham. 

Helter-skelter.  Higgledy-piggledy; 
in  hurry  and  confusion.  The  Latin 
hilar  iter -celeriter  comes  tolerably  near 
the  meaning  of  post  haste,  as  Shakes- 


peare uses  the  expressio  (2  Henry  IV., 
V.  3) : — 

Sir  .Tohn,  I am  thy  Pistol  and  thy  friend, 

And  heiter-sl^elter  have  I rode  lo  thee. 

And  tidings  do  I bring. 

The  archaic  word  helt,  “poured 
out,”  is  doubtless  the  same  as  helter;  and 
probably  shelter  is  a variation  of  the  same. 

Helve.  To  thro2o  the  helve  after  tiu 
hatchet.  To  be  reckless,  to  throw  away 
what  remains  because  your  losses  have 
been  so  great.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
fable  of  the  wood-cutter  who  lost  the 
head  of  his  axe  in  a river,  and  threw  the 
handle  in  after  it. 

Helve'tia.  Switzerland.  So  called 
from  the  Helve'tii,  a powerful  Celtic 
people  who  dwelt  thereabouts. 

See  from  the  ashes  of  Helvetia’s  pile 
The  whitened  skull  of  old  Serve'tus  smile. 

Holmes. 

Hemp.  To  have  some  hemp  in  your 
pocket.  To  have  luck  on  your  side  in  the 
most  adverse  circumstances.  The  phrase 
is  French  (Avoir  de  la  corde-de-pendu 
dans  sa  poche),  referring  to  the  popular 
notion  that  hemp  brings  good  luck. 

Hempe  (1  syl).  When  Hempe  is  spun 
England  is  done.  Lord  Bacon  says  he 
heard  the  prophecy  when  he  was  a child, 
and  he  interpreted  it  thus : Hempe  is 
composed  of  the  initial  letters  of  i/enry, 
Edward,  i/ary,  fhilip,  and  A^lizabeth. 
At  the  close  of  the  last  reign  “ England 
was  done,”  for  the  sovereign  no  longer 
styled  himself  “King  of  England,”  but 
“ King  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.” 
{See  Notabica.) 

Hempen  Caudle.  A hangman’s 
rope. 

Ye  shall  have  a hempen  caudle  then,  and  the  help 
of  a hsXchet.— Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  Ki.,”  iv.  7. 

Hempen  Fever.  Death  on  the 
gallows,  the  rope  being  made  of  hemp. 

Hempen  Widow.  The  widow  of  a 
man  who  has  been  hanged.  {See  above  ) 

Of  a hempen  widow  the  kid  forlorn. 

Ainsworth,  ''’Jack  Sfwppard.” 

Hemph'ta.  The  Egyptian  J upiter.  — 
Trismegisttis,  “ Pimandre.” 

He'mus  or  Ha^mus.  A chain  of 
mountains  in  Thrace.  According  to 
mythology,  Hfemos,  son  of  Bo'reas,  was 
changed  into  a mountain  for  aspiring  to 
divine  honours. 


HEN  AND  CHICKENS. 


HERBS. 


399 


Hen  and  Chickens  (in  Christian 
art),  emblematical  of  God’s  providence. 
{See  ‘^St.  Matthew,”  xxiii.  37.) 

A whistling  maid  and  crowing  hen  is 
neither  fit  for  God  nor  men.  A whistling 
maid  means  a witch,  who  whistles  like 
the  Lapland  witches  to  call  Tip  the  winds ; 
they  were  supposed  to  be  in  league  with 
the  devil.  Th-e  crowing  of  a hen  v/as 
supposed  to  forbode  a death.  The  usual 
interpretation  is  that  masculine  qualities 
in  females  are  undesirable,  but  admitting 
the  truth  of  the  dictum,  it  would  be  the 
grossest  exaggeration  to  say  that  mascu- 
line women  are  unfit  for  heaven. 

Hen-pecked.  A man  who  submits 
to  be  snubbed  by  his  wife.  It  is  a fact 
that  cocks,  though  very  brave  at  large, 
are  frequently  under  hen-government  in 
coops. 

Henchman.  Hencliboy.  The  Saxon 
hinc  is  a servant  or  page. 

I do  but  beg  a little  changeling  boy 
To  be  my  henchman. 

ShaJcespeare,  Midsummer  NighVs  Dream,”  ii.  1. 

Hengist  and  Horsa.  German  hengst 
(a  stallion),  and  Horsa  is  connected  with 
our  Anglo-Saxon  word  hors  (horse).  If 
the  names  of  two  brothers,  probably 
they  were  given  them  from  the  devices 
borne  on  their  arms. 

According  to  tradition,  they  landed  in 
Pegwell  Bay,  Kent. 

Henna.  The  Persian  ladies  tinge 
the  tips  of  their  fingers  with  henna,  to 
make  them  a reddish -yellow. 

Hennil.  Idol  of  the  Vandals.  It 
was  represented  as  a stick  surmounted 
with  a hand  holding  an  iron  ring. 

Hen'ricans  or  Henridans.  A reli- 
gious sect.  So  called  from  Henri'eus,  its 
founder,  an  Italian  monk,  who,  in  the 
twelfth  century,  undertook  to  reform  the 
vices  of  the  clergy.  He  rejected  infant 
baptism,  festivals,  and  ceremonies.  He 
was  imprisoned  by  pope  Euge'nius  III. 
in  1148. 

Henriette  (3  syl.),  in  the  French  lan- 
guage, means  a perfect  woman.”  The 
character  is  from  Molibre’s  ‘^Femmes 
Savantes.” 

Henry  Grace  de  Dieu.  The  largest 
ship  built  by  Henry  VIIT. ; it  carried  72 
guns,  700  men,  and  was  1,000  tons  bur- 
then. {See  Great  Harry.) 


Hephaes'tos.  The  Greek  Vulcan. 

Heptarchy  (Greek  for  seven  govern- 
ments). The  aaxon  Heptarchy  is  the  divi- 
sion of  England  into  seven  parts,  each  of 
which  had  a separate  ruler : as  Kent, 
Sussex,  Wessex,  Essex,  East  Anglia, 
Mercia,  and  Northumbria. 

He'ra.  The  Greek  Juno,  and  wife  of 
Zeus.  (The  word  means  chosen  one,” 
aireo. ) 

HeraclePdae  (4  syl.).  The  descen- 
dants  of  Her'acles  (Latin,  Hercules), 

Heralds. 

The  coat  of  arms  represents  the  knighi 
himself  from  whom  the  bearer  is  de- 
scended. 

The  shield  represents  his  body,  and 
the  helmet  his  head. 

The  flourish  is  his  mantle. 

The  motto  is  the  ground  or  moral  pre- 
tension on  which  he  stands. 

The  supporters  are  the  pages,  desig- 
nated by  the  emblems  of  bears,  lions,  and 
so  on. 

Herald’s  College  consists  of  three 
kings-at-arms,  six  heralds,  and  four  pur- 
suivants. 

The  three  Tcings-at-arms  are  Garter, 
Clarencieux,  and  Norroy. 

The  six  heralds  are  styled  Windsor, 
Chester,  Lancaster,  Somerset,  York,  and 
Richmond. 

The  four  pursuivants  are  Portcullis, 
Rouge  Dragon,  Blue  Mantle,  and  Rouge 
Croix. 

Garter  King-at-arms  is  so  called 
because  of  his  special  duty  to  attend  at 
the  solemnities  of  election,  investiture, 
and  installation  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Garter. 

Clarencieux  King-at-arms.  So 
called  from  the  duke  of  Clarence,  brother 
of  Edward  IV.  His  duty  is  to  marshal 
and  dispose  the  funerals  of  knights  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Trent. 

Norroy  King-at-arms  has  similar 
jurisdiction  to  Clarencieux,  only  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Trent. 

1 In  Scotland  the  heraldic  college  con- 
sists of  the  Lyon  King-at-arms,  six 
heralds,  and  five  pursuivants. 

f In  Ireland  it  consists  of  the  Ulster 
King-at-arms,  two  heralds,  and  two 
pursuivants. 

Herbs.  Many  herbs  are  used  for 
curative  purposes  simply  because  of  their 


m 


HERCULES. 


HEREFORDSHIRE. 


form  or  marks  : thus  Wood-sorrel,  being 
shaped  like  a heart,  is  used  as  a cordial; 
liver-wort  for  the  liver  ; the  celandine, 
which  has  yellow  juice,  for  the  jaundice  ; 
herb-dragon,  which  is  speckled  like  a 
dragon,  to  counteract  the  poison  of 
serpents,  &c. 


Her'cules  (3  syl.).  A Grecian  hero, 
possessed  of  the  utmost  amount  of 
physical  strength  and  vigour  that  the 
human  frame  is  capable  of.  He  is  re- 
presented as  brawny,  muscular,  short- 
necked, and  of  huge  proportions.  The 
Pythian  told  him  if  he  would  serve 
Eurys'theus  for  twelve  years  he  should 
become  immortal ; accordingly  he  bound 
himself  to  the  Argive  king  who  imposed 
upon  him  twelve  tasks  of  great  difficulty 
and  danger : 

1st.  To  slay  the  Nem'ean  lion. 

2nd.  To  kill  the  Ler'nean  hydra. 

3rd.  To  catch  and  retain  the  Arca'dian 
stag. 

4th.  To  destroy  the  Eryman'thian  boar. 

5th.  To  cleanse  the  stables  of  king 
Au'geas. 

6th.  To  destroy  the  cannibal  birds  of 
the  lake  Stymphalis. 

7th.  To  take  captive  the  Cretan  bull. 

8th.  To  catch  the  horses  of  the  Thra- 
cian Diome'des. 

9th.  To  get  possession  of  the  girdle  of 
Hippol'yte,  queen  of  the  Am'azons. 

10th.  To  take  captive  the  oxen  of  the 
monster  Ger'yon. 

11th.  To  get  possession  of  the  apples 
of  the  Hesper'ides. 

12th.  To  bring  up  from  the  infernal 
regions  the  three-headed  dog  Cer'beros. 


The  Nem'eaa  lion  first  he  killed,  then  Lerne’s  hydra 

Th’  ' r a'dian  sUg  and  monster  h<>ar  before  Eurys'- 
theus drew ; 

Cleansed  .Au'geas’  stalls,  and  made  the  birds  from 
lake  Siymplia'iis  flee ; 

The  Cretan  hulh  a'ld  Thracian  mares,  first  seized 
and  then  set  free  ; 

Took  prize  ihe  Amazo'nian  belt,  brought  Gerybn 
kine  t om  Gades ; 

Fetched  apt  les  iroui  the  Hesperides  and  Cer'oeros 
from  Haaes. 


Attic  Hercules.  Theseus,  who  went 
about,  like  Hercules,  his  great  contem- 
porary, destroying  robbers  and  achieving 
wondrous  exploits. 

Egyptian  Hercules.  Sesostris.  (Flou- 
rished B.c.  1500.) 

Jewish  Hercules.  Samson.  (Died  B.c. 
1113.) 

Hercules  Secundus.  Com'modus,  the 
Roman  emperor,  gave  himself  this  title. 


He  was  a gigantic  idiot,  of  whom  it  is 
said  that  he  killed  100  lions  in  the  amphi- 
theatre, and  gave  none  of  them  more  than 
one  blow.  He  also  overthrew  1,000  gladia- 
tors. (Ihl,  180-192.) 

The  Farndse  Hercules.  A celebrated 
work  of  art,  copied  by  Glykon  from  an 
original  by  Lysippos.  It  exhibits  the 
hero,  exhausted  by  toil,  leaning  upon  his 
club  ; his  left  hand  rests  upon  his  back, 
and  grasps  one  of  the  apples  of  the  Hes- 
per'ides. A copy  of  this  famous  statue 
stands  in  the  gardens  of  the  Tuileries, 
Paris ; but  Glykon’s  statue  is  in  the 
Farnese  Palace  at  Rome.  A beautiful 
description  of  this  statue  is  given  by 
Thomson  (^'Liberty,”  iv.) 

Hercules'  Club.  A stick  of  unusual 
size  and  formidable  appearance. 

Hercules'  Horse.  Ari'on,  given  him  by 
Adras'tos.  It  had  the  power  of  speech, 
and  its  feet  on  the  right  side  were  those 
of  a man. 

Hei'cules'  Pillars.  Calpe  and  Aby'la, 
one  at  Gibraltar  and  one  at  Ceuta,  torn 
asunder  by  Hercules  that  he  might  get 
to  Gades  {Cadiz).  Macro'bius  ascribes 
these  pillars  to  Sesostris  (the  Egyptian 
Hercules),  and  Lucan  follows  the  same 
tradition. 

Venit  ad  oocasum,  mundique  extrema  Sesostrig. 

Fharsa'lia,”  x» 

I will  folloio  you  even  to  the  pillars  of 
Hercules.  To  the  end  of  the  world. 
The  ancients  supposed  that  these  rocks 
marked  the  utmost  limits  of  the  habitable 
globe.  {See  above  Hercules’  Pillars.” 

Hereu'lean  Knot.  A snaky  com- 
plication on  the  rod  or  cadu'ceus  of  Mer- 
cury, adopted  by  the  Grecian  brides  as 
the  fastening  of  their  woollen  girdles, 
which  only  the  bridegroom  was  allowed 
to  untie  when  the  bride  retired  for  the 
night.  As  he  did  so,  he  invoked  Juno 
to  render  his  marriaL^e  as  fecund  as  that 
of  Hercules,  who  had  a vast  number  of 
wives,  all  of  whom  had  families,  amongst 
others  the  fifty  daughters  of  Thestius, 
each  of  whom  conceived  in  one  night. 
{See,  Knot.) 

Hereford  (3  syl.).  Saxon,  here-ford 
(army  ford). 

Herefordshire  Kindness.  A good 
turn  rendered  for  a good  turn  received. 
Latin  proverbs,  Fricantemrefri'ca  ; Manus 
manum  lavat.  Fuller  says  the  people  of 
Herefordshire  drink  back  to  him  who 
drinks  to  them.” 


HERETIC. 


HERMETIC  BOOKS.  401 


Heretic  means  one  who  chooses/’ 
and  heresy  means  simply  a choice.”  A 
heretic  is  one  who  chooses  his  own  creed, 
and  does  not  adopt  the  creed  authorised 
by  the  national  church.  (Greek,  hair^sis, 
choice.) 

Heretics  op  the  First  Century  were 
the  Simo'nians  (so  called  from  Simon 
Magus),  Gerin'thians  (Cerinthus),  Eh' ion- 
ites (Eb'ion),  and  Nicolditans  (Nicholas, 
deacon  of  Antioch). 

Second  Century  : The  Basilid/ians 
(Basil  ides),  Carpocra' tians  (Carpoc'ra- 
tes),  Valentin! ixiTis  (Valenti'nus),  Gnostics 
(Knowing  Ones),  Nazare'neSy  Millena'- 
rians,  Cain'ites  (Cain),  Seth'ians  (Seth), 
Quartodecimans  (^who  kept  Easter  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  the  first  month),  Cer- 
do'nians  ( Gordon) , Mar'cionites  { Mar'cion ), 
Monta'nists  (Monta'nus),  Ta!tianixts  (Ta'- 
tian),  (who  denied  the  ‘‘Word”), 

Artoty' rites  {q.v.)^  and  Angel'ics  (who 
worshipped  angels). 

Third  Century  : The  Pai'ri-passians, 
Arab'aci,  Aqua' rians,  Nova' tians ^ Or'igen- 
ists  (followers  of  Or'igen),  M elchisedech' - 
ians  (who  believed  Melchis'edech  was  the 
Messiah),  Sahellians  (from  Saberiius), 
and  Maniche'ans  (followers  of  Manies). 

Fourth  Century  : The  A'rians  (from 
Arius),  CoUuth'ians  (Collu'thus),  Mace- 
donians, Agoe'tcB,  Appollina'rians  (Apol- 
lina'ris),  Timdtheans  (Timothy,  the 
apostle),  Collyrid'ians  (who  offered  cakes 
to  the  Virgin  yL2ivy),Seleu' dans  (Seleu  cus), 
Priscillmns  (Priscillian),  Anthropo-inor- 
phites  (who  ascribed  to  God  a human 
form),  J ovin' ianisis  (Jovin'ian),  Mtssa'- 
lians,  and  Bono'sians  (Bono'sus). 

Fifth  Century  : The  Pela'gians{Ve\d!- 
gius),  Nesto'rians  (Nesto'rius),  Eutych'- 
ians  (Eu'tychus),  Theo-paschites  (who  said 
all  the  three  persons  of  the  Trinity  suf- 
fered on  the  cross). 

Sixth  Century:  HhQ Predesthia'rians, 
Incorrup' titles  (who  maintained  that  the 
body  of  Christ  was  incorruptible),  the 
new  Agoe'Ue  (who  maintained  that  Christ 
did  not  know  when  the  day  of  judgment 
would  take  place),  and  the  Monoth' elites 
(who  maintained  that  Christ  had  but  one 
will). 

Her'iot.  A right  of  the  lord  of  a i 
manor  to  the  best  jewel,  beast,  or  chattel 
of  a deceased  copyhold  tenant.  The  word 
is  compounded  of  the  Saxon  here  (army),  ! 
geatn  (grant),  because  originally  it  was  ! 
military  furniture,  such  as  armour,  arms,  i 


and  horses  paid  to  the  lord  of  the  fee. — 
Canute,  c.  69. 

Herniac.  Busts  of  the  god  Hermes 
affixed  to  a quadrangular  stone  pillar, 
diminishing  towards  the  base,  and  be- 
tween five  and  six  feet  in  height.  They 
were  set  up  to  mark  the  boundaries  of 
lands,  at  the  junction  of  roads,  at  the 
corners  of  streets,  and  so  on.  The  Romans 
used  them  also  for  garden  decorations. 
In  later  times  the  block  was  more  or 
less  chiselled  into  legs  and  arms. 

Hermaph'rodite  (4  syl. ).  A human 
body  having  both  sexes ; a vehicle  com- 
bining the  structure  of  a wagon  and 
cart ; a flower  containing  both  the  male 
and  female  organs  of  reproduction.  The 
word  is  derived  from  the  fable  of  Her- 
maph'rodi'tus,  son  of  Hermes  and  Aph'- 
rodite.  The  nymph  Sal'macis  became 
enamoured  of  him,  and  prayed  that  she 
might  be  so  closely  united  that  “the 
twain  might  become  one  flesh.”  Her 
prayer  being  heard,  the  nymph  and  boy 
became  one  body.- — Ovid,  ^^Metamor- 
phoses,** iv.  347. 

Her'megyld  or  Uermyngyld.  The 
wife  of  the  constable  of  Northumberland, 
converted  to  Christianity  by  Cunstance, 
by  whose  bidding  she  restored  sight  to  a 
blind  Triton,— Chaucer,  Man  of  Lawes 
Tale.** 

Her'mensul  or  Ermensul.  A Saxon 
deity,  worshipped  in  Westpha'lia.  Char- 
lemagne broke  the  idol,  and  converted 
its  temple  into  a Christian  church.  The 
statue  stood  on  a column,  holding  a 
standard  in  one  hand,  and  a balance  in 
the  other.  On  its  breast  was  the  figure 
of  a bear,  and  on  its  shield  a lion.  Pro- 
bably it  was  a war-god. 

Her'mes  (2  syl.).  The  Greek  Mer- 
cury  ; either  the  god  or  the  metal. 

So  when  we  see  the  liquid  metal  fall 

Which  chemists  by  the  name  of  Hermes  call. 

Hoole.  ""Ariosto,”  bk.  viii. 

Milton  (“Paradise Lost,”  hi.  603)  calls 
quicksilver  “ Volatil  Hermes.” 

Hermet'ic  Art.  The  art  or  science 
of  alchemy  ; so  called  from  the  Chaldean 
philosopher,  Hermes  Trismegis'tus,  its 
hypothetical  founder. 

Hermet'ic  Books.  Egyptian  books 
written  under  the  dictation  of  Thoth  (the 
Egyptian  Hermes),  the  scribe  of  the  gods, 
Jamblichus  gives  their  number  as  20,000, 

A A 


402  HERMETIC  PHILOSOPHY. 


HEROIC  VERSE. 


blit  Man'etho  raises  it  to  86,525.  These 
books  state  that  the  world  was  made 
out  of  fluid  ; ■ftiat  the  soul  is  the  union 
of  light  and  life  ; that  nothing  is  destruc- 
tible; that  the  soul  transmigrates;  and 
that  suffering  is  the  result  of  motion. 

Hermetic  Philosophy.  A system 
which  acknowledges  only  three  chemical 
principles — viz.,  salt,  sulphur,  and  iDcr- 
cury — from  which  it  explains  every  phe- 
nomenon of  nature.  {See  Hermes.) 

Hermetic  Powder.  The  sym- 
pathetic powder,  supposed  to  possess  a 
healing  influence  from  a distance.  The 
mediaeval  philosophers  were  very  fond 
of  calling  books  drugs,  &c.,  connected 
with  alchemy  and  astrology  by  the  term 
hermetic,  out  of  compliment  to  Hermes 
Trismegislus.— KenelniDicjhy,  Dis- 
course concerning  the  Cure  of  Wounds  hy 
Symjiaihyr 

For  hy  his  side  a pouch  he  wore 
Replete  with  strange  hermetic  powder. 

That  wounds  nine  miles  noint-blaiik  would  solder. 

Butlur,  “ Hudibrasi'  i.  2. 

Hermetically  Sealed.  Closed 
securely.  Thus  we  say,  ‘‘My  lips  are 
hermetically  sealed,”  meaning  so  as  not 
to  utter  a word  of  what  has  been  im- 
parted. The  French  say  close-fitting 
doors  and  windows  “shut  hermetically.” 
When  chemists  want  to  preserve  any- 
thing from  the  air,  they  heat  the  neck 
of  the  vessel  till  it  is  soft,  and  then 
twist  it  till  the  aperture  is  closed  up. 
This  is  called  sealing  the  vessel  her- 
metically, or  like  a chemist.  (From 
Hermes,  called  “ Trismegistus,”  or  thrice- 
great,  the  supposed  inventor  of  che- 
mistry. ) 

Her'mia.  Daughter  of  E'geus,  who 
betrothed  her  to  Deme'trius ; but  she 
refused  to  marry  him,  as  she  was  in  love 
with  Lyssiuder.— Shakespeare,  Midsuon- 
mer  Night's  Dream.^' 

Hermi'one  (4  syl. ).  Wife  of  Leontes, 
king  of  Silicia.  Being  suspected  of  in- 
fidelity, she  is  thrown  into  jail,  swoons, 
and  is  reported  to  be  dead.  She  is  kept 
concealed  till  her  infant  Peri'dita  is  of 
marriageable  age,  when  Leontes  discovers 
his  mistake,  and  is  reconciled. — Shake- 
speare, “ Winter’s  Tale.” 

Hermit.  Peter  the  Hermit.  Preacher 
of  the  first  crusade.  (1050-1115.) 

Hermite  (2  syl.).  Trlstrem  Vllermite 
or  Sir  Tristan  VErmite,  Provost-marshal 


of  Louis  XI.  He  was  the  main  instru- 
ment in  carrying  into  effect  the  nefarious 
schemes  of  his  wily  master,  who  used  to 
call  him  his  gossip  (1405-1493).  Sir 
Walter  Scott  introduces  him  in  “Anne 
of  Geierstein,”  and  again  in  “ Quentin 
Durward.” 

Hermothr  or  Hermode  (2  syl.). 
The  deity  who,  with  Bragi,  receives  and 
welcomes  to  Valhalla  all  heroes  who  fall 
in  battle. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

He'ro.  Daughter  of  Leonato,  governor 
of  Messi'na.  Her  attachment  to  Beatrice 
is  very  beautiful,  and  she  serves  as  a 
foil  to  show  off  the  more  brilliant  qualities 
of  her  cousin. — Shakespeare,  “ Much  Ado 
about  Nothing.” 

He'ro  and  Lean'der.  The  tale  is 
that  Hero,  a priestess  of  Venus,  fell  in 
love  with  Leander,  who  swam  across  the 
Hellespont  every  night  to  visit  her.  Oue 
night  he  was  drowned  in  so  doing,  and 
Hero  in  grief  threw  herself  into  the  same 
sea. 

Her'od.  A child-killer;  from  Herod 
the  Great,  who  ordered  the  massacre  of 
the  babes  in  Bethlehem.  (Matt.  ii.  16.) 

To  out-herod  Herod.  To  out-do  in 
wickedness,  violence,  or  rant,  the  worst 
of  tyrants.  Herod,  who  destroyed  the 
babes  of  Bethlehem,  was  made  (in  the 
ancient  mysteries)  a ranting,  roaring 
tyrant ; the  extravagance  of  his  rant 
being  the  measure  of  his  bloody-minded- 
ness. {See  Pilate.) 

Oh,  it  offends  me  to  the  soul  to  hear  a robustious, 
perriwig-pated  fellow  tear  a passion  to  tatters,  to 
vi^ry  j ags,  to  split  the  ears  of  the  groundlings  . . . 
it  out-herods  liexodi.— Shakespeare,  “ HamUt,"  iii.  2. 

Heroic  Age.  That  age  of  a nation 
which  comes  between  the  purely  mythical 
period  and  the  historic.  This  is  the  ago 
when  the  sons  of  the  gods  take  unto 
themselves  the  daughters  of  men,  and 
the  offspring  partake  of  the  twofold 
character. 

Heroic  Medicines.  Those  which 
produce  serious  or  even  fatal  results, 
when  administered  too  freely,  as  calomel, 
quinine,  &c. 

Heroic  Size  in  sculpture  denotes  a 
stature  superior  to  ordinary  life,  but  not 
colossal. 

Heroic  Verse.  That  verse  in  which 
epic  poetry  is  generally  written.  In 
Greek  and  Latin  it  is  hexameiyv  verse,  in 


HEtlOK  CRESTS. 


HEYDAY  OF  YOUTH,  403 


English  it  is  ten-syllable  verse,  either  in 
rhymes  or  not.  So  called  because  it  is 
employed  for  the  celebration  of  heroic 
exploits. 

Her'on-crests.  The  Uzbek  Tartars 
wear  a plume  of  white  heron  feathers  in 
their  turbans. 

Heros'tratos  or  ErostratoSf  an  Ephe- 
sian who  set  fire  to  the  temple  of  Ephesus 
in  order  that  his  name  might  be  per- 
petuated. The  Ephesians  made  it  penal 
\o  mention  the  name,  but  their  law  effec- 
tually defeated  its  object,  (b.c.  356.) 

Herring.  Dead  as  a sliotten  herring. 
The  shotten  herring  is  one  that  has  shot 
off  or  ejected  its  spawn.  This  fish  dies 
the  very  moment  it  quits  the  water,  from 
want  of  air.  Indeed,  all  the  herring 
tribe  die  very  soon  after  they  are  taken 
from  their  native  element. 

By  gar  de  herring  is  no  dead  so  as  I vill  kill  him. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,''  ii.  3. 

Herrings.  {See  Battle.) 
Herring-bone  in  building.  Courses 
of  stone  laid  angularly,  thus  : . 

Also  applied  to  strutting  placed  between 
thin  joists  to  increase  their  strength. 

Also  a peculiar  stitch  in  needlework, 
chiefly  used  in  working  flannel. 

Hertford.  Saxon,  heart- ford  (the 
hart’s  ford).  The  arms  of  the  city  are 
‘‘a  hart  couchant  in  water.” 

Hertford^  invoked  by  Thomson  in  his 

Spring,”  was  Frances  Thynne,  who 
married  Algernon  Seymour,  earl  of  Hert- 
ford, afterwards  duke  of  Somerset. 

Hertba.  Mother  earth.  Worshipped 
by  all  the  Scandinavian  tribes  with  orgies 
and  mysterious  rites,  celebrated  in  the 
dark.  Her  veiled  statue  was  transported 
from  district  to  district  by  cows  which 
no  hand  but  the  priest’s  was  allowed  to 
touch.  Tacitus  calls  this  goddess  Cyb'ele. 

Her  Trippa.  Henry  Cornelius 
Agrippa  of  Nettesheim,  a philosopher 
and  physician.  One  of  the  characters  in 
the  romance  of  “ Gargantua  and  Pan'- 
tagrueP,”  by  Rabelais. 

idesPone.  Daughter  of  Laom'edon, 
king  of  Troy,  exposed  to  a sea-monster, 
but  rescued  by  Hercul^is. 

Hesper'ia.  Italy  was  so  called  by 

the  Greeks,  because  it  was  to  them  the 

“ Western  Land;”  but  the  Romans,  for 


a similar  reason,  transferred  the  name  to 
Spain. 

HesperldeS.  Three  sisters  who 
guarded  the  golden  apples  which  He'ra 
{Juno)  received  as  a marriage  gift. 
They  were  assisted  by  the  dragon  La'don. 
Many  English  poets  call  the  place  where 
these  golden  apples  grew  the  ‘ ^ garden  of 
the  Hesperides.”  Shakespeare  Love’s 
Labour’s  Lost,”  iv.  3)  speaks  of  climbing 
trees  in  the  Hesperides.” 

Shew  thee  the  tree,  leafed  with  reSned  gold. 
Whereon  the  fearful  dragon  held  his  seat. 

That  watched  the  garden  c died  Hesperides. 

Robert  Greene,  “ Friar  Baco^i  and 
Friar  Bungay.-'  (I5y8.) 

Hes'perus-  The  evening  star. 

Ere  twice  in  murk  and  occidental  damp 
Moist  Hrsperus  hath  quenched  his  sleepy  lamp. 

Shakeapaare,  "'All's  Well  that  Ends  Well,"  iL  1. 

He'sus  or  M'sus.  A Gaulish  war-god 
corresponding  to  Mars. 

He'sychasts  {He'-se-Jcasts),  The 
“quietists”  of  the  East  in  the  fourteenth 
century.  They  placed  perfection  in  con- 
templation. (Greek,  hesu'chia,  quiet.) 
{See  Gibbon,  ‘'Roman  Empire,”  Ixiii. ) 
Milton  well  expresses  their  belief  in  his 
Comus — 

Till  oft  converse  with  heavenly  habitants 
Begin  to  ca<?t  a beana  on  the  outward  shape,  , 
And  turns  it  by  degrees  to  the  soul’s  essence 
Till  all  be  made  immortal. 

Het'serism  (3  syl.).  Prostitution. 
The  Greek  hetaira  (a  mistress).  Ac- 
cording to  Plato,  " meretrix,  specioso 
nomine  rem  odiosam  denotante.”— 
et  Athen.  {See  Scapula.) 

Hetman.  The  Chief  of  the  Cossacks 
of  the  Don  used  to  be  so  called.  He  was 
elected  by  the  people,  and  the  mode  of 
choice  was  this  : The  voters  threw  their 
fur  caps  at  the  candidate  they  voted  for, 
and  he  who  had  the  most  caps  at  his 
feet  was  the  successful  candidate.  The 
last  Hetman  was  count  Platoff.  Q812- 
1814.) 

Heu-Monat'  or  Heg-Monath.  Hay- 
month,  the  Anglo-Saxon  name  for  July. 

Hewson.  OUl  Hen'son  the  cobbler. 
Colonel  John  Hewson,  who  (as  Hume 
says)  " rose  from  the  profession  of  a 
cobbler  to  a high  rank  in  Cromwell’s 
army.” 

Heyday  of  Y outh.  The  prime  of 
youth.  (Saxon,  heh-doig,  high- day  or 
mid-day  of  youth.) 


A A 2 


404 


HEXAPLA. 


HIGHGATE. 


Hex'apla.  A book  containing  the 
text  of  the  Bible  in  Hebrew  and  Greek, 
with  four  translations,  viz.,  the  Sep'tua- 
gint,  with  those  of  Aquila,  Theodo'tion, 
and  Symmachus.  The  whole  is  printed 
in  six  columns  on  the  page.  This  was 
the  work  of  Origen,  who  also  added  mar- 
ginal notes, 

Hext.  When  hale  is  hext^  hoot  is  next. 
When  things  come  to  the  worst  they 
must  soon  mend.  • Bale  means  misery, 
hurt,  misfortune  ; hext  is  highest  as  next 
is  nighest ; hoot  means  help,  profit. 

Hiawath'a.  Son  of  Mudjekee'wis 
(the  west  wind)  and  Weno'nah.  His 
mother  died  in  his  infancy,  and  Hiawatha 
was  brought  up  by  his  grandmother, 
Hoko'mis,  daughter  of  the  Moon.  He 
represents  the  progress  of  civilisation 
among  the  American  Indians.  He  first 
wrestled  with  Monda'min  (Indian  maize), 
whom  he  subdued,  and  gave  to  man 
bread-corn.  He  then  taught  man  navi- 
gation ; then  he  subdued  the  Mishe- 
Nahma  or  sturgeon,  and  told  the  people 
to  bring  all  their  pots  and  kettles  and 
make  oil  for  winter.”  His  next  ad- 
venture was  against  Megissog'won,  the 
magician,  “ who  sent  the  fiery  fever 
on  man  ; sent  the  white  fog  from  the 
fen-lands;  sent  disease  and  death  among 
us he  slew  the  terrible  monster,  and 
taught  man  the  science  of  medicine.  He 
next  married  “ Laughing  Water,”  setting 
the  people  an  example  to  follow.  Lastly, 
he  taught  the  people  picture-writing. 
When  the  white  men  landed  and  taught 
the  Indians  the  faith  of  Jesus,  Hiawatha 
exhorted  them  to  receive  the  words  of 
wisdom,  to  reverence  the  missionaries 
who  had  come  so  far  to  see  them,  and 
departed  to  the  kingdom  of  Pone'mah, 
the  land  of  the  Hereafter.” 

Longfellow’s  song  of  Hiawath'a  may 
be  termed  the  “Edda”  of  the  North 
American  Indians. 

Hiaioatha's  mittens.  ‘'Magic  mittens 
made  of  deer-skin  ; when  upon  his  hands 
he  wore  them,  he  could  smite  the  rocks 
Long  fellow  f Hiawatha  f iv. 

Hiawatha's  moc'casins.  Enchanted 
shoes  made  of  deer-skin.  “When  he 
bound  them  round  his  ankles,  at  each 
stride  a mile  he  measured.”— 

“ Hiawatha f iv. 

Hiber  nia.  A variety  of  lerng  {Ire- 
land).  Pliny  says  the  Irish  mothers 


feed  their  babes  with  swords  instead  of 
spoons. 

While  in  Hibernia’s  fields  the  labouring  swain 
Shall  pass  tbe  plough  o er  skulls  of  warriors  slain, 
And  turn  up  bones  and  broken  spears. 

Amazed,  he’ll  show  his  fellows  of  the  plain 
The  relics  of  victorious  years, 

And  tell  how  swift  thy  arms  that  kingdom  did 

regain. 

Hughes^  “ House  of  Nassau'* 

Hie  Ja'cets.  Tombstones,  so  called 
from  the  first  two  words  of  their  inscrip- 
tions : “ Here  Lies  ...” 

By  the  cold  Hie  Jacets  of  the  dead. 

Tennyson,  “ Idylls  of  the  King  ” ( Vivien). 

Hick'athrift  {Tom  or  Jack).  A poor 
labourer  in  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  of 
such  enormous  strength  that,  armed  with 
an  axletree  and  cartwheel  only,  he  killed 
a giant  who  dwelt  in  a marsh  at  Tylney, 
Norfolk.  He  was  knighted  and  made 
governor  of  Thanet.  He  is  sometimes 
called  Hickajric. 

Hick'ory.  Old  Hickory.  General 
Andrew  Jackson.  Parton  says  he  was 
first  called  “ tough,”  from  his  pedestrial 
powers  ; then  “tough  as  hickory and, 
lastly,  “ old  hickory.” 

Hidal'go.  The  title  in  Spain  of  the 
lower  nobility.  (According  to  bishop  St. 
Vincent,  the  word  is  compounded  of 
hijo  del  Goto.,  son  of  a Goth ; but  more 
probably  it  is  hijo  d' algo y son  of  some- 
body). In  Portuguese  it  is  “ Fidalgo.” 

Hieroclean  i.  egaey.  The  legacy 
of  jokes.  Hidrocles,  in  the  fifth  Chris- 
tian century,  was  the  first  person  who 
hunted  up  and  compiled  jokes ; after  a 
life-long  labour  he  mustered  together  as 
many  as  twenty-one,  which  he  has  left  to 
the  world  as  his  legacy. 

Higgledy-  Piggledy.  In  great 
confusion  ; at  sixes  and  sevens.  A hig- 
gler is  a pedlar  whose  stores  are  all 
huddled  t'  'gether.  Higgledy  means  after 
the  fashion  of  a higgler’s  basket.  Pig- 
gledy is  probably  a mere  expletive,  as 
llandy-pandyy  where  Handy  means 
“little-hand,”  but  pandy  is  simply  a 
jingle.  Of  course  piggledy  may  be  a 
playful  corruption  of  pig-sty-like,  and 
pandy  may  be  a corruption  of  pando  (to 
open),  meaning  expanded,  but  this  I 
think  is  to  scan  the  thing  too  far. 

High-gate  has  its  name  from  a gate 
set  up  there  about  400  years  ago,  to 
receive  tolls  for  the  bishop  of  Loudon, 
when  the  old  miry  road  from  Gray’s  Inn 


HIGH  HEELS. 


HILL  PEOPLE. 


405 


Lane  to  Barnet  was  turned  throup^h  the 
bishop’s  park.  The  village  being  in  a 
high  or  elevated  situation  explains  the 
first  part  of  the  name. 

Sworn  at  Highgate.  Grose  says  that  a 
custom  anciently  prevailed  at  the  public- 
houses  in  Highgate  to  administer  a ludi- 
crous oath  to  all  travellers  who  stopped 
there.  The  party  was  sworn  on  a pair  of 
horns  fastened  to  a stick — 

(1)  Never  to  kiss  the  maid  when  he 
can  kiss  the  mistress. 

(2)  Never  to  eat  brown  bread  when  he 
can  get  white, 

(3)  Never  to  drink  small  beer  when  he 
can  get  strong— unless  he  prefers  it. 

High.  Heels  and  Low  Heels.  The 
High  and  Low  Church  party.  The  names 
of  two  factions  in  Swift’s  tale  of  Lilliput 

Gulliver’s  Travels”). 

High  Jinks.  He  is  at  his  high  jinks. 
Stilted  in  manner  ; on  his  high  horse. 

The  frolicsome  company  had  begun  to  practise  the 
ancient  and  now  forgotten  pastime  of  High  Jinks. 
The  game  was  p ayed  in  several  different  ways.  Most 
frequently  the  die  were  thrown  byihe  company, 
and  those  upon  whom  the  lot  fell  were  obliged  to 
assume  and  maintain  for  a time  a certain  fictitious 
character,  or  to  repeat  a certain  numb  r of  fescen- 
nine  verses  in  a particular  or  ter.  If  they  departed 
from  the  characters  assigned  . . . they  incurred  for- 
feits, which  were  compounded  for  by  swallowing  an 
ad  itional  bumper.— W.  Scott, Guy  Mannervig,’’ 
xxsvi. 

High  Places  (Scripture).  Places  of 
illicit  worship  among  the  Jews,  who,  in 
common  with  other  nations,  selected 
elevated  spots  for  their  altars. 

High  Seas.  All  the  sea  which  is  not 
the  property  of  a particular  country. 
The  sea  three  miles  out  belongs  to  the 
adjacent  coast,  and  is  called  mare  clau- 
sum. High  seas,  like  High-ways,  means 
for  the  public  use.  In  both  cases  the 
vfordihigh  means  chief,”  ‘^principal.” 
(Latin,  altum,  the  main  sea altus, 
‘^high.”) 

Highland  Mary.  A name  im- 
mortalised by  Burns,  generally  thouglft 
to  be  Mary  Campbell,  but  more  probably 
Mary  Morison.  In  1792  we  have  three 
songs  to  Mary : Will  ye  go  to  the 
Indies,  my  Mary?”  ^‘Highland  Mary” 
(^‘  Ye  banks  and  braes  of  bonnie  Boon  ”), 
and  “To  Mary  in  Heaven”  (^^Thou 
lingering  star,”  &c.).  These  were  all 
written  some  time  after  the  consumma- 
tion of  his  marriage  with  Jean  Armour 
(1788),  for  the  recollection  of  ^^one  of 


the  most  interesting  passages  of  his 
youthful  days.”  Four  months  after  he 
had  sent  to  Mr.  Thomson  the  song  called 

Highland  Mary”  he  sent  that  entitled 
“ Mary  Morison,”  which  he  calls  “ one  of 
his  juvenile  works.”  Thus  all  the  four 
songs  refer  to  some  youthful  passion,  and 
three  of  them  at  least  were  sent  in  letters 
addressed  to  Mr.  Thomson,  so  that  little 
doubt  can  exist  that  the  Mary  of  all  the 
four  is  one  and  the  same  person^  called 
by  the  author  Mary  Morison. 

How  blythely  wad  I bide  the  stoure. 

A weary  s^ave  frae  sun  to  sun, 

Could  I tiie  rich  reward  secure— 

The  lovely  Mary  Morison. 

Highlanders  of  At'tiea.  The 
operative  class,  who  had  their  dwellings 
on  the  hills  {Diacrli). 

High'ness.  The  Khedive  of  Egypt  is 
styled  “ Your  Highness.” 

The  children  of  , kings  and  queens, 

Your  Royal  Highness.” 

The  children  of  emperors,  Your 
Imperial  Highness.” 

Till  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  the  kings 
of  England  were  styled  ‘^Your  High- 
ness,” ^^Your  Grace,”  Your  Excellent 
Grace,”  &c. 

Hil'ary  Term,  in  the  Law  courts,  is 
from  the  11th  to  the  end  of  January,  so 
called  in  honour  of  St.  Hilary,  whose  day 
occurs  on  the  13th. 

HiTdebrand  {Meister).  The  Nestor 
of  German  romance,  a magician  as  well 
as  champion,  like  Maugis  among  the 
heroes  of  Charlemagne. 

Hildebrand.  Pope  Gregory  VII.  (1073- 
1085.) 

A Hildebrand.  A violent,  mischievous 
person.  So  called  from  pope  Gregory 
VII.,  noted  for  subjugating  the  power  of 
the  German  emperors  ; and  specially 
detested  by  the  early  reformers  for  his 
ultra-pontifical  views.  {See  above.) 

HiTdebrod  {Dick).  President  of  the 
AlsaTian  club.  —Sir  W.  Scott j “ Fortunes 
ofNigei:^ 

Hildur.  Goddess  of  war,  the  Bello'na 
of  Scandinavian  mythology. 

1 Hill-People  or  Hill-folk.  A class 
^ of  beings  in  Scandinavian  tradition  be- 
tween the  elves  and  the  human  race. 

; They  are  supposed  to  dwell  in  caves  and 
I small  hills,  and  are  bent  on  receiving  the 
I benefits  of  man’s  redemption. 


406 


HILL  TRIBES. 


HIP!  HIP!  HURRAH. 


Hill  Tribes.  The  barbarous  tribes 
dwelling  in  remote  parts  of  the  Deccan 
or  plateau  of  Central  India. 

HiTpa.  A Chinese  antediluvian  prin- 
cess, one  of  the  150  daughters  of  Zilpah, 
of  the  race  of  Cohu  {Cain).  Her  lover 
is  Shallum  (q.v.).—Spectator,  vol.  viii. 
584-585. 

Himiltrude  (3  syh).  Wife  of  Charle- 
magne, who  surpassed  all  other  women 
in  nobleness  of  mien. 

Her  fieck  was  tinned  with  a delicate  rose,  like  that  I 
of  a Roman  matron  in  former  ages.  Her  locks  were  | 
bound  ibout  her  temples  with  gold  and  purple  bands.  ' 
Her  drt'ss  was  looped  up  with  ruby  clasps.  Her 
coronet  and  her  puiple  robes  gave  her  an  air  of  sur- 
passinii  majesty.— “ Croquemitaine,”  iii. 

Himinbiorg.  A city  fortified  by 
Heimdall.  It  was  situate  under  the 
extremity  of  the  rainbow  or  bridge 
Bifrost,  and  commanded  a view  of  100  I 
leagues  in  every  direction. — Celtic  mytlio- 
logy. 

Hind.  Emblematic  of  St.  Giles, 
because  a beaven-directed  hind  went 
daily  to  give  him  mdk  in  the  desert, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Rhone.”  {See 
Hart.) 

The  hind  of  Sertorius.  Serto'rius  was 
invited  by  the  Lusita'nians  to  defend  them 
against  the  Romans.  He  had  a tame 
white  hind,  which  he  taught  to  follow 
him,  and  from  which  he  pretended  to 
receive  the  instructions  of  Diana.  By 
this  artifice,  says  Plutarch,  he  imposed 
on  the  superstition  of  the  people. 

He  feigned  a demon  (in  a hind  concealed) 

To  him  the  counsels  of  the  gods  revealed. 

Camoens,  “ Lusiad,^'  i. 

The  milJc-white  hind,  in  Dryden’s  poem, 

The  Hind  and  the  Panther,”  means  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  milk-white  be- 
cause ‘‘infallible.”  The  panther,  full  of 
the  spots  of  error,  is  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. 

Without  unspotted,  innocent  within. 

She  feared  no  danger,  for  she  knew  no  sin. 

Ft.  i. 

Hind  and  Panther.  A satire  by 
Dryden.  The  “noble  buzzard”  is  bishop 
Burnet,  who  censured  Dryden  for  the 
great  immorality  of  his  dramas. 

H in'da.  Daughter  of  A1  Hassan,  the 
Arabian  ameer  of  Persia.  Her  lover, 
Hafed,  was  a Gheber  or  Fire-worshipper, 
the  sworn  enemy  of  A1  Hassan  and  all 
his  race.  A1  Hassan  sent  her  away  for 
safety,  but  she  was  taken  captive  by 
Hafed’s  party,  and  when  her  lover  ' 


(betrayed  to  A1  Hassan)  burnt  himself 
to  death  in  the  sacred  tire,  Hinda  cast 
herself  headlong  into  the  sea. — T.  Moore. 
“ The  Fire-  Worshippers." 

Hinda.  One  of  the  idols  of  the  Madian- 
ites. 

Hin'der  is  to  hold  one  behind  ; 
whereas  pre-vent  is  to  go  before,  and  thus 
stop  one’s  progress. 

Hindustan'.  Hind  {Persic),  Sind 
{Sam^kh'it) , means  “ black,”  and  u or  oo 
is  the  common  adjunct^  about  equal  to 
our  ey.  Hence  “ Hindoo”  or  “Hindu” 
means  hlackey  or  vegro.  “Tan”  means 
territory  in  all  the  A'ryan  family  of  lan- 
guages, and  therefore  “Hindus-tan” 
means  Negroes -territory. 

Tan  appears  in  Koordistan,  Afganistan,  Mauri- 
tania, Farsistau,  &c.,  country  of  the  Koords,  the 
Afgaus,  the  Maurs  or  Moors,  Ears,  &c.  Kohistan 
(/iip/i-couwfry),.  Kafir istan  (infidel  country),  &c. 

Hindustan  Regiment,  The  76th. 
So  called  because  it  first  distinguished 
itself  in  Hindustan.  It  is  also  called  the 
Seven  and  Sixpennies,  from  its  number. 

Hinzelmann.  The  most  famous 
house-spirit  or  kobold  of  German  legend. 
He  lived  four  years  in  the  old  castle  of 
Hudemuhlen,  where  he  had  a room  set 
apart  for  him  ; at  the  end  of  the  fourth 
year  (1588)  he  went  away  of  his  own 
accord,  and  never  again  returned. 

Hip ! Hip  ! Hurrah. ! Hip  is  said 
to  be  a notarica,  composed  of  the  initial 
letters  of  Hierosolyma  Est  Per'dita. 
Henri  van  Laun  says,  in  Notes  and 
Queries,  that  whenever  the  German 
knights  headed  a Jew-hunt,  in  the  middle 
ages,  they  ran  shouting  “ Hip  ! Hip  !”  as 
much  as  to  say  “Jerusalem  is  destroyed.” 
{See  Notarica.) 

Timbs  derives  Hurrah  from  the  Scla- 
vonic hu-raj  (to  Paradise),  so  that  Hip  f 
hip!  hv.rrah!  would  mean  “Jerusalem 
is  lost  to  the  infidel,  and  we  are  on  the 
road  to  Paradise.”  These  etymons  may 
be  taken  for  what  they  are  worth. 

“ Now, 'infidel,  I have  thee  on  the  hip" 
(“Merchant  of  Venice”);  and  again, 
“77Z  have  our  Michael  Cassio  on  the  hip" 
(“Othello”),  to  have  the  whip  hand  of 
one.  The  term  is  derived  from  wrestlers, 
who  seize  the  adversary  by  the  hip  and 
throw  him. 

In  fine  he  doth  apply  one  special!  drift. 

Which  was  to  get  the  pagan  on  the  hip, 

And  having  caught  him  right,  he  doth  him  lift 
By  nimble  sleight,  and  in  such  wise  doth  trip. 

That  down  he  tiirew  him.  Sir  J.  Harington. 


HIPPER-SWITCHES. 


HISTORY. 


407 


Hipper-Switches.  Coarse  willow 
withs.  A hipper  is  a coarse  osier  used 
in  basket-making,  and  an  osier  iield  is  a 
hippe,r-holm. 

Hippo.  Bishop  of  Bippo.  A title  by 
wbich  St.  Augustine  is  designated.  (354- 
430.) 

Hip'poeampus,  pi.  Hippocampes 
(4  syl.).  A sea-horse,  having  the  head 
and  fore-quarters  of  a horse,  with  the 
tail  and  hind-quarters  of  a fish  or  dolphin. 

Hip'pocras.  A cordial  made  of 
Lisbon  and  Canary  wines,  bruised  spices, 
and  sugar  ; so  called  from  the  strainer 
through  which  it  is  passed,  called  by 
apothecaries  Hippodrates'  sleeve.  Hippo- 
crates in  the  middle  ages  was  called 
‘‘Yypocras”  or  ‘‘ Hippocras.’'  Thus 
Chaucer : 

Well  knew  he  the  old  Esculapius, 

And  Deiscorides,  and  eek  Kufua, 

OldYyi  ocras,  Haly,  and  Gnlien. 

“ Canterbury  Tales  ” {Prologue^  431). 

Hippocrat'ean  School.  A school 
of  medicine,  so  called  from  Hippoc'rates. 
{See  Dogmatic.  ) 

Hippoc'rates’  Sleeve.  A woollen 
bag  of  a square  piece  of  flannel,  having 
the  opposite  corners  joined,  so  as  to  make 
it  triangular.  Used  by  chemists  for  strain- 
ing syrups,  &c.,  and  for  decoctions. 

Hip'pocrene  (3  syl.).  The  fountain 
of  the  Muses,  produced  by  a stroke  of 
the  4oof  of  Peg'asos  (Greek,  horse-foun- 
tain).* 

Hip'pogryph  or  Rippogrif  The 
winged  horse,  whose  father  was  a griffin 
and  mother  a filly  (Greek,  hippos,  a horse, 
s^odigryphos,  agriffin).  A symbol  of  love. — 
*•  Orlando  Furioso/*  iv.  18,  19. 

So  saying,  he  caught  him  up,  and  without  wing 

Of  hippogrif,  bore  through  the  air  sublime, 

Over  the  wilderness  and  o’er  the  plain. 

Milton, '' Paradise  Regained,**  ir. 

(See  SiMUEGH.) 

Hippol'yta.  Queen  of  the  Am'azons, 
and  daughter  of  Mars.  Shakespeare  has 
introduced  the  character  in  his  Mid- 
summer Night’s  Dream,”  where  he  be- 
troths  her  to  Theseus,  duke  of  Athens. 
In  classic  fable  it  is  her  sister  An'tiope 
who  married  Theseus,  although  some 
writers  justify  Shakespeare’s  account. 
Hippolyta  was  famous  for  a girdle  given 
her  by  her  father,  and  it  was  one  of  the 
twelve  labours  of  Hercules  to  possess 
himself  of  this  prize. 


Hippol'ytos.  Son  of  Theseus,  king 
of  Athens.  He  was  dragged  to  death  by 
wild  horses,  and  restored  to  life  by  Escu- 
la'pios. 

(1)  Hippol'ytus,  the  cardinal  to 
whom  Ariosto  dedicated  his  ‘^Orlando 
Furioso.” 

(2)  Hippolytiis,  son  of  Alfonso,  duke  of 
Ferrara  ; a cardinal  also. 

(3)  Hippolytus,  of  the  family  of  Medi- 
cis  ; a cardinal ; killed  by  poison. 

Hippom'enes  (4  syl.).  A Grecian 
prince,  who  ran  a race  with  Atalanta  for 
her  hand  in  marriage.  He  had  three 
golden  apples,  which  he  dropped  one  by 
one,  and  which  the  lady  stopped  to  pick 
up.  By  this  delay  she  lost  the  race. 

Hip'popodes  (3  syl.).  A Scandina- 
vian tribe  far  north,  who  had  horses’  feet. 
— Pliny. 

Hi'ren.  A sword,  a swaggerer,  a 
fighting  man.  It  is  the  Greek  Irdne, 
goddess  of  peace,  called  by  the  Romans 
Pax. 

“Have  we  got  Hiren  h-^re?  We’ll  have  no  swag' 
ge  ingyoujig. CM 8.”— Sir  iV.  Scott,  "Thi Antiquary/ 

Hiren.  A strumpet.  From  Peel’s 
play,  “ The  Turkish  Mahomet  and  Hyren 
the  fair  Greek.” 

See  t Henry  IV.,  ii.  4. 

Hispa'nia.  Spain.  So  called  from 
the  Punic  word  Span  (a  rabbit),  on 
account  of  the  vast  number  of  rabbits 
which  the  Carthaginians  found  in  the 
peninsula.  Others  derive  it  from  the 
Basque  Expaha  (a  border). 

History.  Our  oldest  historian  is  the 
Venerable  Bede,  who  wrote  in  Latin  an 
^‘Ecclesiastical  History”  of  very  great 
merit  (672-735),  Of  secular  historians, 
William  of  Poitiers,  who  wrote  in  Latin 

The  Gests  or  Deeds  of  William,  Duke 
of  Normandy  and  Eang  of  the  English  ” 
(1020-1088).  His  contemporar}’-  was 
Ingulphus,  who  wrote  a history  of  Croy- 
land  Abbey  (1030-1109).  The  oldest  prose 
work  in  Early  English  is  Sir  John  Mande- 
ville’s  account  of  his  Eastern  travels  in 
1356. 

The  father  of  History.  Herod'otos,  the 
Greek  historian.  (b.C.  484-408.)  So 
called  by  Cicero. 

Father  of  French  History,  Andr^ 
Duchesne.  (1584-1640.) 

Father  of  Historic  Pa  inting,  Polyg'n o- 
tos  of  Thaos.  (Flourished  B.C.  463-435.) 


408 


HISTORY. 


HOBGOBLIN, 


History  of  Croyland  Abbey,  by 
Ingnlphus,  and  its  continuation  to  1118 
by  Peter  of  Blois,  proved  to  be  literary 
impositions  by  Sir  Francis  Palgrave  in 
the  Quarttrly  Review j vol.  xxxiv.,  No.  67. 

Hif^trion'ic  is  from  the  Etruscan 
word  hister  (a  dancer),  histrio'nes  (ballet- 
dancer).  Hence  histrio  in  Latin  means 
a stage-player,  and  our  word  histrionic, 
pertaining  to  the  drama. 

Hit.  A great  hit.  A piece  of  good 
luck.  From  the  game  kit  and  miss,  or 
the  game  of  back -gammon,  where  “ three 
hits  equal  a gammon.” 

Hitch.  There  is  some  hitch.  Some 
impediment.  A horse  is  said  to  have  a 
hitch  in  his  gait  when  it  is  lame.  (Welsh, 
hecian,  to  halt  or  limp.) 

Hoang.  The  ancient  title  of  the 
Chinese  kings,  meaning  “ sovereign 
lord.”  {See  King.) 

H oax  Welsh,  hoced,  a trick  or  juggle ; 
Saxon,  hucx,  derision.  {See  Canard.) 

Hob  of  a grate.  From  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  verb,  hahban  (to  hold).  The  chim- 
ney-corner, where  at  one  time  a settle 
stood  on  each  side,  was  also  called  “ the 
hob.” 

Hob  and  Nob  together.  To  drink 
as  cronies,  to  clink  glasses,  to  drink  tHe~ 
d-Ute.  In  the  old  English  houses  there 
was  a hob  at  each  corner  of  the  hearth  for 
heating  the  beer,  or  holding  what  one 
wdshed  to  keep  hot.  This  was  from  the 
Saxon  hahban  (to  hold).  The  little  round 
table  set  at  the  elbow  was  called  a nhb  ; 
hence  to  hob-nob  was  to  drink  snugly 
and  cosily  in  the  chimney  corner,  with 
the  beer  hobbed,  and  a little  nob-table 
set  in  the  snuggery.  {See  Hob  Nob.) 

B obal.  An  idol  in  the  Caa'ba,  before 
the  time  of  Mahomet ; supposed  to  have 
the  power  of  giving  rain. 

Hob'bema. 

The  Scotch  Hobbema.  P.  Nasmyth,  a 
Scotch  landscape  painter.  (Born  1831.) 

The  English  Hobbema.  John  Crombe, 
the  elder  (of  Norwich),  whose  last  words 
were  “ O Hobbema,  Hobbema,  how  I do 
love  thee  ! ” 

Hob'bididance  (4  syl. ).  The  prince 
of  dumbness,  and  one  of  the  five  fiends 
that  possessed  ‘^poor  Tom.”  — Shake- 
S'pearCt  King  Lear,**  iv.  1. 

Hobbinol.  The  shepherd  (Gabriel 


Harvey,  the  poet,  1545-1630)  who  re- 
lates a song  in  praise  of  Eliza,  queen  of 
shepherds  (queen  Elizabeth). — Spenser, 
“ Shepherds*  Calendar.** 

Hobbler  or  Clopinel.  Jean  de  Meung, 
the  poet,  who  wrote  the  sequel  to  the 
“ Romance  of  the  Rose.”  (1260-1320.) 

Tyrtseus,  the  Greek  elegiac  poet,  was 
called  Hobbler  because  he  introduced  the 
alternate  pentameter  verse,  which  is  one 
foot  short  of  the  old  heroic  metre. 

Hobby  or  Hobby-horse.  A favourite 
pursuit.  The  hobby  is  a falcon  trained 
to  fly  at  pigeons  and  partridges.  As 
hawks  were  universal  pets  in  the  days  of 
falconry,  and  hawking  the  favourite 
pursuit,  it  is  quite  evident  how  the  word 
hobby  got  its  present  meaning.  Hobby- 
horse is  a corruption  of  Hobby-hause 
(hawk-tossing),  or  throwing  off  the  hawk 
from  the  wrist.  Hobby  is  applied  to  a 
little  pet  riding  horse  by  the  same 
natural  transposition,  as  a mews  for 
hawks  is  now  a place  for  horses. 

Hobby-horse.  A child’s  plaything, 
so  called  from  the  hobby-horse  of  the 
ancient  morris-dance ; a light  frame  of 
wicker-work,  in  which  some  one  was 
placed,  who  performed  ridiculous  gam- 
bols. {See  above.) 

The  h'  bby-horse  doth  hither  prance. 

Maid  Marriaix  and  the  Morris  dance. 

(1221.) 

Hob'edy-hoy.  Between  a man  and 
a boy.  Spanish,  hombre  de  hoja  (a  man 
of  lath),  a man  beaten  out  thin.  Hoja  is 
anything  very  thin,  as  gold  leaf,  a sword- 
blade,  sheet 'iron,  &c.  Tusser  says  the 
third  age  of  seven  years  is  to  be  kept 
‘‘under  Sir  Hobbard  de  Hoy.”  I fancy 
hobedy  is  connected  with  hob,  a clownish 
lout,  a word  which  appears  in  hob-nail, 
hobgoblin  ; if  so,  the  word  may  be  the 
diminutive  adjective  hobeden  joined  to 
the  Welsh  hoiden  (a  tom-boy,  male  or 
female),  Hobeden  hoiden  contracted  into 
hobedy-hoy,  a clownish  tom-boy. 

Hobgoblin^  Puck  or  Robin  Good- 
fellow.  Keightley  thinks  it  a corruption 
of  Rob-Goblin,  z.e.,  the  goblin  Robin,  just 
as  Hodge  is  the  nickname  of  Roger ; but 
I fancy  the  first  syllable  is  a contraction 
of  Hobby,  a pet  wee  thing,  and  that  Robin 
Goodfellow  is  termed  the  “ little  pet 
goblin.” 

TIo  e that  Hobgoblin  csll  you  and  sweet  Puck, 
Tou  do  their  work,  and  they  shall  have  good  luck. 

Shakespeare^  “ Midsummer  Night's  Dreamt  ii.  1. 


HOB-HOLE. 


HODGE. 


409 


TTob-hole.  North  Riding  of  York- 
shire, where  the  giant  Hob  used  to  live. 
The  fishermen  still  regard  it  with  super- 
stitious terror.  The  Syrians  worshipped 
Hobal  under  the  form  of  a huge  red  stone. 

Hob'inol.  {See  Hobbinol.) 


Hoblers  or  Hovellers.  Men  who  keep 
a light  nag  that  they  may  give  instant 
information  of  threatened  invasion,  or 
ugly  customers  at  sea.  (Old  French 
hoher,  to  move  up  and  down ; our  hobby, 
q.v.) 

Sentinels  who  kept  watch  at  beacons  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  and  ran  to  the  governor  when  they  had  any 
inielli  ence  to  cmmuni cate,  were  called  hoblera— 
MS.Lansd.  (1033.) 


H ob-nail.  When  the  London  sheriff 
is  sworn  in,  the  tenants  of  a manor  in 
Shropshire  are  directed  to  come  forth 
and  do  service,  whereupon  the  senior 
alderman  below  the  chair  steps  forward 
and  chops  a stick  in  token  that  the  tenants 
of  this  county  supplied  their  feudal  lord 
with  fuel. 

The  owners  of  a forge  in  St.  Clements 
are  then  called  forth  to  do  suit  and  service, 
when  an  officer  of  the  court  produces  six 
horse-shoes  and  sixty-one  hob-nails,  which 
he  used  to  count  before  the  cursitor  baron 
till  that  office  was  abolished  in  1857. 


Hob  Nob.  A corruption  of  hab  nab, 
meaning  ‘'have  or  not,”  hence  hit  or 
miss,  at  random ; and,  secondarily,  give 
or  take,  whence  also  an  open  defiance. 
A similar  construction  to  willy  nilly. 
Saxon,  habban,  to  have  ; nabban,  not  to 
have.) 


The  citizens  in  their  rage  shot  habbe  or  nabbe  (hit 
or  miss),  at  tAndom —Holinshed,  '•'‘History  of  Ire- 
land ” 

M e wr'tes  of  the  weather  hab  nab  'at  mndom),  and 
as  the  toy  {fancy)  takc'^  h m che  .ueis  the  year  with 
loui  and  fair.  " (^uaclc  Astrologer."  («?.).) 

He  is  a devil  in  private  brawls  . . hob  nob  is  his 
word,  give  ’tor  take  't.  — Shakespeare,  '^Twelfth 
Night,"  iii  4. 

K ot  of  J ack  Straw,  with  his  rebellious  crew, 

That  set  king,  realm,  and  laws,  at  hab  or  rab 
{defiance ).  Sir  J.  Harington,  “ Epigram^'  if. 


Hob'omokko.  An  evil  spirit  among 
the  North  American  Indians. 


Hobson’s  Choice.  This  or  none. 
Tobi'as  Hobson  was  a carrier  and  inn- 
keeper at  Cambridge,  who  erected  the 
handsome  conduit  there,  and  settled 
“ seven  lays”  of  pasture  ground  towards 
its  maintenance.  “He  kept  a stable  of 
forty  good  cattle,  always  ready  and  fit 
for  travelling  ; but  when  a man  came  for 
a horse  he  was  led  into  the  stable,  where 


there  was  great  choice,  hut  was  obliged 
to  take  the  horse  which  stood  nearest  to 
the  stable-door ; so  that  every  customer 
was  alike  well  served,  according  to  his 
chance,  and  every  horse  ridden  with  the 
same  justice.” — Spectator,  No.  509. 

Milton  wrot^  two  quibbling  epitaphs 
upon  this  eccentric  character. 

Why  is  the  greatest  of  free  communities  reduced 
to  Hobson’s  choice?—  The  Times. 

Hock.  So  called  from  Hockheim,  on 
the  Maine,  where  the  best  is  supposed 
to  be  made.  It  used  to  be  called  hocka- 
more  (3  syl.). 

As  unfit  to  bottle  as  old  hockamore.— Jlfor^imer. 

Hock  Cart.  The  high  cart,  the  last 
cart-load  of  harvest. 

Hock-Day,  Hock-Tide, or  Hock- 
Tuesday.  The  day  when  the  English 
surprised  and  slew  the  Danes,  who  had 
annoyed  them  for  255  years.  This 
Tuesday  was  long  held  as  a festival  in 
England,  and  landlords  received  an  an- 
nual tribute  called  Hock-money,  for  allow- 
ing their  tenants  and  serfs  to  commemo- 
rate Hock- day,  which  was  the  second 
Tuesday  after  Easter-day. 

Hock'ey.  A game  in  which  each 
player  has  a hooked  stick  or  bandy  with 
which  to  strike  the  ball.  Hockey  is 
simply  the  diminutive  of  hook. 

Hockley-i’-the-H  ole.  Public  gar- 
dens near  Clerkenwell  Green,  famous  for 
bearand  bull- baiting,  dogandcockffights, 
&c.  The  earliest  record  of  this  garden  is 
a little  subsequent  to  the  Restoration. 

Ho'cus  Po'cus.  The  words  uttered 
by  a conjuror  when  he  performs  a trick,  to 
cheat  or  take  surreptitiously.  Tillotson 
affirms  it  to  be  a perversion  of  the  words 
Hoc  est  Corpus  said  by  the  priest  when 
he  consecrates  the  elements  in  the 
Eucharist,  but  there  seems  no  sufficient 
reason  for  this  assertion.  The  Welsh 
hoced  pwca  (a  goblin’s  trick,  our  hoax) 
seems  a more  probable  etymology 
(Danish,  pokker,  a hobgoblin).  Nares 
says  it  is  Ochus  Bochus,  an  Italian 
magician  invoked  by  jugglers. 

Bod'eken  (3  syl.)  means  Little-hat, 
a German  goblin  or  domestic  fairy,  so 
called  because  he  always  wore  a little  felt 
hat  over  his  face. 

Honge  (1  syl.).  The  “Goodman”  of 
Gammer  Gurton,  in  the  old  play  called 
“ Gammer  Gurton’ s Needle.” 


410 


HODGE-PODGE. 


HOLBORN, 


Hodge-podge  (2  syl.).  A medley. 
A corruption  of  Hotch-pot,  i.e.,  various 
fragments  mixed  together  in  the  ‘^pot- 
au-feu.”  Hotch-pot.  ) 

H o'dur  or  Hdcler.  God  of  Darkness, 
the  blind  god  who  killed  Balder,  at  the 
instigation  of  Loki,  with  an  arrow  made 
of  mistletoe.  Hdder  typifies  night,  as 
Balder  typifies  day.  — Scandinavian  mytko^ 
logy. 

And  Balder’s  pile,  of  tVie  glowing  sun 
A symbol  true,  blazed  f^rth  ; 

But  soon  i«s  splendour  sinketh  down 
When  Hoder  rules  the  earth. 

Frithiof-Sugut  *'  Balder' 8 Bale-Fire.^' 

Hog.  A hog  in  armour.  A person  of 
awkward  manners  dressed  so  fine  that  he 
cannot  move  easily.  A corruption  of  A 
hodge  in  armour,”  a rustic  in  the  armour 
of  a knight. 

To  go  the  whole  hog.  An  American 
expression,  meaning  unmixed  democrati- 
cal  principles.  It  is  used  in  England  to 
signify  a ‘^thorough  goer”  of  any  kind. 
In  Virginia  the  dealer  asks  the  retail 
butcher  if  ^‘he  means  to  go  the  whole 
hog,  or  to  take  only  certain  joints,”  and 
he  regulates  his  price  accordingly.  — 

Men  and  Manners  of  America.’* 

Another  explanation  is  this  ; A hog  is 
an  Irish  expression  for  ^^a  shilling,”  as 
a tester  is  for  “sixpence.”  To  go  the 
whole  hog  means  to  spend  the  whole 
shilling. 

N.B.  In  England  a hog  is  a five -shil- 
ling piece. 

^ Johnian  Hogs.  A Cambridge  cant 
term  for  the  students  of  St.  John’s 
College,  the  velvet  bars  on  the  sleeve  of 
their  gowns  being  called  crackle ^ in  allu- 
sion to  the  scored  rind  of  roast  pork. 
The  bridge  which  connects  the  grounds 
with  one  of  the  courts  is  termed  “the 
Bridge  of  Grunts,”  in  playful  allusion  to 
the  Bridge  of  Sighs  at  Venice  ; it  is  also 
called  the  “Isthmus  of  Suez ” (a  pun  upon 
suis),  meaning  the  isthmus  of  swine. 

To  drive  hogs.  To  snore,  or  make  a 
noise  like  hogs  driven  to  market. 

Ho 'garth..  The  Scottish  Hogarth 
David  Allan.  (1744-179(3.) 

Ho'gen  Mo'gen.  Holland  or  the 
Netherlands,  so  called  from  Hooge  en 
Mogende  (high  and  mightjO?  the  Dutch 
style  of  addressing  the  States-General. 

But  l hnve  sent  him  for  a token 
To  your  Low-country  Hogeii-Mo5:en. 

Butler,  *■  Hvdibras'* 

Hogg.  (See  under  the  word  Bbewjer,) 


Hogmanay',  Hogmena',  or  Hag-  J 
men'a.  Holy  month.  December  is  so  J 
called  because  our  Lord  was  born  on  the  j 
25th  thereof.  (Saxon,  hdlig  monath^  holy  i 
month.)  * 

New  Year's  eve  is  called  hogmanay' - 
night  or  hogg-night,  and  it  is  still  cus- 
tomary in  parts  of  Scotland  for  persons 
to  go  from  door  to  door  on  that  night 
asking  in  rude  rhymes  for  cakes  or 
money. 

King  Haco,  of  Norway,  fixed  the  feast 
of  Yole  on  Christmas  Day,  the  eve  of 
which  used  to  be  called  hogg-night,  but 
the  Scotch  were  taught  by  the  French 
to  transfer  the  feast  of  Yole  to  the  feast 
of  Noel,  and  hogg-night  has  ever  since 
been  the  last  of  December. 

Hoist.  Hoist  voith  his  own  petard^ 
Beaten  with  his  own  weapons,  caught 
in  his  own  trap.  The  petard  was  a 
sort  of  box  made  of  wood  or  iron,  filled 
with  gunpowder,  and  fastened  to  a plank. 
When  the  powder  was  lighted  the  plank 
was  driven  against  a gate  (like  a ram)  to 
force  it  open.  “ Hoist”  means  hoisted 
or  lifted  up— Le.,  blown  up. 

Let  it  work ; 

For  ’tis  the  sport  to  have  the  engineer 

JHoi^t  with  his  own  petard ; and  it  shall  sro  hard 

But  I will  delve  one  y^rd  below  their  mines, 

And  blow  them  at  the  moon. 

Shakeapenre,  Hamlet^  ]n. 

Hoit'y-toit'y.  An  exclamation  im- 
plying “You  are  on  your  high  horse,  I 
see,  but  that  will  not  do  for  me.”  The 
most  probable  derivation  I know  is  this; 
What  we  call  see-saw  used  to  be  called 
Hoity  Toity.  Hoity  being  connected 
with  hoit  (to  leap  up),  our  high,  height; 
and  Toity  being  T’other  hoit — i.e.,  first 
one  side  hoits,  then  the  other  side.  I 
do  not  think  it  comes  from  the  Freech 
hoite  comme  toite  (hif h as  the  roof). 

Hoky  or  Hockey  Cake.  Harvest 
cake.  The  cake  given  out  to  the  har- 
vesters when  the  Hock  cart  reached 
home.  (See  Hock  Cart.) 

Holborn  is  not  a corruption  of  Old 
Bourne,  as  Stow  asserts ; ^but  of  Hole- 
burne,  the  hurne  or  stream  in  the  hole  or 
hollow.  It  is  spelt  Holeburne  in  ‘ ‘ Domes- 
day Book,”  i.  127a,  and  in  documents 
temp.  Richard  I.  connected  with  the 
nunnery  of  St.  Mary,  Clerkenwell,  it  is 
eight  times  spelt  in  the  same  way.— TAe 
Times  (J.  G.  Waller).  ^ ^ 

He  rede  backwards  up  Holborn  Hill. 

He  went  to  be  hanged.  The  way  to 


HOLD. 


HOLY  COAT. 


411 


Tyburn  from  Newgate  was  up  Holborn 
Hill,  and  criminals  in  ancient  times  rode 
backwards  to  the  place  of  execution. 

Hold  of  a ship  is  between  the  lowest 
deck  and  the  keel.  In  merchant- vessels 
it  holds  the  main  part  of  the  cargo.  In 
men-of-war  it  holds  the  provisions,  water 
for  drinking,  &c.,  stores,  and  berths. 
The  after  hold  is  aft  the  main-mast;  the 
mam  hold  is  before  the  same ; and  the 
fore  hold  is  about  the  fore  hatches. 

He  is  not  fit  to  hold  the  candle  to  him. 
He  is  very  inferior.  The  allusion  is  to 
link-boys  who  held  candles  in  theatres 
and  other  places  of  night  amusement. 
The  French  say  Le  jeii  ne  rant  pas  la 
chandelle,  referring  to  the  same  custom, 
others  say  that  Mr.  ITandel 
To  Bonocini  can’t  hold  a candle. 

Swift. 

To  hold  one  in  hand.  To  amuse  in 
order  to  get  some  advantage.  The 
allusion  is  to  horses  held  in  hand  or 
under  command  of  the  driver. 

To  cry  hold.  Stop.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  old  military  tournaments ; when  the 
umpires  wished  to  stop  the  contest,  they 
cried  out  ^^Hold.” 

Lay  on.  Macduff; 

And  damn’d  be  him  that  first  cries”  Hold,  ^•nough  !” 

Shakespeare,  Macbeth,"  v.  t>. 

Hold-fast.  Brag  is  a good  dog,  hut 
Holdfast  is  a better.  Promises  are  all 
very  good,  but  acts  are  far  better. 

Holdfast  is  the  only  dog,  mv  duck. 

Shakespeare,  “ Henry  F'.,”ii.  3. 

HoIg.  Pic/c  a hole  in  his  coat.  To 
find  out  some  cause  of  blame.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  the  Roman  custom  of  dressing 
criminals  in  an  old  ragged  gown  (Liv.  ii. 
61).  Hence  a holey  coat  is  a synonym 
for  guilt. 

Holipher'nes  (4  syl.),  called  English 
Henry  (in  “Jerusalem  Delivered”),  one 
of  the  Christian  knights  in  the  first 
crusade,  was  slain  by  Dragu'tes. — Bk.  ix. 

HoUand.  The  country  of  para- 
doxes. The  “houses  are  built  on  the 
sand  the  sea  is  higher  than  the  shore  ; 
the  keels  of  the  ships  are  above  the 
chimney-tops  of  the  bouses ; and  the 
cow’s  tail  does  not  “grow  downward,’ 
but  is  tied  up  to  a ring  in  the  roof  of  the 
stable.  Voltaire  took  leave  of  the  land 
and  people  in  these  words,  “Adieu! 
canaux,  canards,  canaille.”  And  Butler 
calls  it — 

A land  that  rides  at  anchor,  and  is  moored, 

In  which  they  do  not  live,  bu"  go  aboard. 

“ Description  of  Holland,* 


Holland.  A particular  kind  of  cloth, 
so  called  because  it  used  to  be  sent  to 
Holland  to  be  bleached.  Laim  is  cloth 
bleached  on  a lawn  ; and  grass-laxon  is 
lawn  bleached  on  a grass-plat.  Bleaching 
is  now  performed  by  artificial  processes. 

Hollow.  I heat  him  hollow.  A cor- 
ruption of  “ I beat  him  wholly.” 

Holly  used  to  be  employed  by  the 
early  Christians  at  Rome  to  decorate 
churches  and  dwellings  at  Christmas ; it 
had  been  previously  used  in  the  great 
festival  of  the  Saturnklia,  which  occurred 
at  the  same  season  of  the  year.  The 
pagan  Romans  used  to  send  to  their 
friends  holly-sprigs,  during  the  Satur- 
nalia, with  wishes  for  their  health  and 
well-being.  According  to  tradition  it  is 
the  bush  in  which  Jehovah  appeared  to 
Moses. 

Hollyhock  is  the  Greek  tholos-aWea, 
the  towering  marsh-mallow.  It  is  a 
mistake  to  derive  it  from  Holy-oak. 

Holman  (Lieutenant  James).  The 
blind  traveller. ' (1787-1857.) 

Holopher'nes  (4  syl.).  Master  Tuhal 
Holophernes.  The  great  sophister-doctor, 
who,  in  the  course  of  five  years  and  three 
months,  taught  Garg^intua  to  say  his  A 
B C backward.  —Rabelais,  “ Gargantua 
and  Pantagruelf'  bk.  i.  14. 

Holofemies,  in“  Love’s  Labour’s  Lost.” 
Shakespeare  satirises  in  this  character 
the  pedantry  and  literary  affectations  of 
the  Lyly  school. 

Holy  AUiance.  A league  formed 
by  Russia,  Austria,  and  Prussia  to  regu- 
late the  affairs  of  Europe  “ by  the  prin- 
ciples of  Christian  charity,”  meaning  that 
each  of  the  contracting  parties  was  to 
keep  all  that  the  league  assigned  them. 
(1816.) 

Holy  City.  That  city  which  the 
religious  consider  most  especially  con- 
nected with  their  religious  faith,  thus  : 

Allahabad'  is  the  Holy  City  of  the 
Indian  Mahometans. 

Bena'res  of  the  Hindus.  ^ 

Cuzco  of  the  ancient  Incas. 

Jerusalem  of  the  Jews  and  Christians. 

Mecca  and  Medi'na  of  the  Mahometans. 

Moscow  and  Kief  of  the  Russians. 

Holy  Coat  of  Treves,  said  to  be  the 
seamless  coat  of  our  Saviour,  deposited 
at  Treves  by  the  empress  Hele'na,  who 
discovered  it  in  the  fourth  century. 


412 


HOLY  FAMILY. 


HOMER. 


Holy  Family.  The  infant  Saviour 
and  his  attendants,  as  Joseph,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Anna,  and  J ohn  the  Baptist. 
All  the  five  figures  are  not  always  intro- 
duced in  pictures  of  the  Holy  Family.” 

Holy  Land. 

(1)  Christians  call  Palestine  the  Holy 
Land,  because  it  was  the  site  of  Christ’s 
birth,  ministry,  and  death. 

(2)  Mahometans  call  Mecca  the  Holy 
Land,  because  Mahomet  was  born  there. 

(3;  The  Chinese  Buddhists  call  India 
the  Holy  Land,  because  it  was  the  native 
land  of  Sakya-muni,  the  Buddha  {q.v.'). 

(4)  The  Greek  considered  Elis  as  Holy 
Land,  from  the  temple  of  Olympian  Zeus, 
and  the  sacred  festival  held  there  every 
four  years. 

(5)  In  America  each  of  the  strange 
politico-religious  sects  calls  its  own  settle- 
ment the  Holy  Land,  or  something  imply- 
ing pretty  much  the  same  thing. 

Holy  League.  A combination 
formed  by  pope  Julius  II.  with  Louis 
XII.  of  France,  Maximilian  of  Germany, 
Ferdinand  III.  of  Spain,  and  various 
Italian  princes,  against  the  republic  of 
Venice  in  1508. 

There  was  another  league  so  called  in 
the  reign  of  Henri  III.  of  France,  in 
1576,  under  the  , auspices  of  Henri  de 
Guise,  ^‘for  the  defence  of  the  Holy 
Catholic  Church  against  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  reformers.”  The  pope  gave 
it  his  sanction,  but  its  true  strength  lay 
in  Felipe  II.  of  Spain. 

Holy  Maid  of  Kent.  Elizabeth 
Barton,  who  incited  the  Roman  Catholics 
to  resist  the  progress  of  the  Reformation, 
and  pretended  to  act  under  direct  inspi- 
ration. She  was  hanged  at  Tyburn  in 
1534. 

Holy  Orders.  The  mino'nim  or'di- 
num  or  first  four  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  are  Ostia'rius,  Lector,  Exorcis'ta, 
and  Acoly'tus. 

Holy  Places.  Places  in  which  the 
chief  events  of  our  Saviour’s  life  occurred, 
such  as  the  Sepulchre,  Gethsemane,  the 
Supper-room,  the  Church  of  the  Ascen- 
sion, the  tomb  of  the  Virgin,  and  so  on. 

Holy  Thursday.  The  day  of  our 
Lord’s  ascension. 

Holy  Water.  Water  blessed  by  a 
priest  or  bishop  for  holy  uses. 

The  devil  hates  holy  water.  Johannes 


Beli'thus  says  that  holy  water  is  very 
unpopular  with  the  demons,”  and  is  used 
in  sepulchral  rites  ^‘to  keep  them  away 
from  the  corpse.” 

“ 1 love  him  as  the  devil  loves  holy  water.” 

Holy  W ater  Sprinkle.  A military 
club  set  with  spikes.  So  called  jocularly 
because  it  makes  the  blood  to  flow  as 
water  sprinkled  by  an  aspergillum. 

Holywell  Street  (London).  Fitz- 
stephens,  in  his  description  of  London, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  speaks  of  ‘Ghe 
excellent  springs  at  a small  distance  from 
the  city,”  whose  waters  are  most  sweet, 
salubrious,  and  clear,  and  whose  runnels 
murmur  over  the  shiningstones.  Among 
these  are  Hulywell,  Clerkenwell,  and  St. 
Clement’s  well.” 

Home  (1  syl.).  Who  goes  home  1 When 
the  House  of  Commons  breaks  up  at  night 
the  door-keeper  asks  this  question  of  the 
members.  In  byegone  days  all  members 
going  in  the  direction  of  the  Speaker’s 
residence  went  in  a body  to  see  him  safe 
home.  The  question  is  still  asked,  but 
is  a mere  relic  of  antiquity. 

Homer. 

The  Celtic  Homer.  Ossian,  son  of  Fin- 
gal,  king  of  Morven. 

Homer  of  the  FranTcs.  Charlemagne, 
called  Angilbert  his  Homer.  (Died  814.) 

Homer  of  Ferra'ra  (^^Omero  Ferra- 
re'se”).  Ariosto  is  so  called  by  Tasso. 
(1474-1533.)^ 

The.  Scottish  Homer.  William  Wilkie, 
author  of  “The  Epigoniad.”  (1721-1772.) 

On  Gray’s  monument  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  Milton  is  called  the  British  Homer. 

No  more  the  Grecian  muse  unrivalled  reigns, 

To  Br  tain  the  nations  homage  pay  ; 

She  felt  a Homer’s  tit  e in  Miltori  s strains, 

A Pindar’s  rapture  in  the  lyre  of  Gray. 

The  prose  Homer  of  human  nature.  So 
Byron  called  Henry  Fielding,  the  novel- 
ist. (1707-1754.) 

Good  Homer  sometimes  nods.  We  are 
all  apt  to  make  mistakes  sometimes. 
The  phrase  is  from  Horace,  ^^ArsPoetica.** 

Quando'que  bonus  dormi'tat  Home'rus.  (359.) 

The  CasTcei  Homer.  An  edition  corrected 
by  Aristotle,  which  Alexander  the  Great 
always  carried  about  with  him,  and  laid 
under  his  pillow  at  night  with  his  sword. 
After  the  battle  of  Arbe'la,  a golden 
casket  richly  studded  with  gems  was 
found  in  the  tent  of  Darius  ; and  Aler- 


HOMERIC  VERSE. 


HONI. 


413 


ander  being  asked  to  what  purpose  it 
should  be  assigned,  replied,  ‘‘There  is 
but  one  thing  in  the  world  worthy  of  so 
costly  a depository saying  which  he 
placed  therein  his  edition  of  Homer. 

Homeric  V erse.  Hexameter  verse, 
so  called  because  Homer  adopted  it  in 
his  two  great  epics. 

Homoeop'athy  (5  syh).  The  plan  of 
curing  a disease  by  very  minute  doses  of 
a medicine  which  would  in  healthy  per- 
sons produce  the  very  same  disease.  The 
principle  of  vaccination  is  a sort  of  homoeo- 
pathy, only  it  is  producing  in  a healthy 
person  a mitigated  form  of  the  disease 
guarded  against.  You  impart  a mild 
form  of  small-pox  to  prevent  the  patient 
from  taking  the  virulent  disease.  (Greek, 
homoios  pathos,  like  disease.)  (See  Hah- 
nemann.) 

Tut,  man ! one  fire  burns  out  another’s  burning ; 
One  pain  is  lessened  by  another’s  anguish  . . . 
Take  thou  some  new  infection  to  the  eye, 

And  the  rank  poison  of  the  old  will  die. 

Shakespeare,  ''Romeo  and  Juliet”  i-  2. 

Hon'est  (h  silent).  Honest  Jack  Ban- 
nister. An  actor  in  London  for  thirty- 
six  years.  (1760-1836.) 

After  his  retirement  he  was  once  accosted  by  Sir 
George  Rose,  when  Honest  Jack,  being  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  street,  eried  out,  “ Stop  a moment. 
Sir  George,  and  1 will  come  over  to  you.”  “ No, 
no,”  replied  his  friend,”  ” I never  yet  made  you 
cross  atid  will  not  begin  no'w.”— Grinded,  " Relics 
of  Genius.” 

Honeycomb.  The  hexagonal  shape 
of  the  bees’  cells  is  generally  ascribed  to 
the  instinctive  skill  of  the  bee,  but  is 
simply  the  ordinary  result  of  mechanical 
laws.  Solitary  bees  always  make  circular 
cells ; and  without  doubt  those  of  hive 
bees  are  made  cylindrical,  but  acquire 
their  hexagonal  form  by  mechanical  pres- 
sure. Dr.  Wollaston  says  all  cylinders 
made  of  soft  pliable  materials  become 
hexagonal  under  such  circumstances.  The 
cells  of  trees  are  circular  towards  the 
extremity,  but  hexagonal  in  the  centre 
of  the  substance  ; and  the  cellular  mem- 
branes of  all  vegetables  are  hexagonal 
also.  (See  Ant.) 

Honeycomb  Will.  A fine  gentleman. 
One  of  the  members  of  the  imaginary 
club  from  which  the  Spectator  issued. 

Honey-dew.  A sweet  substance 
found  on  lime-trees  and  some  other  plants. 
Bees  and  ants  are  fond  of  it.  It  is  a 
curious  misnomer,  as  it  is  the  excretion 


of  the  aphis  or  vine-fretter.  The  way  it 
is  excreted  is  this : the  ant  beats  with  its 
antennae  the  abdomen  of  the  aphis,  which 
lifts  up  the  part  beaten,  and  excretes  a 
limpid  drop  of  sweet  juice  called  honey- 
dew. 

Honey  Madness.  There  is  a rho- 
dodendron about  Trebizond,  the  flowers 
of  which  the  bees  are  fond  of,  but  if  any 
one  eats  the  honey  he  becomes  mad. — 
Tourneford. 

Honey-moon.  The  month  after 
marriage,  or  so  much  of  it  as  is  spent 
away  from  home ; so  called  from  the 
practice  of  the  ancient  Teutons  of  drink- 
ing honey- wine  (hydromeV)  for  thirty  days 
after  marriage.  Attila,  the  Hun,  indulged 
so  freely  in  hydromel  at  his  wedding- 
feast  that  he  died. 

Honey  Soap  contains  no  portion  of 
honey.  Some  is  made  from  the  finest 
yellow  soap,  and  some  is  a mixture  of 
palm-oil  soap,  olive-soap,  and  curd-soap. 
It  is  scented  with  oil  of  verbena,  rose- 
geranium,  ginger-grass,  bergamot,  &c. 

Honey  wood.  A yea-nay  type,  illus- 
trative of  what  Dr.  Young  says  : “ What 
is  mere  good  nature  but  a fool?” — Gold 
smith,  “ The  Good-natured  Man.^* 

Hong  Merchants.  Those  mer- 
chants who  were  alone  permitted  by  the 
government  of  China  to  trade  with  China, 
till  the  restriction  was  abolished  in  1842. 
The  Chinese  applied  the  word  hong  to 
the  foreign  factories  situated  at  Canton. 

Hon'i.  Honi  soit  qui  rnal  y pense  (Evil 
be  ( to  him]  who  thinks  evil  of  this). 
The  tradition  is  that  Edward  HI.  gave  a 
grand  court  ball,  and  one  of  the  ladies 
present  was  the  beautiful  countess  of 
Salisbury,  whose  garter  of  blue  ribbon 
accidentally  fell  off.  The  king  saw  a 
significant  smile  among  the  guests,  and 
gallantly  came  to  the  rescue.  “ Honi 
soit  qui  mol  y pense"’  (Shame  to  him  who 
thinks  shame  of  this  accident),  cried 
the  monarch.  Then,  binding  the  ribbon 
round  his  own  knee,  he  added,  “ I will 
bring  it  about  that  the  proudest  noble 
in  the  land  shall  think  it  an  honour  to 
wear  this  band.”  The  incident  deter- 
mined him  to  abandon  his  plan  of  forming 
an  order  of  the  Round  Table,  and  he 
formed  instead  the  order  of  the  “ Garter.  ” 
— Tigf^  and  Davis,  Annals  of  Windsor.” 


414  HONOUB.  HOOK  OB  CBOOK. 


Honour  {h  silent).  A superior 
seigniory,  on  which  other  lordships  or 
manors  depend  by  the  performance  of 
customary  service. 

An  affair  of  honour.  A dispute  to  be 
settled  by  a duel.  Duels  were  generally 
provoked  by  offences  against  the  arbi- 
trary rules  of  etiquette,  courtesy,  or 
feeling,  called  the  laws  of  honour 
and  as  these  offences  were  not  recog- 
nisable in  the  law  courts,  they  were 
settled  by  private  combat. 

Debts  of  honour.  Debts  contracted  by 
betting,  gambling,  or  verbal  promise. 
As  these  debts  cannot  be  enforced  by . 
law,  but  depend  solely  on  good  faith, 
they  are  called  debts  of  honour. 

Laivs  of  honour.  Certain  arbitrary 
rules  which  the  fashionable  world  tacitly 
admits  ; they  wholly  regard  deportment, 
and  have  nothing  to  do  with  moral 
offences.  Breaches  of  this  code  are 
punished  by  duels,  expulsion  from  so- 
ciety, or  suspension  called  sending  to 
Coventry  ” (g.v.). 

Point  of  honour.  An  obligation  which 
is  binding  because  its  violation  would 
offend  some  conscientious  scruple  or 
notion  of  self-respect. 

Word  of  ho^iour.  A gage  which  cannot 
be  violated  without  placing  the  breaker 
of  it  beyond  the  pale  of^  respectability 
and  good  society. 

Honours  {h  silent).  Crushed  by  his 
honours.  The  allusion  is  to  the  Sabine 
damsel  who  agreed  to  open  the  gates  of 
Borne  to  king  Ta'tius,  provided  his  sol- 
diers would  give  her  the  ornaments 
wh  ch  they  wore  on  their  arms.  As  they 
entered  they  threw  their  shields  on  her 
and  crushed  her,  saying  as  they  did  so, 

These  are  the  ornaments  worn  by 
Sabines  on  their  arms.”  Roman  story 
says  the  maid  was  named  Tarpe'ia,  and 
that  she  was  the  daughter  of  Tarpeius, 
the  governor  of  the  citadel. 

Draco,  the  Athenian  legislator,  was 
crushed  to  death  in  the  theatre  of  .^gi'na, 
by  the  number  of  caps  and  cloaks 
showered  on  him  by  the  audience,  as  a 
mark  of  their  high  appreciation  of  his  ' 
merits.  ^ i 

Elagab'alus,  the  Roman  emperor,  in-  i 
vited  the  leading  men  < f Rome  to  a 
banquet,  and  under  the  pretence  of  show-  ' 
ing  them  honour  rained  roses  upon  them  ; 
but  the  shower  continued  till  they  were 
all  buried  and  smothered  by  the  flowers.  ' 


Two  or  four  by  honours,  A term  in 
whist.  If  two  ‘‘partners”  hold  three 
court  cards,  they  score  two  points ; if 
they  hold  four  court  cards,  they  score 
four  points.  These  are  honour  points, 
or  points  not  won  by  the  merit  of  play, 
but  by  courtesy  and  laws  of  honour. 
The  phrases  are,  “ I score  or  claim  two 
points  by  right  of  honours,”  and  “ I score 
or  claim  four  points  by  right  of  four 
court  or  honour  cards.” 

Honours  of  war.  The  privilege  allowed 
to  an  honoured  enemy,  on  capitulation, 
of  being  permitted  to  retain  their  offen- 
sive arms.  This  is  the  highest  honour 
a victor  can  pay  a vanquished  foe. 
Sometimes  the  soldiers  so  honoured  are 
required  to  pile  arms,  in  other  cases 
they  are  allowed  to  march  with  all 
their  arms,  drums  beating,  and  colours 
flying. 

Hood  (Robin).  Introduced  by  Sir 
W.  Scott  in  “The  Talisman.” 

'Tis  not  the  hood  that  makes  *the  monk 
(Cucurius  non  facit  mon'achum).  We 
must  not  be  deceived  by  appearances,  or 
take  for  granted  that  things  and  persons 
are  what  they  seem  to  be. 

Thf^y  should  be  good  men ; their  affairs  are  righteous ; 
But  all  hoods  make  not  Uionks. 

Shakespeare,  "'■Henry  F///.,”iiLl. 

Hook.  With  a hook  at  the  end.  You 
suppose  I assent,  but  my  assent  is  not 
likely  to  be  given.  The  subject  has  a 
hook  or  note  of  interrogation  to  denote 
that  it  is  dubious  (?). 

He  is  off'  the  hooks.  Done  for,  laid  on 
the  shelf,  superseded,  dead.  The  bent 
pieces  of  iron  on  which  the  hinges  of  a 
gate  rest  and  turn  are  called  hooks;  if 
a gate  is  off  the  hooks  it  is  in  a bad 
way,  and  cannot  readily  be  opened  and 
shut. 

To  drop  off  the  hooks.  To  die.  In 
allusion  to  the  ancient  practice  of  sus- 
pending the  quarters  of  felons  on  hooks 
till  they  dropped  off. 

Hook  or  Crook.  Somehow ; in  one 
way  or  another  ; by  foul  means  or  by  just 
measures.  Many  suggestions  have  been 
ventured  in  expl  i nation  of  this  phrase, 
but  none  are  satisfactory.  I am  inclined 
to  think  it  means  “ foully,  like  a thief, 
or  holily,  like  a bishop,”  the  hook  being 
the  instrument  used  by  footpads,  and 
the  “crook”  being  the  bishop’s  crosier 


HOOKEY  WALKER. 


HORACE. 


415 


“ for  catching  men.”  The  French  phrase 
is  “A  droit  on  a tort.”  {See  heloiv.) 

Their  work  was  by  hook  or  crook  to  rap  and  bring 
all  under  the  emperor’s  ^oyrtx.— Thomas  Byme>\ 
“ On  Parliaments." 

Hooh  and  crooJc.  Forinerly  the  poor 
of  a manor  were  allowed  to  go  into  the 
forests  with  a hook  and  crook  to  get  wood. 
What  they  could  not  reach  they  might 
pull  down  with  their  crook.  This  sort  of 
living  was  very  precarious,  but  eagerly 
sought.  Boundary  stones,  beyond  which 
the  '^hook  and  crook  folk”  might  not 
pass,  exist  still.  This  custom  does  not 
satisfy  our  use  of  the  preceding  phrase, 
which  does  not  mean  in  a precarious 
manner,”  but  at  all  hazards,  ill  or  well. 

Dynmure  Wood  was  ever  open  and  common  to 
the  . . . inhabitants  of  Bodmiu  ...  to  bear  away 
upon  their  backs  a bui  den  of  lop,  crop,  hook,  crook, 
ana  bag  wood.— .Bodmin  Register.  (1525.) 

Hookey  Walker.  (iSee  Walker.) 

Hooped  Pots.  Drinking  pots  at 
one  time  were  made  with  hoops,  that 
when  two  or  more  drank  from  the  same 
tankard  no  one  of  them  should  take  more 
than  his  share.  Jack  Cade  promises  his 
followers  that  ‘‘seven  half-penny  loaves 
shall  be  sold  for  a penny  ; the  three- 
hooped  pot  shall  have  ten  hoops  ; and  I 
will  make  it  felony  to  drink  small  beer.” — 
Slmhespearef  Henry  F/.,”  iv.  2. 

Hoopoo.  A bird  revered  by  all  the 
ancient  Egyptians,  and  placed  on  the 
sceptre  of  Horus,  to  symbolise  joy  and 
filial  affection. 

Hop.  One  of  queen  Mab’s  maids  of 
honour.  — Drayton. 

To  h<yp  the  twig.  To  run  away  from 
one’s  creditors,  as  a bird  eludes  a’fowler, 
“hopping  from  spray  to  spray.” 

H op-o’-my-Thumb.  A very  little 
fellow,  sometimes  confounded  with  Tom 
Thumb. 

You  Stump  o’-the-gatter,  you  Hop-o'-my-thumb. 

Your  husband  muse  from  Lill  puc  come. 

Kane  0 Kara,  “ Midas.” 

Hope.  Before  Alexander  set  out  for 
Asia  he  divided  his  kingdom  among  his 
friends.  “ My  lord,”  said  Perdiccas, 
“what  have  you  left  for  yourself?” 
“Hope,”  replied  Alexander.  Whereupon 
Perdiccas  rejoined,  “ If  hope  is  enough 
for  Alexander,  it  is  enough  for  Perdic- 
cas,” and  declined  to  accept  any  bounty 
from  the  king. 

The  Bard  of  Hope  or  The  Author  of  the 


Pleasures  of  Hope,  Thomas  Campbell. 
(1777-1844.)  The  entire  profits  on  this 
poem  were  £900. 

^ Hopeful.  The  companion  of  Chris- 
tian after  the  death  of  Faithful. — Ban- 
yan, “ Pilgrim's  Progress.'* 

Hope-on-High  Bomby.  A puri- 
tanical character  drawn  by  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher. 

“Well,”  said  Wildrake,  “ I think  I can  make  6 
* Hope-on-High  Bomby’  as  well  as  thou  canst.”— 
Sir  W.  Scott,"  WoodstocJcP c.  vii. 

Hopkins  {Matthew)  of  Manningdree, 
Essex,  the  witch-finder  of  the  associated 
counties  of  Essex,  Suffolk,  Norfolk,  and 
Huntingdonshire.  In  one  year  he  hanged 
sixty  reputed  witches  in  Essex  alone.  Dr. 
Z.  Grey  says  that  between  three  and  four 
thousand  person  s suffered  death  for  witch- 
craft between  1643  and  1661. 

Nicholas  Hophins.  A Chartreux  friar, 
confessor  of  the  duke  of  Buckingham, 
who  prophesied  “ that  neither  the  king 
(Henry  VIII.)  nor  his  heirs  should  pros- 
per, but  that  the  duke  should  govern 
'Eiogldjod**  ^Shahespeare,  Henry  VIII.* 
i.  2. 

1 Gent.  That  devil-monk 

Hopkins  that  made  this  mischief. 

2 Gent.  That  was  he 

That  fed  him  with  his  prophecies. 

ii.  1. 

Hopkin'sians.  Those  who  adopt 
the  theological  opinions  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Hopkins,  of  Connecticut.  These  sec- 
tarians hold  most  of  the  Calvinistic  doc- 
trines, but  entirely  reject  the  doctrines 
of  imputed  sin  and  imputed  righteous- 
ness. The  speciality  of  the  system  is 
that  true  holiness  consists  in  disinterested 
benevolence,  and  that  all  sin  is  selfishness. 

Hopping  Giles.  A lame  person. 
So  called  from  St.  Giles,  the  tutelar  saint 
of  cripples,  who  was  himself  lame. 

Hor'ace.  The  Roman  lyric  poet. 

The  Horace  of  England.  George,  duke 
of  Buckingham,  preposterously  declared 
Cowley  to  be  the  Pindar,  Horace,  and 
Virgil  of  England.  (1618-1667.) 

The  French  Hora.ee.  Jean  Macrinus  or 
Salmon.  (1490-1557.) 

The  Horace  of  France  or  the  French 
Burns.  Pierre  jean  de  Beranger.  (17bU- 
1857.) 

Spamsh  Horaces.  The  brothers  Argen'- 
sola,  whose  Christian  names  were  Luper- 
cio  and  Bartolome. 


416 


HORATIO. 


HORN  OF  POWER. 


Hora'tio.  Hamlet’s  intimate  friend. 
— Shakts'pmref  Hamlet,  Prince  of  Den- 
mark.** 

Horn  (‘^Orlando  Furioso”).  Logis- 
tilla  gave  Astolpho  at  parting  a horn 
that  had  the  virtue  to  appall  and  put  to 
flight  the  boldest  knight  or  most  savage 
beast.  (Bk.  viii.) 

Horn.  Drinking  cups  used  to  be  mad  e 
of  the  rhinoceros’s  horn,  from  an  Oriental 
belief  that  ‘^it  sweats  at  the  approach  of 
poison.” — Calmet,  Biblical  Dictionary.** 

To  put  to  the  horn.  To  denounce  as  a 
rebel,  or  pronounce  a person  an  outlaw, 
for  not  answering  to  a summons.  In 
Scotland  the  messenger- at-arms  goes  to 
the  cross  of  Edinburgh  and  gives  three 
blasts  with  a horn  before  he  heralds  the 
judgment  of  outlawry. 

King  Horn.  The  hero  of  a French 
metrical  romance,  and  the  original  of 
our  “ Horne  Childe,”  generally  called 
‘‘  The  Geste  of  Kyng  Horn.”  The 
nominal  author  of  the  French  romance 
is  Mestre  Thomas.  Dr.  Percy  ascribes 
the  English  romance  of  '^King  Horne” 
to  the  twelfth  century,  but  this  is  pro- 
bably a century  too  early.  {See  Ritson’s 
**  Ancient  Romances.”) 

Horn  of  Fidelity.  Morgan  la  Faye 
sent  a horn  to  king  Arthur,  which  had 
the  following  virtue  : ** — No  lady  could 
drink  out  of  it  who  was  not  ‘'to  her  hus- 
band true  ;”  all  others  who  attempted  to 
drink  were  sure  to  spill  what  it  contained. 
This  horn  was  carried  to  king  Marke,  and 
“ his  queene  with  a hundred  ladies  more” 
tried  the  experiment,  but  only  four  ma- 
naged to  drinke  cleane,”  Arthur’s  queen 
was  not  among  the  number.  Ariosto’s  en- 
chanted  cup  possessed  a similar  spell. 

Horn  of  Plenty  (Cornu-co'pia). 
Emblem  of  plenty. 

Ce'res  is  drawn  with  a ram’s  horn  in 
her  left  arm,  filled  with  fruits  and  flowers. ' 
Sometimes  they  are  being  poured  on  the 
earth  from  “ the  full  horn,”  and  sometimes 
they  are  held  in  it  as  in  a basket.  Diodo'- 
rus  (iii.  68)  says  the  horn  is  one  from 
the  head  of  the  goat  by  which  Jupiter 
was  suckled.  He  explains  the  fable  thus  : 
“In  Libya,”  he  says,  “there  is  a strip 
of  land  shaped  like  a horn,  bestowed  by 
king  Ammon  on  his  bride  Amalthsea, 
who  nursed  Jupiter  with  goat’s  milk. 

When  Amalthe'a’s  horn 
O’er  hill  and  dale  the  mee-crown  d Flora  pours, 
And  scatters  co^n  and  wine,  and  fruits  and  dowers. 

Camoena^  “ LuaiuUP  bk.  ii. 


Horn  of  Power.  When  Tam'ugin 
assumed  the  title  of  Ghengis  Khan,  he 
commanded  that  a white  horn  should 
be  thenceforward  the  standard  of  his 
troops.  So  the  great  Mogul  “ lifted  up 
his  horn  on  high,”  and  was  exalted  to 
great  power. 

My  horn  hath  he  exalted  (1  Sam.  ii.  10 ; 
Ps.  Ixxxix.  24,  &c.).  Mr.  Buckingham 
says  of  a Tyrian  lady,  “ She  wore  on  her 
head  a hollow  silver  horn,  rearing  itself 
upwards  obliquely  from  the  forehead. 
It  was  some  four  inches  in  diameter  at 
the  root,  and  pointed  at  its  extremity. 
This  peculiarity  reminded  me  forcibly 
of  the  expression  of  the  Psalmist,  ‘ Lift 
not  up  your  horn  on  high  : speak  not  with 
a stiff  neck.  All  the  horns  of  the  wicked 
also  wiU  1 cut  off ; but  the  horns  of  the 
righteous  shall  be  exalted’  (Ps.  Ixxv.  5, 
10).”  Bruce  found  in  Abyssinia  the  silver 
horns  of  warriors  and  distinguished  men. 
In  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  the  “ horned 
head-gear  ” was  introduced  into  England, 
and  from  the  effigy  of  Beatrice,  countess 
of  Arundel,  at  Arundel  Church,  who  is 
represented  with  two  horns  outspread  to 
a great  extent,  we  may  infer  that  the 
length  of  the  head-horn,  like  the  length  of 
the  shoe-point  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VL, 
&c.,  marked  the  degree  of  rank.  “To 
cut  off”  such  horns  would  be  to  degrade, 
and  to  exalt  or  extend  such  horns  would 
be  to  add  honour  and  dignity  to  the 
wearer. 

Horns  of  a dilemma.  A difficulty  of 
such  a nature  that  whatever  way  you 
attack  it  you  encounter  an  equal  amount 
of  disagreeables.  Macbeth,  after  the 
murder  of  Duncan,  was  in  a strait  be- 
tween two  evils : If  he  allowed  Banquo 
to  live,  he  had  reason  to  believe  that 
Banquo  would  supplant  him ; if,  on  the 
other  hand,  he  resolved  to  keep  the  crown 
for  which  “ he  had  ’filed  his  hands,”  he 
must  “step  further  in  blood,”  and  cut 
Banquo  off. 

Lemma  is  something  that  has  been 
proved,  and  being  so  is  assumed  as  an 
axiom.  It  is  from  the  Greek  word 
landbano  (I  assume  or  take  for  granted). 
Di-lemma  is  a double  lemma,  or  two- 
edged  sword  which  strikes  either  way. 
The  horns  of  a dilemma  is  a figure  of 
speech  taken  from  a bull,  which  tosses 
with  either  of  his  horns. 

“Teach  me  to  plead,”  said  a young 
rhetorician  to  a sophist,  “ and  I will  pay 
you  when  I gain  a cause.”  The  master 


HORN-BOOK. 


HORSE, 


417 


sued  for  payment  at  once,  and  the  scholar 
pleaded,  If  I gain  my  cause  you  must 
pay  me,  and  if  I lose  it  I am  not  bound 
to  pay  you  by  the  terms  of  our  contract.” 
The  master  pleaded,  ‘'If  you  gain  you 
must  pay  me  by  the  terms  of  the  agree- 
ment, and  if  you  lose  the  court  will  com- 
pel you  to  pay  me.” 

The  horns  of  Moses*  face.  This  is  a 
mere  blunder.  The  Hebrew  Tear  an  means 
“to  shoot  out  beams  of  light,”  but  has 
by  mistake  been  translated  in  some  ver- 
sions “to  wear  horns.”  Thus  the  con- 
ventional statues  of  Moses  represent  him 
with  horns.  “ Moses  wist  not  that  the 
skin  of  his  face  shone.” — Exod.  xxxiv.  29; 
compare  2 Cor.  hi.  7 — 13  : “ The  children 
of  Israel  could  not  stedfastly  behold  the 
face  of  Moses  for  the  glory  of  his  coun- 
tenance.” 

To  wear  the  horns.  To  be  a cuckold. 
In  the  rutting  season,  the  stags  associate 
with  the  fawns  ; one  stag  selects  several 
females  who  constitute  his  haram,  till 
another  stag  comes  who  contests  the 
prize  with  him.  If  beaten  in  the  combat, 
he  yields  up  his  haram  to  the  victor,  and 
is  without  associates  till  he  finds  a stag 
feebler  than  himself,  who  is  made  to 
submit  to  similar  terms.  As  stags  are 
horned,  and  made  cuckolds  of  by  their 
fellows,  the  application  is  palpable.  {See 
CORNETTE.) 

^ Horn-Book.  The  Alphabet  book, 
wliich  was  a thin  board  of  oak  about  nine 
inches  long  and  five  or  six  wide,  on  which 
was  printed  the  alphabet,  the  niue 
digits,  and  sometimes  the  Lord’s  Prayer. 
It  had  a handle,  and  was  covered  in 
front  with  a sheet  of  thin  horn  to  prevent 
its  being  soiled,  and  the  back-board  was 
ornamented  with  a rude  sketch  of  St. 
George  and  the  Dragon.  The  board 
and  its  horn  cover  were  held  together 
by  a narrow  frame  or  border  of  brass. 

Thee  will  I sing,  in  comely  wainscot  bound, 

And  golden  verge  inclosing  thee  around; 

The  taithiul  horn  before,  from  age  to  ago 
Preserving  thy  invulnerable  page  ; 

Behind,  thy  patron  saint  in  armour  shines, 

With  sword  and  lance  to  guard  the  sacred  lines... 
Th’  instructive  handle's  at  the  bottom  fixed. 

Lest  wrangling  critics  should  pervert  the  text. 

TicTcell,  “ The  Horn  Book." 
Their  hooks  of  stature  small  they  took  in  hand, 
Which  with  pellucid  horn  securM  are. 

To  save  from  finger  wet  the  letters  fair. 

Shenstone,  “ Schoolmistress.’* 

Horn-gate.  On©  of  the  two  gates 
of  “Dreams;”  the  other  is  of  ivory. 
Visions  which  issue  from  the  former  come 


true.  This  whim  depends  upon  two 
Greek  puns:  the  Greek  for  horn  is  keras, 
and  the  verb  kraino  or  karanoo  means 
“to  bring  to  an  issue,”  “to  fulfil ;”  so 
again  elephas  is  ivory,  and  the  verb  ele- 
pliairo  means  “ to  cheat,”  “ to  deceive.” 
The  verb  kraino^  however,  is  derived 
from  kra,  “ the  head,”  and  means  “ to 
bring  to  a head  ;”  and  the  verb  elejphairo 
is  akin  to  elakus,  “ small.” 

Anchi'ses  dismisses  .^ne'as  through 
the  ivory  gate,  on  quitting  the  infernal 
regions,  to  indicate  the  unreality  of  his 
vision. 

Sunt  geminae  somni  portae,  quarum  altera  fertur 
Cornea,  qua  veris  facilis  datur  ex'itus  umbris ; 
Altera,  candenti  perfecta  nitens  ^'lephanto, 

Sed  falsa  ad  coelum  mittunt  msomuia  Manes. 

Virgil,  “ JSneidp  vi.  893,  &c. 

Horn  Mad.  Quite  mad.  Madness 
in  cattle  was  supposed  to  arise  from  a 
distemper  in  the  internal  substance  of 
their  horns,  and  furious  or  mad  cattle 
had  their  horns  bound  with  straw. 

“ Why,  mistress,  sure  mv  master  is  horn-mad.”— 
Shakespeare,  “ Comedy  of  Errors,”  i\.  1. 

Hornet’s  Hest.  To  poke  your  head 
into  a hornet's  nest.  To  get  into  trouble 
by  meddling  and  making.  The  bear  is 
very  fond  of  honey,  and  often  gets  stung 
by  poking  its  snout  by  mistake  into  a 
hornet’s  nest  in  search  of  its  favourite 
dainty. 

Hor'nie  (2  syl.).  Auld  Hornie.  The 
devil,  so  called  in  Scotland.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  the  horns  with  which  Satan  is 
generally  represented. 

Horn'pipe  (2  syl.).  The  dance  is  so 
called  because  it  used  to  be  danced  in  th© 
west  of  England  to  the  pib-  corn  or  horn- 
pipe, an  instrument  consisting  of  a pipe 
with  a horn  at  each  end. 

Hor'oscope  (3  syl.).  The  scheme  of 
the  twelve  houses  by  which  astrologers 
tell  your  fortune.  The  word  means  the 
“ hour-scrutinised,”  because  it  is  the 
hour  of  birth  only  which  is  examined  in 
these  star-maps.  {Hora-scop'eo,  Greek.) 

Hors  de  Comlbat  (French).  Out 
of  battle.  Incapable  of  taking  any  further 
part  in  the  fight. 

Horse  (1  syl.).  The  standard  of  the 
ancient  Saxons  was  a white  horse,  which 
was  preserved  in  the  royal  shield  of  the 
House  of  Hanover. 

Famous  horses  of  fable: 

Abas' ter  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
B B 


418 


HORSE. 


HORSE. 


Pluto  The  word  means  away  from  the 
stars  ” or  “ light  of  day.” 

Ah'aios  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Pluto.  The  word  means  inaccessible/’ 
and  refers  to  the  infernal  realm. 

^&ma:as  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Auro'ra.  The  letters  of  this  word  in 
Greek  make  up  365,  the  number  of  days 
in  the  year. 

jEthoii  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
the  Sun.  The  word  means  fiery  red.” 

A'eton  iq.v.).  Swift  as  an  eagle.” 

Agues  (black),  palfrey  of  Mary  queen 
of  Scots, 

Alfa'na.  Gradasso’s  horses.  The  word 
means  a mare.” — ‘^Orlando  Fnrioso'^ 

Alige'ro  ClavUdno,  The  ‘^wooden-pin 
wing-horse  ” which  Don  Quixote  and  his 
squire  mounted  to  achieve  the  deliverance 
of  Dolori'da  and  her  companions. 

Alsvi'diir.  One  of  the  horses  of  the 
Sun.  The  word  means  “all  scorching.” 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Atnethe'a  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses 
of  the  Sui . The  word  means  ‘ ‘ no 
loiterer.”  ^ 

Aq'niline  (3  syl.).  Raymond’s  steed, 
bred  on  the  banks  of  the  Tagus.  The 
word  means  “like  an  eagle.” — ‘^Jeru- 
salem Delivered'* 

An' on  (Greek;.  The  horse  of  Adras'- 
tos;  the  horse  of  Neptune,  brought  out 
of  the  earth  by  striking  it  with  his  tri- 
dent ; its  right  feet  were  those  of  a 
human  creature,  and  it  spoke  with  a 
human  voice.  The  word  means  “ mar- 
tial,” t.e.,  “war-horse.” 

A r'undel.  The  horse  of  Bevis,  of  South- 
ampton. The  word  means  “swift  as  a 
swallow.”  {^YQVich,  hirondelle,  “a  swal- 
low.”) 

Arva'hur,  One  of  the  horses  of  the 
Sun.  The  word  means  “splendid.” — 
Scand inaviati  mythology.. 

Bal'ios  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses 
given  by  Neptune  to  Peleus.  It  after- 
wards belonged  to  Achilles.  Like  Xan- 
thos,  its  sire  was  the  West- wind,  and  its 
dam  Swift-foot  the  harpy.  The  word 
means  “ swift.” 

Bavie'ca.  The  Cid’s  horse.  He  survived 
his  master  two  years  and  a half,  during 
which  time  no  one  was  allowed  to  mount 
him,  and  when  he  died  he  was  buried 
before  the  gate  of  the  monastery  at  Valen- 
cia, and  two  elms  were  planted  to  mark 
the  site.  The  word  means  “ an  ignorant 
creature.” 

Bayard,  The  horse  of  the  four  sons 


of  Aymon,  which  grew  larger  or  smaller 
as  one  or  more  of  the  four  sons  mounted 
it.  According  to  tradition,  one  of  the 
foot-prints  may  still  be  seen  in  the  forest 
of  Soignes,  and  another  on  a rock  near 
Dinant.  The  word  means  “bright  bay 
colour.” 

Bayaddo.  Rinaldo’s  horse,  of  a bright 
bay  colour,  once  the  property  of  Am'adis 
of  Gaul.  It  was  found  by  Malagi'gi,  the 
wizard,  in  a cave  guarded  by  a dragon, 
which  the  wizard  slew.  According  to 
tradition,  it  is  still  alive,  but  flees  at  the 
approach  of  man,  so  that  no  one  can  ever 
hope  to  catch  him. — “ Orlando  Furioso.** 
{See  above.)  ' 

Be'vis.  The  horse  of  lord  Mar'mion. 
The  word  is  Norse,  and  means  “swift.” — 
Sir  W.  Scott. 

Black  Bess.  The  famous  mare  of  Dick 
Turpin,  which  carried  him  from  London 
to  York. 

Borak  {Al).  The  horse  which  conveyed 
Mahomet  from  earth  to  the  seventh 
heaven.  It  was  milk-white,  had  the  wings 
of  an  eagle,  and  a human  face,  with  horse’s 
cheeks.  Every  pace  she  took  whs  equal 
to  the  furthest  range  of  human  sight. 
The  word  is  Arabic  for  “ the  lightning.” 

Brigliado’re  (Bril  - yar  - do're).  Sir 
Guyon’s  horse.  The  word  means  “golden- 
bridle.”— “Faery  Queen.** 

Brigliado'ro  (Bril- yar- do'-ro).  Orlan- 
do’s famous  charger,  second  only  to 
Bayardo  in  swiftness  and  wonderful 
powers.  The  word  means  “ golden- 
bridle.” — “Orlando  Furioso,**  dsc. 

Bronzomarte  (4  syl.).  The  horse  of  Sir 
Launcelot  Greaves.  The  word  means 
“ a mettlesome  sorrel.” 

Buceph'alos  (Greek).  The  celebrated 
charger  of  Alexander  the  Great.  Alex- 
ander was  the  only  person  who  could 
mount  him,  and  he  always  knelt  down  to 
take  up  his  master.  He  was  thirty  years 
old  at  death  and  Alexander  built  a city 
for  his  mausoleum,  which  he  called  Bu- 
ceph'ala.  The  word  means  “ox-head.” 

Ce'ler.  The  horse  of  the  Roman 
emperor  Ve'rus.  It  was  fed  on  almonds 
and  raisins,  covered  with  royal  purple, 
and  stalled  in  the  imperial  palace.  At 
death  a mausoleum  in  the  Vatican  was 
raised  to  its  honour.  (Latin  for  ‘ ‘ swift.”) 

Comrade.  Fortunio’s  fairy  horse. 

Copenha'gen.  Wellington’s  charger. 

Cyl'l<fros  {GcYeek).  Named  from  Cylla, 
in  Troas,  the  steed  of  Castor  or  Pollux. 
{See  HakpaGos.) 


HORSE. 


HORSE. 


419 


Bap'ple,  Sancho  Panza’s  ass.  So  called 
from  its  colour. 

Di'nos  (Greek).  Diomed’s  horse.  The 
wor^  means  *Hhe marvel.”  {See Lampon.) 

Dhuldul.  Ali’s  famous  horse. 

Ethon  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Hector.  The  word  means  fiery.”  {See 
Galathej  Podarge.) 

F errant  d' Espagne.  The  horse  of 
Olivier.  The  word  means  “ tho  Spanish 
traveller.” 

Fiddle-hack.  Oliver  Goldsmith’s  unfor- 
tunate pony. 

F rontaletto.  Scarapant’s  charger.  The 
word  means  little  head.” — '"'‘Orlando 
Furioso.’^ 

Fronti'no  or  Frontin.  Once  called 

Balisarda.”  Roge'ro’s  or  Rugie'ro’s 
horse.  The  word  means  little  head.” — 

Orlando  FnriosOy' 

Gal'athe  (3  syl.).  One  of  Hector’s 
horses.  The  word  means  cream- 
coloured.” 

Grane  (2  syl.).  Siegfried’s  horse,  of 
marvellous  swiftness.  The  word  means 

grey-coloured.” 

Grizzle.  Dr.  Syntax’s  horse,  all  skin 
and  bone.  The  word  means  ‘^grey- 
coloured.” 

Ha%£um.  The  horse  of  the  archangel 
Gabriel. Koran.’^ 

Har'pagos  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses 
of  Castor  and  Pollux.  The  word  means 
“one  that  carries  off  rapidly.”  (See 
Cyllaros.) 

Uip'pocampes{^sy\.).  One  of  Neptune’s 
horses.  It  had  only  two  legs,  the  hinder 
quarter  being  that  of  a dragon’s  tail  or 
fish.  The  word  means  “ coiling  horse.” 

Hrimfaxi.  The  horse  of  Night,  from 
whose  bit  fall  the  “rime-drops”  which 
every  night  bedew  the  earth  [i.e.,  frost- 
mane]  . — Scandinavian  Mythology. 

IncitaJtus.  The  horse  of  the  Roman 
emperor  Calig'ula,  made  priest  and  con- 
sul. It  had  an  ivory  manger,  and  drank 
wine  out  of  a golden  pail.  The  word 
means  “ spurred-on.” 

Kelpy  or  Kelpie.  The  water-horse  of 
fairy  mythology.  The  word  means  “of 
the  colour  of  kelp  or  sea-weed.” 

Lampon  (Greek).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Diomcd.  The  word  means  “the  bright 
one.”  {See  Dinos.) 

Lampos  (Greek).  One  of  the  steeds  of 
the  Sun  at  noon.  The  word  means 
“ shining  like  a lamp.” 

Morocco.  Banks’s  famous  horse.  Its 
shoes  were  of  silver,  and  one  of  its 


exploits  was  to  mount  the  steeple  of  St. 
Paul’s. 

Nohhs.  The  steed  of  Southey’s  doctor. 

Nonios.  One  of  the  horses  of  Pluto. 

Ore'lia.  The  charger  of  Roderick,  last 
of  the  Goths,  noted  for  its  speed  and 
symmetry.  — Southey. 

Passetreul  (4  syl.).  Sir  Tristram’s 
charger. 

Peg'asos.  The  winged  horse  of  Apollo 
and  the  Muses.  (Greek,  “born  near  the 
pege  or  source  of  the  ocean.”) 

Pha'eton  (Greek).  One  of  the  steeds 
of  Auro'ra.  The  word  means  “ the  shin- 
ing one.”  {See  Abraxas.) 

Phallas.  The  horse  of  Herac'lios. 
The  word  means  “ stallion.” 

Phre'nicos.  The  horse  of  Hiero,  of 
Syracuse,  that  won  the  Olympic  prize 
for  single  horses  in  the  seventy-third 
Olympiad.  The  word  means  “mind-like.” 

Podar'ge  (3  syl.).  One  of  the  horses  of 
Hector.  The  word  means  “swift-foot.” 
{See  Ethon.) 

Rahica'no  or  Rah' lean.  Argali'a’s  horse 
in  “Orlando  Innamorato  and  Astol- 
pho’s  horse  in  “ Orlando  Furioso.”  Its 
dam  was  Fire,  and  its  sire  Wind  ; it  fed 
on  unearthly  food.  The  word  means 
“ short-tailed.” 

Reksh.  Sir  Rustram’s  horse. 

Roan  Barhary.  The  favourite  horse 
of  king  Richard  II. 

Rosinan'te  (4  syl.).  Don  Quixote’s 
horse,  all  skin  and  bone.  The  word 
means  “ formerly  a hack.” 

Saladin  (black).  Warwick’s  horse, 

Shebdis  {q.v.).  The  Persian  Buceph'alos. 

Sleipnir.  Odin’s  grey  horse,  which 
had  eight  legs,  and  could  traverse  either 
land  or  sea.  The  horse  typifies  the  wind 
which  blows  over  land  and  water  from 
eight  principal  points. 

Tre'hizond.  The  grey  horse  of  admiral 
Guari'nos,  one  of  the  French  knights 
taken  at  Roncesvalles, 

Veglianti'no  (Vail-yan-te'-no).  The 
famous  steed  of  Orlando,  called  in  French 
romance  Veillantif,  Orlando  being  called 
Roland.  The  word  means  “ the  little 
vigilant  one.” 

White  Surrey.  The  favourite  horse  of 
king  Richard  III. 

Xanthos.  One  of  the  horses  of  Achilles, 
who  announced  to  the  hero  his  approach- 
ing death  when  unjustly  chidden  by  him. 
Its  sire  was  Zephyros,  and  dam  Podarge 
(q.v,).  The  word  means  “ chesmit' 
coloured.” 


B B 2 


420 


HOKSE. 


HOESES. 


Brazenhorse,  (^SeeCAMBUSCAN : see  also 
Arcos-barbs,  Bat-horses,  Dobbin.) 

§ Shakespeare  has  bay  Curtal,”  the 
horse  of  lord  Lafew  All’s  Well  that 
Ends  Well,”  ii.  3)  ; ‘^grey  Capilet,” 
the  horse  of  Sir  Andrew  Aguecheek 
(ft  Twelfth  Night  ” hi  4). 

Banks's  hay  horse  was  called  Morocco. 
Among  the  entries  of  Stationers’  Hall  is 
'‘A  ballad  shewing  the  strange  qualities 
of  a young  nagg  called  Morocco”  (Nov, 
14,  1596).  When  exhibiting  at  Rome 
both  Banks  and  his  horse  were  burnt  to 
death  for  magicians,  by  order  of  the  pope. 

Don  Zara  del  Fogo^^  p.  114.  (1660.) 

The  consular  horse.  Incita'tus.  {q.v.). 

O' Donohue's  white  horse.  Those  waves 
which  come  on  a windy  day,  crested  with 
foam.  The  spirit  of  the  hero  re-appears 
every  May-day,  and  is  seen  gliding,  to 
sweet  but  unearthly  music,  over  the  lakes 
of  Killarney,  on  his  favourite  white  horse. 
It  is  preceded  by  groups  of  young  men 
and  maidens,  who  fling  spring-flowers  in 
his  path. — Derrick's  Letters." 

T.  Moore  has  a poem  on  the  subject  in 
his  Irish  Melodies,”  No.  VI.;  it  is 
entitled  O’ Donohue’s  Mistress,”  and 
refers  to  a tradition  that  a young  and 
beautiful  girl  became  enamoured  of  the 
visionary  chieftain,  and  threw  herself  into 
the  lake  that  he  might  carry  her  off  for 
his  bride. 

^ Horse.  The  public-house  sign. 

(1)  The  White  Horse.  The  standard  of 
the  Saxons,  and  therefore  impressed  on 
hop  pockets  and  bags  as  the  ensign  of 
Kent.  On  Uffington  Hill,  Berks,  there 
is  formed  in  the  chalk  an  enormous  white 
horse,  supposed  to  have  been  cut  there 
after  the  battle  in  which  Ethelred  and 
Alfred  defeated  the  Danes  (871).  This 
rude  ensign  is  about  374  feet  long,  and 
1,000  feet  above  the  sea-level.  It  may  be 
seen  at  the  distance  of  twelve  miles. 

(2)  The  galloping  white  horse  is  the 
device  of  the  house  of  Hanover. 

(3)  The  rampant  white  horse.  The 
device  of  the  house  of  Savoy,  descended 
from  the  Saxons. 

H 'Tis  a Trojan  horse  (Latin  proverb). 
A deception,  a concealed  danger.  Thus 
Cicero  says  ^‘Intus,  intus,  inquam,  est 
equus  Troja'nus”  Pro  Muren.j'  78). 
Of  course  the  allusion  is  to  the  wooden 
horse  which  deceived  the  Trojans  to  their 
destruction. 

To  get  upon  your  high  horse.  To  give 
oneself  airs.  The  comte  de  Montbrison 


says : The  four  principal  families  of  Lor- 
raine are  called  the  high  horses,  the  de- 
scendants by  the  female  line  from  the 
little  horses  or  second  class  of  chivalry. 
The  ‘'high  horses”  are  D’Haraucourt, 
Le 'noncourt,  Ligneville,  and  Du  Cha- 
telet. — “ Memoir e de  la  Baronne  d'Oher- 
kirche." 

^ Horse  (in  the  Catacombs).  Emblem  of 
the  swiftness  of  life.  Sometimes  a palm- 
wreath  is  placed  above  its  head  to  denote 
that  “the  race  is  not  to  the  swift.” 

Horse  (in  Christian  art).  Emblem  of 
courage  and  generosity.  The  attribute 
of  St  Martin,  St.  Maurice,  St.  George, 
and  St.  Victor,  all  of  whom  are  repre- 
sented on  horseback.  St.  Leon  is  repre- 
sented on  horseback,  in  pontiflcal  robes^ 
blessing  the  people. 

U The  Royal  Horse  Guards  or  Oxford 
Blues  are  the  three  heavy  cavalry  regi- 
ments of  the  Household  Brigade,  first 
raised  in  1661. 

Horses.  At  one  time  great  culprits 
were  fastened  to  four  horses,  a limb  to 
each  horse,  and  the  horses  being  urged 
different  ways,  pulled  limb  from  limb. 
The  last  person  who  so  suffered  in 
Europe  was  Robert  Francois  Damiens, 
for  an  attempt  on  the  life  of  Louis  XV. 
in  1757.  Before  that  Poltrot  de  Mere 
was  executed  by  four  wild  horses  for  the 
murder  of  the  due  de  Guise,  1563  ; Sal- 
cede,  for  conspiring  against  the  due 
d’AlenQon,  1582  ; Brilland,  for  poisoning 
the  prince  de  Cond^,  1588 ; Ravaillac,  for 
the  murder  of  Henri  IV.  in  1610. 

Horses.  It  is  said  that  Di'omed,  tyrant 
of  Thrace,  fed  his  horses  with  the  stran- 
gers who  visited  his  coast.  Hercules 
vanquished  him,  and  gave  him  to  his  own 
horses  for  food.  (A8ee  Strangers.) 

Here  such  dire  welcome  is  for  thee  prepared 

As  Diomed’s  unhappy  strangers  shared ; 

His  hapless  guests  at  silent  mjdnight  bled. 

On  their  torn  limbs  his  snor  iiig  course  is  fed.  . 

CamoenSf  “ Lusiad.'* 

Horses.  The  first  person  that  drove  a 
four-in-hand  was  Erichtho'nius,  accord- 
ing to  Virgil : 

Primus  Erichthonius  currus  et  quatuor  ausus 

Jungere  equos.  Geor.  iii.  113. 

Erichthon  was  the  first  who  dared  command 

A chariot  yoked  with  horses  four-in-hand. 

^ Horse  or  Gorse.  A corruption  of  the 
Welsh  gwres  (hot,  fierce,  pungent). 
Saxon,  gorstjeurs,  cos,  coarse,  gross,  &c. ; 
German,  kraus,  crisp. 


HORSE  AND  HIS  RIDER. 


HOSPITAL. 


421 


H(yrse-cJiestnut.  The  curs  or  pungent 
chestnut,  in  opposition  to  the  mild,  sweet 
one. 

Horse-laugh.  A coarse,  vulgar  laugh* 

Horse-mint.  The  pungent  mint. 

Horse-radish.  The  pungent  radish. 

Horse-'play.  Rough  play. 

Similarly  hoarse^  having  a rough  voice 
from  inflammation  of  the  throat ; gorse^ 
a rough,  prickly  plant ; goose-herry,  a 
rough  berry;  goose-grass^  the  grass  whose 
leaves  are  rough  with  hair,  &c. 

Horse  and  his  Rider.  One  of 
.^sop’s  fables,  to  show  that  nations  crave 
the  assistance  of  others  when  they  are 
aggrieved,  but  become  the  tools  or  slaves 
of  those  who  rendered  them  assistance. 
Thus  the  Celtic  Britons  asked  aid  of  the 
Saxons,  and  the  Danish  Duchies  of  the 
Germans,  but  in  both  cases  the  rider 
made  the  horse  a mere  tool. 

Horse-bean.  The  bean  usually 
given  to  horses  for  food. 

Horse  Latitudes.  A region  of 
calms  between  30°  and  35°  North  ; so 
called  because  ships  laden  with  horses 
bound  to  America  or  the  West  Indies 
were  often  obliged  to  lighten  their  freight 
by  casting  the  horses  overboard,  when 
calm-bound  in  these  latitudes. 

Horse-milliner.  A horse-soldier 
more  fit  for  the  toilet  than  the  battle- 
field. The  expression  was  first  used  by 
Rowley  in  his  ‘‘  Ballads  of  Charitie,”  but 
Sir  Walter  Scott  revived  it : 

One  comes  in  foreign  trashery 
Of  tinkling  chain  and  spur, 

A wa'kiiig  haberdashery 
Of  feathers,  lace,  and  fur; 

In  Rowley’s  autiqua  ed  pbrase. 

Horse-milliner  of  modern  dava. 

“ bridal  of  Triermain”  ii.  3. 

Horse  Power.  A measure  of  force. 
Watt  estimated  the  “ force  ” of  a London 
dray-horse,  working  eight  hours  a day, 
at  33,000  foot-pounds  {q.v.)  per  minute. 
In  calculating  the  horse-power  of  a steam- 
engine  the  following  is  the  formula  : — 

deduct  * for  friction. 

33,000 

P,  pressure  (in  lbs.)  per  sq.  inch  on  the  piston 
A,  area  (in  inches)  of  the  piston, 
ii,  length  (in  feet)  of  the  stroke. 

N,  number  of  strokes  per  minute. 

Horse  Protestant.  As  good  a 
Protestant  as  Oliver  CromwelVs  horse.  This 
expression  arises  in  a comparison  made 
by  Cromwell  respecting  some  person 


who  had  less  discernment  than  his  horse 
in  the  moot  points  of  the  Protestant  con- 
troversy. 

Horse-shoes  were  at  one  time  nailed 
up  over  doors  as  a protection  against 
witches.  Aubrey  says  “ Most  houses  at 
the  west-end  of  London  have  a horse- 
shoe on  the  threshold.”  In  Monmouth 
Street  there  were  seventeen  in  1813,  and 
seven  so  late  as  1855. 

Straws  laid  across  my  path  retard; 

The  horse-shoe’s  nailed,  each  threshold’s  guard. 

Gay.  ** Fable"  xxiii.  pt.  1. 

It  is  lucky  to  pick  up  a horse-shoe.  This 
is  from  the  notion  that  a horse-shoe  was 
a protection  against  witches.  For  the 
same  reason  our  superstitious  forefathers 
loved  to  nail  a horse-shoe  on  their  house 
door.  Lord  Nelson  had  one  nailed  to 
the  mast  of  the  ship  ‘Wictory.” 

Horse-sboes  and  Hails.  In  1251 
some  lands  in  the  Strand,  held  of  the 
crown  by  a farrier,  were  made  over  to 
the  corporation  of  London,  and  from  this 
time  the  sheriffs  tendered  the  annual  rent 
of  six  horse- shoes  and  nails.  (Hen.  III.) 

Horse-vetch.  The  vetch  which  has 
pods  shaped  like  a horse-shoe  ; some- 
times called  the  horse-shoe  vetch.” 

Hortus  Siccus.  (Latin,  a dry 
garden).  A collection  of  plants  dried 
and  arranged  in  a book. 

Ho'rus.  The  Egyptian  day-god,  re- 
presented in  hieroglyphics  by  a sparrow- 
hawk,  which  bird  was  sacred  to  him. 
He  was  son  of  Osi'ris  and  Isis,  but  his 
birth  being  premature,  he  was  weak  in 
the  lower  limbs.  As  a child  he  is  seen 
carried  in  his  mother’s  arms,  wearing 
the  pschent  or  atf,  and  seated  on  a lotus- 
flower  with  his  finger  on  his  lips.  As  an 
adult  he  is  represented  hawk-headed. 
(Egyptian,  har  or  hor,  the  day  ” or 

sun’s  path.”) 

Hos'pital.  From  the  Latin  hospes 
(a  guest),  being  originally  an  inn  or  house 
of  entertainment  for  pilgrims  ; hence  our 
words  host{oT\Q  who  entertains),  hospitality 
(the  entertainment  given),  o^xAhospitaller 
(the  keeper  of  the  house).  In  process  of 
time  these  receptacles  were  resorted  to 
by  the  sick  and  infirm  only,  and  the  house 
of  entertainment  became  an  asylum  for 
the  sick  and  wounded.  In  1399  Katherine 
de  la  Court  held  a hospital”  at  the 
bottom  of  the  court  called  Robert  de 


422 


HOSPITALLERS. 


HOTSPUR. 


Paris  ; after  the  lapse  of  four  years,  her 
landlord  died,  and  the  tavern  or  hospital 
fell  to  his  heirs  Jehan  de  Chevreuse  and 
William  Cholet.  A lawsuit  between 
these  parties  is  thus  stated  in  the 
**  Plaidoiries,”  matinees  reg.  cote  x, 
4785,  fo.  75:— 

L’amiral  Jehan  de  Chevreuse  et  la  veuve  de  feu 
Guillaume  Cholet  dient  que  Katherine,  sans  autorit§ 
du  roy  ne  du  prevost  de  Paris,  a voulu  creer  un 
hospital  d’ommes  et  de  femmes  enla  maison  dessus 
dicte,  oh  il  avoit  femmes  et  hommes  couchans  soubz 
un  tect  et  soubz  une  couverture,  qui  faisoient  leurs 
matines  des  vespres  jusques  au  matin;  et  crioient 
tenement  qu’il  sembloit  que  ce  fust  un  motet  de 
Be;ms8e,  et  y avoit  souvant  aumusses  donnees  et 
co^ffes,  etestoient  de  la  parroi98e  Merry ; ety  avoit 
distribution  de  rnereaulx  et  merelles,  et  estoient 
paiez  tout  sec,  et  pour  quittance  avoient  signes 
manuelz;  et  y estoient  donnez  horions,  tellement 
que  Ion  ne  povoit  dormir  en  la  rue  jusques  en 
Baillehoe.  Si  se  trahirent  Jehan  de  Chevreuse  et 
plusieur  s autresd'  verslfi  prevost,pour  cequ’ilz  avoient 
ie  ressort  de  Glatigny,  Tiron,etplusieur8autres  ; [etj 
y avoit  aucuns  pour  faire  le  guet  en  la  ville,  autres 
eux  purtes  de  Paiis,  comme  de  S Anthoine.  de  S. 
Viet 'r,  et  autn-s.  Si  fut,  in  formaciou  precedant, 
dit  a Katherine,  que  elle  se  partist  et  alast  tenir  son 
college  ailleurs.”— ifardi,  15  Fev.  14U0. 

Hos'pitallers.  First  applied  to  those 
whose  duty  it  was  to  provide  hospiiium 
(lodging  and  entertainment)  for  pilgrims. 
The  most  noted  institution  of  the  kind 
was  at  Jerusalem,  which  gave  its  name 
to  an  order  called  the  Knights  Hospital- 
lers. This  order  was  first  called  that  of 
the  Knights  of  St.  John  at  Jerusalem; 
afterwards  they  were  styled  the  Knights 
of  Rhodes,  and  then  Knights  of  Malta, 
because  Rhodes  and  Malta  were  conferred 
on  them  by  different  monarchs. 

Host.  A victim.  The  consecrated 
bread  of  the  Eucharist  is  so  called  in  the 
Latin  Church,  because  it  is  believed  to 
be  a real  victim  consisting  of  flesh,  blood, 
and  spirit,  offered  up  in  sacrifice.  (Latin, 
hostia.)  It  is  shown  to  the  laity  in  a 
transparent  vessel  caked  a ‘‘monstrance.” 
(Latin,  monstro,  to  show.) 

Host  An  army.  At  the  breaking  up 
of  the  Roman  empire,  the  first  duty  of 
every  subject  was  to  follow  his  lord  into 
the  field,  and  the  proclamation  was 
hanni're  in  hostem  (to  order  out  against 
the  foe),  which  soon  came  to  signify  “ to 
order  out  for  military  service,”  and  hostem 
facire  came  to  mean,  “ to  perform  mili- 
tary service.”  Hostis  (military  service) 
next  came  to  mean  the  army  that  went 
against  the  foe,  whence  our  word  host. 

To  reckon  without  your  host.  To  reckon 
from  your  own  standpoint,  without  taking 
in  certain  considerations  which  another 
standpoint  would  make  evident.  Guests 


who  calculate  what  their  expenses  at  an 
hotel  will  come  to,  always  leave  out  cer- 
tain items  which  the  host  contrives  to 
foist  into  the  account. 

Hos'tage  (2  syl.)  is  the  Latin  ohses^ 
through  the  French  6tage  or  ostage,  Italian 
ostaggio. 

Hos'tler  is  properly  the  keeper  of 
an  hotel  or  inn.  Wittily  derived  from 
oat- stealer. 

Hot.  Hot  cross  huns.  Fosbroke  says 
these  buns  were  made  of  the  dough 
kneaded  for  the  host,  and  were  marked 
with  the  cross  accordingly.  In  the 
Roman  belief  the  host  is  supposed  to  be 
divine,  and  therefore  imperishable.  As 
the  Good  Friday  buns  are  Said  to  keep  for 
twelve  months  without  turning  mouldy, 
some  persons  still  hang  up  one  or  more 
in  their  house  as  a “ charm  against  evil.” 
{See  Cross.) 

ril  make  the  place  too  hot  to  hold  him. 
The  allusion  is  to  Talos,  the  brazen  man 
who  guarded  Crete.  When  a stranger 
approached,  Talos  made  himself  red-hot, 
and  went  to  embrace  the  stranger  as 
soon  as  he  set  foot  on  the  island. 

Hotch-pot  or  Hotch-potch.  Black- 
stone  says  hotch-pot  is  a pudding  made  of 
several  things  mixed  together.  Lands 
given  in  frank-marriage  or  descending  in 
fee-simple  are  to  be  mixed,  like  the 
ingredients  of  a pudding,  and  then  cut 
up  in  equal  slices  among  all  the  daugh- 
ters.— Bk.  ii.  12. 

As  to  personality : Hotch-pot  may  be 
explained  thus : Suppose  a father  has 
advanced  money  to  one  child,  at  the  de- 
cease of  the  father  this  child  receives 
a sum  in  addition  enough  to  make  his 
share  equal  to  the  rest  of  the  family. 
If  not  content,  he  must  bring  into 
hotch-pot  the  money  advanced,  and  the 
whole  is  then  divided  amongst  all  the 
children  according  to  the  terms  of  the 
will. 

French,  hochepot^  from  hocher,  to  shake 
or  jumble  together;  or  from  the  German 
hoch-pot,  the  huge  pot  or  family  caldron. 
Wharton  says  it  is  hacM  enpoche. 

Hot'spur.  A fiery  person  who  has 
no  control  over  his  temper.  Harry  Percy 
was  so  called.  Lord  Derby  is  sometimes 
called  the  Hotspur  of  Debate,''  probably 
a misquotation  from  Macaulay,  who  terms 
him  the  “ Rupert  of  Debate.”  {See  Shake- 
speare, “ 1 Henry  IV.”) 


HOUGOUMONT. 


HOUYHNHNMS. 


423 


Hou'goumont  is  said  to  be  a cor- 
ruption of  Chdteau  Goumoni ; but  Victor 
Hugo  says  it  is  Rugo-mons^  and  that  the 
house  was  built  by  Hugo,  sire  de  Som- 
meril,  tbe  same  person  that  endowed  the 
sixth  chapelry  of  the  abbey  of  Villers. 

Hound.  To  hound  a person  is  to 
persecute  him,  or  rather  to  set  on  per- 
sons to  annoy  him,  as  hounds  are  let  from 
the  slips  at  a hare  or  stag. 

As  he  who  only  lets  loose  a icreyhound  out  of  the 
slip  is  said  to  hound  him  at  the  hare.  -Bramhall. 

Hou'qua.  A superior  quality  of  tea. 
So  called  from  Hoqua,  the  celebrated 
Hong- Kong  tea  merchant,  who  died  1846. 

Hou'ri,  pi.  Houris.  The  large  black- 
eyed  damsels  of  Paradise,  possessed  of 
perpetual  youth  and  beauty,  whose  vir- 
ginity is  renewable  at  pleasure.  Every 
believer  will  have  seventy- two  of  these 
houris  in  Paradise,  and  his  intercourse 
with  them  will  be  fruitful  or  otherwise 
according  to  his  wish.  If  an  offspring  is 
desired,  it  will  grow  to  full  estate  in  an 
hour.  (Arabic,  hur  al  oyun^  the  black- 
eyed.)—  The  Koran. 

House  (1  syl.).  In  astrology  the 
whole  heaven  is  divided  into  twelve  por- 
tions, called  “ houses,”  through  which  the 
heavenly  bodies  pass  every  twenty-four 
hours.  In  casting  a man’s  fortune  by 
the  stars,  the  whole  host  is  divided  into 
two  parts  (beginning  from  the  east),  six 
above  and  six  below  the  horizon.  The 
eastern  ones  are  called  the  ascendant, 
because  they  are  about  to  rise  ; the 
other  six  are  the  descendant,  because 
they  have  already  passed  the  zenith.  The 
twelve  houses  are  thus  awarded  : 

(I)  House  of  life  ; (2)  House  of  fortune 
and  riches ; (3)  House  of  brethren ; (4) 
House  of  relatives ; (5)  House  of  chil- 
dren ; (6)  House  of  health. 

(7)  House  of  marriage;  (8)  House  of 
death  (the  upper  portal) ; (9)  House  of 
religion;  (10)  House  of  dignities;  (II) 
House  of  friends  and  benefactors  ; (12) 
House  of  enemies. 

House  and  Home.  He  hath  eaten 
me  out  of  house  and  home  (Shakespeare, 
‘‘  2 Henry  IV.,”  ii.  1).  It  is  the  com- 
plaint of  hostess  Quickly  to  the  lord  chief 
justice  when  he  asks  for  what  sum  ” 
she  had  arrested  Sir  John  Falstaff . She 
explains  the  phrase  by  “ he  hath  put  all 
my  substance  into  that  fat  belly  of  his  ;” 
“ I am  undone  by  his  going.’’ 


House  of  Correction.  A gaol 
governed  by  a keeper.  Originally  it  was 
a place  where  vagrants  were  made  to 
work,  and  small  offenders  were  kept  in 
ward  for  the  correction  of  their  offences. 

Household  Gods.  Domestic  pets, 
and  all  those  things  which  help  to  endear 
home.  The  Romans  had  household  gods 
called  pe-na'-tes,  who  were  supposed  to 
preside  oyer  their  private  houses.  Of 
these  pe-na'-tes  some  were  called  la'-res, 
the  special  genii  or  angels  of  the  family. 
One  was  Vest'a,  whose  office  was  to  pre- 
serve domestic  unity.  Jupiter  and  Juno 
were  also  among  the  pe-na'-tes.  The 
modern  use  of  the  term  is  a playful 
adaptation. 

Bearing  a nation  with  all  its  household  gods  into 
exilQ.— Longfellow,  “ Evangeline.” 

Household  Troops.  Those  troops 
whose  special  duty  it  is  to  attend  the 
sovereign  and  guard  the  Metropolis. 
They  consist  of  the  1st  and  2nd  Life- 
guards, the  Royal  Horse-guards,  and  the 
three  regiments  of  Foot-guards  called  the 
Grenadier,  Coldstream,  and  Scots  Fusilier 
Guards. 

House-leek  [Jove’s  beard].  Grown 
on  house  roofs,  from  the  notion  that  it 
warded  off  lightning. 

If  t/he  herb  house-leek  or  syngreen  do  grow  on  the 
house-top,  the  saote  hous®  is  never  stricken  with 
light. ji'  g or  thunder.— Hillt  ‘ Natural  and 
Arth  Conclusion” 

Housel.  To  give  or  receive  the 
eucharist.  (Saxon,  huslian,  to  give  the 
hulsel  or  host ) 

Childrea  were  christened,  and  menhou^e'ed  and 
assoyled  thrt)Ug^l  all  the  land  except  such  as  were 
in  he  > il ' f enc 'm  nuuie-ttion by  iiauue expressed. 

Hotinnhed,  ‘ Chronicle.” 

Houssain  {Prince),  brother  of  prince 
Ahmed.  He  possessed  a piece  of  carpet 
or  tapestry  of  such  wonderful  power  that 
any  one  had  only  to  sit  upon  it,  and  it 
would  transport  him  in  a moment  to  any 
place  he  desired  to  go  to. 

If  prince  Houssain’s  flying  tapestry  or  Aatolpho’s 
hippogriff  had  been  shown,  he  would  have  judged 
them  by  the  ordinary  rules,  and  preferred  a well- 
hung  chariot.— Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Houyhnlinms  ijioo'hims).  A race 
of  horses  endowed  with  reason,  who  bear 
rule  over  the  race  of  man.  Gulliver,  in 
his  ‘‘Travels,”  tells  us  what  he  “saw’* 
among  them. — Sioift. 

Nay,  would  kind  Jove  my  organ  so  dispose 
To  hymn  harmonious  Houyhuhnms  through  the 
no8f% 

I’d  call  thee  Houyhnhnra,that  high-sounding  name  ; 
Thy  children’s  n »ses  all  should  twang  the  same. 

Uope 


424 


HOWARD. 


HUDIBRAS. 


How'ard.  A philanthropist.  John 
Howard  is  immortalised  by  his  efforts  to 
improve  the  condition  of  prisoners.  He 
visited  all  Europe/’  says  Burke,  not  to 
survey  the  sumptuousness  of  palaces  or 
the  stateliness  of  temples ; not  to  make 
accurate  measurements  of  the  remains  of 
ancient  grandeur,  nor  to  form  a scale  of 
the  curiosity  of  modern  art ; not  to  col- 
lect manuscripts ; but  to  dive  into  the 
depths  of  dungeons  ; to  plunge  into  the 
infection  of  hospitals ; to  survey  the 
mansions  of  sorrow  and  pain;  to  take 
the  dimensions  of  misery,  depression, 
and  contempt ; to  remember  the  for- 
gotten, to  attend  to  the  neglected,  to 
visit  the  forsaken,  and  to  compare  the 
distress  of  all  men  in  all  countries.  His 
plan  is  original,  and  it  is  as  full  of  genius 
as  it  is  of  humanity.  It  was  a voyage  of 
discovery;  a circumnavigation  of  charity.’* 

The  radiant  path  that  Howard  trod  to  heaven. 

Bloomjieldt  Farmer's  Boy.'* 

The  female  Hoivard.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Fry.  (1780-1844.) 

All  the  Hood  of  all  the  Howards.  All 
the  nobility  of  our  best  aristocracy.  The 
ducal  house  of  Norfolk  stands  at  the  head 
of  the  English  peerage,  and  is  interwoven 
in  all  our  history. 

What  could  ennoble  sots,  or  slaves,  or  cowards  ? 

Alas ! not  all  the  blood  of  all  the  Howards. 

Pope,  “ Essay  on  Man,"  Ep.  iv. 

Howard.  Mr.  Bug,  late  of  Epsom 
(Surrey),  then  of  Wakefield  (Yorkshire), 
landlord  of  the  Swan  Tavern,  changed 
his  name  (June,  1862)  to  Norfolk  Howard. 

How'die  (2  syl.).  A midwife.  As  an 
example  of  tortured  etymology  this  word 
has  been  derived  from  the  word  hodie  in 
the  line  “Jesus  hodie  natus  est  de  vir- 
gine.”  Truly  we  may  say  the  word 
brethren  comes  from  the  word  tabernacle 
because  we  breathe  therein. 

Howleglass  (2  syl.).  A clever  rascal. 
So  called  from  the  hero  of  an  old  German 
jest-book,  popular  in  England  in  the 
time  of  queen  Elizabeth. 

Hrimfax'i.  The  horse  of  night,  from 
whose  bit  fall  the  rime-drops  that  every 
morning  bedew  the  Qoxth..— Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Hulbal.  An  Arab  idol  brought  from 
Bulka,  in  Syria,  by  Amir  Ibn-Lohei,  who 
asserted  that  it  would  procure  rain  wheu 
wanted.  It  was  the  statue  of  a man  in 
red  agate ; one  hand  being  lost,  a golden 


one  was  supplied.  He  held  in  his  hand 
seven  arrows  without  wings  or  feathers, 
such  as  the  Arabians  use  in  divination. 
This  idol  was  destroyed  in  the  eighth 
year  of  “ the  flight.” 

'H.vA:>'hdiV6.  {Old  Mother').  The  famous 
dame  of  nursery  mythology,  who  went 
to  the  cupboard  to  fetch  her  poor  dog  a 
bone ; but  when  she  got  there  the  cup- 
board was  bare,  so  the  poor  dog  had 
none.  She  then  goes  upon  divers  errands 
on  her  dog’s  behoof,  and  on  her  return 
finds  the  dog  engaged  in  some  marvellous 
feat.  Having  finished  her  wanderings 
to  and  fro,  she  makes  a curtsey  to  the 
dog,  and  the  dog,  not  to  be  outdone  in 
politeness,  makes  the  dame  a profound 
bow. 

Hubert  {h  silent),  in  Shakespeare’s 
“King  John,”  is  Hubert  de  Burgh, 
justice  of  England,  created  earl  of  Kent. 
He  died  1243. 

St.  Hubert.  Patron  saint  of  hunts- 
men. He  was  son  of  Bertrand,  due 
d^Acquitaine,  and  cousin  of  king  Pepin, 
Hubert  was  so  fond  of  the  chase  that  he 
neglected  his  religious  duties  for  his 
favourite  amusement,  till  one  day  a stag 
bearing  a crucifix  menaced  him  with 
eternal  perdition  unless  he  reformed. 
Upon  this  the  merry  huntsman  entered 
a cloister,  became  in  time  bishop  of 
Liege,  and  the  apostle  of  Ardennes  and 
Brabant.  Those  who  were  descended  of 
his  race  were  supposed  to  possess  the 
power  of  curing  the  bite  of  mad  dogs. 

St.  Hubert  in  Christian  art  is  repre- 
sented sometimes  as  a bishop  with  a 
miniature  stag  resting  on  the  book  in  his 
hand,  and  sometimes  as  a noble  huntsman 
kneeling  to  the  miraculous  crucifix  borne 
by  the  stag. 

Hu'dibras.  Said  to  be  a caricature 
of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  a patron  of  Samuel 
Butler.  The  Grub-street  Journal  (1731) 
maintains  it  was  colonel  Rolle,  of  Devon- 
shire, with  whom  the  poet  lodged  for 
some  time,  and  adds  that  the  name  is 
derived  from  Hugh  de  Bras,  the  patron 
saint  of  the  county.  He  represents  the 
Presbyterian  party,  and  his  squire  the 
Independents. 

’Tis  sung,  there’s  a valiant  Mameluke 
In  foreign  lands  ycleped  [Sir  Luke^ 

Butler,  “ Hudibras”  i.  3. 

Sir  Hudibras.  The  cavalier  of  Elissa 
or  Parsimony. — Spenser,  Faery  Queene,^ 
bk.  ii. 


HUDIBEASTIC  VERSE. 


HULL  OHEESE. 


425 


Hudibras'tic  Verse.  A doggerel 
eight-syllable  rhyming  verse,  after  the 
style  of  Butler’s  ‘^Hudibras.” 

Hud'son  (>S'^V  Jeffrey).  The  famous 
dwarf,  at  one  time  page  to  queen  Hen- 
rietta Maria.  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  in- 
troduced him  in  his  ^^Peveril  of  the 
Peak,”  ch.  xxxiv.  Vandyke  has  immor- 
talised him  by  his  brush ; and  his  clothes 
are  said  to  be  preserved  in  Sir  Hans 
Sloane’s  museum. 

Hugger-mugger.  The  primary 
meaning  is  clandestinely,  in  a smuggled 
manner.  The  secondary  meaning  is 
disorderly,  meanly,  in  a slovenly  and 
muddled  manner,  means ‘Mike 

a squatter,!’  and  mugger  means  “ se- 
cretly,” “in  an  underhand  manner.” 
(Of  the  first  we  have  Danish  huger.,  to 
squat;  German  hochen ; Dutch  hukhen^ 
&c.  Of  the  latter  we  have  Danish  smug, 
clandestinely;  Dutch  smuig ; Welsh 
mwg,  smoke  ; miocan,  cloud;  omv smuggle^ 
smuggler,  muddle,  &c.) 

The  King  in  “ Hamlet”  says  of  Polo'- 
nius,  “We  have  done  but  greenly  in 
hugger-mugger  to  inter  him,”  i.e.,  to 
smuggle  him  into  the  grave  clandestinely 
and  without  ceremony. 

Sir  T.  North,  in  his  “Plutarch,”  says: 
— “ Antonius  thought  that  his  body 
should  be  honourably  buried,  and  not 
in  hugger-mugger  ” (clandestinely). 

Ralph  says : — 

While  1,  in  hugger-mugger  hid, 

Have  noted  all  they  said  and  did. 

Butler,  “ Hudihras,”  iii.  3. 

Under  the  secondary  idea  we  have  the 
following  expressions : — 

He  lives  in  a hugger-mugger  sort  of  way. 

The  rooms  were  all  hugger-mugger  (dis- 
orderly). 

Huggins  and  Muggins.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vulgarity,  of  Pretension  Hall.  The 
best  etymology  I know  for  these  two 
words  is  the  Dutch  Hooge  en  Mogende 
(high  and  mighty),  the  style  of  addressing 
the  States- General  of  Holland,  much 
ridiculed  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Hugh  Lloyd’s  Pulpit  (Merioneth- 
shire). A natural  production  of  stone. 
One  pile  resembles  the  Kilmarth  Rocks. 
There  is  a platform  stone  with  a back  in 
stone.  (Hugh  yrom.  You.) 

Hugh  of  Lincoln.  It  is  said  that 
the  Jews  in  1255  stole  a boy  named  Hugh, 
whom  they  tortured  for  ten  days  and 


then  crucified.  Eighteen  of  the  richest 
Jews  of  Lincoln  were  hanged  for  taking 
part  in  this  affair,  and  the  boy  was  buried 
in  state.  This  is  the  subject  of  “ The 
Prioress’s  Tale  ” of  Chaucer,  which 
Wordsworth  has  modernised.  In  Ry- 
mer’s  “Foedera”  are  several  documents 
relating  to  this  event. 

Hu  gin  and  Mun'in  {mind  and 
memory).  The  two  ravens  that  sit  on  the 
shoulders  of  Odin  or  Alfader. 

Perhaps  the  nursery  saying,  “ A little  bird  told  me 
that,”  is  a corrupt!' n of  Hugo  and  Muniin,  }<nd  so 
we  have  tne  old  Northern  superstition  linger  ng 
among  us  without  our  being  aware  of  it.— Julia 
Goddard,  Joyce  Dormer's  Story,”  ii.  ll.  (See  Bird.) 

Hu' go  (h  soft),  in  “Jerusalem  De- 
livered,” count  of  Vermandois,  brother  of 
Philippe  I.  of  France,  leader  of  the  Franks. 
He  died  before  Godfrey  was  appointed 
leader  of  the  united  armies  (bk.  i.),  but 
his  spirit  is  seen  by  Godfrey  amongst  the 
angels  who  came  to  aid  in  taking  Jeru- 
salem (bk.  xviii.). 

Hugo,  natural  son  of  Azo,  marquis 
of  Este,  who  fell  in  love  with  Parisi'na, 
his  father’s  young  wife.  Azo  discovered 
the  intrigue,  and  condemned  Hugo  to  be 
beheaded.  — Byron,  Parisina.” 

Hu'gon  (/fm^).  The  great  hobgoblin 
of  France. 

Hu'guenot  {U-gue-no).  First  applied 
to  the  Reformed  Church  party  in  the 
Amboise  Plot  (1560).  From  the  German 
eidgenossen  (confederates). 

Huguenot  Po'pe  (Le  pape  des  Hugue- 
nots). Philippe  de  Mornay,  the  great 
supporter  of  the  French  Protestants. 
(1549-1623.) 

Hulda  [the  Benignant).  Goddess  of 
marriage  and  fecundity,  who  sent  bride- 
grooms to  maidens  and  children  to  the 
married.  (German.)  (^See  Berchta.) 

Hulda  is  making  her  led.  It  snows. 
{See  above.) 

Hulk.  An  old  ship  unfit  for  service. 
(Saxon,  hulc,  a hut ; hulce,  a light  ship. ) 

Hulking.  A great  hulking  fellow, 
A great  overgrown  one.  The  monster 
sausage  brought  in  on  Christmas-day 
was  called  a haulkin  or  haukin. 

Hull  Cheese.  Strong  ale,  or  rather 
intoxicating  cake,  like  “ tipsy  cake,” 
thus  described  by  Taylor,  the  water  poet : 
“ It  is  much  like  a loaf e out  of  a brewer’s 
basket ; it  is  composed  of  two  simples, 
mault  and  water,  . . . and  is  cousin- 


426 


HULLABALOO. 


HUMOUR. 


germane  to  the  mightiest  ale  in  Eng- 
land.” (See  vol.  ii.  of  Taylor’s  Works.”) 

HulTabaloo.  Uproar.  Irish  name 
for  the  coranach  or  crying  together  at 
funerals.  The  word  is  sometimes  written 
Jmtulu  or  hul'ululoo,  and  is  what  Max 
Muller  calls  a bow-wow  word  (?  sound- 
spell). 

HuTsean  Lectures.  Instituted  by 
the  Rev.  John  Hulse,  of  Cheshire,  in 
1777.  Every  year  some  four  or  six  ser- 
mons are  preached  at  Great  St.  Mary’s, 
Cambridge,  by  what  is  now  called  the 
Hulsean  Lecturer,  who,  till  1860,  was  en- 
titled the  Christian  A dvocate.  Originally, 
twenty  sermons  a year  were  preached 
and  printed  under  this  benefaction. 

Hu'man  Race  (h  soft).  Father  of  the 
human  race,  Adam. 

Human  Sacrifice.  A custom  still 
subsisting  seems  to  prove  that  the  Egyp- 
tians formerly  sacrificed  a young  virgin 
to  the  god  of  the  Nile,  for  they  now  make 
a statue  of  clay  in  shape  of  a girl,  which 
they  call  the  betrothed  bride,”  and 
throw  it  into  the  river.  — Savary. 

Humanita'rians.  Those  who  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ  was  only  man. 
The  disciples  of  St.  Simon  are  so  called 
also,  because  they  maintain  the  perfecti- 
bility of  human  nature  without  the  aid 
of  grace. 

Humanities  or  Humanity  Studies. 
Grammar,  rhetoric,  and  poetry,  with 
Greek  and  Latin  ; in  contradistinction 
to  the  study  of  chemistry,  natural  philo- 
sophy, and  science  generally.  (Latin, 
humanitaSf  refinement  of  education  and 
taste,  mental  culture,  humaniores  liter ce. ) 

Humber.  Chief  of  the  Huns,  de- 
feated by  Locrin,  king  of  England,  and 
drowned  in  the  river  Abus,  ever  since 
called  the  Humber. — Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth, Chronicles  J** 


and  entrails  of  the  deer,  the  huntsman's 
perquisites.  When  the  lord  and  his 
household  dined  the  venison  pasty  was 
served  on  the  dais,  but  the  unibles  were 
made  into  a pie  for  the  huntsman  and 
his  fellows. 

N.B.— Pie  and  patty  are  both  diminu- 
tives of  pasty.  Pasty  and  patty  are 
limited  to  venison,  veal,  and  some  few 
other  meats ; pie  is  of  far  wider  signifi- 
cation, including  fruit,  mince,  &o. 


Hum'bug.  Mr.  F.  Crossley  suggests 
the  Irish  uim  hog  (pronounced  um-hug), 
meaning  soft  copper”  or  '^worthless 
money.”  James  II.  issued  from  the 
Dublin  Mint  a mixture  of  lead,  copper, 
and  brass,  so  worthless  that  a sovereign 
was  intrinsically  worth  only  2d.,  and 
might  have  been  bought  after  the  revo- 
lution for  a halfpenny.  Sterling  and 
umbug  were  therefore  expressive  of  real 
and  fictitious  worth,  merit  and  humbug. 
Churchill  uses  the  word  in  1750.  Cross- 
ley’s  suggestion  is  very  ingenious,  but 
probably  the  mystery  lies  nearer  the 
surfa(3e.  To  ‘^hum”  used  to  signify  “to 


applaud,”  “to  pretend  admiration,”  hence 
“to  flatter,”  to  “cajole  for  an  end;” 
the  noun  signified  “ sugared  words,” 
“worthless  rumours,”  “ fabrications,”  &c. 


“ Gentlemen,  this  humming  [eacpmsion  o/appZaMse] 
is  not  at  all  becoming  the  gravity  of  this  court.”— 
State  Trials.  (16tf0.) 


Hume  (David),  the  historian,  takes 
the  lead  among  modern  philosophical 
sceptics.  His  great  argument  is  this  *.  It 
is  more  likely  that  testimony  should  be 
false  than  that  miracles  should  be  true. 
(1711-1776.) 

Humma.  Chief  deity  of  the  Kaffirs. 

Humma.  A bird  peculiar  to  the  East. 
Every  head  that  it  overshadows  will  wear 
a crown  (Richardson).  The  spleu did  little 
bird  suspended  over  the  throne  of  Tippoo 
Saib  at  Seringapatam  represented  this 
poetical  fancy. 


Their  chieftain  Humber  named  was  aright 
Unto  the  mighty  streame  him  to  betake, 

Where  he  an  end  of  battall  and  of  life  did  make. 

Spenser ^ “ Faery  Queene^'  it  10. 

Humble  Bee.  A corruption  of  the 
French  double- dort  (double- gilt),  and 
called  in  the  West  of  England  dumble- 
door. 

Humble  Pie.  To  eat  humble  yie.  To 
come  down  from  a position  you  have 
assumed,  to  be  obliged  to  take  “ a lower 
room.”  “Umbles  ” are  the  heart,  liver. 


Humming  Ale.  Strong  liquor  that 
froths  well.  A corruption  of  spuming. 
French,  espuma,  froth ; Latin,  spuma. 
Major  Dalgetty  wishes  prison  water  were 
“ humming  Lubeck  beer.” 

Hummums,  in  Co  vent  Garden.  So 
called  from  an  Eastern  word,  signifying 
baths. 

Hu'mour.  As  good  humour,  ill  or 
bad  humour,  &c.  According  to  an  ancient 
theory,  there  are  four  principal  humours 


HUMPBACK. 


HUNTER. 


427 


in  the  body: — phlegm,  blood,  choler,  and 
melancholy.  As  any  one  of  these  pre- 
dominated, it  determined  the  temper  of 
the  mind  and  body ; hence  the  expres- 
sions choleric  humour,  melancholic 
humour.  A just  balance  made  a good 
compound  called  good  humour a 
preponderance  of  any  one  of  the  four 
made  a bad  compound  called  an  ill  or 
evil  humour. — See  Ben  Jonson,  Every 
Man  Out  of  his  Humour”  (Prologue). 

Humpback  {The), 

Gero'nimo  Amelunghi,  II  Gobo  di  Pisa. 
(16th  century.) 

Andre'a  Sola'ri,  the  Italian  painter,  Del 
Gobbo.  (1470-1527.) 

Humphrey  The  imaginary 

collector  of  the  tales  in  Master  Hum- 
phrey’s Clock,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

The  good  duke  Humphrey.  Humphrey 
Plantagenet,  duke  of  Gloucester,  youngest 
son  of  Henry  IV.  (murdered  1446). 

To  dine  with  duke  Humphrey.  To  have 
no  dinner  to  go  to.  Humphrey,  duke  of 
Gloucester,  uncle  to  Henry  VII.,  was 
renowned  for  his  hospitality.  At  death 
it  was  reported  that  a monument  would 
be  erected  to  him  in  St.  Paul’s,  but  his 
body  was  interred  at  St.  Albans.  When 
the  promenaders  left  for  dinner,  the 
poor  stay-behinds  who  had  no  dinner 
used  to  say  to  the  gay  sparks  who  asked 
if  they  were  going,  that  they  would 
stay  a little  longer  and  look  for  the  monu- 
ment of  the  ‘‘good  duke.”  {^See  p.  228.) 

Humpty  Dumpty.  An  egg,  a 
little  deformed  dwarf.  Dumpty  is  a cor- 
ruption of  dumpy  (short  and  thick).  A 
dump  is  a piece  of  lead  used  in  chuck- 
farthing.  Humpty  is  having  a hump  or 
hunch.  The  two  mean  short,  thick,  and 
round  shouldered. 

Hunchback.  Styled  My  Lord. 
Grose  says  this  was  done  in  the  reign  of 
Richard  III.,  when  many  deformed  men 
were  made  peers  ; but  probably  the  word 
is  the  Greek  lordos  (crooked). 

Hundred.  Hero  of  the  hundred  fights 
or  battles. 

Lord  Nelson.  (1758-1805.) 

Con,  a celebrated  Irish  hero,  is  so  called 
by  O’Gnive,  the  bard  of  O’Niel : “ Con, 
of  the  hundred  fights,  sleep  in  thy  grass- 
grown  tomb.” 

Hundred  Days.  The  days  between 
March  20,  1815,  when  Napoleon  quitted 


Elba,  and  June  22,  of  the  same  year, 
when  he  abdicated,  and  was  sent  to  St. 
Hele'na. 

Hunga'rian.  One  half-starved ; a 
pun  on  the  word  hunger. 

Hun'gary  Water.  Made  of  rose- 
mary, sage,  and  spices  ; so  called  because 
the  receipt  was  given  by  a hermit  to  the 
queen  of  Hungary. 

Hungr  {hunger').  The  dish  out  of 
which  the  goddess  Hel  (g.v.)  was  wont  to 
feed. 

Hun'iades,  Hunniades,  or  Hunyady 
(4  syl.).  One  of  the  greatest  captains 
of  the  fourteenth  century.  Called  Corvi'- 
nus  from  the  crow  in  his  escutcheon. 
The  Turks  so  much  feared  him  that  they 
used  his  name  for  scaring  children.  (1400- 
1456.)  (>8ee  Bogie.) 

The  Turks  employed  this  name  to  frighten  their 
pe^-verse  children.  He  was  corruptly  denominated 
“Janous  Lain.”— Cri6&on,  **  Decline  and  Fall  of  the 
Roman  Empire^  xii  166. 

Hunks.  An  old  hunks.  A screw,  a 
mean,  sordid  fellow.  Icelandic,  hunskur^ 
sordid. 

Hunneberg  and  Halleberg  {holy 
mountain).  West  Gothland.  {See  Hall 
OF  Odin.) 

Hunooman.  In  Hindu  mythology, 
the  monkey  god. 

Hunt.  Like  Hunt's  dog^  he  would 
neither  go  to  church,  nor  stay  at  home. 
One  Hunt,  a labouring  man  in  Shrop- 
shire, kept  a mastiff,  which,  on  being 
shut  up  while  his  master  went  to  church, 
howled  and  barked  so  terribly  as  to 
disturb  the  whole  congregation  ; where- 
upon Hunt  thought  he  would  take  his 
Lycisca  with  him  the  next  Sunday  ; but 
on  reaching  the  churchyard,  the  dog 
positively  refused  to  enter.  The  proverb 
is  applied  to  a tricky,  self-willed  person, 
who  will  neither  lead  nor  drive. 

Hunter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leo  Hunter, 
Two  lion  hunters,  or  persons  who  hunt 
up  all  the  celebrities  of  London  to  grace 
their  parties.  — Dickens,  “ Pickwick 
Papers." 

The  mighty  hunter.  Nimrod  is  so  called 
(Gen.  X.  9).  The  meaning  seems  to  be  a 
conqueror.  Jeremiah  says,  “I  (the 
Lord)  will  send  for  many  hunters  {war- 
riors), and  they  shall  hunt  {chase)  them 
{the  Jews)  from  every  mountain  . . . and 


428 


HUNTING. 


HUSBAND. 


out  of  the  holes  of  the  rocks”  (xvi.  16. 
See  13). 

Proud  Nimrod  first  the  bloody  chase  began— 

A mighty  hunter,  and  his  prey  was  man. 

Pope,  “ Windsor," 

Hunting  of  the  Hare.  A comic 
romance,  published  in  Weber’s  collection. 
A yeoman  informs  the  inhabitants  of  a 
village  that  he  has  seen  a hare,  and  invites 
them  to  join  him  in  hunting  it.  They 
attend  with  their  curs  and  mastiffs,  pugs, 
and  house-  dogs,  and  the  fun  turns  on  the 
truly  unsportsman-like  manner  of  giving 
puss  the  chase. 

Huntingdon  means  the  county 
famous  for  hunts.  It  was  once  a deer 
forest. 

Huon  de  Bordeaux  encounters  in 
Syria  an  old  follower  of  the  family  named 
Gerasmes  (2  syl.),  whom  he  asks  the  way 
to  Babylon.  Gerasmes  told  him  the 
shortest  and  best  way  was  through  a 
wood  sixteen  leagues  long,  and  full  of 
fairies;  that  few  could  go  that  way 
because  king  O'beron  was  sure  to  en- 
counter them,  and  whoever  spoke  to  this 
fay  was  lost  for  ever.  If  a traveller,  on 
the  other  hand,  refused  to  answer  him, 
he  raised  a most  horrible  storm  of  wind 
and  rain,  and  made  the  forest  seem  one 
great  river.  ‘^But,”  says  the  vassal,  the 
river  is  a mere  delusion,  through  which 
any  one  can  wade  without  wetting  the 
soles  of  his  shoes.”  Huon  for  a time 
followed  the  advice  of  Gerasmes,  but 
afterwards  addressed  Oberon,  who  told 
him  the  history  of  his  birth.  They  became 
great  friends,  and  when  Oberon  went  to 
Paradise  he  left  Huon  his  successor  as 
lord  and  king  of  Mommur.  H e married 
Esclairmond,  and  was  crowned  King  of 
all  Faerie.” — Huon  de  Bordeaux'*  (a 
romance), 

Hurlo-thrumbo.  A ridiculous 
burlesque,  which  in  1730  had  an  extra- 
ordinary run  at  the  Haymarket  Theatre. 
So  great  was  its  popularity  that  a club 
called  “The  Hurlo-thrumbo  Society”  was 
formed.  The  author  was  SamuelJohnson, 
a half-mad  dancing  master,  who  put  this 
motto  on  the  title-page  when  the  bur- 
lesque was  printed : — 

Ye  sons  of  fire,  read  my  “ Hurlo-thrumbo,*’ 

'J  urn  it  betwixt  your  finger  and  your  thumbo. 
And  being  quite  undone,  be  quite  struck  dumbo. 

Hurly-burly.  Uproar,  tumult, 
especially  of  battle.  Dr.  Johnson  says, 


“I  have  been  told  that  this  word  owes 
its  origin  to  two  neighbouring  families 
named  Hurleigh  and  Burleigh,  which 
filled  their  part  of  the  kingdom  with 
contests  and  violence.”  Without  stop- 
ping to  examine  the  worth  of  this  hear- 
say derivation,  it  may  be  stated  that 
hurly  is  probably  derived  from  the  verb 
hurl,  and  refers  to  the  confusion  arising 
from  the  hurling  of  missiles  in  battle. 
Burly  is  from  burl  (noisy)  ; Kussian, 
hurlyu  (turbulent),  our  hurly  meaning 
boisterous,  powerful.  The  Dutch  have 
hurl-om-burl  (topsy-turvy).  In  the  ' ^ Gar- 
den of  Eloquence”  (1577)  the  word  is 
given  as  a specimen  of  onomatopoeia. 

When  the  hurly-burly’s  done. 

When  the  battle’s  lost  and  won. 

WUches  of  "Macbeth" 

Hurrah'  or  Huzza'.  The  word  is 
common  to  many  nations.  Jewish, 
hosanna;  Old  French,  huzzer  (to  shout 
aloud) ; Dutch,  husschen ; Kussian,  hoera 
and  hoezee,  {See  below.) 

Hur'rar'.  A corruption  of  Tur  aie 
(Thor  aid),  a battle  cry  of  the  North- 
men.— Wace,  “ Chronicle." 

Hurry.  The  Mahouts  cheer  on  their 
elephants  by  repeating  ur-r^^  the  Arabs 
their  camels  by  shouting  ar-r^,  the  French 
their  hounds  by  shouts  of  hare^  the  Ger- 
mans their  horses  by  the  word  hurs.,  the 
herdsmen  of  Ireland  their  cattle  by  shout- 
ing hurrish.  Whence  our  words  to  harry y 
harass j hurry;  Welsh,  gyru  (to  drive); 
Armenian,  haura  (to  hasten) ; Latin, 
curro  (to  run) ; &c. 

Don't  hurry y Hoghins.  A satirical  re- 
proof to  those  who  are  not  prompt  in 
their  payments.  It  is  said  that  one 
Hopkins,  of  Kentucky,  gave  his  creditor 
a promissory  note  on  which  was  this 
memorandum : “ The  said  Hopkins  is  not 
to  be  hurried  in  paying  the  above.” 

Husband  is  the  house  farmer.  Bonde 
is  Norwegian  for  a “farmer,”  hence 
honde-hy  (a  village  where  farmers  dwell) ; 
and  hus  means  “ house.”  Hus-hand-man 
is  the  man-of-the-house  farmer.  The 
husband,  therefore,  is  the  master  farmer, 
and  the  husband-man  the  servant  or 
labourer.  Old  Tusser  was  in  error  when 
he  derived  the  word  from  “house-band,” 
as  in  the  following  distich : — 

The  name  of  the  husband,  what  is  it  to  say  ? 

Of  wife  and  of  ftowse-hold  the  band  and  the  stay. 

“ Five  Hundred  Poinis  of  Qood  Hmoandry.*'  ■ 


HUSHAI. 


HYDRA. 


429 


Hush'ai  (2  syl.),  in  Dryden’s  satire 
of  ‘^Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  Hyde, 
earl  of  Rochester.  Hushai  was  David’s 
friend,  who  counteracted  the  counsels  of 
Achitophel,  and  caused  the  plot  of  Absa- 
lom to  miscarry  ; so  Rochester  defeated 
the  schemes  of  Shaftesbury,  and  brought 
to  nought  the  rebellion  of  the  duke  of 
Monmouth. 

N.B.  This  was  not  John  Wilmot,  earl 
of  Rochester,  the  wit. 

Hussar'.  A Hungarian  word  {hmz, 
twenty,  ar,  pay).  When  Mathias  Corvi'- 
nus  succeeded  to  the  crown  of  Hungary, 
Mohammed  III.  and  Frederick  III.  con- 
spired to  dethrone  the  boy  king,”  but 
Mathias  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  In 
order  to  have  a regular  and  powerful 
cavalry,  he  decreed  that  one  man  out  of 
every  twenty  families  should  be  enrolled, 
and  share  the  expense  among  themselves. 
This  cavalry  went  by  the  name  of  the 
twenty-paid  soldiers”  or  ‘‘Hussars.” 

Hus'sites  (2  syl. ).  Followers  of  John 
Huss,  the  Bohemian  reformer,  in  the 
fourteenth  century.  {See  Bethleme- 
NITES.) 

Hussy.  A little  hussy.  A word  of 
slight  contempt,  though  in  some  counties 
it  seems  to  mean  simply  girl,  as  “ Come 
hither,  hussy.”  Of  course  the  word  is  a 
corruption  of  housewife  or  hussif.  In 
Swedish  hustru  means  woman  in  general. 
It  is  rather  remarkable  that  mother  in 
Norfolk  has  given  rise  to  a similar  sort  of 
word,  morther,  as  “Come hither,  morther,” 
i.e.,  girl.  Neither  hussy  nor  morther  is 
applied  to  married  women.  In  Norfolk 
they  also  say  mor  for  a female,  and  hor 
for  the  other  sex.  Moer  is  Dutch  for 
woman  in  general,  and  hoer  for  peasant, 
whence  our  boor, 

Hus'tab'.  One  of  the  idols  of  the 
ancient  Ninevites. 

Hus'terloe.  A wood  in  Flanders, 
where  Reynard  declared  his  vast  trea- 
sures were  concealed. — “ Reynard  the 
Foxr 

Hus'tings.  House-things  or  city 
courts.  London  has  still  its  court  of 
Hustings  m Guildhall,  in  which  are  elected 
the  lord  mayor,  the  aldermen,  and  city 
members.  The  hustings  of  elections  are 
so  called  because,  like  the  court  of  Hust- 
ings, they  are  the  places  of  elective  as- 
semblies. 

Hutcllinso'liians.  Followers  of 


Anne  Hutchinson,  who  retired  to  Rhode 
Island.  Anne  and  fifteen  of  her  children 
were  subsequently  murdered  by  the 
Indians.  (Died  1643.) 

Hu'tin.  Louis  le  Hutin,  Louis  X. 
Mazerai  says  he  received  the  name  be- 
cause he  was  tongue-doughty.  The  huti- 
net  was  a mallet  used  by  coopers  which 
made  great  noise,  but  did  not  give  severe 
blows ; as  we  should  say,  the  barker  or 
barking  dog.  It  is  my  belief  that  he 
was  so  named  because  he  was  sent  by 
his  father  against  the  “Hutins,”  a se- 
ditious people  of  Navarre  and  Lyons. 
(1289,  1314-1316.) 

Hutkin.  A cover  for  a sore  finger, 
made  by  cutting  off  the  finger  of  an  old 
glove.  The  word  hut  in  this  instance  is 
from  the  German  huten  (to  guard  or  pro- 
tect). It  is  employed  in  the  German 
noun  finger-hut  ^a  thimble  to  protect  the 
finger),  and  in  the  word  huth  or  hut.  (^See 
Hodeken.) 

Hvergel'mer.  A deep  pit  in  Nifl- 
heim,  whence  issues  twelve  poisonous 
springs,  which  generate  ice,  snow,  wind, 
and  rain. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Hy'acinth.,  according  to  Grecian 
fable,  was  the  son  of  Amyclas,  a Spartan 
king.  The  lad  was  beloved  by  Apollo 
and  Zephyr,  and  as  he  preferred  the  sun- 
god,  Zephyr  drove  Apollo’s  quoit  at  his 
head,  and  killed  him.  The  blood  became 
a flower,  and  the  petals  are  inscribed  with 
the  boy’s  rraxne.  — Virgil,  Eel.,'' i\\.  106. 

The  hyacinth  bewrays  the  doleful  “ AI,” 

And  culls  the  tribute  of  Apollo's  sigh. 

Still  on  its  bloom  the  mourn tul  flower  retains 

The  lovely  blue  that  dyed  the  stripling’s  veins. 

Camoens,  “ Lusiad,"  ix. 

I Hy'ades  13  syl.).  Seven  nymphs 
placed  among  the  stars,  in  the  constella- 
tion Taurus,  which  threaten  rain  when 
they  rise  with  the  sun.  The  chief  of 
them  is  by  the  Arabs  called  AldebarUn. 

Hy'dra.  A monster  of  the  Ler'nean 
marshes,  in  Ar'golis.  It  had  nine  heads, 
and  Hercules  was  sent  to  kill  it.  As  soon 
as  he  struck  off  one  of  its  heads,  two  shot 
up  in  its  place. 

Hydra-headed.  Having  as  many  heads 
as  the  hydra  {q.v.) ’,  a difficulty  which 
goes  on  increasing  as  it  is  combated. 

Hydra-headed  Multitude.  The  rabble, 
which  not  only  is  many-headed  numeri- 
cally, but  seems  to  grow  more  numerous 
the  more  it  is  attacked  and  resisted. 


430 


HYENA. 


HYSON. 


Hye'na  was  worshipped  by  the  ancient 
Egyptians.  Pliny  says  that  a certain 
stone,  called  the  “ hysenia,”  found  in  the 
eye  of  the  creature,  being  placed  under 
the  tongue,  imparts  the  gift  of  prophecy.  — 
xxxvii.  60. 

Hygei'a  (3  syl.).  Goddess  of  health 
and  daughter  of  ^sculapios.  Her  symbol 
was  a serpent  drinking  from  a cup  in  her 
hand. 

Hyksos.  A tribe  of  Cuthites  (2  syl.) 
driven  out  of  Assyria  by  Ara'lius  and  the 
Shemites,  founded  in  Egypt  a dynasty 
called  Hyksos  (shepherd  kings),  a title 
assumed  by  all  the  Cuthite  chiefs.  This 
dynasty,  which  gave  Egypt  six  or  eight 
kings,  lasted  259  years,  when  the  whole 
horde  was  driven  from  Egypt,  and  retired 
to  Palestine.  It  is  from  these  refugees 
that  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  arose. 
The  word  is  compounded  of  hyk  (king) 
and  s6s  (shepherd). 

Hylaeo-saurus  or  Hyloeo-saur  (Greek 
for  forest- lizard).  A large  fossil  pre- 
Adamite  reptile.  Specimens  have  been 
discovered  in  the  Wealden  of  Kent  and 
Sussex. 

Hyl'as-  A boy  beloved  by  Hercules, 
carried  off  by  the  nymphs  while  drawing 
water  from  a fountain  in  Mys'ia. 

Hy'men.  God  of  marriage,  a sort  of 
overgrown  Cupid.  His  symbols  are  a 
bridal-torch  and  veil  in  his  hand. 

Hy'mer.  The  giant  in  Celtic  mytho- 
logy, who  took  Thor  in  his  boat  when 
that  g9d  went  to  kill  the  serpent;  for 
which  service  he  was  flung  by  the  ears 
into  the  sea. 

Hyperbo'reans  (5  syl).  The  most 
norths- rn  people,  who  dwell  beyond  Bo'reas 
(the  seat  of  the  north  wind),  placed  by 
Virgil  under  the  North  Pole.  They  are 
said  to  be  the  oldest  of  the  human  race, 
the  most  virtuous,  and  the  most  happy  ; 
to  dwell  for  some  thousand  years  under 
a cloudless  sky,  in  fields  yielding  double 
harvests,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  per- 
petual spring.  When  sated  of  life  they 
crown  their  heads  with  flowers,  and  plunge 
headlong  from  the  mountain  Hunneberg 
or  Halleberg  into  the  sea,  and  enter  at 
once  the  paradise  of  Odin. — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

The  ByperboWeanSy  it  is  said,  have  not 
an  atmosphere  like  our  own,  but  one  con- 
sisting wholly  of  feathers.  Both  Herod'o* 


tos  and  Pliny  mention  this  fiction,  which 
they  say  was  suggested  by  the  quantity 
of  snow  observed  to  fall  in  those  regions. 
— HerodotoSy  iv.  31. 

Hyperion.  Apollo,  a model  of 
manly  beauty.  The  proper  pronuncia- 
tion is  Hyperi'on.  Thus  Ovid — 

Placat  equo  Persis  radiis  HyperiSne  cinctum. 

“ Fasti,”  i.  335, 

So  excellent  a king,  that  ivas  to  this 
Hyper' ion  to  a satyr. 

Shakespeare^  “ Hamletp  i.  9. 

Hypochon'dria  (Greek,  hypo  chon- 
droSy  under  the  cartilage),  i.e.y  the  spaces 
on  each  side  of  the  epigastric  region, 
supposed  to  be  the  seat  of  melancholy  as 
a disease. 

Hypoc'risy . Bhypocrisie  est  un  horn- 
mageque  levice  rend  d la  vertu.— Roche- 
foucald. 

Hyp'oerite  (3  syl).  Prince  of  Hypo- 
crites. Tibe'rius  Caesar  was  so  called, 
because  he  affected  a great  regard  for 
decency,  but  indulged  in  the  most  de- 
testable lust  and  cruelty.  (B.c.  42,  14 
to  A.D.  37.) 

Abdallah  Ibn  Obba  and  his  partisans 
were  called  The  Hypocrites  by  Mahomet, 
because  they  feigned  to  be  friends,  but 
were  in  reality  disguised  foes. 

Hyp'ocrites’  Isle,  called  by  Rabe- 
lais Chanephy  which  is  the  Hebrew  for 

hypocrisy.”  Rabelais  says  it  is  wholly 
inhabited  by  sham  saints,  spiritual  come- 
dians, bead- tumblers,  mumblers  of  ave- 
mari'as,  and  such  like  sorry  rogues,  who 
lived  on  the  alms  of  passengers,  like  the 
hermit  of  Lormont. — Pantagruely*  iv. 
63. 

Hyposta'tie  Union.  The  union  of 
two  or  more  persons  into  one  undivided 
unity,  as,  for  example,  the  three  persons 
of  the  eternal  Godhead.  The  Greek 
hypos'tases  corresponds  to  the  Latin  per- 
sona. The  three  persons  of  the  God  and 
three  hypos'tases  of  the  Godhead  mean  one 
and  the  same  thing. 

Hypped  {hipt).  Melancholy,  low- 
spirited.  Hyp.  is  a contraction  of  hypo- 
chondria. 

Hy'son.  One  of  the  varieties  of  green 
tea.  ‘‘  Ainsi  nomme  d’un  mot  chinois 
qui  veut  dire  printempSy  parce  que  c’est 
au  commencement  de  cette  saison  qu’on 
le  cueille.” — M.  H,  BouilleU 


1. 


ICE-BROOK. 


431 


I 

I.  This  letter  represents  a finger,  and 
is  called  in  Hebrew  yod  orjod  (a  hand). 

+ 

LH.S.  or  I.H.S.  A Latin  corrup- 
tion of  the  Greek  iTTs,  meaning  iHSou? 
(Jesus),  the  long  e (H)  being  mistaken 
for  a capital  H,  and  the  dash  perverted 
into  a cross.  The  letters  being  thus  ob- 
tained, St.  Bernardine  of  Sienna,  in  1347, 
hit  upon  a suitable  representative  in  the 
words,  Jesus  Hom'inum  Salvator  (Jesus, 
Saviour  of  Men).  {See  A.GNUS  Castus.) 

I.O.U.  The  memorandum  of  a debt 
given  by  the  borrower  to  the  lender.  It 
must  not  contain  a promise  to  pay.  The 
letters  mean,  owe  You.” 

I.  R . B.  Irish  Rebeilion  Brotherhood 
( ? Irish  Republican  Brotherhood),  mean- 
ing the  Fenian  conspiracy. 

lacli'inio  {Yak-e-mo).  An  Italian 
libertine,  in  Shakespeare’s  Cymbeline.” 

lago  (^Yar'go  or  E-ar'-go).  Othello’s 
ensign  or  ancient.  He  hated  the  Moor 
both  because  Cassio,  a Florentine,  .was 
preferred  to  the  lieutenancy  instead  of 
himself,  and  also  from  a suspicion  that 
the  Moor  had  tampered  with  his  wife ; 
but  he  concealed  his  hatred  so  well  that 
Othello  wholly  trusted  him.  lago  per- 
suaded Othello  that  Desdemo'na  intrigued 
with  Cassio,  and  urged  him  on  till  he 
murdered  his  bride.  His  chief  argument 
was  that  Desdemona  had  given  Cassio  a 
pocket-handkerchief,  the  fact  being  that 
lago  had  set  on  his  wife  to  purloin  it. 
After  the  death  of  Desdemona,  Emilia 
(lago  s wife)  revealed  the  fact,  and  lago 
was  arrested. 

Shak>  speare  generally  makes  three 
syllables  of  the  name,  as — 

Lpt  it  n t gall  your  pat  ence.  g'^od  l-a-go.  ) 

Left  n the  cond  ict  of  t e bold  la-go.  Mi.  1. 

’Ii8  one  l-a-go,  aucieut  to  the  general.  ) 

lam'bic.  Father  of  Iambic  verse, 
Archirochos  of  Paros,  (b.c.  714-676.) 

lan'the  (3  syl.),  to  whom  lord 
Byron  dedicated  his  ‘^Childe  Harold e,” 
was  lady  Charlotte  Harley,  born  1809, 
and  only  eleven  years  old  at  the  time. 

lap'etos.  The  father  of  Atlas  and 
ancestor  of  the  human  race,  called  genus 
Id'p'tti^  the  progeny  of  lapetus  (Greek 
mythology).  By  many  considered  the  same 
as  Japlieth,  one  of  the  sons  of  Noah. 


latraleip'tes  (5  syl.).  One  who 
cured  diseases  by  friction  and  anointing. 
(Greek  iatros  aleijghoy  a physician  who 
anoints.) 

Ibe'ria.  Spain;  the  country  of  the 
Ibe'rus  or  Ebro.  {See  Rowe  On  the 
Late  Glorious  Successes.”) 

Ilbis  or  Nile-hird.  The  Egyptians 
call  the  sacred  Ibis  Father  John.  It  is 
the  avatar  of  the  god  Thoth,  who  in  the 
guise  of  an  Ibis  escaped  the  pursuit  of 
Typhon.  The  Egyptians  say  its  plumage 
symbolises  the  light  of  the  sun  and 
shadow  of  the  moon,  its  body  a heart, 
and  its  legs  a triangle.  It  was  said  to 
drink  only  the  purest  of  water,  and  its 
feathers  to  scare  (*r  even  kill  the  croco- 
dile. It  is  also  said  that  the  bird  is  so 
fond  of  Egypt  that  it  would  pine  to  death 
if  transported  elsewhere.  It  appears  at 
the  rise  of  the  Nile,  but  disapp-  ars  at 
its  inundation.  If  indeed  it  devours 
crocodiles’  eggs,  scares  away  the  croco- 
diles themselves,  devours  serpents  and 
all  sorts  of  noxious  reptiles  and  insects, 
no  wonder  it  should  be  held  in  veneration, 
and  that  it  is  made  a crime  to  kill  so 
useful  a creature. 

Ibis.  The  Nile-bird,  says  Solinus, 
“rummages  in  the  mud  of  the  Nile  for 
serpents’  eggs,  her  most  favourite  food.” 

Iblis  or  Ihlees.  Satan,  and  the 
fath  er  of  the  Shey  tans  or  devils. — A rabian 
mythology. 

Ib'rabam.  The  Abraham  of  the 
Koran. 

Icar'ian.  Soaring,  adventurous. 
{See  I CAROS.) 

Ic'aros.  Son  of  Dae'dalos,  who  flew 
with  his  father  from  Crete,  but  the  sun 
melted  the  wax  with  which  his  wings 
were  fastened  on,  and  he  fell  into  the 
sea,  hence  called  the  Ica'rian.  {See 
Shakespeare,  ‘^3  Henry  VI.,”  v.  6.) 

Ice  (I  syl.).  To  break  the  ice.  To 
broach  a disagreeable  subject,  to  open 
the  way.  In  allusion  to  breaking  ice  for 
bathers.  {ItoXmyScin'dere glaciem  ; Italian, 
romper  il  giaccio.') 

[We]  An’  if  you  break  the  ice,  and  do  this  feat.... 

Will  not  so  graceless  be,  to  be  ingrate. 

Shakespeare^  “ Taming  of  the  Shrew'’  i.  2. 

Ice-brook.  A sword  of  ice-brook 
temper.  Of  the  very  best  quality.  The 
Spaniards  used  to  plunge  their  swords 
and  other  weapons,  while  hot  from  the 


432 


icH  mm. 


IDOMENEUS. 


forge,  into  the  brook  Salo  [Xalon],  near 
Bilbilis,  in  Celtiberia,  to  harden  them. 
The  water  of  this  brook  is  very  cold. 

It  is  a sword  of  Spain,  the  ice-brook  temper. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello, v.  2. 

Saevo  Bilbilin  op'timam  metallo 
Et  ferro  Plat/eam  suo  sonantem 
Qiiam  fluctu  tenui  sed  inquie'to 
Armo'rum  Salo  tempera'tor  ambit. 

Martial. 

leh  Dien.  ♦According  to  a Welsh 
tradition,  Edward  I.  promised  to  provide 
Wales  with  a prince  '^who  could  speak 
no  word  of  English,”  and  when  his  son 
Edward  of  Carnarvon  was  born  he  pre- 
sented him  to  the  assembly,  saying  in 
Welsh,  Eich  dyn  (behold  the  man). 

The  more  general  belief  is  that  it  was 
the  motto  under  the  plume  of  J ohn,  king 
of  Bohemia,  slain  by  the  Black  Prince  at 
Cressy  in  1346,  and  that  the  Black  Prince 
who  slew  the  Bohemian  assumed  it  out 
of  modesty,  to  indicate  that  ^^he  served 
under  the  king  his  father.” 

Ichneu'mon.  An  animal  resem- 
bling a weasel,  and  well  worthy  of 
being  defended  by  priest  and  prince  in 
Egypt,  as  it  feeds  on  serpents,  mice,  and 
other  vermin ; and  is  especially  fond  of 
crocodiles’  eggs,  which  it  scratches  out 
of  the  sand.  According  to  legend,  it 
steals  into  the  mouth  of  crocodiles  when 
they  gape,  and  eats  out  their  bowels. 

Ichnoba'te  {Ih-no-ba'-te),  One  of 
Actaeon’s  dogs.  The  word  means  track 
follower.” 

Ichor  {F-hor).  The  colourless  blood 
of  the  heathen  deities. 

Ichthyosau'rus  or  IMhyosaur 
(Greek,  fish-lizard).  A fossil  reptile, 
remains  of  which  have  been  found  in  the 
lias  of  Lyme  Eegis.  (Pronounce  Ik'-the- 
o-saw'-rus  or  Ik'-the-o-saw'. ) 

Icon'oclasts  (Greek,  image-breakers'). 
Reformers  who  rose  in  the  eighth  cen- 
tury, especially  averse  to  the  employ- 
ment of  pictures,  statues,  emblems,  and 
all  visible  representations  of  sacred 
objects.  The  crusade  against  these 
things  began  in  726  with  the  emperor 
Leo  III.  and  continued  for  120  years. 

Icthus  for  /e'sous  Christos,  THqom 
ZJios,  /Scoter.  This  notarica  is  found  on 
many  seals,  rings,  urns,  and  tombstones 
belonging  to  the  early  times  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  was  supposed  to  be  a charm” 
of  mystical  efficacy. 


Idse'an  Mother.  Cyb'ele,  who  had 
a temple  on  mount  Ida,  in  Asia  Minor. 

I'des  (1  syl.).  In  the  Roman  calendar 
the  15th  of  March,  May,  July,  and  Octo- 
ber, and  the  13th  of  all  the  other  months. 
So  called  because  they  always  fell  eight 
days  after  the  Nones.  (Welsh,  wyth ; 
Saxon,  eahta;  French,  huit ; Swedish, 
otta;  Greek,  octo;  in  Ide  we  have  the 
substitution  of  d for  t. ) 

Eemember  March  ; the  ides  of  March  remember. 

Shakespeare,  “ Julius  Ccesar,’’  iv.  3. 

Id'iom.  A mode  of  expression  pe- 
culiar to  a language,  as  a Latin  idiom,  a 
French  idiom.  (Greek,  id'ioSy  peculiar  to 
oneself.) 

Id'iosyn'erasy.  A crotchet  or  pe- 
culiar one-sided  view  of  a subject,  a mono- 
mania. Properly  a peculiar  effect  pro- 
duced by  medicines  or  foods,  as  when 
coffee  acts  as  an  aperient,  the  electrical 
current  as  an  emetic.  (Greek,  idios  sun 
krasis,  something  peculiar  to  a person’s 
temperament.) 

Td'iot  means  simply  a private  person, 
one  not  engaged  in  any  public  office. 
Hence  Jeremy  Taylor  says,  '^Humility 
is  a duty  in  great  ones,  as  well  as  in 
idiots”  (private  persons).  The  Greeks 
have  the  expressions  '^a  priest  or  an 
idiot”  (layman),  ^‘a  poet  or  an  idiot” 
(prose- writer).  As  idiots  were  not  em- 
ployed in  public  offices,  the  term  became 
synonymous  with  incompetency  to  fulfil 
the  duties  thereof.  (Greek,  ^c?^o'^es.)  {See 
Baron.) 

I'dle  Lake.  The  lake  on  which 
Phaedria  or  Wantonness  cruised  in  her 
gondola.  It  led  to  Wandering  Island. — 
Spensei',  Faery  Queenefi  bk.  ii. 

Tdle  Worms.  It.  was  once  supposed 
that  little  worms  were  bred  in  the  fingers 
of  idle  servants.  To  this  Shakespeare 
alludes : 

A round  litMe  worm, 

Pricked  from  the  lazy  finger  of  a maid. 

“ Romeo  and  Juliet,"  i.  4. 

I'dleness.  The  Lake  of  Idleness. 
Spenser  says  whoever  drank  of  this  lake 
grew  '^instantly  faint  and  weary.”  The 
Red  Cross  Knight  drank  of  it,  and  was 
made  captive  by  Orgoglio.  — Spenser, 

FaMry  Queenef^  bk.  i. 

Idom'eneus  (4  syl. ).  King  of  Crete, 
and  ally  of  the  Greeks  in  the  siege  of 
Troy.  After  the  city  was  burnt  he  made 
a vow  to  sacrifice  whatever  he  first  en*- 


IDUNA. 


IHRAM. 


433 


countered,  if  the  gods  granted  him  a safe 
return  to  his  kingdom.  It  was  his  own 
son  that  he  first  met,  and  when  he  offered 
him  up  to  fulfil  his  vow  he  was  banished 
from  Crete  as  a murderer.  — Homer, 

Compare  the  story  of  Jephthah  in 
Judges  xi. 

Idun^a  or  I dun'.  Daughter  of  the 
dwarf  Svald,  and  wife  of  Bragi.  She 
kept  in  a box  the  apples  which  the  gods 
tasted  as  often  as  they  wished  to  renew 
their  youth.  Loki  on  one  occasion 
changed  her  into  a Scandinavian 

mythology. 

Ifa'kins.  A corruption  of  In  good 
faith.  I’  fa’  kin,  where  hin  is  equivalent 
to  dear  or  good. 

Ifreet  or  ’Efriet.  A powerful  evil 
jin  or  spirit  of  Arabian  mythology. 

If'urin.  The  Hades  of  the  ancient 
Gauls.  A dark  region  infested  by  ser- 
pents and  savage  beasts.  Here  the 
wicked  are  chained  in  loathsome 
caverns,  plunged  into  the  lairs  of  dra- 
gons, or  subjected  to  a ceaseless  distilla- 
tion of  poison.  — (7e^^^c  mythology. 

Iger'na,  Igerne,  or  Igratne.  Wife 
of  Gorlois,  duke  of  Tin'tagel,  in  Corn- 
wall, and  mother  of  king  Arthur.  His 
father  was  Uther,  pendragon  of  the 
Britons,  who  married  Igerna  thirteen 
days  after  her  husband  was  slain. 

Igna'ro.  Foster-father  of  Orgoglio. 
Whatever  question  Arthur  asked,  the 
old  dotard  answered,  ^^He  could  not 
tell.”  Spenser  says  this  old  man  walks 
one  way  and  looks  another,  because 
ignorance  is  always  ^^wrong-headed.” — 
Spenser,  Faery  Queen,''  bk.  i. 

Igna'tius  (^St.)  is  represented  in 
Christian  art  accompanied  by  lions,  or 
chained  and  exposed  to  them,  in  allusion 
to  his  martyrdom.  The  legend  is  that 
he  was  brought  before  the  emperor 
Trajan,  who  condemned  him  to  be  made 
the  food  of  lions  and  other  wild  beasts 
for  the  delectation  of  the  people.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  St.  Ignatius  was  the 
little  child  whom  our  Saviour  set  in  the 
midst  of  his  disciples  for  their  example. 
(About  30-115. ) 

Ignatius  Loy'ola,  founder  of  the  order 
of  Jesuits,  is  depicted  in  art  sometimes 
with  the  sacred  monogram  I.H.S.  on  his 
breast ; atid  sometimes  as  contemplating 


it,  surrounded  by  glory  tn  the  skies,  in 
allusion  to  his  boast  that  he  had  a miracu-* 
lous  knowledge  of  the  mystery  of  the 
Trinity  vouchsafed  to  him.  He  is  so  re- 
presented in  Rubens’  famous  picture  in 
Warwick  Castle. 

Brother  Ignatius.  The  Rev.  James 
Leicester  Lyne,  for  some  time  head  of 
the  English  Benedictines  at  the  Norwich 
Protestant  monastery. 

Father  Ignatim.  The  Hon.  and  Very 
Rev.  Geo.  Spencer,  formerly  a clergyman 
of  the  Church  of  England,  who  joined 
the  Roman  communion,  and  became 
Superior  of  the  order  of  Passionists. 
(1799-1864.) 

Ig'neous  Rocks.  Those  which  have 
been  produced  by  the  agency  of  fire,  as 
the  granitic,  the  trappean,  and  the  vol- 
canic, the  last  of  which  belong  to  the 
Tertiary  strata. 

Ignis  Pat'uiis  means  strictly  a 
fatuous  fire;  also  called  JacTc  o'  Lan- 
tern," Spunhie,"  Will  o'  the  Wisp," 

Walking  Fire,"  and  The  Fair  Maid 
of  Ireland."  Milton  calls  it  Friar's  lan- 
thern,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott  Friar  Rush 
with  a lantern.  Morally  speaking,  a Uto'- 
pian  scheme,  no  more  reducible  to  prac- 
tice than  the  mete'or  so  called  can  be 
turned  to  any  useful  end.  {See  Friar’s 
Lanthern.) 

“When  thou  ran’st  up  Gadshill  in  the  night  to 
catch  my  horse,  if  I did  not  think  thou  hadst  been 
an  ignis  fatuus  or  a ball  of  wild  lire,  there’s  uo  pur- 
chase in  money.” Shakest'eare,  “ 1 Henry  I K,” 

iii.  3. 

Ignora'mns.  One  who  ignores  the 
knowledge  of  something ; one  really  un- 
acquainted with  it.  It  is  an  ancient  law 
term.  The  grand  jury  used  to  write 
Ignoramus  on  the  back  of  indictments 
**  not  found  ” or  not  to  be  sent  into  court. 
Hence  ignore. 

Ignoran'tines  (4  syl.).  A religious 
association  founded  by  the  abb^  de  la 
Salle  in  1724,  for  educating  gratuitously 
the  children  of  the  poor. 

Igrayne.  {See  Igerna.  ) 

Ig'uan'odon.  An  extinct  gigantic 
reptile,  with  the  tooth  of  the  iguan'a. 

Ihram.  The  pilgrim  garb  of  Ma- 
hometans. For  men,  two  scarfs,  without 
seams  or  ornament  of  any  kind,  of  any 
material  except  silk  ; one  scarf  is  folded 
round  the  loins,  and  the  other  is  thrown 
over  the  neck  and  shoulders,  leaving  the 

C C 


434 


IL  BIBBTENA. 


ILIAD. 


right  arm  free ; the  head  is  uncovered. 
For  women,  an  ample  cloak,  enveloping 
the  whole  person. 

II  Bibbie'na.  Cardinal  Bernardo,  who 
resided  at  Bibbiena,  in  Tuscany ; author 
of  Calandra,”  a comedy.  (1470-1520.) 

II  Passato're.  A title  assumed  by 
Belli'no,  a talented  bandit  chief  of  Italy, 
who  died  1851. 

II  Pastor  Pi'do  {the  Faithful  Swain). 
This  standard  of  elegant  pastoral  compo- 
sition is  by  Giovanni  Battista  Guarani, 
of  Ferrara.  (1537-1612.) 

III  May-day.  The  1st  of  May,  1517, 
when  the  London  apprentices  rose  up 
against  the  resident  foreigners,  and  did 
great  mischief.  More  commonly  known 
as  Evil  May-day. 

Ill  Omens  averted. 

W hen  Julius  Caesar  landed  at  Adrume'- 
tum,  in  Africa,  he  happened  to  trip  and 
fall  on  his  face.  This  would  have  been 
considered  a fatal  omen  by  his  army, 
but,  with  admirable  presence  of  mind, 
he  exclaimed,  ^^Thus  I take  possession 
of  thee,  0 Africa.” 

When  William  the  Conqueror  leaped 
upon  the  shore  at  Bulverhythe  he  fell 
on  his  face,  and  a great  cry  went  forth 
that  it  was  an  ill  omen ; but  the  duke 
exclaimed,  ‘‘I  have  taken  seisin  of  this 
land  with  both  my  hands.” 

Ill-starred.  Unlucky  ; fated  to  be 
unfortunate.  Othello  says  of  Desdemona, 
**  O ill-starred  wench  !”  Of  course  the 
allusion  is  to  the  astrological  dogma 
that  the  stars  influence  the  lot  of  men 
for  good  and  evil. 

ITiad  (3  syl.).  The  tale  of  the  siege 
of  Troy,  an  epic  poem  by  Homer.  Men'e- 
la'os,  king  of  Sparta,  received  as  his  guest 
Paris,  a son  of  Priam  (king  of  Troy),  who 
ran  away  with  Helen,  his  hostess.  Mene- 
la'os  induced  the  Greeks  to  lay  siege  to 
Troy  to  avenge  the  perfidy,  and  the  siege 
lasted  ten  years.  The  poem  begins  in 
the  tenth  year  with  a quarrel  between 
Agamemnon  commander-in-chief  of  the 
allied  Greeks,  and  Achilles  the  hero 
who  retires  from  the  army  in  ill-temper. 
The  Trojans  now  prevail,  and  Achilles 
sends  his  friend  Patroclos  to  oppose 
them,  but  Patroclos  is  slain.  Achilles, 
in  a desperate  rage,  rushes  into  the 
battle,  and  slays  Hector,  the  commander 
of  the  Trojan  army.  The  poem  ends 


with  the  funeral  rites  of  Hector.  (Greek, 
Il'ion  aido,  I sing  of  Il'ium  or  Troy.) 

The  Iliad  ” in  a nutshell.  Pliny,  vii. 
21,  tells  us  that  the  Iliad”  was  copied 
in  so  small  a hand  that  the  whole  work 
could  lie  in  a walnut-shell.  Pliny’s  au- 
thority is  Cicero  ('^Apud  Gellium,”  ix. 
421).  Huet,  bishop  of  Avranches,  de- 
monstrated the  possibility  of  this  achieve- 
ment by  writing  eighty  verses  of  the 

Iliad  ” on  a single  line  of  a page  similar 
to  this  Dictionary.”  This  would  be 
19,000  verses  to  the  page,  or  2,000  more 
than  the  Iliad  ” contains. 

Whilst  they  (as  Homer’s  “Iliad  ” in  a nut) 

A world  of  wonders  in  one  closet  shut. 

On  thi  monumental  stone  of  the  Tradescants 
in  Lambeth  Churchyard. 

The  French  Iliad.  The  Bomance  of 
the  Rose,”  begun  by  Guillaume  de  Lorris 
in  the  latter  half  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, and  continued  by  Jean  de  Meung 
in  the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth.  The 
poem  is  supposed  to  be  a dream.  The 
poet  in  his  dream  is  accosted  by  dame 
Idleness,  who  conducts  him  to  the  palace 
of  Pleasure,  where  he  meets  Love,  accom- 
panied by  Sweet-looks,  Riches,  Jollity, 
Courtesy,  Liberality,  and  Youth,  who 
spend  their  time  in  dancing,  singing, 
and  other  amusements.  By  this  retinue 
the  poet  is  conducted  to  a bed  of  roses, 
where  he  singles  out  one  and  attempts 
to  pluck  it,  when  an  arrow  from  < upid’s 
bow  stretches  him  fainting  on  the  ground, 
and  he  is  carried  far  away  from  the  flower 
of  his  choice.  As  soon  as  he  recovers, 
he  finds  himself  alone,  and  resolves  to 
return  to  his  rose.  Welcome  goes  with 
him ; but  Danger,  Shame-face,  Fear, 
and  Slander  obstruct  liim  at  every  turn. 
Reason  advises  him  to  abandon  the  pur- 
suit, but  this  he  will  not  do ; whereupon 
Pity  and  Liberality  aid  him  in  reaching 
the  rose  of  his  choice,  and  Venus  permits 
him  to  touch  it  with  his  lips.  Meanwhile, 
Slander  rouses  up  Jealousy,  who  seizes 
Welcome,  whom  he  casts  into  a strong 
castle,  and  gives  the  key  of  the  castle 
door  to  an  old  hag.  Here  the  poet  is 
left  to  mourn  over  his  fate,  and  the  ori- 
ginal poem  ends.  Meung  added  18,000 
lines  as  a sequel. 

The  GermoM  Iliad.  ''The  Nibelungen- 
lied,”  put  into  its  present  form  in  1210 
by  a wandering  minstrel  of  Austria.  It 
consists  of  twenty  parts.  {See  Nibelung.) 

The  Portuguese  Iliad,.  "TheLusi^d” 
(j.v.),  by  Camoens, 


ILK, 


IMMACULATE. 


435 


The  Scotch  Iliad.  The  Epigo'niad,” 
by  William  Wilkie,  called  The  Scottish 
Homer  (1721-1772).  The  Epigo'niad  is 
the  tale  of  the  Epig'oni,  or  seven  Grecian 
heroes  who  laid  siege  to  Thebes,  with 
the  view  of  placing  Pol'yni'ces  on  the 
throne  which  his  brother  unlawfully  held 
from  him.  (E'dipos  devised  that  his  two 
sons  should  reign  alternately  for  a year, 
but  at  the  close  of  the  first  year,  Ete'ocles 
refused  to  retire.  Whereupon  his  younger 
brother,  aided  by  the  four  Argives  named 
Adrastos,  Am'phiara'os,  Kap'aneus  (3 
syl.),  and  Hippom'edon,  the  Arcadian 
Parthenopoe'os,  and  Tydeus  (2  syl.).  ex- 
king  of  Calydon,  led  an  expedition  against 
Ihebes.  The  Greek  tragic  poets  iE'schy- 
lus  and  Eurip  ides  have  dramatised  this 
subject. 

An  Il'iad  of  ills  (a  punning  trans- 
lation of  the  Latin  Il'ias  malo'rum).  A 
number  of  evils  falling  simultaneously ; 
there  is  scarce  a calamity  in  the  whole 
catalogue  of  human  ills  that  finds  not 
mention  in  the  “ Iliad,”  hence  tbe  Ho- 
meric poem  was  the  fountain  of  classic 
tragedy. 

Ilk  (Saxon),  The  same ; as  Macleod 
of  that  ilfCy  i.e.y  ‘^Macleod  of  Macleod.” 
All  of  that  ilk,  i.e.y  of  that  name,  cha- 
racter, or  class. 

Illuminated  Doctor.  Eaymond 
Lully.  (1235-1315.) 

John  Tauler,  the  German  mystic. 
(1294-1361). 

Illuminati.  There  have  been  four 
societies  so  called  : — 

(1)  The  Alombra'dos  of  Spain  in  the 
sixteenth  century. 

(2)  The  Guerinets  of  France  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

(3)  The  Mystics  of  Belgium  in  the 
eighteenth  century. 

(4)  The  order  of  the  Illumina'ti  of 
Germany  founded  at  Ingoldstadt  in  1776, 
and  having  for  its  object  the  establish- 
ment of  a religion  consistent  with  sound 
reason.  ” {See  Eosicruci ans.  ) 

Illuminations.  Characteristics  of 
An^lo-Saxon  illuminations  from  the 
eighth  to  the  eleventh  century.  Ex- 
treme intricacy  of  pattern. 

Interlacings  of  knots  in  a diagonal  or 
square  form,  sometimes  interwoven  with 
animals  and  terminating  with  heads  of 
.erpents  or  birds.— /Sir  F.  Mad<kn, 


The  ''Durham  Book,”  the  work  of 
Eadfrid,  bishop  of  Landisfarne,  who 
died  721,  is  a most  splendid  specimen  of 
illumination. 

The  Benedictional  of  St.  Ethel  wold,” 
an  illuminated  MS.  by  Godemann,  in  the 
duke  of  Devonshire’s  library,  is  worthy  of 
Eaphael  or  Michael  Angelo.  It  was  ex- 
ecuted between  963  and  984,  and  is  fall 
of  miniatures  and  designs  in  the  highest 
style  of  art.  Beautiful  engravings  of  it 
may  be  seen  in  the  " Archseologia.” 

Illuminator.  Gregory,  the  apostle 
of  Christianity  among  the  Armenians. 
(257-331.) 

Illustrious  {The). 

Albert  V.,  duke  and  second  emperor  of 
Austria.  (1398-1439.) 

Nicome'des  II.  Epiuh'an^s.  (149- 
191.) 

Ptolemy  V.  Epiph'aii^s.  (210,  205- 
181,  B.C.) 

Jam-sheid  (Jam  the  Illustrious) y nephew 
of  Tah  Omurs,  fifth  king  of  the  Paisda- 
dian  dynasty  of  Persia,  (b.c.  840-800.) 

Kien-long,  fourth  of  the  Manchoo 
dynasty  of  China.  (1736-1796.) 

Ilo'go.  A spirit  whose  house  is  the 
moon.  Hers  are  the  forests,  rivers,  and 
heavenly  host.— {Equatorial  Africa. ) 

Im'ailites  (3  syl.).  A secret  society 
of  the  Caliphate. 

Im'aum  (2  syl.).  One  of  the  Ule'ma 
or  priestly  body  of  the  Mahometans. 
Im'aums  wear  a high  turban.  The  sultan 
as  “ head  of  the  Moslems  ” is  an  Imaum. 
The  word  means  teacher. 

Ima'us  (3  syl,).  The  Him'alay'a. 
The  word  means  snow  hills  {hima,  snow). 

The  huge  incumbrance  of  horrific  woods 

From  Asian  Taurus,  from  Imaus  stretched 

Athwart  the  roving  Tartar’s  sullen  bounds. 

Thomson^  Autumn.** 

ImlDeeile  (3  syl.).  One  who  leans 
" on  a stick.”  (Latin,  in-bacillum.) 

Imbroca'do,  in  fencing,  is  a thrust 
over  the  arm.  (Italian.) 

Imbro'glio  (Italian).  A complicated 
plot,  a misunderstanding  between  na- 
tions and  persons  of  a complicated  nature. 

Immac'ulate  Conception.  That 
the  Virgin  Mary  was  conceived  without 
‘‘Original  Sin.”  This  dogma  was  first 
broacned  by  St.  Bernard,  and  was  stoutly 
maintained  by  Duns  Scotus  and  his  ctis* 

r n S 


436 


IMMOLATE. 


IMPROVISATOR. 


ciples,  but  was  never  received  by  the 
Roman  Church  as  an  article  of  faith 
till  1854. 

Im'inolate  (3  syh).  To  put  meal 
on  one.”  The  reference  is  to  the  ancient 
custom  of  sprinkling  meal  and  salt  on 
the  head  of  a victim  to  be  offered  in 
sacrifice.  (Latin,  in-molo.) 

In  the  picture  of  the  immolation  of  Isaac,  or 
Abrdham  sacrificing  his  son,  Isaac  is  described  as 
a little  hoy —Brown. 

Immor'tal.  The  immortal.  Yong- 
Tching,  third  of  the  Manchoo  dynasty 
of  China,  assumed  the  title.  (1723-1736. ) 

The  immortal  tinher.  John  Bunyan,  a 
tinker  by  trade.  (1628-1688.) 

Immortals.  A regiment  of  10,000 
choice  foot- soldiers,  which  constituted 
the  body-guard  of  the  Persian  kings. 
There  was  also  an  army  so  named  at 
Constantinople,  according  to  Ducange, 
first  embodied  by  major  Ducas. 

Immu'ring  {Lathi).  Burying  in  a 
wall.  The  Vestal  virgins  among  the 
Romans,  and  the  nuns  among  the  Roman 
Catholics,  who  broke  their  religious  vows, 
were  buried  in  a niche  sufficiently  large 
to  contain  their  body  with  a small  pit- 
tance of  bread  and  water.  The  sentence 
of  immuring  was  Vade  in  pace,  or  more 
correctly,  Vadein'pacem  (Go  into  peace — 
i.e.,  eternal  rest).  Some  years  ago  the 
remains  of  an  immured  nun  were  dis- 
covered in  the  walls  of  Coldingham  abbey. 

The  immuring  of  Constance,  a nun 
who  had  broken  her  vows, forms  a leading 
incident  in  Scott’s  poem  of  Marmion.” 

Im'ogen.  Daughterof  Cymbeline,th0 

most  tender  and  artless  of  all  Shake- 
speare’s characters.” — Cymheline.^^ 

Imogen'.  The  lady  who  broke  her  vow 
and  was  carried  off  by  the  ghost  of  her 
former  lover,  in  the  ballad  of  Alonzo 
the  Brave,”  by  Matthew  Gregory  Lewis, 
generally  called  Monk  Lewis. 

Alonzo  the  brave  was  the  name  of  the  knight, 

The  maid  was  the  fair  Imogen. 

Imp  {Saxon).  A graft ; whence  also 
a child,  as  You  little  imp.”  In  hawk- 
ing, “to  imp  a feather”  is  to  engraft  or 
add  a new  feather  for  a broken  one.  The 
needles  employed  for  the  purpose  were 
called  “imping  needles.”  Lord  Crom- 
well, writing  to  Henry  VIII.,  speaks  of 
^Hhat  noble  imp  your  son.’' 

Let  us  pray  for  . . . the  king’s  most  excellent 
majesty  and  for  ...  . his  beloved  son  Edward, 

prince,  that  mogt  angelic  iinp.->“  i*athway  to 
Prayer.” 


Imp  of  darkness.  Milton  calls  the  ser- 
pent “fittest  imp  of  fraud,”  P.  L.,  ix. 

Impana'tion.  The  dogma  of  Luther 
that  the  body  and  soul  of  Christ  are 
infused  into  the  eucharistic  elements  after 
consecration,  and  that  the  bread  and 
wine  are  united  with  the  body  and  soul 
of  Christ  in  much  the  same  way  as  the 
body  and  soul  of  man  are  united.  The 
word  means  putting  into  the  bread, 

Impanna'ta.  The  Madonna  del 
Impannata,  by  Raphael,  takes  its  dis- 
tinctive name  from  the  oiled  paper  win- 
dow in  the  back-ground.  (Italian,  im- 
pannata,  oiled  paper. ) 

Imper'tinence  (4  syl.).  A legal 
term,  meaning  matter  introduced  into 
an  affidavit,  &o.,  not  pertinent  to  the 
case. 

Impon'derables  (Latin,  thingswith^ 
out  iveight).  The  “ matter”  of  light,  heat, 
electricity,  and  magnetism.  If  indeed 
there  is  such  matter,  it  is  without  ap- 
preciable weight. 

Imposition.  A task  given  for 
punishment.  Of  course  the  word  is 
taken  from  the  verb  impose,  as  the  task 
is  imposed  ; it  is  an  imposition,  or  thing 
imposed.  The  term  is  common  in  schools, 
colleges,  and  universities.  In  the  sense 
of  a deception  it  means  to  “ put  a trick 
on  a person,”  hence  the  expressions  “ to 
put  on  one,”  “ to  lay  it  on  thick,”  &c. 

Imposition  of  Hands.  The  bishop 
laying  his  hand  on  persons  confirmed  or 
ordained. — Acts  vi.,  viii.,  xix. 

Impropria'tion.  Profits  of  eccle- 
siastical property  in  the  hands  of  a lay- 
man. Appropriation  is  when  the  profits 
of  a benefice  are  in  the  hands  of  a college. 

Impro'priator.  A layman  who  has 
church  lands  or  ecclesiastical  preferment. 
(Latin,  in-pi'oprius,  belonging  to.) 

Improvis'ator  (^Italian).  One  who 
utters  verses  impromptu.  It  was  intro- 
duced by  Petrarch,  and  is  still  a favourite 
amusement  with  Italians.  The  most 
celebrated  improvisatori  or  male  impro- 
visators are — 

(1)  Serafi'no  d’Aquila.  (*-1500.) 

(2)  Metastas'io.  (1698-1781.) 

(3)  Bernardino  Perfetti,  of  Sienna 
(1681-1747),  who  received  a laurel  crown 
in  the  Capitol,  an  honour  conferred  only 
upon  Petrarch  and  Tasso, 


IMPKOVISATRIX. 


INCOG. 


437 


(4)  Marc* Antony  Zucco,  of  Vero'na. 
(♦-1764.) 

(5)  Serio,  beheaded  at  Naples,  1799. 

(6)  Kossi,  beheaded  at  Naples,  1799. 

(7)  Gianni,  pensioned  by  Bonaparte. 
(1759-1822.) 

(8)  Tommaso  Sgricci.  (1788-1836.) 

Improvis'atrix  or  Improvisatrice. 
The  most  famous  improvisatrices  or  fe- 
male improvisators  are — 

Maria  Magdale'na  Moralli,  surnamed 
the  Olympic  Gorilla  Fernandez,  crowned 
at  Rome  for  improvisation.  (1740-1800.) 

Tere'sa  Bandetti'ni.  (1756-*.) 

Rosa  Taddei.  (1801-*.) 

Signora  Mazzei,  the  most  talented  of 
all.  Nur  Jeh^n,  of  Bengal  {d.  1640), 

In  Germany,  Anna  Louisa  Karsch. 

In  Casna  Domini.  A papal  bull, 
containing  a collection  of  extracts  from 
different  constitutions  of  the  popes,  with 
anathemas  against  those  who  violate 
them.  So  called  because  it  was  annually 
read  ^^at  the  Lord’s  Supper”  on  Holy 
Thursday. 

In  Commen'dam  {Latin).  The 
holding  of  church  preferment  for  a time, 
on  the  recommendation  of  the  Crown,  till 
a suitable  person  can  be  provided.  Thus 
a clergyman  elevated  to  the  bench  re- 
tains for  a time  his  living  ” in  comment 
dam. 

In  Esse  {Latin).  In  actual  existence. 
Thus  a child  living  is  in  esse,”  but  before 
birth  is  only  in  posse.” 

In  Exten'so  {Latin).  At  full  length, 
word  for  word  without  abridgment. 

In  Forma  Pau'peris.  A person 
who  will  swear  he  is  not  worth  £5  has 
writs,  &c.,  gratis,  and  is  supplied  gra- 
tuitously with  attorney  and  counsel 
(Henry  VII.,  c.  12). 

In  Lim'ine  {Batin'),  At  the  outset, 
at  the  threshold.  • 

In  Perpet'uam  {Latin).  In  per- 
petuity. 

In  Petto  {Italian).  Held  in  reserve, 
kept  back,  something  done  privately,  and 
not  announced  to  the  general  public.  {In 
pec' tore,  Latin,  in  the  breast.) 

In  Posse  {Latin).  What  may  be 
considered  probable,  but  has  not  yet  any 
real  existence. 

In  Pro'pria  Perso'na  {Latin). 
Personally,  and  not  by  deputy  or  agents. 


In  Prospeet'u  {Latin).  What  is 
intended  or  in  contemplation  to  be  done 
at  some  future  tin^e. 

In  lie  {Latin).  In  the  matter  of,  as 
In  Re  Jones  v.  Robinson. 

In  Si'tu  {Latin).  In  its  original 
place. 

In  Stat'u  Quo  or  In  stat'u  quo 
ante”  {Latin).  In  the  condition  things 
were  before  the  change  took  place.  Thus, 
two  nations  arming  for  war  may  agree 
to  lay  down  arms  on  condition  that  all 
things  be  restored  to  the  same  state  as 
they  were  before  they  took  up  arms. 

In  Terro'rem  {Latin).  As  a warn- 
ing, to  deter  others  by  terrifying  them. 

In  To'to  {Latin),  Entirely,  alto- 
gether. 

In  Vae'uo  {Latin).  In  a vacuum, 
i.e.,  where  all  the  air  has  been  taken  away. 

Inau'gurate  (4  syl. ) means  to  be  led 
in  by  augurs.  The  Roman  augurs  met 
at  their  college  doors  the  high  officials 
about  to  be  invested,  and  led  them  up  to 
the  altar ; hence  to  install. 

Inea.  A king  or  royal  prince  of  the 
ancient  Peruvians.  The  empire  of  the 
Incas  was  founded  by  Manco  Capac. 

Incanta'tion.  A singing  against, 
that  is,  singing  a set  form  of  words  in 
order  to  bring  Divine  wrath  upon  persons 
or  nations. 

Incheape  Rock.  Twelve  miles 
from  land,  in  the  German  Sea.  It  is 
dangerous  for  navigators,  and  therefore 
the  abbot  of  Aberbrothok  fixed  a bell  on 
a float,  which  gave  notice  to  sailors  of  its 
whereabouts.  Ralph  the  Rover,  a sea 
pirate,  cut  the  bell  from  the  float,  and 
was  wrecked  on  his  return  home  on  the 
very  rock.  Southey  has  a ballad  on  the 
subject. 

Precisely  the  same  tale  is  told  of  St. 
Goven’s  bell,  in  Pembrokeshire.  In  the 
chapel  was  a silver  bell,  which  was  stolen 
one  summer  evening  by  pirates,  but  no 
sooner  had  the  boat  put  to  sea,  than  all 
the  crew  was  wrecked.  The  silver  bell 
was  carried  by  sea  nymphs  to  the  brink 
of  a well,  and  whenever  the  stone  of  that 
well  is  struck  the  bell  is  heard  to  moan. 

N.B.  Inch  or  Inis  means  island. 

Incog., 6.,  Incog' nito  {Italian).  With- 
out wishing  to  have  your  rank  recognised. 


438 


INCUBUS. 


INFANT. 


When  a royal  person  travels,  and  does 
not  wish  to  be  treated  with  royal  cere- 
mony, he  assumes  some  inferior  title  for 
the  nonce,  and  travels  incog. 

In'cubus.  A nightmare,  anything 
that  weighs  heavily  on  the  mind.  (Latin, 
in  cubo,  to  lie  on.) 

Incul'cate  (3  syl.).  To  stamp  into 
with  the  heel.  (Latin,  calx,  the  heel. ) 

Incum'bent.  (^See  Clerical  Titles.) 

Indepen'dence.  The  Declaration 
of  Indtpendence.  A declaration  made 
July  4,  1776,  by  the  American  States, 
declaring  the  colonies  free  and  indepen- 
dent, absolved  from  all  allegiance  to 
Great  Britain. 

Indepen 'dents.  Certain  Dissenters 
are  so  called,  because  it  is  a fundamental 
principle  with  them  that  every  congrega- 
tion is  an  independent  church,  and  has  a 
right  to  choose  its  own  minister  and 
make  its  own  laws. 

Index  ( The),  or  The  Roman  Index,  or 
the  Index  Lihro'rum  Prohibito'rum,  or 
the  Index  Expurgato'rius.  A list  of  books 
prohibited  by  the  church  of  Kome,  and 
published  every  year  by  a board  of  car- 
dinals called  the  Congregation  of  the 
Index.” 

Indian  Arrow-root.  The  root 
which  the  Indians  apply  to  arrow- wounds 
to  neutralise  the  venom  of  the  arrow. 
They  mash  the  meal,  and  apply  it  as  a 
poultice.  —Miller, 

Indian  Ink.  So  called  because  it 
was  first  brought  from  China.  It  is  now 
made  at  home  of  lampblack  and  glue. 

Indian  Red.  Red  haematite  (per- 
oxide of  iron)  found  abundantly  in  the 
forest  of  Dean,  Gloucestershire.  It  is 
of  a deep  lakey  hue,  used  for  flesh  tints. 

The  Persian  Red,  which  is  of  a darker 
hue  with  a sparkling  lustre,  is  imported 
from  the  island  of  Ormuz  in  the  Persian 
Gulf. 

The  Romans  obtained  this  pigment 
from  the  island  of  Elba.  Insulam  ex- 
haustis  chalybdum  generosa  metallis.” 

Ovid, 

Indians.  American  Indians.  When 
Columbus  landed  at  Cat  Island,  bethought 
that  he  had  landed  on  one  of  the  Indian 
islands,  and  in  this  belief  gave  the  natives 
the  name  of  Indians, 


India  proper  is  so  named  from  Indus 
(the  river),  in  Sanskrit  Sindhu,  in  Persic 
Hind,  whence  the  Greek  Hindus.  Hin- 
dustan is  the  tan  or  ‘^country”  of  the 
river  Hindus, 

Indra.  A Hindu  deity  of  the  Vedio 
period,  noted  for  having  slain  the  demon 
Vri'tra.  As  god  of  the  firmament  he 
corresponds  with  the  Latin  Jupiter.  In 
works  of  art  he  is  represented  as  a youth- 
ful god  mounted  on  a gigantic  elephant. 

Indracit'tran.  A famous  giant  in 
Indian  mythology,  the  ally  of  Shrira'ma. 

Indr  ant.  Wife  of  the  god  Indra, 
the  god  who  presides  over  the  air,  winds, 
and  thunder. — Hindu  mythology. 

Indnc'tion  (Latin,  the  act  of  leading 
in).  When  a clergyman  is  inducted  to 
a living  he  is  led  to  the  church  door, 
and  the  ring  which  forms  the  handle  is 
placed  in  his  hand.  The  door  being 
opened,  he  is  next  led  into  the  church, 
and  the  fact  is  announced  to  the  parish 
by  tolling  the  bell. 

InduPgence  (3  syl.),  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  is  the  entire  or  partial 
pardon  of  sins  granted  by  the  pope,  to 
save  or  relax  the  punishment  thereof  in 
this  world  or  in  purgatory. 

Iner'tia  (Latin,  powerlessness).  That 
want  of  power  in  matter  to  change  its 
state,  either  from  rest  to  motion,  or  from 
motion  to  rest.  Kepler  calls  it  Vis  in- 
ertice.  (Ars  in  Latin  is  the  Greek  ar'eVi, 
power  or  inherent  force;  In-ars  is  the 
absence  of  this  power.) 

Infallibility  (of  the  church  of  Rome) 
is  the  doctrine  that  the  church  of  Romo 
cannot  at  any  time  cease  to  be  orthodox 
in  her  doctrine,  and  that  what  she  de- 
clares ex  cathedra  is  substantially  true. 
The  doctrine  is  based  on  the  Divine  pro- 
mise to  the  disciples,  “Howbeit  when 
the  Spirit  of  Truth  is  come,  he  will  guide 
you  into  all  truth.”— xvi.  13. 

In'famous  means  not  allowed  to 
speak  or  give  witness  in  a court  of  justice. 
(Latin,  in,  negative,  fari,  to  speak ; 
Greek,  pliMmi  or  phdmi.) 

Infant.  Infant  of  Luhech.  Christian 
Henry  Heinecken.  (1721-1725.)  Atone 
year  old  he  knew  the  chief  events  of  the 
Pentateuch ; at  thirteen  months  he  knew 
the  history  of  the  Old  Testament ; at 
fourteen  months  he  knew  the  history  of 


INFANTA. 


INOCULATE. 


439 


the  New  Testament ; at  two  and  a-half 
years  he  could  answer  any  ordinary  ques- 
tion of  history  or  geography  ; at  three 
years  he  knew  well  both  French  and 
Latin. 

Infanta.  Any  princess  of  the  blood 
royal,  except  an  heiress  of  the  crown,  is 
so  called  in  Spain  and  Portugal. 

Infan'te  (3  syl.).  All  the  sons  of  the 
sovereigns  of  Spain  and  Portugal  bear 
this  title,  except  the  crown  prince,  who 
is  called  in  Spain  the  prince  of  Astu'rias. 
In  the  middle  ages  the  word  childe  was 
used  as  a title  of  honour  in  England, 
France,  and  Germany : hence  Childe 
Harold,  Childe-ric,  Childe-bert,  &c. 

Infernal  Column.  So  the  corps 
of  Latour  d’ Auvergne  was  called,  from 
its  terrible  charges  with  the  bayonette. 
(1743-1800.) 

Infer  no.  We  have  Dante’s  notion 
of  the  infernal  regions  in  his  Inferno 
Homer’s  in  the  Odyssey,”  book  xi. ; Vir- 
gil’s in  the  iEne'id,”  book  vi. ; Spenser’s 
in  the  ''  Faery  Queen,”  book  ii.  canto  7 ; 
Ariosto’s  in  the  “Orlando  Furio'so,”  book 
xvii. ; Tasso’s  in  “Jerusalem  Delivered,” 
bk.  iv. ; Milton’s  in  “ Paradise  Lost and 
Beckford’s  in  his  romance  of  “ Vathek.” 

Infra  Dig.  {dignita'tem).  Not  in  ac- 
cordance with  one’s  position  and  cha- 
racter. Latin  for  “beneath  one’s  rank 
or  status  in  society.” 

Infra-Lapsa'rians.  A sect  which 
hold  that  God  has  created  some  men  to 
condemnation,  without  the  possibility  of 
being  saved.  They  are  called  Infra- 
lapsarian,  because  they  suppose  that 
these  ill-fated  beings  are  justly  treated, 
as  they  have  fallen  in  Adam. 

Ingoldsby.  The  Rev.  Richard 
Harris  Barham,  author  of  “ Ingoldsby 
Legends.”  (1788-1845.) 

Injunc'tion  A writ  forbidding  a 
person  to  do  a specified  meditated  wrong. 
The  wrong  specified  does  not  amount  to 
a crime.  Injunctions  are  of  two  sorts— 
temporary  and  perpetual.  The  first  is 
limited  “till  the  coming  on  of  the  de- 
fendant’s answer;”  the  latter  is  based 
on  the  merits  of  the  case,  and  is  of  per- 
petual force. 

Ink.  Pancirollus  says  the  emperors 
used  a fluid  for  writing  called  encavstum. 
(Italian,  inchiostro;  French,  mere;  Dutch, 
inht. ) 


Inkle  and  Yar'ico.  The  hero  and 
heroine  of  a drama  so  called  by  George 
Colman.  The  story  is  from  the  “ Spec- 
tator,” No.  11.  Inkle  is  a young  English- 
man who  is  lost  in  the  Spanish  main  ; he 
falls  in  love  with  Yarico,  an  Indian 
maiden,  whom  he  lives  with  as  his  wife  ; 
but  no  sooner  does  he  find  a vessel  to 
take  him  to  Barbadoes,  than  he  sells  her 
for  a slave. 

Inland  INavigation.  Francis 
Egerton,  duke  of  Bridgewater,  is  called 
the  Father  of  British  Inland  Navigation. 
(1729-1803.)  A title  certainly  due  to 
James  Brindley.  (1716-1772.) 

Inn  (*8(Xxo?t).  Chamber;  originally  ap- 
plied to  a mansion,  like  the  French  hdtel. 
Hence  Clifford’s  Inn,  once  the  mansion 
of  De  Clifford  ; Lincoln’s  Inn,  the  man- 
sion of  the  Earls  of  Lincolu ; Gray’s  Inn, 
that  of  the  Lords  Gray,  &c. 

Now,  when  as  Phoebus,  with  his  fiery  waine, 
Unto  his  inne  began  to  draw  apace. 

Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen,*’  vi.  3. 

Inns  of  Courti  The  four  voluntary 
societies  which  have  the  exclusive  right 
of  calling  to  the  bar.  They  are  the  Inner 
Temple,  the  Middle  Temple,  Lincoln’s 
Inn,  and  Gray’s  Inn.  Each  is  governed 
by  a board  of  benchers. 

Innings.  He  has  had  a long  innings, 
A good  long  run  of  luck.  A term  in 
cricket  for  the  time  that  the  eleven  are 
in,  or  not  out  as  scouts.  The  innings' 
of  an  individual  is  the  time  he  has  the 
bat.  The  field  or  scouts  are  oiiters. 

Innocents.  Feast  of  the  Holy  Inno- 
cents. The  28th  December,  to  commemo- 
rate Herod’s  butchery  of  the  children  of 
Bethlehem  from  two  years  old  and  up- 
ward, with  the  design  of  cutting  off  the 
infant  Jesus. 

Innuen'do.  An  implied  or  covert 
hint  of  blame.  It  is  a law  term,  meaning 
the  person  nodded  to  (Latin,  in~nuo\ 
and  is  thus  used : A defendant  or  his 
pleader  speaking  of  the  plaintiff  would 
say,  “He,  innuendo,  did  so  and  so,”  i.e., 
He,  the  person  1 nod  to  or  refer  to  (viz., 
the  plaintiff)  did  so  and  so. 

Inoc'ulate  (4  syl.)  is  to  put  in  an 
eye  (Latin,  in  oculus).  The  allusion  is 
to  a plan  adopted  by  gardeners  who 
insert  the  “ eye  ” or  small  bud  of  a superior 
plant  into  the  stock  of  an  inferior  one, 
in  order  to  produce  flowers  or  fruits  of 
better  quality. 


440 


INOGENE. 


INTERPRETER. 


In'ogene  or  Ig'noge  (3  syl.)-  Wife 
of  Brute,  the  mythological  king  of  Britain. 

Thus  Brnte  this  realme  unto  his  rule  subdewd, 
And  raigned  lung  in  grear,  felicity. 

Loved  of  his  friends,  and  of  his  foes  eschewd. 

He  left  three  sons,  his  fa-nous  progeny, 

Born  of  fayre  Inogene  of  Italy. 

Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen, ii.  10. 

Inquisition.  A court  instituted  to 
inquire  into  offences  against  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion.  The  first  was  estab- 
lished in  the  south  of  France  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  (Latin,  inquisitio,  a 
searching  into.) 

Inspired.  The  ins'pired  idiot.  So 
Walpole  called  Oliver  Goldsmith.  (1728- 
1774.) 

Instantia  Crucis.  (/See  Crucial.) 

Instinct.  Something  pricked  or 
punctured  into  one.  Distinguish  is  of 
the  same  root,  and  means  to  prick  or 
puncture  separately.  Extinguish  means 
to  prick  or  puncture  out.  In  all  cases 
the  allusion  is  to  marking  by  a puncture. 
At  college  the  markers  ” at  the  chapel 
doors  still  hold  a pin  in  one  hand,  and 
prick  with  it  the  name  of  each  ‘‘  man  ” 
that  enters. 

Insu'bri.  The  district  of  Lombardy, 
which  contained  Milan,  Como,  Pavi'a, 
Lodi,  Nova'ra,  and  Vercelli. 

Insult.  To  leap  on  the  prostrate 
body  of  a foe. 

Insultor.  One  who  leaps  upon  you 
or  against  you.  Thus  Terence  says, 
‘qnsulta're  fores  cal'cibus”  {Eun.  2.  2. 54). 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  priests 
of  Baal,  to  show  their  indignation  against 
their  gods,  “ leaped  upon  the  altar  which 
they  had  made  ” (1  Kgs.  xviii.  26).  Zepha- 
niah  (i.  9)  says  that  God  will  punish 
all  those  that  leap  on  the  threshold.” 
[See  Desultory.) 

Intaglio  [Italian).  A design  cut  in 
a gem,  like  a crest  or  initials  in  a stamp. 
The  design  does  not  stand  out  in  relief, 
as  in  caTnieoSj  but  is  hollowed  in. 

Intellect.  The  power  of  reading 
mentally.  (Latin,  intus  lego,  I read  within 
me.) 

Inter  alia  {Latin),  Among  other 
things  or  matters. 

Intercal'ary  [Latin).  Called  be- 
tween. Thus,  an  intercalary  day  is  a 
day  foisted  in  between  two  others,  as 
the  29th  February  in  leap-year.  (iSee 
Calends.) 


Interdict  and  Excommunicate. 
The  pope  or  some  ecclesiastic  interdicts 
a kingdom,  province,  county,  or  town, 
but  excommunicates  an  individual.  This 
sentence  excludes  the  place  or  individual 
from  partaking  in  certain  sacraments, 
public  worship,  and  the  burial  service. 
The  most  remarkable  instances  are  the 
following : — 

1081.  Poland  was  laid  under  an  inter- 
dict by  pope  Gregory  VII.,  because 
Boleslas  II.  had  murdered  Stanislaus  at 
the  altar. 

1180.  Scotland  was  put  under  a similar 
ban  by  pope  Alexander  III. 

1200.  France  was  interdicted  by  In- 
nocent III.  because  Philippe  Auguste 
refused  to  marry  Ingelburge,  who  had 
been  betrothed  to  him. 

1209.  England  was  laid  under  similar 
sentence  by  Innocent  III.,  and  continued 
so  for  six  years,  in  the  reign  of  king  John. 

In  France,  Robert  the  Pious,  Philippe 
I.,  Louis  VIL,  Philippe  Auguste,  Philippe 
IV.,  and  Napoleon  I.,  have  all  been 
subjected  to  the  papal  thunder.  In 
England,  Henry  II.  and  John.  Victor 
Emmanuel  of  Italy  has  been  excommu- 
nicated by  Pius  IX.  for  despoiling  the 
papacy  of  a large  portion  of  its  temporal 
dominions. 

In'terest  [Latin).  Something  that 
is  between  the  parties  concerned.  The 
interest  of  money  is  the  sum  which  the 
borrower  agrees  to  pay  the  lender  for  its 
use.  To  take  an  interest  in  anything  is 
to  feel  there  is  something  between  it  and 
you  which  may  affect  your  happiness. 

Interlard  {French).  To  put  lard 
or  fat  between  layers  of  meat.  Meta- 
phorically, to  mix  what  is  the  solid  part 
of  a discourse  with  fulsome  and  irrelevant 
matter.  Thus  we  say,  ^^To  intdrlard 
with  oaths,”  to  interlard  with  compli- 
ments,” &c. 

Interlo'per.  One  who  runs  between 
traders.  One  who  sets  up  business,  and 
by  so  doing  interferes  with  the  actual 
or  supposed  rights  of  others.  (Dutch, 
loogen,  to  run. ) 

Inter'polate  (4  syl.).  For  two  or 
more  persons  to  polish  up  something 
between  them ; spurious  emendations. 
(Latin,  inter  polio.) 

Inter 'preter  [Mr.).  The  imper- 
sonation of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  Pilgrim’s 
I Progress,”  by  John  Bunyan. 


INTER  REX. 


INVISIBLES. 


441 


hiterpreter  really  means  the  Holy 
Spirit.  In  Pilgrim’s  Progress”  he  is 
lord  of  a house  a little  way  beyond  the 
Wicket  Gate.  Here  Christian  was  kindly 
entertained  and  shown  many  wonderful 
sights  of  an  allegorical  character.  Chris- 
tiana and  her  party  stopped  here  also, 
and  were  entertained  in  a similar  manner. 
— Bunyan. 

Inter  Rex  (^Latin).  A person  ap- 
pointed to  hold  the  office  of  king  pro 
lem. 

Into'ne  (2  syh).  To  thunder  out’,' 
intonation f the  thundering  of  the  voice. 
(Latin,  tono^  to  thunder).  The  Romans 
said  that  Cicero  and  Demosthenes  'thun- 
dered out  their  orations.”  It  is  instruc- 
tive to  notice  how  thunder  symbolises 
the  human  voice  even  in  its  musical  cha- 
racter. 

Intrigue  (2  syl.)  comes  from  the 
Greek  thrixy  hair,  whence  the  Latin 
triccBy  trifles  or  hairs ; the  German  triig^ 
a deception  carried  on  by  false  hair. 

Inure  (2  syl. ) is  to  burn  in,  as  colours 
used  to  be  in  encaustic  painting,  or  as  a 
brand  was  burnt  on  the  skin  of  a criminal. 
To  inure  oneself  to  labour  is  to  burn  it 
into  the  body  by  habit  till  it  can  be  no 
more  separated  than  a brand,  or  the 
colour  of  encaustic  tiles. 

Invalide  (French).  A four-sou  piece, 
so  called  because  it  was  debased  to  the 
value  of  three  sous  and  a-half. 

Tien,  prens  cet  invalide  a ma  sant6  va  boire. 

Deux  Arlequins.”  (1091.) 

Invei'gle  (3  syh).  To  lead  blind- 
fold. (Norman  French,  enveogler;  French, 
aveugler;  Italian,  invogliare.) 

Invention  of  the  Cross  (discovery 
of  the  cross').  A festival  held  on  May  3rd, 
in  commemoration  of  the  discovery  of 
the  cross  by  the  agents  of  St.  HeFena, 
mother  of  Constantine  the  emperor 
(316).  (Latin,  inven'io,  to  discover.) 

Inventors  punished  by  their  own 
inventions : — 

(a)  Peril los,  who  invented  the  Brazen 
Bull  for  Phal'aris,  tyrant  of  Agrigentum, 
was  the  first  person  baked  to  death  in 
the  monster. 

(h)  The  regent  Morton  of  Scotland, 
who  invented  or  adopted  the  Maiden^  a 
sort  of  guillotine,  was  the  first  to  be  ; 


executed  by  his  own  machine  (in  the 
reign  of  queen  Elizabeth). 

(c)  Hugues  Aubriot,  provost  of  Paris, 
who  built  the  Bastile,  was  the  first  person 
con  finned  in  his  own  strong  castle.  The 
charge  against  him  was  heresy. 

(d)  The  bishop  of  Verdun  who  invented 
the  iron  cages y too  small  to  allow  the 
person  confined  in  them  to  stand  upright 
or  lie  at  full  length,  was  the  first  to  be 
shut  up  in  one ; and  cardinal  La  Balue, 
who  recommended  them  to  Louis  XI., 
was  himself  confined  in  one  for  ten  years. 

(e)  Ludivi'co  Sforza,  who  invented  the 
Iron  Shroud,  was  the  first  to  suffer  death 
by  the  horrible  torture. 

(/)  Haman,  son  of  Hammeda'tha,  the 
Amalekite,  of  the  race  of  Agag,  devised 
a gallows  fifty  cubits  high,  on  which  to 
hang  Mordecai,  by  way  of  commencing 
the  extirpation  of  the  Jews;  but  the  fa- 
vourite of  Ahasue'ruswas  himself  hanged 
on  his  gigantic  gallows.  In  modern  his- 
tory we  have  a repetition  of  this  incident 
in  the  case  of  Euguerrand  de  Marigni, 
Minister  of  Finance  to  Philippe  the  Fair, 
who  was  hung  on  the  gibbet  which  he 
had  caused  to  be  erected  at  Montfaucon, 
for  the  execution  of  certain  felons ; and 
four  of  his  successors  in  office  underwent 
the  same  fate. 

{g)  Captain  Cowper  Coles,  inventor  of 
the  iron  turret  ship,  perished  in  the  Cap- 
taiuy  off  Cape  Finisterre,  Sept.  7,  1870. 

Inves'titure.  (Latin,  clothing  in  or 
putting  on  canonicals.)  The  admission 
to  office  is  generally  made  by  investiture : 
Thus  a pair  of  gloves  is  given  to  a Free- 
mason in  France;  a cap  is  given  to  a 
graduate;  a crown,  &c.,  to  a sovereign, 
&c.  A crosier  and  ring  used  to  be  given 
to  a church  dignitary.  In  the  eleventh 
and  twelfth  centuries  the  kings  of  Europe 
and  the  pope  were  perpetually  at  variance 
about  the  right  of  investiture  ; the  ques- 
tion was,  should  the  sovereigns  or  should 
the  pope  invest  clergymen  or  appoint 
them  to  their  livings  and  dignities  ? 

Invin'eible  Doctor.  William  of 
Occam  or  Ockham  (a  village  in  Surrey), 
also  called  Doctor  Singuta'ris.  (1270- 
1347.) 

Invisibles.  (1)  The  Rosicrucians 
were  so  called,  because  they  never  dared 
to  appear  in  public. 

‘(2)  The  disciples  of  Osiander,  Flaccius, 
Illiricus,  &c.,  who  denied  the  perpetual 
visibility  of  the  church. 


412 


lOL. 


IRELAND. 


lol  (pron.  Yol).  The  Danish  word 
for  Christmas ; the  same  as  Yule. 

The  savage  Dane 

At  lol  more  deep  the  mead  did  drain. 

Sir  WixUer  ScotU'*  Marmion.** 

lo'nian  Mode.  A species  of  church 
music  in  the  key  of  C ma.jor,  in  imitation 
of  the  ancient  Greek  mode  so  called. 

Ionic  Accomplishments.  Ges- 
ture and  dress. 

lon'ic  Architecture.  So  called 
from  lo'nia  where  it  took  its  rise.  The 
capitals  are  decorated  with  volutes,  and 
the  cornice  with  dentils. 

The  people  of  Ionia  formed  their  order  of  archi- 
tecture on  the  mo  <el  of  a young  woman  dres^ed 
in  her  hair,  and  of  an  easy,  elegant  shape;  wnereas 
the  Doric  0 rd  been  formed  on  the  model  of  a 
robust,  strong  man.—  Vitruvius^ 

lon'ic  School  or  Ionic  Philosophers. 
Thales,  Anaximander,  Anaxime'nes,  Hera- 
cli'tos,  and  Anaxag'oras  were  all  natives 
of  Ionia,  and  were  the  earliest  of  the 
Greek  philosophers.  They  tried  to  prove 
that  all  created  things  spring  from  one 
principle ; Thales  said  it  was  water,  Anax- 
imenes thought  it  was  air  or  gas,  Anax- 
agoras that  it  was  atoms,  Heraclitos 
maintained  that  it  was  fire  or  caloric, 
while  Anaximander  insisted  that  the 
elements  of  all  things  are  eternal,  for 
ex  nihilo  nihil  Jit. 

lormungan'dur.  The  serpent  that 
encompasses  the  whole  earth,  according 
to  Scandinavian  mythology. 

lo'ta  or  Jot.  A very  little,  the  least 
quantity  possible.  The  iota  is  the 
smallest  letter  of  the  Greek  alphabet, 
called  the  Lacedemonian  letter. 

This  bond  doth  give  thee  here  no  jot  of  blood. 

Shakespeare,  3lerchant  of  Venice^'  iv  1. 

lo'thun.  A generic  name  for  the 
giants  of  Celtic  mythology. 

lo'tliunheim  or  lotimheim  (4  syl.). 
The  home  of  the  lothun,  somewhere 
on  the  pinnacles  of  the  Scandinavian 
mountains. 

Iphigeni'a.  Daughter  of  Agamem- 
non. Her  father  having  offended  Ar'- 
temis  {Diana)y  vowed  to  sacrifice  to  the 
angry  goddess  the  most  beautiful  thing 
that  came  into  his  possession  in  the  next 
twelve  months ; this  was  an  infant  daugh- 
ter. The  father  deferred  the  sacrifice 
till  the  fleet  of  the  combined  Greeks 
reached  Aulis  and  Iphigenia  had  grown 


to  womanhood.  Then  Calchas  told  him 
that  the  fleet  would  be  wind-bound  till 
he  had  fulfilled  his  vow ; accordingly  the 
king  prepared  to  sacrifice  his  daughter, 
but  ArtSmis  snatched  her  from  the  altar 
and  carried  her  to  heaven,  substituting 
a hind  in  her  place. 

The  similarity  of  this  legend  to  the 
Scripture  stories  of  Jephtha’s  vow,  and 
Abraham’s  offering  of  his  son  Isaac,  is 
noticeable.  {See  Idomeneus.) 

Ipse-dixit  {Latin).  A mere  assertion, 
wholly  unsupported.  W e say  it  is  your 
ipse-dixit,”  ‘‘his  ipse-dixit,”  “their ipse- 
dixit,”  and  so  on. 

Ipswich.  A corruption  of  Gypes-wicl , 
the  town  on  the  river  “Gyppen,”  now 
called  the  Orwell. 

Iram'.  The  pilgrim’s  garb  is  so  called 
by  the  Arabs. 

I'ran.  The  empire  of  Persia. 

Avenge  the  shame 

His  race  hath  brou.;ht  on  Iran's  name. 

Thomas  Moore.*"  Fire  Worshippers.** 

Ireland  or  Erin  is  Celtic ; from  Eri  or 
7ar  (western).  Lloyd  (“  State  Worthies,” 
article  Grandison)^  with  a gravity  which 
cannot  but  excite  laughter,  says  the 
island  is  called  the  land  of  Ire  because 
of  the  broils  there,  which  have  extended 
over  400  years.  Wormius  derives  the 
word  from  the  Runic  Yr,  a bow.  {See 
heloio. ) 

Ireland. 

Called  by  the  natives  “ Erin,”  i.e,, 
Eri-inniSy  or  lar-innis  (west  island). 

By  the  W elsh  ‘ ‘ Yver- den  ” (west  valley). 

By  Apule'ius,  Hiber'nia,  which  is 
lernia,  a corruption  of  lar-inni-a. 

By  Juvenal  (ii.  260)  Juverna  or  Ju- 
berna,  the  same  as  lerna  or  lernia. 

By  Claudian,  Ouernia,  the  same. 

By  moderns,  Ireland,  which  is  lar-en- 
land  (land  of  the  west). 

^ The  three  great  saints  of  Ireland 
are  St.  Patrick,  St.  Columba,  and  St, 
Bridget. 

Th e fair  maid  of  Ireland.  Ignis  f atuus 
(q.v.). 

He  had  read  in  'former  times  of  a Going  Fire, 
called  “l«ni8  Fatuus,”  the  fire  of  destiny  ; by  some, 
“Will  with  the  Whisp/’or  “ J ack  with  the  lianter  n 
and  likewise,  by  some  simple  country  people,  “ The 
Fair  Maid  of  li eland,”  which  used  to  lead  wan- 
dtring  travedeis  out  of  their  way.— “ The  Seven 
Champions  oj  Christendom,”  i.  7. 

The  three  tragic  stories  of  the  Irish.  (1) 
The  death  of  the  children  of  Touran: 


IRENA. 


IRON  MASK. 


443 


(2)  The  death  of  the  children  of  Lir ; (3) 
The  death  of  the  children  of  Usnach. — 
(y Flanagariy  vol.  i.,  Transactions  of  the 
Gaelic  Society  of  DuhlinT 

Ire'na.  The  impersonation  of  Ireland, 
whose  inheritance  was  withheld  by  the 
tyrant  Grantorto.  Sir  Artegal  (^Justice) 
is  sent  by  the  Faery  Queen  to  succour 
the  distressed  lady.  Grantorto,  or  the 
rebellion  of  1580,  being  slain,  she  is 
restored  to  her  throne  and  reigns  in 
peace. — Spenser y Faery  Queeiiy*  v. 

I'ris.  Goddess  of  the  rainbow,  or  the 
rainbow  itself.  In  classic  mythology 
she  is  called  the  messenger  of  the  gods 
when  they  intended  discord^  and  the 
rainbow  is  the  bridge  or  road  let  down 
from  heaven  for  her  accommodation. 
When  the  gods  meant  peace  they  sent 
Mercury. 

I’ll  have  an  Iris  that  shall  find  thee  out. 

Shakespeare,  “2  Henry  VI.”  ill.  2. 

Irish  Agita'tor.  Daniel  O’Connell. 
(1775-1847.) 

Irish  Beauty.  A woman  with  two 
black  eyes — no  uncommon  decoration” 
among  the  low  Irish. 

Irish  Legs.  Thick  and  clumsy  ones. 
Grose  says  that  the  Irish  women  have 
a dispensation  from  the  pope  to  wear  the 
thick  end  of  their  legs  downwards.” 

Irish  Wedding.  When  a person 
has  a black  eye  we  sometimes  say  to  him, 
''You  have  been  to  an  Irish  wedding,  I 
see,”  beoAuse  the  Irish  are  more  famous 
for  giving  their  guests  on  these  occasions 
Hack  eyes  than  white  favours. 

Iron.  The  hieroglyphic  for  iron  is 
$y  which  denotes  "gold  at  the  bottom 
(O),  only  its  upper  part  is  too  sharp, 
volatile,  and  half  corrosive  (t)  ; this  being 
taken  away,  iron  would  become  gold. 
Iron  is  called  Mars. 

The  iron  enters  into  his  soul.  The  an- 
guish or  annoyance  is  felt  most  keenly. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  ancient  custom  of 
torturing  the  flesh  with  instruments  of 
iron. 

I saw  the  iron  enter  into  hia  soul,  and  felt  what 
sort  of  QAin  it  was  that  ariseth  fi  om  hope  deferred. — 
Sterne.^ 

Iron  Age.  The  era  between  the 
death  of  Charlemagne  and  the  close  of 
the  Carlovingian  dynasty  is  so  called 
from  its  almost  ceaseless  wars.  It  is 
sometimes  called  the  leaden  age  for  its 


worthlessness,  and  the  dark  age  for  its 
barrenness  of  learned  men. 

Iron  Age.  The  age  of  cruelty  and 
hard-heartedness.  When  Hubert  tells 
Prince  Arthur  he  must  burn  his  eyes 
out,  the  young  prince  replies,  " Ah,  none 
but  in  this  iron  age  would  do  it.” — 
Shakespeare,  King  John,^  iv.  1. 

Iron-arm.  Francis  do  la  Noue,  the 
Huguenot  soldier,  bras  de  Fer.  (1531- 
1591.) 

Iron  Crown  of  Lombardy  is  so 
called  from  a narrow  band  of  iron  within 
it,  said  to  be  beaten  out  of  one  of  the 
nails  used  at  the  Crucifixion.  This  band 
is  about  three-eighths  of  an  inch  broad, 
and  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 
According  to  tradition,  the  nail  was  first 
given  to  Constantine  by  his  mother,  who 
discovered  the  cross.  The  outer  circlet 
of  the  crown  is  of  beaten  gold,  and  set 
with  precious  stones.  The  crown  is  pre- 
served with  great  care  at  Monza,  near 
Milan,  and  Napoleon,  like  his  predecessor 
Charlemagne,  was  crowned  with  it. 

After  the  war  between  Austria  and 
Italy,  the  Iron  Crown  was  delivered  by 
the  former  power  to  Victor  Emmanuel. 

Iron  - hand  or  The  Iron  - hander. 
Goetz  von  Berlichingen  {Godfrey  of  Ber- 
lichingen),  who  lost  his  right  hand  at  the 
siege  of  Landshut,  and  had  one  made  of 
iron  to  supply  its  place.  (1480-1562.) 

Iron  Mask.  The  man  in  the  iron 
mask  was  count  Er'colo  Anto'nio  Matthi- 
o'li,  a senator  of  Mantua,  and  private 
agent  of  Ferdinand  Charles,  duke  of 
Mantua.  He  suffered  his  long  and 
strange  imprisonment  of  twenty-four 
years  for  having  deceived  Louis  XIV.  in 
a secret  treaty  for  the  purchase  of  the 
fortress  of  Casal,  the  key  of  Italy.  The 
agents  of  Spain  and  Austria  bribed  him 
by  outbidding  the  Grand  Monarque.  The 
secresy  observed  by  all  parties  was  in- 
violate, because  the  infamy  of  the  trans- 
action would  not  bear  daylight. — II.  G» 
A.  Ellis,  " True  History  of  the  Iron  Mask.'' 

There  are  several  others  " identified  ” 
as  the  veritable  Iron  Mask,  g.e. — 

(1)  Louis,  due  de  Vermandois,  natural 
son  of  Louis  XIV.  by  De  la  Valli^re,  who 
was  imprisoned  for  life,  because  he  gave 
the  Dauphin  a box  on  the  ears  ("Afe- 
moires  Secrets  pour  servir  d VHistoire  de 
Perse.")  This  cannot  be,  as  the  duke 
died  in  camp,  1683. 


444  TKONSIDE. 


(2)  A young  foreign  nobleman,  cham- 
berlain of  Queen  Anne,  and  real  father 
of  Louis  XIV. — A Dutch  story, 

(3)  Due  de  Beaufort,  King  of  the 
Markets.  (Legrange- Chancel,  ^^KAnnee 
LitterairCf  1759.”)  This  supposition  is 
worthless,  as  the  duke  was  slain  by  the 
Turks  at  the  siege  of  Candia. 

(4)  An  elder  brother  of  Louis  XIV., 
some  say  by  the  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham, others  by  Cardinal  Mazarin.  {See 
Voltaire,  Dictionnaire  Philosophique*^ 
(Anna),  and  Linguet,  Bastile  DevoilhP 

(5)  Abb^  Soulavie  asserts  it  was  a twin 
brother  of  Louis  XIV.,  Marechal  Riche- 
lieu. This  tale  forms  the  basis  of  Zo- 
chokke’s  German  tragedy,  and  Fournier^s 
drama. 

(6)  Some  maintain  that  it  was  Fouquet,  I 
the  disgraced  Minister  of  Fina!nce  to 
Louis  XIV. 

(7)  Some  that  it  was  an  Arminian 
patriarch. 

(8)  Some  that  it  was  the  duke  of 
Monmouth ; but  he  was  executed  on 
Tower  B ill  in  1685. 

Ironside.  Edmund  II.,  king  of  the 
Anglo-Saxons,  was  so  called,  from  his 
iron  armour.  (989,  1016-1017.) 

Kestor  Ironside.  Sir  Richard  Steel, 
who  assumed  the  nom  de  plume  in  The 
Guardian.”  (1671-1729.) 

Ironsides.  The  soldiers  that  served 
under  Cromwell  were  so  called,  especially 
after  the  battle  of  Marston  Moor,  where 
they  displayed  an  iron  resolution. 

Iron-tooth.  {Dent  de  Fer) . Frederick 
II.,  elector  of  Brandenburg.  (1657, 
1688-1713.) 

Irony.  A dissembling.  (Greek, 
eirony  a dissembler.) 

So  grave  a body  upon  so  solemn  an  occasion  should 
not  deal  in  irony,  or  explain  their  meaning  by  con- 
traries.— 

Irrefragable  Doctor.  Alexander 
of  Hales,  an  English  friar,  founder  of 
the  scholastic  theology.  (13th  cent.) 

Irrel'evant  is  not  to  relieve,  not  to 
lighten.  Irrelevant  matter  is  that  which 
does  not  help  to  bear  the  burden  or 
make  it  lighter.  (Latin,  in  releva're; 
levis,  light.) 

Irresis'tible.  When  Alexander 
went  to  consult  the  Delphic  oracle  before 
his  Persian  invasion,  he  arrived  on  a day 
when  no  responses  were  made.  Nothing 


ISABELLA. 


daunted,  he  went  in  search  of  the  Pythia, 
and  when  she  refused  to  attend,  took 
her  to  the  temple  by  force.  Son,”  said 
the  priestess,  ‘Hhou  art  irresistible.” 

Enough  !”  cried  Alexander ; I accept  * 

your  words  as  my  response,”  and  re-  \ 

turned  to  Macedon.  : 

Irspilles  Pelles.  Skins  having  ] 

bristly  hair  like  that  of  goats.  {Hirci-  ) 

piluSy  i.e.,  ^‘goat’s  hair” — Festus.)  A 
fell  is  Saxon  tor  skin,”  like  the  Latin 
pell-isy  En2:lish  peel.  Thus  we  say  still  a 
‘^wool-fell.”  Shakespeare  speaks  of  a 
fell  of  hair.” — Macbeth f v.  5. 

Irus.  The  beggar  of  gigantic  stature 
who  kept  watch  over  the  suitors  of  Peneh- 
ope.  His  real  name  was  Ar'neos,  but  the 
suitors  nicknamed  him  Iros  because  he 
carried  their  messages  for  them.  Ulysses, 
on  his  return,  felled  him  to  the  ground 
with  a single  blow,  and  flung  him  out  of 
doors. 

Poorer  than  Irus.  A Greek  proverb, 
adopted  by  the  Romans  {see  Ovid),  and 
existing  in  the  French  language  {plus 
pauvre  qillrus)^  alluding  to  the  beggar 
referred  to  above. 

IrVingites  (3  syl.).  The  self-styled 
Apostolic  Catholic  Church,  founded  by 
the  Rev.  Edward  Irving  in  1829. 

Isaac.  A hedge-sparrow,  a corrup- 
tion of  Chaucer’s  word,  heisuagge.  (Saxon, 
heag,  hedge  ; sugga,  the  sugga  bird.) 

Isaac  of  York.  The  Jew  in  '*Ivan- 
hoe,”  and  father  of  Rebecca. --a5iV  Walter 
Scott. 

Isabel,  called  She-wolf  of  France, 

The  adulterous  queen  of  Edward  II., 
daughter  of  Philippe  IV.  {le  Bel)  of 
France.  According  to  tradition,  she 
murdered  her  royal  husband  by  thrusting 
a hot  iron  into  his  bowels. 

Mark  the  year  and  mark  the  night 

When  iSeveru  shall  re-echo  wilh  affright 
The  shrieks  of  death  through.  Berkley’s  roofs  that 
ring, 

Shrieks  of  an  agonising  king. 

She-wolf  of  France,  with  unrelenting  fangs, 

That  tear’st  the  bowels  of  thy  mangled  mate  \ 

Gray, " The  Bard.'* 

Is'abel.  The  Spanish  form  of  Eliza- 
beth. The  French  form  is  Isabel^. 

Isabella,  princess  of  Sicily,  in  love 
with  Robert  le  Diable,  but  promised  in 
marriage  to  the  prince  of  Grana'da,  who 
challenged  Robert  to  mortal  combat. 
Robert  is  allured  from  the  combat  by  his 


ISABELLE 


ISIDORIAN 


445 


fiend-father,  but  when  Alice  tells  him 
that  Isabella  the  princess  is  waiting  for 
him  at  the  altar,”  a struggle  takes  place 
between  Bertram  and  Alice,  the  one 
trying  to  drag  the  duke  to  the  infernal 
regions,  and  the  other  trying  to  win  him 
to  the  ways  of  virtue.  Alice  prevails, 
but  the  audience  is  not  informed  whether 
Robert  marries  Isabella  or  not.  —Mayer^ 
heer's  opera,  Roherto  il  Diavolo.^' 

Isabella,  daughter  of  Hercules,  duke  of 
Ferra're,  sister  of  Alfonso  and  Ippobito, 
and  wife  of  Francisco  Gonza'go,  lord  of 
Mantua 

Isabelle  or  Isabella  (in  Orlando 
Furioso”),  daughter  of  the  king  of  Gali- 
cia, in  love  with  Zerbi'no ; but  being  a 
pagan,  Zerbino  could  not  marry  her. 
Zerbino  induces  her  to  quit  her  native 
land,  and  gives  Odori'co  charge  of  her. 
She  is  wrecked,  and  Odorico  escapes  with 
her  to  Rochelle.  Here  Odorico  assails 
her  virtue,  but  is  alarmed  by  a vessel 
which  he  sees  approaching,  and  flees.  She 
is  kept  captive  by  the  crew  for  nine 
months,  but  Orlando  slays  or  hangs  all 
the  crew,  and  Isabella  being  free,  ac- 
companies her  rescuer.  Her  lament  at 
the  death  of  Zerbino  is  one  of  the  best 
parts  of  the  poem  (bk.  xii.).  She  retires 
to  a chapel  to  bury  Zerbino,  and  is  there 
slain  by  Rod'omont. 

Isabelle.  The  colour  so  called  is  the 
yellow  of  soiled  calico.  A yellow-dun 
horse  is  called  in  France  un  ckeval  Isa- 
belle. The  origin  of  the  term  is  as  fol- 
lows : — In  the  Spanish  wars  queen  Isabel 
made  a vow  to  the  Virgin  never  to  change 
her  linen  till  Grana'da  fell  into  her  hands. 
The  siege  lasted  much  longer  than  she 
had  anticipated,  and  her  body-linen  ac- 
quired a tint  which  the  French  still  call 
Isabelle. 

Bright-Sun  was  mounted  on  a black  horse,  that 
of  Felix  was  a grey,  Chery’s  was  white  as  milk,  and 
the  princess’s  an  Is  ibelle— Oowniess  D'Anoia,'"  Fair- 
Star  and  Prince  Chery.” 

Isaf.  An  Arabian  idol  in  the  form  of 
a man,  brought  from  Syria,  and  placed 
in  Es-Safa,  near  the  temple  of  Mecca. 
Some  say  Isaf  was  a man  converted  into 
stone  for  impiety,  and  that  Mahomet 
suffered  this  one  ^^dol”  to  remain  as  a 
warnings  to  his  disciples. 

Isenbras  or  Sir  Isumbras.  A hero 
of  mediaeval  romance,  first  proud  and 
presumptuous,  when  he  was  visited  by  all 
sorts  of  punishments ; afterwards  peni- 
tent and  humble,  when  his  afflictions  were 


turned  into  blessings.  It  was  in  this 
latter  stage  that  he  one  day  carried  on 
his  horse  two  children  of  a poor  wood- 
man across  a ford.  {See  Ysambras.) 

I warne  you  first  at  the  begynninge 
That  I will  make  no  vain  carpinge  {talle) 

Of  deeds  of  arrays  ne  of  amours. 

As  dus  mynstrelles  and  jest  urs, 

That  ii.akys  carpinge  in  many  a place 
Of  Octoriane  and  Isembrase- 

“ William  of  Nasaington." 

I'sengrin  or  Sir  Isgrim,  the  wolf, 
afterwards  created  earl  of  Pitwood,  in 
the  beast-epic  of  Reynard  the  Fox.” 
Isengrin  typifles  the  barons,  and  Reynard 
the  church,  and  the  gist  of  the  tale  is  to 
show  how  Reynard  bamboozles  his  uncle 
Wolf.  (German,  IsegriMm,  a wolf,  a 
surly  fellow.) 

Isfen'diar.  The  angel  which  guards 
the  chastity  of  women,  and  preserves 
domestic  ^q&gq.— Mahometan  mythology. 

Isha'ni.  The  personification  of  the 
active  power  of  Isa  or  Iswara.  It  is 
represented  under  the  form  of  a woman, 
and  regarded  as  the  goddess  of  nature 
and  protectress  of  water.  Her  chief  fete 
is  called  Durgotsa'va. 

Ishban,  in  the  satire  of  ^'Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dry  den  and  Tate, 
is  Sir  Robert  Clayton,  who’d  e’en  turn 
loyal  to  be  made  a peer”  (pt.  ii.). 

Ishfibosheth,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 
'^Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  meant 
for  Richard  Cromwell.  His  father  Oliver 
is  called  Saul.  At  the  death  of  Saul, 
Ishbosheth  was  acknowledged  king  by  a 
party,  and  reigned  two  years,  when  he 
was  assassinated. 

They  wh^,  when  Saul  was  dead,  without  a blow. 
Made  foolish  Ishbosheth  the  crown  forego. 

Ish'monie'.  The  petrified  city  in 
Upper  Egypt,  full  of  men  and  women 
turned  to  stone. — Perry,  Vieio  of  the 
Levant.” 

Marryatt  has  borrowed  the  idea  in  his 

Pacha  of  Many  Tales.” 

I'siac  Table.  A spurious  Egyptian 
monument  sold  by  a soldier  to  cardinal 
Bembo  in  1527,  and  preserved  at  Turin. 
It  is  of  copper,  and  on  it  are  represented 
most  of  the  Egyptian  deities  in  the 
mysteries  of  Isis.  It  was  said  to  have 
been  found  at  the  siege  of  Rome  in  1525, 
The  word  Isiac  is  an  adjective  formed 
from  Isis. 

Isido'rian  Decre'tals.  Also  called 
Pseudo  or  False  Becretals.  A spurious 


446 


ISINGLASS, 


ISMENE. 


compilation  of  fifty-nine  decretals  by 
Mentz,  who  lived  in  the  ninth  century, 
and  fraudulently  ascribed  them  to  I'sidore 
of  Seville,  who  died  in  the  sixth  century. 
Prior  to  the  ninth  century  the  only 
authentic  collection  of  decretals  or  letters 
of  the  popes  in  reply  to  questions  pro- 
posed to  them  by  bishops,  ecclesiastical 
judges,  and  others,  was  that  of  Dionysius 
the  Little  [Exig'uus],  a Roman  monk, 
who  lived  in  the  middle  of  the  sixth 
century.  He  commences  with  pope 
Siricius  (fourth  century).  The  Isidorian 
decretals  contain  fifty-nine  letters  as- 
cribed to  persons  living  between  Cle- 
ment and  Siricius,  and  forty  others  not 
contained  in  the  Dionysian  collection. 
The  object  of  these  forged  letters  is 
either  to  exalt  the  papacy  or  enforce 
some  law  assuming  the  existence  of  such 
exaltation.  Amongst  these  spurious 
letters  are  the  decretal  of  St.  Anacle'tus, 
the  decretal  of  St.  Alexander,  the  letter 
of  Julius  to  the  Easterns,  the  synodical 
letter  of  St.  Athana'sius,  the  decretal  of 
St.  Fabian  instituting  the  rite  of  the 
chrism,  and  so  on. 

La  r^forme  pseudo-Isidorienne,  adoptee  par  S. 
Nicholas,  en  865, par  le  huitieme  concile  oecumenique 
en  870,  confirmee  par  le  concile  de  Trent  en  1561,  elle 
est  d^pui  neuf  giecles  le  droit  commuo  dans  IVg  ise 
catholique.  ..ce  qu’il  est  impossible  de  justifier  et 
mSrae  d’excuser,c’est  le  moyea  eo  ploje  par  le  pseudo- 
Isidore  pour  arriver  S,  ses  * Etudes  ReligieuseSt' 

Ho.  47,  P-  392. 

I'singlass.  A corruption  of  the 
Dutch  kyzenhlas  (an  air-bladder),  being 
prepared  from  the  bladders  and  sounds 
of  sturgeon. 

I'sis.  Wife  of  Osi'ris,  and  mother  of 
Ho'rus.  The  cow  was  sacred  to  her. 
She  is  said  to  have  invented  spinning 
and  weaving. — Egyptian  mythology. 

luventress  of  the  woof,  fair  Lina  {flax)  flings 

'The  flying  shuttle  thro’  the  daucing  strings  . . . 

Taught  by  her  labours,  from  the  fertile  soil 

Immortal  Isis  clothed  the  banks  of  N ile. 

Darwin^  “ Loves  of  the  Plants,'*  c.  ii. 

Milton,  in  Paradise  Lost,”  names 
Osiris,  Isis,  and  Orus  amongst  the  fallen 
angels  (bk.  i.  478). 

Isis,  Herodotos  thinks,  is  Deme'ter 
(Ce'res). 

Diodo'ros  confounds  her  with  the 
Moon,  Demeter ,-  and  Juno. 

Plutarch  confounds  her  with  Athe'na 
(Minerva),  Perseph'one  (Proserpine),  the 
Moon,  and  Te'thys. 

Apule 'ius  calls  her  the  mother  of  the 
gods,  Minerva,  Venus,  Diana,  Proser- 


pine, Cerfe’s,  Juno,  Bello'na,  Hecate,  and 
Rhamnu'sia  [Nem'esis]. 

Isis.  Some  maintain  that  Isis  was  at 
one  time  the  protectress  of  Paris,  and 
that  the  word  Paris  is  a contraction  of 
the  Greek  Para  Fsidos  (near  the  temple 
of  Isis),  the  temple  referred  to  being  the 
Pantheon  or  Church  of  St.  Genevieve. 
We  are  told,  moreover,  that  a statue  of 
Isis  was  for  a long  time  preserved  in  the 
church  of  St.  Germain- des-Pr^s,  but  was 
broken  to  pieces  by  cardinal  Bri9onnet 
because  he  saw  certain  women  offering 
candles  to  it  as  to  the  Virgin. 

The  Young  Isis.  Cleopatra.  (69-30  B.o. ) 

Islam  or  ISLAMISM.  The  true  faith, 
according  to  the  Mahometan  notion. 
The  Moslems  say  every  child  is  born  in 
Islam,  and  would  continue  in  the  true 
faith  if  not  led  astray  into  Magism, 
Judaism,  or  Christianity.  The  word 
means  resignation  or  submission  to  the  will 
of  God. 

Islamite  (3  syl.).  A follower  of 
Mahomet  or  believer  in  Islam. 

Island  of  Saints.  So  Ireland  was 
called  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

Island  of  St.  Brandan.  The 
flying  island,  the  supposed  retreat  of 
king  Rodri'go.  So  called  from  St.  Bran- 
dan,  who  w'ent  in  search  of  the  Islands 
of  Paradise  in  the  sixth  century. 

Islands  of  the  Blest.  Islands  to 
which  the  favourites  of  the  gods  were 
conveyed  at  death. — Classic  mythology. 

Isle  of  Bogs.  So  called  from  being 
the  receptacle  of  the  greyhounds  of 
Edward  III.  Some  say  it  is  a corruption 
of  the  Isle  of  Duclcs,  and  that  it  is  so 
called  in  ancient  records,  from  the  num- 
ber of  wild  fowl  inhabiting  the  marshes. 

IsmaeTians  (4  syL).  A Mahometan 
sect,  which  maintained  that  Isma'el,  and 
not  Moussa,  ought  to  be  Imaum'.  In  the 
tenth  century  they  formed  a secret  so- 
ciety, from  which  sprang  the  Assassins. 

Isme'ne  (3  syl,).  Daughter  of  (E'di 
pus  and  Jocasta.  Antig'one  was  buried 
alive  by  the  order  of  king  Creon,  for 
burying  her  brother  Polyni'ces,  slain  in 
combat  by  his  brother  Ete'ocles.  Isme'ne 
declared  that  she  had  aided  her  sister, 
and  requested  to  be  allowed  to  share  the 
same  punishment. 

Isme'ne.  Tbe  lady-love  of  Isme'nias^ 


ISMENIAS. 


ITALICS. 


447 


in  the  erotic  romance  of  Eustathius  or 
Eumathius,  entitled  ‘‘Ismene  and  Is- 
menias  ” (twelfth  century). 

Isme'nias.  A Theban  musician  of 
whom  Ath'eas,  king  of  the  Scyth'ians, 
declared,  I liked  the  music  of  Ismenias 
better  than  the  braying  of  an  ass.” — 
Plutarch. 

Isme'no  (in  '^Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
A magician  who  could  ‘^call  spirits  from 
the  vasty  deep.”  He  was  once  a Chris- 
tian, but  became  Mahometan.  He  was 
killed  by  a stone  hurled  at  him  by  an 
engine  (bk.  xviii.). 

Isoe'rates.  The  French  Isocrates. 
Flechier,  bishop  of  Nismes.  (1632-1710.) 

Is'olde  (2  syl.).  Wife  of  king  Mark, 
of  Cornwall,  who  had  an  illicit  affection 
for  Sir  Tristram,  her  nephew.  Isolde  the 
WhitCf  Sir  Tristram’s  wife. 

rsother'mal  Lines.  Lines  laid 
down  in  maps  to  show  the  places  which 
have  the  same  mean  temperature.  (Greek, 
isos  thermos f equal  heat.) 

Isparetta.  Supreme  god  of  the 
people  of  Malabar.  She  converted  herself 
into  an  egg,  from  which  was  hatched 
heaven  and  earth  with  all  that  they  con- 
tain. She  has  three  eyes  and  eight 
hands.  {See  Leda.) 

Is'rael,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  ‘‘Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  stands  for  Eng- 
land. 

Is'rafir.  The  angel  of  music,  who 
possessed  the  most  melodious  voice  of  all 
God’s  creatures.  This  is  the  angel  who 
is  to  sound  the  Resurrection  Trump,  and 
will  ravish  the  ears  of  the  saints  in  para- 
dise. Israfil,  Gabriel,  and  Michael  were 
the  three  angels  that  warned  Abraham 
of  Sodom’s  destruction.— Koran.’* 

A winged  band,  commanded  by  Israfil,  the  angel 
of  the  resurrection,  came  to  meet  Roland.— “ Croqiie- 
mitaine,"  iL  9. 

Issa.  Jesus. 

Is'sachar,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 
“ Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  means 
Thomas  Thynne,  of  Longleate  Hill,  a 
friend  of  the  duke  of  Monmouth.  He 
was  assassinated  in  his  carriage,  in  Pall 
Mall,  by  rufi&ans  hired  by  count  Konings- 
mark.  The  cause  of  this  murder  was 
jealousy ; both  Mr.  Thynne  and  the  count 
were  in  love  with  lady  Elizabeth  Percy, 
the  widow  of  the  earl  of  Ogle.  Her 


friends  contracted  her  to  the  rich  com- 
moner, but  before  the  marriage  was 
consummated  Mr.  Thynne  was  murdered. 
Within  three  months  the  lady  married 
the  duke  of  Somerset.  (iSee  Mohun.) 

Issachar’s  Ears.  Ass’s  ears.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  Gen.  xlix.  14  : — “ Issachar  is  a 
strong  ass  crouching  down  between  two 
burdens.” 

Is’fc  possible  that  you,  whose  ears 
Are  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar’s.... 

Should  yet  be  deaf  acaiosb  a noise 
So  roaring  as  the  public  voice  ? 

iS.  Butler^  Hudibrat  to  Sidrophel. 

Issland.  The  kingdom  of  Brunhild 
is  identified  by  Von  der  Hagen  with  Ice- 
land, but  Wackernagel  says  it  means 
Amazonian-land,  and  derives  it  from 
the  Old  German  itis  (a  woman). — The 
“ Nibelungen-Lied.** 

Istli'niian  Games.  Epsom  races 
were  styled  “Our  Isthmian  Games” 
by  lord  Palmerston,  in  allusion  to  the 
famous  games,  consisting  of  chariot 
races,  running,  wrestling,  boxing,  &c., 
held  by  the  Greeks  in  the  Isthmus  of 
Corinth  every  alternate  spring,  the  first 
and  third  of  each  Olympiad. 

Isthmus  of  Suez.  The  covered 
bridge  of  St.  John’s  College,  Cambridge, 
is  so  called,  because  it  connects  the  col- 
lege with  the  grounds  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river.  Suez  in  this  case  is  a pun 
on  the  word  sus  (a  hog),  the  Johnians 
being  nicknamed  hogs  in  University  slang, 
whether  because  they  are  “ porci  litera'- 
rum  ” or  “ Epicu'ri  de  grege  porci,”  I 
shall  leave  others  to  determine. 

Italian  Architecture.  The  Roman 
architecture  revived  in  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, and  in  vogue  during  that  and  the 
two  succeeding  ones.  It  is  divided  into 
three  schools:  the  Florentine,  Roman, 
and  Venetian. 

Italic  School  of  Philosophy. 
The  Pythagore'an,  so  called  because  Py- 
thag'oras  taught  in  Italy. 

Italic  Version.  A version  of  the 
Bible  from  the  Septuagint,  which  pre- 
ceded the  Vulgate,  or  the  version  by  St. 
Jerome. 

Italics.  The  type  first  used  by  Aldo 
Manu'zio  in  printing  the  Aldine  classics. 
It  was  called  by  him  Corsi'vi.  Virgil 
was  the  first  author  printed  in  this  type 
(1501).  Francesco  of  Bologna  cast  it. 

The  words  italicised  in  the  Bible  have 


448 


ITALY. 


JACK. 


no  corresponding  words  in  the  original. 
The  translators  supplied  these  words  to 
render  the  sense  of  the  passage  more 
full  and  clear.  In  some  cases  they  are 
manifestly  in  error,  as  1 Cor.  i.  26,  ^^not 
many  wise  men  after  the  flesh  . . . are 
called,''  should  be  call  ye.  The  whole 
gist  of  the  chapter  is  to  show  that  men 
are  called  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching. 

Italy.  The  champion  of  Italy  was 
St.  Anthony.  — Seven  Champions  of 
Christendom^  pt.  i.  6. 

Ithu'riel.  One  of  the  angels  com- 
missioned by  Gabriel  to  search  for  Satan, 
who  had  effected  his  entrance  into  Para- 
dise. The  other  angel  who  accompanied 
him  was  Zephon,  (Ithuriel  means  ‘Hhe 
discovery  of  God.”) — Milton^  ‘^Paradise 
Lost,"  iv. 

Itiha'sas.  The  Kamaya'na  and 
Maha-Bhara'ta,  the  two  great  heroic 
poems  of  the  Hindus. 

I'van.  The  Kussian  form  of  John, 
called  Juan  in  Spain,  Giovanni  in  Italian. 

Ivan  the  Terrible.  Ivan  IV.  of  Russia, 
infamous  for  his  cruelties,  but  a man 
of  great  energy.  He  first  adopted  the 
title  of  czar.  (1529-1584.) 

I Vanlioe  (3  syl. ) Sir  W ilfred,  knight 
of  Ivanhoe,  is  the  disinherited  son  of 
Cedric  of  Rotherwood.  He  is  first  intro- 
duced as  a pilgrim,  in  which  guise  he 
enters  his  father’s  hall,  where  he  meets 
Rowe'na.  He  next  appears  as  Des- 
dichardo,  the  ^^Disinherited  Knight,”  in 
the  grand  tournament  where  he  van- 
quishes all  opponents.  At  the  inter- 
cession of  King  Richard  he  is  reconciled 
to  his  father,  and  ultimately  marries 
Rowena,  his  father’s  ward.  Rebecca, 
the  Jew’s  daughter,  to  whom  he  had 
shown  many  acts  of  kindness,  was  in 
love  with  him. 

Sir  Walter  Scott  took  the  name  from 
the  village  of  Ivanhoe,  or  Ivinghoe,  in 
Rucks,  a line  in  an  old  rhymed  proverb 
— Tring,  King,  and  Ivanhoe  ” — having 
attracted  his  attention. 

Ivanoviteh.  A lazy,  good-natured 
person,  the  national  impersonation  of  the 
Russians  as  a people,  as  John  Bull  is  of 
the  English,  Brother  Jonathan  of  the 
Americans,  Jean  Crapaud  of  the  French, 
and  Cousin  Michael  of  the  Germans. 

Ivory  G ate.  One  of  the  two  gates 
of  dreams.  The  dreams  that  pass  through 


this  gate  are  false  and  delusive.  {See 
Horn  Gate.) 

Ivy  (in  Christian  art),  symbol  of  ever- 
lasting life,  from  its  remaining  continually 
green.  An  ivy  wreath  was  the  prize  of 
the  Isth'mian  games,  till  it  was  super- 
seded by  a pine  garland.  The  plant  was 
sacred  to  Bacchus  arid  Osi'ris. 

Ivy  Lane  {London).  So  called  from 
the  houses  of  the  prebends  of  St.  Paul, 
overgrown  with  ivy,  which  once  stood 
there. 

Ixi'on.  A king  of  the  Lapithae,  bound 
to  a revolving  wheel  of  fire  in  the  Infernal 
regions,  for  his  impious  presumption  in 
trying  to  imitate  the  thunder  of  heaven, 
— GreeJc  mythology. 

J 

Jaafer.  At  the  battle  of  Muta,  Jaafer 
carried  the  sacred  banner  of  ‘Hhe  Pro- 
phet.” One  hand  being  lopped  off,  he 
held  it  with  the  other ; the  other  being 
struck  off,  he  embraced  it  with  his  two 
stumps;  his  head  being  cleft  in  twain, 
he  flung  himself  on  the  banner  staff,  and 
the  banner  was  detained  thus  till  Ab- 
dallah seized  it  and  handed  it  to  Khaled, 
A similar  tale  is  told  of  Cynsegeros  {g.v.). 
{See  Benbow.) 

Jaca.  The  devil  in  the  mythology  of 
Ceylon. 

Ja'chin.  The  parish  clerk  in  Crabbe’s 

Borough.”  He  appropriated  the  sa- 
cramental money,  and  died  disgraced. 

Jachin.  {See  Boaz.) 

Jack  and  James.  Jewish,  Jacob: 
French,  Jacques;  our  ^^Jack,”  and 
Jacquemes,  our  '‘James.”  Jacques  used 
to  be  the  commonest  name  of  France, 
hence  the  insurrection  of  the  common 
people  was  termed  the  insurrection  of 
the  Jacques,  or  the  Jacquerie  ; and  a rustic 
used  to  be  callea  a Jacques  bon  homme. 
The  Scotch  call  Jack  Jock. 

Jack.  (I.)  Applied  to  men,  but 
always  depreciatingly ; personally  or 
morally  little.  {See  Tom.) 

(1)  Jack-a-dandy  {q.v.). 

(2)  Jack-a-dr earns.  A man  of  inaction, 
a mere  dreamer.  Hamlet  calls  himself 
“a  Jack-a-dreams.” 

(3)  Jack-a-drognes.  A good-natured, 

lazy  fool.  (Dutch,  druilen^  to  be  listless ; 
our  drawl.)  # 


JACK. 


JACK. 


m 


(4)  Jack-a-lent.  A half-starved,  sheep- 
ish booby.  Hence  Shakespeare  says; 
“You  little  Jack-a-lent,  have  you  been 
true  to  us.  QSee  below,  ib.) 

(5)  Jack-a-napes  {q.v.). 

(6)  JacJc-at-a-pinch.  One  who  lends 
a hand  in  an  emergency ; an  itinerant 
clergyman  who  has  no  cure,  but  officiates 
for  a fee  in  any  church  where  his  assist- 
ance is  required. 

(7)  Jack  Brag.  {See  Brag.) 

(8)  Jack-fool.  More  generally  Tom 
Fool  {q.'v.'). 

(9)  Jack  Ketch  {q.v.). 

(10)  Jack  Pudding  (q.v.). 

(11)  Jack-sauce'  An  insolent  sauce-box, 
^Hhe  worst  Jack  of  the  pack.”  Fluellen 
says  one  who  challenges  another  and 
refuses  to  fight  is  a “Jack-sauce.” — 
“ Henry  F.,”  iv.  7. 

(12)  Jack-snip.  A botching  tailor. 

(13)  Jack-slave.  “ Every  Jack-slave 
hath  his  belly  full  of  fighting.” — Shake- 
speare, Cymbeline”  ii.  1. 

(14)  Jack-straw.  A peasant  rebel. 

(15)  Jack-sprat  (q.v.), 

(Id)  Jack-tar  (q.v.). 

(17)  Jack-in-o^e.  A conceited  official, 
or  upstart,  who  presumes  on  his  official 
appointment  to  give  himself  airs. 

(18)  Jack-in-the-green.  A chimney- 
sweep boy  in  the  midst  of  boughs,  on 
IMay-day. 

(19)  Jack-in-the-waler.  An  attendant 
at  the  waterman’s  stairs,  &c.,  willing  to 
wet  his  feet,  if  needs  be,  for  “a  few 
coppers.” 

(20)  Jack-of- all- trades.  One  who  can 
turn  his  hand  to  anything,  but  excels  in 
nothing. 

(21)  Jack-of-boih-sides.  One  who  tries 
to  favour  two  antagonistic  parties,  either 
from  fear  or  for  profit. 

(22)  Jack-out- of -office.  But  long  I 

will  not  be  Jack-out-of-office.” — Shake- 
speare, “ 1 Henry  F/.,”  i.  1. 

(^Z)  Cheap  Jack.  (See  Chkxf.) 

(24)  Jack  will  never  be  a gentleman.  A 
mere  parvenu  will  never  be  like  a well- 
bred  gentleman. 

(25)  Every -man- Jack  of  them.  All  with- 
out exception,  even  the  most  insignificant. 

(20)  Rerrceniher  poor  Jack.  Threw  a 
copper  to  the  boys  paddling  about  the 
jetty  or  pier,  or  performing  tricks  under 
the  hope  of  getting  a small  bounty. 

(27)  All  fellows,  Jockey  and  the  laird. 
Man  and  master,  base  bom  and  high- 
born, are  boon  compsmions.  (See  Jean.) 


II.  Applied  to  boys  who  act  this 

PART  OP  MEN. 

(la)  Jack  Frost.  Frost  personified  as 
a mischievous  boy. 

(2a)  Jack  Sprat.  Who  bears  the  same- 
relation  to  a man,  as  a sprat  does  to  a. 
mackerel  or  herring. 

(за)  Jack  and  Jill  (nursery  rhyme). 
Jill  or  Gill  is  a contraction  of  J ulienne  or 
Gillian,  a common  Norman  name.  Jack 
and  Jill  represent  the  complete  amah 
gamation  of  the  Saxon  and  Normaa 
stocks  in  the  nation. 

(4a)  Jack  and  the  Bean-stalk  (nurserj 
tale),  of  German  origin. 

(5a)  Jack  and  the  Fiddler.  Ditto. 

(ба)  JaA:k  of  cards.  The  Knave  or  boy  ' 
of  the  king  and  queen  of  the  same  suit.. . 

(7a)  Jack  the  Giant  Killer  (q.v.). 

(8a)  Glym  Jack.  A link  boy  who  carries : 
aglym.  (Gcorman,  glirnmen.)  (^SeeGLiM.)) 

(9a)  Little  Jack. 

(10a)  Little  Jack  Horner.  (See  Jack 
Horner.) 

(11a)  The  house  that  Jack  built  (nurserj 
tale).  (aS^^Jean.) 

III.  Applied  to  the  males  op  in- 
ferior animals  : as— 

Jack-ass,  Jack-baker  (a  kind  of  owl)^ 
Jack  or  dog  fox.  Jack-hare,  Jack-hernyy 
Jack-rat,  Jack-shark,  Jack-snipe;  a young 
pike  is  called  a Jack,  so  also  were  th©  • 
male  birds  used  in  falconry. 

IV.  Applied  to  Instruments  which 
supply  the  place  of  or  represent  inferior 
men  or  boys 

(16)  A jack.  Used  instead  of  a tumspiOi 
boy,  generally  called  Jack. 

(26)  A jack.  Used  for  lifting  heavy, 
weights. 

(зб)  Jack.  The  figure  outside  old  public 
clocks,  made  to  strike  the  bell. 

Strike  like  Jack  o’  the  clock-house,  never  but  iss< 
teu,aoii.— Strode,  ‘‘  Floating  Island.” 

(46)  Jack-a-lent.  A puppet  represent- 
ing Judas  Iscariot,  carried  about  in  th© 
season  of  Lent ; a scare-crow.  Shake- 
speare says — 

Wifc  maybe  made  a Jack-a-leut.— “ Wivtsf 

of  Windsor,”  V.  5.  (See  above,  4.) 

(56)  Jack-roll.  The  cylinder  rouiaeJ 
which  the  rope  of  a well  coils. 

(бб)  J ack-in-the  basket.  The  cup  or 
basket  on  the  top  of  a pole,  to  indicat© 
the  place  of  a sand-bank  at  sea,  &c. 

(76)  Jack-in-the-box.  A toy  represent- 
ing a man  which  pops  up  when  the  lid 
of  the  box  is  remaved. 


D D 


450 


JACK. 


JACK-A-NAPES. 


(85)  Boot-jacJc.  An  instrument  tor 
drawing  off  boots,  which  used  to  be  done 
by  inferior  servants. 

(95)  Bottle-jack.  A machine  for  turn- 
ing the  roast  instead  of  a turnspit, 

(105)  Lifting-jack.  A machine  for  lift- 
ing the  axle-tree  of  a carriage  when  the 
wheels  are  cleaned. 

(115)  Roasting-jack,  (^eeBoTTLE-JACK, 
95.) 

(125)  Smoke-jack.  An  apparatus  in  a 
chimney-flue  for  turning  a spit.  It  is 
made  to  revolve  by  the  upward  current 
of  smoke  and  air, 

V.  Applied  to  inferior  articles 
which  bear  the  same  relation  to  the  thing 
imitated,  as  Jack  does  to  a gentleman. 

(lc)  Jack.  A rough  stool  or  wooden 
horse  for  sawing  timber  on. 

(2c)  Jack.  A small  drinking  vessel 
made  of  waxed  leather. 

(3c)  Jack.  Inferior  kind  of  armour. 
(<8cc1[  Jack.) 

(4c)  A Jack  and  a Half -jack.  A counter 
resembling  a sovereign  and  a half-sove- 
reign. 

(5c)  Jack-hlock.  A block  attached  to 
the  top-gallant- tie  of  a ship. 

(6c)  Jack-hoots.  Cumbrous  boots  of 
tough,  thick  leather.  Jacks  or  armour 
for  the  legs. 

(7c)  Jack-pan.  A vessel  used  by  bar- 
bers for  heating  water  for  thei-r  cus- 
tomers. 

(8c)  Jack-plane.  A menial  plane  to  do 
the  rough  work  for  finer  instruments. 

(9c)  Jack-rafter.  A rafter  in  a hipped 
roof,  shorter  than  a full-sized  one. 

(10c)  Jack-rih.  An  inferior  rib  in  an 
arch,  being  shorter  than  the  rest. 

(11c)  Jack-screws.  Large  coarse  screws. 

(12c)  Jack  timhers.  Timbers  in  a bay 
shorter  than  the  rest. 

(13c)  Jack-towel.  A coarse,  long  towel 
for  the  servants’  use. 

(14c)  Jack  of  Dover  {q.v.). 

(15c)  Jacket  {q.v.). 

(16c)  Black  Jack.  A huge  drinking 
vessel.  A Frenchman  speaking  of  it 
says,  '*The  English  drink  out  of  their 
boots.  — H egwood. 

VI.  A TERM  OP  CONTEMPT. 

(ld)  J ack-a-lantern  or  Jack-o' -lantern, 
the  fool  fire  {ignis  fatuus). 

(2d)  Jack-ass.  An  unmitigated  fool. 

(3d)  Jack-at-bowls.  The  butt  of  all 
the  players. 

(4d)  Jack  daw.  A prating  nuisance. 

(5d)  Jack  JjrmrCs  entertainment  (S'.'T.). 


(6d)  Jarkey.  A monkey. 

(7d)  Skip-jack.  A toy,  an  upstart. 

^ A good  J ack  makes  a good  Jill.  A good 
husband  makes  a good  wife,  a good  master 
makes  a good  servant.  Jack,  a generic 
name  for  man,  husband,  or  master,  and 
Gill  or  Jill  his  wife  or  female  servant. 

Every  Jack  shall  have  his  Jill.  Every 
man  may  find  a wife  if  he  likes ; or  rather, 
every  country  rustic  shall  find  a lass  for 
his  mate. 

Jack  shall  have  his  Jill, 

Nought  shall  go  ill ; 

The  man  shall  have  his  raare  again,  and  all  shall 

be  well. 

Shakespeare.,  ” Midsummer  I/ighVs  Dream,’*  iiL  2. 

To  Play  the  Jack.  To  play  the  rogue 
or  knave  ; to  deceive  or  lead  astray  like 
Jack-o’-lantern,  or  igms  fatuus. 

your  fairy,  which  yon  say  is  a harmless 

fairy,  has  done  little  better  than  played  the  Jack 
with  us.— N/ioArespeare,  “ Tempest,”  iv.  l. 

To  he  upon  their  Jacks.  To  have  the 
advantage  over  one.  The  reference  is 
to  the  coat  of  mail  quilted  with  stout 
leather,  more  recently  called  a jerkin. 

H Jack.  Armour  consisting  of  a 
leather  surcoat  worn  over  the  hauberk, 
from  the  fourteenth  to  the  seventeenth 
century,  both  inclusive.  The  word  is  a 
contraction  oijazerine,  a corruption  of  the 
Italian  ghiazeri'no  (a  clinker-built  boat), 
which  it  resembled  in  construction.  It 
was  formed  by  over-lapping  pieces  of 
steel  fastened  by  one  edge  upon  canvas, 
coated  over  with  cloth  or  velvet.  In 
short,  it  was  a surcoat  padded  with  metal 
to  make  it  sword-proof.  These  jaze- 
rines  were  worn  by  the  peasantry  of  the 
English  borders  when  they  journeyed 
from  place  to  place,  and  in  their  skir- 
mishes with  moss-troopers. 

Jack.  (*8^6  Jockey.) 

“U  Colonel  Jack.  The  hero  of  Defoe’s 
novel  so  called.  He  is  a thief  who  goes 
to  Virginia,  and  becomes  the  owner  of 
vast  plantations  and  a family  of  slaves. 

The  Union  Jack.  fSee  Union.) 

Jack-a-dandy.  A finikin  coxcomb. 
French  dandin  (a  ninny),  similar  to  the 
Spanish  tonro{a  dolt). 

Jack-amend-all.  One  of  the  nick- 
names given  to  Jack  Cade  the  rebel, 
who  promised  to  remedy  all  abuses.  {See 
Cade.) 

Jack-a-napes.  An  impertinent, 
vulgar  prig.  In  1379  was  brought  to 


JACK  DRUM. 


JACK  THE  GIANT-KILLER.  451 


’Viterbo  the  game  at  cards  called  by  the 
Saracens  nalby  and  Mr.  W.  Chatto  says 
that  Jack-a-napes  is  Jack  o’  naibs.  The 
adjective  is  Jack-a-nape.  {See  Jeannot.) 

I will  teach  a scurvy  jackarape  pri^'st  to  meddle  I 
•and  make.  — iS/ia^espeare,  "Merry  Wives  of  Wind/-  \ 
sor”  i.  4. 

Jack  Drum’s  Entertainment.  I 

A beating.  {See  John  Drum’s,  &c.) 

Jack  Horner.  Halliwell,  his 
^'^Nursery  Rhymes  of  England,”  has  given 
a full  account  of  Master  Homer’s  witty 
tricks  and  pleasant  pranks. 

A correspondent  in  Notes  and  Queries  j 
says : There  is  a tradition  in  Somerset-  j 
shire  that  the  abbot  of  Glastonbury,  | 
hearing  that  Henry  VII 1.  had  spoken 
with  indignation  of  his  building  Sruch  a i 
kitchen  as  the  king  could  not  burn  down,  ! 
sent  up  his  steward,  Jack  Homer,  to  i 
present  the  king  with  a suitable  bribe — 
viz.,  a pie  containing  the  transfer  deeds 
of  twelve  manors.  Jack,  lifting  up  the 
cmst,  abstracted  from  the  dish  the  deed 
of  the  manor  of  Wells,  and  told  the 
abbot  that  the  king  had  given  it  him. 
Hence  the  nursery  rhyme : — 

Little  Ja^’k  Horner 

Sat  in  a comer  icfthe  waggon\. 

Eyeing  his  Christmas  pie. 

He  put  in  his  thumb 

And  pulled  out  a plum  trtle-deed\ 

Saying  “ What  a brave  boy  am  I !” 

Jack  Ketch..  Although  this  looks 
very  much  like  a sobriquet,  there  seems 
no  sufficient  evidence  to  believe  it  to  be 
otherwise  than  a real  proper  name.  We 
are  told  that  the  name  Jack  was  applied 
to  hangmen  from  Richard  Jaquett,  to 
whom  the  manor  of  Tyburn  once  be- 
longed. {See  Hangmen.) 

Jack  Pudding.  A buffoon  who 
performs  pudding  tricks,  such  as  swal- 
lowing a certain  number  of  yards  of  black- 
pudding. S.  Bishop  observes  that  each 
country  names  its  stage  buffoon  from  its 
favourite  viands : The  Dutchman  calls 
him  Pickel-herring'e ; the  Germans,  Hans 
IViirsi!  (John  Sausage);  the  Frenchman, 
Jean  Potage  ; the  Italian  Macaro'ni  ; and 
the  English  Jack  Pudding, 

Jack  Robinson.  Before  you  can 
say  Jack  Robinson,  Immediately.  Grose 
says  that  the  saying  had  its  birth  from 
a very  volatile  g-ntleman  of  that  name, 
who  used  to  pay  flying  visits  to  his  neigh- 
bours, and  was  no  sooner  announced  than 


he  was  off  again ; but  the  following 
couplet  does  not  confirm  this  derivation. 

A warke  it  ys  as  easie  to  be  done 
As  tys  to  gaye  Jacke  ! robys  on. 

An  old  Flay,  cited  by  Halliwill,  "Arch,  Diti,* 

Jack  Sprat.  A dwarf  ; as  if  sprats 
were  dwarf  mackerels.  Children,  by  a 
similar  metaphor,  are  called  small  fry. 
{See  Fry.) 

Jack  Tsir.  A common  sailor,  whose 
hands  and  clothes  are  tarred  by  the  ship 
tackling. 

Jack  of  Dover.  A stock  fish, 
‘^hake  salted  and  dried.”  The  Latin 
for  a hake  is  merluciuSy  and  lucius  is  a 
jack  or  pike.  Mer  of  course  means  the 
sea,  and  Dover,  the  chief  cinque  port,  is 
used  as  a synonym.  Also,  refuse  wine 
collected  into  a bottle  and  sold  for  fresh 
wine. 

Many  a Jack  of  Hover  hastow  sold 
That  hath  been  twyes  hot  and  twyes  cold. 

Chawer,  “ Oanterbury  Tales.’* 

Jack  of  Hewbury.  John  Winch- 
comb,  the  greatest  clothier  of  the  world, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  He  kept 
100  looms  in  his  own  house  at  Newbury, 
and  equipped  at  his  own  expense  100  of 
his  men  to  aid  the  king  against  the 
Scotch  in  Flodden  Field. 

Jack  o’  the  Bowl.  The  most  fa- 
mous brownie  or  house-spirit  of  Switzer- 
land ; so  called  from  the  custom  of  placing 
for  him  every  night  on  the  roof  of  the 
cow-house  a bowl  of  fresh  sweet  cream. 
The  contents  of  this  bowl  are  sure  to 
disappear  before  morning. 

Jack  the  G-iant-killer  owed  much 
of  his  success  to  his  four  marvellous  pos- 
sessions—an  invisible  coat,  a cap  of  wis- 
dom, shoes  of  swiftness,  and  a resistless 
sword.  When  he  put  on  his  coat  no  eye 
could  see  him,  when  he  had  his  shoes  on 
no  one  could  overtake  him,  his  sword 
would  cut  through  everything,  and  when 
his  cap  was  on  he  knew  everything  he 
required  to  know.  Yonge  says  the  story 
is  based  on  the  Scandinavian  tale  of  Thor 
and  Loki,  while  Masson  maintains  it  to 
be  a nursery  version  of  the  feats  of  Co- 
rin'eus  in  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth’s  mar- 
vellous history.  I apprehend  that  neither 
of  these  suggestions  will  find  many  sup« 
porters. 


D D 


452. 


JACKAL. 


JACQUES. 


Jackal.  A toady.  One  who  does 
the  dirty  work  of  another.  It  was  once 
thought  that  the  jackals  hunted  in 
troops  to  provide  the  lion  with  prey, 
hence  they  were  called  the  ^Uion’s  pro- 
viders.” No  doubt  the  lion  will  at  times 
avail  himself  of  the  jackal’s  assistance 
by  appropriating  prey  started  by  these 
“ hunters,”  but  it  would  be  folly  to  sup- 
pose that  the  jackal  acted  on  the  principle 
of  VOS  non  vohis.  {See  Honeycomb.) 

J acket.  A little  jack,  or  surcoat. — 
See  Jack  (armour). 

Jackson.  (_See  Stonewall.) 

Jackso'nian  Professor.  The  pro- 
fessor of  natural  and  experimental  phi- 
losophy in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
This  professorship  was  founded  in  1783 
by  the  E»ev.  Kichard  Jackson. 

Jacob.  Jacob  the  scourge  of  Gram- 
mar. Giles  Jacob,  master  of  Romsey,  in 
Southamptonshire,  brought  up  for  an 
attorney.  A poetaster  in  the  time  of 
Pope.  {See  Dunciad,”  iii.) 

Jacob’s  Ladder.  A ladder  see-n 
by  the  patriarch  Jacob  in  a vision.  It 
was  set  on  the  earth  and  reached  to 
heaven,  and  angels  seemed  to  be  ascend- 
ing and  descending  on  it  (Gen.  xxviii.  12). 
Jacob  is,  on  this  account,  a cant  name 
for  a ladder.  There  is  a tlower  so  called. 

Jacob’s  Stone.  The  stone  inclosed 
in  our  coronation  chair,  brought  from 
Scone  by  Edward  I.,  and  said  to  be  the 
stone  on  which  the  patriarch  Jacob  laid 
his  head  when  he  dreamt  about  the 
ladder  referred  to  above. 

This  stone  was  originally  used  in  Ireland 
as  a coronation  stone.  It  was  called 
“ Innisfoil,”  or  stone  of  fortune. 

Jacobins.  The  Dominicans  were  so 
ealled  in  France  from  the  ‘^Rue  St. 
Jacques,”  Paris,  where  they  first  esta- 
blished themselves  in  1219. 

Jacobins.  A political  club,  originally 
called  the  Club  Breton,  formed  at  Ver- 
sailles in  1789.  On  their  removal  to  Paris, 
they  met  in  the  hall  of  an  ex-convent  of 
Jacobins  {see  above),  in  the  Rue  St. 
Honord.” 

Jac'obites  (3  syl.).  The  partisans 
of  James  II.,  his  son,  and  grandson. 

Jacobites,  nicknamed  Warming -'pans. 
It  is  sai^l  that  Mar}--  d’Este,  the  wife 


of  James  II.,  never  had  a living  child, 
but  that  on  one  occasion  a child,  intro- 
duced to  her  in  a warming-pan,  was 
substituted  for  her  dead  infant.  This 

warming-pan  child”  was  the  Pretender. 

Jac'obites.  An  Oriental  sect  of 
Monoph'y sites,  [so  called  from  Jaco'bus 
Baradaeus  ( J acoub  Al-Baradei),  bishop  of 
Edessa,  in  Syria,  in  the  sixth  century. 

J aco'bus.  A gold  coin  of  the  value 
of  25s.,  struck  in  the  reign  of  James  I. 

Jacquard  Loom.  So  called  fromt 
Jos.  Marie  Jacquard,  of  Lyons,  who  in- 
vented this  ingenious  device  for  weaving 
figures  upon  silks  and  muslins.  (1752- 
1834.) 

Jacqueline  (of  Paris).  A bell 
weighing  15,000  lbs.,  cast  in  1400. 

Jacquerie  {La).  An  insurrection 
of  the  peasantry  of  France  in  1358,  ex- 
cited by  the  oppressions  of  the  privileged 
classes  and  Charles  the  Bad  of  Navarre, 
while  king  Jean  was  a prisoner  in  Eng- 
land. When  the  peasants  complained, 
and  asked  who  was  to  redress  their 
grievances,  they  were  told  in  scorn 
Jacques  Bon-homme  ( J ohnny  Goodman) — 

e.,  no  one.  At  length  a leader  appeared, 
called  himself  Jacques  Bonhomme,  and 
declared  war  to  the  death  against  every 
gentleman  in  France.  In  six  weeks  some 
12,000  of  these  insurgents  were  cut  down, 
and  amongst  their  number  was  the  leader 
himself.  (^See  Jack,  Jacques.) 

Jacques.  A generic  name  for  the 
poor  artisan  class  in  France.  Jaques  is 
a sort  of  cotton  waistcoat  without  sleeves.. 

Jacques,  il  me  faut  troubler  toa  somme  ; 

Dans  Je  village,  un  gros  huissier 
K6de  et  court,  suivi  du  messier : 

C’est  pour  I’impot,  las ! mon  pauvre  homme. 

Leve-toi,  Jacques,  l§ve-tof. 

Void  venir  I’liuissier  du  roi. 

Beranger  (1831.) 

Pauvre  Jacques.  Said  to  a maiden 
when  she  is  lackadaisical  (French).  Marie 
Antoinette  had  at  the  Little  Trianon  an 
artificial  Swiss  village,  which  she  called 
her  Petite  Suisse,”  and  actually  sent 
to  Switzerland  for  a peasant  girl  to  assist 
in  milking  the  cows.  The  Swiss  maiden 
was  one  day  overheard  sighing  for 

Pauvre  Jacques,”  and  the  queen  sent 
for  the  distant  swain,  and  had  the  lovers 
married.  To  finish  this  absurd  romance, 
the  marchioness  de  Travanet  wrote  an 


.lACQUES  BON-HOMME. 


JAMSHID. 


453 


<>de  on  the  event,  which  was  for  a time 
wonderfully  popular. 

Pauvre  Jacques,  quand  j’etais  pres  de  toi< 

Je  ne  sentais  pas  ma  misere : 

Jlais  a present  que  tii  vis  loin  de  moi, 

Je  manque  de  tout  sur  la  terre. 

3tarquise  de  Travanet. 

Jacques  Bon-homme.  A sort 
of  fairy  good-luck,  who  is  to  redress  all 
wrongs,  and  make  all  the  poor  wealthy. 
The  i>ench  peasants  are  so  called  some- 
times, and  then  the  phrase  is  like  our 
term  of  sneering  pity,  “my  good  fellow,” 
or  “ my  fine  fellow.”  {See  Jacquerie.) 

Jaeu'si.  God  of  mQdiiGme.— Japanese 
mythology. 

Jade  or  The  Divine  Stone.  Worn  by 
the  Indians  as  an  amulet  to  preserve 
them  from  the  bite  of  venomous  animals, 
and  to  cure  the  gravel,  epilepsy,  &c. — 
—Hill. 

JaTfier  (3  syl.),  in  “Venice  Pre- 
served,” a tragedy  by  Otway.  He  joins 
the  conspiracy  of  Pierre  against  the  Ve- 
netian state,  but  communicates  the  secret 
to  his  wife  Belvide'ra.  Belvide'ra,  being 
the  daughter  of  a senator,  is  naturally 
anxious  to  save  the  life  of  Priu'li,  her 
father,  and  accordingly  induces  her  hus- 
band to  disclose  the  plot,  under  promise 
of  pardon  to  all  the  conspirators.  The 
plot  being  revealed,  the  senate  condemned 
the  conspirators  to  death,  whereupon 
Jaffier  stabbed  Pierre  to  prevent  his 
being  broken  on  the  wheel,  and  then 
stabbed  himself. 

Jaga  Baba.  The  Belo'na  or  war- 
goddess  of  the  Slaves. 

Jai'nas.  The  followers  of  Jai'na,  a 
heterodox  sect  of  the  Hindus.  They 
believe  that  all  objects  are  classed  under 
nine  categories. 

Jamambuxes  {Soldiers  of  the  round 
•valleys).  Certain  fanatics  of  Japan,  who 
roam  about  and  pretend  to  hold  converse 
with  the  devil.  They  scourge  themselves 
severely,  and  sometimes  refrain  from 
sleeping  for  several  days,  in  order  to  win 
the  odour  of  sanctity.  They  are  employed 
by  the  people  for  the  discovery  of  articles 
stolen  or  lost. 

Jainbusclia(Jaw-^a5-car).  Adam’s 
preceptor,  according  to  the  pre- Adamites. 


Sometimes  called  Boan,  and  sometimes 
Zagtith. 

James  {St).  Patron  saint  of  Spain. 
At  Padron,  near  Compostello,  they  used 
to  show  a huge  stone  as  the  veritable 
boat  in  which  the  apostle  sailed  from 
Palestine.  His  body  was  discovered  in 
840  by  divine  revelation  to  bishop  Theo- 
domi'rus,  and  king  Alphonso  built  a 
church  at  Compostello  for  its  shrine. 
According  to  another  legend  : It  was  the 
relics  of  St,  James  that  were  miraculously 
conveyed  to  Spain  in  a ship  of  marble 
from  Jersualem,  where  he  was  bishop. 
A knight  saw  the  ship  sailing  into  port, 
his  horse  took  fright,  and  plunged  with 
its  rider  into  the  sea.  The  knight  saved 
himself  by  “ boarding  the  marble  vessel,” 
but  his  clothes  were  found  to  be  entirely 
covered  with  scallop  shells. 

In  Christian  art  this  saint  has  some- 
times the  sword  by  which  he  was  be- 
headed, and  sometimes  he  is  attired  as 
a pilgrim,  with  his  cloak  covered  with 
shells.  {See  above.') 

St.  James  {the  Less).  His  attidbute  is 
a fuller’s  club,  in  allusion  to  the  instru- 
ment by  which  he  was  put  to  death, 
after  having  been  precipitated  from  the 
summit  of  the  temple. 

St.  James's  College.  So  called  from 
James  I.,  who  granted  a charter  to  a 
college  founded  at  Chelsea  by  Dr.  Sut- 
cliffe, dean  of  Exeter,  to  maintain  priests 
to  answer  all  adversaries  of  religion. 
Laud  nicknamed  it  “Controversy  Col- 
lege.” The  college  was  a failure,  and 
Charles  II.  gave  the  site  to  the  Koyal 
Society,  who  sold  it  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Old 
Soldiers,  which  now  exists. 

St.  James's  Day.  July  25,  the  day  of 
his  martyrdom. 

Jamma-Locon.  The  Indian  hell ; 
after  a time  the  spirits  return  to  earth 
and  enter  the  first  body  they  encounter. 

Jam'nes  and  Mam'bres.  The  two 
magicians  of  Pharaoh,  who  imitated  some 
of  the  miracles  of  Moses.  The  Jannes 
and  Jambres  who  “ withstood  Moses,” 
mentioned  by  St.  Paul  (2  Tim.  iii.  8,  9), 
are  supposed  to  be  the  same.  The  para- 
phrast  Jonathan  says  they  were  the  sons 
of  Balaam. 

Jamshid'.  King  of  the  Genii,  famous 
for  a golden  cup  full  of  the  elixir  of  life. 
ITiis  cup,  hidden  by  the  genii,  was  dia- 


454 


JANE. 


JANUa 


covered  while  digging  the  feundations  of 
Persep'olis.  j 

I ]{now  too  where  the  genii  hid  , 

The  je»'«;lled  cud  of  tJietr  king  Jamshid, 

Willi  life’s  elixir  sparkling  high. 

Thomas  Moore,  **  Farudise  and  the  Peri." 

Jane.  A Genoese  halfpenny,  a cor- 
ruption of  Januensis  or  Genoensis. 

Jane.  A most  ill-starred  name  for 
rulers.  To  give  a few  examples : Lady 
Jane  Grey,  beheaded  by  Mary  for  treason ; 
Jane  Seymour;  Jane  or  Joan  Beaufort, 
wife  of  James  I.  of  Scotland,  who  was 
infamously  and  savagely  murdered  ; Jane 
of  Burgundy,  wife  of  Philippe  le  Long, 
who  imprisoned  her  for  adultery  in  1314  ; 
Jane  of  Flanders,  who  was  in  ceaseless 
war  with  Jane  of  Fenthi^vre,  after  the  cap- 
tivity of  their  husbands.  This  contest  is 
known  in  history  as  The  wars  of  the 
two  Janes’*  (fourteenth  century).  Jane 
of  Framce  (de  Valois),  wife  of  Louis  XII., 
who  repudiated  her  for  being  ugly ; Jane 
d*A  Ibret,  mother  of  Henri  lY.  of  France. 
Being  invited  to  Paris  to  attend  the 
espousals  of  her  son  with  Margaret  de 
Valo'is,  she  was  pois@ned  by  Catharine  de’ 
Medicis(1572) ; Jane,cowntess  ofHainault, 
daughter  of  Baldwin,  and  wife  of  Fernand 
of  Portugal,  who  was  made  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  Bouvines  in  1214.  She  re- 
fused to  ranscm  him,  and  is  thought  to 
have  poisoned  her  father;  Jane  Renri- 
quez,  wife  of  John  II.  of  Navarre,  stirred 
np  war  between  her  husband  and  his  son 
Carlos  by  a former  marriage,  and  ulti- 
mately made  away  with  the  young  prince, 
a proceeding  which  caused  a revolt  of  the 
Catalonians  (1462) ; Jane  the  imbecile  of 
Castile,  who  lost  her  reason  from  grief  at 
the  neglect  of  her  husband,  Philip  the 
handsome,  archduke  of  Austria ; Jane  I, 
of  Naples  married  Andrew  of  Hungary, 
whom  she  caused  to  be  murdered,  and 
then  married  the  assassin.  Her  reign 
was  most  disastrous.  La  Harpe  has  a 
tragedy  entitled  ^'Jeanne  de  Naples;’* 
Jane  II.  of  Naples,  a woman  of  most 
scandalous  character,  guilty  of  every 
sort  of  wantonness.  She  married  James, 
count  of  March,  who  put  to  death  her 
lovers  and  imprisoned  J ane  for  two  years.  ! 
At  her  release,  James  fled  to  France, 
when  J ane  had  a liaison  with  Caraccioli, 
whom  she  afterwards  murdered ; Joan, 
the  pope,  if  indeed  such  a person  ever 
existed;  Jeanne  la  Pucetle  [Joan  of  Arc] 
cannot  bo  called  a ruler,  but  her  lot  was 
not  more  happy  ; &c.,  &c.  {See  John.) 


J ane  Eyre.  The  heroine  in  a novel 
of  the  same  name,  by  Currer  Bell  (q.v.). 

Jangu-Mon  {Good  man).  Two  gods 
of  the  negroes  of  the  Gold  Coast. 

Janic'ulum.  One  of  the  armed  po- 
sitions on  the  farther  side  of  the  Tiber,, 
which  prohibited  approach  to  Home. 

Janissaries  or  Jan'izaries,  a cele- 
brated militia  of  the  Ottoman  empire,, 
raised  by  Orchan  in  1326,  and  called  the 
Yengi-tscheri  (new  corps).  It  was  blessed 
by  Hadji  Bektash,  a saint,  who  cut  off 
a sleeve  of  his  fur  mantle  and  gave  it  to 
the  captain,  who  put  it  on  his  head,  and 
from  this  circumstance  arose  the  fur  cap 
worn  by  these  foot-guards. 

Janitor  {Latin).  A door-porter. 

Jan'nanins.  The  departed  spirits 
of  the  Africans  of  Guinea.  They  resem- 
ble in  a striking  manner  the  Roman 
ma'nes,  in  their  guardian  care,  and  in  the-^ 
great  interest  they  take  in  the  family 
over  which  they  preside. 

Jannat  iAl)  {The  Garden).  The 
name  given  by  Mahomet  to  his  paradise. 

Jan'senists.  A sect  of  Christians, 
who  followed  the  opinions  of  Janse'nius, 
bishop  of  Ypres,  in  France.  They  en- 
tertained Calvinistic  views,  and  long  did 
battle  with  the  Jesuits;  but  Louis  XIV. 
took  part  against  them,  and  they  were 
put  down  by  pope  Clement  XI.,  in  1705, 
in  the  famous  bull  called  Unigen'itus  {q.v.). 

Janua'rius  {St.).  A martyr  in  305. 
Two  vials  of  his  blood  are  preserved  in 
the  cathedral  at  Naples,  and  every  year 
on  September  19  (the  day  of  his  martyr- 
dom) the  blood  liquefies. 

Order  of  St.  Januarius  (patron  saint 
of  Naples),  instituted  in  1788  by  infante 
don  Carlos. 

Jan'uary.  The  month  dedicated  by 
the  Romans  to  Janus  {q.r.). 

Ja'nus.  The  temple  of  peace,  in 
Rome.  The  doors  were  thrown  open  in 
times  of  peace  and  closed  in  times  of 
I war.  Some  think  the  two  faces  of  this 
mythical  deity  allegorise  Noah  and  his 
sons,  who  look  back  on  the  world  before 
the  flood,  and  forward  on  the  world  after 
the  deluge  had  abated.  This  idea  will 
do  very  well  in  poetry. 

Slavery  was  the  hincte  ou  whicli  the  gates  of  the 
temple  of  Jaaus  turned  Ctu  the  Americau  war).-~ 
The  limes. 


JAPANESE. 


JEAN  DE  LETTRE.  455 


Japanese  (3  syl).  The  latipfiiage  of 
Japan,  a native  of  Japan,  anything  per- 
taining thereto. 

Japheth’s  Stone.  According  to 
tradition,  Noah  gave  Japheth  a stone 
which  the  Turks  call  giud'etasch  and  senk- 
jede.  Whoever  possesses  this  stone  has 
the  power  of  bringing  rain  from  heaven 
at  wUl.  It  was  for  a long  time  preserved 
by  the  Moguls. 

Jaques  (1  syl.).  A morose  cynical 
moraliser  in  Shakespeare’s  ‘‘As  You 
Like  It.”  It  is  much  disputed  whether 
the  word  is  a monosyllable  or  not. 
Charles  Lamb  makes  it  a dissyllable — 
“Where  Jaques  fed  in  solitary  vein;” 
but  Sir  Walter  Scott  uses  it  as  a mono- 
syllable— “ Whom  humorous  Jaques  with 
envy  viewed.” 

Jarkman.  An  Abram-man  {q.v.), 
Jark  means  a seal,  whence  also  a safe- 
conduct.  Abram-men  were  licensed 
beggars,  who  had  the  “seal”  or  licence 
of  the  Bethlehem  Hospital  to  beg. 

Jarnac.  Coup  de  Jarnac.  A peculiar 
stroke  of  the  sword  by  which  the  oppo- 
nent is  ham-strung.  The  allusion  is  to 
the  duel  between  Jarnac  and  La  Ch4- 
teigneraie,  on  the  10th  July,  1547,  in  the 
presence  of  Henri  II.,  when  Jarnac  dealt 
his  adversary  such  a blow,  from  which 
he  died. 

Jarndyce  v.  Jarndyce.  An  in- 
terminable Chancery  suit  in  Dickens’s 
“ Bleak  House.”  The  character  of  Jarn- 
dyce is  that  of  a kind-hearted,  easy  fellow, 
who  is  half  ashamed  that  his  left  hand 
should  know  what  his  right  hand  gives. 

Jarvie  {Baillie  Nicol).  A Glasgow 
magistrate  in  Scott’s  “Rob  Roy.”  Ho 
is  petulant,  conceited,  purse-proud, 
without  tact,  and  intensely  prejudiced, 
but  sincere  and  kind-hearted. 

Jatte(pron.  Yetta),  Giants  in  Swedish 
mythology. 

J aun'dice  (2  syl. ).  A jaundiced  eye, 

A prejudiced  eye,  which  sees  “faults  that 
are  not.”  It  was  a popular  belief  among 
the  Romans  that  to  the  eye  of  a person 
who  had  the  jaundice  everything  looked  i 
of  a yellow  tinge.  1 

All  seems  infecfe^l  that  th’  infected  spy. 

As  all  yellow  to  the  jauudii.ed  eve. 

jPopc,  “ Ensuy  on  Criticitm,** 


Javan  (day).  Son  of  Japheth.  In 
most  eastern  languages  it  is  the  collective 
name  of  the  Greeks,  and  is  to  be  so  un- 
derstood in  Isa.  Ixvi.  19,  and  Ezek. 
xxvii.  13. 

In  the  “World  before  the  Flood,”  by 
James  Montgomery,  Javan  is  the  hero. 
On  the  day  of  his  birth,  his  father  died, 
and  Javan  remained  in  the  “ patriarch’s 
glen”  under  his  mother’s  care,  till  she 
also  died  ; then  he  resolved  to  sre  the 
world,  and  sojourned  for  ten  years  with 
the  race  of  Cain,  where  he  became  the 
disciple  of  Jubal,  and  noted  for  his  mu- 
sical talents.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  returned,  penitent,  to  the  patri- 
arch’s glen,  where  Zillah,  daughter  of 
Enoch,  “won  the  heart  to  Heaven  de- 
nied.” The  giants  invade  the  glen,  and 
carry  off  the  little  band  captives.  Enoch 
reproved  the  giants,  who  would  have 
slain  him  in  their  fury,  but  they  could 
not  find  him,  “for  he  walked  with  God.” 
As  he  ascended  through  the  air,  his 
mantle  fell  on  Javan,  who,  “smiting 
with  it  as  he  moved  along,”  brought  the 
captives  safely  back  to  the  glen  again. 
A tempest  broke  forth  of  so  fearful  a 
nature  that  the  giant  army  fled  in  a 
panic,  and  their  king  was  slain  by  some 
treacherous  blow,  given  by  some  un- 
known hand. 

Jav'anese  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Java,  anything  pertaining  to  Java. 

Javert.  An  officer  of  police,  the 
impersonation  of  inexorable  law  in  “ Les 
Misdrables,”  by  Victor  Hugo. 

J awbone  (2  syl. ).  Credit,  promises. 
{Jaw,  words  or  talk;  bo7i,  good.) 

Ja'zey.  A wig;  a corruption  of  Jer- 
sey, and  so  called  because  they  are  made 
of  J ersey  flax  and  fine  wool, 

Je  Maintiendrai  {I  icill  maintain). 
The  motto  of  the  house  of  Nassau.  When 
William  III.  came  to  England,  he  re- 
tained the  motto,  but  added  to  it,  “ I 
will  maintain  the  liheidies  of  E)igland  and 
the  Protesta7it  religio^if 

Jeamesfl  syl.).  Any  flunky.  Some- 
times the  Morning  Post  is  so  called. 

Thackeray  wrote  in  “ Jeames’s 

Diary,”  of  which  Jeames  de  la  Piuche 
was  the  hero. 

Jean  de  Lettro  {Mr,  Jenkins^, 
“ Qui  pour  I’ordinaii'e,  dit  Tallemant, 


456  JEAN  DE  LA  SUIE. 


JEjMMY-  DAWSON. 


^st  un  animal  mal  idoine  b,  toute  autre 
<Q)io^Qy —Mme.DeshouliereSt''  ^Historiettes,'' 
ilx.  209j  X.  82. 

Jean  de  la  Suie  {French),  A 

Savoyard. 

Jean  des  Vignes  {FrencK).  So 

he  jonglers  call  the  poupee  to  which 
tihey  address  themselves.  The  French 
Protestants  in  the  sixteenth  century 
<;alled  “ the  host’’  Jean,  and  the  word  is 
pretty  well  synonymous  with  buffoon. 
Jean  des  Vignes  was  a drunken  ma- 
rionette performer  of  considerable  ability j 
‘‘Jean”  was  his  name,  “des  Vignes” 
his  sobriquet.  Hence  when  a person 
does  an  ill  action,  the  French  say,  ‘‘  H 
fait  comme  Jean  des  Vignes  an  illicit 
marriage  is  called  “le  mariage  de  Jean 
des  Vignes,”  and  a bad  fellow  is  “un 
Jean  des  Vignes.”  Hence  Assoucy  says, 
^‘Moi,  pauvre  sot,  plus  sot  que  Jean  des 
Vignes !” 

Jean ! que  dire  sur  J ean?  c’est  un  terrible  nom, 

Qui  jamais  n’accompa^ne  une  epithete  honetc. 
Jean  des  Vignes,  Jean  ligne.  Oa  rai^-je?  Trouve* 
bon 

Qu’en  si  beau  cbemin  je  m’arrete. 

*•  Virgile  Traveati"  vii.  {Juno  to  JEneas.) 

Jean  de  la  Vigne  {French),  A crucifix. 
{See  alove,) 

Jean  Farine  {Jack  Floury  A sort 
of  Scaramouch,  generally  very  tall,  and 
representing  a loutish  boy  dressed  all  in 
white,  the  hair,  face,  and  hands  being 
covered  with  flour. 

Jean  Farine  &*en  ferrient  (du  manteau  d’on  gen* 
^ilhcmme  Gascon)  un  bonnet ; et  a levoir  blanchastre, 
11  semble  qu^l  foit  deeja  enfarine.— ies  Jeux  de  I'In- 
connu  (1645). 

Jeannot  {French).  One  who  is  mi- 
nutely great,  one  who  exercises  his  talents 
and  ingenuity  on  trifles,  one  who  after 
great  preparation  at  table  to  produce 
some  mighty  effect,  brings  forth  only  a 
ridiculous  mouse. 

JeTiis  or  Jebisu'.  The  Neptune  of 
Japanese  mythology,  especially  revered 
ft>y  fishermen. 

Jeb'usites  (3  syl.),  in  Dry  den’s  satire 
of  “Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  stands 
for  the  Roman  Catholics ; so  called  be- 
cause England  was  Roman  Catholic  before 
the  Reformation,  and  Jerusalem  was 
<5alled  J ebus  before  the  time  of  David. 


Jedwood  Justice.  Putting  an  ob- 
noxious person  to  death  first,  and  trying 
him  afterwards. 

We  will  have  Jedwood  justice— harg  in  haste  and 
try  at  leisure.— <ScoW,  Fair  Maid  of  Perth”  xxxii. 

Jelien'nam.  The  Gehenna  of  the 
Arabs.  It  consists  of  seven  stages,  one 
below  the  others.  The  first  is  allotted 
to  atheists ; the  second  to  Manicheans 
{q.v.) ; the  third  to  the  Brahmins  of 
India ; the  fourth  to  the  Jews ; the  fifth 
to  Christians  ; the  sixth  to  the  Magians 
or  Ghebers  of  Persia ; and  the  seventh 
to  hypocrites. — The  Koran. 

Jeliovis'tic.  {See  Elohistic.) 

Jehu.  A coachman,  especially  one 
that  drives  at  a rattling  pace. 

The  watchman  told  him.  saying. ...the  driving  is 
like  the  driving  of  Jehu,  the  son  of  Nimshi,  for  he 
driveth  furiously.— 2 Kings  is.  20. 

Jejune  (2  syl.).  A jejune  narrative. 
A dry,  tedious  one.  ( Latin,  jeju'nus,  dry. ) 

Jelly  Pardons.  When  Thomas 
Cromwell  was  a clerk  in  the  English  fac- 
tory at  Antwerp,  two  of  his  fellow-coun- 
trymen from  Boston  (Lincolnshire),  con- 
sulted with  him  as  to  the  best  means  of 
getting  the  pardons  renewed  for  the 
repair  of  Boston  harbour.  Cromwell, 
knowing  that  pope  Julius  was  very  fond 
of  dainties,  provided  for  him  some  ex- 
quisite jelly,  and  told  his  holiness  that 
only  royalty  ever  ate  it  in  England.  The 
pope  was  so  pleased  with  the  delicacy 
that  he  signed  the  pardons,  on  condition 
of  having  the  receipt  of  the  jelly. 

Jellyby  {Mrs.).  A philanthropist 
who  would  spend  and  be  spent  to  help 
the  poor  fan- makers  and  fiower  girls  of 
Borriboolah  Gha,  but  would  bundle  into 
the  street  a poor  beggar  dying  of  star- 
vation on  her  own  doorstep. — Dickem^ 
“ Bleah  House,* 

Jemmy,  a name  found  in  engravings 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  was  James 
Worsdale,  the  painter  and  dramatic 
writer  (died  1767). 

Jemmy  Dawson  was  one  of  the 
Manchester  rebels,  who  was  hanged, 
drawn,  and  quartered,  on  Kennington 
Common,  Surrey,  July  30, 1746.  A lady 
of  gentle  blood  was  in  love  with  the  gal- 
lant young  rebel,  and  died  of  a broken 


JENKINSON. 


JERUSALEM  DELIVERED.  457 


feeart  on  the  day  of  his  execution. — 

Percy's  Reliques,'  series  2,  bk.  iii.  26. 

Shenstone  has  a ballad  on  the  subject, 
beginning  ‘‘Come  listen  to  my  mournful 
tale.” 

Jenkinson  A swindling 

rascal,  who  makes  a tool  of  Dr.  Primrose. 

— Goldsmiihj  “ Vicar  of  WaJcefieldP 

Jenny.  The  spinning  jenny  means 
the  little  spinning  engine.  The  word  is 
a corrupt  diminutive,  ’ginie.  It  is  an 
-error  to  derive  the  word  from  the  in- 
ventor’s wife  or  daughter,  seeing  his 
wife’s  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  he  had  no 
daughter. 

Jenny  I’Ouvriere.  A generic 
name  for  a hard-working,  poor,  but  con- 
tented needlewoman.  The  name  was 
•devised  by  Emile  Barateau,  and  rendered 
popular  by  his  song  so  called. 

Entendez-Tous  un  oieeau  familier?  j 

C’est  le  chanteur  de  Jenny  TOuvriere, 

An  coeur  content,  coate  ut  de  neu  ! 

Elle  pourrait  gtre  riche,  et  prefere 
Ce  qui  vient  de  Dieu.  (1847 •) 

Jenny  Wren  {Miss).  A doll- 
dresser  and  a cripple.  She  takes  charge  ! 
of  a drunken  father,  whom  she  calls  | 
her  boy,  and  treats  as  a child. — Didcens,  j 
‘ ‘ Mutual  Fr  tend.  ’ ’ ' 

Jeop'ardy  (3  syl.).  Hazard,  danger. 
Tyrwhitt  says  it  is  the  French  partis 
and  Froissart  uses  the  phrase.  Si  nous 
les  voyons  djeu  parti  (vol.  i.  c.  234).  J eu 
parti  is  a game  where  the  chances  are 
exactly  balanced,  hence  a critical  state.  ! 

Jereed.  A javelin  with  which  the 
Easterns  exercise. — Castellan,  Mceurs 
des  Othomans." 

Jer'emiad  (4  syl.).  A pitiful  tale, 
a tale  of  woe  to  produce  compassion ; so 
called  from  the  “ Lamentations  ” of  the 
prophet  Jeremiah. 

Jeremi'ah..  The  British  Jeremiah. 
Gibbon  so  calls  Gildas,  author  of 
“Lamentations  over  the  Destruction  of 
Britain”  (sixth  century). 

Jeremy  Diddler.  An  adept  at 
raising  money  on  false  pretences.  From 
Kenny’s  farce  called  “Raising  the  Wind.” 

Jer'ich-O.  Gone  to  Jericho.  No  one  i 
knows  where.  The  manor  of  Blackmore,  j 
near  Chelmsford,  was  called  Jericho,  and  | 


was  one  of  the  houses* of  pleasure  of 
Henry  VIII.  When  this  lascivious  prince 
had  a mind  to  be  lost  in  the  embraces  of 
his  courtesans,  the  cant  phrase  among 
his  courtiers  was  “ He  is  gone  to  Jericho.’* 

I wish  you  were  at  Jericho.  Anywhere 
out  of  my  way.  {See  above.) 

Jerome  {St.).  Generally  represented 
as  an  aged  man  in  a cardinal’s  dress, 
writing  or  studying,  with  a lion  seated 
beside  him.  The  best  painting  of  this 
saint  is  “The  Communion  of  St.  Jerome,” 
by  Domenichi'no,  in  the  Vatican.  It  is 
placed  opposite  Raphael’s  “ Transfigura- 
tion.” 

J eronlmo.  The  chief  character  in  the 
“Spanish  Tragedy,”  by  Thomas  Kyd. 
On  finding  his  application  to  the  king 
ill-timed,  he  says  to  himself,  “ Go  by, 
Jeronimo,”  which  tickled  the  fancy  of 
the  audience  so  that  it  became  for  a 
time  the  current  street  jest. 

Jerry  Sneak.  A henpecked  hus- 
band, from  a celebrated  character  in 
Foote’s  farce  of  the  “ Mayor  of  Garratt.” 

Jersey  is  czar’s- ey — i.e.,  Caesar’s 
island,  so  called  in  honour  of  Julius 
Caesar. 

Jeru'salem,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 
“ Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  means  Lon- 
don. 

A Jerusalem  pony.  A needy  clergyman 
or  minister,  who  renders  temporary  aid 
to  his  brother  ministers  for  hire ; so  called 
in  humoursome  discourtesy.  The  Jeru- 
salem pony  is  a large  species  of  donkey. 

Jerusalem  Artichoke.  A cor- 
ruption of  Girasole  artichoke.  Girasole 
is  the  sun-flower,  which  this  vegetable 
resembles  both  in  leaf  and  stem. 

Jerusalem  Chamber.  The  Chap- 
ter-house of  Westminster  Abbey.  Henry 
IV.  died  there,  March  20,  1413. 

It  hath  been  prophesied  to  me  many  years, 

I should  not  die  but  in  Jerusalem. 

The  Lower  House  of  Convocation  now 
meets  in  the  Jerusalem  Chamber.  The 
Upper  House  meets  at  Mr.  Hodgson’s, 
in  Dean’s  Yard,  Westminster. 

Jerusalem  Delivered.  An  epic 
in  twenty  books,  by  Torquato  Tasso 
(1544-1595). 

The  <;rusaders,  encamped  on  the  plains 
of  Torto'sa,  chose  Godfrey  for  their  chief. 


458 


JESS. 


JEW’S-EYK 


and  Aladine,  king  of  Jerusalem,  made 
preparations  of  defence.  The  overtures 
of  Argantes  to  Godfrey  being  declined, 
he  declared  war  in  the  name  of  the  king 
of  Egypt.  The  Christian  army  having 
reach^ed  Jerusalem,  the  king  of  Damascus 
sent  Armi'da  to  begiiile  the  Christians ; 
she  told  an  artful  tale  by  which  she 
drew  off  several  of  the  most  puissant. 
It  was  found  that  Jerusalem  could  never 
be  taken  without  the  aid  of  Rinaldo ; but 
Rinaldo  had  withdrawn  from  the  army, 
because  Godfrey  had  cited  him  to  answer 
for  the  death  of  Girnando,  slain  in  a duel. 
Godfrey  being  informed  that  the  hero  was 
dallying  with  Arrni'da  in  the  enchanted 
island,  sent  to  invite  him  back  to  the 
army;  he  returned,  and  Jerusalem  was 
taken  in  a night  attack.  As  for  Arrni'da, 
after  setting  fire  to  her  palace,  she  fled 
into  Egypt,  and  offered  to  marry  any 
knight  who  slew  Rinaldo  ; but  when  she 
found  the  Christian  army  was  success- 
ful, she  fled  from  the  field.  The  love  of 
Rinaldo  returned ; he  pursued  her  and 
she  relented.  The  poem  concludes  with 
the  triumphant  entry  of  the  Christian 
army  into  the  Holy  City,  and  their  de- 
votions at  the  tomb  of  the  Redeemer. 
The  two  chief  episodes  are  the  loves  of 
Olindo  and  Sophro'nia  {see  Olindo),  and 
of  Tancred  and  Corinda  {see  Tancred). 

Jess  (pi.  Jesses).  A short  strap  of 
leather  tied  about  the  legs  of  a hawk  to 
hold  it  on  the  fist.  Hence  a bond  of 
affection,  &c. 

If  I prove  her  haggard. 

Though  that  her  jesses  were  my  dear  heartstrings, 
I’d  wnistie  her  off. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello,'* in.'s. 

Jesse-tree.  In  Christian  art,  a vine 
tracing  the  genealogy  of  Christ,  called 
a rod  out  of  the  stem  of  Jesse  ” {Isa. 
xi.  I).  Jesse  is  generally  represented  in 
a recumbent  position,  and  the  vine  is 
made  to  rise  out  of  his  loins. 

Jes'sica.  The  Jew’s  daughter  in  the 
'^Merchant  of  Venice,”  by  Shakespeare. 
Jesters.  {See  Fools.) 

Jes'uit  (3  syl.).  When  Ignatius  de 
Loyola  was  asked  what  name  ho  would 
give  his  order,  he  replied,  ‘‘We  are  a little 
battalion  of  Jesus;”  so  it  was  called  the 
“ Society  of  Jesus,”  vulgarised  into 
Jesuits.  The  society  was  noted  for  its 
learning,  political  influence,  and  “pious 
frauds.”  The  order  was  driven  from 
France  in  1594,  from  England  in  1604, 


from  Venice  in  1606,  from  Spain  in  1767, 
from  Naples  in  1768;  and  in  1773  was 
suppressed  by  pope  Clement  XIV. ; 
but  it  revived  again,  and  still  exists. 
The  word  is  used  to  express  one  who 
“lies  like  truth,”  or  palters  with  us  in 
a double  sense,  that  “keeps  the  word  of 
promise  to  our  ear,  and  breaks  it  to  our 
hope.” 

Jet  d’Eau  {French).  A spout  or 
jet  of  water  thrown  up  into  the  ak*, 
generally  from  an  artificial  fountain. 
The  great  jet  at  Versailles  rises  to  a 
height  of  100  feet ; that  at  Chatsworth, 
the  highest  in  existence,  to  267  feet. 

Jetsam  or  Jetson.  Goods  cast  into 
the  sea  to  lighten  a ship.  (French,  jiefer, 
to  cast  out.)  {See  Flotsam.) 

Jeu  d’Esprit  {French).  A witti- 
cism. 

Jew.  The  Wandering  Jeio. 

(1)  Said  to  be  Kartaph'ilos,  Pilate’s 
porter.  When  the  officers  were  dragging 
J esus  out  of  the  hall,  Kartaph'ilos  struck 
him  with  his  fist  in  the  back,  saying,  “Go 
quicker,  man ; go  quicker ! ” Whereupon 
Jesus  replied,  “ I indeed  go  quickly;  but 
thou  shalt  tarry  till  I come  again.”  This 
man  afterwards  became  a Christian,  and 
was  baptised  under  the  name  of  Joseph. 
Every  100  years  he  falls  into  an  ecstacy, 
out  of  which  he  rises  again  at  the  age  of 
thirty. — Matthew  Paris. 

(2)  Ahasue'rus,  a cobbler,  who  dragged 
Jesus  before  Pilate.  As  the  Man  of 
Sorrows  was  going  to  Calvary,  weighed 
down  with  his  cross,  he  stayed  to  rest 
on  a stone  near  the  man’s  door,  when 
Ahasuerus  pushed  him  away,  saying, 
“Away  with  you,  here  you  shall  not 
rest.”  The  gentle  Jesus  replied,  “ I 
truly  go  away,  and  go  to  rest ; but  thou 
shalt  walk  and  never  rest  till  I come.” 

(3)  In  the  fourteenth  century,  Isaac 
Lakedion  or  Laquedem. 

(4)  Croly’s“  Salat hiel.”  (<SeeARiSTEAS.) 

Jews,  in  Dry  den’s  satire  of  “ Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  those  English  who  were 
loyal  to  Charles  II.,  called  David. 

Jeivs  horn  with  tails.  {See  Raboin.) 

Jew’s-eye.  WoiPi  a Jews-eye.  Ac- 
cording to  fable,  this  expression  arose 
from  the  custom  of  torturing  Jews  to 
extort  money  from  them.  The  expedient 
of  King  John  is  well  known : he  demanded 
10,000  marks  of  a rich  Jew  of  Bristol; 


JEW’S-HARP. 


JINNISTAN. 


the  Hebrew  resisted  the  atrocious  ex- 
action, but  the  tyrant  ordered  him  to  be 
brought  before  him,  and  that  one  of  his 
teeth  should  be  tugged  out  every  day, 
till  the  money  was  forthcoming.  This 
went  on  for  seven  days,  when  the  sufferer 
gave  in,  and  John  jestingly  observed,  A 
Jew’s  eye  may  be  a quick  ransom,  but 
Jews'  teeth  give  the  richer  harvest.” 

So  much  for  tradition,  but  as  a matter 
of  serious  philology  the  word  Jew’s- eye 
is  simply  a corruption  of  the  Italian  gioid 
(a  jewel). 

Launcelot,  in  the Merchant  of  Venice,” 
ii.  5,  puns  upon  this  phi*ase  when  he  says 
to  Jessica — 

There  will  come  a Christian  by 
Will  be  worth  a Jewess’  eye. 

Jew’s-Harp,  called  by  Bacon  yew- 
irompe,  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  jew- 
trump y by  Hackluyt,  jew's-harpy  is  evi- 
dently the  French  jeu-trompe  (toy-trum- 
pet) or  jeu-harpe  (toy-harp).  Trompe  ” 
in  French  has  a very  wide  signification, 
and  means  a horn,  trumpet,  rattle,  jew’s- 
harp,  and  many  other  things. 

The  best  players  on  this  instrument 
have  been  Koch,  a Prussian  soldier  under 
Frederick  the  Great ; Kunert,  Amstein, 
&c. 

Jew’s  Myrtle.  So  called  from  the 
popular  notion  that  it  formed  the  crown 
of  thorns  placed  by  the  Jews  on  the 
Savi®ur’s  head. 

Jewels  in  heraldry  represent  colours. 

The  topaz  represents  or  {gold),  or  the 
planet  Sol. 

The  pearl  or  crystal  represents  argent 
{silver),  or  the  planet  Luna. 

The  ruby  represents  gnles  {red),  or  the 
planet  Mars. 

The  sapphire  represents  azure  {bliie), 
or  the  planet  Jupiter. 

The  diamond  represents  sable  {blaxk), 
or  the  planet  Saturn. 

The  emerald  represents  vert  (green), 
or  the  planet  Venus. 

The  amethyst  represents  purpure  (2>wr- 
ple),  or  the  planet  Mercury. 

Jez'ebel.  A painted  Jezebel.  A 
flaunting  woman  of  bold  spirit,  but  loose 
morals  ; so  called  from  queen  Jezebel, 
the  wife  of  Ahab. 

Jib.  A triangular  sail  borne  in  front 
of  the  foremast.  It  has  the  bowsprit  for 
a base  in  small  vessels  and  the  jib-boom 
in  larger  ones,  and  exerts  an  important 


m 


effect  when  the  wind  is  abeam,  in  throw- 
ing the  ship’s  head  to  leeward. 

Jib.  The  under-lip.  A sailor’s  ex- 
pression ; the  under-lip  indicating  the 
temper,  as  the  jib  indicates  the  character 
of  a ship. 

The  cut  of  his  jib.  The  expression  of 
the  face  dependent  on  the  ‘4iang”  of 
the  under-lip.  (See  above.) 

To  hang  the  jib.  To  look  cross,  to  drop 
the  under-lip  in  ill-temper. 

Jib-boom.  An  extension  of  the 
bowsprit  by  the  addition  of  a spar  pro- 
jecting beyond  it.  Sometimes  the  boom 
is  further  extended  by  another  spar* 
called  flying  jib-boom. 

Jib-door.  A door  flush  with  the 
outside  wall,  and  intended  to  be  con- 
cealed ; forming  thus  part  of  the  jib  or 
face  of  the  house.  (See  “ Cut  of  his  Jib.”) 

Jig,  from  gigue.  A short  piece  of 
music  much  in  vogue  in  olden  times,  of 
a very  lively  character,  either  six-eight 
or  twelve- eight  time,  and  used  for  dance- 
tunes.  It  consists  of  two  parts,  each  of 
eight  bars. 

You  jig,  you  amble,  and  you  lisp. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,'^  iii,  L 

Jihon.  The  river  Oxus* 

Jim  Crow.  Brought  out  at  the 
Adelphi,  in  1836.  The  character  of  Jim 
Crow  played  by  T.  D.  Rice,  as  the  original 
of  the  nigger  minstrels  ’I  since  so 
popular.  A renegade  or  turncoat  is  called 
a Jim  Crow,  from  the  burden  of  the 
song,  Wheel  about  and  turn  about.” 

Jingo.  By  Jingo.  An  oath  ; a cor- 
ruption of  Gingou’ — i.e.y  St.  Gingoulph. 

Jinn.  A sort  of  fairy  in  Arabian 
mythology,  the  offspring  of  fire.  They 
propagate  their  species  like  human  be- 
ings, and  are  governed  by  a race  of  kings 
named  Suleyman,  one  of  whom  built 
the  pyramids.”  Their  chief  abode  is 
the  mountain  KM,  and  they  appear  to 
men  under  the  forms  of  serpents,  dogs, 
cats,  monsters,  or  even  human  beings, 
and  become  invisible  at  pleasure.  The^ 
evil  jinn  are  hideously  ugly,  but  the 
good  are  exquisitely  beautiful.  The 
singular  of  jinn  is  jinnee. 

Jin'nistan.  The  country  of  the 
Jinn,  or  Fairy  Land,  the  chief  province 
of  which  is  The  Country  of  Delight,  and 
the  capital  The  City  of  Jewels^ 


460 


JOACHIM. 


JOCKEY  OF  NORFOLK. 


Jo'achim  (5<.).  The  father  of  the 
Virgin  Mary.  Generally  represented  as 
an  old  man  carrying  in  a basket  two 
turtle-doves,  in  allusion  to  the  offering 
made  for  the  purification  of  his  daughter. 
His  wife  was  St.  Anne,  or  St.  Anna. 

Joan  (Pope),  A supposed  female 
•^^pope”  between  Leo  IV.  and  Benedict 
JII.  She  is  said  to  have  been  bom  in 
England  and  educated  at  Cologne,  pass- 
ing under  the  name  of  Joannes  An'glicus 
(John  of  England).  Blindel,  a Calvinist, 
has  shown  that  no  such  person  ever  oc- 
cupied the  papal  chair. 

Joan  Cromwell.  Joan  Cromwell’s 
hitchen-stuff  tub.  A tub  of  kitchen  per- 
quisites. The  filchings  of  servants  sold 
for  '^market  pennies. The  royalists 
used  to  call  the  Protector’s  wife,  whose 
name  was  Elizabeth,  Joan  Cromwell,  and 
declared  that  she  exchanged  the  kitchen- 
‘ stuff  of  the  palace  for  tallow  candles. 

Joan  of  Arc  or  Jeanne  la  Pucelle. 
M.  Octave  Delepi^rre  has  published  a 
pamphlet,  called  ^'Doute  Historique,” 
to  deny  the  tradition  that  Joan  of  Arc 
was  burnt  at  Rouen  for  sorcery.  He 
cites  a document  discovered  by  Father 
Vignier  in  the  seventeenth  century,  in 
the  archives  of  Metz,  to  prove  that  she 
became  the  wife  of  Sieur  des  Armoise, 
with  whom  she  resided  at  Metz,  and 
became  the  mother  of  a family.  Vignier 
subsequently  found  in  the  family  muni- 
> ment- chest  the  contract  of  marriage  be- 
tween Robert  des  Armoise,  knight,  and 
Jeanne  D’Arcy,  surnamed  the  Maid  of 
Orleans.”  In  1740  there  were  found  in 
the  archives  of  the  Maison  de  Ville 
(Orleans)  records  of  several  payments 
to  certain  messengers  from  Joan  to  her 
brother  John,  bearing  the  dates  1435, 
1436.  There  is  also  the  entry  of  a pre- 
sentation from  the  council  of  the  city  to 
the  Maid,  for  her  services  at  the  siege 
(dated  1439).  M.Delepi^rrehas  brought 
forward  a host  of  other  documents  to 
corroborate  the  same  fact,  and  show  that 
the  tale  of  her  martyrdom  was  invented 
to  throw  odium  on  the  English.  A 
sermon  is  preached  annually  in  France 
towards  the  beatification  of  the  Maid, 
who  will  eventually  become  the  patron 
saint  of  that  nation,  and  Shakespeare  will 
prove  a true  prophet  in  the  words— 

No  longer  on  St.  Denia  will  we  cry. 

But  Joan  la  Pucelle  stall  be  rmnce’s  saint. 


Joannes  Hagustaldensis  is  John, 
prior  of  Hexham,  author  of  an  old  English 

Chronicle,”  and  “ Lives  of  the  Bishops 
of  Hexham  ” in  two  books. 

Job  (o  long).  The  personification  of 
poverty  and  patience.  ‘‘  Patient  as  Job,’' 
in  allusion  to  the  patriarch  whose  history 
is  given  in  the  Bible. 

Poor  as  Job.  Referring  to  the  patriarch 
when  he  was  by  Satan  deprived  of  all  his 
worldly  possessions. 

I am  as  poor  as  J ob,  my  lord,  but  not  so  patient 
Shakespeare,  “2  Henry  IV.,’*  j,  2, 

Job’s  Comforter.  One  who  pre- 
tends to  sympathise  in  your  grief,  but 
says  that  you  brought  it  on  yourself; 
thus  in  reality  adding  weight  to  your 
sorrow.  (See  above.) 

Job  Thornberry.  A rough,  but 
generous  and  tender-hearted  brazier,  who 
is  reduced  to  bankruptcy  ; but  while  the 
bailiffs  are  in  the  house,  a youth  named 
Peregrine,  to  whom  he  once  lent  ten 
pounds,  arrives  and  pays  the  several 
claims.  Of  course  the  young  man  be- 
comes the  old  brazier’s  son-in-law. — 
George  Colman,  John  Bull.” 

Job  (o  short).  A ministerial  job. 
Sheridan  says  : — Whenever  any  emolu- 
ment, profit,  salary,  or  honour  is  con- 
ferred on  any  person  not  deserving  it — 
that  is  a job ; if  from  private  friendship, 
personal  attachment,  or  any  view  except 
the  interest  of  the  public,  any  one  is 
appointed  to  any  public  office  . . . that 
is  a job.” 

Joba'tion.  A scolding ; so  called 
from  the  patriarch  Job,  who  was  well 
rated  by  his  three  friends. 

Jocelin  de  Brakelonda,  de  Rebus 
gestis  Samsonis,  &c.,  published  by  the 
Camden  Society.  This  record  of  the 
acts  of  abbot  Samson  of  Edmondsbury, 
contains  much  contemporary  history, 
and  gives  a good  account  of  English  life 
and  society  between  1173  and  1202. 

Jockey  is  a little  Jack  (boy).  So  in 
Scotch,  ‘‘  Ilka  Jeanie  has  her  Jockie.” 
(See  Jack.) 

All  jellows,  JocJcey  and  the  laird  (man 
and  master).— ^Sco^c/t  proverb. 

Jockey  of  INorfolk.  Sir  John 
Howard,  a firm  adherent  of  Richard  III. 
On  the  night  before  the  battle  of  Bos- 


JOE. 


JOHN. 


461 


worth,  he  found  in  his  tent  the  warning 
couplet : — 

Jockey  of  Norfolk,  be  not  too  bold, 

• For  Dickon,  thi'  master,  is  bought  and  sold. 

Joe  or  a Joe  Miller.  A stale  joke ; 
so  called  from  the  compilation  of  jokes 
under  that  nom  de  plume.  {See  Miller.) 

J oey.  A groat ; so  called  from  J oseph 
Hume,  M.P.,  who  strongly  recommended 
the  coinage  for  the  sake  of  paying  short 
cab-fares,  he.— Hawkins. 

Jog.  Jog  away,  jog  off,  jog  on.  Get 
awa}',  be  off,  keep  moving.  Shakespeare 
uses  the  word  shog  in  the  same  sense— as, 
‘•Will  you  shog  off? ’’(“Henry  V.,”  ii.l.) 
and  again  in  the  same  play,  “Shall  we 
shog?”  (ii.  3).  Beaumont  and  Fletcher  1 
use  the  same  expression  in  “ The  Cox-  ; 
comb” — “Come,  prithee,  let  us  shog 
off  and  again,  in  “Pasquilland  Katha- 
rine”— “Thus  it  shogges”  [goes].  In 
the  “ Morte  d’ Arthur  ” we  have  another 
variety — “ He  shokkes  in  sharpely  ” 
[rushes  in].  The  words  seem  to  be  con- 
nected with  the  Dutch  schokken,  to  jolt, 
and  the  Saxon  scacan,  to  depart,  to  flee. 

To  jog  his  memory,  or  Give  his  memory 
a jog.  To  remind  one  of  something  ap- 
parently forgotten.  Jog  is  to  shake  or 
stir  up.  (Welsh,  gogi,  to  shake  ; French, 
choque)' ; o\n:  shock,  shake,  &c.) 

Joggis  or  Jogges.  The  pillory. 
Jamieson  says,  “ They  punish  delin- 
quents, making  them  stand  in  jogges,  as 
they  call  their  pillories.  (The  word  is 
Yoke;  Latin,  jugum ; French,  joug ; 
Saxon,  gcocJ) 

Staune  ane  wholl  Sabothe  daye  in  ye  joirgia.— 
Gien.  History  of  Dumbarton.” 

Jolin.  A contraction  of  Johannes 
(Joh’n).  The  French  contract  it  dif- 
ferently, Jean — ie.,  Jehan  or  Jehann; 
in  Italian,  Giovanni. 

John.  A proverbially  unhappy  name 
with  royalty,  insomuch  that  when  John 
Stuart  ascended  the  throne  of  Scotland, 
he  changed  his  name  to  Robert;  but 
misfortune  never  deserted  him.  and  after 
an  evil  reign  he  died  overwhelmed  with 
calamities  and  infirmity.  Witness  John 
Baliol  of  Scotland;  John  of  England,  a 
most  disastrous  reign.  John  I.  of  France 
reigned  only  a few  days;  ,lohn  II.  was 
for  years  a captive  in  England,  and  to 
France  his  reign  was  a tissue  of  evils. 
John  of  Bohemia  was  slain  at  Cressy. 
John  1,  of  Aragon  was  at  ceaseless  war 


with  his  subjects,  by  whom  he  was  exe- 
crated ; John  II.  was  at  ceaseless  wai  • 
with  his  son,  Don  Carlos.  John  I.  of 
Constantinople  was  poisoned  by  Basil, 
his  eunuch;  John  IV.  had  his  eyes  put 
out;  John  V.  was  emperor  in  name 
only,  and  was  most  unhappy  ; John  VI., 
harassed  with  troubles,  abdicated,  and 
died  in  a monastery.  Pope  John  I.  died 
wretchedly  in  jail ; John  VIII.  was  im- 
prisoned by  Lambart,  duke  of  Spole'to,* 
at  a subsequent  period  he  was  dressed 
in  female  attire  out  of  mockery,  and  was 
at  last  poisoned ; John  X.  was  overthrown 
by  Gui,  duke  of  Tuscany,  and  died  in 
prison ; John  XI.  was  imprisoned  with 
his  mother  by  Alberic,  and  died  there ; 
John  XII.  was  deposed  for  sacrilege,  and 
was  at  last  assassinated ; John  XXI. 
was  crushed  to  death  by  the  fall  of  a 
house  at  Viterbo  (1277) ; John  XXIII. 
fled  in  disguise,  was  arrested,  and  cast 
into  prison  for  three  years.  John  I.  of 
Sweden  was  unhappy  in  his  expeditions, 
and  died  childless ; John  II.  had  his  wife 
driven  out  of  the  kingdom  by  his  angry 
subjects.  Jean  Sans  Peur  of  Burgundy 
engaged  in  the  most  horrible  massacres, 
and  was  murdered.  John  of  Suabia, 
called  the  Parricide,  because  he  murdered 
his  father  Albert,  after  which  he  was  a 
fugitive  and  a vagabond  on  the  face  of 
the  earth,  &c.  &c.  {See  Jane.) 

N.B. — John  of  Portugal  was  a signal 
exception. 

King  John  and  the  abbot  of  Cantef)'bury.t, 
John,  being  jealous  of  the  state  kept  by 
the  abbot,  declared  he  should  be  put  to 
death  unless  he  answered  three  questions. 
— The  first  question  was,  how  much  the 
king  w as  worth  ; the  second,  how  long  it 
would  take  to  ride  round  the  world ; and 
the  third,  what  the  king  was  thinking  of. 
The  king  gave  the  abbot  three  weeks’ 

I grace  for  his  answers.  A shepherd  un- 
dertook to  answer  the  three  questions, 
so  with  crozier,  mitre,  rochet,  and  cope, 
he  presented  himself  before  the  king. 
“What  am  I worth?”  asked  John. 
“Well,”  was  the  reply,  “the  Saviour 
was  sold  for  thirty  pence.,  and  your  ma- 
jesty is  a penny  worse  than  he.”  The 
king  laughed,  and  demanded  what  he  had 
to  say  to  the  next  question,  and  the  man 
replied,  “ If  you  rise  with  the  sun  and 
ride  with  the  sun,  you  will  get  round  the 
world  in  a day.”  Again  the  king  was 
satisfied,  and  demanded  that  the  respond- 
ent should  tell  him  his  thoughts.  “ Yot. 


462 


JOHN-A-DREAMS. 


JOHN  IN  THE  WAB. 


tbink  I am  the  abbot  of  Canterbury,  but 
I’m  only  a poor  shepherd  who  am  come 
to  ask  your  majesty’s  pardon  for  him 
and  me.’"  The  king  was  so  pleased  with 
the  jest,  that  he  would  have  made  the 
sheplierd  abbot  of  Canterbury;  but  the 
man  pleaded  that  he  could  neither  write 
nor  ]*edd,  whereupon  the  king  dismissed 
him,  and  gave  him  a pension  of  four 
nobles  a week. — Percy  y ^^Reliqv.eSy^  series 
-2,  bk.  iii.  6. 

Prester  John.  The  supposed  Christian 
king  and  priest  of  a mediaeval  kingdom 
in  the  interior  of  Asia.  This  Prester 
John  was  the  Khan  Ung  who  was  de- 
feated and  slain  by  Genghis  Khan  in 
1202,  said  to  have  been  converted  by  the 
Nestorian  Christians.  He  figures  in 
Ariosto,  and  has  furnished  materials  for 
a host  of  mediaeval  legends. 

I will  fetch  you  a tooth-picker  now  from  the  far- 
thest inch  of  Asia  ; bring  you  the  length  of  Prester 
John’s  foot;  fetch  you  a hair  off  the  great  Cham’s 
beard..  “ Much  Ado  about  Nothhig^* 

ii.  1. 

The  three  Johns — an  alehouse  picture 
in  Little  Park  Street,  Westminster,  and 
in  White  Lion  Street,  Pentonville— is 
John  Wilkes  between  the  Rev.  John 
Horne  Tooke  and  Sir  John  Glynn  (ser- 
jeant-at-law).— Hotten,  ‘‘History  of  Sign- 
boards.'^ 

St.  John  the  Evangelist  is  represented 
writing  his  gosp^  ; or  bearing  a chalice, 
from  which  a serpent  issues,  in  allusion 
to  his  driving  the  poison  from  a cup  pre- 
sented to  him  to  drink.  He  is  sometimes 
represented  in  a cauldron  of  boiling  oil, 
in  allusion  to  the  tradition  of  his  hieing 
plunged  in  such  a cauldron  before  his 
banishment  to  the  isle  of  Patmos. 

St.  John.  The  usual  war-cry  of  the 
English  of  the  North  in  their  encounters 
with  the  Scotch.  The  person  referred 
to  is  St.  John  of  Beverley,  in  Yorkshire, 
who  died  721. 

John-a-Dreams.  A stupid,  dreamy 
fellow,  always  in  a brown  study  and  half 
asleep. 

Yet  I. 

A dull  and  muddy-mettled  rascal,  peak 

Like  John-a-dreams  unpregnant  of  my  cause, 

And  can  say  nothing. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet”  ii.  2. 

John-a-Droynes.  A foolish  cha- 
racter in  Whetstone’s  ‘^Promos  and 
<}assandra”  (1578).  Bei:ig  seized  by  in- 
formers, he  stands  dazed,  and  suffers 
himself  to  be  quietly  cheated  out  of  his 
money. 


John  Bull.  The  national  nickname 
for  an  Englishman,  represented  as  a bluff, 
kind-hearted,  bull-headed  farmer.  The 
character  is  from  a satire  by  Dr.  Arbuth- 
not.  In  this  satire  the  Ph-enchman  is 
termed  Lewis  Babooiiy  the  Dutchman 
Nicholas  Frog,  &c. 

John  BuU.  A comedy  by  George 
Colman.  Job  Thornberry  is  the  chief 
character. 

Johnny  Crapaud.  A Frenchman, 
so  called  by  the  English  sailors  in  the  long 
Napoleon  contest.  The  ancient  Flemings 
used  to  call  the  French  Crapaud  Fran- 
chos.”  The  allusion  is  to  the  toads 
borne  originally  in  the  arms  of  France. 

John  Dory.  Either  a corruption  of 
Ja2ine  dorU  (yellow  gilt),  from  its  golden 
lustre ; or  of  the  Gascon  Jan  d<n'ee  (the 
golden  cock),  the  fish  being  called  the 
sea'ChicheUy  or  St.  Peter’s  cock,  being 
(according  to  tradition)  the  fish  caught 
by  St.  Peter  with  a piece  of  money  in 
its  mouth.  The  derivation  ivomjanito'rey 
the  janitor  or  door-keeper  [of  heaven], 
is  worthless. 

John  Drum’s  Entertainment. 
Hauling  a man  by  his  ears  and  thrusting 
him  out  by  the  shoulders.  The  allusion 
is  to  ^‘drumming”  a man  out  of  the 
army.  There  is  a comedy  so  called,  pub- 
lished 1601. 

When  your  lordship  sees  the  bottom  of  his  success 
in  ..if  you  pive  liim  not  John  Drum’s  entertain- 
ment, your  inclining  cannot  be  removed.— 
speare,  “ AU’8  Well  that  Ends  Well,'*  iii.  6. 

John  Long.  To  wait  for  John  Long y 
the  carrier.  To  wait  a long  time  ; to  wait 
for  John,  who  keeps  us  a long  time. 

Mess- John  or  Mass-John.  A priest. 

John  Orderly.  Is  John  Orderly 
there  1 Get  done  as  socm  as  possible,  for 
there  are  persons  sufficient  for  another 
audience.  John  Orderly  was  a noted 
showman  and  actor;  when  his  platform 
was  full,  he  taught  th-e  ticket  collector 
to  poke  his  head  behind  the  green  curtain, 
and  cry  out,  '‘Is  John  Orderly  there?” 
This  was  a signal  to  the  actors  to  draw 
their  piece  to  a close,  and  clear  the  house 
as  quickly  as  possible.  Orderly  taught 
this  trick  to  Richardson. 

John  in  the  Wad.  A Will-o"- 
Wisp.  A wad  is  a wisp,  and  John  or 
Jack  is  a name  for  any  inferior  person 
unknown,  (/S^eJACK.) 


JOHN  OF  BRUGES. 


JOLLY-BOAT. 


46: 


John  of  Bruges  (1  syl.).  .Tohn 
ran  Eyck,  the  Flemish  painter.  (1370- 
1441.) 

John  of  Leyden  (the  prophet), 
being  about  to  marry  Bertha,  met  with 
three  Anabaptists  who  observed  a strong 
likeness  in  him  to  a picture  of  David  in 
Munster  Cathedral.  They  entered  into 
conversation  with  him,  and  finding  him 
apt  for  their  purpose,  induced  him  to 
join  their  rebellion.  The  rebels  took  the 
city  of  Munster,  and  John  was  crowned 

Ruler  of  Westphalia.”  His  mother 
met  him  in  the  street,  and  John  dis- 
claimed all  knowledge  of  her ; but  sub- 
sequently visited  her  in  prison,  and 
obtained  her  forgiveness.  When  the 
emperor  andved  with  his  army,  his  Ana- 
baptist friends  deserted  him,  and  John, 
setting  fire  to  the  banquet-room  of  his 
palace,  perished  with  his  mother  in  the 
^axnQS.— Meyerbeer,  Le  FrophHe'''  {an 
opera). 

John  o’  G-roat,  with  his  two 
brothers  Malcolm  and  Gavin,  arrived  at 
Caithness  in  the  reign  of  James  IV.  of 
Scotland,  and  purch^ased  the  lands  of 
War.se  and  Dungisbay.  In  the  process 
of  time  their  families  increased,  and 
there  came  to  be  eight  families  of  the 
same  name.  They  lived  together  amic- 
ably, and  met  once  a year  in  the  original 
house ; but  on  one  occasion  a question 
of  precedency  arose,  who  was  to  go  out 
first,  and  who  was  to  take  the  head  of 
the  table.  John  de  Groat  promised 
them  the  next  time  they  came  he  would 
contrive  to  satisfy  them  all.  Accordingly 
he  built  an  eight-sided  room,  with  a door 
and  window  in  each  side,  and  placed  a 
round  oak  table  in  the  room.  This  build- 
ing went  ever  after  with  the  name  of 
John  o’  Groat’s  House.  The  site  of  this 
bouse  is  the  Berubium  of  Ptolemy,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Dungisbay  Head. 

Hear,  land  of  cakes  and  bri'hei*  Scots, 

Piae  M ddeukirks  to  John  o’  Groats, 

A cbiel's  atr  an.?  you  takin’  note’, 

And,  faith,  he’ll  print  it. 

^ums,  “ Uaijtain  Qrose.” 

Jolin  the  Almoner.  Chrysostom 
■was  so  called,  because  he  bestowed  so 
large  a portion  of  his  revenues  on  hos- 
pifcals  and  other  charities.  (347-407.) 

John  the  Baptist.  Patron  saint 
of  missionaries.  He  was  sent  to  prepare 
the  way  of  the  Lord.” 

In  Christian  art  he  is  represented  in  a 


coat  of  sheepskins,  in  allusion  to  his  life 
in  the  desert,  either  holding  a rude 
wooden  cross,  with  a pennon  bearing  the 
words,  Ecce  Agnus  Dei or  with  a 
book  on  which  a lamb  is  seated ; or  hold- 
ing in  his  right  hand  a-  lamb  surrounded 
by  a halo,  and  bearing  a cross  on  the 
right  foot. 

John  with  the  Leaden  Sword. 
So  earl  Douglas  used  to  call  the  duke  of 
Bedford,  who  acted  as  regent  for  Henry 
VI.  in  France. 

Johnson  {Dr.  Samuel)  lived  in  Fleet 
Street — first  in  Fetter  Lane,  then  in 
Boswell  Court,  then  in  Gough  Square, 
then  in  the  Inner  Temple  Lane  for  seven 
years,  then  in  Johnson’s  Court  qNo.  7) 
for  ten  years ; and  lastly  in  Bolt  Court 
(No.  8),  where  he  died  eight  years  after. 
The  coffee-house  he  most  frequented  was 
the  Mitre  tavern  in  Fleet  Street,  and  not 
that  which  has  assumed  the  name  of 

Dr.  Johnson’s  Coffee-house.”  The 
church  he  frequented  was  St.  Clement 
Danes  in  the  Strand. 

Johnstone.  The  crest  of  this  family 
is  a winged  spur,  or  spur  between  hoo  wings, 
leathered,  with  the  motto,  Nnnquam  non 
para’tiis.  When  king  Edward  I.,  was 
meditating  treachery  in  favour  of  Balliol, 
John  sent  to  Bruee  (then  in  England)  a 
spur  with  a feather  tied  to  it.  Bruce 
took  the  hint  and  fled,  and  when  he 
became  king  conferred  the  crest  on  the 
Johnstone  family. 

Jolly.  He  is  jolly  green,  very  simple. 
That's  jolly  good,  very  good.  John  Trapp, 
in  his  ‘^Commentary,”  says,  “All  was 
jolly  quiet  at  Ephesus  before  St.  Paul 
came  thither”  (1656).  It  is  the  French 
joli  (pretty),  but  expresses  rather  more 
than  our  adverb  pretty : thus  pretty 
good  means  “rather  good,”  but  jolly 
good  is  “ slap  up.” 

Jolly.  A sailor’s  nickname  for  a ma- 
rine, who,  in  his  opinion,  bears  the  same 
relation  to  a “regular,”  as  a jolly-boat 
oi'  yawl  to  a ship. 

Jolly-Boat,  Danish,  ; Dutch, 
jol ; Swedish,  yWZe,  a 3’’awl.  The  French 
say,  Semettre  en  joly,  meaning,  “Stop.” 
“ Stand  fast.”  (French,  jate,  a bowl.) 

Arresrerent  leurs  galeves ; efc  ee  rnirent  tou*^ei  en 
joly  (c’<8t  uii  mot  oe  ualeres  que  I’ou  us^  quand  ellei 
ne  vopuent  en  ndvaat  ny  en  arriere,  et  qu'elles  font 
halles).  &c.— if'anfdwe,  “ Vie-i  des  Grunis  C.ipi- 
taines  ” (c.  i.,  nragut). 


464 


JONAS. 


JOURNAL. 


Jo'nas,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  ^'Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel/’  is  meant  for  Sir 
William  Jones,  the  Indian  judge  and 
Oriental  scholar.  He  was  so  called  by  a 
palpable  pun.  Dry  den  calls  him,  bull- 
faced  Jonas.” 

Jonathan.  Brother  Jonathan.  In 
the  revolutionary  war,  Washington,  being 
in  great  want  of  supplies  for  the  army, 
and  having  unbounded  confidence  in  his 
fi-iend,  Jonathan  Trumbull,  governor  of 
Connecticut,  said,  We  must  consult 
brother  Jonathan.”  Brother  Jonathan 
was  consulted  on  all  occasions  by  the 
A merican  liberator,  and  was  accepted  as 
tlie  national  name  of  the  Americans  as 
11  people. 

Jonc  {French').  A wedding-ring ; so 
called  because  those  who  were  married 
by  compulsion  at  Ste.  Marine  wore  rings 
of  jonc  or  straw. 

C’^st  dans  I’eglise  de  Ste.  Marine  que  Ton  marie 
ceux  que  I’on  condamne  a s’epouser.  Anciennement 
oil  les  mariait  avec  un  anneau  de  paille ; etait-ce 
pour  marquer  au  mari  que  la  rertu  de  celle  qu’il 
tpousait  etait  Wen  fragile  "i—Dulaure. 

Jones.  :^tre  SUV  les  jonc$  (to  bo  on 
the  straw) — i.e.,  in  prison. 

Plantez  aux  hurmes  vos  picona 
Da  paour  les  bi«ans  si  tres-durs 
Et  aussi  d’estre  sur  les  jonez, 

Emmanchez  en  coffre  et  gros  murs. 

Villon,  Jargon  et  Jobelin,”  ballade  i. 

J or'mungan'dar  or  Midgardsor- 
MKX  (i.e.,  earth’s  monster).  The  great 
serpent,  brother  of  HelandFenris  (j.v.). 
It  used  to  lie  at  the  root  of  the  celestial 
ash  till  All- Fader  cast  it  into  the  ocean  ; 
it  then  grew  so  large  that  in  time  it  en- 
compassed the  whole  world,  and  was  for 
ever  biting  its  own  tail. 

Jos  or  Joss.  The  pena'tes  of  the 
<'’hinese ; every  family  has  its  jos.  A 
temple  is  called  a j os-house. 

Jos'apliat.  An  Indian  prince  con- 
verted by  the  hermit  Bar'laam,  in  the 
Ch-eek  religious  pastoral,  entitled  Josa- 
pliat  and  Barlaam,”  generally  ascribed 
to  St.  John  of  Damascus  (eighth  century). 

Josepll  (St.).  Patron  saint  of  car- 
penters, because  he  was  of  the  same  craft. 
Tills  is  Joseph,  the  reputed  father  of 
Jesus. 

In  Christian  art  he  is  represented  as 
an  aged  man  with  a budding  staff  in  his 
hand. 

A Joseph.  One  not  to  be  seduced  from 
his  continency  by  the  severest  temptation. 


The  reference  is  to  Joseph  in  Potiphar’s 
house.  — xxxix.  Bellerophon.) 

Josepll  Andrews.  The  hero  of 
a novel  written  by  Fielding  to  ridicule 
Richardson’s  Pam'ela,”  whose  brother 
Joseph  is  supposed  to  be. 

Joseph  of  A'ramathe'a  brought 
to  Listenise  the  sanctgraal  and  also  the 
spear  with  which  Longi'nus  wounded 
the  crucified  Saviour.  When  Sir  Balin 
entered  this  chamber,  which  was  in  the 
palace  of  king  Pellam,  he  found  it  mar- 
vellously well  dight  and  richly  ; the  bed 
was  arrayed  with  cloth  of  gold,  the  richest 
that  might  be  thought,  and  thereb}’ 
stood  a table  of  clean  gold,  with  four 
pillars  of  silver,  and  upon  the  table  stood 
the  spear  strangely  wrought.” — ^^History 
of  Prince  Arthur xl. 

Josse.  Vous  Ues  or f tore,  Monsieur  Josse 
(You  are  a jeweller,  Mr.  Josse).  Nothing 
like  leather  ; great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephe- 
sians ; your  advice  is  not  disinterested. 
In  Moliere’s  comedy  of  Amour  Me- 
decin,”  a silversmith,  by  the  name  of 
Josse,  being  asked  the  best  way  of  winning 
a lady’s  heart,  recommends  a handsome 
present  of  jewellery.  The  lover  replies. 

You  advise  me  like  a.  jeweller,  Mr. 
Josse.” 

Jotenheim,  or  Jothunheim  (pron. 
TJten-heim).  The  home  or  region  of  the 
Scandinavian  giants  or  joten. 

Jo'tliain,  in  Dryden’s  satii*e  of  Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  means  Savile, 
marquis  of  Halifax.  Jotham  was  the- 
person  who  uttered  the  parable  of  The 
Trees  choosing  a King,”  when  the  men 
of  Shechem  made  Abimelech  king.— 
Judges  ix. 

Jour  Maigre  {French).  A day  of 
abstinence,  when  meat  is  forbidden  to 
be  eaten.  {See  Banian  Days.) 

Jourdain  {Monsieur),  in  Moli^re’s> 
comedy  of  Le  Bourgeois  Gentilhomme.” 
He  represents  a bourgeois  placed  by 
wealth  in  the  ranks  of  gentlemen,  and 
making  himself  extremely  ridiculous  by 
his  endeavours  to  acquire  accomplish- 
ments. 

Journal.  Latin,  diurnum  (a  daily 
thing);  Welsh,  diivrnod ; Italian,  giorno; 
French, 

Applied  to  newspapers ; the  word 
strictly  means  a daily  paper,  but  the 
exteusion  of  the  term  to  weekly  papers 
is  sanctioned  by  custom. 


JOUilNEY-WEIGHT. 


JUDAS. 


465 


Journey- weight.  The  weight  of 
‘Certain  parcels  of  gold  in  the  mint.  A 
journey  of  gold  is  fifteen  pounds  Troy, 
which  is  coined  into  701  sovereigns  or 
•double  that  number  of  half-sovereigns. 
K journey  of  silver  is  sixty  pounds  Troy, 
which  is  coined  into  3,960  shillings,  or 
double  that  number  of  sixpences,  half 
that  number  of  florins,  &c.  So  called 
because  this  weight  of  coin  was  required 
as  a day’s  work.  (French, 

Jouvence  (2  syl.).  You  have  been  to 
the  fountain  of  Jouvence — i.e..  You  have 
grown  young  again.  This  is  a French 
phrase.  Jouvence  is  a town  of  France 
in  the  department  of  Saone-et-Loire,  and 
has  a fountain  called  la  fontaine  de 
Jouvence  \ but  Jouvence  means  also 
youthj  and  la  fontaine  de  jouvence  may  be 
rendered  '‘the  fountain  of  youth.”  The 
play  on  the  word  gave  rise  to  the  tradition 
that  whoever  drank  of  this  fountain 
would  become  young  again. 

Jove  (1  syl.).  {8ee  Jupiter.)  The 
Titans  made  war  against  Jove,  and  tried 
to  dethrone  him. 

Not  stronger  were  of  old  the  giant  crew. 

Who  sought  to  pull  high  J ove  from  regal  state. 

Thomson^  “ Castle  of  Indolence  ” canto  1. 

Milton,  in  "Paradise  Lost,”  makes 
Jove  one  of  the  fallen  angels  (i.  512). 

Jo'vial.  Merry  and  sociable,  like 
those  born  under  the  planet  Jupiter, 
which  astrologers  considered  the  happiest 
of  the  natal  stars. 

Our  jovial  star  reigned  at  his  birth. 

Shakespeare^  “ Cymhdinef'  v.  4. 

Joy.  The  seven  joys  of  the  Virgin : 
■(1)  The  annunciation  ; (2)  the  visitation ; 
<3)  the  nativity:  (4)  the  adoration  of  the 
three  kings ; (5)  the  presentation  in  the 
temple ; (6)  the  discovery  of  her  youthful 
Son  in  the  temple  in  the  midst  of  the 
doctors  ; (7)  her  assumption  and  corona- 
tion. {See  Sorrow.) 

Joyeuse  (2  syl.).  Charlemagne’s 
sword,  which  bore  the  inscription  Decern 
pracepto'rv.m  custos  Car'olus ; the  sword 
of  Guillaume  au  Court-Nez ; any  one’s 
sword. 

Joyeuse  Garde  or  Garde- Joyeuse, 
The  estate  given  by  king  Arthur  to 
Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  for  defending 
the  queen’s  honour  against  Sir  Mador. 

Juan  Fernandez.  A rocky  island 
in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  on  the  coast  of 
Chili.  Here  Alexander  Selkirk,  a buc- 


caneer, resided  in  solitude  for  four  years, 
and  his  history  is  commonly  supposed 
to  be  the  basis  of  Defoe’s  "Robinson 
Crusoe.” 

Sailors  commonly  believe  that  this 
island  is  the  scene  of  Crusoe’s  adventures ; 
but  Defoe  distinctly  indicates  an  island 
on  the  east  coast  of  South  America,  some- 
where near  Dutch  Guinea. 

Jubal  (a  trumpet).  The  son  of  Lamech 
and  Adah.  He  is  called  the  inventor  of 
the  lyre  and  flute  (Gen.  iv.  19 — 21 ). 

Then  when  he  {Javan]  heari  the  voice  of  Jubal’s  lyre, 
Instinctive  genius  caught  the  ethereal  are. 

J.  Mojitgomery ^ “ The  Woi  Id  before  the  Flood f'  c.  1. 

Ju'bilee.  The  Year  of  Jubilee.  Every 
fiftieth  year,  when  the  land  which  had 
passed  out  of  the  possession  of  those  to 
whom  it  originally  belonged  was  restored 
to. them  ; all  who  had  been  reduced  to 
poverty,  and  were  obliged  to  let  them- 
selves out  for  hire,  were  released  from 
bondage ; and  all  debts  were  cancelled. 
The  word  is  ixovajobil  (a  ram's  horn),  so 
called  because  it  was  proclaimed  with 
trumpets  of  rams’  horns. 

Jubilee  (m  the  Catholic  church).  Every 
twenty-fifth  year,  for  the  purpose  of 
granting  indulgences.  Boniface  VIII. 
instituted  it  in  1300,  and  ordered  it  to  be 
observed  every  hundred  years.  Clement 
VI.  reduced  the  interval  to  fifty  years. 
Urban  IV.  to  thirty,  and  Sixtus  IV.  to 
twenty- five. 

Protestant  Jubilee j celebrated  in  Ger- 
many in  1617,  the  centenary  of  the  Re- 
formation. 

Shakespeare  Jubilee j held  at  Stratford- 
on-Avon,  September  6th,  1769. 

Jubilee  to  commemorate  the  commence- 
ment of  the  fiftieth  year  of  the  reign  of 
George  III.,  October  25,  1809. 

Jubilee  to  celebrate  the  close  of  Revo- 
lutionary War,  August  1,  1814. 

Ju'daise  (3  syl.).  To  convert  or 
conform  to  the  doctrines,  rites,  or  man- 
ners of  the  Jews.  A Judaising  spirit  is 
a desire  to  convert  others  to  the  Jewish 
religion. 

Ju'daism  (3  syl.).  The  religion  of 
the  Jews,  or  anything  else  which  is  spe- 
cial to  that  people. 

Ju'das,  in  the  satire  of  "Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
was  meant  for  Mr.  Fergueson,  a Non- 
conformist. He  was  ejected  in  1662 
from  his  living  of  Godmer^ham,  in  Kent, 
and  afterwards  distinguished  himself  by 
E E 


466  JUDAS-COLOURED  HAIR, 


JUGGERNAUT 


his  political  intrigues.  He  joined  the 
duke  of  Monmouthj  whom  he  afterwards 
betrayed. 

A Judas  kiss,  A deceitful  act  of  cour- 
tesy. Judas  betrayed  his  Master  with  a 
kiss. 

So  Judas  kissed  his  Master; 

And  cried,  “ All  hail ! ” when  as  he  meant  ail  harm. 

Shakespeare,  “3  Henry  VI  v.  7. 

Le  point  de  Judas  {French').  The  num- 
ber thirteen.  The  Messiah  and  his 
twelve  disciples  made  thirteen.  And  as 
Judas  was  the  first  to  die,  he  was  the 
thirteenth.  At  the  death  of  the  Saviour, 
the  number  being  reduced  to  eleven,  a 
twelfth  was  elected  by  lot  to  fill  the 
vacant  place  of  the  traitor. 

Judas-coloured  Hair.  Fiery  red. 

His  very  hair  is  of  the  dissembling  colour,  some- 
thing browner  than  J udas’s.  —Shakespeare,  “ As  You 
Like  It,*'  iii.  4. 

Judas  Tree.  A cormption  of  K2camos 
tree— t.e.,  the  leguminous  or  bean  tree. 
The  corrupt  name  has  given  rise  to  the 
tradition  that  it  was  upon  one  of  these 
trees  that  Judas  Iscariot  hanged  himself. 

Judee.  La  petite  Judee  {French). 
The  prefecture  of  police,  so  called  because 
the  bureau  is  in  the  Rue  de  Jerusalem, 
and  those  taken  there  for  offences  look 
on  the  police  as  their  betrayers. 

Jude  {St.)f  in  Christian  art,  is  repre- 
sented with  a club  or  staff,  and  a car- 
penter’s square,  in  allusion  to  his  trade. 

Judge’s  Black  Cap.  The  judge 
puts  on  his  black  cap  (now  a three-cor- 
nered piece  of  black  silk)  when  he  con- 
demns to  death,  in  sign  of  mourning. 
This  sign  is  very  ancient.  ^'Haman 
hasted  to  his  house  mourning,  having  his 
head  covered”  (Esth.  vi.  12).  David  wept 

and  had  his  head  covered  ” (2  Sam. 
XV.  30).  Demosthenes  went  home  with 
his  head  covered  when  insulted  by  the 
populace.  Darius  covered  his  head  on 
learning  the  death  of  his  queen.  Malcolm 
says  to  Macduff  in  his  deep  sorrow. 

What,  man ! ne’er  pull  your  hat  upon 
your  brows”  (“Macbeth,”  iv.  3).  And 
the  ancient  English,  says  Fosbroke, 
“drew  their  hoods  forward  over  their 
heads  at  funerals.” 

Judges’  Bobes.  In  the  criminal 
courts,  where  the  judges  represent  the 
sovereign,  they  appear  in  full  court 
dress,  and  wear  a scarlet  robe ; but  in 
Nisi  Prius  Courts  the  judge  sits  merely 


to  balance  the  law  between  civilians,  and 
therefore  appears  in  his  judicial  undress, 
or  violet  gown. 

Ju'dica  {Latin).  The  fifth  Sunday 
after  Lent,  so  called  from  the  first  word 
of  the  service  for  the  day,  Judica  we, 
Dom'ine  (Judge  me,  0 Lord). — Ps.  xliii. 

Judicium  Crusis  was  stretching 
out  the  arms  before  a cross,  till  one  of 
the  party  could  hold  out  no  longer,  and 
lost  his  cause.  The  bishop  of  Paris  and 
abbot  of  St.  Denis  appealed  to  this  judg. 
ment  in  a dispute  they  had  about  the 
patronage  of  a monastery ; each  of  the 
disputants  selected  a man  to  represent 
their  cause,  and  the  man  selected  by  the 
bishop  gave  in,  so  that  the  award  was 
given  in  favour  of  the  abbot. 

Judicium  IJei  {Latin).  The  trial 
of  guilt  by  direct  appeal  to  God,  under 
the  notion  that  he  would  defend  the 
right  even  by  miracle.  There  were  nu- 
merous methods  of  appeal,  as  by  single 
combat,  ordeal  by  water  or  fire,  eating  a 
crust  of  bread,  standing  with  arms  ex- 
tended, consulting  the  Bible,  &c.  &c. 

Ju'dith..  The  Jewish  heroine  of 
Bethulia,  who  perilled  her  life  in  the  tent 
of  Holof ernes,  the  general  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, in  order  to  save  her  native  town. 
The  bold  adventurer  cut  off  the  head  of 
the  Assyrian,  and  her  townsmen  rushing 
on  the  invaders,  defeated  them  with 
great  slaughter. — The  Book  of  Judith. 

Juge  de  Paix  {French').  A cudgel. 

Alber*;  Mangin,  condamne  a morfc  le  7floreal  an.  ii. 
ayant  dit  que  les  jacobins  etaient  tou  des  seelerats 
et  des  coquins,  et  montrant  un  gros  baton  qu’il  tenait 
a la  main : Voilaun  “juge  de  paix”  qui  me  servira 
a leur  casser  la  barre  du  con.— £.  P.  Frudhomme^ 

JJict.  des  Individus  Condamnes**  S{C. 

Juggernaut  or  Jaggernaut.  A 
Hindu  god.  The  word  is  a corruption 
of  the  jag anndtha  (lord  of  the 

world).  The  temple  of  this  god  is  in  a 
town  of  the  same  name  in  Orissa.  King 
Ayeen  Akbery  sent  a learned  Brahman 
to  look  out  a site  for  a temple.  The 
Brahman  wandered  about  for  many  days 
and  then  saw  a crow  dive  into  the  water, 
and  having  washed,  made  obeisance  to  the 
element.  This  was  selected  as  the  site 
of  the  temple.  While  the  temple  was 
a-building  the  rajah  had  a prophetic 
dream,  telling  him  that  the  true  form  of 
Vishnu  should  be  revealed  to  him  in  the 
morning.  When  the  rajah  went  to  seer 


JUGGLER. 


JUNIOR  OPTIME. 


437 


the  temple  he  beheld  a log  of  wood  in 
the  water,  and  this  log  he  accepted  as 
the  realisation  of  his  dream,  enshrined  it 
in  the  temple,  and  called  it  Jagann^th’. 

CarofJiLggei'naut  An  enormous  wooden  i 
machine  adorned  with  all  sorts  of  figures,  | 
and  mounted  on  sixteen  wheels.  Fifty  j 
men  drag  it  annually  to  the  temple,  and  ' 
it  is  said  to  contain  a bride  for  the  god.  I 
Devotees  place  themselves  in  the  road,  ' 
and  allow  the  car  to  crush  them  to  death, 
that  they  may  “ inherit  eternal  life.” 
{See  Kesora.) 

Juggler  means  a player  on  a jongleur 
a sort  of  hurdy-gurdy.  These  jugglers 
accompanied  the  minstrels  and  trouba- 
dours, to  assist  them,  and  added  to  their 
musical  talents  sleight-of-hand,  antics, 
and  feats  of  prowess,  to  amuse  the  com- 
pany assembled.  In  time  the  music  was 
dropped  as  the  least  attractive,  and  tricks 
became  the  staple  of  these  wandering 
performers. 

JuggS  or  Jongs.  The  name  given  in 
Scotland  to  a sort  of  pillory,  consisting 
of  an  iron  ring  or  collar  fastened  by  a 
short  chain  to  a wall.  (Latin,  jngum, 
a yoke.)  {See  Joggis.) 

Julian,  the  Roman  emperor,  boasted 
that  he  would  rebuild  Jerusalem ; but 
was  mortally  wounded  by  an  arrow  before 
the  foundation  was  laid.  Much  has  been 
made  of  this  by  early  Christian  writers, 
who  dwell  on  the  prohibition  and  curse 
pronounced  against  those  who  attempt 
to  rebuild  the  city,  and  the  fate  of  Julian 
is  pointed  out  as  an  example  of  Divine 
wrath  against  the  impious  disregarder 
of  the  threat. 

Well  pleaded  they  look  for  Sion’s  coming  state, 
or  think  of  J uiian’s  boast  and  J ulian’s  fate. 

Crabbe,  ** Borough." 

St.  Julian.  Patron  saint  of  travellers 
and  of  hospitality.  Represented  as  ac- 
companied by  a stag  in  allusion  to  his 
early  career  as  a hunter,  and  either  re- 
ceiving the  poor  and  afiiicted,  or  ferrying 
travellers  across  a river. 

An  househaldere,  and  that  a gret,  was  he ; 

Seynt  Julian  he  was  in  his  country, 

His  breed,  his  ale.  was  al  way  after  oon ; \onepattern\ 

A bettreenvyned  man  was  nowhere  n on. 

Chaucer^  “ Tht  Frankeleyn"  Introduction  to 
"Canterbury  Tales." 

St.  Julian  was  he  deemed.  A great 
epicure.  St.  Julian  was  the  epicurean  of 
saints.  {See  above.) 


Julian  Epoch  or  Era.  That  of  the 
reformed  calendar  by  Julivis  Caesar,  which 
began  forty-six  years  before  Christ. 

Julian  Period  is  produced  by  mul- 
tiplying together  the  lunar  cycle,  the 
solar  cycle,  and  the  Roman  indiction. 
The  first  year  of  the  Christian  era  corre- 
sponded to  the  year  4714  of  the  Julian, 
and  therefore,  to  reduce  our  B.c.  dates  to 
the  Julian,  we  must  subtract  them  Mora 
4714,  but  our  a.d.  dates  we  must  add  to 
that  number.  So  named  from  Julius 
Scaliger,  the  deviser  of  it. 

Julian  Year.  The  year  regulated 
by  Julius  Csesar,  which  continued  to  be 
observed  till  it  was  corrected  by  Pope 
Gregory  XIII.,  in  1582. 

Juliet.  Daughter  of  Lady  Capulet, 
and  “ sweet  sweeting”  of  Romeo,  in 
Shakespeare’s  tragedy  of  Ro  neo  and 
Juliet.”  She  has  become  a household 
word  for  a lady-love. 

J alium  Si'dus.  The  comet  which 
appeared  at  the  death  of  Julius  Caesar, 
and  which  in  court  flattery  was  called 
the  apotheo'sis  of  the  murdered  man. 

July'.  The  seventh  month,  named  by 
Mark  Antony,  in  honour  of  Julius  Caesar, 
who  was  bom  in  it. 

Ju'mala.  The  supreme  idol  of  the 
ancient  Finns  and  Lapps.  The  \vord  is 
sometimes  used  by  the  Scandinavian 
poets  for  the  Almighty. 

On  a lonely  cliff 

An  ancient  shrine  he  found,  of  J umu’a  the  seat, 

Eor  many  a year  cone  by  closed  up  and  desolate. 

Frithiof-Sagd,  “ TheReconcUi  tion." 

Jump,  meaning  ‘‘just,”  as  jump  at 
this  same  hour^  is  the  Welsh  tr.ip  (a 
graft  or  shoot);  Danish,  ympe ; our  imp 
iq.v.).  To  jump  or  to  fit  or  unite-wdth 
like  a graft ; as,  both  our  inventions  meet 
and  jump  in  one.  Hence  the  adverb 
exactly,  precisely. 

The  Scotch  xi^q  jimp,  as  “When  she 
had  been  married  jimp  four  months.” — 
“ The  Antiquary.'* 

June  (1  syl.).  The  sixth  month,  so 
named  by  the  Romans  from  the  festivals 
give  in  honour  of  Juno. 

Ju'nior  Op'time.  A Cambridge 
University  term,  meaning  a third-class 
i “ honour  ” man—  i.  e.,  in  the  mathematical 
1 “ honour”  examination. 


£ E 2 


^463 


JUNIOR  SOPH, 


JUST. 


Ju'nior  Soph..  A man  of  the  second 
; year’s  standing  is  so  called  in  our  Uni- 
versities. {iSee  Soph.) 

Ju'nius.  Letters  of  Junius,  In  1871 
was  published  a book  entitled  ^^Tbe 
.Handwriting  of  Junius  professionally  in- 
vestigated by  Mr.  Charles  Chabot,  ex- 
■ pert.”  The  object  of  this  book  is  to 
f prove  that  Sir  Philip  Francis  was  the 
. author  of  these  letters.  In  May  22,  1871, 

. appeared  an  article  in  the  Times,  to  show 
that  the  case  is  ‘^not  proven”  by  Mr. 
Chabot.  Mr.  Pitt  told  Lord  Aberdeen 
t that  he  knew  who  wrote  the  Junius 
Letters,  and  that  it  was  not  Francis. 
Lady  Grenville  sent  a letter  to  the  editor 
-of  Diaries  of  a Lady  of  Quality,  to  the 
Kjsame  effect. 

Junk.  Salt  meat  supplied  to  vessels 
' for  long  voyages  ; so  called  because  it  is 
hard  and  tough  as  old  rope-ends  so  called. 
Ropes  are  called  junks  because  they  were 
once  made  of  bulrushes.  (Latin,  juncus, 
^ bulrush. ) 

Jun'ket.  A cheese-cake,  a sweet- 
meat, properly  made  of  curd.  The  word 
is  the  Italian  giuncaia  (curd  or  cream- 
- cheese),  so  called  because  carried  on  junk 
vor  bull-rushes  {giitnco). 

. Yon  know  there  wants  no  junkets  at  the  feast. 

Shakespeare,  “ Taming  of  the  Shrew,"  iii.  2. 

. Junner.  A giant  in  Scandinavian 
; mythology,  said  in  the  Edda  to  represent 
•:  the  **  eternal  principle.”  Its  skull  forms 
: the  heavens ; its  eyes  the  sun  and  moon  ; 
t its  shoulders  the  mountains ; its  bones 
the  rocks ; &c.  Hence  the  poets  call 
vheaven  **  Junner’s  skull the  sun, 

Junner’s  right  eye  ; the  moon,  ‘^Jun- 
iper’s left  eye  the  rivers,  The  ichor 
< of  old  Junner.” 

Ju'no.  The  ‘‘  venerable  ox-eyed”  wife 
« of  Jupiter,  and  queen  of  heaven. — Roman 
mythology. 

Juno'nian  Bird.  The  peacock, 

' dedicated  to  the  goddess-queen. 

Junto.  A faction  consisting  of 
I Russell,  lord-keeper  Somers,  Charles 
Montague,  and  several  other  men  of 
mark,  who  ruled  the  Whigs  in  the  reign 
of  William  III.  for  nearly  twenty  years, 
and  exercised  a very  great  influence  over 
the  nation.  The  word  is  a corruption  of 
"the  Spanish  juiita  ^n  administrative 
assembly),  but  is  in  English  a term  of 
censure. 


Ju'piter  is  dies-pater,  the  day-god. 
The  French  jour  is  a remarkable  illus- 
tration of  the  same  sort  of  change, 
derived  through  diurn-n^,  Italian  giomo, 
French  jibitrwe'e  and  ^owr,  omx  jcmrnal.  The 
Roman  god  of  the  air  and  king  of  the 
celestials.  Camoens,  in  his  ‘‘  Lusiad,”  calls 

the  lord  of  destiny”  Jupiter,  and  makes 
him  pronounce  in  council  that  the  Lusians 
shall  succeed  in  their  undertaking. 

Jupiter  Scapin.  A nickname  of 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  given  him  by  the 
abbe  de  Pradt.  Scapin  is  a valet  famous 
for  his  knavish  tricks,  in  Moli^re’s  comedy 
of  ‘‘  Les  Fourberies  de  Scapin.” 

Jurassic  Bocks.  Limestone  rocks, 
so  called  from  the  Jura ; the  Jurassic 
period  is  the  geological  period  when  these 
rocks  were  formed.  Our  oolitic  series 
pretty  nearly  corresponds  with  the  Ju- 
rassic. 

Jurisprudence.  The  Father  of 
Jurisprudence.  Glanville,  who  wrote 
“Tracta'tus  de  Legibus  et  Consuetudi- 
nibus  Angli80,”  in  1181.  (Died  1190.) 

Jury  Mast.  A corruption  of  joury 
mast— i.  e. , a mast  for  the  day,  a tempo- 
rary mast,  being  a spar  used  for  the 
nonce  when  the  mast  has  been  carried 
away.  (French,  jour,  a day. ) 

Jus  de  Reglisse  (Liquorice). 
French  slang  for  a negro. 

Jus  Gen'tium  {Latin).  Interna- 
tional law. 

Jus  Mari'ti  {Latin).  The  right  of 
the  husband  to  the  wife’s  property. 

Just  {The). 

Aristi'des,  the  Athenian.  (Died  B.C. 
468.) 

BaTiaram,  styled  ^ah  endeb  (the  Just 
King)  fifth  of  the  Sassanides  (s'.r.). 
(276-296.) 

Casimir  II.,  king  of  Poland.  (1117- 
1194.) 

Ferdinand  I.,  king  of  Aragon.  (1373- 
1416.) 

Haroun  al  Raschid  {the  Just).  The 
most  renowned  of  the  Abbaside  califs, 
and  the  hero  of  several  of  the  ‘‘  Arabian 
Nights”  stories.  (735-809.) 

James  II.,  king  of  Aragon.  (1261-1327.) 

Khosru  or  Chosroes,  called  by  the 
Arabs  Molk  al  Adel  (the  Just  King).  He 
was  the  twenty-first  of  the  Sassan'ides. 
(531-579.) 

Pedro  I.  of  Portugal.  (1320,1357-1367.) 


JUSTE  MILIEU. 


KALMAR. 


Juste  Milieu  {French).  The  golden 
mean. 

Justices  in  Eyre  (pron.  ire).  A con- 
traction and  corruption  of  Itiii'ere—i.  e., 
in  circuit. 

Justing  of  Watson  and  Barbour. 
A description  of  a ludicrous  tilt  between 
Watson  and  Barbour,  in  Scotch  verse,  by 
Sir  David  Lindsay. 

Justinian.  The  English  Justinian. 
Edward  I.  (1239,  1272-1307.) 

JuVenal  A youth ; common 

in  Shakespeare,  thus— 

The  juvenal.the  prince  your  ncaster,  whose  chin 
is  not  yet  fledged.— “ 2 Henry  I T.,”  i.  2. 

The  English  Juvenal.  John  Oldham. 
(1653-1683; 


K 

K.  The  three  had  K's.  The  Greeks 
so  called  the  Ka'rians,  Kre'tans,  and 
Kilik'ians.  The  Romans  retained  the 
same  expression,  though  they  spelt  the 
three  nations  with  C instead  of  K. 

K.C.B.  Knight  Commander  of  the 
Bath. 

K.G.  Knight  of  the  Garter. 

K.  K.  is  the  German  Kaiserliche  Kd~ 
nigliche.  The  emperor  of  Austria  is  styled 
K.K.  Majestat — His  imperial  royal  ma- 
jesty. 

KaaT^a  (Arabic  for  square  house). 
An  oblong  stone  building  within  a mosque 
at  Mecca,  on  the  spot  where  Adam  is 
said  to  have  first  worshipped  after  his 
expulsion  from  Paradise.  The  stone  was 
originally  white,  but  the  sins  of  manki^id 
have  turned  it  black.  {See  Adam’s  Peak.  ) 

Kab'eyun  {Forth- American  Indian). 
Zephyr. 

Kab'ibonok'ka  ( North- A merican 

Indian).  Son  of  Mudjekee'wis,  and  the 
Indian  Boreas,  who  dwelt  in  Wabasso 
(the  North).  He  paints  the  autumn  leaves 
scarlet  and  yellow,  sends  the  snow,  binds  i 
the  rivers  in  ice,  and  drives  away  the 
sea-gull,  cormorant,  and  heron.  {See 
Shing'ebis.) 

Kadris.  Religious  Turks,  whose  ; 
devotion  is  characterised  by  their  lacera-  | 
tions  with  scourges.  i 


Kaffir  (Arabic,  Kiafir,  an  infidel). 
A name  given  to  the  Hottentots,  who* 
reject  the  Moslem  faith.  Kajiristany  in 
Central  Asia,  means  ‘‘the  country  of  tho- 
infidels.” 

Kai-an'ians.  The  sixth  Persian- 
dynasty.  The  semi-historic  period  (b.c. 
660-331).  So  called  because  they  took 
for  their  affix  the  term  kai  (mighty)^ 
called  by  the  Greeks,  Ku  (Kuros),  and- 
by  the  Romans,  Cy  (Cyrus). 

Kai-Omurs  {the  mighty  Omui's),  sur- 
named  Ghil-shah  (earth’s  king).  Son  of; 
Du'laved,  founder  of  the  city  Balk,  andl 
first  of  the  Kai-Omurs  or  Paishdad'ian 
dynasty  of  Persia  (b.c.  940-920).  {See- 
Paisdadian.) 

Kail'yal  (2  syl.).  The  heroine  oft 
Southey’s  “ Curse  of  Keh^ma.” 

Kaiser.  The  emperor  of  Austria. 
He  receives  the  title  from  Dalmatia^. 
Croatia,  and  the  line  of  the  Danube^.. 
which,  by  the  arrangement  of  Diocletian^, 
was  governed  by  a prince  entitled  Caesar, 
heir-presumptive  to  the  imperial  throne. 
It  was  Albert  II.,  duke  of  Austria,  who- 
added  this  part  to  the  imperial  throno- 
in  1438. 

KaTed  is  Gulnare  (2  syl.)  in  the  dis- 
guise of  a page  in  the  service  of  Lara. . 
After  Lara  is  shot,  she  haunts  the  spot 
of  his  death  as  a crazy  woman,  and  dies 
at  length  of  a broken  heart.— 

Kaleda  (Sclavonic  mythology').  Tho  ' 
god  of  peace,  somewhat  similar  to  tho 
Latin  Janus.  His  feast  was  celebrated- 
on  the  24th  of  December. 

Kali.  A Hindu  goddess  after  whomr 
Calcutta  receives  its  name,  Kali-Kutta^ 
{Kali's  village). 

Kaliyn'ga.  The  last  of  the  four 
Hindu  periods  contained  in  the  great 
-Yuga,  equal  to  the  Iron  age  of  classic 
mythology.  It  consisted  of  432,000  solar- 
sidereal  years,  and  began  3102  years  be- 
fore the  Christian  era.  The  bull  repre- 
senting truth  and  right  has  but  one  foot 
in  this  period,  because  all  the  world  de*- 
lights  in  wickedness.  {See  Krita.) 

Kalmar'.  The  union  of  Kalmar.  A.. 

; treaty  made  on  July  12,  1397,  to  settlor 
I the  succession  of  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
1 Denmark  on  queen  Margaret  and  her 


470 


KALMUCKS. 


KASWA. 


, heirs  for  ever.  This  treaty  lasted  only 
till  the  death  of  Margaret. 

Kalmucks  — i.e.,  Khalimihs  (apos- 
tates) from  Buddhism. 

Kalpa.  A day  and  night  of  Brahma, 
a period  of  4,320,000,000  solar-sidereal 
years.  Some  say  there  are  an  infinity 
of  Kalpas,  others  limit  the  number  to 
thirty.  A Great  Kalpa  is  a life  of  BrahmA 

Kalpa-Tarou.  A tree  in  Indian 
mythology  from  which  might  be  gathered 
whatever  a person  desired.  This  tree  is 

the  tree  of  the  imagination.” 

Kalyb.  The  Lady  of  the  Woods,* 
who  stole  St.  George  from  his  nurse, 
brought  him  up  as  her  own  child,  and 
endowed  him  with  gifts.  St.  George 
enclosed  her  in  a rock,  where  she  was 
torn  to  pieces  by  spirits. — Seven  Cham- 
'pions  of  Christendom y'"  pt.  i. 

Kam.  Crooked.  (Erse  haam^  squint- 
eyed.  ) Clean  Kam,  perverted  into  Kim 
Kam,  means  wholly  awry,  clean  from  the 
purpose. 

This  is  clean  kam— merely  awry. 

Shakespeare,  “ Coriolanus,’’^  iii.  1. 

Kama.  The  Hindu  god  of  love.  His 
wife  is  Rati  {voluptuousness),  and  he  is 
represented  as  riding  on  a sparrow, 
holding  in  his  hand  a bow  of  sugar-cane 
and  five  arrows  {i.e.,  the  five  senses). 

Ka'mi.  The  celestial  gods  of  the 
first  mythical  dynasty  of  Japan,  the 
derm-gods  of  the  second  dynasty,  the 
spiritual  princes,  and  any  one  sainted  or 
deified. 

Kamsin.  A simoom  or  samiel,  a hot, 
dry,  southerly  wind,  which  prevails  in 
Egypt  and  the  deserts  of  Africa. 

K anoon  or  Canun'.  A sort  of 
psaltery. 

Kansa.  A king  of  the  race  of  Bhoja, 
notorious  for  his  enmity  to  Krishna,  who 
ultimately  slew  him, — Hindu  mythology. 

Kansas.  Bleeding  Kansas.  So  called 
because  it  was  the  place  where  that  san- 
guinary strife  commenced,  which  was  the 
prelude  of  the  civil  war  of  America, 
According-  to  the  Missouri  Compromise 
made  in  1820,  slavery  was  never  to  be 
introduced  into  any  western  region  lying 
beyond  36°  30'  north  latitude.  In  1851, 
the  slave-holders  of  Missouri,  by  a local 
act,  pushed  their  west  frontier  to  the 


river-bank,  and  slave  lords  with  their 
slaves  took  possession  of  the  Kansas 
hunting  grounds,  declaring  that  they 

would  lynch,  hang,  tar  and  feather 
any  white-livered  abolitionist  who  pre- 
sumed to  pollute  the  soil.”  In  1854, 
thirty  New  England  free-soilers  crossed 
the  river  in  open  boats  ; they  were  soon 
joined  by  others,  and  dared  the  slavers 
to  carry  out  their  threats.  Many  a 
fierce  battle  was  fought,  but  in  1861 
Bleeding  Kansas  was  admitted  into  the 
Union  as  a free  state. — W.  Hepworth 
Dixon,  New  America,’’  vol.  i.,  c.  2. 

Karaites  {Scripturists).  A Jewish 
sect  that  adhered  to  the  letter  of  the 
Scriptures,  rejecting  all  oral  traditions. 
They  abhorred  the  Talmud,  and  observed 
the  Sabbath  with  more  rigour  than  even 
the  rabbinists. 

Karma.  The  Buddhists’  judgment, 
which  determines  at  death  the  future 
state  of  the  deceased.  It  is  also  their 
fiat  on  actions,  pronouncing  them  to  be 
meritorious  or  otherwise. 

Karma'thians.  A Mahometan  sect 
which  rose  in  Irak  in  the  ninth 
Christian  century.  Its  name  is  from 
Karmata,  its  founder,  a poor  labourer 
who  assumed  to  be  a prophet. 

Karoon  or  Korah.  The  riches  of 
Karoon  (Arabic  proverb).  Korah,  accord- 
ing to  the  commentators  of  the  Koran, 
was  the  most  wealthy  and  most  beautiful 
of  all  the  Israelites.  It  is  said  that  he 
built  a large  palace,  which  he  overlaid 
with  gold,  and  that  the  doors  of  bis 
palace  were  solid  gold  (Sale,  Koran  ”)^. 
He  was  the  Croesus  of  the  Mahometans, 
and  guarded  his  wealth  in  a labyrinth. 

Karrows.  A set  of  gamblers  in 
Ireland,  who  played  away  even  the 
clothes  on  their  backs. 

The  karrows  plaie  awaie  mantle  and  all  to  the 
bare  skin,  and  then  trusse  themselves  in  straw  or 
leaves.  They  wait  for  passengers  in  the  high-waie, 
invite  them  to  game  upon  the  greene,  and  aske  no 
more  but  companions  to  make  them  sport.  For 
default  of  other  stuffe  they  pawne  their  glibs,  the 
nailes  of  their  fingers  and  toe^,  their  dirrrissaries 
which  they  leefe  or  redeeme  at  the  courtesie  of  the 
winner.— ^Yani^Mrsf. 

Karttikey'a.  The  Hindu  Mars  or 
war-god,  and  commander  in-chief  of  the 
celestial  armies.  He  slew  T^raka,  the 
demoti-king,  whose  power  threatened  the 
very  existence  of  the  gods. 

Kaswa  {Al).  Mahomet*s  favourite 
camel,  which  fell  on  its  knees  in  adoration 


KATHAY, 


KEMA. 


471 


when  ‘Hhe  prophet”  delivered  the  last 
clause  of  the  Koran  to  the  assembled 
multitude  at  Mecca.  This  is  one  of  the 
dumb  creatures  admitted  into  the  Moslem 
paradise,  {See  Fly.) 

Kathay'.  China. 

KatKerine  or  Cathari'na,  daughter 
of  Baptista,  a rich  gentleman  of  Padua. 
She  was  very  beautiful,  but  a shrew. 
Petruchio  of  Vero'na  married  her,  and  so 
subdued  her  imperious  temper  by  his  in- 
domitable -will,  that  she  became  the 
model  of  a “ submissive  wife,”  and  gives 
Bianca,  her  sister,  most  excellent  advice 
respecting  the  duty  of  submission. 

The  Kathet'ine  de'  Medici  of  China. 
Voo-chee,  widow  of  king  Tae-tsong. 
Most  imperious  and  cruel,  but  of  irre- 
sistible energy.  (684-705.) 

Kau'seroon',  in  Persia,  famous  for 
its  orange  groves,  from  which  bees  ex- 
tract a most  delicious  honey. — Morier, 

Travels.’’ 

Kay  or  Sir  Key^  son  of  Sir  Ector, 
and  foster-brother  of  king  Arthur.  In 
Arthurian  romance,  this  seneschal  of 
England  is  represented  as  a rude  and 
boastful  knight,  the  first  to  attempt  any 
achievement,  but  very  rarely  successful, 

Kayre  or  Kaire  (1  syl.).  Cairo. 

Straute  unto  Kayre  his  way  he  fongeth. 

Where  he  the  souldan  ihanne  foude. 

Gower. 

Kayward.  The  hare,  in  the  tale  of 
**  Reynard  the  Fox.”  (The  word  means 
‘‘  Country-guardian.”) 

Keber'.  A Persian  sect  (generally 
rich  merchants),  distinguished  by  their 
beards  and  dress.  When  one  of  them 
dies,  a cock  is  driven  out  of  the  poultry 
yard ; if  a fox  seizes  it,  it  is  a proof  that 
the  soul  of  the  deceased  is  saved.  If 
this  experiment  does  not  answer,  they 
prop  the  dead  body  against  a wall,  and 
if  the  birds  peck  out  the  right  eye  first, 
the  Keber  is  gone  to  heaven  ; if  the  left 
eye,  the  carcase  is  flung  into  a ditch,  for 
the  Keber  was  a reprobate. 

Kebla.  The  point  of  adoration — i.e., 
the  quarter  or  point  of  the  compass  to- 
wards which  persons  turn,  when  they 
worship.  The  Persian  fire-worshippers 
turn  to  the  east,  the  place  of  the  rising 
sun  ; the  Jews  to  Jerusalem,  the  city  of 
the  King  of  kings  ; the  Mahometans  to 
Mecca;  the  early  Christians  turned  to 


the  ^'east,”  and  the  communion  table” 
even  of  the  Reformed  Church”  is 
placed  at  the  east  end  of  the  building, 
whenever  this  arrangement  is  practicable. 

Kebla-!N‘onia.  The  pocket  compass 
carried  by  Mussulmans  to  direct  them 
which  way  to  turn  when  they  pray.  {See 
aJbove.) 

Ke'derli.  The  St.  George  of  Ma- 
hometan mythology.  He  slew  a mon- 
strous dragon  to  save  a damsel  exj^osed 
to  its  fury,  and  having  drunk  of  the 
water  of  life,  rode  about  the  world  to 
aid  those  warriors  who  invoked  him. 
This  tradition  is  exactly  parallel  to  that 
of  St.  George,  and  explains  the  reason 
why  the  one  is  the  field- word  with  the 
Turks,  and  the  latter  with  the  ancient 
English. 

Ked'jeree'.  A corruption  of  the 
Indian  word  KhichH  (a  medley  or  hotch- 
potch). The  word  has  been  confounded 
with  a place  so  called,  forty  miles  south- 
west of  Calcutta,  on  the  Hoogly  river. 

Keel-Hauling  or  Haling.  A long, 
troublesome,  and  vexatious  examination 
or  repetition  of  annoyances  from  a land- 
lord or  government  official.  In  the  Dutch 
and  almost  all  other  navies,  delinquents 
were,  at  one  time,  tied  to  a yard-arm 
with  weights  on  their  feet,  and  dragged 
by  a rope  under  the  keel  of  their  sffip, 
in  at  one  side  and  out  at  the  other. 

Keep  touch.  To  keep  faith  ; the 
exact  performance  of  an  agreement,  as, 
‘‘To  keep  touch  with  my  promise” 
(More).  The  idea  seems  to  be  embodied 
in  the  proverb,  “ Seeing  is  believing,  but 
feeling  is  naked  truth.” 

And  trust  me  on  my  truth. 

If  thou  keep  touch  with  me. 

My  dearest  friend,  as  m.y  own  heart. 

Thou  shalt  right  welcome  be. 

“ Songi  of  the  London  'Prentices**  p.,  87. 

Keha'ma.  A Hindu  rajah  who  ob- 
tains and  sports  with  supernatural 
powers. — Southey,  Curse  of  Kehama.” 

Kelpy  or  Kelpie.  A spirit  of  the 
waters  in  the  form  of  a horse,  in 
Scottish  mythology.  Not  unlike  the 
Irish  Phooka. 

Every  lake  has  its  Kelpie  or  Water-horse,  often 
seen  by  the  shepherd  sitting  upon  the  brow  of  a rock 
dashing  along  the  surface  of  the  deep,  orbrowsing 
upon  the  pisture  on  its  verge.— (?/’aAam,  **Sketchea 
of  Pei  thshire.'* 

Ke'ma.  The  book  containing  the 
secrets  of  the  gehii,  who,  infatuated  with 


472  KEMPFER-HAUSEN, 


KENSINGTON. 


love,  revealed  the  marvels  of  nature  to 
men,  and  were  banished  out  of  heaven. 
According  to  some  etymologists,  the 
word  chemistry  is  derived  from  this 
word. — Zozime  Panojyolite." 

Kemp'fer-Hau'sen.  The  nom  de 
'plume  of  Robert  Pearce  Gillies,  one  of 
the  speakers  in  the  ^^Noctes  Am- 
brosia'nae. — Blachvood's  Magazine'' 

Kertipis.  The  authorship  of  the 
work  entitled  De  Imitatio'ne  Christi,’* 
has  afforded  as  much  controversy  as  the 

Letters  of  Junius.’*  In  1604,  a Spanish 
Jesuit  discovered  a manuscript  copy  by 
the  abbot  John  Gersen  or  Gesen,  and 
since  then  three  competitors  have  had 
angry  and  wordy  defenders,  viz.,  Thomas 
h>  Kempis,  Chancellor  Gersen,  and  the 
abbot  Gersen.  M.  Malou  gives  his  ver- 
dict in  favour  of  the  first. 

Ken  or  Kiun.  An  Egyptian  goddess 
similar  to  the  Roman  Venus.  She  is 
represented  as  standing  on  a lion,  and 
holding  two  serpents  in  one  hand  and  a 
flower  in  the  other.  l^See  Amos  v.  26.) 

Kendal  Green.  Green  cloth  for 
foresters,  so  called  from  Kenda],  West- 
moreland, famous  at  one  time  for  this 
manufacture.  Kendal  green  was  the 
livery  of  Robin  Hood  and  his  followers. 
In  Rymer’s  Foedera  (ii.  283)  is  a letter  of 
protection,  dated  1331,  and  granted  by 
Edward  III.  to  John  Kempe  of  Flanders, 
who  established  cloth-weaving  in  the 
borough. 

How  could’st  thou  know  these  men  in  Kendal- 

green,  when  it  was  so  dark  thou  could’st  not  see  thy 
and Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  IV."  ii.  4. 

Kenelm  (N^.)  was  murdered  at 
Clente-in-Cowbage,  near  Winchelcumb, 
in  Gloucestershire.  The  murder,  says 
Roger  of  Wendover,  was  miraculously 
notified  at  Rome  by  a white  dove,  which 
alighted  on  the  altar  of  St.  Peter’s, 
bearing  in  its  beak  a scroll  with  these 
words — 

In  Clent  cow  pasture,  under  a thorn. 

Of  head  bereft,  lies  Kenelm  king-born. 

Kenna.  Daughter  of  king  O'beron, 
who  fell  in  love  with  Albion,  son  of  the 
island-king.  Oberon  drove  the  prince 
from  his  empire,  and  when  Albion  in 
revenge  invaded  the  kingdom  he  was 
slain.  Kenna  poured  the  juice  of  the 
herb  moly  on  the  dead  body,  and  it  was 
turned  into  a snow- drop.  Kensington 
receives  its  name,  according  to  fable, 


from  the  fairy  Kenna. — Tichellf  Ken^ 
singio7i  Gardens." 

Kenna  Quhair  (/  hnow  not  ivhere), 
Scotch  for  terra  incognita. 

Kenne.  A stone  said  to  be  formed 
in  the  eye  of  a stag,  and  used  as  an 
antidote  to  poison. 

Kennedy.  A poker,  or  to  kill  with 
a poker ; so  called  from  a man  of  that 
name  who  was  killed  by  a poker. — Dic- 
tionary  of  Modern  Slang." 

Kennel.  A dog’s  house ; from  the 
Latin  canis  (a  dog),  Italian  canile;  but 
kennel  (a  gutter)  from  the  Latin  canna 
(a  cane),  our  canal,  channel,  &c. 

Ken'sington.  O'beron,  king  of  the 
fairies,  held  his  royal  seat  in  these  gar- 
dens, which  were  fenced  round  with 
spells  ^^interdicted  to  human  touch;” 
but  not  unfrequently  his  thievish  elves 
would  rob  the  human  mother  of  her  babe, 
and  leave  in  its  stead  a sickly  changeling 
of  the  elfen  race.  Once  on  a time  it  so 
fell  out  that  one  of  the  infants  fostered 
in  these  gardens  was  Albion,  the  son  of 

Albion’s  royal  blood it  was  stolen  by  a 
fairy  named  Milkah.  When  the  boy  was 
nineteen,  he  fell  in  love  with  Kenna, 
daughter  of  King  Oberon,  and  Kenna 
vowed  that  none  but  Albion  should  ever 
be  her  chosen  husband.  Oberon  heard 
her  when  she  made  this  vow,  and  instantly 
drove  the  prince  out  of  the  garden,  and 
married  the  fairy  maid  to  Azu'riel,  a fairy 
of  great  beauty  and  large  possessions,  to 
whom  Holland  Park  belonged.  In  the 
meantime  Albion  prayed  to  Neptune  for 
revenge,  and  the  sea-god  commanded  the 
fairy  OTiel,  w;hose  dominion  lay  along 
the  banks  of  the  Thames,  to  espouse  the 
cause  of  his  lineal  offspring.  Albion  was 
slain  in  the  battle  by  Azuriel,  and  Nep- 
tune in  revenge  crushed  the  whole  empire 
of  Oberon.  Being  immortal,  the  fairies 
could  not  be  destroyed,  but  they  fled 
from  the  angry  sea-god,  some  to  the  hills 
and  some  to  the  dales,  some  to  the  caves 
and  others  to  river-banks.  Kenna  alone 
remained,  and  tried  to  revive  her  lover 
by  means  of  the  herb  moly.  No  sooner 
did  the  juice  of  this  wondrous  herb  touch 
the  body  than  it  turned  into  a snow-drop. 
When  Wise  laid  out  the  grounds  for  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  Kenna  planned  it 
a morning  dream,”  and  gave  her  name  to- 
the  town  and  garden. — Tickell,  *^Kenshg> 
ton  Gardens." 


KENT. 


KETTLE  OF  FISH. 


473- 


Kent  (Latin,  Caii'tium,  the  territory 
of  the  Kantii  or  Cantii.  Old  British,  i 
Kanty  a corner  or  headland).  In  the  | 
reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  Kent  was  so  | 
notorious  for  highway  robbery,  that  the  1 
word  signified  a nest  of  thieves.”  ! 

Some  bookes  are  arrogant  and  impui3ent ; 

So  are  most  thieves  in  Cristendome  and  Kent. 

Taylor,  the  Water  Poet  (1030). 

A Man  of  Kent.  One  born  east  of  the 
Medway.  These  men  went  out  with 
green  boughs  to  meet  the  Conqueror, 
and  obtained  in  consequence  a confirma- 
tion of  their  ancient  privileges  from  the 
new  king.  They  call  themselves  the 
invicti. 

A Kentish  man.  A resident  of  Kent, 
without  regard  to  his  birthplace. 

Holy  Maid  of  Kent.  Elizabeth  Barton, 
who  pretended  to  the  gift  of  prophecy 
and  power  of  miracles.  Having  de- 
nounced the  doom  and  speedy  death  of 
Henry  VIII.  for  his  marriage  with  Anne 
Boleyn,  she  was  executed.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  Abbot,”  xiii.)  calls  her  ‘*The 
Nun  of  Kent.”— /See  Fair  (Maid  of  Kent). 

Kent’s  Hole.  A large  cave  in  the 
limestone  rock  near  Torquay,  Devon. 

Kent  Street  Ejectment.  Taking 
away  the  street-door ; a method  devised 
by  the  landlords  of  Kent  Street,  South- 
wark, when  their  tenants  were  more  than 
a fortnight  in  arrears. 

Kentish  Fire.  Rapturous  applause, 
or  three  times  three  and  one  more.  The  i 
expression  originated  with  Lord  Win-  ' 
chelsea,  who  proposed  the  health  of  the 
Earl  of  Roden,  on  the  15th  August,  1884, 
and  added,  ‘‘Let  it  be  given  with  the 
‘ Kentish  Fire.’”  In  proposing  another 
toast  he  asked  permission  to  bring  his 
“Kentish  Artillery”  again  into  action. 
Chambers,  in  his  “Encyclopaedia,”  says 
it  arose  from  the  protracted  cheers  given 
in  Kent  to  the  No- Popery  orators  in 
1828-9. 

Kentish  Moll.  Mary  Carlton,  nick- 
named The  German  Princess.  She  was 
transported  to  Jamaica  in  1671 ; but 
returning  without  leave,  was  hanged  at 
Tyburn,  January  22nd,  16/3. 

Kepler’s  Laws : 

(1)  That  the  planets  describe  ellipses, 

and  that  the  centre  of  the  sun  is  in  one  ' 
of  the  foci.  I 

(2)  That  every  planet  so  moves  that  j 


the  line  drawn  from  it  to  tbe  sun  describes* 
equal  areas  in  equal  times. 

(3)  That  the  squares  of  the  times  of 
the  planetary  revolutions  are  as  the  cubes- 
of  their  mean  distances  from  the  sun. 

Kerchef  of  Plesaunce.  An  em- 
broidered cloth  presented  by  a lady  to- 
her  knight  to  wear  for  her  sake.  The 
honoured  knight  was  bound  to  place  the 
gift  in  his  helmet. 

Kerna.  A kind  of  trumpet  used  by 
Tamerlane,  the  blast  of  which  might  be 
heard  for  miles. 

Kernel  is  the  German  Kern  (corn, 
seed  in  general),  whence  acorn  (the  ac  or 
oak  corn). 

Kersey.  A coarse  cloth,  usually^ 
ribbed,  and  woven  from  long  wool;  so- 
named  from  Jersey,  where  it  was  origi- 
nally made. 

Ker'zereh  or  Kerz'rah.  A flower 
which  grows  in  Persia.  It  is  said,  if  any 
one  in  June  or  July  inhales  the  hot 
south  wind  which  has  blown  over  this- 
flower  he  will  die. 

Keso'ra.  The  female  idol  adored  in. 
the  temple  of  Juggernaut.  Its  head  and. 
body  are  of  sandal- wood  ; its  eyes  two  - 
diamonds,  and  a third  diamond  is  sus- 
pended round  its  neck  ; its  hands  are 
made  entirely  of  small  pearls,  called i 
perles  d Vonce  ; its  bracelets  are  of  pearls 
and  rubies,  and  its  robe  is  cloth  of  gold. 

Ketch.  {See  Jack  Ketch.) 

Ketchup.  A corruption  of  the 
Japanese  Kitjap,  a similar  condiment 
sometimes  sold  as  soy,  but  not  equal 
to  it. 

Ketmir.  The  dog  of  the  Seven. 
Sleepers.  {See  Fly.  ) 

Kettle.  Thor' s great  kettle.  The  god’ 
Thor  wanted  to  brew  some  beer,  but  not 
having  a vessel  suited  for  the  purpo^^e  in 
Valhalla,  stole  the  kettle  of  the  giant 
Hymer. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Kettle  of  Fish.  A f6te-champetr©' 
in  which  salmon  is  the  chief  dish  provided. 
In  these  pic-nics,  a large  caldron  being 
provided,  the  party  select  a place  near  a 
salmon  river.  Having  thickened  some 
water  with  salt  to  the  consistency  of 
brine,  the  salmon  is  put  therein  and'  ’ 
boiled;  and  when  fit  for  eating,  the  com- 
pany partake  thereof  in  gipsy  fashion.. 


474 


KETTLE-DEUM. 


KEYNE. 


Some  think  the  discomfort  of  this  sort  ©f 
pic-nic  gave  rise  to  the  phrase  A pretty 
kettle  of  fish.”  {See  Kittle.) 

The  whole  company  go  to  the  waterside  to-day  to 
CHta  kettle  offish.— Walter  Scott,  “St.  Honan's 
Well,"  xii. 

Kettle-drum.  A large  social  party. 
Among  the  Tartars  a keUle”  represents 
a family,  or  as  many  as  feed  from  one 
kettle  ; and  on  Tweedside  it  signifies  a 

social  party,”  met  together  to  take  tea 
from  the  same  tea-kettle  ; hence  any 
social  party.  Of  course,  the  play  upon 
this  meaning  of  the  word,  and  the  instru- 
ment called  a kettle-drum,  is  intentional. 
{See  Drum.) 

Kettledrummle  A Cove- 

nanter preacher  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 
•‘‘^Old  Mortality.” 

Kevin  (St)  like  St.  Sena'nus  (q.v.) 
^retired  to  an  island  where  he  vowed  no  wo- 
man should  ever  land.  Kathleen  loved  the 
saint,  and  tracked  him  to  his  retirement, 
but  the  saint  hurled  her  from  a rock. 
Kathleen  died,  but  her  ghost  rose  smiling 
from  the  tide,  and  never  left  it  so  long 
as  the  saint  lived.  A bed  in  the  rock 
Glendalough  (Wicklow)  is  shown  as 
'the  bed  of  St.  Kevin.  Thomas  Moore 
has  a poem  on  this  tradition. — Irish 
Melodies,'^  iv. 

Key.  (>S'eeKAT.) 

Keys  of  stables  and  cowhouses  have 
.not  unfrequently,  even  at  the  present 
day,  a stone  with  a hole  through  it  and  a 
piece  of  horn  attached  to  the  handle. 
This  is  a relic  of  an  ancient  superstition. 
The  hag,  halig,  or  holy  stone  was  looked 
upon  as  a talisman  which  kept  off  the 
fiendish  Mara  or  night-mare  ; and  the 
horn  was  supposed  to  ensure  the  protec- 
ition  of  the  god  of  cattle,  called  by  the 
Eomans  Pan. 

Key  as  an  emUem. 

St.  Peter  is  always  represented  in 
Christian  art  with  two  keys  in  his  hand  ; 
they  are  consequently  the  insignia  of  the 
Papacy,  and  are  borne  saltier-wise,  one 
of  gold  and  the  other  of  silver. 

They  are  the  emblems  also  of  St.  Ser- 
vaTius,  St.  Hippol'ytus,  St.  Genevieve, 
Et.  Petronilla,  St.  Osyth,  St.  Martha, 
and  St.  Germa'nus  of  Paris. 

One  British  bishop  bears  two  keys  and 
sword  in  saltire,  viz.,  Winchester. 

Four  bear  two  keys  in  saltire,  viz., 
St.  Asaph,  Gloucester,  Exeter,  and 
Peterborough. 


The  Cross  Keys,  A public-house  sign  ; 
the  arms  of  the  archbishop  of  JTork. 

The  key  shall  he  upon  his  shoulder.  He 
shall  have  the  dominion.  The  ancient 
keys  were  instruments  about  a yard  long, 
made  of  wood  or  metal.  On  public 
occasions  the  steward  slung  his  key  over 
his  shoulder  as  our  mace-bearers  carry 
their  mace.  Hence,  to  have  the 
key  upon  one’s  shoulder  means  to  be 
in  authority,  to  have  the  keeping  of 
something.  It  is  said  of  Eliakim,  that 
God  would  lay  upon  his  shoulder  the  key 
of  the  house  of  David  (Isa.  xxii.  22) ; 
and  of  our  Lord  that  the  government 
should  be  upon  his  shoulder  ” (Isa.  ix.  6). 
The  chamberlain  of  the  court  used  to 
bear  a key  as  his  insignia. 

The  power  of  the  keys — i.  e.,  the  su- 
preme authority  vested  in  the  pope  as 
successor  of  St.  Peter.  The  phrase  is 
derived  from  St.  Matt.  xvi.  19. 

To  throw  the  keys  into  the  pit.  To  dis- 
claim a debt ; to  refuse  to  pay  the  debts 
of  a deceased  husband.  This  refers  to 
an  ancient  French  custom.  If  a deceased 
husband  did  not  leave  his  widow  enough 
for  her  aliment  and  the  payment  of 
his  debts,  the  widow  was  to  throw  the 
bunch  of  house-keys  which  she  carried 
at  her  girdle  into  the  grave,  and  this 
answered  the  purpose  of  a public  renun- 
ciation of  all  further  ties.  No  one  after 
this  could  come  on  the  widow  for  any  of 
her  late  husband’s  debts. 

Key-cold.  Deadly  cold,  lifeless.  A 
key,  on  account  of  its  coldness,  is  still 
sometimes  employed  to  stop  bleeding  at 
the  nose. 

Poor  key-cold  figure  of  a holy  king ! 

Pale  ashes  of  the  house  of  Lancaster ! 

Thou  bloodless  remnant  of  that  royal  h]ood  ! 

Shakespeare,  “Richard  ///.,” i.  2. 

Key-stone.  The  Key-stone  State. 
Pennsylva'nia,  so  called  from  its  position 
and  importance. 

Key  of  the  Mediterranean.  The 
fortress  of  Gibraltar;  so  called  because 
it  commands  the  entrance  thereof. 

Key  of  Russia.  Smolensk,  on  the 
Dnieper. 

Keyne  {St.^.  The  well  of  St.  Keyne, 
Cornwall,  has  a strange  superstition 
attached  to  it,  which  is  this  : ^^If  the 
bridegroom  drinks  therefrom  before 
the  bride,  he  will  be  master  of  his  house ; 
but  if  the  bride  gets  the  first  draught, 
the  grey  mare  will  be  the  better  horse.” 


KHEDIVE  D’EGYPTE. 


KILKENNY  CATS.  475 


Southey  has  a ballad  on  this  tradition, 
and  says  the  man  left  his  wife  at  the 
church  porch,  and  ran  to  the  well  to  get 
the  first  draught;  but  when  he  returned 
his  wife  told  him  his  labour  had  been 
ciuite  vain,  for  she  had  taken  with  her  a 
‘'bottle  of  the  water  to  church.” 

Khedive  d’Egypte.  An  old  regal 
title  revived  by  Ismael  I.,  higher  than 
viceroy,  but  not  so  high  as  sultan. 

Khem  or  Chamno.  A Semitic  deity. 

Khorassan  {Region  of  the  Sun).  A 
province  of  Persia,  anciently  called 
Aria'na. 

The  Veiled  Proghet  of  Khwassan.  Mo- 
kanna,  a prophet  chief,  who  wore  a veil 
under  pretence  of  shading  the  dazzling 
light  of  his  countenance. 

Terror  seized  her  lest  the  love- light  yhich  encir- 
cled him  should  fade  away,  and  leave  him  like  the 
veiled  prophet  of  Khorassan,  a sin-stained  thing  of 
clay.-X®dj/  Hardy,  “ A Casual  Acquaintance." 

Khordad.  The  good  genius  of  the 
Persians. 

Klhors  {Sclavonic  mythology).  The 
Esculapius  or  medicine-god  of  the  Slavi. 

TCi.  A Chinese  word,  signifying  age 
or  period,  generally  applied  to  the  ten 
periods  preceding  the  first  Imperial 
dynasty,  founded  B.C.  2205.  It  extended 
over  some  300,000  years.  The  first  was 
founded  by  Puon-ku  (highest  eternity), 
and  the  last  byFo-hi,  surnamed  Tien-Tse 
^son  of  heaven). 

Kiak-Kiak  {god  of  gods).  An  idol 
worshipped  in  Pegu.  This  god  is  to 
sleep  6,000  years,  and  when  he  wakes 
the  end  of  the  world  will  come. 

Kick.  is  hard  foi'  thee  to  IdcTc 

against  the  ^ricJcs^^  (Acts  ix.  5).  The 
reference  is  not  to  the  ox  kicking  against 
the  goad,  but  to  a horse  kicking  against 
the  spur.  The  proverb  occurs  in  Pindar 
(2  “Pyth.”  V.  173),  iniEschylos(“Agam.,” 
1,620),  in  Euripides  (‘^  Bacch.,”  793), 
&c. , in  all  which  cases  the  spur,  and  not 
the  ox-goad,  is  referred  to. 

To  kick  the  bucket.  A bucket  is  a 
pulley;  and  in  Norfolk  a beam,  called 
in  Lincolnshire  a buckler.  When  pigs 
are  killed,  they  are  hung  by  their  hind- 
legs on  a bucket,  with  their  heads  down- 
wards, and  oxen  are  hauled  up  by  a 
pulley.  To  kick  the  bucket  is  to  be 
hung  on  the  bulk  or  bucket  by  the  heels. 

Quite  the  Hck.  Quite  a dandy.  The 


Italians  call  a dandy  a chic.  The  French 
chic  means  knack,  as  avoir  le  chic^  to 
have  the  knack  of  doing  a thing  smartly. 

I cocked  my  hat,  and  twirled  my  stick. 

And  the  girls  they  called  me  quite  the  kick. 

6eo7-ge  Colman  the  Younger, 

Kickshaws.  Made  dishes,  odds 
and  ends,  formerly  written  “ kickshose.” 
(French,  quelque  chose.) 

Kicksy-winsy.  A horse  that  kicks 
and  winces  in  impatiefnce  ; figuratively 
a wife  {grey  mare).  The  word  is  used  by 
Taylor,  the  water  poet.  Shakespeare 
spells  it  kicksy-wicksy. 

He  wears  his  honours  in  a box  unseen 

That  hugs  his  kicksy-wicksy  here  at  home. 

Spending  Ins  manly  marrow  in  her  arms. 

Which  should  sustain  the  bound,  and  high  curvet 

Of  Mars’s  fiery  steed. 

All's  Well  that  F.nds  Well,''  ii.  3. 

Kidderminster  Poetry.  Coarse 
doggrel  verse,  like  the  coarse  woollen 
manufacture  of  Kidderminster.  The 
term  was  first  used  by  Shenstone,  who 
applied  it  to  a Mr.  C.,  of  Kidderminster. 

Thy  verses,  friend,  are  Kidderminster  stuff ; 

And  I must  own  you’ve  measured  out  enough. 

Kidnapper.  A kid  (common  slang 
for),  a child;  nappe  (Danish),  to  snatch 
at ; our  nab.  One  who  snatches  at  children, 
or  “kiddies.” 

Kidney.  Men  of  another^'  kidney , or 
of  the  same  kidney.  The  reins  or  kidneys 
were  even  by  the  Jews  supposed  to  be 
the  seat  of  the  affections. 

Kikymo'ra  {Sclavonic  mythology). 
The  god  of  night,  corresponding  to 
Morpheus  of  Roman  mythology. 

Kilda  {St).  The  farthest  of  the 
western  isles  of  Scotland. 

Kilda're  (2  syl.)  is  the  Irish  Kill  dara, 
church  of  the  oaks. 

Kildare’s  Holy  Fane.  Famous 
for  the  “ Fire  of  Bridget,”  which  was  in- 
extinguishable, because  the  nuns  never 
allowed  it  to  go  out.  Every  twentieth 
night  St.  Bridget  returned  to  tend  the 
five.  Part  of  the  chapel  of  St.  Bridget 
still  remains,  and  is  called  “The  Fire- 
house.” 

Apud  Kildariamcccnrrit  ignis  SanctaeBrigidosquem 

iuextinguebilem  vocaut 

Giraldus  Cambremis,  Hibernia,"  ii.  34. 

Kilken'ny  is  the  Gaelic  Kill  Kenny^ 
church  of  St.  Kenny  or  Cau'ice. 

Kilkenny  Cats.  {See  Cat.) 


476  KILLED  BY  INCHES. 


KINGLY  TITLES. 


Killed  by  Indies.  In  allusion  to 
divers  ways  of  prolonging  capital  punish- 
ments in  olden  times  ; e.g.  : (l)The  iron 
coffin  of  Lissa.’*  The  prisoner  was  laid 
in  the  coffin,  and  saw  the  iron  lid  creep 
slowly  down  with  almost  imperceptible 
movement— slowly,  silently,  but  surely; 
on,  on  it  came  with  relentless  march, 
till,  after  lingering  days  and  nights  in 
suspense,  the  prisoner  was  at  last  as 
slowly  crushed  by  the  iron  lid  press- 
ing on  him.  (2)  The  ‘^baiser  de  la 
Vierge  ” of  Baden-Baden.  The  prisoner, 
blindfolded  and  fastened  to  a chain, 
was  lowered  by  a windlass  down  a deep 
shaft  from  the  top  of  the  castle  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  rock  on  which  it  stands. 
Here  he  remained  till  he  was  conducted 
to  the  torture- chamber,  and  commanded 

to  kiss  ” the  brazen  statue  of  the  Vir- 
gin ” which  stood  at  the  end  of  a passage ; 
but  immediately  he  raised  his  lips  to 
give  the  kiss,  down  he  fell  through  a 
trap-door  on  a wheel  with  spikes,  which 
was  set  in  motion  by  the  fall.  (3)  The 
‘'iron  cages  of  Louis  XI.”  were  so  con- 
trived that  the  victims  might  linger  out 
for  years  ; but  whether  they  sat,  stood, 
or  lay  down,  the  position  was  equally 
uncomfortable.  (4)  The  “ chambre  a 
crucer”  was  a heavy  chest,  short,  shal- 
low, and  lined  with  sharp  stones,  in 
which  the  sufferer  was  packed  and  buried 
alive.  (5)  The  “bernicles”  consisted  of 
a mattress  on  which  the  victim  was  fas- 
tened by  the  neck,  while  his  legs  were 
crushed  between  two  logs  of  wood,  on 
the  uppermost  of  which  the  torturer 
took  his  seat.  This  process  continued 
for  several  days,  till  the  sufferer  died  with 
the  lingering  torment.  Many  other 
modes  of  stretching  out  the  torment  of 
death  might  easily  be  added. 

Killed  by  Kindness.  It  is  said 
that  Draco,  the  Athenian  legislator,  met 
with  his  death  from  his  popularity,  being 
smothered  in  the  theatre  of  iEgi'na  by 
the  number  of  caps  aud  cloaks  showered 
on  him  by  the  spectators  (b.c.  590). 
{See  Kindness.) 

Killing  no  Murder.  A tract 
written  by  Sexby,  who  was  living  in 
Holland  at  the  time  of  its  publication. 
Probably  Sexby  was  paid  for  fathering 
it,  and  that  the  real  author  was  William 
Allan 

Killing-stone  in  Louth.  A crom- 
lech, probably  used  for  human  sacrifice. 


Kilmansegg  {Miss).  An  heiress  of 
great  expectation  with  an  artificial  leg 
of  solid  gold. — Thomas  Hood,  “A  Goldeih 
Legend^' 

Kilmarnock  Cowls.  Nightcaps. 
The  Kilmarnock  nightcaps  were  one© 
celebrated  all  over  Scotland. 

Kilmarth  Kocks  {Scotland),  A 
pile  of  stones  towering  twenty-eight  feet 
in  height,  and  overhanging  more  than 
twelve  feet,  like  the  tower  of  Pisa  (Italy). 
{See  Cheesewring.) 

Kilwinning,  in  the  county  of  Ayr, 
Scotland,  the  scene  of  the  renowned 
tournament  held  in  1839  by  the  Earl  of 
Eglinton.  It  was  also  the  cradle  of  Free- 
masonry in  Scotland, 

Kin,  Kind. 

King.  But  now,  my  cousin  Hamlet,  and  my  son— 

Jlam.  A bitle  more  than  kin,  and  less  than  kind.  , 

Kin  or  kinsman  is  a relative  by  mar- 
riage or  blood  more  distant  than  father  ► 
and  son. 

Kind  means  of  the  same  sort  or  genus,  ‘ 
as  man-kind  or  man-genus.  ! 

Hamlet  says  he  is  more  than  h’m  to 
Claudius  (as  he  was  step-son),  but  still  ^ 
he  is  not  of  the  same  kind,  the  same  ^ 
class.  He  is  not  a bird  of  the  same  feather  ^ 
as  the  king.  ■ 

Klincliok.  One  of  the  two  chief 
divinities  of  Thibet. 

Kind-hart.  A jocular  name  for  a • 
tooth-drawer  ; so  called  from  a dentist  of  ; 
the  name  in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth. 
Kindhart,  the  dentist,  is  mentioned  by  ( 
Kowland  in  his  “ Letting  of  Humours-  j 
Blood  in  the  Head-vain^.”  (1600.)  | 

Kindness.  Killed  with  kindness,  J 
The  allusion  is  to  the  ape,  which  not  un- 
frequently  strangles  its  young  ones  by  ; 
hugging  them  too  hard.  {See  Killed.)  ' 

King  means  Father.  The  word  takes 
us  back  to  patriarchal  times,  when  fami- 
lies were  grouped  into  clans,  clans  into 
tribes,  and  tribes  into  nations.  The 
elders  formed  the  senate,  and  each 
“assembly  of  elders”  had  its  fatlier. 
(German,  konig  ; Sanskrit,  janaka,  a 
father.  Greek,  anax,  and  Latin,  seneXi 
the  old  man  of  the  tribe,  or  paterfamilias 
of  the  nation.)  (Nee  Queen.) 

Elingly  Titles : 

Ahim'etech  (my  father  the  king).  Th© 
chief  ruler  of  the  ancient  Philistines. 


KINGLY  TITLES, 


KINGS  OF  COLOGNE.  477 


Agng  (lord).  The  chief  ruler  of  the 
Amarekites  (4syl.). 

Akhar  Khan  (very-great  chieftain). 
Hindustan. 

Anax  and  Basileus.  The  chief  ruler 
•of  the  ancient  Greek  kingdoms. 

A sser  or  A ss'ip'  (blessed  one) . The  chief 
«Tiler  of  ancient  Assyria. 

Aitdbeg  (father  prince).  Persia,  1118. 

Aiign^Uis,  The  title  of  the  reigning 
■emperor  of  Rome,  when  the  heir  pre- 
sumptive was  styled  Caesar.” 
Augustus.) 

Autod'ot  (self-potentate).  One  whose 
;power  is  absolute— Russia. 

Beglerheg.  (See  Bey. ) 

Ben-Hadad  (son  of  the  sun)  or  Hadad, 
The  chief  ruler  of  ancient  Damascus. 

Bey  of  Tunis.  In  Turkey,  a bey  is 
the  governor  of  a banner,  and  the  chief 
■over  the  seven  banners  is  the  beglar- 
<hey. 

Brenn  or  Brenhin  (war  chief)  of  the 
ancient  Gauls.  A dictator  appointed  by 
the  Druids  in  times  of  danger. 

Bretwalda  (wielder  of  Britain).  Chief 
king  of  the  heptarchy. 

Caesar.  Proper  name  adopted  by  the 
Roman  emperors. 

(successor).  Successors  of  Maho- 
met ; now  the  Grand  Signior  of  Turkey, 
and  Sopbi  of  Persia. 

Canda'ce.  Proper  name  adopted  by  the 
■queens  of  Ethiopia. 

Cazique  (Ca-zeek').  American  Indians ; 
iBative  princes  of  the  ancient  Peruvians, 
Oubans,  Mexicans,  &c. 

Cham.  (See  Khan.) 

Cyrus  (mighty).  Ancient  Persia.  {See 
Cyrus.  ) 

Czar  (i.e.,  Samodersheta).  Russia. 

Dari'us,  Latin  form  of  Darawesh 
^king).  Ancient  Persia. 

Dey.  Algiers,  before  it  was  annexed 
to  France. 

Dicta'ioT.  A military  autocrat,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Roman  .senate  in  times  of 
danger. 

Emperor.  {See  Imperator.) 

Esin' qm  {q.v.').  Kings  of  Kent, 

Hos'podar.  Moldavia  and  Wallachia. 

Impera!tor  (ruler  or  commander).  The 
Latin  form  of  emperor. 

Inca.  Ancient  Peru. 

Judge.  Ancient  {Shophet). 

Kaiser  (same  as  Caesar,  q.v).  Austria. 

Khan  (chieftain)  or  Ghengis-Khan.  i 
'Tartary.  In  Persia,  the  governor  of  a 
^province  is  called  a Khan. 


Khedive  {q.v.).  Modern  Egypt. 

King  or  Queen.  Great  Britain,  &c. 

Lama  or  Dalai  Lama  (great  mother- 
of-souls).  Thibet. 

Melech  (king).  Ancient  Jews. 

Mo'gul  or  Great  Mogul'.  Mongolia. 

Nejus  or  Nejushee  (lord  protector). 
Abyssinia. 

Nizam'  (ruler)  or  Nizam-ul-Mulk  {vvler 
of  the  state).  Southern  India  north-west 
of  Madras. 

Pendrag'on  (chief  of  the  dragons,  or 
^^summus  rex”).  A dictator,  created  by 
the  ancient  Celts  in  times  of  danger. 

Pha'raoh  (light  of  the  world).  Ancient 
Egypt. 

President.  Republic  of  America. 

Ptol'emy  {^proper  name  adopted).  Egypt 
after  the  death  of  Alexander. 

Ra'jah  or  Maha-rajah  (great  king). 
Hindustan. 

Rex  (ruler).  A Latin  word  equivalent 
to  our  king. 

Scher if  (iord.).  Mecca  and  Medi'na. 

Shah  (protector).  Persia. 

Sheik  (patriarch).  Arabia. 

/So'^r^A.'ijholy).  Atitle  of  the  Shah  of  Persia 

Stadtholder  (city-holder).  Formerly 
chief  magistrate  of  the  United  Provinces 
of  Holland. 

Sultan  or  Soldan  (ruler).  Turkey. 

Vayvode  or  Waywode  of  Transylvania, 
Moldavia,  and  Wallachia.  In  the  ancient 
kingdom  of  Poland,  a governor  of  a 
province. 

Also,  Aga,  ameer  or  emir,  archduke, 
count,  doge,  duke,  effendi,  elector,  exarch, 
imaum,  infanta,  landamman,  landgrave, 
mandarin,  margrave  or  margravine, 
newauh,  pacha  or  bashaw,  pi'ince,  sachem, 
satrap,  seignieur  or  grand-seigneur,  sirdar, 
subahclar,  suzerain,  tetrarch,  viceroy,  d;c., 
in  some  cases  are  chief  independent 
rulers,  in  some  cases  dependent  rulers  or 
governors  subject  to  an  over-lord,  and  in 
others  simply  titles  of  honour  without 
separate  dominion. 

H The  factory  king.  Richard  Oastler, 
of  Bradford,  the  successful  advocate  of 
the  ‘^Ten  Hours’  Bill.”  (1789-1861.) 

Rd  galantuom.o  (the  gallant  king). 
Victor  Emmanuel  of  Italy.  (1820-*.) 

Tlie  three  kings  of  Cologne.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  the  three  magi  who  camo 
from  the  East  to  offer  gifts  to  the  infant 
Jesus.  Tradition  makes  them  three 
eastern  kings,  and  at  Cologne  the  names 
ascribed  to  them  are  Kaspar,  Melchior, 
and  Balthazar. 


478  KINGS  OF  ENGLAND. 


KINGS  OF  ENGLAND. 


The  hooJcs  of  the  four  Icings,  A pack  of 
cards. 

After  supper  were  broupht  in  the  books  of  the 
four  kings.  — Uobeiais,  *'•  Gargantua,  and  Paata- 
gruel,"  i.  22. 

Like  a king.  When  Porus,  the  Indian 
prince,  was  taken  prisoner,  Alexander 
asked  him  how  he  expected  to  be  treated. 
“ Like  a king,”  he  replied ; and  Alex- 
ander made  him  his  friend. 

A king  shoidd  die  standing.  So  said 
Louis  XVIII.  of  France,  in  imitation  of 
Vespasian,  emperor  of  Rome. 

The  king  can  do  no  nrong.  A sovereign 
is  not  responsible  for  the  acts  of  his 
ministers  ; whatever  wrong  is  done,  the 
administrative  government  must  be  held 
responsible  for  it.  This  is  contrary  to  the 
general  axiom,  quod  facit  per  alios  facit 
per  se—i.  e.,  every  employer  is  responsible 
for  the  actions  of  the  agents  he  eniploys. 

Kings  have  long  hands.  Do  not  quarrel 
with  a king,  as  his  power  and  authority 
reach  to  '>lie  end  of  his  dominions.  The 
Latin  proverb  is,  A n nescis  longas  re'gibus 
esse  manus  ; and  the  G erman.  Mil  gressen 
herren  ist  nicht  gut  kirschcn  essen  (It  is  not 
good  to  eat  cherries  with  great  men),  as 
they  throw  the  stones  in  your  eyes. 

There’s  such  divinity  doth  hedge  a king, 

That  treason  can  but  peep  to  what  it  would. 

Shakes pearei  King  in  “ Hamltt,"  iv.  5. 

Prag  aid  of  the  king.  When  some  one, 
vmder  the  belief  that  he  has  a right  to  the 
land,  claims  rent  of  the  king’s  tenants, 
they  appeal  to  the  sovereign,  or  ^'pray 
aid  of  the  king.” 

Kings,  &c.,  of  England.  Much 
foolish  superstition  has  of  late  been  cir- 
culated respecting  certain  days  supposed 
to  be  “ fatal”  to  the  crowned  heads  of 
Great  Britain.  The  following  list  may 
help  to  discriminate  truth  from  fiction : — * 

[From  means  the  regnal  year  commenced  from ; 
To  is  the  day  of  death.] 

William  I.,  from  Monday,  December 
25th,  1066,  to  Thursday y September  9 th, 
1087 ; William  II.,  from  Sunday,  Sep- 
tember 26th,  1087,  to  Thursday,  August 
2nd,  1100;  Henry  I.,  from  Sunday, 
August  5th,  1100,  to  Sunday,  December 
Isb,  1135 ; Stephen,  from  Thursday, 
December  26th,  1135,  to  Monday,  Octo- 
ber 25th,  1154. 

Henry  II.,  from  Sunday,  December 
19th,  1154,  to  Thursday,  July  6th,  1189  ; 
Richard  I.,  from  Sunday,  September 


3rd,  1189,  to  Tuesday,  April  6th,  1199 ; 
John,  from  Thursday,  May  27th,  1199,  to 
Wed'nesday,  October  19th,  1216  ; Henry 
III.,  from  Saturday,  October  28th,  1216, 
to  Wednesday,  November  16th,  1272; 
Edward  I.,  from  Sunday,  November 
20th,  1272,  to  FHday,  July  7th,  1307 ; 
Edward  II.,  from  Saturday,  July  8th, 
1307,  to  Tuesday,  January  20th,  1327 ; 
Edward  HI.,  from  Sunday,  January 
25th,  1327  (N.S.),  to  Sunday,  June  21st, 
1377  ; Richard  II.,  from  Monday,  June 
22nd,  1377,  to  Monday,  September  29th, 
1399 ; Henry  IV.,  from  Tuesday,  Sep- 
tember 30th,  1399,  to  Monday,  March 
20th,  1413 ; Henry  V.,  from  Tuesday, 
March  21st,  1413,  to  Monday,  August 
31st,  1422 ; Henry  VI.,  from  Tuesday, 
September  1st,  1422,  to  Wednesday, 
March  4th,  1461 ; Edward  IV.,  from 
Wednesday,  March  4th,  1461,  to  Wednes- 
day, April  9th,  1483 ; Edward  V.,  from 
Wednesday,  April  9th,  1483,  to  Sunday, 
June  22nd,  1483;  Richard  III.,  from 
Thursday,  June  26th,  1483,  to  Monday, 
August  22nd,  1485. 

Henry  VII.,  from  Monday,  August 
22nd,  1485,  to  Saturday,  April  21st,  1509  ; 
Henry  VIII.,  from  Sunday,  April  22nd, 
1509,  to  Friday,  January  28th,  1547 
Edward  VI. , from  Friday,  January  28th, 
1547,  to  TImrsday,  July  6th,  1553 ; 
Mary,  from  Thurs^y,  July  6th,  1553,  to 
Thursday,  November  17th,  1558  ; Eliza- 
beth, from  Thursday,  November  17th, 
1558,  to  Monday,  March  24th,  1603. 

James  I.,  from  Monday,  March  24th, 
1603,  to  Sunday,  March  27th,  1625 ; 
Charles  I.,  from  Sunday,  March  27th, 
16’25,  to  Tuesday,  January  30th,  1649  ; 
[Commonwealth — Cromwell  died  Fri- 
day, September,  3-13,  1658;"]  Charles  II., 
restored  Saturday,  May  29th,  1660,  died 
Tuesday,  February  6th,  1685 ; James  11. , 
from  Tuesday,  February  6th,  1685,  to 
Saturday,  December  11th,  1688 ; William 
III.,  from  Sunday,  February  13th,  1689, 
to  Wednesday,  March  8th,  1702 ; Anne, 
from  Wednesday,  March  8th,  1702,  to 
Wednesday,  August  1st,  1714. 

George  I.,  from  Wednesday,  August 
1st,  1714,  to  Wednesday,  June  11th, 
1727  ; George  II.,  from  Wednesday,  June 
11th,  1727,  to  Satibrday,  October  25th, 
1760 ; George  III.,  from  Saturday, 
October  25th,  1760,  to  Saturday,  January 
29th,  1820  ; George  IV.,  from  Saturday, 
January  29th,  1820,  to  Saturday,  June 
26th,  1830 ; William  IV.,  irom  Saturday, 


KIKGS  OF  ENGLAND, 


KING  OF  MISEULE.  479 


June  26th,  1830,  to  Tuesday ^ June  20th, 
1837;  Victoria,  from  Tuesday^  June 
20th,  1837  * * 

Hence  four  have  terminated  their  reign 
on  a Sunday,  six  on  a Monday,  five  on  a 
Tuesday,  seven  on  a W ednesday,  five  on  a 
Thursday,  three  on  a Friday,  and  five  on  a 
Saturday.  Nine  have  begun  and  ended 
their  reign  on  the  same  day  : Henry  I.  and 
Edward  III.  on  a Sunday  ; Richard  II. 
on  a Monday ; Edward  IV.,  Anne,  and 
George  I.  cm  a Wednesday ; Mary  on  a 
Thursday;  George  III.  and  George  IV. 
on  CL  Saturday. 

Kings,  <S:c.,  of  England. 

William  I.  styled  himself  King  of  the 
English,  Koi'mans,  and  Cinomantians ; 
Henry  I. , King  of  the  English  and  duke 
of  the  Noimians ; Stephen,  King  of  the 
English;  Henry  II.,  King  of  England, 
duke  of  Normandy  and  Aquitania,  and 
count  of  Anjou;  John,  King  of  Eng- 
land, lord  of  Ireland,  duke  of  Normandy 
and  Aquitania,  and  count  of  Anjou; 
Henry  III.,  in  1259,  dropped  the  titles 
of  ^'duke  of  Normandy”  and  ‘^count  of 
Anjou;”  Edward  I.,  King  of  England, 
lord  of  Ireland,  and  duke  of  Aquitania  ; 
Edward  II.  made  his  son  duke  of 
Aquitania”  in  the  nineteenth  year  of 
his  reign,  and  styled  himself  King  of 
Englaf^  and  lord  of  Ireland;  Edward 
III.  from  1337  adopted  the  style  of 
King  of  France  and  England,  and  lord 
of  Ireland,  and  duke  of  Aquitania; 
Richard  II.,  Kin^  of  England  and 
France , and  lord  of  Ireland ; Edward 
VI.,  Of  England,  France,  and  Ireland, 
king,  defender  of  the  faith— this,  last  title 
was  given  to  Henry  VIII.  in  the  thirty- 
fifth  year  of  his  reign ; Mary,  Of  Eng- 
land, France,  and  Ireland,  queen,  defender 
of  the  faith,  and  supreme  head  of  the  An- 
glican and  Hibernian  Church;  Charles  I., 
Of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
king,  defender  of  the  faith,  kc.',  Common- 
wealth, The  keepers  of  the  liberties  of 
England,  by  the  autlmniy  of  Parliament, 
and  Cromwell  was  styled  his  highness; 
Charles  II.  and  James  II.  as  Charles  I. ; 
William  and  Mary,  Of  England,  Scotland, 
France,  and  Ireland,  king  and  queen,  de- 
fenders of  the  faith,  &c. ; Anne,  Of  Great 
Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  queen,  de- 
fender of  the  faith,  kc. ; George  III.,  in 
1801,  abandoned  the  words  '^king  of 
France,”  which  had  been  retained  for  432 
years,  and  his  style  was,  George  III.,  by 
the  grace  of  God  of  the  United  Kingdom  of 


Great  Britain  and  Ireland  king,  defender 
of  the  faith. 

^ The  Kings.  A fashionable  theatre.* 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

King-at-Arms.  An  officer  whose 
duty  it  is  to  direct  the  heralds,  preside 
at  chapters,  and  have  the  jurisdiction  of 
armoury.  There  are  three  kings- at-afms 
in  England,  viz.,  Garter,  Clarencieux, 
and  Norroy  ; one  in  Scotland,  viz.,  Lyon  ; 
and  one  in  Ireland,  called  Ulster. 

Bath  King-of-Arms  is  no  member  of 
the  college,  but  takes  precedence  next 
after  Garter.  Office  created  in  1725  for 
the  service  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath. 

King  of  Bark.  Christopher  III.  of 
Scandinavia,  who,  in  a time  of  great 
scarcity,  had  the  bark  of  birch  wood  mixed 
with  meal  for  food.  (15th  century. ) 

King  of  Bath..  Beau  Nash,  master 
of  the  ceremonies  at  that  city  for  some 
fifteen  years.  (1674-1761.) 

King  of  Beasts.  The  lion,  noted 
for  the  grandness  of  its  nature,  and  its 
royal  quality  of  mercy. 

King  of  Khorassan.  So  Anva'ri,. 
the  Persian  poet  of  the  twelfth  century, 
is  called. 

King  of  Metals.  Gold,  which  is 
not  only  the  most  valuable  of  metals, 
but  also  is  without  its  peer  in  freedom 
from  alloy.  It  is  got  without  smelting ; 
wherever  it  exists  it  is  visible  to  the  eye  ; 
and  it  consorts  with  little  else  than  pure 
silver.  Even  with  this  precious  alloy,, 
the  pure  metal  ranges  from  sixty  to 
ninety-nine  per  cent. 

King  of  Misrule.  Sometimes  called 
Loud,  and  sometimes  Abbot,  kc.  At 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  one  of  the 
Masters  of  Arts  superintended  both  the 
Christmas  and  Candlemas  sports,  for 
which  he  was  allowed  a fee  of  40s. 
These  diversions  continued  till  the 
Reformation.  Poly  dor  Virgil  says  of 
the  feast  of  Misrule  that  it  was  derived 
from  the  Roman  Saturnalia,”  held  in 
December  for  five  days  (17th — 22nd).  The 
feast  of  Misrule  lasted  twelve  days. 

If  we  compare  our  Bacohanalian  Chriptma'»8es  and 
New  Year  Tides  with  these  Saturnalia  and  Fe-ists 
of  Janus,  we  shall  finde  such  uear  ath  drye  betweene 
them  both  in  regard  of  time..  • and  in  their  manner 

of  solemnizing that  wee  must  need  • ouclude  the. 

one  to  be  the  very  ape  or  issue  of  the  other 
“ Histrio-Mastix.  ” {7o7.> 


480  KING  OF  PAINTEES. 


KING  ESTMERE. 


King  of  Painters.  A title  assumed 
by  Parrhas'ios,  the  painter,  a contem- 
porary of  Zeuxis.  Plutarch  says  he  wore 
a,  purple  robe  and  a golden  crown.  {FI. 
400  B.c.) 

King  of  Preacliers.  Louis  Bour- 
daloue,  a French  clergyman.  (1632- 
1704.) 

King  of  Rome.  A title  conferred 
by  Napoleon  I.  on  his  son  on  the  day  of 
his  birth ; who  was  more  generally  called 
'duke  of  Reichstadt.  (1811-1832.) 

King  of  Shreds  and  Patches.  In 
the  old  mysteries  Vice  used  to  be  dressed 
as  a mimic  king  in  a party-coloured  suit. 
(Shakespeare,  ‘‘Hamlet,”  hi.  4.)  The 
phrase  is  metaphorically  applied  to  cer- 
tain literary  operatives  who  compile  books 
for  publishers,  but  supply  no  originality 
‘Of  thought  or  matter. 

King  of  Terrors.  Death. 

King  of  Waters.  The  river  Am'- 
azon  of  North  America. 

King  of  Yvetot  (pron.  Ev-to).  A 
man  of  mighty  pretensions  but  small 
merits.  Yvetot  is  near  Rouen,  and  was 
once  a seigneurie,  the  possessors  of  which 
were  entitled  kings — a title  given  them 
in  534  by  Clotaire  I.,  and  continued  far 
into  the  fourteenth  century. 

II  €tait  im  roi  d’Yvetot, 

Peu  connu  dans  I’hisiolre  ; 

Se  levant  tard,  se  couchanr,  t6t. 

Dormant  fort  bien  sans  gloire  ; &c. 

Biranger. 

King  of  the  Bean  (Roi  de  la  F^ve). 
The  Twelfth-night  king ; so  called  be- 
^cause  he  was  chosen  by  distributing 
^slices  of  Twelfth-cake  to  the  children 
present,  and  the  child  who  had  the  slice 
with  a bean  in  it  was  king  of  the  com- 
pany for  the  night.  This  sport  was  in- 
dulged in  till  the  Reformation,  even  at 
4he  two  universities.  Without  doubt, 
the  basis  of  Twelfth-cake  day  must  be 
traced  to  the  old  Roman  feast  of  Janus, 
when  people  made  each  other  presents 
of  honey-cakes,  fruits,  and  sweetmeats ; 
but  the  exact  day  has  been  conformed 
to  the  Epiphany,  according  to  the  usual 
custom  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
^(See  King  op  Misrule.) 

King  of  the  Beggars  or  Gipsies. 
Bampfylde  Moore  Carew,  a noted  English 
vagabond.  (1693-1770.) 

King  of  the  Forest.  The  oak, 
which  not  only  braves  the  storm,  but 


fosters  the  growth  of  tender  parasites 
under  its  arms. 

King  of  the  Teign.  Baldrick  of 
South  Devon,  son  of  Eri,  who  long  de- 
fended his  territory  against  Algar,  a 
lawless  chief. 

King  of  the  World  {Sliah-Jehan). 
The  title  assumed  by  Khorrum  Shah, 
third  son  of  Selim  Jehan-Ghir,  and  fifth 
of  the  Mogul  emperors  of  Delhi.  {Died 
1666.) 

King  Ban.  Father  of  Sir  Launcelot 
du  Lac.  He  died  of  grief  when  his 
castle  was  taken  and  burnt  through  the 
treachery  of  his  seneschal. — “ Launcelot 
du  Lac.^’  (1494.) 

King’s  Cave.  Opposite  to  Camp- 
belton ; so  called  because  it  was  here 
that  king  Robert  Bruce  and  his  retinue 
lodged  when  they  landed  on  the  main- 
land from  the  isle  of  Statistical 

Account  of  Scotland/^  v.,  p.  167  (article, 
Arran). 

King’s  Chair.  A seat  made  by 
two  bearers  with  their  hands.  On  Can- 
dlemas Day,  the  children  of  Scotland 
used  to  bring  their  schoolmaster  a present 
in  money,  and  the  boy  who  brought  the 
largest  sum  was  king  for  the  nonce. 
When  school  was  dismissed,  the  “ king” 
was  carried  on  a seat  of  hands  in  pro- 
cession, and  the  seat  was  called  the 
“ king’s  chair.” 

King  Cotton.  Cotton,  the  staple 
of  the  Southern  States  of  America,  and 
the  chief  article  of  manufacture  in  Eng- 
land. The  expression  was  first  used  by 
James  H.  Hammond  in  the  senate  of  the 
L nited  States,  in  1858.  The  great  cotton 
manufacturers  are  called  “cotton  lords.” 

King’s  Crag.  Fife,  in  Scotland; 
so  called  because  Alexander  III.  of  Scot- 
land was  killed  there. 

As  he  was  riding  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  along 
the  sea-coast  of  Fife,  betwixt  Burnt-island  and  Kine- 
horn,  he  approached  too  near  the  brink  of  the  pre- 
cipice, and  his  horse  starting  or  stumbling,  he  was 
thrown  over  the  rock,  and  killed  on  the  spot.... the 
people  of  the  country  still  point  out  the  very  spot 
where  it  happened,  and  which  is  called  “ The  King  s 
Crag.”— iSir  Walter  ScoUt**Tg,leso/a  Grandfather,"  y\» 

King  Estmere  (2  syl.)  of  England 
was  induced  by  his  brother  Adler  to  go 
to  king  Adland,  and  request  permission 
to  pay  suit  to  his  daughter.  King  Adland 
replied  that  Bremor,  king  of  Spain,  liUd 
already  proposed  to  her  and  been  re- 
jected ; but  when  the  lady  was  intro- 


KING’S  EVIL. 


KING  KYENCE. 


481 


duced  to  the  English  king,  she  accepted 
him.  King  Estmere  and  his  brother  re- 
turned home  to  prepare  for  the  wedding, 
but  had  not  proceeded  a mile  when  the 
king  of  Spain  returned  to  press  his  suit, 
and  threaten  vengeance  if  it  were  not  ac- 
cepted. A page  was  instantly  dispatched 
to  inform  king  Estmere,  and  request  him 
to  return.  The  two  brothers  in  the  guise 
of  harpers  rode  into  the  hall  of  king 
Adland,  when  Bremor  rebuked  them, 
and  bade  them  leave  their  steeds  in  the 
stable.  A quarrel  ensued,  in  which 
Adler  slew  “ the  sowdan,’*  and  the  two 
brothers  put  the  Spanish  retainers  to 
flight.  After  which  king  Estmere  mar- 
ried the  lady,  and  took  her  to  England 
to  dwell  with  him. — T.  Percy,  ‘^Reliques,^* 
iic.,  series  I.,  bk.  i.  6. 

King’s  Evil.  Scrofula,  so  called 
from  a notion  which  prevailed  from  the 
reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor  to  that  of 
queen  Anne,  that  it  could  be  cured  by 
the  royal  touch.  The  Jacobites  con- 
sidered that  the  power  did  not  descend 
to  William  III.  and  Anne,  because  the 
^'divine”  hereditary  right  was  not  fully 
possessed  by  them,  but  the  office  re- 
mained in  our  Prayer  Book  till  1719. 
Prince  Charles  Edward,  when  he  claimed 
to  be  prince  of  Wales,  touched  a female 
child  for  the  disease  in  1745 ; but  the  last 
person  touched  in  England  was  Dr. 
Johnson,  in  1712,  when  only  thirty  months 
old,  by  queen  Anne.  The  French  kings 
laid  claim  to  the  same  divine  power  even 
from  the  time  of  Anne  of  Clovis,  a.d.  481, 
and  on  Easter  Sunday,  1686,  Louis  XIV. 
touched  1, 600  persons,  using  these  words : 
Le  roy  te  touche,  Dieu  te  guerisse.  The 
practice  was  introduced  by  Henry  VII. 
of  presenting  the  person  “ touched”  with 
a small  gold  or  silver  coin,  called  a touch- 
piece.  The  one  presented  to  Dr.  Johnson 
has  St.  George  and  the  Dragon  on  one 
side  and  a ship  on  the  other ; the  legend 
of  the  former  is  Soli  deo  gloria,  and  of 
the  latter  Anna  D:G.M.BR.F:ET.U. 
REG,  (Anne,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland 
Queen). 

King-fislier.  So  called  from  the 
royal  or  kingly  beauty  of  its  plumage, 
chiefly  blue  and  green.  It  frequents  the 
banks  of  rivers,  and  dives  for  fish. 

King  Franco'ni.  Joachim  Murat, 
so  called  because  he  resembled  in  dress 


and  finery  Franconi  the  mountebank, 
(176M8i5.) 

King  Horn  or  CUlde  Horn,  The 
hero  of  a metrical  romance  by  Mestre 
Thomas. 

King’s  Keys.  The  crow-bars  and 
hammers  used  by  sheriffs’  officers  to  force 
doors  and  locks  {law  phrase). 

King  Log.  A roi  faineant,  a king  , 
that  rules  in  peace  and  quietness,  but^ 
never  makes  his  power  felt.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  fable  of  ‘^The  Frogs  Asking  for 
a King,”  when  Jupiter  threw  a log  into 
their  pond. 

King-maker.  Eichard  Neville,  earl 
of  Warwick  ; so  called  because,  when  he 
sided  with  Henry  VI.,  Henry  was  king ; 
but  when  he  sided  with  Edward  IV., 
Henry  was  deposed  and  Edward  was 
king.  He  fell  at  Barnet.  (1420-1471.) 

King’s  Men.  The  78th  Foot;  so 
called  from  their  motto,  CuidicKn  Rhi 
(Help  the  king). 

King  Petand.  The  court  oj  Icing 
Petaud.  A kind  of  Alsatia,  where  all 
are  talkers  with  no  hearers,  all  are  kings 
with  no  subjects,  all  are  masters  and. 
none  servants.  There  was  once  a society 
of  beggars  in  France,  the  chief  of  whom 
called  himself  king  Petaud.  (Latin, 
pdo,  to  beg.) 

King’s-pictnre.  Money ; so  called, 
because  coin  is  stamped  with  ‘Hhe  image” 
of  the  reigning  sovereign. 

King  Kyenee,  of  North  Wales, 
sent  a dwarf  to  king  Arthur  to  say  “ he 
had  overcome  eleven  kings,  all  of  which 
paid  him  homage  in  this  sort — viz.,  they 
gave  him  their  beards  to  purfell  his 
mantle.  He  now  required  king  Arthur 
to  do  likewise.”  King  Arthur  returned 
answer,  “My  beard  is  full  young  yet 
for  a purfell,  but  before  it  is  long  enough 
for  such  a purpose.  King  Ryence  shall 
do  me  homage  on  both  his  knees.”  {See 
Percy,  “Reliques,”  &c.,  series  hi.,  bk.  1.) 

Spenser  says  that  Lady  Bria'na  loved 
a knight  named  Cruder,  who  refused  to 
marry  her  till  she  sent  him  a mantle^ 
lined  with  the  beards  of  knights  and 
locks  of  ladies.  To  accotnplish  this,  she 
appointed  Mal'effort,  her  seneschal,  to 
divest  every  lady  that  drew  near  the 
castle  of  her  locks,  and  every  knight  of 
his  beard. — **  Faery  Queen,'*  bk,  vi.5 
cant.  1. 


482 


KING  STORK. 


KISSING. 


King  Stork.  A tyrant  that  devonrs 
his  subjects,  and  makes  them  submissive 
vpith  fear  and  trembling.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  fable  of  ‘‘The  Frogs  Desiring 
a King,”  but  not  such  a one  as  King 
Log. 

Kingston-on-Thames.  Named 
Kings-stme  from  a large,  square  block  of 
stone  near  the  town  hall,  on  which  the 
early  Anglo-Saxon  monarchs  knelt  when 
they  were  anointed  to  thq^  kingly  office  : 
Edward  the  Elder,  Athelstan,  Edmund, 
Ethelred,  Edred,  Edwy,  and  Edward 
the  Martyr  received  on  this  stone  the 
royal  unction.  The  stone  is  now  enclosed 
with  railings. 

Kingstown  {Ireland)^  formerly  called 
Dunleary.  The  name  was  changed  in 
1821  out  of  compliment  to  George  IV., 
who  visited  Ireland  that  year,  and  left 
Dunleary  harbour  for  his  return  home 
on  the  5th  of  September. 

B[ingswood  Lions.  Donkeys; 
Kingswood  being  at  one  time  famous  for 
the  number  of  asses  kept  by  the  colliers 
who  lived  thereabout. 

Kinless  Loon.  The  judges  whom 
Cromwell  sent  into  Scotland  were  so 
termed,  because  they  condemned  and 
acquitted  those  brought  before  them 
wholly  irrespective  of  party,  and  solely 
on  the  merits  of  the  charge  with  which 
they  were  accused. 

Kiosk'.  A Turkish  summer-house 
or  alcove  supported  by  pillars. 

EZirk  of  Skulls.  Gamrie  church 
in  Banffshire ; so  called  because  the 
skulls  and  other  bones  of  the  Norsemen 
who  fell  in  the  neighbouring  field,  called 
the  Bloody  Pots,  were  built  into  its 
walls. 

Kirke-grim.  The  nix  who  looks  to 
order  in  churches,  and  punishes  those 
who  misbehave  themselves  there,  and 
the  persons  employed  to  keep  it  tidy  if 
they  fail  in  their  duty. — Scandinaman 
mythology, 

Kirke’s  Lambs.  The  2nd  Foot. 
Their  colonel  was  Piercy  Kirke,  when 
they  were  appointed  as  a guard  of  honour 
to  the  queen  of  Charles  II.  on  her  pro- 
gress to  London.  For  this  service  they 
were  allowed  to  carry  on  their  colours 
the  “ Paschal  Lamb.” 

Kirkrap'ine  (3  syl.).  While  Una 
was  in  the  hut  of  Corca:ca^  lurkrapine 


forced  his  way  in  ; but  the  lion  springing 
on  him  tore  him  to  pieces.  The  meaning 
is  that  Romanism  was  increased  by  ra- 
pine, but  the  English  lion  at  the  Re- 
formation put  an  end  to  the  rapacity  of 
monks.— >Sjoens€r,  Faery  Qween,,”bk.  i. 

Kishmee.  An  island  in  the  Persian 
Gulf,  famous  for  its  white  wine. 

Kiss,  as  a mode  of  salutation,  comes 
from  its  use  to  express  reverence  or 
worship.  Thus  to  adore  idols  and  to 
kiss  idols  mean  the  same  thing.  Indeed, 
the  word  adore  signifies  simply  to  carry 
the  hand  to  ike  mouthy  that  is,  to  kiss  it 
to  the  idol.  We  still  kiss  the  hand  in 
salutation.  Various  parts  of  the  body 
are  kissed  to  distinguish  the  character  of 
the  adoration  paid.  Thus,  to  kiss  the 
lips  is  to  adore  the  living  breath  of  tke 
person  saluted  ; to  kiss  the  feet  or  ground 
is  to  humble  oneself  in  adoration;  to 
kiss  the  garments  is  to  express  venera- 
tion to  whatever  belongs  to  or  touches 
the  person  who  wears  them.  “ Kiss  the 
Son  lest  he  be  angry”  (Ps.  ii.  12)  means 
Worship  the  Son  of  God.  Pharaoh  tells 
Joseph  “Thou  shalt  be  over  my  house, 
and  upon  thy  mouth  shall  all  my  people 
kiss,”  meaning  they  shall  reverence  the 
commands  of  Joseph  by  kissing  the  roll 
on  which  his  commands  would  be  written. 
“ Samuel  poured  oil  on  Saul  and  khsed 
him,”  to  acknowledge  subjection  to  God’s 
anointed  (1  Sam.  x.  1).  In  the  Hebrew 
state,  this  mode  of  expressing  reverence 
arose  from  the  peculiar  form  of  govern- 
ment established,  whether  under  the 
patriarchal  or  matrimonial  figure. 

A Judas  hiss.  An  act  of  treachery. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  apostle  Judas,  who 
betrayed  his  Master  with  a kiss. 

Kissing  the  Pope’s  Toe.  Matthew 
of  Westminster  says,  it  was  customary 
formerly  to  kiss  the  hand  of  his  holiness; 
but  that  a certain  woman,  in  the  eighth 
century,  not  only  kissed  the  pope’s  hand, 
but  “ squeezed  it.”  The  church  magnate; 
seeing  the  danger  to  which  he  was  ex- 
posed, cut  off  his  hand,  and  was  com- 
pelled in  future  to  offer  his  foot,  a custom 
which  has  continued  to  the  present  hour. 

Kissing  under  the  Mistletoe. 
Balder,  the  Apollo  of  Scandinavian  my- 
thology, was  killed  by  a mistletoe  arrow 
given  to  the  blind  Hdder,  by  Loki,  the 
god  of  mischief  and  potentate  of  our 
earth.  Balder  was  restored  to  life,  but 


KTSSING-CRUST. 


KNAVE. 


483 


the  mistletoe  was  placed  in  future  under 
the  care  of  Friga,  and  was  never  again 
to  be  an  instrument  of  evil  till  it  touched 
the  earth,  the  empire  of  Loki.  Hence 
is  it  always  suspended  from  ceilings. 
■And  when  persons  of  opposite  sexes 
pass  under  it,  they  give  each  other  the 
kiss  of  peace  and  love,  in  the  full  assur- 
ance that  the  epiphyte  is  no  longer  an 
instrument  of  mischief. 

A correspondent  in  Notes  and  Queries 
suggests  that  the  Romans  dedicated  the 
holly  to  Saturn,  whose  festival  was  in 
December,  and  that  the  early  Christians 
decked  their  houses  with  the  Saturnian 
emblems  to  deceive  the  Romans  and 
escape  persecution.  It  was  this  sort  of 
compromise  that  Naaman  the  Syrian  re- 
quested when  his  master  bowed  in  wor- 
ship to  Rimmon. 

Kissing-crust.  The  crust  where 
the  lower  lump  of  bread  kisses  the  upper. 

Kist'nerap'pan.  The  Indian  water- 
god.  Persons  at  the  point  of  death  are 
sometimes  carried  into  the  Ganges,  and 
sometimes  to  its  banks,  that  Kistnerap- 
pan  may  purify  them  from  all  defilement 
before  they  die.  Others  have  a little 
water  poured  into  the  palms  of  their 
hands,  with  the  same  object. 

!Kit.  A soldier  s kit.  His  outfit. 
fSaxon,  kitUi) 

The  whole  kit  of  them.  The  whole  lot. 
{See  above.) 

Kit’s  Coty  House  {Kent)  is  Kati- 
gern’s  or  Kitigern's  eoty  house — that  is, 
the  house  or  tomb  of  j^tigern,  made  of 
coits  or  huge  flat  stones.  {See  Hackell’s 
CoiT  and  Devil's  Coit.) 

Katigern  was  the  brother  of  Vortimer, 
and  leader  of  the  Britons,  who  was  slain 
in  the  battle  of  Aylesford  or  Epsford, 
fighting  against  Hengist  and  Horsa. 
Lambarde  calls  it  Citscotehouse  (1570). 
The  structure  consists  of  two  upright 
side- stones,  one  standing  in  the  middle 
as  a support  or  tenon,  and  a fourth  im- 
posed as  a roof. 

Kitchi-manltou.  The  good  deity 
of  the  savages  of  Canada.  Once  a year 
they  celebrate  his  festival  with  dancing 
and  singing. 

Kite  {SergeanC),  in  Farquhar’s  Re- 
cruiting Officer.” 

Kite-flyin  g.  To  fly  the  kite  is  to 

raise  the  wind,”  or  obtain  money  on 


bills,  whether  good  or  bad.  It  is  a Stock 
Exchange  phrase,  and  means,  as  a kito 
flutters  in  the  air  by  reason  of  its  light- 
ness, and  is  a mere  toy,  so  these  bills  fly 
about,  but  are  light  and  worthless. 

Kitely  (2syl.).  A jealous  city  mer- 
chant in  Ben  Jonson’s  Every  Man  in 
his  Humour.” 

Kit-kat  Club.  A club  to  which 
Addison  belonged.  It  received  its  name 
from  Christopher  Katt,  a pastry-cook, 
who  served  the  club  with  mutton  pies. 
Sir  Godfrey  Kneller  painted  a series  of 
portraits  of  the  club  members  to  be  hung 
in  the  room  of  meeting,  and  in  order  to 
accommodate  the  paintings  to  the  height 
of  the  walls,  was  obliged  to  make  them 
three-quarter  lengths ; hence  a three- 
quarter  portrait  is  still  called  a hU-ccU. 

Strictly  speaking,  a kit-cat  canvas  is 
twenty-eight  inches  by  thirty-six. 

Kit-kat  Pictures  are  portraits  of 
three-quarter  length,  like  those  painted 
by  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller  for  the  Kit-kat 
Club-room. 

Steele,  Addison,  Congreye,  Garth,  Yaabrugh,  Man- 
waring,  Stepney,  Walpole,  and  Pulteney  were  of  it; 
so  was  lord  Dorset  and  the  present  duhe.  Man- 
waring....  was  the  ruling  man  in  all  oonversa  ion 
...  lord  Stanhope  and  the  earl  of  Essex  were  also 
members. . . . Each  member  gave  his  [picturej.— i'cpe 
to  Spence. 

Kit  Kats.  Mutton  pies,  so  called 
from  Christopher  Katt,  the  pastrycook, 
who  excelled  in  these  pasties.  {See  above. ) 

Kittle  of  Pish.  A pretty  kittle  of 
fish.  A pretty  muddle,  a bad  job.  A 
sea  term.  ‘^The  kittle  of  fish”  is  the 
apparatus  of  pulleys  employed  in  drag- 
ging the  flukes  of  the  anchor  towards 
the  bow,  after  it  has  been  hoisted  to  the 
cat-head.  If  these  pulleys  get  out  of 
gear,  they  are  “a  pretty  kittle  of  fish.” 
{See  Kettle.) 

Kiwas'a.  An  idol  of  the  Virginian 

savages. 

Klaus  ( Peter').  The  prototype  of 
Rip  Van  Winkle,  whose  sleep  lasted 
twenty  years.  {See  Santa  Klaus.) 

Kloka-man  {wise  folk).  Doctors 
who  undertake  to  cure  the  evils  caused 
by  wicked  elves.  They  correspond  to  the 
Fairy- women  of  IrelvLad..— Scandinavia. 

Knave.  A lad,  a gargon,  a servant. 
(Saxon,  cnafa,  a boy;  German,  knabe.') 
The  knave  of  clubs,  &c.,  is  the  son  or 
servant  of  the  king  and  queen  thereof. 

F F 2 


484  KNECHT  GLOBES. 


KNIGHTS  OF  THE  GARTER. 


In  an  old  version  of  the  Bible  we  read  : 
^‘Paul,  a knave  of  Jesus  Christ,  called 
to  be  an  apostle,”  &c.  (Rom.  i.  1). 

A knave  of  Sologne.  More  knave  than 
fool.  The  French  say  un  niais  de  Sologne. 
Sologne  is  a part  of  the  departments  of 
Loiret  et  Loir- et- Cher. 

Kneeht  Globes.  (See  Santa 
Klaus.) 

Knee.  Greek,  gonu  ; Latin,  genu ; 
French,  genou  ; Sanskrit,  janu  ; Saxon, 
cneow ; German,  hiie  ; English,  knee.- 

Knee  Tribute.  Adoration  or  re- 
verence shown  by  prostration  or  bending 
the  knee. 

Kneph.  The  ram-headed  god  of 
ancient  Egypt,  called  also  Amen-ra,  and 
by  the  Greeks,  Ammon. 

Knicker-bocker  (Die'drich).  The 
imaginary  author  of  a facetious  ‘‘History 
of  New  York,”  by  Washington  Irving. 

Knife  is  the  emblem  borne  by  St. 
Ag'atha,  St.  Albert,  and  St.  Christi'na. 

The  flaying  knife  is  the  emblem  of  St. 
Bartholomew,  because  he  was  flayed  with 

one. 

A sacrificing  knife  is  borne  in  Christian 
art  by  St.  Zadkiel,  the  angel. 

The  knife  of  academic  knots.  Chrysip'- 
pos,  so  called  because  he  was  the  keenest 
disputant  of  his  age.  (B.c.  280-207.) 

Knight  meams  simply  a hoy.  (Saxon, 
cniht.')  As  boys  (like  the  Latin  'puero^.n^ 
French  gargon)  were  used  as  servants,  so 
cniht  came  to  mean  a servant.  Those 
who  served  the  feudal  kings  bore  arms, 
and  persons  admitted  to  this  privilege 
were  the  king’s  knights ; as  this  distinc- 
tion was  limited  to  men  of  family,  the 
word  became  a title  of  honour  next  to 
the  nobility.  In  modern  Latin  a knight 
is  termed  aura' ins  (golden),  from  the  gilt 
spurs  which  they  used  to  wear. 

Last  of  the  knights.  Maximilian  I.  of 
Germany.  (1459, 1493-1519.) 

Knights  Bachelors.  Persons  who 
are  simply  knights,  but  belong  to  no 
order.  (French,  has-chevaliers.') 

Knights  Bannerets.  Knights 
created  on  the  field  of  battle.  The  kiog  or 
general  cut  off  the  point  of  their  flag,  and 
made  it  square,  so  as  to  resemble  a banner. 
Hence  knights  bannerets  are  called 
Knights  of  the  Square  Flag. 

Knights  Baronets.  Inferior  ba- 


rons, an  order  of  hereditary  rank,  created 
by  James  I.  in  1611.  The  title  was  sold 
for  money,  and  the  funds  went  nominally 
towards  the  plantation  in  Ulster.  These 
knights  bear  the  arms  of  Ulster,  viz.,  a 
field  argent,  a sinister  hand  couped  at  the 
wrist  gules.  {See  Hand.  ) 

Knights  Errant.  Iji  France,  from 
768  to  987,  the  land  was  incumbered  with 
fortified  castles ; in  England  this  was  not 
the  case  till  the  reign  of  Stephen.  The 
lords  of  these  castles  used  to  carry  off 
females  and  commit  rapine,  so  that  a 
class  of  men  sprang  up,  at  least  in  the 
pages  of  romance,  who  roamed  about  in 
full  armour  to  protect  the  defenceless  and 
aid  the  oppressed. 

“Prox'ima  quaecLue  metit  glad'io”  is  the  perfect 
account  of  a knight , errant.— Dryden,  Dedication 
of  the  '*JSne'is.’* 

Knight’s  Fee.  A portion  of  land 
held  by  custom,  sufficient  to  maintain  a 
knight  to  do  service  as  such  for  the  king. 
William  the  Conqueror  created  60,000 
such  fees  when  he  came  to  England.  All 
who  had  £20  a- year  in  lands  or  income 
were  compelled  to  be  knights. 

Knight  Bider  Street  {London). 
So  named  from  the  processions  of  knights 
from  the  Tower  to  Smithfield,  where 
tournaments  were  held.  Leigh  Hunt 
says  the  name  originated  in  a sign  or 
some  reference  to  the  Heralds  College 
in  the  vicinity. 

Knight  of  Arts  and  Industry <. 
The  hero  of  Thomson’s  “ Castle  of  Indo- 
lence,” canto  ii.  7-13. 

Knights  of  the  Bath.  (See  Bath.) 

Knights  of  the  Blade.  Bullies 
who  were  for  ever  appealing  to  their 
swords  to  brow-beat  the  timid. 

Knights  of  the  Carpet  or  Carpet 
Knights,  are  not  military  but  civil 
knights,  such  as  mayors,  lawyers,  and 
so  on ; so  called  because  they  receive 
their  knighthood  kneeling  on  a carpet, 
and  not  on  the  battle-field. 

Knights  of  the  Chamber  or 
Chamber  Knights,  are  knights  bachelors 
made  in  times  of  peace  in  the  presence 
chamber,  and  not  in  the  camp.  Being 
military  men,  they  differ  from  “carpet 
knights,”  who  are  always  civilians. 

Knights  of  the  Garter.  (See  Gar- 
ter.) 


KNIGHTS  OF  THE  HAKE. 


KNIPPERHOLLINGS.  485 


Knights  of  the  Hare.  An  order 
of  twelve  knights  created  by  Edward  III. 
in  France,  upon  the  following  occasion : — 
A great  shouting  was  raised  by  the  French 
army,  and  Edward  thought  the  shout 
was  the  onset  of  battle,  but  found  after- 
wards it  was  occasioned  by  a hare  run- 
ning between  the  two  armies. 

Knight  of  La  Mancha.  Hon 
Quixote  de  la  Mancha,  the  hero  of  Cer- 
vantes’ novel,  called  ‘‘  Hon  Quixote.” 

Knights  of  Malta  or  Hosjpitallers 
of  St.  John  of  Jemsalem.  Some  time 
after  the  first  crusade,  some  Neapolitan 
merchants  built  at  Jerusalem  an  hospital 
for  sick  pilgrims  and  a church  which  they 
dedicated  to  St.  John;  these  they  com- 
mitted to  the  charge  of  certain  knights, 
called  Hospitallers  of  St.  John.  In  1310 
these  Hospitallers  took  Rhode  Island, 
and  changed  their  title  into  Knights  of 
Rhodes.  In  1523  they  were  expelled 
from  Rhodes  by  the  Turks,  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  the  Isle  of  Malta. 

Knight  of  the  Pestle  or  Knight  of 
the  Pestle  and  Mortar.  An  apothecary  or 
druggist,  whose  chief  instrument  is  the 
pesHe  and  mortar,  used  in  compounding 
medicines. 

Knights  o’  the  Post.  Persons 
who  haunted  the  purlieus  of  the  courts, 
ready  to  be  hired  for  a bribe  to  swear 
anything;  so  called  from  their  being 
always  found  waiting  at  the  posts  which 
the  sheriffs  set  up  outside  their  doors 
for  posting  proclamations  on. 

There  are  knightg  of  the  post  and  booby  cheats 
enough  to  swear  the  truth  of  the  broadest  contra- 
dictions.— 

Knight  of  the  Post.  A man  in  the  pil- 
lory, or  that  has  been  tied  to  a whipping- 
post, is  jestingly  so  called. 

Knight  of  the  Road.  A highway- 
man. 

Knights  of  the  Round  Table. 
King  Arthur’s  knights,  so  called  from 
the  large  circular  table  round  which  they 
sat.  The  table  was  circular  to  prevent 
any  heart- sore  about  precedency.  The 
number  of  these  knights  is  variously 
given;  the  popular  notion  is  that  they 
were  twelve ; several  authorities  place 
the  number  at  forty ; but  the  History 
of  Prince  Arthur”  states  that  the  table 
was  made  to  accommodate  150.  King 
Leodegraunce,  who  gave  Arthur  the  table 


on  his  wedding-day,  sent  him  also  100 
knights,  Merlin  furnished  twenty-eight, 
Arthur  himself  added  two  ; and  twenty 
‘‘sieges”  were  left  to  reward  merit. — 
Chaps.  45,  46.  These  knights  went 
forth  into  all  countries  in  quest  of  ad- 
ventures. The  most  noted  are — 

Sir  Acolon^  Ballamorey  Beau’mariSy 
Beleobus,  Belwure,  Bet^sunt,  Bors,  Ector, 
Eric,Ewain,Floll^  Ga'hefi'is,  Gal'ahadj  Gal*- 
ohalty  Gareth,  Gau'riel,  Gawain  or  Twain, 
Grislet,  Kay,  Lameroch,  Launcelot  du  Lac, 
Lionell,  Marhaus,  Palamide,  Pa'quinet, 
PeVleas,  Per'edur  or  Per'ceval,  Sagris, 
Superah'ilis,  Tor,  Tristam  or  Tristan  de 
Le'onnais,  Turquim,  Wig'alois,  Wig'amur, 
&c.  &c. 

Knight  of  the  Rueful  Counte- 
nance. Hon  Quixote. 

Knight  of  the  Shears.  A tailor. 
The  word  shear  is  a play  on  the  word 
shire  or  county. 

Knights  of  St.  Patrick.  Instituted 
in  1783,  in  honour  of  the  patron  saint  of 
Ireland. 

Knight  of  the  Swan.  An  old 
English  prose  romance,  compiled  by 
Lord  Berners.  It  was  an  order  of  the 
house  of  Cleve. 

Knights  of  the  Thistle.  Said  to 
have  been  established  in  809  by  Achaicus, 
king  of  the  Scots,  and  revived  in  1540 
by  James  V.  of  Scotland.  Queen  Anne 
placed  the  order  on  a permanent  footing. 
These  knights  are  sometimes  called 
Knights  of  St.  Andreev. 

Knights  of  the  Whip.  Coachmen. 

Knighten  Guild,  now  called  Port- 
soken  Ward.  King  Edgar  gave  it  to 
thirteen  knights  on  the  following  con- 
ditions : — (1)  Each  knight  was  to  be 
victorious  in  three  combats,  one  above- 
ground, one  underground,  and  one  in  the 
water ; (2)  each  knight  was  on  a given 
day  to  run  with  spears  against  all  comers 
in  East  Smithfield.  William  the  Con- 
queror confirmed  the  same  unto  the 
heirs  of  these  knights.  Henry  I.  gave 
it  to  the  canons  of  Holy  Trinity,  and 
acquitted  it  “ of  all  service.” 

Knipperdollings.  A set  of  Ger- 
man heretics  about  the  time  of  the  Re- 
formation, disciples  of  a man  named 
Bernard  Knipperdolling. — Blount,  **  Glos- 
sographia."  (1681.) 


486 


KNOCK  UNDER. 


KOLIS. 


Knock  Under.  Johnson  says  this 
expression  arose  from  a custom  once 
common  of  knocking  uijder  the  table 
when  any  guest  wished  to  acknowledge 
himself  beaten  in  argument.  Another 
derivation  is  knuckle  xmdtr—i.e.^  to 
knuckle  or  bend  the  knuckle  or  knee  in 
proof  of  submission.  BellendenKerr  says 
it  is  Te  nock  ander,  which  he  interprets 

I am  forced  to  yield.” 

Knockers.  Goblins  who  dwell  in 
mines,  and  point  out  rich  veins  of  lead 
and  silver.  In  Cardiganshire  the  miners 
attribute  the  strange  noises  so  frequently 
heard  in  mines  to  these  spirits,  which  are 
sometimes  called  coblyns  (German, 
kobolds). 

Knot.  He  has  tied  a knot  with  his 
tongue  he  cannot  untie  with  his  teeth.  He 
has  got  married.  He  has  tied  the  mar- 
riage knot  by  saying  1 take  thee  for  my 
wedded  wife,”  &c,,  but  the  knot  is  not  to 
be  untied  so  easily. 

True  lovers^  knot  ''True  lovers”  is  a 
corruption  of  the  Danish  trulofa,  '‘  I 
plight  my  troth,”  a knot  being  the  em- 
blem, in  Scandinavia,  of  fidelity,  love, 
and  friendship.  Sir  Thomas  Browne 
thinks  the  knot  owes  its  origin  to  the 
nodtts  Hercula'nv^,  a snaky  complication 
in  the  cadu'ceus  or  rod  of  Mercury,  in 
which  form  the  woollen  girdle  of  the 
Greek  brides  was  fastened. 

The  ship  went  six  or  seven  knots  an  hour. 
Miles.  The  log-line  is  divided  into 
lengths  by  knots,  each  length  is  the  same 
proportion  of  a nautical  mile  as  half  a 
minute  is  of  an  hour.  The  log-line 
being  cast  over,  note  is  taken  of  the 
number  of  knots  run  out  in  half  a minute, 
and  this  number  shows  the  rate  per  hour. 

Knotted.  The  knotted  stick  is  planed. 
The  house  of  Orleans  is  worsted  by  that 
of  Burgundy.  The  house  of  Orleans 
bore  for  its  badge  a bdton  noueux,  the 
house  of  Burgundy  a plane  \ hence  the 
French  saying,  "Le  baton  noueux  est 
plan^.” 

Knout  (1  syl.)  is  a knotted  bunch  of 
thongs  made  of  hide.  It  is  a Tartar  in- 
vention, but  was  introduced  into  Russia. 
(^Knouty  Tartar  for  knot. ) 

Know.  Know  the  fitting  moment  The 
favourite  maxim  of  Pittacos,  one  of  the 
'*  seven  wise  men.” 

Know  thyself.  The  wise  saw  of  Chilon, 
the  Spartan  ephor.  (b.c.  6;35- 560.) 


Know  your  own  mind.  By  Murphy ; 
borrowed  from  Destouches,  the  French 
dramatist. 

Know-noth-in  gs,  A secret  politioal 
party  of  the  United  States,  which  arose 
in  1853,  who  replied  to  every  question 
asked  about  their  society,  I know 
nothing  about  it.”  Their  object  was  te 
accomplish  the  repeal  of  the  naturalisa- 
tion laws,  and  of  the  law  which  excluded 
all  but  natives  from  holding  office.  The 
party  split  on  the  slavery  question  and 
died  out. 

Knox’s  Croft,  in  Gifford  Gate, 
Haddington ; so  called  because  it  was 
the  birth-place  of  John  Knox. 

Kobold.  A house-spirit  in  German 
superstition ; the  same  as  our  Robin 
Goodfellow,  and  the  Scotch  b7'ow}i,ie(g.v.). 
(See  Hinzelmann.) 

Koelila'ni.  Arabian  horses  of  royal 
stock,  of  which  genealogies  have  been 
preserved  for  more  than  2000  years.  It 
is  said  that  they  are  the  offspring  of 
Solomon’s  stud.— Kiebuhr. 

Koll-i-lNur  (ynountain  of  light).  A 
large  diamond  in  the  possession  of  the 
Queen  of  England.  It  was  found  in  a 
Golconda  mine  ( 1550),  and  belonged  to 
Shah  J ehan  and  Aurungzebe  the  Great, 
(Mogul  kings).  In  1739  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Nadir  Shah,  who  called  it 
the  Koh-i-nhr.  It  next  went  to  the 
monarch s of  Afghanistan,  and  when  Shah 
Sujah  was  dispossessed  he  gave  it  to 
Runjeet  Singh,  of  the  Punjab,  as  the 
price  of  his  assistance  towards  the  re- 
covery of  the  throne  of  Cabul'.  It  next 
went  to  Dhuleep  Singh,  but  when  the 
Punjab  was  annexed  to  the  British  crown 
in  1849,  this  noble  diamond  was  surren- 
dered to  Great  Britain.  It  is  valued  at 
.£120,664.  ^ 

Koliol.  Russell  says,  " The  Persian 
women  blacken  the  inside  of  their  eyelids 
with  a powder  made  of  black  Kohol.” 
And  others  mix  the  Kohol’s  jetty  dye 
To  give  that  long,  dark  languish  to  the  eye. 

Thomas  Moure.  Lalla  Rookh,"  pt.  i 

Kola'da.  The  Janus  of  the  Slaves, 
His  fete  is  December  24th. 

Kolah  (a  Persian  cap).  Made  of  the 
wool  of  the  sheep  of  Tartary. — Waring. 

Koli.  The  51st  Foot,  so  called  from 
the  initial  letters  of  the  regimental  title^ 
King’s  Own  JLight  Infantry. 


KONX  OMPAX. 


KRISS  KRINGLE. 


487, 


Konx  Ompax.  The  words  of  dis- 
missal in  the  Eleusinian  Mysteries.  A 
correspondent  in  Notes  and  Queries  says 
*'konx”  or  ‘^kogx”  is  the  Sanscrit 
Canscha  (the  object  of  your  desire) ; 

ompax”  is  om  (amen),  pacsha  (all  is 
over).  If  this  is  correct  the  words  would 
mean,  God  bless  you,  Amen,  The  ceremo- 
nies are  concluded.  When  a judge  gave 
sentence  by  dropping  his  pebble  into  the 
urn  of  mercy  or  death,  he  said  Pacsha 
(I  have  done  it).  The  noise  made  by  the 
stone  in  falling  was  called  pacsha  (fate), 
and  so  was  the  dripping  noise  of  the 
clepsydra,  which  limited  the  pleader’s 
quota  of  time. 

Koom  or  Com  and  Cashan.  ''Two 
Persian  cities,  full  of  mosques,  mauso- 
le'ums,  and  sepulchres  of  the  descendants 
of  Ali  (the  saints  of  Persia).” — Chardin. 

TTor  (sichiess).  The  bed  of  the  god- 
dess Hel  iq.v.).  Its  canopy  is  called 
" splendid  misery.” 

Koran,  or,  with  the  Sixticle^Al-Kordn 
(the  Reading).  The  religious,  social, 
civil,  commercial,  military,  and  legal 
code  of  Islam.  It  is  rather  remarkable 
that  we  call  our  Bible  the  writing  (Scrip- 
ture), but  the  Arabs  call  their  Bible  the 
reading  (Koran).  We  are  told  to  believe 
that  portions  of  this  book  were  com- 
municated to  the  prophet  at  Mecca  and 
Medi'na  by  the  angel  Gabriel,  with  the 
sound  of  bells. 

Kor'rigans  or  Kor'igans.  Nine  fays 
of  Brittany,  of  wonderful  powers.  They 
can  predict  future  events,  assume  any 
shape  they  like,  move  quick  as  thought 
from  place  to  place,  and  cure  diseases  or 
wounds.  They  are  not  more  than  two 
feet  high,  have  long  flowing  hair,  which 
they  are  fond  of  combing,  dress  only 
with  a white  veil,  are  excellent  singers, 
and  their  favourite  haunt  is  beside  some 
fountain.  They  flee  at  the  sound  of  a 
bell  or  benediction.  Their  breath  is 
most  deadly. — Breton  mythology. 

Kraal.  A South  African  village, 
being  a collection  of  huts  in  a circular 
form ; so  named  by  the  early  Dutch  set- 
tlers, from  kraal,  French  corail,  a coral 
reef. 

Kraken.  A supposed  sea-monster 
of  vast  size,  said  to  have  been  seen  off 
the  coast  of  Norway  and  on  the  North 
American  coasts.  It  was  first  described 


by  Pontoppidan.  Pliny  speaks  of  a sea- 
monster  in  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar,  which 
barred  the  entrance  of  ships. 

Kratim.  The  dog  which  accom- 
panied the  Seven  Sleepers. 

Kremlin.  The  imperial  palace  at 
Moscow,  of  a triangular  form,  and  about 
two  miles  in  circumference.  (Russian, 
krem,  a fortress.) 

K!rems  White  takes  its  name  from 
Krems  in  Austria,  the  city  where  it  is 
manufactured. 

Kreuzer  (pron.  krite-zer).  A small 
copper  coin  in  Southern  Germany,  once 
marked  with  a cross.  (German,  kreuz^  a 
cross.) 

Kriemliild  (2  syl.).  A beautiful 
Burgundian  lady,  daughter  of  Dancrat 
and  Uta,  and  sister  of  Gunther,  Gernot, 
and  Gis'elher.  She  first  married  Sieg- 
fried, king  of  the  Netherlanders,  and 
next  Etzel,  king  of  the  Huns.  Hagan, 
the  Dane,  slew  her  first  husband,  and 
seized  all  her  treasures  ; and  to  revenge 
these  wrongs,  she  invited  her  brothers 
and  Hagan  to  visit  her  in  Hungary.  In 
the  first  part  of  the  "Nibelungen-Lied,” 
Kriemhild  brings  ruin  on  herself  by  a 
tattling  tongue  (1)  She  tells  Brunhild, 
queen  of  Burgundy,  that  it  is  Siegfried 
who  has  taken  her  ring  and  girdle,  which 
so  incenses  the  queen,  that  she  prevails 
on  Hagan  to  murder  the  Netherlander; 
(2)  she  tells  Hagan  that  the  only  vul- 
nerable part  in  Siegfried  is  a spot  be- 
tween his  shoulders,  a hint  which  ena- 
bles Hagan  to  direct  his  wound  aright. 
In  the  second  part  of  the  great  epic,  she 
is  represented  as  bent  on  vengeance,  and 
in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object, 
after  a most  terrible  slaughter  of  friends 
and  foes,  she  is  slain  by  Hildebrand. 

Krish'na  {the  black  one).  The  eighth 
avat&,ra  or  incarnation  of  Vishnu.  Kansa, 
demon-king  of  Mathura',  having  com- 
mitted great  ravages.  Brahman  com- 
plained to  Vishnu,  and  prayed  him  to 
relieve  the  world  of  its  distress  ; where- 
upon Vishnu  plucked  off  two  hairs,  one 
white  and  the  other  black,  and  promised 
they  should  revenge  the  wrongs  of  the 
demon-king.  The  black  hair  became 
Krishna. — Rindu  mythology. 

Kriss  Kringle.  A sort  of  St. 
Nicholas  {q.r.).  On  Christmas  Eve,  Kriss 
Kringle,  arrayed  in  a fur  cap  and  strange 


488 


KRITA. 


LABADISTS. 


apparel,  goes  to  the  bedroom  of  all  good 
children,  where  he  finds  a stocking  or 
sock  hung  up  in  expectation  of  his  visit, 
in  which  depository  he  leayes  a present 
for  the  young  wearer.  The  word  means 
Christ-child,  and  the  eve  is  called  Kriss- 
Kringle  Eve.” 

Kri'ta.  The  first  of  the  four  Hindu 
periods  contained  in  the  great  Yuga,wheu 
the  genius  of  Truth  and  Right,  in  the 
form  of  a bull,  stood  firm  on  his  four  feet, 
and  man  gained  nothing  by  iniquity. 
{See  Kaliyuga.) 

KIrodo.  The  Saturn  of  the  ancient 
Saxons. 

Kmpp’s  Steel.  Steel  from  the 
works  of  Herr  Krupp,  of  Essen,  in  Prus- 
sia. 

Krusman.  The  Hercules  of  the 
ancient  inhabitants  of  the  Rhine. 

Ku'dos.  Praise,  glory.  {Greeh) 

Ku'fLc.  Ancient  Arabic  letters;  so 
called  from  Kufa,  a town  in  the  pashahc 
of  Bagdad,  noted  for  its  expert  and  nu- 
merous copyists  of  the  ancient  Arabic 
MSS. 

Kufic  Coins.  Mahometan  coins 
with  Kufic  or  Ancient  Arabic  characters. 
The  first  were  struck  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  the  Hegi'ra  (a.d.  638). 

Kumara  {youthful).  The  Hindu 
war- god,  the  same  as  K^rthkeya  {q.v.). 
One  of  the  most  celebrated  Hindu  poems 
is  the  legendaiy  history  of  this  god. 
R.  T.  H.  Griffith  has  translated  seven 
cantos  of  it  into  English  verse. 

Kurd.  A native  of  Kurdistan. 

Kuru.  A noted  legendary  hero  of 
India,  the  contests  of  whose  descendants 
form  the  subject  of  the  two  great  Indian 
epics. 

Ku'vera.  The  god  of  riches,  repre- 
sented as  riding  in  a car  drawn  by  hob- 
goblins.— Hindu  mythology. 

Ky'anise  (3  syl.).  To  apply  cor- 
rosive sublimate  to  timber  in  order  to 
prevent  the  dry-rot ; so  called  from  Mr. 
Kyan,  who  invented  the  process.  {See 
Paynising.) 

Kyle,  Garrick,  and  Cunning- 
hani. 

Ajrshire  is  divided  into  three  parts : 
Kyle,  a strong  corn-growing  soil ; Garrick, 
a wild  hilly  portion,  only  fit  for  feeding 


cattle;  and  Cunningham,  a rich  dairy 
land.  Hence  the  saying — 

Kyle  for  a man,  Garrick  for  a coo, 
-Gunningham  for  butter,  Galloway  for  woe. 

The  last  refers  to  the  Mull  of  Galloway, 
noted  for  shipwrecks. 

Ky'rie  Elei'son.  Greek,  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon  us. 

Kyrle.  (/See  Ross.) 


Ii 

L.  This  letter  represents  ah  ox-goad, 
and  is  called  in  Hebrew  lamed  (an  ox- 
goad). 

L for  fifty  is  half  C {centum,  a hun- 
dred). 

L.  E.  L.  Letitia  Elizabeth  Landon 
(afterwards  Mrs.  Maclean),  a poetess 
of  the  ‘^Lara”  and  ‘^Corsair”  school. 
(1802-1839.) 

XjIi.E.  Doctor  of  Laws — i.e,,  both 
civil  and  canon.  The  double  L is  the 
plural ; thus  MSS.  is  the  plural  of  MS. 
(manuscript) ; pp.,  pages, 

L.Xi.  Whiskey.  Lord-Lieutenant 
whiskey.  Mr.  Kinahan  being  requested, 
to  preserve  a certain  cask  of  whiskey 
highly  approved  of  by  his  excellency, 
marked  it  with  the  initials  L.L.,  and  e\rer 
after  called  this  particular  quality  L.L. 
Whiskey. 

L’Africaine.  An  opera  by  Meyer- 
beer. 

La  Garde  Meurt,  ne  se  Kend 
Pas.  The  words  falsely  ascribed  to 
General  Cambronne,  at  the  battle  of 
Waterloo,  and  inscribed  on  his  monu- 
ment at  Nantes. 

La  Muette  de  Portiei.  Auber^s 
best  opera.  Also  known  as  ‘‘Masaniello.” 

La  Poche  (1  syl.).  A Protestant 
clergyman,  whose  story  is  told  in  The 
Mirror,  by  Henry  Mackenzie. 

Lab'adists.  A religious  sect  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  so  called  from  Jean 
Labadie,  of  Bourg  in  Guyenne.  They 
were  Protestant  ascetics,  who  sought 
reform  of  morals  more  than  reform  of 
doctrine.  They  rejected  the  observance 
of  all  holy  days,  and  held  certain  mystic 
notions.  The  sect  fell  to  pieces  early  in 
the  eighteenth  century. 


LABARINTO. 


LADY. 


489 


Labarinto  or  Las  Trecientas. 
The  chief  work  of  the  poet  Juan  de 
Mena,  called  the  Spanish  Ennius;  sug- 
gested by  Dante’s  ‘^Divi'na  Come'dia.” 

Lab'arum.  The  standard  borne  be- 
fore the  Roman  emperors.  It  consisted 
of  a lance  with  an  eagle  on  the  top,  while 
from  a cross-staff  hung  a splendid  purple 
streamer,  with  a fringe,  adorned  with 
precious  stones.  Constantine  substituted 
a crown  for  the  eagle,  and  inscribed  in 
the  midst  the  mysterious  monogram  {see 
Constantine’s  Cross).  Fifty  of  the 
bravest  men  were  deputed  to  bear  it. 
(Greek,  lahay  a staff ; ruomaiy  to  rescue 
from  danger.) 

LaJbe  {Queen).  The  CircS  of  the 
Arabians,  who,  by  her  enchantments, 
transformed  men  into  horses  and  other 
brute  beasts.  She  is  introduced  into 
the  Arabian  Nights’  Entertainments,” 
where  Beder,  prince  of  Persia,  marries 
her,  defeats  her  plots  against  him,  and 
turns  her  into  a mare.  Being  restored 
to  her  proper  shape  by  her  mother,  she 
turns  Beder  into  an  owl;  but  the  prince 
ultimately  regains  his  own  proper  form, 
and  makes  his  escape. 

Lab'yrinth..  Said  to  be  so  called 
from  Lab'yris,  an  Egyptian  monarch  of 
the  twelfth  dynasty . The  chief  labyrinths 
are : — 

(1)  The  Egyptian,  by  Petesu'chis  or 
Tithoes,  near  the  lake  Moeris.  It  had 
3,090  apartments,  half  of  which  were 
underground,  (b.c.  1800.) 

(2)  The  Cretan,  by  Dse'dalos,  for  im- 
prisoning the  Mi'notaun  The  only 
means  of  finding  the  way  out  of  it  was 
by  a skein  of  thread. 

(3)  The  Cretan  conduit,  which  had 
1,000  branches. 

(4)  The  Lem'nian,  by  the  architects 
Zmilus,  Rholus,  and  Theodorus.  It 
had  150  columns,  so  nicely  adjusted  that 
a child  could  turn  them. 

(5)  The  labyrinth  of  Clu'sium,  by  Por- 
senna,  king  of  Etruria,  for  his  tomb. 

(6)  The  Samian,  by  Theodo'rus.  (b.c. 
540.) 

(7)  The  labyrinth  at  Woodstock,  by 
Henry  II.,  for  the  fair  Rosamond. 

(8)  Of  mazes  formed  by  hedges,  the 
best  known  is  that  of  Hampton  Court. 

Labyrinth'odon  (Greek  for  Lahy- 
vinth-tooth).  A gigantic  fossil  sauroid. 


of  the  frog  family,  so  called  from  the  in- 
ternal structure  of  its  teeth. 

Lace,  ril  lace  your  jacJcet  for  you — 
beat  you.  (French,  laisse^  a lash ; Ger- 
man, lascheUy  to  strike.) 

Lachesis  (pron.  Lahfesis).  One  of 
the  three  Fates ; the  one  that  spins  the 
thread  of  life,  which  At'ropos  cuts  off, 
while  Clotho  holds  the  distaff. 

Lacon'ic.  Very  concise  and  pithy. 
A Spartan  was  called  a Lacon  from  La- 
co'nia,  the  land  in  which  he  dwelt.  The 
Spartans  were  noted  for  their  brusque 
and  sententious  speech.  When  Philip 
of  Macedon  wrote  to  the  Spartan  magis- 
trates, If  I enter  Laco'nia  I will  level 
Lacedaemon  to  the  ground,”  the  ephors 
wrote  word  back  the  single  word,  If.” 
The  Greek  t,  being  the  smallest  of  the 
alphabet,  is  called  the  Lacedaemonian 
letter. 

Lacus'trine  Deposits.  Deposits 
formed  at  the  bottom  of  fresb-water 
pools  and  lakes.  (Latin,  lacus,  a lake.) 

Laeus'trine  Habitations.  The 
remains  of  human  dwellings  of  great  an- 
tiquity, constructed  on  certain  lakes  in 
Ireland,  Switzerland,  &c.  They  seem 
to  have  been  villages  built  on  piles  in  the 
middle  of  a lake. 

Lad  and  Lass.  A lad  is  one  led 
or  in  ^Heading  strings”  under  a peda- 
gogue boy-leader).  Lass  is 

lad-ess”  contracted  first  into  'Ta’ess,” 
and  then  into  ''lass.”  {See  Miss.) 

Lad  o’  Wax.  A little  boy,  a doll 
of  a man.  In  " Romeo  and  Juliet,”  the 
Nurse  calls  Paris  " a man  of  wax,”  mean- 
ing a very  ' ' proper  man.”  Horace  speaks 
of  the  " waxen  arms  of  Terephus,” 
meaning  well  modelled. 

La'das.  Alexander’s  messenger,  noted 
for  his  swiftness  of  foot. 

La'don.  One  of  the  dogs  of  Actseon. 

Ladon.  The  dragon  which  guarded 
the  apples  of  the  Hesper'ides. 

Lady.  A woman  of  wealth,  station, 
or  rank.  Verstegan  says,  "It  was  an- 
ciently written  Hleafdian  [?  Tsefdige], 
contracted  first  into  Lafdy,  and  then  into 
Lady.  Laj  or  Hldf  (loaf)  means  food  in 
general  or  bread  in  particular,  and  dian 
means  ‘to  serve,’  whence  lady  means 
the  'bread-server.’  The  lord  supplied 


490 


LADY-BIRD. 


LADY  OF  THE  LAKE. 


the  food,  and  the  lady  saw  that  it  was 
properly  served,  for  Jadies  used  to  carve 
and  distribute  the  food  to  the  guests.’^ 
[Dian,  i.e.,  o^i^-ian.] 

Ladies  retire  to  the  drawing-room  after 
dinner,  and  leave  the  gentlemen  be- 
hind. This  custom  was  brought  in  by 
the  Norsemen.  The  Vikings  always 
dismissed  all  women  from  their  drinking 
parties.— aS.  Bunbv.ry. 

Lady-bird.  The  bishop  Barnaby, 
called  in  German,  U'nsei'  herrin,  huhn 
(our  Lady-fowl),  Marien-huhn  (Mary- 
fowl),  and  Marien  Kdfer  (Mary’s  beetle). 

Cushcow  Lady,”  as  it  is  called  in  York- 
shire, is  also  the  German  Marien-kalen 
(Lady-calf).  Probably  our  bird  in 
this  instance  is  a corruption  of  bug. 
Thus  the  cockchafer  is  called  the  May 
bug,  where  the  German  kdfer  is  ren- 
dered bug  ; and  several  of  the  scarabai 
are  called  bugs,  as  the  rose-bug.  {See 
Bishop.) 

Lady  Bountiful.  The  benevolent 
lady  of  a village.  The  character  of  Lady 
Bountiful  is  from  the  Beaux*  Strata- 
gem,” by  Farquhar. 

Lady  Chapel.  The  small  chapel 
behind  the  sereen  of  the  high  altar ; so 
called  because  usually  dedicated  to  the 
Virgin  Mary. 

Lady-day.  The  25th  of  March,  to 
commemorate  the  Annunciation  of  Our 
Lady,  the  Virgin  Mary. 

Lady  Isabella,  the  beloved  daugh- 
ter of  a noble  lord,  accompanied  her 
father  and  mother  on  a chase  one  day, 
when  her  step-mother  requested  her  to 
return  and  tell  the  master-cook  to  pre- 
pare ‘'the  milk-white  doe  for  dinner.” 
Lady  Isabella  did  as  she  was  told,  and 
the  master-cook  replied,  “ Thou  art  the 
doe  that  I must  dress.”  The  scullion- 
boy  exclaimed,  “ O save  the  lady’s  life, 
and  make  thy  pies  of  me;”  but  the 
master-cook  heeded  him  not  When  the 
lord  returned  he  called  for  his  daughter, 
the  fair  Isabelle,  and  the  scullion-boy 
said,  “If  now  you  will  your  daughter 
see,  my  lord,  cut  up  that  pie.”  When 
the  fond  father  comprehended  the  awful 
tragedy,  he  adjudged  the  cruel  step-dame 
to  be  burnt  alive,  and  the  master-cook 
“in  boiling  lead  to  stand but  the  scul- 
lion-boy  he  made  his  heir.— -Percy,  “Pe- 
liquesf*  dx.,  series  iii.,  bk.  2. 


Lady  Majestrate.  Queen  Mary 
made  lady  Berkley  a justice  of  the  peace 
for  Gloucestershire,  and  appointed  her 
to  the  quorum  of  Suffolk.  Lady  Berkley 
sat  on  the  bench  at  assizes  and  sessions, 
girt  with  a sword.  Tony  Lumpkin  says 
of  Mr.  Hardcastle — 

He'll  persuade  you  that  bis  mother  was  an  aider- 
man  and  his  aunt  a justice  of  the  pe&oe.— Goldsmith, 
‘ ‘ ahe  Stoops  to  Conquer** 

Lady  Margaret  Professor  of 
Divinity,  founded  in  1502  by  the  mother 
of  Henry  VII  The  year  following,  she 
founded  a preachership,  both  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge. 

Lady  of  England.  Matilda,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  I.  The  title  of  “ Dom'ina 
Anglorum”  was  conferred  upon  her  by 
the  council  of  Winchester,  held  April 
7th,  1141. 

Lady  of  Mercy  (Our).  An  order 
of  knighthood  in  Spain,  instituted  ito 
1218  by  James  I.  of  Aragon,  for  the 
deliverance  of  Christian  captives  amongst 
the  Moors.  Within  the  first  six  years 
as  many  as  400  captives  were  rescued  by 
these  knights. 

Lady  of  Shalott'.  A maiden  who 
fell  in  love  with  Sir  Lancelot  of  the  Lake,, 
and  died  because  her  love  was  not  re^ 
turned.  Tennyson  has  a poem  on  the 
subject,  and  the  story  of  Elaine,  “the 
lily  maid  of  As'tolat,”  in  the  “Idylls  of 
the  King,”  is  substantially  the  same. 
{See  Elaine.) 

Lady  of  the  Bleeding  Heart.  A 
Douglas ; so  called  from  the  cognisance 
of  the  family.  In  the  “ Lady  of  the 
Lake,”  ii.  10,  Ellen  Douglas  is  so  called. 

Lady  of  the  Haystack  — made 
her  appearance  in  1776  at  Bourton,  near 
Bristol.  She  was  young  and  beautiful, 
graceful,  and  evidently  accustomed  to 
good  society.  She  lived  for  four  years 
in  a haystack;  but  was  ultimately  kept 
by  Mrs.  Hannah  More  in  an  asylum,  and 
died  suddenly  in  December,  1801.  Mrs. 
More  called  her  Louisa;  but  she  was 
probably  a Mademoiselle  La  Friilen, 
natural  daughter  of  Francis  Joseph  I., 
en^peror  of  Austria.  {See  “ World  of 
Wonders,”  p.  134.) 

Lady  of  the  Lake.  Vivian,  mis- 
tress of  Merlin,  the  enchanter,  who  lived 
in  the  midst  of  an  imaginary  lake,  sur- 
rounded by  knights  and  damsels.  Ten- 
nyson, in  the  “ Idylls  of  the  King,**  tells 


LADY  OF  THE  ROCK. 


LAMA, 


491 


the  story  of  Vivian  and  Merlin.  {See 
Lake,  and  Lancelot.) 

Lcudy  of  the  Lake.  Ellen  Douglas, 
once  a favourite  of  king  James;  but 
when  her  father  fell  into  disgrace,  she 
retired  with  him  to  the  vicinity  of  Loch 
Katrine.— Walter  Scott,  Lady  of 
the  Lake"' 

But  for  the  difference  marriage  makes 
"i  vrixfc  wives  and  ladies  of  the  lakes. 

5.  BuUei\  “ Hudibras*'  iiL  1. 

Lady  of  the  Rock  (Owr).  A mi- 
raculous image  of  the  Virgin  found  by 
the  wayside  between  Salamanca  and 
Ciudad  Rodrigo  in  1409. 

Lady  in  the  Sacque.  The  appa- 
rition of  this  hag  forms  the  story  of  the 

Tapestried  Chamber/’  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott. 

An  old  woman,  whose  dress  was  an  old-fashioned 
gown,  which  ladies  call  a sacque  ; that  is,  a sort  of 
robe  completely  loose  in  the  body,  but  gathered 
into  broad  plaits  upon  the  neck  and  shoulders. 

Laelaps  (Storm).  One  of  the  dogs  of 
Actseon. 

Lcelaps.  A very  powerful  dog  given 
by  Diana  to  Procris ; Procris  gave  it  to 
Ceph'alos.  While  pursuing  a wild  boar 
it  was  metamorphosed  into  a stone. 

Laer'tes  (3  syl.).  Son  of  Polo'nius 
and  brother  of  Ophelia.  He  kills  Hamlet 
with  a poisoned  rapier,  and  dies  himself 
from  a wound  by  the  same  foil. — Shake- 
speare, Hamlet.” 

Laeta're  Sunday.  The  fourth  Sun- 
day of  Lent  is  so  called,  from  the  first 
word  of  the  Introit,  which  is  from  Isa. 
Ixvi.  10:  ^‘Rejoice  ye  with  Jerusalem, 
and  be  glad  with  her,  all  ye  that  love 
her.”  It  is  on  this  day  that  the  pope 
blesses  the  Golden  Rose. 

' Lag'ado.  Capital  of  Balmbarbi, 
celebrated  for  its  grand  academy  of  pro- 
jectors, where  the  scholars  spend  their 
time  in  such  useful  projects  as  making 
pincushions  from  softened  rocks,  ex- 
tracting sun-beams  from  cucumbers,  and 
converting  ice  into  gunpowder. — Swift, 
**  GullivePs  Travels”  ( Voyage  to  Lapu’ta). 

LaiS.  A courtezan  or  Greek  Hetaira. 
There  were  two  of  the  name ; the  elder 
was  the  most  beautiful  woman  of  Corinth, 
and  lived  at  the  time  of  the  Peloponne'- 
sian  war.  The  beauty  of  the  latter  ex- 
cited the  jealousy  of  the  Thessalonian 
women,  who  stoned  her  to  death.  She 
was  contemporary  with  Phryne,  her 
rival,  and  sat  to  Apelles  as  a model. 


Laissez  Faire,  Laissez  Passer. 
Lord  John  Russell  said— Colbert,  with 
the  intention  of  fostering  the  manufac- 
tures of  France,  established  regulations 
which  limited  the  webs  woven  in  looms 
to  a particular  size.  He  also  prohibited 
the  introduction  of  foreign  manufactures. 
The  French  vine-growers,  finding  they 
could  no  longer  get  rid  of  their  wine, 
began  to  grumble.  Then  Colbert  asked 
a merchant  what  relief  he  could  give, 
and  received  for  answer  ‘ Laissez  faire, 
laissez  passer' — Don’t  interfere  with  our 
mode  of  manufactures  and  don’t  stop 
the  introduction  of  foreign  imports.” 

The  laissez-faire  system.  The  let-alone 
system. 

Lake-school  (The).  The  school  of 
poetry  introduced  by  the  Lake  Poets, 
Wordsworth,  Coleridge,  and  Southey, 
who  resided  in  the  Lake  district  of  Cum- 
berland and  Westmoreland,  and  sought 
inspiration  in  the  simplicity  of  nature. 
The  term  was  first  used  in  the  Edinburgh 
Revieio. 

N.B.  Charles  Lamb,  Lloyd,  and  Pro- 
fessor Wilson  (Christopher  North)  are 
sometimes  placed  in  the  list  of  ‘^Lakers.” 

Laked'ion  or  Laquedem  (Isaac). 
The  name  given  in  France,  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  to  the  Wandering  Jew. 

Lalcin.  Bfr  Lakin.  An  oath,  mean- 
ingBy  our  Lady-kin,”  or  Little  Lady, 
where  little  does  not  refer  to  size,  but  is 
equivalent  to  dear. 

By’r  Lakin,  a parlous  [perilous)  Shakespeare^ 
** Midsummer  Night's  Dream,"  iii.  1. 

Laks'mi  or  Lakshmi.  One  of'  the 
consorts  of  Vishnu,  goddess  of  beauty, 
wealth  and  pleasure. — Hindu  mythology. 

Lalla  Rookh  {Tulip  Cheek)  is  the 
supposed  daughter  of  Au-nmg-ze'-be, 
emperor  of  Delhi,  betrothed  to  Ahiris, 
sultan  of  Lesser  Buchar'ia  ; on  her  jour- 
nej^  from  Delhi  to  the  valley  of  Cashmere, 
she  is  entertained  by  a young  Persian 
poet  named  Fer'amorz,  who  is  supposed 
to  relate  the  four  poetical  tales  of  the 
romance,  and  with  whom  she  falls  in 
love.  Her  delight  is  unbounded  when 
she  discovers  that  the  poet  and  the  sultan 
are  one  and  the  same  person.— YAowaff 
Moore,  Lalla  Rookh.” 

La'ma,  among  the  Mongols,  means 
the  priestly  order.  Hence  the  reUgion 
of  the  Mongols  and  Calmucs  is  termed 


LAMAISM. 


LAMP. 


Lamaism.  The  Grand  Lamas  wear  yellow 
<japs,  the  subordinate  Lamas  red  caps. 
{See  Grand  Lama.) 

La'inaisirL  (Tibetan,  Blama^  spiritual 
teacher).  The  religion  of  Tibet  and 
Mongolia,  which  is  Buddhism  corrupted 
hy  Sivaism  and  spirit- worship. 

Lamb.  In  Christian  art,  an  emblem 
of  the  Kedeemer,  called  the  Lamb  of 
God.”  It  is  also  the  attribute  of  St. 
Agnes,  St.  Genevieve,  St.  Catherine,  and 
St.  Regi'na.  St.  John  either  carries  a lamb, 
or  is  accompanied  by  the  paschal  lamb. 
It  is  also  introduced  symbolically  to  re- 
present any  of  the  types”  of  Christ,  as 
Abraham,  Moses,  and  so  on. 

Lamb-pie.  A flogging.  Lamb  is  a 
pun  on  the  Latin  verb  lamlo  (to  lick), 
^nd  the  word  ^‘lick”  has  been  perverted 
to  mean  flog  {see  Lick)  ; or  it  may  be  the 
old  Norse  lam  (the  hand),  meaning  hand 
or  slap  pie.  {See  Lamming.) 

Lamb’s  Conduit  Street  {London). 
Stow  says,  One  William  Lamb,  citizen 
and  clothworker,  born  at  Sutton  Valence, 
Kent,  did  found  near  unto  Oldbourne  a 
faire  conduit  and  standard ; from  this 
conduit,  water  clear  as  crystal  was  con- 
veyed in  pipes  to  a conduit  on  Snow  hill,” 
(26th  March,  1577.) 

Lambs’ Wool.  A beverage  consist- 
ing of  the  juice  of  apples  roasted  over 
spiced  ale.  A great  day  for  this  drink 
was  the  feast  of  apple-gathering,  called 
la  maes  Ahhal,  pronounced  ‘Mammas 
col,”  and  corrupted  into  “lambs’  wool.” 

Lambro  {Bon  Juan).  Major  Lambro, 
the  prototype,  was  head  of  the  Russian 
piratical  squadron  in  1791.  He  contrived 
to  escape  when  the  rest  were  seized  by 
the  Algerines  on  the  island  of  Zia. 

Lame  King.  A Grecian  oracle  had 
told  Sparta  to  “ Beware  of  a lame  king.” 
Agesila'os  was  lame,  and  during  his  reign 
Sparta  lost  her  supremacy,  and  Thebes 
became  the  head  of  Greece. 

Lame  Vicegerent  (in  “Hudibras”). 
Richard  Cromwell. 

Lam'ereck  {Sir),  of  Wales.  A 
knight  of  the  Round  Table,  son  of  Sir 
Pellinore,  and  brother  of  Sir  Percival. 
He  had  an  amour  with  his  own  aunt,  the 
wife  of  king  Lote.  Strange  that  of  aU 
the  famous  knights  of  the  Round  Table, 
Sir  Caradoc  was  the  only  one  who  was 
continent. 


Lam'ia.  A female  phantom,  whose 
name  was  used  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
as  a bugbear  to  children.  She  was  a 
Lib'yan  queen  beloved  by  Jupiter,  but 
robbed  of  her  offspring  by  the  jealous 
Juno  ; in  consequence  of  which  she  vowed 
vengeance  against  all  children,  whom  she 
delighted  to  entice  and  murder.  She  had 
the  power  of  taking  out  her  eyes  at 
pleasure.  (See  Lilith.  ) 

Lam'ies  (3  syl.).  Spectres  of  Africa, 
with  the  head  of  a woman  and  tail  of  a 
serpent.  They  attracted  strangers  by  a 
sort  of  hissing  sound,  and  then  devoured 
them.  In  the  story  of  “ Machates  and 
Philemon,”  a young  man  is  represented 
as  marrying  one  of  these  empusa,  who 
sucks  his  blood  at  night.  Goethe  bor- 
rowed his  ballad  of  the  ‘ ‘ Bride  of  Corinth’  ’ 
from  this  tale.  (Greek,  laimos,  the  throat, 
voracity.) 

Lammas.  At  latter  Lammas — i.e., 
never.  (aS^s  Greek  Calends.  ) 

Lammas-day,  1st  August,  means 
the  loaf -mass  day.  The  day  of  fkst-fruit 
offerings,  when  a loaf  was  given  to  the 
priests  in  lieu  of  the  first-fruits.  (Saxon, 
hlam-mossse,  for  hlaf-mcesse  doig.) 

Lammer  Beads.  Amber  beads, 
once  used  as  charms.  (French,  Vamhre  ; 
Teutonic,  lameidyn-stein.) 

Lammikin,  Lamkin,  Linhin,  or 
Bold  Rankin.  A Scottish  ogre,  repre- 
sented in  the  ballad  as  a bloodthirsty 
mason,  the  terror  of  the  Scotch  nursery. 

Lamming  (.4).  A beating.  {See 
Lamb  Pie.) 

Lam'ourette’s  Kiss.  On  July  7th, 
1792,  the  abb^  Lamourette  induced  the 
different  factions  of  the  Legislative 
Assembly  of  France  to  lay  aside  their 
differences ; so  the  deputies  of  the 
Royalists,  Constitutionalists,  Girondists, 
Jacobins,  and  Orleanists  rushed  into 
each  other’s  arms,  and  the  king  was  sent 
for  to  see  “how  these  Christians  loved 
one  another ;”  but  the  reconciliation  was 
hollow  and  unsound.  The  term  is  now 
used  for  a reconciliation  of  policy  without 
abatement  of  rancour. 

Lamp.  To  smell  of  the  lamp.  To  bear 
the  marks  of  great  study,  but  not  enough 
laboured  to  conceal  the  marks  of  labour. 
The  phrase  was  first  applied  to  the 
orations  of  Demosthenes,  written  by 
lamp-light  with  enormous  care^. 


LAMPS. 


LANCELOT  DU  LAC.  49S^ 


Tlu  Lamp  of  tJie  Law.  Imerius  the  Ger- 
man was  so  called,  who  first  lectured  on 
the  Pandects  of  Justinian,  after  their 
discovery  at  Amalphi  in  1137. 

Lamps.  The  seven  lamps  of  sleep. 
In  the  mansion  of  the  Knight  of  the  Black 
Castle  were  seven  lamps,  which  could  be 
quenched  only  with  water  from  an  en- 
chanted fountain.  So  long  as  these 
lamps  kept  burning,  every  one  within  the 
room  fell  into  a deep  sleep,  from  which 
nothing  could  rouse  them  till  the  lamps 
were  extinguished.  {See  Eosana.) — 

The  Seven  Champions/'  (kc.,  ii.  8. 

Sepulchral  Lamps.  The  Romans  are 
said  to  have  preserved  lamps  in  some  of 
their  sepulchres  for  centuries.  In  the 
papacy  of  Paul  III.  one  of  these  lamps 
was  found  in  the  tomb  of  Tullia  (Cicero’s 
daughter),  which  had  been  shut  up  for 

I, 550  years.  At  the  dissolution  of  the 
monasteries  a lamp  was  found  which  is 
said  to  have  been  burning  1,200  years. 
Two  have  been  preserved  in  the  Leyden 
museum. 

Lampad'ion.  The  received  name 
of  a lively,  petulant  courtezan,  in  the 
later  Greek  comedy. 

Lampoon.  Sir  Walter  Scott  says, 

These  personal  and  scandalous  libels, 
carried  to  excess  in  the  reign  of  Charles 

II. ,  acquired  the  name  of  lampoons  from 
the  burden  sung  to  them  : ' Lampone, 
lampone,  camerada  lampone’ — Guzzler, 
guzzler,  my  fellow  guzzler.”  (French, 
lamper^  to  guzzle.)  Sir  Walter  obtained 
his  information  from  Trevoux. 

Lampos  and  Pha'eton.  The  two 
steeds  of  Auro'ra.  One  of  Actaeon’s  dogs 
was  called  Lampos. 

Lancashire  Lads  or  ^^The  Lan- 
cashire.”  The  47th  Foot. 

Lancaster.  The  camp-town  on  the 
river  Lune. 

Lancaster  Gun.  A species  of 
rifled  cannon  with  elliptical  bore ; so 
called  from  Mr.  Lancaster,  its  inventor. 

Lance  (1  syl.),  in  Christian  art,  is  an 
attribute  of  St.  Matthew  and  St.  Thomas, 
the  apostles  ; also  of  St.  Longi'nus,  St. 
George,  St.  Adalbert,  St.  Oswin,  St.  Bar- 
bara, St.  Michael,  St.  Deme'trius,  and 
several  others. 

Astolpho  had  a lance  of  gold  that  with 
enchanted  force  dismounted  every  one 
it  touched. — Orlando  Furioso/'  bk.  ix. 


Lance  of  the  Ladies.  At  the  termination 
of  every  joust,  a course  was  run  pour 
les  dames,”  and  called  the  ‘‘Lance  of 
the  Ladies.” 

Lance-Corporal.  The  lowest  of 
the  non-commissioned  officers.  He  wears 
one  chevron  or  slash  on  his  sleeve.  In 
the  middle  ages  a lance  meant  a soldier. 

Lance-knight.  A foot-soldier ; a 
corruption  of  lasquenet  or  lancequenet, 
a German  foot-soldier. 

Lan'celot  (Sir).  “ The  chief  of 
knights”  and  “darling  of  the  court.’' 
Elaine,  the  lily  of  Astolat,  fell  in  love 
with  him,  but  he  returned  not  her  love, 
and  she  died.  {See  Elaine.) — Tennyson, 
“ Idylls  of  the  King  ” {Elaine). 

Lan'celot  du  Lac.  One  of  the  ear- 
liest romances  of  the  “ Round  Table”' 
(1494).  Sir  Lancelot  was  the  son  of  king 
Ban  of  Benwicke,  but  was  stolen  in  infancy 

y Vivienne,  called  “ La  Dame  du  Lac,”' 
who  dwelt  “en  la  marche  de  la  petite 
Bretaigne she  plunged  with  the  babe 
into  the  lake,  and  when  her  prot%e  was 
grown  to  man’s  estate,  presented  him  to 
king  Arthur.  The  lake  referred  to  was 
a sort  of  enchanted  delusion  to  conceal 
her  demesnes.  Hence  the  cognomen  of 
du  Lac  given  to  the  knight.  Sir  Lancelot 
goes  in  search  of  the  St.  Grail  or  holy 
cup  brought  to  Britain  by  Joseph  of 
Arimathe'a.  {See  Graal.)  Though  al- 
ways represented  in  the  Arthurian  ro- 
mances as  the  model  of  chivalry.  Sir 
Lancelot  was  the  adulterous  lover  of 
Guinevere, wife  of  king  Arthur,  his  friend. 
At  the  close  of  his  life  the  adulterous 
knight  became  a hermit. 

Sir  Lancelot  du  Lac  and  Tarquin.  Sir 
Lancelot,  seeking  some  adventure,  met 
a lady  who  requested  him  to  deliver  cer- 
tain knights  of  the  Round  Table  from  the 
power  of  Tarquin.  Coming  to  a river, 
he  saw  a copper  basin  suspended  to  a 
tree,  and  struck  at  it  so  hard  that  the 
basin  broke.  This  brought  out  Tarquin,. 
when  a furious  encounter  took  place,  in 
which  Tarquin  was  slain,  and  Sir  Lancelot 
liberated  from  durance  “ threescore 
knights  and  four,  all  of  the  Table  Round. 
—Percy,  Reliquesf  dec.,  bk.  2,  series  i. 

Lancelot  of  the  Laih.  A Scottish  me- 
trical romance,  taken  from  the  French 
roman  caWed  “Lancelot  du  Lac.”  Galiot, 
a neighbouring  king,  invades  Arthur’s 
territory,  and  captures  the  castle  of  lady 


494  LANCELOT  GOBBO. 


LANG  SYNE. 


Melyhalt  among  others.  Sir  Lancelot 
goes  to  chastise  Galiot,  sees  queen  Gui- 
nevere and  falls  in  love  with  her.  Sir 
Gawayne  is  wounded  in  the  war,  and  Sir 
Lancelot  taken  prisoner.  In  the  French 
romance,  Sir  Lancelot  makes  Galiot  sub- 
mit to  Arthur,  but  the  Scotch  romance 
terminates  with  the  capture  of  the  knight. 

Lancelot  or  Launcelot  Gobbo. 
Shylock’s  servant,  famous  for  his  soli- 
loquy whether  or  not  he  should  run  away 
from  his  master. — Shakespeare,  Mer- 
dhant  of  Venice*' 

Land  of  Beulah,  where  the  sun 
shineth  night  and  day  ” (Isa.  Ixii.  4).  In 

Pilgrim’s  Progress”  it  is  that  land  of 
heavenly  joy  where  pilgrims  tarry  till 
they  are  summoned  to  enter  the  Celestial 
City ; the  Paradise  before  the  resurrec- 
tion. 

Land  of  Bondage.  Egypt  was  so 
called  by  the  J ews,  who  were  bondsmen 
there  to  the  Pharaohs  ‘^who  knew  not 
Joseph.” 

Land  of  Cakes.  Scotland,  famous 
for  its  oatmeal  cakes. 

Land  of  Myrrh.  Azab  or  Saba. 

Land  of  Promise.  Canaan,  the 
land  which  God  promised  to  give  to 
Abraham  for  his  obedience. 

Land  of  Stars  and  Stripes.  The 
United  States  of  America.  The  reference 
is  to  their  national  flag. 

Land  o’  the  Leal.  The  Scotch 
Dixey  Land  {q.v,).  An  hypothetical  land 
of  happiness,  loyalty,  and  virtue.  Caro- 
lina Oliphant,  baroness  Nairn,  meant 
heaven  in  her  exquisite  song  so  called,  and 
this  is  now  its  accepted  meaning. 

Land-damn.  A corruption  of 
iandan  (to  rate  or  reprove  severely). 
According  to  dean  Mi  lies  the  word  is 
still  used  in  Gloucestershire. 

You  are  abused.... would  I knew  the  villain,  I 
would  land-damn  him.  — Shakeapeare,  “ Winter’s 
Tale”  ii.  i. 

Land-loupers.  Persons  who  fly  the 
country  for  crime  or  debt.  Louper, 
loper,  loafer,  and  luifer  are  varieties  of 
the  German  Idiifer,  a vagrant,  a runner. 

Land-lubber.  Lubber  is  a lazy  or 
fat  person  {Danish). 

Landau'.  A four-wheeled  carriage, 
the  top  of  which  may  be  thrown  back ; 
invented  at  Landau,  in  Germany. 


Landey'da.  {See  Raven.) 

Landiere  {French,  3 syl.).  A booth 
in  a fair ; so  called  from  Le  Landit,  a 
famous  fair  at  onetime  held  at  St.  Denis. 
Landit  means  a small  present  such  as 
one  receives  from  a fair. 

II  gambadoit,  il  faisoit  le  badin  ; 

Oncq’on  ne  vit  ung  plus  parfait  landin. 

BourdignS,  “ Legends,'*  c.  iii. 

Mercure  avec  d’avides  mains  . . . 

Met  impost  fct  taxes  nouvelles  . . . 

Sur  les  land’s,  sur  les  estrennes. 

L.  Cnamhoudrj/,  “ Le  Vogage  de  Jfereure," 
bk.  iii.,p.5].  (1653.) 

Landscape  is  a land  picture. 

Scape”  is  from  the  German  schaffen 
(to  make). 

Lane.  No  evil  thing  that  walks  by 
night,  blue  meagre  hag,  or  stubborn  un- 
laid ghost,  no  goblin,  or  smart  fairy  of 
the  mine,  has  power  to  cross  a lane  ; once 
in  a lane,  and  the  spirit  of  evil  is  in  a fix. 
The  reason  is  obvious  : a lane  is  a spur 
from  a main  road,  and  therefore  forms 
with  it  a sort  of  T,  quite  near  enough  to 
the  shape  of  a cross  to  arrest  such  simple 
folk  of  the  imseen  world  as  care  to 
trouble  the  peaceful  inmates  of  this  we 
live  in. 

Lane,  of  King’s  Bromley  Manor, 
Staffordshire,  bears  in  a canton  **  The 
arms  of  England.”  This  honour  was 
granted  to  colonel  John  Lane,  by  Charles 
II.,  for  conducting  the  king  from  the 
field  of  battle  to  his  father’s  seat  after 
the  battle  of  Worcester.  {See  below.) 

Jane  Lane,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
sister  of  Colonel  John,  to  save  king 
Charles  II.  after  the  battle  of  Worces- 
ter, rode  behind  him  from  Bentley,  in 
Staffordshire,  the  ancient  seat  of  the 
Lanes,  to  the  house  of  her  cousin, 
Mrs.  Norton,  near  Bristol.  For  this  act 
of  loyalty,  the  king  granted  the  family 
to  have  the  following  crest : A strawberry- 
roan  horse  saliant  (couped  at  the  flank), 
bridled,  bitted,  and  garnished,  supporting 
between  its  feet  a royal  crown  proper ; 
motto,  Garde  le  Roy.” 

Lanfu'sa’s  Son  (in  Orlando  Fu- 

rioso”).  {See  Ferrau'.) 

Lang  Syne  {Scotch,  long  since). 
In  the  oiden  time,  in  days  gone  by.  The 
song  called  Auld  Lang  Syne,”  generally 
attributed  to  Robert  Burns,  was  not 
composed  by  him,  for  he  says  expressly 
in  a letter  to  Thomson,  it  is  the  old 
gong  of  the  olden  times,  which  has  never 
been  in  print.  ...  I took  it  down  from 


LANGBOURN  WARD. 


liAO-KIUM. 


495 


an  old  man’s  singing.”  In  another  letter 
he  says,  “ Light  be  the  turf  on  the  heaven- 
inspired  poet  who  composed  this  glorious 
fragment.”  Nothing  whatever  is  known 
of  the  author  of  the  words,  the  composer 
is  wholly  unknown. 

Langbourn  Ward  (London).  So 
called  from  the  long  bourn  or  rivulet  of 
sweet  water  which  formerly  broke  out 
of  a spring  near  Magpye  Alley.  This 
bourn  gives  its  name  to  Shareboume  or 
Southbourne  Lane. 

Ijangstaff  (Launcelot).  The  name 
under  which  Salmagundi  ” was  pub- 
lished, the  real  authors  being  Washington 
Irving,  William  Irving,  and  J.  K.  Paul- 
ding. 

Lia  ngua  ge.  ( •primeval  1)  Psam- 
metichos,  an  Egyptian  king,  entrusted 
two  new-born  infants  to  a shepherd,  with 
strict  charge  that  they  were  never  to 
hear  any  one  utter  a word.  These  chil- 
dren were  afterwards  brought  before  the 
king,  and  uttered  the  word  hekos  (baked 
bread).  The  same  experiment  was  tried 
by  Fredenck  II.  of  Sweden,  James  IV. 
of  Scotland,  and  one  of  the  Mogul  em- 
perors of  India. 

The  Persians  say  that  Arabic,  Persian, 
and  Turkish  are  the  three  primitive  lan- 
guages. The  serpent  that  seduced  Eve 
spoke  Arabic,  the  most  suasive  language 
in  the  world  ; Adam  and  Eve  spoke  Per- 
sian, the  most  poetic  of  all  languages; 
and  the  angel  Gabriel  spoke  Turkish, 
the  most  menacent  of  all  languages. — 
Llliardin. 

Langiujtge  given  to  men  to  conceal  their 
thoughts  ” is  from  Fontenelle,  but  is  gene- 
rally fathered  on  Talleyrand. 

Langue  d’Oe.  The  Proven9al 
branch  of  the  Gallo-Romaic  idiem;  so 
called  from  their  oc  (yes). 

Langue  d'Oil.  Walloon  or  Ger- 
manised Gallo-Romaic ; so  called  from 
* their  pronouncing  our  yes  as  oil  (o-e). 
These  Gauls  lived  north  of  the  Loire ; the 
Proven9als  dwelt  south  of  that  river. 

Languish  (Lgdia).  A young  lady 
of  romantic  notions  in  The  Rivals,”  by 
Sheridan. 

Lantern.  In  Christian  art,  the  attri- 
bute of  St.  Gudule  and  St.  Hugh. 

The  Feast  of  Lanterns.  Tradition  says 
that  the  daughter  of  a famous  mandarin, 
walking  on  the  edge  of  a lake  one  even- 


ing, fell  in  and  was  drowned.  The  father, 
with  all  his  neighbours,  went  with  lan- 
terns to  look  for  her,  and  happily  she 
was  rescued.  In  commemoration  thereof 
an  annual  festival  was  held  on  the  spot, 
and  grew  in  time  to  the  celebrated  Feast 
of  Lanterns.” — Present  State  of  Chinaf^ 

A la  lanterne.  Hang  him  with  the 
lantern  or  lamp  ropes.  A cry  and  custom 
introduced  in  the  French  revolution. 

Lanterns.  Authors,  literary  men, 
and  other  inmates  of  Lantern-land  (q,v.). 
Rabelais  so  calls  the  prelates  and  divines 
of  the  council  of  Trent,  who  wasted  the 
time  in  great  displays  of  learning,  to  very 
little  profit ; hence  lanternise”  (q.v.). 

Lanternise.  Spending  one’s  time 
in  learned  trifles;  darkening  counsel  by 
words  ; mystifying  the  more  by  attempt- 
ing to  unravel  mysteries ; putting  truths 
into  a lantern  through  which,  at  best, 
we  see  but  darkly.  When  monks  bring 
their  hoods  over  their  faces  ^‘to  medi- 
tate,” they  are  said  by  the  French  to 
lanternise,  because  they  look  like  the 
tops  of  lanterns  ; but  the  result  of  their 
meditations  is  that  of  a brown  study,” 
or  “ fog  of  sleepy  thought.”  (See  above.) 

Lantern-land.  The  land  of  literary 
charlatans,  whose  inhabitants  are  gra- 
duates in  arts,  doctors,  professors,  pre- 
lates, and  so  on. — Rabelais,  ^^Pantagmelf* 
v.  33. 

Lao'coon  (4  syl.),  A son  of  Priam, 
famous  for  the  tragic  fate  of  himself  and 
two  sons,  who  were  crushed  to  death  by 
serpents.  The  group  representing  these 
three  in  their  death  agony,  now  in  the 
Vatican,  was  discovered  in  1506.  Thom- 
son has  described  the  group  in  his 

Liberty,”  pt.  iv. 

Laodami'a.  The  wife  of  Protesila'os, 
who  was  slain  before  Troy.  She  begged 
to  be  allowed  to  converse  with  her  dead 
husband  for  only  three  hours,  and  her 
request  was  granted  ; when  the  respite 
was  over,  she  accompanied  the  dead  hero 
to  the  shades  of  death.  Wordsworth 
has  a poem  on  the  subject. 

Laodice'an.  One  indifferent  to  re- 
ligion, caring  little  or  nothing  about  the 
matter,  like  the  Christians  of  that  church, 
mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Revelation 
(iii.  14-18). 

Lao-kium.  A Chinese  philosopher, 
who  lived  about  B.c.  600,  and  after  death 


496 


LAPITH^. 


LARGE, 


was  placed  among  the  gods.  His  system 
was  a sort  of  quietism. 

Lap'itlise.  Descendants  of  Lap'ithes, 
son  of  Apollo  ; noted  for  their  defeat  of 
the  Centaurs. — Classic  mythology. 

Lapping  Water.  When  Gideon’s 
army  was  too  numerous,  the  men  were 
taken  to  a stream  to  drink,  and  300  of 
them  lapped  water  with  their  tongue ; all 
the  rest  sucked  it  up  (Judg.  vii.  4-7).  All 
carnivorous  animals  lap  water  like  dogs, 
all  herbivorous  animals  suck  it  up  like 
horses.  The  presumption  is  that  the 
lappers  of  water  partook  of  the  carni- 
vorous character,  and  were  more  fit  for 
military  exploits. 

Laprel.  The  rabbit  in  the  tale  of 
^‘Reynard  the  Fox.”  (French,  lafin, 
rabbit.) 

Lapsus  Linguae  {Latin).  A slip  of 
the  tongue,  a mistake  in  uttering  a word, 
a word  inadvertently  spoken. 

Lap'uta.  The  flying  island  inhabited 
by  scientific  quacks,  and  visited  by 
Gulliver  in  his  Travels.”  These  dreamy 
philosophers  were  so  absorbed  in  their 
speculations,  that  they  employed  atten- 
dants called  ‘‘flappers,”  to  flap  them  on 
the  mouth  and  ears  with  a blown  bladder 
when  their  attention  was  to  be  called  off 
from  “high  things”  to  vulgar  mundane 
matters.— 

Realising  in  a manner  the  dreams  of  Laputa,  and 
endeavouring  to  extract  sunbeams  from  cucumbers. 
— De  Quinq/. 

Lar.  The  chief  town  of  Laristan,  in 
Persia,  once  famous  for  its  bazaars. 

Lar  Familia'ris.  The  familar  lar 
was  the  spirit  of  the  founder  of  the 
house,  which  never  left  it,  but  accom- 
panied his  descendants  in  all  their 
changes.  (/See  Lares.) 

La'ra.  The  name  assumed  by  lord 
Conrad,  the  corsair,  after  the  death  of 
Medo'ra.  He  returned  to  his  native  land, 
and  was  one  day  recognised  by  lord 
Ezzelin  at  the  table  of  lord  Otho. 
Ezzelin  charges  him  home,  and  a duel  is 
arranged  for  the  day  following,  but 
Ezzelin  is  never  heard  of  more.  In  time 
Lara  heads  a rebellion,  and  is  shot  by 
lord  Otho,  the  leader  of  the  other  party. 
— Byron,  Lar a^ 

The  seven  infants  of  Lara.  Gon^alo 
Bustos  de  Salas  de  Lara,  a Castilian  hero 
of  the  eleventh  century,  had  seven  sons. 


His  brotlier,  Rodri'go  Velasquez,  married 
a Moorish  lady,  and  these  seven  nephews 
were  invited  to  the  feast.  A fray  took 
place  in  which  one  of  the  seven  slew  a 
Moor,  and  the  bride  demanded  vengeance. 
Rodri'go,  to  please  his  bride,  waylaid  his 
brother  (jon9alo,  and  kept  him  in  durance 
in  a dungeon  of  Cor'dova,  and  the  seven 
boys  were  betrayed  into  a ravine  where 
they  were  cruelly  murdered.  While  in 
the  dungeon,  the  daughter  of  the  Moorish 
king  fell  in  love  with  Gon^alo,  and  be- 
came the  mother  of  Mudarra,  who 
avenged  the  death  of  Lara’s  seven  sons 
by  slaying  Rodri'go. 

Larboard,  now  called  port  (q.v.). 
Larboard  and  Starboard  are  the  two 
Italian  phrases  quello  hordo  (that  side), 
and  questo  hordo  (this  side— ^.e.,  the  right 
side),  contracted  into  ’lo-bord’  and 
’sto-bord’. 

Larder.  A place  for  keeping  lard  or 
bacon.  This  shows  that  swine  were  the 
chief  animals  salted  and  preserved  in 
olden  times. 

The  Douglas  Lar  den'.  The  destruction 
of  the  English  garrison  and  all  its  pro- 
visions in  Douglas  castle,  by  Good  lord 
James  Douglas,  in  1307. 

He  caused  all  the  barrels  containing  flour,  meaU 
wheat,  and  malt  to  be  knocked  in  pieces,  and  their 
contents  mixed  on  the  floor;  then  he  staved  the 
great  hogsheads  of  wine  and  ale,  and  mixed  the  liquor 
with  the  stores ; »nd  last  of  all,  he  killed  the  prison- 
ers, and  flung  the  dead  bodies  among  this  disgusting 
heap,  which  bis  men  called  in  derision  of  the  English, 
“ The  Douglas  Larder.” — Sir  Walter  Scotty  “ Tales  of, 
a Grandfather^’  ix. 

Lares.  The  Etruscan  lar  (lord  or 
hero).  Among  the  Romans  lares  were 
either  domestic  or  public.  Domestic  lares 
were  the  souls  of  virtuous  ancestors 
exalted  to  the  rank  of  protectors.  Public 
lares  were  the  protectors  of  roads  and 
streets.  Domestic  lares  were  images, 
like  dogs,  set  behind  the  “hall”  door,  or 
in  the  lara'rum  or  shrine.  Wicked  souls 
became  lem'ures  or  ghosts  that  made 
night  hideous.  Pena'tes  were  the  natural 
powers  personified,  and  their  office  was 
to  bring  wealth  and  plenty,  rather  than 
to  protect  and  avert  danger. 

Large.  Set  at  large — i.e.,  at  liberty. 
It  is  a French  phrase ; prendre  le  large 
is  to  stand  out  at  sea,  or  occupy  the 
main  ocean,  so  as  to  be  free  to  move. 
Similarly,  to  be  set  at  large  is  to  be  placed 
free  in  the  wide  world. 

To  sail  large  is  to  sail  on  a large  wind 


LARIGOT. 


LATH. 


497 


— i,e.,  with  the  wind  not  straight  astern, 
but  what  sailors  call  abaft  the  beam,” 

Lar'igot.  Boiredtirelarigot,  To  tope, 
to  bouse.  Larigot  is  a corruption  of 

L’arigot”  (a  limb),  and  hoire  d tire 
Varigot  means  simply  *Ho  drink  with  ail 
your  might,”  as  jouer  de  Varigot  means 
play  your  best”— 1.0. , with  all  your 
power.”  It  is  absurd  to  derive  the  word 
larigot  from  la  Rigaud,”  according  to 
NoelTaillepied,  whosays  ('‘Rouen,”xlv.) ; 
'‘Au  xiii.  si^cle,  Tarcheveque  Eudes 
Rigaud  fit  present  h la  ville  de  Rouen 
d’une  cloche  h laquelle  resta  son  nom. 
Cette  cloche  ^tait  d’une  grandeur  et 
d’une  grosseur  telles,  que  ceux  qui  la 
mettaient  en  mouvement  ne  manquaient 
pas  deboire  abondammentpourreprendre 
des  forces.  -De  Ik  Thabitude  de  com- 
parer ceux  qui  buvaient  beaucoup  aux 
sonneurs  charges  de  tirer  la  Rigaud'' 
— i.e.f  the  bell  so  called. 

Lark.  A spree ; a corruption  of  the 
Saxon  Idc  (play,  fun). 

Larry  Dugan’s  Eyewater. — 
Blacking  ; so  called  from  Larry  Dugan, 
a noted  shoe-black  of  Dublin,  whose  face 
was  always  smudged  with  his  blacking. 

Larvae.  Mischievous  spectres.  The 
larva  or  ghost  of  Caligula  was  often  seen 
(according  to  Suetonius)  in  his  palace. 

Lascar.  A native  East  Indian  sailor 
in  the  British  service.  The  natives  of 
the  East  Indies  call  camp-followers  las- 
cars. 

Last.  The  cobbler  should  stick  to 
his  last  (‘^Ne  sutor  ultra  crep'idam”). 
Apelles  having  executed  a famous  paint- 
ing, exposed  it  to  public  view,  when  a 
cobbler  found  fault  because  the  painter 
had  made  too  few  latchets  to  the  go- 
loshes. Apelles  amended  the  fault,  and 
set  out  his  picture  again.  Next  day  the 
cobbler  complained  of  the  legs,  when 
Apelles  retorted,  ‘‘Keep  to  the  shop, 
friend,  but  do  not  attempt  to  criticise 
what  you  do  not  anderstand.”  {See 
Wigs.) 

Last  Man  {The).  Charles  I.  was  so 
called  by  the  Parliamentarians,  meaning 
jihat  he  would  be  the  last  man  to  sit  on 
the  throne  of  Great  Britain  as  king.  His 
son,  Charles  II.,  was  called  The  Son  of 
the  Last  Man. 

Last  of  the  Fathers.  St.  Bernard, 
abbot  of  Clairvaux.  (1091-1153. ) 


Last  of  the  Goths.  Roderick,  who 
reigned  in  Spain  from  414  to  711.  Southey 
has  an  historic  tale  in  verse  on  this  sub- 
ject. 

Last  of  the  Greeks.  Philopoemen 
of  Arcadia.  (B.c.  253-183.) 

Last  of  the  Knights.  {See 

Knights.) 

Last  of  the  Mo'hicans.  The  Indian 
chief,  Uncas,  is  so  called  by  Cooper  in 
his  novel  of  that  title. 

Last  of  the  Romans. 

Marcus  J unius  Brutus,  one  of  the  mur- 
derers of  Caesar,  (b.c.  85-42.) 

Caius  Cassius  Longi'nus,  so  called  by 
Brutus,  (b.c.  -42.) 

Aetius,  a general  who  defended  the 
Gauls  against  the  Franks  and  other  bar- 
barians, and  defeated  Attila  in  the 
Champs  Catalaumques,  near  Chklon,  in 
451.  So  called  by  Proco'pius. 

Francois  Joseph  Terasse  Desbillons,  so 
called  from  the  elegance  and  purity  of 
his  Latin.  (1751-1789.) 

Pope  calls  Congreve  Ultimus  Roman’ 
OTum.  (1670-1729.) 

Last  of  the  Troubadours.  Jacques 
Jasmin,  of  Gascony.  (1798-1864.) 

Lat  {El)>  A female  idol  made  of 
stone  and  said  to  be  inspired  with  life  ; 
the  chief  object  of  adoration  by  the 
Arabs  before  their  conversion. 

Lat,  at  Somanat  in  India,  was  a single 
stone  fifty  fathoms  high,  placed  in  the 
midst  of  a temple  supported  by  fifty-six 
pillars  of  massive  gold.  This  idol  was 
broken  in  pieces  by  Mahmood  Ibi^Sabuk- 
tigeen,  who  conquered  that  part  of  India. 

Lat'eran.  The  ancient  palace  of 
the  Latera'ni,  given  by  the  emperor 
Constantine  to  the  popes,  and  now  applied 
to  the  several  buildings  erected  on  the 
same  site,  the  chief  of  which  is  the  church 
of  St.  J ohn  of  Lateran. 

The  Councils  of  the  Late^'an  are  the 
eleven  councils  held  in  the  basilica  of 
the  Lateran.  The  most  celebrated  was 
that  held  under  pope  Innocent  III. 

Lath  or  Lathe.  A division  of  a 
county.  Sometimes  it  was  an  interme- 
diate division  between  a hundred  and  a 
shire,  as  the  lathes  of  Kent  and  rages  of 
Sussex,  each  of  which  contained  three  or 
four  “ hundreds  ” a-piece.  In  Ireland  the 
arrangement  was  different.  The  officer 
G G 


498 


LATIN. 


LAUNFAL. 


over  a lath  was  called  a lathreeve,  (Saxon 
Iceth,  Morwegian  lady  articulation.) 

If  all  that  tything  failed,  then  all  that  lath  was 
charged  for  that  tything ; and  if  the  lath  failed,  then 
all  that  hundred  was  demanded  for  them  [i.c.,  tur- 
bulent fellows  I ; aud  if  the  hundred,  then  the  shire. 
— Spencer^  Jrtland.*’ 

Latin.  The  language  spoken  by  the 
people  of  La'tium,  in  Italy.  The  Latins 
are  called  aborigines  of  Italy.  Alba 
Longa  was  head  of  the  Latin  league,  and, 
as  Borne  was  a colony  of  Alba  Longa,  it 
is  plain  to  see  how  the  Eoman  tongue 
was  Latin. 

The  Latin  Church.  The  Western 
Church,  in  contradistinction  to  the  Greek 
or  Eastern  Church.  ^ 

The  Latin  Cross.  Formed  thus : “p 

Latin  Learning,  properly  so  called, 
terminated  with  Boe'thius,  but  continued 
to  be  used  in  literary  compositions  and 
in  the  services  of  the  church. 

Lati'nus.  King  of  the  Laurentians, 
a people  of  Latium.  According  to  Virgil, 
Latinus  opposed  ^neas  on  his  first  land- 
ing, but  subsequently  formed  an  alliance 
with  him,  and  gave  him  Lavin'ia  in  mar- 
riage. Turnus,  king  of  the  Bu'tuli,  de- 
clared that  Lavinia  had  been  betrothed 
to  him,  and  prepared  to  support  his 
claim  by  arms.  It  was  agreed  to  decide 
the  rival  claims  by  single  combat,  and 
.^ne'as,  being  victor,  had  Lavinia  to  wife. 

Latinus  (in  ‘^Jerusalem  Delivered”), 
an  Italian,  went  with  his  five  sons  to  the 
Holy  War.  His  eldest  son  was  slain  by 
Solyman ; Aramantes,  going  to  his  bro- 
ther's aid,  was  also  slain ; then  Sabi'nus ; 
and  lastly,  Picus  and  Laurentes,  twins. 
The  father  now  rushed  on  the  soldan, 
and  was  slain  also.  In  one  hour,  the 
father  and  his  five  sons  were  all  slain. 

Latitudina'rians.  A sect  of  divines 
in  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  opposed  both 
to  the  High  Church  party  and  to  the 
Puritans.  The  term  is  now  applied  to 
those  who  hold  very  loose  views  of  Divine 
inspiration,  and  what  are  called  orthodox 
doctrines. 

Lato'na.  Mother  of  Apollo  and 
Diana.  When  she  knelt  by  a fountain 
in  Delos,  infants  in  arms,  to  quench  her 
thirst  at  a small  lake,  some  Lycian  clowns 
insulted  her,  and  were  turned  into  frogs. 

As  when  those  hinds  that  were  transformed  to 

frogs 

Railed  at  Latona’s  twin-born  progeny, 

Whioh  after  held  the  sun  and  moon  in  fee. 

Milton^  **  Sonnets.'* 


Latri'a  and  Duli'a.  Greek  words 
adopted  by  the  Roman  Catholics:  the 
former  to  express  that  supreme  reverence 
and  adoration  which  is  offered  to  God 
alone ; and  the  latter,  that  secondary 
reverence  and  adoration  which  is  offered 
to  saints.  {Latvia  is  the  reverence  of  a 
latris  or  hired  servant,  who  receives 
wages ; dulia  is  the  reverence  of  a doulos 
or  slave.) 

Lattice  or  Chequers . A public- 
house  sign,  the  arms  of  Fitz warren,  the 
head  of  which  house,  in  the  days  of  the 
Henries,  was  invested  with  the  power  of 
licensing  the  establishments  of  vintners 
and  publicans.  Houses  licensed  notified 
the  same  by  displaying  the  Fitz  warren 
arms.— TAe  TimeSy  April  29,  1869. 

The  Fitzwarren  arms  were  chequy  or 
and  guleSy  hence  public-houses  and  their 
signs  are  frequently  called  the  ^‘Bed 
Lattice.” 

He  called  me  eyen  now.  my  lord,  through  a red 
IsXiiQQ—Shakespmre,  “ 2 Henry  IF.,”  ii.  2. 

Laudicoeni.  Boman  claqueurs,  wha 
attended  to  applaud  speeches,  plays,  &c. 
(See  Claque.) 

Laughing  Philosopher.  Democ'- 
ritos  of  Ab'dera,  who  viewed  with  su- 
preme contempt  the  feeble  powers  of 
man.  (b.c.  460-357.)  (See  Weeping 
Philosopher.) 

Launce.  The  clownish  serving-man 
of  Proteus,  one  of  the  two  Gentlemen 
of  Verona.  Speed  is  the  serving-man  of 
Valentine,  the  other  gentleman.  Launce 
is  famous  for  his  soliloquies  to  his  dog 
Crab,  ‘‘the  sourest-natured  dog  that 
lives.”  Lord  Dundreary  is  Launce  po- 
lished into  a gentleman. — Shahesgeare, 
“ Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona.^^ 

Launeelot.  (<S€e  Lancelot.) 

Launfal  (Sir).  Steward  of  king  Ar- 
thur. He  so  greatly  disliked  queen 
Gwennere,  daughter  of  Byon,  king  of 
Ireland,  that  h^o  feigned  illness  and 
retired  to  Carlyoun,  where  he  lived  in 
great  poverty.  Having  obtained  the 
loan  of  a horse,  he  rode  into  a forest,  and 
while  he  rested  himself  on  the  grass  two 
damsels  came  to  him,  who  invited  him 
to  rest  in  their  lady’s  bower  hard  by. 
Sir  Launfal  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
fell  in  love  with  the  lady,  whose  name 
was  Tryamour.  Tryamour  gave  the 
knight  an  unfailing  purse,  and  when  he 
left  told  him  if  he  ever  wished  to  see  her 


LAURA. 


LAVOLT. 


499 


all  he  had  to  do  was  to  retire  into  a 
private  room,  and  she  would  instantly  be 
with  him.  Sir  Launfal  now  returned  to 
court,  and  excited  much  attention  by  his 
great  wealth,  but  having  told  G-wennere, 
who  solicited  his  love,  that  she  was  not 
worthy  to  kiss  the  feet  of  his  lady-love, 
the  queen  accused  him  to  Arthur  of  in- 
sulting her  person.  Thereupon  Arthur 
told  him,  unless  he  made  good  his  word 
by  producing  this  paragon  of  women  he 
should  be  burned  alive.  On  the  day 
appointed,  Tryamour  arrived ; Launfal 
was  set  at  liberty,  and  accompanied  his 
mistress  to  the  isle  of  Ole'ron,  and  no 
man  ever  saw  him  more.  — Thomas 
Chestrey  Sir  Laimfal”  (a  metrical 
romance  of  Henry  VI.’ s time). 

Laura— the  name  immortalised  by 
Petrarch — was  either  the’wife  of  Hugues 
de  Sade,  of  Avignon,  or  a fictitious  name 
used  by  him  on  which  to  hang  incidents 
of  his  life  and  love.  If  the  former,  her 
maiden  name  was  Laura  de  Noves. 

Laura.  Beppo’s  wife.  {See  Beppo.) 


Laureate.  Poets  so  called  from  an 
ancient  custom  in  our  universities  of  pre- 
senting a laurel  wreath  to  graduates  in 
rhetoric  and  poetry.  Young  aspirants 
were  wreathed  with  laurels  in  berry  {orne 
de  baies  de  laurier).  Authors  are  still  so 
‘•crowned  ” in  France.  The  poets  lau- 
reate of  the  two  last  centuries  have  been — 


John  Pryden,  167a 
Thomas  Shadwell,  1688. 
Nahum  Tate,  1692. 
Nicholas  Rowe,  1715. 
Laurence  Eusden,  1718. 
Colley  Cibber,  1 730. 
William  Whitehead,  1757. 


Thomas  Warton,  1783. 
Henry  James  Pye,  1790. 
Robert  Southey,  1813. 
William  Wordsworth, 
1844. 

Alfred  Tennyson,  1850. 


Laurel.  The  Greeks  gave  a wreath 
of  laurels  to  the  victor  in  the  Pythian 
games,  but  the  victor  in  the  Olympic 
games  had  a wreath  of  wild  olives,  the 
victor  in  the  Nem'ean  games  a wreath  of 
green  parsley,  and  the  victor  in  the 
Isthmian  games  a wreath  of  dry  parsle}’’ 
or  green  pine-rleaves.  Crown.) 

Laurel.  The  ancients  believed  that 
laurel  communicated  the  spirit  of  pro- 
phecy and  poetry.  Hence  the  custom  of 
crowning  the  pythoness  and  poets,  and 
of  'putting  laurel  leaves  under  one's  pilloio 
to  acquire  inspiration. 

Laurel,  in  modern  times,  is  a symbol 
of  victory  and  peace.  St.  Gudule,  in 
Christian  a/t,  carries  a laurel  crown. 


Laurence  {Friar).  The  Franciscan 
fria,r  who  undertakes  to  marry  Romeo 


and  J uliet.  To  save  Juliet  from  a second 
marriage  he  gives  her  a sleeping  draught, 
and  she  is  carried  to  the  family  vault  as 
dead.  Romeo  finds  her  there,  and  be- 
lieving her  sleep  to  be  the  sleep  of  death, 
kills  himself.  On  waking,  Juliet  dis- 
covers Romeo  dead  at  her  side,  and  kills 
herself  also.  {See  Lawrence.)— >SAa^e- 
sjpeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet.” 

Lavaine',  Sir  (2  syl.).  Brother  of 
Elaine',  and  son  of  the  lord  of  As'tolat. 
He  accompanied  Sir  Lancelot  when  he 
went  incog,  to  tilt  for  the  ninth  diamond. 
He  is  described  as  young,  brave,  and 
a true  knight. — Tennyson,  ^'‘Idylls  of  the 
King  ” {Elaine). 

Lav'ender.  Laid  up  in  lavender,  i.e., 
taken  great  care  of,  laid  away,  as  women 
put  things  away  in  lavender  to  keep  off 
moths.  Things  in  pawn,  or  persons  in 
hiding,  are  said  to  be  in  lavender. 

Lavin'ia.  Daughter  of  Lati'nus,  be- 
trothed to  Turnus,  king  of  the  Ru'tuli. 
When  jEneas  landed  in  Italy,  Latinus 
made  an  alliance  with  the  Trojan  hero, 
and  promised  to  give  him  Lavin'ia  to 
wife.  This  brought  on  a war  between 
Turnus  and  JEneas,  which  was  decided 
by  single  combat,  in  which  .Eneas  was 
victor. — Virgil,  JEneid.” 

Lavinia.  The  daughter  of  Titus  An- 
dron'icus,  bride  of  Bassia'nus,  brother 
of  the  emperor  of  Rome.  Being  grossly 
abused  by  Chiron  and  Demetrius,  sons 
of  Tam'ora,  queen  of  the  Goths,  the 
savage  wantons  cut  off  her  hands  and 
pluck  out  her  tongue,  that  she  may  not 
reveal  their  names.  Lavinia,  guiding  a 
stick  with  her  stumps,  makes  her  tale 
known  to,, her  father  and  brothers ; where- 
upon Titus  murders  the  two  Moorish 
princes  and  serves  their  heads  in  a pasty 
to  their  mother,  whom  he  afterwards  slays, 
together  with  the  emperor  Saturni'nus 
her  husband. — Titus  Andron'icus”  {a 
play  published  'with  those  of  Shakespeare). 

Lavinia.  Italy ; so  called  from 
Lavinia,  daughter  of  Lati'nus  and  wife 
of  .Eneas.  JEneas  built  a town  which 
he  called  Lavin'ium,  capital  of  La'tium. 

Lavin'ia  and  Pale'mon.  A free 
poetical  version  of  Ruth  and  Boaz,  by 
Thomson  in  his  “Autumn.” 

Lavolt  or  Lavolta  (French,  la 
volte).  A lively  dance,  in  which  was  a 
good  deal  of  jumping  or  capering,  whence 
its  name.  Troilus  says,  “ I cannot  sing, 

O G 2 


500 


LAW. 


LAZARISTS. 


nor  heel  the  high  lavolt  ” (iv.  4).  It  is 
thus  described : 

A lofty  jumping  or  a leaping  round. 

Where  arm  in  arm  two  dancers  are  entwined. 

And  whirl  themselves  with  strict  embracements 
bound, 

^nd  still  their  feet  an  anapest  do  sound. 

Sir  John  Davies. 

Law.  To  give  one  law.  A sporting 
term,  meaning  the  chance  of  saving 
oneself.  Thus  a hare  or  a stag  is  allowed  ♦ 
^^law” — i.e.,  a certain  start  before  any 
hound  is  permitted  to  attack  it ; and  a 
tradesman  allowed  law  is  one  to  whom 
time  is  given  to  “ find  his  legs.” 

Quigs  of  law,  called  devices  of 
Cepola,”  from  Bartholomew  Cepola,  whose 
law- quirks  teaching  how  to  elude  the 
most  express  law,  and  to  perpetuate  law- 
suits ad  inf  nil  turn,  have  been  frequently 
reprinted— once  in  octavo,  in  black  letter, 
by  John  Petit,  in  1508. 

The  Man  of  Laives  Tale,  by  Chaucer. 
This  story  is  found  in  Gower,  who  pro- 
bably took  it  from  the  French  chronicle 
of  N icholas  Trivet.  A similar  story  forms 
the  plot  of  Em'are,  a romance  printed  in 
Bitson’s  collection.  The  treason  of  the 
knight  who  murders  Hermengilde  re- 
sembles an  incident  in  the  French  ‘‘Ro- 
man de  la  Violette,”  the  English  metrical 
romance  of  “ Le  bone  Florence  of  Rome” 
{in  Ritson),  and  a tale  in  the  “Gesta 
Romanorum,”  c.  69  (Madden’s  edition). 
(>See  Constance.) 

The  La%vs  of  Howel  Dha,  who  reigned 
in  South  Wales  in  the  tenth  century, 
printed  with  a Latin  translation  by 
Wotton,  in  his  “Leges  Wallicse”  (1841). 

Law’s  Bubble.  The  famous  Mis- 
sissippi scheme,  devised  by  John  Law, 
for  paying  off  the  national  debt  of  France 
(1716-1720).  By  this  “French  South- 
Sea  Bubble”  the  nation  was  almost 
ruined.  It  was  called  Mississippi  because 
the  company  was  granted  the  “exclusive 
trade  of  Louisia'na  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi.” 

Lawn  is  fine  cloth  bleached  on  a 
lawn,  instead  of  the  ordinary  bleaching 
grounds. 

Lawrence  {St.),  Patron  saint  of 
curriers,  because  his  skin  was  broiled  on 
a gridiron.  In  the  pontificate  of  Sextus  I. 
he  -was  charged  with  the  care  of  the  poor, 
the  orphans,  and  the  widows.  In  the 
persecution  of  Vale'rian,  being  summoned 
to  deliver  up  the  treasures  of  the  church, 
he  produced  the  poor,  &c.,  under  his 


charge,  and  said  to  the  praetor,  “ These 
are  the  church’s  treasures.”  In  Christian 
art  he  is  generally  represented  as  holding 
a gridiron  in  his  hand.  He  is  the  subject 
of  one  of  the  principal  hymns  of  Pruden- 
tius.  (See  Laurence.) 

St.  Lawrences  tears  or  The  fiery  tears  of 
St.  Lawrence.  Meteoric  or  shooting  stars, 
which  generally  make  a great  display  on 
this  anniversary  (August  10th).  The 
great  periods  of  this  phenomenon  are 
between  the  9th  and  14th  of  August,  from 
the  12th  to  the  14th  of  November,  and 
from  the  6th  to  the  12th  of  December. 

Tom  Lawrence,  alias  “Tyburn  Tom” 
or  “Tuck.”  A highwayman. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  Heart  of  Mid- Lothian.'' 

Lawsuits.  Miles  d’llliers,  bishop  of 
Chartres  (1459-1493)  was  so  litigious,  that 
when  Louis  XI.  gave  him  a pension  to  clear 
off  old  scores,  and  told  him  in  future  to 
live  in  peace  and  good-will  with  his  neigh- 
bours, the  bishop  earnestly  entreated  the 
king  to  leave  him  some  three  or  four  to 
keep  his  mind  in  good  exercise.  Simi- 
larly Panurge  entreated  Pantag'ruel  not 
to  pay  off  all  his  debts,  but  to  leave  some 
centimes  at  least,  that  he  might  not  feel 
altogether  a stranger  to  his  own  self. — 
Rabelais,  Pantagruel,"  iii.  5.  (See  Lil- 

BURN.) 

Lay-brotbers.  Persons  not  in  holy 
orders  received  into  convents  under  the 
three  vows.  They  belong  to  the  laity. 
(Greek,  loos,  people.) 

Lay  Figures.  Wooden  figures  with 
free  joints,  used  by  artists  chiefly  for  the 
study  of  drapery.  This  is  a metaphorical 
use  of  lay.  As  divines  divide  the  world 
into  two  parties,  the  ecclesiastics  and 
the  laity,  so  artists  divide  their  models 
into  two  classes,  the  living  and  the  lay. 

Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel.  (For 
plot  see  Margaret.) 

Lay^amon,  who  wrote  a translation 
in  Saxon  of  the  “ Brut”  of  Wace,  in  the 
twelfth  century,  is  called  The  English 
Ennius,  Ennius.  ) 

Lazar-bouse  or  Lazaretto.  A house 
for  poor  persons  affected  with  contagious 
diseases.  So  called  from  the  beggar 
Lazarus  (q.v.), 

Laz^arists.  A body  of  missionaries 
founded  by  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  in  1632, 
and  so  termed  from  the  priory  of  St. 
Lazarus,  at  Paris,  which  was  their  head- 
quarters. 


LAZARILLO  DE  TORMES. 


LEADING-STRINGS. 


501 


Lazarillo  de  Tormes  (1553).  A 
comic  romance,  something  in  the  Gil 
Bias”  style,  the  object  being  to  satirise 
all  classes  of  society.  Lazarillo,  a light, 
jovial,  audacious  man-servant,  sees  his 
masters  in  their  undress,  and  exposes 
their  foibles.  This  work  was  written  by 
Diego  Hurtado  de  Mendoza,  general  and 
statesman  of  Spain,  author  of  ‘'War 
against  the  Moors,”  the  best  historical 
production  in  Spain. 

Ijazaro'ne,  plur.  Lazaroni  {Italian). 
The  mob.  Originally  all  those  people  of 
Naples  who  lived  in  the  streets  without 
any  habitation  of  their  own ; so  called 
from  the  hospital  of  St.  Lazarus,  which 
served  as  a refuge  for  the  destitute  of 
that  city.  Every  year  they  elected  a 
chief,  called  the  Capo  Lazzaro.  iMa- 
saniello,  in  1647,  with  these  vagabonds 
accomplished  the  revolution  of  Naples. 
In  1798  Michele  Sforza,  at  the  head  of  the 
Lazaroni,  successfully  resisted  Etienne 
Championnet,  the  French  general. 

Lazarus.  Any  poor  beggar ; so 
called  from  the  Lazarus  of  the  parable, 
who  was  laid  daily  at  the  rich  man’s  gate 
(St.  Luke  xvi.). 

La'zy  means  serfs. 

Dividebantur  anti'qui  Saxo'nes  (ut  testa'tur  Nithar- 
dus)  in  tres  ordln^,  Edhillingos,  Tkilingos  et 
Lazzos  (hoc  est  nohUes  ingen'uos,  et  servi'les)  quam 
et  nos  distinctio'nem  diu  retinuimus.  Sed  Ricardo 
autem  secund'o  pars  servo'rum  max'ima  se  in  liber- 
ta'tem  vindica'vit ; sic  ut  hod'ie  apud  Anglos  rarior 
invenia'tur  servus,  qui  manicip'ium'  di'citur.  Restat 
nihilomen'ius  auti'quae  appellatio'nis  commemora'- 
tio.  Igna'vos  enim  hodie  lazie  diclmus. — Spelman. 

Lazy  as  David  Lawrence's  dog,  that 
leaned  his  head  against  a wall  to  hark. 
In  Yorkshire  they  say  “Lazy  as  Lud- 
lam’s  dog,”  ‘which  is  sanctioned  by  Ray 
in  his  proverbs.  {See  Lazy  Lawrence.) 

Lazy  as  Ludlam's  dog,  which  leaned  his 
head  against  the  wall  to  hark.  This  Lud- 
1am  was  the  famous  sorceress  of  Surrey, 
who  lived  in  a cave  near  Farnham,  called 
“Ludlam’s  Cave.”  She  kept  a dog, 
noted  for  its  laziness,  so  that  when  the 
rustics  came  to  consult  the  witch,  it 
would  hardly  condescend  to  give  notice 
of  their  approach,  even  with  the  ghost 
of  a bark. 

Lazy  Lawrence  of  Lubberland, 
The  hero  of  a popular  tale.  He  served 
the  schoolmaster,  the  squire’s  cook,  the 
farmer,  and  his  own  wife,  which  was  ac- 
counted high  treason  in  Lubberland. 


Lazy-man’s  Load.  One  too  heavy 
to  be  carried ; so  called  because  lazy 
people,  to  save  themselves  the  trouble  of 
coming  a second  time,  are  apt  to  over- 
load themselves. 

Lazzaro'ni.  (See  Lazaroni.  ) 

L’Etat  c’est  Moi  (/  am  the  State). 
The  saying  and  belief  of  Louis  XIV.  On 
this  principle  he  acted  with  tolerable 
consistency. 

Le  Hoi  le  Vent  {French,  The  king 
wills  it).  The  form  of  royal  assent  made 
by  the  clerk  of  parliament  to  bills  sub- 
mitted to  the  crown.  The  dissent  is 
expressed  by  Le  roi  savisera  (The  king, 
will  give  it  his  consideration). 

Le'a.  One  of  the  “daughters  of  men  ” 
beloved  by  one  of  the  “sons  of  God.” 
The  angel  who  loved  her  ranked  with  the 
least  of  the  spirits  of  light,  whose  post 
around  the  throne  was  in  the  uttermost 
circle.  Sent  to  earth  on  a message,  he  saw 
Lea  bathing,  and  fell  in  love  with  her ; 
but  Lea  was  so  heavenly-minded  that 
her  only  wish  was  to  “dwell  in  purity, 
and  serve  God  in  singleness  of  heart.” 
Her  angel  lover,  in  the  madness  of  his 
passion,  told  Lea  the  spell- word  that  gave 
him  admittance  into  heaven.  The  mo- 
ment Lea  uttered  that  word  her  body 
became  spiritual,  rose  through  the  air, 
and  vanished  from  his  sight.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  angel  lost  his  ethereal  nature, 
and  became  altogether  earthy,  like  a 
child  of  clay. — Moore,  Loves  of  the 
Angels f story  i. 

LealDa  na  Peine  {Beds  of  the  Felne), 
The  name  of  several  large  piles  of  stones 
in  Ireland.  The  ancient  Irish  warriors 
were  called  Fe'-i-ne,  which  some  mistake 
for  Phoeni  (Carthaginians),  but  which 
means  hunters',  thus  Nimrod  was  called 
“ a mighty  hunter”  (warrior  or  Fenian). 

Leading  IN’ote  in  music.  The  sharp 
seventh  of  the  diatonic  scale,  which  leads 
to  the  octave,  only  half  a tone  higher. 

Leading  Question.  A question  so 
worded  as  to  suggest  an  answer.  “Was 
he  dressed  in  a black  coat?”  leads  to  the 
answer  “Yes.”  In  cross-examining  Or 
witness,  leading  questions  are  permitted, 
because  the  chief  object  of  a cross- 
examination  is  to  obtain  contradictions. 

Leading-strings.  To  he  in  leading^ 
strings,  is  to  be  under  the  control  of 


502 


LEAF. 


LEARN. 


another.  Leading-strings  are  those 
strings  used  for  holding-up  infants  just 
learning  to  walk. 

Leaf.  Before  the  invention  of  paper, 
one  of  the  substances  employed  for 
writing  was  the  leaves  of  certain  plants. 
In  the  British  Museum  are  some  writings 
on  leaves  from  the  Malabar  coast,  and 
several  copies  of  the  Bible  written  on 
palm-leaves.  The  reverse  and  obverse 
pages  of  a book  are  still  called  leaves ; 
and  the  double  page  of  a ledger  is  termed 
a folio,”  iromfolmm  (a  leaf). 

League.  TheHoly  League  was  founded 
at  P^ronne  in  1576,  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  in  its 
predominancy,  and  the  exclusion  of  Pro- 
testant princes  from  the  throne.  This 
league  was  mainly  due  to  the  Guises. 

Lean'der  (3  syl.).  A young  man  of 
Aby'dos  who  swam  nightly  across  the 
Hellespont  to  visit  his  lady-love.  Hero, 
a priestess  of  Sestos.  One  night  he  was 
drowned  in  his  attempt,  and  Hero  leaped 
into  the  Hellespont  also.  This  story  is 
told  in  one  of  the  poems  of  Musoeus,  en- 
titled ‘‘  Hero  and  Leander.” 

Leandro  the  Fair.  A knight  whose 
adventures  and  exploits  form  a supple- 
mental part  of  the  Spanish  romance 
called  Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  This  part  was 
added  by  Pedro  de  Lujan. 

Leaning  Tower.  The  one  at  Pisa, 
in  Italy,  leans  a little  more  than  six  feet 
in  eighty ; but  at  Caerphilly,  in  Glamor- 
ganshire, there  is  a tower  which  leans 
eleven  feet  in  eighty. 

Leap-year.  Every  year  divisible  by 
four.  Such  years  occur  every  fourth 
year.  In  ordinary  years  the  day  of  the 
month  which  falls  on  Monday  this  year, 
will  fall  on  Tuesday  next  year,  and 
Wednesday  the  year  after ; but  the  fourth 
year  will  leap  over  Thursday  to  Friday. 
This  is  because  a day  is  added  to  Febru- 
ary, which  of  course  affects  every  sub- 
sequent day.  {See  Bissextile.  ) 

The  ladies  propose,  and  if  not  accepted, 
claim  a silk  gown.  St.  Patrick,  having 

driven  the  frogs  out  of  the  bogs,” 
was  walking  along  the  shores  of  Lough 
Neagh,  when’  he  was  accosted  by  St. 
Bridget  in  tears,  and  was  told  that  a 
mutiny  had  broken  out  in  the  nunnery 
over  which  she  presided,  the  ladies  claim- 
ing the  right  of  popping  the  question.” 


St.  Patrick  said  he  would  concede  them 
the  right  every  seventh  year,  when  St. 
Bridget  threw  her  arms  round  his  neck, 
and  exclaimed,  Arrah,  Pathrick,  jewel, 
I daurn’t  go  back  to  the  girls  wid  such  a 
proposal.  Make  it  one  year  in  four.” 
St.  Patrick  replied,  Bridget,  acushla, 
squeeze  me  that  way  agin,  an’  I’ll  give 
ye  leap-year,  the  longest  of  the  lot.”  St. 
Bridget,  upon  this,  popped  the  question 
to  St.  Patrick  himself,  who  of  course  could 
not  marry ; so  he  patched  up  the  diffi- 
culty as  ^st  he  could  with  a kiss  and  a 
silk  gown. 

Lear  {King).  A legendary  king  of 
Britain,  who  in  his  old  age  divided  his 
kingdom  between  Gonerel  and  Regan, 
two  of  his  daughters,  who  professed  great 
love  for  him.  These  two  daughters  drove 
the  old  man  mad  by  their  unnatural 
conduct. — Shakespeare,  King  Leard^ 

Percy,  in  his  '^Reliques  of  Ancient 
English  Poetry,”  has  a ballad  about 
‘‘King  Leir  and  his  Three  Daughters” 
(series  i.,  bk.  2). 

Camden  tells  a similar  story  of  Ina, 
king  of  the  West  Saxons  {see  “ Remains,” 
p.  306,  edition  1674).  The  story  of  king 
Lear  is  given  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
in  his  “Chronicles,”  whence  Holinshed 
transcribed  it.  Spenser  has  introduced 
the  same  story  into  his  “ Faery  Queen,” 
bk.  ii.,  canto  10. 

Learn  (1  syl.).  Live  and  learn. 

Cato,  the  censor,  was  an  old  man  when 
he  taught  himself  Greek. 

Michael  Angelo,  at  seventy  years  of 
age,  said,  “ I am  still  learning.” 

John  Kemble  wrote  out  Hamlet  thirty 
times,  and  said,  on  quitting  the  stage,  “ I 
am  now  beginning  to  understand  my 
art.” 

Mrs.  Siddons,  after  she  left  the  stage, 
was  found  studying  Lady  Macbeth,  and 
said,  “ I am  amazed  to  discover  some 
new  points  in  the  character  which  I never 
found  out  while  acting  it.” 

Milton,  in  his  blindness,  when  past 
fifty,  sat  down  to  complete  his  “ Paradise 
Lost.” 

Scott,  at  fifty-five,  took  up  his  pen  to 
redeem  an  enormous  liability. 

Richardson  was  above  fifty  when  he 
published  his  first  novel  (“Pam'ela”). 

Benjamin  West  was  sixty-four  when 
he  commenced  his  series  of  paintings, 
one  of  which  is  “ Christ  Healing  the 
Sick.” 


LEARNED. 


LEEK. 


503 


Learn  by  heart  The  heart  is  the  seat 
of  understanding;  thus  the  Scripture 
speaks  of  men  ‘‘  wise  in  heart and 
^^slow  of  heart”  means  dull  of  under- 
standing. To  learn  by  heart,  is  to  learn 
and  understand ; to  learn  by  rote,  is  to 
learn  so  as  to  be  able  to  repeat ; to  learn 
by  memory,  is  to  commit  to  memory 
without  reference  to  understanding  what 
is  so  learnt. 

Learned.  Coloman,  king  of  Hun- 
gary, was  called  The  Learned.  (1095- 
1114.)  (See  Beauclerc.) 

The  Lea't'ned Blacksmith.  Elihu  Burritt, 
the  linguist,  who  was  at  one  time  a black- 
smith. 

The  Learned  Paintei'.  Charles  Lebrun  ; 
so  called  from  the  great  accuracy  of  his 
oostumes.  (1619-1690.) 

The  Learnt  Tailor.  Henry  Wild,  of 
Norwich,  who  mastered,  while  he  worked 
at  his  trade,  the  Greek,  Latin,  Hebrew, 
Chaldaic,  Syriac,  Persian,  and  Arabic 
languages.  (1684-1734.) 

Leather  or  Prunello.  It  is  all 
leather  or  prunello.  Nothing  of  any  mo- 
ment, all  rubbish.  Prunello,  or  prunella, 
is  a woollen  stuff,  used  for  the  uppers  of 
ladies’  boots  and  shoes. 

Worth  makes  the  man,  and  want  of  it  the  fellow ; 
The  rest  is  all  but  leather  or  prunello. 

Pope,  “ Essay  on  Man''  iv. 

Leathering.  To  give  one  a leathering 
is  to  beat  him  with  a leather  belt,  such 
as  policemen  wear,  and  boys  used  to 
wear  ; or,  more  probably,  it  is  a corrup- 
tion of  lathering  (Welsh,  llathen,  a rod). 

Leatherstoeking  (Natty).  The 
nickname  of  Natty  Biimppo  (q.v.'),  in 
Cooper’s  novel,  called  ‘^The  Pioneers.” 
A half  savage  and  half  Christian  chevalier 
of  American  wild  life. 

Led  Captain  {A).  An  obsequious 
person,  who  dances  attendance  on  the 
master  and  mistress  of  a house,  for 
which  service  he  has  a knife  and  fork  at 
the  dinner-table.  He  is  led  like  a dog, 
and  always  graced  with  the  title  of 
•captain.  If  led  is  short  for  leddy,  the 
phrase  would  be  analogous  to  our  ‘^lady’s 
man.” 

Leda.  The  mother  of  Castor  and 
Pollux ; their  father  being  Jupiter  in 
the  shape  of  a swan. 

Lee  is  the  Saxon  hleo  (a  shelter). 

Under  the  lee  of  the  land.  Under  the 


shelter  of  the  cliffs  which  break  the  force 
of  the  winds. 

Under  the  lee  of  a ship.  On  the  side 
opposite  to  the  wind,  so  that  the  sidp 
shelters  or  wards  it  off. 

To  lay  a ship  by  the  lee,  is  to  bring  her 
so  that  all  her  sails  may  be  flat  against 
the  masts  and  shrouds,  and  that  the  wind 
may  come  right  on  her  broadside,  so  that 
she  will  make  little  or  no  way. 

Lee  Hatch.  Take  care  of  the  lee 
hatch.  Take  care,  helmsman,  that  the 
ship  goes  not  to  the  leeward  of  her 
course— the  part  towards  which  the 
wind  blows. 

Lee  Shore,  is  the  shore  under  the 
lee  of  a ship,  or  that  towards  which  the 
wind  blows.  (See  Lee.  ) 

Lee-side  and  Weather-side.  The 

lee-side  of  a ship  is  that  farthest  from 
the  point  whence  the  wind  blows;  the 
weather-side  is  the  opposite  part,  viz., 
that  upon  which  the  wind  blows,  or  in 
other  words,  the  part  to  windivard. 

Lee  Tide  or  Leeward  Tide,  is  a tide 
running  in  the  same  direction  as  the 
wind  blows.  A tide  in  the  opposite 
direction  is  called  a tide  under  the  lee. 

Leeward  and  W^indward.  Lee- 
ward is  toward  the  lee,  or  that  part 
towards  which  the  wind  blows  ; windward 
is  in  the  opposite  direction,  viz.,  in  the 
teeth  of  the  wind. 

Leek.  Wearing  the  leek  on  St.  David* s 
day.  Mr.  Brady  says  St.  David  caused  the 
Britons  under  king  Cadwallader  to  dis- 
tinguish themselves  by  a leek  in  their 
caps.  They  conquered  the  Saxons,  and 
recall  their  victory  by  adopting  the  leek 
on  every  anniversary(Marchlst). — Claris 
CalendariaB 

Shakespeare  makes  out  that  the  Welsh 
wore  leeks  at  the  battle  of  Poitiers,  for 
Fluellen  says  : 

If  your  majesty  is  remembered  of  it,  the  Welsh 
men  did  goot  service  in  a garden  where  leeks  did 
grow,  wearing  leeks  in  their  Monmouth  caps,  which 
our  majesty  knows  to  this  hour  is  an  honourable 
adge  of  the  service  ; and  I do  believe  your  majesty 
takes  no  scorn  to  wear  leek  upon  St.  Tavy’s  Day. — 
“ Henry  V.,"  iv.  7. 

To  eat  the  leek.,  To  be  compelled  to  eat 
your  own  words,  or  retract  what  you 
have  said.  Fluellen  (in  Shakespeare’s 

Henry  V.”)  is  taunted  by  Pistol  for 
wearing  a leek  in  his  hat.  Hence,” 
says  Pistol,  ‘^1  am  qualmish  at  the  smell 
of  leek.”  Fluellen  replies,  I peseech 


504 


LEES. 


LEGLINtGIRTH. 


3"ou  ...  at  my  desire  ...  to  eat  this 
leek.”  The  ancient  answers,  ‘'Not  for 
Cadwallader  and  all  his  goats.”  Then 
the  peppery  Welshman  beats  him,  nor 
desists  till  Pistol  has  swallowed  the  en- 
tire abhorrence. 

Lees.  There  are  lees  to  every  wine. 
The  best  things  have  some  defect.  A 
French  proverb. 

Lefevre.  The  poor  lieutenant  whose 
story  is  so  touchingly  told  in  Sterne’s 
“Tristram  Shandy.” 

Left,  unlucky ; Riglit,  lucky.  The 
augur  among  the  Romans  having  taken 
his  stand  on  the  Capit'oline  hill,  and 
marked  out  with  his  wand  the  space  in 
the  heavens  to  be  the  field  of  observation, 
divided  the  space  into  two  from  top  to 
bottom.  If  the  birds  appeared  on  the 
left  side  of  the  division  the  augury  was 
unlucky,  if  on  the  right  side  the  augury 
was  pronounced  to  be  favourable. 

“Hail,  gentle  bird,  turn  thy  wings  and  fly  on  my 
right  hand ! ” but  the  bird  flew  on  the  left  side.  Then 
the  cat  grew  very  heavy,  for  he  knew  the  omen  to 
be  unlucky.— “iley Hard  the  Fox,”  iii. 

The  Lefty  in  the  Legislative  Assembly 
of  France,  meant  the  Girondists  ; it  was 
famous  for  its  orators.  In  the  House  of 
Commons  the  opposition  occupies  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  Speaker.  In  the 
Austrian  Assembly  the  democratic  party 
is  called  The  Left. 

Over  the  left.  A way  of  expressing 
disbelief,  incredulity,  or  a negative.  The 
allusion  is  to  morganatic  marriages 
{q.v.).  When  a woman  so  married  claimed 
to  be  a wedded  wife,  she  was  told  that 
such  was  the  case  “ over  the  left.”  {See 
’below.) 

Left-handed  Marriage.  A mor- 
ganatic marriage  {q.v.).  In  these  mar- 
riages the  husband  gives  his  left  hand  to 
the  bride  instead  of  the  right,  when  he 
says  “ I take  thee  for  my  wedded  wife.” 
George  William,  duke  of  Zell,  married 
Eleanora  d’Esmiers  in  this  way,  and  the 
lady  took  the  name  and  title  of  Lady  of 
Harburg;  her  daughter  was  Sophia 
Dorothe'a,  the  wife  of  George  I. 

Leg  (A),  that  is,  a blackleg  {q.v.). 

To  make  a leg,  is  to  make  a bow. 

The  pursuivant  smiled  at  their  simplicitye, 

And  making  mauy  leggs,  tooke  their  reward. 

‘‘  The  King  and  Miller  of  Mansfield.” 

Leg-bail — i.e. , to  cut  and  run. 


Legend  means  simply  “ something 
to  be  read”  as  part  of  the  divine  service. 
The  narratives  of  the  lives  of  saints  and 
martyrs  were  so  termed  from  their  being 
read,  especially  at  matins,  and  after  din- 
ner in  the  refectories.  Exaggeration  and 
a love  for  the  wonderful  so  predominated 
in  these  readings,  that  the  word  came  to 
signify  the  untrue,  or  rather,  an  event 
based  on  tradition. 

Legend  of  Pierce  Gaveston.  A poem  of 
702  lines,  by  Michael  Drayton. 

Legend  of  Polio,  Duke  of  Normandy. 
A poem  of  about  940  lines,  by  Michael 
Drayton. 

Legen'daAu'rea,by  Jacob  de  Vora- 
gine.  A collection  of  monkish  legends 
in  Latin. 

Leger.  St.  Leger  Stakes  (Doncaster) ; 
so  called  from  colonel  Anthony  St.  Leger, 
who  founded  them  in  1776.  The  colonel 
was  governor  of  St.  Lucia,  and  cousin  of 
the  Hon.  Elizabeth  St.  Leger  (the  lady 
Freemason). 

Legion.  My  name  is  Legion,  for  we 
are  many  (St.  Mark  v.  9) . A proverbial 
expression  somewhat  similar  to  hydra- 
headed. Thus,  speaking  of  the  houseless 
poor  we  should  say,  ‘ ‘ Their  name  is 
Legion;”  so  also  we  should  say  of  the 
diseases  arising  from  want  of  cleanliness, 
the  evils  of  ignorance,  and  so  on. 

Legion  of  Honour.  An  order  of  merit 
instituted  by  the  First  Consul  in  1802^ 
for  either  military  or  civil  merit.  In 
1843  there  were  49,417  members,  but 
in  1851  one  new  member  was  elected  for 
every  two  extinct  ones,  so  that  the  honour 
is  no  longer  a mere  farce. 

The  Thundering  Legion.  The  Roman, 
legion  that  discomfited  the  Marcomanni 
in  179  is  so  called,  because  (as  the  legend 
informs  us)  a thunder-storm  was  sent  in 
answer  to  the  prayers  of  certain  Chris- 
tians. This  storm  relieved  the  thirst  of 
the  legion  like  that  which  was  sent  to 
the  aid  of  Joshua  after  he  commanded 
the  sun  to  stay  its  course,  and  assisted 
them  to  their  victory. — Dion.  Cassius, 
Ixxi.  8. 

Legislator  or  Solon  of  Parnas- 
sus. Boileau  was  so  called  by  Voltaire, 
because  of  his  “ Art  of  Poetry,”  a pro- 
duction unequalled  in  the  whole  range  of 
didactic  poetry.  (1636-1711.) 

Leglin-girth.  To  cast  a leglin-girilo 
To  have  “a  screw  loose  to  have  oaade 


LEGKEE. 


LEONAR®. 


505 


fi  faux  pas;  to  have  one’s  reputation 
blown  upon.  A leglin-girth  is  the  lowest 
hoop  of  a leglin  or  milk-pail.  {See  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  “Fortunes  of  Nigel,”  ch. 
xxii. ) 

Legree.  A slave-dealer  in  “Uncle 
Tom’s  Cabin,”  by  Mrs.  Beecher  Stowe. 

Leicester  is  the  camp-town  on  the 
river  Leire,  now  called  the  Soar. 

Leicester  Square  {London).  So 
called  from  a family  mansion  of  the  Syd- 
neys, earls  of  Leicester,  which  stood  on 
the  north-east  side. 

The  earl  of  Leicester,  father  of  Algernon  Sidney 
the  patriot....  built  for  himself  a stately  house  at 
the  north-east  corner  of  a square  plot  of  “Lammas 
Land,”  belonging  to  the  parish  of  St.  Martin’s,  which 
plot  henceforth  became  known  to  Londoners  as 
Leicester  Fields.  A square  gradually  grew  up  on 
the  spot,  and  was  completed  in  1671.—  Casseirs  Ma- 
gazine,*'London  Legends;’  xi. 

Leigh.  (-4  wrora).  The  heroine  of  Mrs. 
Browning’s  poem  so  called,  designed  to 
show  the  noble  aim  of  true  art. 

Leilah  {Li-lali).  A beautiful  young 
slave,  the  concubine  of  Hassan,  caliph  of 
the  Ottoman  empire.  She  falls  in  love 
with  the  Giaour,  flees  from  the  seraglio, 
is  overtaken  by  an  emir,  put  to  death, 
and  cast  into  the  sea. — Byron,  The 
Giaour.''^ 

Lely  {Sir  Peter),  the  painter,  was  the 
son  of  Vander  Vaas  or  Faes,  of  West- 
phalia, whose  house  had  a lily  for  its  sign. 
Both  father  and  son  went  by  the  nick- 
name of  Le-lys  (the  Lily),  a sobriquet 
which  Peter  adopted  as  his  cognomen. 

Le'man  {Lake).  Geneva;  called  in 
Latin  Lemannus. 

Lake  Leman  woos  me  with  its  crystal  face. 

Lord  Byron,  “ Childe  Harold,’*  iii.  68. 

Leni'niaii.  A Lemnian  act.  One 
of  unusual  barbarity  and  cruelty.  The 
phrase  arose  from  two  horrible  massacres 
perpetrated  by  the  Lemnians  : The  first 
wa  s the  murder  of  all  the  men  and  male 
children  on  the  island  by  the  women ; 
and  the  other  was  the  murder  by  the 
men  of  all  the  children  in  the  island  born 
of  Athenian  parents. 

Lem'nian  Earth.  A species  of 
earth  of  a yellowish-grey  colour,  found 
in  the  island  of  Lemnos,  said  to  cure 
the  bites  of  serpents  and  other  wounds. 
It  was  called  terra  sigilla'ta,  because 
it  was  sealed  by  the  priest  before  being 
vended.  Philocte'tes  was  left  at  Lemnos 
when  wounded  in  the  foot  by  Hercules. 


Lem'ures.  The  spirits  of  the  dead. 
Good  lem'ures  were  called  Lares,  but 
bad  ones  Larvae,  spectres  who  wandered 
about  at  night-time  to  terrify  the  living. 
Milton  makes  Lares  one  syllable,  and 
Lemures  two  syllables. — Ovid,  Fasti,'*  v. 

Th«  lars  and  lemures  moan  with  midnight  plaint. 

Milton,  “ Ode  on  the  Nativity." 

Length  {A).  Forty- two  lines.  This 
is  a theatrical  term;  an  actor  says  ho* 
has  one,  two,  or  more  lengths  in  his  part ; 
and  if  written  out  for  him,  the  scribe- 
is  paid  by  the  length. 

Length-month.  {See  Lent.) 

Lens  {Latin,  a lentil  or  bean).  Glasses 
used  in  mathematical  instruments  are  so  • 
called  because  the  double  convex  one, 
which  may  be  termed  the  perfect  lens, 
is  of  a bean  shape. 

Lenson.  As  much  akin,  as  Lensoi^ 
hill  to  Pilsen  pin — i.e.,  not  at  all.  Lenson 
and  Pilsen  are  two  high  hills  in  Dorset- 
shire, called  by  sailors  the  Cow  and  Calf. 
Out  at  sea  they  look  like  one  elevation, 
though  in  reality  several  hills  separate 
them. 

Lent  is  from  Lenet.  Lencten-ti'd 
(spring-tide)  was  the  Saxon  name  foi 
March,  because  in  this  month  there  is  a 
manifest  lengthening  of  the  days.  As 
the  chief  part  of  the  great  fast  falls  in 
March,  this  period  of  fast  received  the 
name  of  the  Lencten-fce  'sten,  or  Lent. 

Lenten.  Frugal,  stinted,  as  food  in^ 
Lent.  Shakespeare  has  “lenten  enter- 
tainment” (“Hamlet,”  ii.  2)  ; “a  lenten 
answer”  (“Twelfth  Night,”  i.  5)  ; “a 
lenten  pye”  (“Romeo  and  Juliet,”  ii.  4). 

Le'on  (in  “Orlando  Furioso”),  son  of 
Constantine,  the  Greek  emperor,  is  pro- 
mised Bradamant  in  marriage  by  her 
parents,  Amon  and  Beatrice ; but  Brad- 
amant loves  Roge'ro.  By-and-by  a 
friendship  springs  up  between  Leon  and 
Rogero,  and  when  the  prince  learns  that 
Bradamant  and  Roge'ro  are  betrothed  to 
each  other,  he  nobly  withdraws  his  suit, 
and  Rogero  is  married  to  the  lady  of  his 
affection. 

Leonard.  A real  scholar,  forced  for 
daily  bread  to  keep  a common  school. — 
Crabbe,  “ Borough,"  letter  xxiv. 

St.  Leonoird  is  usually  represented  in  a 
deacon’s  dress,  and  holding  chains  or 
broken  fetters  in  his  hand,  in  allusion  to 


506 


LEONIDAS. 


LEOPARD. 


liis  untiring  zeal  in  releasing  prisoners. 
'Contemporary  with  Clovis. 

Leon'idas  of  Modern  Grreece. 
Marcos  Bozzaris,  who  with  1,200  men  put 
to  rout  4,000  Turco- Albanians,  at  Ker- 
penisi,  but  was  killed  in  the  attack  (1823). 
He  was  buried  at  Mesolonghi. 

Le'onine  Contract.  A one-sided 
agreement,  so  called  in  allusion  to  the 
Fable  of  ^^The  Lion  and  his  Fellow- 
Hunters.”  Glauous.) 

Le'onine  Verses.  Verses  in  which 
the  middle  word  rhymes  with  the  end 
one ; so  called  from  the  inventor  Leoni'nus, 
a canon  of  the  church  of  St.  Victor,  in 
Paris,  in  the  twelfth  century. 

Ki  fallat  fntum,  Scoti,  quocunque  locatum 
Jnvenient  lapidem,  rcgnare  tenentur  ibidem; 
Gloria  factor um  conceditur  honorum. 

If  true  the  fate  thy  bards  relate. 

Where  bides  this  stane,  Scotch  kings  shall  reign ; 

Whose  deeds  of  glory  shall  live  in  story. 

One  of  the  most  noted  specimens  of 
Leonine  verse  celebrates  the  tale  of  a 
Jew,  who  fell  into  a pit  on  Saturday  and 
refused  to  be  helped  out  because  it  was 
his  Sabbath.  His  comrade,  being  a 
Christian,  refused  to  aid  him  the  day 
following,  because  it  was  Sunday : — 

Tende  manus,  Salomon,  ego  te  de  stercore  collam. 
Sabbata  nostra  colo,  de  stercore  nolo. 

Sabbata  nostra  quidem  Salomon  celebrabis  ibidem. 

“Your  hand,”  cried  John  Bull,  “and  I’ll  give  you 
a pull.” 

“’Tis  our  Sabbath,  dear  John,  when  no  work  must 
be  done.” 

“As  mine  is  on  Sunday,  you  must  stay  there  till 
Monday.” 

Leonnoys,  Leonnesse^  or  Lyonnesse. 
A mythical  country,  contiguous  to  Corn- 
wall. 

Leono'ra,  wife  of  Fernando  Flores- 
tan,  a state  prisoner  in  Seville,  in  order 
to  aid  his  release,  assumed  the  attire  of  a 
man  and  the  name  of  Fide'lio.  She  en- 
ters the  service  of  Rocco  the  jailor,  and 
Marcellina  the  jailor’s  daughter  falls  in 
love  with  her.  Pizarro,  governor  of  the 
prison,  being  resolved  to  murder  Fer- 
nando, sends  Rocco  and  Fidelio  to  dig 
his  grave  in  his  cell.  Pizarro  descends 
to  accomplish  his  nefarious  purpose,  when 
Leonora  draws  a pistol  and  intercepts 
him.  At  this  moment  the  minister  of 
state  arrives,  and  orders  the  prisoner  to 
be  released.  Leonora  is  allowed  to  un- 
lock the  chains  of  her  husband,  and  the 
revenge  of  Pizarro  is  toiledi.—  Beethoven, 

Fidelio'^  i<in  opera). 


Leonora.  A princess  who  falls  in  love 
with  Manri'co,  the  supposed  son  of 
Azucen'a  the  gipsey.  The  conte  di  Luna 
is  in  love  with  her,  and  happening  to  get 
Manri'co  and  his  reputed  mother  into  his 
power,  condemns  them  to  death . Leonora 
intercedes  for  Manrico,  and  promises  the 
count  if  he  will  spare  his  life  to  ‘^give 
herself  to  him.”  The  count  consents,  and 
goes  to  the  prison  to  fulfil  his  promise, 
when  Leonora  falls  dead  from  the  effect 
of  poison  which  she  has  sucked,  from  a 
ring.  Manrico,  perceiving  this,  dies  also. 
— Verdi,  II  Trovatore^'  (an  opera). 

Leono'ra  de  Guzman.  The  mistress  or 

favourite”  of  Alfonso  XI.  of  Castile. 
Ferdinando,  not  knowing  who  she  was, 
fell  in  love  with  her  ; and  Alfonso,  to  save 
himself  from  excommunication  and  re- 
ward Ferdinando  for  services,  gave  them 
in  marriage  to  each  other.  No  sooner  was 
this  done  than  the  bridegroom,  hearing 
who  his  bride  was,  indignantly  rejected 
her  and  became  a monk.  Leonora 
entered  the  same  monastery  as  a novice, 
made  herself  known  to  Ferdinando,  ob- 
tained his  forgiveness,  and  died. — Doni- 
zetti, La  Favorita”  {an  opera)^ 

Leon'tes  (3  syl. ),  king  of  Sicilia,  in- 
vited his  friend  Polix'enes,  king  of 
Bohemia,  to  pay  him  a visit,  and  being 
seized  with  jealousy,  ordered  Camillo  to 
poison  him.  Camillo  told  Polixenes  of 
the  king’s  jealousy,  and  fled  with  him  to 
Bohemia.  The  flight  of  Polixenes  in- 
creased the  anger  of  Leontes  against  Her- 
mi'one,  his  virtuous  queen,  whom  he  sent 
to  prison,  where  she  was  confined  of  a 
daughter  (Per'dita),  and  it  was  reported 
that  she  had  died  in  giving  birth  to  the 
child.  Per'dita,  by  order  of  the  jealous 
king,  was  put  away  that  she  might  be 
no  more  heard  of  as  his ; but  being 
abandoned  in  Bohemia,  she  was  dis- 
covered by  a shepherd,  who  brought 
her  up  as  his  own  child.  In  time, 
Florizel,  the  son  and  heir  of  Polixenes, 
under  the  assumed  name  of  Doricles,  fell 
in  love  with  Perdita ; but  Polixenes,  hear- 
ing of  this  attachment,  sternly  forbade 
the  match.  The  two  lovers,  under  the 
charge  of  Camillo,  fled  to  Sicily,  where 
the  mystery  was  cleared  up,  and  all 
^^went  merry  as  a marriage  bell.” — 
Shakespeare,  Winter'* s Tale.” 

Leopard,  in  Christian  art,  is  em- 
ployed to  represent  that  beast  spoken  of 
in  the  Apocalypse  with  seven  heads  and 


LEPOLEMO. 


LETTER  OF  CREDIT.  507 


ten  horns  ; six  of  the  horns  are  nimhed, 
but  the  seventh  being  wounded  to 
death”  has  lost  its  power,  and  conse- 
quently has  no  nimbus. 

Leopardy  in  heraldry,  represents  those 
brave  and  generous  warriors  who  have 
performed  some  bold  enterprise  with 
force,  courage,  promptitude,  and  activity. 

Leopards.  So  the  French  designate 
the  English,  because  their  heralds 
describe  our  device  as  a lion  leoparde. 
Bertrand  du  Guesclin,  the  famous  Breton, 
declared  that  men  “devoyent  bien 
honorer  la  noble  Fleur-de-lis,  plus  qu’ils 
ne  faisaient  le  f^lon  Li^pard.” 

LepoTeniO.  A knight  whose  adven- 
tures and  exploits  form  a supplemental 
part  to  the  Spanish  romance  called 
‘^Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  This  part  was 
added  by  Pedro  de  Lujan. 

LeporelTo.  The  valet  of  Don  Gio- 
vanni, in  Mozart’s  opera  of  “ Don 
Giovanni.” 

Lerna.  A Lerna  of  ills  (malo'rum 
Lerna).  A very  great  evil.  Lake  Lerna 
is  where  Hercules  destroyed  the  hydra 
which  did  incalculable  evil  to  Argos. 

Spain  was  a Lerua  of  ills  to  all  Europe,  while 
it  aspired  to  universal  monarchy.— P.  MotteauXt 
Preface  to  Rabelais.’* 

Les  Anguilles  de  Melun.  Crying 
out  before  you  are  hurt.  When  the 
Mystery  of  St.  Bartholomew  was  per- 
formed at  Melun,  one  Languille  took  the 
character  of  the  saint,  but  when  the  ex- 
ecutioner came  to  flay  him  alive,”  got 
nervous  and  began  to  shriek  in  earnest. 
The  audience  were  in  hysterics  at  the  fun, 
and  shouted  out,  ^‘Languille  crie  avant 
qu'on  Vecorclief  and  ^‘Les  anguilles  do 
Melun  ” passed  into  a French  proverb. 

Les'bian  Poets  {The).  Terpan'der, 
Alcse'us,  Ari'on,  and  the  poetess  Sappho, 
all  of  Lesbos. 

Les'sian  Diet.  Great  abstinence  ; 
so  called  from  Lessius,  a physician  who 
prescribed  very  stringent  rules  for  diet. 

Let  US  Eat  and  Drink,  for  to-mor- 
row we  shall  Die  (Isa.  xxii.  13).  The 
Egyptians  in  their  banquets  exhibited  a 
skeleton  to  the  guests,  to  remind  them 
of  the  brevity  of  human  life,  saying  as 
they  did  so,  *'Let  us  eat  and  drink,  for 
to-morrow  we  die.” 

Le'the  (2  syl.),  in  Greek  mytholo^, 
is  one  of  the  rivers  of  Hades,  which 


the  souls  of  all  the  dead  are  obliged  to 
taste,  that  they  may  forget  everything 
said  and  done  in  the  earthen  which  they 
lived. 

Letters.  Their  proportionate  use 
is  as  follows : — 


E . 

. 1,000 

H .. 

. 540 

P .. 

. 23» 

T . 

. 770 

R ., 

. 528 

W .. 

. 190 

A . 

. 728 

D . 

. 392 

Y .. 

. 184 

I . 

. 704 

L . 

. 360 

P .. 

. 168 

S . 

680 

U . 

. 296 

Q .. 

. 108 

o . 

672 

C 

. 280 

B .. 

158 

N . 

. 670 

M . 

. 272 

V .. 

. 120 

Consonants,  5,977.  V owels,  3,400. 


As  initial  letters  the  order  is  very  dif- 
ferent, the  proportion  being — 


S . 

. 1,194 

M . 

..  439 

w . 

. 2721  Q .. 

c . 

. 937 

P . 

. 888 

G . 

266  1 K .. 

p . 

. 804 

I 

..  377 

U . 

..  228  1 Y .. 

A . 

. 574 

E , 

,.  340 

0 , 

203  i Z 

T . 

. 571 

H . 

,.  308 

V . 

..  172  X .. 

J>  . 

..  505 

L . 

..  298 

N , 

..  153! 

B . 

..  463 

R , 

..  291 

J . 

..  69  i 

Letters.  Philo  affirms  that  letters  were 
invented  by  Abraham. 

Many  attribute  the  invention  to  Bada- 
manth,  the  Assyrian. 

Blair  says  they  were  invented  by 
Memnon,  the  Egyptian,  B.C.  1822. 

The  same  authority  says  that  Menes 
invented  hieroglyphics,  and  wrote  in  them 
a history  of  Egypt,  B.C.  2122. 

J osephus  asserts  that  he  had  seen  in- 
scriptions by  Seth,  son  of  Adam. 

Lucan  says— 

Phoeni'ces  primi,  famas  si  credltur,  ausi 

Mansu'ram  ru' dibus  vocem  signa're  figu'ris. 

“ Pharsalia^'*  iii.  220. 

Sir  Richard  Phillips  says— ‘^Thoth, 
the  Egyptian  who  invented  current  writ- 
ing, lived  between  B.C.  2806  and  3000.” 

Many  maintain  that  Jehovah  taught 
men  written  characters  when  he  inscribed 
on  stone  the  ten  commandments.  Of 
course  all  these  assertions  have  a similar 
value  to  mythology  and  fable. 

Father  of  Letters  (Pere  des  Lettres). 
Francois  I.  of  France.  (1494-1547.) 

Lorenzo  de’  Medici,  the  MagnificenL 
(1448-1192.) 

Letters  Patent.  So  denominated 
because  they  are  written  upon  open  sheets 
of  parchment,  with  the  seal  of  the  sove- 
reign or  party  by  whom  they  were  issued 
pendent  at  the  bottom.  Close  letters 
are  folded  up  and  sealed  on  the  outside. 
— Sir  Thomas  Duffus  Hardy. 

Letter  of  Credit.  A letter  written 
by  a merchant  or  banker  to  another,  re- 
questing him  to  credit  the  bearer  with 


508  LETTER  OF  MARQUE. 


LEWD. 


certain  sums  of  money.  Circular  notes 
are  letters  of  credit  carried  by  gentlemen 
wlien  they  travel. 

Letter  of  Marque.  A commission 
authorising  a privateer  to  make  reprisals 
on  a hostile  nation  till  satisfaction  for 
injury  has  been  duly  made.  Called 
marque  because  the  persons  to  whom 
they  are  given  may  sell  or  bring  to 
market  all  the  spoil  they  take,  and  keep 
the  proceeds  for  their  own  use. 

Lettre  de  Cacliet  {French).  An 
arbitrary  warrant  of  imprisonment ; a 
letter  folded  and  sealed  with  the  king’s 
cachet  or  little  seal.  These  were  secret  in- 
structions to  the  person  addressed  to  pro- 
ceed against  some  one  named  in  the  letter. 
The  lieutenant-general  of  police  kept  an 
unlimited  number  of  these  instruments, 
and  any  one,  for  a consideration,  could 
obtain  one,  either  to  conceal  a criminal,  or 
to  incarcerate  some  one  obnoxious.  This 
power  was  abolished  in  the  Revolution. 

Lettre  de  Jerusalem.  A letter 
written  to  extort  money.  {See  Vidocq, 
‘^Les  Voleurs,”  i.  240-253.) 

Leuea'dia  or  Leucas.  The  pro- 
montory from  which  desponding  lovers 
threw  themselves  into  the  sea.  Sappho 
threw  herself  from  this  rock  into  the  sea, 
when  she  found  her  love  for  Phaon  was 
in  vain. 

Thence  injured  lovers,  leaping  from  above. 

Their  flames  extinguish,  and  forget  to  love. 

Fope,  **  Sappho  to  Fhaon.” 

Leucippus  (Greek,  Leukippos), 
Founder  of  the  Atomistic  school  of  Greek 
philosophy  (about  B.c.  428). 

Leucotli'ea  {White  Goddess).  So 
Ino  was  called  after  she  became  a sea- 
nymph.  Her  son  Palaemon,  called  by 
the  Romans  Portu'nus,  was  the  protecting 
genius  of  harbours. 

Levant'.  He  has  levan'ted—i.e.,  made 
off,  decamped.  A levan'ter  is  one  who 
makes  a bet,  and  runs  away  without 
paying  his  bet  if  he  loses.  (Saxon,  Idefan, 
to  lea\e.) 

Lev'ant  and  Couchant.  Applied 
to  cattle  which  have  strayed  into  another’s 
field,  and  have  been  there  long  enough 
to  lie  down  and  sleep. 

Levee.  Levee  en  masse  (French).  A 
patriotic  rising  of  a whole  nation  to 
defend  their  country  from  invasion. 

The  Queen's  Levee.  It  was  customary 


for  the  queens  of  France  to  receive  at 
the  hour  of  their  levde  — i.e.,  while 
making  their  toilet — the  visits  of  certain 
noblemen.  This  custom  was  afterwards 
demanded  as  a right  by  the  court 
physicians,  messengers  from  the  king, 
the  queen’s  secretary,  and  some  few 
other  gentlemen,  so  that  ten  or  more 
persons  were  often  in  the  dressing-room 
while  the  queen  was  making  her  toilet 
and  sipping  her  coffee.  The  word  is  now 
used  to  express  that  concourse  of  gen- 
tlemen who  wait  on  the  Queen  on 
mornings  appointed.  No  ladies  except 
those  attached  to  the  court  are  present 
on  these  occasions. 

Lev'ellers.  Radicals  in  the  time  of 
Charles  I.  and  the  Commonwealth,  who 
wanted  all  men  to  be  placed  on  a level 
with  respect  to  their  eligibility  to  office. 
Ireton  was  a leveller.  {See  Lilburne.  ) 

Le velliu  g-up . Raising  the  lower  to 
the  higher  level.  The  expression  was  first 
employed  by  lord  Mayo  when  opposing 
Mr.  Gladstone’s  proposition  to  abolish 
the  Church  Establishment  of  Ireland. 
Lord  Mayo  meant  by  it  that  the  tory  go- 
vernment wished  to  endow  the  Roman 
Catholics  and  Dissenters  as  the  Church 
of  England  was  endowed,  and  not  to* 
disendow  the  Church  of  England,  and 
lower  it  to  the  condition  of  other  religious 
communities  in  Ireland.  (1868.) 

Lev'eret.  The  duke  d’Epernon  al- 
ways swooned  at  the  sight  of  a leveret^ 
though  he  was  not  affected  if  he  saw  a 
hare.  {See  Fox.) 

Levi'athan.  The  crocodile,  or  some 
extinct  sea-monster,  described  in  the 
Book  of  Job  (chap.  xli.).  It  sometimes 
in  Scripture  designates  Pharaoh,  king  of 
Egypt,  as  in  Psa.  Ixxiv.  14 ; Isa.  xxvii.  1 ; 
and  Ezek.  xxix.  3,  &c.,  where  the  word 
is  translated  dragon.” 

The  Leviathan  of  literature.  Dr. 
Johnson.  (1709-1784.) 

Levit'ical.  Belonging  to  the  Levites 
or  priestly  tribe  of  Levi  ; pertaining  to 
the  Jewish  priesthood,  as  the  Levitical 
laWf  Levitical  rites. 

Lewd  (Saxon,  leo'de)  simply  means 
the  laity.  This  word  carries  with  it  a com- 
ment on  the  old  ecclesiastical  notion  of 
the  virtue  of  celibacy.  The  clergy  were 
bound  to  celibacy,  not  so  the  laity,  hence 
the  clergy  were  the  '^chaste  men,” 

! the  laity  the  lewd  or  wanton  ones.” 


LEWIS, 


LIBRARY. 


509 


Lewis  (Monk).  {See  Monk.) 

Lewis  Baboon.  Louis  XIV.  of 
France  is  so  called  in  Arbuthnot’s  ‘‘  His- 
tory of  John  Bull.” 

Lex  non  scripta.  The  common 
law  as  distinguished  from  the  statute  or 
written  law.  Common  law  does  not 
derive  its  force  from  being  recorded,  and 
though  its  several  provisions  have  been 
compiled  and  printed,  the  compilations 
are  not  statutes,  but  simply  remem- 
brancers. 

Lex  Talio'nis  {Latin).  Tit  for  tat ; 
the  law  of  retaliation. 

Leyden  Jar  or  Phial.  A glass 
"^^essel  partly  coated,  inside  and  out,  with 
lead-foil,  and  used  in  electrical  experi- 
ments to  receive  accumulated  electricity  ; 
invented  by  Vanleigh,  of  Leyden,  in  the 
.Netherlands. 

Liak'ura  (3  syl.).  Parnassus. 

But  where  is  he  that  hath  beheld 
The  peak  of  Liakura  unveiled. 

Byron^**^  Ihe  Giaour.*' 

Liar  {The).  A1  Aswad,  who  set  him- 
self up  as  a prophet  against  Mahomet, 
and  for  four  months  met  with  great  suc- 
cess. He  was  called  the  Weather-coch 
because  he  changed  his  creed  so  often, 
the  Impostor,  and  the  Liar. 

Moseilma,  another  contemporary,  who 
affirmed  that  the  belly  is  the  seat  of 
the  soul.”  He  wrote  to  Mahomet,  and 
began  his  letter : ‘‘  From  Moseilma 
prophet  of  Allah,  to  Mahomet  prophet 
of  Allah,”  and  received  for  answer  a 
letter  beginning  thus : From  Mahomet 
the  prophet  of  God,  to  Moseilma  the 
Liar.” 

Prince  of  Liars.  Ferdinand  Mendez 
Pinto,  a Portuguese  traveller,  whose 
narrative  partakes  so  much  of  the  Mun- 
chausen character,  that  Cervantes  dubbed 
bim  'Hhe  Prince  of  Liars.”  He  is  alluded 
to  in  the  Tatler”  as  a man  of  infinite 
adventure  and  unbounded  imagination.” 

Li'bol  means  a little  hooh  (Latin, 
lihelliLs).  A lampoon,  a satire,  or  any 
defamatory  writing.  Originally  it  meant 
a plaintiffs  statement  of  his  case ; but 
as  these  statements  defame”  the  de- 
fendant, the  word  lapsed  to  its  present 
usage. 

Li'ber  Albus  (Latin,  the  White  Booh). 
An  ancient  book  containing  the  laws  and 
customs  of  the  city  of  London.  Printed 


under  the  direction  of  the  Master  of  the 
Rolls. 

Li'ber  !N*iger  or  The  Black  Booh  of 
{he  Exchequer,  compiled  by  Gervase  of 
Tilbury. 

Lib'erals.  A political  term  first  em- 
ployed when  lord  Byron  and  his  friends 
set  on  foot  the  periodical  called  The 
Liberal,”  to  represent  their  views  in 
politics,  religion,  and  literature. 

Liberal  Arts.  Book-learning  (Latin, 
liber) ; viz..  Grammar,  Rhetoric,  Philo- 
sophy, Arithmetic,  Geometry,  Astronomy, 
and  Music. 

Lingua,  Tropus,  Batio,  Numerus,  Tonus,  An- 

gulus,  Astra. 

Lib'erator  ( The).  The  Pemvians  so 
call  Simon  Bolivar,  who  established  the 
independence  of  Peru.  (1785-1831.) 

Lib'ertines.  A sect  of  heretics  in 
Holland,  led  by  Quinton  a factor,  and 
Copin.  They  maintained  that  nothing 
is  sinful  but  to  those  who  think  it  sin- 
ful, and  that  perfect  innocence  is  to  live 
without  doubt. 

Liberty  means  balance  of  power.” 
(Latin,  libra,  a balance. ) 

Cap  of  liberty.  The  goddess  of  liberty, 
in  the  Aventine  Mount,  was  represented 
as  holding  in  her  hand  a cap,  the  symbol 
of  freedom.  In  France,  the  Jacobins 
wore  a red  cap ; in  England,  a blue  cap 
with  a white  border  is  the  symbol  of 
liberty,  and  Britannia  is  sometimes  re- 
presented as  holding  such  a cap  on  the 
point  of  her  spear.  {See  Cap.) 

Libissa.  Queen  of  the  fairies. 

^ Li'bra  {the  balance).  One  of  the  twelve 
signs  of  the  Zodiac  (September  23rd  to 
October  23rd),  when  day  and  night 
being  weighed  would  be  found  equal. 

Li'brary.  One  of  the  most  approved 
materials  for  writing  on,  before  the  in- 
vention of  paper,  was  the  thin  rind 
between  the  solid  wood  and  the  outside 
bark  of  certain  trees.  This  substance  is 
in  Latin  called  liber,  which  came  in  time 
to  signify  also  a book.”  Hence  our 
library,  the  place  for  books;  librarian, 
the  keeper  of  books;  and  the  French 
livre,  a book. 

A livinq  or  walhinq  library.  Longi'nus, 
the  nhilosopher  and  rhetorician,  was  so 
called.  (213-273.) 


510 


LIBYA. 


LIE. 


Public  libraries. 

^ Ancient.  That  of  Alexandria,  founded 
by  the  Ptolemies,  and  destroyed  by  the 
Arabs  a.D.  641. 

The  first  public  library  of  Rome  was 
founded  by  Asfinus  Polio ; the  second, 
called  the  Palatine,  by  Augustus. 

The  royal  library  of  the  Fatimites  of 
Egypt  contained  100,000  manuscripts, 
splendidly  bound. — Gibbon. 

The  library  of  the  Ommiades  of  Spain 
contained  600,000  volumes,  44  of  which 
were  catalogues. — Gibbon. 

There  were  seventy  public  libraries  in 
the  kingdom  of  Andalu'sia. — Gibbon, 

When  the  monastery  of  Croydon  was 
burnt,  in  1091,  its  library  consisted  of 
900  volumes,  300  of  which  were  very 
large.  — Ingul'plms. 

Modern.  The  British  Museum  con- 
tains 89,000  manuscripts,  and  about 

900.000  volumes  (some  40,000  additions 
are  made  annually). 

The  Imperiale,  France,  about  600,000 
books,  500,000  pamphlets,  and  85,000 
manuscripts. 

The  Munich,  about  500,000  books  and 

10.000  manuscripts. 

The  Vienna,  about  400,000  books  and 

20.000  manuscripts. 

The  Vatican,  about  150,000  books  and 

40.000  manuscripts. 

The  Imperial,  of  Russia,  about  600,000 
books  and  21,000  manuscripts. 

The  Copenhagen,  about  450,000  books 
and  15,000  manuscripts. 

Xiib'ya.  Africa,  or  all  the  interior  of 
Africa. 

Ijieen'tiate  (4  syl.).  One  who  has  a 
licence  to  practise  some  art  or  faculty, 
as  a licentiate  of  medicine. 

liieli.  A dead  body.  (Saxon,  lic\ 
German,  leicTie.) 

Lich-field,  in  Staffordshire.  The  field  cf 
the  dead — i.e,,  of  the  martyred  Christians. 

Lichfowls.  Birds  that  feed  on  carrion, 
as  night-ravens,  screech-owls,  &c. 

Lich-gate.  The  shed  or  covered  place  at 
the  entrance  of  church-yards,  intended  to 
afford  shelter  to  the  coffin  and  mourners, 
while  they  wait  for  the  clergyman  to 
conduct  the  cortege  into  the  church. 

Lich-owl.  The  owl  superstitiously 
supposed  to  foretell  death. 

Lich-walce  or  Lyke-waJce.  The  funeral 
feast  or  the  waking  of  a corpse — i.e., 
watching  it  all  night. 


Lich-way.  The  path  by  which  a fune- 
ral is  conveyed  to  church,  which  not 
unfrequently  deviates  from  the  ordinary 
road.  It  was  long  supposed  that  wher- 
ever a dead  body  passed  became  a public 
thoroughfare. 

Iiiehten.  Belonging  to  the  lich- 
ground  or  cemetery.  In  Chichester,  just 
outside  the  city  walls  on  the  east  are 
what  the  common  people  call  the  lightnen 
or  liten  schools,  a corruption  of  lichten 
schools,  so  termed  because  they  stand 
on  a part  of  the  ancient  Saxon  lich-acre. 
The  spelling  usually  adopted  for  these 
schools  is  litten.” 

liick.  I licked  him,  I flogged  or  beat 
him.  (Saxon,  slic-an,  to  striked  Generally 
derived  from  lictors,  the  Roman  officers 
who  inflicted  punishment  on  criminals, 
but  the  resemblance  of  the  words  is  acci- 
dental. 

To  lick  into  shape.  According  to 
tradition  the  cubs  of  bears  are  cast 
shapeless,  and  remain  so  till  the  dam  has 
licked  them  into  proper  form. 

So  watchful  Bruin  forms,  with  plastic  care, 

Each  growing  lump,  and  brings  it  to  a bear. 

“Dimciad,”  bk.  i.  101. 

Lictors.  Binders  (Latin,  to  bind 
or  tie).  These  Roman  officers  were  so 
called  because  they  bound  the  hands 
and  feet  of  criminals  before  they  exe- 
cuted the  award  of  the  law  upon  them. 
— Aulus  Gellius. 

Lid.  Greek,  kleid,  (to  shut  down) ; 
Latin,  eland'  and  cludJ  ; Saxon,  hlid  ; 
Dutch  and  Danish,  lid ; our  lid  and 
close. 

LidskialTa  {the  terror  of  nations). 
The  throne  of  Alfader,  whence  he  can 
view  the  whole  universe. — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Lie.  (Saxon, a falsehood.) 

A lie  hath  no  feet,  because  it  cannot 
stand  alone.  In  fact  a lie  wants  twenty 
others  to  support  it,  and,  even  then  is  in 
constant  danger  of  tripping. 

You  lie  for  the  whetstone.  This  refers 
to  an  ancient  custom  mentioned  by  Lup- 
ton  in  his  “ Too  Good  to  be  True  ” (1580) : 
He  who  told  the  greatest  lie  gained  a 
silver  whetstone. 

Father  of  Lies,  Satan  (St.  John  viii. 

44). 

Lie.  (Saxon,  Uegauy  to  ’bide  or  rest.) 

Lie  heavy  on  him,  earth,  for  he 
Laid  many  a heavy  load  ou  thee; 


LIEBENSTEIN. 


LIGHTNING. 


511 


This  is  part  of  Dr.  Evans’s  epitaph  on 
Sir  John  Vanbrngh_,  the  comic  poet, 
herald,  and  architect.  The  “heavy- 
loads”  referred  to  were  Blenheim,  Green- 
wich Hospital  (which  he  finished),  Castle 
Howard  in  Yorkshire,  and  other  massive 
buildings.  (1666-1726.) 

Lie  at  the  catch.  Thus  Talkative  says 
to  Faithful,  “You  lie  at  the  catch,  I 
perceive.”  To  which  Faithful  replies. 

No,  not  I ; I am  only  for  setting  things 
right.”  “To  lie  at  the  catch,”  or  lie  on 
the  catch,  is  to  lie  in  wait  to  catch  one 
up — to  lay  a trap  to  catch  one. 

Ijiebenstein  and  Sternfels.  Two 
ruined  castles  of  the  Rhine.  According 
to  tradition,  Leoline,  the  orphan,  was 
the  sole  surviving  child  of  the  lord  of 
Liebenstein ; and  two  brothers,  named 
Warbeck  and  Otho,  were  the  surviving 
children  of  the  lord  of  Sternfels.  Both 
the  brothers  fell  in  love  with  Leoline ; 
but,  as  Leoline  gave  the  preference  to 
Otho,  Warbeck  joined  the  Crusades.  A 
templar  in  time  persuaded  Otho  to  dO' 
the  same  ; but  the  war  being  over,  Otho 
stayed  at  Constantinople,  where  he  fell 
in  love  with  a Greek,  whom  he  brought 
home  for  his  bride.  Leoline  retired 
te  the  adjacent  convent  of  Bornhofen. 
Warbeck  defied  his  brother  to  single 
combat  for  this  insult  to  his  betrothed  j; 
but  Leoline  with  the  nuns  interposed  to 
prevent  the  fight.  The  Greek  wife,  in 
time,  eloped  with  one  of  the  inmates  of 
Sternfels,  and  Otho  died  childless.  A 
band  of  robbers  broke  into  the  convent ; 
but  Warbeck  armed  in  its  defence.  He 
repelled  the  robbers,  but  received  his 
death -wound,  and  died  in  the  lap  of 
Leoline,  and  thus  passed  away  the  last 
lord  of  Liebenstein. — Traditiwis  of  the 
Rhine. 

Liege,  applied  to  a king,  is  a lucns  a 
non  lucent.  The  word  means  one  bound, 
a bondsman  (Latin,  ligo,  to  bind) ; hence, 
vassals  were  called  liege-men — i.e.,  men 
bound  to  serve  their  lord.  The  lord  was 
called  the  liege-lord,  meaning  not  the 
bond-lord,  but  the  liege-man’s  lord,  ar 
the  lieging-lord. 

Li'en.  A bond  (Latin,  ligodmen). 
Legally,  a bond  on  goods  for  a debt ; a 
right  to  retain  goods  in  a creditor’s  hands 
till  he  has  satisfied  a legal  claim  for  debt. 

Liesse  (2  syl.).  Ahhe  de  Liesse  or 
Alias  Letitice.  The  French  term  for  the 


“Boy  Bishop,”  or  “Abbot  of  Unreason.”’ 
{See  Abbot.) 

Lieutenant  is  the  Latin  locum-tenens^ 
through  the  French. 

Life-  G uar ds.  Two  senior  regiments 
of  the  mounted  body-guard,  comprising 
878  men,  all  six  feet  high  ; hence  a fine, 
tall,  manly  fellow  is  called  “a  regular 
Life-guards’  man.” 

Li-Flambe.  The  banner  of  Clovis, 
miraculously  displayed  to  him  in  the- 
skies.  {See  Toads.) 

Lift.  To  have  one  at  a lift  is  to  have 
one  in  your  power.  When  a wrestler 
has  his  antogonist  in  his  hands  and  lifts 
him  from  the  ground,  he  has  him  “at  a 
lift,”  or  in  his  power. 

“ Sirra,’’  says  he.  “ I have  you  at  a lift. 

Now  you  are  come  unto  your  latest  shift,” 

Percy,  “ Meliques  ” ( Guy  and  Amarant). 

Lifter.  A thief.  We  still  call  one 
who  plunders  shops  “ a shop-lifter.” 
(Gothic,  hliftus,  a thief.) 

Is  he  so  young  a man,  and  so  old  a lifter  ? 

^Shakespeare,  '*  Troilus  and  Cressida,”  i.  2. 

Lige'a.  A sea-nymph  and  syren 
(Greek,  ligus,  sweet  or  shrill  voiced). 

Light  of  the  Age.  Maimon'ides  or 
Rabbi  Moses  ben  Maimon,  of  Cor'dova. 
(1135-1204.) 

Light  of  the  Haram.  The  sultana 
NourmahaF,  afterwards  called  Nourjelmn 
(Light  of  the  World).  She  was  the  bride 
of  Selim. — Thomas  Moore,  ‘'‘LallaRoolch.” 

Light  gains  make  a heavy  purse.  Small 
profits  and  a quick  return,  is  the  best  way 
of  gaining  wealth ; French,  Le  petit  gain 
remplit  la  lourse;  Italian,  I guadagni 
mediocri  empiono  la  lorsa. 

Light-foot.  One  of  Fortunio’s  ser- 
vants. He  could  run  ten  “times  faster 
than  a deer. — ^‘Grimm's  Gollins^’  {For- 
tunio). 

Lighthouse.  The  most  celebrated 
of  antiquity  was  the  one  erected  by 
Ptolemy  Soter  in  the  island  of  Pharos, 
opposite  Alexandria.  Josephus  says  it 
could  be  seen  at  the  distance  of  42  miles. 

Of  modern  lighthouses  the  most  famous 
are  the  Eddystone,  opposite  Plymouth 
Sound  ; the  Tour  de  Corduan,  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Gironde,  in  France  ; and 
the  Bell  Rock,  opposite  the  Frith  of  Tay. 

Lightning  (Barca).  Hamilcar  of 
Carthage  was  so  called  for  the  rapidity 


512 


LIGUOEIANS. 


LILY. 


of  his  march  and  severity  of  his  attacks. 
<B.c.  247-228.) 

Lightning,  The  most  approved  classi- 
oal  preservatives  against  lightning  were 
the  eagle,  the  sea-calf,  and  the  laurel. 
Jupiter  chose  the  first,  Augustus  Caesar 
the  second,  and  Tiberius  the  third. — 
iJollumella^  x.  ; Sueton.  in  Vit.  Aug.^  xc.  ; 
ditto  in  Vit.  Tih.,  Ixix. 

Bodies  scathed  and  persons  struck 
'dead  by  lightning  were  said  to  be  incor- 
ruptible; and  any  one  so  distinguished 
was  held  by  the  ancients  in  great  honour. 
— J.  C.  Bullenger,  De  TerrcQ  Motu,* 
V.  11. 

Xjiguo'rians.  A congregation  of 
missionary  priests  called  also  Eedemp- 
tionists,  founded  in  1732,  by  Liguo'ri. 
Their  object  is  the  religious  instruction 
of  the  people,  and  the  reform  of  public 
morality. 

Ligurian  Arts.  Deception,  trickery. 

The  Ligurian  Republic.  Venetia,  Ge- 
noa, and  a part  of  Sardinia,  tied  up  in 
one  bundle  by  Napoleon  I.  in  1797,  and 
bound  with  a constitution  similar  to  that 
of  the  French  ‘‘Directory;”  so  called 
from  Ligu'ria,  pretty  well  commensurate 
with  these  districts. 

. The  Ligurian  Sage.  Aulus  Persius 
Placcus,  born  at  Volaterrse,  in  Etruria, 
according  to  ancient  authors ; and  at 
Lunse  Portus,  in  Liguria,  according  to 
.some  modern  authorities.  (See  Satire,” 
vi.  6.) 

LilL)urn.  If  no  one  else  were  alive, 
John  would  quarrel  with  LiXburn.  John 
Lilburn  was  a contentious  leveller  in  the 
Commonwealth,  so  rancorous  against 
rank  that  he  could  never  satisfy  himself 
that  any  two  persons  were  exactly  on  the 
same  level.  {See  Lawsuits.) 

IiiTinau  was  wooed  Ly  a phantom 
that  lived  in  her  father’s  pines.  At 
nightfall  the  phantom  whispered  love, 
and  won  the  fair  Lilinau,  who  followed 
his  green  waving  plume  through  the 
forest,  and  was  never  seen  again. — Ameri- 
can-Indian  tradition. 

Lilis  or  Li'lith  (Rabbinical  mytho- 
logy).  The  Talmudists  say  that  Adam 
had  a wife  before  Eve,  whose  name  was 
Lilis.  Eefusing  to  submit  to  Adam,  she 
left  Paradise  for  a region  of  the  air.  She 
still  haunts  the  night  as  a spectre, 
and  is  especially  hostile  to  new-born 


infants.  Some  superstitious  Jews  still 
put  in  the  chamber  occupied  by  their 
wife  four  coins,  with  labels  on  which  the 
names  of  Adam  and  Eve  are  inscribed, 
with  the  words  “Avaunt  thee,  Lilith  !” 
According  to  the  “ Cyclopsedia  Metro- 
politana,”  our  word  lullaby  is  a corruption 
of  “Lilia,  abi”  (Lilith,  avaunt).  Goethe 
has  introduced  her  in  his  “ Faust.”  (See 
Lamia.) 

Lilli-Burle'ro  and  Bullen-a-lah. 
Said  to  have  been  the  words  of  distinc- 
tion used  by  the  Irish  Papists  in  their 
massacres  of  the  Protestants  in  1641.  A 
song  with  the  refrain  of  “ Lilli-burlero, 
bullen-a-la  ! ” was  written  by  lord  Whar- 
ton, which  had  a more  powerful  effect 
than  the  philippics  of  either  Demosthenes 
or  Cicero,  and  contributed  not  a little  to 
the  great  revolution  of  1688.  Burnet 
says,  “It  made  an  impression  on  the 
[king’s]  army  that  cannot  be  imagined. 
. . . The  whole  army,  and  at  last  the 
people,  both  in  city  and  country,  were 
singing  it  perpetually  . . . never  had  so 
slight  a thing  so  great  an  effect.”  The 
song  is  in  Percy’s  “Eeliques  of  Ancient 
English  Poetry,”  series  ii.,  bk.  3. 

Lilliput.  The  country  of  pigmies 
called  “ Lilliputians,”  to  whom  Gulliver 
was  a huge  Colossus. — Swift,  “ Gulliver  s 
Travels'* 

Lily.  Emblem  of  France.  Tasso,  in 
his  “Jerusalem  Delivered,”  terms  the 
French  Gigli  d'oro  (golden  lilies).  It  is 
said  the  people  were  commonly  called 
Liliarts,  and  the  kingdom  Lilium  in  the 
time  of  Philippe  le  Bel,  Charles  VIII., 
and  Louis  XII.  They  were  so  called  from 
thQfieur  de  lys,  the  emblem  of  France. 

I saw  my  country’s  lily  torn. 

Bloomfield  (A  Frenchman  is  speaking.) 

The  burghers  of  Ghent  were  bound  by  solemn 
oath  not  to  make  war  upon  the  lilies.— if ilZinpfon, 
“ Heraldry t ” i. 

Lily  of  France.  The  device  of  Clovis 
was  three  black  toads,  but  an  aged  her- 
mit of  Joye-en-valle  saw  a miraculous 
light  stream  one  night  into  his  cell,  and 
an  angel  appeared  to  him  holding  a 
shield  of  wonderful  beauty : its  colour 
was  azure,  and  on  it  were  emblazoned 
three  gold  lilies  that  shone  like  stars, 
which  the  hermit  was  commanded  to  give 
to  queen  Clotilde.  Scarcely  had  the 
angel  vanished  when  Clotilde  entered- 
and  receiving  the  celestial  shield,  gave  it 


LILY  MAID  OF  ASTOLAT. 


LINDABRIDES. 


513 


to  her  royal  husband,  whose  arms  were 
everywhere  victorious. 

Un  hermite  apporta  a la  ditte  royne  vn  drap 
•d’azur  a Trois  Flevrs  de  Lis  d’or,  qae  I’ange  luy 
auoit  donnee  et  le  deliura  la  ditte  royne  a son  mary 
le  roy  Clovis  pour  le  porter  comme  ses  armes  en 
lieu  qu’il  les  portoit  d’or  a trois  crapavz  de  sable. 
—Chifflet. 

Lily  in  Christian  art  is  an  emblem  of 
•chastity,  innocence,  and  purity.  In  pic- 
tures of  the  Annunciation,  Gabriel  is 
•sometimes  represented  as  carrying  a lily- 
branch,  while  a vase  containing  a lily 
stands  before  the  Virgin,  who  is  kneeling 
in  prayer.  St.  Joseph  also  holds  a lily- 
branch  in  his  hand,  to  show  that  his 
wife  Mary  was  always  the  virgin. 

Lily  Maid  of  Astolat.  {See  Elaine.) 

Lim  Hay.  Lich  it  up  like  Lim  hay. 
Xim,  on  the  Mersey,  is  famous  for  its  ex- 
-cellent  hay. 

Limb.  To  tear  llnib  from  Warhurton. 
Lymm  cum  Warburton  form  one  rectory 
in  Cheshire.  The  play  is  on  limb  and 
Lymm. 

Limberham.  A tame,  foolish  keeper. 
The  character  is  in  Dryden’s  comedy 
of  Limberham  or  the  Kind  Keeper,” 
and  is  supposed  to  satirise  the  duke  of 
Lauderdale. 

Limbo.  A waste-basket;  a place 
■where  things  are  stowed,  too  good  to 
destroy,  but  not  good  enough  to  use.  In 
School  Theology,  unbaptised  infants  and 
good  heathens  go  to  Limbo.  (Latin, 
limhus,  the  edge).  They  cannot  go  to 
heaven,  because  they  are  not  baptised, 
•and  they  cannot  go  to  the  place  of  tor- 
ment, because  they  have  not  committed 
sin  at  all,  or  because  their  good  prepon- 
derates. (See  Milton,  ^‘Paradise  Lost,” 
bk.  iii. ) In  slang  phraseology,  In  Limlo 
means  in  prison.  Araf.) 

Limbus  Fatuo'rum-  The  Limbus 
•of  Fools,  or  Fool’s  Paradise.  As  fools 
are  not  responsible  for  their  works,  they 
are  not  punished  in  purgatory,  but  can- 
not be  received  into  heaver. ; so  they  go 
to  a place  called  the  Paradise  of  Fools. 

Limbus  Patrum.  The  half-way 
house  between  earth  and  heaven,  where 
the  patriarchs  and  prophets,  after  death, 
await  the  coming  of  Messiah.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Roman  Catholic  notion,  this 
is  the  hell  ” or  hades  into  which  Jesus 
Christ  descended  after  he  gave  up  the 
^host  on  the  cross.  Limbo,  and  some- 


times Limbo  patrum,  is  used  for  ^'quod,” 
jail,  confinement. 

I have  Botne  of  them  in  Umbo  patrum,  and  there 
they  are  like  to  dance  these  three  days.— .Sftaiteenearg 
** Henry  VIlLpy.Z. 

Limbus  Puero'rum.  The  Child’s 
Paradise,  for  children  who  die  before 
they  are  responsible  for  their  actions. 

Lime  Street  (London),  The  place 
where  in  former  times  lime  was  sold  in 
public  market.  It  gives  its  name  to  one 
of  the  wards  of  London. 

Limisso.  A city  of  Cyprus,  called 
Caria  by  Orlando  Fitriosof 

Limited  Liability.  The  liability 
of  a shareholder  in  a company  only  for 
a fixed  amount,  generally  the  amount  of 
the  shares  he  has  subscribed  for. 

Limner.  A drawer,  a painter,  an 
artist.  A contraction  of  illuminator',  or 
rather  lumineur  (one  who  illuminates 
manuscripts.) 

Limp.  Formed  of  the  initial  letters 
of  Louis,  James,  Mary,  Prince.  A Jaco- 
bite toast  in  the  time  of  William  III. 
(See  Notarica.) 

Lina.  The  goddess  flax. 

Invcntresg  of  the  woof,  fair  Lina  flings 
The  flying  shuttle  through  the  dancing  strings. 

Darwin,  Loves  of  the  Plants,”  c.  ii. 

Lincoln.  A contraction  of  Lindum- 
colonia.  Lindum  was  an  old  British 
town,  called  Llyn-dune  (the  fen-town). 
If  we  had  not  known  the  Latin  name 
we  should  have  given  the  etymology 
Llyn-collyne  (the  fen-hill),  as  the  old 
city  was  on  a hill. 

Lincoln  College  (0.r/orc?).  Founded 
by  Richard  Fleming  in  1427,  and  com- 
pleted by  Rotherham,  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
1479. 

Lincoln’s  Inn.  One  of  the  fashion- 
able theatres  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields  (London), 
Henry  Lacy,  earl  of  Lincoln,  built  an 
inn  (mansion)  here  in  the  14th  century. 
The  ground  belonged  to  the  Black  Friars, 
but  was  granted  by  Edward  I.  to  that 
earl.  {Subsequently  one  of  the  bishops 
of  Chichester,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VII., 
granted  leases  here  to  certain  students 
of  law. 

Lindab'rides.  A heroine  in  The 
Mirror  of  Knighthood,”  whose  name  at 
one  time  was  a synonym  for  a kept 


H H 


51-4 


LINDOR. 


LINN^AN  SYSTEM. 


mistress,  in  which  sense  it  is  used  by 
Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Ijindor.  A poetic  swain  of  the  Cor'y- 
don  type,  a lover  en  bei'gere. 

Do  not,  for  hea-yen’s  Bake,  bring  down  Corydou 
and  Liudor  upon  }is.-^Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Xiine.  A line  a day  (Nulla  dies  sine 
linea).  Apelles  the  artist  said  he  never 
passed  a day  without  doing  at  least  one 
line,  and  to  this  steady  industry  he  owed 
his  groat  success. 

The  line.  All  numbered  cavalry  and 
infantry  regiments,  except  the  life- 
guards, foot-guards,  and  dragoon-guards, 
belong  to  the  line.  A line  of  battle  ” is 
when  the  army  is  so  drawn  up  that  the 
front  extends  as  far  as  the  ground  will 
allow,  to  prevent  its  being  flanked. 
There  are  three  lines,  the  van,  the  main 
body,  and  the  rear.  A fleet  drawn  up  in 
line  of  battle  is  so  arranged  that  the  ships 
are  ahead  and  astern  of  each  other  at 
equal  distances. 

To  brealc  the  enem  fs  line  is  to  destroy 
their  order  of  battle,  and  so  put  them  to 
confusion. 

The  deep-sea  line.  A long  line  marked 
at  every  five  fathoms,  for  sounding  the 
depth  of  the  sea. 

WhcU  line  are  you  in  % What  trade  or 
profession  are  you  of?  In  the  book 
line” — i.e.t  the  book  trade.  This  is  a 
Scripture  phrase.  The  lines  have  fallen 
to  me  in  pleasant  places,  yea,  I have  a 
goodly  heritage.”  The  allusion  is  to 
drawing  a line  to  mark  out  the  lot  of 
each  tribe,  hence  line  became  the  syno- 
nym of  lot,  and  lot  means  position  or 
destiny,  and  hence  calling,  trade,  or 
profession. 

Line  of  Beauty,  according  to  Ho- 
garth, is  a curve  thus  Mengs  was 

of  the  same  opinion,  but  thought  it 
should  be  more  sei*pentine.  Of  course, 
these  fancies  are  not  tenable,  for  the  line 
which  may  be  beautiful  for  one  object 
would  be  hideous  in  another.  What 
would  Hogarth  have  said  to  a nose  or 
mouth  which  followed  his  line  of  beauty  ? 

Line  of  Communication,  or  rather 
Lines  of  Communicationj  are  trenches 
made  to  continue  and  preserve  a safe 
correspondence  between  two  forts,  or 
two  approaches  to  a besieged  city,  or  be- 
tween tw'o  parts  of  the  same  army,  that 
they  may  co-operate  with  each  other. 


Line  of  Demarcation.  The  line 
which  divides  the  territories  of  different 
proprietors.  The  space  between  two 
opposite  doctrines,  opinions,  rules  of 
conduct,  &c. 

Line  of  Direction.  The  line  in 
which  a body  moves,  a force  acts,  or  mo- 
tion is  communicated.  In  order  that  a 
body  may  stand  without  falling,  a line 
let  down  from  the  centre  of  gravity  must 
fall  within  the  base  on  which  the  object 
stands.  Thus  the  leaning  tower  of  Pisa 
does  not  fall,  because  this  rule  is  pre- 
served. 

Line  of  March.  The  ground  over 
which  the  line  of  battle  moves. 

Line  of  Operations  is  that  line 
which  corresponds  with  the  line  of  com- 
munication, proceeding  from  the  place 
whence  the  army  draws  its  supplies  to 
the  spot  occupied  by  the  army. 

Linen  Goods.  In  1721,  a statute 
was  passed  imposing  a penalty  of  £5 
upon  the  weaver y and  £20  upon  the  seller 
of  a piece  of  calico.  Fifteen  years  later 
this  statute  was  so  far  modified  that 
calicoes  manufactured  in  Great  Britain 
were  allowed,  “ provided  the  warp  thereof 
was  entirely  of  linen  yarn.”  In  1774,  a 
statute  was  passed  allowing  printed  cot- 
ton goods  to  be  used  on  the  payment  of 
threepence  a yard  duty;  in  1806,  the- 
duty  was  raised  to  threepence-half- 
penny. This  was  done  to  prevent  the 
use  of  calicoes  from  interfering  with  the 
demand  for  linen  and  woollen  stuffs.  The 
law  for  burying  in  woollen  was  of  a 
similar  character.  The  following  extracts 
from  a London  news-letter,  dated  August 
2nd,  1768,  are  curious.  [Note — chintz  is 
simply  printed  calico. '\ 

Yesterday  3 tradesmen’s  wives  of  this  city  were 
convicted  before  the  Kt.  Hon.  the  Ld.  Mayor  for 
wearing  chintz  gowns  on  Sunday  last,  and  each  of 
them  was  fined  £5.  These  make  80  who  have 
been  convicted  of  the  above  offence  within  1-2 
months  past.  . . . There  were  several  ladies  in 
St  James’s  Pk.  on  the  same  day  with  chintz  gowns 
on,  but  the  persons  who  gave  informas  of  the  above 
3 were  not  able  to  discover  their  names  or  places 
of  abode.  . . . Yesterday  a waggon  loaded  with 
£2,000  worth  of  chintz  was  seized  at  Hartford  in 
Kent  by  some  custom-house  oflSicers.  Two  post 
chaises  loaded  with  the  same  commodity  got  ot5 
with  their  goods  by  swiftness  of  driving. 

Lingua  Franca.  A species  of  cor- 
rupt Italian  spoken  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Mediterranean.  The  Franks’  language 
mixed  with  the  Italian. 

Linneean  System.  A system  de- 
vised by  Linnteus  of  S weden,  who  arranged 


LINNE. 


LION. 


515- 


his  three  kingdoms  of  animals,  vegeta- 
bles, and  minerals  into  classes,  orders, 
genera,  species,  and  varieties,  according 
to  certain  specific  characters. 

liinne  ( The  Heir  of).  The  lord  of  Linne 
was  a great  spendthrift,  ^‘who  wasted 
his  substance  in  riotous  living.’*  Having 
spent  all,  he  sold  his  estates  to  John  o’  the 
Scales,  his  steward,  reserving  to  himself 
only  a poor  and  lonesome  lodge  in  a 
lonely  glen.”  When  he  had  squandered 
away  the  money  received  for  his  estates, 
and  found  that  no  one  would  lend  or  give 
him  more,  he  retired  to  the  lodge  in  the 
glen,  where  he  found  a rope  with  a run- 
ning noose  dangling  over  his  head.  He 
put  the  rope  round  his  neck  and  sprang 
aloft,  when  lo  ! the  ceiling  burst  in  twain, 
and  he  fell  to  the  ground.  When  he 
came  to  himself  he  espied  two  chests  of 
beaten  gold,  and  a third  full  of  white 
money,  and  over  them  was  written,  “Once 
more,  my  son,  I set  thee  clear ; amend 
thy  life,  or  a rope  at  last  must  end  it.” 
The  heir  of  Linne  now  returned  to  his 
old  hall,  where  he  asked  his  quondam 
steward  for  the  loan  of  forty  pence  ; this 
was  denied  him.  One  of  the  guests 
proffered  the  Ipan,  and  told  John  o’  the 
Scales  he  ought  to  have  lent  it,  as  he  had 
bought  the  estate  cheap  enough.  “ Cheap 
call  you  it  ? ” exclaimed  J ohn  ; “ why,  he 
shall  have  it  back  for  100  marks  less.” 
*‘Done,”  said  the  heir  of  Lynne,  and 
counted  out  the  money.  He  thus  reco- 
vered his  estates,  and  made  the  kind 
guest  his  forester. — Percy,  Reliquesf 
series  ii. , bk.  2. 

Linspre  {French,  2 syl.)  means  a 
•prince  in  slang  or  familiar  usage.  It 
comes  from  the  inspector  or  monitor  of 
the  cathedral  choir  called  the  Spe  or  the 
Inspe  (inspector),  because  he  had  to 
superintend  the  rest  of  the  boys. 

Lion.  A marble  lion  was  set  up  in 
honour  of  Leonidas,  who  fell  at  Ther- 
mopylae. 

^ The  Lion. 

A.LEP  Arslan  {the  Valiant  Lion),  son  of 
Togrul  Beg,  the  Perso-Turkish  monarch. 
(1063-1072.) 

Ali  was  called  The  Lion  of  God  for  his 
regions  zeal  and  great  courage.  His 
mother  called  him  at  birth  A1  Ha'idara 
{the  Rugged  Lion),  (a.d.  597-660.) 

Ali  Pasha,  called  The  luion  of  Janina, 
overthrown  in  1822  by  Ibrahim  Pasha. 
(1741-1822.) 


Arioch  (fifth  of  the  dynasty  of  Ninu,v 
the  Assyrian),  called  Arioch  Ellas'ar — i.e., 
Arioch  Melech  al  Asser,  The  Lion  King 
of  Assyria.  (b.C.  1927-1897.) 

Damelowiez,  prince  of  Haliez,  who 
founded  Lemberg  {the  Lion  City)  in  1259. 

Gusta'vus  Adolphus,  called  The  Lion; 
of  the  North.  (1594,  1611-1632.) 

Hamza,  called  The  Lion  of  God  and  of 
his  Prophet.  So  Gabriel  told  Mahomet 
bis  uncle  was  enregistered  in  heaven. 

Henry,  duke  of  Bavaria  and  Saxony,,, 
was  call  ed  The  Lion  for  his  daring  courage.. 
(1129-1195.) 

Louis  VIIT.  of  France  was  called  The 
Lion  because  he  was  bom  under  the  sign* 
Leo.  (1187,  1223-1226.) 

Kichard  I.  Coeur  de  Lion  {Lions^ 
heart),  so  called  for  his  bravery.  (1157,- 
1189-1199.) 

William  of  Scotland,  so  called  because 
he  chose  a red  lion  rampant  for  his  cogni- 
zance. (1165-1214.) 

% The  Lion  Killer.  Jules  Gerard.  (1817” 
1864.) 

The  Lion  of  the  tnbe  of  Judah.  The" 
Messiah.  (Rev.  v.  5.) 

Tlw  Lion  of  the  Reformation.  Spenser' 
says  that  while  Una  was  seeking  Stl- 
George,  she  sat  to  rest  herself,  when*a^ 
lion  rushed  suddenly  out  of  a thicket, 
with  gaping  mouth  and  lashing  tail;  but 
as  he  drew  near  he  was  awe-struck,  and 
laying  aside  his  fury,  kissed  her  feet  and 
licked  her  hands ; for,  as  the  poet  adds, 
“beauty  can  master  strength,  and  truth 
subdue  vengeance.  [The  lion  is  tho 
emblem  of  England,  which  waits  upon 
Truth.  When  true  Faith  was  deserted 
by  all  the  world,  England  the  lion  cam© 
to  its  rescue.]  The  lion  now  follows 
Una  as  a dog,  but  when  Una  meets  Hy- 
pocrisy, Sansloy  comes  upon  them  and 
kills  the  lion.  That  is : During  the  reigns 
of  Henry  VIII.  and  Edward  VI.,  England 
the  lion  followed  the  footsteps  of  Truth  ; 
but  in  the  reign  of  Mary  Hypocrisy  came, 
and  False-faith  killed  the  lion — i.e.,  se- 
parated England  from  Truth  by  fire  and 
sword. 

The  lion  an  emhlem  of  the  resuhTection. 
According  to  tradition,  the  lion’s  whelp- 
is  born  dead,  and  remains  so  for  three 
days,  when  the  father  breathes  on  it  and 
it  receives  life.  Hence  is  it  assigned  by 
artists  to  St.  Mark,  the  historian  of  the 
resurrection.  {See  Evangelist.) 

A lion  emblematic  of  St.  Jerome.  Typi- 
fying his  substitute.  Jesus  Christ,  th© 
H H 2 


016 


LION. 


LION. 


Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,”  is  some- 
times symbolised  under  the  form  of  a 
lion. 

•[I  The  lion  in  heraldry,  as  a symbol  of 
sovereignty  and  power,  has  always  been 
selected  as  the  support  of  royal  thrones. 
In  coat  armour  the  attribute  particu- 
larised depends  on  the  attitude  given; 
thus — 

Couchant  represents  sovereignty,  in 
which  attitude  also  it  is  employed  as  the 
support  of  lecterns  and  candlesticks. 

Gardant  represents  prudence. 

Passant—  resolution. 

Rampant — magnanimity. 

circumspection. 

Saliant — valour. 

Sciant — counsel . 

Strictly  speaking,  there  is  a difference 
between  a lion-leoparded  and  a leoparded 
lion.  The  former  is  passant  and  in  profile, 
the  latter  passant  gardant.  The  latter 
has  always  a mane,  the  former  none. 

The  lions  in  the  arms  of  England,  They 
are  three  lions  passant  gardant — i.e,, 
walking  and  showing  the  full  face.  The 
first  lion  was  that  of  Iloilo,  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, and  the  second  represented  the 
country  of  Maine,  which  was  added  to 
Normandy.  These  were  the  two  lions 
borne  by  William  the  Conqueror  and  his 
descendants.  Henry  II.  added  a third 
lion  to  represent  the  duchy  of  Aquitaine, 
which  came  to  him  through  his  wife 
Eleanor.  The  French  heralds  call  the 
lion  passant  a leopard ; accordingly  Na- 
poleon said  to  his  soldiers,  Let  us  drive 
these  leopards  (the  English)  into  the  sea !” 

The  lion  in  t/oe  arms  of  Scotland  is  de- 
rived from  the  arms  of  the  ancient  earls 
of  Northumberland  and  Huntingdon, 
from  whom  some  of  the  Scotch  monarchs 
were  descended.  The  tressiire  is  referred 
to  the  reign  of  king  Acha'icus,  who  made 
a league  with  Charlemagne,  ^^who  did 
augment  his  arms  with  a double  trace 
formed  with  Floure-de-lyces,  signifying 
thereby  that  the  lion  henceforth  should 
be  defended  by  the  ayde  of  the  Frenche- 
m en.  ” — Holinshed,  ‘ * Chronicles.  ’ ’ 

Sir  Walter  Scott  says  the  lion  rampant 
in  the  arms  of  Scotland  was  first  assumed 
by  William  of  Scotland,  and  has  been 
continued  ever  since. 

'William,  king  of  Scotland,  having  chosen  for  his 
armorial  bearing  a Red  Lion  rampant,  acquired  the 
name  of  William  the  Lion;  and  this  rampant  lion 
still  constitutes  the  arms  of  Scotland  ; and  the  pre- 
sident of  the  heraldic  court  ....is  called  Lord  Lion 
jl£ing-at-Arma— “ Tales  of  a Grandfather,"  iv. 


H Lions  metaghorical. 

(1)  A man  who  is  a notoriety,  and  is 
made  much  of  by  the  public,  is  called  a 
lion. 

(2)  To  lionise  a pe^'sonis  either  to  show 
him  the  lions  or  chief  objects  of  attraction, 
or  to  make  a lion  of  him,  by  feting  him 
and  making  a fuss  about  him.  To  le 
lionised  is  to  be  so  treated. 

•fl  Lion,  a public-house  sign. 

BlacJc  lion  comes  from  the  Flemmings. 

Au  noir  lyon  la  fleur-de-lis 
Prist  la  terre  de  ca  le  Lys. 

Godefroy  de  Paris, 

Blue,  the  badge  of  the  earl  of  Mortimer, 
also  of  Denmark. 

Crowned,  the  badge  of  Henry  VIII. 

Golden,  the  badge  of  Henry  I.,  and 
also  of  Percy,  duke  of  Northumberland. 

Passant  gardant  (walking  and  showing 
a full  face),  the  device  of  England. 

Red,  of  Scotland;  also  the  badge  of 
John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster,  who 
assumed  this  badge  as  a token  ©f  his 
claim  to  the  throne  of  Castile. 

Rampant,  the  device  of  Scotland. 

Rampant,  with  the  tail  between  its 
legs  and  turned  over  its  back,  the  badge 
of  Edward  IV.  as  earl  of  March. 

Sleeping,  the  device  of  Richard  I. 

Statant  gardant  (f.e.,  standing  and 
showing  a full  face),  the  device  of  the 
duke  of  Norfolk. 

White,  the  device  of  the  dukes  of  Nor- 
folk ; also  of  the  earl  of  Surrey,  earl  of 
Mortimer,  and  the  Fitz-Hammonds. 

For  who,  in  field  or  foray  slack, 

Saw  the  blanche  lion  e’er  fall  back  ? {duke  of  Norfolk.) 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel.” 

Blue  seems  frequently  to  represent 
silver;  thus  we  have  the  Blue  Boar  of 
Richard  III.,  the  Blue  Lion  of  the  earl 
of  Mortimer,  the  Blue  Swan  of  Henry  IV., 
the  Blue  Dragon,  &c. 

The  winged  lion.  The  republic  of 
Venice.  Its  heraldic  device. 

11  Lion.  One  of  the  signs  of  the  zodiac, 
(See  Leo.) 

U Lions  in  classic  mythology.  Ctb'ele 
is  represented  as  riding  in  a chariot  drawn 
by  two  tame  lions. 

Pracriti,  the  goddess  of  nature  among 
the  Hindus,  is  represented  in  a similar 
manner. 

Hippom'enes  and  Atalanta  (fond 
lovers)  were  metamorphosed  into  lions 
by  Cybele. 

Hercules  is  said  to  have  worn  over 
his  shoulders  the  hide  of  the  Nem'ean 


HON  OF  GOD. 


LIRIS. 


517 


lion,  which  he  slew  with  his  club.  Ter- 
ROUR  is  also  represented  as  arrayed  in 
a lion’s  hide. 

The  Nem'ean  lioUy  slain  by  Hercules. 
The  first  of  his  twelve  labours. 

^ The  lion  attached  to  man. 

Androc'ltjs,  a Roman  slave,  was  con- 
demned to  encounter  a lion ; but  when 
the  lion  was  let  loose  be  couched  at  the 
feet  of  Androcdus,  and  began  licking 
them.  The  reason  was  this  : Androclus 
one  day  had  taken  a thorn  out  of  the 
lion’s  foot,  and  the  beast  recognised  its 
benefactor. 

Sir  Iwain  de  Galles  was  attended 
by  a lion,  which,  in  gratitude  to  the 
knight,  who  had  delivered  it  from  a ser- 
pent with  which  it  had  been  engaged  in 
deadly  combat,  ever  after  became  his 
faithful  servant,  approaching  the  knight 
with  tears,  and  rising  on  his  hind-feet 
like  a dog. 

Sir  Geoffrey  de  Latour  was  aided 
by  a lion  against  the  Saracens ; but  the 
faithful  brute  was  drowned  in  attempting 
to  follow  the  vessel  in  which  the  knight 
had  embarked  on  his  departure  from  the 
Holy  Land. 

St.  Jerome  is  represented  as  attended 
by  a lion. 

The  lion  will  not  touch  the  true  prince 
(‘^1  Henry  IV.,”  ii.  4).  This  is  a religious 
superstition  ; the  “true  prince,”  strictly 
speaking,  being  the  Messiah,  who  is  called 
“ the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.”  Loosely 
it  is  applied  to  any  prince  of  blood  royal, 
supposed  at  one  time  “to  be  hedged 
around  with  a sort  of  divinity.” 

Fetch  the  Numidian  lion  I brought  over  ; 

If  she  be  sprung  from  royal  blood,  the  lion 

"Will  do  her  reverence,  else  he’ll  tear  her. 

Jieauniont  and  Fletcher , The  Mad  Lover P 

Lion  of  God.  (See  above.  The  Lion. ) 

Lion  and  Unicorn.  The  animosity 
which  existed  between  these  beasts,  re- 
ferred to  by  Spenser  in  his  “Faery  Queen,” 
is  allegorical  of  the  animosity  which  once 
existed  between  England  and  Scotland. 

Like  asa  lyon,  whose  imperiall  powre 
A prowd  rebellious  unicorn  defyes.— (ii.  5.) 

Lion  and  Unicorn.  Ever  since  1603 
the  royal  arms  have  been  supported  as 
now  by  the  English  lion  and  Scottish 
unicorn ; but  prior  to  the  accession  of 
James  I.,  the  sinister  supporter  was  a 
family  badge.  Edward  III.,  with  whom 
supporters  began,  had  a lion  and  eagle ; 
Henry  IV.,  an  antelope  and  swan ; Henry 


V.,  a lion  and  antelope;  Edward  IV.,  a 
lion  and  bull ; Richard  III.,  a lion  and 
boar ; Henry  VII.,  a lion  and  dragon ; 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Henry  VIII.,  a 
lion  and  greyhound.  The  lion  is  dexter 
— i.e.y  to  the  right  hand  of  the  wearer  or 
person  behind  the  shield. 

Lion’s  Head.  In  fountains  the 
water  generally  is  made  to  issue  fro-m 
the  mouth  of  a lion.  This  is  a very  an- 
cient custom.  The  Egyptians  thus  syro- 
bolised  the  inundation  of  the  Nile,  which 
happens  when  the  sun  is  in  Leo.  The 
Greeks  and  Romans  adopted  the  same 
device  for  their  fountains. 

Lion’s  Provider.  A jackal ; a foil 
to  another  man’s  wit ; a humble  friend 
who  plays  into  your  hand  to  show  you 
to  best  advantage.  The  jackal  feeds  on 
the  lion’s  leavings,  and  is  supposed  to 
serve  the  lion  in  much  the  same  way  as 
a dog  serves  a sportsman.  The  dog  lifts 
up  its  foot  to  indicate  that  game  is  at 
hand,  and  the  jackal  j^ells  to  advertise 
the  lion  that  prey  is  close  by.  (See 
Jackal.) 

Lion’s  Share.  The  larger  part ; all 
or  nearly  all.  In  “JEsop’s  Fables,” 
several  beasts  joined  the  lion  in  a hunt, 
but  when  the  spoil  was  divided,  the  lion 
claimed  one  quarter  in  right  of  his  pre- 
rogative, one  for  his  superior  courage,  one 
for  his  dam  and  cubs,  “ and  as  for  the 
fourth,  let  who  will  dispute  it  with  me.” 
Awed  by  his  frown,  the  other  beasts 
silently  withdrew.  (See  Montgomery.) 

Lion-sick.  Sick  of  love,  like  the  lion 
in  the  fable.  (See  “ Troilus  and  Cressida,” 
ii.  3.) 

LiosaLfar.  The  light  Alfs  who  dwell 
in  the  city  Alf-heim.  They  are  whiter 
than  the  sun.  (See  DoCK-Alfar.) — Scan- 
dinavian  mythology. 

Lip.  To  hang  the  lip.  To  drop  the 
under  lip  in  sullenness  or  contempt.  Thus 
Helen  explains  why  her  brother  Troilus 
is  not  abroad  by  saying,  “ He  hangs  the 
lip  at  something.”  (Act  iii.  1,) 

A foolish  hanging  of  thy  nether  lip. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  1 V.p  Act  ii  4. 

Liris.  A proud  but  lovely  daughter 
of  the  race  of  man,  beloved  by  Rubi, 
first  of  the  angel  host.  Her  passion  was 
the  love  of  knowledge,  and  she  was  capti- 
vated by  all  her  lover  told  her  of  heaven 
and  the  works  of  God.  At  last  she 


618 


LIS. 


LITTLE  JOHN. 


requested  Rubi  to  appear  before  her  in 
all  his  glory,  and  as  she  fell  into  his  em- 
brace was  burnt  to  ashes  by  the  rays 
which  issued  from  him. — Moore,  Loves 
<of  the  Angels  ” story 

Xjis.  Fleur  de  Us.  The  tradition  is 
that  lis  is  a corruption  of  Clovis,  which 
-of  course  is  the  same  as  ’lovis  or  louis. 
The  chroniclers  say  that  Clovis,  after  the 
battle  of  Tolbiac,  on  his  way  to  Rheims, 
where  he  was  going  to  be  baptised,  re- 
ceived a lily  from  heaven.  It  was  Louis 
le  Jeune  who  adopted  the  '^celestial 
flower”  in  the  national  standard.  At 
first  the  flag  was  thickly  sown  with  lilies 
(1180),  but  later  in  the  same  reign  the 
number  was  reduced  to  three,  in  honour 
of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

liisbo'a  or  Lis'boa.  Lisbon  (q.v.). 

What  beauties  doth  Lisbo'a  first  unfold. 

Byron^  “ Childe  Harold”  i.  16. 

And  thou,  famed  Lis'boa,  "whose  embattled  wall 
Kose  by  the  hand  that  wrought  proud  Ilion’s  fall. 

Miekle^  “ Lusiad.*’ 

Lisbon.  A corruption  of  ’ Ulyssippo 
(Ulysses’  polis  or  city).  Said  by  some  to 
have  been  founded  by  Lusus,  who  visited 
Portugal  with  Ulysses,  whence  ^^Lusi- 
tania” (q.v.) ; and  by  others  to  have  been 
founded  by  Ulysses  himself.  This  is 
>Camoens’  version.  (See  aiove.) 

Lismaha'gO  (Captain),  in  Smollett’s 

Humphry  Clinker.”  Very  conceited, 
fond  of  disputation,  jealous  of  honour, 
and  brim-full  of  national  pride.  This 
poor  but  proud  Scotch  officer  is  the 
suitor  of  Miss  Tabitha  Bramble.  The 
romance  of  Captain  Lismaha'go  among 
the  Indians  is  worthy  of  CerA^antes. 

Lisuar'te  of  Greece.  One  of  the 
knights  whose  adventures  and  exploits 
are  recounted  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
Spanish  version  of  ^^Am'adis  of  Gaul.” 
This  part  was  added  by  Juan  Diaz. 

Lit  de  Justice.  Properly  the  seat 
occupied  by  the  French  king  when  he 
attended  the  deliberations  of  his  parle-^ 
raent.  The  session  itself.  Any  arbitrary 
edict.  As  the  members  of  parlement 
derived  their  power  from  the  king,  when 
the  king  himself  was  present  their  power 
returned  to  the  fountain-head,  and  the 
king  was  arbitrary.  What  he  then  pro- 
posed could  not  be  controverted,  and  of 
course  had  the  force  of  law.  The  last 
lit  de  justice  was  held  by  Louis  XVI. 
in  1787. 


Little.  Thomas  Moore  published  a 
volume  of  amatory  poems  in  1808,  under 
the  name  of  Thomas  Little. 

Little  Britain  or  Brittany.  Same 
as  Armorica. 

Little  Corporal  (The).  General 
Bonaparte.  So  called  after  the  battle  of 
Lodi,  in  1796,  from  his  low  stature, 
youthful  age,  and  amazing  courage. 

Little  Dauphin  (The).  The  eldest 
son  of  the  Great  Dauphin — i.e.,  the  due 
de  Bourgogne,  son  of  Louis,  and  grand- 
son of  Louis  XIV. 

Little-endians.  The  two  great 
empires  of  Lilliput  and  Blefuscu  waged 
a destructive  war  against  each  otfcr, 
exhausted  their  treasures,  and  decimated 
their  subjects  on  their  different  views 
of  interpreting  this  vital  direction  con- 
tained in  the  54th  chapter  of  the  Blun'de- 
CYnX  (Koran):  ‘'All  true  believers  break 
their  eggs  at  the  convenient  end.”  The 
godfather  of  Calin  Deffar  Plune,  the 
reigning  emperor  of  Lilliput,  happened 
to  cut  his  finger  while  breaking  his  egg 
at  the  big  end,  and  very  royally  pub- 
lished a decree  commanding  all  his  liege 
and  faithful  subjects,  on  pains  and  penal- 
ties of  great  severity,  to  break  their  eggs 
in  future  at  the  small  end.  The  orthodox 
Blefuscu'dians  deemed  it  their  duty  to 
resent  this  innovation,  and  declared  war 
of  extermination  against  the  heretical 
Lilliputians.  Many  hundreds  of  large 
treatises  were  published  on  both  sides, 
but  those  of  a contrary  opinion  were  put 
in  the  Index  expur gato'rius  of  the 
opposite  empire.  — Gulliver'' s Travels'* 
( Voyage  to  Lilliput,  iv.). 

The  quarrel  between  the  Little-endians  and  the 
Big-endians  broke  out  on  Thursday,  like  the  after- 
fire  of  a more  serious  conflagration.— T/ie  Times. 

Little-go.  The  examination  held  in 
the  Cambridge  University  in  the  second 
year  of  residence.  Called  also  the  “pre- 
vious examination,”  because  it  precedes 
by  a year  the  examination  for  a degree. 
In  Oxford  the  corresponding  examination 
is  called  The  Smalls. 

Little  Jack  Horner.  (See  Jack.) 

Little  John.  A big  stalwart  fellow, 
named  John  Little  (or  John  Nailor),  who 
encountered  Robin  Hood,  and  gave  him 
a sound  thrashing,  after  which  he  was 


LITTLE  MASTEE.S. 


LIZA 


519 


re-christened,  and  Robin  stood  godfather. 
Little  John  is  introduced  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott  in  The  Talisman/^ 

**  This  infant  was  called  John  Little,”  qnoth  he ; 

” Which  name  shall  be  changM  anon. 

The  words  we’ll  transpose,  so  whererer  he  goes. 

His  name  shall  be  called  Little  John.” 

Robin  Hood”  xxi. 

Little  John  was  executed  on  Arbor 
Hill,  Dublin. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Maria  in 

Twelfth  Night,”  represented  by  Shake- 
speare as  a little  woman,  is  by  a similar 
pleasantry  called  by  Viola,  Olivia’s 
giant and  Sir  Toby  says  to  her,  **  Good 
night,  Penthesile'a” — i.e.,  Amazon. 

Little  Masters.  A name  applied 
to  certain  designers,  who  worked  for  en- 
gravers, &c.,  in  the  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth centuries.  Called  little  because 
their  designs  were  on  a small  scale,  fit 
for  copper  or  wood.  The  most  famous 
are  Jost  Amman,  for  the  minuteness  of 
his  work;  Hans  Burgmair,  who  made 
drawings  in  wood  illustrative  of  the  tri- 
umph of  the  emperor  Maximilian ; Hans 
Sebald  Beham ; Albert  Altdorfer,  and 
Henrich  Aldegraver.  Albert  Durer  and 
Lucas  van  Leyden  made  the  art  renowned 
and  popular. 

Little  Nell.  A child  of  beautiful 
purity  of  character,  living  in  the  midst 
of  selfishness,  worldliness,  and  crime. — 
JDickenSj  Old  Curiosity  Shop** 

Little  Paris.  Brussels,  the  capital 
of  Belgium,  and  Milan  in  Italy  are  so 
called,  from  their  gaiety  and  resemblance 
in  miniature  to  the  French  capital. 

Little  Peddlington.  The  village 
of  quackery  and  cant,  humbug  and  ego- 
tism, wherever  that  locality  is.  A satire 
by  J ohn  Poole. 

Little  Ped-Ridinghood.  This 
nursery  tale  is,  with  slight  variations,  j 
common  to  Sweden,  Germany,  and  France. 

It  comes  to  us  from  the  French,  called 
" Le  Petit  Chaperon  Rouge,”  in  Charles 
Perrault’s  Contes  des  Temps.” 

Liturgy  means  public  worh^  such  as 
arranging  the  dancing  and  singing  parties 
on  public  festivals,  the  torch-races,  the 
equipping  and  manning  of  ships,  &c.  In 
the  church  it  means  the  public  ministry 
of  its  ceremonies  and  service.  (Greek, 
Idtos-ergon.)  > 


Liver.  White-livered,  lily-livered. 
Cowardly.  In  the  auspices  taken  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  before  battle,  if  the 
liver  of  the  animals  sacrificed  was  healthy 
and  blood-red,  the  omen  was  favourable ; 
but  if  pale,  it  augured  defeat.  The 
colour  of  the  lips  shows  the  colour  of  the 
liver,  and  fear  makes  the  lips  turn  pale  ; 
hence  Cassius  says,  His  coward  lips  did 
from  their  colours  fly.” — Julius  Ccesar,** 
i.  2. 

Liverpool.  A corruption  of  Lhavan- 
pwll.  Lavan  or  laver  (liver- wort)  is  a sort 
of  sea-weed  that  was  much  esteemed  by 
the  ancient  Britons,  and  once  an  article 
of  commerce.  It  was  used  for  edible 
conserves.  Laver-bread**  was  made  of 
it.  Pwll  is  the  Welsh  for  an  ^'oflQng” 
or  ^^port.” 

Livery.  What  is  delivered.  The 
clothes  of  a man-servant  delivered  to  him 
by  his  master.  The  stables  to  which 
your  horse  is  delivered  for  keep.  During 
the  Merovingian  and  Carlovingian  dynas- 
ties, splendid  dresses  were  given  to  all 
the  members  of  the  royal  household; 
barons  and  knights  gave  uniforms  to 
their  retainers,  and  even  a duke’s  son, 
serving  as  a page,  was  clothed  in  the 
livery  of  the  prince  he  served.  (French, 
livrer.) 

What  livery  is  we  kaow  well  enough ; it  is  the 
allowance  of  horse-meate  to  keepe  horses  at  live^ ; 
the  which  word.  I guess,  is  derived  of  delivering 
forth  their  nightly  food.^Spenser  on  Ireland. 

Livery.  The  colours  of  a livery  should 
be  those  of  the  field  and  principal  charge 
of  the  armorial  shield ; hence  the  queen’s 
livery  is  gules  (scarlet)  or  scarlet  trimmed 
with  gold.  The  Irish  regiments  preserve 
the  charge  of  their  own  nation,  either 
by  blue  uniform  or  blue  facings,  scarlet 
being  the  reverse.  Thus  the  Royal  Irish 
Dragoon  Guards  have  scarlet  uniform 
with  blue  facings,  and  the  Royal  Irish 
Lancers  have  blue  uniform  with  scarlet 
facings. 

Livery-men.  The  freemen  of  the 
ninety-one  guilds  of  London  are  so  called, 
because  they  are  entitled  to  wear  the 
livery  of  their  respective  companies. 

Livy.  The  Livy  of  Portugal.  Jo^o  de 
Barros,  the  best  of  the  Portuguese  his- 
torians. (1496-1570.) 

Liza.  An  innkeeper’s  daughter  in 
love  with  Elvi'no,  a rich  farmer;  but 


520 


LIZARD  ISLANDS. 


LOCKMAN. 


Elvi'no  loves  Ami'na.  Suspicious  circum- 
stances make  the  farmer  renounce  the 
hand  of  Amina  and  promise  marriage  to 
her  rival;  but  Liza  is  shown  to  be  the 
paramour  of  another,  and  Amina,  being 
proved  innocent,  is  married  to  the  man 
who  loves  her. — Bellini,  La  Sonnam- 
lula”  {his  lest  opet'a). 

Xiizard  Islands.  Fabulous  islands 
where  damsels,  outcast  from  the  rest  of 
the  world,  are  received. — Twquemada^ 

Garden  of  Flowers'^ 

Lloyd’s.  So  called  because  the  head- 
quarters of  the  under-writers  was  ori- 
ginally Lloyd’s  Coffee  House  (since  1716). 
Lloyd’s  Rooms  now  form  a part  of  the 
Royal  Exchange,  and  are  under  the 
management  of  a committee. 

Lloyd’s  List.  A London  periodical, 
in  which  the  shipping  news  received  at 
Lloyd’s  Rooms  is  regularly  published. 

Loaf.  Never  turn  a loaf  in  the  presence 
of  a Mmteith,  Sir  J ohn  Menteith  was  the 
person  who  betrayed  Sir  William  Wal- 
lace to  king  Edward.  His  signal  was, 
when  he  turned  a loaf  set  on  the  table, 
the  English  were  to  rush  upon  the  patriot 
and  secure  him. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Tales 
of  a Grandfather,^*  vii. 

A loaf  held  in  the  hand  is  the  attribute 
of  St.  Philip  the  apostle,  St.  Osyth,  St. 
Joanna,  Nicholas,  St.  Godfrey,  and  of 
many  other  saints  noted  for  their  charity 
to  the  poor. 

Loafer.  An  idle  man  who  gets  his 
living  by  expedients,  a chevalier  d*indus- 
trie.  (German,  I'dnfer,  a runner. ) 

Loathly  Lady.  A lady  so  hideous 
that  nf  one  would  marry  her,  except  Sir 
Gawaip.;  and  immediately  after  the  mar- 
riage, her  ugliness — the  effect  of  enchant- 
ment-disappeared, and  she  became  a 
model  of  beauty. 

Lob’s  Pound.  A prison,  the  stocks, 
or  any  other  place  of  confinement. 
(Welsh,  lldb,  a dolt).  The  Irish  call  it 
Pook’s  or  Pouk’s  pondfold,  and  Puck  is 
called  by  Shakespeare  ^Hhe  lob  of 
spirits,”  and  by  Milton  '‘the  lubber 
fiend.”  Our  word  lolhy  is  where  people 
are  confined  till  admission  is  granted 
them  into  the  audience  chamber ; it  is 
also  applied  to  that  enclosed  space  near 
farm-yards  where  cattle  are  confined. 

Lob's  pound.  Dr.  Grey  says : " Dr. 
Lob  was  a dissenting  preacher  who  used 


to  hold  forth  when  conventicles  were 
prohibited,  but  made  himself  a way  of 
escape  through  the  floor  of  the  pulpit. 
One  day,  being  pressed  by  the  officers, 
the  doctor  was  followed  ; but  the  officers 
lost  their  way,  and  were  obliged  to  cry 
for  help.  This  maze  was  ever  after  termed 
"Lob’s  pound.” 

Lobby.  The  bill  will  a'oss  the  lobbies. 
Be  sent  from  the  House  of  Commons  to 
the  House  of  Lords. 

Loblolly,  among  seamen,  is  spoon- 
victuals  or  pap  for  lobs  or  dolts.  {Sea 
Lollypops.) 

LochPel  (3  syl.)  of  Thomas  Campbell 
is  Sir  Evan  Cameron,  lord  of  Lochiel,. 
surname  d The  Black,  and  The  Ulysses  of 
the  Highlands.  His  grandson  Donald  was 
called  The  Gentle  Lochiel.  Sir  Evan  died 
in  1719,  Donald  in  1748. 

Lochinvar',  being  in  love  with  a 
lady  at  Netherby  Hall,  persuaded  her  to 
dance  one  last  dance.  She  was  con- 
demned to  marry  a "laggard  in  love  and 
a dastard  in  war,”  but  her  young  chevalier 
swung  her  into  his  saddle  and  made  off 
with  her,  before  the  "bridegroom”  and 
his  servants  could  recover  from  their  as- 
tonishment.— Sir  Walter  Scott,  " Mar- 
'inion** 

Lockbart.  When  the  good  lord 
James,  on  his  way  to  the  Holy  Land 
with  the  heart  of  king  Robert  Bruce, 
was  slain  in  Spain  fighting  against  the 
Moors,  Sir  Simon  Locard,  of  Lee,  was 
commissioned  to  carry  back  to  Scotland 
the  heart,  which  was  interred  in  St. 
Bride’s  Church.  In  consequence  thereof 
he  changed  his  name  to  Lock-heart,  and 
adopted  the  device  of  a heart  within  a 
fetterlock,  with  this  motto — " Corda  ser- 
rata  pando”  (Locked  hearts  I open).  Of 
course  this  is  romance ; Lockhart  is 
Teutonic,  " Strong  beguiler.” 

For  this  reason  men  changed  Sir  Simon’s  name 
from  Lockhard  to  Lockheart,  and  all  who  are  de- 
scended from  Sir  Simon  are  called  Lockhart  to  this 
day.— <S»>  Walter  Scott,  “ Tales  of  a Grandfather,'’  xi. 

Lockit.  The  jailor  in  Gay’s  "Beg- 
gar’s Opera.” 

Lockitt’s.  A fashionable  coffee- 
house in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

Lockman.  An  executioner ; ?o 
called  because  one  of  his  dues  was  a 
lock  (or  ladleful)  of  meal  from  every 


LOCKSLEY. 


Loa. 


521 


caskful  exposed  for  sale  in  the  market. 
In  the  Isle  of  Man  the  under-sheriff  is 
so  called. 

Xiocksley.  So  Kobin  Hood  is  some- 
times called,  from  the  village  in  which 
he  was  born.  {See  ‘‘Ivanhoe,”  ch.  xiii.) 
Locksmith’s  Daughter.  A key. 

Loco  Parentis  {J^atin),  One  acting 
in  the  place  of  a parent,  as  a guardian 
or  schoolmaster. 

Locofo'cos.  Lucifer  matches ; so 
called  in  America.  (Latin,  loco-foci,  in 
lieu  of  fire. ) 

Locofo'cos.  Ultra-radicals,  so  called  in 
America,  because  at  a grand  meeting  in 
Tammany  Hall,  New  York,  in  1834,  the 
chairman  left  his  seat,  and  the  lights  were 
suddenly  extinguished  with  the  hope  of 
breaking  up  the  turbulent  assembly ; but 
those  who  were  in  favour  of  extreme 
measures  instantly  drew  from  their 
pockets  their  locofocos,  and  re-lighted 
the  gas.  The  meeting  was  continued, 
and  the  Kadicals  had  it  their  own  way. 
(^See  above.) 

Locomotive,  or  Locomotive  Engine* 
A steam-engine  employed  to  move  car- 
riages from  place  to  place.  (Latin,  locns 
moveo,  to  move  place. ) 

Locomotive  Power.  Power  ap- 
plied to  the  transport  of  goods,  in 
contradistinction  to  stationary  power. 

Locri'ne  (2  syl.).  Father  of  Sabri  na, 
and  eldest  son  of  the  mythical  Brutus, 
king  of  ancient  Britain.  On  the  death 
of  his  father  he  became  king  of  Loe'gria 
(?.»•)• 

Locum  Te'nens  {Latin,  one  hold- 
ing the  place  of  another).  A substitute, 
a deputy,  one  acting  temporarily  for 
another,  a lieutenant. 

Locus  in  quo  {Latin).  The  place 
in  question,  the  spot  mentioned. 

Locus  Pcenitentise  {Latin,  place 
for  repentance) ; that  is,  the  licence  of 
drawing  back  from  a bargain,  which  can 
be  done  before  any  act  has  been  com- 
mitted to  confirm  it.  In  the  interview 
between  Esau  and  his  father  Isaac,  St. 
Paul  says  that  the  former  found  no 
place  for  repentance,  though  he  sought 
it  carefully  with  tears”  (Heb.  xii.  17) — 
i.e.,  no  means  whereby  Isaac  could  break 
his  bargain  with  Jacob. 

Locus  Pcenitentice.  fifime  to  withdraw 
from  a 1:  argain  (in  Scotch  law). 


Locus  Sigilli  or  L.S.  {Latin)* 
The  place  where  the  seal  is  to  be  put. 

Locus  Standi  {Latin).  Recognised' 
position,  acknowledged  right  or  claim. 
We  say  such-and-such  a one  has  no- 
locus  standi  in  society. 

Locust  Bird.  A native  of  Khoras- 
san  (Persia),  so  fond  of  the  water  of 
the  Bird  Fountain,  between  Shiraz  and 
Ispahan,  that  it  will  follow  wherever  it 
is  carried. 

Locus'ta.  This  woman  has  become 
a byword  for  one  who  murders  those 
she  professes  to  nurse,  or  those  whom 
it  is  her  duty  to  take  care  of.  She 
lived  in  the  early  part  of  the  Roman 
empire,  poisoned  Claudius  and  Britan'- 
nicus,  and  attempted  to  destroy  Nero ; 
but  being*  found  out,  she  was  put  to 
death. 

Lode.  The  vein  that  leads  or  guides 
to  ore. 

Lode.  A ditch  that  guides  or  leads 
water  into  a river  or  sewer. 

Lodestar.  The  leading-star  by  which 
mariners  are  led  or  guided. 

Your  eyes  are  lodestars,  and  your  tongue  sweet  air. 

Shakespeare,  “ Midsummer  Jiight'a  Bream,*’  i.  1. 

Load-stone  or  Lode-stone.  The 
magnet  or  stone  that  guides. 

Lodo'na.  An  affluent  of  the  Thames 
in  Windsor  Forest.  Pope,  in  ‘^Windsor 
Forest,”  says  it  was  a nymph,  fond  of 
the  chase  like  Diana.  It  chanced  one 
day  that  Pan  saw  her,  and  tried  to  catch 
her ; but  Lodona  fled,  and  implored  Cyn'- 
thia  to  save  her  from  her  persecutor.  No  ■ 
sooner  had  she  spoken  than  she  became 
‘^a  silver  stream  which  ever  keeps  its- 
virgin  coolness.” 

Loegria  or  Lo'gres.  England  is  so- 
called  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  from 
Logris,  eldest  son  of  the  mythical  king 
Brute. 

Lofna.  The  goddess  whose  office  it 
is  to  reconcile  lovers  after  a quarrel. — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

Log.  An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  velocity  of  a ship.  It  is  a flat 
piece  of  wood,  some  six  inches  in  radius, 
and  in  the  shape  of  a quadrant.  A 
piece  of  lead  is  nailed  to  the  rim  to 
make  the  log  float  perpendicularly.  To 
this  log  a line  is  fastened,  called  tho- 
log-line  {q.v.). 


522 


LOG-BOARD. 


LOMBARD. 


Log-board.  A couple  of  boards  shut- 
ting like  a book,  in  which  the  ‘•'logs” 
;are  entered.  It  may  be  termed  the 
waste-book,  and  the  log-look  the  journal. 

Log-book.  The  journal  in  which 
the  “logs”  are  entered  by  the  chief 
mate.  Besides  the  logs,  this  book  con- 
stains  all  general  transactions  pertaining 
to  the  ship  and  its  crew,  such  as  the 
«trength  and  course  of  the  winds,  the 
conduct  and  misconduct  of  the  men, 
and,  in  short,  everything  w^orthy  of  note. 

Log-line.  The  line  fastened  to 
the  log  wound  round  a reel 

in  the  ship’s  gallery.  The  whole  line 
(except  some  five  fathoms  next  the  log, 

• called  stray  line)  is  divided  into  equal 
lengths  called  knots,  each  of  which  is 
marked  with  a piece  of  coloured  tape  or 
bunting.  Suppose  the  captain  wishes 
to  know  the  rate  of  his  ship  : one  of  the 
eailors  throws  the  log  into  the  sea,  and 
the  reel  begins  to  unwind.  The  length 
of  line  run  off  in  half  a minute  shows 
the  rate  of  the  ship’s  motion  per  hour. 

Logan  or  Rocking  Stones,  for  which 
‘ Cornwall  is  famous. 

Pliny  tells  us  of  a rock  near  Harpasa 
which  might  be  moved  with  a finger. 

Ptolemy  says  the  Gygpnian  rock  might 
be  stirred  with  a stalk  of  asphodel. 

Half  a mile  from  St.  David’s  is  a Logan 
r stone,  mounted  on  divers  other  stones, 
which  may  be  shaken  with  one  finger. 

At  Golcar  Hill  (Yorkshire)  is  a rocking 
stone,  which  has  lost  its  power  from 
being  hacked  by  workmen  who  wanted 
to  find  out  the  secret  of  its  rocking  mys- 
tery. 

In  Pembrokeshire  is  a rocking  stone, 
rendered  immovable  by  the  soldiers  of 
Cromwell,  who  held  it  to  be  an  encourage- 
ment to  superstition. 

The  stone  called  Menamber  in  Sithney 

• (Cornwall)  was  also  rendered  immovable 
by  the  same  soldiers,  under  the  same 
notion. 

There  are  very  many  others. 

Loggerlieads.  Fall  to  loggerheads; 
to  squabbling  and  handy-cuffs,  especially 
lugging  at  each  other’s  head. 

Logistilla  (in  “Orlando  Furioso”). 
The  good  fairy,  and  sister  of  Alci'na  the 
-sorceress.  She  teaches  Ruggie'ro  to 
manage  the  hippogriff,  and  gives  Astol- 
^pho  a magic  book  and  horn.  The  imper- 
sonate on  of  reason. 


Logres.  {See  Loegria.) 

Lo'gria.  England,  so  called  by  the 
old  romancers  and  fabulous  historians, 

Logris,  Locris.  Same  as  Locrine 
{q.v.). 

Loki.  The  god  of  strife  and  spirit 
of  evil.  He  artfully  contrived  the  death 
of  Balder,  when  Odin  had  forbidden 
everything  that  springs  “ from  fire,  air, 
earth,  and  water”  to  injure  him.  The 
mistletoe  not  being  included,  was  made 
into  an  arrow,  given  to  the  blind  Hdder, 
and  shot  at  random  ; but  it  struck  the 
beautiful  Balder  and  killed  him.  This 
evil  being  was  subsequently  chained 
with  ten  chains,  and  will  so  continue  till 
the  twilight  of  the  gods  appears,  when 
he  will  break  his  bonds;  then  will  the 
heavens  disappear,  the  earth  be  swal- 
lowed up  by  the  sea,  fire  shall  consume 
the  elements,  and  even  Odin,  with  all 
his  kindred  deities,  shall  perish. 

Lokman.  A fabulous  personage, 
the  supposed  author  of  a collection  of 
Arabic  fables.  Like  .^sop  he  is  said  to 
have  been  a slave,  noted  for  his  ugliness. 

Lollards.  So  called  from  their  prac- 
tice of  singing  dirges  at  funerals.  (Low- 
German,  lollen,  to  sing  slowly.)  The 
early  German  reformers  and  the  followers 
of  Wickliffe  were  so  called.  An  ingenious 
derivation  is  given  by  Bailey,  who  s>ig- 
gests  the  Latin  word  lolium  (darnel), 
becaused  these  reformers  were  deemed 
“ tares  in  God’s  wheat-field.” 

Lollypops.  Sweets  made  of  treacle,' 
butter,  and  fiour ; any  sweets  which  are 
sucked.  They  are  the  lollie’s  pupets. 
A loll  is  a pet  or  spoilt  child,  from  loll, 
to  fondle,  and  lollie  is  its  diminutive. 
Pupet  means  a doll  or  plaything. 

Lombard  (A ).  A banker  or  money- 
lender ; so  called  because  the  first  bank- 
ers were  from  Lombardy,  and  set  up  in 
Lombard  Street  (London)  in  the  middle 
ages.  The  business  of  lending  money 
on  pawns  was  carried  on  in  England  by 
Italian  merchants  or  bankers  as  early  at 
least  as  the  reign  of  Richard  I.  By  the 
12  Edward  I.  a messuage  was  confirmed 
to  these  traders  where  Lombard  Street 
now  stands ; but  the  trade  was  first  re- 
cognised in  Jaw  by  James  I.  The  name 
Lombard  (according  to  Stow)  is  a con- 
traction of  Longobards.  Among  the 


LOMBARD  FEVER. 


LONG  TAIL. 


523 


richest  of  these  Longobard  merchants 
was  the  celebrated  Medici  family,  from 
whose  armorial  bearings  the  insignia  of 
three  golden  balls  has  been  derived. 
The  Lombard  bankers  exercised  a mo- 
nopoly in  pawn-broking  till  the  reign  of 
qneen  Elizabeth. 

Lombard  Fever.  Laziness.  Pawn- 
brokers are  called  Lombard  brokers,  be- 
cause they  retain  the  three  golden  balls  of 
the  Lombard  money-changers  ; and  lazy 
folk  will  pawn  anything  rather  than  settle 
down  to  steady  work. 

Lombardic.  The  debased  Roman 
style  of  architecture  adopted  in  Lom- 
bardy after  the  fall  of  Rome. 

London,  says  Francis  Crosslej^,  is 
Luan-dun  (Celtic),  City  of  the  Moon, 
and  tradition  says  there  was  once  a tem- 
ple of  Diana  (the  Moon)  where  St.  Paul’s 
now  stands.  Greenwich  he  derives  from 
Grian-^vich  (City  of  the  Sun),  also  Celtic. 
It  would  fill  a page  to  give  a list  of  guesses 
made  at  the  derivation  of  the  word  Lon- 
don. The  one  given  above  is  about  the 
best  for  fable  and  mythology.  (^See 
Augusta,  Babylon,  and  Lud’s  Town.) 

London-stone.  The  central  milia- 
rium  {milestone)  of  Roman  London,  simi- 
lar to  that  in  the  Forum  of  Rome.  The 
British  high-roads  radiated  from  this 
stone,  and  it  was  from  this  point  they 
were  measured.  Near  London-stone 
lived  Fitz  Alwyne,  first  mayor  of  London. 

Long-boat.  Formerly  the  largest 
boat  belonging  to  a ship,  built  full,  fiat, 
and  high,  so  as  to  carry  a great  weight. 

Long-bow.  To  draw  the  long-how. 
To  exaggerate.  The  force  of  an  arrow  in 
the  long-bow  depends  on  the  strength  of 
the  arm  that  draws  it,  so  the  force  of  a 
statement  depends  on  the  force  of  the 
speaker’s  imagination.  The  long-bow 
was  the  favourite  weapon  of  the  English 
from  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  till  it  was 
superseded  by  fire-arms. 

Longchamps.  On  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  and  Friday  of  Passion  Week, 
the  Parisians  go  in  procession  to  Long- 
champs,  near  the  Bois  de  Boulogne. 
This  procession  is  made  by  private  car- 
riages and  hired  cabs,  and  is  formed  by 
all  the  smartly-dressed  men  and  women 
who  wish  to  display  the  spring  fashions. 
The  origin  of  the  custom  is  this  : There 
ivas  once  a famous  nunnery  at  Long- 


champs,  noted  for  its  singing.  In  Passion 
Week  all  who  could  went  to  hear  these 
religious  women  sing  the  Tenfebres  ; the 
custom  grew  into  a fashion,  and  though 
the  house  no  longer  exists,  the  procession 
continues,  and  is  as  fashionable  as  ever. 

Long-crown.  A deep  fellow ; long- 
headed. 

That  caps  Long-crown^  and  he  capped 
the  Devil , That  is  a greater  falsehood 
than  even  ‘Hhe  father  of  lies”  would  tell. 

Iiong  Meg  of  Westminster.  A 
noted  virago  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 
Her  name  has  been  given  to  several 
articles  of  unusual  size.  Thus,  the  large 
blue-black  marble  in  the  south  cloister 
of  Westminster  Abbey,  over  the  grave  of 
Gervasius  de  Blois,  is  called  Long  Meg 
of  Westminster.”  Fuller  says  the  term 
is  applied  to  things  of  hop -pole  height, 
wanting  breadth  proportionable  there- 
unto,” and  refers  to  a great  gun  in  the 
Tower  so  called,  taken  to  Westminster 
in  troublous  times. 

The  large  gun  in  Edinburgh  Castle  is 
called  Long  Meg,  and  the  bomb  forged 
for  the  siege  of  Oudenarde,  in  1832,  now 
in  the  city  of  Ghent,  is  called  Mad  Meg. 

In  the  Edinburgh  Antiquarian  Maga- 
zine,” September,  1769,  we  read  of  “ Peter 
Branan,  aged  104,  who  was  six  feet  six 
inches  high,  and  was  commonly  called 
Long  Meg  of  Westminster.  {See  Meg.) 

Long  Meg  and  her  Daughters.  At 
Little  Salkeld  (Cornwall)  is  a circle  of 
seventy-seven  stones,  each  ten  feet  high  ; 
before  these,  at  the  entrance,  is  a single 
stone,  fifteen  feet  high.  The  tall  stone 
is  called  Long  Meg,  and  the  seventy-seven 
shorter  ones  her  daughters. 

There  is  a similar  family  of  stones, 
called  by  the  same  name,  near  Penrith, 
in  Cumberland.  (Greek,  meg-as,  great.) 

Long  Parliament;  The  parliament 
which  assembled  November  3rd,  1640, 
and  was  dissolved  by  Cromwell,  April 
20th,  1653. 

Long  Peter.  Peter  Aartsen,  the 
Flemish  painter ; so  called  on  account  of 
his  extraordinary  height.  (1507-1573.) 

Long-sword  {Longue-epie).  Wil- 
liam II.  duke  of  Normandy.  (Died  943.) 

Long  Tail.  Cut  and  long  tail.  One 
and  another,  all  of  every  description. 
The  phrase  had  its  origin  in  the  practice 
of  cutting  the  tails  of  certain  dogs  and 


524 


LONG-TAILED, 


LOOKING-GLASS. 


horses,  and  leaving  others  in  their  natural 
state,  so  that  cut  and  long  tail  horses  or 
dogs  included  all  the  species.  Master 
Slender  says  he  will  maintain  Anne  Page 
like  a gentlewoman.  ‘‘  Ah  ! ” says  he — 

That  I will,  come  cut  and  long  tail  under  the  degree 
of  a squire  (i.e.,a8  well  as  any  man  can  who  is  not  a 
—Shakespearet  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor t* 

iiL  4. 

Iiong-tailed.  How  about  the  long- 
tailed beggar  A reproof  given  to  one 
who  is  drawing  the  long-bow  too 
freely.  The  tale  is  that  a boy  who  had 
been  a short  voyage  pretended  on  his 
return  to  have  forgotten  everything  be- 
longing to  his  native  home,  and  asked 
his  mother  what  she  called  that  ‘‘long- 
tailed beggar/’  meaning  the  cat. 

Long  Tom  Co£0.n.  A sailor  of 
noble  daring,  in  “ The  Pilot,”  by  Cooper. 

Long  Words. 

Alcomiroziropoulopilousitounitapignac 
The  giantess. — “ Croquemitaine,’*  iii.  2. 

Amoronthologosphorus.  {See  Hair — 
The  Three  Hairs,') 

Anantachaturdasivratakatha.  (Sans- 
krit work.  See  Triibner’s  “ Literary 
Record.”) 

Antipericatametanaparbeugedamphic  - 
ribrationes  Toordicantium.  One  of  the 
books  in  the  library  of  St.  Victor. — 
Rabelais,  Pantagruel,^'  ii.  7. 

Batrachomyomachia  (battle  of  the  frogs 
and  mice).  A Greek  mock  heroic. 

Cluninstaridysarchides. — Plautus. 

Don  Juan  Nepomuceno  de  Burionago- 
natotorecagageazcoecha.  An  employ^  in 
the  finance  department  of  Madrid.  (1867.) 

Drimtaidhvrickhillichattan,  in  the  Isle 
of  Mull,  Argyleshire. 

Honorihcabilitudinitatibus,  called  the 
longest  word  in  the  (?)  English  language. 
It  frequently  occurs  in  old  plays.  {See 
“ Bailey’s  Dictionary.”) 

Thou  art  not  so  long  by  the  head  as  honorificabili- 
tudinitatibus.— 5AaA:espeare,  “ Love’s  Labour  's  LosU ' ’ 

V.  1. 

J ungef  rauenzimra  erdurchschwindsuch- 
ttoedtungs-gegenverein  {German).  — See 
“Notes  and  Queries,”  vol.  v.,  p.  124 
(First  Series). 

Kagwadawwacomegishearg.  An  Indian 
chief,  who  died  in  Wisconsin  in  1866. 

EJeinkinderbe  wharanstalten  ( German), 

L e padotemachoselachogaleokrani  olei  - 
phanodrimupotrimmatokichlepikossuph- 
ophattoperisteralektruonoptegkephalo  k - 
igklopeleiolagoosiraiobaphetraganopteru- 
gon.  The  longest  word  extant  (169 


Greek  letters  and  77  syl.).  — Aristo- 
phanes, EJchlesiazousai,^  v.  1169. 

Llanvairpwllgwgngyll,  in  the  dioceso 
of  Bangor. 

Nitrophenylenediamine.  A dye  of  an 
intense  red  colour. 

Dinitroaniline,  chloroxynaphthalic  acid,  which 
may  be  used  for  colouring  wool  in  intense  red ; 
and  nitrophenylenediamine  of  chromatic  brilliancy. 
— William  Crookes,  “ The  Times,’’  October  5th,  1S6S. 

Polyphrasticontinomimegalondulaton. 

Why  not  wind  up  the  famous  ministerial  declara- 
tion with  *•  Konx  Ompax,”  or  the  mystic  “ Om,”  or 
that  difficult  expression  “ Polyphrasticontinomime- 
galondulaton?”— 27ie  Star. 

M.  N.  Rostocostojambedanesse,  author 
of  “After  Beef  Mustard.”— 

Pantagruel”  ii.  7. 

Sankashtachaturthivratodyapana.  ( San- 
skrit work.  See  Trlibner’s  “Literary 
Record.”) 

Swapanchaksharimahamantrastotra. — 
(Sanskrit  work.  See  Trlibner’s  “ Literary 
Record.”) 

Trigunatmikakalikastotra.  (Sanskrit 
work.  NeeTriibuer’s  “Literary Record.”) 

Conturbabantur  Constantinopolitani. 
lanumerabilibus  sollicitudinibus. 

Lon'gius.  The  Roman  soldier  who 
smote  our  Lord  with  his  spear.  In  the 
romance  of  king  Arthur,  this  spear  was 
brought  by  Joseph  of  Arimathea  to  Lis- 
tenise,  when  he  visited  king  Pellam,“  who 
was  nigh  of  Joseph’s  kin.”  The  bed  and 
spear  were  thus  endowed  with  miracu- 
lous powers.  Sir  Balim  the  Shvage  being 
in  want  of  a weapon,  seized  this  spear, 
with  which  he  wounded  king  Pellam,  and 
“ three  whole  countries  were  destroyed” 
by  that  one  stroke,  and  Sir  Balim  saw 
“the  people  thereof  lying  dead  on  all 
sides.” — History  of  Prince  Arthur,'* 
vol  i.,  chaps.  40,  41. 

Lookers-on.  The  man  on  the  dyhe 
always  hurls  well.  The  man  standing  on 
the  mound,  and  looking  at  those  who  are 
playing  at  the  game  of  hurling,  can  see 
the  faults  and  criticise  them. 

To  look  as  big  as  bull  beef.  To  look 
stout  and  hearty,  as  if  fed  on  bull  beef. 
Bull  beef  was  formerly  recommended  for 
making  men  strong  and  muscular. 

Looking  back  (unlucky).  This 
arose  from  Lot’s  wife,  who  looked  back 
towards  Sodom  and  was  turned  to  a 
pillar  of  salt  (Gen.  xix.  26). 

Looking-glass.  It  is  unlucky  to 
hi'eak  a looking-glass.  The  nature  of  the 
ill-luck  varies : thus,  if  a maiden,  she 


LOOM. 


LORD  OF  MISRULE.  525 


will  never  marry ; if  a married  woman, 
it  betokens  a death;  &c.  This  super- 
stition arose  from  the  use  made  of  mirrors 
in  former  times  by  magicians.  If  in  their 
operations  the  mirror  used  was  broken, 
the  magician  was  obliged  to  give  over 
his  operation,  and  the  unlucky  inquirer 
eould  receive  no  answer. 

Loohing-gldss  of  Lfio  reflected  the  mind 
as  well  as  the  outward  form. — **  Citizen 
of  the  World/*  xlv. 

XiOOm;  so  called  from  Sir  Thomas 
Loom,  who  erected  the  first  machine  for 
weaving  raw  silk  at  Derby  in  1725.  The 
invention  came  from  Flanders. 

Iioophole.  A way  of  escape,  an 
evasion ; a corruption  of  louvre  holes.” 
(See  Louvre.) 

Lorbrul'grud.  The  capital  of  Brob- 
dingnag.  The  word  is  humourously  said 
to  mean ''  Pride  of  the  Universe.” — Sivift, 

Gulliver* s Travels.** 

Lord.  A nobleman. 

The  word  lord  is  a contraction  of  lilaf- 
ord  (Saxon  for  loaf -author”  or  “bread- 
earner”);  lady  is  hlaf-dig,  or  “bread- 
dispenser.”  The  man  earns  the  food 
and  the  woman  dispenses  it,  or  doles  it 
•out.  Retainers  were  called  hlaf-oetas,  or 
“bread-eaters.”  Verstegan  suggests ^^<7/- 
fordt  “bread-givers.” 

Lord  Burleigh..  As  significant  as 
tlie^shake  of  Lord  Burleigh* s head.  In 

The  Critic,”  by  Sheridan,  is  introduced 
a tragedy  called  the  “Spanish  Armada.” 
Lord  Burleigh  is  introduced,  but  is  too 
full  of  state  affairs  to  utter  a word ; he 
shakes  his  head,  and  Puff  explains  what 
Ihe  shake  means. 

Lord  Fanny.  A nickname  given  to 
Lord  Hervey  for  his  effeminate  and  fop- 
pish manners.  He  painted  his  face,  and 
was  as  pretty  in  his  ways  as  a boarding- 
school  miss.  (In  the  reign  of  George  II. ) 

Lord  Foppington.  A coxcomb 
who  considers  dress  and  fashion  the  end 
•and  aim  of  nobility. — Vanhrughy  The 
Relapse.** 

Lord  Lovel.  The  bridegroom  who 
lost  his  bride  on  the  wedding-day.  She 
was  playing  at  hide-and-seek,  and  se- 
lected an  old  oak  chest  for  her  hiding- 
place.  The  chest  closed  with  a spring 
lock,  and  many  years  after  her  skeleton 


told  the  sad  story  of  “ The  Mistletoe 
Bough.”  Samuel  Rogers  introduces  this 
story  in  his  “Italy”  (part  i.  18).  He 
says  the  bride  was  Ginevra,  only  child 
of  Orsini,  “an  indulgent  father.”  The 
bridegroom  was  Francesco  Doria,  '^her 
playmate  from  her  birth,  and  her  first 
love.”  The  chest  in  which  she  was 
buried  alive  in  her  bridal  dress  was  an 
heir-loom,  “ richly  carved  by  Antony  of 
Trent,  with  Scripture  stories  from  the 
life  of  Christ.”  It  came  from  Venice, 
and  had  “held  the  ducal  robes  of  some 
old  ancestor.”  Francesco,  weary  of  his 
life,  flew  to  Venice  and  “ flung  his  life 
away  in  battle  with  the  Turk.”  Orsini 
went  deranged,  and  spent  the  live-long 
day  “ wandering  as  in  quest  of  something, 
something  he  could  not  find.”  Fifty 
years  after  the  chest  was  removed  by 
strangers  and  the  skeleton  discovered. 

Lord  Peter.  The  pope  is  so  called 
in  “The  History  of  John  Bull,”  by  Ar- 
buthnot. 

Lord  Strutt.  Charles  II.  is  so 
called  in  “The  History  of  John  Bull,” 
by  Arbuthnot. 

Lord  Thomas  and  the  Fair  An- 
net  or  Elinor j had  a lovers’  quarrel, 
when  lord  Thomas  resolved  to  forsake 
Annet  for  a nut-brown  maid  who  had 
houses  and  lands.  On  the  wedding-day 
Annet,  in  bridal  bravery,  went  to  the 
church,  when  lord  Thomas  repented  of 
his  folly,  and  gave  Annet  a rose.  Where- 
upon the  nut-brown  maid  killed  her  with 
a “ long  bodkin  from  out  her  gay  head- 
gear.” Lord  Thomas,  seeing  Annet  fall 
dead,  plunged  his  dagger  into  the  heart 
of  the  murderess,  and  then  stabbed  him- 
self. Over  the  graves  of  lord  Thomas 
and  fair  Annet  grew  a “bonny  briar, 
and  by  this  ye  may  ken  right  well  that 
they  were  lovers  dear.”  In  some  ballads 
the  fair  Annet  is  called  the  fair  Elinor. — 
Pefixyf  ReligueSy*  series  iii.,  bk.  3. 

Lord  of  Misrule,  called  in  Scot- 
land Abbot  of  Unreason,  prohibited  in 
1555.  Stow  says — “ At  the  feast  of 
Christmas,  in  the  king’s  court,  there  was 
always  appointed,  on  All-Hallow’s  eve,  a 
master  of  mirth  and  fun,”  who  remained 
in  oflice  till  the  feast  of  Purification.  A 
similar  “ lord”  was  appointed  by  the  lord 
mayor  of  London,  the  sheriffs,  and  the 
chief  nobility.  Stubbs  teUs  us  that  these 
mock  dignitaries  had  from  twenty  t^ 


526  LORD  OF  THE  ISLES, 


LOVE, 


sixty  officers  under  them,  and  were  fur- 
nished with  hobby-horses,  dragons,  and 
musicians.  They  first  went  to  church 
with  such  a confused  noise  that  no  one 
could  hear  his  own  voice. 

Lord  of  the  Isles.  Donald  of  Islay, 
who  in  1346  reduced  the  Hebrides  under 
his  sway.  The  title  had  been  borne  by 
others  for  centuries  before,  and  was  also 
borne  by  his  successors.  One  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott’s  metrical  romances  is  so 
called. 

Loreda'no  (James).  A Venetian 
patrician,  and  one  of  the  ^'Council  of 
Ten.”  He  was  the  personal  enemy  of 
the  Fos'cari.— 15yro?i,  “ The  Tieo  FoscariJ 

Lorenzo  (in  Young’s  Night 
Thoughts”).  An  atheist,  whose  remorse 
ends  in  despair. 

Lorenzo.  The  suitor  of  the  fair  J essica, 
daughter  of  Shylock  the  Jew. — Shake- 
speare^ Merchant  of  Venice'* 

Lorrequer  (Harry).  The  hero  of  a 
novel  so  called,  by  Charles  Lever. 

Lose.  ’ Tis  not  I who  lose  the  A thenians, 
hut  the  Athenians  who  lose  me,  said 
Anaxag'oras,  when  he  was  driven  out  of 
Athens. 

Lost  Island.  Cephalo'nia,  so  called 
because  it  was  only  by  chance  that  even 
those  who  had  visited  it  could  find  it 
again.  It  is  sometimes  called  The 
Hidden  Island.” 

Lotha'rio.  A gay  Lothario.  A gay 
libertine,  a seducer  of  female  modesty,  a 
debauchee.  The  character  is  from  The 
Fair  Penitent,”  by  Rowe. 

Lotus.  The  Egyptians  pictured  God 
sitting  on  a lote-tree,  above  the  watery 
mud.  Jamblichus  says,  the  leaves  and 
fruit  of  the  lote-tree  being  round,  repre- 
sent the  motion  of  intellect ; ” its 
towering  up  through  mud  symbolises  the 
eminency  of  divine  intellect  over  matter ; 
and  the  deity  sitting  on  the  lote-tree 
implies  his  intellectual  sovereignty. — 
**  My ster.  Egypt.,'*  sec.  7,  cap.  ii.,  p.  151. 

Lotus.  Mahomet  says  that  a lote-tree 
stands  in  the  seventh  heaven,  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God. 

Dry' ope  of  CEcha'lia  was  one  day 
carrying  her  infant  son,  when  she 
plucked  a lotus-flower  for  his  amuse- 
ment, and  was  instantaneously  trans- 
formed into  a lotus. 

Lotis,  daughter  of  Neptune,  fleeing 


from  Pria'pus,  was  metamorphosed  into 
a lotus. 

Lotus-eaters  or  Lotoph'agi,  in  Ho* 
meric  legend,  are  a people  who  ate  of  the- 
lotus-tree,  the  effect  of  which  was  to 
make  them  forget  their  friends  and 
homes,  and  to  lose  all  desire  of  returning 
to  their  native  land,  their  only  wish  be- 
ing to  live  in  idleness  in  Lotus-land.— 

Odyssey**  xi. 

A lotus-eater.  One  living  in  ease  and 
luxury. 

Loud  Patterns.  Flashy,  showy 
ones.  The  analogy  between  sound  and 
colour  is  very  striking. 

Loud  as  Tom  of  Lincoln.  Tho 
great  church-bell. 

Louis  (St^  is  usually  represented  as- 
holding  the  Saviour’s  crown  of  thorns 
and  the  cross  ; sometimes,  however,  he^ 
is  represented  with  a pilgrim’s  staff,  and 
sometimes  with  the  standard  of  the  cross, 
the  allusion  in  all  cases  being  to  his 
crusades. 

Louse-wort  (Pedicularis  palustris). 
A corruption  of  Loose-wort ; so  called 
because  the  seeds  are  very  loosely  held  in 
a spacious  inflated  capsule,  and  may  when 
dry  be  shaken  like  a rattle. 

Louvre  (Paris),  a corruption  of 
Lupara,  as  it  is  called  in  old  title- 
deeds. 

Dagobert  is  said  to  have  built  here  a 
hunting- seat,  the  nucleus  of  the  present 
magnificent  pile  of  buildings. 

He’ll  make  your  Paris  Louvre  shake  for  it 
Shakespeare.  “ Htnry  V.”  act  iL  4. 

Louvre.  The  tower  or  turret  of  a 
building  like  a belfry,  originally  designed 
for  a sort  of  chimney  to  let  out  the 
smoke.  (French,  Vouvert,  the  opening.) 

Louvre  Boards  in  churches.  Before 
chimneys  were  used,  holes  were  left  in 
the  roof,  called  loovers  or  leuver  holes. 
From  the  French  Vouvert  (the  opea 
boards). 

Love  (god  of). 

Cam'deo,  in  Hindu  mythology. 

Camade'va,  in  Persian  mythology. 

Cupid,  in  Roman  mythology. 

Eros,  in  Greek  mythology. 

Frey  a,  in  Celtic  mythology. 

Kama  or  Cama,  in  Indian  mythology.. 

Bowyer,  &c.  &c.) 

The  family  of  love,  A sect  of  fanatic® 


LOVE’S  GIRDLE. 


LOWER  EMPIRE. 


527 


in  the  sixteenth  century,  holding  tenets 
not  unlike  those  of  the  Anabaptists. 

Love  and  lordship  never  like  fellowship. 
French,  Amour  et  seigneurie  ne  veulent 
point  de  compagne;  German,  Liebe  und 
herschaft  leiden  keine  geselschaft ; Italian, 
Amor  e seignoHa  non  vogliono  compagnia 
(Neither  lovers  nor  princes  can  brook  a 
rival). 

Love  me,  love  my  dog,  St.  Bernard 
quotes  this  proverb  in  Latin,  Qui  me  amat, 
amat  et  canem  raeam ; French,  Qui  aime 
Bertrand,  aime  son  chien  ; Spanish,  Quien 
hien  gwiers  a heliram,  hien  quiere  a su  can 
(If  you  love  any  one  you  will  like  all  that 
belongs  to  him). 

Love’s  Girdle.  {See  Cestus.) 

Love’s  Labour’s  Lost  {Shake- 
speare). Ferdinand,  king  of  Navarre, 
with  the  three  lords,  Biron',  Longaville, 
and  Dumain,  make  a vow  to  spend  three 
years  in  study,  during  which  time  they 
bind  themselves  to  look  upon  no  woman. 
Scarce  is  the  vow  made  w'hen  the  princess 
of  France,  with  Rosaline,  Maria,  and 
Catherine  are  announced,  bringing  a 
petition  from  the  king  of  France.  The 
four  gentlemen  fall  in  love  with  the  four 
ladies,  and  send  them  verses  ; they  also 
visit  them  masked  as  Muscovites.  The 
ladies  treat  the  whole  matter  as  a jest, 
and  when  the  gentlemen  declare  their 
intentions  to  be  honourable,  impose  upon 
them  a delay  of  twelve  months,  to  be 
spent  in  works  of  charity.  If  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  they  still  wish  to 
marry,  the  ladies  promise  to  lend  a 
favourable  ear  to  their  respective  suits. 

Love-lock.  A small  curl  gummed 
to  the  temples,  sometimes  called  a heau 
or  how  catcher.  When  men  indulge  in  a 
curl  in  front  of  their  ears,  the  love-lock 
is  called  a hell-rope — i.e.,  a rope  to  pull 
the  belles  after  them.  At  the  latter  end 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  love-lock 
was  decorated  with  bows  and  ribbons. 

Love  Powders  or  Potions  were 
drugs  to  excite  lust.  Once  these  love- 
charms  were  generally  believed  in  ; thus 
Brabantio  accuses  Othello  of  having  be- 
witched Desdemo'na  with  '‘drugs  to 
waken  motion  and  lady  Grey  was  ac- 
cused of  having  bewitched  Edward  IV. 
" by  strange  potions  and  amorous 
charms.” — Fabian,'"  p.  495. 

Lovelace.  The  hero  of  Richardson’s 
novel  called  "Clarissa  Harlowe.”  He  is 


a selfish  voluptuary,  a man  of  fashion 
whose  sole  ambition  is  to  ensnare  female 
modesty  and  virtue.  Crabbe  calls  him 
" Rich,  proud,  and  crafty ; handsome^ 
brave,  and  gay.” 

Lover’s  Leap.  The  promontory 
from  which  Sappho  threw  herself  into 
the  sea  ; now  called  Santa  Maura.  {See 
Leucadia.) 

Loving  or  Grace  Cup.  A largo 
cup  passed  round  from  guest  to  guest  at 
state  banquets  and  city  feasts.  Miss 
Strickland  says  that  Margaret  Atheling, 
wife  of  Malcolm  Kenmore,  in  order  to 
induce  the  Scotch  to  remain  for  grace, 
devised  the  grace  cup,  which  was  filled' 
with  the  choicest  wine,  and  of  which, 
each  guest  was  allowed  to  drink  ad 
libitum  after  grace  had  been  said. — 
^^Historic  Sketches." 

Loving  Cup.  On  the  introduction 
of  Christianity,  the  custom  of  wassailing 
was  not  abolished,  but  it  assumed  a. 
religious  aspect.  The  monks  called  the 
wassail  bowl  ihepoc'ulum  charita'tis{ioVmg, 
cup),  a term  still  retained  in  the  London 
companies,  but  in  the  universities  the 
term  Grace  Cup  is  more  general.  In 
drinking  the  loving  cup,  two  adjacent 
persons  always  stand  up  together,  one  to- 
drink  and  the  other  to  pledge  his  safety 
while  so  occupied. 

Low-bell.  Night-fowling,  in  which 
birds  are  first  roused  from  their  slumber 
by  the  tinkling  of  a bell,  and  then  daz- 
zled by  a light  so  as  to  be  easily  caught. 
{Low,  Scotch  loioe,  a flame,  as  a "low©; 
of  fyre  and  hell.) 

The  sound  of  the  low-bell  makes  the  birds  lie  close, 
so  that  they  dare  not  stir  whilst  you  are  pitching  the 
net,  for  the  sound  thereof  is  dreadful  to  them ; but 
the  sight  of  the  fire,  much  more  terrible,  makes  them 
fly  up,  so  that  they  become  instantly  entangled  in  tlie 
net.— “G'eaf.  Recreation." 

Low  Church.  Those  who  hold  the 
church  as  a church,  and  all  the  ministers 
and  ordinances  thereof,  in  low  estimation. 
They  do  not  believe  in  baptismal  regene- 
ration, apostolic  succession,  and  so  on. 
The  Times  wittily  defines  a low-church- 
man as  one  "who  loves  a Jew  and  hates 
the  Pope.” 

Low  Sunday.  The  Sunday  next 
after  Easter,  so  called  because  it  is  at 
the  bottom  of  the  Easter  which  it  closes. 

Lower  Empire.  The  Roman  or 
Western,  from  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 


528 


LOWLANDERS, 


LUCIFER. 


f empire  to  Constantinople  to  the  extinc- 
tion of  that  empire  by  the  Turks  in  1453. 

Lowlanders  of  Attica  were  the 
gentry,  so  called  because  they  lived  on 
the  plains.  {PedieU  or  wealthy  Eupa- 
trids.) 

Lownde'an  Professor  (Cambridge 
University).  A professor  of  astronomy 
■ (and  geometry) ; so  called  from  Thomas 
Lowndes,  Esq.,  who  founded  the  pro- 
tessorship  in  1749. 

Lreux.  King  Arthur’s  seneschal.  A 
braggart  and  a coward. 

liUath.  (2  syl.).  Cuchullin’s  dog  in 
Ossian’s  Fingal also  the  name  of  the 
poor  man’s  dog  representing  the  pea- 
«antry  in  “ The  Twa  Dogs,”  by  Robert 
Burns.  The  gentleman’s  dog  is  called 
Cjcsar. 

Lubber’s  Hole.  A lazy  cowardly 
way  of  doing  what  is  appointed,  or  of 
evading  duty.  A seaman’s  expression. 
Sailors  call  the  vacant  space  between 
the  head  of  a lower-mast  and  the  edge 
■of  the  top,  the  lubber's  holey  because  timid 
boys  get  through  this  space  to  the  top, 
to  avoid  the  danger  and  difficulties  of 
the  ^^futtock  shrouds.” 

Lubberkin  or  LvJbrican  (Irish, 
Jjobaircin  or  Lep'reclia^in).  A fairy  re- 
sembling an  old  man,  by  profession  a 
maker  of  brogues,  who  resorts  to  out-of- 
the-way  places,  where  he  is  discovered 
by  the  noise  of  his  hammer.  He  is  rich, 
.and  while  any  one  keeps  his  eye  fixed 
upon  him  cannot  escape,  but  the  moment 
the  eye  is  withdrawn  he  vanishes.  (Latin, 
lu'bricus,  slippery.) 

Lubins.  A species  of  gobelins  in 
Normandy  that  take  the  form  of  wolves, 
and  frequent  churchyards.  They  are 
very  timorous,  and  take  flight  at  the 
slightest  noise. 

II  a peur  de  Lubins  (Timid  as  aLubin). 
Said  of  a chicken-hearted  person. 

Lucasian  Professor.  A professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge.  This  professorship  was 
founded  in  1663  by  Henry  Lucas,  Esq., 
M.P.  for  the  University. 

Lueasta,  to  whom  Richard  Lovelace 
sang,  was  Lucy  Sacheverel,  called  by 
<him  lux  casta. 

Luce.  Flower  de  Luce.  A corruption 
»of  fieur  de  lis  (j.r.),  more  anciently 


written  ^'floure  delices.”  The  French 
Messenger  says  to  the  regent  Bedford — 

Cropped  are  the  flower  de  luces  in  your  arms ; 

Ot  England’s  coat  one  half  is  cut  away— 

{Shakespeare^  “ 1 Henry  VL/*  i.  1) 

referring  of  course  to  the  loss  of  France. 
The  luce  or  lucy  is  a full-grown  pike  or 
jack.  Thus  Justice  Shallow  says — ^'The 
luce  is  the  fresh  fish,  the  salt  fish  is  an 
Old  coat”— Lucy  is  a new  name,  the 
old  one  was  Charlecote. — “ Merry  Wives 
of  Windsor,"  i.  1.  (^See  Fleurs-db-Lys.) 

Luce,  the  full-grown  pike,  is  the 
Latin  luci-icSy  from  the  Greek  HJcos  (a 
wolf),  meaning  the  wolf  of  fishes. 

Lucia  di  Lammermoor,  called 
Lucy  Ashton  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  was 
the  sister  of  lord  Henry  Ashton  of  Lam- 
mermoor, who,  to  retrieve  the  fallen  for- 
tunes of  the  family,  arranges  a marriage 
between  his  sister  and  lord  Arthur  Buck- 
law  (or  Frank  Hayston,  laird  of  Bucklaw). 
Unknown  to  Henry  Ashton,  Edgardo 
(or  Edgar),  master  of  Ravenswood,  whose 
family  has  long  been  in  a state  of  hos- 
tility with  the  Lammermoors,  is  in  love 
with  Lucy,  and  his  attachment  is  re- 
ciprocated. While  Edgar  is  absent  in 
France  on  an  embassy,  Lucy  is  made  to 
believe,  by  feigned  letters,  that  Edgar  is 
unfaithful  to  her,  and  in  her  frenzy  of 
indignation  consents  to  marry  the  laird 
of  Bucklaw ; but  on  the  wedding-night 
she  stabs  her  husband,  goes  mad,  and 
dies. — Donizetti j opera  of^^  Lticia  di  Lam^ 
mermoor"  and  Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Bride 
of  Lammermoor 

Lu'cian.  The  impersonation  of  the 
follies  and  vices  of  the  age,  metamor- 
phosed into  an  ass.  The  chief  character 
in  the  “ Golden  Ass”  of  Appule'ius. 

Lucifer.  The  morning  star.  Venus 
is  both  an  evening  and  a morning  star  : 
when  she  follows  the  sun  and  is  an  even- 
ing star,  she  is  called  Hes'perus;  when 
she  precedes  the  sun,  and  appears  before 
sunrise,  she  is  called  Lucifei'  (the  light- 
bringer). 

Proud  as  Lucifer.  Very  haughty  and  1 
overbearing.  Lucifer  is  the  name  given 
by  Isaiah  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  proud 
but  ruined  king  of  Babylon;  <‘Take  up 
this  proverb  against  the  king  of  Babylon, 
and  say.  . . . How  art  thou  fallen  from 
heaven,  0 Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning  !” 

(Isa.  XIV.  4;  12).  The  poets  feign  that 
Satan,  before  he  was  driven  out  of  heaven 


LUCIFERA. 


LUCUS  A NON  LUCENDO.  529 


for  his  pride,  was  called  Lucifer.  Milton, 
in  his  Paradise  Lost,”  gives  this  name 
to  the  demon  of  Sinful  Pride.” 

Lucif^era  (Pride)  lived  in  a splendid 
palace,  only  its  foundation  was  of  sand. 
The  door  stood  always  open,  and  the 
queen  gave  welcome  to  every  comer. 
Her  six  privy  ministers  are  Idleness, 
Gluttony,  Lechery,  Avarice,  Envy,  and 
Revenge.  These  six,  with  Pride  herself, 
are  the  seven  mortal  sins.  Her  carriage 
was  drawn  by  six  different  animals,  viz., 
an  ass,  swine,  goat,  camel,  wolf,  and 
lion,  on  each  of  which  rode  one  of  her 
privy  councillors,  Satan  himself  being 
coachman.  While  here  the  Red-Cross 
Knight  was  attacked  by  Sansjoy,  who 
would  have  been  slain  if  Duessa  had  not 
rescued  him. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen,"' 
bk.  i. 

Lucifer  Tans.  A sect  of  the  fourth 
century,  who  refused  to  hold  any  com- 
munion with  the  Arians,  who  had  re- 
nounced their  errors  ” and  been  re- 
admitted into  the  church.  So  called 
from  Lucifer,  bishop  of  Cagliari,  their 
leader. 

Lucin'ien.  The  young  prince,  son 
of  Dolopatos  the  Sicilian  monarch,  en- 
trusted to  the  charge  of  Virgil  the  phi- 
losopher. {See  Seven  Wise  Masters, 
and  Dolopatos.) 

Lucius.  {See  Pudens.) 

Luck.  Give  a man  Inch  and  throw 
him  into  the  sea.  Meaning  that  his  luck 
will  save  him  even  in  the  greatest  ex- 
tremity. Referring  to  Jonah  and  Ari'on, 
who  were  cast  into  the  sea,  but  carried 
safely  to  land — the  one  by  a whale  and 
the  other  by  a dolphin. 

The  Luck  of  Eden  Hall.  A drinking- 
horn,  on  which  the  luck  of  the  family  is 
supposed  to  depend.  {See  Eden  Hall.) 

Luck  in  Odd  Numbers.  {See  Odd.  ) 

Luckshmi  or  Luximee.  Wife  of 
Yishnoo,  and  goddess  of  wealth  and 
prosperity.— jETwicZii  mythology. 

Lucre'zia  Bor'gia,  daughter  of 
pope  Alexander  VI.,  was  thrice  married, 
her  last  husband  being  Alfonso,  duke  of 
Ferrara.  Before  her  marriage  with  the 
duke  she  had  a natural  son  named  Gen- 
na'ro,  who  was  sent  to  be  brought  up  by 
a Neapolitan  fisherman.  When  arrived 
at  man’s  estate  he  received  a letter  in- 


forming him  that  he  was  nobly  born,  and 
offering  him  a commission  in  the  army. 
In  the  battle  of  Rim'ini,  he  saved  the 
life  of  Orsi'ni,  and  they  became  sworn 
friends.  In  Venice  he  is  introduced  to 
the  young  nobles,  who  tell  him  of  the  ill 
deeds  of  Lucrezia  Borgia.  Each  of  them 
has  had  some  relative  put  to  death  by 
her  agency.  Genna'ro  in  his  indignation 
mutilates  the  duke’s  escutcheon  with  his 
dagger,  knocking  off  the  of  his 

name,  and  changing  Borgia  into  Orgia 
{orgies).  Lucrezia,  not  knowing  who 
has  offered  the  insult,  requests  the  duko 
that  the  perpetrator  may  be  put  to  death, 
but  when  she  discovers  it  to  be  her  own 
son,  gives  him  an  antidote  to  neutralise 
the  poison  he  has  drunk,  and  releases 
him  from  his  confinement.  Scarcely  is 
he  liberated  when  he  and  his  companions 
are  invited  by  the  princess  Neg'roni  to 
a banquet,  where  they  are  all  poisoned. 
Lucrezia  tells  Gennaro  he  is  her  son,  and 
dies  herself  as  soon  as  her  son  expires. — ■ 
Donizetti’s  opera. 

Lucullus  sups  with  Lucullus. 
Said  of  a glutton  who  gormandises  alone. 
Lucullus  was  a rich  Roman  soldier, 
noted  for  his  magnificence  and  self- 
indulgence.  Sometimes  above  £1,700 
was  expended  on  a single  meal,  and 
Horace  tells  us  he  had  5,000  rich  purple 
robes  in  his  house.  On  one  occasion  a 
very  superb  supper  was  prepared,  and 
when  asked  who  were  to  be  his  guests  the 

rich  fool”  replied,  Lucullus  will  sup 
to-night  with  Lucullus.”  (B.c.  110-57.) 

Lucus  a non  Lucendo. 

Bellum  {war)  quia  min'ime  bellum.— 
Priscian. 

Black,  Saxon  Uac  (white),  hlx'can, 
‘Ho  turn  white,”  as  Ueach  and  blanch. 

Calid  {hoi)  radically  the  same  as  the 
Saxon  cald,  German  halt  (cold). 

Cleave,  to  part,  also  signifies  to  stick 
together.  (Saxon,  clifan,  to  adhere.) 

Curta'na  (the  instrument  that  shortens 
by  cutting  off  the  head ; French  court, 
Italian  corto')  is  the  blunt  sword,  emble- 
matical of  mercy,  borne  before  our  sove- 
reigns at  their  coronation. 

Devoted  {attached  to)  is  the  Latia 
devotus  (cursed). 

Lambs  are  ruffians  employed  at  elec- 
tions to  use  “physical  force”  to  deter 
electors  from  voting  for  the  opposition. 

Lily-white  is  a cant  term  for  a chimney- 
sweep. 

I I 


LUCY. 


LUFRA. 


Liege  (a  king)  is  no  liege  or  bondman, 
but  the  lord  of  his  liege  subjects. 

Religion,  bond-service  {re-ligo),  is  the 
service  of  which  Christ  has  made  us  free. 

Speaker  of  House  of  Commons.  The 
only  member  that  never  makes  speeches. 

Solomon.  George  III.,  so  called  by 
Dr.  Wolcott,  because  he  was  no  Solomon. 

In  their  marriage  service,  the  Jews 
hreah  a wine-glass ; the  symbol  being  ‘^as 
this  glass  is  shattered  to  pieces  and  can 
never  be  rejoined,  so  may  we  be  united 
and  our  bond  never  broken.”  {See 
Misnomer.) 

Lucy  {St.).  Patron  saint  to  aid  those 
who  suffer  from  ophthalmia  or  other 
disorders  of  the  eyes.  It  is  said  that  a 
nobleman  wanted  to  marry  her  for  the 
beauty  of  her  eyes.  St.  Lucy  tore  out 
her  eyes  and  gave  them  to  her  admirer, 
saying,  ‘‘Take  them,  and  now  let  me  live 
to  God.”  The  story  says  that  Heaven 
approved  the  act,  and  restored  her  eye- 
sight ; but  the  rejected  lover  accused  her 
of  “ faith  in  Christ,”  and  she  was  mar- 
tyred by  a sword  being  thrust  into  her 
1 neck. 

St.  Lncy  in  Christian  art  is  represented 
ras  carrying  a palm-branch,  and  bearing  a 
iplatter  with  two  eyes  in  it.  {See  above.) 

Lucy  and  Colin.  A ballad  by 
Thomas  Tickel,  translated  into  Latin  by 
Vincent  Bourne.  Colin  forsook  Lucy  of 
Leinster  for  a bride  “ thrice  as  rich.” 
Lucy  felt  that  she  was  dying,  and  made 
request  that  she  might  be  t^aken  to  the 
church  at  the  time  of  Colin’s  wedding. 
Her  request  was  granted,  and  when 
Colin  saw  Lucy’s  corpse,  “ tlie  damps  of 
death  bedewed  his  brow,  and  he  died.” 
Both  were  buried  in  one  tomb,  and  to 
their  grave  many  a constant  hind  and 
plighted  maid  resort  to  “deck  it  with 
garlands  and  true-love  knots.” 

Lud.  A mythical  king  of  Britain. 

General  Lud.  The  name  assumed  by 
the  ringleader  of  certain  rioters,  who  in 
1811  endeavoured  to  prevent  the  intro- 
duction of  power-looms.  The  faction 
revived  in  1816,  but  was  soon  put  down. 
Miss  Harriet  Martineau  says  the  name 
was  taken  from  an  imbecile  called  Ned 
Lud  of  Leicester,  {See  Luddites.) 

Lud’s  Bulwark.  Ludgate  prison. 
{See  above.) 

Lud’s  Town.  London ; so  called 
from  Lud,  a mythical  king  of  Britain. 


Ludgate  is  by  a similar  tradition  said  to 
be  the  gate  where  Lud  was  buried.  {See 
London.) 

And  on  the  gates  of  Lud’s  Town  set  your  heads. 

Shakespeare^  “ Gymbeline^''  iv.  2. 

Luddites  (2  syl.).  Riotous  work- 
men who  went  about  the  manufacturing 
districts  breaking  machines,  under  th& 
notion  that  machinery  threw  men  out  of 
employ.  Miss  Martineau  says  that  the 
term  arose  from  Ned  Lud,  of  Leicester- 
shire, an  imbecile  who  was  much  hounded 
by  boys.  One  day  he  chased  a set  of  tor- 
mentors into  a house,  and  broke  two 
stocking-frames,  whence  the  leader  of 
these  rioters  was  called  General  Lud,  his 
chief  abettors  Lud’s  wives,  and  his  fol- 
lowers Luddites.  (1811-1816. ) 

Ludgate.  Stow  says,  “King  Lud, 
repairing  the  city,  called  it  after  his 
name  Lud* s town  ; the  strong  gate  which 
he  built  in  the  west  part,  he  likewise 
named  Lud-gate.  In  the  year  1260,  the 
gate  was  beautiful  with  images  of  Lud 
and  other  kings.  Those  images,  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  VI.,  had  their  heads 

smitten  off Queen  Mary  did  set 

new  heads  upon  their  old  bodies  again. 
The  twenty-eighth  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
the  gate  was  newly  and  beautifully  built, 
with  images  of  Lud  and  others,  as  be- 
fore.” (“Survey  of  London.”)  The 
more  probable  etymon  is  the  ^axonleode 
(people),  similar  to  the  “ Porto  del 
popoli  ” of  Rome. 

[Lud]  Built  that  gate  of  which  his  name  is  hight. 

By  which  he  lies  entombed  solemnly. 

Spenser  j “ Faery  Queen”  ii.  x.  46. 

Ludlam.  (/See  Lazy.) 

Luez.  {See  Luz.) 

Luff.  The  part  towards  the  wind. 
The  luff  of  a vessel  is  the  roundest  part 
of  her  bow. 

To  luff  is  to  turn  the  head  of  a ship 
towards  the  wind. 

Luff ! — i.e.,  Put  the  tiller  on  the  lee- 
side.  This  is  done  to  make  the  ship  sail 
nearer  the  wind. 

Luff  round  I—ThYO^  the  ship’s  head 
right  into  the  wind. 

Luff  a-leel—BO.mQ  as  Luff  round. 

A ship  is  said  to  Spring  lier  luff  when 
she  yields  to  the  helm  by  sailing  nearer 
the  wind. 

Keep  the  luffI—i\iQ  wind  side. 

Lufta.  Douglas’s  dog,  “the  fleetest 
hound  in  all  the  North.” — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  “ Lady  of  the  Lahef  v.  25. 


LUGGIE. 


LUNA. 


531 


Luggie.  The  warlock  who,  when 
©terms  prevented  him  from  going  to  sea, 
used  to  sit  on  ‘^Luggie’s  Knoll/’  and  fish 
up  dressed  food. 

Luggnagg.  An  island  mentioned 
in  “Gulliver’s  Travels,”  where  people 
live  for  ever.  Swift  shows  the  evil  of 
such  a destiny,  unless  accompanied  with 
eternal  youth  and  freshness. 

Jj\lk.e  (St.).  Patron  saint  of  painters 
and  physicians.  Tradition  says  he 
painted  a portrait  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 
From  Col.  iv.  14  he  is  supposed  to  have 
been  a physician. 

St.  Luke,  in  Christian  art,  is  usually 
represented  with  an  ox  lying  near  him, 
and  generally  with  painting  materials. 
'Sometimes  he  seems  engaged  painting  a 
picture  of  the  Virgin  and  infant  Saviour, 
bis  description  of  the  early  life  of  the 
Saviour  being  more  minute  than  that  of 
the  other  evangelists.  Metaphrastus 
mentions  the  skill  of  St.  Luke  in  paint- 
ing ; John  of  Damascus  speaks  of  his 
portrait  of  the  Virgin  (p.  631.  Paris, 
1712).  Many  pictures  still  extant  are 
ascribed  to  St.  Luke  ; but  the  artist  was 
probably  St.  Luke  the  Greek  hermit; 
uertainly  these  meagre  Byzantine  pro- 
ductions were  not  the  works  of  the  evan- 
gelist. {See  Lanzi,  “Storia  Pittorica 
dell’  Italia,”  ii.  10.) 

St.  Luke's  Club  or  The  Vh'tuo'si's.  An 
.artists’  club,  established  in  England  by 
Bir  Antonio  Vandyke,  and  held  at  the 
Bose  Tavern,  Fleet  Street.  There  was 
an  academy  of  St.  Luke  founded  by  the 
Paris  artists  in  1391 ; one  at  Borne, 
founded  in  1593,  but  based  on  the  “ Com- 
pagnia  di  San  Luca  ” of  Florence,  founded 
in  1345 ; a similar  one  was  established 
at  Sienna  in  1355. 

St.  Luke's  Summer,  called  by  the 
French  I'H^  de  S.  Martin',  hence  the 
phrase  “L’^te  de  la  S.  Denis  h la  S. 
Martin,”  from  October  9th  to  November 
11th,  meaning  generally  the  latter  end 
of  autumn. 

As  light  as  St.  Luke's  bird  {i.e.,  an  ox). 
Not  light  at  all,  but  quite  the  contrary. 
St.  Luke  is  generally  represented  writing, 
while  behind  him  is  an  ox,  symbolical 
of  sacrifice.  The  whole  tableau  means 
that  Luke  pre-eminently  wrote  about 
the  sacrifice  of  J esus  Christ. 

Iiuke’s  Iron  Crown.  George 
.and  Luke  Dosa  headed  an  unsuccessful 
tevolt  against  the  Hungarian  nobles  in 


the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
Luke  (according  to  Goldsmith)  underwent 
the  torture  of  the  red-hot  iron  crown,  as 
a punishment  for  allowing  himself  to 
be  proclaimed  king.  Most  writers  say 
it  was  Geoo'ge,  not  Luke. 

Lullaby  has  been  derived  from  Ldlla, 
abi  (Lilith,  avaunt !).  {See  Lilts.) 

There  was  a fairy  called  Elahy  Gathon,  invoked  by 
nurses  to  watch  over  sleeping  babes,  that  they  might 
not  be  changed  by  the  elves,  and  some  think  that 
lullaby  is  a corruption  of  L’Elaby. 

Lullian  Method.  A mechanical 
aid  to  the  memory,  by  means  of  syste- 
matic arrangements  of  ideas  and  sub- 
jects, devised  by  Baymond  Lully,  in  the 
thirteenth  century. 

Lumber  (from  Lombard).  A pawn- 
broker’s shop.  Thus  lady  Murray  writes : 

‘ ' They  put  all  the  little  plate  they  had 
in  the  lumber,  which  is  pawning  it,  till 
the  ships  came  home.”  The  first  pawn- 
brokers were  called  Lombards,  and  the 
places  where  pawns  were  kept  were 
called  “ lumber-rooms.  ’ 

Lump.  If  you  don't  like  it  you^  may 
lum'p  it.  If  you  do  not  choose  to  take 
what  is  offered,  you  may  sit  in  the  sulks. 
In  Devonshire  the  sulks  are  called  the 
lumps,  and  our  lumpish  means  heavy, 
awkward,  and  ungainly. 

Lumpkin  {Tony),  in  “She  Stoops 
to  Conquer,”  by  Goldsmith.  A sheepish, 
mischievous,  idle,  cunning  lout,  “with 
the  vices  of  a man  and  the  follies  of  a 
boy fond  of  low  company,  but  giving 
himself  the  airs  of  the  young  squire. 

Luna.  An  ancient  seaport  of  Gen'oa, 
whence  the  marble  quarried  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood is  called  “ marmo  lunense.” — 
“ Orlando  Furioso." 

Conte  di  LutWj.  Garzia,  brother  of 
count  Luna,  had  two  sons.  One  day  a 
gipsy  was  found  in  their  chamber,  and 
being  seized,  was  condemned  to  be  burnt 
alive.  The  daughter  of  the  gipsy,  out 
of  revenge,  vowed  vengeance,  and  stole 
Manri'co,  the  infant  son  of  Garzia.  It 
so  fell  out  that  the  count  and  Manrico 
both  fell  in  love  with  the  princess  Leo- 
nora, who  loved  Manrico  only.  Luna 
and  Manrico  both  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  count,  and  are  condemned  to  death, 
when  Leonora  promises  to  “give  herself” 

1 to  Luna,  provided  ho  liberates  Manrico. 

I The  count  accepts  the  terms,  and  goes 
I to  the  prison  to  fulfil  his  promise,  when 
I I 2 


532 


LUNAR  MONTH. 


LUSUS  NATURiE. 


Leonora  dies  from  poison  which  she  has 
sucked  from  a ring.  Soon  as  Manrico 
sees  that  Leonora  is  dead,  he  also  dies. 
— Verdi,  Trovaiore’\  {an  opera), 

Lii'nar  Month.  About  four  weeks. 
The  time  which  a moon  takes  to  com- 
plete one  revolution  round  the  earth — 
i.e,,  from  full  to  full  moon,  new  to  new 
moon,  &c. 

XiU'nar  Y ear.  Twelve  lunar  months 
— i.e,,  six  months  of  twenty- nine  days 
each,  and  six  months  of  thirty  days  each. 
Total,  354  days. 

Lunatics.  Moon-struck  persons. 
The  Romans  believed  that  the  niind  was 
affected  by  the  moon,  and  that  luna- 
tics’’  were  more  and  more  frenzied  as 
the  moon  increased  to  its  full.  (See 
Avertin.) 

Luncheon.  So  called  from  the 
Spanish  meal  at  eleven  o’clock,  called 
I’once  (Jiunchy),  Similarly,  nuncheon  is 
the  noon-song  repast,  called  in  Yorkshire 
nooning's  caup.  The  noon-song  was  at 
three  in  the  afternoon,  and  was  over  at 
about  four,  when  refresnment  was  taken. 

Lungaggi'ni.  Dull,  tedious  twad- 
dlers ; prosy  talkers.  Lungag'nola  is 
prosy  twaddle  (Italian), 

Lungs  of  London.  The  parks.  In 
a debate,  30th  of  June,  1808,  respecting 
encroachments  upon  Hyde  Park,  Mr. 
Windham  said  it  w&s  the  lungs  of 
London.” 

Lunsfor . A name  used  in  terrorem 
over  children.  He  was  Sir  Thomas  Luns- 
for governor  of  the  Tower : a man  of 
most  vindictive  temper,  and  the  dread 
of  every  one. 

Lu'percal.  A festival  held  by  the 
Romans  on  the  15th  February,  in  honour 
of  Lu'percus,  the  god  of  fertility. 

Lupus  et  Agnus.  A mere  pre- 
tence to  found  a quarrel  on.  The  words 
are  the  Latin  of  the  well-known  fable  of 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lamb.” 

Lush.  Beer  and  other  intoxicating 
drinks;  so  called  from  Lushington  the 
brewer. 

Lu'siad.  The  adventures  of  the 
Lusians  or  Portuguese  under  Vasquez  de 
Gama  in  their  ^^discoverj"  of  India.” 
The  fleet  first  sailed  to  Mozambique,  in 
Africa,  but  Bacch\is  (the  guardian  power 


of  the  Mahometans)  raised  a commotioB 
gainst  the  Lusians,  and  a battle  ensued 
in  which  the  Lusians  were  victorious.  The 
fleet  was  next  conducted  by  treachery  to 
Quil'oa,  a harbour  on  the  east  coast  of  the 
same  continent ; but  V enus  or  Divine  love, 
to  save  her  favourites  from  danger,  drove 
them  away  by  a tempest,  and  Hermes 
bade  Gama  steer  for  Melinda,  in  Africa. 
At  Melinda  the  Lusians  were  hospitably 
received,  and  the  king  of  the  country 
not  only  vowed  eternal  friendship,  but  also 
provided  a pilot  to  conduct  the  fleet  to- 
India.  In  the  Indian  Ocean  Bacchus 
tried  to  destroy  the  fleet,  but  'Hhe  silver 
star  of  Divine  love  ” calmed  the  sea,  and 
Gama  arrived  at  India  in  safety.  Having 
accomplished  his  object,  Gama  returned 
to  Lisbon. 

N.B. — Gama  sailed  three  times  to 
India  (1)  with  four  vessels,  in  1497,. 
returning  to  Lisbon  in  two  years  and  two- 
months ; he  was  appointed  admiral  of  the 
Eastern  seas.  (2)  In  1502,  with  twenty 
ships,  when  he  was  attacked  by  the 
Zamorin  or  king  of  Calicut,  whom  he 
defeated,  and  returned  to  Lisbon  the 
year  following  ; and  (3)  when  John  III. 
appointed  him  viceroy  of  India.  He 
established  his  government  at  Cochin, 
where  he  died  in  1525.  It  is  tlae  first  of 
these  voyages  which  is  the  subject  of  the 
Lusiad. 

Lusita'nia.  Ancient  name  for  Por- 
tugal, said  to  be  so  called  from  Lusus* 
(^See  Lusus.) 

Lusita'nian  Prince.  Don  Henry^ 
third  son  of  Joam  I.,  king  of  Portugal — 

Who  heaven-inspired. 

To  love  of  useful  glory  roused  mankind. 

And  in  unbounded  commerce  mixed  the  world. 

Thomson^  Summer.’* 

Lustrum.  A space  of  five  years. 
The  word  means  a purification.  Theses 
public  expiations  were  made  by  the  censors 
every  fifth  year,  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
census.  (Latin,  lu'ere,  to  purify.) 

Lus'us.  The  sons  or  race  of  Lusus, 
Pliny  (iii.  1.)  tells  us  that  Lusus  was  the- 
companion  of  Bacchus  in  his  travels,  and 
settled  a colony  in  Portugal;  whence  the 
country  was  termed  Lusita'nia,  and  the 
inhabitants  Lusians, 

Lusus  INatu'rac  (Latin).  A freak 
of  nature  ; as  a man  with  six  toes,  a 
sheep  with  two  heads,  a stone  shaped  like 
a well-known  object,  &c. 


LUTESTRING. 


LYDIA. 


583 


Lutestring.  A glossy  silk ; a cor- 
ruption of  lustring,  from  the  French 
lustre. 

To  speah  in  lutestriTig.  Flash,  highly- 
polished  oratory.  The  expression  was 
first  used  in  ‘^Junius.”  Shakespeare  has 
^‘Taffeta  phrases  and  silken  terms  pre- 
<;ise.”  We  call  inflated  speech  ^‘fustian” 
{q.v.)  or  ‘^bombast”  {q.'o.)',  say  a man 
talks  stuff',  term  a book  or  speech  made 
up  of  other  men’s  brains,  sliodUy  {q.v.) ; 
sailors  call  telling  a story  spinning  a 
yarn,”  &c.  &c. 

Lute'tia.  Mud-hovels  ; the  ancient 
name  of  Paris.  The  Romans  called  it 
Lutetia  PaHsio'rum,  the  mud-town  of  the 
Parisii.  The  former  word  being  dropped, 
has  left  the  present  name  Paris.  (Celtic, 
loutou-hesi,  mud- dwellings.) 

Luther,  called  Martin  Eleutherius 
by  Wolsey  and  others. 

Lu'therans.  Dr.  Eck  was  the  first 
to  call  the  followers  of  Martin  Luther  by 
this  name.  It  was  used  by  way  of  con- 
tempt. 

Lu'tin.  A sort  of  gobelin  in  the 
mythology  of  Normandy,  very  similar  to 
the  house-spirits  of  Germany  and  Scan- 
dinavia. Sometimes  it  assumes  the 
form  of  a horse  ready  equipped,  and  in 
this  shape  is  called  Le  Cheval  Bayard. 

To  Lutin  is  to  twist  hair  into  elf-locks. 
Sometimes  these  mischievous  urchins  so 
tangle  the  mane  of  a horse  or  head  of  a 
child  that  the  hair  must  be  cut  off. 

Le  Prinoe  Lutin,  by  the  countess 
D’Aulnoy. 

Luxemburgers.  The  people  of 
Luxemburg.  Similarly  we  have  Augs- 
burgers,  Carlsburgers,  Edinburgers, 
Friburgers,  Hamburgers,  and  many 
more. 

Luz  or  Luez.  The  indestructible 
bone ; the  nucleus  of  the  resurrection 
body. 

“ How  doth  a man  revive  again  in  the  world  to 
come  ? ” asked  Hadrian ; and  J oshua  Ben  Hanani'ah 
made  answer,  “ From  luz  in  the  backbone.”  He 
then  went  on  to  demonstrate  this  to  him  : He  took 
the  bone  luz,  and  put  it  into  water,  but  the  water  had 
no  action  on  it ; he  put  it  in  the  tire,  but  the  fire 
consumed  it  not ; he  placed  it  in  a mill,  but  could  not 
grind  it ; and  laid  it  on  an  anvil,  but  the  hammer 
crushed  it  not— Liohtfoot. 

Lybius  (Sir).  A very  young  knight 
who  undertook  to  rescue  the  lady  of 
Sinadone.  After  overcoming  various 
knights,  giants,  and  enchanters,  he  en- 


tered the  palace  of  the  lady.  Presently 
the  whole  edifice  fell  to  pieces  about  his 
ears,  and  a horrible  serpent  coiled  round 
his  neck  and  kissed  him.  The  spell  being 
broken,  the  serpent  turned  into  the  lady 
of  Sinadone,  who  married  the  knight 
that  so  gallantly  rescued  her. — ^‘Liheaux'* 
(a  romance). 

Lycaon'ian  Tables  {Lycaoniat 
mensoe).  Execrable  food.  Lyca'on,  de- 
sirous of  testing  the  divine  knowledge  of 
J ove,  who  had  honoured  him  with  a visit, 
served  up  human  flesh  on  his  table ; for 
which  the  god  changed  him  into  a wolf. 

Lyc'idas.  The  name  under  which 
Milton  celebrates  the  untimely  death  of 
Edward  King,  Fellow  of  Christ  College, 
Cambridge,  who  was  drOwned  in  his 
passage  from  Chester  to  Ireland,  August 
10th,  1637.  He  was  the  son  of  Sir  John 
King,  secretary  for  Ireland. 

Lycis'ca  {half  wolf,  half  dog).  One 
of  the  dogs  of  Actaeon.  In  Latin  it  is  a 
common  term  for  a shepherd’s  dog,  and 
is  so  used  by  Virgil  {Edoguein.  18). 

Lycome'des.  King  of  Scyros,  at 
whose  court  Achilles  concealed  himself. 

Lyeopo'dium.  {See  Misnomer.) 

Lydford  Law  is,  punish  first  and 
try  afterwards.  Lydford,  in  the  county 
of  Devon,  was  a fortified  town,  in  which 
was  an  ancient  castle,  wbere  were  held 
the  courts  of  the  duchy  of  Cornwall. 
Offenders  against  the  stannary  laws 
were  confined  before  trial  in  a dungeon 
so  loathsome  and  dreary,  that  it  gave 
rise  to  the  proverb  referred  to.  The 
castle  was  destroyed  by  the  Danes.  {Set 
Cowper’s  Law.) 

Lydia,  daughter  of  the  king  of  Lydia, 
was  sought  in  marriage  by  Alcestes,  a 
Thracian  knight ; his  suit  was  refused, 
and  he  repaired  to  the  king  of  Armenia, 
who  gave  him  an  army  with  which  he 
laid  siege  to  Lydia.  He  was  persuaded 
by  Lydia  to  raise  the  siege.  The  king 
of  Armenia  would  not  give  up  the  project, 
and  Alcestes  slew  him.  Lydia  now  set 
him  all  sorts  of  dangerous  tasks  to  prove 
the  ardour  of  his  love,”  all  of  which  he 
surmounted.  Lastly,  she  induced  him 
to  put  to  death  all  his  allies,  and  when 
she  had  cut  off  the  claws  of  the  love-sick 
lion,  she  mocked  him.  Alcestes  pined 
and  died,  and  Lydia  was  doomed  to  end- 
less torment  in  hell,  where  Astolpho  saw 


534  LYDIA  LANGUISH. 


M. 


her,  to  whom  she  told  her  story.— Or- 
lando  Furioso”  bk.  xvii. 

Lydia  Languish,  in  ^^The  Eivals/' 
by  Sheridan, 

Lydian  Poet  (The).  Aleman  of 
Lydia.  (FI.  B.c.  670.) 

Lying.  Lying  for  the  whetstone.  Said 
of  a person  who  is  grossly  exaggerating 
or  falsifying  a statement.  One  of  the 
Whitsun  amusements  of  our  forefathers 
was  the  lie-wage  or  lie-match ; he  who 
could  tell  the  greatest  lie  carried  off  a 
whetstone  as  his  reward.  The  nature 
of  these  contests  may  be  illustrated  by 
the  following  well-known  extravaganza  : 
one  of  the  combatants  declared  he  could 
see  a fly  on  the  top  of  a church-steeple  ; 
the  other  replied,  Oh  yes,  I saw  him 
wink  his  eye.” 

Lying  Traveller  (The).  So  Sir 
John  Mandeville  has  been  unjustly  called. 
(1300-1372.) 

Lying  by  the  Wall.  Dead  but  not 
buried.  Saxon,  wcel  (death).  He  is  lying 
with  the  dead. 

Lyn.  Cease.  (Anglo-Saxon,  linnan^ 
to  cease.) 

Lyncll-law.  Mob-law,  law  ad- 
ministered by  private  persons.  Lynch 
is  Saxon  for  a club ; whence  the  nearly 
obsolete  verb  linch,  to  beat  or  chastise, 
and  the  compound  linch-pin,  which  is 
the  pin  of  the  “lynis”  or  axle.  Ac- 
cording to  Webster,  the  word  lynch  refers 
to  James  Lynch,  a farmer,  of  Piedmont 
in  Virginia.  The  tale  is  that,  as  Pied- 
mont, on  the  frontier,  was  seven  miles 
from  any  law-court,  the  neighbours,  in 
1686,  selected  James  Lynch,  a man  of 
good  judgment  and  great  impartiality, 
to  pass  sentence  on  offenders  on  the 
nonce.  His  judgments  were  so  judicious 
that  be  acquired  the  name  of  Judge 
Lynch,  and  this  sort  of  law  went  by 
the  name  of  Lynch-law.  In  confirma- 
tion of  this  story,  we  are  told  there  was 
a James  Lynch  Fitz- Stephen,  who  was 
warden  of  Galway  in  1526 ; and  in  the 
capacity  of  warden  he  passed  sentence 
of  death  on  his  own  son  for  murder. 
(See  Burlaw.) 

Lyndmonbians.  Booksellers  and 
publishers.  Rabelais  says  they  inhabit 
a little  hamlet  near  Lantern-land,  and 
live  by  lanterns.— v.  33. 


Lynx-eyed.  Having  as  keen  a sight 
as  a lynx. 

Lyon  King-of-Arms.  Chief  he- 
raldic officer  for  Scotland ; so  called  from 
the  lion  rampant  in  the  Scottish  regal 
escutcheon. 

Lyonnesse  (3  syl.).  ^^That  sweet 
land  of  Lyonnesse  ” — a tract  between 
the  Land’s  End  and  the  Scilly  Isles,  now 
submerged  full  forty  fathoms  under 
water.”  Arthur  came  from  this  mythical 
country. 

Lyre. 

AmphUon  built  Thebes  with  the  music 
of  his  lyre,  for  the  very  stones  moved  of 
their  own  accord  into  walls  and  houses. 

ArHon  charmed  the  dolphins  by  the 
music  of  his  lyre,  and  when  the  bard  was, 
thrown  overboard  one  of  them  carried 
him  safel}^  to  Tse'narus. 

Hercules  was  taught  music  by  Linus. 
One  day,  being  reproved,  the  strong  man 
broke  the  head  of  his  master  with  his 
own  lyre. 

Orpheus  charmed  savage  beasts,  and 
even  the  infernal  gods,  with  the  music 
of  his  lyre. 

Lyttelton,  invoked  by  Thomson  in 
his  “Spring,”  was  George,  lord  Lyttelton, 
of  Hagley,  Worcestershire,  who  procured 
from  the  prince  of  Wales  a pension  of 
£100  a year  for  the  poet.  Lucinda  was 
Lucy  Fortescue,  daughter  of  Hugh  For- 
tescue,  of  Devonshire. 


M 

M.  This  letter  represents  the  wavy 
appearance  of  water,  and  is  called  in 
Hebrew  mem  (water). 

M (initial  of  manslaughter).  The 
brand  of  a person  convicted  of  that 
offence,  and  admitted  to  the  benefit  of 
clergy.  It  was  burnt  on  the  brawn  of 
the  left  thumb. 

M in  numerals  is  the  initial  of  mille^ 
a thousand. 

Whosoeyer  prayeth  for  the  soul  of  John  Gower  ho 
shall,  so  oft  as  he  so  doth,  have  a M.  and  a D.  days 
of  pardon.— Gower’s  Tablet. 

M.  The  five  Ms:  Mansa,  Matsya, 
Madya,  Maithuna,  and  Mudra  (flesh,  fish, 
wine,  women,  and  gesticulation).  Th© 
five  forms  of  Hindu  asceticism. 


M. 


MACARONIC  LATIN.  535- 


M^— Le.,  il/ac.  A Gaelic  prefix  mean- 
ing son.  (Gothic,  r}iagus,  a son  ; Sanskrit, 
mahf  to  grow;  Welsh,  magu,  to  breed.) 
The  Welsh  a'p  is  mac  changed  to  map, 
and  contracted  into  ’ap  or  ’p,  as  Apadam 
(Ap  Adam),  Prichard  (’P  Richard). 

M or  isr  in  the  Catechism.  M is  a 
contraction  of  NN  (names) ; N is  for 
name.  The  respondent  is  required  to  give 
his  names  if  he  has  more  than  one,  or  his 
Qiame  if  only  one. 

In  the  marriage  service,  M stands  for 
mas  (the  man)  or  mari'tus  (the  bride- 
groom), and  N for  nupta  (the  bride). 

There  are  some  who  think  M stands 
for  Mary,  the  patron  saint  of  girls,  and 
N for  Nicholas,  the  patron  saint  of  boys. 

M.D.  The  first  woman  that  obtained 
this  degree  was  Elizabeth  Blackwell,  of 
the  United  States  (1849). 

M.P.  Member  of  Parliament,  but  in 
slang  language  Member  of  the  Police. 

MS.,  manuscript ; MSS.,  manu- 
scripts ; generally  applied  to  literary 
works  in  penmanship.  (Latin,  mann^ 
scriptum,  what  is  written  by  the  hand.) 

Ma.  The  goddess  of  truth  and 
justice. — Egyptian  mythology. 

Ma.  The  fox  is  so  called  by  the 
Japanese  because  of  its  ravages.  It  is 
the  name  of  a malignant  spirit. 

Ma.  Rhea,  so  called  by  the  Lydians  ; 
also  the  nurse  of  Bacchus. 

Mab.  The  fairies’  midwife,”  whose 
office  is  to  deliver  the  brain  of  dreams, 
or  in  plain  English,  to  send  dreams. 
Thus  when  Romeo  says,  “I  dreamed  a 
dream  to-night,”  Mercutio  replies,  ^^0 
then,  I see  queen  Mab  hath  been  with 
you.”  Sir  Walter  Scott  follows  in  the 
same  track : ‘‘I  have  a friend  who  is 
peculiarly  favoured  with  the  visits  of 
queen  Mab,”  meaning  with  dreams 

The  Antiquary”).  When  Mab  is  called 

queen  ” it  does  not  mean  sovereign,  for 
Titan'ia  was  O'beron’s  wife,  but  simply 
female  ; both  midwives  and  monthly 
nurses  were  anciently  called  queens  or 
queans.  Que'n  or  cwe'n  in  Saxon  means 
neither  more  nor  less  than  woman;  so 

elf-queen  ” and  the  Danish  elle- 
quinde”  mean  female  elf,  and  not  ^^queen 
of  the  elves.”  Excellent  descriptions  of 
'‘Mistress  Mab”  are  given  by  Shake- 
speare ("Romeo  and  Juliet,”  i.  4),  by  | 
Ben  Jonson,  by  Herrick,  and  by  Drayton  i 


in  his  " Nimphidea.”  {Mab,  Welsh,  a 
baby.) 

Mac'aber.  The  Dance  Macaber.  The- 
Dance  of  Death  {q.r.). 

Macad'amise  (4  syl.).  U sing  broken 
stones  for  road  metal,  and  making  the 
road  convex  instead  of  concave  ; a method 
introduced  by  Sir  John  L.  Macadam. 
(1756-1836.) 

Macaire  (2  syl.).  A favourite  name, 
in  French  plays,  insomuch  that  Robert 
Macaire  is  sometimes  used  generically  for 
a Frenchman.  It  is  said  that  Aubry  de 
Montdidier  was  murdered  in  the  forest  of 
Bondy  in  1371.  His  dog  conceived  such 
a hatred  against  Richard  Macaire,  that 
suspicion  was  aroused,  and  it  was  re- 
solved to  pit  the  man  and  dog  together. 
The  result  was  fatal  to  the  man,  who 
died  confessing  his  guilt. 

Mac'amut.  Sultan  of  Cambaya,  who 
lived  upon  poison,  with  which  he  was  so 
saturated  that  his  breath  or  touch  carried  • 
instant  death. — Purchas. 

Macare  {French).  The  impersona- 
tion of  good-temper,  in  Voltaire’s  allegorjr 
of  " Theleme  and  Macare.” 

Macarius  {St.').  ^ An  Egyptian  an- 
chorite, noted  for  giving  his  name  to  tho 
Mac'aber  Dance,  or  Dance  of  Death. 
Three  noblemen  hawking  arrived  at  his 
cell,  and  the  anchorite  pointed  out  to 
them  three  coffins  — one  containing  a 
skeleton,  and  the  other  two  dead  bodies^ 

Macaro'ni.  A dandy.  The  word  is 
derived  from  the  Macaroni  club,  insti- 
tuted by  a set  of  flashy  men  who  had 
travelled  in  Italy,  and  introduced  Italian 
macaroni  at  A1  mack’s  subscription  table. 
The  Macaronies  were  the  most  exquisite 
fops  that  ever  disgraced  the  name  of 
man  ; vicious,  insolent,  fond  of  gambling, 
drinking,  and  duelling,  they  were  (about 
1773)  the  curse  of  Vauxhall  Gardens. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Macaronies  for  only  two 
things : the  one  is  the  introduction  of  that  excellent 
. . . dish,  macaroni,  and  the  other  is  the  invention  of 
that  useful  slang  word  “ bore  ” [boar],  which  origin- 
ally meant  any  opponent  of  dandyism.— Cassell’s- 
Magazine,  “ London  Leamds,"  iii. 

Macaronic  Latin.  Dog  Latin. 
From  macaro'ne,  a medley,  a merry 
Andrew ; hence,  macaronic,  foolish,, 
strangely  mixed  and  jumbled  together. 
The  cake  called  in  Italian  macaroni  is  a 
mixture  of  coarse  meal,  eggs,  and  cheesec^ 
— Thomasin,  Eleg.f  p.  72. 


536  MACARONIC  VERSE. 


MAC  HEATH. 


Macaron'ic  V er se.  V erses  in  which 
foreign  words  are  ludicrously  distorted 
and  jumbled  together,  as  in  Person’s  lines 
on  the  threatened  invasion  of  England  by 
Napoleon.  So  called  by  Teofilo  Folengo, 
a Mantuan  monk  of  noble  family,  who 
published  a book  entitled  Liber  Maca-  | 
ronico'rum,”  a poetical  rhapsody  made 
up  of  words  of  different  languages,  and 
treating  of  “pleasant  matters”  in  a 
comical  style  (1520).  Folengo  is  gene- 
rally called  Merlinus  Coccaius,  or  Mer- 
lino  Coccajo.  (^See  preceding.)  i 

Macbeth  {Shakespeare).  The  story 
is  taken  from  Holinshed,  who  copied  it 
from  the  ^‘History  of  Scotland,”  by 
Hector  Boece  or  Boyce,  in  seventeen 
volumes  (1527).  This  history  written  in 
Latin  was  translated  by  John  Bellenden 
(1531-1535). 

*♦*  History  states  that  Macbeth  slew  Duncan  at 
Bothgowan,  near  Elgin,  in  1039,  and  not  as  Shake- 
speare says,  at  his  castle  of  Inverness  ; the  attack 
was  made  because  Duncan  had  usurped  the  throne 
to  which  Macbeth  had  the  better  claim.  As  a king, 
Macbeth  proved  a very  just  and  equitable  prince,  but 
the  partisans  of  Malcolm  got  head,  and  succeeded  in  ; 
deposing  Macbeth,  who  was  slain  in  1056  at  Lum-  | 
phanan.  He  was  thane  of  Cromarty  [Glamis],  and 
afterwards  of  Moray  [Cawdor].— Lardner,  “ Cabviet 
C//clopcBdia.*’  j 

Ladg  Macbeth.  The  wife  of  Macbeth.  | 
Ambition  is  her  sin,  and  to  gain  the  | 
object  of  her  ambition  she  hesitates  at  | 
nothing.  Her  masterful  mind  sways  the 
weaker  Macbeth  to  ^Hhe  mood  of  what 
she  liked  or  loathed.”  She  is  a Mede'a, 
or  Catharine  de’  Medici,  or  Csesar  Bor'gia 
in  female  form. — Shakespeare,  Macbeth.’^ 

***  The  real  name  of  lady  Macbeth  was  Graoch, 
and  instead  of  being  urged  to  the  murder  of  Duncan 
through  ambition,  she  was  goaded  by  deadly  injuries. 
She  was,  in  fact,  the  grand  daughter  of  Kenneth  IV., 
killed  in  1003,  fighting  against  Malcolm  iL-Lard- 
ntr^  “ Cabined  Cyclopcedid”  vol.  i.  17,  &c. 

Macbriar  (Ephraim).  An  enthu- 
siastic preacher  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 

Old  Mortality.” 

Maccabas'us.  The  Ilammefrer.  A 
surname  given  to  Judas  Asmonseus ; 
similar  to  Martel,”  the  name  given  to 
Charles,  son  of  Pepin  He'ristel,  who  beat 
down  the  Saracens  as  with  a sledge- 
hammer. Some  think  the  name  is  a 
Tiotarica  or  acrostic  : Mi  Camaka  Baclin 
Jehovah  (Who  is  like  to  thee  among  the 
gods,  O Lord?). — Exodus  xv.  11.  (See 
Notarica.) 

MacdufT.  The  thane  of  Fife.  A 
Scotch  nobleman  whose  castle  of  Kenno- 
way  was  surprised  by  Macbeth,  and  his 


wife  and  babes  savagely  slaughtered.” 
Macduff  vowed  vengeance,  and  joined 
the  army  of  Siward,  to  dethrone  the 
, tyrant.  On  reaching  the  royal  castle  of 
I Dunsinane,  they  fought,  and  Macbeth 
was  slain. — Shakespeare,  Macbeth.'' 

***  History  states  that  Macbeth  was  defeated  at 
Dunsinane,  but  escaped  from  the  battle,  and  was 
slain  at  Lumphanan  in  1056.— iardwer,  “ Cabinet 
Cyclopoediat’  i.» P- 17,  &c. 

Mac  Farlane’s  Geese.  The  proverb 
is  that  Mac  Farlane’s  geese  like  their 
play  better  than  their  meat.”  The  wild 
geese  of  Inch-Tavoe  (Loch-Lomon)  used 
to  be  called  MacFarlane’s  geese  because 
the  MacFarlanes  had  a house  and  garden 
on  the  island.  It  is  said  that  these  geese 
never  returned  after  the  extinction  of 
that  house.  One  day  James  VI.  visited 
the  chieftain,  and  was  highly  amused  by 
the  gambols  of  the  geese,  but  the  one 
served  at  table  was  so  tough  that  the 
king  exclaimed,  ^^Mac  Farlane’s  geese 
like  their  play  better  than  their  meat.” 

Mac  Fleck'noe,  in  Dryden’s  famous 
satire,  is  Thomas  Shadwell,  poet  laureate, 
whose  immortality  rests  on  the  not  very 
complimentary  line  of  “ Shadwell  never 
deviates  into  sense.”  (1640-1692.) 

N.B. — Flecknoe  was  an  Irish  Roman 
Catholic  priest,  doggrel  sonneteer,  and 
playwright.  Shadwell,  according  to 
Dryden,  was  his  double. 

Mac  Gregor.  The  motto  of  the 
Mac  Gregors  is,  Een  do  and  spair 
nocht,”  said  to  have  been  given  them  In 
the  twelfth  century  by  the  king  of  Scot- 
land. While  the  king  was  hunting  he 
was  attacked  by  a wild  boar,  when  Sir 
Malcolm  requested  permission  to  encoun- 
ter the  creature.  Een  do,”  said  the 
king,  ^^and  spair  nocht.”  Whereupon 
the  strong  baronet  tore  up  an  oak  sap- 
ling and  dispatched  the  enraged  animal. 
For  this  defence  the  king  gave  Sir  Mal- 
colm permission  to  use  the  said  motto, 
and,  in  place  of  a Scotch  fir,  to  adopt  for 
crest  an  oak-tree  eradicate,  proper. 

Rob  Roy  Mac  Gregor  or  Robert  Camp- 
bell, the  outlaw.  A Highland  freebooter, 
the  hero  of  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  “Rob 
Roy.”  His  wife’s  name  is  Helen,  and 
their  eldest  son,  Hamish.  In  the  ‘ ^ Two 
Drovers,”  Mac  Gregor  or  Mac  Combich 
(Robin  Oig)  is  a Highland  drover. 

Mac  Heath  (Captain).  A highway- 
man, hero  of  “ The  Beggar’s  Opera,” 


MACHIAVEL. 


MACREONS. 


637 


l)y  Gay.  A fine,  gay,  bold-faced  ruffian, 
game  to  the  very  last. 

Mac'hiavel.  The  imperial  Machi<»- 
vel.  Tiberias  the  Roman  emperor. 
<B.c.  42  to  A.D.  37.) 

Machiavellism.  Political  cunniog 
and  overreaching  by  diplomacy,  accord- 
ing to  the  pernicious  political  principles 
of  Niccolo  del  Machiavelli,  of  Florence, 
set  forth  in  his  work  called  The  Prince.” 
The  general  scope  of  this  book  is  to  show 
that  rulers  may  resort  to  any  treachery 
and  artifice  to  uphold  their  arbitrary 
power,  and  whatever  dishonourable  acts 
princes  may  indulge  in  are  fully  set  off 
by  the  insubordination  of  their  subjects. 

(1469-1527.) 

Mac  Intyre  {Captain  Hector').  Bro- 
ther of  Maria  MacIntyre,  the  antiquary’s 
niece,  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  Antiquary.” 

Mac  Ivor  (Fergus).  Chief  of  Glen- 
naquoich,  and  brother  of  Flora  Mac  Ivor, 
the  heroine  of  ^'Waverley,”  by  Sir  ; 
Walter  Scott.  | 

Mackintosh  or  Macintosh.  Cloth  | 
waterproofed  with  caoutchouc,  patented  i 
by  Mr.  Macintosh.  i 

Macklin.  The  real  name  of  this 
great  actor  was  Charles  McLaughlin,  but 
he  changed  it  on  coming  to  England. 
(1690-1797.) 

MacmilTanites  (4  syl.).  A religious 
sect  of  Scotland,  who  succeeded  the 
Covenanters ; so  named  from  John  Mac- 
millan, their  leader.  They  called  them- 
selves the  cc  Reformed  Presbytery.” 

Mac  Pherson.  During  the  reign 
of  David  I.  of  Scotland,  a younger  brother 
of  the  chief  of  the  powerful  clan  Chattan 
espoused  the  clerical  life,  and  in  due 
time  became  abbot  of  Kingussie.  His 
elder  brother  died  childless,  and  the 
chieftainship  devolved  on  the  abbcT. 
He  procured  the  needful  dispensation 
from  the  pope,  married  the  daughter  of 
the  thane  of  Calder,  and  a swarm  of 
little  Kingussies  ” was  the  result.  The 
good  people  of  Inverness-shire  called 
them  the  Maophersons — i.e.^  the  sons  of 
the  parson. 

Macsyc'ophant  {Sir  Pertinax).  In 
^‘The  Man  of  the  World,”  by  Charles 
Macklin,  Sir  Pertinax  c<  bowed,  and 
bowed,  and  bowed,”  and  cringed,  and 
fawned,  to  obtain  the  object  of  his  am- 
bition. 


Mac  Tab.  The  Honourable  Miss 
Lucretia  Mac  Tab,  A poor  Scotch  relative 
of  Emily  Worthington  on  her  deceased 
mother’s  side,  and  of  the  noble  blood  of 
the  Mac  Tabs.”  She  lived  on  the  Wor- 
thingtons, always  snubbing  them  for  not 
appreciating  the  honour  of  such  a noble 
hanger-on,  and  always  committing  the 
most  ludicrous  mistakes  from  her  extra- 
vagant vanity  and  family  pride, — George 
Colmaiif  The  Poor  Gentleman." 

Mac  Turk  (Captain  Mungo  or  Hec- 
tor). ‘‘The  man  of  peace”  at  the  Spa 
Hotel,  and  one  of  the  Managing  Com- 
mittee.— Sir  Walter  Scott,  St.  Honan’s 
Well." 

Mace.  Originally  a club  armed  with 
iron,  and  used  in  war.  Both  sword  and 
mace  are  ensigns  of  dignity,  suited  to 
the  times  when  men  went  about  in 
armour,  and  sovereigns  needed  champions 
to  vindicate  their  rights. 

Macedon.  Hacedon  is  not  worthy  of 
thee,  is  what  Philip  said  to  his  son  Alex- 
ander, after  his  achievement  with  the 
horse  Buceph'alos,  which  he  subdued  to 
his  will,  though  only  eighteen  years  of 
age. 

Edward  III.,  after  the  battle  of  Cre^y, 
in  which  the  Black  Prince  behaved  very 
valiantly,  exclaimed,  “ My  brave  boy,  go 
on  as  you  have  begun,  and  you  will  be 
worthy  of  England’s  crown.” 

Macedo'nian  (The).  Julius  Polyse- 
nus,  author  of  “ Stratage'mata,”  in  the 
second  century. 

Macedo'nians.  A religious  sect,  so 
named  from  Macedo'nius,  patriarch  of 
Constantinople,  in  the  fourth  century. 
They  denied  the  divinity  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  that  the  essence  of  the  Son 
is  the  same  in  kind  with  that  of  the 
Father. 

Macedon'icus.  Paulus  ^mil'ius, 
conqueror  of  Perseus.  (230-160  B.C.) 

Macon.  Mahomet  or  Mahoun. 

Macon.  A poetical  and  romance  name 
of  Mecca,  the  birthplace  of  Mahomet. 

Mac'reons.  The  Island  of  the  Mac^ 
reons.  Great  Britain.  The  word  is  Greek, 
and  means  long-lived.  Rabelais  describes 
the  persecutions  of  the  reformers  as  a 
terrible  storm  at  sea,  in  which  Pantag'ruel 
and  his  fleet  were  tempest-tossed,  but 
contrived  to  enter  one  of  the  harbours  of 
i Great  Britain,  an  island  called  “ Long- 


538 


MACROCOSM. 


MAECENAS. 


life,”  because  no  one  was  put  to  death 
there  for  his  religious  opinions.  This 
island  was  full  of  antique  ruins,  relics  of 
decayed  popery  and  ancient  superstitions. 

Mae'rocosm  (Greek,  great  world), 
in  opposition  to  microcosm  (the  little 
world).  The  ancients  looked  upon  the 
universe  as  a living  creature,  and  the 
followers  of  Paracelsus  considered  man 
a miniature  representation  of  the  uni- 
verse. The  one  was  termed  the  Macro- 
cosm, and  the  other  the  Microcosm  {q.v.'). 

Mad  as  a Hatter.  A corruption  of 
Mad  as  an  atter  {adder).  The  word  adder 
is  atter  in  Saxon,  natter  in  German. 

Mad  Cavalier.  Prince  Rupert, 
noted  for  his  rash  courage  and  impa- 
tience of  control.  (1619-1682.) 

Mad  Parliament.  The  parliament 
which  assembled  at  Oxford  in  1258,  and 
broke  out  into  open  rebellion  against 
Henry  III.  The  king  was  declared  de- 
posed, and  the  government  was  vested 
in  the  hands  of  twenty-four  councillors, 
with  Simon  de  Montfort  at  their  head. 

Mad  Poet.  Nathaniel  Lee,  who 
was  confined  for  four  years  in  Bedlam. 
(1657-1690.) 

Madame.  So  the  wife  of  Philippe 
due  d’ Orleans  was  styled  in  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIV. ; other  ladies  were  only 
Madame  This  or  That. 

Madame  la  Duchesse.  Wife  of  Henri- 
Jules  de  Bourbon,  eldest  sou  of  prince 
de  Cond^. 

Madame  la-  Princesse.  Wife  of  the 
prince  de  Conde,  and  natural  daughter 
of  Louis  XIV.  {See  Monsieur.) 

Mademoiselle  (4  syl.).  The  daugh- 
ter of  Philippe  due  de  Chartres,  grand- 
son of  Philippe  due  d’ Orleans,  brother 
of  Louis  XIV. 

La  Gra')ide  Mademoiselle.  The  duchesse 
de  Montpensier,  cousin  to  Louis  XIV., 
and  daughter  of  Gaston  due  d’ Orleans. 

Madge.  An  owl.  Probably  from 
its  sapient  look  it  is  called  a magistrate, 
contracted  into  Madge  ; or  magus,  Per- 
sian magusch,  a philosopher  and  priest. 

Madge  Wildfire.  The  nickname 
of  Margaret  Murdockson,  a beautiful 
but  giddy  girl,  whose  brain  was  crazed 
by  seduction  and  the  murder  of  her  in- 
fant.—/Sir  Walter  Scott,  Heart  of  Mid- 
LothianP 


Madhava.  A name  of  the  Hindus 
god  Vishnu 

Madman.  Macedonians  Madman* 
Alexander  the  Great,  (b.c.  356-323.) 

The  Brillmnt  Madman  or  Madman  of 
the  North.  Charles  XII.  of  Sweden. 
(1682,  1697-1718.) 

Madness.  In  Perthshire  there  are 
several  wells  and  springs  dedicated  to 
St.  Filian,  which  are  still  places  of  pil- 
grimage. These  wells  are  held  to  be 
efiBcacious  in  cases  of  madness.  Even 
recently  lunatics  have  been  bound  to  the 
holy  stone  at  night,  under  the  expectation 
that  St.  Filian  would  release  them  before 
dawn,  and  send  them  home  in  their  right 
minds. 

Ma'doc.  The  youngest  son  of  Owen 
Gwyneth,  king  of  North  Wales,  who  died 
in  1169.  According  to  tradition  he  sailed 
away  to  America,  and  established  a colony 
on  the  southern  branches  of  the  Missouri. 
About  the  same  time  the  Az'tecas  forsook 
Aztlan,  under  the  guidance  of  Yuhid'- 
thiton,  and  founded  the  empire  called 
Mexico,  in  honour  of  Mexitli,  their  tute- 
lary god.  Southey  has  a poem  in  two 
parts  called  Madoc,”  in  which  these 
two  events  are  made  to  harmonise  with 
each  other. 

Madonna.  (Italian,  my  lady).  Spe- 
cially applied  to  representations  of  the 
Virgin  Mary. 

Ma'dor  {Sir).  The  Scotch  knight 
slain  in  single  combat  by  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake,  who  volunteered  to  defend 
the  innocence  of  queen  Guinever. 

Madras  System  of  Education. 
A system  of  mutual  instruction,  intro- 
duced by  Dr.  Andrew  Bell  into  the  in- 
stitution at  Madras  for  the  education  of 
the  orphan  children  of  the  European 
military.  Bell  lived  1753-1832. 

Maean'der.  To  wind  like  the  river 
Mmander,  in  Phrygia.  The  Greek 
pattern”  of  embroidery  is  so  called. 

Mseee'nas.  A patron  of  letters  ; so 
called  from  C.  Cilnius  Msece'nas,  a Roman 
statesman  in  the  reign  of  Augustus,  who 
kept  open  house  for  all  men  of  letters,, 
and  was  the  special  friend  and  patron  of 
Horace  and  Virgil.  Nicholas  Rowe  so 
called  the  earl  of  Halifax  on  his  installa- 
tion to  the  order  of  the  Garter  (1714). 

The  last  English  Maecenas.  Samuel 
Rogers,  poet  and  banke-r.  (1763-1855.) 


MAELSTROM. 


MAGIC  WAND. 


53^ 


Maelstrom  (Norwegian,  whirling 
stream).  There  are  above  fifty  mael- 
stroms off  the  coast  of  Norway,  but  the 
one  Englishmen  delight  to  tremble  at  is 
at  the  foot  of  the  Lofo'ten  Islands,  be- 
tween the  islands  of  Moskenes  and 
Mosken,  where  the  water  is  pushed  and 
jostled  a good  deal,  and  when  the  wind 
and  tide  are  contrary  it  is  not  safe  for 
small  boats  to  venture  near. 

It  was  anciently  thought  that  the 
Maelstrom  was  a subterranean  abyss, 
penetrating  the  globe,  and  commnni- 
cating  with  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia. 

MeeonTdes  (4  syl.)  or  Moeonian  Poet. 
Homer,  either  because  he  was  the  son  of 
Maeon,  or  because  he  was  born  in  Maeon'ia 
(Asia  Minor) . 

Maeviad.  A merciless  satire  by 
Gifford  on  the  Della  Cruscan  school  of 
poetry.  Published  179b‘.  The  word  is 
from  Virgil’s  Eclogue.  {See  Baviad.) 

Mag.  What  a mag  you  are ; jabberer, 
hence  to  chatter  like  a magpie.  Mag  is  a 
contraction  of  magpie.  The  French  have 
a famous  word,  caquet-hon-hec.  We  call 
a prating  woman  ^^amag.”  Magpie.) 

Not  a mag  to  bless  myself  with—uot  a 
halfpenny.  Guineas  used  to  be  called 
megs  or  mags^  from  the  Greek  meg'as 

large”  money). 

Mag'a.  Blackwood’s  Magazine.”  A 
mere  contraction  of  the  word  maga-zine. 

Magalo'na.  {See  Maguelone.) 

Magazine  (3  syl.).  A place  for 
stores.  (Arabic,  makhzaii,  gazana,  a place 
where  articles  are  preserved. ) 

Magdalen  Smith.  Caspar  Smitz, 
the  Dutch  portrait  painter.  (Died  1689.) 

Mag'dalene  (3  syl. ).  An  asylum  for 
the  reclaiming  of  prostitutes ; so  called 
from  Mary  Magdalene  or  Mary  of  Mag'- 
dala,  ^^out  of  whom  Jesus  cast  seven 
devils,”  a great  profligate  till  she  met 
with  the  Lord  and  Saviour. 

Mag'deburg  Centuries.  The  first 
great  work  of  Protestant  divines  on  the 
history  of  the  Christian  church.  It  was 
begun  at  Magdeburg  by  Matthias  Flacius, 
in  1552  ; and,  as  each  century  occupies 
a volume,  the  thirteen  volumes  complete 
the  history  to  1300. 

Magellan.  Straits  of  Magellan. 
so  called  after  Magellan  or  Magafhaens, 


the  Portuguese  navigator,  who  discovered 
them  in  1520. 

Magen'ta.  A brilliant  blue-red 
colour  derived  from,  coal-tar,  named  in 
commemoration  of  the  battle  of  Magenta 
in  1859. 

Maggot,  Maggoty.  Whimsical, 
full  of  whims  and  fancies.  Fancy  tunes 
used  to  be  called  maggots^  hence  we  have 

Barker’s  maggots,”  Cary’s  maggots,’” 
‘^Draper’s  maggots,”  Dancing 

Master"  (1721). 

When  the  maggot  bites.  When  the  fancy 
takes  us.  Swift  tells  us  that  it  was  the 
opinion  of  certain  virtuosi  that  the  braia 
is  filled  with  little  worms  or  maggots, 
and  that  thought  is  produced  by  these 
worms  biting  the  nerves.  ‘‘  If  the  bite  is 
hexagonal  it  produces  poetry  ; if  circular, , 
eloquence  ; if  conical,  politics  ; &c. — 

The  Mechanical  Operation  of  the  Spirit " 

Instead  of  maggots  the  Scotch  sa}’-. 

His  head  is  full  of  bees  the  French, 

II  a des  rats  dans  la  tete ; ” and  in 
Holland,  ^^He  has  a mouse’s  nest  in  his  • 
head.”  (^S'ee  Bee.) 

Ma'gi  {The)j  according  to  one  tra- 
dition, were  Mel'chior,  Gasper,  and  Bal- 
thazar, three  kings  of  the  East.  Thn 
first  offered  gold,  the  emblem  of  royalty, 
to  the  infant  Jesus  ; the  second,  frank- 
incense, in  token  of  divinity;  and  the 
third,  mym'h,  in  prophetic  allusion  to 
the  persecution  unto  death  which  awaited 
the  Man  of  Sorrows.” 

Magi,  in  Camoens’  '^Lusiad,”  means 
the  Indian  brahmins.”  Ammia'nus 
Marcelli'nus  says  that  the  Persian  magi 
derived  their  knowledge  from  the  brah- 
mins of  Iiidia  (i.  23) ; and  Aria'nus  ex- 
pressly calls  the  brahmins  ^^magi”  (i.  7). 

Magic  Kings,  like  that  of  Gy'ges, 
king  of  Lydia,  &c.,  arose  from  the  belief 
that  magicians  had  the  power  of  im- 
prisoning demons  in  rings.  This  power 
was  supposed  to  prevail  in  Asia,  and 
subsequently  in  Salamanca,  Tole'do,  and 
Italy.  N.B.  Magic  circles,  like  magic 
squares,”  are  mathematical  puzzles. 

Magic  Wand. 

In  Jerusalem  Delivered,”  the  Hermit  - 
gives  Charles  the  Dane  and  Ubaldo  a 
wand,  which  being  shaken,  infused  terror 
into  all  who  saw  it. 

In  the  Faery  Queen,”  the  palmer 
who  accompanies  Sir  Guyon  has  a staff 


540 


MAGICIAN. 


MAGKICIO. 


‘Of  like  virtue,  made  of  the  same  wood 
■as  Mercury’s  caduceus. 

Magician.  The  Great  Magician  or 
Wizard  of  the  North.  Professor  Wilson 
•calls  Sir  Walter  Scott  the  Great  Magician, 
from  the  wonderful  'fascination  of  his 
writings. 

Magician  of  the  North.  The  title  as- 
sumed by  Johann  Georg  Hamann,  of 
'Prussia.  (1730-1788.) 

Magna  Charta.  The  Great  Charter 
of  English  liberty  extorted  by  the  barons 
from  king  John,  1215;  called  by  Spel- 
man — 

Augustis'simum  Anglica'rum  liberta  turn  diplo'ma 
^ ®t  sacra  an'ehora. 

Magnanimous  {The). 

Alfonso  V.  of  Aragon.  (1385,  1416- 
1458.) 

Chosroes  or  Khosru,  twenty-first  of  the 
Sassan'ides,  surnamed  Noushir'u'an  (the 
Magnanimous).  (531-579.) 

Magna'no.  One  of  the  leaders  of 
the  rabble  that  attacked  Hudibras  at  a 
bear-baiting.  The  character  is  a satire 
on  Simeon  Wait,  a tinker  and  Indepen- 
dent preacher. — Hudibras i.  2. 

Magnet.  The  loadstone;  so  called 
from  Magne'sia,  in  Lydia,  where  the  ore 
was  said  to  abound.  The  Greeks  called 
it  magnes.  Milton  uses  the  adjective  for 
the  substantive  in  the  line  As  the  mag- 
netic hardest  iron  draws.” 

Magnetic  Mountain.  A moun- 
tain which  drew  out  all  the  nails  of  any 
• ship  that  approached  within  its  magnetic 
influence.  The  ship  in  which  prince 
Agib  sailed  fell  to  pieces  when  wind- 
driven  towards  it. — Arabian  Nights'^ 
{The  Third  Calendar'). 

Magneuse  {French).  An  anonyma 
or  fille  de  joie so  called  from  the 
nunnery  founded  at  Rheims  in  1654,  by 
Jeanne  Canart,  daughter  of  Nicolas  Col- 
l^ert,  seigneur  de  Magrieux.  The  word 
is  sometimes  jocosely  perverted  into 
Magni-magno. 

MagniPicat.  To  sing  the  Magnificat 

matins.  To  do  things  at  the  wrong 
time,  or  out  of  place.  The  Magnificat 
does  not  belong  to  the  morning  service, 
but  to  vespers  {French).  The  Magnificat 
is  Luke  i.  46-55  in  Latin. 

Magnificent  {Tiie). 

Khosru  or  Chosroes  I.  of  Persia.  (531- 


579.)  The  golden  period  of  Persian  his- 
tory was  550-628. 

Lorenzo  de  Medici.  (1448-1492.) 

Robert  due  de  Normandie,  also  called 
Le  Diable.  (1026-1035.) 

Soliman  I.,  greatest  of  the  Turkish 
sultans.  (1493,  1520-1566.) 

Magnolia.  So  called  from  Pibre 
Magnol,  professor  of  medicine  at  Mont- 
pelier. (1638-1715.) 

Ma'gO  the  Carthaginian,  says  Aris- 
totle, crossed  the  Great  Desert  twice 
without  having  a drop  of  anything  to 
drink. 

Magoph-O'nia.  A festival  observed 
by  the  Persians  to  commemorate  the 
massacre  of  the  Magi.  Smerdis  usurped 
the  throne  on  the  death  of  Camby'ses ; 
but  seven  Persians,  conspiring  together, 
slew  Smerdis  and  his  brother;  where- 
upon the  people  put  all  the  Magi  to  the 
sword,  and  elected  Darius,  son  of  Hys- 
taspes,  to  the  thrbne.  (Greek,  magos- 
phon'os,  the  magi-slaughter.) 

Magot  {French).  Money,  or  rather 
a mass  of  secreted  money  ; a corruption 
of  imago,  the  “image  and  superscription” 
of  coined  money. 

La  il  vola  de  m^rne,  revint  a Paris  avec  un  bon 
magot. — Gazette  Noire,  1784,  p.  270. 

Magpie.  A contraction  of  magot- 
pie  or  mag'ata-pie.  “ Mag”  is  generally 
thought  to  be  a contraction  of  Margaret ; 
thus  we  have  Robin  red-breast.  Tom-tit, 
Philip— t.e.,  a sparrow,  &c.;  but  prob- 
ably it  is  a corruption  of  major  pica,  the 
ordinary  pie,  as  distinguished  from  the 
pica  minor,  which  is  not  larger  than  a 
sparrow ; thus  pivert  is  a corruption  of 
pie  Yert—i.e.jpica  viridis  (the  green  pie). 

Augurs  and  understood  relations  have 

(By  magot  pies,  and  choughs,  and  rooks)  brought 

forth 

The  secret ’st  man  of  blood. 

Shakespeare,  Macbeth,"  iii.  4. 

Magpie.  The  following  is  an  old  Scotch 
rhyme : — 

One’s  sorrow,  two’s  mirth, 

Three’s  a wedding,  four’s  a birth. 

Five’s  a christenmg,  six  a dearth. 

Seven’s  heaven,  eiglit  is  hell. 

And  nine’s  the  devil  his  ane  sel’. 

Magricio.  The  champion  of  Isabella 
of  Portugal,  who  refused  to  do  homage 
to  France.  The  brave  champion  van- 
quished the  French  chevalier,  and  thus 
vindicated  the  liberty  of  his  country. 


MAGUELONE. 


MAHOMET’S  WIVES.  541 


Mag'uelo'ne  or  Mag'alo'na  {the 
fair').  Heroine  of  the  romance  called 
’^‘The  History  of  the  Fair  Magalona, 
Daughter  of  the  King  of  Naples/’  &c. 
Originally  written  in  French.  Cervantes 
alludes  to  it  in  ^ ^ Don  Quixote.  ” (^See  Peter 
OP  Provence.) 

Mah-abade'an  Dynasty.  The 
first  dynasty  of  Persian  mythological 
history.  Mah  Abad  {the  great  Abad)  and 
his  wife  were  the  only  persons  left  on  the 
earth  after  the  great  cycle,  and  from  them 
the  world  was  peopled.  Azer  Abad,  the 
fourteenth  and  last  of  this  dynasty,  left 
the  earth  because  '^all  flesh  had  corrupted 
itself,”  and  a period  of  anarchy  ensued. 

Mahabharata.  One  of  the  two 
great  epic  poems  of  ancient  India.  Its 
storyisthe  contests  between  the  descend- 
ants of  Kuru  and  Pandu.  {See  Kuru.) 

Mahadeva  {great  god).  One  of  the 
names  of  the  Hindu  god  Siva.  Malid- 
devi  (great  goddess)  is  his  consort  Durga. 

Ma'hadi  or  Hahem.  The  Kalif  who 
reigned  about  400  years  after  Mahomet. 
In  one  pilgrimage  to  Mecca  he  expended 
six  million  gold  dinars. 

Mabmoud  of  Ghizni,  the  conqueror 
of  India  in  the  eleventh  century,  kept 
400  greyhounds  and  bloodhounds,  each 
of  which  wore  a jewelled  collar  taken 
from  the  neck  of  some  captive  sultana. 

Mabng  {North- American  Indian). 
The  loon,  a sort  of  sea-gull. 

Mahomet  or  Mohammed^  accord- 
ing to  Deutsch,  means  the  predicted 
Messiah.  (Hag.  ii.  7.)  It  is  the  titular 
name  taken  by  Halabi,  the  founder  of 
Islam.  (570-632.) 

His  grandsire  was  Abd-el-Motalleb ; his 
father,  Abdallah ; his  father-in-law,  Abu 
Bekr ; his  cousin  and  warmest  disciple 
was  Ali ; his  adopted  heir.  Said  ; his  fa- 
vourite wife,  Ayesha ; his  daughter, 
Fatima;  his  son,  Ibrahim.  His  nickname 
in  youth  was  El  Amin  (the  safe-man). 

Ma, hornet  loved  Mary,  a Coptic  girl,  and 
in  justification  of  his  amour  added  a new 
chapter  to  the  Koran,  which  may  be 
found  in  Gagnier’s  Notes  upon  Abul- 
feda,”  p.  151. 

Mahomet’s  Banner.  Sanjak- 
sherif,  kept  in  the  Eyab  mosque,  at 
Constantinople. 

Mahomet’s  Bow,  (5eeCATUM.) 


Mahomet’s  Camels.  {See  Adha.) 

Mahomet’s  CofB.n.  It  is  said  that 
Mahomet’s  coffin,  in  the  Had'gira  of 
Medi'na,  is  suspended  in  mid-air  without 
any  support.  Many  explanations  have- 
been  given  of  this  phenomenon,  the  one 
most  generally  received  being  that  the 
coffin  is  of  iron,  placed  midway  between 
two  magnets.  Burckhardt  visited  the 
sacred  enclosure,  and  found  the  ingenuity 
of  science  useless  in  this  case,  as  the- 
coffin  is  not  suspended  at  all. 

Mahomet’s  Cuirass.  (/S^eeFADHA.)^ 

Mahomet’s  Dove.  Mahomet  had 
a dove  which  he  used  to  feed  with  wheat 
out  of  his  ear.  When  the  dove  was 
hungry  it  used  to  light  on  the  prophet’s 
shoulder,  and  thrust  its  bill  into  his  ear 
to  find  its  meal.  Mahomet  thus  induced 
the  Arabs  to  believe  that  he  was  inspired 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  semblance  of 
a dove. — Sir  Walter  Raleighy  History 
of  the  World f bk.  I.,  pt.  i.,  ch.  6.  (See 
also  Prideaux,  Life  of  Mahomet.” 

Mahomet’s  Horse.  A1  Borak  {the- 
lightning).  It  conveyed  the  prophet  to 
the  seventh  heaven.  {See  Borak.  ) 

Borak  was  a£ne-limbed  high-standing  horse,  strong 
in  frame,  and  with  a coat  as  glossy  as  marble.  His 
colour  was  satfron,  with  one  hair  of  gold  for  every 
three  of  tawny ; his  ears  were  restless  and  pointed 
like  a reed ; his  eyes  large  and  full  of  fire  ; his  nos- 
trils wide  and  steaming ; he  had  a white  star  on  his 
forehead,  a neck  gracefully  arched,  a mane  soft  and. 
silky,  and  a thick  tail  that  swept  the  ground.— 
“ Croquemitainet’  ii.  9. 

Mahomet’s  Mule.  {See  Fadda.) 
Mahomet’s  Standard.  Baj'ura. 

Mahomet’s  Stepping-stone.  The* 
stone  upon  which  the  prophet  placed  his 
foot  when  he  mounted  the  beast  A1  Borak, 
on  his  ascent  to  heaven.  It  rose  as  the 
beast  rose,  but  Mahomet,  putting  his 
hand  upon  it,  forbade  it  to  follow  him, 
whereupon  it  remained  suspended  in 
mid-air,  where  the  true  believer,  if  he 
has  faith  enough,  may  still  behold  it. 

Mahomet’s  Swords.  Dhu’l  Fakar 
(the  trenchant) ; A1  Battar  {the  heater) ; 
Medham  {the  heen)]  and  Hatef  {the 
deadly). 

Mahomet’s  Wives.  Ten  in  num- 
ber, viz.,  (1)  Cadijeh,  a rich  widow  of 
the  tribe  of  Koreish,  who  had  been  twice 
married  already,  and  was  forty  years  of 
age.  For  twenty-five  years  she  was  his 


^2  MAHOMETAN  GRUEL. 


MAIDEN  ASSIZE. 


only  wife,  but  at  her  death  he  married 
nine  others,  all  of  whom  survived  him. 

The  nine  wives.  (1)  Ayesha,  daughter 
of  Abu  Bekr,  only  nine  years  old  on  her 
wedding-day.  This  was  his  youngest  and 
favourite  wife. 

(2)  Sawda,  widow  of  Sokran,  and  nurse 
to  his  daughter  Fat'ima. 

(3)  Hend,  a widow,  twenty-eight  years 
old,  who  also  had  a son.  She  was 
daughter  of  Omeya. 

(4)  Zeinab,  wife  of  Zeid,  but  divorced 
in  order  that  the  prophet  might  take 
her  to  wife. 

(5)  Barra,  wife  of  a young  Arab  and 
daughter  of  A1  Hareth,  chief  of  an  Arab 
tribe.  Both  father  and  husband  were 
slain  in  a battle  with  Mahomet.  She 
was  a captive. 

(6)  Rehana,  daughter  of  Simeon,  and 
a Jewish  captive. 

(7)  Safi'ya,  the  espoused  wife  of  Kena'- 
na.  Kena'na  was  put  to  death.  This 
wife  outlived  the  prophet  for  forty 
years. 

(8)  0mm  Habi'ba — i.e.,  mother  of 
Habiba  ; the  widow  of  Abu  Sofian. 

(9)  Maimu'na,  fifty* one  years  old,  and 
a widow,  who  survived  all  his  other  wives. 

Also  ten  or  fifteen  concubines,  chief  of 
whom  was  Mari'yeh,  mother  of  Ibrahim, 
"the  prophet’s  son,  who  died  when  fifteen 
months  old. 

Maliom'etan  Gruel.  A cant  term 
for  coffee,  the  common  beverage  of  the 
Turks. 

Maho'un  (3  syl. ).  Name  of  contempt 
for  Mahomet,  a Moslem,  a Moor.  In  Scot- 
land it  used  to  mean  devil. 

There’s  the  son  of  the  renegade— spawn  of  Mahoun 
f son  of  the  Moorish  princess). 

“ Vengeance  of  Mudarra." 

Mahu.  Fiend-prince  that  urges  to 
theft. 

Five  fiends  have  been  in  poor  Tom  at  once : of 
lust,  as  Obidicut;  Hobbididance,  prince  ©f  dumb- 
ness; Mahu,  of  stealing:  Modo,  of  murder;  and 
Flibbertigibbet,  of  mopping  and  mowing.— <SAa/ce- 
spearCy  “ King  Leafy*  iv.  1. 

Maid  Ma'rian.  A morris  dance, 
^ the  boy  in  the  morris  dance,  called 
“ifiad  Morion^  from  the  ^'morion”  which 
he  wore  on  his  head  {8ee  Morris  Dance). 
Maid  Marian  is  a corruption  first  of  the 
words,  and  then  of  the  sex.  Having  got 
the  words  Maid  Marian,  etymologists 
have  puzzled  out  a suitable  character 
in  Matilda,  the  daughter  of  Fitz-Walter, 


baron  of  Bayard  and  Dunmow,  who  eloped 
with  Robert  Fitz-Ooth,  the  outlaw,  and 
lived  with  him  in  Sherwood  Forest.  Some 
refine  upon  this  tale,  and  affirm  that 
Matilda  was  married  to  the  outlaw  (com- 
monly called  Robin  Hood)  by  friar  Tuck. 

A set  of  morrice  dancers  danced  a maidmarlan 
with  a tabor  and  pipe.  —Temple. 

Maid  of  iN’orway.  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Eric  and  ^Lirgaret  of  Nor- 
way. On  the  death  of  Alexander  III. 
she  was  acknowledged  queen  of  Scotland, 
and  was  betrothed  to  Edward,  son  of 
Edward  I.  of  England,  but  she  died  on 
her  passage  to  England. 

Maid  of  Orleans.  Jeanne  d’Arc. 
(1412-1431.) 

Maid  of  Perth  {Fair).  Catherine 
Glover,  daughter  of  Simon  Glover,  the 
old  glover  of  Perth.  She  kisses  Smith 
whil6  asleep  on  St.  Valentine’s  morning, 
and  ultimately  marries  him.  {See  Smith.) 
— Sir  Walter  Scotty  Fair  Maid  of  Perth.** 

Maid  of  Saragossa.  Augustina 
Zaragoza,  distinguished  for  her  heroism 
when  Saragossa  was  besieged  in  1808-9. 
Byron  mentions  her  in  his  Child© 
Harold.” 

Maiden.  A machine  resembling  the 
guillotine  for  beheading  criminals  in  the 
sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries ; 
brought  to  Scotland  by  the  regent  Mor- 
ton from  Halifax,  in  Yorkshire,  for  the 
purpose  of  beheading  the  laird  of  Penny- 
cuick.  It  was  also  called  ‘‘The  Widow.*' 

The  Maiden.  Malcolm  IV.  of  Scotland. 
(1141,  1153-1165.) 

Malcolm.... eon  of  the  brave  and  generous  prince 
Henry. . . .was  so  kiod  and  gentle  in  his  disposition, 
that  he  was  usually  called  Malcolm  the  Maiden. — 
Sir  Walter  Scotty  Tales  of  a Grandfather*'  iv. 

Me  who  invented  the  Maiden  first  haiv- 
selled  it.  Referring  to  regent  Morton, 
who  introduced  this  sort  of  guillotine 
into  Scotland  ; erroneously  said  to  have 
been  the  first  to  suffer  by  it.  Thomas 
Scott,  one  of  the  murderers  of  Riccio, 
was  beheaded  by  it  in  1566,  fifteen  years 
before  Morton’s  execution. 

Maiden  Assize.  One  in  which 
there  is  no  person  to  be  brought  to  trial. 
We  have  also  the  expressions  Maiden- 
tree,  one  never  lopped  ; Maiden-fortress, 
one  never  taken ; Maiden  Speech ; &c. 
In  a Maiden  assize,  the  sheriff  of  the 
county  presents  the  judge  with  a pair 


MAIDEN  LANE. 


MALBROOK. 


543 


of  white  gloves.  White  gloves  symbolise 
innocence.  Maiden  also  means  unspotted, 
unpolluted,  innocent ; thus  Shakespeare 
makes  Hubert  say  to  the  King — 

This  hand  of  mine 

Is  yet  a maiden  and  an  innocent  hand, 

Kot  painted  with  the  crimson  spots  of  blood. 

*'Kmg  John^'  iv.  2. 

Maiden  Lane  {London).  So  called 
from  an  image  of  the  Maiden  or  Virgin 
Mary,  which  stood  there  before  the  Re- 
formation. 

Maiden  or  Virgin  Queen.  Elizabeth, 
queen  of  England.  (1533,  1558-1603.) 

Maiden  Town.  Edinburgh.  The 
tradition  is  that  the  maiden  daughters  of 
u,  Pictish  king  were  sent  there  for  protec- 
tion during  a time  of  intestine  war. 

Maiden  of  the  Mist.  Anne  of  Geier- 
stein,  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  novel  called 
^‘Anne  of  Geierstein.” 

Mainote  (2  syl.).  Pirates  that  in- 
fest the  coast  of  Attica. 

....Like  boat 
Of  island- pirate  or  Mainote, 

£yron,‘^  The  Giaour.’* 

Maintain  is  to  hold  in  the  hand  ; 
hence  to  keep,  and  hence  to  clothe  and 
feed.  (French,  mam  tenir;  Latin,  manus 
ieneo.) 

Maize  (1  syl.).  According  to  Ame- 
rican superstition,  if  a damsel  finds  a 
blood-red  ear  of  maize,  she  will  have  a 
suitor  before  the  year  is  over. 

Even  the  blood-red  ear  to  Evangeline  brought  not 
her  lover.  Longfellow. 

Majesty.  Henry  VIII.  was  the  first 
English  sovereign  who  was  styled  His 
Majesty.”  Henry  IV.  was  His  Grace 
Henry  VI.,  ‘‘  His  Excellent  Grace  Ed- 
ward IV.,  ^‘High  and  Mighty  Prince;” 
Henry  VII.,  “ His  Grace,”  and  His 
Highness;”  Henry  VIII.,  in  the  earlier 
part  of  his  reign,  was  styled  His  High- 
ness.” ^‘His  Sacred  Majesty”  was  a 
title  assumed  by  subsequent  sovereigns, 
but  was  afterwards  changed  to  ‘'Most 
Excellent  Majesty.” 

Majol'ica  Ware.  A pottery  ori- 
ginally made  in  the  island  of  Majorca 
or  Majolica,  and  lately  revived  by  Mr. 
Minton.  • 

Makambi.  A male  idol  of  the 
Oroungou  in  Africa.  His  -wife  Abiala 
usurped  aC.  power. 


Malagi'gi  (in  "Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
Son  of  Buo'vo,  and  brother  of  Al'diger 
and  Vivian,  of  Clarmont’s  race;  a wizard 
knight,  and  cousin  of  Rinaldo.  {See 
Maugis.) 

MaPagrow'ther  {Sir  Mungo').  An 
old  courtier  soured  by  misfortune,  who 
tries  to  make  every  one  as  discontented 
as  him  self.— aSw  Walter  Scott,  Fortunes 
of  Nigeir 

Mal'akofF  {in  the  Crim'ea).  In  1831 
a sailor  and  ropemaker,  named  Alexander 
Ivanovitch  Malakoff,  celebrated  for  his 
wit  and  conviviality,  lived  at  Sebastopol. 
He  had  many  friends  and  admirers,  but 
being  engaged  in  a riot,  was  dismissed 
the  dockyards  in  which  he  had  been  em- 
ployed. He  now  opened  a liquor  shop 
on  the  hill  outside  the  town.  His  old 
friends  gathered  round  him,  and  his  shop 
was  called  the  Malakoff.  In  time  other 
houses  were  built  around,  and  the  Mala- 
koff became  a town,  which  ultimately 
was  fortified.  This  was  the  origin  of  the 
famed  Malakoff  Tower,  which  caused  so 
much  trouble  to  the  allied  army  in  the 
Crimean  War. — Gazette  de  France. 

Malambru'no.  The  giant,  first 
cousin  of  queen  Magun'cia,  of  Canday'a, 
who  enchanted  Antonomas'ia  and  her 
husband,  and  shut  them  up  in  the  tomb 
of  the  deceased  queen.  The  infanta  he 
transformed  into  a monkey  of  brass,  and 
the  knight  into  a crocodile.  Don  Quixote 
achieved  their  disenchantment  by  mount- 
ing the  wooden  horse  called  Clavile'no. 
— Cervantes  Bon  Quixote,^*  pt,  II.,  bk. 
iii.,  c.  45. 

Malaprop  {Mrs.)  in  "The  Rivals,” 
by  Sheridan.  (French,  mal  d propos.) 
Noted  for  her  blunders  in  the  use  of 
words.  "As  headstrong  as  an  allegory 
on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,”  is  one  of  her 
famous  similes.  {See  Partington.) 

Malbec'co.  A " cankered,  crabbed 
carl,”  very  wealthy,  but  miserly  and 
mean.  He  seems  to  be  the  impersona- 
tion of  self-inflicted  torments.  He  mar- 
ried a young  wife  named  Helenore,  who 
set  fire  to  his  house,  and  eloped  with  Sir 
Par'idel.  Malbecca  cast  himself  over  a 
high  rock,  and  all  his  flesh  vanished  into 
thin  air,  leaving  behind  nothing  but  his 
ghost,  which  was  metamorphosed  into 
Jealousy. — Spenser,*  * Faery  Queen  f bk.  iii. 

Malbrook  or  Marlbrough  {Marl- 
i hrd),  does  not  date  from  the  battle 


544 


MALCOLM. 


MALMESBLKif  MONASTERY. 


of  Malplaq'uet  (1709),  but  from  the  time 
of  the  Crusades,  600  years  before.  Ac- 
cording- to  a tradition  discovered  by 
M.  de  Chateaubriand,  the  air  came  from 
the  Arabs,  and  the  tale  is  a legend  of 
Mambron,  a crusader.  It  was  brought 
into  fashion  during  the  Revolution  by 
me.  Poitrine,  who  used  to  sing  it  to  her 
yal  foster-child,  the  son  of  Louis  XVI. 
M.  Ar'ago  tells  us  that  when  M.  Monge, 
at  Cairo,  sang  this  air  to  an  Egyptian 
audience,  they  all  knew  it,  and  joined  in 
it.  Certainly  the  song  has  nothing  to 
do  with  the  duke  of  Marlborough,  as  it  is 
all  about  feudal  castles  and  Eastern  wars. 
We  are  told  also  that  the  band  of  Cap- 
tain Cook,  in  1770,  was  playing  the  air 
one  day  on  the  east  coast  of  Australia, 
when  the  natives  evidently  recognised  it, 
and  seemed  enchanted. — Moniteur  de 
VArmh. 

Marlbrough  s’en  va-t-en  guerre, 

Mironton,  rnironton,  mirontaine ; 
Marlbrough  s’en  va-t-en  guerre, 

Ne  Bait  quand  reviendra, 

II  reviendra  z’a  paques — 

Mironton,  mironton,  mirontaine  . . • 

Ou  a la  Trinite. 

Malcolm.  Eldest  son  of  Duncan, 
king  of  Scotland.  He  was  called  Can- 
More  (Great-head),  and  succeeded  Mac- 
beth (1056). — Shahespearej  ^‘Macbeth.'' 

Maldine  {French) . School ; so  called 
because  at  school  on  dine  assez  mal.” 

Malebol'ge  (4  syl.).  The  eighth 
circle  of  Dante’s  Inferno,”  which  con- 
tained in  all  ten  holgi  or  pits. 

Malecast.  The  impersonation  of 
lust. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen”  bk.  hi. 

Male'ger  {wretchedly  thin).  Captain 
of  the  rabble  rout  which  attack  the 
castle  of  Temperance.  He  was  “ thin  as 
a rake,”  and  cold  as  a serpent.  Prince 
Arthur  attacks  him  and  flings  him  to  the 
ground,  but  Maleger  springs  up  with 
renewed  vigour.  Arthur  now  stabs  him 
through  and  through,  but  it  is  like  stab- 
bing a shadow ; he  then  takes  him  in  his 
arms  and  squeezes  him  as  in  a vice, 
but  it  is  like  squeezing  a piece  of 
sponge ; he  then  remembers  that  every 
time  the  carl  touches  the  earth  his 
strength  is  renewed,  so  he  squeezes  all 
his  breath  out,  flings  the  body  over  his 
shoulder,  and  tosses  it  into  a lake.  (See 
ANTiEos.)  — Spenser,  Faery  Queen” 
bk.  ii. 


Malengin  {guile).  On  his  back  he* 
carried  a net  to  catch  fools.”  Being- 
attacked  by  Sir  Artegal  and  his  iron 
man,  he  turned  himself  first  into  a fox, 
then  to  a bush,  then  to  a bird,  then  to  a 
hedgehog,  then  to  a snake ; but  Talus 
was  a match  for  all  his  deceits,  and  killed 
him. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen,”  v.  9. 

Malepardus.  The  castle  of  Master 
Reynard  the  Fox,  in  the  tale  of  Reynard 
the  Fox.” 

Malherbe’s  Canons  of  French 
poetry : 

(1)  Poetry  is  to  contain  only  such 
words  as  are  in  common  use  by  well- 
educated  Parisians. 

(2)  A word  ending  with  a vowel  must 
in  no  case  be  followed  by  a word  begin- 
ning with  a vowel. 

(3)  One  line  in  no  wise  is  to  run  intO' 
another. 

(4)  The  caesura  must  always  be  most 
strictly  observed. 

(5)  Every  alternate  rhyme  must  be  fe- 
minine. 

Mal'iom.  Mahomet  is  so  called  in 
some  of  the  old  romances. 

Send  five,  send  six  against  me.  By  Maliom  I 
swear.  I’ll  take  them  all— “jp’jera6ras.” 

Malkin.  The  nickname  of  Mary, 
now  called  Molly.  Hence  the  Maid 
Marian  is  so  termed. 

Malkin.  A kitchen  wench,  now  called 
a Molly,  is  by  Shakespeare  termed  the 
Kitchen  Malkin. — Coriolanus”  ii.  1. 

Malkin.  A scare-crow  or  figure  dressed 
like  a scullion ; hence,  anything  made  of 
rags,  as  a mop. 

Malkin.  A Moll  or  female  cat,  the- 
male  being  a Tom.”  When  the  cat 
mews,  the  Witch  in  Macbeth”  calls  out 
come,  Gray-malkin”  (i.  1). 

Mall  or  Pall  Mall  (London).  From 
the  Latin  pellere  malVeo  (to  strike  with  a 
mallet  or  bat).  So  called  because  it  was 
where  the  ancient  game  of  pell-mall  used 
to  be  played.  Cotgrave  says:  ‘‘Pale 
maille  is  a game  wherein  a round  box- 
ball  is  struck  with  a mallet  through  a 
high  arch  of  iron.  He  that  can  do  this 
most  frequently  wins.”  It  was  a fashion- 
able game  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,. 
and  the  walk  called  the  Mall  was  appro- 
*priated  to  it  for  the  king  and  his  court. 

Malmesbury  Monastery.  Found- 
ed by  Maildulf,  Meildulf,  or  Meldun,  an 
Irishman, 


MALMSEY  WINE. 


MAMMON. 


54(> 


Malmsey  Wine  is  tLe  wine  of  Mal- 
va'sia,  in  Candia. 

Thane  spyces  unaparyly  thay  spendyde  thereaftyre, 
Malvesye  and  muskadelle,  thase  mervelyous  drynkea. 

“ Morte  d’Arthure.** 

Malt,  Sermon  on,  was  by  J obn  Dod, 
the  decalogist,  so  called  from  his  famous 
exposition  of  the  Ten  Commandments. 
He  was  born  at  Shocklach  in  Cheshire,  in 
1555,  and  died  in  1645. 

Maltese  Cross,  made  thus : HM 

Malth-U'sian.  A disciple  of  Malthus, 
whose  political  doctrines  are  laid  down 
in  his  Essay  on  the  Principles  of  Popu- 
lation.” 

Malthu'sian Doctrine.  That  popu- 
lation increases  more  than  the  means  of 
increasing  subsistence  does,  so  that  in 
time,  if  no  check  is  put  upon  the  increase 
of  population,  many  must  starve  or  all  be 
ill-fed.  Applied  to  individual  nations, 
like  Britain,  it  intimated  that  something 
must  be  done  to  check  the  increase  of 
population,  as  all  the  land  would  not 
suffice  to  feed  its  inhabitants. 

Malum,  in  Latin,  means  an  apple ; 
and  ‘^malus,  mala,  malum,”  means  evil. 
Southey,  in  his  “ Commonplace  Book,” 
quotes  a wutty  etymon  given  by  Nicolson 
and  Burn,  making  the  noun  derived  from 
the  adjective,  in  allusion,  I suppose,  to 
the  (?)  apple  eaten  by  Eve. 

Malum  in  Se  {LatiTi).  What  is  of 
itself  wrong,  and  would  be  so  even  if  no 
law  existed  against  its  commission,  as 
lying,  murder,  theft. 

Malum  Prohibitum  {Latin). 
What  is  wrong  merely  because  it  is  for- 
bidden, as  eating  a particular  fruit  was 
wrong  in  Adam  and  Eve,  because  they 
were  commanded  not  to  do  so. 

Malvolio.  Steward  to  Olivia,  in 
Shakespeare’s  Twelfth  Night.” 

Mamamouchi.  A mock  honour. 

Better  be  a country  gentleman  in  Eng- 
land than  a foreign  Mamamouchi.”  The 
honour  is  conferred  on  M.  Jourdain. — 
Moliere,  '‘^Bourgeois  Gentilhomme.^^ 

Mambri'no’s  Helmet  was  of  pure 
gold,  and  rendered  the  wearer  invulner- 
able. It  was  taken  possession  of  by 
Rinaldo  Orlando  Furioso”).  Cervantes 
tells  us  of  a barber  who  was  caught  in  a 
shower,  and  to  protect  his  hat  clapped 
his  brazen  basin  on  his  head.  Don 


Quixote  insisted  that  this  shaving  basin- 
was  the  enchanted  helmet  of  the  Moorish 
king. 

Mam'elon  (2  syl.,  French).  A mound 
in  the  shape  of  a woman’s  breast.  These 
artificial  mounds  were  common  in  the' 
siege  of  Sebastopol.  (Latin,  mammaf  a: 
breast. ) 

Mamelukes  (2  syl.)  or  Mcmalulen 
(Arabic,  mamluc,  a slave).  A name  given 
in  Egypt  to  the  slaves  of  the  beys  brought 
from  the  Caucasus,  and  formed  into  a 
standing  army.  In  1254,  these  military 

slaves”  raised  one  of  their  body  to  the 
supreme  power ; and  Noureddin  Ali,  the 
founder  of  the  Baharites,  gave  twenty - 
three  sultans;  in  1832  the  dynasty  of 
the  Borjites,  also  mamlucs,  succeeded, 
and  was  followed  by  twenty-one  succes- 
sors. Selim  I.,  sultan  of  Turkey,  overthrew 
the  mamluc  kingdom  in  1517,  but  allowed 
the  twenty-four  beys  to  be  elected  from 
their  body.  In  1811,  Mohammed  Ali  by 
a wholesale  massacre  annihilated  the  Ma- 
melukes, and  became  viceroy  of  Egypt. 

Mamma,  Mother.  The  former  is 
Norman-French,  and  the  latter  Saxon. ^ 
{See  Papa.) 

Mammet.  A puppet,  a favourite,  dnw 
idol.  A corruption  of  Mahomet.  Ma- 
hometanism being  the  most  prominent, 
form  of  false  religion  with  which  Chris- 
tendom was  acquainted  before  the 
Reformation,  it  became  a generic  word  ta 
designate  any  false  faith,  even  idolatry,, 
called  mammetry. 

Mammon.  The  god  of  this  world. - 
The  word  in  Syriac  means  riches.  {See 
Milton,  Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  i.) 

Mammon.  In  Spenser’s  “Faery  Queen,” 
Mammon  says  if  Sir  Cuyon  -^l  serve 
him  he  shall  be  the  richest  man  in  the 
world;  but  the  knight  says  money  has 
no  charm  for  him.  Mammon  then  takes 
him  to  his  smithy,  and  tells  him  he  may 
make  what  orders  he  likes,  but  Guyon 
declines  to  make  any.  The  god  then 
offers  to  give  him  Phil'otine  to  wife,  but 
Guyon  will  not  accept  the  honour.  Lastly 
he  takes  him  to  Proserpine’s  bower,  and 
tells  him  to  pluck  the  golden  fruit,  and 
rest  on  the  silver  stool ; Sir  Guyon  again 
refuses,  and  after  three  days’  sojourn  in 
the  infernal  regions  is  led  back  to  earth, 
where  he  swoons.— ii.  7. 

MammoiHs  Cave.  The  abode  of  the 
Money-god.  Sir  Guyon  visited  this  cave,. 

J J 


546 


MAMMOTH  CAVE. 


MAN  OF  WAX. 


and  Spenser  gives  a very  full  description 
of  it  in  the  Faery  Queen,”  bk.  ii.,  c.  7. 

Sir  Epicure  Mammon,  A worldly  sen- 
sualist.— Ben  Jonson,  The  AlchymisC' 

The  Mammon  of  Unrighteousness.  Mo- 
ney. A Scripture  phrase  (Luke  xvi.  9). 
Mammon  was  the  Syrian  god  who  pre- 
sided over  wealth,  similar  to  Plutus  of 
Greek  and  Roman  mythology. 

Mammoth.  Cave.  In  Edmonson 
county,  Kentucky— the  largest  in  the 
world. 

Mamour  {A  1).  The  House  of  Adora- 
tion, in  the  seventh  heaven. 

Man.  Emblematic  of  St.  Matthew, 
one  of  the  four  Evangelists,  in  allusion 
to  the  man  which  was  one  of  the  four 
elements  of  Ezekiel’s  cherub  (i.  10). 

Man.  Average  weight,  150  lbs. ; height, 
69  inches  ; strength,  420  lbs. 

Man  Threefold.  According  to  Diog'enes 
Laertius,  the  body  was  composed  of  (1) 
a mortal  part ; (2)  a divine  and  ethereal 
part,  called  the  phren  ; (3)  an  aerial  and 
vaporous  part,  called  the  thumos. 

According  to  the  Romans  man  has  a 
three-fold  soul,  which  at  the  dissolution 
of  the  body  resolves  itself  into  (1)  the 
Manes  ; (2)  the  An'ima  or  Spirit ; (3)  the 
Umhra.  The  Manes  went  either  to 
Elysium  orTar'tarus ; the  Anima  returned 
to  the  gods ; but  the  Umbra  hovered 
about  tho  body  as  unwilling  to  quit  it. 

According  to  the  Jews,  man  consists 
of  body,  soul,  and  spirit. 

Isle  of  Man,  called  by  the  ancient 
Britons  main-au  (little  island).  Latinised 
into  Menav-io^  Caesar  calls  it  Mona  (i.e., 
Mon-ah),  the  Scotch  pronunciation  of 
Manau.  Mona  and  Pliny’s  Monahia  are 
varieties  of  “Menavia.” 

Man  in  Black.  Supposed  to  be 
Goldsmith’s  father. — Citizen  of  the  World. 

Man  in  the  Iron  Mask.  {See  Iron 
Mask.) 

Man  in  the  Moon.  Some  say  it  is 
a man  leaning  on  a fork,  on  which  he  is 
carrying  a bundle  of  sticks  picked  up  on 
a Sunday.  The  origin  of  this  fable  is 
from  Num.  xv.,  32-36.  Some  add  a dog 
also,  thus  the  Prologue  in  ‘‘Midsummer 
Night’s  Dream”  says,  “ This  man  with 
lantern,  dog,  and  bush  of  thorns,  pre- 
sen teth  moonshine;”  Chaucer  says  “he 
stole  the  bush”  {Test,  of  Cresseide). 
Another  tradition  says  that  the  man  is 
Cain,  with  his  dog  and  thorn-bush ; the 


thorn-bush  being  emblematical  of  the 
thorns  and  briars  of  the  fall,  and  the  dog 
being  the  “foul  fiend.’’  Some  poets 
make  out  the  “ man  ” to  be  the  youth 
Endym'ion,  taken  thither  by  Diana. 

Man  in  the  Moon,  The  nameless  person 
employed  in  elections  to  negotiate  bribes. 
Thus  the  rumour  is  set  flying  among  the 
electors  that  “ The  Man  in  the  Moon  has 
arrived.” 

Man  of  Belial.  Any  wicked  man. 
Shimei  so  called  David  (2  Sam.  xvi.  7). 
The  ungodly  are  called  “Children  of 
Belial,”  or  “ Sons  of  Belial.”  The  word 
Belial  means  tvorthiessness. 

Man  of  Blood.  David  is  so  called 
(2  Sam.  xvi.  7). 

The  Puritans  applied  the  term  to 
Charles  I.,  because  he  made  war  against 
his  Parliament.  Any  man  of  violence. 

Man  of  Feeling.  The  title  of  a 
novel  by  Henry  Mackenzie.  His  “ man 
of  feeling  ” is  named  Harley — a sensitive, 
bashful,  kind-hearted,  sentimental  hero. 

Man  of  Boss.  John  Kyrle,  of  Ross, 
in  Herefordshire,  immortalised  by  Pope 
in  his  Epistle  “ On  the  Use  of  Riches.” 

Man  of  Salt.  A man  like  ^Eneas, 
always  “melting  into  salt  tears,”  called 
“ drops  of  salt.  ” 

This  would  make  a man,  a man  of  salt 
To  use  his  eyes  for  garden  waterpots. 

Shakespeare,  King  Lear,**  ir.  6. 

Man  of  Sin  (2  Thess.  ii.  3).  The 
Roman  Catholics  say  the  Man  of  Sin  is 
Antichrist.  The  Puritans  applied  the 
term  to  the  pope  of  Rome ; the  Fifth- 
Monarchy  men,  to  Cromwell ; many 
modern  theologians  apply  it  to  that 
“wicked  one”  (identical  with  the  “last 
Korn”  of  Dan.  vii.)  who  is  to  appear 
immediately  before  the  second  advent  of 
Christ,  and  whom  he  will  destroy  with 
the  “breath  of  his  mouth,”  and  the 
“ brightness  of  his  appearing.” 

Man  of  Straw.  A person  without 
capital.  It  used  to  be  customary  for  a 
number  of  worthless  fellows  to  loiter 
about  our  law-courts,  to  become  false- 
witness  or  surety  for  any  one  who 
would  buy  their  services ; their  ba’(Jge 
was  a straw  in  their  shoes.  Being  utterly 
penniless  and  without  principle,  a man  of 
straw  became  proverbial. 

Man  of  Wax.  A model  man  ; like 
one  fashioned  in  wax.  Horace  speaks  of 


MAN  OF  THE  HILL. 


MANDRAKE. 


547 


•the  waxen  arms  of  Telephus/’  meaning 
model  arms,  or  of  perfect  shape  and 
colour ; and  the  Nurse  says  of  Romeo, 

Why,  he’s  a man  of  wax  ” (i.  3),  which 
she  explains  by  saying,  ^'Nay,  he’s  a 
flower,  i’  faith,  a very  flower.” 

Man  of  the  Hill.  A tedious  her- 
mit of  the  vale,”  which  incumbers  the 
main  story  of  Tom  J ones,”  by  Fielding. 

Man  of  the  Sea.  {See  Old,  &c.  ) 

Man’s.  A fashionable  coffee-house 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

The  Count  of  Mans.  Roland,  the 
nephew  of  Charlemagne ; also  called 
Knight  of  Blaives. 

Mana  of  St.  Hicolas  of  Bari.  So 
Toffania  called  her  poisonous  liquid,  best 
known  as  the  Acqua  Tofa'na  or  Acqua  di 
Perugia.  {See  Toffania.) 

MancLe  (French).  Aimer  mieux  la 
manche  qne  le  bras.  Manche  is  a slang 
word,  equivalent  to  the  Indian  “back- 
shish” {q.v.},  a gratuity  given  to  a 
cicerone,  cabman,  or  porter.  It  is  the 
Italian  buona  ruancia. 

Manchester.  The  first  syllable  is 
the  Friesic  man  (a  common) ; and  the 
word  means  the  Roman  encampment  on 
the  common. 

Manchester  Poet.  Charles  Swain. 
(1803-  .) 

Manda'mns  (Latin').  A writ  of 
King’s  Bench,  commanding  the  person 
named  to  do  what  the  writ  directs.  The 
first  word  is  ‘^Mandamus”  (We  com- 
mand . . .). 

Manda'na.  A stock  name  in  heroic 
romance,  which  generally  represents  the 
fate  of  the  world  turning  on  the  caprice 
of  some  beautiful  Mandana  or  Stattra. 

Mandarin'  is  not  a Chinese  word, 
but  one  given  by  the  Portuguese  colonists 
at  Maca'o  to  the  officials  called  by  the 
natives  Khiem'ping  (3  syl.).  It  is  from 
the  verb  mandar  (to  command). 

The  nine  Mandarins  are  distinguished 
hy  the  button  in  their  cap; — 1,  ruby; 
2,  coral ; 3,  sapphire  ; 4,  an  opaque  blue 
s'fcone  ; 5,  crystal ; 6,  an  opaque  white 
shell ; 7,  wrought  gold ; 8,  plain  gold ; 
and  9,  silver. 

MandeviUe  {Bernard).  A licentious 
deistical  writer,  author  of  “The  Virgin 
Unmasked,”  and  “Free  Thoughts  on 
Religion,”  in  the  reign  of  George  II. 


Mandiccar'do.  A knight  whose 
adventures  are  recorded  by  Barahona 
(c.  i.  70-1). 

Mandou'sians.  V ery  short  swords. 
So  called  from  a certain  Spanish  noble- 
man of  the  house  of  Mendo'sa,  who 
brought  them  into  use. 

Man'drabul.  From  gold  to  nothing, 
like  Man' drabuV s offering.  Mandrabul 
having  found  a gold  mine  in  Samos, 
offered  to  Juno  a golden  ram  for  the 
discovery ; next  year  he  gave  a silver  one, 
then  a brazen  one,  and  in  the  fourth 
year  nothing.  The  proverb  “ to  bring  a 
noble  to  ninepence,  and  ninepence  to 
nothing,”  carries  the  same  meaning. 

Mandrake  (Greek,  hurtful  to  cat- 
tle. ) The  root  of  the  mandrag'ora  often 
divides  itself  in  two,  and  presents  a 
rude  appearance  of  a man.  In  ancient 
times  human  figures  were  often  cut 
out  of  the  root,  and  wonderful  virtues 
ascribed  to  them.  It  was  used  to  pro- 
duce fecundity  in  women  (Gen.  xxx. 
14-16).  Some  mandrakes  cannot  be 
pulled  from  the  earth  without  producing 
fatal  effects,  so  a cord  used  to  be  fixed  to 
the  root,  and  round  a dog’s  neck,  and 
the  dog  being  chased  drew  out  the  man- 
drake, and  died.  Another  superstition  is 
that  when  the  mandrake  is  uprooted  it 
utters  a scream,  in  explanation  of  which 
Thomas  Newton,  in  his  “ Herball  to 
the  Bible,”  says,  “ It  is  supposed  to  be  a 
creature  having  life,  engendered  under 
the  earth  of  the  seed  of  some  dead 
person  put  to  death  for  murder.” 

Shrieks  like  mandrakes  torn  out  of  the  earth. 

Shakespeare,  ''■Romeo  and  Juliet”  iv.  3. 

Mandrakes  called  love-apples.  From 
the  old  notion  that  they  excited  amorous 
inclinations ; hence  Venus  is  called  Man- 
dragori'tis,  and  the  emperor  Julian,  in 
his  epistles,  tells  Calix'enes  that  he  drank 
its  juice  nightly  as  a love-potion. 

He  has  eaten  mandrake.  Said  of  a very 
indolent  and  sleepy  man,  from  the  nar- 
cotic and  stupefying  properties  of  the 
plant,  well-known  to  the  ancients. 

Give  me  to  drink  mandragora  . . . 

That  I might  Sleep  out  this  great  gap  of  time 

My  Antony  is  away. 

Shakespeare^  “ Antony  and  Cleopaira,'*  i.  6. 

Mandrake.  Another  superstition  con- 
nected with  this  plant  is  that  a small 
dose  makes  a person  vain  of  his  beauty, 
and  conceited ; but  that  a large  dose 
makes  him  an  idiot. 


3 J 2 


548 


MANDRICARDO. 


MANNINGTREE. 


Mandricar'do.  King  of  Tartary, 
or  Scythia,  son  of  Ag'rican.  He  wore 
Hector’s  cuirass,  married  Dor'alis,  and 
was  slain  in  single  combat  by  Roge'ro.— 

Orlando  InnamoratOy'  and  Orlando 
Furioso” 

Manduce  (2  syl.).  The  idol  Glut- 
tony, venerated  by  the  Gastrol'aters, 
people  whose  god  was  their  belly. 

It  is  a monstrous  . . . figure,  fit  to  frighten  little 
children;  its  eyes  are  bigger  tlian  its  beUy,  and  its 
head  larger  than  all  the  rest  of  its  body  . . . having  a 
goodly  pair  of  wide  jaws,  lined  with  two  rows  of  teeth 
which,  hy  the  magic  of  a small  twine  . . . are  made 
to  clash,  chatter,  and  rattle  one  against  the  other,  as 
the  jaws  of  St.  Clement’s  dragon  (called  graulli)  $n 
St.  Mark’s  procession  at  Metz.— “Pawfap- 
meV*  iv.  59. 

Manxes.  To  appease  his  manes.  To 
do  when  a person  is  dead  what  would  have 
pleased  him  or  was  due  to  him  when 
alive.  The  spirit  or  ghost  of  the  dead 
was  by  the  Romans  called  his  manes, 
which  never  slept  quietly  in  the  grave  so 
long  as  survivors  left  its  wishes  unful- 
filled. The  19th  February  was  the  day 
when  all  the  living  sacrificed  to  the 
shades  of  their  dead  relations  and 
friends. 

Manfred.  Count  Manfred,  son  of 
count  SigTsmund,  sold  himself  to  the 
prince  of  darkness,  and  had  seven  spirits 
bound  to  do  his  bidding,  viz.,  the  spirits 
of  earth,  ocean,  air,  night,  mountains, 
winds,”  and  the  star  of  his  own  destiny. 
He  was  wholly  without  human  sympa- 
thies, and  lived  in  splendid  solitude 
among  the  Alpine  mountains.  He  once 
loved  the  lady  As'tarte  (2  syl.)  who  died, 
but  Manfred  went  to  the  hall  of  Arim'anes 
to  see  and  speak  to  her  phantom,  and 
was  told  that  he  would  die  the  following 
day.  The  next  day  the  Spirit  of  his 
Destiny  came  to  summon  him ; the 
proud  count  scornfully  dismissed  it,  and 
died. — Byron,  Manfred.** 

Manger  or  Manger  le  morcean.  To 
betray,  to  impeach,  to  turn  king’s  evi- 
dence. The  allusion  is  to  the  words  of 
Jesus  to  the  beloved  disciple— He  will 
be  the  traitor  to  whom  I shall  give  a 
sop  when  I have  dipped  it,”  &c.  (John 
xiii.  26). 

Ma'ni.  The  son  of  Mundilfori ; 
taken  to  heaven  by  the  gods  to  drive  the 
moon-car.  He  is  followed  by  a wolf, 
which,  when  time  shad  be  no  more,  will 
devour  both  Mani  and  his  sister  Sol. 


Mani,  Manes,  or  Manicliaeus.  The 
greatest  Persian  painter,  who  lived  in  the 
reign  of  Shah-pour  (Sapor'  J.).  It  is 
said  his  productions  rivalled  nature. 
(226-274.) 

Manichae'ans  or  Manichees.  A 
religious  sect  founded  by  Mani  or  Mani- 
chseus,  the  Persian  painter.  It  was  an 
amalgamation  of  the  Magian  and  Chris- 
tian religions,  interlarded  with  a little 
Buddhism.  In  order  to  enforce  his  re- 
ligious system,  Mani  declared  himself  to 
be  the  Paraclete  or  Comforter  promised 
by  Jesus  Christ. 

Man'itou.  The  American- Indian 
fetish, 

Manlian  Orders.  Overstrained 
severity.  Manlius  Torqua'tus/  the  Rom  an 
consul,  gave  orders  in  the  Latin  war  that 
no  Roman,  on  pain  of  death,  should  en- 
gage in  single  combat ; but  one  of  the 
Latins  provoked  young  Manlius  by  re- 
peated insults,  and  Manlius  slew  him. 
When  the  young  man  took  the  spoils  to 
his  father,  Torqua'tus  ordered  him  to  be 
put  to  death  for  violating  the  commands 
of  his  superior  ofiicer. 

Manly  in  the  Plain  Dealer,”  by 
Wycherly.  He  is  violent  and  uncouth, 
but  presents  an  excellent  contrast  to  the 
hypocritical  Olivia  {q.r.). 

Mr.  Manly  in  “The  Provoked  Hus- 
band,” by  Vanbrugh  and  Cibber. 

Man -Mountain  or  Qninlns  Fles- 
trin.  So  Gulliver  was  called  by  the 
Lilliputians. 

Manna.  Manna  of  St.  Nicholas  of 
Bari.  The  name  given  to  a colourless  and 
tasteless  poison,  sold  in  phials  by  a woman 
of  Italy  named  Tofani,  who  confessed  to 
having  poisoned  600  persons  by  this 
liquid. 

Man'nering.  Colonel  or  Guy  Man- 
nering ; Mrs.  Mannering,  nee  Sophia 
Wellwood,  his  wife  ; Julia  Mannering, 
their  daughter,  who  married  Captain 
Bertram ; Sir  Paul  Mannering,  the 
colonel’s  uncle.  In  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 
novel  of  “Guy  Mannering.” 

Manningtree  {Essex).  Noted  for 
its  Whitsun  fair,  where  an  ox  was  roasted 
whole.  Shakespeare  makes  prince  Henry 
call  Falstaff  “a  roasted  Manningtree 


MANOA. 


MARABOUT. 


549 


ox,  with,  the  pudding  in  his  belly.” — 

1 Henry  /T.,”  ii.  4. 

You  shall  have  a slave  eat  more  at  a meale  than  ten 
of  the  guard ; and  drink  more  in  two  days  than  all 
Manningtree  does  at  a Witsun-ale. 

Mano'a.  The  fabulous  capital  of 
El  Dora'do,  the  houses  of  which  city  were 
said  to  be  roofed  with  gold. 

Manon  Lescaut.  A novel  by  the 
abbe  Prevot.  It  is  the  history  of  a young 
man  possessed  of  many  brilliant  and 
some  estimable  qualities,  but  being  in- 
toxicated by  a fatal  attachment  he  is 
hurried  into  the  violation  of  every  rule 
of  conduct,  and  finally  prefers  the  life  of 
a wretched  wanderer,  with  the  worthless 
object  of  his  affection,  to  all  the  advan- 
tages presented  by  nature  and  fortune. 

Mansard  Roof,  also  called  the  curb 
roof.  A roof  in  which  the  rafters  instead 
of  forming  a A are  broken  on  each  side 
into  an  elbow.  It  was  devised  by  Man- 
sard, the  French  architect,  to  give  height 
to  attics.  (1598-1666.) 

Mansfield.  The  Miller  of  Mansfield. 
Henry  II.  was  one  day  hunting,  and  lost 
his  way.  He  met  a miller  who  took  him 
home  to  his  cottage,  and  gave  him  a bed 
with  his  son  Richard.  Next  morning  the 
courtiers  tracked  the  king  to  the  cottage, 
and  the  miller  discovered  the  rank  of  his 
guest.  The  king,  in  merry  mood,  knighted 
his  host,  who  thus  became  Sir  John 
Cockle.  On  St.  George’s  day  Henry  II. 
invited  the  three  to  a royal  banquet,  and 
after  being  amused  with  their  rustic 
ways,  made  Sir  John  '^Overseer  of  Sher- 
wood Forest,  with  a salary  of  £300  a 
year.” — Percy,  Reliques'* 

Mansion.  This  word  has  con- 
siderably changed  its  original  meaning, 
which  was  simply  a tent  pitched  for 
soldiers  on  their  march,  and  hence  a 

day’s  journey”  (Pliny,  xii.  14).  Sub- 
sequently the  word  was  applied  to  a 
roadside  house  for  the  accommodation 
of  strangers  (Suet.  Tit.  10). 

Mantacci'ni.  A charlatan  who 
professed  to  restore  the  dead  to  life. 

Mantali'ni  ( Madame).  A fashionable 
milliner  near  Cavendish  square.  Her 
husband,  noted  for  his  white  teeth, 
minced  oaths,  and  gorgeous  morning 
gown,  is  an  exquisite  man-milliner,  who 
lives  on  his  wife’s  earnings. — Dickens, 
^^Nicholas  Nickleby.^* 


Mantible  {Bridge  of)  consisted  of 
thirty  arches  of  black  marble,  and  was 
guarded  by  ^^a  fearful  huge  giant,” 
slain  by  Sir  Fierabras. 

Man'tiger.  An  heraldic  monster, 
having  a tiger’s  body,  and  the  head  of 
an  old  man  with  long  spiral  horns. 

Mantle.  The  mantle  of  fidelity.  A 
little  boy  one  day  presented  himself 
before  king  Arthur,  and  showed  him  a 
curious  mantle,  which  would  become 
no  wife  that  was  not  leal.”  Queen 
Guinever  tried  it,  but  it  changed  from 
green  to  red,  and  red  to  black,  and 
seemed  rent  into  shreds.  Sir  Kay’s  lady 
tried  it,  but  fared  no  better  ; others  fol- 
lowed, but  only  Sir  Cradock’s  wife  could 
wear  it. — Percy,  ReliquesJ' 

Mantra  or  Mintra  (Persian  mytho- 
logy). A spell,  a talisman,  by  which  a 
person  holds  sway  over  the  elements  and 
spirits  of  all  denominations. — Wilford. 

Man'tuan  Swain,  sioan,  or  bard. 
Virgil,  a native  of  Mantua,  in  Italy.  Be- 
sides his  great  Latin  epic,  he  wrote  on 
pastoral  and  rural  subjects. 

Man'umit.  To  set  free ; properly 

to  send  from  one’s  hand  ” {e  manu 
mittere).  One  of  the  Roman  ways  of 
freeing  a slave  was  to  take  him  before  the 
chief  magistrate  and  say,  I wish  this 
man  to  be  free.”  The  lictor  or  master 
then  turned  the  slave  round  in  a circle, 
struck  him  with  a rod  across  the  cheek, 
and  let  him  go. 

Manure  (2  syl.)  means  hand-work 
(French,  man- oeuvre),  tillage  by  manual 
labour.  It  now  means  the  dressing  ap- 
plied to  lands.  Milton  uses  it  in  its 
original  sense  in  “ Paradise  Lost,”  iv. — 

Yon  flowery  arbours  . . . with  branches  overgrown 
That  mock  our  scant  manuring. 

Ma'ra,  in  old  Runic,  a goblin  that 
seized  upon  men  asleep  in  their  beds,  and 
took  from  them  all  speech  and  motion. 

Mar'abou  Feathers.  Feathers  of 
the  bird  so  called,  used  by  ladies  for 
head-gear.  There  are  two  species  of 
Marabou  stork,  which  have  white 
feathers  beneath  their  wings  and  tail 
especially  prized. 

Mar'about.  A sort  of  plume  worn 
by  ladies ; so  called  from  the  Marabou 
stork,  whose  tail  furnishes  them.  The 
Marabout  hat  is  a hat  adorned  with  the 
Marabou  feather. 


550 


MARABUTS. 


MARCLEY  HILL. 


Mar'abuts  (Arabic,  frontier  inhabit 
tants).  An  Arab  tribe  which  in  1075 
founded  a dynasty,  put  an  end  to  by  the 
Almohads.  They  form  a priestly  order 
greatly  venerated  by  the  common  people. 
The  Great  Marabut  ranks  next  to  the 
king. 

Marana'tha  (Syriac,  the  Lord  will 
come — i.e.,  to  execute  judgment).  A form 
of  anathematising  among  the  Jews.  The 
Romans  called  a curse  or  imprecation  a 
devotion — i.e.,  given  up  to  some  one  of  the 
gods. 

Marbles.  The  ArimdeHian  Marbles. 
Some  thirty-seven  statues  and  128  busts 
with  inscriptions,  collected  by  W.  Petty, 
in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  in  the  island  of 
Paros,  and  purchased  of  him  by  lord 
Arundel,  who  gave  them  to  the  Univer- 
sity of  Oxford  in  1627. 

The  Elgin  Marbles.  Fragments  of  the 
Parthenon  of  Athens,  built  by  Phid'ias, 
collected  by  Thomas  lord  Elgin  during 
his  mission  to  the  Ottoman  Porte  in 
1802,  and  purchased  of  him  by  the 
British  Museum,  in  1816,  for  .£35,000. 

Money  and  Marbles.  Cash  and  furni- 
ture. Marbles  is  a corruption  of  the 
French  meubles  (furniture). 

Mareassin  {the  prince).  From  the 
Italian  fairy-tales  by  Straparola,  called 
^^Nights,”  translated  into  French  in  1585. 

Marcella.  A fair  shepherdess  whose 
story  forms  an  episode  in  Don  Quix- 
ote,” by  Cervantes. 

Marcelli'na.  The  daughter  of  Rocco, 
jailor  of  the  state  prison  of  Seville.  She 
falls  in  love  with  Fidelio,  her  father’s 
servant,  who  turns  out  to  be  Leonora, 
the  wife  of  the  state  prisoner  Fernando 
’Florestsm.  — Beethoven,  Fidelio'*  {an 
opera). 

March.  Ee  may  be  a rogue,  but  he's 
no  fool  on  the  march.  On  the  march  is 
the  French  phrase  sur  la  marche  (likewise). 

March  borrows  three  days  from  April, 

The  first  it  shall  be  wind  and  weet ; 

The  next  it  shall  be  snaw  and  sleet ; 

The  third  it  shall  be  sio.  a freeze 
hhuU  gar  the  birds  stick  to  the  trees. 

*•  The  Complaynt  of  Scotland.** 

, March  Dust.  A bushel  of  March 
dust  is  loorth  a Icing's  ransom.  According 
to  the  Anglo-Saxon  laws,  the  fine  of 
murder  was  a sliding  scale  proportioned 
to  the  rank  of  the  person  killed.  The 
lowest  was  £10  and  the  highest  £60  ; the 


former  was  the  ransom  of  a churl,  and 
the  latter  of  a king. 

March  Hare.  Mad  as  a March  hare. 
Hares  in  March  are  very  wild. 

Marches,  boundaries,  is  the  Saxon 
mearc\  but  marsh,  a meadow,  is  the 
Saxon  mersc,  anciently  written  marash, 
the  French  marais,  and  our  men'ass.  The 
other  march  is  the  origin  of  our  marquis,, 
the  lord  of  the  march.  The  boundaries 
between  England  and  Wales,  and  between 
England  and  Scotland,  were  called 

marches the  territory  between  the 
Ebro  and  the  Pyrenees  was  called  by 
Charlemagne  ‘'the  Spanish  march,”  &c. 

Riding  the  Marches — i.e.,  beating  the 
bounds  of  the  parish  (Scotch). 

March-pane.  A confection  of  pis- 
tachio-nuts, almonds,  and  sugar  ; a cor- 
ruption of  the  French  masse-pain  (bread- 
lumps). 

Marchaundes  Tale,  in  Chaucer,  is 
substantially  the  same  as  the  first  Latin 
metrical  tale  of  Adolf  us,  and  is  not  un- 
like a Latin  prose  tale  given  in  the 
appendix  of  T.  Wright’s  edition  of 
iEsop’s  Fables.  {See  January  and  May.  ) 

Marchington  (Staffordshire)  fa- 
mous for  a crumbling  short  cake.  Hence 
the  saying  that  a man  or  woman  of  crusty 
temper  is' ‘'as  short  as  Marchington 
wake-cake.” 

Marchioness  ( TAe).  The  half-starved 
girl-of-all-work  in  “The  Old  Curiosity 
Shop,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Mar'cionites  (3  syl.).  An  ascetic 
Gnostic  sect,  founded  by  Marcion  in  the 
second  century. 

March  ( William  de  la),  or  ''  The 
Wild  Boar  of  Ardennes.”  A French  noble- 
man, called  in  French  history  Sanglier 
des  Ardennes,  introduced  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott  in  “Quentin  Durward.’^  (1446- 
1485.) 

Marcley  Hill,  Herefordshire,  on 
February  7th,  1571,  at  six  o’clock  in  the 
evening,  “roused  itself  with  a roar,  and 
by  seven  next  morning  had  moved  forty 
paces.  It  kept  on  the  move  for  three 
days,  carrying  with  it  sheep  in  their 
cotes,  hedge-rows,  and  trees  ; overthrew 
Kinnaston  chapel,  and  diverted  two 
high  roads  at  least  200  yards  from  their 
former  route.  The  entire  mass  thus 
moved  consisted  of  twenty-six  acres  of 
land,  and  the  entire  distance  moved  was 
400  yards.” — Speed,  ‘^Herefordshire,'' 


MARCOS  DE  OBREGON, 


MARGARET. 


551 


Marcos  de  Obregon.  The  model 
of  Gil  Bias,  in  the  Spanish  romance  en- 
titled ‘‘Relaciones  de  la  Vida  del  Escu- 
dero  Marcos  de  Obregon.” 

Marco'sians.  A branch  of  the 
Gnostics,  so  called  from  the  Egyptian 
Marcus.  They  are  noted  for  their  apocry- 
phal books  and  religious  fables. 

Mardle.  To  waste  time  in  gossip. 
(Anglo-Saxon,  matlieliarij  to  talk ; meihel, 
a discourse.) 

Mardonius  {Captain),  in  ‘'A  King 
or  No  King,”  by  Beaumont  and  Flet«her. 

Mare.  The  Cromlech  at  Gorwell, 
Dorsetshire,,  is  called  the  White  Mare  ; 
the  barrows  near  Hambleton,  the  Grey 
Mare. 

Away  the  mare — i.e.,  Off  with  the  blue 
devils,  good-bye  to  care.  This  mare  is 
the  incubus  called  the  night-mare. 

To  cry  the  mare  (Herefordshire  and 
Shropshire).  In  harvesting,  when  the 
in-gathering  is  complete,  a few  blades 
of  corn  left  for  the  purpose  have  their 
tops  tied  together.  The  reapers  then 
place  themselves  at  a certain  distance, 
and  fling  their  sickles  at  the  mare.”  He 
who  succeeds  in  cutting  the  knot  cries 
out  ''  I have  her  !”  What  have  you  ? ” 
^‘A  mare.”  Whose  is  she?”  The 
name  of  some  farmer  whose  field  has 
been  reaped  is  here  mentioned.  Where 
will  you  send  her  ? ” The  name  of  some 
farmer  whose  com  is  not  yet  harvested 
is  here  given,  and  then  all  the  reapers 
give  a final  shout. 

To  win  the  mare  or  lose  the  halter— i.e., 
to  play  double  or  quits. 

The  grey  mare  is  the  letter  horse.  (^See 
Grey  Mare.) 

The  two-leqged  mare.  The  gallows. 

Money  will  make  th^  mare  to  go. 

“ Will  you  lend  me  your  mare  to  go  a mile  ? 

“No,  she  is  lame  leaping  over  a stile.” 

*•  But  if  you  will  her  to  me  spare, 

Tou  shall  have  money  for  your  mare.” 

“ Oh,  ho  ! say  you  so  ? 

Money  will  make  the  mare  to  go.” 

Old  Glees  and  Catches. 

Whose  mare's  dead  ? What’s  the  mat- 
ter ? Thus  in  2 Henry  IV.”  when  Sir 
John  Falstaff  sees  Mistress  Quickly  with 
the  sheriff’s  officers,  evidently  in  a state 
of  great  discomposure,  he  cries  out — 

How  now  ? Whose  mare’s  dead  ? What’s  the 
matter?  (ill.) 

Mare’s  Nest.  To  find  a mare's 
nest  is  to  make  what  you  suppose  to  be 


a great  discovery,  but  which  turns  out 
to  be  all  moonshine.  What  we  call  a 
nightmare  was  by  our  forefathers  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Saxon  demon  Mara  or 
Mare,  a kind  of  vampire,  sitting  on  the  » 
sleeper’s  chest.  These  vampires  were 
said  to  be  the  guardians  of  hid  treasures, 
over  which  they  brooded  as  hens  over 
their  eggs,  and  the  place  where  they 
sat  was  termed  their  nidus  or  nesto 
When  any  one  supposes  he  has  made  a 
great  discovery,  we  ask  if  he  has  disco- 
vered a mare’s  nest,  or  the  place  where 
the  vampire  keeps  guard  over  hypothe  - 
tical treasures. 

Why  dost  thou  laugh  ? 

What  mare’s  nest  hast  thou  found  ? 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher^  “ Bonduca,*’  v.  2. 

Are  we  to  believe  that  the  governor,  executive 
council,  the  ofiBcers,  and  merchants  have  been  finding 
mare’s  nests  only  "I— The  Times. 

N.B. — In  some  parts  of  Scotland  they 
use  instead  a Skate's  JSfest.  In  Glouces- 
tershire a long-winded  tale  is  called  a 
Horse-nest.  In  Cornwall  they  say  You 
have  found  a wee's  nest,  and  are  laughing 
over  the  eggs.  In  Devon,  nonsense  is 
called  a Hind  mare's  nest.  Holinshed 
calls  a gallows  a foul's  nest  (iii).  In  French 
the  corresponding  phrase  is,  Nid  de  lapin; 
Nid  d'une  souri  dans  Voreille  d'un  chat. 
{See  Chat.) 

Marfi'sa.  An  Indian  queen  in 
Bojardo’s  Orlando  Innamorato,”  and  in 
Ariosto’s  Orlando  Furioso.” 

Marfo'rio.  A pasquinade  {q*v.). 

Margan  Monastery  {Register  oj), 
from  1066  to  1232,  published  in  Gale, 
1687. 

Margaret,  queen  of  Denmark,  Nor- 
way, and  Sweden,  called  the  Northern 
Semiramis.”  (1353,  1387-1412.) 

Margaret.  A simple,  uncultured  girl 
of  wonderful  witchery,  seduced  by 
Faust.  She  killed  the  infant  of  her 
shame,  was  sent  to  prison  where  she  lost 
her  reason,  and  was  ultimately  con- 
demned to  death. — Goethe,  Faust.'* 

Ladye  Margaret.  The  Flower  of 
Teviot,”  daughter  of  the  duchess  Mar- 
garet and  lord  Walter  Scott,  of  Brank- 
some  Hall.  She  was  beloved  by  baron 
Henry  of  Cranstown,  whose  family  had  a 
deadly  feud  with  that  of  Scott.  One  day 
the  elfin  page  of  lord  Cranstown  enveigled 
the  heir  of  Branksome  Hall,  then  a lad, 
into  the  woods,  where  he  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Southerners;  whereupon 


552 


MARGARET. 


MARIA. 


3000  of  the  English  inarched  against  the 
castle  of  the  widowed  duchess ; but  being 
told  by  a spy  that  Douglas  with  10,000 
men  were  coming  to  the  rescue,  they 
• agreed  to  decide  by  single  combat 
whether  the  boy  was  to  become  king 
Edward’s  page,  or  be  delivered  up  to  his 
mother.  The  champions  to  decide  this 
question  were  to  be  Sir  Richard  Mus- 
grave  on  the  side  of  the  English,  and  Sir 
William  Deloraine  on  the  side  of  the 
Scotch.  In  the  combat  the  English 
clmmpion  was  slain,  and  the  boy  was 
delivered  to  the  widow ; but  it  then  ap- 
peared that  the  antagonist  was  not 
William  of  Deloraine,  but  lord  Crans- 
town,  who  claimed  and  received  the 
hand  of  fair  Margaret  as  his  reward. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  ‘‘Lay  of  the  Last 
Minstrtiy 

Lady  Margarets  Preacher.  A preacher 
who  has  to  preach  a Condo  ad  cleriim 
before  the  University,  on  the  day  pre- 
ceding Easter  Term.  This  preachership 
was  founded  in  1503  by  lady  Margaret, 
mother  of  Henry  VII. 

Lady  Margaret  Professor.  A professor 
of  divinity  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge. This  professorship  was  founded 
in  1502  by  lady  Margaret,  mother  of 
Henry  VII.  These  lectures  are  given  for 
the  ‘Voluntary  Theological  Examina- 
tion,” and  treat  upon  the  Fathers,  the 
Liturgy,  and  the  priestly  duties.  {See 
Norrisian.) 

St.  Margaret.  The  chosen  type  of 
female  innocence  and  meekness. 

In  Christian  art  she  is  represented  as 
a young  woman  of  great  beauty,  bearing 
the  martyr’s  palm  and  crown,  or  with 
the  dragon  as  an  attribute.  Sometimes 
she  is  delineated  as  coming  from  the 
dragon’s  mouth,  for  the  legend  says  that 
the  monster  swallowed  her,  but  on 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross  he  suffered 
tier  to  quit  his  maw. 

St.  Margaret  and  the  dragon.  Olyb'ius, 
governor  of  Antioch,  captivated  by  the 
beauty  of  St.  Margaret,  wanted  to  marry 
her,  and  as  she  rejected  him  with  scorn 
threw  her  into  a dungeon,  where  the 
devil  came  to  her  in  the  form  of  a 
dragon.  Margaret  held  up  the  cross,  and 
the  dragon  fled.  Some  say  it  burst 
asunder. 

St.  Pela'gia,  St.  Mari'na,  and  St.  Geru- 
ina,  are  the  sam<e  person  as  St.  Margaret. 

St.  Margaret  is  the  patron  saint  of  the 
ancient  borough  of  Lynn  Regis,  and  on 


the  corporation  seal  she  is  represented 
as  standing  on  a dragon  and  wounding  it 
with  the  cross.  The  inscription  of  the 
seal  is  svB.  Margaret  A.  teritur.  draco. 

STAT.  CRUCE.  LJSTA. 

Margaret  or  Marguerite  {petite). 
The  daisy ; so  called  from  its  pearly 
whiteness,  marguarite  being  the  French 
for  a pearl. 

The  daise,  a flour  white  and  redde, 

In  French  called  “ la  belle  Margarete.’’ 

Margarit'a  di  Valois  married 
Henri  the  Beamais,  afterwards  Henri  IV. 
of  France.  During  t5e  wedding  solemni- 
ties, Catherine  de  Medicis  devised  the 
massacre  of  the  French  Protestants,  and 
Margarita  was  at  a ball  during  the  dread- 
ful enactment  of  this  device. — Meyerbeer, 
“ Oli  Ugonotti  ” {an  opera). 

Margate  (Keht),  is  the  sea-gate  or 
opening.  (Latin,  mare',  Saxon,  moere, 
&c.) 

Margin.  In  all  our  ancient  English 
books,  the  commentary  is  printed  in  the 
margin.  Hence  Shakespeare — 

Her  face’s  own  margent  did  quote  such  amazes. 

“ Love's  Labour's  Lost,"  ii.  1. 

I knew  you  must  be  edified  by  the  margent. 

*^HamleC'  v.  2. 

She  could  pick  no  meaning.... writ  in  the  glassy 
margin  of  such  looks.  “ Rape  ofLucrece.” 

Margutte.  A low-minded  vulgar 
giant,  ten  feet  high,  with  enormous 
appetite  and  the  grossest  passions.  One 
day  he  saw  an  ape  pulling  on  his  boots, 
and  burst  with  laughter. — “ Morgant'e 
Maggiore,”  by  Pulci. 

Mari'a.  Heroine  of  Donizetti’s 
opera  “ La  Figlia  del  Reggimento.”  She 
first  appears  as  a vivandiere  or  French 
suttler-girl,  for  Sulpizio,  the  sergeant  of 
the  11th  regiment  of  Napoleon’s  Grand 
Army,  had  found  her  after  a battle,  and 
the  regiment  adopted  her  as  their 
daughter.  Tonio,  a Tyrolese,  saved  her 
life,  and  fell  in  love  with  her,  and  the 
regiment  agreed  to  his  marriage  provided 
he  joined  the  regiment.  Just  at  this 
juncture  the  marchioness  of  Berkenfield 
claims  Maria  as  her  daughter ; the  claim 
is  allowed,  and  the  vivandiere  is  obliged 
to  leave  the  regiment  for  the  castle  of 
the  marchioness.  After  a time,  the 
French  regiment  takes  possession  of 
Berkenfield  Castle,  and  Tonio  has  risen 
to  the  rank  of  a field  officer.  He  claims 
Maria  as  his  bride,  but  is  told  that  her 


MARIA  THERESA. 


MARK. 


553 


mother  has  promised  her  hand  to  the  son 
of  a duchess.  Maria  promises  to  obey 
her  mother,  the  marchioness  relents,  and 
Tonio  becomes  the  accepted  suitor. 

Maria.  A fair,  quick-witted,  amiable 
maiden,  whose  banns  were  forbidden  by 
the  curate  who  published  them;  in  con- 
sequence of  which  she  lost  her  reason, 
and  used  to  sit  on  the  roadside  near 
Moulines,  playing  vesper  hymns  to  the 
Virgin  all  daylong.  She  led  by  a ribbon 
a little  dog  named  Silvio,  of  which  she 
was  very  jealous,  for  she  had  first  made 
a goat  her  favourite,  but  the  goat  had 
forsaken  her.  — Sierne,  “ Sentimental 
Journey.'^'' 

Maria  There'sa.  Wife  of  Sancho 
Panza.  She  is  sometimes  called  Maria, 
and  sometimes  Teresa  Panza. — Don 
Quixote.  ” 

Mariamites  (4  syl.).  Worshippers 
of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus.  They 
said  the  Trinity  consisted  of  God  the 
Father,  God  the  Son,  and  Mary  the 
mother  of  God. 

Marian'a.  One  of  the  most  lovable 
of  Shakespeare’s  characters.  Her  plead- 
ing for  Angelo  is  unrivalled. — Measure 
for  Measure.’^ 

Tennyson  has  two  Marianas  among  his 
poems. 

Mariana.  Daughter  of  the  king  of 
Sicily,  beloved  by  Sir  Alexander,  one  of 
the  three  sons  of  St.  George,  the  patron 
saint  of  England.  Sir  Alexander  married 
her,  and  was  crowned  king  of  Thessaly. 
— **  The  Seven  Champions  of  Christendom,^* 
iii.  3. 

Madrid.  An  evil  jinnee  of  the  most 
powerful  class. — Arabian  mythology. 

Marigold.  So  called  in  honour  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  and  hence  the  intro- 
duction of  marigold  windows  in  lady 
chapels.  (.See  Marygold.) 

This  riddle.  Cuddy,  if  thou  canst.  explain 

“ What  flower  is  that  which  bears  the  Virgin’s  name, 
The  richest  metal  added  to  the  same  ? ” 

Gay,  “ Pastoral." 

Mari'na.  Wife  of  Jacopo  Fos'cari, 
son  of  the  doge. — Byron,  The  Two 
Fos'cari.** 

Marinda  or  Maridah.  The  fair 
mistress  of  Haroun-al-Raschid. 

Mariner’s  Compass.  Thefleurde 
lis  which  ornaments  the  northern  radius 
of  the  mariner’s  compass  was  adopted 


out  of  compliment  to  Charles  d’ Anjou, 
whose  device  it  was.  He  was  the  reign- 
ing king  of  Sicily  when  Flavio  Gioja  the 
Neapolitan  made  his  improvements  in 
this  instrument. 

Marines  (2  syl.).  Empty  bottles. 
The  marines  are  looked  down  upon  by  the 
regular  seamen,  who  consider  them  use- 
less, like  empty  bottles.  A marine 
officer  was  once  dining  at  a mess- table, 
when  the  duke  of  York  said  to  the  man 
in  waiting,  ^^Here,  take  away  these 
marines.”  The  officer  demanded  an  ex- 
planation, when  the  colonel  replied, 
^^They  have  done  their  duty  well,  and 
are  prepared  to  do  it  again.” 

Mari'no  Faliero.  The  forty-ninth 
doge  or  chief  magistrate  of  the  republic 
of  Venice,  elected  1354.  A patrician 
named  Michel  Steno,  having  behaved  in- 
decently to  some  of  the  women  assembled 
at  the  great  civic  banquet  given  by  the 
doge,  was  kicked  off  the  solajo  by  order 
of  the  duke.  In  revenge  he  wrote  upon 
the  duke’s  chair  a scurrilous  libel  against 
the  dogaressa.  The  insult  was  referred  to 
the  Forty,  and  the  council  condemned  the 
young  patrician  to  a month’s  imprison- 
ment. The  doge,  furious  at  this  inade- 
quate punishment,  joined  a conspiracy 
to  overthrow  the  republic,  under  the 
hope  and  promise  of  being  made  a king. 
He  was  betrayed  by  Bertram,  one  of  the 
conspirators,  and  was  beheaded  on  the 

Giant’s  Staircase,”  the  place  where  the 
doges  were  wont  to  take  the  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  republic. — Byron,  Marino 
Faliero.** 

Mariotte’s  Law.  At  a given  tem- 
perature, the  volume  of  a gas  is  inversely 
as  the  pressure.  So  called  from  Ed. 
Mariotte,  a Frenchman,  who  died  1684. 

Maritpr'nes  (Spanish,  had  woman). 
A vulgar,  ugly,  stunted  servant-wench, 
whom  Don  Quixote  mistakes  for  a lord’s 
daughter,  and  her  “hair,  rough  as  a 
horse’s  tail,”  his  diseased  imagination 
fancies  to  be  “silken  threads  of  finest 
gold.”— Quixote.** 

Mark  {King).  A mythical  king  of 
Cornwall ; Sir  Tristram’s  uncle.  He 
married  Is'olde  the  Fai*r,  but  Isolde  be- 
came passionately  enamoured  of  her 
nephew.  Sir  Tristram.  The  illicit  loves 
of  Isolde  and  Sir  Tristram  were  prover- 
bial in  the  middle  ages. 

St.  Marh  in  Christian  art  is  represented 


554 


MARK  TAPLEY. 


MARMION. 


as  being  in  the  prime  of  life  ; sometimes  ! 
habited  as  a bishop,  and  as  the  historian 
of  the  resurrection,  accompanied  by  a 
winged  lion  {q.v.).  He  holds  in  his  right 
hand  a pen,  and  in  his  left  the  Gospel. 

The  clate-Tiiark  on  gold  or  silver  articles 
is  some  letter  of  the  Alphabet  indicating 
the  year  when  the  article  was  made. 
Thus  in  the  Goldsmith’s  Company  of  Lon- 
don : — From  1716  to  1755  it  was  Roman 
capitals,  beginning  from  A and  following 
in  succession  year  after  year ; from  1756 
to  1775  it  was  Roman  small  letters,  A to 
U ; from  1776  to  1796,  Old  English  letters, 
A to  U ; from  1796  to  1815,  Roman  capi- 
tals, A to  U ; from  1816  to  1835,  Roman 
small  letters ; from  1836  to  1855,  Old 
English  capitals ; from  1856  to  1875, 
small  black  letters. 

The  diUy-marJc  on  gold  and  silver  articl  es 
is  the  head  of  the  reigning  sovereign,  and 
shows  that  the  duty  has  been  paid.  This 
mark  is  not  now  placed  on  watch-cases, 
&c. 

The  Hall-marlcy  stamped  upon  gold  and 
silver  articles,  is  a leopard’s  head 
crowned  for  London;  three  lions  and  a 
cross  for  York  ; a castle  with  two  wings 
for  Exeter;  three  wheat-sheaves  or  a 
dagger  for  Chester ; three  castles  for 
Newcastle  ; an  anchor  for  Birmingham  ; 
a crown  for  Sheffield ; a castle  and  lion 
for  Edinburgh  ; a tree,  salmon,  and  ring 
for  Glasgow  ; the  fig  of  Hibernia  for 
Dublin.  {See  Silver.) 

The  Standard-marh  of  gold  or  silver  is  a 
lion  passant  for  England ; a thistle  for 
Edinburgh ; a lion  rampant  for  Glasgow  ; 
and  a harp  crowned  for  Ireland. 

Mark  Tapley,  ever -jolly,  who  re- 
cognises nothing  creditable  unless  it  is 
overclouded  by  difficulties.  — Charles 
Dickens,  Martin  ChuzzlewitJ' 

Markham  {Mrs.).  A nom  de  'plume 
of  Elizabeth  Cartwright,  afterwards  Mrs. 
Penrose. 

Marl.  Latin,  argilV  ; German,  mar- 
gel ; Spanish  and  Italian,  marga ; Ar- 
moric,  marg\  Irish,  maria ; Welsh,  marl. 

Marlborough  Dog.  Blenheim 
Dog.) 

Statutes  of  Marlborough.  Certain  laws 
passed  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  by  a 
parliament  held  in  Marlborough  castle. 

Marlow.  Both  Sir  Charles  Marlow 
and  his  son  Young  Marlow  are  characters 
in  **  She  Stoops  to  Conquer,”  by  Gold- 


smith. Young  Marlow  is  bashful  before 
ladies,  but  easy  enough  before  women  of 
low  degree. 

Mar'mion.  Ralph  de  Wilton  being 
charged  with  treason,  claimed  to  prove 
his  innocence  by  the  ordeal  of  battle,  and 
being  overthrown  by  lord  Marmion  was 
supposed  to  be  dead,  but  was  picked 
up  by  a beadsman  who  nursed  him 
carefully ; and  being  restored  to  health, 
he  went  on  a pilgrimage  to  foreign 
lands.  Now,  lord  Marmion  was  betrothed 
to  Constance  de  Beverley ; and  De  Wilton 
to  lady  Clare,  daughter  of  the  earl  of 
Gloucester.  When  De  Wilton  was  sup- 
posed to  be  dead  lord  Marmion  proved 
faithless  to  Constance,  and  proposed  to 
Clare — having  an  eye  especially  to  her  rich 
inheritance.  Clare  rejected  his  suit,  and 
took  refuge  in  the  convent  of  St.  Hilda, 
in  Whitby;  Constance,  on  the  other 
hand,  took  the  veil  in  the  convent  of  St. 
Cuthbert,  in  Holy  Isle.  In  time  Con- 
stance eloped  from  the  convent,  but 
being  overtaken  was  buried  alive  in  the 
walls  of  a deep  cell.  In  the  meantime 
lord  Marmion  was  sent  by  Henry  VIII. 
with  a message  to  James  IV.  of  Scotland, 
and  stopped  at  the  hall  of  Hugh  de  Heron 
for  a night.  Sir  Hugh,  at  his  request, 
appointed  him  a guide  to  conduct  him  to 
the  king,  and  the  guide  wore  the  dress  of 
a palmer.  On  his  return,  lord  Marmion 
hears  that  lady  Clare  is  in  Holy  Isle,  and 
commands  the  abbess  of  Hilda  to  release 
her,  that  she  may  be  placed  under  the 
charge  of  her  kinsman,  Fitz  Clare,  of 
Tantallon  Hall.  Here  she  meets  De 
Wilton,  the  palmer-guide  of  lord  Mar- 
mi  jn.  Lord  Marmion  being  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Flodden  Field,  De  Wilton 
married  lady  Clare. — Sir  Walter  Scott, 

Lord  Marmion.  The  hero  of  Scott’s 
poem  so  called  is  a purely  fictitious  char- 
acter. There  was,  however,  an  historic 
family  so  called,  descendants  of  Robert 
de  Marmion,  a follower  of  the  Conqueror, 
who  obtained  the  grant  of  Tamworth, 
and  the  manor  of  Scrivelby,  ki  Lincoln- 
shire. He  was  the  first  royal  champion, 
and  his  male  issue  ceased  with  Philip 
Marmion,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  Sir 
John  Dymoke,  who  married  Margery, 
daughter  of  Joan,  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Philip,  claimed  the  office  and 
maiior  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II., 

I and  they  have  remained  in  his  male  lino 
‘ ever  since. 


MARMO  LUNENSE, 


MARS. 


555' 


Marmo  Lunense.  {See  Luna.) 

Ma'ro.  Virgil,  whose  name  was 
Publius  Virgilius  Maro,  was  bom  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  Mincio,  at  the  village 
of  Andes,  near  Mantua. 

Sweet  Maro’s  muse,  sunk  in  inglorious  rest. 
Had  silent  slept  amid  the  Mincian  reeds. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence  ” ii. 

Maron  or  {French),  A cat’s- 

paw  {q.v.).  ^^Se  servir  de  la  patte  du 
chat  pour  tirer  les  matrons  du  feu  in 
Italian,  “Cavare  i marroni  dal  fuoco 
coUa  zampa  del  gatto.” 

C’est  ne  se  point  commettre  a faire  de  I’eclat 
Et  tirer  les  marrons  de  la  patte  du  chat. 

U Etourdi,”  HA.  7. 

Mar'onites  (3  syl.),  A Christian 
tribe  of  Syria  in  the  eighth  century  ; so 
called  from  the  monastery  of  Maron,  on 
the  slopes  of  Lebanon,  their  chief  seat ; 
so  called  from  John  Maron,  patriarch  of 
Antioch,  in  the  sixth  century. 

Maroon.  A runaway  slave  sent  to 
the  Calabou90,  or  place  where  such  slaves 
were  punished,  as  the  Maroons  of  Brazil. 
Those  of  Jamaica  are  the  offspring  of 
runaways  from  the  old  J amaica  planta- 
tions or  from  Cuba,  to  whom,  in  1738,  the 
British  Government  granted  a tract  of 
land,  on  which  they  built  two  towns. 
The  word  is  from  the  verb  maroon,”  to 
set  a person  on  an  inhospitable  shore  and 
leave  him  there  (a  practice  common 
with  pirates  and  buccaneers).  The  word 
is  a corruption  of  Cimarron,  a word 
applied  by  Spaniards  to  anything  unruly, 
whether  man  or  beast.  {See  Scott, 
‘^Pirate,”  ch.  xxii.) 

Maro'zia,  daughter  of  Theodora. 
The  infamous  offspring  of  an  infamous 
mother  of  the  ninth  century.  Her  in- 
trigues have  rendered  her  name  pro- 
verbial. By  one  she  became  the  mother 
of  Pope  John  XI.  {See  Messalina.) 

Marphi'sa  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
Sister  of  Roge'ro,  and  a female  knight  of 
amazing  prowess.  She  was  brought  up 
by  a magician,  but  being  stolen  at  the 
age  of  seven,  was  sold  to  the  king  of 
Persia.  The  king  assailed  her  virtue 
when  she  was  eighteen,  but  she  slew  him, 
and  seized  the  crown.  She  came  to  Gaul 
to  join  the  army  of  Ag'ramant,  but 
hearing  that  Agramant’s  father  had 
murdered  her  mother  GalaceUa,  she  en- 
tered the  camp  of  Charlemagne,  and  was 
baptised. 


^ Marplot.  A silly,  cowardly,  inquisi- 
tive Paul  Pry,  in  ‘‘  The  Busybody,”  by  ' 
Mrs.  Centlivre. 

Marriages.  Carrier's  RepMican 
MarHages.  A device  of  wholesale- 
slaughter,  adopted  by  Carrier,  pro-consul 
of  Nantes,  in  the  first  French  Revolu- 
tion. It  consisted  in  tying  men  and 
women  together  by  their  hands  and  feet, 
and  casting  them  into  the  Loire.  (1794. ) 

Married  Women  take  their  hus 
band’s  surname.  This  was  a Roman 
custom.  Thus  Julia,  Octavia,  &c.,  mar- 
ried to  Pompey,  Cicero,  &c.,  would 
be  called  Julia  of  Pompey,  Octavia  of 
Cicero.  Our  married  women  sign  their 
names  in  the  same  manner,  but  omit  the 

of.” 

Marrow  Controversy.  A me- 
morable struggle  in  Scotland  between 
Puritanism  and  Presbyterianism;  so 
called  from  a book  entitled  ‘‘The  Marrow 
of  Modern  Divinity,”  condemned  by  the 
General  Assembly  in  1720.  After  several 
months  of  bitter  controversy  the  matter 
fell  through,  but  the  controversy  was  the 
root  of  the  Secession. 

Marrow-bones.  Down  on  your 
maiTcnv-hones—youv  knees.  That  mar- 
row in  this  phrase  is  not  a corruption  of 
“ Mary,”  meaning  the  Virgin,  is  palpable 
from  the  analogous  phrase,  the  marrow- 
bone stage — walking.  The  leg-bone  is  the 
marrow-bone  of  b^eef  and  mutton,  and 
the  play  is  on  Marylebone  (London). 

Marrow-men.  The  twelve  minis- 
ters who  signed  the  remonstrance  to  the 
General  Assembly  for  condemning  the- 
evangelical  doctrines  of  the  “ Marrow.’' 
{See  above.') 

Marry ! An  oath,  meaning  By  Mary^ , 
the  Virgin. 

Mars.  Under  this  planet  is  borne 
theves  and  robbers  . . . nyght  walkers 
and  quarell  pykers,  bosters,  mockers,  and 
skoffers  ; and  these  men  of  Mars  causeth 
warre,  and  murther,  and  batayle.  They 
wyll  be  gladly  smythes  or  workers  of  yron 
. . . lyers,  gret  swerers.  . . He  is  rod  and 
angry ...  a great  walker,  and  a maker 
of  swordes  and  knyves,  and  a sheder  of 
mannes  blode  . . . and  good  to  be  a 
barboure  and  a blode  letter,  and  tO' 
drawe  tethe. — “ Compost  of  Ptholo  mens'* 

Mars  in  Camoens’  “Lu8iad”is  “ divine* 


556  MARSEILLES’  GOOD  BISHOP. 


MARTEL. 


fortitude  ” personified.  As  Bacchus,  the 
evil  demon,  is  the  guardian  power  of 
Mahometanism,  so  Mars  or  divine  forti- 
tude is  the  guardian  power  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

The  Mars  of  Portugal.  Alfonso  de 
Alboquerque,  viceroy  of  India.  (1452- 
1515.) 

Marseilles’  Good  Bishop.  In 
1720  and  1722,  the  plague  made  dreadful 
havoc  at  Marseilles.  The  bishop  was 
indefatigable  in  the  pastoral  office,  and 
spent  his  whole  time  in  visiting,  relieving, 
and  attending  the  sick.  During  the 
plague  of  London,  Sir  John  Lawrence, 
the  then  lord  mayor,  was  no  less  con- 
spicuous in  his  benevolence.  He  sup- 
ported 40,000  dismissed  servants  so  long 
as  his  fortune  lasted,  and  when  he  had 
spent  his  own  money,  collected  and  dis- 
tributed the  alms  of  the  nation.  Darwin 
refers  to  these  philanthropists  in  his 
“ Loves  of  the  Plants,”  ii.  433. 

Marseillaise  (3  syh).  The  grand 
song  of  the  French  Revolution.  Both 
wx)rds  and  music  were  composed  by 
Rouget  de  Lisle  an  artillery  officer  in 
garrison  at  Strasbourg,  for  Dietrich 
mayor  of  the  town.  On  July  30th,1 792,  the 
Marseillaise  volunteers,  invited  by  Bar- 
baroux  at  the  instance  of  Madame  Roland, 
marched  to  Paris  singing  the  favourite 
song ; and  the  Parisians,  enchanted  with 
it,  called  it  the  Hymne  des  Marseil- 
laise.” (Rouget  born  1760,  died  1836.) 

Marsh  {Le  Marais).  The  pit  of  the 
National  Convention,  between  Mountain 
benches  on  one  side,  and  those  occupied 
by  the  ministerial  party  and  the  opposi- 
tion on  the  other.  These  middle  men  or 

flats”  were  “swamped,”  or  enforces 
dans  un  marais  by  those  of  more  decided 
politics.  (>866  Plain.) 

Marshal  means  an  ostler  or  groom,  a 
tservant  to  look  after  one’s  horse.  The 
original  duty  of  a marshal  was  to  feed, 
.groom,  shoe,  and  physic  his  master’s 
horse.  (Saxon,  mcerej  a horse;  scealc^ 
servant.  British,  marCj  a mare;  scalj  a 
boy.) 

Marshal  of  the  Army  of  God,  and,  oj 
Holy  Church.  The  baron  Robert  Fitz- 
walter,  appointed  by  his  brother  barons 
to  command  their  forces  in  1215  to  obtain 
from  king  John  redress  of  grievances. 
Magna  Charta  was  the  result. 


MarsigTio  or  MarsU'ius.  A Saracen 
king  who  plotted  the  attack  upon  Ro- 
land, under  “the  tree  on  which  Judas 
hanged  himself.”  With  a force  of 
600,000  men,  divided  into  three  armies, 
he  attacked  the  paladin  and  overthrew 
him,  but  was  in  turn  overthrown  by 
Charlemagne,  and  hanged  on  the  very 
tree  beneath  which  he  had  arranged  the 
attack. — Turpin,  “ Chronicles.'' 

Mar'syas.  The  Phrygian  flute-player 
who  challenged  ApolJo  to  a contest  of 
skill,  and  being  beaten  by  the  god  was 
flayed  alive  for  his  presumption.  From 
his  blood  arose  the  river  so  called.  The 
flute  on  which  Marsyas  played  was  one 
Athe'na  had  thrown  away,  and  being  filled 
with  the  breath  of  the  goddess,  dis- 
coursed most  excellent  music.  The 
interpretation  of  this  fable  is  as  follows  : 
A contest  long  existed  between  the  lutists 
and  the  flautists  as  to  the  superiority  of 
their  respective  instruments.  The  Dorian 
mode,  employed  in  the  worship  of 
Apollo,  was  performed  on  lutes  ; and  the 
Phrygian  mode,  employed  in  the  rites  of 
Cyb'ele,  was  executed  % flutes,  the  reeds 
of  which  grew  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
Marsyas.  As  the  Dorian  mode  was  pre- 
ferred by  the  Greeks,  they  said  that 
Apollo  beat  the  flute-player. 

Marta'no  (in  “Orlando  Furioso”) 
who  decoyed  Origilla  from  Gryphon.  He 
was  a great  coward,  and  fled  from  the 
tournament  amidst  the  jeers  of  the  spec- 
tators. While  Gryphon  was  asleep  he 
stole  his  armour,  went  to  king  Norandi'no 
to  receive  the  honours  due  to  Gi*yphon, 
and  then  quitted  Damascus  with  Origilla. 
A'quilant  encountered  them,  and  brought 
them  back  to  Damascus,  when  Marta'no 
was  committed  to  the  hangman’s  mercies 
(books  viii.,  ix.). 

Marteau  des  Heretiques.  Pierre 
d’Ailly,  also  called  I'Aigle  de  la  France. 
(1350-1420.) 

Martel.  The  surname  given  to 
Charles,  natural  son  of  Pdpin  d’H^ristal, 
for  his  victory  over  the  Saracens,  who 
had  invaded  France  under  Abd-el- Rah- 
man in  732.  It  is  said  that  Charles 
“ knocked  down  the  foe,  and  crushed 
them  beneath  his  axe,  as  a martel  or 
hammer  crushes  what  it  strikes.” 

Judas  Asraonaeus  for  a similar  reason 
was  called  Maccahcjeus  (the  Hammerer). 

M.  Collin  de  Plancy  says  that  Charles, 


MAETELLO  TOWERS. 


MARTIN. 


607 


the  palace  mayor,  was  not  called  Martel 
because  he  martele  (hammered)  the  Sara- 
cens, but  because  his  patron  saint  was 
Martellus  (or  Bibliothequedes 

Legendes.” 

A voir  martel  en  iSte.  To  have  a bee  in 
one’s  bonnet,  to  be  crotchety.  Martel 
is  a corruption  of  Martin,  an  ass,  a hobby- 
horse. M.  Hilaire  le  Gai  says,  but  gives 
no  authority,  Cette  expression  nous 
vient  des  Italiens,  car  en  Italien  martello 
signifie  proprement  jalousie.” 

Ils  portent  des  martels^  des  capriches.— jBranfdme, 
“ Des  Dames  Gallanf.es 

Telles  filles pourroient  bien  donner  de  bons 

martels  a leurs  oaurres  m&ryi.—Bmnt6)ne,  Des 
Dames  Galtantes.’* 

Martello  Towers.  Round  towers 
about  forty  feet  in  height,  of  great 
strength,  and  situated  on  a beach  or 
river ; so  called  from  the  Italian  towers 
built  as  a protection  against  pirates.  As 
the  warning  was  given  by  striking  a bell 
with  a martello  or  hammer,  the  towers 
were  called  Torri  da  Martello. 

Some  say  that  these  t owners  were  so 
called  from  a tower  at  the  entrance  of  St. 
Fiorenzo,  in  Corsica.  Similar  towers  were 
common  all  along  the  Mediterranean 
coast  as  a defence  against  pirates.  They 
were  erected  in  the  low  parts  of  Sussex 
and  Kent  in  consequence  of  the  powerful 
defence  made  (February  8th,  1794)  by 
Le  Tellier  at  the  tower  of  Mortella,  with 
only  thirty- eight  men,  against  a simulta- 
neous sea  and  land  attack — the  former  led 
by  lord  Hood,  and  the  latter  by  major- 
general  Dundas. 

MartLa  {^t.),  patron  saint  of  good 
housewives,  is  represented  in  Christian  art 
as  clad  in  homely  costume,  bearing  at  her 
girdle  a bunch  of  keys,  and  holding  a 
ladle  or  pot  of  water  in  her  hand.  Like 
St.  Margaret  she  is  accompanied  with  a 
dragon  bound,  but  has  not  the  palm  and 
crown  of  martyrdom.  The  dragon  is 
given  to  St.  Martha  from  her  having  de- 
stroyed one  that  ravaged  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Marseilles. 

Martial.  Pertaining  to  Mars,  the 
Roman  god  of  war. 

Martin.  One  of  the  swallow  tribe. 
Dies  derives  the  word  from  St.  Martin. 
but  St.  Martin’s  bird  is  the  raven.  It  is 
most  likely  murus-teneo,  mur’-ten,  cor- 
rupted into  marten.  Hence  in  German 
it  is  mauer-schwalbe  (the  wall  swallow). 

Martin.  The  ape,  in  the  tale  of 

Reynard  the  Fox.” 


Martin,  in  Dryden’s  allegory  of  the 
^^Hind  and  Panther,”  means  the  Lutheran 
party  ; so  called  by  a pun  on  the  name  of 
Martin  Luther. 

Chanter  or  parler  autre  martin.  To  be 
obstinate  or  self-opiniated.  Martin 
means  a jack-ass.  The  more  modern 
expression  Avoir  martel  en  Ute,  to  have 
the  obstinacy  of  a donkey,  is  a corrup- 
tion of  martin.  Another  word  for  a 
jack-ass  is  Bernart,  and  hence  the  syno- 
nymous expressions,  Chanter  de  Bernart, 
and  Parler  d' autre  Bernart. 

Or  VOS  metron  el  col  la  hart 

Puis  parleron  d’autre  Bernart. 

“Z(C  Roman  du  Renai't,'* ii.,  p.  75. 

Vous  parleres  d’autre  Martin. 

'*Le  Roman  du  Renaid,”  iii.,  p.  23. 

Foo'  a hair  Martin  lost  his  ass.  The* 
French  say  that  Martin  made  a bet  that 
his  ass  was  black ; the  bet  was  lost  be- 
cause a white  hair  was  found  in  its  coat. 

Girt  like  Martin  of  Camhray — in  a very- 
ridiculous  manner.  Martin  and  Martins- 
are  the  two  figures  that  strike  with  their 
marteaux  the  hours  on  the  clock  of  Cam- 
bray.  Martin  is  represented  as  a peasant 
in  a blouse  girt  very  tight  about  the  waist. 

St.  Martin.  Patron  of  drunkards,  to 
save  them  from  falling  into  danger.  This 
is  a mere  accident  arising  thus : The 
11th  November  (St.  Martin’s  day)  is  the 
Vina'lia  or  feast  of  Bacchus.  When 
Bacchus  was  merged  by  Christians  intO’ 
St.  Martin,  St.  Martin  had  to  bear  the- 
ill-repute  of  his  predecessor. 

St.  Martin’s  bird.  A cock,  whose  blood 
is  shed  sacrificially  ” on  the  11th  of 
November,  in  honour  of  that  saint. 

St.  Martin’s  cloak.  Martin  was  a mili- 
tary tribune  before  conversion,  and, while 
stationed  at  Amiens  in  midwinter,  divided 
his  military  cloak  with  a naked  beggar, 
who  craved  alms  of  him  before  the  city 
gate  of  Amiens.  At  night,  the  story 
says,  Christ  himself  appeared  to  the  sol- 
dier, arrayed  in  this  very  garment. 

St.  Martin’s  goose.  The  11th  of  No- 
vember, St.  Martin’s  day,  was  at  one;* 
time  the  great  goose-feast  of  France. 
The  legend  is  that  St.  Martin  was  annoyed 
by  a goose,  which  he  ordered  to  be  killed 
and  served  up  for  dinner.  As  he  died 
from  the  repast,  the  goose  has  been  ever 
since  sacrificed”  to  him  on  the  anni- 
versary. The  goose  is  sometimes  called 
by  the  French  *^St.  Martin’s  Bird.” 

Si.  Martin’s  jewellei'y.  Counterfeit 
gems.  Upon  the  site  of  the  old  collegiate* 


558  MARTIN  CHUZZLEWIT. 


MARY. 


cliurcli  of  St.  Martin’s-le-Grand,  which 
was  demolished  upon  the  dissolution  of 
the  monasteries,  a number  of  persons 
established  themselves  and  carried  on  a 
considerable  trade  in  artificial  stones, 
beads,  and  jewellery.  These  Brumma- 
gem ornaments  were  called  St.  Martin’s 
beads,  St.  Martin’s  gems,  or  St.  Martin’s 
jewellery,  as  the  case  might  be. 

St.  Martin's  rings.  Imitation  gold 
ones,  so  called  because  they  were  sold 
chiefly  by  persons  within  the  collegiate 
church  of  St.  Martin’s-le-Grand. 

St.  Martin! s tree.  St.  Martin  planted 
a pilgrim’s  staff  somewhere  near  Utopia; 
the  staff  grew  into  a large  tree,  wMch 
Gargantua  pulled  up  to  serve  for  a mace 
or  club,  with  which  he  dislodged  king 
Picrochole  from  Clermont  Rock.— 
lais^  Gargantua  and  Pantag' rueH* 

Faire  la  St.  Martin  or  Martiner.  To 
feast ; because  the  people  used  to  begin 
St.  Martin’s  day  with  feasting  and 
drinking. 

Martin  Chuzzlewit.  • Hero  of  a 
novel  so  called,  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Martin  Drunk.  Very  intoxicated 
indeed ; a drunken  man  sobered  ” by 
drinking  more.  The  feast  of  St.  Martin 
(November  11)  used  to  be  held  as  a day 
of  great  debauch.  Hence  Baxter  uses 
the  word  Martin  as  the  synonyme  of  a 
drunkard  : — The  language  of  Martin  is 
there  {in  liea.ven)  o,  stranger.” — Saint's 
Rest." 

Mar  tine  (Spanish),  Martina 
{Italian),  a sword,  and  martino,  a poig- 
nard ; a corruption  of  marteau,  a poignard 
{Italian). 

Quiconqne  aura  affaire  a moy,  il  faut  qu’il  ait 
affaire  a Martine  que  me  voyla  au  coste  (appellant 
son  esp4e“  Brantd me,  Rodomontades 

Espagnoles”  toI.  ii.,  p.  16,  coL  3. 

Martinet.  A strict  disciplinarian  ; 
■so  called  from  M.  de  Martinet,  a young 
colonel  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  who 
re-modelled  the  infantry,  and  was  slain 
-at  the  siege  of  Doesbourg  in  1672  (Vol- 
taire, Louis  XIV.,”  c.  10).  The  French 
still  call  a cat-o’-nine-tails  a martinet.” 

Martinmas.  His  Martinmas  will 
■come  as  it  does  to  every  hog — i.e.,  all  must 
•die. 

November  or  Martinmas  was  the  great 
slaughter-time  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  when 
beeves,  sheep,  and  hogs,  whose  store  of 
food  was  exhausted,  were  killed  and 
malted,  Martinmas,  therefore,  was  the 


slaying  time,  and  the  proverb  intimates 
that  our  slaying-time  day  of  death  will 
come  as  surely  as  that  of  a hog  at  St. 
Martin’s-tide.  The  feast  of  St.  Martin 
is  November  11th. 

Martyr  {Greeh)  simply  means  a wit- 
ness, but  is  applied  to  one  who  witnesses 
a good  confession  with  his  blood. 

The  mofirtyr  Icing.  Charles  I.  of  England, 
beheaded  January  30th,  1649.  He  was 
buried  at  Windsor,  and  was  called  The 
White  King.” 

Martyr  to  Science.  Claude  Louis, 
count  Berthollet,  who  determined  to  test 
on  his  own  person  the  effects  of  carbonic 
acid  on  the  human  frame,  and  died  under 
the  experiment.  (1748-1822.) 

Marut.  God  of  the  wind  and  tem- 
pest.— Hindu  mythology. 

Marvellous.  The  marvellous  hoy. 
Thomas  Chatterton,  the  poet,  author  of 
a volume  of  poetry  entitled  Rowley’s 
Poems,”  professedly  written  by  Rowley, 
a monk.  (1752-1770.) 

Mary. 

As  the  Virgin,  she  is  represented  in 
Christian  art  with  flowing  hair,  emble- 
matical of  her  virginity. 

As  Mater  Dolorosa,  or  Our  Lady  of 
Pity,  she  is  represented  as  somewhat 
elderly,  clad  in  mourning,  head  draped, 
and  weeping  over  the  dead  body  of 
Christ. 

As  Our  Lady  of  Dolours,  she  is  re- 
presented as  seated,  her  breast  being 
pierced  with  seven  swords,  emblematic 
of  her  seven  sorrows. 

As  Our  Lady  of  Mercy,  she  is  repre- 
sented with  arms  extended,  spreading 
out  her  mantle,  and  gathering  sinners 
beneath  it. 

As  The  glorified  Madonna,  she  is  re- 
presented as  bearing  a crown  and  sceptre, 
or  a ball  and  cross,  in  rich  robes  and 
surrounded  by  angels. 

Her  seven  joys.  The  Annunciation, 
Visitation,  Nativity,  Adoration  of  the 
Magi,  Presentation  in  the  Temple,  Find- 
ing Christ  amongst  the  Doctors,  and  the 
Assumption. 

Her  seven  sorrows.  Simeon’s  Prophecy, 
the  Flight  into  Egypt,  Christ  Missed,  the 
Betrayal,  the  Crucifixion,  the  Taking 
Down  from  the  Cross,  and  the  Ascension 
when  she  was  left  alone. 

Mary  of  lord  Byron’s  poetry  is  Miss 
Chaworth,  who  was  older  than  his  lord- 
ship.  Both  Miss  Chaworth  and  lord 


MARY  BLANE. 


MASSACRE. 


559 


Byron  were  under  the  guardianship  of 
!Mr.  White.  Miss  Chaworth  married  J ohn 
Musters,  generally  called  J ack  Musters ; 
hut  the  marriage  was  not  a happy  one, 
xind  the  parties  soon  separated.  The 

Dream ’'of  lord  Byron  refers  to  this 
love  affair  of  his  youth. 

Mary  Blane.  A nigger  melody  in- 
troduced by  the  Ethiopian  Serenaders  at 
St.  James’s  Theatre. 

Mary  Magdalene  {St).  Patron 
saint  of  penitents,  being  herself  the  model 
penitent  of  Gospel  history. 

In  Christian  art  she  is  represented  (1) 
as  a patron  saint,  young  and  beautiful, 
with  a profusion  of  hair,  and  holding  a 
box  of  ointment ; (2)  as  a penitent,  in  a 
sequestered  place,  reading  before  a cross 
or  skull. 

Mary-le-bone  {London)  is  not  a 
•corruption  of  Marie  la  bonne,  but  '‘Mary 
on  the  bourne  ” or  river,  as  Holborn  is 
“Old  Bourne.” 

Marygold  or  Marigold.  A million 
sterling.  A plum  is  £100,000.  {See 
:Marigold.) 

Mas;  plural.  Masse.  “Mr.,” 

Messrs. as.  Mas  J ohn  King,  Masse 
Fleming  and  Stebbing.  {Master.) 

Masaniello.  A corruption  of 
Tom  MAS  o ANIELLO,  a Neapolitan 
fisherman  who  led  the  revolt  of  July, 
1647.  The  great  grievance  was  a new  tax 
upon  fruit,  and  the  immediate  cause  of 
^^lasaniello’s  interference  was  the  seizure 
of  his  wife  (or  deaf  and  dumb  sister)  for 
having  in  her  possession  some  contraband 
flour.  Having  surrounded  himself  with 
some  150,000  men,  women,  and  boys,  he 
was  elected  chief  of  Naples,  and  for  nine 
days  ruled  with  absolute  control.  The 
Spanish  viceroy  flattered  him,  and  this 
so  turned  his  head  that  he  acted  like  a 
maniac.  The  people  betrayed  him,  he 
was  shot,  and  his  body  flung  into  a ditch, 
but  next  day  it  was  interred  with  a pomp 
^nd  ceremony  never  equalled  in  Naples 
(1647). 

AulDer  has  an  opera  on  this  subject 
called  “ La  Muette  de  Portici.”  (18&.) 

Masche-croute  {gnaw-crust).  A 
hideous  wooden  statue  carried  about 
Lyons  during  Carnival.  The  nurses  of 
Lyons  frighten  children  by  threatening  to 
thro.w  them  to  Masche-croute. 


Masdeu  (Catalan  for  God's  field). 
The  vineyard  not  far  from  Perpignan 
was  anciently  so  called. 

Masetto.  A rustic  engaged  to  Zer- 
li'na ; but  Don  Giovanni  intercepts  them 
in  their  wedding  festivities,  and  induces 
the  foolish  damsel  to  believe  he  meant  to 
make  her  his  wife. — Mozart,  “ Don  Gio- 
vanni ” {an  opera). 

Mason  and  Dixon’s  Line.  The 
southern  boundary  line  which  separated 
the  free  states  of  Pennsylvania  from  what 
were  at  one  time  the  slave  states  of  Mary- 
land and  Virginia.  It  lies  39°  43'  26''  north 
latitude,  and  was  run  oy  Charles  Mason 
and  Jeremiah  Dixon,  two  English  mathe- 
maticians and  surveyors  (between  No- 
vember 15th,  1763,  and  December  26th, 
1767). 

Mass.  There  seems  to  be  no  suf- 
ficient reason  for  supposing,  with  Dr. 
Hook,  “ that  the  word  first  imported  the 
dismissal  of  the  church  assembly,  then 
the  assemhlvng  of  it,  then  the  service,  and 
at  last  the  communion."  Such  a climax 
would  be  very  unnatural.  Neither  can 
the  word  be  derived  from  the  custom  of 
dismissing  the  catechumens  before  the 
communion  service  began,  for  the  words 
“ Ite,  missa  est  ” (Go,  mass  is  about  to 
begin)  quite  refute  the  notion.  Ite  is  the 
dismissal  word,  not  missa.  Without 
doubt  the  true  etymon  is  the  Saxon 
mcesse ; French,  German,  and  Danish, 
messe ; Low  Latin,  missa ; meaning  a 
“ holiday”  or  “feast,”  as  in  Christ-mas, 
Martin-mas,  Candle-mas,  Michael-mas. 
Mass  is  the  feast  of  the  church,  when 
Christians  “feed  on  the  body  of  Christ, 
their  Saviour.” 

High  Mass  or  “ Grand  Mass  ” is  sung 
by  choristers,  and  celebrated  with  the 
assistance  of  a deacon  and  sub-deacon. 

Low  Mass  is  simply  read  without  sing- 
ing; there  is  one  between  these  two 
called  the  “ chanted  mass,”  in  which  the 
service  is  chanted  by  the  priest. 

Besides  these  there  are  a number  of 
special  masses,  as  the  mass  of  the  Beatoe, 
mass  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  mass  of  the  dead, 
mass  of  a saint,  mass  of  scarcity,  dry 
mass,  votive  mass,  holiday  mass,  Ambro- 
sian mass,  Gallic  mass,  mass  of  the  pre~ 
sanctified  for  Good  Friday,  missa  Mosara*- 
hum,  &c.  &c. 

Massacre  of  the  Innocents.  De- 
voting to  destruction  the  “ innocent”  or 


560 


MASSAMORE. 


MATRICULATE, 


useful  bills  at  the  end  of  the  sessions, 
merely  for  lack  of  time  to  pass  them. 
The  expression  was  first  used  by  The 
Times  in  1859.  {See  Bartholomew.) 

Mass'amore  (3  syl.)  or  Massy  More. 
The  principal  dungeon  of  a feudal  castle. 
A Moorish  word. 

Proximus  eat  career  subterra'neua,  sine  ut  Mauri 
appallant  “ Mazmorra.’*— OZd  Latin  Itinerari/. 

Master  Humphrey.  A miserable 
old  gambler,  in  “The  Old  Curiosity 
Shop,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Master  Leonard.  Grand-master 
of  the  nocturnal  orgies  of  the  demons. 
He  is  represented  as  a three-homed  goat, 
with  black  human  face.  He  marked  his 
novitiates  with  one  of  his  horns. — Middle- 
age  demonology. 

Master  of  Sentences.  Pierre 
Lombard,  author  of  a work  called  “ Sen- 
tences,” a compilation  from  the  fathers 
of  the  leading  arguments  fro  and  con. 
bearing  on  the  hair-splitting  theological 
questions  of  the  middle  ages.  (1100- 
1164.) 

Master  of  the  Mint.  A punning 
term  for  a gardener. 

Master  of  the  Rolls.  A punning 
term  for  a baker. 

Mastic.  A tonic,  which  promotes 
appetite,  and  therefore  only  increases 
the  misery  of  a hungry  man. 

Like  the  starved  wretch  that  hungry  mastic  chews. 
But  cheats  himself  and  fosters  his  disease. 

WesU  “ Triumphs  of  the  (font ” (Lucian). 

Mas'todon  (Greek,  nipple-toothed). 
An  extinct  animal  of  the  elephant  tribe  ; 
so  called  because  the  heads  of  its  teeth 
are  pointed  like  little  nipples. 

Mat'adore  (3  syl.,  Spanish,  a slayer). 
A name  given  to  a man  who  is  pitted 
against  a bull  in  the  Spanish  bull-fights. 

Mat'amore  (3  syl.).  A poltroon,  a 
swaggerer,  a major  Bobadil  {(f.v.).  A 
French  term  composed  of  two  Spanish 
words,  maiar-MoTos{2,  slayer  of  Moors). 

Matchlock.  The  lock  of  an  old- 
fashioned  gun  ; so  called  because  it  was 
tired  with  a lighted  match. 

Mate.  Paraguay  tea  is  so  called  from 
matd,  the  vessel  in  which  the  herb  is  in 
Paraguay  infused.  These  vessels  are 
generally  gourds  hollowed  out,  and  the 
herb  is  called  Yerha  de  mate. 


Mate'rialism.  The  doctrines  of 
Materialist,  who  maintains  that  the  soul 
and  spirit  are  effects  of  matter.  The 
orthodox  doctrine  is  that  the  soul  is  dis- 
tinct from  the  body,  and  is  a portion  of 
the  Divine  essence  breathed  into  the  body. 
A materialist,  of  course,  does  not  believe 
in  a spiritual  deity”  distinct  from 
matter.  Tertullian  contended  that  the 
Bible  proves  the  soul  to  be  “ material,’” 
and  he  charges  the  “spiritual”  view  to- 
the  heretical  doctrines  of  the  Platonic 
school. 

Math'isen.  One  of  the  three  ana- 
baptists who  induce  John  of  Leyden  to- 
join  theii’  rebellion.  No  sooner  is  John, 
declared  “the  prophet-king”  than  the 
three  faithless  rebels  betray  him  to- 
the  emperor ; but  when  they  enter  the 
banquet-hall  to  arrest  him,  they  all  perish 
in  the  burning  palace. — Meyei'heer,  “ Le 
Prophete''  {an  opera). 

Math'urin  {St.).  Patron  saint  oi 
idiots  and. fools.  A pun  on  his  name. 
{See  below). 

The  malady  of  St,  Mathurin.  Folly,, 
stupidity.  A French  expression. 

“Maturins”  in  French  argot  means 
dice,  and  “ Maturin  Plat,”  a domino. 

Ces  deux  objets  doivent  leur  nom  & leur  ressera- 
blanee  avec  le  costume  des  Trinitaires  (vulKairemensr 
appeles  MntuHns),  qui,  chez  nous,  portaient  uue 
soutane  de  serge  blanche  sur  laquelle,  quand  ils 
sor’aient,  ils  jetaient  un  manteau  noir.—Francisqus 
Michel 

Matilda.  Daughter  of  lord  Robert 
Fitzwalter.  Michael  Drayton  has  a poena- 
of  some  670  lines  so  called. 

Matilda.  Daughter  of  Rokeby,  and 
niece  of  Mortham.  She  was  beloved  by 
Wilfrid,  son  of  Oswald,  but  loved  Red- 
mond, her  father’s  page,  who  turns  out  to- 
be  Mortham’s  son. — Scott,  Rokeby.'* 

Matildxi.  Sister  of  Gessler ; in  love  with 
Arnold,  a Swiss,  who  had  saved  her  life' 
when  threatened  by  the  fall  of  an  ava- 
lanche. After  the  death  of  Gessler,  who- 
was  shot  by  William  Tell,  the  marriage 
of  these  lovers  is  consummated. — Rossini,. 

Gnglielmo  Tell**  {an  opera). 

Rosa  Matilda.  {See  Gifford’s  Baeviad’ 
and  Mseviad.”) 

Matric'ulate  means  to  enrol  oneself 
in  a society.  The  University  is  called 
our  alma  mater  (propitious  mother).  The 
students  areher  (foster-children),, 

and  become  so  by  being  enrolled  in  a 
register  after  certain  forms  and  exami- 
nations. (Latin,  matricwla  a roil.) 


MATTHEW. 


MAUNCIPLES  TALE. 


561 


Matthew  (St.)  in  Christian  art  is  re- 
f)resented  (1)  as  an  evangelist— an  old 
11] an  with  long  beard  ; an  angel  gene- 
rally stands  near  him  dictating  his 
gospel.  (2)  As  an  apostle,  in  which 
<*apacity  he  bears  a purse  in  reference 
to  his  calling  as  a publican ; sometimes 
lie  carries  a spear,  sometimes  a car- 
penter’s rule  or  square. 

In  the  last  of  Matthevj.  At  the  last 
gasp,  on  one’s  last  legs.  This  is  a German 
expression,  and  arose  thus  : A Catholic 
priest  said  in  his  sermon  that  Protest- 
antism was  in  the  last  of  Matthew,  and 
being  asked  what  he  meant  replied, 

‘ ‘ The  last  five  words  of  the  Gospel  of 
St.  Matthew  are  these  : Hhe  end  of  this 
‘dispensation.’  ” Of  course  he  quoted 
the  Latin  version  ; ours  is  less  correctly 
translated  “the  end  of  the  world.’’^ 

Matthew  Bramble^  in  Smollett’s  “ Hum- 
phry Clinker,”  is  Roderick  Random 
grown  old,  somewhat  cynical  by  expe- 
rience of  the  world,  but  vastly  improved 
in  taste.  Chambers  says,  “ Smollett 
took  some  of  the  incidents  of  the  family 
tour  from  ‘ Anstey’s  New  Bath  Guide.’  ” 
— English  Literature,  vol.  ii. 

Matth-i'as  St.)  in  Christian  art  is 
known  by  the  axe  or  halbert  in  his 
iright  hand — the  symbol  of  his  martyr- 
dom. Sometimes  he  is  bearing  a stone, 
an  allusion  to  the  tradition  of  his  having 
been  stoned  before  he  was  beheaded. 

Maudlin.  Stupidly  sentimental. 
Maudlin  drunk  is  the  drunkenness  which 
is  sentimental  and  inclined  to  tears. 
Maudlin  slip-slop  is  sentimental  chit-chat. 
U’he  word  is  derived  from  Mary  Magda- 
len, who  is  drawn  by  ancient  painters 
with  a lackadaisical  face,  and  eyes  swollen 
nvith  weeping. 

Maugis.  The  Nestor  of  French 
romance,  like  Hildebrand  in  German 
legend.  He  was  one  of  Charlemagne’s 
paladins,  a magician  and  champion. 

Maugis  d’Aygremont.  Son  of 
•duke  Be  vis  of  Aygremont,  stolen  in  in- 
fancy by  a female  slave.  As  she  rested 
\mder  a white- thorn,  a lion  and  a leopard 
devoured  her,  and  then  killed  each  other 
in  disputing  for  the  infant.  The  babe 
•cried  lustily,  and  Oriande  la  f^e,  who 
lived  at  Rosefleur,  hearing  it,  went  to  the 
white-thom  and  exclaimed,  “ By  the 
(powers  above  this  child  is  mal  gist  (badly 
japped) and  ever  after  he  was  called 


miu-gis’.  Oriande  took  charge  of  him, 
and  was  assisted  by  her  brother  Baudris, 
who  taught  him  magic  and  necromancy. 
When  grown  a man,  Maugis  achieved  the 
adventure  of  gaining  the  enchanted 
horse  Bayard,  which  understood  like  a 
human  being  all  that  was  said,  and  took 
from  Anthenor,  the  Saracen,  the  sword 
Flamberge  or  Floberge.  Subsequently 
he  gave  both  the  horse  and  sword  to  his 
cousin  Renaud.  In  the  Italian  romances,- 
Maugis  is  called  “Malagi'gi”  {q%v.')\ 
Renaud  is  called  “Renaldo”  {q»v.)', 
Bevis  is  called  “Buo'vo;”  the  horse  is 
sailed  “ Bayardo and  the  sword, 
“ Fusberta.”— i?owia.«ce  of  Maugis  d 
Aygremont  et  de  Vivian  son  frh'e.'' 

Maugrabln  (Heyraddin),  Brother 
of  Zamet  Maugrabin  the  Bohemian.  Ho 
appears  disguised  as  Rouge  Sanglier,  and 
pretends  to  be  herald  from  Liege. — Sir 
Walter  Scott,  “ (Quentin  Durivard." 

Mau'gys.  Agiant  who  keeps  a bridge 
leading  to  a castle  by  a river-side,  in  which 
a beautiful  lady  is  besieged.  Sir  Lybius, 
one  of  Arthur’s  knights,  does  battle  with 
the  giant;  the  contest  lasts  a whole 
Bummer’s  day,  but  terminates  with  the 
death  of  the  giant  and  liberation  of  the 
lady. — Liheaux'^  (a  romance). 

Maul.  To  beat  roughly,  to  batter. 
The  maul  was  a bludgeon  with  a leaden 
head,  carried  by  ancient  soldiery.  It  is 
generally  called  a “ mall.” 

Maul.  A giant  who  used  to  spoil 
young  pilgrims  with  sophistry.  He 
attacked  Mr.  Great- heart  with  a club, 
and  the  combat  between  them  lasted  for 
the  space  of  an  hour.  At  length  Mr. 
Great-heart  pierced  the  giant  under  the 
fifth  rib,  and  then  cut  off  his  head. — 
Bunyan,  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  pt.  ii. 

Mauuciples  Tale.  A mediaeval 
version  of  Ovid’s  tale  about  Coro'nis 
(Met.  ii.  543,  &c.).  Phoebus  had  a crow 
which  he  taught  to  speak  ; it  was  downy 
white,  and  as  big  as  a swan.  He  haAl 
also  a wife  whom  he  dearly  loved,  but 
she  was  faithless  to  him.  One  day  when 
Phoebus  came  home,  his  bird  ’gan  sing 

Cuckoo  ! cuckoo  ! cuckoo  !”  Phoebus 
asked  what  he  meant,  and  the  crow  told 
him  of  his  wife’s  infidelity.  Phoebus 
was  very  angry,  and  seizing  his  bow 
shot  his  wife  through  the  heart ; but  no 
sooner  did  she  fall  than  he  repented  of 
his  rashness  and  cursed  the  bird.  “ Never 
K K 


662 


MAUNDREL. 


MAXIMUS. 


more  shaH  thou  speak,”  said  he ; ‘^hence- 
forth thy  offspring  shall  be  black.” 
Moral — “Lordlings,  by  this  ensample, 
take  heed  what  you  say ; be  no  tale- 
bearer, but — 

Wher-so  thou  comest  amongst  high  or  low. 

Keep  wel  thy  tong,  and  think  upon  the  crow. 

Chaucer  t “ Canterbury  Tales'* 

Maundrel.  A foolish,  vapouring 
gossip.  The  Scotch  say,  “Hand  your 
tongue,  maundrel.”  As  a verb  it  means 
to  babble,  to  prate.  In  some  parts  of 
Scotlajid  the  talk  of  persons  in  delirium, 
in  sleep,  and  in  intoxication  is  called 
maundrel.  The  term  is  from  Sir  John 
Mandeville,  the  traveller,  who  published 
an  account  of  his  travels,  full  of  idle 
gossip  and  most  improbable  events. 

Maundy  Thursday.  The  day  be- 
fore Good  Friday  is  so  called  from  the 
Latin  dies  manda'ti  (the  day  of  Christ's 
great  mandate).  After  he  had  washed 
his  disciples’  feet,  he  said,  “ A new  com- 
mandment give  I unto  you,  that  ye  love 
one  another”  (St.  Johnxiii.  34). 

Spelman  derives  it  from  maund  (a 
basket),  because  on  the  day  before  the 
great  fast  all  religious  houses  and  good 
Catholics  brought  out  their  broken  food 
in  maunds  to  distribute  to  the  poor. 
This  custom  in  many  places  gave  birth  to 
a fair,  as  the  Tombland  fair  of  Norwich, 
held  on  the  plain  before  the  Cathedral 
close.  To  maund,  accordingly,  is  a com- 
mon slang  term  in  present  use,  meaning 
to  heg.  Of  course  maund  (a  basket)  is 
derived  from  “manda'tum,”  being  em- 
ployed to  hold  the  “mandate  bread.” 

Mauri-gasima.  An  island  near 
Formo'sa,  said  to  have  been  sunk  in  the 
sea  in  consequence  of  the  great  crimes 
of  its  inhabitants.— iTemy/e?-. 

Maurita'nia.  Morocco  and  Algiers, 
the  land  of  the  ancient  Mauri  or  Moors. 

Mausole'uin.  One  of  the  seven 
“wonders  of  the  world so  called  from 
Mauso'lus,  king  of  Caria,  to  whom  Arte- 
mis'ia  (his  wife)  erected  at  Halicarnassos 
a splendid  sepulchral  monument  B.C.  353. 
Parts  of  this  sepulchre  are  now  in  the 
British  Museum. 

The  chief  mausoleums  besides  the  one 
referred  to  above  are  : the  mausoleum  of 
Augustus ; that  of  Ha'drian,  now  called 
the  castle  of  St.  An'gelo  at  Rome  ; that 
erected  in  France  by  Catharine  de 
Medicis  to  Henry  II.  ; that  of  St.  Peter 


the  Martyr  in  the  church  of  St.  Eustatius> 
by  G.  Balduccio  in  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury ; and  that  erected  to  the  memory 
of  Louis  XVI. 

Mauthe  Dog.  A “ spectre  hound”" 
that  for  many  years  haunted  the  ancient 
castle  of  Peel-town,  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 
This  black  spaniel  used  to  enter  the 
^ard-room  as  soon  as  candles  were 
lighted,  and  leave  it  at  day-break. 
While  this  spectre-dog  was  present  the 
soldiers  forebore  all  oaths  and  profane 
talk.  One  day  a drunken  trooper  en- 
tered the  guard -bouse  alone  out  of 
bravado,  but  lost  his  speech  and  died  in 
three  days.  Sir  Walter  Scott  refers  to  it 
in  his  “ Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel,”  vi. 

Mauvaise  Honte  {French,  bad  or 
silly  shame).  Bashfulness,  sheepishness. 

Mauvais  Ton  {French,  bad  man- 
ners). Ill-breeding,  vulgar  ways. 

Mawther.  {See  Morther.) 

Maw- worm.  A hypocrite ; so  called 
from  the  character  of  Maw- worm  in  “ The 
Hypocrite,”  by  Isaac  Bickerstaff. 

Max.  A huntsman,  and  the  best 
marksman  in  Germany.  He  was  be- 
trothed to  Ag'atha,  who  was  to  be  h>s 
bride  if  he  obtained  the  prize  in  the 
annual  trial-shot.  Having  been  unsuc- 
cessful in  his  practice  for  several  days, 
Caspar  induced  him  to  go  to  the  wolfs 
glen  at  midnight,  and  obtain  seven 
charmed  balls  from  Sa'miel  the  Black 
Huntsman.  On  the  day  of  contest,  the 
prince  bade  him  shoot  at  a dove.  Max 
aimed  at  the  bird,  but  killed  Caspar,  who 
was  concealed  in  a tree.  The  prince 
abolished  in  consequence  the  annual  fete 
of  the  trial-shot. — Weher,  ‘^Der  Freis- 
chutz**  {an  opera). 

Max'imum  and  Minimum.  '^Fhe 
greatest  and  least  amount ; as,  the  maxi- 
mum profits  or  exports,  and  the  mini- 
mum profits  ctr  exports ; the  maximum 
and  minimum  price  of  corn  during  the 
year.  The  terms  are  also  employed  in 
mathematics. 

Max'imus  or  Maodime  (2  syl.). 
Officer  of  the  prefect  Alma'chius,  and 
his  comicular.  Being  ordered  to  put 
Valir'ian  and  TibuFce  to  death  because 
they  would  not  worship  the  image  of  Ju- 
piter, he  took  pity  on  his  victims  and  led 
them  to  his  own  house,  where  Cecilia  was 


MAY. 


MAYOK. 


563 


instrumental  in  his  conversion ; where- 
upon he  and  all  his’'  house  were  at 
once  baptised.  When  Valir'ian  and 
Tibur'ce  were  put  to  death,  Maximus 
declared  that  he  saw  angels  come  and 
carry  them  to  heaven,  whereupon  Alma'- 
chius  caused  him  to  be  beaten  with  whips 
of  lead  ‘Hil  he  his  lif  gan  lete.” — Chaucer, 

Secounde  Nonnes  Tale^ 

May.  A lovely  girl  who  married 
January,  an  old  Lombard  baron,  sixty 
years  of  age.  She  had  a liaison  with  a 
young  squire  named  Damyan,  and  was 
detected  by  January;  but  she  persuaded 
the  old  fool  that  his  eyes  were  to  blame, 
and  that  he  was  labouring  under  a great 
mistake,  the  effect  of  senseless  jealousy. 
January  believed  her  words,  and  ^‘who 
is  glad  but  he  ? ” for  what  is  better  than 
‘^a  fruitful  wife,  and  a confiding  spouse?” 
— Chaucer,  The  Marchaundes  Tale^^  line 
9,121,  &c. 

May  is  not  derived  from  Maia,  the 
mother  of  Mercury,  as  the  word  existed 
long  before  either  Mercury  or  Maia  had 
been  introduced.  It  is  the  Latin  Maius, 
i.e.,  Magius,  from  the  root  mag,  same  as 
the  Sanskrit  mah,  to  grow ; and  means 
the  growing  or  shooting  month. 

May  unlucky  for  weddings.  This  is  a 
Eoman  superstition.  Ovid  says,  '^The 
common  people  profess  it  is  unlucky  to 
marry  in  the  month  of  May”  (Fast.,  v. 
490.).  In  this  month  were  held  the 
festivals  of  Bona  Dea  (the  goddess  of 
chastity)  and  the  feasts  of  the  dead. 

May-day.  Polydore  Yirgil  says  that 
the  Roman  youths  used  to  go  into  the 
fields  and  spend  the  Calends  of  May  in 
dancing  and  singing,  in  honour  of  Flora, 
goddess  of  fruits  and  flowers.  The  e.arly 
English  consecrated  May-day  to  Robin 
Hood  and  the  Maid  Marian,  because  the 
favourite  outlaw  died  on  that  day. 
Stow  says  the  villagers  used  to  set  up 
May-poles,  and  spend  the  day  in  archery, 
morris-dancing,  and  other  amusements. 

May-duke  Cherries.  Medoc,  a 
district  of  France,  whence  the  cherries 
first  came  to  us. 

May  Meetings.  A title  applied  to 
the  annual  gatherings,  in  May  and  June, 
of  the  religious  and  charitable  societies, 
to  hear  the  annual  reports,  and  appeals 
in  behalf  of  continued  or  increased 
support.  Tho  chief  are  the  British 
Asylum  for  Deaf  and  Dumb  Females, 


British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  British 
and  Foreign  School,  Children’s  Refuge, 
Church  Home  Mission,  Church  Missionary 
Society,  Church  Pastoral  Aid  Society, 
Clergy  Orphan  Society,  Corporation  of 
the  Sons  of  the  Clergy,  Destitute  Sailors* 
Asylum,  Field  Lane  Refuge,  Governesses 
Benevolent  Institution,  Home  and  Colo- 
nial School  Society,  Irish  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  London  City  Mission, 
Mendicity  Society,  National  Temperance 
League,  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
among  the  Jews,  Ragged  School  Union, 
Religious  Tract  Society,  Royal  Asylum 
of  St.  Anne’s,  Sailors’  Home,  Sunday 
School  Union,  Thames  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  United  Kingdom  Band 
of  Hope,  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society, 
with  many  others  of  similar  character. 

May-pole.  The  races  in  the  Dun- 
ciad  ” take  place  where  the  taU  May- 
pole  overlooked  the  Strand.”  On  the 
spot  now  occupied  by  St.  Mary-le- Strand, 
anciently  stood  a cross.  In  the  place  of 
this  cross  a May-pole  was  set  up  by  J ohn 
Clarges,  a blacksmith,  whose  daughter 
Ann  became  the  wife  of  Monk,  duke  of 
Albemarle.  It  was  taken  down  in  1713, 
and  replaced  by  a new  one  erected 
opposite  Somerset  House.  This  second 
May-pole  had  two  gilt  balls  and  a vano 
on  its  summit.  On  holidays  the  pole 
was  decorated  with  flags  and  garlands. 
It  was  removed  in  1718,  and  sent  by  Sir 
Isaac  Newton  to  Wanstead  Park,  to  sup- 
port the  largest  telescope  in  Europe. 
{See  Undershaft.) 

Captain  Baily employed  four  hackney  coaches, 

with  drivers  in  liveries,  to  ply  at  the  Maypole  in  the 
Strand,  fixing  his  ovm  rates,  about  the  year  1634. 
Baily’s  coaches  seem  to  have  been  the  first  of  what 
are  now  called  hackney  coaches.  — iVote  I,**  The 
Tatler”  iv.,  p.  415. 

May-pole.  The  duchess  of  Kendal, 
mistress  of  George  I. ; so  called  because 
she  was  thin  and  tall  as  a May-pole. 

Mayeux.  The  stock  name  in  French 
plays  for  a man  deformed,  vain  and 
licentious,  brave  and  witty. 

Maying.  To  go  a-maying  is  to  go 
a-haymaking.  (Saxon,  mdwan  to  mow- 
grass.  Hence,  math,  a mowing ; as 
after-math,  the  crop  which  comes  up  after 
the  hay-harvest.)  It  is  also  used  for 
making  the  May-day  holiday.  {See 
May-day.) 

Mayor.  The  cup  and  sword  of  the 
lord  mayor  of  London  were  given  to  Sir 
K K 2 


MAYORS. 


MEALS. 


.■SG4 


■William  Walworth  by  Richard  II.  for 
killing  Wat  Tyler.  In  The  Nine  Wor- 
thies of  London”  (1592)  we  are  told  that 
tbe  mayor  first  arrested  and  then  stabbed 
the  rebel  chief,  for  which  deed— 

A costly  hat  his  Highness  likewise  gave, 

That  London’s  “ maintenance  ” might  ever  be ; 

A sword  also  he  did  ordain  to  have, 

T^liat  should  be  carried  still  before  the  mayor 
Whose  worth  deserved  succession  to  the  chair. 

R.  Johnson.  (1592.) 

Mayor  of  London  has  the  title  of 
■^^Lord,”  and  is  also  termed  “ The  Right 
^Honourable.”  These  titles  were  first  I 
allowed  him  by  Edward  III.  in  1354. 

Mayors  of  the  Palace  {Maire  du 
/Balais).  Superintendents  of  the  king’s 
household,  and  stewards  of  the  royal 
leudes  or  companies  of  France  before  the 
accession  ©f  the  Carlo vingian  dynasty. 
Being  chief  magistrates  they  were  called 
Mord-domes  (judges  of  murder),  a word 
(Corrupted  by  the  Romans  into  Major 
domuSf  and  this  Latin  was  subsequently 
translated  into  the  French  Maire  du 
Lpalais. 

Maz'arinades  (4  syl.).  Violent 
^publications  issued  against  Mazarin,  the 
French  minister  (1650,  &c.). 

Mazeppa  (Jan)  historically  was 
hetman  of  the  (lossacks.  He  was  born 
of  a noble  Polish  family  in  Podolia,  and 
‘became  a page  in  the  court  of  Jan 
dasimir,  king  of  Poland.  While  in  this 
(capacity  he  intrigued  with  There'sia,  the 
young  wife  of  a Podolian  count,  who 
discovered  the  amour,  and  had  the  young 
jpage  lashed  to  a wild  horse,  and  turned 
^adrift.  The  horse  rushed  in  mad  fury, 
mnd  dropped  down  dead  in  the  Ukraine, 
where  Mazeppa  was  released  by  a Cos- 
.«ack  family,  who  nursed  him  carefully 
in  their  own  hut.  In  time  he  became 
secretary  to  the  hetman,  and  at  the 
death  of  the  prince  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor. Peter  I.  much  admired  his  energy 
of  character,  and  created  him  prince  of 
the  Ukraine,  but  in  the  wars  with  Sweden 
Mazeppa  deserted  to  Charles  XII.,  and 
:f ought  against  Russia  at  the  battle  of 
Ihilto'wa.  After  the  loss  of  this  battle, 
Mazeppa  fled  to  Valentia,  and  then  to 
Bender.  Some  say  he  died  a natural 
death,  and  others  that  he  was  put  to 
death  for  treason  by  the  czar.  Lord 
Byron  makes  Mazeppa  tell  his  tale  to  i 
Charles  after  the  battle  of  Pultowa.  ! 
<1640-1709).  I 


Mazer.  A cup  ; so  called  from  the 
British  mamrn  (maple) ; like  our  copus- 
cups  in  Cambridge,  and  the  loving-cup 
of  the  London  corporation. 

“ Bring  hither,’*  he  said,  **  the  mazei'S  four 
My  noble  fathers  loved  of  yore.” 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  ** Lord  of  the  Isles." 

Ma.z'ikeen  or  Shedeem.  A species 
of  beings  in  Jewish  mythology  exactly 
resembling  the  Arabian  Jinn  or  genii, 
and  said  to  be  the  agents  of  magic  and 
enchantment.  When  Adam  fell,  says 
the  Talmud,  he  was  excommunicated  for 
130  years,  during  w’hich  time  he  begat 
demons  and  spectres,  for  it  is  written, 
“ Adam  lived  130  years  and  (^.e.,  before 
he)  begat  children  in  his  own  image  ” 
(Gen.  V.  3). — Rabbi  Jeremiah  b&n  Eliezar. 

And  the  Mazikeen  shall  not  come  nigh  thy  tents. 

Fsalm  xci  5 [Chaldee  version). 

Sicells  out  like  the  Mazikeen  ass.  The 
allusion  is  to  a Jewish  tradition  that  a 
servant,  whose  duty  it  was  to  rouse  the 
neighbourhood  to  midnight  prayer,  found 
one  night  an  ass  in  the  street,  which  he 
mounted.  As  he  rode  along  the  ass  grew 
bigger  and  bigger,  till  at  last  it  towered 
as  high  as  the  tallest  edifice,  where  it 
left  the  man,  and  where  next  morning 
he  was  found. 

Mazzi'ni-ism.  The  political  system 
of  Giuseppe  Mazzi'ni,  the  Daniel  O’Con- 
nell of  Italy,  who  filled  almost  every 
sovereign  and  government  in  Europe  with 
a panic- terror.  His  plan  was  to  establish 
secret  societies  all  over  Europe,  and 
organise  the  several  governments  into 
federated  republics.  He  was  the  founder 
of  what  is  called  Young  Italy,”  whose 
watchwords  were  Liberty,  Equality, 
and  Humanity whose  motto  was  **  God 
and  the  People  and  whose  banner  was 
a tri-colour  of  white,  red,  and  green. 
(Born  at  Genoa,  1808.) 

Meals.  In  the  fourteenth  century 
hneakfast  hour  was  five ; dinner,  nine ; 
supper,  four. — Chaucer's  Works. 

In  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centu- 
ries the  breakfast  hour  was  seven ; 
dinner,  eleven  ; supper,  six.—  Wright, 
“ Domestic  Manners." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  sixteenth 
centur}^  dinner  advanced  to  noon. 

In  Ireland  the  gentry  dined  at  between 
two  and  three  in  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century. — ^wlft,  Country 
Life," 


MEAL-TUB  PLOT. 


MEDIEVAL, 


5G5 


Meal-tub  Plot.  A plot  by  Danger- 
field  against  James,  duke  of  York,  in 
1679  ; so  called  because  the  scheme  was 
kept  in  a meal-tub  in  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Cellier.  Dangerfield  subsequently  con- 
fessed the  whole  affair  was  a forgery, 
and  was  both  whipped  and  condemned 
to  stand  in  the  pillory. 

Mealy-mouthed  is  the  Greek  meli- 
muthos  (honey-speech).  Dr.  Johnson 
says  when  the  mouths  of  animals  are 
sore  they  are  fed  with  meal ; if  this  were 
the  derivation,  mealy-mouthed  should 
mean  having  a sore  mouth. 

Mean'der  (3  syl.).  To  wind;  so 
called  from  the  Meander,  a winding  river 
of  Phrygia.  The  “Greek  pattern”  in 
embroidery  is  so  called. 

Measure  for  Measure  {Shake- 
speare).  The  story  is  taken  from  a tale 
in  G.  Whetstone’s  “Heptam'eron,”  en- 
titled “Promos  and  Cassandra”  (1578). 
Promos  is  called  by  Shakespeare  “lord 
Angelo and  Cassandra  is  “ Isabella.” 
Her  brother,  called  by  Shakespeare 
“Claudio,” is  named  Andru'gio  in  the 
story.  A similar  story  is  given  in  Gio- 
vanni Giraldi  Cinthio’s  third  decade  of 
stories. 

Meat,  Bread.  Thes^  words  tell  a 
tale  ; both  mean  food  in  general.  The 
Italians  and  Asiatics  eat  little  animal 
food,  and  with  them  the  word  bread  stands 
for  food;  so  also  with  the  poor,  whose  chief 
diet  it  is;  but  the  English  consume  meat 
very  plentifully,  and  this  word,  which 
simply  means  food,  almost  exclusively 
implies  animal  food.  In  the  banquet 
given  to  Joseph’s  brethren,  the  viceroy 
commanded  the  servants  “to  set  on 
bread”  (Gen.  xliii.  31).  In  Ps.  civ.  27  it 
is  said  of  fishes,  creeping  things,  and 
crocodiles  that  God  giveth  “them  their 
meat  in  due  season.”  (Greek  broo^  to  eat ; 
Welsh  food;  Saxon,  mcete.) 

To  carry  off  meat  from  the  graves— i.e., 
to  be  poor  as  a church  mouse.  The  Greeks 
and  Homans  used  to  make  feasts  at  cer- 
tain seasons,  when  the  dead  were  sup- 
posed to  return  to  their  graves.  In  these 
feasts  the  fragments  were  left  on  the 
tombs  for  the  use  of  the  ghosts,  and  only 
the  poorest  of  the  poor  would  venture  to 
rob  these  ghosts  of  their  scraps. 

Mec  {French).  Slang  for  king,  gover- 
nor, master;  miquard,  a commander; 


miquery  to  command.  All  these  are  do' 
rived  from  the  fourbesque  word  maggio^ 
which  signifies  God,  king,  pope,  doctor, 
seigneur,  and  so  on,  being  the  Latin 
major. 

Mecca’s  Three  Idols.  Lata,  Alo’za^ 
and  Menat,  all  of  which  Mahomet  over- 
threw. 

Meche  {French).  II  y a mlche,  the' 
same  as  “ II  y a moyen  ;”  so  the  negative- 
II  n'y  a pas  meche,  there  is  no  possibility. 
The  “ Dictionnaire  du  Bas-langage”  says  ; 
“ Dans  le  langage  typographique,  lorsque- 
des  ouvriers  viennent  proposer  leurs- 
services  dans  quelque  imprimerie,  ils 
demandent  s'il  y a meche — i.e.,  si  Ton  pent 
les  occuper.  Les  compositeurs  deman- 
dent ‘ s’il  y a meche  pour  la  casse,’  et: 
les  pressiers  demandent  ' s’il  y a meche- 
pour  la  presse.’  ” (Vol.  ii.,  p.  122.) 

Soit  mis  dedans  ceste  caverne 
Pe  nul  honneur  il  n’y  a maiche. 

'*Moralite  de  In  Vendition  de  Joseph.^^ 

Medam'othi  (Greek,  never  in  any^ 
place).  The  island  at  which  the  fleet  of 
Pantag'ruel  landed  on  the  fourth  day  of 
their  voyage,  and  where  they  bought 
many  choice  curiosities,  such  as  the  pic- 
ture of  a man’s  voice,  echo  drawn  to  life^ . 
Plato’s  ideas,  the  atoms  of  Epicu'ros,  a 
sample  of  Philomela’s  needlework,  and 
other  objects  of  vertu  which  could  b© 
obtained  in  no  other  portion  of  the  globe,< 
— Rabelais,  “ Pantagruclj*  iv.  3. 

Medard  {St).  Master  of  theKaia. 
St.  Medard  was  the  founder  of  the  rose- 
prize  of  Salency  in  reward  of  merit.  Th© 
legend  says,  he  was  one  day  passing  over 
a large  plain,  when  a sudden  shower  fell, 
which  wetted  every  one  to  the  skin  except 
St.  MMard  ; he  remained  dry  as  a toast,, 
for  an  eagle  had  kindly  spread  his  wings 
for  an  umbrella  over  him,  and  ever  after 
he  was  termed  Maitre  de  la  Pluie. 

S’il  pleut  le  jour  de  la  S.  Medard  (S<A  June) 

II  pleut  qunrante  jours  plus  tard. 

Mede'a.  A sorceress,  daughter  of 
the  king  of  Colchis.  She  married  Jason, 
the  leader  of  the  Argonauts,  whom  sh© 
aided  to  obtain  the  golden  fleece. 

Medham  {the  keen).  One  of  Maho*^ 
met’s  swords,  taken  from  the  Jews  whenn 
they  were  exiled  from  Medi'na. 

Mediaeval  or  Middle  Ages  begin 
with  the  council  of  Chalcedon  (451), 
and  end  with  the  revival  of  literature  in 


566 


MEDIAN  APPLES. 


MBIGLE. 


the  15th  century,  according  to  the  Kev. 
J.  G.  Dowling. 

Me^dian  Apples.  Pome-citrons. 

Medici'nal  Days.  The  sixth, 
eighth,  tenth,  twelfth,  sixteenth,  eigh- 
teenth, &c.,  of  a disease  ; so  called  be- 
cause, according  to  Hippoc'rates,  no 
**  crisis”  occurs  on  these  days,  and  medi- 
cine may  be  safely  administered.  {See 
Crisis.) 

Medici'nal  Hours.  Hours  proper 
for  taking  medicine,  viz.,  morning  fast- 
ing, an  hour  before  dinner,  four  hours 
after  dinner,  and  bed-time. — Quincy. 

Medicine.  Father  of  Medicine. 
Aretseos  of  Cappado'cia,  who  lived  at 
the  close  of  the  first  and  beginning  of 
the  second  century,  and  Hippoc'rates  of 
Cos  (b.c.  460-357)  are  both  so  called. 

Medi'na.  {Economy ^ Latin  medium^ 
the  golden  mean.)  Step-sister  of  Elissa 
and  Perissa,  but  they  could  never  agree 
upon  any  subject. — S'penser,  Fajery 
Queen,'  book  ii. 

Medina  means  in  Arabic  city/'  The 
city  so  called  is  ^'Medinat  al  Nabi”  (city 
of  the  prophet). 

Mediterranean  {Key  of  the).  The 
fortress  of  Gibraltar,  which  commands 
the  entrance. 

Me'dium,  in  the  language  of  spirit- 
rappers,  &c.,  is  some  one  possessed  of 
‘^odylic  force,”  who  puts  the  question 
of  the  interrogator  to  the  ‘‘spirit”  con- 
sulted. 

Medo'ra.  The  betrothed  of  the 
Corsair.  She  died  when  Conrad  the 
Corsair  was  imprisoned  by  the  sultan 
Seyd  {Seed). — Byi'on,  “ The  Corsair." 

Medo'ro  (in  “Orlando  Furioso”). 
A Moorish  youth  of  extraordinary  beauty 
but  humble  race,  a native  of  Ptolo- 
mi'ta ; a friend  of  Dardinello,  king  of 
Zuma'ra,  After  Dardinello  was  slain, 
Medo'ro  and  Clorida'no  go  to  bury  him. 
Medo'ro  is  wounded  by  some  unknown 
spear.  Angelica  dresses  his  wounds, 
falls  in  love  with  him,  marries  him,  and 
they  retire  to  India,  where  he  becomes 
king  of  Cathay  in  right  of  his  wife. 

Medu'sa.  Chief  of  the  Gorgons. 
Hw  head  was  cut  off  by  Perseus,  and 
Minerva  placed  it  in  her  segis.  Every 


one  who  looked  on  this  head  was  in- 
stantly changed  into  stone. 

Meerschaum  (2  syl.,  German,  sea- 
froth).  This  mineral,  from  having  been 
found  on  the  sea-shore  in  rounded  white 
lumps,  was  ignorantly  supposed  to  be 
sea-froth  petrified ; but  it  is  a compound 
of  silica,  magnesia,  lime,  water,  and  car- 
bonic acid.  When  first  dug  it  lathers 
like  soap,  and  is  used  as  a soap  by  the 
Tartars. 

^ M eg.  Mons  Meg.  An  old-fashioned 
piece  of  artillery  in  the  castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, made  at  Mons,  in  Flanders.  It 
was  considered  a palladium  by  the 
Scotch.  {See  Long  Meg.) 

Sent  awa’  our  crown,  and  our  sword,  and  our 
sceptre,  and  Mons  Meg  to  be  keepit  by  thae  English 
...  in  the  Tower  of  London  LN.B.  It  was  restored 
in  18282.— ScoUt  **Rub  Roy,”  c.  xxvii. 

A roaring  Meg.  Any  piece  of  ord- 
nance. Burton  says  Music  is  a roaring 
Meg  against  melancholy.  In  Ghent  there 
is  a wrought-iron  gun  named  Mad  Meg. 

Meg  Dods.  An  old  landlady  in 
Scott’s  novel  called  “ St.  Honan’s  Well.” 

Meg  Merrilies.  Ahalf-crazy  sibyl 
or  gipsy,  in  “ Guy  Mannering,”  by  Sir 
Walter  Scott. 

Megalich'thys  (Greek,  great-fish). 
A fossil  fish  of  large  size,  the  terror  of 
the  pre-Adamite  seas. 

Megalo'nyx  (Greek,  hlg-claw).  A 
fossil  mammal,  remains  or  which  have 
been  found  in  Virginia, 

Meg'alosaur  (4  syl.,  Greek,  great 
lizard).  A fossil  land  saurian  of  gigantic 
size  and  carnivorous  habits.  Its  remains 
occur  in  the  Oolite. 

Mega'rian  School.  A philosophical 
school,  founded  by  Euclid,  a native  of 
Meg-'ara,  and  disciple  of  Socrates. 

Megathe'rium  (Greek,  great-heast). 
A gigantic  extinct  quadruped  of  the 
sloth  kind. 

Me'grims.  A corruption  of  the 
Greek  hemi-crgnialfidli  the  skull),  through 
the  French  migraine.  A neuralgic  af- 
fection generally  confined  to  one  brow, 
or  to  one  side  of  the  forehead ; whims, 
fancies. 

Mei^e,  in  Strathmore.  The  place 
where  Guinever,  Arthur's  queen,  was 
buried. 


MEINY. 


MELISSA. 


567 


Meiny  (2  syl.).  A company  of  atten- 
<Iants.  (Norman,  meigiial  and  mesnie,  a 
household,  our  mmial.) 

With  that  the  smiling  Kriemhild  forth  stepped  a 
little  space, 

And  Brunhild  and  her  meiny  greeted  with  gentle 
grace. 

Lettsom's  " Nibdungen-lied**  stanza  604 

Mejnoun  and  Leilah..  A Persian 
love  tale,  the  Borneo  and  Juliet  or  Pyra- 
mus  and  Thisbe  of  Eastern  romance. 

Mel'anelioly.  Lowness  of  spirits, 
supposed  at  one  time  to  arise  from  a 
redundance  of  black  bile.  (Greek,  melas 
choU.') 

Mel'anelioly  Jacques  (1  syl.).  So 
Jean  Jacques  Eousseau  was  called  for 
his  morbid  sensibilities  and  unhappy 
spirit.  (1712-1777.)  The  expression  is 
from  Shakespeare,  As  You  Likelt,”  ii.  1. 

Melanc'thon  is  merely  the  Greek 
for  ScJuvarzerde  (black  earth),  the  real 
name  of  this  amiable  reformer.  (1497- 
1.560.)  Similarly  CEcolamga' dins  is  the 
Greek  version  of  the  German  name  Haus- 
i^chehif  and  Desiderius  Erasmus  is  one 
Latin  and  one  Greek  rendering  of  the 
name  Ghei'aerd  Gheraei'd. 

Melan'tius.  A brave,  honest  soldier, 
wLo  believes  every  one  to  be  true  and 
honest  till  convicted  of  crime,  and  then 
is  he  a relentless  punisher. — Beaumont 
and  Fletcher,  The  Maid^s  Tragedy.'* 

Melcldsede'cians.  Certain  here- 
tics in  the  early  Christian  Church,  who 
entertained  strange  notions  about  Mel- 
chis'edec.  Some  thought  him  superior 
to  Christ,  some  paid  him  adoration,  and 
some  believed  him  to  be  Christ  himself 
or  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Melea'ger.  Distinguished  for  throw- 
ing the  javelin.  He  slew  the  Calydonian 
boar.  It  was  declared  by  the  fates  that 
he  would  die  as  soon  as  a piece  of  wood 
then  on  the  fire  was  burnt  up ; where- 
upon his  mother  snatched  the  log  from 
the  fire  and  extinguished  it ; but  after 
Meleager  had  slain  his  maternal  uncles, 
his  mother  threw  the  brand  on  the  fire 
again,  and  Meleager  died. 

Melesig'enes  (Greek,  Meles-Umi), 
So  Homer  is  sometimes  called,  because 
one  of  the  traditions  fixes  his  birthplace 
on  the  banks  of  the  Meles,  in  Ionia.  In 
a similar  way  we  call  Shakespeare  the 
^'JBard  of  Avon.” 


Mele'tians.  The  followers  of  Mele'- 
tius,  bishop  of  Lycop'olis,  in  Eg3q)t,  who 
is  said  to  have  sacrificed  to  idols  in  order 
to  avoid  the  persecutions  of  Diocletian. 
A trimmer  in  religion. 

Melia'dus  {Kin^.  Father  of  Tristan ; 
he  was  drawn  to  a chase  ^^par  mal  engin 
et  negromance”  of  a fay  who  was  in  love 
with  him,  and  from  whose  thraldom  he 
was  ultimately  released  by  the  power  of 
the  great  enchanter  Merlin. — Tristan 
de  LeonoiSf*  a romance.  (1489.) 

Melibe'us  or  Melihe.  A wealthy 
young  man,  married  to  Prudens.  One 
day,  when  Melibeus  went  into  the  fields 
to  play,”  some  of  his  enemies  got  into  his 
house,  beat  his  wife,  and  wounded  his 
daughter  Sophie  with  five  mortal  wounds 

in  her  feet,  in  her  hands,  in  her  ears, 
in  her  nose,  and  in  her  mouth,”  left  her 
for  dead,  and  made  their  escape.  When 
Melibeus  returned  home  he  resolved  upon 
vengeance,  but  his  wife  persuaded  him 
to  forgiveness,  and  Melibeus  taking  his 
wife’s  counsel,  called  together  his  ene- 
mies, and  told  them  he  forgave  them  to 
this  effect  and  to  this  ende,  that  God  of 
his  endeles  mercy  wole  at  the  tyme  of 
oure  deyinge  forgive  us  oure  giltes,  that 
we  have  trespased  to  him  in  this  wreeched 
world.” — Chaucer,  Canterbury  Tales." 

N.B. — This  prose  tale  of  Melibeus  is  a 
literal  translation  of  a French  story,  of 
which  there  are  two  copies  in  the  British 
Museum — MS.  Reg.  19,  c.  vii. ; and  MS. 
Reg.  19,  c.  xi. 

Melicer'tes  (4  syl.).  Son  of  Ino,  a 
sea  deity.  Ath'amas  imagined  his  wife 
to  be  a lioness,  and  her  two  sons  to  be 
lion’s  cubs.  In  his  frenzy  he  slew  one  of 
the  boys,  and  drove  the  other  (named 
Melioertes)  with  his  mother  into  the  sea. 
The  mother  became  a sea-goddess,  and 
the  boy  the  god  of  harbours. 

Mel'ior,  A lovely  fairy,  who  carried 
off  to  her  secret  island  Parthen'opex  of 
Blois  in  her  magic  bark. — Frenchromance 
called  Parthenopex  de  Blois,"  (12th 
century. ) 

Melisen'dra.  Charlemagne’s  daugh- 
ter, married  to  his  nephew  Don  Gwyfe’ros. 
She  was  taken  captive  by  the  Moors,  and 
confined  seven  years  in  a dungeon,  when 
Gwyfe'ros  rescued  her. 

Melis'sa  (in  Orlando  Furioso”!. 
The  prophetess  who  lived  in  Merlin’s 


568 


MELL  SUPPER. 


MEN  IN  BUCKRAM. 


cave.  Brad'amant  gave  her  the  en- 
chanted ring  to  take  to  Roge'ro,  so 
assuming  the  form  of  Atlantes  she  went 
to  Alci'na’s  island,  andnotbnly  delivered 
Roge'ro,  but  disenchanted  all  the  forms 
metamorphosed  in  the  island.  In  book 
xix.  she  assumes  the  form  of  Rodomont, 
and  persuades  Agramant  to  break  the 
league  which  was  to  settle  the  contest  by 
single  combat.  A general  battle  ensues. 

Mell  Supper.  Harvest  supper ; so 
called  from  the  French  mesler  (to  mix 
together),  because  the  master  and  ser- 
vants sat  promiscuously  at  the  harvest 
board. 

Mellifluous  Doctor.  St.  Bernard, 
whose  writings  were  called  a river  of 
Paradise.”  (1091-1153.) 

MeFon.  The  Mahometans  say  that 
the  eating  of  a melon  produces  a thousand 
good  works. 

iltre  un  melon.  To  be  stupid  or  dull  of 
comprehension.  The  melon-pumpkin  or 
squash  is  soft  and  without  heart,  hence 
‘‘  Etre  un  melon”  is  to  be  as  soft  as  a 
squash.  So  also  Avoir  un  coeur  de  melon 
or  de  citronille  means  to  have  no  heart 
at  all.  Tertullian  says  of  Marcion,  the 
heresiarch,  he  has  a pumpkin  {pep' onem) 
in  the  place  of  a heart  {cordis  loco).  It 
will  be  remembered  that  Thersi'tes,  the 
railer,  calls  the  Greeks  ‘^pumpkins” 
{pep' ones). 

Melons  (French).  Children  sent  to 
school  for  the  first  time  ; so  called  be- 
cause they  come  from  a hot-bed,”  and 
are  as  delicate  as  exotics.  At  St.  Cyr,  the 
new-comers  are  called  in  school- slang 
les  melons^  and  the  old  stagers  les  anciens. 

Melrose  Abbey  {Register  of)  from 
735  to  1270,  published  in  ‘‘Fulman,” 
1684. 

Melusi'na.  The  most  famous  of  the 
fdes  of  France.  Having  enclosed  her 
father  in  a high  mountain  for  offending 
her  mother,  she  was  condemned  Hio  be- 
come every  Saturday  a serpent  from  her 
waist  downward.  When  she  married 
Raymond,  count  of  Lusignan,  she  made 
her  husband  vow  never  to  visit  her  on  a 
Saturday  ; but  the  jealousy  of  the  count 
being  excited,  he  hud  himself  on  one  of 
the  forbidden  days,  and  saw  his  wife’s 
transformation.  Melusina  was  now 
obliged  to  quit  her  mortal  husband,  and 
was  destined  to  wander  about  as  a spectre 


till  the  day  of  doom.  Some  say  the- 
count  immured  her  in  the  dungeon  of  his 
castle. 

Cri  de  Melusine.  A sudden  scream  ; 
in  allusion  to  the  scream  of  despair  ut- 
tered by  the  fairy  when  she  discovered 
the  indiscreet  visit  of  her  beloved  hus- 
band. {See  above. ) 

Melusines  (3  syl.).  Gingerbread  cakes 
bearing  the  impress  of  a beautiful  woman 

bien  coiff^e,”  with  a serpent’s  tail ; made 
by  confectioners  for  the  May  fair  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Lusignan,  near  Poitiers. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  transformation  of 
the  fairy  Melusi'na  every  Saturday.  {See 
abeyve.) 

Melybalt  {Lady).  A powerful  sub- 
ject of  king  Arthur,  whose  domains 
Galiot  invaded.  She  chose  Galiot  as  her 
lover. 

Memnon.  Prince  of  the  Ethiopians, 
who  went  to  the  assistance  of  his  uncle 
Priam,  and  was  slain  by  Achilles.  His 
mother  Eos  was  inconsolable  for  his 
death,  and  wept  for  him  every  morning. 

The  Greeks  used  to  call  the  statue  of 
Am'enoph'is,  in  Thebes,  the  statue  of 
Memnon.  This  image,  when  first  struck 
by  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  is  said  to 
have  produced  a sound  like  the  snap- 
ping asunder  of  a chord.  Poetically, 
when  Eos  (morning)  kisses  her  son  at 
daybreak,  the  hero  acknowledges  the? 
salutation  with  a musical  murmur.  The 
word  is  the  Egyptian  mei-amun,  beloved 
of  Ammon. 

Memnon  bending  o’er  his  broken  lyre. 

Darwin^  “ Economy  of  Vegetation^'  i.  3. 

Memnon.  One  of  Voltaire’s  novels> 
designed  to  show  the  folly  of  aspiring  to 
the  height  of  wisdom. 

Mem'orable.  The  Ever  Memorable. 
John  Hales,  of  Eton.  (1584-1656.) 

Mem'ory.  Magliabechi,  of  Florence, 
the  book-lover,  was  called  ^^the  universal 
index  and  living  cyclopsedia.’^  (1633- 
1714.) 

Bard  of  Memory.  Samuel  Rogers, 
author  of  Pleasures  of  Memory.’*' 
(1762-1855.) 

Men  are  but  Children  of  a Larger 
Growth.  — Dry  deny  All  for  Love^*' 
iv.  1. 

Men  in  Buckram.  Hypothetical 
men  existing  only  in  the  brain  of  the 
imaginer.  The  allusion  is  to  the  vaunt- 


MEN  OF  KENT. 


MERCHANT  OF  VENICE.  569- 


ing-  tale  of  Sir  John  Falstaff  to  prince 
H en ry.  — Shakespeare,  ‘ ‘ 1 Henry  I V. 
act  ii.,  s.  4. 

Men  of  Kent.  {See  Kent.) 

Me'nah..  A large  stone  worshipped 
by  certain  tribes  of  Arabia  between 
Mecca  and  Medi'na.  This  stone,  like 
most  other  Arabian  idols,  was  demolished 
in  the  eighth  year  of  the  flight.”  The 

menah”  is  simply  a rude  large  stone 
brought  from  Mecca,  the  saered  city,  by 
certain  colonists,  who  wished  to  carry 
with  them  some  memento  of  the  Holy 
Land. 

Menal'cas.  Any  shepherd  or  rustic. 
The  name  figures  in  the  Eclogues  of  Vir- 
gil and  the  Idyls  of  Theoc'ritos. 

Me'flam.  A river  of  Siam,  on  whose 
banks  swarms  of  fire-flies  are  seen. 

MenamTjer.  A rocking- stone  in 
the  parish  of  Sithney  (Cornwall)  which  a 
little  child  could  move.  The  soldiers  of 
Cromwell  thought  it  fostered  supersti- 
tion, and  rendered  it  immovable. 

Mendo'za,  the  Jew.  A prize-fighter 
who  held  the  belt  at  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  and  in  1791  opened  the 
Lyceum  in  the  Strand  to  teach  ^‘the 
neble  art  of  boxing.” 

Menela'os  (4  syl.).  King  of  Sparta. 
The  elopement  of  his  wife  Helen  with 
Paris  brought  about  the  Siege  of  Troy. 

Mene'via.  St.  David’s  (Wales).  A 
corruption  of  Henemenew,  its  old  British 
name. 

Meng-tse.  The  fourth  of  the  sacred 
books  of  China;  so  called  from  its  author. 
Latinised  into  Mencius.  It  is  by  far  the 
best  of  all,  and  was  written  in  the  fourth 
century  B.c.  Confucius  or  K6ng-foo-tse 
wrote  the  other  three:  viz.,  Ta-heo 
{School  of  A dulls), Qh.ong-yoiig  {The  Golden 
Mean),  and  Lun-yu  (or  Book  of  Maxims). 

Mother  of  Meng,  A Chinese  expres- 
sion, meaning  *^an  admirable  teacher.’* 
Meng’s  father  died  soon  after  the  birth 
of  the  sage,  and  he  was  brought  up  by 
his  mother.  {Died  B.C.  317.) 

Me'nie  (2  syl.).  A contraction  of 
Marianne. 

And  maun  I still  on  Menie  doat. 

And  bear  the  scorn  that's  in  her  e’e  ? 

Burns. 


Menip'pos,  the  cynic,  called  by  Lii-- 
cian  the  greatest  snarler  and  snapper' 
of  all  the  old  dogs  ” {cynics). 

Men'nonites  (3  syl.).  The  followers^ 
of  Simons  Menno,  a native  of  Friesland, 
who  modified  the  fanatical  views  of  the- 
Anabaptists.  (1496-1561.) 

Men'struum  means  a monthly  dls^- 
solvent  (Latin,  mensis),  from  the  notion  of 
the  alchemists  that  it  acted  only  at  the 
full  of  the  moon. 

All  liquors  are  called  menstruums  -which  are  used> 
as  dissolvents,  or  to  extract  the  virtues  of  ingredients- 
by  infusion  or  decoction.  — Quincy. 

Mentor.  A guide,  a wise  and  faith- 
ful counsellor ; so  called  from  Mentor, 
friend  of  Ulysses,  whose  form  Minerva 
assumed  when  she  accompanied  Telema- 
chos in  his  search  for  his  father. — Fenelon, . 

Telemaqtie.** 

Me'nu.  Son  of  Brahma,  whose  in^ 
stitutes  are  the  great  code  of  Indian  i 
civil  and  religious  law. 

Mephib'oshetli,  in  the  satire  oB 
^'Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden>! 
and  Tate,  is  meant  for  Pordage. 

Mephistoph'eles.  A sneering, 
jeering,  leering  tempter.  The  character 
is  that  of  a devil  in  Goethe’s  Faust.” 
He  is  next  in  rank  to  Satan. 

Mepliistopli'iHs.  The  attendanfe.5 
demon  in  Marlowe’s  Faustus.” 

There  is  an  awful  melancholy  about  Marlowe’s 
“ Mephistcphelis,  perhaps  more  expressive  than  the 
malignant  mirth  of  that  fiend  in  the  renowned  work 
of  Goethe.— Hallam. 

Mepliostopll'ilus.  The  familiar  of 
Dr.  Faustus.  The  legends  of  Faustus 
were  at  one  time  so  popular  that  Mephos- 
tophilus  was  a common  jocular  term  of’ 
address. 

How  now,  Mephostophilus  ? 

Shakespeare,  "Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,” i.  1. 

Mercador  Amante-the  basis  of  * 
our  comedy  called  ‘^The  Curious  Imper- 
tinent”— was  by  Caspar  de  Avila,  a 
Spaniard. 

Merca'tor’s  Projection  is  Merca- 
tor’s chart  or  map  for  nautical  purposes^ . 
The  meridian  lines  are  at  right  angles  to  • 
the  parallels  of  latitude.  It  is  so  called 
because  it  was  devised  by  Gerhard 
Kauffmann,  whose  surname  Latinised  is^ 
Mercator  {Merchant).  (1512-1594.) 

Merchant  of  Venice  {Shakespeare). 
The  story  is  taken  from  the  Gesta  Roma- 


570 


MERCIA, 


MERMAIDS. 


iio'rum.’*  The  tale  of  the  bond  is  chapter 
xlviii.,  and  that  of  the  caskets  is  chapter 
xcix.  Much  of  the  other  part  of  the 
story  is  very  like  a novelletti  of  Ser. 
Giovanni.  (14th  century.) 

Mer'cia.  The  eighth  and  last 
kingdom  of  the  heptarchy,  between  the 
Thames  and  the  Humber.  It  was  the  mere 
or  boundary  of  the  Saxons  and  free 
Britons  of  Wales. 

Mercu^rial.  Light-hearted  and  gay, 
Mke  those  born  under  the  planet  Mercury. 
— Astrological  notion, 

Mercuriale  (4  syl.,  French).  An 
harangue  or  rebuke ; S(»>  called  from 
Mercuriale,  as  the  first  W ednesday  after 
the  great  vacation  of  the  Parliament 
under  the  old  French  r^ime  used  to  be 
called.  On  this  day  the  house  discussed 
grievances,  and  reprimanded  members 
for  misconduct. 

Mer'eury.  Images  of  Mercury,  or 
.rather  shapeless  posts  with  a marble 
head  of  Mercury  on  them,  used  to  be 
erected  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
where  two  or  more  roads  met,  to  point 
out  the  way,— Juvenal,  viii.  53. 

You  cannot  make  a Mercury  of  every  log 
(Non  ex  quovis  ligno  Mercurius  fit).  That 
is,  not  every  mind  will  answer  equally 
well  to  be  traiued  into  a scholar.  The 
proper  wood  for  a statue  of  Mercury 
was  box-wood—  ^^vel  quod  hominis  pulto- 
rem  prse  se  ferat,  vel  quod  materies  sit 
omnium  maxime  seterna.” — Erasmus. 

Mercury  in  astrology  signifieth  sub  till 
men,  ingenious,  inconstant ; rymers, 
poets,  advocates,  orators,  phylosophers, 
arithmeticians,  and  busie  fellowss.’* 

Mercu'tio.  A kind-hearted,  witty 
nobleman,  kinsman  to  the  prince  of 
Vero'na,  in  Shakespeare’s  Romeo  and 
Juliet.”  Being  mortally  wounded  by 
Tybalt,  he  was  asked  if  he  were  hurt,  and 
replied  A scratch,  a scratch  ; marry, 
’tis  enough.” 

The  Mercutio  of  actors.  Lewis,  who 
displayed  in  acting  the  combination  of 
the  fop  and  real  gentleman. 

Mercy.  A young  pilgrim  who  accom- 
panied Christiana  in  her  pilgrimage  to 
mount  Zion.  When  she  came  to  the 
Wicket-gate  she  swooned  from  fear  of 
being  refused  admittance.  Mr.  Brisk 
proposed  to  her,  but  being  told  that  she 
was  poor,  forsook  her,  and  she  was  after- 


wards married,  in  the  house  of  Gains, 
to  Matthew,  the  eldest  son  of  Christian 
and  Christiana. — Bunyan,  Pilgrim's 
Progress,"  pt.  ii. 

Mereditli  (Owen).  The  pseudonym 
of  Edward  Robert  Bulwer  Lytton,  author 
of  Chronicles  and  Characters,”  in  verse. 
(1834.) 

Meri'no  SLeep.  Sheep  under  a 
meH'no  or  overseer  of  pasture  lands. 

Merioneth  ( Wales)  is  maermaeth  (a 
dairy  farm). 

Merlan(i^Venc^).  A whiting,  orahair- 
dresser.  Perruquiers  are  so  called  be- 
cause at  one  time  they  were  covered  with 
flour  like  whiting  prepared  for  the  frying- 
pan. 

M’adreesantaun  merlan  qui  filait  une  perruque 
sur  un  peiijne  de  fer.— Chateaubriand,  "Memoirea 
d'  Outre- Tov/ibe." 

Merlin.  Prince  of  Enchanters  ; also 
the  name  of  a romance.  He  was  the  son 
of  a damsel  seduced  by  a fiend,  but 
Blaise  baptised  the  infant,  and  so  rescued 
it  from  the  power  of  Satan.  He  died 
spell-bound  by  his  mistress  Vivian,  in  a 
hawthom-bush.  (See  Spenser’s  “ Fafery 
Queen,”  Tennyson’s  ‘‘  Idyls  of  the 
King,”  and  Ellis’s  Specimens  of  Early 
English  Metrical  Romances.”) 

The  English  Merlin.  Lilly,  the  astro- 
loger, who  published  two  tracts  under 
the  assumed  name  of  ‘^Merlinus  An'- 
glicus.” 

Merlo  or  Melo  (Juan  de).  Born  at 
Castile  in  the  fifteenth  century.  ’ A dis- 
pute having  arisen  at  Esalo'na  upon  the 
question  whether  Hector  or  Achilles  was 
the  braver  warrior,  the  marques  de 
Ville'na  called  out  in  a voice  of  thunder. 

Let  us  see  if  the  advocates  of  Achilles 
can  fight  as  well  as  prate.”  Presently 
there  appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  assem- 
bly a gigantic  fire-breathing  monster, 
which  repeated  the  same  challenge. 
Every  one  shrank  back  except  Juan  de 
Melo,  who  drew  his  sword  and  placed 
himself  before  the  king  (Juan  II.)  to 
protect  him,  for  which  exploit  he  was 
appointed  alcayde  of  Alcala  la  Real 
(Granada). — Chronica  de  Don  Alvaro  de 
Lu'oa." 

Mermaids.  Sir  James  Emerson 
Tennent,  speaking  of  the  dugong,  an 
herbivorous  cetacea,  says,  Its  head  has 
a rude  approach  to  the  human  outline, 


MEROPE. 


MERVEILLEUSE. 


571 


:and  the  mother  while  suckling  her  youDg 
holds  it  to  her  breast  with  one  flipper, 
as  a woman  holds  her  infant  in  her  arm. 
If  disturbed  she  suddenly  dives  under 
water,  and  tosses  up  her  fish-ldke  tail.  It 
is  this  creature  which  has  probably  given 
rise  to  the  tales  about  mermaids.” 

Mermaid.  Mary,  queen  of  Scots;  so 
called  because  of  her  beauty  and  intem- 
iperate  love.  Oberon  says  to  Puck — 

Thou  remember’st 
Since  once  I sat  upon  a promontory 
And  heard  a mermaid  on  a dolphin’s  back 
[(S/ie  married  the  Dauphin  of  France."\ 
Uttering  such  dulcet  and  harmonious  breath 
That  the  rude  sea  grew  civil  at  her  song, 

iThe  “ rude  sea  ” means  the  Scotch  re&eZs.l 
And  certtdn  stars  sh  t madly  from  their  spheres 
To  hear  the  sea-maid’s  music. 

IThe  earl  of  Northumberland,  the  earl  of 
Westmoreland,  andthe  duke  of  Norfolk 
forg  t their  allegiance  to  Elizabeth  out 
of  love  to  Miry. 

Shakespeare,  '* Midsummer  Night’s  Dream,”  ii.  1. 

Mermaid’s  Glove.  The  largest  of 
British  sponges,  so  called  because  its 
'branches  resemble  fingers. 

Mer'ope.  One  of  the  Pleiads ; dimmer 
than  the  rest,  because  she  married  a 
mortal. 

Merovin'pan  Dynasty.  The 
dynasty  of  Mero'vius,  a Latin  form  of 
Mer-wig  (great  warrior).  Similarly  Louis 
is  Clovis,  and  Clovis  is  Clot-wig  (noted 
warrior). 

Merry  [BaxotC).  The  original  meaning 
’is  not  mirthful,  but  active,  brisk  ; hence 
gallant  soldiers  were  called  “ merry 
men favourable  weather,  merry  wea- 
ther brisk  wind,  a merry  gale 
London  was  merry  London England, 
merry  England Chaucer  speaks  of 
the  merry  organ  at  the  mass Jane 
Shore  is  called  by  Pennant  the  merry 
•concubine  of  Edward  IV.”  {See  Merry- 

MEN.) 

Merry  Andrew.  So  called  from 
Andrew  Borde,  physician  to  Henry  VIII., 
&c.  To  vast  leanaing  he  added  great 
•eccentricity,  and  in  order  to  instruct  the 
people  used  to  address  them  at  fairs  and 
•other  crowded  places  in  a very  ad  cap- 
tandum  way.  Those  who  imitated  his 
wit  and  drollery,  though  they  possessed 
not  his  genius,  were  called  Merry  An- 
drews, a term  now  signifying  a clown  or 
buffoon.  Andrew  Borde  Latinised  his 
name  into  Andreas  Perfora' tus.  (1500- 
1549.)  Prior  has  a poem  on  Merry 
Andrew.  ” 


Merry  Dancers.  The  northern 
lights,  so  called  from  tkeir  undulatory 
motion.  The  French  also  call  them 
chevres  dai^^antes  (dancing  goats). 

Merry  Dun  of  Dover.  A large 
mythical  ship,  which  knocked  down 
Calais  steeple  in  passing  through  the 
Straits  of  Dover,  and  the  pennant,  at  the 
same  time,  swept  a flock  of  sheep  off 
Dover  cliffs  into  the  sea.  The  masts 
were  so  lofty  that  a boy  who  ascended 
them  would  grow  grey  before  he  could 
reach  deck  again. — Scandinavian  mytho- 
logy. 

Merrie  England  may  probably 
mean  illustrious,”  from  the  old  Teutonic 
mer  (famous).  According  to  R.  Ferguson, 
the  word  appears  in  the  names  Marry, 
Merry,  Merick ; the  French  Mera,  Me- 
reau,  Merey,  Meriq  ; and  numerous 
others. — “ Teutonic  Name-System,^*  p. 
368.  {See  above  Merry.) 

Merry-men.  A chief  calls  his 
followers  his  merry-men,  either  brisk, 
active  ” {see  Merry),  or  ‘‘  illustrious,  re- 
nowned.” (See  above.) 

Mr.  Mem'yman,  the  clown  or  mounte- 
bank at  fairs,  means  Mr.  Funny-man,  or 
the  man  whose  business  it  is  to  create  a 
laugh. 

Merry  Monarch*  Charles  II. 

(1630,  1660-1685.) 

Merse.  Berwickshire  was  so  called 
because  it  was  the  mere  or  frontier  of 
England  and  Scotland. 

Mersenne  (2  syl.).  The  English 
Mersenne.  John  Collins,  mathematician 
and  physicist,  so  called  from  Marin 
Mersenne,  the  French  philosopher  (1624- 
1683). 

Merton  CJoUege.  Founded  by 
Walter  de  Merton,  bishop  of  Rochester, 
and  lord  high  chancellor  in  1264. 

Merton  (Towimy).  One  of  the  chief 
characters  in  the  tale  of  “ Sandford  and 
Merton,”  by  Thomas  Day. 

Meru.  A fabulous  mountain  in  the 
centre  of  the  world,  80,000  leagues  high, 
the  abode  of  Vishnu,  and  a perfect 
paradise.  It  may  be  termed  the  Indian 
Olympos. 

Merveilleuse  (3  syl.,  French).  The 
sword  of  Doolin  of  Mayence.  It  was  so 


572 


MESMElilSM. 


METROPOLITAN. 


sharp  that  when  placed  edge  downwards 
it  would  cut  through  a slab  of  wood 
wdthout  the  use  of  force. 

Mes'merism.  So  called  from  Fried- 
rich Anton  Mesmer,  of  Mersburg,  in 
Suabia,  who  introduced  the  science  into 
Paris  in  1778.  (1734-1815.) 

Mesopota'mia.  The  true  ‘^Mesopo^ 
ta'mia"^  ring  (‘^London  Review”)— 
something  high-sounding  and  pleasing, 
but  wholly  past  comprehension.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  story  of  an  old  woman 
who  told  her  pastor  that  she  '‘found 
great  support  in  that  comfortable  word 
Mesopotamia, 

Messali'na.  Wife  of  the  emperor 
Claudius  of  Rome.  Her  name  has  become 
a byeword  for  lasciviousness  and  inconti- 
nency.  Catharine  II.  of  Russia  is  called 
The  Modern  Messali'na  (1729-1796).  {See 
Marozia.) 

Metalo'gicus,  by  John  of  Salisbury, 
the  object  of  which  is  to  expose  the 
absurdity  and  injurious  effects  of 
"wrangling,”  or  dialectics  and  meta- 
physics. He  says,  “ Prattling  and  quib- 
bling the  masters  call  disputing  or 
wrangling,  but  I am  no  wiser  for  such 
logic.” 

Metamor'phic  Eocks.  Those 
rocks,  including  gneiss,  mica-schist,  clay- 
slate,  marble,  and  the  like,  which  have 
become  more  or  less  crystalline.  They 
were  once  considered  the  fundamental 
strata  of  the  earth’s  crust. 

IVtet'aph-Or  (Greek,  a transfer).  It 
means  that  the  idea  is  to  be  transferred 
from  the  visible  word  to  the  thing  signi- 
fied. Thus,  when  our  Lord  called  Herod 
a foXf  we  are  to  carry  our  thoughts  from 
the  animal  (fox)  to  the  idea  -which  that 
animal  suggests,  viz.,  cunning  and 
deceit. 

Metaphysics  (Greek,  after  physics). 
The  disciples  of  Aristotle  thought  that 
matter  or  nature  should  be  studied  before 
mind.  The  Greek  for  matter  or  nature  is 
physis,  and  the  science  of  its  causes  and  ei~ 
fectsphysics.  Meta-physics  is  the  Greek  for 
"after-physics.”  Sir  James  Mackintosh 
takes  a less  intentional  view  of  the  case, 
and  says  the  word  arose  from  the  mere 
accident  of  the  compilers  who  sorted  the 
treatises  of  Aristotle,  and  placed  that 
upon  mind  and  intelligence  after  that 
upon  matter  and  nature.  The  science  of 


metaphysics  is  the  consideration  of  things- 
in  the  abstract,  that  is,  divested  of  their 
accidents,  relations,  and  matter! 

Metasta'sio.  The  real  name  o£ 
this  Italian  poet  was  Trapassi  (death). 
He  was  brought  up  by  Gravina,  who 
Grecised  the  name.  (1698-1782.) 

Methodical.  3Iost  M ethodical  Doctor'. 
John  Bassol,  a disciple  of  Duns  Scotus.. 

r-1347.) 

Meth'odists.  A name  originally 
given  (1729)  by  a studey.t  of  Christ 
Church  to  the  brothers  Wesley  and  their 
clique,  who  used  to  assemble  on  given 
evenings  for  religious  conversation.  As 
the  physicians  of  Rome  termed  method' id 
reduced  the  practice  of  medicine  to  a 
system,  so  these  Wesleyans  made  all 
their  conduct  and  all  their  engagements 
square  with  their  religious  duties. 

Primitive  Methodists.  Founded  by 
Hugh  Bourne.  (1772-1852.) 

Meth'uen  Treaty.  A commercial 
treaty  between  England  and  Portugal, 
negotiated  by  Paul  Methuen,  in  1703, 
whereby  the  Portuguese  wines  were- 
received  at  a lower  duty  than  those  of 
France.  This  treaty  was  abandoned  in 
1836. 

Meton'ic  Cycle.  A cycle  of  nine- 
teen years,  at  the  end  of  which  period 
the  new  moons  fall  on  the  same  days  of 
the  year,  and  eclipses  recur.  Discovered 
by  Meton,  B.c.  432. 

Metra.  Qu^en  dit  Metra  (Louis  XVI. )-? 
Metra  was  a noted  news-vender  of  Paris 
before  the  Revolution — a notability  with 
a cocked  hat,  who  went  about  with  his 
hands  folded  behind  his  back. 

Metroporitan.  A prelate  who  has 
suffragan  bishops  subject  to  him.  The 
two  metropolitans  of  England  are  the 
two  archbishops,  and  the  two  of  Ire- 
land the  archbishops  of  Armagh  and 
Dublin.  In  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
of  Great  Britain,  the  four  archbishops  of 
Armagh,  Dublin,  Cashel,  and  Tuam  are 
metropolitans.  The  word  does  not  mean 
the  prelate  of  the  metropolis  in  a secular 
sense,  but  the  prelate  of  a " mother 
city”  in  an  ecclesiastical  sense— L 6.,  a 
city  which  is  the  mother  or  ruler  of  other 
cities.  Thus,  the  bishop  of  London  is 
the  prelate  of  the  metropolis,  but  not  a 
metropolitan.  The  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury is  metropoUta' nv^  et  primus  totiu$ 


METTRE. 


MICHEL. 


573 


Anglix,  and  the  archbishop  of  York 
primus  et  irietropolita/ nus  Anglix. 

Mettre  de  la  Faille  dans  ses 
Souliers  or  Mettre  du  Join  dons  ses 
'hottes.  To  amass  money,  to  grow  rich, 
especially  by  illicit  gains.  The  reference 
is  to  a practice  in  the  sixteenth  century 
followed  by  beggars  to  extort  alms. 

Des  qnemands  et  belistres  qui,  pour  abuser  le 

iQfionde,  mettentde  la  paille  en  leurs  soaliers.— 
ipiement  du  Caiholiconp  ch.  ix. 

Me'um  and  Tu'um.  That  which  be- 
longs to  me  and  tha.t  which  is  another’s. 
Meum  is  Latin  for  what  is  mine,”  and 
■tiium  is  Latin  for  what  is  thine.”  If  a 
man  is  said  not  to  know  the  difference 
between  meum  and  tuum^  it  is  a polite 
way  of  saying  he  is  a thief. 

Meum  est  propos'itum  in  tabenia 
moji”  A famous  drinking  song,  by 
Walter  Mapes,  who  died  in  1210. 

Mews.  Stables ; but  properly  a place 
for  hawks  on  the  moult.  The  muette 
was  an  edifice  in  a park  where  the  officers 
of  venery  lodged,  and  which  was  fitted  up 
with  dog-kennels,  stables,  and  hawkeries. 
They  were  called  mueties  from  mue  (the 
slough  of  anything),  especially  the  horns 
shed  by  stags,  which  were  collected  and 
kept  in  these  enclosures. — Lacomhe, 
**  Dictionnaire  Portatifdes  Beaux  Arts.” 

MexitTi.  Tutelary  god  of  the  Aztecs, 
in  honour  of  whom  they  named  their 
ompire  Mexico. — Southey. 

Mezen'tius.  King  of  the  Tyrrhe'- 
nians,  who  put  criminals  to  death  by 
tying  them  face  to  face  with  dead  bodies. 
So  says  Virgil,  ‘'J3neid,”  viii.  485. 

Thisis  like  Mezentius  In  Virgil ....  such  critics  are 
like  dead  coals,  they  may  blacken,  but  cannot  burn. 
—Broom,  Preface  to  “ Poems.** 

Mezzo  Relie'vo  {med^zo  rel-e-a'vo). 
Moderate  relief  {Italian).  This  is  applied 
to  figures  which  project  more  than  those 
of  Basso  Relievo  {q.v.),  but  less  than 
those  of  Alto  Relievo  {q.v.). 

Mezzo  Tinto  (Italian,  medium  tint). 
So  engravings  in  imitation  of  Indian-ink 
drawings  are  called. 

Mezzora'mia.  An  earthly  paradise 
somewhere  in  Africa,  but  accessible  by 
only  one  narrow  road.  Gaudentio  di 
Lucca  discovered  this  secret  road,  and 
resided  in  this  paradise  for  twenty-five 
years. — Simon  Berington,  **  Gaudentio  di 
Lucca.” 


Micawber  {Mr.  Willdns).  A great 
speechifier  and  letter-writer,  projector 
of  bubble  schemes  sure  to  lead  to  fortune, 
but  always  ending  in  grief.  Notwith- 
standing his  ill  success  he  never  de- 
spaired, but  felt  certain  that  something 
would  ^^turn  up”  to  make  his  fortune. 
Having  failed  in  every  adventure  in  the 
old  country,  he  emigrated  to  Australia, 
where  he  became  a magnate. — DichenSf 

David  Copperfield” 

Micawberism.  Conduct  similar  to 
that  of  Mr.  Micawber’s.  {See  above.) 

Mi'cliael.  Prince  of  the  celestial 
armies,  commanded  by  God  to  drive  the 
rebel  angels  out  of  heaven.  Ga'briel 
was  next  to  him  in  command.  {See  Seven 
Spirits.) 

Longfellow,  in  his  Golden  Legend,” 
says  he  is  the  presiding  spirit  of  the 
planet  Mercury,  and  brings  to  man  the 
gift  of  prudence. 

The  planet  Mercury,  whose  place 
Is  nearest  to  the  sun  in  space. 

Is  my  allotted  sphere ; 

And  with  celestial  ardour  swift 
I bear  upon  mv  hands  the  gift 
Of  heavenly  prudence  here. 

“ The  Miracle  Play,’*  iii. 

St.  Michael.,  in  Christian  art,  is  s(?me- 
times  depicted  as  a beautiful  young  man 
vdth  severe  countenance,  winged,  and 
either  clad  in  white  or  armour,  bearing  a 
lance  and  shield,  with  which  he  combats 
a dragon.  In  the  final  judgment  he  is 
represented  with  scales,  in  which  he 
weighs  the  souls  of  the  risen  dead. 

Michael  Angelo.  The  Michael- 
Angelo  of  Battle-scenes.  Michael- Angelo 
Cerquozzi,  a native  of  Rome,  famous  for 
his  battle-scenes  and  shipwrecks.  (1600- 
1660.) 

Michel- Ange  des  Bamhoches.  Peter  van 
Laar,  the  Dutch  painter.  (1613-1673.) 

Michael  Angelo  of  Music.  Johann 
Christoph  von  Gluck,  the  German  mu- 
sical composer.  (1714-1787.) 

Michael  Angelo  of  Sculptors.  Pierre 
Puget,  the  French  sculptor  (1623-1694). 
Also  Michael  Slodtz  (1705-1764). 

Michal  in  the  satire  of  “Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
is  meant  for  queen  Catharine,  wife  of 
Charles  II.  As  Charles  II.  is  called 
David  in  the  satire,  and  Michal  was 
David’s  wife,  the  name  is  appropriate. 

Michel  or  Cousin  Michouel.  A Ger- 
man. Michel  means  a dolt ; thus  the 


574  MICHING  MALLECHO. 


MID-LENT. 


French  call  a fool  who  allows  himself  to 
be  taken  in  by  thimble-rigs  and  card 
tricks  miJcel.  In  old  French  the  word 
mice  occurs,  meaning  a fool.  {See 
Michon.) 

L’ Anglais  aime  ^ Strc  represents  comma  un  J ohn 
Bull ; pour  nous,  notre  type  est  I’Allemand  Michel, 
qui  reeoit  une  tape  par  derridre  et  qui  deman^e  en- 
core ; *•  Qu’y  a-t-il  pour  votre  service  Dr.  TFeder, 
*‘De  VAllemaone/'  dbe. 

Miching  Mallecho.  A veiled  re- 
buke ; a bad  deed  probed  by  disguised 
means.  To  mich  or  meech  means  to 
skulk  or  shrink  from  sight.  MicJiers  are 
poachers  or  secret  pilferers.  Malecho  is 
a Spanish  word  meaning  an  evil  action 
as  a personified  name  it  means  a*  male- 
factor.— Hamlet”  iii.  2. 

The  ^'quarto”  reads  munching  Mallico; 
the  “ folio  ” has  miching  malicho.  Q.  -The 
Spanish  mu' cho  malh^cho  fmuch  mischief)  ? 

Michon,  according  to  Cotgrave,  is  a 

block,  dunce,  dolt,  jobbernol,  dullard, 
loggerhead.”  Probably  michon,  Mike 
(an  ass),  miJcel,  and  cousin  Michel,  are  all 
from  the  Italian  miccio,  an  ass.  (See 
Mike.) 

Microcosm  (Greek,  little  world). 
So  man  is  called  by  Paracelsus  and  his 
followers,  from  the  notion  that  he  is  the 
universe  in  miniature.  The  ancients 
considered  the  world  as  a living  being ; 
the  sun  and  moon  being  its  two  eyes,  the 
earth  its  lody,  the  ether  its  intellect,  and 
the  sky  its  wings.  When  man  was  looked 
on  as  the  world  in  miniature,  it  was 
thought  that  the  movements  of  the 
world  and  of  man  corresponded,  and  if 
one  could  be  ascertained,  the  other  could 
be  easily  inferred ; hence  arose  the  S5'’S- 
tem  of  astrology,  which  professed  to  in- 
terpret the  events  of  a man’s  life  by  the 
corresponding  movements,  &c.,  of  the 
stars.  (See  Diapason.) 

Mic'romeg'as.  Voltaire’s  imitation 
of  ''Gulliver’s  Travels.” 

Mi'das.  Like  Midas,  all  he  touches 
turns  to  gold.  Said  of  a person  always 
lucky  in  his  speculations.  Midas,  king 
of  Phrygia,  requested  of  the  gods  that 
everything  he  touched  might  be  turned 
to  gold.  His  request  was  granted,  but 
as  his  food  became  gold  the  moment  he 
touched  it,  he  prayed  the  gods  to  take 
their  favour  back.  He  was  now  ordered 
to  bathe  in  the  Pactolus,  and  the  river 
ever  after  rolled  over  golden  sands. 


Midas-eared.  Without  discrimi- 
nation or  judgment.  Midas,  king  of 
Phrygia,  was  appointed  to  judge  a mu- 
sical contest  between  Apollo  and  Pan, 
and  gave  judgment  in  favour  of  the* 
satyr;  whereupon  Apollo  in  contempt 
gave  the  king  a pair  of  ass’s  ears.  Midas 
hid  them  under  his  Phrygian  cap,  but  his 
servant  who  used  to  cut  his  hair  dis- 
covered them,  and  was  so  tickled  at  the 
"joke,”  which  he  durst  not  mention,  that 
he  dug  a hole  in  the  earth,  and  relieved 
his  mind  by  whispering  in  it  '‘  Midas  has 
ass’s  ears.”  Budaeus  gives  a different 
version.  He  says  that  Midas  kept  spies 
to  tell  him  everything  that  transpired 
throughout  his  kingdom,  and  the  pro- 
verb '‘that  kings  have  long  arms”  wa& 
changed  in  his  case  to  " Midas  has  long 
ears.”  " Ex  eo  in  proverbium  venit,  quod 
multos  otacustas — i.e.,  auricularios  habe- 
bat.” — Asse.”  (See  Pope,  "Pro- 
logue to  Satires.”) 

Midden.  The  kitchen  midden.  The- 
dust-bin.  The  farmer’s  midden  is  the 
dunghill^  The  word  is  Scotch,  and  pro- 
bably connected  with  mud ; Danish, 
mudder ; Welsh,  mwydo  (to  wet). 

Middle  Ages.  A term  of  no  defi- 
nite period,  but  varying  a little  with, 
almost  every  nation.  In  France  it  was 
from  Clovis  to  Louis  XI.  (481  to  1461). 
In  England,  from  the  Heptarchy  to  the 
accession  of  Henry  VII.  (409  to  1485). 
In  universal  history  it  was  from  the 
overthrow  of  the  Roman  empire  to  the 
revival  of  letters  (the  5th  to  the  15th 
century). 

Middlesex.  The  Middle  Saxons 
— that  is,  between  Essex,  Sussex,  and 
Wessex. 

Midgard.  The  abode  of  the  first 
pair,  from  whom  sprang  the  human  race. 
It  was  made  of  the  eyebrows  of  Ymer,^ 
and  was  joined  to  Asgard  by  the  rainbow 
bridge  called  Bifrost.  — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Asgard  is  the  abode  of  the  celestials. 

Utgart  is  the  abode  of  the  giants. 

Midgard  is  between  the  two — better 
than  Utgard,  but  inferior  to  Asgard. 

Midgard  Sormen  (earth’s  monster). 
The  great  serpent  that  lay  in  the  abyss 
at  the  root  of  the  celestial  ash.-^>Sca?if^i- 
navian  mythology, 

Mid-Lent  Sunday  is  the  fourth  Sun- 
day in  Lent,  It  is  called  domin'ica  re- 


MIDLOTHIAN, 


MILAN. 


575' 


fectio'nis  (refection  Sunday),  because  the 
first  lesson  is  the  banquet  given  by 
Joseph  to  his  brethren,  and  the  gospel  of 
the  day  is  the  miraculous  feeding  of  the 
five  thousand.  In  England  it  used  to 
be  called  Mothei'ing  Sunday ^ from  the 
custom  of  visiting  the  mother  or  cathe- 
dral church  on  that  day  to  make  the 
Easter  offering. 

Midlo'tliian.  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 
“Heart  of  Mi^Jothian”  is  a tale  of  the 
Porteous  mob,  'in  which  are  introduced 
the  interesting  incidents  of  Effie  and 
Jeanie  Deans.  Effie  is  seduced  while  in 
the  service  of  Mrs.  Saddletree,  and  is 
imprisoned  for  child -murder  ; but  her 
sister  Jeanie  obtains  her  pardon  through 
the  intercession  of  the  queen,  and  mar- 
ries Reuben  Butler. 

Midrasli'im  (sing.  MidrasJi).  Jewish 
expositions  of  the  Old  Testament. 

Midsummer.  ’ Tis  Midsummer  moon 
with  you.  You  are  mad.  Thus  Olivia 
says  to  Malvo'lio,  “Why,  this  is  very 
midsummer  madness.” — “ Twelfth  Night 
iii.  4. 

Midsummer  - iNTight’s  Dream. 
Some  of  the  most  amusing  incidents  of 
this  comedy  are  borrowed  from  the 
“Diana”  of  Montemayor,  a Spanish 
writer  of  pastoral  romance  in  the  six- 
teenth century ; and  probably  the 
“Knightes  Tale”  in  Chaucer  may  have 
furnished  hints  to  the  author. 

Mids^immer- Night's  Dr  earn.  Egeus  of 
Athens  went  to  Theseus,  the  reigning 
duke,  to  complain  that  his  daughter 
Her'mia,  whom  he  had  commanded  to 
marry  Demetrius,  refused  to  obey  him, 
because  she  loved  Lysander.  Egeus  de- 
manded that  Hermia  should  be  put  to 
death  for  this  disobedience,  according  to 
the  law.  Hermia  pleaded  that  Demetrius 
loved  Hel'ena,  and  that  his  affection  was 
reeiprocated.  Theseus  had  no  power  to 
alter  the  law,  and  gave  Hermia  four 
days’  respite  to  consider  the  matter,  and 
if  then  she  refused,  the  law  was  to  take 
its  course.  Lysander  proposed  flight,  to 
which  Hermia  agreed,  and  told  Helena 
her  intention ; Helena  told  Demetrius, 
and  Demetrius,  of  course,  followed.  The 
fugitives  met  in  a wood,  the  favourite 
haunt  of  the  fairies.  Now  Oberon  and 
Tita'nia  had  had  a quarrel  about  a change- 
ling boy,  and  Oberon,  by  way  of  punish- 
ment, dropped  on  Titania’s  eyes  during 


sleep  some  love- juice,  the  effect  of  which 
is  to  make  the  sleeper  fall  in  love  with 
the  first  thing  seen  when  waking.  The 
first  thing  seen  by  Titania  was  Bottom 
the  weaver,  wearing  an  ass’s  head.  In 
the  meantime  king  Oberon  dispatched 
Puck  to  pour  some  of  the  juice  on  the 
eyes  of  Demetrius,  that  he  might  love 
Helena,  who  Oberon  thought  refused 
to  requite  her  love.  Puck,  by  mistake, 
anointed  the  eyes  of  Lysander  with  the 
juice,  and  the  first  thing  he  saw  on  wak- 
ing was  not  Hermia  but  Helena.  Oberon 
being  told  that  Puck  had  done  his  bid- 
ding, to  make  all  sure  dropped  some  of 
the  love-juice  on  the  eyes  of  Demetrius, 
and  the  first  person  he  beheld  on  waking 
was  Hermia  looking  for  Lysander.  In 
due  time  the  eyes  of  all  were  disen- 
chanted, and  all  went  smoothly.  Lysan- 
der married  Hermia,  Demetrius  married 
Helena,  and  Titania  gave  the  boy  to  her 
lord,  king  Oberon. 

Midwife  means  simply  a hired 
woman.”  (AnglJ-Saxon,  med-wif  hired 
woman  ; Saxon,  wif;  Dutch,  wyf;  Ger- 
man, weiby  woman.) 

Midwife  of  men's  thoughts.  So  Soc'rates- 
termed  hirnself;  and  as  Mr.  Grote  ob- 
serves, “No  other  man  ever  struck  out  of 
others  so  many  sparks  to  set  light  to 
original  thought.”  Out  of  his  intellec- 
tual school  sprangPlato  and  the  Dialectic 
system ; Euclid  and  the  Megaric ; Aris- 
tippos  and  the  Cyrenaic ; Antisth^nes 
and  the  Cynic  ; and  his  influence  on  the 
mind  was  never  equalled  by  any  teacher 
but  One,  of  whom  it  was  said  “Never 
man  taught  as  this  man.” 

Miggs  {Miss).  Mrs.  Varden’s  maid,, 
and  the  impersonation  of  an  old  shrew. 
— Dickens y Barnaby  Rudge." 

Mignon.  The  young  Italian  girl 
who  fell  in  love  with  Wilhelm  Meister’s 
apprentice,  her  protector.  Her  love  not 
being  returned,  she  became  insane  and 
died. — Goethe,  “ Wilhelm  Meister," 

Mike.  To  loiter.  A corruption  of 
miche,  to  skulk  ; whence,  micher,  a thief, 
and  michery,  theft.  (Old  Norse,  mak, 
leisure;  Swedish, Saxon, ’7ww^a?i,. 
to  creep.)  {See  Michon.) 

Sh&ll  the  blessed  son  of  heaven  prove  a micher? 
{loiterer).— Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  IF.,"  ii.  4. 

Mil'an.  Armed  in  Milan  steel.  Milan 
was  famous  in  the  middle  ages  for  its. 
armoury. — Froissart,  iv.,  p.597. 


676 


MILANESE. 


MILTON. 


Mil'ane'se  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Milan — i.e.,  mi-lann.  (Old  Italian  for 
'middle-land,  meaning  in  the  middle  of 
the  Lombardian  plain.) 

Milden'do.  The  metropolis  of  Lil- 
liput,  the  wall  of  which  was  two  feet 
-and  a-half  in  height,  and  at  least  eleven 
inches  thick.  The  city  was  an  exact 
square,  and  two  main  streets  divided 
it  into  four  quarters.  The  emperor’s 
palace,  called  Belfabo'rac,  was  in  the 
centre  of  the  city.  — “ Gulliver's  Travels*' 
( Voyage  to  Lilliput,  iv.). 

Mildew  has  nothing  to  do  with 
-either  mills  or  dew.  It  is  the  Gaelic 
mehl-tltoew  (injurious  or  destructive 
blight). 

Mile'sian  Fables.  The  romances 
•of  Antonins  Diog'enes,  described  by 
Photius,  but  no  longer  extant.  They 
were  greedily  read  by  the  luxurious 
Sybarites,  and  appear  to  have  been  of  a 
very  coarse  amatory  character.  They 
were  compiled  by  Aristi'des,  and  trans- 
lated  into  Latin  by  Sisen'na,  about  the 
time  of  the  civil  wars  of  Ma'rius  and 
%lla. 

The  tales  of  Parthe'nius  Nice'nus  were 
borrowed  from  them.  The  name  is  from 
•the  Milesians,  a Greek  colony,  the  first 
to  catch  from  the  Persians  their  rage  for 
fiction. 

Milesian  Story  or  Tale.  One  very 
wanton  and  ludicrous.  So  called  from 
the  '^Milesise  Fab'ulse,”  the  immoral 
tendency  of  which  was  notonous.  {See 
'above.) 

Mill.  To  fight ; not  from  the  Latin 
miles,  a soldier,  but  from  the  noun  mill. 
Grinding  was  anciently  performed  by 
pulverising  with  a stone  or  pounding 
with  the  hand.  To  mill  is  to  beat  with 
the  fist,  as  persons  used  to  beat  com  with 
a stone. 

Millen'nium  means  simply  a thou- 
sand years.  (Latin,  mille,  annus. ) In  Rev. 
XX.  2,  it  is  said  that  an  angel  bound  Satan 
a thousand  years,  and  in  verse  4 we  are 
told  of  certain  martyrs  who  will  come 
to  life  again,  and  reign  with  Christ  a 
thousand  years.”  This,”  says  St.  J ohn, 
**  is  the  first  resurrection ;”  and  this  is 
what  is  meant  by  the  millennium. 

Miller.  To  give  one  the  miller  is  to  en- 
gage a person  in  conversation  till  a sufiS- 
eient  number  of  persons  have  gathered 


together  to  set  upon  the  victim  with 
stones,  dirt,  garbage,  and  all  the  arms 
which  haste  supplies  a mob  with.  {See 
Mill.) 

More  water  glideth  by  the  mill  than  wots 
the  miller  of  (‘‘  Titus  Andronicus,”  ii.  1). 
Many  things  are  done  in  a house  which 
the  master  and  mistress  never  dream  of. 

A Joe  Miller.  A stale  jest.  John 
Mottley  compiled  a book  of  facetiae  in 
the  reign  of  James  II.,  which  he  entitled 

Joe  Miller’s  Jests,”  from  a witty  actor 
of  farce  during  the  time  that  Congreve’s 
plays  were  in  vogue.  A stale  jest  is  called 
a Joe  Miller,”  implying  that  it  is  stolen 
from  Mottley’ s compilation.  (Joe  Miller, 
1684-1738.) 

Miller's  eye.  Lumps  of  unleavened 
flour  in  bread  ; so  called  because  they 
are  little  round  lumps,  like  an  eye. 

To  put  the  miller's  eye  out.  To  make 
broth  or  pudding  so  thin  that  the  miller’s 
eye  would  be  put  out  or  puzzled  to  find 
the  flour. 

Miller’s  Thumb.  A small  fish, 
four  or  five  inches  long,  so  called  from 
its  resemblance  to  a miller’s  thumb, 
which  was  broad  and  round  when  it  was 
employed  to  test  the  quality  of  flour. 
The  fish  is  also  called  Bullhead,  from  its 
large  head. 

Milliner.  A corruption  of  Mil'aner ; 
so  called  from  Mil'an,  in  Italy,  which  at 
one  time  gave  the  law  to  Europe  in  all 
matters  of  taste,  dress,  and  elegance. 

Millwood  {Sarah).  The  courtezan 
who  enticed  George  Barnwell  to  rob  his 
master  and  murder  his  uncle.  She  spent 
all  his  money,  then  turned  him  out  of 
doors  and  impeached  him.  George  Barn- 
well laid  the  case  at  the  same  time  before 
the  lord  mayor,  and  both  were  hanged. — 
George  Lillo,  George  Barnwell." 

Milo.  An  athlete  of  Croto'na.  It  is 
said  that  he  carried  through  the  stadium 
at  Olympia  a heifer  four  years  old,  and 
ate  the  whole  of  it  afterwards.  When 
old  he  attempted  to  tear  in  two  an  oak- 
tree,  but  the  parts  closed  upon  his  hands, 
and  while  held  fast  he  was  devoured 
by  wolves. 

Milton  borrowed  from  St.  Avi'tus 
his  description  of  Paradise  (book  i.),  of 
Satan  (book  ii.),  and  many  other  parts 
of  Paradise  Lost.”  He  also  borrowed 
very  largely  from  Du  Bartas  (1544-1591), 


MLMIR. 


MINISTER. 


f.77 


■who  wrote  an  epic  poem  entitled  The 
Week  of  Creation,”  which  was  translated 
into  almost  every  European  language. 
(15 14-1591. ) St.  Avitus  wrote  in  Latin 
hexameters  The  Creation,”  ‘‘The  Fall,” 
and  “The  Expulsion  from  Paradise.” 
(460-525). 

Milton,  “ Milton,”  says  Dryden  in  the 
preface  to  his  “ Fables,”  “ was  the  poeti- 
cal son  of  Spenser Milton  has 

acknowledged  to  me  that  Spenser  was 
his  original.” 

Milton  of  Germany.  Friedrich  G-. 
Klopstock,  author  of  “ The  Messiah.” 
(1724-1803.)  Coleridge  says  he  is  “a 
very  German  Milton  indeed.” 

Mimir.  The  Scandinavian  god  of 
wisdom,  and  most  celebrated  of  the 
giants.  The  Vaner,  with  whom  he  was 
left  as  a hostage,  cut  off  his  head.  Odin 
embalmed  it  by  his  magic  art,  pro- 
nounced over  it  mystic  runes,  and  ever 
after  consulted  it  on  critical  occasions. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Mimir’s  Well.  A well  in  which  all 
wisdom  lay  concealed.  It  was  at  the 
root  of  the  celestial  ash-tree.  Mimir 
drank  thereof  from  the  horn  Gjallar. 
Odin  gave  one  of  his  eyes  to  be  per- 
mitted to  drink  of  its  waters,  and  the 
draught  made  him  the  wisest  of  the 
:godiS.— Scandmavian  mythology. 

Mimo'sa.  Niebuhr  says  the  Mimosa 

droops  its  branches  whenever  any  one 
.approaches  it,  seeming  to  salute  those 
who  retire  under  its  shade.” 

Mince  {French').  A bank  note.  The 
•assignats  of  the  first  republic  were  so 
called,  because  the  paper  on  which  they 
were  printed  was  exceedingly  thin. — 
^^Dictionnaire  dnBas-Langagef  ii.,  p.  139. 

Mince  Pies  at  Christmas  time  are 
‘emblematical  of  the  manger  in  which 
‘Our  Saviour  was  laid.  The  paste  over 
the  “ offering”  was  made  in  form  of  a 
■cratch  or  hay-rack.  (ASegFLUM-PuDDiNG.) 

Mincing  Lane  {London).  A cor- 
ruption of  Mynchen  Lane ; so  called 
from  the  tenements  held  there  by  the 
mvnchens  or  nuns  of  St.  Helen’s,  in 
Bishopsgate  Street.  {Minicen,  Saxon  for 
a nun  ; minchery,  a nunnery.) 

Min'cio  or  Min'tio.  The  birth-place 
of  Virgil.  The  Clitumnus,  a river  of 
Umbria,  was  the  residence  of  Propertius  ; 
the  Aniois  where  Horace  had  a villa  ; the 
river  Meles,  in  Ionia,  is  the  supposed  birth- 


place of  Homer.  Littleton  refers  to  all 
these  in  his  “Monody on  Miss  Fortescue.’" 

Minden  Boys.  The  20th  Foot,  so 
called  from  their  noted  bravery  at  Mia- 
den,  in  Prussia,  1st  August,  1759. 

Minerva.  Invita  Minerva,  without 
sufficient  ability ; against  the  grain. 
Thus  Charles  Kean  acted  comedy  invita 
Minerva,  his  forte  lying  another  way. 
Sir  Philip  Sidney  attempted  the  Horatian 
metres  in  English  verse  invita  Minerva, 
against  the  grain  or  genius  of  the  lan- 
guage. 

Minerva  Press.  A printing  esta- 
blishment in  Leadenhall  Street,  London, 
famous  about  a century  ago  for  its  trashy, 
ultra-sentimental  novels.  These  novels 
were  remarkable  for  their  complicated 
plots,  and  especially  for  the  labyrinths 
of  difficulties  into  which  the  hero  and 
heroine  got  involved  before  they  could 
get  married  to  each  other. 

Miniature  (3  syl.).  Paintings  by 
the  Miniato'ri,  a set  of  monks  noted  for 
painting  with  minium  or  red  lead.  The 
first  miniatures  were  the  initial  letters 
of  rubrics,  and  as  the  head  of  the  Virgin 
or  some  other  saint  was  usually  intro- 
duced into  these  illuminated  letters,  the 
word  came  to  express  a small  likeness. 
The  best  miniature-painters  have  been 
Holbein,  Nicholas  Hilliard,  Isaac  Oliver 
and  his  son  Peter,  Thomas  Flatman, 
Samuel  Cooper  and  his  brother  Alex- 
ander, &c. 

Minims.  (Latin,  Fratres  Min'imi, 
least  of  the  brethren).  A term  of  self- 
abasement  assumed  by  an  order  of  monks 
founded  by  St.  Francis  of  Paula,  in  1453. 
The  order  of  St.  Francis  of  Assisi  had 
already  engrossed  the  “humble”  title  of 
Fratres  Mino'res  (inferior  brothers).  The 
superior  of  the  minims  is  called  corrector. 

Minister  means  an  inferior  person, 
in  opposition  to  magister,  a superior.  One 
is  connected  with  the  Latin  minus,  and 
the  other  with  magis.  Our  Lord  says, 
“ Whosoever  will  be  great  among  you,  let 
him  be  your  minister,”  where  the  anti- 
thesis is  well  preserved.  The  minister  of 
a church  is  the  man  who  serves  the  parish 
or  congregation  ; and  the  minister  of  the 
crown  is  the  sovereign’s  servant. 

Minister.  Florimond  de  Remond, 
speaking  of  Albert  Babinot,  one  of  the 
disciples  of  Calvin,  says,  “He  was  a 
L L 


578 


MINNA  TROIL. 


MIRACLES. 


student  of  the  Institutes,  read  at  the 
hall  of  the  Equity-School  in  Poitiers,  and 
was  called  la  MinisUru^  Calvin,  in 
allusion  thereto,  used  to  call  him  Mr. 
Minister,”  whence  not  only  Babinot  but 
all  the  other  clergy  of  the  Calvinistic 
church  were  called  ministers. 

Minna  Troil.  Eldest  daughter  of 
Magnus  Troil,  the  old  Udaller  of  Zetland. 
Captain  Clement  Cleveland  (Vaughan) 
the  pirate  loved  her,  and  Minna  recipro- 
cated his  affection,  but  Cleveland  was 
killed  by  the  Spaniards  in  an  encounter 
on  the  Spanish  main.  {See  Mertoun.) — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  The  Pirate.” 

Minneha'ha  {Laughing-water).  The 
lovely  daughter  of  the  old  arrow-maker 
of  the  Daco'tahs,  and  wife  of  Hiawath'a. 
She  died  of  famine.  Two  guests  came 
uninvited  into  Hiawatha’s  wigwam,  and 
the  foremost  said,  “ Behold  me  ! I am 
Famine  and  the  other  said,  Behold 
me  ! I am  Fever  and  Minnehaha  shud- 
dered to  look  on  them,  and  hid  her  face, 
and  lay  trembling,  freezing,  burning,  at 
the  looks  they  cast  upon  her.  ‘^Ah!” 
cried  Laughing- water,  ‘'the  eyes  of 
Pauguk  {death)  glare  upon  me,  I can  feel 
his  icy  fingers  clasping  mine  amidst  the 
darkness,”  and  she  died  crying  “Hia- 
watha ! Hiawatha  ! ” — Longfellow,  Hia- 
watha.” 

Min'nesangers.  Minstrels.  The 
earliest  lyric  poets  of  Germany  were  so 
called,  because  the  subject  of  their 
lyrics  was  minne-sCing  (love-ditty).  These 
poets  lived  in  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth 
centuries. 

Min'ories  {London).  The  cloister  of 
the  Minims  or  rather  Minoresses  (nuns 
of  St.  Clare).  The  Minims  were  certain 
reformed  Franciscans,  founded  by  St. 
Francis  de  Paula  in  the  fifteenth  century. 
They  went  barefooted,  and  wore  a coarse 
black  woollen  stuff,  fastened  with  a 
woollen  girdle,  which  they  never  put  off, 
day  or  night.  The  word  is  derived  from 
the  Latin  min'imus  (the  least),  in  allusion 
to  the  text,  “ I am  less  than  the  least  of 
all  saints”  (Eph.  iii.  8). 

Mi'nos.  A king  and  lawgiver  of 
Crete,  made  at  death  supreme  judge  of 
the  lower  world,  before  whom  all  the 
dead  appeared  to  give  an  account  of 
their  stewardship,  and  receive  the  award 
vf  their  deeds. 

Mi'notaur  {Mims-hull).  The  body 


of  a man  and  bead  of  a bull.  Theseus 
slew  this  monster. 

Minot'ti.  Governor  of  Corinth,' then 
under  the  power  of  the  doge.  In  1715  the 
city  was  stormed  by  the  Turks,  and  dur- 
ing the  siege  one  of  the  magazines  in  the 
Turkish  camp  blew  up,  killing  600  men. 
Byron  says  it  was  Minotti  himself  whe 
fired  the  train,  and  leads  us  to  infer  that 
he  was  one  of  those  who  perished  in  the 
explosion.— Siege  of  Corinth.” 

Minstrel  simply  means  a servant  or 
minister.  Minstrels  were  kept  in  the 
service  of  kings  and  princes  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  guests.  James  Beattie 
has  a poem  in  Spense'rian  verse,  called 
“ The  Minstrel,”  divided  into  two  books. 

The  last  minstrel  of  the  English  stage. 
James  Shirley,  with  whom  the  school  of 
Shakespeaj:e  expired.  (1594-1666.) 

Mint  is  the  Latin  minth-a  ; so  called 
from  the  fable  of  Menthe,  daughter  of 
Cocy'tus,  who  was  by  Proserpine  changed 
into  this  plant  out  of  jealousy. 

Min'mt  (2  syl.).  Enfants  de  la  messe 
de  minnit,  pickpockets.  Cotgrave  gives 
“night-walking  rakehells,  such  as  haunt 
these  nightly  rites  only  to  rob  and  play 
the  knaves.” 

Min'ute.  Make  a minute  of  that. 
Take  a note  of  it.  A law  term  ; a rough 
draft  of  a proceeding  taken  down  in 
minute  or  small  writing  is  so  called ; these 
drafts  are  afterwards  engrossed  or  written 
out  in  large  writing. 

Min'ute  G-un.  A signal  of  distress  at 
sea,  or  a gun  fired  at  the  death  of  a distin- 
guished individual ; so  called  because  a 
minute  elapses  between  each  discharge. 

Miol'ner  (3  syl.,  the  crusher).  'The 
magic  hammer  of  Thor.  It  would  never 
fail  to  hit  a Troll ; would  never  miss  to 
hit  whatever  it  was  thrown  at;  would 
always  return  to  the  owner  of  its  own 
accord ; and  became  so  small  when  not 
in  use  that  it  could  be  put  into  Thor’s 
'gooket.—  Scandinavian  mythology. 

Mir'abel.  A travelled,  dissipated 
fellow,  who  is  proof  against  all  the  wiles 
of  the  fair  sex. — Beaumont  and  Fletcher,. 
“ Wildgoose  Chase.” 

Miracles. 

Ves-pasian,  the  Roman  emperor,  is  said 
to  have  cured  a blind  man  and  a cripple  by 
his  touch  during  his  stay  in  Alexandria. 


MIRAMOLIN. 


MISERS, 


579 


MahomtHs  miracles  : He  took  a scroll 
of  the  Koran  from  the  ho-rn  of  a bull ; a 
white  dove  came  from  heaven  to  whisper 
in  his  ear  a message  from  God  ; he  opened 
the  earth  and  found  two  jars,  one  of 
honey  and  one  of  milk,  as  emblems  of 
al) undance ; he  brought  the  moon  from 
heaven,  made  it  pass  through  his  sleeve, 
and  return  to  its  place  in  heaven. 

The  Abbe  PaHs,  or  more  correctly 
Francois  de  Paris,  the  deacon,  buried  at 
the  cemetery  of  St.  Medard.  The  num- 
berless cures  performed  at  his  tomb  are 
said  by  Paley  to  be  the  best  authenticated 
of  any,  except  those  of  the  Bible. 

Edtoard  the  Confessor  is  said  to  have 
cured  scorbutic  diseases  with  his  touch. 
{See  Thaumaturgus.) 

Miram'olin.  The  title  of  the  em- 
peror of  Morocco. 

Mir'amont.  An  ignorant,  testy  old 
man,  an  ultra-admirer  of  learning. — 
Fletcher,  ‘‘  The  Elder  Brother.^' 

Miran'da.  Daughter  of  Prospero. 

— Shakespeare,  TempestP 

Mirror  of  Human  Salvation,  j 
An  extended  Bib'lia  Pau'perum”  {q.v.)  \ 
with  the  subject  of  the  picture  explained 
in  rhymes.  Called  in  Latin  Spec'ulum  ; 
huma'nm  salvationis.” 

The  mirror  of  king  Ryence.  This  mir-  I 
ror  was  made  by  Merlin,  and  those  who  j 
looked  in  it  saw  whatever  they  wished  to  i 
s,QQ.— Spenser,  Faery  Qiieen,"'  bk.  iii.  j 

Reynard's  wonderful  mii'ror.  This 
mirror  existed  only  in  the  brain  of  Master 
Fox  ; he  told  the  queen-lion  that  whoever  ; 
looked  in  it  could  see  what  was  done  a | 
mile  off.  The  wood  of  the  frame  was  not  I 
.subject  to  decay,  being  made  of  the  same 
block  as  king  Crampart’s  magic  horse. — : 

Reynard  the  Fox,'*  ch.  xii. 

Mirza.  Emir  Zadah  (prince’s  son). 
It  is  used  in  two  ways  by  the  Persians : 
when  prefixed  to  a surname  it  is  simply  a 
title  of  honour,  but  means  a prince  of  the 
blood  royal  when  aninexed  to  the  surname. 

Mis'creant  (3  syl.)  ^ means  a false  ; 
Ijeliever  (French,  mis-creance').  A term  ! 
first  applied  to  the  Mahometans.  The 
Mahometans  in  return  call  Christians 
infidels,  and  associate  with  the  word  all 
that  we  mean  by  “ miscreants.” 

Misers.  The  most  renowned  are  : — 

(1)  Baron  Aguilar  or  Ephraim  Lopes 
Pereira  d’ Aguilar,  born  at  Vienna,  and 


died  at  Islington,  worth  £200,000. 
(1740-1802.) 

(2)  Daniel  Dancer.  His  sister  lived 
with  him,  and  was  a similar  character, 
but  died  before  him.  (1716-1794.) 

(3)  Colonel  O' Dogherty,  though  owner 
of  large  estates,  lived  in  a windowless 
hut,  which  he  entered  by  a ladder 
that  he  pulled  up  after  him.  His 
horse  was  mere  skin  and  bone.  He  wore 
an  old  night-cap  for  wig,  and  an  old 
brimless  hat.  His  clothes  were  made  up 
of  patches,  and  his  general  appearance 
was  that  of  extreme  destitution. 

(4)  Sir  Harvey  Elwes,  who  died  worth 
£250,000,  but  never  spent  more  than 
£110  a-year. 

His  sister-in-law  inherited  £100,000, 
but  actually  starved  herself  to  death. 

Her  son  John,  M.P.,  an  eminent  brewer 
in  Southwark,  never  bought  any  clothes, 
never  suffered  his  shoes  to  be  cleaned, 

I and  grudged  every  penny  spent  in  food. 
(1714-1789.) 

(5)  Foscue,  farmer-general  of  Langue- 
doc, who  hoarded  his  money  in  a secret 
cellar,  where  he  was  found  dead. 

(6)  Thomas  G%iy,  founder  of  Guy’s  Hos- 
pital. (1644-1724.) 

(7)  Vulture  Hopkins. 

(8)  Dick  Jarrett  died  worth  £10,000, 
but  his  annual  expenses  never  exceeded 
£6.  The  beer  brewed  at  his  christening 
was  drunk  at  his  funeral. 

(9)  Messrs.  Jardin,  of  Cambridge. 

(10)  William  Jennings,  a neighbour 
and  friend  of  Elwes,  died  worth  £2{)0,000. 
(1701-1797.) 

(11)  The  Rev.  — Jonas,  of  Blewbury. 

(12)  John  Little  left  behind  him 

£40,000,  180  wigs,  173  ^ pairs  of 

breeches,  and  an  endless  variety  of  other 
articles  of  clothing.  His  physician  or- 
dered him  to  drink  a little  wine  for  his 
health’s  sake,  but  he  died  in  the  act  of 
drawing  the  cork  of  a bottle. 

(13)  Ostervald,  the  French  banker,  who. 
died  of  starvation  in  1790,  possessed  of 
£120,000. 

(14)  John  Oveo's,  a Southwark  ferryman. 

(15)  The  king  of  Patter  dale, whosevneomo^ 
was  £800  a-year,  but  his  expenses  never- 
exceeded  £30.  He  lived  at  the  head  of 
lake  Ulleswater.  His  last  words  were,. 

What  a fortune  a man  might  make  if 
he  lived  to  the  age  of  Methuselah  !”  Hsu 
died  at  the  age  of  89. 

(16)  Guy  Wilcochs,  a female  misePc. 

(^SeeEucLio,  Harpagon,  &c.) 

L L 2. 


580 


MISERERE. 


MISNOMERS, 


Miserere.  (4syl.)  Our  fifty-first  psalm 
is  so  called.  One  of  the  evening  services 
of  Lent  is  called  miserdre,  because  this 
penitential  psalm  is  sung,  after  which  a 
sermon  ig  delivered.  The  under- side  of 
a folding  seat  in  churches  is  called  a 
Tiiisere're  ; when  turned  up  it  forms  a 
ledge- seat  sufficient  to  rest  the  aged  in  a 
kneeling  position. 

Misfortune  will  never  leave  me 
till  I leave  it,”  was  the  expression  of 
^Charles  VII.,  emperor  of  Germany. 
'(1742-1745.) 

Mishna.  Instruction.  A word  ap- 
‘plied  by  the  Jews  to  the  oral  law.  It  is 
divided  into  six  parts : (1)  agriculture ; 
(2)  Sabbaths, fasts,  and  festivals;  (3)  mar- 
riage and  divorce ; (4)  civil  and  penal  laws ; 
(5)  sacrifices ; (6)  holy  persons  and  things. 
The  commentary  of  the  Mishna  is  called 
the  Talmud.  (Hebrew,  67ia?ia,  to  learn.) 

Misnomers. 

Absalom  means  a Father'’ s Peace,  a 
fatal  name  for  David’s  rebellious  son. 

Acid  (sour)  applied  in  chemistry  to  a 
class  of  bodies  to  which  sourness  is  only 
accidental  and  by  no  means  a universal 
, character— -thus,  rock-crystal,  quartz, 
flint,  &c.,  are  chemical  acids,  though  no 
particle  of  acidity  belongs  to  them. 

Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard.  {See 
Ants,  Honeycomb.) 

Arabic  Figures  were  not  invented  by 
-the  Arabs,  but  the  Indians. 

Baffins'  Bay  is  no  bay  at  all. 

Black  Lead  is  a compound  of  carbon 
und  iron. 

Black  Ness  means  the  White  Head- 
land,” a corruption  of  Blanc  Nez. 

Blind-worms  are  no  more  blind  than 
moles  are  ; they  have  very  quick  and 
brilliant  eyes,  though  somewhat  small. 

Brazilian  Grass  does  not  come  from 
Srazil,  or  even  grow  in  Brazil,  nor  is  it  a 
grass  at  all.  It  consists  of  strips  of  a palm 
leaf  {Chaniserops  argente’a),  and  is  chiefly 
’imported  from  Cuba. 

Burgundy  Pitch  is  not  pitch,  nor  is  it 
manufactured  or  exported  from  Bur- 
gundy. The  best  is  a resinous  substance 
prepared  from  common  frankincense,  and 
brought  from  Hamburg  ; but  by  far  the 
larger  quantity  is  a mixture  of  rosin  and 
palm-oil. 

Catgut  is  not  the  gut  of  cats,  but  of 
sheep. 

^ China,  as  a name  for  porcelain,  gives 
rise  to  the  contradictory  expressions 


British  China,  Sevres  China,  Dresden 
China.  Dutch  China,  Chelsea  China,  &c. ; 
like  wooden  mile-stones,  iron  mile-stones, 
brass  shoe-horns,  iron  pens,  &c. 

Cuttle-bone  is  not  bone  at  all,  but  a 
structure  of  pure  chalk  once  embedded 
loosely  in  the  substance  of  certain  extinct 
species  of  cuttle-fish.  It  is  enclosed  in 
a membranous  sac,  within  the  body  of 
the  fish,”  and  drops  out  when  the  sac 
is  opened,  but  it  has  no  connection  what- 
ever with  the  sac  or  the  cuttle-fish. 

Cleopatra’ s Needle  was  not  erected  by 
Cleopatra,  nor  in  honour  of  that  queen, 
but  by  Rameses  the  Great. 

Down  for  adoion  (the  preposition)  is 
a strange  instance  of  caprice,  in  which 
the  omission  of  the  negative  (a)  utterly 
perverts  the  meaning.  The  Saxon  dun 
is  an  upland  or  hill,  and  a-dun  is  its 
opposite— ^.e.,  a lowland  or  descent. 
Going  down  stairs,  really  means  “ going 
upstairs  ” or  ascending ; and  for  descend- 
ing we  ought  to  say  Going  a-down” — 
i.e.,  the  contrary  of  “down ” (or  up). 

Dutch  Clocks  are  not  of  Dutch,  but 
German  (Deutsch)  manufacture. 

Fox-glove  is  not  the  glove  of  the  fox, 
but  of  the  fays  called  folk—t\iQ  little 
folk’s  glove  ; or  else  ivomfosco,  red. 

Fusiliers.  These  foot-soldiers  now 
carry  Enfield  rifles,  and  not  fusils. 

Galvanised  Iron  is  not  galvanised.  It 
is  simply  iron  coated  with  zinc,  and  this 
is  done  by  dipping  it  in  a zinc  bath  con- 
taining muriatic  acid. 

German  Silver  is  not  silver  at  all,  nor 
was  the  metallic  mixture  invented  by  a 
German,  but  has  been  in  use  in  China 
time  out  of  mind. 

Gothic  Architecture  is  not  the  archi- 
tecture of  the  Goths,  but  the  ecclesiasti- 
cal style  employed  in  England  and  France 
before  the  Renaissance. 

Honey -dew  is  neither  honey  nor  dew,  but 
an  animal  substance  given  off  by  certain 
insects,  especially  when  hunted  by  ants. 

Honey  Soap  contains  no  honey,  nor  is 
honey  in  any  way  employed  in  its  manu- 
facture. It  is  a mixture  of  palm-oil,  soap, 
and  olive-soap,  each  one  part,  with  three 
parts  of  curd  soap  or  yellow  soap,  scented. 

Hydrophobia  (Greek,  dread  of  water) 
applied  to  mad  dogs  is  incorrect,  as  they 
will  both  lap  water  and  even  swim  in  it. 

Indians  {American).  A blunder  of 
geography  on  the  part  of  the  early  dis- 
coverers of  the  New  World,  who  set  their 
faces  westward  from  Europe  to  find  India, 


MISNOMERS. 


MISNOMERS. 


581 


and  believed  they  had  done  so  when  they 
discovered  America. 

Irish  Stew,  a dish  unknown  in  Ireland. 

Iron-mask  was  made  of  velvet. 

Japan  Lacquer  contains  no  lac  at  all, 
but  is  made  from  the  resin  of  a kind  of 
nut-tree  called  Anacardiaceae. 

Jerusalem  Artichoke  has  no  connection 
with  Jerusalem,  but  with  the  sunflower, 
girasole,  which  it  resembles. 

Kensington  Palace  is  not  in  Kensing- 
ton at  all,  but  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mar- 
garet, Westminster. 

Kid  Gloves  are  not  kid  at  all,  but  are 
made  of  lamb  skin  or  sheep-skin. 

Longitude  and  Latitude,  the  great 
dimension  and  little  or  broad  dimension 
of  the  earth.  According  to  the  ancient 
notion,  the  world  was  bounded  on  the 
west  by  the  Atlantic,  but  extended  an 
indefinite  length  eastward.  It  was 
similarly  terminated  on  the  south  by  the 
tropic  of  Cancer,  whence  it  extended 
northwards,  but  this  extent  being  much 
less  than  that  east  and  west,  was  called 
the  breadth  or  latitude. 

Louis  de  Bourbon,  bishop  of  Liege,  is 
made  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  Quentin 
Durward,”  an  old  man;”  whereas  he 
was  only  eighteen,  and  a scholar  at 
Louvain.  He  made  his  entry  into  his 
see  in  a scarlet  jerkin  and  cap  set  jauntily 
on  one  side.— M.  Dumas,  Charles  the 
BoldP 

Lunar  Caustic  is  not  a substance  from 
the  moon,  but  is  simply  nitrate  of  silver, 
and  silver  is  the  astrological  symbol  of 
the  moon. 

Lunatics  are  not  affected  by  the 
changes  of  the  moon  more  than  other 
invalids.  No  doubt  their  disorder  has 
its  periodicities,  but  it  is  not  affected 
by  the  moon. 

Lycopodium  (club-moss).  H.  Fox  Tal- 
bot thinks  this  should  be  leycopodium, 
from  its  white  powder,  as  Lycus,  a river 
in  Asia  Minor  noted  for  its  whiteness, 
should  be  Leycus,”  the  white  river,  not 

Lycus,”  the  wolf  river  (Greek  Itikos, 
wolf ; leuhos,  white) ; but  probably  the 
name  is  based  on  some  fanciful  resem- 
blance in  the  leaf  to  a wolfs  paw. 

Meerschaum  is  not  petrified  ‘ ‘ sea-foam,” 
as  the  word  implies,  but  a composition  of 
sil'ica,  magnesia,  and  water. 

Mosaic  Gold  has  no  connection  with 
Moses  or  the  metal  gold.  It  is  an  alloy 
of  copper  and  zinc,  used  in  the  ancient 
musivum  or  tesselated  work. 


Mother  of  Pearl  is  the  inner  layer  of 
several  sorts  of  shell.  It  is  not  the- 
mother  of  pearls,  as  the  name  indicates,, 
but  in  some  cases  the  matrix  of  the  pearl. 

Natives;  oysters  raised  in  artificial 
beds.  Surely  oysters  in  their  own  natu- 
ral beds  ought  to  be  called  the  natives. 

Oxygen  means  the  generator  of  acids,, 
but  there  are  acids  of  which  it  is  not  the- 
base,  as  hydrochloric  acid.  Indeed, 
chemists  now  restrict  the  term  acid  to 
compounds  into  which  hydrogen  enters, 
and  oxy-acids  are  termed  salts. 

Pen  means  a feather.  (Latin,  penna, 
a wing. ) A steel  pen  is  not  a very  choice 
expression. 

Philippe  VI.  of  France  was  called  le 
bien  fortune,  but  never  was  name  more 
inappropriate.  He  was  defeatt  d at  Sluys 
{Slu-iz),  and  again  at  Cressy  ; be  lo.^t 
Calais ; and  a fourth  of  all  his  subjects 
were  carried  off  by  the  plague  called  the 

Black  Death.” 

Pompefs  Pillar,  in  Alexandria,  was 
neither  erected  by  Pompey,  nor  yet  to 
Pompey,  but  either  to  Septimus  Seve'rus 
or  one  of  the  caliphs. 

Pinissian  Blue  does  not  come  from 
Prussia,  but  is  the  precipitate  of  the  salt 
of  protoxide  of  iron  with  red  prussiate 
of  potass. 

Rice  Paper  is  not  made  from  rice,  but 
from  the  pith  of  Tung-tsau,  or  hollow- 
plant,  so  called  because  it  is  hollow  when 
the  pith  has  been  pushed  out. 

Salad  Oil  is  not  oil  for  salads,  but, 
oil  for  cleaning  sallets  or  salades — i.e., 
helmets. 

Salt  is  no  salt  at  all,  and  has  long  been  . 
wholly  excluded  from  the  class  of  bodies-^ 
denominated  salts. 

Salt  of  Lemon  is  in  reality  a binoxalate,: 
of  potash,  with  a little  of  the  quadroxa- 
late. 

Salts.  The  substance  of  which  junk  ; 
bottles,  French  mirrors,  window-panes, 
and  opera  glasses  are  made  is  placed 
among  the  salts,  but  analysts  have  de- 
clared the  character  of  this  substance  to- 
be  wholly  misunderstood,  if  it  is  supposed 
to  be  a salt. 

Scuttle,  to  open  a hole  in  a ship,  means 
really  to  bolt  or  bar.  {See  Scuttle.) 

Sealing  Wax  is  not  wax  at  all,  nor  does 
it  contain  a single  particle  of  wax.  It  is 
made  of  shellac,  Venice  turpentine,  and 
cinnabar.  Cinnabar  gives  it  the  deep 
red  colour,  and  turpentine  renders  the 
shellac  soft  and  less  brittle. 


582 


MISNOMERS. 


MISTLETOE. 


Slave  means  noble,  illustrious  (slavi), 
but  is  now  applied  to  the  most  ignoble 
and  debased.  {See  Bakon.) 

Sperm  Oil  properly  means  seed  oil  ” 
(Latin,  sperma)^  from  the  notion  that  it 
was  sperma  ceti  (the  spawn  or  melt  of  a 
whale).  The  ^^sperma-ceti”  whale  is  the 
whale  that  gives  this  ^‘seed  oil,”  which 
is  taken  chiefly  but  not  wholly  from  the 
head. 

Tuhe-rose  is  no  rose,  but  the  tuberous 
polianth  {Polianthes  tuhero'sa). 

Turkeys  do  not  come  from  Turkey,  but 
North  America,  through  Spain,  or  India. 
The  French  call  them  ^‘dindon” — i.e.^ 
dlnde  or  coq  Tlnde^  a term  equally  in- 
correct. 

Turkey  Rhuharh  neither  grows  in  Tur- 
key, nor  is  it  exported  from  Turkey.  It 
grows  in  the  great  mountain  chain  be- 
tween Tartary  and  Siberia,  and  is  a Rus- 
sian monopoly. 

Turkish  Baths  are  not  of  Turkish 
origin,  nor  are  they  baths,  but  hot-air 
rooms  or  thermse. 

Vallamhro' sa.  Milton  says — 

Thick  as  autumnal  leaves  that  strew  the  brooks 
In  Vallambrosa.  Paradise  Lost,"  i.  302. 

But  the  trees  of  Vallambrosa,  being  pines, 
do  not  fall  thick  in  autumn,  and  the 
brooks  are  not  strewed  with  them. 

Ventriloquism  is  not  voice  from  the 
stomach  at  all,  but  from  the  mouth. 

Well-beloved.  Louis  XIV.  A most 
inappropriate  title  for  this  most  detest- 
able and  detested  of  all  kings. 

Whale-bone  is  no  bone  at  all,  nor  does 
it  possess  any  properties  of  bone.  It  is  a 
substance  attached  to  the  upper  jaw  of 
the  whale,  and  serves  to  strain  the  water 
which  the  creature  takes  up  in  large 
mouthfuls. 

Wolf  s-bane,  A strange  corruption. 
Bane  is  the  Teutonic  word  for  all 
poisonous  herbs.  The  Greeks,  mistaking 
banes  for  beans,  translated  it  kniarwos,  as 
they  did  hen-bane  (huos-kuamos).  Now 
wolf’ s-bane  is  an  aconite,  with  a pale- 
yellow  flower,  and  therefore  called  ivhite- 
hane  to  distinguish  it  from  the  blue 
aconite.  The  Greek  for  white  is  leukos, 
hence  leukos-kuamos  but  lukos  is 
the  Greek  for  wolf,  and  by  a blunder 
leukos-kua'mos  (white-bean)  got  muddled 
into  lukos-kuamos  (wolf-bean).  Now 
comes  in  science  to  make  confusion 
worse  confounded.  Botanists,  seeing  the 
absurdity  of  calling  aconite  a bean,  re- 
stored the  original  word  ‘'bane,”  but 


retained  the  corrupt  word  lukos  (a  wolf), 
and  hence  we  get  the  name  wolf  s-bane 
for  white  aconite. — H.,  Fox  Talbot. 

Several  other  examples  are  given 
under  their  respective  names. 

Mispris'ion.  Concealment,  neglect 
of.  (French,  mepris.) 

Misprision  of  clerks.  Mistakes  ih 
accounts  arising  from  neglect. 

Misprision  of  felony.  Neglecting  to 
reveal  a felony  when  known. 

Misprision  of  treason.  Neglecting  to 
disclose  or  purposely  concealing  a trea- 
sonable design. 

Miss,  Mistress,  Mrs.  German, 
meister-ess  (master-ess,  lady  master). 
Miss  used  to  be  written  Mis,  and  is  the 
first  syllable  of  Mistress ; Mrs.  is  the 
contraction  of  meisteress,  called  Mis’ess. 
Even  in  the  reign  of  George  II.  un- 
married ladies  used  to  be  styled  Mrs., 
as  Mrs.  Lepel,  Mrs.  Bellenden,  Mrs. 
Blount,  all  unmarried  ladies.  {See  “Pope’s 
Letters.”) 

Early  in  Charles  II.’s  reign,  Evelyn 
tells  us  that  “ lewd  women  began  to  be 
styled  Misse  now  Mistress  is  more 
frequently  applied  to  them.  {See  Lad.  ) 

Mississip'pi  Bubble.  The  French 
“ South-Sea  Scheme,”  and  equally  dis- 
astrous. It  was  projected  by  John  Law, 
a Scotchman,  and  had  for  its  object  the 
payment  of  the  National  Debt  of  France, 
which  amounted  to  208  millions  sterling, 
on  being  granted  the  exclusive  trade  of 
Louisia'na,  on  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. (1717-1720.)  {See  South  Sea.) 

Mis'tletoe.  Shakespeare  calls  it 
“ the  baleful  mistletoe”  ( “Titus  Androni- 
cus,”  ii.  3),  in  allusion  to  the  Scandinavian 
story  that  it  was  with  an  arrow  made  of 
mistletoe  that  Balder  was  slain.  '{See 
below.') 

The  word  mistletoe  is  a corruption  of 
mistel-ta,  where  mist  is  the  German  for 
“ dung,”  or  rather  the  “droppings  of  a 
bird,”  from  the  notion  that  the  plant 
was  so  propagated,  especially  by  the 
missel -thrush.  Ta  is  for  tan.  Old  Norse 
tcin,  meaning  “ a plant”  or  “shoot.” 

Kissing  under  the  mistletoe  is  a relic  of 
Scandinavian  mythology.  Loki  hated 
Balder,  the  Apollo  of  the  North,  and 
as  “ everything  that  springs  from  fire, 
air,  earth,  and  water”  had  .been  sworn 
not  to  hurt  the  celestial  favourite,  the 
wicked  spirit  made  an  arrow  of  mistletoe. 


MISTLETOE  BOUGH. 


MIXOX. 


583 


which  he  gave  to  blind  Hoder  to  test. 
The  god  of  darkness  shot  the  arrow,  and 
killed  Balder.  Being  restored  to  life,  at 
the  urgent  request  of  the  gods  and  god- 
desses, the  mistletoe  was  given  to  the 
goddess  of  love  to  keep,  and  every  one 
who  passed  under  it  received  a kiss,  to 
show  that  the  branch  was  the  emblem  of 
love,  and  not  of  death. 

Mistletoe  Boiigli.  The  tale  re- 
ferred to  in  this  song,  about  lord  Lovell’s 
daughter,  is  related  by  Rogers  in  his 

Italy,”  where  the  lady  is  called  ^^Gi- 
nevra.”  A similar  narrative  is  given  by 
Collet  in  his  Relics  of  Literature,”  and 
another  is  among  the  Causes  Celebres.” 

Harwell  Old  Hall,  once  the  residence 
of  the  Seymour  and  afterwards  of  the 
Dacre  family,  has  a similar  tradition 
attached  to  it,  and  (according  to  the 
*‘Post  Office  Directory”)  ''the  very 
chest  is  now  the  property  of  the  Rev.  J. 
Haygarth,  rector  of  Upham.” 

Mistress  of  the  World.  Ancient 
Rome  was  so  called,  because  all  the 
known  world  gave  it  allegiance. 

Mistress  Roper.  The  Marines,  or 
any  one  of  them ; so  called  by  the 
regular  sailors,  because  they  handle  the 
ropes  like  girls,  not  being  used  to  them. 

Mi'ta.  Sister  of  Aude,  surnamed 
" the  Little  Knight  of  Pearls,”  in  love 
with  Sir  I\Iiton  de  Rennes,  Roland’s  friend. 
Charlemagne  greeted  her  after  a tourna- 
ment with  the  Saracens  at  Fronsac,  say- 
ing, "Rise,  countess  of  Rennes.”  Mita 
and  Sir  Miton  were  the  parents  of 
Mitaine  (q.v.). — " Croquemitaine,’’  xv. 

Mitaine.  Godchild  of  Charlemagne  ; 
her  parents  were  Mita  and  Miton,  count 
and  countess  of  Rennes.  She  went  in 
search  of  Fear-fortress,  and  found  that 
it  only  existed  in  the  minds  of  the  fear- 
ful, vanishing  into  thin  air  as  it  was 
approached  by  a bold  heart  and  clear 
conscience.  Charlemagne  made  her  for 
this  achievement  Roland’s  squire,  and  she 
followed  him  on  her  horse  Vaillant  to 
Spain,  and  fell  in  the  attack  at  Ronces- 
valles.— " Croquemitaine,'  pt.  iii. 

Mite.  Sir  Matthew  Mite.  A purse- 
proud  East  Indian  merchant,  who  gives 
his  servants  the  most  costly  exotics,  and 
overpowers  every  one  witb  the  profusion 
of  his  wealth. 


Mith'ra  or  Mitli'ras.  The  highest 
of  the  twenty* eight  second-class  divinities 
of  the  ancient  Persians,  and  the  ruler  of 
the  universe.  Sometimes  used  as  a 
synonym  for  the  sun.  The  word  means 
fHend,  and  this  deity  is  so  called  because 
he  befriends  man  in  this  life,  and  pro- 
tects him  against  evil  spirits  after  death. 
He  is  represented  as  a young  man  with  a 
Phrygian  cap,  a tunic,  a mantle  on  his 
left  shoulder,  and  lunging  a sword  into 
the  neck  of  a bull.  (Sanskrit,  mitram,  a 
friend.)  {See  " Thebais,”  i.) 

Mith'ridate  (3  syl.).  A confection 
said  to  be  invented  by  Mithrida'tes,  king 
of  Pontus  and  Bithyn'ia,  as  an  antidote 
to  poison.  It  contains  seventy-two  in- 
gredients. 

What  brave  Bpirit  could  be  content  to  sit  in  hig 
Bhop.. .. selling  Merbridatum  and  dragon’s  water  to 
infected  houseB.—  * Knight  of  thi  Burning  Festle.” 
(1035.) 

Mitre.  The  episcopal  mitre  sym- 
bolises the  cloven  tongues  of  fire  which 
descended  on  the  apostles  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost. 

Mitten.  The  Pardoney^s  mitten. 
Whoever  put  this  mitten  on  would  be 
sure  to  thrive  in  all  things. 

He  that  hie  honde  put  in  this  metaya. 

He  shal  have  multiplying  of  his  grayn, 

Whan  he  hath  sowen,  be  it  whete  or  otes. 

So  that  ye  offre  pans  {pence)  or  elles  grootes. 

Chaucer^  Prologue  to  “ The  Pardoneres  Tale.'* 

Mit'timus  {Latin).  A command  in 
writing  to  a gaoler,  to  keep  the  person 
named  in  safe  custody.  Also  a writ  for 
removing  a record  from  one  court  to 
another.  So  called  from  the  first  word 
of  the  writ,  "Mittimus”  {i.e.,  We 
send  . . .). 

Mitton.  The  Chapter  of  Mitton.  So 
the  battle  of  Mitton  was  called,  because 
so  many  priests  took  part  therein.  Hailes 
says  that  "three  hundred  ecclesiastics 
fell  in  this  battle,  which  was  fought  Sep- 
tember 20th, 

So  manypricBts  took  part  in  the  fight  that  the 
Scots  called  it  the  Chapter  of  Mitton— a meeting 
of  the  clergymen  belonging  to  a cathedral  being 
called  a chapter.— (Sir  Walter  Scotty  Tales  of  a 
Grandfather^  x. 

Mixon.  Better  wed  over  the  Mixon 
than  over  the  Moor.  A Cheshire  proverb 
meaning,  it  is  better  to  marry  a Cheshire 
woman  than  a Londoner.  The  road  to 
London  was  over  the  Staffordshire  moor, 
and  the  Mixon  is  the  homestead  dung- 
heap.  In  its  extended  sense  it  means,  it 
is  better  to  marry  one  of  your  own  coun- 


534 


MJOLNIR. 


MOHOCK. 


trywomen  than  to  marry  a foreigner. — 
Fuller y ‘ ‘ W orthies 

Mjdlnir  (pron.  youl-ner).  Thor’s 
hammer.  (See  Miolner.) 

Mnemos'yne.  Goddess  of  memory 
and  mother  of  the  nine  kimsqb.— Classical 
onyikology. 

Moakkibat.  A class  of  angels,  ac- 
cording to  the  Mahometan  mythology. 
Two  angels  of  this  class  attend  every 
child  of  Adam  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave. 
At  sunset  they  hy  up  with  the  record  of 
the  deeds  done  since  sunrise.  Every  good 
deed  is  entered  ten  times  by  the  record- 
ing angel  on  the  credit  or  right  side  of 
his  ledger,  but  when  an  evil  deed  is  re- 
ported the  angel  waits  seven  hours,  “ if 
haply  in  that  time  the  evil-doer  may  re- 
pent.”— The  Koran, 

Moat,  Battle.) 

Mob.  A contraction  of  the  Latin 
moVile,  vulgar  (the  fickle  crowd).  The 
term  was  first  applied  to  the  people  by 
the  members  of  the  Green-ribbon  Club, 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. — ^‘Northern 
Examiner,''  p.  574. 

As  moh  is  mobility,  so  nob  is  nobility. 

Mob-cap  is  a plain  cap,  the  same  as 
•mob  (to  dress  like  a slattern).  Hence  in  ! 
‘‘  Hamlet  ” the  Player  says — 

But  who,  ah  wo  ! had  seen  the  mabled  queen 

Run  bare-foot  up  and  down.... 

That  is,  the  queen  dressed  like  a slattern, 

a clout  upon  her  head,  and  for  a robe  a 
blanket,  in  the  alarm  of  fear  caught  up.” 
Probably  mop  is  another  form  of  the 
same  word,  and  all  come  from  the  Latin 
mappa  (a  clout),  whence  our  word  map 
a drawing  on  cloth),  in  contradistinction 
to  a cartoon  (a  drawing  on  paper). 

Mo'bilize.  To  render  soldiers  liable 
to  be  moved  on  service  out  of  the  town 
where  they  live ; to  qall  into  active  ser- 
vice men  enrolled  but  not  bona  fide  on 
the  war  establishment. 

Mockery.  It  will  be  a delusion,  a 
mocJcery,  and  a snare."  Thomas  lord 
Denman,  in  his  judgment  on  the  case  of 
O’Connell  u.  The  Queen. 

ModaTity  in  scholastic  philosophy 
means  the  mode  in  which  anything  exists. 
Kant  divides  our  judgment  into  three 
modalities : (1)  Problematic,  touching 
possible  events ; (2)  Assertoric^  touching 
real  events;  (3)  Apodictic,  touching  ne- 
cessary evente. 


Modish  [Lady  Betty),  in  The  Care- 
less Husband,”  by  Cibber.  The  name' 
explains  the  character.  This  was  Mrs. 
Oldfield’s  favourite  character,  and  The 
Tatler”  (No.  10)  accordingly  calls  this- 
charming  actress  Lady  Betty  Modish.” 
(See  Narcissa.) 

Mo'do.  The  fiend  that  urges  to  mur- 
der, and  one  of  the  five  that  possessed 

poor  Tom.”  (See  Shakespeare, 

King  Lear"  iv.  1. 

Mo'dred,  in  the  romance  of  ^^Tho 
Round  Table,”  is  represented  as  the 
treacherous  knight.  He  revolts  from  his 
uncle  Arthur,  whose  wife  he  seduced, 
is  mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Camlan,  in  Cornwall,  and  is  buried  in 
the  island  of  Avalon. 

Sir  Modred.  The  nephew  of  king" 
Arthur.  He  hated  Sir  Lancelot,  sowed 
discord  amongst  the  knights  of  the- 
Round  Table,  and  tampered  with  the- 
‘‘lords  of  the  White  Horse,”  the  brood 
that  Hengist  left.  When  the  king  went 
to  chastise  Sir  Lancelot  for  tampering, 
with  the  queen,  he  left  Sir  Modred  in 
charge  of  the  kingdom.  Modred  raised 
a revolt,  and  the  king  was  slain  in  his 
attempt  to  quash  it. — Tennyson,  ^Hdylls 
of  the  King  ” (Guinever'). 

Mo'dus  Operand!  (Latin).  The 
mode  of  operation ; the  way  in  which  a 
thing  is  to  be  done. 

Mofus'sil  (East  Indies).  The  sub- 
ordinate divisions  of  a district ; the  seat 
of  government  being  called  sudder.  Pro- 
vincial. 

To  tell  a man  that  fatal  charges  have  been  laid 
against  him,  and  refuse  him  an  opportunity  for  ex- 
lanation,  this  is  not  even  Mofussil  justice.— T/ig- 
'imes. 

Moha'di  (3fohammed).  The  twelfth 
Imaun,  who  is  said  to  be  living  in  con- 
cealment till  Antichrist  appears,  when  he 
will  come  again  and  overthrow  the  great- 
enemy. 

Mohair.  A corruption  of  the  Ger- 
man mohr  (a  Moor).  It  is  the  hair  of  the 
Ango'ra  goat,  introduced  into  Spain  by 
the  Moors,  and  thence  brought  into. 
Germany. 

Mohak'abad'  (Al).  Abu-Rihan, 
the  geographer  and  astronomer  in  the 
eleventh  century. 

Mohock.  A class  of  ruffians  who  at 
one  time  infested  the  streets  of  London. 
So  called  from  the  Indian  Mohawks. 


MOHUN. 


MOLY. 


585- 


One  of  their  ''new  inventions”  was  to 
roll  persons  down  Snow  Hill  in  a tub ; 
another  was  to  overturn  coaches  on  rub- 
bish heaps.  {See  Gay,  " Trivia,”  iii.) 

Mohun.  Captain  Hill  and  lord 
Mohun  made  a dastardly  attack  on  an 
actor  named  Mountford,  on  his  way  to 
Mrs.  Bracegirdle’s  house  in  Howard 
Street.  Hill  was  jealous  of  the  actor, 
and  induced  the  "noble  lord”  to  join 
him  in  this  "valiant  quarrel.”  Mount- 
ford  died  next  day.  Hill  fled,  and  was 
never  heard  of  more  ; Mohun  was  tried 
for  his  life,  but  acquitted.  (>8eeIssACHA  R.) 
— Howell,  " State  Trials”  vol.  xii.,  p.947. 

Mohyronus  {Edridus).  Said  to 
cure  wounds  by  sympathy.  He  did  not 
apply  his  powder  to  the  wounds,  but  to  a 
cloth  dipped  in  the  blood. 

Moire  Antique  {French)  is  silk,  &c., 
moire  (watered)  in  the  antique  style,  or 
to  resemble  the  materials  worn  in  olden 
times.  The  figuring  of  tin,  like  frost- 
work or  scales,  is  called  moire  metallique, 

Mokan'na.  A name  given  to  Ha- 
kem  ben  Haschem,  from  a veil  of  silver 
gauze  worn  by  him.  Moore  in  his  "Lalla 
Kookh  ” terms  him  '‘  The  Veiled  Prophet 
of  Khorassan.”  The  history  of  this  im- 
postor is  given  by  D’Herbelot.  It  is  said 
that  he  killed  himself  by  plunging  into 
a bath  of  aquafortis. 

Moliere.  The  Italian  Holier e.  Carlo 
Goldoni.  (1707-1793.) 

The  Spanish  Molih^e.  Leandro  Fer- 
nandez Moratin.  (1760-1828.) 

Molinism.  The  system  of  grace 
and  election  taught  by  Louis  Molina,  the 
Spanish  Jesuit.  (1535-1600.)  The  disciples 
of  Molina  were  called  Molinists. 

Moll  Cut-purse.  Mary  Frith,  a 
woman  of  masculine  vigour,  who  not 
unfrequently  assumed  a man’s  attire. 
She  was  a notorious  thief  and  cut-purse, 
who  once  attacked  general  Fairfax  on 
Hounslow  Heath,  for  which  she  was  sent 
to  Newgate.  She  escaped  by  bribery, 
and  died  at  last  of  dropsy  in  the  seventy- 
fifth  year  of  her  age. 

Moll  Flanders.  A woman  of  ex- 
traordinary beauty,  bom  in  the  Old 
Bailey.  She  was  twelve  years  a courtezan, 
five  times  a wife,  twelve  years  a thief, 
eight  years  a transport  in  Virginia  ; but 
ultimately  grew  rich,  lived  honestly,  and 


died  a penitent  (Charles  II. ’s  reign).- 
{See  Daniel  Defoe’s  " Moll  Flanders.”) 

Moll  Thomson’s  Mark,  as  " Take 
away  this  bottle,  it  has  Moll  Thomson’ a- 
mark  on  it.”  Moll  Thomson  is  M.T. 
{empty). 

Moll  {Kentish).  Mary  Carlton,  com- 
monly known  as  the  German  Princess. . 
She  was  sentenced  to  transportation,  but 
being  found  at  large,  was  hanged  at  Ty- 
burn in  1672. 

Molly  Maguires.  An  Irish  secret 
society  organised  in  1843. 

The  jiidKe  who  tried  the  murderer  was  elected  by  • 
the  Molly  Mai^uires ; the  jurors  who  assisted  him  were 
themselves  Molly  Maguires.  A score  of  Molly  Ma- 
guires came  forward  to  swear  that  the  assassin  was 
sixty  miles  from  the  8i)ot  on  which  he  had  been  seen 

to  tire  at  William  Dunn and  the  jurors  returned  a 

verdict  of  Not  Uuilty,— IT.  Htpworth  Dixon^  JS'ew 
America, " ii.  28. 

Molly  Mog.  This  celebrated  beauty 
was  an  innkeeper’s  daughter,  at  Oaking- 
ham,  Berks.  She  was  the  toast-  of  all  the  '• 
gay  sparks  in  the  former  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  died  in  1766,  at 
an  advanced  age.  Gay  has  a ballad  on 
this  " Fair  Maid  of  the  Inn.” 

Molly  Mog  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven,  a spinster.  Mr.  Standen,  of  Ar- 
borfield,  the  enamoured  swain  alluded  to  < 
in  the  ballad,  died  1730.  It  is  said  that 
Molly’s  sister  Sally  was  the  greater  • 
beauty.  A portrait  of  Gay  still  hangs  in 
the  inn. 

MolmuTius.  A mythical  king  of 
Britain,  who  promulgated  the  laws  called 
the  Molmutine,  and  established  the 
privilege  of  sanctuary.  He  is  alluded  to 
in  " Cj^mbeline,”  iii.  1 (Shakespeare). 

Moloch.  Any  influence  which  de- 
mands from  us  the  sacrifice  of  what  we 
hold  most  dear.  Thus,  war  is  a Moloch, 
king  mob  is  a Moloch,  the  guillotine  was 
the  Moloch  of  the  French  revolution,  &c. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  god  of  the  Am- 
monites, to  whom  children  were  " made 
to  pass  through  the  fire”  in  sacrifice. 
Milton  says  he  was  "worshipped  in 
Kabba,  in  Argob,  and  Basan  to  the 
stream  of  utmost  Arnon.” — Paradise 
LostP  i. 

Mo'ly.  Wild  garlic,  called  sorcerer’s 
garlic.  There  are  many  sorts,  all  of 
which  flower  in  May,  except  " the  sweet 
moly  of  Montpelier,”  which  blossoms  in 
September.  The  most  noted  are  "the- 
great  moly  of  Homer,”  the  Indian  moly, 
the  moly  of  Hungary,  serpent’s  moly,. 


586 


M'OME. 


MONKBARNS. 


the  yellow  moly,  Spanish  purple  moly, 
Spanish  silver-capped  moly,  and  Dios- 
cor'ides’s  moly.  Pope  describes  it  and  its 
effects  in  one  of  his  odes,  and  Milton 
refers  to  it  in  his  “ Com  us.”  (Greek,  molu.) 

Mome  {French),  says  Cotgrave,  is  a 
Momus,  find-fault,  carping  fellow.  So 
ealled  from  Momus,  the  god  of  raillery. 
Or  cessent  donques  les  momes, 

De  mordre  les  escrits  miens. 

J,  du  Bellay,  “ d P.  de  Ronsard.  ** 

lyCo'miers  (French,  men  of  mummery). 
An  Evangelical  party  of  Switzerland, 
somewhat  resembling  our  Methodists. 
They  arose  in  1818,  and  made  way  both 
in  Germany  and  France. 

Mommur.  The  realm  of  O'beron 

— Middle  Age  romance, 

Mo'mus.  One  who  carps  at  every- 
thing. Momus,  the  sleepy  god,  was 
always  railing  and  carping.  He  blamed 
Jupiter  for  making  man  without  a win- 
dow in  his  breast  through  which  his 
thoughts  could  be  seen  ; hence,  says  Dr. 
Grey,  every  unreasonable  carper  is  called 
a Momus. 

Mo'naciello  {little  monh).  A sort 
•of  iifl^ubus  in  the  mythology  of  Naples. 
It  is  described  as  a thick  little  man, 
dressed  in  a monk’s  garment  and  broad- 
brimmed  hat.  Those  who  will  follow 
when  he  beckons  will  be  led  to  a spot 
where  treasure  is  concealed.  Sometimes, 
however,  it  is  his  pleasure  to  pull  the 
bed-clothes  off,  and  sometimes  to  sit 
perched  on  a sleeper. 

Monarchi'ans . A theological  party 
of  the  third  century,  who  maintained 
that  God  is  one,  immutable  and  pri- 
mary. Their  opponents  turned  upon 
them  and  nick -named  ilaemPatri'passians, 
saying  that  according  to  such  a doctrine 
God  the  Father  must  have  suffered  on 
the  cross. 

Mon'arcliy.  Fifth-monarchy  men. 
Those  who  believed  that  the  second 
coming  of  Christ  was  at  hand,  and  that 
at  his  second  coming  he  would  establish 
the  fifth  universal  monarchy.  The  five 
are  these : the  Assyrian,  the  Persian, 
the  Macedonian,  the  Roman,  and  the 
Millennium. 

IkCCondo.  The  spirit  that  favours  the 
hunt.—  Gamma  in  Africa, 

Money.  Shortly  after  the  Gallic 
invasion,  Lucius  Furius  built  a temple  to 


Juno  Mone'ta  {i\iQ  Monitress)  on  the  spot 
where  the  house  of  Marcus  Manlius 
stood.  This  spot  of  the  Capitol  was 
selected  because  Manlius  was  the  first 
man  alarmed  by  the  cackling  of  the 
sacred  geese.  This  temple  was  subse- 
quently converted  into  a mint,  and  the 
*‘ases”  there  coined  were  called  moneta. 

Bov'ed  Money,  Bent  coin,  given  as  a 
pledge  of  love, 

Mon'gia  or  Mo'gia,  A seaport  of 
Galicia. — ‘‘  Orlando  Furioso.’* 

Mon'ica.  Mother  of  Augustine. 

Monim'ia,  in  Otway’s  tragedy  of 

The  Orphan.”  Sir  Walter  Scott  says. 

More  tears  have  been  shed  for  the 
sorrows  of  Monimia,  than  for  those  of 
J uliet  and  Desdemona.” 

Mon'iplies  {Richie).  An  honest, 
self-willed  Scotchman,  servant  of  Nigel 
Olifaunt,  in  Scott’s  ^'Fortunes of  Nigel.” 

Monitor,  so  the  Romans  called  the 
nursery  teacher.  The  Military  Monitor 
was  an  officer  to  tell  young  soldiers  of 
the  faults  committed  against  the  service. 
The  House  Monitor  was  a slave  to  call  the 
family  of  a morning,  to  announce  meal 
times,  and  so  on. 

Monk,  in  printing,  is  a black  smear 
or  blotch  made  by  leaving  too  much  ink 
on  the  part.  Caxton  set  up  his  printing 
press  in  the  scripto'riicm  of  Westminster 
Abbey ; and  the  associations  of  this 
place  gave  rise  to  the  slang  expressions 
monh  and  friar  for  black  and  white 
defects.  {See  Friak.) 

Give  a man  a monh  (French,  ^‘luy 
bailler  le  moyne”),  to  do  one  a mischief. 
Rabelais  says  that  Grangousier,  after 
the  battle  of  Picrocho'li,  asked  ^^what 
was  become  of  Friar  John;”  to  which 
Gargantua  replied,  ^‘  No  doubt  the  enemy 
has  the  monk,”  alluding  to  the  pugna- 
cious feats  of  this  wonderful  churchman, 
who  knocked  men  down  like  ninepins. — 
Rabelais,  Gargantua  and  Fantagruel^' 
bk.  i.  45. 

Monk  Lewis.  Matthew  Gregory 
Lewis  is  so  called,  from  his  novel  en- 
titled The  Monk.”  (1773-1818.) 

Monk  of  Westminster.  Richard 
of  Cirencester,  the  historian.  (14th 
century.) 

Monkbarns  {Laird  of).  Mr.  Jona- 
than Oldbuck,  the  antiquary.— Nir  Wal-^ 
ter  Scott,  The  Antiquary, 


MONKEY. 


MONSIEUR. 


587 


* ]yJonkey(^).  £500.  (i^e^MARYGOLD.) 

Yox(j  have  a monkey  or  the  hlack  mon- 
key on  your  hach—i.e.y  Yow.  have  a fit  of 
the  sulks.  Coxne  down,  Mack  dog  (Leices- 
tershire, &c.) — i.e.,  Get  out  of  the  sulks. 
The  monkey  means  the  devil— in  ancient 
paintings  drawn  like  a distorted  monkey, 
and  not  unfrequently  mounted  on  the 
back  of  the  person  tempted.  The  black 
dog  is  the  devil’s  imp. 

Monkey’s  Allowance.  More  kicks 
than  halfpence.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
monkeys  carried  about  for  show ; they 
pick  up  the  halfpence,  but  carry  them 
to  the  master,  who  keeps  ^'kicking”  or 
ill-treating  the  poor  creatures  to  urge 
them  to  incessant  tricks. 

Monkey  Board.  The  step  behind 
an  omnibus  ou  which  the  conductor 
stands,  or  rather  skips  about  like  a 
monkey. 

Monkey  Beat.  A l®ng,  narrow 
boat. 

Monkey  Coat.  A coat  with  no  more 
tail  than  a monkey,  or  more-  strictly 
speaking,  an  ape. 

Monkey’s  Money.  I loill  'pay  you, 
in  monkey's  money  (en  monnaie  de  singe) 
— in  goods,  in  personal  work,  in  mumbling 
and  grimace.  The  French  had  a law 
that  when  a monkey  passed  the  Petit 
Pont,  of  Paris,  if  it  was  for  sale  it  was 
to  pay  four  deniers  {t'^vo-thirds  of  a 
'penny)  for  toll ; but  if  it  belonged  to  a 
showman  and  was  not  for  sale,  it  should 
suffice  if  the  monkey  went  through  his 
tricks. 

It  was  an  original  by  Master  Charles  Ch&rmois, 
principal  painter  to  king  Megistus  {of  Prancei),  paid 
lor  in  court  fashion  with  monkey’s  money.— jKa6eZais, 
**  Gargantua  and  Pantagruel,”  iv.  3. 

Mon'kir  and  iN’e'kir,  according  to 
Mahometan  mythology,  are  two  angels 
who  interrogate  the  dead  immediately 
they  are  buried.  The  first  two  questions 
they  ask  are,  Who  is  your  Lord?”  and 

Who  is  your  prophet?”  Their  voices 
are  like  thunder,  their  aspects  hideous, 
and  those  not  approved  of  they  lash  in 
perdition  with  whips  half  iron  and  half 
-flame. 

Monmouth.  The  town  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Monnow. 

Monmouth.  The  surname  of  Henry  Y. 
of  England,  who  was  born  there. 

Monmouth  Cap.  A soldier’s  cap. 


The  solfiiers  that  the  Monmouth  wear. 

On  castles’  tops  their  ensigns  rear. 

The  best  caps  were  formerly  made  at  Monmouth, 
where  the  capoers’  chapel  doth  still  remain  (lOG.).— 
Fuller,  “ Worthies  of  Wales”  p.  50. 

Monmouth  Street  {London)  takes 
its  name  from  the  unfortunate  son  of 
Charles  II.,  executed  for  rebellion  in 
1685.  Now  Dudley  Street. 

Monnaie  de  Basoche.  Worthless 
coin,  coin  not  current,  counters,  “ Brum- 
magen  halfpennies.”  Coins  were  for- 
merly made  and  circulated  by  the  lawyers 
of  France,  which  had  n©  currency  beyond 
their  own  community.  (See  Basoche.) 

Mono'nia  (3  syl.).  Munster. 

Remember  the  glories  of  Brien  the  brave, 

Though  the  days  of  the  hero  are  o’er. 

Though  lost  to  Mononia,  and  cold  in  the  grave, 
Ue  returns  to  Kitiko'ra  this  palace]  no  more- 
T.  M<;ore,  “ Irish  Melodies,”  jNo.  i. 

Monoph'agous.  The  eater  of  one 
sort  of  food  only.  (Greek,  monos phageinf) 

Monoph'ysites  (4  syl.).  A religious 
sect  in  the  Levant,  who  maintained  that 
Jesus  Christ  had  only  one  nature,  and 
that  divine  and  human  were  combined 
in  much  the  same  way  as  the  body  and 
soul  in  man.  (Greek,  monos  phusis,  one 
nature.) 

Monotherism  consisted  in  the  doc- 
trine that  although  Christ  has  two  dis- 
tinct natures,  he  never  had  but  one  will, 
his  human  will  being  merged  in  the 
divine.  (Greek,  monos-theleina,  one  single 
will. ) 

Monroe  Doctrine.  The  American 
States  are  never  to  entangle  themselves 
in  the  broils  of  Europe,  nor  to  suffer  the 
powers  of  the  Old  W orld  to  interfere  in 
the  affairs  of  the  New  ; and  they  are  to  ac- 
count any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Old 
World  to  plant  their  systems  of  govern- 
ment in  any  part  of  North  America,  dan- 
gerous to  American  peace  and  safety. 
James  Monroe  was  twice  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  (1816  and 
1820). 

Monsieur.  Philippe,  due  d’Orleans, 
brother  to  Louis  XIV.,  was  called  M on- 
sieur ; other  gentlemen  were  only  Mon- 
sieur Thte  or  That. 

Monsieur  le  Goadjuteur.  Paul  de  Gondi, 
afterwards  Cardinal  de  Retz  (Ress). 
(1614-1679.) 

Monsieur  le  Due.  Henri- Jules  de 
Bourbon,  eldest  son  of  the  Prince  de 
Conde. 


5S3 


MONSOON. 


MONTESINOS. 


Monsieur  le  Grand.  The  Great  Equerry 
of  France. 

Monsieur  le  Prince.  Prince  de  Condd. 
(16*21-1686.)  {S>ee  Madame.) 

Monsoon  is  a corruption  of  the 
Malay  word  mooseen  (year  or  season). 
For  six  months  it  is  a north-east  trade 
wind,  and  for  six  months  a south-west. 

Monster  (T/te).  Eenwick  Williams, 
a wretch  who  used  to  prowl  about  Lon- 
don, wounding  respectable  women  with 
a double-edged  knife.  He  was  convicted 
of  several  offences  in  July,  1790. 

The  green-eyed  monster.  Jealousy;  so 
called  by  Shakespeare  in  Othello.” 

Beware  of  Jealousy  ! 

It  is  a green-eyed  monster  that  doth  mock 
The  meat  it  feeds  on.  (iii.  3.) 

Monsters.  See  each  under  its  name, 
as  Cockatrice,  Chicivache,  Chimera, 
Echidna,  Footmonsters,  &c. 

Mont  de  Piete.  A pawn  depot. 
These  depots,  called  ‘^monti  di  piet^” 
(charity  loans),  were  first  instituted  under 
Leo  X.,  at  Rome,  by  charitable  persons 
who  wished  to  rescue  the  poor  and  needy 
from  usurious  money-lenders.  They 
advanced  small  sums  of  money  on  the 
security  of  pledges,  at  a rate  of  interest 
barely  sufficient  to  cover  the  working 
expenses  of  the  institution.  Both  the 
name  and  system  were  introduced  into 
France  and  Spain.  The  model  Loan 
Fund  of  Ireland  is  formed  on  the  same 
system.  Public  granaries  for  the  sale  of 
corn  are  called  in  Italian  Monti  frumen- 
tarii.  Monte”  means  a public  or 
State  loan  ; hence  also  a ^^bank.” 

Mont  St.  Michel,  in  Normandy, 
formerly  called  Belen.  Here  nine 
Druidesses  sold  to  sailors  the  arrows  to 
charm  away  storms.  The  arrows  had  to 
be  discharged  by  a young  man  twenty- 
one  years  old. 

Mont-rognon  {Baron  of),  lord  of 
Bourglastic,  Tortebesse,  and  elsewhere. 
A huge  mass  of  muscle,  who  existed  only 
to  eat  and  drink.  He  was  a descendant 
of  Esau  on  his  father’s  side,  and  of  Gar- 
gantua  on  his  mother’s.  He  once  per- 
formed a gigantic  feat— he ' killed  600 
iSaracens  who  happened  to  get  in  his 
way  as  he  was  going  to  dinner.  He  was 
bandy-legged,  could  lift  immense  weights, 
had  an  elastic  stomach,  and  four  rows  of 
teeth.  In  Croquemitaine  he  is  made  one 
of  the  paladins  of  Charlemagne,  and  was 


one  of  the  four  knights  sent  in  search  of 
Croquemitaine  and  Fear-fortress. 

Montagnards  (the  mountain  party). 
The  extreme  democratic  politicians  in  the- 
French  Revolution ; so  called  because- 
they  occupied  the  highest  tier  of  benches 
in  the  hall  of  National  Convention.  The 
opposite  party  sat  on  the  level  ol  the 
floor,  called  the  plain,” 

Mon'tague  (3  syl.).  The  head  of  a 
faction  in  Vero'na  (Shakespeare,  ‘‘  Romeo 
and  Juliet”).  The  device  of  the  family 
is  a mountain  with  sharply -peaked  crest 
{moni-agu  or  agu). 

Monta'nists.  Heretics  of  the  second 
century  ; so  called  from  Monta’nus,  a 
Phrygian,  who  asserted  that  he  had  re- 
ceived from  the  Holy  Ghost  special 
knowledge  not  vouchsafed  to  the 
apostles. 

Montan'to.  Signien'  Montanto.  A 
master  of  fence  rather  than  a soldier ; a 
tongue- doughty  knight.  It  is  a word  ol 
fence,  and  hence  Ben  Jonson  says,  Your 
punto,  your  reverse,  your  stoccata,  your 
imbrocata,  your  passada,  your  montanto.”" 
— **  Every  Man  in  his  Humour.'' 

Monteer  Cap.  So  called  from 
montei'os  d' Espinoza  (mountaineers),  who 
once  formed  the  interior  guard  of  the 
palace  of  the  Spanish  king.  The  way 
they  came  to  be  appointed  is  thus  ac- 
counted for  : — Sanchica,  wife  of  Don 
Sancho  Garcia,  count  of  Castile,  entered 
into  a plot  to  poison  her  husband,  but 
one  of  the  mountaineers  of  Espinoza 
revealed  the  plot  and  saved  the  count’s 
life.  Ever  after  the  sovereigns  of  Cas- 
tile recruited  their  body-guards  from 
men  of  this  estate. 

Montem.  A custom  formerly  ob- 
served every  three  years  by  the  boys  of 
Eton  School,  who  proceeded  on  Whit- 
Tuesday  ad  montem  (to  a mound  called 
Salt  Hill),  near  the  Bath  Road,  and  exacted 
a gratuity  called  salt  from  all  who  passed 
by.  Sometimes  as  much  as  .£1,000  was 
thus  collected.  The  custom  was  abolished 
in  1847. 

MontesTnos  {The  Cave  of).  Close 
to  the  castle  of  Rochafrida,  to  which  a 
knight  of  the  same  name,  who  had  re- 
ceived some  cause  of  offence  at  the 
French  court,  retired.  Tradition  ascribes 
the  river  Guadia'na  to  this  cave  as  its 
source,  whence  the  river  is  sometimes 
called  Montesinos^ 


MONTETH. 


MONTHS. 


589 


Montetli'.  A scolloped  basin  to  cool 
and  wash  glasses  in ; so  called  from  its 
inventor. 

.New  thincs  produce  new  names,  and  thus  Monteth 
Has  by  one  vessel  saved  his  uame  irom  death. 

King. 

Montezu'ni  a’s  Realm.  Mexico. 
Montezuma,  the  last  emperor,  was  seized 
by  Cortes,  and  compelled  to  acknowledge 
himself  a vassal  of  Spain  (1519). 

Montezu'ma’s  Watch.  A curious 
stone,  weighing  twenty-four  tons,  of 
basaltic  porphyry,  in  Mexico.  This  im- 
mense stone  is  cut  into  figures  denoting 
the  Mexican  division  of  time,  and  may 
be  termed  their  calendar. 

Montgomery,  in  North  Wales  ; so 
■called  from  Hoger  de  Montgomery,  earl 
■of  Shrewsbury,  who  won  the  castle  of 
Baldwyn,  lieutenant  of  the  marches,  to 
William  the  Conqueror.  Before  this 
time  it  was  called  ‘^Tre  Faldwyn.” 

Montgomery' s division,  all  on  one  side. 
This  is  a French  proverb,  and  refers  to 
the  Free  Companies  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  of  which  Montgomery  was  a 
noted  chief.  The  booty  he  took  was  all 
given  to  his  banditti,  and  nothing  was 
left  to  the  victims.  {See  Lion’s  Share.) 

Months. 

January.’  So  called  from  Janus,’* 
the  Roman  deity  that  kept  the  gates  of 
heaven.  The  image  of  Janus  is  repre- 
sented with  tw@  faces  looking  opposite 
ways.  One  face  is  old,  and  is  emblema- 
tical of  time  past ; the  other  is  young,  as 
the  emblem  of  time  future.  The  Dutch 
used  to  call  this  month  Lauw-maand 
(frosty-month) ; the  Saxons,  Wulf-mo- 
nathi  because  wolves  were  very  trouble- 
some thpn  from  the  great  scarcity  of 
food ; after  the  introduction  of  Chris- 
tianity, the  name  was  changed  to  Se  ceftera 
geola  (the  after  yule),  it  was  also  called 
Forma-monaih  (first-month) ; in  the 
French  Republican  calendar  it  was  called 
Nivose  (snow-month,  20th  December  to 
20th  January). 

February.  So  called  from  Februa,” 
a name  of  Juno,  from  the  Sabine  word 
Jelruo  (to  purify).  Juno  was  so  called 
because  she  presided  over  the  purifica- 
tion of  women,  which  took  place  in  this 
month.  The  Dutch  used  to  term  the 
month>S'/9oMeZ-?7iaa7icZ(vegetation-month); 
the  ancient  Saxons,  S'prote-cdl  (from  the 
sprouting  of  pot- wort  or  kele) ; they 


changed  it  subsequently  to  Sol-morath 
(from  the  returning  sun).  In  the  French 
Republican  calendar  it  was  called  PluviOse 
(rain-month,  20th  January  to  20th  Feb- 
ruary). 

March.  So  called  from  “Mars,”  the 
Roman  war-god  and  patron  deity.  The 
old  Dutch  name  for  it  was  Lent-maand 
(lengthening-month,  because  the  days 
sensibly  lengthen) ; the  old  Saxon  name 
was  Hreth-niOnath  (rough  month,  from  its 
boisterous  winds),  it  was  subsequently 
changed  to  Length-monath  (lengthening- 
month),  it  was  also  called  Hlyd-monaih 
(boisterous- month)  ; in  the  French  Re- 
publican calendar  it  was  Ventdse  (windy- 
month,  20th  of  February  to  20th  of 
March. ) 

April.  So  called  from  the  Latin 
“aperio”  (to  open),  in  allusion  to  the 
unfolding  of  the  leaves.  The  old  Dutch 
name  was  Gras-maand  (grass- mon bh) ; 
the  old  Saxon,  Easter -monath  (orient  or 
paschal-month)  ; in  the  French  Repub- 
lican calendar  it  was  Germinal  (time  of 
budding,  21st  March  to  19th  April). 

May  is  the  old  Latin  magius,  softened 
to  Maius,  from  the  root  mag,  similar  to 
the  Sanskrit  mah,  to  grow,  and  means 
the  growing-month.  The  old  Dutch 
name  was  Blou-maand  (blossoming 
month);  the  old  Saxon,  Tr^-m^7c7i^ (three 
milch),  because  cows  were  milked  thrice 
a day  in  this  month.  In  the  French 
Republican  calendar  it  was  called  E'loreal 
(the  time  of  flowers,  20th  April  to  20th 
May). 

June.  So  called  from  the  “ junio'res” 
or  soldiers  of  the  state,  or  from  Juno, 
the  queen-goddess.  The  old  Dutch  name 
was  Zomer-maand  (summer-month) ; the 
old  Saxon,  Sere-monath  (dry-month).  In 
the  French  Republican  calendar  it  was 
Prairial  (meadow-month,  20th  May  to 
18th  June). 

July.  Mark  Antony  gave  this  month 
the  name  of  Julius,  from  Julius  Coesar, 
who  was  born  in  it.  It  had  been  pre- 
viously called  Quinti'lis  (fifth-month). 
The  old  Dutch  name  for  it  was  Hooy^ 
maomd  (hay-month) ; the  old  Saxon, 
Mved-monath  (because  the  cattle  were 
turned  into  the  meadows  to  feed) ; and 
in  the  French  Republican  calendar  it 
was  Messidor  (harvest-month,  19th  June 
to  18th  July). 

August.  So  called  in  honour  of  Augus- 
tus Caesar  ; not  because  it  was  his  birth- 
month,  blit  because  it  was  the  month  in 


590 


MONTHS. 


MONUMENTAL  FIGUEES. 


which  he  took  possession  of  his  first 
consulship,  celebrated  three  triumphs, 
received  the  oath  of  allegiance  from  the 
legions  which  occupied  the  Janic'ulum, 
reduced  Egypt,  and  put  an  end  to  the 
civil  wars.  He  was  born  in  September. 
The  old  Dutch  name  for  it  was  Oost~ 
'inaand  (harvest-month)  ; the  old  Saxon, 
Weod-monath  (weed-month,  where  -weed 
signifies  vegetation  in  general).  In  the 
French  Republican  calendar  it  was  Ther^ 
midor  (hot-month,  19th  July  to  17th 
August). 

September.  The  seventh  month  from 
March,  where  the  year  used  to  commence. 
The  old  Dutch  name  was  Herst-maand 
(autumn-month) ; the  old  Saxon,  Gerst- 
ononath  (barley-month),  or  Hosrfest- 
monath;  and  after  the  introduction  of 
Christianity  Halig-monath  (holy-month, 
the  nativity  of  the  Virgin  Mary  being 
on  the  8th,  the  exaltation  of  the  Cross 
on  the  14th,  Holy-Rood  day  on  the 
2hth,  and  St.  Michael’s  day  on  the 
29  th).  In  the  French  Republican 
calendar  it  was  Fructidor  (fruit-month, 
18th  August  to  21st  September). 

October.  The  eighth  month  of  the 
Alban  calendar.  The  Old  Dutch  name 
was  Wyn-maand ; the  old  Saxon,  W%n^ 
monath  (wine-month,  or  the  time  of  vin- 
tage) ; it  was  also  called  Teotha-monatk 
(tenth-month),  and  Winter -fyllethy  winter 
full- moon).  In  the  French  Republican 
calendar,  Vendemiaire  (time  of  vintage, 
22iid  September  to  21st  October). 

November.  The  ninth  Alban  month. 
The  old  Dutch  name  was  Slaght-maand 
(slaughter-month,  the  time  when  the 
beasts  were  slain  and  salted  down  for 
winter  use);  the  old  Saxon,  Wind-monath 
(wind-month,  when  the  fishermen  drew 
their  boats  ashore,  and  gave  over  fishing 
till  the  next  spring) ; it  was  also  called 
Blot-monath  — the  same  as  Slaght- 
maand.”  In  the  French  Republican 
calendar  it  was  Brumaire  (fog-month, 
22nd  October  to  21st  November). 

December.  The  tenth  month  of  the  old 
Alban  calendar.  The  old  Dutch  name 
was  Winter-maand  (winter-month) ; the 
old  Saxon,  Mid-wiiiter-monatli  (mid- 
winter-month) ; whereas  June  was  Mid- 
smuor-monath.  Christian  Saxons  called 
December  Se  sera  geola  (the  anti-yule). 
In  the  French  Republican  calendar  it 
was  called  Frimaire  (hoar-frost  month, 
from  the  22nd  of  November  to  the  20th 
of  December). 


Montli’s  Mind.  A desire,  a craving. 
Mr.  Croft  says  the  expression  is  founded 
on  the  irrational  and  wholly  unaccount- 
able cravings  of  women  in  pregnancy, 
which  commence  after  the  first  month 
of  conception. 

T see  you  have  a month’s  mind  to  them. 

Shakespeare,  "‘Two  Gentlemen  o)  Verona,'^ i.  a 

Monthawi,  Al  (the  destroyer).  One 
of  Mahomet’s  lances,  confiscated  from 
the  Jews  when  they  were  exiled  from 
Medi'na. 

Montjoie  St.  Denis.  The  war-cry 
of  the  French.  Montjoie  is  a corrup- 
tion of  Mons  Jovis,  as  the  little  mounds 
were  called  which  served  as  direction- 
posts  in  ancient  times ; hence  it  was 
applied  to  whatever  showed  or  indicated 
the  way,  as  the  banner  of  St.  Denis, 
called  the  Orifiamme.  The  Burgundians 
had  for  their  war-cry,  Montjoie  St. 
Andre  the  dukes  of  Bourbon,  ‘‘Mont- 
joie Notre  Dame;”  and  the  kings  of 
England  used  to  have  “Montjoie  St. 
George.”  There  seems  no  sufficient 
reason  to  suppose  that  Montjoie  St. 
Denis  is  a corruption  of  “St.  Denis 
mon  joie”— i.e.,  St.  Denis  is  my  hope. 

Montjoie.  The  cry  of  the  French 
heralds  in  the  ancient  tournaments;  and 
the  title  of  the  French  king-at-arms. 

Montserrat'.  The  Catalonians  aver 
that  this  mountain  was  riven  and  shat- 
tered at  the  Crucifixion.  Every  rift  is 
filled  with  evergreens.  (Latin,  mons  ser~ 
ra'tuSy  the  mountain  jagged  like  a saw.) 

Monumental  City.  Baltimore, 
U.S.,  is  so  called,  because  it  abounds  in- 
monuments  ; witness  the  obelisk,  the- 
104  churches,  &c. 

Monumental  Figures.  No.  1. 

(1)  Those  in  stone,  with  plain  sloping- 
roofs,  and  without  inscriptions,  are  the 
oldest. 

(2)  In  1160  these  plain  prismatic  roofs 
began  to  be  ornamented. 

(3)  In  the  same-  century  the  sloping 
roofs  gave  place  to  armorial  bearings. 

(4)  In  the  thirteenth  century  we  see 
flat  roofs,  and  figures  carved  on  the  lids. 

(5)  The  next  stage  was  an  arch  built 
over  the  monument  to  protect  it. 

(6)  The  sixth  stage  was  a chapel  an- 
nexed to-  the  church. 

(7)  The  last  stage  was  the  head  bound! 
and  feet  tied,  with  children  at  the  base;, 
or  chernbimsat  the  feet.. 


MONUMENTAL  FIGURES. 


MOON. 


591 


Monumental  Figures.  No.  2. 

FigTires  with  their  hands  on  their 
breasts,  and  chalices,  represent  'priests. 

Figures  with  crozier,  mitre,  and  ponti- 
ficals, represent  prelates. 

Figures  with  armour  represent 

Figures  with  legs  crossed  represent 
either  ci'usaders  or  'married  men. 

Female  figures  with  a mantle  and  large 
ring  represent  nuns. 

Monumental  Figures.  No.  3. 

Those  in  scale  armour  are  the  most 
ancient  (time,  Henry  II.). 

Those  in  chain  armour  or  ring  mail 
come  next  (time,  Richard  I.  to  Henry 
III.). 

Those  with  children  or  cherubims,  be- 
tween the  fourteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries. 

Brasses  are  for  the  most  part  subse- 
quent to  the  thirteenth  century. 

Monumental  Figures.  No.  4. 

Saints  lie  to  the  east  of  the  altar,  and 
are  elevated  above  the  ground ; the 
higher  the  elevation,  the  greater  the 
sanctity.  Martyrs  are  much  elevated. 

Holy  'men  not  canonised  lie  on  a level 
with  the  pavement. 

Founder's  of  chapels,  &c.,  lie  with  their 
monument  built  into  the  wall. 

Monumental  Effigies.  In  the  I 
age  of  chivalry,  the  woman  in  monu- 
mental brasses  and  effigies  is  placed  on 
the  man’s  right  hand ; but  when  chivalry 
declined  she  was  placed  on  his  left-hand 
side. 

Till  1808,  all  public  speakers  began. 

Gentlemen  and  Ladies,”  but  since  then 
the  order  has  been  Ladies  and  Gentle- 
men.” 

Monumental  Inscriptions. 

Capital  letters  and  Latin  inscriptions 
are  of  the  first  twelve  centuries. 

Lombardic  capitals  and  French  inscrip- 
tions, of  the  thirteenth  century. 

German  text,  of  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury. 

English  and  Roman  print,  subsequent 
to  the  fourteenth  century. 

Tablets  against  the  wall  came  in  with 
the  Refoi-mation. 

Moohel.  A Jew  whose  office  it  is  to 
circumcise  the  young  Jewish  boys. 

Moon  means  ''measurer”  of  time 
(Anglo-Saxon,  mOna,  masc.  gen.).  It  is 
masculine  in  all  the  Teutonic  languages  ; 


in  the  Edda  the  son  of  Mundilfori  is- 
Mani  (moon),  and  daughter  Sol  {sun) ; 
so  it  is  still  with  the  Lithuanians  and 
Arabians,  and  so  was  it  with  the 
ancient  Mexicans,  Slavi,  Hindus,  &c. ; 
so  that  it  was  a most  unlucky  dictum  of 
Harris,  in  his  " Hermes,”  that  all  nations 
ascribe  to  the  sun  a masculine,  and  to  the 
Moon  a feminine  gender.  (Gothic,  mena, 
masc. ; Sanskrit,  mds,  masc., from  md,  to 
measure.)  The  Sanskrit  mdtram  is  an  in- 
strument for  measuring ; hence  the  Greek 
metron  ; French,  metre ; English,  mete. 

Moon,  represented  in  five  different 
phases  : (l)new;  (2)  full;  (3) crescent,  or 
with  horns  towards  the  east ; (4)  decres- 
cent, or  with  horns  towards  the  west ; 
and  (5)  gibbous,  more  than  half. 

Moon,  in  pictures  of  the  Assumption 
of  the  Virgin,  is  represented  as  a crescent 
under  her  feet ; in  the  Crucifixion  it  is 
eclipsed,  and  placed  on  one  side  of  the 
cross,  the  sun  being  on  the  other  ; in  the 
Creation  and  Last  Judgment  it  is  also 
introduced  by  artists. 

Hecate.  The  moon  before  she  has 
risen  and  after  she  has  set. 

Astarte.  The  crescent  moon,  "the 
moon  with  crescent  horns.” 

Diana.  The  moon  in  the  open  vault 
of  heaven,  who  " hunts  the  clouds.” 

Cynthia.  Same  as  Diana. 

Selene  or  Luna.  The  moon  personified, 
properly  the  full  moon,  who  loved  the 
sleeping  Endymion. 

Endymion.  Moon-light  on  a bank, 
field,  or  garden. 

How  sweet  the  Moon-light  sleeps  upon  the  hank  ! 

Shakespeare,  ’*  3Ierchant  of  Venice.'* 

Phoebe.  The  moon  as  the  sister  of  the 
sun.  {See  Astarte,  Ashtaroth,  Mun, 
&c.) 

Moon.  Astolpho  found  treasured  in 
the  moon  everything  wasted  on  this 
earth,  such  as  misspent  time  and  wealth, 
broken  vows,  unanswered  prayers,  fruit- 
less tears,  abortive  attempts,  unfulfilled 
desires  and  intentions,  &c.  All  bribes 
were  hung  on  gold  and  silver  hooks ; 
princes’  favours  were  kept  in  bellows ; 
wasted  talent  was  kept  in  vases,  each 
marked  with  the  proper  name ; &c. — 
" Orlando  Furioso,*'  bk.  xviii.  (See  Rape 
of  the  Lochf  c.  v.) 

Moon.  For  the  conversion  of  Hahab 
the  Wise,  Mahomet  made  the  moon  per- 
form seven  circuits  round  the  Caaba  or 
holy  shrine  of  Mec^a,  then  enter  the 
right  sleeve  of  his  mantle,  and  go  out  of 


'592 


MOON-CALF. 


MOP. 


'the  left ; at  its  exit  it  slit  into  two  pieces, 
which  re-united  in  the  centre  of  the  fir- 
mament. 

The  moon  is  called  triform'^  because 
;it  presents  itself  to  us  either  round,  or 
waxing  with  horns  tov/ards  the  east,  or 
waning  with  horns  towards  the  west. 

Island  of  the  Moon.  Madagascar  is  so 
named  by  the  natives. 

Minions  of  the  Moon,  Thieves  who 
rob  by  mght.—See  ^‘1  Henry  IV.,”  i.  2 
(Shakespeare). 

Mou7itains  of  the  Moon  means  simply 
White  Mountains.  The  Arabs  call  a 
white  horse  moon-coloured.” — Jackson. 

He  cries  for  the  moon.  He  craves  to 
have  what  is  wholly  beyond  his  reach. 
The  allusion  is  to  foolish  children  who 
want  the  moon  for  a plaything.  The 
French  say.  He  wants  to  take  the  moon  be- 
tween his  teeth  (II  veut  prendre  la  lime 
avec  les  dents),  alluding  to  the  old  pro- 
verb about  The  moon  ” and  a green 
cheese.” 

To  cast  beyond  the  moon.  To  make  ex- 
travagant conjectures  ; to  cast  your 
thoughts  or  guesses  beyond  all  reason. 

To  level  oi  the  moon.  To  be  very  am- 
bitious; to  aim  in  shooting  at  the 
moon. 

You  have  found  an  elephant  in  the  moon 
— found  a mare’s  nest.  Sir  Paul  Neal,  a 
conceited  virtuoso  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  gave  out  that  he  had  discovered 
‘‘an  elephant  in  the  moon.”  It  turned 
out  that  a mouse  had  crept  into  his 
telescope,  which  had  been  mistaken  for 
an  elephant  in  the  moon.  S.  Butler  has 
a satirical  poem  on  the  subject  called 
■“The  Elephant  in  the  Moon.” 

You  would  have  me  believey  I suppose, 
that  the  moon  is  a g^'een  cheese — ^.e.,  the 
most  absurd  thing  possible.  A green 
cheese  is  a cream  cheese  which  is  eaten 
green  or  fresh,  and  is  not  kept  to  mature 
like  other  cheeses. 

Man  in  the  moon.  (>See  Man.) 

Hares  sac7^ed  to  the  moon,  not  because 
Diana  was  a great  huntress,  but  because 
the  Hindus  affirm  that  the  outline  of  a 
liare  is  distinctly  visible  on  the  moon. 

Moon-calf,  according  to  Pliny,  is  an 
inanimate  shapeless  mass,  engendered  of 
woman  only  (“  Natural  History,”  x.  64). 
This  abortion  was  supposed  to  be  pro- 
duced by  the  influence  of  the  moon. 
The  primary  meaning  of  calf  is  not  the 
young  of  a cow,  but  the  issue  arising 


“ from  throwing  out,”  as  a push,  a pro- 
tuberance ; hence  the  calves  of  the  legs. 

Moon-maker  {Sagende  Hah),  a sur- 
name given  to  the  Veiled  Prophet  (q.v.), 
who  caused  the  moon  to  issue  from  a deep 
well,  so  brilliant  that  the  real  moon  was 
eclipsed  by  it. 

Moon-rakers.  The  people  of  Wilt- 
shire obtained  this  appellation  from  an 
old  legend  that  a farmer’s  wife  once  took 
a rake  to  rake  the  moon  from  a river, 
under  the  delusion  that  it  was  a cream 
cheese.  The  moon  not  being  a cream 
cheese  may  probably  arise  from  the  same 
story. 

Moonstone.  A mineral  so  called 
on  account  of  the  play  of  light  which  it 
exhibits.  The  scientiflc  name  is  adula'7'ia, 
from  Ad'ula,  the  summit  of  a Swiss 
mountain.  Wilkie  Collins  has  a novel 
called  “ The  Moonstone.” 

Moors.  In  the  middle  ages,  the 
Europeans  called  all  Mahometans  Moors, 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  Eastern  nations 
called  all  inhabitants  of  Europe  Franks. 
Camoens,  m the  “ Luciad,”  terms  the 
Indians  “ Moors.”  (Bk.  viii.) 

Moor-sIayer  or  Mata-moros.  A 
name  given  to  St.  James,  the  patron - 
saint  of  Spain,  because  in  almost  all 
encounters  with  the  Moors  he  came  on 
his  white  horse  to  the  aid  of  the  Chris- 
tians. 

Moore  {Thomas),  called  “Anacreon 
Moore,”  because  the  character  of  his 
poetry  resembles  that  of  Anacreon,  the 
Greek  poet  of  love  and  wine.  (1779- 
1852.) 

Moot  Point.  A doubtful  or  un- 
settled question.  The  Saxon  motian  is 
“ to  debate,”  and  a moot  point  is  one 
sub  judice,  or  under  debate. 

Mop.  In  many  places  Statute  Fairs 
are  held,  where  servants  seek  to  be  hired. 
Carters  fasten  to  their  hats  a piece  of 
whipcord ; shepherds,  a lock  of  wool ; 
grooms,  a piece  of  sponge,  &c.  When 
hired  they  mount  a cockade  with  stream- 
ers. Some  few  days  after  the  statute 
fair,  a second,  called  a Mop,  is  held  for 
the  benefit  of  those  not  already  hired. 
This  fair  mops  or  wipes  up  the  refuse  of 
the  statute  fair,  carrying  away  the  dregs 
of  the  servants  left. 

Another  etymology  is  the  Latin  mappa, 


MORA-STONE. 


MORGANATIC  MARRIAGE.  59® 


(public  games),  the  derivation  of  which 
word  is  thus  explained : In  the  reign  of 
Nero  the  people  showed,  on  one  occasion, 
great  impatience  for  the  games  to  begin, 
and  the  emperor  threw  out  his  dinner- 
napkin  {mappa)  as  a signal  for  their 
commencement.  The  persons  in  charge 
of  the  games  were  called  mapparii.  The 
first  a in  these  words  is  like  a in  strap,’* 
‘‘plat,’*  &c.,  which  has  the  sound  of  o. 

Mop.  One  of  queen  Mab’s  attendants. 

All  mops  and  brooms.  Intoxicated. 
The  allusion  is  to  persons  who  are  sick 
with  drink,  when  mops  and  brooms  are 
required  to  clean  up  after  them. 

Mora-stone,  near  Upsala,  where 
the  Swedes  used  anciently  to  elect  their 
kings. 

Morasteen  {great  stone).  The  ancient 
Danes  selected  their  king  from  the  sacred 
line  of  royalty,  The  man  chosen  was 
taken  to  the  Landsthing,  or  local  court, 
and  placed  on  the  morasteen,  while  the 
magnates  ranged  themselves  around  on 
stones  of  inferior  size.  This  was  the 
Danish  mode  of  installation. 

Moral.  The  Moral  Gower.  John 
Gower,  the  poet,  is  so  called  by  Chaucer. 
(1320-1402.) 

Father  of  Moral  Philosophy,  Thomas 
Aqui'nas.  (1227*1274.) 

Moralist.  The  great  Moralist  of 
Fleet  Street.  Dr.  Johnson.  (1709-1784.) 

Mora'na.  The  Bohemian  goddess  of 
winter  and  death. 

Morat.  Morat  and  Marathon  twin 
names  shall  stand  (“  Childe  Harold,”  hi. 
64).  Morat,  in  Switzerland,  is  famous  for 
the  battle  fought  in  1476,  in  which  the 
Swiss  defeated  Charles  le  Temeraire  of 
Burgundy. 

Moravians  or  Bohemian  Brethren. 
A religious  community  tracing  its  origin 
from  John  Huss,  expelled  by  persecu- 
tion from  Bohemia  and  Moravia  in  the 
eighteenth  century.  They  are  often 
called  The  United  Brethren. 

More  Last  Words.  When  Richard 
Baxter  lost  his  wife,  he  published  a broad- 
sheet, headed  “ Last  Words  of  Mrs. 
Baxter,”  which  had  an  immense  sale  ; 
the  printer,  for  his  own  profit,  brought 
out  a spurious  broad-sheet,  headed 
“More  Last  Words  but  Baxter  issued 
a small  handbill  with  this  concise  sen- 


tence : “ Mrs.  Baxter  did  not  say  any- 
thing else.” 

More  of  More-hall.  A legendary 
hero  who  armed  himself  with  an  armour 
of  spikes,  and  concealing  himself  in  the 
cave  where  the  dragon  of  Wantley 
dwelt,  slew  the  monster  by  kicking  it  on 
the  mouth,  where  alone  it  was  mortal. 

More  the  Merrier.  The  author  of 
this  phrase  was  Henry  Parrot. 

More'no  (3  syl.).  Don  Antonio  Mo- 
reno, a gentleman  of  Barcelona,  who  en- 
tertained Don  Quixote  with  mock-heroic 
hospitality. 

Morestone.  Would  you  remove 
Morestone  ? (See  Mortstone.) 

Morgan  le  Fay.  {See  below.). 
W.  Morris,  in  his  “Earthly  Paradise’* 
(^August)  makes  Morgan  the  bride  of 
Ogier  the  Dane,  after  his  earthly  career/ 
was  ended. 

Morgan  le  Fay,  Morgaine  la  Fe^^^ 
or  Morgana  the  Fairy.  Daughter  of' 
queen  Igrayne,  and  half-sister  of  king: 
Arthur,  who  revealed  to  him  the  intrigues^ 
of  Sir  Lancek>t  and  Guinever.  Shcfgava^ 
him  a cup  containing  a magic  draughty 
and  Arthur  had  no  sooner  drunk  it  tham 
his  eyes  were  opened  to  the  p^fedy  of 
his  wife  and  friend. 

Morganatic  Marriage.  A mar- 
riage in  which  the  wife  does  not  take  the 
husband’s  rank,  because  legally  or  ac- 
cording to  court  bye-laws  the  marriage 
is  not  recognised.  This  sort  of  marriage 
is  effected  when  a man  of  high  rank 
marries  a woman  of  inferior  position. 
The  children  in  this  case  do  not  inherit 
the  title  or  entails  of  the  father.  The 
word  is  based  on  the  Gothic  morgjan, 
“to  curtail”  or  “limit;”  and  the 
marriage  settlement  was  called  morgen- 
gdbe  or  mmgengnade,  whence  the  Low 
Latin  matrimonium  ad  legem  morganaU 
icaiiy  in  which  the  dowry  is  to  be  con- 
sidered all  the  portion  the  wife  will 
receive,  as  the  estates  cannot  pass  to 
her  or  to  her  children. 

Morganatic  Marriage^  called  “Left- 
handed,”  because  the  man  pledges  his 
troth  with  his  left  hand  instead  of  hia 
right.  The  “ Hand-fasted  ” marriages 
of  Scotland  and  Ireland  were  morganatic, 
and  the  “hand-fasted”  bride  could  be 
put  away  for  a fresh  union. 

M M 


m 


MORGANE. 


MOROCCO. 


Morgane  (2  syl.).  A fay  to  whose 
eharge  Zephyr  committed  young  Pas- 
selyou  and  his  cousin  Bennucq.  Passelyon 
fell  in  love  with  Morgane’s  daughter,  and 
the  adventures  of  these  young  lovers  are 
related  in  the  romance  of  Perceforest,” 
vol.  iii.  (^See  Morgan.) 

Morgan'te.  A ferocious  giant,  con- 
verted by  Orlando  to  Christianity.  After 
performing  the  most  wonderful  feats,  he 
died  at  last  from  the  bite  of  a crab.  (See 
lelow.) 

Morgante  Maggio're.  A serio- 
comic romance  in  verse,  by  Pulci,  of 
Florence  (1494).  He  was  the  inventor  of 
this  species  of  poetry,  called  by  the 
French  bernesque,  from  Berni,  who  greatly 
excelled  in  it. 

Morgia'na.  The  clever,  faithful, 
female  slave  of  Ali  Baba,  who  pries  into 
the  forty  jars,  and  discovers  that  all  but 
one  contains  a man.  She  takes  oil 
from  the  only  one  containing  it,  and 
having  made  it  boiling  hot,  pours 
enough  into  each  jar  to  kill  the  thief 
concealed  there.  At  last  she  kills  the 
captain  of  the  gang,  and  marries  her 
master's  son. — ^*Arab{a7i  Nights^^  (Ali 
Babay  or  the  Forty  Thieves) . 

Morgue  la  Faye,  who  watched  over 
the  birth  of  Ogier  the  Dane,  and  after  he 
had  finished  his  earthly  career  restored 
him  to  perpetual  youth,  and  took  him  to 
live  with  her  in  everlasting  love  in  the 
isle  and  castle  of  Av'alon.  (See  Morgan.) 
— Ogier  le  DanoW  (a  7'omance). 

Moriso'nianism.  The  religious 
system  of  James  Morison,  the  chief 
peculiarities  being  the  doctrines  of  uni- 
versal atonement,  and  the  ability  of 
man  unaided  to  receive  or  reject  the 
Gospel. 

Morley  (Mrs.).  The  name  under 
which  queen  Anne  corresponded  with 
Mrs.  Freeman  (iAe  duchessof  Marlborough). 

Morma,  in  Pepys’  Diary,”  is  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  John  Dickens,  who 
died  October  22nd,  1662. 

Mormon.  The  last  of  a pretended 
line  of  Hebrew  prophets,  and  the  pre- 
tended author  of  “The  Book  of  Mor- 
mon,” or  Golden  Bible,  written  on  golden 
plates.  This  work  was  in  reality  written 
by  the  Rev.  Solomon  Spalding,  but  was 
claimed  by  Joseph  Smith  as  a direct 


revelation  from  heaven  to  himself.  Spal- 
ding died  1816  ; Smith,  1844. 

Mormon  Creed.  (1)  God  is  a per- 
son with  the  form  and  flesh  of  man.  (2) 
Man  is  a part  of  the  substance  of  God, 
and  will  himself  become  a god.  (3)  Man 
was  not  created  by  God,  but  existed  from 
all  eternity,  and  will  never  cease  to  exist. 
(4)  There  is  no  such  thing  as  original  or 
birth  sin.  (5)  The  earth  is  only  one  of 
many  inhabited  spheres.  (6)  God  is 
president  of  men  made  gods,  angels, 
good  men,  and  spirits  waiting  to  receive 
a tabernacle  of  flesh.  (7)  Man’s  house- 
hold of  wives  is  his  kingdom  not  for 
earth  only,  but  also  in  his  future  state. 
(8)  Mormonism  is  the  kingdom  of  God 
on  earth. — W.  He'pim'th  Dixon,  Neio 
America,'^  i.  24. 

Mormonism.  The  religious  and 
social  system  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  ; 
so  called  from  their  gospel,  termed  “The 
Book  of  Mormon.”  Joe  Smith,  the 
founder  of  the  system,  was  born  in 
Sharon,  Windsor  county,  Vermont ; his 
partner  was  Rigdon.  The  manuscript 
which  he  declared  to  be  written  on  gold 
plates,  was  a novel  written  by  Spalding. 
He  was  cited  thirty-nine  times  into 
courts  of  law,  and  was  at  last  assassi- 
nated by  a gang  of  ruffians  who  broke 
into  his  prison  at  Carthage,  and  shot 
him  like  a dog.  His  wife’s  name  was 
Emma  ; he  lived  at  Nauvoo,  in  Illinois  ; 
his  successor  is  Brigham  Young,  a car- 
penter hy  trade,  who  led  the  “saints” 
(as  the  Mormons  are  called),  driven  from 
home  by  force,  to  the  valley  of  the  Salt 
Lake,  1,500  miles  distant,  generally 
called  Utah,  but  by  the  Mormons  them- 
selves Deseret  (Bee-country),  the  New 
Jerusalem.  Abraham  is  their  model 
man,  and  Sarai  their  model  woman,  and 
English  the  one  language  which  all  the 
saints  must  speak.  Young’s  house  is 
called  the  Bee-hive.  Every  man,  woman, 
and  child  capable  of  work  has  a work  to 
do  in  this  busy  hive.  The  schism  of  the 
Mormon  party  was  led  by  Emma  the 
prophet’s  widow,  and  her  sons  of  Joe 
Smith,  on  account  of  polygamy.  The 
schismatics  call  themselves  Josephites. 

Morning  Star  of  the  Reforma- 
tion. John  Wycliife.  (1324-1384.) 

Morocco.  The  name  of  Banks’s 
bay  horse.  (^See  Banks  and  Horse.) 

Morocco.  Strong  ale  made  from  burnt 


MOEOS. 


MORTE  D’ ARTHUR, 


595 


malt,  used  in  the  annual  feast  at  Seven- 
halls,  Westmoreland  (the  seat  of  the 
Hon.  Mary  Howard),  on  the  opening  of 
Milnthorpe  fair.  This  liquour  is  put  into 
a large  glass  of  unique  form,  and  the 
person  whose  turn  it  is  to  drink  is  called 
the  “ colt.”  He  is  required  to  stand  on 
one  leg,  and  say  ^‘Luck  to  Sevens  as 
long  as  Kent  flows,”  then  drain  the  glass 
to  the  bottom,  or  forfeit  one  shilling. 
The  act  is  termed  “drinking  the  con- 
stable.” The  feast  consists  of  radishes, 
oaten  cake  and  butter. 

Moros.  The  fool  in  the  play  entitled 

The  longer  thou  Livest  the  more  Fool 
thou  art,”  by  William  Wager. 

Morpheus  (2  syl.,  the  Shaper).  Son 
of  Sleep,  and  god  of  dreams ; so  called 
because  he  gives  these  airy  nothings 
their  form  and  fashion. 

Morrel.  One  of  the  shepherds  in 
the  ‘‘Shepherds’  Calendar,”  by  Spenser. 

Morrice  {Gil  or  Child).  The  natural 
son  of  an  earl  and  the  wife  of  lord  Bar- 
nard or  John  Stewart,  “brought  forth  in 
her  father’s  house  wi’  mickle  sin  and 
shame,”  and  brought  up  “in  the  gude 
grene  wode.”  One  day  he  sent  Willie  to 
the  baron’s  hall,  requesting  his  mother 
to  come  without  delay  to  Greenwood,  and 
by  way  of  token  sent  with  him  a “gay 
mantel”  made  by  herself.  Willie  went 
into  the  dinner-hall,  and  blurted  out  his 
message  before  all  who  were  present, 
adding,  “and  U^ere  is  the  silken  sarke, 
your  ain  hand  sewd  the  sleive.”  Lord 
Barnard  thinking  the  child  to  be  a para- 
mour of  his  wife,  forbade  her  to  leave 
the  hall,  and  riding  himself  to  Greenwood 
slew  Morrice  with  a broadsword,  and 
setting  his  head  on  a spear  gave  it  to 
“the  meanest  man  in  a’  his  train”  to 
carry  to  the  lady.  When  the  baron  re- 
turned lady  Barnard  said  to  him,  “ Wi’ 
that  same  spear,  0 pierce  my  heart,  and 
put  me  out  o’  pain but  the  baron  re- 
plied, “Enouch  of  blood  by  me’s  bin 
spilt,  sair,  sair  I rew  the  deid,”  adding — 
I’ll  ay  lament  for  Gil  Morice 
As  gin  he  were  mine  ain  ; 

I’ll  neir  forget  the  dreiry  day 
On  which  the  zouth  was  slain. 

'*Relique8  of  Ancient  English  Poetry^'  ser.  iii  1. 

Dr.  Percy  says  this  pathetic  tale  sug- 
gested to  Home  the  plot  of  “ Douglas  ” 
(a  tragedy). 

^ Morris  {Mr.).  Frank  Osbaldistone’s 
timid  fellow-traveller,  who  carried  a 


portmanteau.  Osbaldistone  says  of  him 
— “Of  all  the  propensities  which  teach 
mankind  to  torment  themselves,  that  of 
causeless  fear  is  the  most  irritating,  busy, 
painful,  and  pitiable.”— Walter  Scott, 
“ Rob  Rop.” 

Morris  Dance,  brought  to  England 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  when  John 
of  Gaunt  returned  from  Spain.  In  the 
dance,  bells  were  jingled,  and  staves  or 
swords  clashed.  It  was  a military  dance 
of  the  Moors  or  Moriscoes,  in  which  five 
men  and  a boy  engaged ; the  boy  wore  a 
morione  or  head -piece,  and  was  called 
Mad  Morion.  The  Maid  Marian  is  a 
corruption  of  Mad  Morion. 

Morse  Alphabet.  An  alphabet 
used  in  telegraphic  messages,  invented 
by  Professor  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  right-hand  deflection  of 
the  electric  needle  corresponds  to  a dash, 
and  the  left-hand  to  a dot,  and  by  means 
of  dashes  and  dots  every  word  may  be 
spelt  at  length.  Military  signalling  is  per- 
formed in  England  by  short  and  long 
flashes  of  a flag  or  some  other  instrument ; 
the  short  flash  corresponds  with  the  dot, 
and  the  long  with  the  dash.  The  follow- 
ing ten  varieties  will  show  how  these  two 
symbols  are  capable  of  endless  combina- 
tions, • I ••  I ...  I ....  I i - I — I 

-•  I ••-I--*  I &c. 

Mortal.  I saw  a mortal  lot  of  people 
— f.e.,  a vast  number.  Mortal  is  the 
French  a mort,  as  in  the  sentence,  “ II  y 
avait  du  monde  h mort.”  Legonidec 
says,  “ Ce  mot  (mort)  ne  s’emploie 
jamais  au  propre,  mais  seulement  au 
figure,  avec  la  signification  de  multitude, 
grand  nombre,  foule.” 

Mortar  Board.  A college  cap.  A 
corruption  of  the  French  mortier,  the  cap 
worn  by  the  ancient  kings  of  France,  and 
still  used  officially  by  the  chief  justice  or 
president  of  the  court  of  justice.  As  a 
college  cap  has  a square  board  on  the 
top,  the  mortier-board  was  soon  trans- 
formed into  mortar-board. 

Morte  d’Artliiir,  compiled  by  Sir 
Thomas  Malony,  from  French  originals ; 
edited  by  Southey,  the  poet  laureate. 
The  compilation  contains — 

The  Prophecies  of  Merlin. 

The  Quest  of  the  St.  Graal. 

The  Romance  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  tho 
Lake. 


mm2 


596 


MORTHER. 


MOTHER  BUNCH. 


The  History  of  Sir  Tristam  ; &c.  &c. 

Tennyson  has  a ‘‘Morte  d’ Arthur’^ 
among  his  poems. 

Morther.  Welly  Movy  where  have  you 
teen  this  long  while  1 (Norfolk).  Psy, 
Morther y come  hither!  (Norfolk).  Mor  or 
Morther  means  a lass,  a wench.  It  is  the 
Dutch  moer  (a  woman).  In  Norfolk  they 
call  a lad  a 6or,  from  the  Dutch  hoer  (a 
farmer),  English  hoor.  ‘‘  W ell,  bor !”  and 

Well,  mor  !”  are  to  be  heard  daily  in 
every  part  of  the  county. 

When  once  a giggling  morther  you. 

And  1 a red-faced,  chubby  boy. 

Sly  tricks  you  played  me  not  a few. 

For  miscbief  was  your  greatest  joy. 

Bloomfield^  “ Richard  and  Kate.** 

Mor'timer.  So  called  from  an  an- 
cestor in  crusading  times,  noted  for  his 
exploits  on  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea 
(de  Mortuo  Mari'), 

Mortstone.  He  may  remove  MorU 
ztone.  A Devonshire  proverb,  said  in- 
credulously of  husbands  who  pretend  to 
be  masters  of  their  wives.  Mort-bay  is 
stopped  up  with  a huge  rock  called 
Mortstone.  It  also  means  ‘'If  you  have 
done  what  you  say,  you  can  accomplish 
anything.” 

Morven.  Fingal’s  realm  ; probably 
Argyleshire  and  its  neighbourhood. 

Mo'sa-saur.  The  lizard  of  the  Mosa 
or  Meuse ; an  extinct  gigantic  saurian 
first  discovered  in  the  chalk  on  the  banks 
of  the  Meuse. 

Mosaic  Work  is  not  connected 
with  the  proper  name  Moses,  but  is  the 
Latin  opws  muse'um  or  musivumy  through 
the  French  mosaiquey  Italian  mosaico, 
Pliny  says  it  was  so  called  because  these 
tesselated  floors  were  first  used  in  the 
grottoes  consecrated  to  the  Muses  (xxxv. 
21,  s.  42).  The  most  famous  workman 
in  mosaic  work  was  Sosus  of  Per'gamos, 
who  wrought  the  rich  pavement  in  the 
common-hall,  called  Asaroton  cecon. — 
Pliny,  Natural  History,*  xxxvi.  25. 

Moscow.  So  called  from  the  river 
Moscowa,  on  which  it  is  built. 

The  Monarch  of  Moscow.  A large  bell 
weighing  193  tons,  21  feet  high,  and  21 
feet  in  diameter. 

Mosen  (Spanish).  A corruption  of 
, Mio  Seuoi*,  corresponding  to  the  Castilian 
Don. 


Moses  Primrose.  Son  of  the 
Dr.  Primrose,  very  green,  and  with  as. 
good  opinion  of  himself.  He  is  chiefly 
known  for  his  wonderful  bargain  with  a 
Jew  at  the  neighbouring  fair,  when  he- 
gave  a good  horse  in  exchange  for  a gross 
of  worthless  green  spectacles,  with  tor- 
toise-shell rims  and  shagreen  cases. 

Moses’  Pod.  So  the  divining  rod 
was  usually  called.  The  divining  rod 
was  employed  to  discover  water  or  mine- 
ral treasure.  In  “Blackwood’s  Maga- 
zine” (May,  1850)  we  are  told  that  no- 
body sinks  a well  in  North  Somerset- 
shire without  consulting  the  jowser  (a-s 
the  rod  diviner  is  called).  The  abbd 
Richard  is  stated  in  the  “ Monde  ” to  be 
an  extremely  expert  diviner  of  water,, 
and  amongst  others  discovered  the 
“ Christmas  Fountain”  on  M.  de  Metter- 
nich’s  estate,  in  1863.  In  the  “ Quarterly 
Review”  (No.  44)  we  have  an  account  of 
lady  Noel’s  divining  skill.  («S>ce  “ World 
of  Wonders,”  pt.  ix.,  p,  283j 

Moslem  or  Moslemin,  Plural  of 
Mussulman,  sometimes  written  Mussul- 
mans. The  word  is  Turkish,  and  mean& 
true  believer, 

Mosse.  Napping,  as  Mosse  took  hw^ 
mare.  Wilbraham  says  Mosse  took  his- 
mare  napping,  because  he  could'  not- 
catch  her  when  awake. 

Mosstrooper.  A robber,  a bandit.. 
The  marauders  who  infested  the  borders 
of  England  and  Scotland  were  so  called 
because  they  encamped  on  the  mosses. 

Moth.  Page  to  Don  Adrian©  de 
Arma'do,  all  jest  and  playfulness,  cunning: 
and  versatile. — Shakespeare,  Love* s La-- 
bour*s  Lost.” 

Mother.  Mother  and  head  Of  all 
Churches.  So  is  St.  John  Lateran  of 
Rome  called.  It  occupies  the  site  of  the 
splendid  palace  of  Plantius  Latera'nus,, 
which  escheated  to  the  crown  from  trea- 
son, and  was  given  to  the  Church  by  the- 
emperor  Constantine.  From  the  balcony 
of  this  church  the  pope  blesses  the  people 
of  the  whole  world. 

Mother  Ann.  Ann  Lee,  the 
“spiritual  mother”  of  the  Shakers.. 
(1735-1784.) 

I Mother  Bunch.  (1)  Mother  Bunch 
1 whose  fairy  tales  are  notorious*.  These 


MOTHER  CAREY’S  CHICKENS. 


MOTH  PROPRIO, 


597 


tales  are  in  ■'^Pasquil’s  Jests,”  with  the 
Merriments  of  Mother  Bunch.  (1653. ) 

(2)  The  other  Mother  Bunch  is  called 

Mother  Bunch’s  Closet  Newly  Broke 
•Open,”  containing  rare  secrets  of  art 
and  nature,  tried  and  experienced  by 
learned  philosophers,  and  recommended 
to  all  ingenious  young  men  and  maids, 
teaching  them  how  to  get  good  wives 
3i»nd  husbands.  (1760.) 

Mother  Carey’s  Chickens. 

Stormy  petrels.  Mother  Carey  is  Maier 
Cara,  The  French  call  these  birds 
oiseaux  de  Notre  Dame,  or  ams  SaQicioe 
Marice,  Chickens  are  the  young  of  any 
fowl,  or  any  small  bird. 

Mother  Carey's  Goose.  The  great  Black 
Petrel  or  gigantic  Fulmar  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

Mother  Carey  is  'pinching  her  goose, 
It  is  snowing.  {See  Hulda.) 

Mother-Country.  One’s  native 
eountry,  but  the  term  applies  specially  to 
England,  in  relation  to  America  and  the 
colonies.  The  inhabitants  of  North 
America,  Australia,  &c.,  are  for  the 
most  part  descendants  of  English  parents, 
and  therefore  England  may  be  termed 
the  mother -country.  The  Germans  call 
their  native  country  Fatherland, 

Mother  Douglas.  A noted  pro- 
curess, introduced,  in  ‘'The  Minor,”  by 
Foote.  She  also  figures  in  Hogarth’s 
“ March  to  Finchley.”  Mother  Douglas 
resided  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Covent 
Garden  ; her  house  was  superbly  fur- 
nished and  decorated.  She  grew  very 
fat,  and  with  pious  up-turned  eyes  used 
to  pray  for  the  safe  return  of  her  “babes” 
from  battle.  She  died  1761. 

Mother  Goose.  A name  associated 
with  nursery  rhymes.  She  was  born  in 
Boston,  and  her  eldest  daughter  Eliza- 
beth married  Thomas  Fleet,  the  printer. 
Mrs.  Groose  used  to  sing  the  rhymes  to 
her  grandson,  and  Thomas  Fleet  printed 
the  first  edition  in  1719. 

Mother  Hubbard.  The  old  lady 
whose  whole  time  seems  to  have  been 
■devoted  to  her  dog,  who  always  kept  her 
on  the  trot,  and  always  made  game  of 
her.  Her  temper  was  proof  against  this 
wilfulness  on  the  part  of  her  dog,  and 
her  politeness  never  forsook  her,  for  when 
she  saw  Master  Doggie  dressed  in  his 
fiae  clothes— 


The  dame  made  a curtsey,  the  dog  made  a how ; 

The  dame  said  "Your  eervaut,”  the  dog  said 
“ Bow-wow.” 

Mother  Shipton  lived  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  VIII.,  and  was  famous  for  her 
prophecies  in  which  she  foretold  the 
death  of  Wolsey,  lord  Percy,  &c.,  and 
many  wonderful  events  of  the  future 
times.  All  her  “prophecies”  are  still 
extant. 

Mother-wit.  Native  wit ; a ready 
reply  ; the  wit  which  “ our  mother  gave 
us.”  In  ancient  authors,  the  term  is  used 
to  express  a ready  reply,  courteous  but 
not  profound.  Thus,  when  Louis  XIV. 
expressed  some  anxiety  lest  Polignac 
should  be  inconvenienced  by  a shower  of 
falling  rain,  the  mother-wit  of  the  car- 
dinal replied  “ It  is  nothing,  I assure 
your  Majesty ; the  rain  of  Marly  never 
makes  us  wet.” 

Mother  of  Believers.  Ay-€-shah, 
the  second  and  favourite  wife  of  Maho- 
met; so  called  because  Mahomet  being 
the  “Father  of  Believers,”  his  wife  of 
wives  was  Mother  of  Believers. 

Mother  of  Books.  Alexandria  was 
so  called  from  its  library,  which  was  the 
largest  ever  collected  before  the  inven- 
tion of  printing. 

Mother  of  Cities  (Arm-al-Bnlud), 
Balkh  is  so  called. 

Mother  of  Pearl.  The  shells  of  a 
bivalve  mollusc,  which  also  produces  the 
precious  pearls. 

Mother  of  the  Gracchi.  A hard, 
strong-minded,  rigid  woman,  without  one 
soft  point  or  effeminate  weakness.  Al- 
ways in  the  right,  and  maintaining  her 
right  with  the  fortitude  of  a martyr. 

Mothering  Sunday  is  Mid-Lent,  a 
great  holiday,  when  the  Pope  blesses  the 
golden  rose,  and  children  go  home  to 
their  mothers  to  feast  on  “ mothering- 
cakes.”  It  is  said  that  the  day  received 
its  appellation  from  the  ancient  custom 
of  visiting  their  “mother-church,”  and 
making  offerings  on  the  altar  on  that 
day. 

Motley.  Men  of  Motley.  Licensed 
fools  ; so  called  because  of  their  dress-. 

Motley  is  the  only  wear. 

Shakespeare,  *‘A8  You  Like  It,'*  ii.  7, 

Motu  Pro'prio.  A law  brought  in 
by  Consal'vi,  to  abolish  monopolies  in 
the  Papal  states  (1757). 


508 


MOUCHAKD. 


MOURNING. 


Mouchard  {French).  A spy,  ^'qui 
fait  comme  les  mouches,  qui  voient  si 
bien  sans  en  avoir  I’air.”  At  the  close 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  those  petits- 
maitres  who  frequented  the  Tuileries  to 
see  and  be  seen  were  called  mouchards 
(fly-men).  — ^^Dictionnaire  Etymologique 
de  Manage'* 

Mound.  The  largest  artificial  mound 
in  Europe  is  Silbury  Hill,  near  Avebury 
(Wiltshire).  It  covers  5 acres  34  perches, 
measures  at  the  base  2,027  feet;  its  dia- 
meter at  top  is  120  feet ; its  slope  is  316 
feet ; perpendicular  height,  107  feet ; 
and  it  is  altogether  the  most  stupendous 
monument  of  human  labour  in  the 
world. 

Alyattes,  in  Asia  Minor,  described  by 
Herodotus,  is  somewhat  larger  than 
Silbury  Hill. 

Mount  Zion.  The  Celestial  City  or 
heaven. — Bunyan,  Pilgrim's  Progress." 

I am  come  from  the  City  of  Destruction,  and  am 
I going  to  Mount  Zion.  (Parti.) 

Mountain  {The)  or  Montagnards. 
The  extreme  democratical  party  in  the 
first  French  Revolution ; so  called  because 
they  seated  tliemselves  on  the  highest 
benches  of  the  hall  in  which  the  National 
Convention  met.  Their  leaders  were 
Danton  and  Robespierre,  but  under  them 
were  Marat,  Couthon,  Thuriot,  St.  Andre, 
Legendre,  Camille-Desmoulins,  Carnot, 
St.  Just,  and  Collot  d’Herbois,  the  men 
who  introduced  the  Reign  of  Terror.” 
Extreme  radicals  are  still  called  in  France 
the  ‘‘mountain  party”  or  “montag- 
nards.” 

Old  Man  of  the  Mountain.  Imaum 
Hassan  ben  Sabbah  el  Homairi.  The 
sheik  A1  J ebal  was  so  called,  because  his 
residence  was  in  the  mountain  fastnesses 
of  Syria.  He  was  the  prince  of  a Ma- 
hometan sect  called  Assassins  {q.v.),  and 
founder  of  a dynasty  in  Syria,  put  an  end 
to  by  the  Monguls  in  the  twelfth  century. 
In  Rymer’s  “ Foedera”  (vol.  i.)  two 
letters  of  this  sheik  are  inserted.  It  is 
not  the  province  of  this  “Book  of 
Fables”  to  dispute  their  genuineness. 

If  the  mountain  will  not  come  to  Maho- 
met, Mahomet  m\ist  go  to  the  mountain.  If 
what  I seek  will  not  come  to  me  without 
my  stir,  I must  exert  myself  to  obtain  it ; 
if  we  cannot  do  as  we  wish,  we  must  do 
as  we  can.  When  Mahomet  first  an- 
nounced his  system,  the  Arabs  demanded 
supernatural  proofs  of  his  commission. 


“Moses  and  Jesus,”  said  they,  “wrought 
miracles  in  testimony  of  their  divine 
authority;  and  if  thou  art  indeed  the 
prophet  of  God,  do  so  likewise.”  To  this 
Mahomet  replied,  “ It  would  be  tempting 
God  to  do  so,  and  bring  down  his  anger, 
as  in  the  case  of  Pharaoh.”  Not  satisfied 
with  this  answer,  he  commanded  mount 
Safa  to  come  to  him,  and  when  it  stirred 
not  at  his  bidding,  exclaimed  “God  is 
merciful.  Had  it  obeyed  my  words  it 
would  have  fallen  on  us  to  our  destruc- 
tion. I will  therefore  go  to  the  moun- 
tain, and  thank  God  that  he  has  had 
mercy  on  a stiff-necked  generation.” 

The  mountain  in  labour.  A mighty  ef- 
fort made  for  a small  effect.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  celebrated  line  of  Horace,  “ Par- 
turiunt  montes,  nasce'tur  ridiculus  mus,” 
which  Creech  translates,  “The  travail- 
ing mountain  yields  a silly  mouse  ;”  and 
Boileau,  “La  montagne  en  travail  en- 
fant e une  souris.” 

Mountain-dew.  Whisky. 

Mountain  of  Terrors.  The 
Schreckhorn,  in  the  Bernese  Alps. 

Mourning. 

Blade.  To  express  the  privation  of 
light  and  joy,  the  midnight  gloom  of 
sorrow  for  the  loss  sustained.  The  colour 
of  mourning  in  Europe.  It  was  also  the 
colour  of  mourning  in  ancient  Greece 
and  in  the  Roman  empire. 

Blade  and  lohite  stripped.  To  express 
sorrow  and  hope.  The  mourning  of  the 
South-Sea  Islanders. 

Greyish  broivn.  The  colour  of  the 
earth,  to  which  the  dead  return.  The 
colour  of  mourning  in  Ethiopia. 

Pale  brown.  The  colour  of  withered 
leaves.  The  mourning  of  Persia. 

Sky-blue.  To  express  the  assured  hope 
that  the  deceased  is  gone  to  heaven.  The 
colour  of  mourning  in  Syria,  Cappadocia, 
Armenia,  and  Turkey. 

Deep  blue,  in  Bokha'ra,  is  the  colour  of 
mourning  (Hanway).  The  Romans  in 
the  Republic  wore  dark  blue  for  mourn^ 
ing. 

Purple  and  violet.  To  express  royalty, 
“ kings  and  priests  to  God.”  The  colour 
of  mourning  for  cardinals  and  the  kings 
of  France.  Some  say  the  purple  signi- 
fies the  “ blue”  or  aristocratic  blood  of 
the  deceased.  The  colour  of  mourning 
in  Turkey  is  violet. 

White.  Emblem  of  “white-handed 


MOURNIVAL, 


MUCH  ADO  ABOUT  NOTHING.  599 


hope.”  The  colour  of  mourning  in  China. 
Henry  VIII.  wore  ivhite  for  Anne  Boleyn. 
The  ladies  of  ancient  Rome  and  Sparta 
wore  white  for  mourning.  It  was  the 
colour  of  mourning  in  Spain  till  1498. 
In  England  it  is  still  customary,  in  several 
of  the  provinces,  to  wear  white  silk  hat- 
bands for  the  unmarried. 

Yellow.  The  sear  and  yellow  leaf.  The 
colour  of  mourning  in  Egypt  and  in  Bur- 
mah,  where  also  it  is  the  colour  of  the 
monastic  order.  In  Brittany,  widows’ 
caps  among  the  'paysannes  are  yellow. 
Anne  Boleyn  wore  yellow  mourning  for 
Catharine  of  Aragon.  Some  say  yellow 
is  in  token  of  exaltation. 

Mournival.  Four  cards  all  alike, 
as  four  aces,  four  kings,  &c.,  in  a game 
of  cards  called  Gleek.  Gleek  is  three 
cards  alike. 

A moumival  of  aces,  gleek  of  knaves, 

J use  nine  a -piece. 

Albumazar”  act  iii.,  8.  5. 

Poole  in  his  English  Parnassus  ” called 
the  four  elements  Nature' s first  mournival. 

Mouse  Tower,  on  the  Rhine,  said 
to  be  so  called  because  bishop  Hatto 
{q.vi)  was  there  devoured  by  mice.  The 
tower,  however,  was  built  by  bishop  Sieg- 
fried, 200  years  after  the  death  of  bishop 
Hatto,  as  a toll-house  for  collecting  the 
duties  upon  all  goods  which  passed  by. 
The  word  mans  or  ma^^th  means  toll,” 
and  the  toll  collected  on  corn  being  very 
unpopular,  gave  rise  to  the  tradition  re- 
ferred to,  and  the  catastrophe  was  fixed 
on  bishop  Hatto,  a noted  statesman  and 
councillor  of  Otho  the  Great,  proverbial 
for  his  cunning  perfidy. 

Moussa.  Moses. 

Moussali.  A Persian  musician. 
Haroun  al  Raschid  was  going  to  divorce 
his  late  favourite  Maridah  or  Marinda, 
but  the  poet  Moussali  sang  some  verses 
to  him  which  so  touched  his  heart,  that 
he  went  in  search  of  the  lady  and  made 
peace  with  her. — U Herhelot. 

Mouth.  God  of  the  dead ; the  Hades 
or  Pluto  of  classic  story. — Syrian  my^ 
thology. 

Moutons.  Revenons  d nos  moutons. 
Return  we  to  our  subject.  The  phrase  is 
taken  from  an  old  French  play,  called 
‘‘L’Avocat,”  by  Patelin,  in  which  a 
woollen-draper  charges  a shepherd  with 
stealing  sheep.  In  telling  his  grievance 
he  kept  for  ever  running  away  from  his 


subject;  and  to  throw  discredit  on  the 
defendant’s  attorney,  accused  him  of 
stealing  a piece  of  cloth.  The  judge  had 
to  pull  him  up  every  moment  with  ‘‘Mais, 
mon  ami,  revenons  h nos  moutons  ” (what 
about  the  sheep,  tell  me  about  the  sheep, 
now  return  to  the  story  of  the  sheep). 

Moving  the  World.  Give  me  where 
to  stand,  and  I will  move  the  world.  So 
said  Archime'des  of  Syracuse ; and  the  in- 
strument he  would  have  used  was  the  lever. 

Mowis.  The  bridegroom  of  snow^ 
who  (according  to  American-Indian  tra- 
dition) wooed  and  won  a beautiful  bride  ; 
but  when  morning  dawned,  Mowis  left 
the  wigwam,  and  melted  into  the  sun- 
shine. The  bride  hunted  for  him  night 
and  day  in  the  forests,  but  never  saw 
him  more. 

Mozaide  (2  syl.)  or  Monzaida.  The 

Moor,”  settled  in  Calicut,  who  be- 
friended Vasco  de  Gama  when  he  first 
landed  on  the  Indian  Continent. 

The  Moor  attends,  Mozaide,  whose  zealous  care 

To  Gama’s  eyes  revealed  each  treacherous  snare. 

Camoens,  “ Luciad,’*  bk.  ix. 

Much.  The  miller,  in  Robin  Hood 
dances,  whose  great  feat  was  to  bang 
with  a bladder  of  peas  the  heads  of  the 
gaping  spectators. 

Much  Ado  about  INothing.  The 
plot  is  from  a novel  of  Belleforest,  copied 
horn  one  by  Bandello  (18th  Vol.  vi,). 
There  is  a story  resembling  it  in  Ariosto’s 
‘‘Orlando  Furioso,”  book  v. ; another  in 
the  “ Geneura  ” of  Turberville ; and 
Spenser  has  a similar  one  in  the  “ Faery 
Queen,”  book  ii.,  canto  4. 

Much  Ado  about  Nothing.  After  a war 
in  Messina,  Claudio,  Benedick,  and  some 
other  soldiers  went  to  visit  Leonato  the 
governor,  when  the  former  fell  in  love 
with  Hero  the  governor’s  daughter  ; but 
Benedick  and  Beatrice,  being  great  rattle- 
pates,  fell  to  jesting,  and  each  positively 
disliked  the  other.  By  a slight  artifice 
their  hatred  was  converted  into  love,  and 
Beatrice  was  betrothed  to  the  Paduan 
lord.  In  regard  to  Hero,  the  day  of  her 
nuptials  was  fixed;  but  don  John,  who 
hated  Claudio  and  Leonato,  induced  Mar- 
garet, the  lady’s  maid,  to  dress  up  like  her 
mistress,  and  to  talk  familiarly  with  one 
Borachio,  a servant  of  don  J ohn’s ; and 
while  this  chit-chat  was  going  on,  the  don 
led  Claudio  and  Leonato  to  overhear  it. 
Each  thought  it  to  be  Hero,  and  when 


600 


MUCIANA  CAUTIO. 


MULLA. 


she  appeared  as  a bride  next  morning  at 
church,  they  both  denounced  her  as  a light 
woman.  The  friar,  being  persuaded  that 
there  was  some  mistake,  induced  Hero 
to  retire,  and  gave  out  that  she  was  dead, 
Leonato  now  challenged  Claudio  for 
being  the  cause  of  Hero’s  death,  and 
Benedick,  urged  on  by  Beatrice,  did  the 
same.  At  this  crisis  Borachio  was  ar- 
rested, and  confessed  the  trick  ; don  John 
fled,  the  mystery  was  duly  cleared  up, 
and  the  two  lords  married  the  two  ladies. 

Mucia'na  Cau'tio.  A law- quirk, 
so  called  from  Mu'cius  Scse'vola,  a Homan 
pontifex,  and  the  most  learned  of  jurists. 

MucTilebackit.  Els'peth  MxickU- 
hacJcit,  mother  of  Saunders. 

Little  Jenny  MucklebacJcit,  child  of 
Saunders. 

Maggie  MxicTdehaclcit,  wife  of  Saunders.- 

Saunders  MurMehackit,  the  old  fisher- 
man at  Musslecrag. 

Steenie  Mucklebackity  eldest  son  of 
Saunders  (drowned). — Sir  Walter  Scott, 

The  Antiguary'" 

MucJilewrath.  Habakkuk  Muckle- 
wrath,  A fanatic  preacher. — Sir  Walter 
Scotty  Old  Mortality.^' 

John  Mucklewrath.  Smith  at  Cairn- 
vreckan  village.  Dame  Mucklewrath,  his 
wife,  is  a perfect  virago. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  ^‘Waverley,” 

Mudar'ra.  Son  of  a Moorish  princess 
and  Gonial o Bustos  de  Salas  de  Lara, 
who  murdered  his  uncle  Rodri'go  while 
hunting,  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  seven 
half-brothers.  {See  Lara — The  Seven 
Infants  of.) 

Muffins  and  Crumpets.  Muffins 
is  'pain-inovffiet.  Du  Cange  describes  the 
panis  mofletus  as  bread  of  a more  delicate 
nature  than  ordinary,  for  the  use  of  pre- 
bends, &c.,  and  says  it  was  made  fresh 
every  day.  Crumpets  is  crxunple-ettes, 
cakes  with  little  crumples. 

Muffci.^  We  went  in  mufti— OMi  of 
uniform,  incog. 

The  French  say  en  pekln,  and  French 
soldiers  call  civilians  'pekins.  An  officer 
who  had  kept  Talleyrand  waiting,  said 
be  had  been  detained  by  some  pekins. 
‘‘What  are  they?”  asked  Talleyrand. 
“Oh,”  said  the  officer,  “we  call  every- 
body who  is  not  military  a pekin.”  “ And 
we,”  siaid  Talleyrand,  “ call  everybody 


military  that  is  not  civiV'  Mufti  is  an 
Eastern  word  signifying  a priest. 

Mug-house.  An  ale-house  was  so 
called  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Some 
hundred  persons  assembled  in  a large 
tap-room  to  drink,  sing,  and  spout.  One 
of  the  number  was  made  chairman.  Ale 
was  served  to  the  guests  in  their  own 
mugs,  and  the  place  where  the  mug  was 
to  stand  was  chalked  on  the  table. 

Muggins . A small  borough  magnate, 
a village  leader.  To  mug  is  to  drink, 
and  Mr.  Muggins  is  Mr.  Drinker. 

Muggleto'nian.  A follower  of  one 
Lodovic  Muggleton,  a journeyman  tailor, 
who,  about  1651,  set  up  for  a prophet. 
He  was  sentenced  to  stand  in  the  pillory 
and  was  fined  £500. 

Muggy  means  half  stupid  with  beer 
and  tobacco-smoke.  Mug-houses  were 
ale-houses  {q.v.).  (Gaelic,  muig,  cloudi- 
ness ; Welsh,  mygu,  to  smoke;  British, 
mougu,  to  suffocate.  Legonidec  says, 
“ Mouguz,  etouffant,  qui  rend  la  respira- 
tion difficile.”) 

Mulat'to  {Spanish'),  A mule,  a mon- 
grel ; applied  to  the  offspring  of  a negress 
by  a white  man,  or  of  a white  woman  by 
a negro. 

Muleiber— t.tf.,  Vulcan.  It  is  said 
that  he  took  the  part  of  Juno  against 
J upiter,  and  J upiter  hurled  him  out  of 
heaven.  He  was  three  days  in  falling, 
and  at  last  was  picked  up  half  dead  and 
with  one  leg  broken,  by  the  fishermen  of 
the  island  of  Lemnos.  {See  Milton, 
“ Paradise  Lost,”  bk.  i.) 

Mule.  Mahomet’s  favourite  white 
mule  was  Daldah.  {See  Fadda.) 

Mull.  To  make  a mull  of  a job  is  to 
fail  to  do  it  properly.  The  failure  of  a 
peg-top  to  spin  is  called  a mull,  hence 
also  any  blunder  or  failure.  (Scotch, 
midl,  dust,  or  a contraction  of  muddle.) 
The  people  of  Madras  are  called  “ Mulls,” 
because  they  are  in  a less  advanced  state 
of  civilisation  than  the  other  two  presi- 
dencies, in  consequence  of  which  they 
are  held  by  them  in  low  estimation. 

Mulla.  Awbeg,  a tributary  of  the 
Black  water,  in  Ireland,  which  flowed 
close  by  Spenser’s  home.  Spenser  is 
called  by  Shenstone  “ The  bard  of  Mulla’s 
silver  stream.” 


MULREADY  ENVELOPE. 


MUNGO. 


601 


Mulread'y  Envelope  is  an  enve- 
lope resembling  a half-sheet  of  letter- 
paper,  when  folded.  The  space  left  for 
the  address  formed  the  centre  of  an 
ornamental  design  by  Mulready,  the 
artist.  When  the  penny  postage  en- 
velopes were  first  introduced,  these  were 
the  stamped  envelopes  of  the  day. 

Multipliers.  Alchemists,  who  pre- 
tended to  multiply  gold  and  silver.  An 
act  was  passed  (2  Henry  IV.,  c.  iv.) 
making  the  ‘'art  of  multiplication” 
felony.  In  the  “ Canterbury  Tales”  the 
Chanoun  Yeman  says  he  was  reduced  to 
poverty  by  alchemy,  adding  : “ Lo,  such 
advantage  is't  to  multiply.”— Pro 
io  “ Chanouiies  Yemaiies  TaUy 

Multitudes.  Dame  J uliaiia  Berners 
says,  in  designating  companies  we  must 
not  use  the  names  of  multitudes  promis- 
cuously, and  examples  her  remark  thus  : 

“ We  say  a congregacyon  of  people,  a hoost  of  men, 
a fel^/shypjyynge  of  joaien,  and  a bevy  of  iadyes;  we 
)?iu8t  speak  of  a herde  of  dere,  swannys,  cranys,  or 
wrenys,  a sege  of  herons  or  bytourys,  a muster  of 
j.ecocttes,  a watche  of  nyghtyngales,  a Jlyghte  of 
doves,  a claterynge  of  choughes,  a pryde  of  lyons,  a 
sh  wthe  of  beeres,  a gagle  of  geys,  a skulke  of  foxes,  a 
ss'ulle  of  frerys,  a pontifinalitye  of  prestys,  and  a super’ 
fiuyte  of  nonnes.”— JBooA;  of  St.  Albans  (1488). 

She  adds,  that  a strict  regard  to  these 
niceties  better  distinguishes  “gentylmen 
from  ungentylmen,”  than  regard  to  the 
rules  of  grammar,  pr  even  to  the  moral 
law. 

Mum.  A strong  beer  made  in  Bruns- 
wick ; so  called  from  Christian  Mummer, 
by  whom  it  was  first  brewed. 

Mum  (a  mask),  hence  mummer. 

Mum's  the  vjord.  Keep  what  is  told  you 
a profound  secret.  (^See  Mumchance.) 

Seal  up  your  lips,  and  give  no  words  but— mum. 

Shakespeare,  “2  tienry  VI.,"  i.  2. 

Mumbo  Jumbo.  An  African  bogie, 
hideous  and  malignant,  the  terror  of 
negro  women.  We  use  the  term  to 
signify  unmeaning  jargon. 

Mumchance.  Silence.  Mumchance 
was  a game  of  chance  with  dice,  in  which 
silence  was  indispensable.  (Mum  is  con- 
nected with  mumble ; German,  mummej 
a muffle  ; Danish,  mumle,  to  mumble.) 

And  for  “ mumchance,”  howe’er  the  cehane  may  fall. 
You  must  be  viiim  for  fear  of  spoiling  all. 

Alachtavell's  Dogg." 

Mummy  is  the  Egyptian  word  mum, 
wax  ; from  the  custom  of  anointing  the 
body  with  wax  and  wrapping  it  in  sear- 
cloth.  {See  Beaten.) 


Mump'simus.  I am  not  going  to 
change  my  old  mum'psimns  for  your  new 
sumpsimus.  I am  not  going  to  change 
my  old  ways  and  habits  for  your  new 
fangles.  The  reference  is  to  an  old 
priest  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  who 
used  to  say  Mumpsimus,  Domine,  instead 
of  Sumpsimus  \ and  when  remonstrated 
with,  replied  he  had  used  mumpsimus 
for  thirty  years,  and  was  not  going  to 
change  it  for  the  new-fangled  sumpsimus.. 

Munchau'sen  {Baron).  The  hero 
of  a volume  of  travels,  who  meets  with 
the  most  marvellous  adventures.  The 
incidents  have  been  compiled  from 
various  sources,  and  the  name  is  said  to 
have  pointed  to  Hieronymus  Karl  Fried- 
rich von  Mlinchhausen,  a German  officer 
in  the  Russian  army,  noted  for  his  mar- 
vellous stories  (1720-1797).  It  is  a 
satire  either  on  Baron  de  Tott,  or  on 
Bruce,  whose  “Travels  in  Abyssinia” 
were  looked  upon  as  mythical  when  they 
first  appeared.  The  author  is  Rudolf 
Erich  Raspe,  and  the  sources  from  which 
the  adventures  were  compiled  are  Bebel’s 
“ Facetise,”  Castiglione’s  “ Cortegiano,” 
Bildermann’s  “Utopia,”  and  some  of  the 
baron’s  own  stories. 

Mundane  Egg.  In  the  Phoenician, 
Egyptian,  Hindu,  and  Japanese  systems 
the  Creator  is  represented  as  producing 
an  egg,  from  which  the  world  was  hatched. 
In  some  mythologies  a bird  is  represented 
as  laying  the  mundane  egg  on  the  prim- 
ordial waters. 

Mundilfo'ri.  One  of  the  giant  race, 
who  had  a son  and  daughter  of  such  sur- 
passing beauty  that  their  father  called 
them  Mani  and  Sol  {moon  and  sun). — 
Scandinavi an  myth ology .. 

Mundun'gus.  Bad  tobacco.  Pro- 
bably a quibble  on  the  German  mundungy 
the  mouth,  and  the  words  mun  dung. 
“ Mun”  means  rotten ; hence  “mun  fish, 
and  mun  meaning  “manure”  in  Corn- 
wall. 

Mu'nera.  The  daughter  of  Pollente, 
the  Saracen,  to  whom  he  gave  all  the 
spoils  he  unjustly  took  from  those  who 
fell  into  his  power.  Talus,  the  iron  page 
of  Sir  Ar'tegal,  chops  off  her  golden 
j hands  and  silver  feet,  and  tosses  her 
I over  the  castle  wall  into  the  moat. — 
; Spense)\  “ Faery  Queenf'  bk.  v.  2. 

! Mango,  in  British,  is  it, which 

[ means  “ gently  dear.” 


602 


MUNIN. 


MUSLIN. 


Mundn.  Memory  ; one  of  the  two 
ravens  that  sit  perched  on  the  shoulders 
of  Odin  ; the  other  is  Hugin  (mind). — 
Scandinavian  mythology, 

Munkar  and  Jilakeer.  Two  black 
angels  of  appalling  aspect,  the  inquisitors 
of  the  dead.  The  Koran  says  that  dur- 
ing the  inquisition  the  soul  is  united  to 
the  body.  If  the  scrutiny  is  satisfactory 
the  soul  is  gently  drawn  forth  from  the 
lips  of  the  deceased,  and  the  body  is  left 
to  repose  in  peace  ; if  not,  the  body  is 
beaten  about  the  head  with  iron  clubs, 
and  the  soul  is  wrenched  forth  by  racking 
torments. 

Muntalbur  {Mount  Tahm-).  The 
royal  residence  of  the  soldan  whose 
daughter  married  Otnit,  king  of  Lom- 
bardy. 

Mu'rad.  Son  of  Hadra'ma  and  Mar- 
sillus,  king  of  Portugal,  Castile,  Aragon, 
Leon,  and  Valence,  when  those  countries 
were  held  by  the  Moors.  He  was  called 

Lord  of  the  Lion,”  because  he  always 
led  about  a lion  in  silken  fetters.  When 
he  carried  defiance  to  Charlemagne  at 
Fronsac,  the  lion  fell  in  love  with  Aude 
the  Fair ; Murad  chastised  it,  and  the 
lion  tore  him  to  pieces. — Croquemi- 
tainCf^  vii. 

Murat.  The  Russian  Murat.  Michael 
Milorado  witch.  (1770-1820.) 

Muscular  Christianity.  Healthy 
or  strong-minded  religion,  which  braces 
a man  to  fight  the  battle  of  life  bravely 
and  manfully.  The  expression  was  first 
used  by  Charles  Kingsley. 

Muse.  The  tenth  Muse.  Marie  de  Jars 
de  Gournay,  a French  writer.  (1566- 
1645.) 

Muse'um.  The  most  celebrated  are 
the  British  Museum  in  London ; the 
Louvre  at  Paris  ; the  Vatican  at  Rome  ; 
the  Museum  of  Florence ; that  of  St. 
Petersburg ; and  those  of  Dresden, 
Vienna,  Munich,  and  Berlin. 

A walHng  museum.  So  Longi'nus, 
author  of  a work  on  ‘^The  Sublime,”  was 
called.  (A.D.  213-273.) 

Mushkoda'sa  {North- American  In- 
dian) . The  grouse. 

Mushroom,  anciently  spelt  mush- 
rumg,  is  Welsh  maes  (a  field),  rhum 
(knob).  Similarly  the  French  cham- 
pignon is  champ  (field),  pignon  (nut  or 


cone).  The  French  have  also  mousseroT^ 
(a  white  mushroom). 

Music.  Father  of  Music.  Giambat- 
tista Pietro  Aloisio  da  Palestrina.  Gio- 
vanni Pierluigi  da  Palestrina  was  called 
‘‘the  prince  of  musicians.” 

Father  of  GreeJc  Music.  Terpander. 
{Flo.  B.c.  676.) 

The  Prince  of  Music.  G.  Pietro  A.  da. 
Palestrina.  (1529-1594.) 

Music  hath  charms,  &c. ; from  Con- 
greve’s “Mourning  Bride”  (i.  1). 

Music  of  the  Spheres.  Pythag'oras 
was  the  first  who  suggested  the  notion  so« 
beautifully  expressed  by  Shakespeare — 

There’s  not  the  smallest  orh  which  thou  behold’st. 
But  in  his  motion  like  an  anpel  sings. 

Still  quiring  to  the  young-eyed  cherubim s. 

Merchant  of  Venice  v.  1. 

Plato  says  that  a syren  sits  on  each 
planet,  wko  carols  a most  sweet  song, 
agreeing  to  the  motion  of  her  own  par- 
ticular planet,  but  harmonising  with 
the  other  seven.  Hence  Milton  speaks, 
of  the  “celestial  syrens’ harmony,  that 
sit  upon  the  nine  enfolded  spheres.” — 
Arcades'' 

Maximus  Tyrius  says  that  the  mere- 
proper  motion  of  the  planets  must  create 
sounds,  and  as  the  planets  move  at  regu- 
lar intervals  the  sounds  must  harmonise. 

Musical.  The  musical  small-coal' 
man.  Thomas  Britton.  (1654-1714.) 

Musical  INotation.  {See  Do.) 

Musicians.  Father  of  Musicians. 
Jubal,  “the  father  of  all  such  as  handle 
the  harp  and  organ”  (Gen.  iv.  21). 

Musido'ra.  {See  Damon.) 

Mu'sits  or  Musets.  Gaps  in  a hedge;, 
places  through  which  a hare  makes  his 
way  to  escape  the  hounds. 

The  many  musits  through  the  which  he  goes 

Are  like  a labyrinth  to  amaze  his  foes. 

Shakespeare,  “ Venus  and  Adonis'* 

The  passing  of  the  hare  through  these  gaps- 
is  termed  musing.  The  word  is  from  the 
Italian  musare  (to  stand  gazing)  ; French, 
muser  (to  loiter) ; from  the  want  of  deci- 
sion of  the  hare. 

Musket  is  the  French  mousquet  (a. 
sparrow-hawk) ; other  shooting  imple- 
ments were  named  falcon,  falconet,  &c. 

Muslin.  So  called  from  Mosul,  in 
Asia,  where  it  was  first  manufactured. 
(French,  mousseline.) 


MUSNUD. 


NAB. 


603 


Musnud.  Cushioned  seats,  reserved 
in  Persia  for  persons  of  distinction. 

Muspel.  A region  of  fire,  whence 
Surtur  will  collect  dames  to  set  fire  to 
the  universe. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Muspelheim  (3  syl.).  The  abode 
of  fire  which  at  the  beginning  of  time 
existed  in  the  south.  It  was  light,  warm, 
and  radiant ; but  was  guarded  by  Surt 
with  a flaming  sword.  Sparks  were  col- 
lected therefrom  to  make  the  stars. — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

Musulman — that  is,  MosUmin^  plural 
of  Moslem.  A Mahometan ; so  called 
from  the  Arabic  miislim,  a believer. 

Mutantur.  Omnia  mutantur” 
(Barbonius).  ‘‘Tempora  mutantur,  nos 
et  muta'mur  in  illis”  is  not  a quotation 
from  any  classic  author. 

Mutes  at  funerals.  This  was  a Eo- 
man  custom.  The  undertaker,  attended 
with  lictors  dressed  in  black,  marched 
with  the  corpse  ; and  the  undertaker,  as 
master  of  the  ceremonies,  assigned  to 
each  follower  his  proper  place  in  the 
procession. 

Mutton  (French,  mouton).  A gold 
coin  impressed  with  the  image  of  a lamb. 

The  mntton-eating  king.  Charles  II. 
of  England.  The  witty  earl  of  Eochester 
wrote  this  mock  epitaph  on  his  patron : — 
Here  lies  our  mutton-eating  king. 

Whose  word  no  man  relies  on : 

He  never  said  a foolish  thing. 

And  never  did  a wise  on*. 

Mylitta.  A female  deity  of  the 
Babylonians,  the  personification  of  pro- 
creation. 

Mylodon  (Greek,  grinder- tooth). 
One  of  the  Meg'ather  genus  discovered 
by  Charles  Darwin  at  Punta  Alta,  in 
Patago'nia. 

Mynheer  Closh.  A Dutchman. 
Closh  or  Claus  is  an  abbreviation  of  Ni- 
cholas, a common  name  in  Holland. 
Sandy,  a contraction  of  Alexander,  is  a 
similar  nickname  for  a Scotchman. 

My'nian  Sails.  The  ship  Argo ; so 
called  because  its  crew  were  natives  of 
Mynia. 

When  his  black  whirlwinds  o’er  the  ocean  rolled 
And  rent  the  Mynian  sails. 

Gumoens,  “ Lmiad,”  hk.  vi. 

Myr'midons  of  the  Law.  Bailiffs, 
sheriffs’  officers,  and  other  law  menials. 
Any  rough  fellow  employed  to  annoy 
another  is  the  employer’s  myrmidon. 

The  Myrmidons  were  a people  of  Thes- 


saly who  followed  Achilles  to  the  siege 
of  Troy,  and  were  distinguished  for  their 
savage  brutality,  rude  behaviour,  and 
thirst  for  rapine. 

Myrra.  An  Ionian  slave,  the  beloved 
concubine  of  Sardanapaflus,  the  Assyrian 
king.  She  roused  him  from  his  indolence 
to  oppose  Arba'ces,  the  Mede  who  as- 
pired to  his  throne,  and  when  she  found 
that  his  cause  was  hopeless  induced  him 
to  place  himself  on  a funeral  pile,  which 
she  fired  with  her  own  hand,  and  spring- 
ing into  the  flames,  perished  with  her 
beloved  lord  and  master. — Byron,  “ Sar- 
danapalus.” 

Myrroph'ores  (4  syl. ; the  myrrh- 
hearers).  The  three  Maries  who  went  to 
see  the  sepulchre,  bearing  myrrh  and 
spices.  In  Christian  art  they  are  repre- 
sented as  carrying  vases  of  myrrh  in 
their  hands. 

Mysteries  of  Woods  and  Hivers. 
The  art  of  hunting  and  fishing. 

My'thras  or  Mihir'.  That  sacred 
being  enthroned  in  the  sun  whom  the- 
Ghebers  worship. 

IN 

3Sr.  This  letter  represents  a wriggling 
eel,  and  is  called  in  Hebrew  nun  (a  fish). 

IN,  in  Spanish,  has  sometimes  a mark 
over  it,  thus  — fi.  This  mark  is  called  a 
tilde,  and  often  alters  the  sense  of  a word. 
Thus,  ^‘pena”  means  punishment,  but 

pena,”  a rock. 

'N,  added  to  words  for  euphony  or 
whim,  is  termed  nunnation,  from  nun,” 
the  Greek  n.  Examples:  Nelly,  Neddy, 
for  Elly  (little  Ellen),  Eddy  (little  Ed- 
ward), &c. 

N added  to  Greek  words  ending  in  a 
short  vowel  to  lengthen  it  by  position,” 
and  ^^1”  added  to  French  words  begin- 
ning with  a vowel,  when  they  follow  a. 
word  ending  with  a vowel  (as  si  Von  for 
si  on),  is  called  N or  L ephelcys'tic” 
(tagged- on  ; Greek,  epi  helko). 

INth,  or  Nth  plus  one,  in  University 
slang,  means  to  the  utmost  degree.  Thus 
Cut  to  the  Nth  means  wholly  unnoticed  by 
a friend.  The  expression  is  taken  from 
the  index  of  a mathematical  formula, 
where  n stands  for  any  number,  and 
one  more  than  any  number. 

Nab.  The  fairy  that  addresses  Or- 
pheus in  the  infernal  regions,  and  offers 


NABOB. 


NAIL. 


€C4 


Iiim  for  food  a roasted  ant,  a flea’s  thigh, 
Liitterflies’  brains,  some  sucking  mites, 
a rainbow-tart,  and  other  delicacies  of 
like  nature,  to  be  washed  down  with  dew- 
drops,  beer  made  from  seven  barley- 
•Gorns,  and  the  supernaculum  -of  earth- 
d')orn  topers. — King,  Orpheus  and  Eu- 
ry  dicey 

ISTa'bob.  Corruption  of  the  Hindu  word 
nawab,  the  plural  of  naih.  An  adminis- 
trator of  a province  and  commander  of 
rthe  Indian  army  under  the  Mogul  empire. 
These  men  acquired  great  wealth  and  lived 
dh  Eastern  splendour,  -so  -that  they  gave 
srise  to  the  phrase,  Rich  as  the  naw^b,” 
corrupted  into  ^'‘Kich  as  a nabob.*'  In 
England  we  apply  the  phrase  to  a mer- 
chant who  has  attained  great  wealth  in 
the  Indies,  and  has  returned  to  live  in 
this  native  country. 

ISTabonassar  or  Kebo-adon-Assur 
<Nebo  prince  of  Assyria).  Founder  of 
the  Babylonian  or  Chaldman  kingdom, 
iand  first  of  the  dynasty  of  Nabonassar. 

Era  of  Nabonassar  begins  Wednesday, 
February  26th,  747  B.C.,  the  day  of 
Nabonassar’s  accession.  It  was  used  by 
Ptolemy,  and  by  the  Babylonians,  in  all 
xtheir  astronomical  calculations. 

Nach  Guido  Reni.  In  the  style  of 
^Lruido.  {Nach,  German  for  ‘^according 
vto,”  in  the  manner  of,”  &c.) 

ISTadab,  in  Dry  den’s  satire  of  '^Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel,”  is  meant  for  lord 
Howard,  of  Esrick  or  Escriek,  a pro- 
fligate who  laid  claim  to  great  piety. 
Nadab  offered  incense  with  strange  fire, 
;and  was  slain  by  the  Lord  (Lev.  x.  2) ; 
and  lord  Howard,  while  imprisoned  in 
the  Tower,  is  said  to  have  mixed  the  con- 
secrated wafer  with  a compound  of  roasted 
apples  and  sugar,  called  lamb’s-wool. 

INa'dir.  An  Arabic  word,  signifying 
that  point  in  the  heavens  which  is  directly 
opposite  to  the  zenith. 

Kroiti  zenith  down  to  Nadir.  From  the 
highest  point  of  elevation  to  the  lowest 
depth. 

No! dir.  A representation  of  the  pla- 
netary system. 

We  then  lost  (1091)  a most  beautiful  table,  fabri- 
cated of  different  metals.  . . . Saturn  was  of  copper, 
J iipiter  of  gold.  Mars  of  iron,  the  sun  of  latten.  Mer- 
cury of  amber,  Venus  of  tin,  and  the  Moon  of  silver. 
...  It  was  the  most  celebrated  nadir  in  all  England. 
— Ingulphus. 

Nadir  Shah.  Kouli  Khan,  a Per- 
sian warrior.  (1687-1747.) 


Nag,  Nagging.  Constant  fault- 
finding. (Danish,  Jcnag,  a knot  in  wood ; 
Swedish,  hnagg j Irish,  cnag;  our  snag, 
a short,  rough  branch,  or  the  stumpy 
part  of  a tree  left  in  ‘^clearing”  a plot 
of  ground.)  As  these  snags  worry  and 
annoy,  so  knots  of  temper  expressed  in 
words  tease  and  irritate.  We  call  a slight 
but  constant  pain,  like  a tooth-ache,  a 
nagging  'pain. 

Nag’s  Head  Consecration.  On 
the  passing  of  the  first  Act  of  Uniformity 
in  queen  Elizabeth’s  reign,  fourteen 
bishops  vacated  their  sees,  and  all  the 
other  sees,  except  Llandaff,  were  at  the 
time  vacant.  The  question  was  how  to 
obtain  consecration  so  as  to  preserve  the 
succession  called  “apostolic”  unbroken, 
as  Llandaff  refused  to  officiate  at  Parker’s 
consecration.  In  this  dilemma  (the  story 
runs)  Scory,  a deposed  bishop,  was  sent 
for,  and  officiated  at  the  Nag’s  Head 
tavern  in  Cheapside,  thus  transchitting 
the  succession. 

Naga.  Deified  serpents;  the  king 
of  them  is  Sesha,  the  sacred  serpent  of 
Vishnu.  — Hindu  'mythology. 

Naggleton  {Mr.  and  Mrs.).  A hus- 
band and  wife  always  nagging  each  other. 
The  term  arises  from  a series  of  papers 
which  appeared  in  Punch  in  the  years 
1864-5,  which  represent  this  husband  and 
wife  as  eternally  jarring  about  broken 
straws  and  wilful  misunderstandings. 

Na'glfar.  The  giants’  ship,  in  which 
they  will  embark  on  “the  last  day”  to 
give  battle  to  the  gods.  It  is  made  of 
the  nails  of  the  dead.  (Old  Norse,  nagl, 
a human  nail,  and  jara,  to  make). — 
Scandinavian  mythology . 

Naids.  Nymphs  of  lakes,  fountains, 
rivers,  and  streams. — Classical  mythology. 

Nail.  To  pay  down  upon  the  nail — 
i.e.f  ready  money.  O’Keefe  says : In 
the  centre  of  Limerick  Exchange  is  a 
pillar  with  a circular  plate  of  copper 
about  three  feet  in  diameter,  called  the 
nail.  On  this  metal  desk  the  earnest  of 
all  stock-exchange  bargains  has  to  be 
paid  (“Recollections”).  A similar  cus- 
tom prevailed  at  Bristol,  where  were  four 
pillars  called  nails  in  front  of  the  ex- 
change for  a similar  purpose. 

/ have  nailed  it.  Secured  it  to  myself. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  custom  above  re- 
ferred to  ; but  the  J ews  had  a similar  ex- 


NAIL-MONEY. 


NANOY. 


pression,  and  derived  it  from  the  wooden 
nails  by  which  they  made  their  tents  fast 
to  the  ground.  Ezra  says  God  gave  the 
Jews  “ a nail  in  his  holy  placei . . . to  give 
them  a little  reviving  in  their  bondage  ” 
<ix.  8),  meaning  a permanent  place  in 
his  sanctuary,  a ‘dwelling  in  the  house 
of  the  Lord  for  ever.” 

The  nails  zvith  zvhich  our  Lord  was  fas- 
tened to  the  cross  were,  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
objects  of  great  reverence.  Sir  John 
Maundeville  says,  He  had  two  in  his 
hondes,  and  two  in  his  feet ; and  of  on 
of  theise  the  emperour  of  Canstantynoble 
made  a brydille  to  his  hors,  to  here  him 
in  bataylle ; and  thorghe  vertue  thereof 
he  overcam  his  enemyes”  (c.  vii.).  {See 
Iron  Crown.) 

Nails  diiven  into  cottage  walls.  This 
was  a Roman  practice,  under  the  notion 
that  it  kept  off  the  plague.  L.  Manlius 
was  •named  dictator  (a.U.C.  390)  ‘Ho 
drive  the  nail.” 

Our  cottagers  still  nail  horseshoes  to 
thresholds  to  ward  off  evil  spirits.  Mr. 
Coutts,  the  banker,  had  two  rusty  horse- 
shoes fastened  on  the  highest  step  out- 
side Holly  Lodge. 

Nail-money.  Six  crowns  given  to 
the  “roy  des  harnoys”  for  affixing  the 
arms  of  a knight  to  the  pavilion. 

Naileh.  An  Arab  idol  in  the  form 
of  a woman  ; it  was  brought  from  Syria, 
and  placed  in  the  El-Marweh,  near  the 
temple  of  Mecca. 

Nain  Rouge.  A Lutin  or  gobelin 
of  Normandy,  kind  to  fishermen.  There 
is  another  called  Le  -petit  homme  rouge. 

Naivete  (pron.  nah' -eve-ty).  Inge- 
nuous simplicity;  the  artless  innocence 
of  one  ignorant  of  the  conventions  of 
society.  The  term  is  also  applied  to 
poetry,  painting,  and  sculpture.  The 
word  is  formed  from  the  Latin  natus, 
natura,  &c.,  meaning  nature  without  art. 

Naked  Truth.  The  fable  says  that 
Truth  and  Falsehood  went  bathing : 
Falsehood  came  first  out  of  the  water, 
and  dressed  herself  in  Truth’s  garments. 
Truth,  unwilling  to  take  those  of  False- 
hood, went  naked. 

Nakeer.  (^See  Munkar.) 

Nala,  a legendary  king  of  India, 
whose  love  for  Damayanti  and  subsequent 
misfortunes  have  supplied  subjects  for 
numerous  poems.  Dean  Milman  has 


translated  into  English  the  episode  from* 
the  “ Mahabh^rata,”  and  W.  Yates  the> 
famous  Sanskrit  poem*  called  “ Nalo- 
daya.” 

Na'ma.  A daughter  of  the  race  of 
man  who  was  beloved  by  the  angeli 
Zaraph.  Her  one  wish  was  to  love  purely, 
intensely,  and  holily  ; but  she  fixed  her 
love  on  a seraph,  a creature,  more  than 
on  her  Creator ; therefore,  in  punishment, 
she  was  condemned  to  abide  on  earth. 
“ unchanged  in  heart  and  frame  ” so  long 
as  the  earth  endureth  ; but  when  time  iS' 
no  more,  both  she  and  her  angel  lover 
will  be  admitted  into  those  courts  “where 
love  never  dies.”— J/oor<?,  “ Loves  of  the- 
AngeW  story  iii. 

Namby  Pamby.  Pap  for  infant 
minds.  Pope  applied  the  word  to  the 
verses  addressed  to  lord  Carteret’s  chil- 
dren by  Ambrose  Phillips.  The  first 
word  is  a baby-way  of  pronouncing 
Amby — i.e.,  Ambrose.  The  latter  is  a. 
jingling  corruption  of  the  surname.  Mr. 
Macaulay  says  this  sort  cf  verse  “hae^ 
been  so  called  after  the  name  of  it©' 
author.” 

Name. 

What’s  in  a name  ? that  which  we  call  a rose- 

Bj  any  other  name  would  smell  as  sweet. 

Shakespeare^  Romeo  and  Juliet^"  ii.  2. 

Names  of  the  Puritans, 

Praise-God  Barebones.  A leather^ 
seller  in  Fleet  Street. 

If-Jesus-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee- 
thou-hadst-been- damned  Barebones.  His^ 
son ; usually  called  Damned  Dr.  Bara- 
bones. 

Namou^na.  An  enchantress,  born* 
long  before  any  other  created  thing,  yet- 
still  as  young  and  beautiful  as  ever. — 
Persian  mythology. 

Na'mous.  The  envoy  and  familiar- 
minister  of  Mahomet  in  Paradise. 

Namus  or  Namo  (in  “Orlando  Fu- 
rioso”).  Duke  of  Bavaria.  He  was  ono- 
of  Charlemagne’s  twelve  peers. 

Nancy.  The  sailor’s  choice  in  Dib- 
den’s  exquisite  song  beginning  “’Twass 
post  meridian  half-past  four.”  At  half- 
past four  he  parted  by  signal  from  his- 
Nancy ; at  eight  he  bade  her  a long 
adieu ; next  morn  a storm  arose,  and 
four  sailors  were  washed  overboard,. 
“ but  love  forbade  the  waves  to  snatch 
our  tar  from  Nancy when  the  storno- 


606 


NANDI. 


NARS. 


ceased  an  enemy  appeared,  but  when 
the  battle  was  hottest  our  gallant 
friend  put  up  a prayer  and  thought  on 
Nancy.” 

Miss  Nancy.  Mrs.  Anna  Oldfield,  a 
celebrated  actress,  buried  inWestminster 
Abbey.  She  died  in  1730,  and  her  re- 
mains lay  in  state,  attended  by  two 
noblemen.  She  was  buried  in  a ‘^very 
fine  Brussels  lace  head-dress,  a holland 
shift  with  a tucker  and  double-ruffles  of 
the  same  lace,  a pair  of  new  kid  gloves,” 
&c. 

“ Odious  ! in  woollen  ? ’twould  a saint  provoke  I” 
Were  the  last  words  that  poor  Narcissa  spoke. 

Pope,  “ Moral  Essays.** 

Miss  Nancy,  An  effeminate  young 
man. 

Nancy  of  the  Vale.  A village  maiden 
who  preferred  Strephon  to  the  gay  lord- 
lings  who  sought  her. — Shenstone. 

INandi.  Goddess  of  joy. — Indian 
mythology. 

Nankeen.  So  called  from  Nankin, 
in  China,  where  it  is  largely  manufac- 
tured. 

Nanna.  Wife  of  Balder.  When  the 
blind-god  slew  her  husband,  she  threw 
herself  upon  his  funeral  pile  and  was 
burnt  to  death. 

Nannacus  {Latin)  j Nannakos 
{Greek).  The  king  who  predicted  Deuca'- 
lion’s  Flood. 

Nannie,  to  whom  Burns  has  ad- 
dressed several  of  his  songs,  was  Miss 
Fleming,  daughter  of  a farmer  in  the 
parish  of  Tarbolton,  Ayrshire. 

Nantes  (1  syl.).  Edict  of  Nantes, 
The  decree  of  Henri  IV.  of  France,  pub- 
lished from  Nantes  in  1598,  securing 
freedom  of  religion  to  all  Protestants. 
Louis  XIV.  repealed  this  edict  in  1685. 

Naph'tlia.  The  drug  used  by  Mede'a 
for  anointing  the  wedding  robe  of 
Glauce,  daughter  of  king  Cre'on,  whereby 
she  was  burnt  to  death  on  the  morning 
appointed  for  her  marriage  with  Jason. 

Na'pier’s  Bones.  A method  in- 
vented by  baron  Napier  of  Merchiston, 
for  shortening  the  labour  of  trigono- 
metrical calculations.  Certain  figures 
are  arranged  on  little  slips  of  paper  or 
ivory,  and  simply  by  shifting  these  slips 
the  result  required  is  obtained.  They  are 
called  hones  because  the  baron  used  bone 
or  ivory  rods  instead  of  cardboard. 


Napoleon  III.,  nicknamed  Verhuel, 
a ‘^patronymic;”  Badinguet,  the  man 
shot  by  Napoleon  in  the  Boulogne  esca- 
pade ; Bonstrapa  {q.v.") ; Man  of  Sedan, 
after  the  battle  of  [Sedan  he  surrendered 
his  sword ; Man  of  Lecemher,  he  was 
made  emperor  Dec.  2,  1852  ; Batijpol, 
he  was  a special  constable  in  London. 

Nappy  Ale.  Strong  ale  is  so  called 
because  it  makes  one  nappy,  or  because 
it  contains  a nap  or  frothy  head. 

Nar'aka.  The  hell  of  the  Hindus. 
It  has  twenty-eight  divisions,  in  some  of 
which  the  victims  are  mangled  by  ravens 
and  owls  ; in  others  they  will  be  doomed 
to  swallow  cakes  boiling  hot,  or  walk 
over  burning  sands.  Each  division  has 
its  name ; Rurava  {fearful)  is  for  liars 
and  false-witnesses ; Rodha  {obstruction) 
for  those  who  plunder  a town,  kill  a cow, 
or  strangle  a man;  Shkara  {swine)  for 
drunkards  and  stealers  of  gold ; &c. 

Narcissa,  in  the  “Night  Thoughts,” 
was  Elizabeth  Lee,  Dr.  Young’s  step- 
daughter. In  Night  hi.  the  poet  says 
she  was  clandestinely  buried  at  Mont- 
pellier, because,  being  a Protestant,  she 
was  “denied  the  charity  that  dogs  en- 
joy.” (For  Pope’s  Narcissa  see  Nancy.) 

Narcissus  saw  his  image  in  a foun- 
tain, and  fell  in  love  with  it.  He  vainly 
attempted  to  kiss  the  shadow,  but  not 
being  able  to  do  so  killed  himself.  His 
blood  was  changed  into  the  narcissus 
flower.  — Ovid,  “ Metamorphoses,'^  hi. 
346,  &c. 

Nardac.  The  highest  title  of  hon- 
our in  the  realm  of  Lilliput.  Gulliver 
received  this  distinction  for  carrying  off 
the  whole  fleet  of  the  Blefuscu'dians. — 
Swift,  Gulliver's  Travels"  {Voyage  to 
Lilliput,  V.). 

Nare^da  (3  syl.).  Sons  of  Brahma. — 
Hindu  mythology. 

Nargal.  The  guardian  of  hidden 
treasure,  to  be  appoached  by  offerings 
only. — Astrological  mythology. 

Narrowdale  Noon.  One  o’clock. 
The  top  of  Narrowdale  Hills,  in  Stafford- 
shire, is  so  high  that  the  inhabitants  un- 
der it  never  see  the  sun  for  one  quarter 
of  the  year,  and  when  it  reappears  they 
do  not  see  it  till  one  o’clock,  which  they 
call  Narrowdale  Noon. 

Nars.  Divinity  of  the  ancient  Arabs, 
represented  under  the  form  of  an  eagle. 


NARSE3. 


NATTY  BUMPPO. 


607 


TQ’arses  (2  syl.).  A Eoman  general 
against  the  Goths  ; the  terror  of  children. 
(473-568.)  (/See  Bogie.) 

The  name  of  Narses  was  the  formidable  sound  with 
which  the  Assyrian  mothers  were  accustomed  to 
terrify  their  infants.— (Ti6&on,‘*DecZi/ie  and  Fall”  die., 
viii.  219. 

ITarwhal.  Drinking  cups  made  of 
the  bone  of  the  narwhal  used  to  be 
greatly  valued,  from  the  supposition  that 
they  counteracted  the  fatal  effects  of 
poison. 

I^aseby  {Northamptonshire)  is  the 
Saxon  nafelay  the  navel.  It  is  so  called 
because  it  was  considered  the  navel  or 
centre  of  England.  Similarly  Delphi  was 
called  the  navel  of  the  earth,”  and  in 
this  temple  was  a white  stone  kept  bound 
with  a red  ribbon,  to  represent  the  navel 
and  umbilical  cord. 

Tfasi.  The  president  of  the  Jewish 
Sanhedrim. 

ISfa'so.  The  ‘ ^ surname  ” of  Ovid,  the 
Boman  poet,  author  of  ^‘Metamor- 
phoses.” Naso  means  “ nose,”  hence 
Holofernes’  pun:  “And  why  Naso,  but 
for  smelling  out  the  odoriferous  flowers 
of  fancy.” — Shakespeare,  ^‘Love's Labour's 
Lost,"  iv.  2. 

TTasser.  The  Arabian  merchant 
whose  fables  are  the  delight  of  the  Arabs. 
D’Herbelot  tells  us  that  when  Mahomet 
read  to  them  the  history  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, they  cried  out  with  one  voice 
that  Nasser’s  tales  were  the  best;  upon 
which  Mahomet  gave  his  malediction  on 
Nasser,  and  all  who  read  him. 

Na'strond  {dead-man's  region).  The 
worst  marsh  in  the  infernal  regions,  where 
serpents  pour  forth  venom  incessantly 
from  the  high  walls.  Here  the  murderer 
and  the  perjured  will  be  doomed  to  live 
for  ever.  (Old  Norse,  nd,  a dead  body ; 
and  strond,  a strand.) — Scandinavian  my- 
thology. 

TsTathan'iel  {Sir).  A grotesque  cu- 
rate in  Shakespeare’s  “ Love’s  Labour’s 
Lost.” 

INTation  of  Gentlemen.  So  George 
IV.  called  the  Scotch  when,  in  1822,  he 
visited  that  country. 

INation  of  Shopkeepers.  So  Na- 
poleon called  the  English  by  way  of  con-  i 
tempt. 

National  Anthem.  Both  the  mu- 
sic and  words  were  composed  by  Dr. 


Henry  Carey  in  1740.  In  Antwerp 
Cathedral  is  a MS.  copy  of  it  which 
affirms  that  the  words  and  music  were  by 
Dr.  John  Bull ; adding  that  it  was  com- 
posed on  the  occasion  of  the  discovery 
of  Gunpowder  Plot,  to  which  the  words 
“frustrate  their  knavish  tricks”  espe- 
cially allude. 

National  Convention.  The  as- 
sembly of  deputies  which  assumed  the 
government  of  France  on  the  overthrow 
of  the  throne  in  1792.  It  succeeded  the 
National  Assembly. 

National  Debt.  Money  borrowed 
by  the  Government,  on  the  security  of 
the  taxes,  which  are  pledged  to  the 
lenders  for  the  payment  of  interest. 

National  Debt. 

In  William  III.’s  reign,  £15,730,439. 

• At  the  commencement  of  the  American 
war,  £128,583,635. 

At  the  close  thereof,  £249,851,628. 

At  the  close  of  the  French  war, 
£840,850,491. 

Cancelled  between  1817  and  1854, 
£85,538,790. 

Created  by  Crimean  war,  £68,623,199. 

In  1866,  £802,842,949. 

In  1872  it  was  £792,740,000;  of  which 
sum  £731,787,000  was  funded;  £5,220,000 
unfunded ; £55,757,000  terminable  an- 
nuities. 

National  Exhibition.  So  Douglas 
Jerrold  called  an  execution  at  the  Old 
Bailey.  These  scandals  were  abolished 
in  1868. 

Nativity  {The)  means  Christmas 
Day,  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
Jesus. 

The  cave  of  the  Nativity  is  under  the 
chancel  of  the  “ Church  of  the  Nativity.” 
In  the  recess,  a few  feet  above  the  ground, 
is  a stone  slab  with  a star  cut  in  it,  to 
mark  the  spot  where  the  Saviour  was 
born.  Near  it  is  a hollow  scraped  out  of 
the  rock,  said  to  be  the  place  where  the 
infant  J esus  was  laid. 

To  cast  a man's  nativity  is  to  construct 
a plan  or  map  out  of  the  position,  &c.,  of 
the  twelve  houses  which  belong  to  him. 
This  being  done,  the  astrologer  explains 
the  scheme.  {See  Houses.  ) 

Natty.  Tidy,  methodical  and  i\eat. 
(Italian  netto,  French  Welsh  nith,  &c.) 

Natty  Bumppo,  called  “Leather 
Stockings.”  He  appears  in  five  of  Feni- 
more  (Jooper’s  novels : as  the  Deer- 


608 


NATURAL. 


NECK  AND  HEELS. 


slayer ; the  Path-finder ; the  Hawk-eye 
{La  Longue  Carabine)  in  the  ‘^Last  of 
the  Mohicans Natty  Bumppo  in  the 
“ Pioneers and  the  Trapper  in  the 
**  Prairie/*  in  which  he  dies. 

INatural  (M).  A born  idiot ; one  on 
whom  education  can  make  no  impression. 
As  nature  made  him,  so  he  remains. 

A natural  child.  One  not  born  in 
lawful  wedlock.  The  Romans  called 
the  children  of  concubines  natura'leSy 
children  according  to  nature,  not  accord- 
ing to  law. 

iWauglit  {not  nonghC^^  Naught  is 
Ne  (negative),  aught  (anything).  Saxon 
ndhtf  which  is  ne  dht  (not  anything). 
The  word  appears  in  the  adjective 

naughty”  (good  for  nothing).  Aught 
is  the  affirmative,  and  ne-aught  or  naught 
the  negative. 

Navigation.  Father  of  Navigation, 
Don  Henrique,  duke  of  Viseo,  the  great- 
est man  that  Portugal  ever  produced. 
(1394-1460.) 

Father  of  British  Inland  Navigation, 
Francis  Egerten,  dnke  of  Bridgewater. 
(1736-1803.) 

Navvi.  A contraction  of  navigator. 
Some  half  century  ago,  navigators  w^ere 
employed  on  the  inland  canal  and  river 
navigation,  and  the  same  class  of  men 
supplied  the  best  hands  for  the  midland 
railways.  In  the  North  a canal  is  called 
a ‘^navy.” 

Nay-word.  Pass-word.  Slender,  in 
**  The  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,’*  says — 

We  have  a nay-word  how  to  know  each  other. 
I come  to  her  in  white  and  cry  Mum,  she  cries 
Budget,  and  by  that  we  know  one  another.— .SAuire- 
ipeare. 

Nayres  (1  syl.).  The  aristocratic 
class  of  India.  {See  Poleas.  ) 

Nazaraeans  or  Nazarenes  (3  syl.). 
A sect  of  Jewish  Christians,  who  believed 
Christ  to  be  the  Messiah,  that  he  was 
born  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  he 
possessed  a divine  nature;  but  they 
nevertheless  conformed  to  the  Mosaic 
rites  and  ceremonies.  {See  beloiv.) 

Nazare'ne  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Nazareth ; hence  our  Lord  is  so  called 
(John  xviii.  5,  7 , Acts  xxiv.  5). 

Nazarite  (3  syl.).  One  separated  or 
set  apart  to  the  Lord  by  a vow.  These 
Nazarites  were  to  refrain  from  strong 


drinks,  and  to  suffer  their  hair  to  grow. 
(Hebrew,  nazar,  to  separate.  Numb.  vL 
1-21.) 

Ne  plus  ultra  {Latin).  The  per- 
fection or  most  perfect  state  to  which  a 
thing  can  be  brought.  We  have  Ne- 
plus- ultra  corkscrews,  and  a multitudo 
of  other  things. 

Ne  Sutor,  &c.  {See  Cobbler.) 

Neaera.  Any  sweetheart  or  lady-love. 
She  is  mentioned  by  Horace,  Virgil,  and 
Tibullus. 

To  sport  with  Amaryllis  in  the  shade. 

Or  with  the  tangles  of  Weaera’s  hair. 

Milton,  “ Lj/cidae,” 

Neapol'itan.  A native  of  Naples  ; 
pertaining  to  Naples. 

Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee.  By 
Sarah  Flower  Adams,  musical  composer 
and  authoress,  who  died  1848. 

Neb'uchadnez'zar.  The  prophet 
Daniel  says  that  Nebuchadnezzar  walked 
in  the  palace  of  the  kingdom  of  Babylon 
and  said,  Is  not  this  great  Babylon,  that 
I have  built  ...  by  the  might  of  my 
power,  and  for  the  honour  of  ray  ma- 
jesty?” And  ‘Hhe  same  hour  . . . he  was 
driven  from  men,  and  did  eat  grass  as 
oxen,  and  his  body  was  wet  with  the  dew 
of  heaven,  till  his  hairs  were  grown  like- 
eagles’  feathers,  and  his  nails  like  birds” 
claws”  (iv.  29-33). 

*Nec.  A water  spright  or  lost  spirit, 
according  to  Scandinavian  mythology, 
doomed  to  live  eternally  in  a watery 
grave. 

Necessity.  Mahe  a virtue  of  neces- 
Shakespeare,  “Two  Gentlemen  of 
Verona,”  iv.  1. 

Necessity  the  tyrant's  plea, — Milton, 

Paradise  Lost,”  book  iv.,  verse  393. 

Neck.  Oh  that  the  Roman  people  had 
hut  one  necJcy  that  I might  cut  it  off  at  os 
blow!"  The  words  of  Calig'ula,  the  Ro- 
man emperor. 

Neck  and  Crop.  Entirely.  The  crop 
is  the  gorge  of  a bird. 

Neck  and  Heels.  I bundled  him  out 
neck  and  heels.  There  was  a certain 
punishment  formerly  in  vogue  which 
consisted  in  bringing  the  chin  and  knees 
of  the  culprit  forcibly  together,  and  in 
this  state  thrusting  the  victim  into  a 
cage. 


NECK  OR  NOTHING. 


NEHALLENIA. 


609 


ITeck  or  iN'otliing.  Desperate.  A 
racing  phrase  ; to  win  by  a neck  or  to  bo 
nowhere — i.e.,  not  counted  at  all  because 
unworthy  notice. 

nSTeck-verse  (Psalm  li.  1).  ^^Have 
mercy  upon  me,  0 God,  according  to  thy 
lovingkindness  ; according  unto  the  mul- 
titude of  thy  tender  mercies  blot  out  my 
transgressions.”  This  verse  was  so  called 
because  it  was  the  trial-verse  of  those 
who  claimed  benefit  of  clergy ; and  if 
tney  could  read  it  the  ordinary  of  New- 
gate said  Legit  ut  clerlcus,  and  the  con- 
vict saved  his  neck,  being  only  burnt  in 
the  hand  and  set  at  liberty. 

Neck-weed.  A slang  term  for 
hemp,  of  which  the  hangman’s  rope 
is  made. 


Endor  called  up  Samuel.  (Greek,  nekros, 
the  dead;  manteia,  prophecy.) 

Nec'tar.  Wine  conferring  immor- 
tality, and  drunk  by  the  gods.  Th@  ’ 
Koran  tells  us  “ the  righteous  shall  b©  * 
given  to  drink  pure  wine  sealed  with  • 
musk.”  The  food  of  the  gods  is  Anh-  - 
hro'sia. 

Neddy.  A contraction  and  diminu-  • 
tive  of  Mine  Edward— Mine  Eddy,  My 
N’Eddy.  Teddy  is  the  French  tu,  toi 
form. 

Neddy.  A donkey ; a variety  of  th^ 
word  Noddy  ; a low  cart  used  in  Dublin. 
So  called  because  its  jolting  keeps  tho 
riders  eternally  nodding. 

The  “Set-rtown”  was  succeeded  by  the  Noddy,  so 
called  from  its  oscillatins?  motion  backwards  an-i  • 
forwards.— of  Inland”  {1847). 


Necklace.  A necklace  of  coral  or 
white  bryony  beads  used  to  be  worn 
round  the  necks  of  children  to  aid  their 
teething.  Necklaces  of  hyoscyamus  or 
henbane-root  have  been  recommended 
for  the  same  purpose.  In  Italy  coral 
beloques  are  worn  as  a charm  against  the 
evil  eye.” 

The  diamond  necklace  (1785).  Cardinal 
de  Rohan  nursed  for  ten  years  a silly 
liking  for  Marie  Antoinette.  The  countess 
de  Lamotte,  to  make  capital  of  this  folly, 
induced  the  churchman  to  believe  that 
the  queen  reciprocated  his  passion,  and 
after  worming  from  him  several  sums 
of  money,  persuaded  him  to  buy  for 
£700,000,  as  a present  for  the  queen,  a 
diamond  necklace  made  by  Boehiner  for 
Madame  Dubarry.  The  cardinal  swal- 
Ipwed  the  bait,  handed  the  necklace  to 
the  countess  to  give  to  the  queen,  and 
received  a letter  of  acknowledgment 
signed  Marie  Antoinette  de  France.  The 
countess  in  reality  sold  the  necklace  in 
England,  but  Boehraer  not  being  paid, 
applied  to  the  queen  for  his  money,  and 
as  the  queen  denied  all  knowledge  of  the 
matter,  brought  an  action  against  her. 
The  trial  lasted  nine  months,  and  created 
immense  scandal. 

Tice  fatal  necklace.  Cadmos  received 

ion  his  wedding-day  the  present  of  a neck- 
lace, which  proved  fatal  to  every  one 
who  possessed  it.  Some  say  that  Vulcan, 
r and  others  that  Enro'pa  gave  the  neck- 
lace to  Cadmos.  {c^ee  Hahmonia.) 


Nec’romancy  means  prophesying 
by  calling  up  the  dead,  as  the  witch  of 


Neddy.  A dunce ; a euphemism  for  f 
I ^^an  ass.” 

Neddy.  Alife-preserver;  so  called  from 
one  Kennedy,  whose  head  was  broken  in  ^ 
St.  Giles’s  by  a poker. 

Need  makes  the  old  wife  trot ; in  Ger>  ' 
man.  Die  noht  machet  ein  ait  weih  trahen  j : 
in  Italian,  Bisagna  fd  trotter  la  vecchici 
in  French,  Besoin  fait  trotter  la  vieille 
the  Scotch  say,  Need  gars  naked  men  riitt-^ 

Needfire.  Fire  obtained  by  friction'. 

It  has  been  supposed  to  defeat  sorcery, 
and  cure  diseases  assigned  to  witchcrafts 
(Danish,  guide,  to  rub.) 

Needham.  You  are  on  the  high-road 
to  Needham— tQ  ruin  or  poverty.  The- 
pun  is  on  the  word  need.  Needham  is  in 
Suffolk. 

, Needle.  To  hit  the  needle— hit  the 
! right  nail  on  the  head,  to  make  a perfect 
I hit.  A term  in  archery,  equal  to  hitting 
! the  bull’s-eye. 

j Ne'gro.  Fuller  says  a negro  is  ^^God^s 
1 image  cat  in  ebony. 

Negro'ni.  A princess,  the  friend  of' 
Lucrezia  Bor'gia,  duchess  of  Ferra'ra. 
She  invited  to  a banquet  the  nobles  who 
had  insulted  her  friend,  and  killed  them 
with  poisoned  wine. — Donizetti, Lucrezia 
Borgia"  {an  opera). 

Ne'guSi  So  called  from  colonel 
Negus,  who  first  concocted  it. 

Nehalle'nia.  The  Flemish  deity 
who  presided  over  commerce  and  navi- 
gation. 


N N 


610 


NEITHE. 


NEREIDS. 


TTe'itlie  (3  syl.).  The  Minerva  of 
Egyptian  mythology. 

Nelthe.  The  presiding  spirit  of  rivers 
and  lakes  in  Celtic  mythology.  The 
primitive  of  the  word  means  to  purify 
with  water, 

TJeken.  The  evil  spirit  of  the  North 
that  plays  his  melancholy  strains  in 
Swedish  waters.  — Grhnm,  “ Deutsche 
Mythelogie.^* 

Neksheb.  The  city  of  Transoxia'na. 

INelTs  Point,  in  Barry  Island.  Fa- 
mous for  a well  to  which  women  resort 
on  Holy  Thursday,  and  having  washed 
their  eyes  with  the  water  of  the  well, 
each  woman  drops  into  it  a pin. 

iNTem.  Con.  Unanimously.  A con- 
traction of  the  Latin  nem'ine  contra- 
dicen'te  (no  one  opposing). 

Nem.  Diss.  Without  a dissentient 
voice.  (Latin,  newUne  dissent' iente.) 

ISTem'ean  Games.  One  of  the  four 
great  national  festivals  of  Greece,  cele- 
brated at  Nem'ea,  in  Ar'golis,  every  al- 
ternate year,  the  first  and  third  of  each 
Olympiad.  The  victor’s  reward  was  at 
first  a crown  of  olive-leaves,  but  subse- 
quently a garland  of  ivy.  Pindar  has 
eleven  odes  in  honour  of  victors  at  these 
games. 

UNem'ean  Lion.  The  first  of  the 
laboui;^  of  Hercules  was  to  kill  the 
Nemean  lion  (of  Ar'golis),  which  infested 
the  country  and  kept  the  people  in  con- 
stant alarm.  Its  skin  was  so  tough  that 
his  club  made  no  impression  on  the 
beast,  so  Hercules  caught  it  in  his  arms 
and  squeezed  it  to  death.  He  ever  after 
wore  the  skin  as  a mantle. 

ISTern'esis.  E-etribution,  or  rather 
the  righteous  anger  of  God.  A female 
Greek  deity,  whose  mother  was  Night. 

JNeol'ogy.  The  rationalistic  inter- 
pretation of  Scripture.  The  word  is 
Greek,  and  means  new-(theo)-logy. 
Those  who  accept  this  system  are  called 
Neolo'gians. 

UNe'optol'emos  or  Pyrrhos.  Son  of 
Achilles  ; called  Pyrrhos  from  his  yellow 
hair,  and  NeoptoVemos  because  he  was  a 
new  soldier,  or  one  that  came  late  to  the 
siege  of  Troy.  According  to  Virgil  it 
was  this  young  man  that  slew  the  aged 
Priam.  On  his  return  home  he  was  mur- 
dered by  Orestes,  at  Delphi, 


Wepen'tbe.  A drug  to  assuage  pain 
and  grief ; a magic  potion.  Homer 
speaks  of  a magic  potion  so  called,  which 
made  persons  forget  their  sorrows  and 
misfortunes. 

INeper’s  Bones.  (See  Napier.) 

TTepli'elo-coccyg'ia.  A town  in 
the  clouds  built  by  the  cuckoos.  It  was 
built  to  cut  off  from  the  gods  the  incense 
offered  by  man,  so  as  to  compel  them 
to  come  to  Aristoph' anes,  The 

Birds.” 

INepo'mnk.  St.  John  Nepomuk,  a 
native  of  Bohemia,  was  the  almoner  of 
Wenceslas  IV.,  and  refused  to  reveal  to 
the  emperor  the  confession  of  the  em- 
press. After  having  heroically  endured 
torture,  he  was  taken  from  the  rack  and 
cast  into  the  Moldau.  Nepomuk  is  the 
French  ni,  born,  and  Pomuk,  the  vil- 
lage of  his  birth.  A stone  image  of  this 
saint  stands  on  the  banks  of  the  Moldau, 
in  Prague.  (1330-1383.) 

INep'otism.  An  unjust  elevation  of 
our  own  kinsmen  to  places  of  wealth  and 
trust  at  our  disposal.  (Latin,  nepos,  a 
nephew  or  kinsman. ) 

INep'tune  (2  syl.).  The  sea.  In 
Roman  mythology,  the  divine  monarch 
of  the  ocean.  (See  Ben.) 

Neptune  opposes  Apollo,  in  Homer’s 
epic,  which  means  that  moisture  and 
dryness  are  always  antagonistic. — 
Eustathius. 

Neptune’s  Horse.  Hippocampes ; 
it  had  but  two  le'gs,  the  hinder  part  of 
the  body  being  that  of  a fish. 

Neptu'nian  or  Nep'tunist.  One  who 
follows  the  opinion  of  Werner,  in  the 
belief  that  all  the  great  rocks  of  the 
earth  were  once  held  in  solution  in  water, 
and  have  been  deposited  as  sediment. 
The  Vulcanists  or  Plutonians  ascribe 
them  to  the  agency  of  fire. 

]Sre'reids(2  syl.).  Sea-nymphs,  daugh- 
ters of  Nereus,  fifty  in  number. 

Nereids  or  Nere'ides  (4  syl.).  Sea- 
nymphs.  Camoens,  in  his  ^'Lusiad,” 
gives  the  names  of  three — Doto,  Nyse,  and 
Neri'ne ; but  he  has  spiritualised  their 
office,  and  makes  them  the  sea-guardians 
of  the  virtuous.  They  went  before  the 
fleet  of  Ga'ma,  and  when  the  treacherous 
pilot  supplied  by  Zacoc'ia,  king  of  Mo- 
zam'bique,  steered  the  ship  of  Vascc  de 


NEREUS. 


NEW  STYLE. 


611 


Gama  towards  a sunken  rock,  these  guar- 
dian nymphs  pressed  against  the  prow, 
lifting  it  from  the  water  and  turning  it 
round.  The  pilot  looking  to  see  the 
cause  of  ^his  strange  occurrence,  beheld 
the  rock  which  had  nearly  proved  the 
ruin  of  the  whole  fleet  (bk.  ii.). 

Tfe'reus.  A sea-god,  represented  as 
.a  very  old  man,  whose  special  dominion 
was  the  iEge'an  Sea. 

INeri'ne  (3  syl.).  One  of  the  Nereids. 
iSee  Nyse.) 

iKTeris'sa.  Portia’s  waiting-maid ; 
-clever,  self-confident,  and  coquettish. — 
■Shakespeare,  Merchant  of  Venice^ 

T3*e'ro.  Emperor  of  Rome.  Some 
•say  he  set  fire  to  Rome  to  see  ‘‘  how 
'Troy  would  look  when  it  was  in  flames 
others  say  he  forbade  the  flames  to  be 
put  out,  and  went  to  a high  tower,  where 
he  sang  verses  to  his  lute  ‘^Upon  the 
Burning  of  old  Troy.” 

A Nero.  Any  bloody-minded  man, 
relentless  tyrant,  or  evil-doer  of  extra- 
ordinary savagery. 

Nero  of  the  North.  Christian  II.  of 
Denmark.  (1480,  1534-1558,  1559.) 

!N'esr.  An  idol  of  the  ancient  Arabs. 
It  was  in  the  form  of  a vulture,  and  was 
worshipped  by  the  tribe  of  Hemyer. 

iN'^srein.  A statue  some  fifty  cubits 
high,  in  the  form  of  an  old  woman.  It 
was  hollow  within  for  the  sake  of  giving 
secret  oracles. — A^'dbian  mytholog^^. 

Tlessus.  Shirt  of  Nessus.  A source 
of  misfortune  from  which  there  is  no  es- 
cape ; a fatal  present ; anything  that 
wounds  the  susceptibilities.  Thus  Renan 
has  the  Nessus-shirt  of  ridicule.”  Her- 
cules ordered  Nessus  (the  centaur)  to 
carry  his  wife  Dejani'ra  across  a river. 
The  centaur  ill-treated  the  woman,  and 
Hercules  shot  him  with  a poisone4  arrow. 
Nessus,  in  revenge,  gave  Dejani'ra  his 
tunie,  saying  to  whomsoever  she  gave  it 
would  love  her  exclusively.  Dejani'ra 
gave  it  to  her  husband,  who  was  devoured 
by  poison  as  soon  as  he  put  it  on  ; but, 
after  enduring  agony,  the  hero  threw 
himself  on  a funeral  pile,  and  was  con- 
sumed. (^See  Harmonia.) 

While  to  my  limbs  th’  envenomqfi  mantle  clings. 
Drenched  in  the  centaur’s  black  malignant  gore. 

West,'’*  Triumphs  of  the  Gout”  (Lucian). 

INTestor.  IGng  of  Pylos,  in  Greece ; 
Ibe  oldest  and  most  experienced  of  the 


chieftains  who  went  to  the  siege  of  Troy. 
On  his  return  home  his  kingdom  was 
abolished  and  all  his  subjects  reduced  to 
slavery.— Corner,  ^Mliad** 

Nestor  of  the  chemical  Revolution.  A 
term  applied  by  Lavoisier  to  Dr.  Black. 
(1728-1799.) 

Nestor  of  Europe.  Leopold,  king  of 
Belgium.  (1790,  1831-1865.) 

INesto'rians.  Followers  of  Nesto'- 
rius,  patriarch  of  Constantinople  in  the 
fifth  century.  He  maintained  that  Christ 
had  two  distinct  natures,  and  that  Mary 
was  the  mother  of  his  human  nature, 
which  was  the  mere  shell  or  hut  of  the 
divine.  {See  Prester  John.) 

iN'etli'inims.  The  hewers  'of  wood 
and  drawers  of  water  for  the  house  of 
God,  an  office  which  the  Gibeonites  w^ere 
eondemned  to  by  Joshua  (Josh.  ix.  27). 
(The  word  means  given  to  God.) 

Mettle.  Camden  says  the  Romans 
brought  over  the  seed  of  this  plant,  that 
they  might  have  nettles  to  chafe  theii^ 
limbs  with  when  they  encountered  the 
cold  of  Britain. 

Mettoyer  (French).  Nettoyer  un® 
personne,  c’est  k dire  luy  gagner  tout  son 
argent.  ” — Oudin,  ‘^Citriositez  Frangoises.^"* 

Ou-r  English  phrase,  I cleaned  him 
out,”  is  precisely  tantamount  to  it. 

Me  vers.  II  conte  di  Nevers,  the  hus- 
band of  Valentina.  Being  asked  by  the 
governor  of  the  Louvre  to  join  in  the  mas- 
sacre of  the  Protestants,  he  replied  that 
his  family  contained  a long  list  of  war- 
riors, but  not  one  assassin.  He  was  one 
of  the  Catholics  who  fell  in  the  dreadful 
slaughter. — Meyerheer^  Qli  TJgonottV* 
{an  opera). 

Mew  Christians.  Certain  Jews  of 
Portugal,  who  yielded  to  compulsion  and 
suffered  themselves  to  be  baptised,  but 
in  secret  observed  the  Mosaic  ceremonies. 
(Fifteenth  century.) 

Mew  Jerusalem.  The  paradise  of 
Christians,  in  allusion  to  Rev.  xxi. 

Mew  Man.  The  regenerated  man. 
In  Scripture  phrase  the  unregenerated 
state  is  called  the  old  man  {q.v.). 

Mew  Style.  The  reformed  or  Gre- 
gorian calendar,  adopted  in  England  ia 
1753. 


K N 2 


612  NEW  TESTAMENT, 


NIBELUNG. 


Tfew  Testament.  The  oldest  MSS. 
extant  are : — (1)  The  Codex  Sinait'icus 
(S),  published  at  the  expense  of  Alex- 
ander II.  of  Kussia  since  the  Crimean 
war.  This  codex  contains  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments, 
and  was  discovered  in  the  convent  of  St. 
Catherine  on  Mount  Sinai,  by  Constan- 
tins Tischendorf.  It  is  ascribed  to  the 
fourth  century.  (2)  The  Codex  Vatica'- 
nus  (B),  in  the  Vatican  Library.  Written 
on  vellum  in  Egypt  about  the  fourth 
century.  (3)  The  Codex  Alexandri'nus 
(A),  belonging  to  the  fifth  century.  It 
was  presented  to  Charles  I.  in  1628  by 
Cyrillus  Lucaris,  patriarch  of  Alexandria, 
and  is  preserved  in  the  British  Museum. 
It  consists  of  four  folio  volumes  on  parch- 
ment, and  contains  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  except  the  first  twenty-four 
chapters  of  St.  Matthew,  and  the  Epistle 
of  Clement  to  the  Corinthians. 

Wew  World.  America  ; the  Eastern 
Hemisphere  is  called  the  Old  World. 

New-year’s  Gifts.  The  Greeks 
transmitted  the  custom  to  the  Romans, 
and  the  Romans  to  the  early  Britons. 
The  Roman  presents  were  called  strenx, 
whence  the  French  term  Urenne  (a  New- 
year’s  gift).  Our  forefathers  used  to 
bribe  the  magistrates  with  gifts  on  New- 
year’s  day— a custom  abolished  by  law 
in  1290,  but  even  down  to  the  reign  of 
James  II.  the  monarchs  received  their 
tokens. 

N.B.— Nonius  Marcellus  says  that 
Tatius,  king  of  the  Sabines,  was  pre- 
sented with  some  branches  of  trees  cut 
from  the  forest  sacred  to  the  goddess 
Strenia  on  New-year’s  day,  and 

from  this  happy  omen  established  the 
custom. 

News.  The  letters  w e used  to  be 
s 

prefixed  to  newspapers  to  show  that 
they  obtained  information  from  the 
four  quarters  of  the  world,  and  the  sup- 
position that  our  word  news  is  thence 
derived  is  at  least  ingenious;  but  the 
old-fashioned  way  of  spelling  the  word, 
tieweSy  is  fatal  to  the  conceit.  The  French 
rtouvelles  seems  to  be  the  real  scion. 
{See  Notarica.) 

News  is  conveyed  by  letter,  word,  or  mouth. 

And  comes  to  us  from  North,  East,  West,  aud  South. 

Witt's  “ Recreations.” 

Newcastle  (Northtimherland)  was 
cnce  called  Moncaster,  from  the  monks  ' 


who  settled  there  in  the  Saxon  times  ; it 
was  called  Newcastle  from  the  castlo 
built  there  by  Robert,  son  of  the  Con- 
queror, in  1080,  to  defend  the  neigh- 
bourhood from  the  Scots. 

Newcastle  (Staffordshire)  is  so  called 
from  the  new  castle  built  to  supply  the 
place  of  an  older  one  which  stood  at 
Chesterton-under-Line,  about  two  miles- 
distant. 

Carry  coals  to  Newcastle.  A work  of 
supererogation,  Newcastle  being  the 
great  seat  of  coals.  The  Latins  have 
Aqiiam  mari  infunder e (to  pour  water 
into  the  sea) ; Sidera  coelo  addere  (to  add 
stars  to  the  sky) ; Noctuas  Athe'nce  (to- 
carry  owls  to  Athens,  which  abounded 
in  them). 

Newcome  {Colonel).  A character  in- 
Thackeray’s  novel  called  The  New- 
comes.” 

Newcomes.  Strangers  newly  arrived. 

Newgate.  Before  this  was  set  up^,. 
London  had  but  three  gates : Aldgate, 
Aldersgate,  and  Ludgate.  The  new  one 
was  added  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I. 

Newgate.  Nash,  in  his  Pierce  Peni- 
lesse,”  says  that  Newgate  is  common? 
name  for  all  prisons,  as  homo  is  a common 
name  for  a man  or  woman.” 

Newgate  fashion.  Two  by  two.  Pri- 
soners used  to  be  conveyed  to  Newgate 
coupled  together  in  twos.  {See  1 Henry 
IV.,”iii.  S.—Bai'dolph.) 

Newgate  Fringe.  The  hair  worn, 
under  the  chin,  or  between  the  chin  and 
the  neck  ; so  called  because  it  occupies 
the  position  of  the  rope  when  men  are 
about  to  be  hanged. 

Newton  {Sir  Isaac)  discovered  the- 
prismatic  colours  of  light.  (1642-1727.) 

Nature  and  Nature’s  laws  lay  hid  in  ni^ht. 

God  said,  “Lee  Newton  be,”  and  all  was  light. 

Pope. 

The  Newton  of  harmony.  J ean  Philipp© 
Rameau  was  so  called  from  his  work  en- 
titled a Dissertation  on  the  Principles- 
of  Harmony.”  (1683-1764.) 

Newto'nian  Philosophy.  The 
astronomical  system  at  present  received, 
together  with  that  of  universal  gravita- 
tion. So  called  after  Sir  Isaac  Newton, 
who  established  the  former  and  dis- 
covered the  latter.  {See  Apple.) 

Ni'belung.  A mythical  king  of  Nor- 
way, whose  subjects  are  called  the  Nibe- 
lungers,  and  territory  the  Nibelungon- 


NIBELUNGEN  HOARD. 


NICHOLAS, 


613 


land.  There  were  two  contemporary 
Icings  in  this  realm,  against  whom  Sieg- 
fried, prince  of  the  Netherlands,  fought. 
He  slew  the  twelve  giants  who  formed 
their  paladins  with  700  of  their  chiefs,  and 
made  their  country  tributary  (Lay  iii). 
The  word  is  from  nebel  (darkness),  and 
means  the  children  of  mist  or  darkness, 
{See  Nibelungen-Lied.) 

INibelungen  Hoard.  A mythical 
mass  of  gold  and  precious  stones,  which 
■Siegfried  obtained  from  the  Nibelungs, 
and  gave  to  his  wife  Kriemhild  as  her 
marriage  portion.  It  was  guarded  by 
Albric  the  dwarf.  After  the  murder  of 
Siegfried,  his  widow  removed  the  hoard 
to  Worms;  here  Hagan  seized  it,  and 
buried  it  secretly  beneath  '‘the  Rhine  at 
Lochham,”  intending  at  a future  time  to 
-enjoy  it,  "but  that  was  ne’er  to  be.” 
Xriemhild  married  Etzel  with  the  view 
of  avenging  her  wrongs.  In  time  Glin- 
ther,  with  Hagan  and  a host  of  Burgun- 
dians, went  to  visit  king  Etzel,  and 
Kriemhild  stirred  up  a great  broil,  in 
which  a most  terrible  slaughter  ensued. 
{See  Kriemhild.) 

’Twas  BiTich  as  twelve  huge  waggons  in  four  whole 
nights  and  daj'S 

Could  carry  from  the  mountain  down  to  the  salt- 
sea  bay. 

Though  to  and  fro  each  waggon  thrice  journeyed 
every  day. 

It  was  made  up  of  nothing  but  precious  stones  and 
gold  : 

Were  all  the  world  bought  from  it,  and  down  the 
value  told, 

2iot  a mark  the  less  would  there  be  left  than  erst 
there  was,  1 ween. 

''"Nibelungen-Lied,"  xix. 

Hibelungen-Lied.  A famous  Ger- 
man epic  of  the  thirteenth  century,  pro- 
bably a compilation  of  different  lays. 
It  .is  divided  into  two  parts,  one  ending 
with  the  death  of  Siegfried,  and  the 
other  with  the  death  of  Kriemhild,  his 
widow.  The  first  part  contains  the 
marriage  of  Gunther,  king  of  Burgundy, 
with  queen  Bmnhild ; the  marriage  of 
Siegfried  with  Kriemhild,  his  death  by 
Hagan,  the  removal  of  the  "Nibelung 
hoard”  to  Burgundy,  and  its  seizure  by 
Hagan,  who  buried  it  somewhere  under 
the  Rhine.  This  part  contains  nineteen 
lays,  divided  into  1,188  four-line  stanzas. 
The  second  part  contains  the  marriage 
of  the  widow  Kriemhild  with  king  Etzel, 
the  visit  of  the  Burgundians  to  the  court 
of  the  Hunnish  king,  and  the  death  of 
all  the  principal  characters,  including 
Hagan  and  Kriemhild.  This  part,  some- 


times called  "The  Nibelungen-N6t”  from 
the  last  three  words,  contains  twenty 
lays,  divided  into  1,271  four-line  stanzas. 
The  two  parts  contain  thirty-nine  lays, 
2,459  stanzas,  or  9, 836  lines.  The  subject 
is  based  on  a legend  in  the  Sagas. 

ISTibolungen-H  ot.  The  second  part 
of  the  famous  German  epic  called  the 
Nibelungen-Lied  {q,v.). 

Hibelungers.  Whoever  possessed 
the  " Nibelung  Hoard”  {q.v.).  Thus  at 
one  time  certain  people  of  Norway  were 
so  called,  but  when  Siegfried  possessed 
himself  of  the  hoard  he  was  called  king 
of  the  Nibelungers ; and  at  the  death  of 
Siegfried,  when  the  hoard  was  removed 
to  Burgundy,  the  Burgundians  were  so 
called.  {See  Nibeldng.) 

Hie  Frog.  {See  Frog.) 

Hice.  The  Council  of  Nice.  The  first 
oecumenical  council  of  the  Christian 
church,  held  under  Constantine  the 
Great  at  Nice  or  Nicsea,  in  Asia  Minor, 
to  condemn  the  Arian  heresy  (325).  The 
seventh  oecumenical  council  was  also 
held  at  Nice  (787). 

Hicene  Creed  {Ni-seen)  drawn  up 
chiefly  by  Hosius  of  Cor'duba.  Down  to 
the  words  " I believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost,” 
formed  part  of  the  Nicene  formulary; 
the  rest  was  added  in  391  to  guard 
against  the  heresy  of  Macedonius. 

Hiche.  A niche  in  the  temple  of  Fame. 
The  temple  of  Fame  was  the  Panthe'on, 
built  as  a receptacle  for  illustrious 
Frenchmen.  A niche  in  the  temple  is  a 
place  for  a monument  recording  your 
name  and  deeds. 

Hicliolas  {St^.  The  patron  saint 
of  boys,  as  St.  Catherine  is  of  girls.  In 
Germany,  a person  assembles  the  chil- 
dren of  a family  or  school  on  the  6th 
December  (the  eve  of  St.  Nicholas),  and 
distributes  gilt  nuts  and  sweetmeats; 
but  if  any  naughty  child  is  present,  he 
receives  the  redoubtable  punishment  of 
the  Jclaulauf.  The  same  as  Santa  Claus 
and  the  Dutch  Kriss  Kringle  {q.v.). 

St.  Nicholas.  Patron  saint  of  parish 
clerks.  This  is  because  he  was  the  patron 
of  scholars,  who  used  to  be  called  clerks. 

St.  Nicholas.  Patron  saint  of  sailors, 
because  he  allayed  a storm  on  a voyage 
to  the  Holy  Land. 

St.  Nicholas,  The  patron  saint  of 
Russia. 


614 


NICK. 


NICKNAME. 


St.  Nicholas,  The  patron  saint  of 
Aberdeen. 

St.  Nicholas,  in  Christian  art,  is  re- 
presented in  episcopal  robes,  and  has 
either  three  purses  or  golden  balls,  or 
three  children,  as  his  distinctive  sym- 
bols. The  three  purses  are  in  allusion 
to  the  three  purses  given  by  him  to  three 
sisters  to  enable  them  to  marry.  The 
three  children  allude  to  the  legend  that 
an  Asiatic  gentleman  sent  his  three  boys 
to  school  at  Athens,  but  told  them  to 
call  on  St.  Nicholas  for  his  benediction  ; 
they  stopped  at  Myra  for  the  night,  and 
the  innkeeper,  to  secure  their  baggage, 
murdered  them  in  bed,  and  put  their 
mangled  bodies  into  a pickling  tub  with 
some  pork,  intending  to  sell  the  whole 
as  such.  St.  Nicholas  had  a vision  of  the 
whole  affair,  and  went  to  the  inn,  when 
the  man  confessed  the  crime,  and  St. 
Nicholas  raised  the  murdered  boys  to 
life  again.  {See  Hone’s  Everyday  Book,” 
vol.  i.,  col.  1556 ; Maitre  Wace,  Metrical 
Life  of  St.  Nicholas.”) 

Clerks  or  Knights  of  St.  Nicholas. 
Thieves,  so  called  because  St.  Nicholas 
was  their  patron  saint ; not  that  he  aided 
them  in  their  wrong-doing,  but  because 
on  one  occasion  he  induced  some  thieves 
to  restore  their  plunder.  Probably  St. 
Nicholas  is  simply  a pun  for  Nick,  and 
thieves  may  be  called  the  devil’s  clerks 
or  knights  with  much  propriety. 

I think  yonder  come  prancing  down  the  hills 

om  Kingston  a couple  of  St.  Nicholas’s  Clerks. — 

oxvley,  “ Match  at  Midnight  ” (1633). 

INick,  in  Scandinavian  mythology,  is 
a water- wraith  or  kelpie.  There  are 
nicks  in  sea,  lake,  river,  and  waterfall. 
Both  Catholic  and  Protestant  clergy  have 
laboured  to  stir  up  an  aversion  to  these 
beings.  They  are  sometimes  represented 
as  half  child,  half  horse,  the  hoofs  being- 
reversed,  and  sometimes  as  old  men  sit- 
ting on  rock  s w ringing  the  water  from  thei  r 
hair.  In  Denmark,  when  one  is  drowned, 
they  say  Nihken  tog  ham  bort  (Nick  took 
him  away) ; and  when  a drowned  body  is 
recovered,  if  the  nose  is  red,  they  say, 
Niklcen  liar  suet  ham  (Nick  has  sucked 
him).  This  kelpie  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  the  nix  {q.v.). 

Old  Nick  is  the  Scandinavian  wraith 
under  the  form  and  fashion  of  an  old 
man.  Butler  says  the  word  is  derived 
from  Nicholas  Machiavel,  but  this  can 
be  only  a poetical  satire,  as  the  term 


existed  many  years  before  the  birth  of 
that  Florentine. 

^^’ck  Machiavel  had  ne’er  a trick 
( i.  hough  he  aives  name  to  our  Old  Nick) 

But  was  below  the  least  of  these. 

“ Idudibras”  hi.  1. 

Old  Nick.  Grimm  says  the  word  Nick 
is  Neken  or  Nikken,  the  evil  spirit  of  the- 
North.  In  Scandinavia  there  is  scarcely 
a river  without  its  Nikr  or  wraith.  {See 
Nicka-nan.  Nickar.*) 

He  nicked  it.  Won,  hit,  accomplished 
it,  A nick  is  a winning  throw  of  dice. 
Hence  Florio  (p.  28U)  says  : To  tye  or 
nicke  a cast  of  dice.” 

To  nick  the  nick.  To  hit  the  exact 
moment.  Tallies  used  to  be  called  ‘^nick- 
sticks.”  Hence  to  make  a record  of  any- 
thing is  “ to  nick  it  down,”  as  publicans 
nick  a score  on  a tally. 

In  the  nick  of  time.  Just  at  the  right 
moment.  The  allusion  is  to  tallies  marked 
with  nicks  or  notches.  Shakespeare  has 
‘‘  ’Tis  now  the  prick  of  noon  ” (‘‘  Borneo 
and  Juliet,”  ii.  4),  in  allusion  to  the  cus- 
tom of  pricking  tallies  with  a pin,  as  they 
do  at  Cambridge  University  still.  If  a 
man  enters  chapel  just  before  the  doors 
close,  he  would  be  just  in  time  to  get 
nicked  or  pricked,  and  would  be  at  the 
nick  or  prick  of  time. 

INicka-INaii  NTiglit.  The  night 
preceding  Shrove  Tuesday  is  so  called 
in  Cornwall,  because  boys  play  impish 
tricks  and  practical  jokes  on  the  unwary. 

INickar  or  Hnickar.  The  name  as- 
sumed by  Odin  when  he  impersonates  the 
destroying  principle. — Grimm,  ^‘Deutsche 
Mythologie.'* 

Nieker.  One  who  nicks  or  hits  a 
mark  exactly.  Certain  night-larkers, 
whose  game  was  to  break  windows  with 
halfpence,  assumed  this  name  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

His  scattered  pence  the  flying  Nicker  flings. 

And  with  the  copper  shower  the  cas^ement  rings. 

(day,  Tt-ivia,"  iiL 

INickTelby( An  endless  talker, 
always  introducing  something  quite 
foreign  to  the  matter  in  hand,  and  plum- 
ing herself  on  her  penetration. — Dickens, 

Nicholas  Nicklehy.'* 

INickname.  An  eke  name,”  writ- 
ten A neke  name.  An  additional  name, 
an  ag-nomen.  The  eke”  of  a bee-hive 
is  the  piece  added  to  the  bottom  to  en- 
large the  hive.  {See  Now-a-days.) 


NICKNAMES. 


NIGHTSHADE. 


615 


Nicknames.  National  NicTcnames  : 

For  an  American  of  the  United  States, 
‘^Brother  Jonathan” 

For  a Dutchman,  '^Nic  Frog”  fe-'r.), 
and  Mynheer  Closh”  {q.v.). 

For  an  Englishman,  “John  Bull.” 
{See  Bull.) 

For  a Frenchman,  “Crapaud”  {q.v.), 
Johnny  or  Jean,  Robert  Macaire. 

For  French  Canadians,  “Jean  Bap- 
tiste.” 

For  French  Reformers,  “Brissotins” 
(q.v.)',  French  Peasantry,  “ Jaci^ues  Bon- 
homme.” 

For  a German,  Cousin  Michael  ” {q.r.). 

For  2in  Irishman,  “Paddy.” 

For  a Londoner,  “A  Cockney”  (g.v.). 

For  a Russian,  “A  Bear.” 

For  a Scot,  “ Sawney”  {q.v.). 

For  a Swins,  “ Colin  Tampon  ” {q.v.). 

Fora  Turh,  “Infidel.” 

Niek'nev'en.  A gigantic  malignant 
hag  of  Scotch  superstition.  Dunbar  has 
well  described  this  spirit  in  his  “ Fly  ting 
of  Dunbar  and  Kennedy.” 

Nicola'itans.  The  followers  of  Ni- 
colads,  in  the  second  century.  They 
were  Gnostics  in  doctrine  and  Epicureans 
in  practice. 

Nicolas.  (See  Nicholas.) 

Nic'otine  (3  syl.)  is  so  named  from 
Jean  Nicot,  lord  of  Villemain,  who  pur- 
chased some  tobacco  at  Lisbon  in  1560, 
introduced  it  into  France,  and  had  the 
honour  of  fixing  his  name  on  the  plant. 
Our  word  tobacco  is  from  the  Indian 
tahaco  (the  tube  used  by  the  Indians  for 
inhaling  the  smoke,  which  by  them  is 
called  petuni  or  cohiba). 

Nidh-Ogg.  The  monster  serpent,  hid 
in  the  pit  Hvergelmer,  which  for  ever 
gnaws  at  the  roots  of  the  mundane  ash- 
tree  Y ggdrasil.  — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Nie'mi.  A lake  and  mountain  in 
Lapland,  where  guardian  spirits,  called 
Haitios,  are  said  to  dwell. 

Nifl-lieim  (2  syl.,  vapour -home).  The 
region  of  endless  cold  and  everlasting 
night,  ruled  over  by  Hela.  It  consists 
of  nine  worlds,  to  which  are  consigned 
those  who  die  of  disease  or  old  age.  This 
region  existed  “ from  the  beginning  ” in 
the  North,  and  in  the  middle  thereof  was 


the  well  Hvergelmeer,  from  which  flowed 
twelve  rivers.  (Old  Norse,  nijl,  mist; 
and  heimr,  home.)  In  the  South  was  the 
world  called  Muspelheim  {q.v). — Scan- 
dinavian mythology.  {See  Hvergelmer.) 

Nigger  Songs  are  chiefly  composed 
by  Stephen  C.  Foster,  of  Pittsburgh, 
who  died  1864.  Among  others  the  follow- 
ing are  from  his  pen  : — 

Uncle  Ned,  published  I The  Old  Folks  at  Home. 

1846.  My  Old  Kentucky  Home. 

Oh  Susannah.  1 Old  Dog  Tray. 

Nightingale.  Tereus,  king  of 
Thrace,  fetched  Philome'la  to  visit  his 
wife;  but  when  he  reached  the  “soli- 
tudes of  Helas  ” he  dishonoured  her,  and 
cut  out  her  tongue  that  she  might  not 
reveal  his  conduct.  Tereus  told  his  wife 
that  Philomela  was  dead,  but  Philomela 
made  her  story  known  by  weaving  it  into 
a peplus,  which  she  sent  to  her  sister, 
the  wife  of  Tereus,  whose  name  was 
Procne.  Procne,  out  of  revenge,  cut  up 
her  own  son  and  served  it  to  Tereus  ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  king  discovered  it  he 
pursued  his  wife,  who  fled  to  Philomela, 
her  sister.  To  put  an  end  to  the  sad 
tale,  the  gods  changed  all  three  into 
birds:  Tereus  became  the  hawh,  his 
wife  the  siv allow,  and  Philomela  the 
nightingale. 

Arccidian  nightingales.  Asses. 

Niglitmare.  A sensation  in  sleep 
as  if  something  heavy  were  sitting  on  our 
breast.  (From  the  Saxon  mar  a,  an  in- 
cubus ; Hebrew,  maria,  a demon  or  evil 
spirit.)  This  sensation  used  to  be  called 
in  French,  Cochemar  (the  sow-devil), 
because  it  resembles  the  dull  lifeless 
weight  of  a fat  sow ; and  anciently  it 
was  not  unfrequently  called  the  Night- 
hag,  or  the  riding  of  the  witch.  Fu'seli 
used  to  eat  raw  beef  and  pork  chops  for 
supper  to  produce  nightmare,  that  ho 
might  draw  the  horrible  creations.  {See 
Mare’s  Nest.) 

I do  believe  that  the  witch  we  call  Mara  has  been 
dealiug  With  you.— iS’ir  Walter  Scott,  “ The  Betrothed** 
ch.  XV. 

Nightmare  of  Europe.  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte. (1769,  1804-1814,  1821.) 

Nightsliade  is  called  deadly,  not  so 
much  Because  it  is  poisonous  as  because 
it  was  used  to  blacken  the  eyes  in  mourn' 
ing.  It  was  the  plant  of  mourning  for 
the  dead. 


616 


NIIIILO. 


NINE. 


Ex  7iihilo  nihil  fit.  From 
nothing  comes  nothing — i.e.^  every  effect 
must  have  a cause.  It  is  an  Epicure'ah 
axiom  to  prove  the  eternity  of  matter. 
We  now  apply  the  phrase  as  equivalent 
to  You  cannot  get  blood  from  a stone.” 
Y ou  cannot  expect  clever  work  from  one 
who  has  no  brains;  you  cannot  expect 
fruits  of  the  earth  without  ploughing 
and  sowing. 

ISTile.  The  Egyptians  say  that  the 
swelling  of  the  Nile  is  caused  by  the  tears 
of  Isis.  The  feast  of  Isis  is  celebrated  at 
the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Osi'ris, 
•when  Isis  is  supposed  to  mourn  for  her 
husband. 

Hero  of  the  Nile.  Horatio  lord  Nelson. 
(1758-1805.) 

!Nirica  or  Sephal'ica.  A plant  in  the 
hlossoms  ,of  which  the  bees  sleep. 

INimbus  characterises  author ity  and 
power,  not  sanctity.  The  colour  indi- 
'cates  the  character  of  the  person  so 
invested  the  nimbus  of  the  Trinity  is 
gold  ; of  angels,  apostles,  and  the  Virgin 
Mary,  either  red  or  white;  of  ordinary 
saints,  violet ; of  Judas,  hlacJc;  of  Satan, 
some  very  dark  colour.  The  form  is 
generally  a circle  or  half-circle,  but  that 
^ of  Deity  is  often  triangular. 

Wim'ini-Piin'ini.  Affected  firm- 
ness. Lady  Emily,  in  the  ^‘Heiress,” 
tells  Miss  Alscrip  the  way  to  become  a 
Paphian  Mimp  is  to  stand  before  a glass 
and  keep  pronouncing  nimini  pimini. 

The  lips  cannot  fail  to  take  the  right 
plie.” — General  Burgoyne,"'  in.  2. 

This  conceit  has  been  borrowed  by 
Charles  Dickens  in  his  Little  Dorrit,” 
where  Mrs.  General  tells  Amy  Dorrit — 

Papa  gives  a pretty  form  to  the  lips  Papa., 
f)Otatoes,povltry,  prunes,  and  jorism.  You  will  find 
It  serviceable  if  you  say  to  youiself  on  entering  a 
room,  Papa,  potatoes,  poultry,  prunes,  and  prism, 
. prunes  and  prism. 

IN  imrod.  A mighty  hunter  before 
the  Lord”  (Gen.  x.  9),  which  the  Targum 
says  means  a sinful  hunting  of  the  sons 
of  men.”  Pope  says  of  him,  he  was  ** a, 
mighty  hunter,  and  his  prey  was  man  ; ” 
so  also  Milton  interprets  the  phrase. — 

Paradise  Lost,'*  xii. 

Nimrod.  Any  tyrant  or  devastating 
warrior. 

Nimrod,  in  the  Quarterly  Review,  is  the 
nom-de-plume  of  Charles  James  Apperley, 
-of  Denbighshire,  who  was  passionately 
fond  of  hunting.  Mr.  Pittman,  the  pro- 


prietor, kept  for  him  a stud  of  hunters. 
His  best  productions  are  The  Chase, 
the  Turf,  and  the  Load.”  (1777-1843.) 

Nincompoop.  A poor  thing  of  a 
man.  A corruption  of  the  Latin  no7i, 
comyos  \mentis\. 

Nine.  Nine,  five,  and  three  are 
mystical  numbers — the  diapa'son,  dia- 
pente,and  diatri'on  of  the  Greeks.  Nine 
consists  of  a trinity  of  trinities.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Pythagorean  numbers,  man  is 
a full  chord,  or  eight  notes,  and  deity 
comes  next.  Three,  being  the  trinity, 
represents  a perfect  xinity ; twice  three 
is  the  perfect  dual;  and  thrice  three 
is  the  perfect  'plural.  This  explains  the 
use  of  nine  as  a mystical  number,  and 
also  as  an  exhaustive  plural,  and  conse- 
quently no  definite  number,  but  a simple 
representative  of  plural  perfection.  {See 
Diapason.) 

(1)  Nine  indicating  perfection  or  com- 
pletion : — 

Daucalion* s ark,  made  by  the  advice  of 
Prome'theus,  was  tossed  about  for  nine 
days,  when  it  stranded  on  the  top  of 
Mount  Parnassus. 

Rig  geo  to  the  nines  or  Dressed  up  to  the 
nines.  To  perfection,  from  head  to  foot. 

There  are  nine  earths.  Hela  is  goddess 
of  the  ninth.  Milton  speaks  of  ‘^nine- 
en f old ed  spheres . ” — A r cades. ” 

There  are  nine  worlds  in  Nifiheim. 

There  are  nine  heavens.  {See  Heavens.) 

Gods.  Macaulay  makes  Porsenna  swear 
by  the  nine  gods. 

There  are  nine  orders  of  angels.  {See 
Angels.) 

There  are  the  nine  korrigan  or  fays  of 
Armorica. 

There  were  nine  muses. 

There  were  oiine  Gallicence  or  virgin 
priestesses  of  the  ancient  Gallic  oracle. 
The  serpents  or  Nagas  of  Southern  Indian 
worship  are  nine  in  number. 

There  are  nine  worthies  {q.v.) ; and  nine 
worthies  of  London. 

There  were  nine  rivers  of  hell,  accord- 
ing to  classic  mythology.  Milton  says 
the  gates  of  hell  are  ^Hhrice  three-fold: 
three  folds  are  brass,  three  iron,  three 
of  adamantine  rock.  They  had  nine 
folds,  nine  plates,  and  nine  linings.” — 
“ Paradise  Lost,'*  ii.  645. 

Fallen  angels.  Milton  says,  when  they 
were  cast  out  of  heaven,  ^‘Nine  days 
they  fell.” — '‘^Paradise  Lost,**  vi.  871. 

Vulcan,  when  kicked  out  of  heaven, 


NINE. 


NINE  DAYS’  WONDER.  b*i: 


v/as  nine  days  falling,  and  then  lighted 
on  the  island  Lemnos. 

Nice  or  nimble  as  ninepence  (q.v.'). 

(2)  Examples  of  the  use  of  nine  as  an 
exhaustive  plural : — 

Nine  tailors  mahe  a man,  does  not 
mean  the  number  nine  in  the  ordinary  ac- 
ceptation, but  simply  the  plural  of  tailor 
Avithout  relation  to  number.  As  a tailor 
is  not  so  robust  and  powerful  as  the  or- 
dinary run  of  men,  it  requires  more  than 
one  to  match  a man. 

A nine  days  wonder  is  a wonder  that 
lasts  more  than  a day ; here  nine  equals 
**  several.” 

A cat  has  nine  lives— i.e.,  a cat  is  more 
tenacious  of  life  than  animals  in  general. 

Possession  is  nine  points  of  the  law— i.e., 
several  points,  or  every  advantage  a per- 
son can  have  short  of  right. 

There  are  nine  croivns  recognised  in 
heraldry.  (Nee  Heraldry.) 

A fee  asked  a Norman  peasant  to 
change  babes  with  her,  but  the  peasant 
replied,  ^'No,  not  if  your  child  were 
nine  times  fairer  than  my  own.” — “Fairy 
Mythology,''  p.  473. 

(^3)  Nine  as  a mystic  number.  Exam- 
ples of  its  superstitious  use  : — 

The  Abracadabra  was  worn  nine  days, 
and  then  flung  into  a river. 

Cadency.  There  are  nine  marks  of 
cadency. 

Cat.  The  whip  for  punishing  evil- 
doers is  a cat  o'  nine  tails,  from  the  super- 
stitious notion  that  a flogging  by  a 
‘^trinity  of  trinities”  would  be  both 
more  sacred  and  more  efficacious. 

Diamonds.  [See  Diamond  Jousts,” 
under  the  word  Diamond.) 

Fairies.  In  order  to  see  the  fairies,  a 
person  is  directed  to  put  '^nine  grains  of 
wheat  on  a.  four-leaved  clover.” 

Jlel  has  dominion  over  nine  worlds. 

Hydra.  The  hydra  had  nine  heads. 
'{See  Hydra.) 

Leases  used  to  be  granted  for  999 
years,  that  is  three-three  times  three-three. 
Even  now  they  run  for  ninety- nine  years, 
the  dual  of  a trinity  of  trini  ties. 

At  the  Lemu'ria,  held  by  the  Romans 
on  the  9th,  11th,  and  13th  of  May,  per- 
sons haunted  threw  black  beans  over 
their  heads,  pronouncing  nine  times  the 
words  : “ Avaunt,  ye  spectres  from  this 
house  !”  and  the  exorcism  was  complete. 
{See  Ovid’s  Fasti.”) 

Magpies.  To  see  nine  magpies  is  most 
unlucky.  [See  Magpie.) 


Odin's  ring  dropped  eight  other  rings 
every  ninth  night. 

Ordeals.  In  the  ordeal  by  fire,  nine 
hot  ploughshares  were  laid  lengthwise  at 
unequal  distances. 

Peas.  If  a servant  finds  nine  green 
peas  in  a peascod,  she  lays  it  on  the  lintel 
of  the  kitchen-door,  and  the  first  man 
that  enters  in  is  to  be  her  cavalier. 

Seal.  The  people  of  Feroes  say  that 
the  seal  casts  off  its  skin  every  ninth 
month,  and  assumes  a human  form  to 
sport  about  the  land.— Thiele,"  iii.  51. 

Styx  encompassed  the  infernal  regions 
in  nine  circles. 

Toast.  We  drink  a Three-times-threeio 
those  most  highly  honoured. 

Witches.  The  weird  sisters  in  ‘'^Mac- 
beth” sang,  as  they  danced  round  the 
cauldron:  ^‘Thrice  to  thine,  and  thrice 
to  mine,  and  thrice  again  to  make  up 
nine;”  and  then  declared  ‘Hhe  charm 
wound  up.” 

Wresting  Thread.  Nine  knots  are 
made  on  black  wool  as  a charm  for  a 
sprained  ankle. 

(4)  Promiscuous  examples : — 

Niobe’s  children  lay  nine  days  in  their 
blood  before  they  were  buried. 

Nine  buttons  of  official  rank  in  China. 

Nine  of  Diamonds  (g.v.).  The  curse 
of  Scotland. 

There  are  nine  Mandarins  [q.v.). 

Planets.  — [1)  Mercury,  (2)  Venus,  (3) 
Earth,  (4)  Mars,  (5)  the  Planetoids,  (6)  Ju- 
piter, (7)  Saturn,  (8)  Uranus,  (9)  Neptune. 

The  followers  of  Jai'na,  a heterodox 
sect  of  the  Hindus,  believe  all  objects 
are  classed  under  nine  categories,  [See 
Jainas.) 

INine  Crosses.  Altar  crosses,  pro- 
cessional crosses,  roods  on  lofts,  reliquary 
crosses,  consecration  crosses,  marking 
crosses,  pectoral  crosses,  spire  crosses, 
and  crosses  pendant  over  altars. — Pugin, 
“ Glossary  of  Ecclesiastical  Ornaments." 

INine  Crowns.  [See  Crowns.) 

INine  Days’  Wonder.  Something 
that  causes  a great  sensation  for  a few 
days,  and  then  passes  into  the  limbo  of 
things  forgotten.  In  Bohn’s  ‘^Handbook 
of  Proverbs”  we  have,  A wonder  lasts 
nine  days,  and  then  the  puppy’s  eyes  are 
open,”  alluding  to  cats  and  dogs,  which 
are  born  blind.  As  much  as  to  say  the 
eyes  of  the  public  are  blind  in  astonish- 
ment for  nine  days,  but  then  their  eyes 


618 


NINE  POINTS. 


NITOUCHE. 


are  open,  and  they  see  too  much  to  won- 
der any  longer, 

INine  Points  of  the  Law.  Success 
in  a law-suit  requires  (1)  a good  deal  of 
money  ; (2)  a good  deal  of  patience  ; (3) 
^ a good  cause;  (4)  a good  lawyer;  (5)  a 
good  counsel ; (6)  good  witnesses;  (7)  a 
good  jury;  (8)  a good  judge;  and  (9) 
good  luck. 

ilNine  Worthies.  Joshua,  David, 
and  Judas  Maccabseus  ; Hector,  Alexan- 
der, and  J ulius  Ciesar ; Arthur,  Charle- 
magne, and  Godfrey  of  Bouillon, 
l^ine  worthies  were  they  called,  of  different  rites— 
Tiiree  Jews,  three  pagans,  and  three  Christian 
knights. 

Di'yden,  “ Thi  Flower  and  the  Leaf.” 

Nine  Worthies  (privy  councillors  to 
William  III.) 

Whigs:  Devonshire,  Dorset,  Monmouth, 
and  Edward  Bussell. 

Tories  : Caermarthen,  Pembroke,  Not- 
tingham, Marlborough,  and  Lowther. 

Nine  Worthies  of  London.  {See  Wor- 
thies.) 

TQ'inepence.  As  nice  as  ninepeiice. 
Silver  ninepences  were  common  till  the 
year  1696,  when  all  unmilled  coin  was 
called  in.  These  ninepences  were  often 
bent  and  given  as  love-tokens,  the  usual 
formula  of  presentation  being  To  my  love, 
from  my  love.  {See  Nimble.) 

INinTaii  {St).  The  apostle  of  the 
Piets  (fourth  and  fifth  centuries). 

INinon  de  Lenelos,  noted  for  her 
beauty,  wit,  and  gaiety.  She  had  two 
natural  sons,  one  of  whom  fell  in  love 
with  her,  and  blew  out  his  brains  when  he 
discovered  the  relationship.  (1615-1706.) 

INi'nus.  Son  of  Belus,  husband  of 
Semir'arais,  and  the  reputed  builder  of 
Nineveh. 

INiobe  (3  syl.).  The  personification 
of  female  sorrow.  According  to  Grecian 
fable,  Niobe  was  the  mother  of  twelve 
children,  and  taunted  Lato'na  because 
she  had  only  two,  namely  Apollo  and 
Diana,  Lato'na  commanded  her  children 
to  avenge  the  insult,  and  they  caused  all 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  Niobe  to  die. 
Niobe  was  inconsolable,  wept  herself  to 
death,  and  was  changed  into  a stone, 
from  which  ran  water.  Like  Niob6,  all 
tears”  (‘^Hamlet”). 

The  group  of  Niobe  and  her  children, 
in  Florence,  was  discovered  at  Borne  in 
1583,  and  was  the  work  either  of  Scopas 
or  Praxit'eles. 


The  Niche  of  Nations.  So  lord  Byrort 
styles  Borne,  the  ‘Mone  mother  of  dead 
empires,”  with  broken  thrones  and 
temples  ;”  a chaos  of  ruins  ;”  a ^^desert 
where  we  steer  stumbling  o’er  recollec- 
tions.”— Childe  Harold f iv.,  stanza  79. 

ITip-cheese  or  Nip-farthing.  A mi- 
ser, who  nips  or  pinches  closely  his  cheese 
and  farthings. 

INipper  {S^isan),  The  attendant  on, 
Florence  Dombey.  She  is  affectionate 
and  faithful,  but  teasing  and  caustic. 

TTlrva'na.  Annihilation,  or  rather 
the  final  deliverance  of  the  soul  from 
transmigration  (in  Buddhism).  Sanskrit, 
nir,  out;  vdna,  blown.  {See  Gautama.) 

Hishapoor  and  Tous.  Mountains 
in  Khorassan  where  turquoises  are  found. 

ISTisi  Prius.  A Nisi  Case  j a cause 
to  be  tried  in  the  assize  courts.  Sittings 
at  Nisi  Prius ; sessions  of  Nisi  Prius 
courts,  which  never  try  criminal  cases. 
Trial  at  Nisi\  a trial  before  judges  of 
assize.  An  action  at  one  time  could  be 
tried  only  in  the  court  where  it  was 
brought,  but  Magna  Charta  provided  that 
certain  cases,  instead  of  being  tried  at 
Westminster  in  the  superior  courts, 
should  be  tried  in  their  proper  counties 
before  judges  of  assize.  The  words 

Nisi  Prius”  are  two  words  on  which  the 
following  clause  attached  to  the  writs 
entirely  hinges : We  command  you  to 
come  before  our  justices  at  Westminster 
on  the  morrow  of  All  Souls’,  NISI 
PBIUS  justiciarii  domini  regis  ad  assisas 
capiendas  venerint— Le.,  unless  previously 
the  justices  of  the  lord  our  king  come  to 
hold  their  assizes  at  (the  court  of  your 
own  assize  town). 

-ISris'roch.  An  idol  of  the  Ninevites, 
represented  in  their  sculptures  with  a 
hawk’s  head.  The  word  means  Great 
Eagle. 

]Nit.  One  of  the  attendants  of  queen 
Mab. 

Uitouche  {St.)  or  Mie  Touche. 
(Touch-me-not).  A hypocrite,  a demure- 
looking  pharisee.  The  French  say  Faire 
la  Sainte  Nitouche,  to  pretend  to  great 
sanctity,  or  look  as  if  butter  would  not 
melt  in  your  mouth.  We  use  the  word 
Maw-worm  in  the  same  signification — a 
name  taken  from  The  Hypocrite,”  by 
Isaac  Bickerstaff. 


NIX. 


NOGGS. 


619 


!Nix  (mas.),  INixe  (fern.).  Kind  busy- 
body. Little  creatures  not  unlike  the 
Scotch  'brownie  and  German  hohold. 
They  wear  a red  cap,  and  are  ever  ready 
to  lend  a helping  hand  to  the  industrious 
and  thrifty.  {^8ee  Nick.) 

Og  Trolde,  Hexer,  Nisser  i hver  Vraae. 

Finn  3Iagnusen, 

And  Trolls,  hags,  nixes  in  each  nook. 

Isri25ani'.  A title  of  sovereignty  in 
India,  derived  from  Nizam-nl-nmlk  (regu- 
lator of  the  state),  who  obtained  posses- 
sion of  the  Deccan  at  the  beginning  of 
the  last  century.  The  name  Caesar  was 
by  the  Komans  used  precisely  in  the 
same  manner,  and  has  descended  to  the 
present  hour  in  the  form  of  Kaiser  (of 
Austria), 

INjambai  or  Njemhai,  The  good 
spirit  of  the  Bakalai  tribes  of  Africa. 

Njord.  God  of  the  winds  and  waves. 
— Edda. 

iWo-Popery  Riots.  Those  of  Edin- 
burgh and  Glasgow,  February  5,  1779. 
Those  of  London,  occasioned  by  lord 
George  Gordon,  in  1780. 

iN’oah.’s  Ark.  A white  band  spanning 
the  sky  like  a rainbow  : if  east  and  west 
expect  dry  weather,  if  north  and  south 
expect  wet. 

TsToali’s  Wife,  according  to  a me- 
diaeval legend,  was  unwilling  to  go  into 
the  ark,  and  the  quarrel  between  the 
patriarch  and  his  wife  forms  a very 
prominent  feature  of  Noah’s  Flood,” 
in  the  Chester  and  Towneley  Mysteries. 

Hastow  nought  herd,  quod  Nicholas,  also 

The  sorwe  of  Noe  with  his  felaschippe 

That  be  had  or  he  gat  his  wyf  to  schipe? 

Chaucer,  '’’Canterbury  Tale3,”d534* 

R'oakes  (John)  or  John  o’  Noalces. 
A fictitious  name,  formerly  made  use  of 
by  lawyers  in  actions  of  ejectment.  His 
name  was  generally  coupled  with  that  of 
Tom  Styles.  Similarly,  John  Doe  and 
Richard  Roe  were  used.  The  Roman 
names  were  Titius  and  Seiiis  (“Juv. 
Sat.  ” iv.  13).  All  these  worthies  are 
the  hopeful  sons  of  Mrs.  Harris. 

Nobs  and  Snobs.  Nobles  and 
pseudo-nobles. 

Noble.  An  ancient  coin,  so  called  on 
account  of  the  superior  excellency  of  its 
gold.  Nobles  were  originally  disposed 
of  as  a reward  for  good  news,  or  im- 
portant service  done.  Edward  III.  was 


the  first  who  coined  rose  nobles  (q.v.),, 
and  gave  100  of  them  to  Gobin  Agace  of 
Picardy,  for  showing  him  a ford  across- 
the  river  Somme,  when  he  wanted  to  join, 
his  army. 

The  Noble.  Charles  III.  of  Navarre 
(1361-1425).  Soliman  Tchelihi,  Turkish^ 
prince  at  Adrianople  (died  1410). 

Noble-Soul.  The  surname  given 
to  Khosrfi  I.,  the  greatest  monarch  of 
the  Sassanian  dynasty.  ( * , 531-579.) 

Noblesse  Oblige  (French).  Noble- 
birth  imposes  the  obligation  of  high- 
minded  principles  and  noble  actions. 

Nocc-a.  The  Neptune  of  the  Goths. 

Noctes  Ambrosia'nae.  While- 
Lockhart  was  writing  ‘Wale'rius,”  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  taking  walks  with  Pro- 
fessor Wilson  every  morning,  and  of 
supping  with  Blackwood  at  Ambrose’s,  a. 
small  tavern  in  Edinburgh.  One  night 
Lockhart  said, What  a pity  there  has 
not  been  a short-hand  writer  here  to  take, 
down  all  the  good  things  that  have  been 
said  ! ” and  next  day  he  produced  a paper 
from  memory,  and  called  it  ^'NocteS'- 
Ambi'osianse.”  That  was  the  first  of  the- 
series.  The  part  ascribed  to  Hogg,  the 
Ettrick  Shepherd,  is  purely  supposi- 
titious. 

Noddy.  A Tom  Noddy  is  a very 
foolish  or  half-witted  person,  a noodle. 
The  marine  birds  called  Noddies  are  so 
silly,  that  any  one'Can  go  up  to  them  and 
knock  them  down  with  a stick.  A donkey 
is  called  a Neddy  Noddy. 

Nodel.  The  lion  in  the  beast- epic- 
called  Reynard  the  Fox.”  Nodel  re- 
presents the  regal  element  of  Germany ; 
Isengrin,  the  wolf,  represents  the  baro- 
nial element,  and  Reynard  represents  the- 
church  element. 

Noel.  Christmas  day,  or  a Christmas- 
carol.  A contraction  of  (tidings), 

written  in  old  English  nowelLs. 

Noe'tians.  The  followers  of  Noe'tus- 
of  Ephesus.  They  acknowledged  only 
one  person  in  the  divinity. 

NoggS  (^Newman).  Ralph  Nickleby’a 
clerk.  A tall  man  of  middle  age,  with 
two  goggle  eyes^  one  of  which  was  a 
fixture,  a rubicund  nose,  a cadaverous 
face,  and  a suit  of  clothes  much  the  worse 
for  wear.  This  kind,  dilapidated  fellow 


^20 


NOKOMrS. 


NON  SEQUITUR. 


^^kept  his  horses  and  hounds  once,” — 
Dickens,  Nicholas  Nicklehy^ 

UNoko'niis,  Daughter  of  the  Moon. 
Sporting  one  day  with  her  maidens  on  a 
swing  made  of  vine-canes,  a rival  cut  the 
■swing,  and  Noko'mis  fell  to  earth,  where 
•she  gave  birth  to  a daughter  named 
Weno'nah. 

]Nolens  Volens.  Whether  willing 
or  not.  Two  Latin  participles  meaning 

being  unwilling  (or)  willing.” 

iN’oll.  Old  Noll.  Oliver  Cromwell 
was  so  called  by  the  Royalists.  Noll  is 
a familiar  contraction  of  Oliver — i.e.,  01’ 
W'ith  an  initial  liquid. 

I^oli  me  Tan'gere,  A plant  of 
the  genus  ini'patiens.  The  seed-vessels 
consist  of  one  cell  in  five  divisions,  and 
when  the  seed  is  ripe  each  of  these,  on 
being  touched,  suddenly  folds  itself  into 
a spiral  form  and  leaps  from  the  stalk. — 
{See  Darwin,  Loves  of  the  Plants,”  ii.  3.) 

ISTolle  Pros'equi  {DonH  'prosecute), 
A petition  from  a plaintiff  to  scay  a suit. 
{See  Non  Pros.) 

iN’olo  Episcopa'ri  (/  a'm  wmilling 
- to  accept  the  office  of  Bishop).  A very 
general  notion  prevails  that  every  bishop 
•at  consecration  uses  these  words.  Mr. 
Christian,  in  his  notes  to  Blackstone, 
says,  The  origin  of  these  words  and  of 
this  vulgar  notion  I have  not  been  able 
to  discover:  the  bishops  certainly  give 
.no  such  refusal  at  present,  and  I am  in- 
clined to  think  they  never  did  at  any 
Lime  in  this  country.”  When  the  see  of 
Bath  and  Wells  was  offered  to  Beveridge, 
he  certainly  exclaimed,  *^Nolo  episcopari 
but  it  was  the  private  expression  of  his 
• own  heart,  and  not  a form  of  words,  in 
his  case.  Chamberlayne  says  in  former 
times  the  person  about  to  be  elected 
bishop  modestly  refused  the  office  twice, 
and  if  he  did  so  a third  time  his  refusal 
was  accepted. — Present  State  of  Eng- 
land.” 

]Nom.  Nom  de  Guerre  is  French  for 
a “ war  name,”  but  really  means  an  as- 
sumed name.  It  was  customary  at  one 
time  for  every  one  who  entered  the  French 
army  to  assume  a name;  this  was  espe- 
cially the  case  in  the  times  of  chivalry, 
when  knights  went  by  the  device  of  their 
shields  or  some  other  distinctive  cha- 
.racter  in  their  armour,  as  the  Red- 
cross  Knight,”  &c. 


Nom  de  Plume.  French  for  the  '^pen 
name,”  and  meaning  the  name  assumed 
by  a writer  who  does  not  choose  to  give 
his  own  name  to  the  public ; as  Peter 
Pindar,  the  nom  de  plume  of  Dr.  John 
Wolcot ; Peter  Parley,  of  Mr.  Goodrich  ; 
Currer  Bell,  of  Charlotte  Bronte ; Cuthhert 
Bede,  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bradley,  &c. 

Nom'ads.  Wanderers  who  live  in 
tents.  The  Indians  call  their  tents  numda, 
made  of  a woollen  stuff  very  thick.  The 
Greeks  called  the  people  of  Scythia,  Libya, 
and  Numidia  Nomads,  and  probably  de- 
rived the  word  from  numda  (a  tent)  and 
not  from  nemo  (to  feed). 

ITom'inalists.  A sect  founded  by 
Roscelin,  canon  of  Compi^gne  (1040- 
1 120).  He  maintained  that  if  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  are  one  God,  they 
cannot  be  three  distinct  persons,  but 
must  be  simply  three  names  of  the  same 
being ; just  as  father,  son,  and  husband 
are  three  distinct  names  of  one  and  the 
same  man  under  different  conditions. 
Abelard,  William  Occam,  Buridan, 
Hobbes,  Locke,  bishop  Berkeley,  Con- 
dillac, and  Dugald  Stewart  are  the  most 
celebrated  disciples  of  Roscelin.  {See 
Realists.) 

iNTon  Bis  in  Idem  (Latin,  Not  twice 
for  the  same  thing) — i.e.,  no  man  can  be 
tried  a second  time  on  the  same  charge. 

INon  Compos  Mentis  ©r  Non 
Com.  Not  of  sound  mind ; a lunatic, 
idiot,  drunkard,  or  one  who  has  lost 
memory  and  understanding  by  accident 
or  disease. 

Hon  Con.  {See  Nonconformist.) 

Hon  Est.  A contraction  of  Non  est 
inventus  (not  to  be  found).  They  are  the 
words  which  the  sheriff  writes  on  a writ 
when  the  defendant  is  not  to  be  found  in 
his  bailiwick. 

Hon  Plus  (^^no  more”  can  be  said 
on  the  subject).  When  a man  is  come  to 
a non-plus  in  an  argument,  it  means  that 
he  is  unable  to  deny  or  controvert  what 
is  advanced  against  him.  To  non-plus  ” 
a person  is  to  put  him  into  such  a fix. 

Hon  Pros,  for  Non  pros' equi  (not  to 
prosecute).  The  judgment  of  Non  pros. 
is  one  for  costs,  when  the  plaintiff  stays 
a suit, 

Hon  Sequitur  (A).  A conclusion 
which  does  not  follow  from  the  premises 


NONCONFORMISTS. 


NORRISIAN  PROFESSOR.  621 


stated.  The  words  are  Latin  for  It  does 
not  folloio  or  It  is  not  consequent, 

13'onconformists.  The  2,000  cler- 
gymen who,  in  1662,  left  the  Church  of 
England,  rather  than  conform  or  submit 
to  the  conditions  of  the  Act  of  Uniformity 
— ^.e.,  ‘^unfeigned  assent  to  all  and  every- 
thing contained  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.”  The  word  is  loosely  used  for 
Dissenters  generally. 

Wonjurors.  Those  clergymen  who 
refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  new  government  afterthe  Revolution. 
They  were  archbishop  San  croft  with  eight 
other  bishops,  and  400  clergymen,  all  of 
whom  were  ejected  from  their  livings 
(1691). 

iN’onne  Prestes  Tale.  A thrifty 
widow  had  a cock,  *'hight  Chaunt'e- 
clere,”  who  had  his  harem ; but  'Mamysel 
Pertilote  ” was  his  favourite,  who  perched 
beside  him  at  night.  Chaunteclere  once 
dreamt  that  he  saw  a fox  who  “tried  to 
make  arrest  on  his  body,”  but  Per'tilote 
chided  him  for  placing  faith  in  dreams. 
Next  day  a fox  came  into  the  poultry- 
yard,  but  told  Chaunteclere  he  merely 
came  to  hear  him  sing,  for  his  voice  was 
so  ravishing  he  could  not  deny  himself 
that  pleasure.  The  cock,  pleased  with 
this  flattery,  shut  his  eyes  and  began  to 
crow  most  lustily,  when  Dan  Russell 
seized  him  by  the  throat  and  ran  off 
with  him.  When  they  got  to  the  wood, 
the  cock  said  to  the  fox,  “ T should  ad- 
vise you  to  eat  me,  and  that  anon.”  “ It 
shall  be  done,”  said  the  fox,  but  as  he 
loosed  the  cock’s  neck  to  speak  the  word, 
Chaunticlere  flew  from  his  back  into  a 
tree.  Presently  came  a hue  and  cry 
after  the  fox,  who  escaped  with  difficulty, 
and  Chaunticlere  returned  to  the  poul- 
try-yard wiser  and  discreeter  for  his 
adventure. — Chaucer /^Canterhury  Tales'' 

This  tale  is  taken  from  the  old  French 

Roman  de  Reiiart.”  The  same  story 
forms  also  one  of  the  fables  of  Marie  of 
France,  called  “Don  Coc  etDon  Werpil.” 

iN’or.  The  giant,  father  of  Night. 
He  dwelt  in  Utgard. — Scandinavian  iny- 
tki>logy. 

Norfolk.  The  folk  north  of  Kent, 
Essex,  and  Suffolk. 

Norfolk-Ho wards.  Bugs.  A per- 
son named  Bugg,  in  1863,  changed  his 
name  into  Norfolk-Howard. 


Norfolk  Street  {Strand),  with 
Arundel,  Surrey,  and  Howard  Streets, 
were  the  site  of  the  house  and  grounds  of 
the  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  ithen  of 
the  lord  high  admiral  Seymour,  and 
afterwards  of  the  Howards  earls  of 
Arundel  and  Surrey,  from  whom  it  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  earl  of  Norfolk. 

Norma.  A vestal  priestess  who  has 
been  seduced.  She  discovers  her  para- 
mour in  an  attempt  to  seduce  her  friend, 
also  a vestal  priestess,  and  in  despair 
contemplates  the  murder  of  her  base- 
born  children.  The  libretto  is  a melo- 
drama by  Romani,  music  by  Belli  nit 
(1831).  Norma,"  an  Opera, 

Normandy.  The  Poles  are  the  Vin- 
tagers in  Normandy.  The  Norman  vintage 
consists  of  apples,  beaten  down  by  poles.. 
The  French  say  En  Normandie  Von  ven- 
dange  avec  la  gaule,  where  gaule  is  a play 
on  the  word  Gaul,  but  really  means  a> 
pole. 

The  Gem  of  Normandy.  Emma, 
daughter  of  Richard  I.  (*-1052.) 

Norna.  The  well  of  Urda,  where  the 
gods  sit  in  judgment,  and  near  which  is; 
that  “fair  building’'*  whence  proceed, 
the  three  maidens  called  Urda,  Verdandi, 
and  Skulda  {Past,  Present,  and  Future),. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Norna  “ of  the  Fitful-head.”  A 
character  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  “Pirate,” 
to  illustrate  that  singular  kind  of  in- 
sanity which  is  ingenious  in  self-impo- 
sition, as  those  who  fancy  a lunatic- 
asylum  their  own  palace,  the  employes- 
thereof  their  retinue,  and  the  porridge 
provided  a banquet  fit  for  the  gods, 
Norna’s  real  name  was  Ulla  Troil,  but 
after  her  amour  with  Basil  Mertoun 
(Vaughan),  and  the  birth  of  a son,  named 
Clement  Cleveland,  she  changed  her  name 
out  of  shame.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
novel  she  gradually  recovered  her  right 
I mind. 

I Nornir  or  Norns,  The  three  fates 
; of  Scandinavian  mythology, Past,  Present, 

I and  Future.  They  spin  the  events  of 
i human  life  sitting  under  the  ash  tree 
Yggdrasil  {Ig'-dra-silV). 

Norris'ian  Professor.  A Pro- 
i fessor  of  Divinity  in  the  University  of 
I Cambridge.  This  professorship  was 
! founded  in  1760  by  John  Norris,  Esq.,  of 
. Whitton,  in  Norfolk.  These  lectures 


622 


NOEROY. 


NOSE. 


?must  be  attended  by  candidates  for  holy 
orders.  “ Pearson  on  the  Creed  ” is  the 
text-book.  (>Sce  Margaret.) 

INorroy.  North-roy  or  king.  The 
third  king-at-arms  is  so  called,  because 
his  office  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  river 
Trent ; that  of  the  south  side  is  called 
Clarencieux  (jl-v.). 

ISTorte.  Violent  northern  gales,  which 
visit  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  from  September 
'to  March.  In  March  they  attain  their 
maximum  force,  and  then  immediately 
'Cease.  (Spanish,  norte^  the  north.) 

INorte  de  Los  Esta'dos.  By  Don 
Francisco  de  Ossuna.  Published  1550. 

ITorth  (Christopher) . A nom  de  plume 
■of  Professor  Wilson,  of  Gloucester  Place, 
Edinburgh,  one  of  the  chief  contributors 
to  BlachooodCs  Magazine. 

TTorth  Side  of  a Cliurcliyard. 
The  poor  have  a great  objection  to  be 
buried  on  the  north  side  of  a churchyard. 
They  seem  to  think  only  evil-doers  should 
be  there  interred.  Probably  the  chief 
-‘reason  is  the  want  of  sun.  The  sun 
shines  on  the  south,  east,  and  west  sides  ; 
but  the  north  side  is  cold,  dark,  damp, 
and  gloomy. 

There  is,  however,  an  ecclesiastical 
reason: — The  east  is  GodJs  side,  where 
his  throne  is  set ; the  west,  moM’s  side, 
the  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles ; the  south, 
the  side  of  the  spirits  made  jiisV  and 
■<ingels,  where  the  sun  shines  in  his 
strength ; the  north,  the  deviVs  side, 
where  Satan  and  his  legion  lurk  to 
catch  the  unwary.  Some  churches  have 
still  a devil’s  door”  in  the  north  wall, 
^which  is  opened  at  baptisms  and  com- 
’-munions  to  let  the  devil  out. 

As  men  die,  so  shall  they  arise  ; if  in  faith  in  the 
Lord,  towards  the  south  ....  and  shall  arise  in 
glory  ; if  in  unbelief  ....  towards  the  north,  then 
Mre  they  past  all  hope. — Coverdale,  “ Fraying  for  the 
Jjeadf' 

I^orthamptonshire  Poet.  John 
Clare,  son  of  a farmer  at  Helpstone. 
'<1793-1864.) 

INortliern  Bear.  Russia. 

ISTortliern  Gate  of  the  Sun.  The 
sign  of  Cancer,  or  summer  solstice ; so 
called  because  it  marks  the  northern 
tropic. 

Northern  Harlot  {Catin  dn,Nord). 
Elizabeth  Petrowna,  empress  of  Russia, 
’also  called  ‘^The  Infamous.”  (1709-1761.) 


Northern  Lights.  The  Aurora 
Borealis,  ascribed  by  the  Northern 
savages  to  the  merriment  of  the  ghosts. 

Norval.  An  aged  peasant  and  his 
,son  in  the  tragedy  of  Douglas,”  by 
John  Home. 

Norway  (Maid  of).  Margaret,  in- 
fant queen  of  Scotland.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Eric  II.  king  of  Nor- 
way, and  Margaret  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander III.  of  Scotland.  She  never  ac- 
tually reigned,  as  she  died  on  her  passage 
to  Scotland  in  1290. 

Nose.  Bleeding  of  the  nose.  Sign  of 
love. 

‘‘Did  my  nose  ever  bleed  when  I was  in  your 
company?”  and,  poor  wretch,  just  as  she  spake  this, 
to  show  her  true  heart,  her  nose  fell  a-bleeding.— 
Boulster,  “ Lectures,'^  p.  130. 

Bleeding  of  the  nose.  Grose  sa5’'s  if  it 
bleeds  one  drop  only  it  forebodes  sick- 
ness, if  three  drops  the  omen  is  ^ill 
worse ; but  Melton,  in  his  Astrolo- 
gaster,”  says,  ^‘If  a man’s  nose  bleeds 
one  drop  at  the  left  nostril,  it  is  a sign  of 
good  luck,  and  vice  versd.^* 

Itching  of  the  nose.  A sign  that  you 
will  see  a stranger. 

We  shall  ha’ guests  to-day— my  nose  itcheth  sa— 
Deklcert  “ Honest  WhoreF 

To  count  noses.  To  count  the  numbers 
of  a division.  It  is  a horse-dealer’s  term, 
who  counts  horses  by  the  nose,  for  the 
sake  of  convenience.  Thus  the  Times, 
comparing  the  House  of  Commons  to 
Tattersall’s,  says,  Such  is  the  counting 
of  noses  upon  a question  which  lies  at  the 
basis  of  our  constitution.” 

Led  hy  the  nose.  This  very  day,  as  I 
came  down  Farringdon  Street,  I saw  a 
drover  leading  an  unwilling  ox  hj  a hook 
in  the  nose,  and  that  verse  of  Isaiah 
(xxxvii.  29)  came  into  my  mind: — ‘^Be- 
cause thy  rage  against  me  ...  is  come 
up  into  mine  ears,  therefore  will  I put  my 
hook  in  thy  nose  . . . and  will  turn  thee 
back.  . . .”  Horses,  asses,  &c.,  led  by 
bit  and  bridle,  are  led  by  the  nose. 
Hence  lago  says  of  Othello,  he  was  “led 
by  the  nose  as  asses  are”  (i.  3).  But 
buffaloes  and  bears  are  actually  led  by 
a ring  inserted  into  their  nostrils. 

Panging  through  the  nose.  Grimm  says 
that  Odin  had  a poll-tax  which  was  called 
in  Sweden  a nose-tax;  it  was  a jienny 
per  nose  or  poll. — **  Deutsche  Rechts 
A Iterthumerl^ 


NOSNOT-BOCAI, 


NOTOBIETY. 


623 


Sermon  on  Noses  (La  Diceria  de’  Nasi), 
•by  Annibal  Caro  (1584). 

Chapter  on  Noses,  in  ^Tristram  Shandy,” 
by  L.  Sterne. 

On  the  Dignity,  Gravity,  and  A uthordy 
of  Noses,  by  Taglicozzi  or  Tagliacozzo 
(1597). 

De  Virginitate  (§  77).  A.  chapter  in 
iKornmann. 

The  Noses  of  Adam  and  Eve,  by  Mdlle. 
Bourignon. 

Pious  Meditations  on  the  Nose  of  the  Vir- 
gin Mary,  by  J.  Petit. 

Review  of  Noses  (Louis  Brevitatis),  by 
Theophile  Baynaud. 

ITos'rLOt-Bo'eai  or  Bo'cai.  Prince 
•of  purgatory.  Purgatory  is  the  realm 
of  Nosnot-Bocai.” 

Sir,  I last  night  received  command 
To  see  you  out  of  Fairy-land, 

Into  the  realm  of  Nosnot-Bocai ; 

But  let  not  fear  or  sulphur  choak-ye. 

For  he’s  a fiend  of  sense  and  wit. 

King,  Orpheus  and  Etirydice.” 

INostrada'm’as  {Michael).  An  astro- 
loger who  published  an  annuaP  'Almanac,” 
very  similar  in  character  to  that  of  "Fran- 
cis Moore,”  and  a " Recueil  of  Prophe- 
cies,” in  four-line  stanzas,  extending  over 
seven  centuries.  (1503-1566.) 

The  Nostradamus  of  Portugal.  Gon- 
•^alo  Annes  Bandarra,  a poet- cobbler, 
whose  lucubrations  were  stopped  by  the 
Inquisition.  ( * -1556.) 

As  good  a prophet  as  Nostradamus — i.e., 
<30  obscure  that  none  can  make  out  your 
meaning.  Nostrada'mus  was  a provincial 
astrologer  of  the  sixteenth  century,  who 
has  left  a number  of  prophecies  in  verse, 
but  what  they  mean  no  one  has  yet  been 
n-ble  to  discover.  {French  proverb.) 

iN'ostruni  means  Our  own.  It  is 
^applied  to  a quack  medicine,  the  ingre- 
dients of  which  are  supposed  to  be  a se- 
cret of  the  compounders.  {Latin.) 

INot'ables  (in  French  history).  An 
•assembly  of  nobles  or  notable  men,  se- 
lected by  the  king,  of  the  House  of 
Valois,  "to  form  a parliament.  They 
were  convened  in  1626  by  Kichelieu,  and 
not  again  till  1787  (a  hundred  and  sixty 
years  afterwards),  when  Louis  XVI. 
•called  them  together  with  the  view  of 
relieving  the  narion  from  some  of  its  pe- 
cuniary embarrassments.  The  last  time 
they  ever  assembled  was  Nov.  6,  1788. 
INotarica. 

A.  E.  I.  0.  U.  Austria’s  .Empire  7s 
Over  all  ?^Tiiversal.  {See  A.  E.  I.,  &c.) 


jEra.  A.  ER.  A— i.e..  Anno  ERat 
Augusti.  (See  ^ra.) 

Cabal.  Clifford,  A shley,  Buckingham, 
Arlington,  Lauderdale.  {See  Cabal.) 

Clio.  Chelsea,  London,  /slington. 
Office.  {See  Clio.) 

Hempe.  "When  hempe  is  spun,  Eng- 
land is  done.”  Henry,  Ldward,  J7ary, 
Philip,  Llizabeth.  {See  Hempe.) 

Hip  ! hip  ! hurrah  / Pierosolyma  Pst 
Peridita.  (Bee  Hip.) 

Icthus.  ie'sous  Christos  THeon  Cios 
Boter.  {See  Icthus.  ) 

Koli.  /ring’s  Own  Light  /nfantry 
(the  51st  Foot). 

Limp.  Louis,  Tames,  Jl/ary,  Prince. 
(Bee  Limp.) 

Maccabees.  Mi  Camaka  Laclin  Pe- 
hovah.  (Bee  MACCABiEUS.) 

News.  Abrth,  Past,  TVest,  Bouth. 
(Bee  News.) 

Swpctym'nus.  Btephen  J/arshall,  Pd- 
mund  Calamy,  Thomas  Toung,  J/atthew 
iVewcomen,  Cuilliam  Bpeirstow.  {See 
Smectymnus.) 

Tory.  True  Old  Poyal  Feoman. 

Uuilliam  Speirstoiv.  The  notarica  of 
the  five  divines  who  united  in  writing 
against  episcopacy,  (Bee  William.) 

Whig.  IFe  Pope  7n  Cod. 

Wise.  TFales,  Treland,  Bcotland,  Png- 
land — i.e.,  Wales,  Ireland,  and  Scotland 
added  to  England. 

INotation  or  Notes.  {See  Do.) 

INotcli.  Out  of  all  notch.  Out  of  all 
bounds.  The  allusion  is  to  the  practice 
of  fitting  timber : the  piece  which  is  to 
receive  the  other  is  notched  upon;  the  one 
to  fit  into  the  notch  is  said  to  be  notched 
down. 

INotliing.  ‘'A  tune  played  by  the 
picture  of  nobody.” — Shahespeare,  " Tem- 
pest f iii.  2. 

INo'thosaur  (Greek,  not  a true 
lizard).  An  extinct  saurian,  found  in  the 
Triassic  deposits  of  Germany,  &c. 

INotori'ety.  Depraved  taste  for  noto- 
riety : — 

Cleom'brotos,  who  leaped  into  the  sea. 
{See  Cleombrotos.) 

Emped'ocles,  who  leaped  into  Etna. 
{See  Empedocles.) 

Heros'tratos,  who  set  fire  to  the  tem- 
ple of  Diana.  {See  Diana.) 

William  Lloyd,  who  broke  in  pieces 
the  Portland  A^ase  (1845). 


624 


NOTTINGHAM. 


NUMA. 


Jonathan  Martin,  who  set  fire  to  York 
Minster  (1829). 

INottingliam.  (Saxon,  S^iotinga- 
ham,  place  of  caves.)  So  called  from  the 
caverns  in  the  soft  sandstone  rock. 
Montecute  took  king  Edward  III.  through 
these  subterranean  passages  to  the  hill 
castle,  where  he  found  the  gentle  Mor- 
timer’" and  Isabella,  the  dowager-queen. 
The  former  was  slain,  and  the  latter  im- 
prisoned. The  passage  is  still  called 
‘‘Mortimer’s  Hole.” 

ISTottingham  Poet.  Philip  James 
Bailey,  author  of  “ Festus,”  a dramatic 
epic,  is  so  called  because  he  was  born  at 
Basford,  near  Nottingham.  (1816.) 

Nourmaliar.  Sultana.  The  word 
means  Light  of  the  Haram.  She  was 
afterwards  called  Nourjehan  {Light  of  the 
World).  In  “Lalla  Bookb,”  the  tale 
called  “ The  Light  of  the  Haram  ” is 
this : Nourmahal  was  estranged  for  a 
time  from  the  love  of  Selim,  son  of  Ac- 
bar'.  By  the  advice  of  Namou'na,  she 
prepares  a love-spell,  and  appears  as  a 
lute-player  at  a banquet  given  by  “ the 
imperial  Selim.”  At  the  close  of  the 
feast  she  tries  the  power  of  song,  and 
the  young  sultan  exclaims,  “If  Nour- 
mahal had  sung  those  strains  I could 
forgive  her  all whereupon  the  sultana 
threw  off  her  mask,  Selim  “caught  her 
to  his  heart,”  and  as  Nourmahal  rested 
her  head  on  Selim’s  arm,  “ she  whispers 
him,  with  laughing  eyes,  ‘Kemember, 
love,  the  Feast  of  Boses.’” — Thomas 
Moore. 

INous  or  Noxise  (1  syl.).  Genius,  na- 
tural acumen,  quick  perception,  ready 
wit.  The  Platonists  used  the  word  for 
mind,  or  the  first  cause,  (Greek,  nous, 
contraction  of  noos.) 

nSTova'tians.  Followers  of  Nova- 
tia'nus,  a presbyter  of  Rome  in  the  third 
century,  who  would  never  allow  any  one 
who  had  lapsed  to  be  re-admitted  into 
the  church. 

INovember  17.  {See  Queen’s  Hay.) 

INovum  Or'ganum.  The  great 
work  of  lord  Bacon. 

Now-a-days.  A corruption  of  In- 
our-days,  F nour  days.  {See  Apron, 
Nickname,  Nugget,  &c.) 

ISTow-now.  Old  Anthony  Now-now. 
An  itinerant  fiddler,  meant  for  Anthony 


Munday,  the  dramatist  who  wrote 
“City  Pageants.”— KindharCs 
Dream  (1592). 

INo'wlieres  (2  syl.).  [See  Meda- 

MOTHI.) 

Noyades  (2  syl.).  A means  of 
execution  adopted  by  Carrier  at  Nantes, 
in  the  first  French  Revolution,  and  called 
Carrier  s Vei'tical  Deportation.  Some 
150  persons  being  stowed  in  the  hold  of 
a vessel  in  the  Loire,  the  vessel  was 
scuttled,  and  the  victims  drowned.  Nero,, 
at  the  suggestion  of  Anice'tus,  drowned 
his  mother  in  this  same  manner.  (French, 
noyer,  to  drown.) 

Nubbles  {Kit),  in  “ The  Old  Cu- 
riosity Shop,”  by  Dickens. 

Nucky.  Ursula,  contracted  from 
Mine  Ursu,  My  N’  ursy,  N’  ucky. 

Nucta,  or  miraculous  drop  which  falls 
in  Egypt  on  St.  John’s  day  (June),  is 
supposed  to  have  the  effect  of  stopping, 
the  plague.  Thomas  Moore  refers  to  it 
in  his  “ Paradise  and  the  Peri.” 

Nude.  Rabelais  wittily  says  that  a 
person  without  clothing  is  dressed  in 
“ grey  and  cold”  of  a comical  cut,  being 
“ nothing  before,  nothing  behind,  and 
sleeves  of  the  same.”  King  Shrovetide, 
monarch  of  Sneak -island,  was  so  arrayed, 
— ^^Gargantua  and  Pantagruelf*  iv.  29. 

The  nude  statues  of  Paris  are  said  to 
be  draped  in  “ cerulean  blue.” 

Nugget  of  gold.  A corruption  of 
an  ingot,  a ningot.  A correspondent  in 
Notes  and  Queries  says  the  Ben- 
galees use  the  term  nuggut  pisa  for 
“hard  cash,”  from  the  Persian  nugud 
(ready  money) ; and  as  Australia  is  the 
sanatorium  of  Indian  officers,  it  is  easy 
to  see  how  Indian  words  have  been  im-^ 
ported.  (^866  Now-a-days,  Nucky.) 

Another  correspondent  in  Notes  and 
Queries  suggests  nog  (a  wooden  ball) 
used  in  the  game  of  shinney.  Nig  in 
Essex  means  a “piece;”  a noggin  of 
bread,  a hunch. 

In  Scotland  they  still  say  a nugget  of 
sugar  (i.e.,  a lump). 

Nulla  Linea.  {See  Line.) 

Null!  Secun'dus  Club.  The 
Coldstream  Guards. 

Nu'ma.  The  second  king  of  Rome, 
who  reduced  the  infant  state  to  order  by 
wise  laws. 


NUMANCIA. 


NUMIDICUS. 


625 


1^'uman'cia.  A tragedy  by  Cer- 
vantes, author  of  ‘^Don  Quixote/*  but 
never  published  in  his  life-time. 

Numba.  A bachelor  god  of  Oroun- 
gou,  in  Africa  ; a combination  of  Nep- 
tune and  Mercury. 

Numbers. 

Army  of  soldiers.  Rerjiment,  &c. 

Batch  or  Caste  of  bread. 

Bevy  of  beeves,  roes,  quails,  ladies,  &c. 
Brood  of  chickens,  &c. 

Catch  of  fish  taken  in  nets,  &c. 

Clv/mp  of  trees. 

Cluster  of  grapes,  nuts,  stars,  &c. 

'Covey  of  birds. 

Coicardice  of  curs.  Mute  of  hounds. 
Creio  of  sailors. 

Drove  of  horses,  ponies,  beasts,  &c. 

Fleet  of  ships. 

Flight  of  bees,  birds,  stairs,  &c. 

Flock  of  birds,  sheep,  geese,  kc. 

Cagle  of  women. 

Galaxy  of  beauties. 

Gang  of  slaves,  prisoners,  &c. 

Haul  of  fish  caught. 

Herd  of  bucks,  deer,  harts,  &e. 

Hive  of  bees. 

House  of  senators.  Kennel  of  rachea. 
Legion  t f foul  fiends. 

Litter  of  pigs,  whelps,  &c. 

Moh  of  roughs. 

Kest  of  rabbits,  ants,  &c. ; shelves,  &c. 
Hack  of  hounds,  playing  cards,  &c. 
Pencil  of  rays,  &c. 

Pile  of  books,  wood  stacked. 

PHcle  of  lions. 

Rabble  of  men  ill-bred  and  ill- clad. 
Rouleau  of  money. 

Set  of  china,  or  articles  assorted. 

Shock  of  hair,  corn,  &c. 

Shdeol  mackerel.  School  of  whales,  &c. 
Skulk  of  foxes. 

Stack  of  corn,  hay,  wood  (piled  to- 
.gether). 

String  of  horses. 

Stud  of  mares. 

Suit  of  clothes. 

Suite  of  rooms. 

Swarm  of  bees,  locusts,  &c. 

Team  oi  oxen,  horses,  &c. 

Tribe  of  goats. 

Volley  of  artillery.  I 

Assemblyy  congregationy  crowdy  hosty  &c.,  j 
•of  men  and  women.  {See  Multitude.)  | 
Odd  Numbers.  ‘'Numero  Deus  im-  j 
pare  gaudet”  (Macrobius).  This  is  a 
fact,  not  a superstition.  Three  indicates 
•the  ‘^beginning,  middle,  and  end.”  The  , 


Godhead  has  three  persons ; so  in  classic 
mythology  Hecate  had  threefold  power  ; 
J ove’s  symbol  was  a triple  thunderbolt, 
Neptune’s  a sea-trident,  Pluto’s  a three- 
headed dog ; the  Fates  were  three,  the 
Furies  three,  the  Graces  three,  the  Horye 
three;  the  Muses  three -times -three. 
There  are  seven  notes,  nine  planets,  nine 
orders  of  angels,  seven  days  a week  and 
365  a year,  &c. ; five  senses,  five  fingers 
on  the  hand  and  toes  on  the  foot,  five 
vowels,  five  continents,  &c.  &c.  A 

volume  might  be  filled  with  illustrations 
of  the  fact  that  God  delights  in  odd 
numbers.”  {See  Odd,  Nine.) 

To  consult  the  Book  of  Numbers  is  to  call 
for  a division  of  the  House,  or  to  put  a 
question  to  the  vote. — Parliamentary 
ivit. 

Number  Nip.  The  gnome  king  of 
the  Giant  Mountains. — MusceuSy  ^'‘Popu* 
lar  Tales.'’ 

Number  of  the  Beast.  It  is  the 
number  of  a man,  and  his  number  is  Six 
hundred  threescore  and  six  ” (Rev.  xiii. 
18).  This  number  has  been  applied  to 
divers  persons  previously  assumed  to  be 
Antichrist : as  Mahomet,  the  pope,  Julian 
(the  apostate),  Trajan  and  Diocletian, 
Luther,  Evanthas,  Titan,  Lampetis, 
Niketes,  Napoleon  I.,  and  several  others. 
Also  to  certain  phrases  supposed  to  be 
descriptive  of  ‘Hhe  man  of  sin,”  as 
Arnoume  (/  renounce),  Kakos  Ode'gos 
{bad  guide) y Abinu  Kadescha  Papa  {our 
holy  father  the  pope)  \ e.g. — 


31 

a 

0 

m 

e 

t 

i 

g 

40, 

1. 

70, 

4u, 

5, 

300, 

10, 

iJob  - 6G6. 

L 

a 

t 

e 

i 

n 

0 

B. 

3(», 

1, 

300, 

5, 

10, 

50, 

70, 

200  = eea 

L 

u 

th 

r 

a 

n 

o 

8. 

30, 

400, 

9, 

100, 

1, 

50, 

70, 

6 = 66S. 

Here  Lateinos  means  the  Latin  bishop 
or  pope.  These  puzzles  may  serve  to 
amuse,  but  they  are  of  no  further  value, 
as  even  the  sacred  name  of  Deity  may  be 
twisted  into  the  same  mystic  number. 

Numero.  Homme  de  numet'o—ihoX 
is  un  homme  fin  en  affaires.”  M. 
Walckenaer  says  it  is  a shop  phrase, 
meaning  that  he  knows  all  the  numbers 
of  the  different  goods,  or  all  the  private 
marks  indicative  of  price  and  quality. 

II  n’etoit  lors,  de  Paris  jusqu’S,  Rome, 

Galant  qiii  sdt  si  biea  le  numero. 

Iai  Fontaine^  “ Richard  MimUolo.** 

Numid'icus.  Quintus  Csecilius  Me- 
tellus,  commander  against  Jugurtha, 
about  100  B.c. 


O O 


626 


NUN. 


NUTSHELL. 


T^'un.  The  Secounde  Nonnes  Tale,  in 
Chaucer,  is  almost  literally  the  life  of  St. 
Cecilia,  in  the  Legenda  Au'rea.” 

JNune  Dimittis.  The  canticle  of 
Simeon  is  so  called,  from  the  first  two 
words  in  the  Latin  version  (Luke  ii. 
29-32). 

ISTuncu'pative  Will.  A will  or 
testament  made  by  word  of  mouth.  As 
a general  rule,  no  will  is  valid  unless  re- 
duced to  writing  and  signed ; but  soldiers 
and  sailors  may  simply  declare  their  wish 
by  word  of  mouth.  (Latin,  nuncu'po,  to 
declare). 

USTurr  and  Spell  or  Knor  and  Spill. 

A game  resembling  trapball,  and  played 
-with  a wooden  ball  called  a nurr  or  hior. 
The  ball  is  released  by  means  of  a spring 
from  a little  brass  cup  at  the  end  of  a 
tongue  of  steel  called  a spell  or  spill. 
After  the  player  has  touched  the  spring, 
the  ball  flies  into  the  air,  and  is  struck 
with  a bat.  In  scoring,  the  distances  are 
reckoned  by  the  score  feet,  previously 
marked  off  by  a Gunter’s  chain.  The 
game  is  played  frequently  in  the  West 
Fading  of  Yorkshire. 

JSTurse.  To  nurse  an  omnibus,  is  to 
try  and  run  it  off  the  road.  This  is  done 
by  sending  a rival  omnibus  close  at  its 
heels,  or  if  necessary,  one  before  and  one 
behind  it,  to  pick  up  the  passengers.  As 
a nurse  follows  a child  about  regardless 
of  its  caprices,  so  these  four-wheel  nurses 
follow  their  rival. 

INursery  Tales.  ^^Jack  and  the 
Bean-stalk,”  ‘‘Jack  the  Giant  Killer,” 
with  some  others,  are  Scandinavian  nur- 
sery tales ; “ Tom  Thumb  ” is  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  origin  ; “Prince  Marcassin,” 

“ Fortunatus,”  “Puss  in  Boots,”  are  by 
Straparola  (the  Italian),  translated  into 
French  (1585);  “Blue  Beard,”  “Sleep- 
ing Beauty,”  “Puss  in  Boots,”  “Riquet 
with  the  Tuft,”  “Little  Red  Riding- 
Hood,”  are  by  Charles  Perrault  (a 
Frenchman);  “Beauty  and  the  Beast” 
is  by  Madame  Villen euve  ; “Goody  Two- 
Shoes,”  by  Oliver  Goldsmith  ; “Gulliver’s  | 
Travels,”  by  Dean  Swift ; “ The  Devil  on  | 
Two  Sticks,”  by  Lesage ; “ The  Castle 
of  Otranto,”  by  Horace  Walpole  ; “ The  ; 
Old  English  &ron,”  by  Clara  Reeve ; 

“ The  Mysteries  of  Udulpho,”  and  “ The 
Homance  of  the  Forest/'  by  Mrsv  P^d-  . 
cliffe ; &c.  &c,  i 


INut.  That's  nuts  to  him.  A great 
pleasure,  a fine  treat.  Nuts  among  the 
Romans  made  a standing  dish  at  dessert ; 
they  were  also  common  toys  for  children  ; 
hence  to  put  away  childish  things  is,  in 
Latin,  to  put  your  nuts  away. 

It  is  time  to  lay  our  nuts  aside  (Latin,^ 
relin'quei'e  nuces) . To  leave  off  our  follies, 
to  relinquish  boyish  pursuits.  The  allu- 
sion is  to  an  old  Roman  marriage  cere- 
mony, in  which  the  bridegroom,  as  he 
led  his  bride  home,  scattered  nuts  to  the 
crowd,  as  if  to  symbolise  to  them  that 
he  gave  up  his  boyish  sports. 

K'ut-brown  Maid.  Henry  lord 
Clifford,  first  earl  of  Cumberland,  and 
lady  Margaret  Percy  his  wife,  are  the 
originals  of  this  ballad.  Lord  Clifford 
had  a miserly  father  and  ill-natured  step- 
mother, so  he  left  home  and  became 
the  head  of  a band  of  robbers.  The 
ballad  was  written  in  1502,  and  says 
that  the  “ Not-browne  Mayd  ” was  wooed 
and  won  by  a knight  who  gave  out  that 
he  was  a banished  man.  After  describ- 
ing the  hardships  she  would  have  to  un- 
dergo if  she  married  him,  and  finding 
her  love  true  to  the  test,  he  revealed 
himself  to  be  an  earl’s  son,  with  largo 
hereditary  estates  in  Westmoreland. — 
Percy,  Reliques"  {soriQs\\.). 

ISTutcrack  IN'iglit.  All  Hallows’' 
Eve,  when  it  is  customary  in  some  places 
to  crack  nuts  in  large  quantities. 

INutcrackers.  The  3rd  Foot  ; so- 
called  because  at  Albue'ra  they  cracked 
the  heads  of  the  Polish  Lancers,  then 
opened  and  retreated,  but  in  a few 
minutes  came  again  into  the  field,  and 
did  most  excellent  service. 

N"utsliell.  Iliad  in  a nutshell.. 
Pliny  tells  us  that  Cicero  asserts  that 
the  whole  Iliad  was  written  on  a piece 
of  parchment  which  might  be  couched  in 
a nutshell.  Lalanne  describes,  in  his- 
“Curiosites  Bibliographiques,”  an  edition 
of  Rochefoucault’s  “Maxims,”  published 
by  Didot  in  1829,  on  pages  one  inch 
square,  each  page  containing  26  lines, 
and  each  line  44  letters.  Charles  Toppan,. 
of  New  York,  engraved  on  a plate  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  square  12,000  letters. 
The  Iliad  contains  501,930  letters,  and 
would  therefore  occupy  42  such  plates^ 
engraved  on  both  sides.  Huet  has  proved 
by  experiment,  that  a parchment  27  by 
'21  centimetres  would  contain  tho  entire* 


NYCTANTHES. 


OAKS. 


627 


Iliad,  and  such  a parchment  would  go 
into  a common-sized  nut ; but  Mr.  Top- 
pan’s  engraving  would  get  the  whole  Iliad 
into  half  that  size.  George  P.  Marsh 
says,  in  his  ‘‘Lectures,”  he  has  seen  the 
whole  Koran  in  Arabic  transcribed  on  a 
piece  of  parchment  four  inches  wide  and 
half  an  inch  in  diameter. 

ISTyctan'thes  begins  to  spread  its 
rich  odour  after  sunset. 

'N'ym  {Corporal).  One  of  Falstaff’s 
followers,  and  an  arrant  rogue.  Nim  is 
to  steal. — “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor.'* 

INy'se  (2  syl).  One  pf  the  Nereids 
(q.v.). 

The  loTcly  Nyse  and  Neri'ne  eprinp. 

With  all  the  yehemence  and  speed  of  wing. 

CamoenSt  “ Lusiud”  hk.  ii.. 

o 

O.  This  letter  represents  an  eye,  and 
is  called  in  Hebrew  ain  (an  eye). 

O.  The  fifteen  0*s  are  fifteen  prayers 
beginning  with  the  letter  0.  {See  “Horse 
Beatissime  Virginis  Marise.”) 

O’.  An  Irish  patronymic.  (Gaelic 
ogha,  Irish  oa,  grandson.) 

0.1I.M.S.  On  Her  Majesty’s  Ser- 
vice. 

O.K.  A telegraphic  symbol  for  “ All 
right”  iprl  horrect,  a Sir  William  Curtis’s 
or  AFtemus  Ward’s  way  of  spelling  “ all 
correct  ”). 

O.  P.  Hiot  {Old  Price  Riot).  When 
the  new  Covent  Garden  theatre  was 
opened  in  1809,  the  charges  of  admission 
were  increased  ; but  night  after  night  for 
three  months  a throng  crowded  the  pit 
shouting  O.P.  {old  prices)^  much  damage 
was  done,  and  the  manager  was  obliged 
at  last  to  give  way. 

Oaf.  A corruption  of  ouph  (elf).  A 
foolish  child  or  dolt  is  so  called,  from  the 
notion  that  all  idiots  are  changelings,  left 
by  the  fairies  in  the  place  of  the  stolen 
ones. 

Oak.  Worn  on  the  29^^  May.  The 
29th  May  was  the  birthday  of  Charles  II. 
It  was  in  the  month  of  September  that  he 
concealed  himself  in  an  oak  at  Boscobel. 
The  battle  of  Worcester  was  fought  on 
Wednesday,  September  3,  1651,  and 
Charles  arrived  at  Whiteladies,  about 
three-quarters  of  a mile  from  ^^scobel 


House,  early  the  next  morning.  He  re- 
turned to  England  on  his  birthday,  when 
the  Boyalists  displayed  a branch  of  oak 
in  allusion  to  his  concealment  in  an  oak. 
tree. 

To  sport  one's  oaJc.  To  be  “not  at 
home  ” to  visitors.  At  the  universities 
the  “chambers”  have  two  doors,  the 
usual  room-door  and  another  made  of 
oak,  outside  it ; when  the  oak  is  shut  or 
“sported”  it  indicates  either  that  the 
occupant  of  the  room  is  out,  or  that  he 
does  not  wish  to  be  disturbed  by  visi- 
tors. 

Oak  and  Ash.  The  tradition  is,  if 
the  oak  gets  into  leaf  before  the  ash  we 
may  expect  a fine  and  productive  year ; 
if  the  ash  precedes  the  oak  in  foliage, 
we  may  anticipate  a cold  summer  and 
unproductive  autumn.  In  the  years  1816, 
1817,  1821,  1823,  1828,  1829,  1830,  1838, 
1840,  1845,  1850,  and  1859,  the  ash  was 
in  leaf  a full  month  before  the  oak,  and 
the  autumns  were  unfavourable.  In  1831, 
1833,  1839,  1853,  1860,  the  two  species  of 
trees  came  into  leaf  about  the  same  time, 
and  the  years  were  not  remarkable  either 
for  plenty  or  the  reverse ; whereas  in  1818, 
1819,  1820,  1822,  1824,  1825,  1826,  1827, 
1833,  1834,  1835,  1836,  1837,  1842,  1846, 
1854, 1868,  and  1869, the  oak  ^splayed  its 
foliage  several  weeks  before  the  ash, 
and  the  summers  of  those  years  were  dry 
and  warm,  and  the  harvests  abundant. 

Oaks. 

(1)  Owen  Olendower's  Oalc,  at  Shelton, 
near  Shrewsbury,  was  in  full  growth  in 
1403,  for  in  this  tree  Owen  Glendower 
witnessed  the  great  battle  between 
Henry  IV.  and  Henry  Percy.  Six  or 
eight  persons  can  stand  in  the  hollow  of 
its  trunk.  Its  girth  is  40|  feet. 

(2)  Cowthorpe  Oah,  near  Wetherby,  in 
Yorkshire,  will  hold  seventy  persons  in 
its  hollow.  Professor  Burnet  states  its 
age  to  be  1,600  years. 

(3)  Fairlo]^  Oah,  in  Hainault  Forest, 
was  thirty-six  feet  in  circumference  a 
yard  from  the  ground.  It  was  blown, 
down  in  1820. 

(4)  The  Oak  of  the  Partisans,  in  Parcy 
forest,  St.  Ouen,  in  the  department  of 
the  Vosges,  is  107  feet  in  height.  It  is 
650  years  old. 

(5)  The  Bull  Oak,  Wedgenock  Park, 
was  growing  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest. 

(6)  The  Winfarthing  Oak  was  700  years.; 
old  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest. 

o o 2 


628 


CANNES. 


OBERON. 


(7)  William  the  Conqueror's  Oalc^  in 
Windsor  Great  Park,  is  thirty-eight  feet 
in  girth. 

(8)  Queen's  Oak,  Huntingfield,  Suffolk, 
is  so  named  because  from  this  tree 
queen  Elizabeth  shot  a buck. 

(9)  Sir  Philip  Sidneys  Oak,  near  Pens- 
hurst,  was  planted  at  his  birth  in  1554, 
and  has  been  memorialised  by  Ben 
Jon  son  and  Waller. 

(10)  The  Ellerslie  Oalc,  near  Paisley,  is 
reported  to  have  sheltered  Sir  William 
Wallace  and  300  of  his  men. 

(11)  The  Swilcar  Oah,  in  Needwood 
Forest,  Staffordshire,  is  between  000  and 
700  years  old. 

(12)  The  Ahhot's  Oah,  near  Woburn 
Abbey,  is  so  called  because  the  Woburn 
abbot  was  hanged  on  one  of  its  branches, 
in  1537,  by  order  of  Henry  VIII. 

Oaks  consecrated  to  the  god  of  thunder 
Because  they  are  more  liable  to  be  struck 
by  lightning  than  other  trees. 

The  Oaks.  The  stakes  at  Epsom  races  so 
called  receive  their  name  from  Lambert’s 
Oaks,  in  the  parish  of  Woodmansterne, 
formerly  an  inn.  The  house  was  erected 
on  lease  by  the  Hunter’s  Club,”  and 
was  rented  from  the  Lambert  family.  It 
afterwards  became  the  residence  of 
general  Burgoyne,  from  whom  it  passed 
to  the  eleventh  earl  of  Derby.  It  was 
Edward  Smith  Stanley,  twelfth  earl  of 
Derby,  who  originated  the  Oaks  stakes, 
May  14,  1779.  On  the  death  of  the  earl 
of  Derby  in  1834,  the  Oaks  estate  was 
•sold  to  Sir  Charles  Grey,  and  is  now  held 
Ooy  Joseph  Smith. 

Oan'nes.  The  Chaldean  sea-god.  It 
liad  a fish’s  head  and  body,  and  also  a 
human  head  ; a fish's  tail,  and  also  feet 
under  the  tail  and  fish’s  head.  In  the 
day-time  he  lived  with  men  to  instruct 
them  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  but  at 
night  retired  to  the  ocean.  Anedotes  or 
Idotion  was  a similar  deity,  so  was  the 
Odahon  or  Ho  Dagon  of  the  Philistines. 

O'asis.  A perfect  o'asis.  A fertile 
spot  in  the  midst  of  a desert  country,  a 
little  charmed  plot  of  land.  The  reference 
is  to  those  spots  in  the  desert  of  Africa 
where  wells  of  water  or  small  lakes  are 
to  be  found,  and  vegetation  is  pretty 
abundant.  (Coptic,  ouahe,  an  inhabited 
place.) 

Oats.  He  has  sown  his  wild  oats.  He 
has  left  off  his  gay  habits  and  is  become 
steady.  The  thick  vapours  which  rise 


on  the  earth’s  surface  just  before  the 
lands  in  the  North  burst  into  vegetation, 
are  called  in  Denmark  Lok  kens  havre 
(Loki’s  wild  oats).  When  the  fine  weather 
succeeds,  the  Danes  say  Lohi  has  sown 
his  wild  oats. 

Oath..  The  sacred  oath  of  the  Persians 
is  the  Holy  Grave— i.e.,  the  Tomb  of 
Shah  Besa'de,  who  is  buried  in  Casbin. — 
Strut. 

Oaths.  Rhadamanthus  imposed  on 
the  Cretans  the  law  that  men  should  not 
swear  by  the  gods,  but  by  the  dog,  ram, 
goose,  and  plane-tree.  Hence  Socrates 
would  not  swear  by  the  gods,  but  by  the 
dog  and  goose. 

Ob.  and  Sol.  Objection  and  solution. 
Contractions  used  by  controversial  stu- 
dents. 

Obadi'ah.  A slang  name  for  a 
Quaker. 

Ohadiah.  The  foolish  fat  scullion  ” 
in  Sterne’s  Tristram  Shandy.” 

Obam'bou.  The  devil  of  the  Camma 
tribes  of  Africa  ; it  is  exorcised  by  noise 
like  bees  in  flight. 

Obeism.  Serpent-worship.  From 
Egyptian  Oh  (the  sacred  serpent).  The 
African  sorceress  is  still  called  Ohi.  The 
Greek  ophis  is  of  the  same  family. 
Moses  forbade  the  Israelites  to  inquire 
of  Ob,  which  we  translate  wizard. 

Ob'elisk.  {See  Dagger.) 

Obermanil.  The  impersonation  of 
high  moral  worth  without  talent,  and  the 
tortures  endured  by  the  consciousness  of 
this  defect. — Etienne  Pivert  de  Se'nan- 
cour,  **  Ohei'maiin.” 

Oberon.  King  of  the  Fairies,  whose 
wife  was  Titan'ia.  Shakespeare  intro- 
duces both  O'beron  and  Titan'ia  in  his 

Midsummer  Night’s  Dream.”  {Auheron, 
anciently  u4^6ero?i,  German  H king 

of  the  elves.) 

O'beron  the  Fay.  A humpty  dwarf  only 
three  feet  high,  but  of  angelic  face,  lord 
and  king  of  Mommur.  He  told  Sir 
Huon  his  pedigree,  which  certainly  is 
very  romantic.  The  lady  of  the  Hidden 
Isle  (Cephalo'nia)  married  Neptane'bus 
king  of  Eg3q)t,  by  whom  she  had  a son 
called  Alexander  the  Great.  Seven 
hundred  years  later  Julius  Caesar,  on  his 
way  to  Thessaly,  stopped  in  Cephalonia, 
and  the  same  lady  falling  in  love  with 
him  had  in  time  another  son,  and  that 


OBERTHAL. 


ODD  NUxMBERS. 


629 


son  was  Oberon.  At  his  birth  the  fairies 
bestowed  their  gifts — one  was  insight 
into  men’s  thoughts,  and  another  was 
the  ps'wer  of  transporting  himself  to  any 
place  instantaneously.  He  became  a 
friend  to  Huon  {q,v),  whom  he  made  his 
successor  in  the  kingdom  of  Mommur. 
In  the  fulness  of  time,  falling  asleep 
ill  death,  legions  of  angels  conveyed  his 
soul  to  Paradise. — Huon  de  Bordea^ix^* 
{a  romance). 

Obertlial  {Count).  Lord  of  Dor- 
drecht, near  the  Meuse.  When  Bertha, 
one  of  his  vassals,  asked  permission  to 
marry  John  of  Leyden,  the  count  re- 
fused, resolving  to  make  her  his  mistress. 
This  drove  John  into  rebellion,  and  he 
joined  the  Anabaptists.  The  count  was 
taken  prisoner  by  Gio'na,  a discarded 
servant,  but  liberated  by  John.  When 
John  was  crowned  Prophet-king,  the 
count  entered  his  banquet  hail  to  arrest 
him,  and  perished  with  John  in  the 
flames  of  the  burning  palace.— J/gyer- 
heer^  Le  ProphHe''  {an  opera). 

Obi'dah.  An  allegory  in  the  Ram- 
hler,  designed  to  be  a picture  of  human 
life.  It  is  the  adventures  and  misfor- 
tunes which  a young  man  named  Obi'dah 
met  with  in  a day’s  journey. 

Obid'icut.  The  fiend  of  lust,  and 
one  of  the  five  that  possessed  '^poor 
Dom.*'— Shakespeare j King  Lear,'"  iv.  I. 

Object  means  forecast,  or  that  on 
which  you  employ  forecast.  (Latin,  ob 
'iacio.) 

Ob'olus.  Give  an  ob'otus  to  old  Beli- 
sa'rius.  Tzetzes,  a writer  of  the  twelfth 
century,  says  that  Belisarius,  stripped  of 
all  his  wealth  and  honours,  was  reduced 
to  beggary  in  his  grey  old  age  ; that  he 
lived  in  a mud  hut,  from  the  window  of 
which  he  hung  an  alms-bag,  and  that  he 
used  to  cry  to  the  passers-by  Give  an 
ob'olus  to  poor  old  Belisa'rius,  who  rose 
by  his  merits  and  was  cast  down  by 
envy.  ” 

Obsequies  are  the  funeral  honours, 
or  those  which  follow  a person  deceased. 
(Latin,  ob-sequor.) 

Obstinate.  An  inhabitant  of  the 
city  of  Destruction  who  advised  Christian 
to  return  to  his  family,  and  not  run  on 
fools’  errji,nds. — Bunyaiif  Pilgrim! s Pro- 
gress!*  pt.  i. 

OTDy.  A river  in  Russia.  The  word 


means  Great  River.  Thomson  the  poet 
says  it  is  the  ultima  thule  of  the  habitable 
globe. 

Occam  (William),  surnamed  Doctor 
Singula! ris  et  Tnvincih'ilis.  He  was  the 
great  advocate  of  Nominalism.  (1270- 
1347.) 

Occam’s  Hazor.  Entia  non  mnt 
multiplicanda  (entities  are  not  to  be 
multiplied).  With  this  axiom  Occam 
dissected  every  question  as  with  a razor. 
An  entity  is  something  which  is  ; perhaps 
the  nearest  synonym  ” is  an  element. 

Occasion.  A famous  old  hag,  quite 
bald  behind.  Sir  Guyon  seized  her  by 
the  forelock  and  threw  her  to  the  ground  ; 
still  she  railed  and  reviled,  till  Sir  Guyon 
gagged  her  with  an  iron  lock  ; she  then 
began  to  use  her  hands,  but  Sir  Guyon 
bound  them  behind  her. — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen, bk.  ii. 

Occult  Sciences.  Magic,  alchemy, 
and  astrology  ; so  called  because  they 
were  occult  or  mysteries  (secrets). 

Ocea'na.  An  ideal  republic  by  James 
Harrington,  on  the  plan  of  Plato’s  At- 
lantis. 

Oc'h-iltree  {Edie).  A gaberlunzie^, 
man  or  blue-coat  beggar  in  Sir  Walterv; 
Scott’s  ‘‘Antiquary.” 

Ocoucou.  An  evil  spirit  in  the  ^ 
mythology  of  several  African  tribes. 

Octa'vian.  Hero  of  a drama  so 
called,  by  George  Colman  the  younger,.. 
He  goes  mad  out  of  love  for  donna 
Floranthe,  whom  he  suspects  of  loving^ 
another ; but  Roque,  a blunt  yet  feel- 
ing old  man,  finds  him  out,  tells  him 
Floranthe  is  true  to  him,  and  induces 
him  to  return  home. 

OctaVo.  A book  where  each  sheet 
of  paper  is  folded  into  eight  leaves ; 
contracted  thus— 8vo.  (Italian,  un'  ot- 
tavo ; French,  in  octavo ; Latin,  octo, 
eight. ) 

Oc'ypus,  son  of  Podalir'ius  and  As- 
ta'sia,  was  eminent  for  his  strength, 
agility,  and  beauty ; but  used  to  deride 
those  afflicted  with  the  gout.  This  pro- 
voked the  anger  of  the  goddess  who 
presided  over  that  distemper,  and  she 
sent  it  to  plague  the  scoffer. — Lniciam. 

Od.  {See  Odyle.) 

Odd  Numbers.  Luck  in  odd  num- 
bers. A major  choi  d consists  of  a funda. 


630 


ODD’S. 


(EIL. 


mental  or  tonic,  its  major  third,  and  its 
just  fifth.  Seven  notes  complete  the 
octave,  and  nine  is  deity.  According  to 
the  Pythagore'an  system  “ all  nature  is  a 
harmony;”  man  is  a full  chord;  and  all 
beyond  is  deity,  so  that  nine  represents 
deity.  As  the  odd  numbers  are  the 
fundamental  notes  of  nature,  the  last 
being  deity,  it  will  be  easy  to  see  how 
they  came  to  be  considered  the  great  or 
lucky  numbers.  {See  Diapason  and 
Number.) 

Good  luck  lies  in  odd  numbers  . . . they  say, 
there  is  divinity  in  odd  numbers,  either  in  nativity, 
chance,  or  Shakespeare^  **  Merry  JVives  of 

Windsor”  v.  1. 

Odd’s  or  Od*Sy  used  in  oaths,  as — 

OdcTs  hodikins ! or  Odshody ! means 
**  God’s  body,”  of  course  referring  to 
incarnate  Deity. 

Od's  heart ! God’s  heart. 

Od’s  pittikins ! God’s  pity. 

Od' s plemed  will. — Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor,”  i.  1. 

Ode.  Prince  of  The  Ode.  Pierre  de 
Bonsard,  a French  lyrist.  (1524-1585.) 

Odin.  Chief  god  of  the  Scandina- 
vians. 

His  real  name  was  Sigge,  son  of  Fri- 
dulph,  but  he  assumed  the  name  of  Odin 
when  he  left  the  Tana’is,  because  he  had 
been  priest  of  Odin,  supreme  god  of  the 
Scythians.  He  became  the  All-wise  by 
drinking  from  Mimir’s  fountain,  but  pur- 
chased the  distinction  at  the  cost  of  one 
eye. 

His  brothers  are  Vile  and  Ve. 

His  wife  is  Frigga. 

His  sons,  Thor  and  Balder. 

His  seat,  Valaskjalf ; his  court  as  war- 
god,  Valhalla;  his  Einherian. 

His  two  black  ravens,  Huginn  (thought) 
and  Muninn  (memory). 

His  steed,  Sleipner  (q.v.). 

His  ships,  Skidbladiiir  and  Naglfar. 

His  spear,  Gungner,  which  never  fails 
to  hit  the  mark  aimed  at. 

His  ring,  Draupner,  which  every  ninth 
night  drops  eight  other  rings  of  equal 
value. 

His  evolves,  Geri  and  Freki. 

He  will  be  ultimately  swallowed  up  by 
the  wolf  Fenris. — Scandinavian  mytho- 

^gy- 

The  Vow  of  Odin.  A matrimonial  or 
other  vow  made  before  the  ‘'Stone  of 
Odin,”  in  the  Orkneys.  This  is  an  oval 
stone,  with  a hole  in  it  large  enough  to 


admit  a man’s  hand.  Any  one  who  vio- 
lated a vow  made  before  this  stone  was 
held  infamous. 

O'dium  Theolog'icum.  The  bitter 
hatred  of  rival  religionists.  No  wars  so 
sanguinary  as  holy  wars  ; no  persecutions 
so  relentless  as  religious  persecutions ; 
no  hatred  so  bitter  as  theological  hatred. 

O’Doherty  (Sir  Morgan).  Papers 
contributed  to  BlackwooTs  Magazine  by 
William  Maginn',  LL.D.,  full  of  wit, 
fun,  irony,  and  eloquence  (1819-1842). 

Odori'co  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso”).  A 
Biscayan,  to  whom  Zerbi'no  commits 
Isabella.  He  proves  a traitor  and  tries 
to  ravish  her,  but  being  interrupted  by  a 
pirate  crew,  flies  for  safety  to  Alphonzo’s 
court.  Here  Almo'nio  defies  him  and 
overcomes  him  in  single  combat.  King 
Alphonzo  gives  the  traitor  to  the  con- 
queror, and  he  is  delivered  bound  to  Zer- 
bino,  who  awards  him  as  a punishment 
to  attend  Gabri'na  for  one  year  as  her 
champion,  and  to  defend  her  against 
every  foe.  He  accepts  the  charge,  but 
hangs  Gabri'na  to  an  elm.  Almonio  in 
turn  hangs  Odorico  to  an  elm. 

Odrys'iuin  Carmen.  The  poetry 
of  Orpheus,  a native  of  Thrace,  called 
Odrysia  tellus,  because  theOd'ryses  wer® 
its  chief  inhabitants. 

O'dur.  Husband  of  Freya,  whom  he 
deserted.  — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Od'yle  (2  syl.).  That  which  emanates 
from  a medium  to  produce  the  several 
phenomena  connected  with  mesmerism, 
spirit-rapping,  table-turning,  and  so  on. 
The  production  of  these  “manifesta- 
tions ” is  sometimes  called  od'ylism. 
Baron  Reichenbach  called  it  Od  force,  a 
force  which  becomes  manifest  wherever 
chemical  action  is  going  on. 

Od'yssey.  The  poem  of  Homer 
which  records  the  adventures  of  Odusseus 
(Ulysses)  in  his  home-voyage  from  Troy. 
The  word  is  an  adjective  formed  out  of 
the  hero’s  name,  and  means  the  things  or 
adventures  of  Ulysses. 

CEj'dipus.  I am  no  (Edipus.  I can- 
not guess  what  you  mean.  (Edipos 
guessed  the  riddle  of  the  Sphynx,  and 
saved  Thebes  from  her  ravages. 

CEjil.  A Voeil.  On  credit,  for  nothing. 
Corruption  of  the  Italian  a uffo  (gratis). 


(EIL  DE  BGEUF. 


OGYGIAN  DELUGE. 


631 


In  the  French  translation  of  Don 
Quixote  is  this  passage  : — 

Ma  femme,  disait  Sancho  Pan^a,  ne  m’a  jamaifl 
dit  oui  que  quand  il  fallait  dire  non.  Or  elles  sont 
toutes  de  meme  . . . Elies  sont  toutes  bonnes  ^ 
pendre  . . . pass6  cela,  elles  ne  valent  pas  ce  que 
a’ai  dans  I’mil. 

(Eil  de  Boeuf.  Les  Fastes  de  VCEil  de 
Bceuf.  The  annals  of  the  courtiers  of  the 
'Grand  Monarque ; anecdotes  of  courtiers 
.generally.  The  ceil  de  boeuf  is  the 
round  window  seen  in  entresols  in  the 
roofs  of  houses,  like  those  at  Trinity 
Hall,  Cambridge,  on  the  ground-floor. 
The  anteroom  where  courtiers  waited  at 
the  royal  chamber  of  Versailles  had  these 
•ox-eye  windows,  and  hence  they  were 
called  by  this  name. 

Off  with  his  Head!  so  much  for 
Buckingham  I — Colley  ahher,  The  Tra- 
gical History  of  Richard  ///.”  (altered 
from  Shakespeare).  ^ 

Offa’s  Dyke,  which  runs  from 
Beachley  to  Flintshire,  was  not  the  work 
of  Offa,  king  of  Mercia,  but  was  repaired 
by  him.  It  existed  when  the  Romans 
were  in  England,  for  five  Roman  roads 
oross  it.  Offa  availed  himself  of  it  as  a 
line  of  demarcation  sufficiently  service- 
.able,  though  by  no  means  tallying  with 
his  territory  either  in  extent  or  position. 

Og,  in  the  satire  of  Absalom  and 
Achitophel”  by  Dryden  and  Tate,  is 
Thomas  Shadwell,  who  succeeded  Dry- 
den as  poet  laureate.  Dryden  called 
him  Mac  Flecnoe,  and  says  he  never 
deviates  into  sense.”  He  is  called  Og 
because  he  was  a very  large  and  fat 
man.  (Pt.  ii.) 

Og'ham'S.  The  secret  alphabet  long 
in  use  among  the  ancient  Irish  and  some 
other  Celtic  nations. 

Oghris.  The  lion  that  followed 
prince  Murad  like  a dog.  Thh  word  in 
the  Saracen  tongue  means  throat  of  brass. 
At  the  death  of  Murad  the  lion  was 
given  to  Aude  as  the  price  of  conquest, 
when  Roland  overthrew  in  single  combat 
the  giant  Angoulaffre. — ^^Croquemitaine.^* 

O'gier  the  Dane  (2  syllables).  One 
of  the  paladins  of  king  Charlemagne. 
Various  fairies  attended  at  his  birth'and 
bestowed  upon  him  divers  gifts.  Among 
them  was  Morgue,  who  when  the  knight 
was  a hundred  years  old  embarked  him 
for  the  isle  and  castle  of  Av  alon,  ‘^hard 
by  the  terrestrial  paradise.”  The  vessel 


in  which  he  sailed  was  wrecked,  and 
Ogier  was  in  despair,  till  he  heard  a 
voice  that  bade  him  'Hear  nothing,  but 
enter  the  castle  which  I will  show  thee.” 
So  he  got  to  the  island  and  entered  the 
castle,  where  he  found  a horse  sitting  at 
a banquet  table.  The  horse,  whose  name 
was  Papillon,  and  who  had  been  once  a 
mighty  prince,  conducted  him  to  Morgue 
the  Fay,  who  gave  him  (1)  a ring  which 
removed  all  infirmities  and  restored  him 
to  ripe  manhood  ; (2)  a Lethean  crown 
which  made  him  forget  his  country  and 
past  life ; and  (3)  introduced  him  to  king 
Arthu-r.  Two  hundred  years  rolled  on, 
and  France  was  invaded  by  the  Payniras. 
Morgue  now  removed  the  crown  from 
Ogier’s  head  and  sent  him  to  defend  "le 
bon  pays  de  France.”  Having  routed  the 
invaders.  Morgue  took  him  back  to 
Avalon,  and  he  has  never  reappeared  in 
this  earth  of  ours. — " Ogier  le  Danois**' 
{a  romance). 

O'gier  the  Dane.  Represented  as  the 
Knave  of  Spades  in  the  French  pack. 
He  is  introduced  by  Ariosto  in  his  " Or- 
lando Furioso.” 

The  sioord  of  Ogier  the  Dane.  Curta'na 
(the  cutter),  and  Sauvagine.  See  Morris, 
" Earthly  Paradise  ” (August). 

Ogleby  (Lord).  A superannuatec 
nobleman  who  affects  the  gaiety  and 
graces  of  a young  man. — " Clandestine 
Marriagef  by  Garrich  and  Colman  the 
elder. 

Og'mion  or  Ogmios.  The  Hercules  of 
the  ancient  Gauls,  represented  as  an  old 
man. 

O^'gres  of  nursery  mythology  arc 
giants  of  very  malignant  dispositions, 
who  live  on  human  flesh.  It  is  an 
Eastern  invention,  and  the  word  is  de- 
rived from  the  Ogurs,  a desperately 
savage  horde  of  Asia,  who  overran  part 
of  Europe  in  the  fifth  century.  Others 
derive  it  from  Orcus,  the  ugly  cruel  man- 
eating  monster  so  familiar  to  readers  of 
Bojardo  and  Ariosto.  The  female  is 
Ogress. 

O’Groat.  (>S!geJoHN.) 

Ogyglan  Deluge.  A flood  which 
overran  a part  of  Greece  while  Og'yges 
was  king  of  Attica.  There  were  two 
floods  so  called — one  in  Bceotia,  when 
the  lake  Copa'is  overflowed  its  banks ; 
and  another  in  Attica,  when  the  whole 


632 


OH  NANNY. 


OLD  LADY. 


territory  was  laid  waste  for  two  hundred 
years  (B.C.  1764). 

“Oh.  ]Nanny,wilt  thou  gang  wi’  me?” 
By  Thomas  Percy,  bishop  of  Droraore. 
Nanny  was  afterwards  his  wife.  Nanny 
Isted  of  Ecton,  near  Northampton. 

Oi'PoYLoi  {Greeh).  The  commonalty, 
the  many.  In  university  slang  the  “poll 
men,”  or  those  who  take  degrees  without 
“ honours.” 

Oignement  deBretaigne  {French). 
A sound  drubbing.  Oignement  is  a 
noun  corruptly  formed  from  liogner.  In 
Lyons  boys  called  the  little  cuffs  which 
they  gave  each  other  hognes. 

Frere  Eleuthere  a trenchoisons, 

Et  j’ay  orgement  de  Bretaigne  ; 

Qui  garist  de  roigne  et  de  taigne. 

“Xc  Martyre  de  S.  Denis dgc.,  p.  129. 

Oignons  d'Egypte.  The  flesh-pots  of 
Egypt.  Hence  “ regretter  les  oignons 
d’Egypte,”  to  sigh  for  the  flesh-pots  of 
Egypt,  to  long  for  luxuries  lost  and 
gone. 

Je  plume  oignons.  I scold  or  grumble. 
Also  peler  des  oignons  in  the  same  sense. 
A corruption  of  liogner^  to  scold  or 
grumble. 

Gr?7on.— Que  fais-tu  la? 

Brayhanlt. — Je  plume  ongnons. 

“ia  Quarte  JotirnSe  du  3Iistere  de  la  Passion.** 
Pas  ne  savoit  ongnons  peler. 

Villon,  Ballade  iL 

Oil.  To  oil  the  Tcnocler.  To  fee  the 
porter.  The  expression  is  from  Eacine, 
On  'Fenire  point  chez  lui  sans  graisser  le 
marieau  (No  one  enters  his  house  without 
oiling  the  knocker). — “Xes  Plaideurs.^^ 

To  pour  oil  on  troubled  waters.  “ A soft 
answer  turneth  away  wrath.”  Professor 
Horsford,  by  emptying  a vial  of  oil  upon 
the  sea  in  a stiff  breeze,  stilled  its  surface ; 
and  commodore  Wilkes,  of  the  United 
States,  saw  the  same  effect  produced  in 
a violent  storm  off  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  by  oil  leaking  from  a whale- ship. 

Oil  of  Palms.  Money.  Huile  is 
French  slang  for  money,”  as  will  ap- 
pear from  the  following  quotation  : — 
“ II  faudra  que  vostre  bourse  fasse  les 
frais  de  vostre  curiosite  ; il  faut  de  la 
pecune,  il  faut  de  Thuile.” — “Za  Fausse 
Coquettef  act.  ii.,  s.  7 (1694). 

Ointment.  Money.  From  the  fable 
'^De  la  Vieille  qui  Oint  la  Palme  au 
Chevalier  (thirteenth  century). 

Vole'bant  autem  praefa'ti  clerlci  al'iquem 
habe're  lega'tum  natio'ne  Roma'num,  qui  un- 
guentis  Angllcis,  auro  scilicet  et  argento  sclent  ad 
qu3elib-t  inclina'ri. — Gervais  de  Canterbury,** Chron- 
ieles”  (Scriptures  decern  ii.,1533). 


St.  Olaf  or  Olave.  The  first  Christian- 
king  of  Norway,  slain  in  battle  by  his 
pagan  subjects  in  1030.  He  is  usually 
represented  in  royal  attire,  bearing  the' 
sword  or  halbert  of  his  martyrdom,  and 
sometimes  carrying  a loaf  of  bread,  as  a 
rebus  on  his  name,  which  in  Latin  is 
Holofius  or  Whole-loaf.  (Born  995.) 

Olaf  Tryggva-Sonar  or  Trigg- 
vason.  A legend  of  historical  founiatibn 
in  the  Sagas. 

Old  Bags.  John  Scott,  lord  Eldon 
so  called  from  his  carrying  home  with 
him  in  different  bags  the  cases  still  pend- 
ing his  judgment.  (1751-1838.) 

Old  Bon^  Bide.  Louis  XIV.  (1638, 
1643-1715.) 

Old  Dominion.  Virginia.  Every 
Act  of  Parliament  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  designated  Virginia  “ The 
Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia.”  Cap- 
tain John  Smith,  in  his  “History of  Vir- 
ginia” (1629),  calls  this  “colony  and  do- 
minion” Ould  Virginia,  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  New  England  and  other  British 
settlements. 

Old  England.  This  term  was  first 
used  in  1641,  twenty-one  years  after  our 
American  colony  of  New  Virginia  re- 
ceived the  name  of  New  England. 

Old  Faith.  Men.  {8ee  Philippins.) 

Old  Fogs.  The  87th  Foot ; so 
called  from  the  war-cry  Fag-an-Bealach 
(Clear  the  way),  pronounced  Faug-a- 
hollagh. 

Old  Fox.  Marshal  Soult ; so  called 
by  the  soldiers  because  lof  his  strategic 
abilities  and  never-failing  resources. 
(1769-1851.)  {See  Fox.) 

Old  Glory.  The  United  States’" 
Flag. 

Old  Grog.  Admiral  Edward  Ver- 
non ; so  called  by  British  sailors  from 
his  wearing  a grogam  cloak  in  foul  wea- 
ther. (1684-1757.) 

Old  Harry.  The  devil.  (>8^6  Harry.) 

Old  Humphrey.  The  nom  de 
plume  of  George  Mogridge,  of  London, 
author  of  several  interesting  books  for 
children.  (Died  1854.) 

Old  Lady  of  Threadneedle 
Street.  The  Bank  of  England,  situ- 
ated in  Threadneedle  Street. 


OLD  MAN  ELOQUENT. 


OLINDO. 


Old  Man  Eloquent.  Isoc'rates; 
so  called  by  Milton.  When  he  heard  of 
the  result  of  the  battle  of  Chierone'a, 
which  was  fatal  to  Grecian  liberty,  he 
died  of  grief. 

That  dishonest  victory 
At  Chaerone  a,  fatal  to  liberty, 

Killed  with  report  that  Old  Man  Eloquent. 

Milton,  " So7i7iets." 

Old  Man  of  the  Mountain. 
Ilassan-ben-Sabah,  the  sheik  A1  Jebal, 
and  founder  of  the  sect  called  Assassins 
{(l.'G.). 

Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  in  the  story 
of  “ Sinbad  the  Sailor,”  hoisted  on  his 
shoulders,  clung  there  and  refused  to 
dismount.  Sinbad  released  himself  from 
his  burden  by  making  the  Old  Man  drunk. 
— ** Arabian  Nights,** 

Old  Mortality.  The  itinerant  anti- 
quary in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  novel  of  that 
name.  It  is  said  to  be  a photograph  of 
Eobert  Patterson,  a Scotchman,  who 
busied  himself  in  clearing  the  moss  from 
the  tombstones  of  the  Covenanters. 

Old  ISTicka  (in  Eunic).  A spirit  that 
came  to  strange  people  who  fell  into  the 
water. — Sir  Willem  Temple.  {See'NiCK.) 

Old  Noll.  Oliver  Cromwell ; so 
called  by  the  Cavaliers.  (1599-1658.) 

Old  NolVs  Fiddler.  Sir  Eoger 
L’ Estrange ; so  called  because  he  played 
the  bass  viol  at  the  musical  parties  held 
at  John  Kingston’s  house,  which  parties 
Cromwell  attended. 

Old  Port  Scliool.  Old-fashioned 
clergymen,  who  stick  to  church  and 
state,  old  port  and  “ orthodoxy.” 

Old  Powley.  Charles  II.  was  so 
called  from  his  favourite  racehorse.  A 
portion  of  the  Newmarket  race-course  is 
still  called  Eowley  mile,  from  the  same 
horse. 

Old  Scratch.  The  devil ; so  called 
from  Schratz  or  Skratti,  a demon  of  Scan- 
dinavian mytliology.  {See  Nick.) 

Old  Stone.  Henry  Stone,  statuary 
and  painter.  (Died  1653.) 

Old  Tom.  Cordial  gin.  Thomas 
Norris,  one  of  the  men  employed  in 
Messrs.  Hodges’  distillery,  opened  a gin 
palace  in  Great  Eussell  Street,  Covent 
Garden,  and  called  the  gin  concocted  by 
Thomas  Chamberlain,  one  of  the  firm  of 
Hodges,  Old  Tom,”  in  compliment  to 
his  former  master. 


Old  World.  So  Europe,  Asia,  and 
Africa  are  called  when  compared  witli 
North  and  South  America  (the  New 
World). 

Oldbuck.  An  antiquary  ; from  the 
character  of  Jonathan  Oldbuck,  a whim- 
sical virtuoso  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 

Antiquary.” 

Oldcastle  {Sir  John),  called  The- 
Good  Lord  Cobham,  the  first  Christian 
martyr  among  the  English  nobility. 
(December  14,  1417.) 

Old'enburg  Horn.  A horn  long  in 
the  possession  of  the  reigning  princes  of 
the  house  of  Oldenburg,  but  now  in  the 
collection  of  the  king  of  Denmark.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  count  Otto  of  Olden- 
burg, in  967,  was  offered  drink  in  this 
silver-gilt  horn  by  a wild  woman,”  at 
the  Osenberg.  As  he  did  not  like  the 
look  of  the  liquor,  he  threw  it  away,  and 
rode  off  with  the  horn. 

Oleum  Adde  Cami'no.  To  pour 
oil  on  fire ; to  aggravate  a wound  under 
pretence  of  healing  it. — Horace,  ^‘Satires,** 
ii.  3,  321. 

Olib'rius  {An).  The  wrong  man  in 
the  wrong  place.  Olib'rius  was  a Eoman 
senator,  proclaimed  emperor  by  surprise 
in  472,  but  he  was  wholly  unsuited  for 
the  office. 

Ollfaunt.  Lord  Nigel  Olifaunt  of 
Glewvarloch,  on  going  to  court  to  present 
a petition  to  king  James  I.,  aroused  the 
dislike  of  the  duke  of  Buckingham  ; lord 
Dalgarno  gave  him  the  cut  direct,  when 
Nigel  struck  him,  and  was  obliged  to 
seek  refuge  in  Alsatia.  After  various 
adventures  he  married  Margaret  Earn  say, 
the  watchmaker’s  daughter. — Sir  Walter- 
Scott,  For  times  of  Nigel.’* 

Oligar'chy  {oily- gar' -Jcy').  A govern- 
ment in  which  the  supreme  power  is 
vested  in  a class.  (Greek,  oligos-arhe, 
the  few  bear  rule.) 

Olin'do.  The  Mahometan  king  of 
Jerusalem,  at  the  advice  of  his  magician, 
stole  an  image  of  the  Virgin,  and  set  it 
up  as  a palladium  in  the  chief  mosque. 
The  image  was  stolen  during  the  night, 
and  the  king,  unable  to  discover  the  per- 
petrator, ordered  all  his  Christian  sub- 
jects to  be  put  to  the  sword.  Sofronia, 
to  prevent  this  wholesale  massacre,  ac- 
cused herself  of  the  deed,  and  was  con— 


6-34 


OLIO. 


OLYMPIA. 


demned  to  be  burnt  alive,  Olindo,  her  j 
lover,  hearing  of  this,  went  to  the  king  : 
and  took  on  himself  the  blame ; where-  i 
upon  both  were  condemned  to  death,  ! 
but  were  saved  by  the  intercession  of 
Clorinda. — J erusaleui  Delivered,^* 

Olio  or  Oglio,  A mixture  or  medley 
of  any  sort.  (Spanish,  oUa,  a pot  for 
boiling  similar  to  what  the  French  call 
4;heir  pot  aufeiL.  The  olio  is  the  mixture 
<of  bread,  vegetables,  spices,  meat,  &c., 
foiled  in  this  pot.)^ 

Ol'ive  (2  syl.).  The  olive,  sacred  to 
Pallas  Athe'ng,  was  regarded  by  the 
^Greeks  as  an  emblem  of  chastity.  A 
-crown  of  olive -twigs  was  given  to  a 
citizen  who  had  merited  well  of  his  coun- 
try, and  was  the  highest  prize  of  the 
Olympian  games.  An  olive  branch  was 
the  symbol  of  peace,  and  those  who 
begged  for  peace  carried  one  in  their 
hands.  This  use  of  the  olive  branch  is 
'based  on  the  account  of  Noah’s  dove 
(Gen.  viii.  11).  {See  Crown.) 

Olive  Branches.  Children  of  a 
parent.  It  is  a Scripture  term  : Thy 
wife  shall  be  as  a fruitful  vine  . . . thy 
•children  like  olive  plants  round  about 
thy  table”  (Psalm  cxxviii.  3). 

Olive  Tree.  Emblem  of  prosperity. 
David  says,  *^1  am  like  a green  olive  tree 
in  the  house  of  God”  (Psalm  lii.  8). 

Oliver.  Son  and  heir  of  Sir  Rowland 
-de  Boys,  who  hated  his  youngest  brother 
Orlando,  and  persuaded  him  to  try  a 
wrestling  match  with  a professed  wrestler, 
hoping  thus  to  kill  his  brother ; but  when 
Orlando  proved  victorious,  Oliver  swore 
to  set  fire  to  his  chamber  when  he  was 
asleep.  Orlando  fled  to  the  forest  of 
Arden,  and  Oliver  pursued  him ; but  one 
. dav,  as  he  slept  in  the  forest,  a snake  and 
a lioness  lurked  near  to  make  him  their 
prey  : Orlando  happened  to  be  passing, 
and  slew  the  two  monsters.  When  Oliver 
discovered  this  heroic  deed  he  repented 
■of  his  ill- conduct,  and  his  sorrow  so  in- 
terested the  princess  Celia  that  she  fell 
in  love  with  him,  and  they  were  married. 
— ShaTcespeare,  ‘^As  You  Like  ItY 

Ol'iver  or  Oliv'ier,  Charlemagne's 
iavourite  paladin,  who,  with  Roland,  rode 
by  his  side.  He  was  count  of  Genes,  and 
brother  of  the  beautiful  Aude.  His 
sword  was  called  ‘^Haute-claire,”  and  his 
horse  Ferrant  d’Espagne.” 


A Bx)ivlandfor  an  Oliver,  Tit  for  tat, 
quid  pro  quo.  Dr.  J.  N.  Scott  says  that 
this  proverb  is  modern,  and  owes  its  rise 
to  the  Cavaliers  in  the  time  of  the  civil 
wars  in  England.  These  Cavaliers,  by 
way  of  rebuff,  gave  the  anti-monarchial 
party  a general  Monk  for  their  Oliver 
Cromwell.  As  Monk’s  Christian  name 
was  George,  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  the 
doctor  has  hit  the  right  nail  on  the  head. 

Olive'tans.  Brethren  of  Our  Lady 
of  Mount  Ol'ivet,”  an  offshoot  of  the 
Benedictine  order. 

Oliv'ia.  Niece  of  Sir  Toby  Belch. 
Malvo'lio  is  her  steward,  Maria  her  wo- 
man, Fabian  and  a clown  her  male 
servants. — Shakespeare,  Twelfth  Night Y 

Olivia,  A female  Tartuffe  (q.v.)  in 
Wycherly’s  Plain  Dealer.”  A con- 
summate hypocrite,  of  most  unblushing 
effrontery. 

Olla  Podri'da.  Odds  and  ends,  a 
mixture  of  scraps.  In  Spain  it  takes  the 
place  of  the  French  pot  au  feu,  into 
which  every  sort  of  eatable  is  thrown 
and  stewed.  It  is  called  podri'da  or 
putrid,  because  amongst  the  poor  the 
bits  are  so  often  re- cooked  that  they  be- 
come putrid. 

Oriapod.  An  apothecary,  always 
trying  to  say  a witty  thing,  and  looking 
for  wit  in  the  conversation  of  others. 
When  he  finds  aiiything  which  he  can 
construe  into  “point”  he  says,  “Thank 
you,  good  sir  ; I owe  you  one.”  He  had 
a military  taste,  and  was  appointed 
“ cornet  in  the  volunteer  association  of 
cavalry”  of  his  own  town.— (x.  Cohnan, 
“ The  Poor  GentlemanP 

Olombo.  The  spirit  which  favours 
the  hunt,  according  to  the  mythology  of 
the  Gamma  tribes  in  Africa. 

Olym'pia  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
Countess  of  Holland,  and  wife  of  Bire'no. 
Cymosco  of  Friza  wanted  to  force  her  to 
marry  his  son  Arbantes,  but  Arbantes 
was  slain.  This  aroused  the  fury  of 
Cymosco,  who  seized  Bireno,  and  would 
have  put  him  to  death  if  Orlando  had  not 
slain  Cymosco.  Bireno  having  deserted 
Olympia,  she  was  bound  naked  to  a rock 
by  pirates;  but  Orlando  delivered  her  and 
took  her  to  Ireland.  Here  king  Oberto 
espoused  her  cause,  slew  Bireno,  and 
married  the  young  widow.  (^Bks.  iv.,  v.) 


OLYMPIAD. 


ONUS  PROBANDI. 


635 


Olym'piad,  among  the  ancient 
Greeks,  was  a period  of  four  years,  being 
the  interval  between  the  celebrations  of 
their  Olym'pic  Games. 

Olympic  Games.  Games  held  by 
the  Greeks  at  Olym'pia  in  Elis,  every 
fourth  year,  in  the  month  of  July. 

Olympus.  A mountain  in  Nato'lia 
(Asiatic  Turkey),  where  the  fabulous 
court  of  Jupiter  was  supposed  to  be  held. 
It  is  used  for  any  pantheon,  as  ‘‘  Odin, 
Thor,  Baldur,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Northern  Olympus.”  The  word  means 
All  bright  or  clear.  In  Greek  the  word 
is  Olumpos. 

Om.  A Sanskrit  word,  somewhat 
similar  to  Amen.  '^When  the  gods  are 
asked  to  rejoice  in  a sacrifice,  the  god 
Savitri  cries  out  Om  (Be  it  so).  When 
Pravahan  is  asked  if  his  father  has  in- 
structed him,  he  answers  Om  (Verily). 
Brahmans  begin  and  end  their  lessons  on 
the  Veda  with  the  word  Owi,  for  “ unless 
Om  precedes  his  lecture,  it  will  be  like 
water  on  a rock,  which  cannot  be  gathered 
up ; and  unless  it  concludes  the  lecture, 
it  will  bring  forth  no  fruit.” 

Om  mani  padme  IvlJbm.  These  are  the 
first  six  syllables  taught  the  children  of 
Tibet  and  Mongolia,  and  the  last  words 
uttered  by  the  dying  in  those  lands.  It 
is  met  with  everywhere  as  a charm— on 
fiags,  rings,  trees,  tombs,  houses,  monu- 
ments, domestic  implements,  and  so  on. 

O'man’s  Sea.  The  Persian  Gulf. 

Ombre.  A Spanish  game  of  cards 
■called  ‘^The  Royal  Game  of  Ombre.” 
Prior  has  an  epigram  on  the  subject. 
He  says  he  was  playing  ombre  with  two 
ladies,  and  though  he  wished  to  lose, 
won  everything,  for  Fortune  gave  him 

success  in  every  suit  but  hearts.” 

O'mega.  The  Alpha  and  Om,ega. 
The  first  and  the  last,  the  beginning  and 
the  end.  Alpha  is  the  first  and  Omega 
the  last  letter  of  the  Greek  alphabet. 

Omeyinger  Saga.  An  historical 
tradition  of  Scandinavia. 

Om'nibus.  The  French  have  a good 
slang  term  for  these  conveyances.  They 
caH  an  omnibus  a Foui*  Banal”  (parish 
oven). 

Om'nium  (Latin,  of  all).  The  par- 
ticulars of  all  the  items,  or  the  assign- 


ment of  all  the  securities,  of  a govern- 
ment loan. 

Om'nium  Gatb'erum.  Dog  Latin 
for  a gathering  or  collection  of  all  sorts 
of  persons  and  things ; a miscellaneous 
gathering  together  without  regard  to 
suitability  or  order. 

Omorca.  The  goddess  who  was 
sovereign  of  the  universe  when  it  was 
first  created.  It  was  covered  with  water 
and  darkness,  but  contained  some  few 
animals  of  monster  forms,  representa- 
tions of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  temple 
of  Bel. — Berosius. 

Om'phale  (3  syl.).  The  masculine 
but  attractive  queen  of  Lydia,  to  whom 
Hercules  was  bound  a slave  for  three 
years.  He  fell  in  love  with  her,  and  led 
an  effeminate  life  spinning  wool,  while 
Om'phale  wore  the  lion’s  skin  and  was 
lady  paramount. 

On  dit  {French).  A rumour,  a re- 
port ; as  ‘‘  There  is  an  on  dit  on  Exchange 
that  Spain  will  pay  up  its  back  divi- 
dends.” 

Onion  Pennies.  Roman  coins  dug 
up  at  Silchester;  so  called  from  one 
Onion,  a giant  who,  the  country  people 
say,  inhabited  the  buried  city.  Silchester 
used  to  be  called  by  the  British  Ard- 
Oneon—  i.e. , Ardal  Onion  (the  region  of 
Einion  or  Onion). 

Only  (T/ie).  Jean  Paul  Friedrich 
Richter  (1763-1825).  Carlyle  says,  ^^In 
the  whole  circle  of  literature  we  look 
in  vain  for  his  parallel.”  (German,  Dec 
Einzige.) 

On' slow,  invoked  by  Thomson  in  his 

Autumn,”  was  Arthur  Onslow,  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
termed  clarum  ac  renera'bile  nomen,  Ib 
was  said  of  him  that  ‘'his  knowledge  of 
the  Constitution  was  only  equalled  by  his 
attachment  to  it.” 

Onu'pbis.  The  ball  consecrated  to 
Osi'ris. — Egyptian  mythology. 

O'nns  {Latin).  The  burden,  the 
blame,  the  responsibility ; as,  The 
whole  onus  must  rest  on  your  own 
shoulders.” 

O'nus  Proban'di.  The  obligation 
of  proof;  as,  ^^The  onus  probandi  rests 
with  the  accuser.” 


636 


ONUVA. 


ORACLE. 


OnuVa.  The  Venus  of  the  ancient 
Gauls. — Celtic  mythology. 

Onyx  is  Greek  for  a finger-nail ; so 
called  because  its  colour  resembles  that 
of  the  finger-nail. 

Opal.  {See  Ceraunium.  ) 

Open  Ses'ame.  The  charm  by 
which  the  door  of  the  robbers’  dungeon 
flew  open.  The  reference  is  to  the  tale 
of  ‘^The  Forty  Thieves,”  in  the  ‘^Arabian 
Nights.” 

These  words  were  the  only  “open  sesame”  to 
their  feelings  and  sympathies.— JS.  Shelton. 

The  spell  loses  its  power,  and  he  who  should 
hope  to  conjure  with  it  would  find  himself  as  much 
mistaken  as  Cassim  when  he  stood  cryin?  “Open. 
\V  heat “ Open,  Barley,”  to  the  door  which  obeyed 
no  sound  but  “ Open,  tSesame.” 

Ophelia.  Daughter  of  Polo'nius  the 
chamberlain.  Hamlet  fell  in  love  with 
her,  but  after  his  interview  with  the 
Ghost  found  it  incompatible  with  his 
plans  to  marry  her.  Ophelia,  thinking  his 
‘^strange  conduct”  the  effect  of  mad- 
ness, becomes  herself  demented,  and  in 
her  attempt  to  gather  flowers  is  drowned. 
— ShakesiKare,  Hamlet.** 

Opinlcus.  A fabulous  monster, 
composed  of  dragon,  camel,  and  lion, 
used  in  heraldry.  It  forms  the  crest  of 
the  Barber  Surgeons  of  London. 

0'piuni-eater(  The  English).  Thomas 
ds  Quincy,  author  of  ‘‘Confessions.” 
(1785-1850.) 

Oppidan  of  Eton.  A student  not 
on  the  foundation  like  a king’s  scholar. 

Opportunity.  The  presence  of  a 
h-arbour.  Timely  as  a port  to  a ship. 
(Latin,  oh  gortus,  near  a harbour.) 

Op  time  (plural,  op-ti-mes),  in  Cam- 
bridge phraseology,  is  a graduate  in 
honours  below  a wrangler.  Of  course  the 
Latin  optimus  (a  best-man)  is  the  fons  et 
origo  of  the  term.  Optimes  are  of  two 
grades  : a man  of  the  higher  group  is 
termed  a senior  optime,  while  one  of  the 
inferior  class  is  called  2^  junior  optime. 

Op'timism,  in  moral  philosophy,  is 
the  doctrine  that  “ whatever  is,  is  right 
that  everything  which  happens  is  for  the 
best. 

O'pus  Ma'gus.  The  great  work  of 
Roger  Bacon. 

Opus  Op'eran'tis,  in  theology, 
means  that  the  personal  piety  of  the  person 


who  does  the  act,  and  not  the  act  itself,, 
causes  it  to  be  an  instrument  of  grace. 
Thus,  in  the  Eucharist,  it  is  the  faith  of 
the  recipient  which  makes  it  efficient  for 
grace. 

Opus  Opera'tum,  in  theology, 
means  that  the  act  conveys  grace  irre- 
spectively of  the  receiver.  Thus  baptism 
is  said  by  many  to  convey  regeneration 
to  an  infant  in  arms. 

Or  ever.  Ere  ever.  (Saxon,  cer, 
before. ) 

Oracle.  The  following  are  famous- 
responses  : — 

(1)  When  Croesus  consulted  the  Del- 
phic oracle  respecting  a projected  war, 
he  received  for  answer,  “Croesus  Halyn. 
penetrans  magnam,  pervertit  opumvirn’” 
(When  Croesus  passes  over  the  river 
Halts,  he  overthrows  the  strength  of  an 
empire).  Croesus  supposed  the  oracle 
meant  he  would  overthrow  the  enemy’s 
empire,  but  it  was  his  own  that  he; 
destroyed. 

(2)  Pyrrhus,  being  about  to  make  war- 
against  Rome,  was  told  by  the  ©racle  : 
“Aio  te,  ^acid§,Roma'nos  vin'cere  posse” 
(I  say,  Pyrrhus,  that  you  the  Romans 
can  conquer),  which  may  mean  either 
Tow,  Pyrrhus,  can  overthrow  the  Romans, 
or  Pyrrhus,  the  Roinans  can  overthrow- 
yon. 

(3)  Another  prince,  consulting  the 
oracle  concerning  a projected  war,  re-^ 
ceived  for  answer : “ Ibis  redi'bis  nun- 
quam  per  bella  peribis”  (You  shall  go 
shall  return  never  you  shall  perish  by 
the  war).  It  will  be  seen  that  the  whole 
gist  of  this  response  depends  on  the 
place  of  the  omitted  comma  : it  may  be 
You  shall  return,  you  shall  never  perish  in 
the  war,  or  You  shall  return  never,  you 
shall  perish  in  the  war,  which  latter  was 
the  fact. 

(4)  Philip  of  Macedon  sent  to  ask  the 
oracle  of  Delphi  if  his  Persian  expedition 
would  prove  successful,  and  received  for 
answer — 

The  ready  victim  crowned  for  death 
Before  the  altar  standa. 

Philip  took  it  for  granted  that  tho 
“ready  victim”  was  the  king  of  Persia, 
but  it  was  Philip  himself. 

(5)  When  the  Greeks  sent  to  Delphi  to* 
know  if  they  woidd  succeed  against  tht^ 
Persians,  they  were  told — 

Seed-time  and  harvest,  weeping  sires  shall  tell 
How  thousands  fought  at  &iilainis  aua  felL. 


ORANGE  BLOSSOMS. 


ORBILIAN  STICK. 


637 


But  whether  the  Greeks  or  the  Persians 
were  to  be  the  weeping  sires,”  deponent 
stateth  not,  nor  whether  the  thousands 

about  to  fall”  were  to  be  Greeks  or 
Persians.  {See  Punctuation.) 

Oracle  of  the  Holy  Bottle,  Bachuc,  near 
Cathay,  in  Upper  India.  Books  iv.  and  v. 
of  Rabelais  are  occupied  by  the  search 
for  this  oracle.  The  ostensible  object 
was  to  obtain  an  answer  to  a question 
which  had  been  put  to  sibyl  and  poet, 
monk  and  fool,  philosopher  and  witch,  i 
judge  and  ^‘sort,”  viz.,  ‘^Whether  Pan-  j 
urge  should  marry  or  not  ? ” The  whole 
affair  is  a disguised  satire  on  the  church. 
The  celibacy  of  the  clergy  was  for  a long 
time  a moot  point  of  great  difficulty, 
and  the  Holy  Bottle  ” or  cup  to  the 
laity  was  one  of  the  moving  causes  of 
the  great  schisms”  from  the  Roman 
Catholic  church.  The  crew  setting 
-sail  for  the  Bottle  refers  to  Anthooy 
did^e  of  Vendome,  afterwards  king  of 
Navarre,  setting  out  in  search  of  reli- 
gious truth.  Bacbuc  is  the  Hebrew  for 
a bottle.  The  anthem  sung  before  the 
fleet  set  sail  was  When  Israel  went  out 
of  bondage,”  and  all  the  emblems  of  the 
ships  bore  upon  the  proverb  In  vino 
veritas.”  Bacbuc  is  both  the  bottle  and 
the  priestess  of  the  bottle. 

Oracle  of  Sieve  and  Shears.  This 
method  of  divination  is  mentioned  by 
TheocTitos.  The  modus  operandi  was  as 
follows  : — The  points  of  the  shears  were 
stuck  in  the  rim  of  a sieve,  and  two  per- 
sons supported  them  with  their  finger- 
tips. Then  a verse  of  the  Bible  was  read 
aloud,  and  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  were 
asked  if  it  was  A,  B,  or  C (naming  the 
persons  suspected).  When  the  right 
person  was  named  the  sieve  would  sud- 
denly turn  round. 

Searching  for  thiuss  lost  with  a sieve  aad  shears. 
—B&n  Jonson,  “ Alchemist*'  i.  1. 

The  Oracle  of  the  Church.  St.  Bernard. 
.(1091-1153.) 

Sir  Oracle.  A dogmatical  person,  one 
not  to  be  gainsaied.  The  ancient  oracles 
professed  to  be  the  responses  of  the  gods, 
from  which  there  could  be  no  appeal. 

I am  Sir  Oracle, 

And  when  I ope  my  lips  let  no  dog  bark. 

Shikespeare,  "Merchant  of  Venice,’*  i.  1. 

Orange  Blossoms  worn  at  Wed- 
dings. The  Saracen  brides  used  to 
wear  orange  blossoms  as  an  emblem  of 
fecundity;  and  occasionally  the  same 
emblem  may  have  been  worn  by  Euro- 


pean brides  ever  since  the  time  of  the 
crusades ; but  the  general  adoption  of 
wreaths  of  orange  blossoms  for  brides  is 
comparatively  a modern  practice,  due 
especially  to  the  recent  taste  for  flower- 
language.  The  subject  of  bridal  decora- 
tions being  made  a study,  and  the  orange 
flower  being  found  suitable,  from  the  use 
made  of  it  by  the  ancient  Saracens,  it  was 
introduced  by  modistes  as  a fit  ornament 
for  brides.  The  notion  once  planted  soon 
became  a custom,  now  very  general, 
adopted  by  all  brides  who  study  the  con- 
ventions of  society,  and  follow  the  ac- 
cepted fashions. 

The  Orange  Lilies.  The  35th  Foot ; so 
called  from  their  orange  facings. 

William  of  Orange.  William  III.  of 
England.  (1650,  1669-1702.) 

Orangeman.  A name  given  by 
Roman  Catholics  to  the  Protestants  of 
Ireland,  on  account  of  their  adhesion  to 
William  III.  of  the  House  of  Orange ; 
they  had  been  previously  called  Peep- 
of-Day  Boys.”  The  Roman  party  were 
Jac'o  bites. 

Orange  Peel.  A nickname  given  to 
Sir  Robert  Peel  when  Chief  Secretary  for 
Ireland  (1812-1818),  on  account  of  his 
strong  anti- Catholic  proclivities.  {See 
above. ) 

Orange  - tawny.  The  ancient 
colour  appropriated  to  dorks  and  per- 
sons of  inferior  condition.  It  was  also 
the  colour  worn  by  the  Jews.  Hence 
lord  Bacon  says,  Usurers  should  have 
orange-tawny  bonnets,  because  they  do 
Judaise”  (Essay  xli).  Bottom  the  weaver 
asked  Quince  what  coloured  beard  he  was 
to  wear  for  the  character  of  Pyr'amus  : 

I will  discharge  it  in  either  your  straw- 
coloured  beard,  your  orange-tawny  beard, 
your  purple-ingrain  beard,  or  your  French 
crown-colour,  which  is  a perfect  yellow  ” 

Midsummer  Night’s  Dream,”  i.  2). 

Oran'ia.  The  lady-love  of  Am'adig 
of  Gaul. 

Orator  Henley.  The  Rev.  John 
Henley,  who  for  about  thirty  years  de- 
livered lectures  on  theological,  political, 
and  literary  subjects.  (1692-1756.) 

Orbil'ian  Stick  {The),  A cane  or 
birch-rod. 

Orbilius  was  the  schoolmaster  who 
taught  Horace,  and  Horace  calls  him 
PlagQSUs{f!aQ  flogger). — Eg.  ii.  71. 


638 


ORC. 


ORGOGLIO. 


Ore  (in  '^Orlando  Furioso”).  A sea- 
monster  that  devoured  men  and  women. 
He  haunted  the  seas  near  Ireland.  Or- 
lando threw  an  anchor  into  his  open  jaws, 
and  then  dragged  the  monster  to  the 
Irish  coast,  where  he  died. 

Or'ca.  The  Orkney  Islands. 

Or'cHard  properly  means  a kitchen 
garden,  a yard  for  herbs.  (Saxon,  ort- 
geard — i.e.y  wort-yard).  Wort  enters  into 
the  names  of  numerous  herbs,  as  mug- 
wort,  liver-wort,  spleen- wort,  &c. 

Or'cus.  The  abode  of  the  dead ; 
death. — Roman  mythology. 

Or'deal  (Saxon,  great  judgment),  in- 
stituted long  before  the  Conquest,  and 
not  abolished  till  the  reign  of  Henry  III. 
Ordeals  were  of  several  kinds,  but  the 
most  usual  were  by  wager  of  battle,  by 
hot  or  coldivater,  and  by  fire.  This  me- 
thod of  trial”  was  introduced  from  the 
notion  that  God  would  defend  the  right, 
even  by  miracle  if  needful. 

(1)  Wager  of  battle,  was  when  the  ac- 
cused person  was  obliged  to  fight  any 
one  who  charged  him  with  guilt.  This 
ordeal  was  allowed  only  to  persons  of 
rank. 

(2)  Of  fire,  was  another  ordeal  for 
persons  of  rank  only.  The  accused  had 
to  hold  in  his  hand  a piece  of  red-hot 
iron,  or  had  to  walk  blindfold  and  bare- 
foot among  nine  red-hot  plough-shares 
laid  at  unequal  distances.  If  he  escaped 
uninjured  he  was  accounted  innocent, 
aliter  non.  This  might  be  performed  by 
deputy. 

(3)  Of  hot  water,  was  an  ordeal  for  the 
common  people.  The  accused  was  re- 
quired to  plunge  his  arm  up  to  the  elbow 
in  scalding  hot  water,  and  was  pro- 
nounced guilty  if  the  skin  was  injured  in 
the  experiment. 

(4)  Of  cold  water,  was  also  for  the 
common  people.  The  accused,  being 
bound,  was  tossed  into  a river : if  he  sank 
he  was  acquitted,  but  if  he  floated  he  was 
accounted  guilty. 

(5)  Of  the  bier,  when  a person  suspected 
of  murder  was  required  to  touch  the 
corpse,  and  if  guilty  the  blood  of  the 
dead  body  would  start  forth  afresh.” 

(6)  Of  the  eucJoarist.  This  was  for 
clergymen  suspected  of  crime.  It  was 
supposed  that  the  elements  would  choke 
him,  if  taken  by  a guilty  man. 

(7)  Of  the  CO)' sued,  or  consecrated  bread 


and  cheese.  Godwin  earl  of  Kent  is 
said  to  have  been  choked  when  he  sub- 
mitted to  this  ordeal,  being  accused  of 
the  murder  of  the  king’s  brother. 

(8)  Of  lot,  two  dice,  one  marked  by  a 
cross,  being  thrown. 

It  was  a fiery  ordeal.  A severe  test.. 
{See  above,  No.  %) 

Order.  When  members  of  the 
House  of  Commons  and  other  debaters- 
call  out  Order,  they  mean  that  the  person 
speaking  is  transgressing  the  rules  of  the 
House. 

To  move  for  the  order  of  the  day.  A 
method  of  putting  aside  a disagreeable 
question.  If  the  motion  is  carried,  the 
‘^orders”  must  be  read  and  proceeded 
with  in  regular  course  ; but  this  routine 
may  be  set  aside  by  a motion  to* 
adjourn.” 

Order  of  the  Cockle.  Created  by 
St.  Louis  in  1269,  in  memory  of  a dis- 
astrous expedition  made  by  sea  for  the 
succour  of  Christians.  Perrot  says  it 
scarcely  survived  its  foundation. 

Ordigale.  The  otter,  in  the  tale  of 
^‘Eeynard  the  Fox,”  part  hi. 

Or 'dinary  {An).  One  who  has  an 

ordinary  or  regular  jurisdiction”  in  his 
own  right,  and  not  by  deputation.  Thus- 
a judge  who  has  authority  to  take  cog- 
nisance of  causes  in  his  own  right  is 
an  ordinary.  A bishop  is  an  ordinary 
in  his  own  diocese,  because  he  has 
authority  to  take  cognisance  of  eccle- 
siastical matters  therein  ; but  an  arch- 
bishop is  the  ordinary  of  his  province, 
having  authority  in  his  own  right  to* 
receive  appeals  therein  from  inferior 
jurisdictions.  The  chaplain  of  Newgate 
is  also  called  the  ordinary  thereof. 

Ore'lio.  The  steed  of  Don  Roderick, 
the  last  of  the  Goths,  noted  for  its  speed 
and  symmetry. 

Orella'na.  The  river  Amazon  in 
America;  so  called  from  Orella'na,  lieu- 
tenant of  Pizarro. 

Orfeo  and  Heuro'dis.  The  tale  of 
Orpheus  and  Euryd'ice,  with  the  Gothic 
machinery  of  elves  or  fairies. 

Or'gies  (2  syl.).  Drunken  revels, 
riotous  feasts ; so  called  from  the  noc- 
turnal festivals  in  honour  of  Bacchus. 
(Greek,  orge,  violent  emotion.) 

Orgoglio  (pron.  Oi'-golef-yo.  The* 
word  is  Italian,  and  means  ‘‘Arrogant 


ORGON. 


ORTNDA. 


Pride,”  or  The  Man  of  Sin).  A hideous 
giant  as  tall  as  three  men  ; he  was  son 
of  Earth  and  Wind.  Finding  the  Red 
Cross  Knight  at  the  fountain  of  Idleness, 
he  beats  him  with  a club  and  makes  him 
his  slave.  Una,  hearing  of  these  mis- 
chances, tells  king  Arthur,  and  Arthur 
liberates  the  knight  and  slays  the 
giant.  Moral. — The  Man  of  Sin  had 
power  given  him  to  make  war  with  the 
saints  and  to  overcome  them”  for  forty 
and  two  months”  (Rev.  xiii.  5,  7),  then 
the  Ancient  of  Days  came,”  and  over- 
came him  (Dan.  vii.  21,  22). — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen, bk.  i. 

Arthur  first  cut  off  Orgoglio’s  left 
arm — i.e.,  Bohemia  was  first  cut  off  from 
the  Church  of  Rome.  He  then  cut  off 
the  giant’s  right  leg — i.e.,  England  ; and 
this  being  cut  off  the  giant  fell  to  the 
earth,  and  was  afterwards  dispatched. 

Or'gon.  Brother-in-law  of  Tarfcuffe. 
His  credulity  is  proverbial:  he  almost 
disbelieved  his  senses,  and  saw  every  one 
and  every  thing  through  the  conleur  de 
rose  of  his  own  honest  heart. — Moliere, 
**  Tartuffe.” 

Oria'na.  The  beloved  of  Am'adis  of 
Gaul,  who  called  himself  Beltene'bros 
when  he  retired  to  the  Poor  Rock. — 

Am'adis  de  Gaul,"  ii.  6. 

Queen  Elizabeth  is  sometimes  called 
the  peerless  Oriana,”  especially  in  the 
madrigals  entitled  the  ‘‘Triumphs  of 
Oria'na”  (1601). 

Oria'na.  The  nurseling  of  a lioness, 
with  whom  Esplandian,  son  of  Oriana 
and  Am'adis  of  Gaul,  fell  in  love,  and  for 
whom  he  underwent  all  his  perils  and 
exploits.  She  is  represented  as  the 
fairest,  gentlest,  and  most  faithful  of 
womankind. 

O'riande  {O'-re-ond).  A fay  who 
lived  at  Rosefleur,  and  brought  up 
Maugis  d’Aygremont  (q.v.).  When  her 
protege  grew  up  she  loved  him  “ d’un  si 
grand  amour,  qu’elle  doute  fort  qu’il  ne 
se  departe  d’avecques  elle.” — Romance 
de  Maugis  d' Aygremont  et  de  Vivian  son 
Frh'e." 

O'riel.  A fairy  whose  empire  lay 
along  the  banks  of  the  Thames,  when 
king  Oberon  held  his  court  in  Kensing- 
ton Gardens.— Kensington  Gar- 
dens" 

Or'iflamme  (3  syl.).  First  used  in 
France  as  a national  banner  in  1119.  It 


consisted  of  a crimson  flag  mounted  on^ 
a gilt  staff  (un  glaive  tout  dore  oil  est 
atachie  une  bani^re  vermeille).  The  flag 
was  cut  into  three  “ Vandykes  ” to  repre- 
sent “tongues  of  fire,”  and  between  each 
was  a silken  tassel.  This  celebrated- 
standard  was  the  banner  of  St.  Denis  ; 
but  when  the  counts  of  Vexin  became 
possessed  of  the  abbey  the  banner  passed 
into  their  hands.  In  1082  Philippe  I. 
united  Vexin  to  the  crown,  and  the 
sacred  Oriflamme  belonged  to  the  king. 
It  was  carried  to  the  field  after  the 
battle  of  Agincourt,  in  1415.  The 
romance  writers  say  that  “mescreans” 
(infidels)  were  blinded  by  merely  looking 
on  it.  In  the  “ Roman  de  Garin  ” the 
Saracens  are  represented  as  saying  “ If 
we  only  set  eyes  on  it  we  are  all  dead 
men”  (Se’s  attendons  tuit  sommes  mors 
et  pris).  Froissart  says  it  was  no  sooner 
unfurled  at  Rosbecq  than  the  fog  cleared 
off,  leaving  the  French  in  light,  while 
their  enemies  remained  in  misty  dark- 
ness still.  (Or,  gold,  referring  to  the' 
staff ; flamnf£,  flame,  referring  to  the- 
tongues  of  fire.) 

OrUgenists.  An  early  Christian  sect 
who  drew  their  opinions  from  the 
writings  of  Origen.  They  maintained 
Christ  to  be  the  Son  of  God  only  by 
adoption,  and  denied  the  eternity  of 
future  punishments. 

Original  Sin.  That  corruption, 
which  is  born  with  us,  and  is  the  in- 
heritance of  all  the  offspring  of  Adam, 
As  Adam  was  the  federal  head  of  hie 
race,  when  Adam  fell  the  taint  and 
penalty  of  his  disobedience  passed  to  all 
his  posterity. 

Oril'o  or  Orillo  (in  “Orlando  Furioso,*^ 
bk.  viii.).  A magician  and  robber  who 
lived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nile.  He  was 
the  son  of  an  imp  and  fairy.  When  any 
limb  was  lopped  off  he  restored  it  by  his 
magic  power,  and  when  his  head  was  out 
off  he  put  it  on  his  neck  again.  Astolpho' 
encountered  him,  cut  off  his  head,  and 
fled  with  it.  Orillo  mounted  his  horse- 
and  gave  chase.  Meanwhile  Astolpho 
with  his  sword  cut  the  hair  from  the 
head.  Life  was  in  one  particular  hair, 
and  as  soon  as  that  was  severed  the- 
head  died,  and  the  magician’s  body  fell 
lifeless. 

Orin'da,  called  the  “ Incomparable,” 
was  Mrs.  Katherine  Philipps,  who  lived 


OIvlON. 


ORLANDO  INAMORATO. 


<640 


in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  and  died  of 
small-pox.  Her  praises  were  sung  by 
Cowley,  Dryden,  and  others.  {See  Dry- 
•den’s  ode  To  the  Memory  of  Mrs.  Anne 
IHlligrew.”) 

Ori'on.  A giant  hunter,  noted  for 
his  beauty.  He  was  blinded  by  (Enopion, 
but  Vulcan  sent  Cedalion  to  be  his  guide, 
and  his  sight  was  restored  by  exposing 
Lis  eyeballs  to  the  sun.  Being  slain  by 
Diana,  he  was  made  one  of  the  constel- 
lations, and  is  supposed  to  be  attended 
with  stormy  weather.  ^‘Assurgensfluctu 
nimbo'sus  Orion.” — Virgilj  ^^u^neid” 
i.  539. 

Fair  as  Orion.  Homer,  speaking  of 
the  two  sons  of  Neptune,  says  ^‘They 
were  as  beautiful  as  Orion.” — Iliad,’* 
xviii.  (Nee  Dogs.) 

Orkneys.  Either  the  Teutonic  Orh- 
n-eys  (the  water  or  islands  of  the  whirl- 
pool), in  allusion  to  the  two  famous 
whirlpools  near  the  isle  of  Swinna ; or 
«lse  the  Norwegian  OrJceyjar  (northern 
islands),  the  Hebrides  being  the  Sudrey- 
jar,  or  southern  islands. 

Orlando.  The  youngest  son  of  Sir 
Rowland  de  ^oys.  Oliver,  who  hated 
him,  persuaded  him  to  wrestle  with  one 
Charles,  a famous  wrestler,  hoping  that 
Charles  would  kill  him;  but  Orlando 
proved  the  victor.  At  the  match  the 
banished  duke  was  present,  with  his 
■daughter  Rosalind,  who  took  a lively 
interest  in  the  young  nobleman,  and 
after  the  match  gave  him  a chain, 
saying — ‘^Gentleman,  wear  this  for 
me.”  His  brother  Oliver  now  vowed  to 
burn  him  in  his  chamber,  and  when  Or- 
lando was  told  of  this  vow  he  fled  to  the 
iorest  of  Arden  to  join  the  party  of  the 
banished  duke,  his  father’s  friend.  Here 
be  met  Rosalind  disguised  as  a country 
lad,  seeking  to  join  her  father.  In  time 
they  became  acquainted  with  each  other, 
.and  the  duke  assented  to  their  union. — 
Shakespeare,  *^As  Yon  Like  It.’* 

Orlando,  called  Rotolando  or  Roland, 
•and  Rutlandus  in  the  Latin  chronicles 
.of  the  middle  ages,  the  paladin,  was  lord 
of  An  giant,  knight  of  Brava,  son  of  Milo 
R’Anglesis  and  Bertha,  sister  of  Charle- 
magne. Though  married  to  Aldabella, 
be  fell  in  love  with  Angelica,  daughter  of 
the  infidel  king  of  Cathay  ; but  Angelica 
married  Medo'ro,  a Moor,  with  whom 
ehe  fled  to  India.  When  Orlando  heard 


thereof  he  turned  mad,  or  rather  his 
wits  were  taken  from  him  for  three 
months  by  way  of  punishment,  and  de- 
posited in  the  moon.  Astolpho  went 
to  the  moon  in  Elijah’s  chariot,  and  St. 
John  gave  him  an  urn  containing  the  lost 
wits  of  Orlando.  On  reaching  earth' 
again  Astolpho  first  bound  the  madman, 
then  holding  the  urn  to  his  nose,  the 
errant  wits  returned,  and  Orlando,  cured 
of  his  madness  and  love,  recovered  from 
his  temporary  derangement. — ‘‘  Orlando 
Furioso.”  {See  Angelica.) 

Orlando  or  Roland  was  buried  at 
Blayes,  in  the  church  of  St.  Raymond ; 
but  his  body  was  removed  afterwards  to 
Roncesvalles,  in  Spain. 

Orlando’s  Horn  or  Rolandis  Horn.  An 
ivory  horn  called  Olivant,  mentioned  a 
hundred  times  or  more  by  Boiardo  and 
Ariosto. 

Peiacto  bello,  Rolandus  ascendit  in  montem,  et 
rediit  retro  ad  viatn  Runciavallis.  Tunc  insonuit 
tuba  sua  eburnea ; et  tanta  virrute  insonuit,  quod 
flatu  omnis  ejus  tuba  per  medium  scissa,  et  venae 
colli  ejus  et  nervi  rupti  fuisse  leruniur. 

Orlando’s  Sword.  Durindaba,  which 
once  belonged  to  Hector. 

Orlando  Furioso.  An  epic  poem 
in  forty-six  cantos,  by  Ariosto  (digested 
by  Hoole  into  twenty-four  books,  but 
retained  by  Rose  in  the  original  form). 
The  subject  is  the  siege  of  Paris  by 
Agramant  the  Moor,  when  the  Saracens 
were  overthrown.  In  the  pagan  army 
were  two  heroes— Rod'omont  called  the 
Mars  of  Africa,  and  Roge'ro.  The  latter 
became  a Christian  convert,  and  was 
baptised.  The  poem  ends  with  a combat 
between  these  two,  and  the  overthrow  of 
Rodomont. 

The  anachronisms  of  this  poem  are 
most  marvellous.  We  have  Charlemagne 
and  his  paladins  joined  by  king  Edward 
of  England,  Richard  earl  of  Warwick, 
Henry  duke  of  Clarence,  and  the  dukes 
of  York  and  Gloucester  (bk.  vi.).  We 
have  cannons  employed  by  Cymosco 
king  of  Friza  (bk.  iv.),  and  also  in  the 
siege  of  Paris  (bk.  vi.).  We  have  tho 
Moors  established  in  Spain,  whereas 
they  were  not  invited  over  by  the 
Saracens  for  nearly  300  years  after 
Charlemagne’s  death.  In  Book  xvii.  we 
have  Prester  John,  who  died  1202  ; and 
in  the  last  three,  Constantine  the  Great, 
who  died  337. 

Orlando  Inamora'to  (Roland  the 
paladin  in  love).  A romantic  epic  in 


ORLEANS. 


ORSON. 


641^ 


three  books,  by  the  count  Boiardo  of 
Scandiano,  in  Italy  (1495). 

There  is  a burlesque  in  verse  of  the 
same  title  by  Berni  of  Tuscany  (1538), 
author  of  Burlesque  Rhymes.” 

Orleans.  Your  explanation  is  like  an 
Orleans  comment — i.e^  Your  comment  or 
explanation  makes  the  matter  more  ob- 
scure. The  Orleans  college  was  noted  for 
its  wordy  commentaries,  which  darkened 
the  text  by  overlading  it  with  words. — A 
French  proverh. 

Or'mandine  (3  syl.).  The  necro- 
mancer who  by  his  magic  arts  threw  St. 
David  for  seven  years  into  an  enchanted 
sleep,  from  which  he  was  redeemed  by 
St.  George. — The  Seven  Champions  of 
Christendom  f i.  9* 

Or'mulum.  A paraphrase  of  Scrip- 
ture in  Anglo-Saxon  verse;  so  called 
from  the  name  of  the  author,  Orm  or 
Ormin  (13th  cent.). 

Ormusd  or  Oimiuzd.  The  principle 
or  angel  of  light  and  good,  and  creator 
of  all  things,  according  to  the  Magian 
system.  (>866  Ahriman.) 

Oromas'des  (4  syl.).  The  first  of 
the  Zoroastrian  trinity.  The  divine 
goodness  of  Plato ; the  deviser  of  creation 
(the  father).  The  second  person  is  Mithras, 
the  eternal  intellect,  architect  of  the 
world ; the  third,  Arim'anes  (Psyche),  the 
mundane  soul. 

O'roon'datiis.  Only  son  of  a Scythian 
king,  whose  love  for  Stati'ra  (widow  of 
Alexander  the  Great,  and  daughter  of 
Dari'us)  lead's  him  into  numerous  dangers 
and  difficulties,  which  he  surmounts. — 
La  CalprenHe,  Cassandra'*  {a  romance). 

Oros.  The  Apollo  of  Egyptian  my- 
thology. 

Oro'sius  (General  History  of),  from 
Creation  to  a.D.  417,  in  Latin,  by  a 
Spanish  presbyter  of  the  5th  century, 
was  translated  into  Anglo-Saxon  by 
Alfred  the  Great. 

Orotalt,  according  to  the  Greek 
writers,  was  the  Bacchus  of  the  ancient 
Arabs.  This,  however,  is  a mistake,  for 
the  word  is  a corruption  of  Allah  Taala 
(God  the  Most  High). 

Orpheus  (2  syl.).  A Thracian  poet 
who  could  move  even  .inanimate  things 
by  his  music.  When  his  wife  Euryd'ice 


died  he  went  into  the  infernal  regionSy^ 
and  so  charmed  king  Pluto  that  Eurydice 
was  released  from  death,  on  the  condition 
that  Orpheus  would  not  look  back  till  he 
reached  the  earth.  He  was  just  about 
to  place  his  foot  on  the  earth  when  he 
turned  round,  and  Eurydice  vanished 
from  him  in  an  instant.  Pope  introduces 
this  tale  in  his  ^^St,  Cecilia’s  Ode.” 

The  tale  of  Orpheus  is  thus  explained  : 
Aedoneus,  king  of  Thespro'tia,  was  for 
his  cruelty  called  Pluto,  and  having 
seized  Euryd'ice  as  she  fled  from  Aristas,, 
detained  her  captive.  Orpheus  obtained 
her  release  on  certain  conditions,  which  . 
he  violated,  and  lost  her  a second  time. 

Orpheus  of  Highwaymen.  So  . 
Gay  has  been  called  on  account  of  his 
^‘Beggars’  Opera.”  (1688-1732.) 

Orrery.  An  astronomical  toy  to 
show  the  relative  movements  of  the 
planets,  &c.,  invented  by  George  Gra- 
ham, who  sent  his  model  to  Rowley,  an 
instrument  maker,  to  make  one  for  ^ 
prince  Eugene.  Rowley  made  a copy  of 
it  for  Charles  Boyle,  third  earl  of  Orrery, 
and  Sir  Richard  Steele  named  it  an » 
Orrery  out  of  compliment  to  the  earl. 

Orsi.  The  supreme  deity. — Persian 
mythology. 

Orsin.  One  of  the  leaders  of  the^ 
rabble  that  attacked  Hudibras  at 
bear-baiting.  He  was  famous  for  wise’ 
conduct  and  success  in  war.”  Joshua 
Gosling,  who  kept  the  bears  at  Paris 
Garden,”  in  Southwark,  was  £he  academy 
figure  of  this  character. 

Orsi'ni  {Maffio).  A young  Italian 
nobleman,  whose  life  was  saved  by 
Genna'ro  at  the  battle  of  Rim'ini.  Or- 
sini  became  the  stauhch  friend  of  Gen- 
na'ro, but  both  were  poisoned  at  a 
banquet  given  by  the  princess  Neg'roni. 
— Donizetti,  Lucrezia  Borgia"  {an 
opera). 

Orson.  Brother  of  Valentine,  and 
son  of  Bellisant,  sister  of  king  Pepin 
and  wife  of  Alexander,  emperor  of  Con- 
stantinople. The  twin  brothers  were 
born  in  a wood  near  Orleans,  and  Orson 
was  carried  off  by  a bear,  which  suckled 
him  with  her  cubs.  When  he  grew 
up  he  was  the  terror  of  France,  and 
was  called  the  Wild  Man  of  the  Forest. 
He  was  reclaimed  by  Valentine,  over- 
threw the  Green  Knight,  and  married' 
P P 


OKTS. 


OSSEO. 


©42 


Fezon,  the  daughter  ©f  duke  Savary  of 
A(luitaine.  (French,  ouTsoUy  a little 
bear.)— ‘‘  Valentine  and  Orson” 

Orts.  Crumbs,  refuse.  (Saxon, 
'orettan,  to  make  worthless  ; Gaelic,  ord ; 
Irish,  orday  a fragment ; our  ordure) 
Kilian,  with  more  wit  than  truth,  derives 
the  word  from  over -ate — i.e.,  what  is  left 
after  eating. 

I shall  not  eat  your  orts— i.e.,  your 
leavings. 

Xiet  him  have  time  a beggar’s  orts  to  crave. 

Shakespeare^  “ Rape  of  Lucrece^ 

Ortus.  Ortus  a quercu,  non  a saVice. 
Latin  for  ''  sprung  from  an  oak,  and  not 
from  a willow ’’—■i.e.,  stubborn  stuff; 
one  that  cannot  bend  to  circumstances. 

Ortwine  (2  syl.).  Knight  of  Metz, 
sister’s  son  of  Sir  Hagan  of  Trony,  a 
Burgundian  in  the  Nibelungen-Lied.” 

Orvie'tan  (3  syl.)  or  Venice  treacle , 
once  believed  to  be  a sovereign  remedy 
against  poison.  {See  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 
‘•Kenilworth,”  ch.  xiii.) 

Orville  {Lord).  Hero  of  Eveli'na,” 
a novel  by  Miss  Burney. 

Os  Sacrum  {the  sacred  hone).  A tri- 
angular bone  situate  at  the  lower  part  of 
the  vertebral  column,  of  which  it  is  a 
continuation.  Some  say  this  bone  was 
so  called  because  it  was  in  the  part  used 
in  sacrifice,  or  the  sacred  part ; Dr.  Nash 
says  it  is  so  called  “because  it  is  much 
bigger  than  any  of  the  vertebrae but  the 
Jewish  rabbins  say  the  bone  is  called 
sacred  because  it  resists  decay,  and  will 
be  the  germ  of  the  “new  body”  at  the 
resurrection. 

Osbaldistone.  Nine  of  the  char- 
acters in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  “ Bob  Boy” 
bear  this  name.  There  are  (1)  the  Lon- 
don merchant  and  Sir  Hildebrand,  the 
heads  of  two  families  ; (2)  the  son  of  the 
merchant  is  Francis,  the  'pretendu  of 
Diana  Vernon ; (3)  the  “distinguished  ” 
offspring  of  the  brother  are  Percival  the 
soty  Thorncliffe  the  hullyy  J ohn  the  game- 
keeper,  Bichard  the  horse-jockey,  Wilfred 
the  fool,  and  Bashleigh  the  scholar,  by  far 
the  worst  of  all.  This  last  worthy  is 
slain  by  Bob  Boy,  and  dies  cursing  his 
cousin  Frank,  whom  he  had  injured  in 
every  way  he  could  contrive. 

Oseway  {Dame).  The  ewe,  in  the 
tale  of  “ Beynard  the  Fox.” 


Osi'ris  (in  Egyptian  mythology). 
Judge  of  the  dead,  and  potentate  of  the 
kingdom  of  the  ghosts.  This  brother 
and  husband  of  Isis  was  worshipped 
under  the  form  of  an  ox.  The  word 
means  Many-eyed. 

Oslade  or  Ouslade.  God  of  luxury 
and  pleasure — Slavonic  mythology. 

Osmand.  A necromancer,  who  by 
his  enchantments  raised  up  an  army  to 
resist  the  Christians.  Six  of  the  Cham- 
pions of  Christendom  were  enchanted  by 
Osmand,  but  St.  George  restored  them. 
Osmand  tore  off  his  hair  in  which  lay  his 
spirit  of  enchantment,  bit  his  tongue 
in  two,  embowelled  himself,  cut  off  his 
arms,  and  then  died. — “ The  Seven  Cham- 
pions  of  Christendom,”  i.  19. 

Osnaburg.  The  duke  of  York  teas 
hishop  of  Osnahurg.  Not  prelate,  but 
sovereign-bishop.  By  the  treaty  of 
Westphalia,  in  1648,  it  was  decreed  that 
the  ancient  bishopric  should  be  vested 
alternately  in  a Catholic  bishop  and  a 
Protestant  prince  of  the  House  of  Lune- 
burg.  Frederick  duke  of  York  was  the 
last  sovereign-bishop  of  Osnaburg.  In 
1803  the  district  was  attached  to  Hanover, 
and  it  now  forms  part  of  the  kingdom 
of  Prussia. 

Os'pray  or  Osprey  (the  bone-breaker). 
So  called  because  fragments  of  bones 
have  been  discovered  in  its  stomach. 
Hanmer  says  that  the  ospray  will  bring 
up  “ foundling  ” birds  with  its  own 
nestlings.  (Latin,  osfrango.) 

Ossa.  Heaping  Ossa  upon  Pe'lion. 
Adding  difficulty  to  difficulty ; fruitless 
efforts.  The  allusion  is  to  the  attempt 
of  the  giants  to  scale  heaven  by  piling 
mount  Ossa  upon  mount  Pelion. 

Osse'o.  Son  of  the  Evening  Star. 
When  “ old  and  ugly,  broken  with  age, 
and  weak  with  coughing,”  he  married 
Oweenee,  youngest  of  the  ten  daughters 
of  a North  hunter.  She  loved  him 
in  spite  of  his  ugliness  and  decrepi- 
tude, because  “ all  was  beautiful  within 
him.”  One  day  as  he  was  walking  with 
his  nine  sisters-in-law  and  their  husbands, 
he  leaped  into  the  hollow  of  an  oak-tree, 
and  came  out  “tall  and  straight  and 
strong  and  handsome  ; ” but  Oweenee  at 
the  same  moment  was  changed  into  a 
weak  old  woman,  “wasted,  wrinkled, 
old,  and  ugly but  the  love  of  Osse'o 


OSSIAN. 


OUTIS. 


643 


was  not  weakened.  The  nine  brothers 
and  sisters-in-law  were  all  transformed 
into  birds  for  mocking  Osseo  and 
Oweenee  when  they  were  ugly,  and 
Oweenee  recovering  her  beauty  had  a 
son,  whose  delight  as  he  grew  up  was  to 
shoot  at  his  aunts  and  unqles,  the  birds 
that  mocked  his  father  and  mother. — 
Longfellow,  ^'Hiawailiaf  xii. 

Os'sian.  The  son  of  Fingal,  a Scot- 
tish warrior-bard  who  lived  in  the  third 
century.  The  poems  called  Ossian’s 
Poems’’ were  first  published  by  James 
MTherson  in  1760,  and  professed  to  be 
translations  from  Erse  manuscripts  col- 
lected in  the  Highlands.  This  is  not 
true.  MTherson  no  doubt  based  the 
poems  on  traditions,  but  not  one  of 
them  is  a translation  of  an  Erse  manu- 
script ; and  so  far  as  they  are  Ossianic 
at  all,  they  are  Irish  and  not  Scotch. 

Ostend'  Manifesto.  A declaration 
made  in  1857  by  the  ministers  of  the 
United  States  in  England,  France,  and 
Spain,  ‘Hhat  Cuba  must  belong  to  the 
United  States.” 

Oster-Monath.  Saxon  name  of 
April.  Oster  or  Ostar,  in  Scandinavian 
mythology,  was  god  of  the  moon,  whose 
festival  was  in  April.  Christians  changed 
Oster  to  Easter. 

Ostler,  wittily  derived  from  oat- 
stealer,  but  actually  from  the  French 
hotter,  an  innkeeper. 

Os'tracis'in.  Oj^ster-shelling,  black- 
balling, or  expelling.  Clis'thenes  gave  the 
people  of  Attica  the  power  of  removing 
from  the  state,  without  making  a definite 
charge,  any  leader  of  the  people  likely 
to  subvert  the  government.  Each  citizen 
wrote  his  vote  on  an  oyster-shell  {ostra- 
■con),  whence  the  term. 

Os'tricb..  When  hunted  the  ostrich 
will  run  a certain  distance  and  then 
thrust  its  head  into  a bush,  thinking 
because  it  cannot  see  that  it  cannot  be 
seen  by  the  hunters.  {See  Crocodile.) 

Ostrich.  Brains.  It  was  Helio- 
gab'alus  who  had  battues  of  ostriches  for 
the  sake  of  their  brains.  Smollett  says 
‘^he  had  600  ostriches  compounded  in 
one  mess.” — Peregrine  PickleP 

Ostrich  Stomachs.  Strong  sto- 
machs which  will  digest  anything.  The 
ostrich  swallows  large  stones  to  aid  its 
gizzard,  and  when  confined  where  it 


cannot  obtain  them  will  swallow  pieces 
of  iron  or  copper,  bricks  or  glass. 
Shakespeare  alludes  to  the  ostrich  ‘^eat- 
ing iron,”  in  2 Henry  VI.,”  iv.  10. 

Oswald’s  Well  commemorates  the 
death  of  Oswald,  Christian  king  of  Nor- 
thumbria, who  fell  in  battle  before  Penda, 
Pagan  king  of  Mercia,  in  642. 

Otarid.  The  Mercury  of  the  Asad 
tribe. — Arabian  mythology, 

OtheUo  (in  Shakespeare’s  tragedy  so 
called).  A Moor,  commander  of  the  V ene- 
tian  army,  who  eloped  with  Desdemo'na. 
Brabantio  accused  him  of  necromancy, 
but  Desdemona  being  sent  for  refuted 
the  charge.  The  Moor  being  then  sent 
to  drive  the  Turks  from  Cyprus,  won  a 
signal  victory.  On  his  return  lago  played 
upon  his  jealousy,  and  persuaded  him  that 
Desdemona  intrigued  with  Cassio.  He 
therefore  murdered  her,  and  then  stabbed 
himself. 

Othello  the  Moor.  Shakespeare  bor- 
rowed this  tale  from  the  seventh  of 
Giovanni  Giraldi  Cinthio’s  third  decade 
of  stories.  Cinthio  died  1573. 

Oth'man,  Os'man,  or  Oth'oman,  sur- 
named  the  Conqueror.  Founder  of  the 
Turkish  power,  from  whom  the  empire 
is  called  the  Ottoman,  and  the  Turks  are 
called  Osmans,  Othmans,  Osmanli,  &c. 
Peter  the  Great  being  hemmed  in  by  the 
Turks  on  the  banks  of  the  Pruth,  was 
rescued  by  his  wife  Catharine,  who  nego- 
tiated a peace  with  the  grand  vizier. 

O'tium  cum  Big.  {dignita'te).  Re- 
tirement after  a person  has  given  up 
business  and  has  saved  enough  to  live 
upon  in  comfort.  The  words  are  Latin, 
and  mean  ‘^retirement  with  honour.” 
They  are  more  frequently  used  in  jest, 
familiarity,  and  ridicule. 

Oton-tala.  The  Sea  of  Stars. 

O’Trigger  {An).  An  Irish  duellist ; 
from  Sir  Lucius  O’Trigger,  a fortune- 
hunting Irishman,  ready  to  fight  every 
one,  on  any  matter,  at  any  moment. — 
Sheridan,  “ The  Rivals.’* 

Ou'tis  (Greek,  no-body).  A name  as- 
sumed by  Odusseus  in  the  cave  of  Poly- 
phemos.  When  the  monster  roared  with 
pain  from  the  loss  of  his  eye,  his  brother 
giants  demanded  from  a distance  who 
was  hurting  him  : “ Nobody,”  thundered 
out  Polyphemos,  and  his  companions 
went  their  way,  Odusseus  in  Latin  is 
Ulysses. 


p p 2 


644 


OUZEL. 


OX  OF  THE  DELUGE. 


Ou'zel.  The  black-bird;  sometimes 
the  thrush  is  so  called  (French,  oisel,  a 
bird).  Bottom  speaks  of  the  ousel 
cock,  so  black  of  hue  with  orange-tawny 
bill.” — Midsummer  NigMs  Dream.^* 

Ova'tion.  A triumph;  a triumphal 
reception  or  entry  of  the  second  order. 
So  called  from  oviSf  a sheep,  because 
the  Romans  sacrificed  a sheep  to  a vic- 
torious general  to  whom  an  ovation  was 
accorded,  but  an  ox  to  one  who  had  ob- 
tained a triumph.” 

Oven'gua.  A sort  of  ghoul  among 
the  Gamma  negroes.  He  is  supposed  to 
devour  men. — African  mythology. 

Over.  Greek,  huper ; Latin,  super ; 
German,  uher ; Saxon,  ofer ; Danish  and 
Dutch,  over. 

Overs.  St.  Mary  Overs  (Southwark). 
John  Overs  was  a ferryman,  who  used  to 
ferry  passengers  from  Southwark  to  the 
City,  and  accumulated  a hoard  of  wealth 
by  penurious  savings.  His  daughter 
Mary,  at  his  decease,  became  a nun,  and 
founded  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Overs  on 
the  site  of  her  father’s  house. 

O'verdo  {Justice) ^ in  Ben  Jonson’s 

Bartholomew  Fair.” 

Overreach  {Sir  Giles).  The  photo- 
graph of  Sir  Giles  Mompesson,  a noted 
usurer  outlawed  for  his  misdeeds.  He  is 
an  unscrupulous,  grasping,  proud,  hard- 
hearted rascal  in  A New  Way  to  pay 
Old  Debts,”  by  Massinger. 

Overture.  A piece  of  music  for  the 
opening  of  a concert.  To  ^^make  an 
overture  to  a person  ” is  to  be  the  first 
to  make  an  advance  either  towards  a re- 
conciliation or  an  acquaintance.  (French, 
ouverture,  opening.) 

Ovid.  The  French  Ovid.  Du  Bellay, 
one  of  the  Pleiad  poets  ; also  called  the 
^‘father  of  grace  and  elegance.”  (1524- 
1560.) 

O'wain  {Sir).  The  Irish  knight  who 
passed  through  St.  Patrick’s  purgatory 
by  way  of  penance. — Henry  of  Saltrey^ 
*^The  Descent  of  Owain.** 

Owen  Meredith.  Robert  Bulwer 
Lytton. 

Owl.  Owls  hoot  in  Bfc)  and  Gt^,  or 
F|t  and  Afc>.  {See  Ascalaphos.) 

OvjI,  the  emhlein  of  A thenSy  because  owls 
abound  there.  As  Athe'na  (Minerva) 


and  Athe'nm  (Athens)  are  the  same  word, 
the  owl  was  given  to  Minerva  for  her 
symbol  also. 

The  owl  was  a laTceJs  daughter.  Our 
Saviour  went  into  a baker’s  shop  to  ask 
for  something  to  eat.  The  mistress  of 
the  shop  instantly  put  a cake  into  the 
oven  for  him,  but  the  daughter  said  it 
was  too  large,  and  reduced  it  half.  The 
dough,  however,  swelled  to  an  enormous 
size,  and  the  daughter  cried  out 

Heugh  ! heugh  ! heugh  ! ” and  was 
transformed  into  an  owl.  Ophelia  alludes- 
to  this  tradition  in  the  line — 

Well,  God  ’ield  you  ! They  say  the  owl  was  a> 
baker’s  daughter.— >S'7iaA:espeare,  Hamlet*' 

Owl-glass  (German,  Fulenspiegel) . 
Tyll,  son  of  Klaus  Eulenspiegel,  proto- 
type of  all  the  knavish  fools  of  modern 
times.  He  was  a native  of  Brunswick, 
and  wandered  about  the  world  playing- 
all  manner  of  tricks  on  the  people  he  en- 
countered. Hence  espiegle,  the  French 
for  waggish  ; and  also  the  noun  espiegle, 
a wag.  (Died  1350.) 

Ox.  Emblematic  of  St.  Luke.  It  is 
one  of  the  four  figures  which  made  up 
Ezekiel’s  cherub  (i.  10).  The  ox  is  the 
emblem  of  the  priesthood,  and  has  been 
awarded  to  St.  Luke  because  he  dwell 
more  than  any  other  of  the  Evangelists 
on  the  priestly  character  of  Christ. 

The  ox  is  also  the  emblem  of  St. 
Frideswide,  St.  Leonard,  St.  Sylvester^ 
St.  Medard,  St.  Julietta,  and  St.  Blan- 
dina. 

He  has  an  ox  on  his  tongue.  (Latin, 
Bovem  in  lingua  hahe're,  to  be  bribed  tO' 
silence).  The  Greeks  had  the  same  ex- 
pression. The  Athenian  coin  was  stamped 
with  the  figure  of  an  ox.  The  Frenck 
say,  11  a un  os  dans  la  touche,  referring  to 
a dog  which  is  bribed  by  a bone. 

The  hlacJc  ox  hath  trampled  on  you  (^‘  The 
Antiquary”).  Misfortune  or  death  has 
come  to  your  house.  A black  ox  was 
sacrificed  to  Pluto,  the  infernal  god,  as  a- 
white  one  was  to  Jupiter. 

The  Made  ox  never  trod  upon  his  foot 
(common  proverb).  He  never  knew 
sorrow.  {See  above.) 

The  dumb  ox.  St.  Thomas  Aqui'nas  ; 
so  named  by  his  fellow-students  at  Co- 
logne, on  account  of  his  dullness  and 
taciturnity. 

Ox  of  the  Deluge.  The  Irish  name 
for  a great  black  deer,  probably  the- 


OX-EYE. 


P’S  AND  Q’S, 


645 


Mfgace'ros  Hiber  nicus^  or  Irish  elk,  now- 
extinct 

Ox-eye.  A cloudy  speck  which  in- 
dicates the  approach  of  a storm.  When 
Elijah  heard  that  a speck  no  bigger  than 
a man’s  hand”  might  be  seen  in  the 
sky,  he  told  Ahab  that  a torrent  of  rain 
would  overtake  him  before  he  could 
reach  home  (1  Kings  xviii.  44,  45). 
Thomson  alludes  to  this  storm-signal  in 
his  “ Summer.” 

Oxford.  The  College  Ribhons. 

Balliol,  pink,  white,  blue,  white,  pink. 

Brasenose^  black,  and  gold  edges. 

Christ  Churchy  blue,  with  red  cardi- 
nal’s hat. 

Cm'puSy  red  and  blue  stripe. 

Exetery  black,  and  red  edges. 

Jesus,  green,  and  white  edges. 

Lincoln,  blue,  with  mitre. 

Magdalen,  black  and  white. 

Merton,  blue,  and  white  edges,  with 
red  cross. 

New  College,  three  pink  and  two  white 
stripes. 

Oriel,  blue  and  white. 

Pembroke,  pink,  white,  pink. 

Queen's,  red,  white,  blue,  white,  blue, 
white,  rei 

St.  John's,  yellow,  black,  red. 

Trinity,  blue,  with  double  dragon’s 
head,  yellow  and  green,  or  blue,  with 
white  edges. 

University,  blue,  and  yellow  edges. 

Wadham,  light  blue. 

Worcester,  blue,  white,  pink,  white, 
blue. 

Halls. 

St.  A Iban's,  blue,  with  arrow-head. 

St.  Edmond's,  red,  and  yellow  edges. 

St.  Mary,  white,  black,  white. 

Magdalen,  black,  and  blue  edges. 

Oxford  Hlues.  The  Royal  Horse 
Huards. 

Oxford  Stroke  (in  rowing).  A long, 
deep,  high-feathered  stroke,  excellent 
in  very  heavy  water.  The  Cambridge 
stroke  is  a clear,  fine,  deep  sweep,  with  a 
very  low  feather,  excellent  in  smooth 
water.  The  Cambridge  pull  is  the  best 
for  smooth  water  and  a short  reach,  but 
the  Oxford  for  a “lumpy”  river  and  a 
four-mile  course. 

O'yer  and  Ter'miner  (Courts  of)  are 
general  gaol  deliveries,  held  twice  a-year 
in  every  county.  “ Oyer”  is  French  for 
io  hear — i.e.,  bear  in  court  or  try  ; and 


“terminer”  is  French  for  to  conclude. 
The  words  mean  that  the  commissioners 
appointed  are  to  hear  and  bring  to  an 
end  all  the  cases  in  the  county. 

OYes!  OYes!  OYes!  So  all 
proclamations  begin.  A corruption  of 
the  French  oyez  (hear  ye). 

Oyster.  No  more  sense  than  an  oyster. 
This  is  French,  II  raisonne  comme  une 
huitre,  and  C'est  une  huitre  d ecaille 
(stupid  as  an  oyster  in  the  shell) . Oysters 
have  a mouth,  but  no  head. 

Who  eats  oysters  on  St.  James's  day  will 
never  want.  St.  James’s  day  is  the  first 
day  of  the  oyster  season  (August  5th), 
when  oysters  are  an  expensive  luxury 
eaten  only  by  the  rich.  By  6,  7 Viet, 
c.  79,  the  oyster  season  begins  Septem- 
ber 1,  and  closes  April  30. 

P 

P.  This  letter  is  a rude  outline  of  a 
man’s  mouth,  the  upright  being  the 
neck.  In  Hebrew  it  is  called  'pe  (the 
mouth). 

P.  The  jive  P's.  William  Oxberry 
was  so  called,  because  he  was  Printer, 
Poet,  Publisher,  Publican,  and  Player. 
(1784-1824.) 

P.C.  (patres  conscripti.)  The  Roman 
senate.  The  hundred  senators  appointed 
by  Romulus  were  called  simply  patres  ; a 
second  hundred  added  by  Tatius,  upon 
the  union  of  the  Sabines  with  the 
Romans,  were  called  patres  mino'rum 
gentium’,  a third  hundred  subsequently 
added  by  Tarquin'ius  Priscus  were 
termed  patres  conscripti,  an  expression 
applied  to  a fourth  and  fifth  hundred 
conscribed  to  the  original  patres  or  sena- 
tors. Latterly  the  term  was  applied  to 
the  whole  body. 

P.P.  in  music  is  not  for  pianissimo, 
but  fov pin  piano  (more  softly). 

P.P.C.(p<W6r  prendre  conge).  For  leave- 
taking  ; sometimes  written  on  the  ad- 
dress cards  of  persons  about  to  leave  a 
locality,  when  they  pay  their  farewell 
visits. 

P.S.  (post-scriptum).  Written  after- 
wards—■i.g.,  after  the  letter  or  book  was 
finished.  (Latin.) 

P’s  and  Q’s.  Mind  your  P's  and  Q's. 
Be  very  circumspect  in  your  behaviour. 


646 


PxVBANA. 


PADUA. 


Several  explanations  have  been  sug- 
gested, but  none  seem  to  be  wholly 
satisfactory.  The  following  comes  near- 
est to  the  point  of  the  caution  : — In  the 
reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  when  wigs  of  un- 
wieldy size  were  worn,  and  bows  were 
made  with  very  great  formality,  two 
things  were  especially  required,  a ‘^step” 
with  the  feet,  and  a low  bend  of  the 
body.  In  the  latter  the  wig  would  be 
very  apt  to  get  deranged,  and  even  to 
fall  off.  The  constant  caution  therefore 
of  the  French  dancing-master  to  his 
pupils  was Mind  your  P’s  (^.e.,  pieds^ 
feet)  and  Q’s  {i.e.,  queues^  wigs).” 

Three  other  explanations  are  ingenious, 
but  do  not  carry  out  the  force  of  the  ex- 
pression. One  is  this  Children  are 
very  apt  to  confound  the  p and  q ; this 
was  especially  the  case  when  they  were 
taught  from  a horn-book,  and  the  old 
dame  had  to  warn  her  child-scholar 
many  and  many  a time  to  mind  his  P’s 
and  Q’s.” 

A third  solution  is  as  follows  : — When 
scores  were  kept  in  public-houses  with 
a tally,  p was  set  down  for  pints,”  and 
q for  quarts.”  Mine  host  would  then 
say  to  the  person  sent  out  to  make  the 
score  Mind  your  P’s  and  Q’s,”  and  not 
unfrequently  would  the  customer  also 
give  the  same  caution,  that  he  might  not 
be  charged  for  quarts  instead  of  pints. 

The  next  suggestion  is  somewhat 
similar  Punch  used  to  be  sold  in  bowls 
of  two  sizes : the  P size  was  a shilling, 
and  the  Q size  sixpence.  When  two 
clubbed  together,  one  might  say  Mind 
your  P’s  and  Q’s” — i.e.,  Do  not  take  a 
small,  but  the  double  measure. 

Paba'na  CThe)  or  Peacock  Dance.  A 
grave  and  stately  Spanish  dance,  so 
called  from  the  manner  in  which  the  lady 
held  up  her  skirt  during  the  performance. 

Pacha-Ca'mac.  The  creator  of  the 
universe,  according  to  the  Peruvian  my- 
thology; so  called  from  the  valley  of 
Pacha- ca'ma,  where  the  Incas  had  a 
splendid  temple  to  his  honour. 

Pacific  Ocean.  So  called  by  Ma- 
gellan, because  he  enjoyed  calm  weather 
and  a placid  sea  when  he  sailed  across  it, 
all  the  more  striking  after  the  stormy 
and  tempestuous  passage  of  the  adjoin- 
ing straits. 

The  Pacific. 

Amadeus  VIII.,  count  of  Savoy.  (1383- 
1451.) 


Frederick  III.,  emperor  of  Germany. 
(1415,  1440-1493.) 

Olaus  III.  of  Norway.  (Died  1093.) 

Pac'olet.  A dwarf  in  the  service  of 
lady  Clerimond.  He  had  a winged 
horse,  which  carried  off  Valentine,  Orson, 
and  Clerimond  from  the  dungeon  of 
Ferragus  to  the  palace  of  king  Pepin, 
and  afterwards  carried  Valentine  to  tho 
palace  of  Alexander,  emperor  of  Con- 
stantinople, his  father. — ^'‘Valentine  and 
Orson.'" 

It  is  a horse  of  Pacolet  (French).  A 
very  swift  one,  that  will  carry  the  rider 
anywhere ; in  allusion  to  the  enchanted 
flying  horse  of  wood,  belonging  to  the 
dwarf  Pac'olet.  {See  above. ) 

I fear  neither  shot  nor  arrow,  nor  any  horse 
how  swift  soever  he  mav  be,  not  thou£?h  he  could 
outstrip  the  Pegasus  of  Perseus  or  of  Pacolet,  being- 
assured  that  I can  make  good  my  escape;— -Rahe- 
lais,  bk  ii,  24. 

Pactolus.  The  golden  sands  of  the 
Pactolus.  The  gold  found  in  the  Pac- 
tolian  sands  was  from  the  mines  of  mount 
Tmo'lus ; but  the  supply  ceased'  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Christian  era;  {See 
Midas.) 

Pad'alon.  The  abode  of  departed 
spirits. — Hindu  mythology. 

Padding.  The  filling-up  stuff  of 
serials.  The  padding  of  coats  and  gowns- 
is  the  wool,  &c.,  put  in  to  make  the 
flgure  of  the  wearer  more  ship-shape. 
Figuratively,  stuff  in  books  or  speeches 
to  spin  them  out. 

Paddington  Pair.  A public  exe- 
cution. Tyburn,  where  executions  for- 
merly took  place,  is  in  the  parish  of 
Paddington.  Public  executiotns  were 
abolished  in  1863. 

Paddle  your  own  Canoe;  Mind 

your  own  business. 

Paddock.  Cold  as  a paddock.  A 
paddock  is  a toad  or  frog ; and  we  have 
the  corresponding  phrases  ‘^cold  as  a 
toad,”  and  *^cold  as  a frog.”  Both  are 
cold-blooded  animals. 

Paddy.  An  Irishman.  A corruption, 
of  St.  Patrick,  Irish  Padhrig, 

Paddi-wliaek  means  an  Irish  wag, 
wag  being  from  the  Saxon  'lodg-ian. 

Pad'ua  was  long  supposed  by  the 
Scotch  to  be  the  chief  school  of  necro» 


PADUASOY. 


PALACE. 


647 


niancy  ; hence  Sir  Walter  Scott  says  of 
the  earl  of  Cowrie — 

He  learned  the  art  that  none  may  name 
In  Padua,  far  beyond  the  sea. 

*'Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel.” 

Paduasoy  or  Padesoy,  A silk  cloth 
{Fadua-soie). 

Paean.  The  physician  of  the  celes- 
tial gods ; the  deliverer  from  any  evil  or 
calamity.  Also  a song  to  Apollo,  praying 
him  to  avert  some  dreaded  evil ; so  called 
because  it  began  with  '^lo  Paean.” 
Homer  applies  it  to  a triumphal  song  in 
general. 

Pagan  properly  means  belonging  to 
a village”  (Latin,  pagus).  The  Christian 
church  fixed  itself  first  in  cities,  the 
centres  of  intelligence.  Long  after  it 
had  been  established  in  towns,  idolatrous 
practices  continued  to  be  observed  in 
rural  districts  and  villages,  so  pagan  and 
villager  meant  the  same  thing.  {See 
Heathen.) 

Page  (1  syl.).  A_  boy  attendant, 
liussian,  paj,  a boy;  Creek,  pais;  Ita- 
ban,  paggio  j Spanish,  page;  Welsh, 
hachgen  ; our  hoy.') 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Page.  Inhabitants  of 
Windsor.  The  lady  joins  with  Mrs.  Ford 
to  trick  Sir  John  Falstaff. 

Anne  Page.  Daughter  of  the  above, 
in  love  with  Fenton.  Slender,  the  son  of 
a country  squire,  shy,  awkward,  and  a 
' booby,  greatly  admires  the  lady,  but  has 
too  faint  a heart  to  urge  his  suit  further 
than  to  sigh  in  audible  whispers  Sweet 
Anne  Page  !” 

William  Page.  A school-boy,  the  bro- 
ther of  Anne. — Shakespeare,  “ The  Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor,’^ 

Pago'da.  A temple  in  China,  Hin- 
dustan, &c.  (Hindustanee,  hoot-khuda, 
abode  of  Cod ; Persian,  put-gada,  idol- 
house.) 

Paint.  The  North- American  Indians 
paint  their  faces  only  when  they  go  to 
war ; when  hostilities  are  over  they  wash 
the  paint  off. 

Painter.  The  rope  which  binds  a 
ship’s  boat  to  the  ship.  (Irish,  painter, 
a snare.) 

Til  cut  your  painter  for  you.  I’ll  send 
you  to  the  right  about  in  double  quick 
time.  If  the  painter  is  cut,  of  course 
the  boat  drifts  away. 

Characteristics  of  the  painters.  The 
brilliant  truth  of  a Watteau,  the  dead 


reality  of  a Poussin,  the  touching  grace 
of  a Reynolds, 

The  colouring  of  Titian,  the  expression  of  Rubens, 
the  grace  of  Raphael,  the  purity  of  Domenichino, 
the  correggioscity  of  Correggio,  the  learning  of  Pous- 
sin, the  airs  of  Guido,  the  taste  of  the  Carrachi,  the 
grand  contour  of  Angelo.— ,Sferne. 

Prince  of  Painters.  Parrhas'ios,  the 
Creek  painter,  so  called  himself.  (5th 
century  b.c.) 

Apelles  of  Cos.  (4th  century  B.c.) 

Painter  of  the  Graces.  Andrea 
Appia'ni  is  so  called.  (1754-1817.) 

Painter  of  iNature.  Remi  Belleau, 
author  of  Loves  and  Transformations 
of  the  Precious  Stones.”  One  of  the 
Pleiad  poets  is  so  called,  and  well  de- 
serves the  compliment.  The  Shepherd’s 
Calendar  ” of  Spenser  is  largely  borrowed 
from  Belleau’s  Song  on  April.”  (1528- 
1577.) 

Painting.  It  was  Apelles  who, 
being  at  a loss  to  delineate  the  foam  of 
Alexander’s  horse,  dashed  his  brush  at 
the  picture  in  despair,  andj  did  by  acci- 
dent what  he  could  not  accomplish  by  art. 

Pair  Off.  When  two  members  of 
parliament,  or  two  opposing  electors, 
agree  to  absent  themselves,  and  not  to 
vote,  so  that  one  neutralises  the  vote  of 
the  other. 

Paishdad'ian  Dynasty.  The  Kai- 
Omurs  dynasty  of  Persia  was  so  called 
from  the  third  of  the  line  (Houshung), 
who  was  surnamed  Paishdad,  or  the 
just  law-giver  (b.c.  9,10-870).  {See  Kai 
Omurs.) 

Paix.  La  Paix  des  Dames.  The  treaty 
concluded  at  Cambray,  in  1529,  between 
Francois  I.  and  Charles  V.  of  Germany ; 
so  called  because  it  was  brought  about 
by  Louise  of  Savoy  (mother  to  the  French 
king)  and  Margaret,  the  emperor’s  aunt. 

Palace  originally  meant  a dwelling 
on  the  Pal'atine  Hill  of  Rome.  This  hill 
was  so  called  from  Pa'ies,  a pastoral 
deity,  whose  festival  was  celebrated  on 
April  21st,  the  ‘^birthday  of  Rome,”  to 
commemorate  the  day  when  the  wolf- 
child  Rom'ulus  drew  the  first  furrow  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  thus  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  ^'Roma  Quadra'ta,’* 
the  most  ancient  part  of  the  city.  On 
this  hill  Augustus  built  his  mansion,  and 
his  example  was  followed  by  Tibe'rius 
and  Nero.  Under  the  last-named  em- 
peror, all  private  houses  on  the  hill  had 


^48 


PALADIN, 


PALE. 


to  be  pulled  down  to  make  room  for 

The  Golden  House,”  called  the  Pala'- 
tium,  the  palace  of  palaces.  It  continued 
to  be  the  residence  of  the  Koman  em- 
perors to  the  time  of  Alexander  Seve'rus. 
{See  Pallace.) 

PaTadin.  An  officer  of  the  Pala'tium 
or  Byzantine  palace,  a high  dignitary,  a 
chieftain. 

Paladins.  The  knights  of  king  Charle- 
magne. The  most  noted  are  Allory  de 
TEstoc  ; Astolfo  ; Basin  de  Genevois ; 
Fierambras  or  Ferumbras  ; Florismart ; 
Ganelon,  the  traitor  ; Geoffroy,  seigneur 
de  Bordelois,  and  Geoffroy  de  Frises ; 
Guerin,  due  de  Lorraine ; Guillaume  de 
I’Estoc,  brother  of  Allory;  Guy  de 
Bourgogne ; Hoffi,  comte  de  Nantes ; 
Lambert,  prince  de  Bruxelles ; Malagi'gi; 
Nami  or  Nayme  de  Bavi^re  ; Ogier  or 
Oger  the  Dane  ; Olivier,  son  of  Begnier, 
Gomte  de  Gennes ; Orlando  {see  Roland) ; 
Otuel ; Richard,  due  de  Normandie ; 
Rinaldo  ; Riol  du  Mans  ; Roland,  comte 
de  Cenouta,  son  of  Millon  and  dame 
Berthe,  Charlemagne’s  sister ; Samson, 
due  de  Bourgogne  ; and  Thiry  or  Thiery 
d’ Ardaine.  Of  these,  twelve  at  a time  seem 
to  have  formed  the  coterie  of  the  king. 

"Who  bear  the  bows  were  knights  in  Arthur’s  reign, 

Twelve  they,  and  twelve  the  peers  of  Charlemain. 

Dryden,  “ The  Flower  and  the  Leaf.'* 

Palae'mon,  originally  called  Meli- 
certes.  Son  of  Ino  ; called  Palmmon  after 
he  was  made  a sea-god.  The  Roman 
Portu'nus,  the'protecting  god  of  harbours, 
is  the  same.  {See  Palemon.) 

Paloe'otlier  (Greek,  ancientwitd  least). 
An  extinct  thick-skinned  animal  found 
in  Eocene  beds. 

Palais  des  Thermes  {pallay  da 
ta*ern).  Once  the  abode  of  the  Roman 
government  of  Gaul,  as  well  as  of  the 
kings  of  the  first  and  second  dynasties. 
Here  Julius  fixed  his  residence  when  he 
was  Cmsar  of  Gaul.  It  is  in  Paris,  but  the 
only  part  now  extant  is  a vast  hall,  for- 
merly the  chamber  of  cold  baths  {frigida'- 
rium),  restored  by  the  present  emperor. 

Palame'des  (in  ‘^Jerusalem  De- 
livered”), of  Lombardy,  joined  the 
squadron  of  adventurers  with  his  two 
brothers  Achilles  and  Sforza,  in  the 
allied  Christian  army.  He  was  shot  by 
Clqrinda  with  an  arrow. — Book  xi. 

He  is  a Palamedes.  A clever  ingenious 
person.  The  allusion  is  to  the  son  of 
Nauplios,  who  invented  measures,  scales. 


dice,  &c.  He  also  detected  that  the 
madness  of  Ulysses  was  only  assumed. 

Sir  Palame'des.  A Saracen  knight 
overcome  in  single  combat  by  Sir 
Tristram.  Both  loved  Isolde,  the  wife 
of  king  Mark;  and  after  the  lady  was 
given  up  by  the  Saracen,  Sir  Tristram 
converted  him  to  the  Christian  faith, 
and  stood  his  godfather  at  the  font. — 
Thomas  the  Rhymer. 

Pal'amonand  Areite  (2  syl.).  Tw 
young  Theban  knights,  who  fell  into  the 
hands  of  ^^duke  Theseus, ’’and  were  shut  up 
in  a donjon  at  Athens.  Both  fell  in  love 
with  Emily,  the  duke’s  sister-in-law.  In 
time  they  ob1>ained  their  liberty,  and  the 
duke  appointed  a toarnament,  promising 
Emily  to  the  victor.  Areite  prayed  to 
Mars  to  grant  him  victory,  Pal'amon 
prayed  to  Venus  to  grant  him  Emily, 
and  both  obtained  their  petition.  Areite 
won  the  victory,  but  being  thrown  from 
his  horse,  died ; Pal'amon  therefore, 
though  not  the  winner,  won  the  prize 
for  which  he  fought.  The  story  is  bor- 
rowed from  Le  Teseide  ” of  Boccaccio. 

The  Black  Horse,’*  a drama  by  John 
Fletcher,  is  the  same  tale ; so  called  be- 
cause it  was  a black  horse  from  which 
Areite  was  thrown.  — Chaucei',  The 
KnigliCs  Tale.’^ 

Palatinate  (4  syl.).  The  province 
of  a palatine,  as  the  Palatinate  of  the 
Rhine,  in  Germany.  A palatine  is  an 
officer  whose  court  is  held  in  the  royal 
palace,  also  called  a palace-greave  or 
psalzgrave.  There  were  three  palatine 
counties  in  England — viz.,  Chester,  Dur- 
ham, and  Lancaster,  in  which  the  count 
exercised  a royal  authority,  just  as  su- 
preme as  though  he  had  been  the  regal 
tenant  of  the  palace  itself. 

Pala'ver  is  not  a corruption  of  the 
French  parlez-voiiSj  but  comes  from  the 
Portuguese  palavra  (talk),  which  is  from 
palaver,  a council  of  African  chiefs. 
(Irish,  pi-lalhradh,  fine  or  soft  talk- 
ing; Welsh,  llafar,  utterance;  Spanish, 
palohra.) 

Pale.  Within  the  pale  of  my  observa- 
tion ; without  the  pale  of  the  subject ; the 
field  or  scope  thereof.  The  dominion 
of  King  John  and  his  successors  in 
Ireland  was  marked  off,  and  the  part 
belonging  to  the  English  crown  was 
called  the  pale,  or  part  paled  off.  (Dutch, 
paal  j German,  pfahl,  kz.) 


PALE  MON. 


PALLADIUM. 


649 


Pale'mon.  '‘The  pride  of  swains” 
in  Thomson’s  “Autumn  a poetical  re- 
presentation of  BoaZj  while  the  “lovely 
young  Lavin'ia  ” is  RiUk. 

Palemon  in  love  with  the  captain’s 
daughter,  in  Falconer’s  “ Shipwreck.” 

Pales.  The  god  of  shepherds  and 
their  ^ocks.— Roman  mythology, 

Pales'tra  (3  syL).  Either  the  act  of 
wrestling,  &c.,  or  the  place  in  which  the 
Grecian  youths  practised  athletic  exer- 
cises. (Greek,  'pale,  wrestling.) 

Palestri'na  or  Pelestri'na.  An  island 
six  miles  beyond  Murra'na,  near  Venice, 
noted  for  its  glass-houses  {la  for naci). 

Giovanni  Pierluigi  da  Palestrina, 
called  “the  prince  of  music.”  (1529- 
1594.) 

Palimpsest.  A parchment  on 
which  the  original  writing  has  been 
effaced,  and  something  else  has  been 
written.  Greek,  palin  (again),  psao  (I 
rub  or  efface).  When  parchment  was 
not  supplied  in  sufficient  quantities,  the 
monks  and  others  used  to  wash  or  rub 
out  the  writing  in  a parchment  and  use 
it  again;  as  they  did  not  wash  or  rub 
it  out  entirely,  many  works  have  been 
recovered  by  modern  ingenuity.  Thus 
Cicero’s  “De  Repub lica”  has  been  re- 
stored ; it  was  partially  erased  to  make 
room  for  a commentary  of  St.  Augustine 
on  the  Psalms.  Of  course  St.  Augustine’s 
commentary  was  first  copied,  then  erased 
irom  the  parchment,  and  the  original 
MS.  of  Cicero  made  its  appearance. 

Central  Asi*  is  a palimpsest ; everywhere  actual 
■barbarism  overlays  a bygone  civilisaiion.— T/ie  Times. 

Palindrome  (3  syh).  A word  or 
line  which  reads  backwards  and  for- 
wards alike,  as  Madam,  also  “ Roma  tibi 
«ubito  motibus  ibit  amor.”  The  saluta- 
tion of  the  first  man  to  the  first  woman : 
■“  Madam,  I’m  Adam.”  (Greek,  palin 
■dromo,  to  run  back  again.)— Sotadic. 

Palinode  (3  syh).  A song  or  dis- 
■course  recanting  a previous  one.  A good 
specimen  of  the  palinode  is  “ Horace,” 
book  i.,  ode  16,  translated  by  Swift. 
Watts  ha*  a palinode  in  which  he  retracts 
the  praise  bestowed  upon  queen  Anne. 
In  the  first  part  of  her  reign  he  wrote  a 
laudatory  poem  to  the  queen,  but  he  says 
that  the  latter  part  deluded  his  hopes 
and  proved  him  a false  prophet.  Samuel 
Butler  has  also  a palinode  to  recant  what 
he  said  in  a previous  poem  to  the  Hon. 


Edward  Howard,  who  wrote  a poem 
called  “ The  British  Princes.”  (Greek, 
palin  ode,  a song  again.)  ^ 

Pallnu'rus.  Any  pilot;  so  called 
from  Palinurus,  the  steersman  of  iEne'as. 

Palissy  Ware.  Dishes  and  other 
similar  articles  covered  with  models 
from  nature  of  fish,  reptiles,  shells, 
flowers,  and  leaves,  most  carefully 
coloured  and  in  high  relief,  like  the  wares 
of  Della  Robbia.  Bernard  Palissy  was 
born  at  Saintes.  (1510-1590. ) 

Pall,  the  covering  thrown  over  a 
coffin,  is  the  Latin  pallium,  a square  piece 
of  cloth  used  by  the  Romans  to  throw 
over  their  shoulders,  or  to  cover  them  in 
bed ; hence  a coverlet. 

Pall,  the  long  sweeping  robe,  is  the 
Roman  palla,  worn  only  by  princes  and 
women  of  honest  fame.  This  differed 
greatly  from  the  pallium,  which  was 
worn  by  freemen  and  slaves,  soldiers  and 
philosophers. 

Sometimes  let  gorgeous  Tragedy 
In  sceptred  pall  come  sweeping  ^y. 

Milton,  '‘*■11  Pensero80.'^ 

Pall-bearers.  The  custom  of  ap- 
pointing men  of  mark  for  pall- bearers  has 
come  to  us  from  the  Romans.  Julius 
Csesar  had  magistrates  for  his  pall- 
bearers ; Augustus  Caesar  had  senators ; 
Germanicus  had  tribunes  and  centurions  ; 
Paulus  .^mil'ius  had  the  chief  men  of 
Macedonia  who  happened  to  be  at  Rome 
at  the  time  ; but  the  poor  were  carried 
on  a plain  bier  on  the  shoulders  of  four 
men. 

Pall  Mall.  A game  in  which  a palle 
or  iron  ball  is  struck  through  an  iron 
ring  with  a mall  or  mallet. 

Pallaee  is  by  Phillips  derived  from 
pallida,  pales  or  paled  fences.  Ifc  Devon- 
shire a palace  means  a “ storehouse  in 
Totness,  “a  landing  place  enclosed  but 
not  roofed  in.” 

All  that  cellar  and  the  chambers  over  the  same, 
and  the  little  pallaee  and  landing-place  adjoining  the 
river  Dart— iease  granted,  hy  the  Corporation  of  Tot- 
ness  in  1703. 

Out  of  the  ivory  palaces  (Psalm  xlv.  8)— i.e.,  store- 
places  or  cabinets  made  of  ivory. 

Palla'dium.  Something  that  aff  or  Is 
effectual  protection  and  safety.  The 
Palla'dium  was  a colossal  wooden  statue 
of  Pallas  in  the  city  of  Troy,  said  to  have 
fallen  from  heaven.  It  was  believed 
that  so  long  as  this  statue  remained 


650 


PALLAS. 


PAMPHLET. 


within  the  city  Troy  would  be  safe,  but 
i f removed  the  city  would  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  The  statue  was 
carried  away  by  the  Greeks,  and  the 
city  burnt  by  them  to  the  ground. 

The  Scotch  had  a similar  tradition  at- 
tached to  the  great  stone  of  Scone,  near 
Perth.  Edward  I.  removed  it  to  West- 
minster, and  it  is  still  framed  in  the 
coronation  chair  of  England. 

Palladium  of  Rome.  Anci'le  (q.v.'). 

Palladium  of  Meg'ara.  A golden  hair 
of  king  Nisus.  \See  Scylla,  Eden 
Hall.) 

Pallas.  A name  of  Minerva,  some- 
times called  Pallas  Miner v^a.  The  word 
simply  means  virgin.  (Greek,  'pallax.') 

Pallet.  The  painter  in  Smollett’s 

Peregrine  Pickle.”  A man  without  one 
jot  of  reverence  for  ancient  customs  or 
modern  etiquette. 

PalTiate  (3  syl.)  means  simply  to 
cloak.  (Latin,  ^pallium,  a cloak. ) 

That  we  should  not  dissemble  nor  eloke  them  (our 

sins) but  confess  them  with  a humble,  lowly,  and 

obedient  heart.— (7om/non  Prayer  Book. 

Palm.  An  itching  palm.  A hand 
ready  to  receive  bribes.  The  old  super- 
stition is  that  if  your  palm  itches  you 
are  going  to  receive  money. 

Let  me  tell  you,  Cassius,  you  yourself 

Are  much  condemned  to  have  an  itching  palm. 

Shakespeare,  "Julius  C(ssar,"iv. 

To  Mar  the  palm.  To  be  the  best.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  Koman  custom  of  giving 
the  victorious  gladiator  a branch  of  the 
palm  tree. 

To  palm  off  wares,  triclcs,  d'c.,  upon  the 
univary.  The  allusion  is  to  jugglers,  who 
conceal  in  the  palm  of  their  hand  what 
they  pretend  to  dispose  of  in  some  other 
way.  These  jugglers  were  sometimes 
called  palmers. 

You  may  palm  upon  us  new  for  old. 

Dryden. 

Palm  Sunday.  The  Sunday  next 
before  Easter.  So  called  in  memory  of 
Christ’s  triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem, 
when  the  multitude  strewed  the  way  with 
palm  branches  and  leaves.  (John  xii.) 

Palm  Tree  is  said  to  grow  faster 
for  being  weighed  down.  Hence  it  is 
the  symbol  of  resolution  overcoming 
calamity.  It  is  believed  by  Orientals  to 
have  sprung  from  the  residue  of  the  clay 
of  which  Adam  was  formed. 

Palmer.  A pilgrim  privileged  to 
carry  a palm-staff.  In  Fosbroke’s 


British  Monachism”  we  read  that 

certain  prayers  and  psalms  being  said 
over  the  pilgrims,  as  they  lay  prostrate 
before  the  altar,  they  were  sprinkled 
with  holy  water,  and  received  a con- 
secrated palm-staff.  Palmers  differed 
from  pilgrims  in  this  respect : A pilgrim 
made  his  pilgrimage  and  returned  to 
public  or  private ' life  ; but  a palmer 
spent  all  his  days  in  visiting  holy  shrines, 
and  lived  on  charity. 

His  sandals  were  with  travel  tore. 

Staff,  budget,  bottle,  scrap  he  wore ; 

The  faded  palm-branch  in  his  hand 
Showed  pilgrim  from  the  Holv  Land. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Marmion,**  i.  27. 

Pal'merin  of  England.  A romance 
of  chivalry,  in  which  Palmerin  is  the 
hero.  There  is  another  romance  called 
‘^Palmerin  de  Oliva.”  (See  Southey’s 
“ Palmerin.”) 

Palmy  Days.  Prosperous  or  happy 
days,  as  those  were  to  a victorious  gladia- 
tor when  he  went  to  receive  the  palm- 
branch  as  the  reward  of  his  prowess. 

Pam.  A familiar  contraction  of 
Palmerston,  the  statesman.  (1784-1866.) 

Pam'ela.  The  title  of  the  finest  of 
Kichardson’s  novels,  which  once  enjoyed 
a popularity  almost  equal  to  that  of  the 
romances  of  Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Pamela.  Lady  Edward  Fitzgerald. 
(Died  1831.) 

Pampas.  Treeless  plains,  some 
2,000  miles  long  and  from  300  to  500 
broad,  in  South  America.  They  cover 
an  area  of  750,000  square  miles.  It  is 
an  Indian  word  meaning or  plains. 

Pamper,  according  to  J unius,  is  from 
the  Latin  pam'pinus,  French  pampre 
(vine-tendril).  A vineyard  overgrown 
with  leaves  and  fruitless  branches  is  called 
pampre  (pamprer  dicitur  vinea  supervacuo 
pampino'rum  ger'mine  exu'berans,  ac 
nim'ia  crescendi  luxu'ria  quodammodu 
sylvescene).  Hence  Milton — 

"Where  any  row 

Of  fruit-trees,  over-woody,  reached  too  far 

Their  pampered  boughs,  and  needed  hands  to  check 

Eruitiess  embraces.  “ Paradise  Lost,'*Y. 

The  Italian  pambera'to  (well-fed)  is.  a 
compound  of  pane  (bread)  and  here 
(drink). 

Pamphlet.  Dr.  Johnson  suggests 
the  derivation  of  this  word  to  be  the 


PAN. 


PANDORA’S  BOX. 


651 


French  par-un-fdet  (held  a thread”), 
a book  stitched  but  not  bound  ; another 
derivation  \^pag'in(Bfila't(je  (pages  tacked 
together),  in  corroboration  of  which  ety- 
mology we  find  the  word  anciently  writ- 
ten 'panjietiis^  'pamjiete^  and  by  .Caxton 
faunjitt. 

Pan.  The  personification  of  deity 
displayed  in  creation  and  pervading  all 
things.  As  flocks  and  herds  were  the 
chief  property  of  the  pastoral  age.  Pan 
was  called  the  god  of  flocks  and  herds. 
He  is  also  called  the  god  of  hyle,  not  the 

woods”  only,  but  ^‘all  material  sub- 
stances.” The  lower  part  was  that  of 
a goat,  because  of  the  asperity  of  the 
earth;  the  upper  part  was  that  of  a 
man,  because  ether  is  the  ‘^hegemonic 
of  the  world;”  the  lustful  nature  of  the 
god  symbolised  the  spermatic  principle 
of  the  world ; the  libbard’s  skin  was  to 
indicate  the  immense  variety  of  created 
things ; and  the  character  of  blameless 
Pan”  symbolised  that  wisdom  which 
governs  the  world.  (Greek,  pan,  eyery- 
thing.)—Pho7^nutus,^‘De  Natura  Deoruiiij^ 
xxvii.  203. 

Universal  Pan, 

Knit  with  the  Graces  and  the  Hours  in  dance, 

Led  on  the  eternal  spring. 

3Iilion,**  Paradise  Zost,^’  iv. 

The  Great  Pan.  Francois  Marie  Arouet 
de  Voltaire,  also  called  the  Dictator  of 
Lettm.  (1694-1778.) 

Panace'a.  A universal  cure.  Pana- 
cea was  the  daughter  of  Escula'pios  (god 
of  medicine).  The  name  is  evidently 
composed  of  two  Greek  y^oirdispan-aJceomai 
(all  I cure).  Of  course  the  medicine 
that  cures  is  the  daughter  or  child  of  the 
Healing  art. 

Panacda.  An  Orkney  proverb  says 
the  well  of  Kildinguie  and  the  dulse  (sea- 
tveed)  of  Guiodin  will  cure  all  maladies 
save  Black  Death.— NiV  Walter  Scott,  “ The 
Pirate f ch.  xxix.  (See  Azoth.) 

Pancake  (2  syl.)  is  a pudding  or 
^'cake”  made  in  a frying-pan.  It  was 
originally  to  be  eaten  after  dinner,  to  stay 
the  stomachs  of  those  who  went  to  be 
shriven.  The  Shrove-bell  was  called  the 
Pancake. Bell,  and  the  day  of  shriving 
‘^Pancake  Tuesday.” 

Pancaste  (3  syl.),  an  Athenian 
hetsera,  and  her  companion  in  sin, 
Phryne,  were  the  models  of  Venus  Rising 
from  the  Sea,  by  ApeUes.  (See  Phryne.) 


Pancras  (St.).  Patron  saint  of  chil- 
dren. He  was  a noble  Roman  jmuth, 
martyred  by  Diocle'tian  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  (a.d.  304).  (Sec  Nicholas.) 

St.  Pancras,  in  Christian  art,  is  repre- 
sented as  treading  on  a Saracen  and* 
bearing  either  a stone  and  sword,  or  a 
book  and  palm-branch.  The  allusions 
are  to  his  hatred  of  infidelity,  and  the 
implements  of  his  martyrdom. 

Pan'darus.  Leader  of  the  Lycians- 
in  the  Trojan  war,  but  represented  as  a 
pimp  in  mediaeval  romances.  (See  Pan- 
der.) 

Pandects  of  jListin'ian,  found  at 
Amalphi  (1137),  gave  a spur  to  the  study 
of  civil  law  which  changed  the  whole 
literary  and  legal  aspect  of  Europe.  The 
word  means  much  the  same  as  cyclo- 
psedia.”  (Greek,  everything ; dech'- 
omai,  I receive.) 

Pandemo'nium.  A perfect  pande- 
monium. A bear-garden  for  disorder 
and  licentiousness.  In  allusion  to  the 
parliament  of  hell  in  Milton’s  Paradise 
Lost,”  bk.  i.  (Greek,  pan  daemon,  every^ 
demon.) 

Pander.  To  pander  to  onds  rices  is- 
to  act  as  an  agent  to  them,  and  such  an 
agent  is  termed  a pander,  from  Pan'darus, 
who  procures  for  Tro'ilus  the  love  and 
good  graces  of  Cressida.  In  ‘‘  Much  Ado 
about  Nothing”  it  is  said  that  Troilus 
was  the  first  employer  of  pandars” 
(v.  2). — ShaJcespeare,  ‘^Troilus  and  Cres- 
sida Chaucer,  Troilus  and  CresseideP 

Let  all  pitiful  goers -between  be  called  to  the  world’s 
end  after  my  name,  call  them  all  Pandars.”  Let 
all  constant  men  be  ” Troiluses,”  all  false  women 
‘ Cressids,”  and  all  brokers-between  “Pandars.” 
Say  Amen. — ^"Troilus  and  Cressida,"  iii.  2. 

Pando'ra’s  Box  (A).  A present 
which  seems  valuable,  but  which  is  in 
reality  a curse  ; as  when  Midas  was  per- 
mitted, according  to  his  request,  to  turn 
whatever  he  touched  into  gold,  and  found 
his  very  food  became  gold,  and  therefore 
uneatable.  Prometheus  made  an  image 
and  stole  fire  from  heaven  to  endow  it 
with  life.  In  revenge,  Jupiter  told  Vul- 
can to  make  a female  statue,  and  gave 
her  a box  which  she  was  to  present  to 
the  man  who  married  her.  Prometheus 
distrusted  Jove  and  his  gifts,  but  Epime'- 
theus,  his  brother,  married  the  beautiful 
Pando'ra,  and  received  the  box.  Imme- 
diately the  bridegroom  opened  the  box,, 


<552 


PANEL. 


PANTALOON. 


. all  the  evils  that  flesh  is  heir  to  flew  forth, 
and  have  ever  since  continued  to  afflict 
the  world.  The  last  thing  that  flew  from 
the  box  was  Hope. 

Panel  means  simply  a piece  of  rag 
or  skin.  (Latin,  OfVQok, 'pe'nos.) 

In  law  it  means  a piece  of  parchment 
containing  the  names  of  jurors.  To  em- 
panel a jury  is  to  enter  their  names  on 
the  panel  or  roll.  The  panels  of  a room 
are  the  framed  wainscot  which  supplies 
the  place  of  tapestry,  and  the  panels  of 
doors  are  the  thin  boards  like  wainscot. 

Pangloss  {Dr.),  A learned  pedant, 
very  poor  and  very  conceited,  pluming 
himself  on  the  titles  of  LL.D.  and  A.SS. 
(Greek,  All-tongue.”) — Colman^  ^^Reir- 
at-LawJ* 

Pan'ic.  On  one  occasion  Bacchus, 
in  his  Indian  expeditions,  was  encom- 
passed with  an  army  far  superior  to  his 
own  ; one  of  his  chief  captains,  named 
Pan,  advised  him  to  command  all  his 
men  at  the  dead  of  night  to  raise  a simul- 
taneous shout.  The  shout  was  rolled 
from  mountain  to  mountain  by  innu- 
merable echoes,  and  the  Indians,  thinking 
they  were  surrounded  on  all  sides,  took 
to  sudden  flight.  From  this  incident, 
all  sudden  fits  of  great  terror  have  been 
termed  panics.  {See  Judges  vii.  18-21.) 

Theon  gives  another  derivation,  and 
says  that  the  god  Pan  struck  terror  into 
the  hearts  of  the  giants,  when  they  warred 
against  heaven,  by  blowing  into  a sea- 
shell. 

Pantag'rueT.  (Greek,  panta,  all; 
Hagarene,  gruel,  thirsty.)  So  called  be- 
cause he  was  born  during  the  drought 
which  lasted  thirty  and  six  months,  three 
weeks,  four  days,  thirteen  hours,  and  a 
little  more,  in  that  year  of  grace  noted  for 
having  ^Hhree  Thursdays  in  one  week.” 
His  father  was  Gargantua,  the  giant,  who 
was  four  hundred  fourscore  and  forty- 
four  years  old  at  the  time  ; his  mother 
Badebec  died  in  giving  him  birth  ; his 
grandfather  w^as  Grangousier  He 

was  so  strong  that  he  was  chained  in  his 
cradle  with  four  great  iron  chains,  like 
those  used  in  ships  of  the  largest  size ; 
being  angry  at  this,  he  stamped  out  the 
bottom  of  his  bassanet,  which  was  made 
of  weavers’  beams,  and  when  loosed  by 
the  servants,  broke  his  bonds  into  five 
hundred  thousand  pieces  with  one  blow 
- of  his  infant  fist.  When  he  grew  to 


manhood  he  knew  all  languages,  all  sci- 
ences, and  all  knowledge  of  every  sort, 
out-Solomoning  Solomon  in  wisdom. 
Having  defeated  Anarchus,  king  of  the 
Dipsodes,  all  submitted  except  the  Al- 
mirods.  Marching  against  these  people, 
a heavy  rain  fell,  and  Pantagruel  covered 
his  whole  army  with  his  tongue.  While 
so  doing,  Alcofri'bas  crawled  into  his 
mouth,  where  he  lived  six  months, 
taking  toll  of  every  morsel  that  his  lord 
ate.  His  immortal  achievement  was  his 
voyage  from  Uto'pia  in  quest  of  the 
oracle  of  the  Holy  Bottle”  {q.v,). 

TVouldst  thou  not  issue  forth  . . . 

To  see  the  third  part  in  this  earthy  cell 

Of  the  brave  acts  of  good  Pantag'ruel' 

JtafteZa**,  “ To  the  Spirit  of  the  Queen  of  Navarre  f* 

/ 

Pantag'rueV  (meant  for  Henri  II.,  son  i 
of  Francois  I.),  in  the  satirical  romance 
of  Kabelais,  entitled  History  of  Gar- 
gantua and  Pantagruel.” 

The  great  Pantag' rwel  case  (lord  Bus- 
queue  r.  lord  Suckfist).  This  case, 
having  nonplussed  all  the  judges  of 
Paris,  was  referred  to  lord  Pantagruel 
for  decision.  The  writs,  &c.,  were  as 
much  as  four  asses  could  carry,  but 
the  arbiter  determined  to  hear  the 
plaintiff  and  defendant  state  their  own 
cases.  Lord  Busqueue  spoke  first,  and 
pleaded  such  a rigmarole  that  no  one  on 
earth  could  unravel  its  meaning ; lord 
Suckfist  replied,  and  the  bench  declared 
We  have  not  understood  one  single 
circumstance  of  the  defence.”  Then 
Pantagruel  gave  sentence,  but  his 
judgment  was  as  obscure  and  unintelli- 
gible as  the  case  itself.  So  as  no  one 
understood  a single  sentence  of  the  whole 
affair,  all  were  perfectly  satisfied,  a 
thing  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  the 
law.” — Rahelais,  Pantagruel bk.  ii. 

Pantag'ruel'ion  Herb.  Hemp; 
so  called  ‘‘because  Pantagruel  was  the 
inventor  of  a certain  use  which  it  serves 
for,  exceeding  hateful  to  felons,  unto 
whom  it  is  more  hurtful  than  strangle- 
weed  to  flax.” 

The  figure  and  shape  of  the  leaves  are  not  much 
different  from  those  of  the  ash-tree  or  the  Agrimony, 
the  herb  itself  being  so  like  the  Eupato'rio  that  man^ 
herballists  have  called  it  the  “ Domestic  Eupatorio,” 
and  the  Eupatorio  the  “ Wild  Pantagruclion."— 
lais,  "Pantagruel,"  iii.  49. 

Pantaloon.  A feeble-minded  old 
man,  the  cully  of  the  clown,  whom  he 
aids  and  abets  in  all  his  knavery.  The 
word  is  derived  from  the  dress  he  used 


PAKTHEA. 


PANURGE. 


65S 


to  wear,  'panu  talon,  a loose  suit  down  to 
the  heels. 

That  Licentio  that  coraes  awooing  is  iny  man 
Tranio  bearing  my  port,  that  we  might  beguile  the 
old  pantaloon.— MaAesjjeare,  “ Taming  of  the  Shrew 
iii  1 

Pantaloon.  Lord  Byron  says  the 
Venetians  were  called  the  Planters  oj  the 
Lion  — i.e.,  the  Lion  of  St.  Mark,  the 
standard  of  the  republic  ; and  further 
tells  us  that  the  character  of  panta- 
loon,” being  Venetian,  was  called  Pianta- 
leone  (Planter  of  the  Lion). — Childe 
Harold”  bk.  iv.,  stanza  14,  note  9. 

Playing  Pantaloon.  Playing  second 
fiddle ; being  the  cat’s-paw  of  another ; 
servilely  imitating. 

Panthe'a  {Greek) . Statues  carrying 
symbols  of  several  deities,  as  in  the 
medal  of  Antoni'nus  Pius,  where  Sera'pis 
is  represented  by  a modius,  Apollo  by 
rays,  Jupiter  Ammon  by  ram's  horns, 
Pliito  by  a large  heard,  and  Escula'pios 
by  a ivand  around  which  a serpent  is 
twined. 

Panthe'on.  The  finest  is  that 
erected  in  Rome  by  Agrippa  (son-in-law 
of  Augustus).  It  is  circular,  150  feet  in 
diameter,  and  the  same  in  height.  It  is 
now  a church,  with  statues  of  heathen 
gods,  and  is  called  the  Rotunda.  In 
Paris  the  Pantheon  or  church  of  St. 
Genevieve  was  built  by  Louis  XV.,  at  the 
solicitation  of  Madame  de  Pompadour,  to 
enshrine  those  Frenchmen  whom  their 
country  wished  to  recognise  {aux  grands 
hommes  la  patrie  rexonnaissante) . 

Panther.  The  spotted  panther  in 
Dryden’s  “Hind  and  Panther”  means 
the  Church  of  England  full  of  the  spots 
of  error,  whereas  the  Church  of  Rome  is 
faultless  as  the  milk-white  hind. 

The  panther,  sure  the  noblest  next  the  hind, 
And  fairest  creature  of  the  spotted  kind ; 

Oh,  could  her  inboru  stains  be  washed  away 
She  were  too  good  to  be  a beast  of  prey— (pt.  L) 

Pantile.  A hat.  {See  Tile.) 

ParJtomime  (3  syl.),  originally 
meant  the  actor  of  a dumb  spectacle, 
one  who  acted  altogether  by  mimicr3\ 
The  best  pantomi'mi  among  the  Romans 
were  Bathyllus  (a  freedman  of  Msece'nas), 
Pyl'ades,  and  Hylas.  The  emperor  Nero 
often  acted  with  the  pantomimes.  It  is 
strange  how  words  change  their  mean- 
ing : thus  pantomime  is  the  actor,  and 
harlequin  is  the  piece  performed ; but 
in  modern  parlance  pantomime  is  the 
piece  performed,  and  harlequin  an  actor. 


According  to  etymology,  pantomime' 
should  be  all  dumb  show,  but  in  modern 
practice  it  is  partly  dumb  show  and 
partly  grotesque  speaking.  Harlequin 
and  Columbine  never  speak,  but  Clown 
and  Pantaloon  keep  up  a constant  fire  of 
fun.  Dr.  Clarke  says  that  Harlequin  is 
the  god  Mercury,  with  his  short  sword 
called  ^^herpe;”  he  is  supposed  to  be 
invisible,  and  to  be  able  to  transport 
himself  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  as  quick 
as  thought.  Columbine,  he  says,  is 
Psyche  (the  soul) ; the  old  man  is  Charon ; 
and  the  clown,  Momus  (the  buffoon  of 
heaven),  whose  large  gaping  mouth  is 
an  imitation  of  the  ancient  masks. — 
Travels,”  iv.  459. 

Panton  Gates.  Old  as  Panton  Gates. 
A corruption  of  Pandon  Gates  at  New- 
castle-on-Tyne. 

Panurge  (2  syl. ) . A companion  of 
Pantag'ruel’s,  not  unlike  our  Rochester 
and  Buckingham  in  the  reign  of  the 
mutton-eating  king.  He  was  a desperate 
rake,  was  always  in  debt,  had  a dodge 
for  every  scheme,  knew  everything  and 
something  more,  was  a boon  companion 
of  the  mirthfullest  temper  and  most 
licentious  bias ; but  was  timid  of  danger, 
and  a coward.  He  enters  upon  ten 
thousand  adventures  for  the  solution  of 
this  knotty  point : “ Whether  or  not  he 
ought  to  marry?”  and  although  every 
response  is  in  the  negative,  disputes  the 
ostensible  meaning,  and  stoutly  main- 
tains that  no  means  yes.  (Greek,  facto- 
ifum.)— Rabelais. 

Panurge,  probably  meant  for  Calvin, 
though  some  think  ft  is  cardinal  Lorrain. 
He  is  a licentious  intemperate  libertine, 
a coward  and  knave.  Of  course  the  sa- 
tire points  to  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy. 

Sam  Slick  is  the  thorough-bred  Yankee,  bold,, 
cunning,  and  above  all  a merchant.  In  shore,  he  is 
a sort  of  republican  Panurge.— G/o6c. 

As  Panurge  asked  if  he  should  marry.. 
Asking  advice  merely  to  contradict  the 
giver  of  it.  Panurge  asked  Pantag'ruel' 
whether  he  advised  him  to  marry.  “Yes,” 
said  Pantagruel,  when  Panurge  urgerl 
somo  strong  objection.  “Then  don’t 
marry,”  said  Pantagruel,  to  which  the 
favourite  replied,  “His  whole  heart  was 
bent  on  so  doing.”  “ Marry  then,  by  all 
means,”  said  the  prince,  but  again  found, 
some  insuperable  barrier;  and  so  they 
went  on : every  time  Pantagruel  said 
“ Yea,”  new  reasons  were  found  against 
this  advice ; and  every  time  he  said 


■654 


PANYER’S  ALLEY. 


PARADISE  LOST. 


reasops  no  less  cogent  were 
discovered  for  the  affirmative.— 

“ Garguantiia  and Pantagruel,^  bk.  hi.  9. 

Pan'yer’s  Alley  {London).  So  called 
from  a stone  built  into  the  wall  of  one  of 
the  houses.  On  the  stone  is  rudely 
chiselled  (1)  a pannier  surmounted  by  a 
boy,  and  (2)  the  following  inscription : — 
When  you  have  sought  the  city  round, 

Yet  still  this  is  the  highest  ground. 

Pap.  He  gives  jyap  \vith  a hatchet.  He 
does  or  says  a kind  thing  in  a very 
brusque  and  ungracious  manner.  The 
Spartan  children  were  fed  by  the  point 
of  a sword,  and  the  Teuton  children  with 
hatchets,  or  instruments  so  called— pro- 
bably of  the  doll  type.  Ursus,”  in 
Victor  Hugo’s  novel  of  L’ Homme  qui 
Rit,”  gives  pap  with  a hatchet.” 

Papa,  Father.  The  former  is 
Norman- French,  the  latter  Saxon.  The 
former  is  still  retained  in  aristocratic 
families,  but  the  latter  is  usual  with  rus- 
tics and  artisans.  The  Normans  were  the 
lords,  the  Saxons  the  serfs  and  rustics. 

Paper.  So  called  from  the  papy'rus 
or  Egyptian  reed  used  at  one  time  for 
the  manufacture  of  a writing  material. 
Bryan  Donkin,  in  1803,  perfected  a ma- 
chine for  making  a sheet  of  paper  to 
any  required  length. 

Paper  House  in  theatrical  language 
is  one  where  the  stall  and  box  occupants 
have  not  paid  cash  for  their  places,  but 
have  come  in  with  orders. 

Paper  King.  John  Law,  the  pro- 
jector of  the  Mississippi  Scheme.  (1671- 
1729.) 

Paper  Marriages.  Weddings  of 
dons,  who  pay  their  fees  in  bank-notes. 

Papli'ian.  Relating  to  Venus,  or 
rather  to  Paphos,  a city  of  Cyprus  where 
Venus  was  worshipped;  a Cyprian;  a 
prostitute. 

Papimany.  The  country  of  the 
Papimans;  the  country  subject  to  the 
pope,  or  any  priest-ridden  country,  as 
Spain. — Rabelais y “ Garganiua  and  Pan- 
tag^ruely'  iv.  45. 

Papy'ra.  The  goddess  of  printing  ; 
so  called  from  papy'rus,  the  Nile  reed, 
from  which  at  one  time  paper  was  made, 
and  from  which  it  borrows  its  name. 

Till  to  astonished  realms  Papyra  taught 

To  paint  in  mystic  colours  sound  and  thought. 

With  Wisdom’s  voice  to  print  the  page  sublime, 

And  mark  in  adamant  the  steps  of  Time. 

Darwin^  "Loves  of  the  J^lants  ’’canto  ii. 


Papy'ri.  Written  scrolls  made  of 
the  Papy'rus,  found  in  Egypt  and  Hercu- 
la'neum. 

Paracel'sists.  Disciples  of  Para- 
celsus in  medicine,  physics,  and  mystic 
sciences. 

Paraclete.  The  advocate  ; one 
called  to  aid  or  support  another.  (The 
word  paraclete  is  the  Greek  para-fcaleo, 
to  call  to  ; and  advocate  is  the  Latin 
ad-vocoy  the  same  thing.) 

Paradise.  The  Greeks  used  this 
word  to  denote  the  extensive  parks  and 
pleasure-grounds  of  the  Persian  kings. 
(Persian,  pard'es\  Arabic,  San- 

skrit, parade' sa.)  {See  Calay.) 

An  did  word  “paradise,”  which  the  Hebrews  had 
borrowed  from  the  Persians,  and  which  at  first 
designated  the  “parks  of  the  Achaemenidae,”  summed 
up  the  general  dream,— iteuan,  “ Life  of  Jesus”  xi. 

Upper  and  Lower  Paradise.  The 
rabbins  say  there  is  an  earthly  or  lower 
paradise  under  the  equator,  divided  into 
seven  dwellings,  and  twelve  times  ten 
thousand  miles  square.  A column  reaches 
from  this  paradise  to  the  upper  or 
heavenly  one,  by  which  the  souls  mount 
upwards  after  a short  sojourn  on  the 
earthly  one. 

The  ten  dumb  animals  admitted  to  the 
Moslem^ s paradise  are — 

(1)  The  dog  Kratim,  which  accom- 
panied the  Seven  Sleepers. 

(2)  Balaam’s  ass,  which  spoke  with  the 
voice  of  a man  to  reprove  the  disobedient 
prophet. 

(3)  Solomon’s  ant,  of  which  he  said 

Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard  . . .” 

(4)  Jonah’s  whale. 

(5)  The  ram  caught  in  the  thicket,  and 
offered  in  sacrifice  in  lieu  of  Isaac. 

(6)  The  calf  of  Abraham. 

(7)  The  camel  of  Saleh. 

(8)  The  cuckoo  of  Belkis. 

(9)  The  ox  ©f  Moses. 

10)  Mahomet’s  mare,  called  Borak. 

Paradise  Lost.  Satan  rouses  the 
panic-stricken  host  of  fallen  angels  to 
tell  them  about  a rumour  current  in 
Heaven  of  a new  world  about  to  be 
created.  He  calls  a counsel  to  deliberate 
what  should  be  done,  and  they  agree  to 
send  Satan  to  search  out  for  the  new 
world.  Satan,  passing  the  gulf  between 
Hell  and  Heaven  and  the  limbo  of  Vanit}-. 
enters  the  orb  of  the  Sun  (in  the  guise 
of  an  ordinary  angel)  to  make  inquiries 


PARADISE  REGAINED 


PARC  AUX  CERFS. 


655 


of  the  new  planet's  whereabouts ; and 
having  obtained  the  necessary  informa- 
tion alights  on  mount  Nepha'tes,  and 
goes  to  Paradise  in  the  form  of  a cormo- 
rant. Seating  himself  on  the  Tree  of 
Life,  he  overhears  Adam  and  Eve  talking 
about  the  prohibition  made  by  God,  and 
at  once  resolves  upon  the  nature  of  his 
attack.  Gabriel  sends  two  angels  to 
watch  over  the  bower  of  Paradise,  and 
Satan  flees.  Raphael  is  sent  to  warn 
Adam  of  his  danger,  and  tells  him  the 
story  of  Satan's  revolt  and  expulsion 
out  of  Heaven,  and  why  and  how  this 
world  was  made.  After  a time  Satan 
returns  to  Paradise  in  the  form  of  a 
mist,  and  entering  the  serpent,  induces 
Eve  to  eat  of  the  forbidden  fruit.  Adam 
eats  that  he  may  perish  with  the 
woman  whom  he  loved.’'  Satan  returns 
to  Hell  to  tell  his  triumph,  and  Michael 
is  sent  to  lead  the  guilty  pair  out  of  the 
garden. — Milton. 

Paradise  Regained,  in  four  books. 
The  subject  is  the  Temptation.  Eve, 
being  tempted,  fell,  and  lost  Paradise ; 
Jesus,  being  tempted,  resisted,  and  re- 
gained Paradise. — Milton. 

Paradise  of  Pools.  The  Hindus, 
Mahometans,  Scandinavians,  and  Roman 
Catholics  have  devised  a place  between 
Paradise  and  Purgatory,"  to  get  rid  of 
a theological  difficulty.  If  there  is  no 
sin  without  intention,  then  infants  and 
idiots  cannot  commit  sin,  and  if  they  die 
cannot  be  consigned  to  the  purgatory  of 
evil-doers;  but  not  being  believers  or 
good-doers,  they  cannot  be  placed  with 
the  saints.  The  Roman  Catholics  place 
them  in  the  Paradise  of  Infants  and  the 
Paradise  of  Fools. 

Paradise  and  the  Pe'ri.  The  second 
tale  in  Moore's  poetical  romance  of 

Lalla  Rookh.”  The  Peri  laments  her 
expulsion  from  Heaven,  and  is  told  she 
will  be  re-admitted  if  she  will  bring  to 
the  Gate  of  Heaven  the  ^^gift  most  dear 
to  the  Almighty."  First  she  went  to  a 
battle-fleld,  where  the  tyrant  Mahmoud, 
having  won  a victory,  promised  life  to 
a young  warrior,  but  the  warrior  struck 
the  tyrant  with  a dart.  The  wound, 
however,  was  not  mortal,  so  “ The  tyrant 
lived,  the  hero  fell."  The  Peri  took  to 
Heaven's  Gate  the  last  drop  of  the 
patriot's  blood  as  her  offering,  but.  the 
gates  would  not  open  to  her.  Next  she 


flew  to  Egypt,  where  the  plague  was 
raging,  and  saw  a young  man  dying  ; 
presently  his  betrothed  bride  sought  him 
out,  caught  the  disease,  and  both  died. 
The  Peri  took  to  Heaven's  Gate  the  last 
sigh  of  that  self-sacrificed  damsel,  but 
the  offering  was  not  good  enough  to  open 
the  gates  to  her.  Lastly y she  flew  to 
Syria,  and  there  saw  an  innocent  child 
and  guilty  old  man.  The  vesper  bell 
rang, 'and  the  child  knelt  down  to  prayer. 
The  old  man  wept  with  repentance,  and 
knelt  to  pray  beside  the  child.  The 
Peri  offered  the  Repentant  Tear,  and  the 
gates  flew  open  to  receive  her. 

Paramatta.  So  called  from  a town 
in  New  South  Wales,  famous  for  the 
manufacture. 

Paraphernalia  means  all  that  a 
woman  can  claim  at  the  death  of  her 
husband  beyond  her  jointure.  In  the 
Roma'-n  law  her  paraphernalia  included 
the  furniture  of  her  chamber,  her  wear- 
ing-apparel, her  jewels,  &c.  Hence  per- 
sonal attire,  fittings  generally,  anything 
for  show  or  decoration.  (Greek,  para- 
plume,  beyond  dower. ) 

Par'asite  (3  syl.)  means  the  warder 
of  a granary  or  parasi'ton.  The  priests 
appointed  in  Greece  to  garner  the  corn 
for  the  public  sacrifices  were  called 
parasites,  or  warders  of  the  parasi'ton." 
In  the  Commonwealth  the  general  public 
was  relieved  of  the  parasite  tax,  and  the 
ministering  priests  were  billeted  on  the 
wealthy  citizens,  where  they  made  them- 
selves agreeable  for  their  own  sakes. 
Hence  a hanger-on  or  trencher  com- 
panion is  called  a parasite.  (Greek, 
para  siton.) 

Parbutta  or  Devi.  Wife  of  Siva, 
and  goddess  of  war,  murder,  and  blood- 
shed, in  Hindu  mythology.  The  idols 
of  the  goddess  are  most  frightful. 

Parc  aux  Cerfs  (Deer  Parle).  A 
mansion  fitted  up  in  a remote  corner  of 
Versailles,  whither  girls  were  inveigled 
for  the  licentious  pleasure  of  Louis  XV. 
The  rank  of  the  person  who  visited  them 
was  scrupulously  kept  concealed;  but 
one  girl,  more  bold  than  the  rest,  rifled 
the  pockets  of  M.  le  Comte,  and  found 
that  he  was  no  other  than  the  king. 
Madame  de  Pompadour  did  not  shrink 
I from  superintending  the  labours  of  the 
I royal  valets  to  procure  victims  for  this 
1 infamous  establishment.  The  term  is 


655 


PAr.c^. 


PAlilS. 


BOW  used  for  an  Alsa'tia,  or  haven  of 
shipwrecked  characters. 

Boniogne  maybe  proud  of  being  the  “pare  aux 
^erfs  ” to  those  whom  remorseless  greed  drives  from 
their  island  home.— <Sa^itr day  Review. 

ParC80.  The  Fates.  The  three  were 
Clotho,  Lach'esis,  and  At'ropos  {Latin 
mythology).  Parcse  is  from  'pars,  a lot ; 
and  the  corresponding  Moirsc  is  from 
meros,  a lot.  The  Fates  were  so  called 
because  they  decided  the  lot  of  every 
man. 

Parchment.  So  called  from  Per'- 
gamos  in  Lesser  Asia,  where  it  was  used 
for  purposes  of  writing  when  Ptofemy 
prohibited  the  exportation  of  paper  from 
Egypt. 

Pardalo.  The  demon-steed  given  to 
Iniguez  Guerra  by  his  gobelin  mother, 
that  he  might  ride  to  Tole'do  and  liberate 
his  father,  don  Diego  Lopez,  lord  of  Bis- 
cay, who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  Moors. — Spa7iish  tradition. 

Pardon  Bell  or  Ave  Bell.  The  bell 
tolled  after  full  service,  to  call  those  who 
wish  to  stay  to  the  invocation  of  the 
Virgin  for  pardon. 

Par'douneres  Tale,  in  Chaucer,  is 

Death  and  the  Rioters.”  Three  rioters 
in  a tavern  agreed  to  hunt  down  Death 
and  kill  him.  As  they  went  their  way 
they  met  an  old  man,  who  told  them  that 
he  had  just  left  him  sitting  under  a tree 
in  the  lane  close  by.  Off  posted  the 
three  rioters,  but  when  they  came  to  the 
tree  they  found  a great  treasure  which 
they  agreed  to  divide  equally.  They 
cast  lots  which  was  to  carry  it  home,  and 
the  lot  fell  to  the  youngest,  who  was  sent 
to  the  village  to  buy  food  and  wine. 
While  he  was  gone  the  two  who  were 
left  agreed  to  kill  him,  and  so  increase 
their  share ; but  the  third  bought  poison 
to  put  into  the  wine,  in  order  to  kill  his 
two  confreres.  On  his  return  with  his 
stores,  the  two  set  upon  him  and  slew 
him,  then  sat  down  to  drink  and  be 
merry  together  ; but  the  wine  being  poi- 
soned, all  the  three  rioters  found  Death 
under  the  tree  as  the  old  man  had  said. 

Pari  Passu.  At  the  same  time ; 
two  or  more  schemes  carried  on  at  once, 
and  driven  forward  with  equal  energy, 
are  said  to  be  carried  on  pari  passu,  which 
is  Latin  for  eq^ual  strides  or  the  equally 
measured  pace  of  i:>ersons  marching  to- 
gether. 


Pa'rian  Chronicle.  A chronolo- 
gical register  of  the  chief  events  in  th& 
mythology  and  history  of  ancient  Greece 
during  a series  of  1,318  years,  beginning 
with  the  reign  of  Cecrops,  and  ending 
with  the  archonship  of  Diogne'tos.  It  is 
engraved  on  marble,  and  was  found  in 
the  island  of  Paros.  It  is  one  of  the 
Arunde'lian  Marbles  (g.v.). 

Pa'rian  Verse.  Ill-natured  satire; 
so  called  from  Archil'ochos,  a native  of 
Paros. 

Pa'rias  or  Par'iah.  The  lowest  class 
of  the  Hindu  population,  below  the  four 
castes. 

The  lodgers  overhead  may  perhaps  be  able  to  take 
a more  comprehensive  view  of  public  questions ; but 
they  are  political  Helots,  they  are  the  Pariahs  of 
our  constitutional  Brahminism.— T/ie  Times  (March. 
20, 1867). 

Parldel.  A young  gentleman  that 
travels  about  and  seeks  adventure,  be- 
cause he  is  young,  rich,  and  at  leisure*. 
{See  heloio.)  • 

Thee  too,  my  Paridel,  she  marked  thee  there. 

Stretched  on  the  rack  of  a too-easy  chair. 

And  heard  thy  everlasting  yawn  confess 

The  pains  and  penalties  of  idleness. 

“ Duticiad*'  iv.  341 . 

Sir  Paridel.  A male  coquette,  whose 
delight  was  to  win  women’s  hearts,  and 
then  desert  them.  The  model  was  the 
earl  of  Westmoreland. — Spenser,  '^Fajerg 
Queen, bk.  hi. 

Paris  or  Alexander.  Son  of  Priam, 
and  cause  of  the  siege  of  Troy.  He  was 
hospitably  entertained  by  Menela'os, 
king  of  Sparta,  and  eloped  with  Helen, 
his  host’s  wife.  This  brought  about  the- 
siege.  Post-Homeric  tradition  says  that 
Paris  slew  Achilles,  and  was  himself 
slain  either  by  Pyrrhos  or  Philocte'tes. 
— Homer,  Iliad.’' 

Paris.  Kinsman  to  the  prince  of  Ve 
ro'na,  the  unsuccessful  suitor  of  Juliet. — 
Shakespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet.” 

Paris.  Rabelais  says  that  Gargantua. 
played  on  the  Parisians  who  came  to 
stare  at  him  a practical  joke,  and  the 
men  said  it  was  a sport  par  ris”  (to  be* 
laughed  at) ; wherefore  the  city  was 
called  Par-’is.  It  was  called  before  Leu- 
co'tia,  from  the  white  skin  of  the  ladies”' 
(Greek,  leukoVes,  whiteness). — Gar^gan- 
tua  and  Pantagruel,”  bk.  i.  17. 

Paris,  called  by  the  Romans  '^^Lute'tia 
Parisio'rum”  (the  mud-city  of  the  Parisii). 
The  Parisii  were  the  Gallic  tribe  which 
dwelt  in  the  He  du  Palais  ” when  the 
Romans  invaded  Gaul.  {See  Isis.) 


PAKIS-GARDEN. 


PARLIAMENT. 


657 


Mons.  Paris.  The  public  execu- 
tioner of  Paris. 

Little  Paris. 

The  Galleria  di  Cristofers  ” of  Milan 
5s  so  called  on  account  of  its  brilliant 
shops,  its  numerous  caMs,  and  its  general 
gay  appearance. 

Brussels,  the  capital  of  Belgium,  situate 
-on  the  Senne. 

Paris-Garden.  A bear-garden;  a 
noisy,  disorderly  place.  In  allusion  to 
the  bear-garden  so  called  on  the  Thames 
bank-side,  kept  by  Robert  de  Paris  in 
the  reign  of  Richard  II. 

Paris'ian.  Made  at  Paris ; after  the 
mode  of  Paris ; a native  of  Paris ; like  a 
native  of  Paris. 

Parisienne  {La).  A celebrated  song 
by  Casimir  Delavigne,  called  the  Mar- 
sellaise  of  1830. 

Paris  n'a  plus  qu’un  cri  de  gloiie : 

En  avant  marchons, 

Centre  leurs  canons, 

A travel  s le  fer,  Je  feu  des  battaillons, 

Courons  a la  victoire ! 

Parisi'na,  the  beautiful  young  wife 
of  Azo,  falls  in  love  with  Hugo,  her  step- 
son, and  betrays  herself  to  her  husband 
in  a dream.  Azo  condemns  his  son  to 
be  executed,  but  the  fate  of  Parisina, 
says  Byron,  is  unknown. — ParisinaP 

Frizzi,  in  his  “ History  of  Ferrara,” 
tells  us  that  Parisi'na  Malatesta  was  the 
.second  wife  of  Niccolo,  marquis  of  Este ; 
that  she  fell  in  love  with  Hugo,  her  step- 
son, and  that  the  infidelity  of  Parisina 
was  revealed  by  a servant  named  Zoe'se. 
He  says  that  both  Hugo  and  Parisina  were 
beheaded,  and  that  the  marquis  com- 
manded all  the  faithless  wives  he  knew 
to  be  beheaded  to  the  moloch  of  his 
passion. 

Parish.  Registers.  Bills  of  mor- 
tality. George  Crabbe,  author  of  ‘‘  The 
Borough,”  has  a poem  in  three  parts, 
in  ten-syllable  verse  with  rhymes,  enti- 
tled The  Parish  Register.” 

Pariza'de  (4  syl.).  A lady  whose 
adventures  in  search  of  the  Talking  Bird, 
Binging  Tree,  and  Yellow  Water,  are 
related  in  the  Story  of  the  Sisters  who 
Envied  their  Younger  Sister,”  in  the 

Arabian  Nights.”  This  tale  has  been 
closely  imitated  in  “Chery  and  Fair- 
star”  {q^.v.). 

Parker  ship.  The  office  of  pound-  ' 
keeper ; from  parcus  (a  pound).  t 


Parks.  There  are  in  England  334 
parks  stocked  with  deer;  red  deer  are 
kept  in  31  of  them.  The  oldest  is  Bridge 
park,  in  Sussex,  called  in  Domesday 
Book  Reredfelle  (Rotherfield).  The 
largest  private  deer  park  is  lord  Eger- 
ton’s,  Tatton,  in  Cheshire,  which  contains 
2,500  acres.  Blenheim  park  contains 
2,800  acres,  but  only  1,150  acres  of  it  are 
open  to  deer.  Almost  as  extensive  as 
Tatton  park  are  Richmond  park,  in  Sur<« 
rey  ; East  well  park,  in  Kent ; Grims- 
thorpe  park,  in  Lincolnshire ; Thoresby 
park,  in  Notts  ; and  Knowesley  park,  in 
Lancashire. — E.  P,  Shirley,  English 
Deer  Parks.’* 

Parlance.  In  common  parlance.  In 
the  usual  or  vulgar  phraseology.  An 
English-French  word  ; the  French  have 
parler,  parlant,  parlage^  &c. — to  speak, 
speaking,  talk — but  not  parlance. 

Parlement  {French).  A crown  court 
where,  in  the  old  regime,  councillors 
were  allowed  to  plead,  and  where  justice 
was  administered  in  the  king’s  name. 
The  Paris  Parlement  received  appeals 
from  all  inferior  tribunals,  but  its  own 
judgments  were  final.  It  took  cogni- 
zance of  all  offences  against  the  crown, 
the  peers,  the  bishops,  the  corporations, 
and  all  high  officers  of  state ; and  though 
it  had  no  legislative  power,  had  to  register 
the  royal  edicts  before  they  could  become 
law.  Abolished  by  the  Constituent  As- 
sembly in  1790. 

Parliament. 

My  lord  Coke  tells  us  Parliamtnt  is  derived  firoin 
'*  parler  le  ment  ” (to  speak  one’s  mind).  He  might 
as  honestly  have  taught  us  that ilrmament  is  “firma 
mentis”  (a  farm  for  the  mind) ; or  “fundament”  the 
bottom  of  the  mind.— /fymer,  “ On  Parliaments.'* 

The  Addled  Parliament.  Between  April 
5th,  1614,  and  June  7th,  1615  ; so  called 
because  it  remonstrated  with  the  king  on 
his  levying  benevolences,”  but  passed 
no  acts. 

Barehone*s  Parliament.  The  Parlia- 
ment convened  July  4th,  1653 ; so  called 
from  Praise-God  Barebone,  who  ruled  it, 
and  overrode  its  members. 

The  Devil's  Parliament.  The  Parlia- 
ment convened  at  Coventry  by  Henry 
VI.  in  1459  ; so  called  because  it  passed 
attainders  on  the  duke  of  York  and  his 
chief  supporters. 

The  Drunken  Parliament.  The  Parlia- 
ment assembled  at  Edinburgh,  January 
1st,  1661,  of  which  Burnet  says  the  mem- 
bers ^*were  almost  perpetually  drunk.” 

Q Q 


65S  PARLIAMENTARIAN. 


PAROLLES. 


The  Good  Parliament,  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.,  while  the  Black  Prince  was 
still  alive  ; so  called  from  the  severity 
with  which  it  pursued  the  unpopular 
party  of  the  duke  of  Lancaster. 

The  Long  Parliament.  Same  as  the 

Pensioner  Parliament’^  (5'.'^.)* 
veiled  November  3rd,  1640  ; dissolved  by 
Cromwell,  April  20th,  1653.  This  Par- 
liament voted  the  House  of  Lords  as 
useless. 

Historian  of  the  Long  Parliament. 
Thomas  May,  buried  in  Westminster 
Abbey.  (1595-1650.) 

The  Mad  Parliament,  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.  (1258),  and  so  called  for  its 
opposition  to  the  king.  It  insisted  on  his 
confirming  the  Magna  Charta,  and  even 
appointed  twenty- four  of  its  own  mem- 
bers, with  Simon  de  Montfort  as  presi- 
dent, to  administer  the  government. 

The  Pensioner  Parliament,  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  I.  ; so  called  because  it  sat 
for  eighteen  years  without  dissolution, 
and  the  members  seemed  to  have  a pen- 
sion or  right  of  membership. 

The  Rump  Parliament,  in  the  Protec- 
torate ; so  called  because  it  contained 
the  rump  or  fag-end  of  the  Long  Parlia- 
ment (1659).  It  was  this  Parliament 
that  voted  the  trial  of  Charles  I. 

The  Running  Parliament.  A Scotch 
Parliament ; so  called  from  its  constantly 
being  shifted  from  place  to  place. 

The  Unmerciful  Parliament,  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  II. ; so  called  by  the 
people  from  its  tyrannical  proceedings. 

The  Useless  Parliament.  The  Parlia- 
ment convened  by  Charles  I.,  on  June 
18th,  1625  ; adjourned  to  Oxford,  August 
1st ; and  dissolved  A^ugust  12th ; having 
done  nothing  but  offend  the  king. 

The  WondermaJcing  Parliament.  The 
same  as  The  Unmerciful  Parliament;” 
convened  February  3rd,  1388.  By  play- 
ing into  the  hands  of  the  duke  of 
Gloucester  it  checkmated  the  king. 

Parliament  of  Dunces',  convened  by 
Henry  IV.  at  Coventry,  in  1404,  and  so 
called  because  all  lawyers  were  excluded 
from  it. 

Parliamenta'rian.  One  who  fa- 
voured  the  Parliament  in  opposition  to 
Charles  I. 

Parlour.  The  room  in  a nunnery 
where  the  ladies  went  to  see  their  friends 
and  chat  with  them  (French,  parler). 

Parlous.  Plausible,  evident;  also 
Wordy,  &c,  (French,  parler). 


Parme'nianists.  A name  given  to 
the  Don'atists;  so  called  from  Parmeni- 
a^nus,  bishop  of  Carthage,  the  great  an- 
tagonist of  Augustine. 

Par'mesan'.  A cheese  made  at 
Parma,  in  Italy. 

P amass  OS  {Greeh;  Parnassus, 
Latin).  A mountain  near  Delphi,  in 
Greece.  It  has  two  summits,  one  of 
which  was  consecrated  to  Apollo  and  the 
Muses,  the  other  to  Bacchus.  It  was 
anciently  called  Larnassos,  from  larnax, 
an  ark,  because  Deucalion’s  ark  stranded 
there  after  the  flood.  After  the  oracle 
of  Delphi  was  built  at  its  foot  it  received 
the  name  of  Parnassos,  which  Peucerus 
says  is  a corruption  of  Bar  Nahas,  hill 
of  divination.  The  Turks  call  it  ^^Lica- 
oura.” 

Parnassus.  The  region  of  poetry. 
Properly  a mountain  of  Phocis,  in  Greece, 
sacred  to  Apollo  and  the  Muses.  Where 
lies  your  vein  ? Are  you  inclined  to  soar 
to  the  higher  regions  of  Parnassus  or  to 
flutter  round  the  base  of  the  hill  ?”  (^‘  The- 
Antiquary”) — i.e..  Are  you  going  to  at- 
tempt the  higher  walks  of  poetry,  such 
as  epic  and  dramatic,  or  some  more 
modest  kind,  as  simple  song  ? 

To  climb  Parnassus.  To  write  poetry. 

Parody.  Father  of  Parody.  Hippo - 
nax  of  Ephesus.  The  word  parody  means 
an  ode  which  perverts  the  meaning  of 
another  ode.  (Greek,  para  ode.) 

Parole  {French).  A verbal  promise 
given  by  a soldier  or  prisoner  of  war, 
that  he  will  not  abuse  the  leave  of  ab- 
sence granted  to  him  ; the  watchword  of 
the  day. 

Parolles  (3  syl.).  A man  of  vain 
words,  who  dubs  himself ‘^captain,”  pre- 
tends to  knowledge  .which  he  has  not, 
and  to  sentiments  he  never  feels.  (French, 
paroles,  a creature  of  empty  words.) — 
Shakespeare,  All's  Well  that  Ends  WelV^ 

I know  liim  a notorious  liar, 

Think  him  a great  way  fool,  solely  a coward ; 

Yet  these  fixed  evils  sit  so  fit  on  him 

That  they  take  place  . . . .— {Acti  1.) 

He  was  a mere  Parolles  in  a pedagogues 
wig.  A pretender,  a man  of  words,  and 
a pedant.  The  allusion  is  to  the  bragging, 
faithless,  slandering  villain  mentioned 
above. 

Rust, sword;  cool. blushes ; and,  Parolles.  live 

Safest  in  shame ; being  fooled,  by  fooling  thrive; 

There’s  place  and  means  for  every  man  alijre. 

“AM’s  WeU  that  End*  Well,"  iv.  S. 


PARR. 


PARTINGTON. 


Parr.  Old  Parr.  Thomas  Parr  lived 
in  the  reigns  of  ten  sovereigns ; married 
a second  wife  when  he  was  120  years  old, 
and  had  a child  by  her.  He  was  a hus- 
bandman, born  at  Salop  in  1483,  and 
died  1635,  aged  152  years, 

Par'ricide  (3  syl.).  La' Belle  Parri- 
cide. Beatrice  Cenci  ( * -1599.) 

Parsees  or  Ghehers.  Fire-worship- 
pers. We  use  the  word  for  Persian 
refugees  driven  out  of  their  country  by 
the  persecutions  of  the  Mussulmans. 
I'hey  now  inhabit  various  parts  of  India. 
(The  word  means  People  of  Pars  or  Pars 
— i:e.,  Persia.) 

Parson,  says  Blackstone,  is  ^^persdna 
ecclesia,  one  that  hath  full  rights  of  the 
parochial  church.  ” W ith  all  due  deference 
to  so  great  an  authority,  it  is  far  more 
likely  to  be  connected  with  the  German 
pfaii'e,  a benefice  ; pfarrer,  a clergyman ; 
pfarr-haus,  a clergyman’s  house,  &c. 
(See  Clerical  Titles.) 

Am  on?  wyves  and  wodewes  ich  am  ywoned  sute 

{ivont  to  sft)^ 

Yparroked  (impaled)  in  puwea.  The  person  hit 

knoweth. 

Robert  Lnngland,  “ Piers  Plowmes  Vision.'' 

God  give  you  good  morrow,  master  person  (i.c..  Sir 
PI  atbaniel,  a parson). — Shakespeare,  “ .Love's  Labour's 
Lost,"  iv.  2. 

Parson  Adams.  A simple-minded 
country  clergyman  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, in  Fielding’s  Joseph  Andrews.” 

Fielding  says  that  Parson  Adams  at  the 
age  of  fifty  was  provided  with  a handsome 
income  of  £23  a-year  (1740).  Timothy 
Burrell,  Esq.,  in  1715,  bequeathed  to  his 
nephew  Timothy  the  sum  of  £20  a-year, 
to  be  paid  during  his  residence  at  the 
University,  and  to  be  continued  to  him 
till  he  obteined  some  preferment  with  at 
least  £30  2i-yQ2ir,—  ^^  Sussex  Archceological 
Collections f vol.  iii.,  p.  172. 

When  Goldsmith  says  that  his  coun- 
try clergy  man  with  “forty  pounds  a year  ” 
was  “passing  [exceedingly]  rich,”  it  is 
no  covert  satire.  In  Norway  and  Sweden 
to  the  present  hour  the  clergy  are  paid 
from  twenty  to  forty  pounds  a-year. 
Even  in  Paris  the  working  clergy  receive 
about  the  same  stipends. 

Parson  Bate.  A stalwart,  choleric, 
sporting  parson,  editor  of  the  Morning 
Post  in  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  was  afterwards  Sir  Henry 
Bate  Dudley,  Bart. 

When  Sir  Henry  Bate  Dudley  was  appointed  an 
Irish  dean,  a young  lady  of  Dublin  said,  “ Oh,  how 


m 


I long  to  see  our  dane ! They  say  he  is  a very  hand- 
some man,  and  that  he  fights  like  an  angel.— 0«s- 
sell's  3Iagazine,  “ Londoii  Legends,"  iii. 

Parsons  [Walter),  the  giant,  porter 
of  king  James,  died  in  1622. — ^'Fuller's 
Worthies.^* 

Partant  pour  la  Syrie.  The  na- 
tional air  of  the  French  empire.  The 
words  were  composed  by  M.  de  Laborde 
in  1809 ; the  music  by  queen  Hortense, 
mother  of  Napoleon  III.  It  is  a ballad, 
the  subject  of  which  is  as  follows  : — 
Young  Dunois  followed  the  count  his 
lord  to  Syria,  and  prayed  the  Virgin 
“that  he  might  prove  the  bravest  war- 
rior, and  love  the  fairest  maiden.”  After 
the  battle,  the  count  said  to  Dunois, 
“ To  thee  we  owe  the  victory,  and 
my  daughter  I give  to  thee.”  Moral: 
“Amour  a la  plus  belle ; honneur  au 
plus  vaillant.” 

Parthe'nia.  Mistress  of  Ar'galus, 
in  the  “Arcadia”  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney. 

Parthen'ope  (4  syl.).  Naples;  so 
called  from  Parthenope,  the  siren,  who 
threw  herself  into  the  sea  out  of  love  for 
Ulysses,  and  was  cast  up  on  the  bay  of 
Naples. 

Parthenope'an  Pepublie.  That 
of  Naples,  from  January  22, 1799,  to  the 
June  following. 

Particular  Baptists.  That  branch 
of  the  Baptist  Dissenters  who  limit  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  to  those 
who  have  been  recipients  of  adult  bap- 
tism. Open  Baptists  admit  any  baptised 
person  to  receive  it. 

Partieularists.  Those  who  hold 
the  doctrine  of  particular  election  and 
reprobation. 

Parting. 

Parting  is  such  sweet  sorrow, 

That  I shall  say  “ Gjod  Night”  till  it  be  morrow. 

Shakespeare,  “ Romeo  and  Juliet,"  act  ii,  s.  2. 

Partington.  A,  Mrs.  Malaprop,  or 
Tabitha  Bramble,  famous  for  her  misuse 
of  hard  words.— A P.  Shillaher  (an 
American  author). 

Dame  Partington  and  her  Mop.  A 
taunt  against  those  who  try  to  withstand 
progress.  The  newspapers  say  that  a 
Mrs.  Partington  had  a cottage  at  Sid- 
mouth,  in  Devonshire.  In  November, 
1824,  a heavy  gale  drove  the  sea- waves 
into  filer  house,  and  the  old  lady  laboured 
with  a mop  to  sop  the  wet  up,  till  she 
was  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  the  upper 
Q Q 2 


650 


PARTLET, 


PASQUINADE. 


part  of  the  house.  The  Rev.  Sydney 
Smith,  speaking  on  the  Lords’  rejection 
of  the  Reform  Bill,  October,  1831,  com- 
pares them  to  Dame  Partington  with  her 
mop,  trying  to  push  back  the  Atlantic. 

She  was  excellent,”  he  says,  ‘^at  a slop 
or  puddle,  but  should  never  have  med- 
dled with  a tempest.” 

Part'let.  The  hen  in  Chaucer’s 
‘'Nun’s  Priest’s  Tale,  and  in  the  tale  of 
“Reynard  the  Fox”  (14th  century).  So 
called  from  the  partlet  or  loose  collar  of 
“ the  doublet,”  referring  to  the  frill- like 
feathers  round  the  neck  of  certain  hens. 

Id  the  barn  the  tenant  cock 
Close  to  partlet  perched  on  high 

Cuningham. 

Sifter  Partlet  with  her  hooded  head,  al- 
legorises the  cloistered  community  of 
nuns  in  Dryden’s  “ Hind  and  Panther,” 
where  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  are 
likened  to  barn-yard  fowls. 

Partridge.  The  attendant  of  Jones, 
half  barber  and  half  schoolmaster; 
shrewd,  but  simple  as  a child.  His  sim- 
plicity, and  his  strong  excitement  at  the 
play-house,  when  he  went  to  see  Garrick 
in  “ Hamlet,”  are  admirably  portrayed. — 
Fielding,  “ Tom  Jones.^* 

Par'tula,  according  to  Tertullian, 
was  the  goddess  of  pregnancy,  who  de- 
termined the  time  of  gestation. — Aulus 
Gellius,  iii.,  c.  16. 

Party.  Person  or  persons  under 
consideration.  “ This  is  the  next  party, 
your  worship” — i.e.,  the  next  case  to  be 
examined.  “ This  is  the  party  that  stole 
the  things” — the  person  or  persons  ac- 
cused. (French,  partie,  a person.) 

If  an  evil  spirit  trouble  anj,  one  must  make  a 

smoke and  tbe  party  «hall  be  no  more  vexed 

(Tobit  vL  7). 

Party  Spirit.  The  animus  or  feel- 
ing of  a party  man. 

Par'venu'  {French),  An  upstart ; 
one  who  has  risen  from  the  ranks. 

Parvis  {London),  The  “place”  or 
court  before  the  main  entrance  of  a cathe- 
dral. In  the  parvis  of  St.  Paul’s  lawyers 
used  to  meet  for  consultation,  as  brokers 
do  in  exchange.  The  word  is  now  ap- 
plied to  the  room  above  the  church-porch. 
<A  corruption  of  the  Latin  pervins,  open 
to  passengers,  whence  the  low  Latin 
parvisium.^ 

A sergeant  of  lawe,  war  and  wys, 

That  often  hadd§  ben  atl6  parvya 
Chawtr,  “ Canttrbury  Talu  ” {Introduction). 


Parviz'  {Victoinotts),  Surname  of 
Khosru  or  Chosroes  II.,  the  grandson 
of  Khosru  the  Magnificent,  The  reigns  of 
Khosru  I.  and  II.  were  the  golden  period 
of  Persian  history.  Parviz'  kept  15,000 
female  musicians,  6,000  household  offi- 
cers, 20,500  saddle-mules,  960  elephants, 
200  slaves  to  scatter  perfumes  when  he 
went  abroad,  1,000  sekabers  to  water  the 
roads  before  him,  and  sat  on  a pillared 
throne  of  almost  inconceivable  splendour. 

The  horse  of  Chosroes  Parviz,  Shibdiz, 
the  Persian  Buceph'alos. 

Parys'atis.  Wife  of  Darius  Nothos. 
A corruption  of  Peri  'Zadcher  (fairy  bird- 
of-Paradise),  sometimes  called  Azad'clier 
(bird-of- Paradise). 

Par'zival  of  Wolfram  {Eschenbachfi 
An  Arthurian  romance  of  the  twelfth 
century. 

Pasha  of  Three  Tails.  There  are 
three  grades  of  pashas  distinguished  by 
the  number  of  horse-tails  on  their  stand- 
ard. In  war  the  horse-tail  standard  is 
carried  before  the  pasha,  and  planted  in 
front  of  his  tent.  The  highest  rank  of 
pashas  are  those  of  three  tails  ; the  grand 
vizier  is  always  ex  ojficio  such  a pasha. 
Pashas  of  two  tails  are  governors  of  pro- 
vinces ; it  is  one  of  these  officers  that 
we  mean  when  we  speak  of  a pasha  in  a 
general  way.  A pasha  of  one  tail  is  a 
sanjak  or  lowest  of  provincial  governors. 
(The  word  pasha  is  the  Persian  pa,  sup- 
port of  iShah,  the  ruler. ) 

Pasque  Eggs.  {See  Easter  Eggs.  ) 

Pasquina'de  (3  syl.).  A lampoon 
or  political  squib,  having  ridicule  for  its 
object ; so  called  from  Pasqui'no,  an 
Italian  tailor  of  the  15th  century,  noted 
for  his  caustic  wit.  Some  time  after  his 
death  a mutilated  statue  was  dug  up, 
representing  either  Ajax  supporting 
Menela'os,  or  Menela'os  carrying  the 
dead  body  of  Patroc 'los,  or  else  a gladia- 
tor, and  was  placed  at  the  end  of  the 
Braschi  Palace  near  the  Piazza  Navo'ni. 
As  it  was  not  clear  what  the  statue  repre- 
sented, and  as  it  stood  opposite  Pasquin’s 
house,  the  Italians  called  it  “Pasquin.” 
The  ^mans  made  this  torso  the  depo- 
sitory of  their  political,  religious,  and 
personal  satyes,  which  were  therefore 
called  Pasquin-songs  or  Pasquinades.  In 
the  Capitol  is  a rival  statue  called  Mar- 
forio,  to  which  f^re  affixed  replies  to  the 
Pasquinades. 


PASS, 


PATAVINITY, 


m 


Pass.  A pass  or  A common  pass.  An 
ordinary  degree,  without  honours.  Where 
a person  is  allowed  to  pass  up  the  senate- 
house  to  his  degree  without  being 

plucked.”  {See  Pluck.) 

Well  to  pass.  Well  to  do.  Here 
‘^pass”  is  the  synonym  ol  fare,  Saxon 
faran,  to  go  or  pass.  Shakespeare  has 
the  expression  How  goes  it  ?” — i.e.,  How 
fares  it,  how  passes  it  ? 

Passe-partout.  A sort  of  picture- 
frame.  The  middle  is  cut  out  to  the  size 
of  the  picture,  and  the  border  or  edge 
is  embossed,  so  as  to  present  a raised 
margin.  The  passe-partout  and  picture, 
being  backed  and  faced  with  a glass,  are 
held  together  by  an  edging  of  paper 
which  shows  on  the  glass  face.  The 
word  means  something  to  ‘^pass  over 
all.” 

A master-key  is  also  called  a passe- 
partout (a  pass  through  all  the  rooms). 

Passelourdin  (3  syl.).  A great 
rock  near  Poitiers,  where  there  is  a very 
narrow  hole  on  the  edge  of  a precipice, 
through  which  the  university  freshmen 
are  made  to  pass,  to  matriculate”  them. 
The  same  is  done  at  Mantua,  where  the 
freshmen  are  made  to  pass  under  the 
arch  of  St.  Longi'nus.  Passe-lourdan 
means  ‘‘booby-pass.” 

Pass'elyon.  A young  foundling 
brought  up  by  Morgane  la  Fee.  He  was 
detected  in  an  intrigue  with  Morgane’ s 
daughter,  and  the  a-dventures  of  this 
amorous  youth  are  related  in  the  ro- 
mance called  ‘ ‘ Perceforest,”  vol.  iii. 

Passet'reiil  (3  syl.).  Sir  Tristram’s 
horse.  Sir  Tristram  was  one  of  king 
Arthur’s  round-table  knights. 

Passing.  (>SeeBELL.) 

Passing  fair.  Admirably  fair.  The 
Dutch  passen,  to  admire. 

A man  he  was  to  all  the  country  dear. 

And  passing  rich  with  forty  pounds  a year. 

Goldsmith^  Deserted  Village.’* 

Passion  Plower.  So  named  from 
a fanciful  resemblance  in  different  parts 
of  the  flower  to  various  articles  connected 
with  the  “passion  ” or  crucifixion  of  our 
Lord.  The  five  anthers  symbolise  the  | 
five  wounds  ; the  three  styles,  the  three 
nails  ; the  column  on  which  the  ovary  is 
elevated,  the  pillar  of  the  cross ; the 
fleshy  threads  within  the  flower,  the 
crown  of  thorns ; and  the  calyx,  the 
nimbus. 


Passionists.  Certain  priests  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  who  mutually 
agreed  to  preach  “Jesus  Christ,  and  him 
crucified.”  The  founder  of  this  “ con- 
gregation ” was  Paul  Francis,  surnamed 
Paul  of  the  Cross.  (1694-1775.) 

Pass'over . A J ewish  festival  to  com- 
memorate the  deliverance  of  the  Israel- 
ites, when  the  angel  of  death  (that  slew 
the  first-born  of  the  Egyptians)  passed 
over  their  houses,  and  spared  all  who  did 
as  Moses  commanded  them. 

Passy-measure  or  Passing-mea^ 
sure.  A slow  stately  dance ; a corrup- 
tion of  the  Italian  passamezzo  (a  middle 
pace  or  step).  It  is  called  a cinque- 
measure,  because  it  consists  of  five 
measures — “two  singles  and  a double  for- 
ward, with  two  singles  side.”—  Collier, 

Passy-measure  Pavin.  A pavin 
is  a stately  dance  {see  Pa  van)  ; a passy- 
measure  pavin  is  a reeling  dance  or 
motion  like  that  of  a drunken  man  from 
side  to  side.  Sir  Toby  Belch  says  of 
“ Dick  Surgeon  ” — 

He's  a rogue  and  a passy-measure  pavin.  I hate  a 
drunken  xogxxQ.—Shakespeare^  “ Twelfth  Night,”  v.  i. 

Pasteboard.  A visiting  card;  so 
called  from  the  material  of  which  it  is 
made. 

Paston  Letters.  The  first  two 
volumes  appeared  in  1787,  entitled 
“ Original  Letters  written  during  the 
reigns  of  Henry  VI.,  Edward  IV.,  and 
Richard  HI.,  by  various  persons  of 
rank;”  edited  by  Mr.,  afterwards  Sir 
J ohn  Fenn.  They  are  called  Paston  be- 
cause chiefly  written  by  or  to  members 
of  the  Paston  family  in  Norfolk.  They 
passed  from  the  earl  of  Yarmouth  to 
Peter  le  Neve,  antiquary  ; then  to  Mr. 
Martin,  of  Palgrave,  Suffolk  ; were  then 
bought  by  Mr.  W orth,  of  Diss ; then 
passed  to  the  editor.  Charles  Knight 
calls  them  “ an  invaluable  record  of  the 
social  customs  of  the  fifteenth  century  ” 
(the  time  of  the  War  of  the  Roses),  but 
of  late  some  doubt  has  been  raised 
respecting  their  authenticity.  Three 
extra  volumes  were  subsequently  added. 

Pastorale  of  Pope  Gregory,  by 
Alfred  the  Great. 

Patavin'ity.  A provincial  idiom  in 
speech  or  writing ; so  called  from  Pata- 
vium  {Padua),  th^e  birth-place  of  Livy. 
{See  Patois.) 


6C2 


PATCH. 


PATRI-PASSIANS. 


Patcll.  A fool ; so  called  from  the 
motley  or  patched  dress  worn  by  licensed 
fools. 

"What  a pied  ninny’s  this ! thou  scurvy  patch  ! 

S/utkespearey  “ The  Tempest,'’  iiL  2. 

Cross-patch.  An  ill-tempered  person, 
(^See  above.) 

Patches.  The  Whig  belles  wore 
patches  of  court  plaister  on  the  right,  and 
the  Tories  on  the  left  side  of  their  faces 
or  foreheads.  {See  Court  Plaister.) 

Pat'elin.  The  artful  dodger.  The 
French  say  Savoir  son  Patelin  (to  know 
how  to  bamboozle  you).  Patelin  is  the 
name  of  an  artful  cheat  in  a farce  of  the 
fifteenth  century  so  called.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  wanted  William  Josseaume  to 
sell  him  cloth  on  credit,  and  artfully  fell 
on  praising  the  father  of  the  merchant, 
winding  up  his  laudation  with  this  ne  plus 
ultra'.  ‘^He  did  sell  on  credit,  or  even 
lend  to  those  who  wished  to  borrow.” 
This  farce  was  reproduced  in  1706  by 
Brueys,  under  the  name  of  ‘^L’Avocat 
Patelin.” 

Consider,  sir,  I pray  you.  how  the  noble  Patelin, 
having  a mind  to  extol  to  tbe  third  heaven  the  father 
of  William  Josseaume,  said  no  more  than  this: 
“And  he  did  lend  to  those  who  were  desirous  to  bor- 
row of  him.'’— Rabelais,  Pantagruel,”  iii.  4. 

Patelinage.  Foolery,  buffoonery ; 
acting  like  Patelin  in  the  French  farce. 

I never  in  my  life  laughed  so  much  as  at  the  acting 
of  that  Pateliuage.— 22a6eZais,  “PanfayrMfcl,”iii  34. 

Patent  Polls.  Letters  patent  col- 
lected together  on  parchment  rolls.  Each 
roll  is  a year,  though  in  some  cases  the 
roll  is  subdivided  into  two  or  more  parts. 
Each  sheet  of  parchment  is  numbered, 
and  called  a membrane  : for  example,  the 
8th  or  any  other  sheet,  say  of  the  10th 
year  of  Henry  III.,  is  cited  thus  : ‘^Pat. 
10,  Hen.  HI.,  m.  8.  If  the  document  is 
on  the  back  of  the  roll  it  is  called  dorso, 
and  d”  is  added  to  the  citation. 

Pat'er  Wos'ter.  The  Lord’s  Prayer ; 
so  called  from  the  first  two  words  in  the 
Latin  version.  Every  tenth  bead  of  a 
rosary  is  so  called,  because  at  that  bead 
the  Lord’s  Prayer  is  repeated.  Loosely, 
the  rosary  itself  is  so  called. 

Paternoster  Pow  (London)  was  so 
named  from  the  rosary  or  paternoster 
makers.  We  read  of  one  Robert  Nikke, 
a paternoster  maker  and  citizen,  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  IV.”  Some  say  it  was 
so  called  because  funeral  processions  on 
their  way  to  St.  Paul’s  began  their  pater 


noster  at  the  beginning  of  the  Row,  and 
went  on  repeating  it  till  they  reached 
the  church-gate. 

Pater  Patrum.  St.  Gregory  of 
Nyssa  was  so  entitled  by  the  Nicfean 
Council.  (332-395.) 

Pathfinder.  Major-General  John 
Charles  Fremont,  who  conducted  four  ex- 
peditions across  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
{Circa,  1815.)  ^ 

Pathfinder,  in  Fenimore  Cooper’s  five 
novels,  is  Natty  Bumppo,  called  tbe 
Pathfinder,  the  Deer-slayer,  the  Hawk- 
eye,  and  the  Trapper.  (See  Natty 
Bumppo.) 

Patient  (The).  Albert  IV.,  dujie  of 
Austria.  (1377-1404.)  (/S'ee  Helena.) 

Patient  Gris'el,  Oisil'des,  Grisild, 
Grisilde,  or  Grisildis,  according  to  Chau- 
cer, was  the  wife  of  Wautier,  marquis  of 
Sal'uces  (‘^Clerkes  Tale”).  According 
to  Boccaccio,  Griselda,  a poor  country 
lass,  became  the  wife  of  Gualtie're,  mar- 
quis of  Saluzzo  (‘‘Tenth  Day,” novel  x.). 
She  is  put  upon  by  her  husband  in  the 
most  wanton  and  gratuitous  manner,  but 
bears  it  all  not  only  without  a murmur, 
but  even  without  loss  of  temper.  She 
is  the  model  of  patience  under  injuries. 
The  allegory  means  that  God  takes  away 
our  children  and  goods,  afflicts  us  in 
sundry  ways,  and  tries  us  “so  as  with 
fire;”  but  we  should  always  say,  “The 
Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away ; blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.” 

Patin.  Brother  of  the  emperor  of 
Rome,  who  fights  with  Am'adis  of  Gaul, 
and  has  his  horse  killed  under  him. 

Pat'ina.  A beautiful  surface  deposit 
or  fine  rust  with  which,  in  time,  buried 
coins  and  bronzes  become  covered.  It 
is  at  once  preservative  and  ornamental, 
and  may  be  seen  to  advantage  in  the 
ancient  bronzes  of  Pompeii,  (Greek,  pa- 
tane,  a patin.) 

Patois  (2  syl.).  Dialectic  peculiarity, 
provincialism.  Quintilian  noticed  some- 
thing of  the  kind  in  Livy,  which  he  called 
patavinitas,  from  Patavium,  Livy^s  birth- 
town. 

Patri-Passians.  One  of  the  most 
ancient  sectaries  of  the  Christian  Church, 
who  maintained  the  oneness  of  the  God- 
head. The  founder  was  Praxeas,  of 
Phrygia,  in  the  second  century.  The 


PATRICIAN. 


PATTEN. 


6G3 


appellation  was  given  to  them  by  their 
opponents,  who  affirmed  that  according 
to  their  theory  the  Father  must  have 
suffered  on  the  cross. 

Patrician,  properly  speaking,  is  one 
of  the  patres  or  fathers  of  Rome.  These 
patres  were  the  senators,  and  their  de- 
scendants were  the  patricians.  As  they 
held  for  many  years  all  the  honours  of 
the  state,  the  word  came  to  signify  the 
snagnates  or  nobility  of  a nation. 

N.B. — In  Rome  the  patrician  class  was 
twice  augmented  : first  by  Tatius,  after 
the  Sabine  war,  who  added  a whole  cen- 
tury and  again  by  Tarquinius  Priscus, 
who  added  another.  The  Sabine  century 
went  by  the  name  of  patricians  of  the 
senior  races  {majo'rum  gentium),  and  the 
Tarquinian  patricians  were  termed  of  the 
junior  creation  {mino'rum  gentium). 

Pat'rick.  Chambers  says,  We  can 
trace  the  footsteps  of  St.  Patrick  almost 
from  his  cradle  to  his  grave,  by  the  names 
<»f  places  called  after  him.  Thus,  assuming 
the  Scottish  origin,  he  was  born  at  Kit- 
patrich  (the  cell  of  Patrick),  in  Dumbar- 
tonshire ; he  resided  for  some  time  at 
Dal-patrich  (the  district  of  Patrick),  in 
Lanarkshire ; and  visited  Crag-phadrig 
(the  rock  of  Patrick),  near  Inverness. 
He  founded  two  churches,  Kirk-pairick 
in  Kircudbright,  and  Kirk-patrick  in 
Dumfries ; and  ultimately  sailed  from 
Port-patrick,  leaving  behind  him  such  an 
odour  of  sanctity,  that  among  the  most 
distinguished  families  of  the  Scottish 
aristocracy  Patrick  has  been  a favourite 
name  down  to  the  present  day. 

Arriving  in  England  he  preached  at 
Patter-dale  (Patrick’s  valley),  in  West- 
moreland ; and  founded  the  church  of 
Kirk-patrick,  in  Durham.  Visiting  Wales 
he  walked  over  Sarn-hadrig  (causeway 
of  Patrick),  which  now  forms  a dan- 
gerous shoal  in  Carnarvon  Bay ; and 
departing  for  the  Continent  sailed  from 
Llan-hadrig  (church  of  Patrick),  in  the 
isle  of  Anglesea.  Undertaking  his  mis- 
sion to  convert  the  Irish,  he  first  landed 
a,t  Innis-patrick  (island  of  Patrick),  and 
next  at  Holm-patrick,  on  the  opposite 
shore  of  the  mainland,  in  the  county  of 
Dublin.  Sailing  northwards  he^ touched 
at  the  Isle  of  Man,  called  Innis-patrick, 
where  he  founded  another  church  of 
Kirk-patrick,  near  the  town  of  Peel. 
Again  landing  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  in 
the  county  of  Down,  he  converted  and 


baptised  the  chieftain  Dichu  on  his  own 
threshing-floor,  an  event  perpetuated  in 
the  word  Saul — i.e.,  Sahhal-patrick  {hsivn 
of  Patrick).  He  then  proceeded  to 
Temple-patrick,  in  Antrim  ; and  from 
thence  to  a lofty  mountain  in  Mayo,  ever 
since  called  Croagh-pairick.  In  East 
Meath  he  founded  the  abbey  of  Domnack- 
Padraig  (house  of  Patrick),  and  built  a 
church  in  Dublin  on  the  spot  where  St. 
Patrick's  Cathedral  now  stands.  In  an 
island  of  Lough  Derg,  in  Donegal, 
there  is  St.  Patrick's  Purgatory ; in  Lein- 
ster, St.  Patrick's  Wood ; at  Cashel,  St. 
Patrick's  Rock.  There  are  scores  of  St. 
Patrick's  Wells  from  which  he  drank  ; 
and  he  died  at  Saul,  March  17th,  493. 
— ‘‘Book  of  Days." 

St.  Patrick's  Cave,  through  which  was 
a descent  to  purgatory,  for  the  behoof  of 
the  living  who  wished  to  expiate  their 
evil  deeds  before  death. 

St.  Patrick's  Cross.  The  same  shape 
as  St.  Andrew’s  cross  (X)>  only  different 
in  colour,  viz.,  red  on  a white  field.  {See 
Andrew.) 

St.  Patrick's  Purgatory,  Ireland,  de- 
scribed in  the  Italian  romance  called 
“ Guerino  Meschino.”  Here  gourmands 
are  tantalised  with  delicious  banquets 
which  elude  their  grasp,  and  are  at  the 
same  time  troubled  with  colic. 

St.  Patrick  and  the  Serpent.  According 
to  tradition,  St.  Patrick  cleared  Ireland 
of  its  vermin  ; one  old  serpent  resisted, 
but  St.  Patrick  overcame  it  by  cunndng. 
He  made  a box,  and  invited  the  serpent 
to  enter  it.  The  serpent  objected,  saying 
it  was  too  small ; but  St.  Patrick  in- 
sisted it  was  quite  large  enough  to  be 
comfortable.  After  a long  contention, 
the  serpent  got  in  to  prove  its  case,  when 
St.  Patrick  slammed  down  the  lid,  and 
threw  the  box  into  the  sea.  To  com- 
plete this  wonderful  tale,  the  legend  says 
the  waves  of  the  sea  are  made  by  the 
writhings  of  this  serpent,  and  the  noise 
of  the  sea  is  that  of  the  serpent  imploring 
the  saint  to  release  it. 

Pat'rico.  An  Abram-man  {q.v.'). 

Patroclos.  The  gentle  and  amiable 
friend  of  Achilles  in  Homer’s  “Iliad.’* 
When  Achilles  refused  to  fight  in  order 
to  annoy  Agamem'non,  he  sent  Patroclos 
to  battle,  and  he  was  slain  by  Euphorbos. 

Patten.  Martha  or  Patty,  says  Gay, 
was  the  daughter  of  a Lincolnshire 


664 


PATTENS-MONEY. 


PAUL’S  WALKEPvS. 


farmer,  with  whom  the  village  black- 
smith fell  in  love.  To  save  her  from 
wet  feet  when  she  went  to  milk  the  cows, 
the  village  Mulciber  invented  a clog, 
mounted  on  iron,  which  he  called  yyatty^ 
after  his  mistress.  This  pretty  fable  is 
of  no  literary  value,  as  the  word  is  the 
French  'patin  (a  high-heeled  shoe),  from 
the  Greek  patein  (to  walk). 

The  patten  now  supports  each  frugal  dame, 

"Which  from  the  blue-eyed  Patty  takes  its  name. 

Qay^  “ Trivia,”  i. 

Pattens-Money  {Chapins  de  la 
Reina).  A subsidy  levied  in  Spain  on  all 
crown-tenants  at  the  time  of  a royal 
marriage. 

Patter.  To  chatter,  to  clack.  Dr. 
Pusey  thinks  it  is  derived  from  PoAer- 
noster  (the  Lord’s  Prayer).  The  priest 
abbled  it  in  a low,  mumbling  voice  till 
e came  to  the  words,  and  lead  us  not 
into  temptation,”  which  he  spoke  aloud, 
and  the  choir  responded,  “ but  deliver 
us  from  evil.”  In  our  reformed  Prayer- 
Book,  the  priest  is  directed  to  say  the 
whole  prayer  with  a loud  voice.”  Prob- 
ably the  ‘Spattering  of  rain” — i.e.,  the 
rain  coming  with  its  pat-pat,  is  after  all 
the  better  derivation.  ( W elsh,  ffatj  a 

blow.) 

Pattern.  A corruption  of  patron. 
As  a patron  is  a guide,  and  ought  to  be 
an  example,  so  the  word  has  come  to  sig- 
nify an  artistic  model. 

Pattieson  {Mr.  Peter).  Introduced 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  the  Introductions 
of  the  “Heart  of  Midlothian  ” and  “ Bride 
of  Lammermoor.”  He  is  represented  as 
s‘  assistant”  at  Gandercleugh,  and  author 
of  the  “ Tales  of  My  Landlord,”  pub- 
lished posthumously  by  Jedidiah  Cleish- 
botham. 

Paul  {St.).  Patron  saint  of  preachers 
and  tentmakers,  being  himself  the  most 
eloquent  of  the  sacred  penmen,  and  a 
maker  of  tents. 

His  symbols  are  a sword  and  open 
book,  the  former  the  instrument  of  his 
martyrdom,  and  the  latter  indicative  of 
the  new  law  propagated  by  him  as  the 
apostle  of  the  Gentiles.  He  is  repre- 
sented of  short  stature,  with  bald  head 
and  grey,  bushy  beard. 

St.  Paul  the  Hermit  is  represented  as 
an  old  man,  clothed  with  palm-leaves, 
and  seated  under  a palm-tree,  near 
which  are  a fountain,  river,  and  loaf  of 
bread. 


Paul  of  the  Cross.  Paul  Francis,  founder 
of  the  Passionists.  (1694-1775.) 

Paul  and  Virginia.  A tale  by  Ber- 
nardin  de  St.  Pierre.  At  one  time  this 
little  romance  was  as  popular  as  “ Uncl& 
Tom’s  Cabin.” 

Paul  Pry.  An  idle,  meddlesome 
fellow,  who  has  no  occupation  of  his  owrip. 
and  is  always  interfering  with  other  folk’s 
business. — John  Poole,  Paul  Pry''  (a 
comedy).  The  original  was  Thomas  Hill. 

Paul'ianists.  A sect  of  heretics  so 
called  from  Paulia'nus  Samosa'tanus 
(Paul  of  Samosa'ta),  elected  bishop  of 
Antioch  in  262.  He  may  be  considered 
the  father  of  the  Socinians. 

Paulicians.  A religious  sect  of  the 
Eastern  empire,  an  offshoot  of  the  Mani- 
chse'ans.  It  originated  in  an  Armenian 
named  Paul,  who  lived  under  Justinian 
II.  Neander  says  they  were  the  fol- 
lowers of  Constantine  of  Mananalis,  and 
were  called  Paulicians  because  the  apostle 
Paul  was  their  guide.  He  says  they  re- 
jected the  worship  of  the  Virgin  and  of 
saints,  denied  the  doctrine  of  transub- 
stantiation,  and  maintained  the  right  of 
every  one  to  read  the  Scriptures  freely. 

Pauli'na,  wife  of  Antig'onus,  a Si- 
cilian nobleman,  takes  charge  of  queen 
Hermi'one,  when  unjustly  sent  to  prison 
by  her  jealous  husband,  and  after  a timOv 
presents  her  again  to  Leontes  as  a statue 
“by  that  rare  Italian  master,  Julio 
'Rom2iTiO."— Shakespeare Winter's  TaleP 

Paulo.  The  cardinal,  brother  of  count 
Guido  Franceschi'ni,  who  advised  his 
scape  grace  bankrupt  brother  to  marry 
an  heiress,  in  order  to  repair  his  fortune. 
— Robert  Browning,  ‘ ‘ The  Ring  and  the 
Booh." 

Paul’s  Walkers.  Loungers  who 
frequented  the  middle  of  St.  Paul’s, 
which  was  the  Bond  Street  of  London 
up  to  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth. 
{See  Ben  Jonson’s  “Every  Man  out  of 
his  Humour,”  where  are  a variety  of 
scenes  given  in  the  interior  of  St.  Paul’s. 
Harrison  Ainsworth  describes  these 
“walkers”  in  his  novel  entitled  “Old 
SaintPaul’s.”) 

The  young  gallants. . . .used  to  meet  at  the  centra! 
point,  St.  Paul’s ; and  from  this  circumstance  ob- 
tained the  appellation  of  Paul  s H'alkera,  as  ue  i^omt 
say  Bond  Street  Loungers —Moser,  “ European  Ita- 
gazine,”  J uly,  1807. 


PAVAN. 


PEAK. 


6G5 


PaVan  or  Pavin.  Every  ])avan  has 
its  galliard  (Spanish).  Every  sage  has 
his  moments  of  folly.  Every  white  must 
have  its  black,  and  every  sweet  its  sour. 
The  pavan  was  a stately  Spanish  dance, 
in  which  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  stalked 
like  peacocks  (Latin,  pavdnes),  the  gen- 
tlemen with  their  long  robes  of  office,  and 
the  ladies  with  trains  like  peacocks’  tails. 
The  pavan,  like  the  minuet,  ended  with 
a quick  movement  called  the  galliard,  a 
sort  of  gavot'. 

Pawnbroker.  The  three  golden  halls. 
The  Lombards  were  the  first  money- 
lenders in  England,  and  those  who  bor- 
rowed money  of  them  deposited  some  se- 
curity or  pawn.  The  Medici  family,  whose 
arms  were  three  gilded  pills,  in  allusion 
to  their  profession  of  medicine,  were 
the  richest  merchants  of  Florence,  and 
greatest  money-lenders.  {See  Balls.) 

Pawnee.  Brandy  pawnee.  Brandy 
grog.  (Hindu,  pa' ni,  water.) 

Pax.  The  ^^Kiss  of  Peace.”  Also  a 
sacred  utensil  used  when  mass  is  cele* 
brated  by  a high  dignitary.  It  is  some- 
times a crucifix,  sometimes  a tablet,  and 
sometimes  a reliquary.  In  the  mass  of 
Maundy  Thursday  the  pax  is  omitted,  to 
express  horror  at  the  treacherous  kiss  of 
Judas. 

Pay.  ril  pay  him  out.  ITl  be  a 
match  for  him.  I’ll  punish  him.  (French, 
peiner,  peine,  punishment ; Latin, 

They  with  a foxe  tale  him  soundly  did  paye. 

“TAe  King  and  Northerne  Man"  (1640). 

Who's  to  pay  the  piper  t Who  is  to 
stand  Sam  ? who  is  to  pay  the  score  ? The 
phrase  comes  from  the  tradition  about 
the  Pied  Piper  of  Hamelin,  who  agreed 
to  cure  the  town  of  rats  and  mice  ; when 
he  had  done  so  the  people  of  Hammel 
refused  to  pay  him,  whereupon  he  piped 
again,  and  led  all  the  children  to  Koppel- 
berg  Hill,  which  opened  on  them. 

Payn'ising.  A process  of  preserving 
and  hardening  wood  invented  by  Mr. 
Payne.  {See  Kyanise.) 

Peace.  The  Perpetual  Peace.  The 
peace  concluded  January  24th,  1502,  be- 
tween England  and  Scotland.  A few 
years  after,  the  battle  of  Flodden  Field 
was  fought  between  the  contracting  par- 
ties. 

Peace  of  AntaPcidas,  between 
A.rtaxerxes  and  the  states  of  Greece.  It 


was  brought  about  by  AntaPcidas,  the^ 
Spartan  (b.c.  387). 

Peace  of  G-od.  In  1035  the  clergy 
interfered  to  prevent  the  constant  feuds 
between  baron  and  baron  ; they  com- 
manded all  men  to  lay  down  their  arms 
on  pain  of  excommunication.  The  com- 
mand and  malediction  were  read  daily 
from  the  pulpits  by  the  officiating  priests 
after  the  proper  gospel: — ^^May  they 
who  refuse  to  obey  be  accursed,  and  have 
their  portion  with  Cain,  the  first  mur- 
derer; with  Judas,  the  arch  traitor; 
and  with  Dathan  and  Abi'ram,  who  went 
down  alive  into  the  pit.  May  they  be 
accursed  in  the  life  that  now  is  ; and  in 
that  which  is  to  come  may  their  light  b© 
put  out  as  a candle.”  So  saying,  all  the 
candles  were  instantly  extinguished,  and 
the  congregation  had  to  make  its  way 
out  of  church  as  it  best  could. 

Peaceful  {The).  Kang-wang,  third 
of  the  Thow  dynasty  of  China,  in  whose 
reign  no  or>e  was  either  put  to  death  or 
imprisoned.  (1098-1152.) 

^ Peach.  Inform,  ‘'split a contrac- 
tion of  impeach. 

Peach'um.  A receiver  of  stolen 
goods,  whose  house  is  the  resort  of  pick- 
pockets and  thieves.  — Gay,  Beggars' 
Opefi'a." 

Mrs.  Peachum.  His  wife. 

Peacock.  Let  him  leep  peticoch  to- 
himself.  Let  him  keep  to  himself  his 
eccentricities.  When  George  III.  had 
partly  recovered  from  one  of  his  attacks, 
his  ministers  got  him  to  read  the  King’s 
Speech,  but  he  ended  every  sentence  with 
the  word  peacock.”  The  minister  who 
drilled  him  said  that  peacock  was  an  ex- 
cellent word  for  ending  a sentence,  only 
kings  should  not  let  subjects  hear  it,  but 
should  whisper  it  softly.  The  result 
was  a perfect  success : the  pause  at  the 
close  of  each  sentence  had  an  excelleut 
effect. 

By  the  Peacoch!  A common  oath  which 
at  one  time  was  thought  sacred.  I'he 
fabled  incorruptibility  of  the  peacock’s 
flesh,  caused  the  bird  to  be  adopted  as  a . 
type  of  the  resurrection. 

Peak  (Derby shire").  "The  Queen  of 
Scots’  Pillar”  is  a column  in  the  cave  of 
the  peak  as  clear  as  alabaster,  and  sO' 
called  because  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  pro- 
ceeded thus  far,  and  then  returned. 


PEAL. 


PEDLAR 


Peal.  To  ring  a peal  is  to  ring  5,040 
€hanges ; any  number  of  changes  less 
than  that  is  technically  called  a touch  or 
jlourish.  Bells  are  first  raised,  and  then 
pealed^i.e.,  knocked  with  their  hammers. 
\The  Latin  pello,  to  knock.) 

This  society  rum? a true  and  complete  peal  of 

S,040  grandsire  triples  in  three  hours  and  fourteen 
minutes.— iuscripiioH  in  Windsor  Curfeio  Tower. 

Pearls.  Dioscor'ides  and  Pliny  men- 
tion the  belief  that  pearls  are  formed  by 
-drops  of  rain  falling  into  the  oyster-shells 
while  open,  and  the  rain-drops  thus 
received  are  hardened  into  pearls  by 
«ome  secretions  of  the  animal. 

According  to  Richardson,  the  Persians 
say  when  drops  of  spring-rain  fall  into 
the  pearl-oyster  they  produce  pearls. 

Precious  the  tear  as  that  rain  from  the  sky 
Which  turns  into  pearls  as  it  falls  on  the  sea. 

Thomas  Moore. 

N.B. — Dr.  Darwin  thinks  that  pearls 
are  formed  like  those  calcareous  pro- 
ductions of  crabs  known  by  the  name  ©f 
■€rahs^ -eyes,  which  are  always  near  the 
stomach  of  the  creature  ; and  adds  that 
in  both  cases  the  substance  is  probably 
a natural  provision  either  for  the  repara- 
tion or  enlargement  of  the  sheik — 
‘‘Econoyny  of  Vegetation^  i.  3. 

Pearls.  Cardan  says  that  pearls  are 
polished  by  being  pecked  and  played  with 
by  doves. — Rerum  Varietate,"  vii.  34. 

Peasant  Bard.  Robert  Burns,  the 
lyric  poet  of  Scotland.  (1759-17%.) 

^Peasant  "War,  between  1500  and 
1525.  It  was  a frequent  rising  of  the 
peasantry  of  Swabia,  Franconia,  Saxony, 
and  other  German  states,  in  consequence 
of  the  tyranny  and  oppression  of  the 
•nobles.  In  1502  was  the  rebellion  called 
the  Laced  Shoe,  from  its  cognisance ; in 
1514,  the  League  of  Poor  Conrad;  in 
1523,  the  Latin  War.  The  insurgents 
were  put  down,  and  whereas  they  had 
‘been  whipped  before  with  scourges,  they 
were  now  chastised  with  scorpions. 

Peascod.  Father  of  Peas-blossom, 
if  Bottom’s  pedigree  ma}^  be  accepted. 

I pray  you  commend  me  to  Mistress  Squash 
your  mother,  and  to  Master  Peascod  your'  father, 
jiood  Master  Peasblossom.— ^/la/ce^eare,  ‘'Midsum- 
mer Night's  Dreamy”  iii.  1. 

Winter  for  shoeing,  peascod  for  wooinq. 
The  allusion  in  the  latter  clause  is  to  the 
custom  of  placing  a peascod  with  nine 
peas  in  it  on  the  door-lintel,  under  the 
notion  that  the  first  man  who  entered 
through  the  door  would  be  the  husband  of 


the  person  who  did  so.  Another  custom 
is  alluded  to  by  Browne — 

The  peascod  greene  oft  with  no  little  toyle 
Hee’d  sceke  for  in  the  fattest,  fertil’st  soile. 
And  rend  it  from  the  stalke  to  bring  it  to  her. 
And  in  her  bosome  for  acceptance  woo  her. 

"British  Pastorals.'* 

Pec.  Eton  slang  for  money.  A con- 
traction of  the  Latin  pecu'nia. 

Pecca'vi.  To  cry  pecca'vi.  To  ac- 
knowledge oneself  in  the  wrong.  It  is 
said  that  Sir  Charles  Napier,  after  the 
battle  of  Haidarabad,  in  1843,  used  this 
word  as  a pun  upon  his  victory — *'1  have 
Sinde  ” (sinned).  ( Pecca'vi  is  the  Latin 
for  ^^I  have  done  wrong.”) 

Peckham.  All  holiday  at  Peolham 
—i.e.,  no  appetite,  not  peckish ; a pun  on 
the  word  peck,  as  going  to  Bedfordshire 
is  a pun  on  the  word  bed. 

Going  to  PecJcham.  Going  to  dinner. 

Peck'snifF.  A canting  hypocrite, 
who  speaks  homilies  of  morality,  does 
the  most  heartless  things  ‘^as  a duty  to 
society,”  and  forgives  wrong-doing  in 
nobody  but  himself.— ‘‘‘Martin 
ChuzzleiviV 

Peculium.  My  oivn  peculiiini. 
Private  and  individual  property  or  pos- 
session. The  Roman  slaves  were  allowed 
to  acquire  property,  over  which  their 
masters  had  no  right  or  control ; this 
was  called  their  peculium. 

Pecuniary.  From  pecus,  cattle, 
especially  sheep.  Varo  says  that  sheep 
were  the  ancient  medium  of  barter  and 
standard  of  value.  Ancient  coin  was 
marked  with  the  image  of  an  ox  or 
sheep.  We  have  the  Gold  Shee^) 
(niouton  dior)  and  Gold  Lamb  (agnel  d'oi') 
of  ancient  France,  so  called  from  the 
figure  struck  on  them,  and  worth  about 
a shilling. 

Ped'agOgue  (3  syl.)  means  a boy- 
leader.  It  was  a slave  whose  duty  it  was 
to  attend  the  boy  whenever  he  left  home. 
As  these  slaves  influenced  the  education 
of  the  child,  the  word  came  to  be  applied 
to  schoolmasters.  (Greek,  pais  ago'go.) 

Pedlar  is  not  a tramp  who  goes  on 
his  feet,  as  if  from  the  Latin  pedes  (feet), 
but  a man  who  carries  a ped,  or  hamper 
without  a lid,  in  which  are  stored  fish  or 
other  articles  to  hawk  about  the  streets. 
In  Norwich  there  is  a place  called  the 
Ped-market,  where  women  expose  eggs, 
butter,  cheese,  &c.,  in  open  hampers. 


PEDLARS  ACRE. 


PEG. 


667 


Pedlars  Acre  {Lamheth).  Accord- 
iDg  to  tradition  a pedlar  of  this  parish 
left  a sum  of  money,  on  condition  that 
his  picture,  with  a dog,  should  be  pre- 
served for  ever  in  glass  in  one  of  the 
church-windows.  In  the  south  window  of 
the  middle  aisle,  sure  enough,  such  a pic- 
ture exists  ; but  probably  it  is  a rebus  on 
Chapman,  the  name  of  some  benefactor. 
In  Swaffham  church  there  is  a portrait  of 
one  J ohn  Chapman,  a great  benefactor, 
who  is  represented  as  a pedlar  with  his 
pack  ; and  in  that  town  a similar  tradition 
exists. 

Peebles.  Poor  Peter  Peebles.  The 
pauper  litigant  in  Redgauntlet,”  by 
vSir  Walter  Scott. 

Peel.  A Peel  District.  A clerical 
district  (not  a parish)  devised  by  Sir 
Robert  Peel. 

Peeler  (A).  Slang  for  a policeman. 
So  called  from  Sir  Robert  Peel,  who 
■established  the  Irish  constabulary.  Bobby 
being  the  nickname  of  Robert  is  applied 
to  the  same  force.  (>See  Bobby.) 

Peeler.  It  is  an  extraordinary  circum- 
stance that  this  word,  now  applied  to  a 
policeman  or  thief-catcher,  was  in  the 
sixteenth  century  applied  to  robbers. 
Hollinshed,  in  his  Scottish  Chronicle 
{1570),  refers  to  Patrick  Dunbar,  who 
‘^delivered  the  countrie  of  these 
peelers.”  Thomas  Mortimer,  in  his 

British  Plutarch;”  Milton,  in  his 
^‘Paradise  Regained”  (book  iv.);  and 
Dry  den,  all  use  the  word  ^‘peeler”  as  a 
plunderer  or  robber.  The  old  Border 
■powers  were  called  peels.” 

Peep.  As  a specimen  of  the  inge- 
nuity of  certain  etymologists  in  tracing 
-our  language  to  Latin  and  Greek  sources, 
may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Casaubon’s  deri- 
vation of  peep  from  the  Greek  opipteuo 
(to  stare  at). 

Playing  peep-bo.  Hiding  or  sculking 
from  creditors ; in  allusion  to  the  infant 
nursery  game. 

Peep-o’-Day  Boys.  The  Irish  in- 
surgents of  1784  ; so  called  because  they 
used  to  visit  the  houses  of  their  oppo- 
nents (called  defenders)  at  peep  of  day, 
searching  for  arms  or  plunder. 

Peeping  Tom  of  Coventry.  Leo- 
fric,  earl  of  Mercia  and  lord  of  Coventry, 
imposed  some  very  severe  imposts  on  the 
people  of  Coventry,  which  his  countess, 
Godi'va,  tried  to  get  mitigated.  The 


earl,  thinking  to  silence  her  importunity, 
said  he  would  comply  when  she  had 
ridden  naked  from  one  end  of  the  town 
to  the  other.  Godi'va  took  him  at  his 
word,  actually  rode  through  the  town 
naked,  and  Leofric  remitted  the  imposts. 
Before  Godi'va  started,  all  the  inhabi- 
tants voluntarily  confined  themselves  to 
their  houses,  and  resolved  that  any  one 
who  stirred  abroad  should  be  put  to 
death.  A tailor  thought  to  have  a peep, 
but  was  rewarded  by  the  loss  of  his  eyes, 
and  has  ever  since  been  called  Peeping 
Tom  of  Coventry. 

Peers  of  the  Realm.  The  five 
orders  of  duke,  marquis,  earl,  viscount, 
and  baron.  The  word  peer  is  the  Latin 
pares  (equals),  and  in  feudal  times  all 
great  vassals  were  held  equal  in  rank. 
At  the  accession  of  Hugues  Capet  there 
were  six  lay  peers,  and  six  ecclesiastical. 
Of  the  lay  peers,  three  were  dukes,  and 
three  counts  ; of  the  ecclesiastics,  two 
were  archbishops,  and  four  bishops.  In 
modern  usage  these  noblemen  are  only 
equal  in  public  actions,  as  in  votes  of 
parliament,  and  trial  of  peers. 

Peg  or  Peggy,  for  Margaret,  corrupted 
into  Meg  or  Meggy.  Thus,  Pat  or  Patty 
for  Martha ; Pol  or  Polly,  for  Mary, 
corrupted  into  Mol  or  Molly;  &c. 

A peg  too  loic.  Low-spirited,  moody. 
Our  (Saxon  ancestors  were  accustomed  to 
use  peg- tankards,  or  tankards  with  a peg 
inserted  at  equal  intervals,  that  when 
two  or  more  drank  from  the  same  bowl 
no  one  might  exceed  his  fair  proportion. 
W e are  told  that  St.  Dunstan  introduced 
the  fashion  to  prevent  brawling.  I am  a 
peg  too  loin  means,  I want  another  draught 
to  cheer  me  up. 

Come,  old  fellow,  drink  down  to  your  peg ! 

But  do  not  driuk  any  further,  1 beg. 

Longfellow^  Golden  Legend”  iv. 

To  tahe  one  doion  a peg.  To  take  the 
conceit  out  of  a braggart  or  pretentious 
person.  The  allusion  here  is  not  to  peg- 
tankards,  but  to  a ship’s  colours,  which 
used  to  be  raised  and  lowered  by  pegs ; 
the  higher  the  colours  are  raised  the 
greater  the  honour,  and  to  take  them 
down  a peg  would  be  to  award  less 
honour. 

Trepanned  your  party  with  intrigue, 

And  took  your  grandees  down  a peg. 

Butler^  "Hudibrasp  ii.  2. 

There  are  always  more  round  pegs  than 
round  holes.  Always  more  candidates  for 
office  than  places  to  dispose  of.  The 


668 


PEGASOS. 


PELIDES. 


allusion  is  to  Military  Tactics  and  other 
similar  games. 

Peg'asos  {Greek;  Pegasus,  Latin). 
The  inspiration  of  poetry,  or,  according 
to  Boiardo  (‘^Orlando  Inamorato’’),  the 
horse  of  the  Muses.  A poet  speaks  of  his 
Peg'asus,  as  ‘^My  Pegasus  will  not  go 
this  morning,”  meaning  his  brain  will  not 
work.  I am  mounting  Pegasus”— ^.g., 
going  to  write  poetry.  ‘‘I  am  on  my 
Pegasus,”  engaged  in  writing  verses. 

Peg'asus  or  Peg'asos,  according  to 
classic  mythology,  was  the  winged  horse 
on  which  Beller'ophon  rode  against  the 
Ohimaera.  When  the  Muses  contended 
with  the  daughters  of  Pi'eros,  Hel'icon 
rose  heavenward  with  delight ; but 
Peg'asos  gave  it  a kick,  stopped  its 
ascent,  and  brought  out  of  the  mountain 
the  soul-inspiring  waters  of  Hippocrene 
{Hip'-po-creen), 

Pegg  {Katharine).  One  of  the  mis- 
tresses of  Charles  II.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Pegg,  of  Yeldersey,  in  Derby- 
shire, Esquire. 

Peine  Porte  et  Dure.  A species  of 
torture  applied  to  contumacious  felons. 
In  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  the  accused 
was  pressed  to  death  by  weights ; in  later 
reigns  the  practice  prevailed  of  tying 
the  thumbs  tightly  together  with  whip- 
cord, to  induce  the  accused  to  plead. 
The  following  persons  were  pressed  to 
death  by  weights : Juliana  Quick,  in 
1442 ; Anthony  Arrowsmith,  in  1598 ; 
Walter  Calverly,  in  1605  ; Major  Strang- 
ways,  in  1657;  and  even  in  1741  a person 
was  pressed  to  death  at  the  Cambridge 
assizes.  Abolished  1772. 

Pela'gianism.  The  system  or  doc- 
trines taught  by  Pela'gius  {q.v.').  He 
denied  what  is  termed  birth-sin  or  the 
taint  of  Adam,  and  he  maintained  that 
we  have  power  of  ourselves  to  receive  or 
reject  the  Gospel. 

Pela'gius.  A Latinised  Greek  form 
of  the  name  Morgan — the  Welsh  mor, 
like  the  Greek  pelagos,  meaning  the  sea. 

Pel'agO-saur  {Greek,  sea-lizard).  An 
extinct  saurian  of  the  Upper  Jurassic 
formation. 

Pelf.  Filthy  pelf.  Money.  The  word 
was  anciently  used  for  refuse  or  rubbish. 
“ Who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash.’* 
Filthy  means  ungodly ; the  Scripture 
expression  is  ‘‘  unrighteous  mammon.” 


(Latin  pelvis,  or  Greek  pellis,  the  basin 
used  by  priests  for  the  intestines  and 
refuse  of  animals  sacrificed ; our  pail ; 
jpeel,  meaning  refuse ; andpe^,  refuse  hair, 
as  in  pell-ivool,  &c.)  It  is  certainly  not 
connected  with  pilfer,  as  it  is  usually 
given. 

Pel'ias.  The  huge  spear  of  Achilles,, 
which  none  but  the  hero  could  wield  ; so 
called  because  it  was  cut  from  an  ash 
growing  on  mount  Pel'ion,  in  Thessaly. 

Pel'ican,  in  Christian  art,  is  a symbol 
of  charity.  It  is  also  an  emblem  of  J esus 
Christ,  by  whose  blood  we  are  healed” 
(Eucherius  and  Jerome).  {See  helow.) 

Pelican.  A mystic  emblem  of  Christ, 
called  by  Dante  nostro  Pelicano.  St. 
Hieronymus  gives  the  story  of  the  pelican 
restoring  its  young  ones  destroyed  by 
serpents,  and  his  salvation  by  the  blood 
of  Christ.  The  ‘^Bestia'rium”  says  that 
Physiol'ogus  tells  us  that  the  pelican  ia 
very  fond  of  its  brood,  but  when  the 
young  ones  begin  to  grow  they  rebel 
against  the  male  bird  and  provoke  his- 
anger,  so  that  he  kills  them  ; the  mother 
returns  to  the  nest  in  three  days;  sits  on 
the  dead  birds,  pours  her  blood  over 
them,  revives  them,  and  they  feed  on. 
the  blood. — Bihl.  Nat.  Belg.,  No.  10,074. 

Than  sayd  the  Pellycane, 

"When  my  hyrdts  he  slajne 
“With  my  blonde  I them  leuyue  [revive]. 
Scrypture  doth  record. 

The  same  dyd  onr  Lord, 

And  rose  from  deth  to  b ue. 

Skelton,  “ Armoury  of  Bird tsj" 

Pelicans.  The  notion  that  pelicans 
feed  their  young  with  their  blood  arose- 
from  the  following  habit They  have  a 
large  bag  attached  to  their  under  bill. 
When  the  parent  bird  is  about  to  feed 
its  brood,  it  macerates  small  fish  in  this 
bag  or  pouch,  then  pressing  the  bag 
against  its  breast,  transfers  the  macerated 
food  to  the  mouths  of  the  young  ones. 

A pelican  in  her  piety  is  the  represen- 
tation of  a pelican  feeding  her  young 
with  her  blood.  The  Komans  called  filial 
love  piety,  hence  Virgil’s  hero  is  called 
piusMnGa?,,  because  he  rescued  his  father 
from  the  flames  of  Troy. 

Peli'des.  Son  of  Pel eus— that  is, 
Achilles,  the  hero  of  Homer’s  “ Iliad,” 
and  chief  of  the  Greek  warriors  that  be- 
sieged Troy. 

When,  like  Peli'deg,  bold  beyond  control, 

Homer  raised  high  to  heaven  the  loud  impetuous 

song.  Beattie,  “ Minstrel.*' 


PELION. 


PENDRAGON. 


669 


Pel'ion.  Heading  Ossa  upon  Pelion. 
Adding  difficulty  to  difficulty,  embarrass- 
ment to  embarrassment,  &c.  When  the 
giants  tried  to  scale  heaven,  they  placed 
mount  Ossa  upon  mount  Pelion  for  a 
scaling  ladder. 

Pell-mell.  Headlong ; in  reckless 
•confusion.  From  the  players  of  pall- 
mall,  who  rush  heedlessly  to  strike  the 
ball.  The  ‘^pall”  is  the  ball  (Italian, 
imlla),  and  the  “ mall”  is  the  mallet  or 
bat  (Italian,  maglia  ; French,  mail).  The 
bat  is  sometimes  called  the  pall-mall ; 
sometimes  the  game  is  so  called,  and 
sometimes  the  ground  set  apart  for  the 
game,  as  Pall-Mall,  London. 

Pelle'an  Conqueror.  Alexander 
-the  Great,  born  at  Pella,  in  Macedo'nia. 

Bemember  that  Pelican  conqueror. 

Milton  t “ Paradise  Regained.'* 

Pelleas  {Sir).  One  of  the  knights 
of  the  Round  Table.  In  the  Faery 
'Queen,”  he  goes  after  the  blatant 
beast,”  when  it  breaks  the  chain  with 
which  it  had  been  bound  by  Sir  Calidore. 

Pellenore  (^King").  A noted  cha- 
racter in  the  ‘‘Morte  d’ Arthur.” 

Pells.  Clerk  of  ike  Pells.  An  officer 
of  the  Exchequer,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
make  entries  on  the  pells  or  parchment 
Tolls.  Abolished  in  1834. 

Pel'ops.  Son  of  Tan'talos,  cut  to 
pieces  and  served  as  food  to  the  gods. 
The  More'a  was  called  Peloponne'sos  or 
i;he  “island  of  Pelops,”  from  this  my- 
thical king. 

The  ivory  shoulder  of  the  sons  of  Pelops. 
The  distinguishing  or  distinctive  mark 
•of  any  one.  The  tale  is  that  Deme'ter 
ate  the  shoulder  of  Pelops  when  it  was 
served  up  by  Tan'talos,  and  when  the 
gods  put  the  body  back  into  the  cauldron 
to  restore  it  to  life,  he  came  forth  lacking 
a shoulder.  Demeter  supplied  an  ivory 
shoulder,  and  all  his  descendants  carried 
this  mark  in  their  bodies.  (See  Pytha- 
«GORAS.) 

Pelo  rus.  Cape  di  Faro,  a promon- 
tory of  Sicily. — Virgil y '‘^^neidf  iii.  6,  7. 

A 8 when  the  force 

Of  subterranean  wind  transports  a hill 
Tom  from  Pelorus. 

Milton.  *’Paradm  Lost.**  bk.  i. 

Pelos  (mud).  Father  of  Physigna'thos, 
king  of  the  Battle  of  the  Frogs 

and  Mice.'* 


Pelt,  in  printing.  Untanned  sheep- 
skins used  for  printing-balls.  (French, 
pelte;  Latin,  a skin). 

Pen  and  Feather  are  varieties  of 
the  same  word,  the  root  being  the  San- 
skrit pat,  to  fly.  (We  have  the  Sanskrit 
pattra,  a wing  or  instrument  for  flying ; 
Latin,  petna  or  penna,  pen ; Greek, 
peteron ; Teutonic,  pkathra ; Saxon, 
f ether ; our  “feather.”) 

Pena'tes.  The  household  gods  of 
the  Romans.  According  to  tradition, 
Dardan  brought  from  Samothrace  the 
penates  which  old  Anchi'ses  carried  off 
from  Troy,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father, 
.^ne'as  carried  them  to  Italy. 

Pencil  of  Rays.  All  the  rays  that 
issue  from  one  point,  or  that  can  be 
focussed  at  one  point  (French,  penicillus, 
little  tail,  whence  penicillum,  a painter’s 
brush  made  of  the  hair  of  a cow’s  tail) ; 
so  called  because  they  are  like  the  hairs 
of  a paint-brush,  except  at  the  point 
where  they  aggregate. 

Pendennis  {ArtJmr).  The  hero  of 
Thackeray’s  novel,  entitled  “ The  History 
of  Pendennis,”  &c. 

Major  Pendennis.  A tuft-hunter, 
similar  in  character  to  Macklin’s  cele- 
brated Sir  Pertinax  M ^Sycophant. 

Penden'te  Li'te  (Latin).  Pending 
the  suit ; while  the  suit  is  going  on. 

Pendrag'on.  A title  conferred  on 
several  British  chiefs  in  times  of  great 
danger,  when  they  were  invested  with 
dictatorial  power : thus  Uter  and  Ar- 
thur were  each  appointed  to  the  office  to 
repel  the  Saxon  invaders.  Cassibelaun 
was  pendragon  when  Julius  Caesar  invaded 
the  island  ; and  so  on.  The  word  pen  is 
British  for  head,  and  dragon  for  leader, 
ruler,  or  chief.  The  word  therefore 
means  sumimus  rex  (chief  of  the  kings). 

So  much  for  fact,  and  now  for  the 
fable  ; Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says,  when 
Aure'lius,  the  British  king,  was  poisoned 
by  Ambron,  during  the  invasion  of  Pas- 
centius,  son  of  Vortigem,  there  “ap- 
peared a star  at  Winchester  of  wonderful 
magnitude  and  brightness,  darting  forth 
a ray,  at  the  end  of  which  was  a globe 
of  fire  in  form  of  a dragon,  out  of  whose 
mouth  issued  forth  two  rays,  one  of 
which  extended  to  Gaul  and  the  other 
to  Ireland.”  Uter  ordered  two  golden 
dragons  to  be  made,  one  of  which  he 


670 


PENELOPE. 


PENNY-A-LINER. 


presented  to  WincLester,  and  the  other 
he  carried  with  him  as  his  royal  stan- 
dard, whence  he  received  the  name  of 
Uter  Pendragon. — (Bks.  viii.,  xiv.,  xvii.) 

PenePope  (4  syl.).  The  Wd>  or 
Shroud  of  Penelope,  A work  never 
ending,  still  beginning  never  done  but 
ever  in  hand.  Penelope,  according  to 
Homer,  was  pestered  by  suitors  while 
her  husband,  Ulysses,  was  absent  at  the 
siege  of  Troy.  To  relieve  herself  of  their 
importunities,  she  promised  to  make  her 
choice  of  one  as  soon  as  she  had  finished 
weaving  a shroud  for  her  father-in-law. 
Every  night  she  unravelled  what  she  had 
done  in  the  day,  and  so  deferred  making 
any  choice  till  Ulysses  returned,  when 
the  suitors  were  sent  to  the  right-about 
without  ceremony. 

PeneToplion.  The  beggar  loved  by 
king  Cophetua 

Penel'va.  A knight  whose  adven- 
tures and  exploits  form  a supplemental 
I>art  of  the  Spanish  romance  entitled 

Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  The  first  four  books 
.of  the  romance  and  the  part  above  re- 
ferred to  were  by|Portuguese  authors — 
the  former  by  Vasco  de  Lobeira,  of 
Oporto,  who  died  1403,  the  latter  by  an 
unknown  author. 

Penetralia.  The  private  rooms  of 
a house ; the  secrets  of  a family.  That 
part  of  a Roman  temple  into  which  the 
j3riest  alone  had  access ; here  were  the 
sacred  images,  here  the  responses  of  the 
oracles  were  made,  and  here  the  sacred 
mysteries  were  performed.  The  Jewish 
Holy  of  Holies  w’as  the  penetralia  of  their 
Temple. 

Penfeather  [Lady  Penelope).  The 
lady  patroness  of  the  Spa. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  ^‘St.  RonarHs  WellT 

Peninsular  War.  The  war  carried 
on,  under  the  duke  of  Wellington,  against 
the  French  in  Portugal  and  Spain,  be- 
tween 1808  and  1812. 

Penitential  Psalms  are  seven 
psalms  expressive  of  contrition.  They 
are-— vi.,  xxxii.,  xxxviii.,  li.,  cii.,  exxx., 
cxliii.,  of  the  ‘‘Authorised  Version,”  or 
vi,,  xxxi.,  xxxvii.,  1.,  ci.,  cxxix.,  clxii.  of 
the  Vulgate. 

Penmanship. 

The  “Good  King  R^nd,”  titular  king 
of  Naples  in  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  was  noted  for  his  initial  letters. 


St.  Theda  of  Isauria  wrote  the  entire 
Scriptures  out  without  a blot  or  mistake. 

St.  Theodosius  wrote  the  Gospels  in. 
letters  of  gold  without  a single  mistake 
or  blur.  {See  Longfellow’s  “ Golden 
Legend,”  iv.)  {See  Angel.) 

Pennals  {pen-cases).  So  the  fresh- 
men of  the  Protestant  universities  of 
Germany  were  called. 

Pen'naliam.  The  same  as  “fag- 
ging.” The  pennals  or  freshmen  of  the 
Protestant  universities  were  the  fags 
of  the  elder  students,  ealled  schorists. 
Abolished  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  (See  above.) 

Pennant.  The  common  legend  is, 
that  when  Tromp,  the  Dutch  admiral, 
appeared  on  our  coast,  he  hoisted  a broom 
on  his  ship,  to  signify  his  intention  of 
sweeping  the  ships  of  England  from  the- 
sea  ; and  that  the  English  admiral  hoisted 
a horse-whip,  to  indicate  his  intention 
of  drubbing  the  Dutch.  According  to 
this  legend,  the  pennant  symbolises  a 
horsewhip,  and  it  is  not  unfrequently* 
called  “The  Whip.” 

Penniless  (7%e).  The  Italians  called 
Maximilian  I.  of  Germany  PocAi  Danari,. 
(1459-1519.) 

Penny,  in  the  sense  of  pound.  Six- 
penny, eightpenny,  and  tenpenny  nails 
are  nails  of  three  sizes.  A thousand  of 
the  first  will  weigh  six  pounds ; of  tho- 
second,'  eight  pounds  ; of  the  third,  ten 
pounds. 

Penny  sometimes  expresses  the  duo- 
decimal part,  as  tenpenny  and  eleven- 
penny  silver — meaning  silver  10-12ths* 
and  ll-12ths  fine. 

One  was  to  be  tenpenny,  another  eleven,  another 
sterling  silver. — WtidenfeLU,  '^Secrets  of  the  Adepts.'^ 

My  penny  of  observation  (“  Love’s  La- 
bour’s Lost,”  iii.  1).  My  pennyworth  of 
wit ; my  natural  observation  or  mother- 
wit.  Probably  there  is  some  pun  or  con- 
fusion between  penetration  and  “ penny 
of  observation”  or  “ penn’orth  of  wit;” 
similar  blunders  among  tbe  ill-educated 
are  plentiful  as  blackberries.  {See  Penny- 
worth.) 

Penny-a-liner.  A contributor  to 
the  local  newspapers,  but  not  on  the 
staff.  At  one  time  these  collectors  of  ne\vs 
used  to  be  paid  a penny  a line,  and  it 
was  to  their  interest  to  spin  out  their 
report  as  much,  as  possible.  The  word 
remains,  but  is  now  a misnomer. 


PENNY-FATHER. 


PENTHESILEA. 


671 


Penny-father.  A miser,  a penu- 
rious person,  who  ‘‘husbands”  his  pencjB. 
Good  old  penny-father  was  glad  of  his  liquor, 

^ Fasqicil, '■Wests”  (1629). 

Penny  Gaff.  A theatre,  the  ad- 
mission to  which  is  one  penny.  Properly 
a gaff  is  a ring  for  cock-fighting,  a sen- 
sational amusement  which  has  been  made 
to  yield  to  the  scarcely  less  sensational 
drama  of  the  Richardson  type.  The  gaff 
is  the  iron  spur  attached  to  fighting 
cocks.  (Irish,  gaf,  a hook  ; Spanish  and 
Portuguese,  gafa.) 

Penny  Weddings.  Wedding  ban- 
quets in  Scotland,  to  which  a num- 
ber of  persons  were  invited,  each  of 
whom  paid  a small  sum  of  money  not 
exceeding  a shilling.  After  defraying 
the  expenses  of  the  feast,  the  residue 
went  to  the  newly- married  pair,  to  aid 
in  furnishing  their  house.  Abolished  in 
16f5. 

Vera  true,  vera  true.  AVe’ll  have  a’  to  pay  ...  a 
sort  of  penny-wedding  it  will  prove,  where  all  men 
> ‘>ntribute  to  the  young  folk’s  maintenance.— 
iraiter  Scott,  Fortunes  of  Nigel*’  cli.  xxvii. 

Penny-we:^ht.  So  called  from 
being  the  weight  of  a silver  penny  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  I. 

Penny  Wise.  Unwise  thrift.  The 
whole  proverb  is  fenny  wise  and  found 
foolish,  like  the  man  who  lost  his  horse 
from  his  penny  wisdom  in  saving  the 
expense  of  shoeing  it  afresh  when  one  of 
its  shoes  was  loose. 

Pennyworth.,  or  Pen'oth.  A small 
(quantity,  as  much  as  can  be  bought  for 
a per.ny.  Butler  says,  “This  was  the 
pen’oth  of  his  thought”  (“Hudibras,” 
ii.  3),  meaning  that  its  scope  or  amount 
was  extremely  small.  {See  p.  670,  col.  2). 

He  has  got  his  pennyworth.  He  has 
got  value  for  his  money. 

Pen'sion  is  something  weighed  out. 
Originally  money  was  weighed,  hence  our 
found.  When  the  Gauls  were  bribed  to 
leave  Rome  the  ransom  money  was 
weighed  in  scales,  and  then  Brennus 
threw  his  sword  into  the  weight-pan. 
(Latin,  fendo,  to  weigh  money.) 

Pen'sioners  at  the  Universities  and 
Inns  of  Court ; so  called  from  the  French 
pension  (board),  pensionnaire  (a  boarder, 
one  who  pays  a sum  of  money  to  dine 
and  lodge  with  some  one  else). 

Pen'tacle.  A five-sided  head-dress 
of  fine  linen,  meant  to  represent  the  five 
aonses,  and  worn  as  a defence  against 


demons  in  the  act  of  conjuration.  It  i& 
also  called  Solomon’s  Seal  {signum  Sala- 
mo'nis).  A pentacle  consisting  of  three- 
triangles  was  extended  by  the  magician 
towards  the  spirits  when  they  proved 
contumacious. 

And  on  her  head,  lest  spirits  should  invade, 

A pentacle,  for  more  assurance,  laid. 

Hose,  “ Orlando  Furiosof  iii.  21. 

Pentap'olin.  An  imaginary  chief- 
tain, but  in  reality  the  drover  of  a flock 
of  sheep.  Don  Quixote  conceived  him 
to  be  the  Christian  king  of  the  Gara- 
mantians,  surnamed  the  Nahed  Arm,  be- 
cause he  always  entered  the  field  with 
his  right  arm  bare.  The  driver  of  a. 
flock  from  the  opposite  direction  vra& 
dubbed  by  the  worthy  Don  the  emperor 
Alifanfaron  of  the  isle  of  Taproba'na,  a 
Cervantes,  "^Don  Quixote.” 

Pentap'olis. 

(1)  The  five  cities  of  the  plain  ; Sodom,. 
Gomorrah,  Admah,  Zebofim,  and  Zoah  *. 
four  of  which  were  consumed  with  fire,, 
and  their  site  covered  with  the  lake  As- 
phaFtites,  or  the  Dead  Sea. 

(2)  The  five  cities  of  Cyrena'ica,  in 
Egypt : Berenice,  Arsin'oe,  Ptolema'is, 
Cyre'ne,  and  Apollo'nia. 

(3)  The  five  cities  of  the  Philistines  : 
Gaza,  Gath,  As'calon,  AzoTus,  and*-* 
Ekron. 

(4)  The  five  cities  of  Italy  in  the- 
exarchate  of  Ravenna ; Rim'ini,  Pesaro, 
Fano,  Sinigaglia,  and  Anco'na.  These 
were  given  by  Pepin  to  the  pope. 

(5)  The  Dorian  pentapolis ; Cni'dos, 
Cos,  Lindos,  lal'ysos,  and  CamFros. 

Pentateucli.  The  first  five  book& 
of  the  Old  Testament,  supposed  to  be 
written  by  Moses.  (Greek,  pentCj  five 
teuchos,  a book. ) 

The  Chinese  Pentateuch.  The  five  books 
of  Confucius (1)  The  “Shoo-King,”  or 
Book  of  History ; (2)  The  “ Lee-King,” 
or  Book  of  Rites ; (3)  The  Book  of  Odes, 
or  Chinese  Homer;  (4)  The  “ Yih-King,’"’ 
or  Book  of  Changes ; and  (5)  The  “ Chun- 
Ts’eu,”  or  Spring  and  Autumn  Annals. 

Pen'tecost.  (Greek,  fiftieth.)  The 
festival  held  by  the  Jews  on  the  fiftieth 
day  after  the  Passover ; our  Whitsunday. 

Penth.esile-'a.  Queen  of  the  Ama- 
zons, slain  by  Achilles.  Sir  Toby  Belch, 
says  to  Maria>  in  the  service  of  Olivia — 

Good  night,  Bfenthesilea  fnay  fine  woman].:— 
Shakespeare,**  Twelfth  Night,”  ii.  3. 


'^72 


PENTHOUSE. 


PEREGRINE. 


Pent'house  (2  syl.).  A hat  with  a 
broad  brim.  The  allusion  is  to  the  hood 
of  a door,  or  coping  of  a roof.  (Welsh, 
/pmUj ; Spanish,  pentice ; French,  ap- 
pentis,  also  pentCf  a slope. ) 

Pentreatli  {Dolbj).  The  last  person 
who  spoke  Cornish.  She  was  visited  by 
Sir  Joseph  Banks. 

Pe'olphan.  The  great  hunter  of 
'the  North. 

People.  The  Peoples  Friend,  Dr. 
William  Gordon,  the  philanthropist. 
.(1801-1849.) 

Pepe.  AliPe'pd.  Mine  host  of  the 
‘Crocodile  Inn.  He  was  hanged  for  mur- 
der.— *^Croqiiemitainef’  iii.  6. 

Pepper  Gate.  When  your  daughter 
is  stolen  close  Pepper  Gate.  Pepper  Gate 
used  to  be  on  the  east  side  of  the  city  of 
Chester.  It  is  said  that  the  daughter  of 
the  mayor  eloped,  and  the  mayor  ordered 
the  gate  to  be  closed  up.  A similar 
proverb  is  ^^To  lock  the  stable-door 
when  the  steed  is  stolen.” 

Peppy  Bap.  A large  erratic  boulder, 
.east  of  Leith.  Bap  or  Bap'hometwas  an 
imaginary  idol  which  the  Templars  were 
said  to  employ  in  their  mysterious  rites. 
Peppy  is  a contraction  of  Pepe~nuth,  a 
Saxon  idol. 

Per  Saltum.  (Latin,  hy  a leap. ) A 
promotion  or  degree  given  without  going 
over  the  ground  usually  prescribed. 
Thus,  a clergyman  on  being  made  a 
bishop  has  the  degree  of  D.D.  given  him 
per  saltum — i.e.,  without  taking  the  B.D. 
degree,  and  waiting  the  usual  five  years. 

Perce'forest  {King).  A prose  ro- 
mance, printed  at  Paris  in  1528,  and  said 
to  have  been  discovered  in  a cabinet  hid 
in  the  massive  wall  of  an  ancient  tower 
on  the  banks  of  the  Humber,  named 
Burtimer  from  a king  of  that  name  who 
built  it.  The  MS.  was  said  to  be  in 
Greek,  and  was  translated  through  the 
Latin  into  French. 

It  is  also  used  for  Perceval^  an  Ar- 
thurian knight,  in  many  of  the  ancient 
romances. 

Perceval  of  Wales.  Knight 

of  the  Round  Table,  son  of  Sir  Pellinore, 
and  brother  of  Sir  Lame'rock.  He  went 
in  quest  of  the  St.  Graal  {q.v.).  Chretien 
de  Troyes  wrote  the  Roman  de  Perce- 
val.” (154M5C6.) 


Per'cinet.  A fairy  prince,  who 
thwarts  the  malicious  designs  of  Grog- 
non.  the  cruel  step-mothei  of  Gracio'sa. 
— Fairy  tales. 

Percy  (pierce-eye).  When  Malcolm 
HI.  of  Scotland  invaded  England,  and 
reduced  the  castle  of  Alnwick,  Robert 
de  Mowbray  brought  to  him  the  keys  of 
the  castle  suspended  on  his  lance  ; and, 
handing  them  from  the  wall,  thrust  his 
lance  into  the  king’s  eye ; from  which 
circumstance,  the  tradition  says,  he  re- 
ceived the  name  of  ‘‘  Pierce-eye,”  which 
has  ever  since  been  borne  by  the  dukes 
of  Northumberland. 

This  is  all  a fable.  The  Percies  are  descended  from 
a great  Norman  baron,  who  came  over  with  William, 
and  who  took  his  name  from  his  castle  and  estate 
in  Normandy.— (Sir  Walter  Scott Tales  of  a Grand- 
father^  iv. 

Per'dita.  Daughter  of  Leontes  and 
Hermi'one  of  Sicily.  She  was  born  when 
her  mother  was  imprisoned  by  Leontes 
out  of  causeless  jealousy.  Paulina,  a 
noble  lady,  hoping  to  soften  the  king’s 
heart,  took  the  infant  and  laid  it  at  its 
father’s  feet ; but  Leontes  ordered  it  to 
be  put  to  sea,  under  the  expectation  that 
it  would  drift  to  some  desert  island.  The 
vessel  drifted  to  Bohemia,  where  the  in- 
fant was  discovered  by  a shepherd,  who 
brought  it  up  as  his  own  daughter.  In 
time  Florizel,  the  son  and  heir  of  the 
Bohemian  king  Polixenes,  fell  in  love 
with  the  supposed  shepherdess.  The 
match  was  forbidden  by  Polixenes,  and 
the  young  lovers  fled,  under  the  charge 
of  Camillo,  to  Sicily.  Here  the  story  is 
cleared  up,  Polixines  and  Leontes  be- 
come reconciled,  and  the  young  lovers 
are  maxviedi.— Shakespeare j “ Winter's 
Tale." 

P^re  Duchene.  Jacques  Ren^ 
Hebert,  one  of  the  most  profligate  cha- 
racters of  the  French  Revolution.  He 
was  editor  of  a vile  newspaper  so  called, 
containing  the  grossest  insinuations 
against  Marie  Antoinette.  (1755-1794.) 

Peregrine  (3  syl.)  ran  away  from 
home  and  obtained  a loan  of  £10  from 
Job  Thornbury,  with  which  he  went 
abroad  and  traded ; he  returned  a weal!  hy 
man,  and  arrived  in  London  on  the  very 
day  Job  Thornbury  was  made  a bank- 
rupt. Having  paid  the  creditors  out  of 
the  proceeds  made  from  the  hardware- 
man’s  loan,  he  married  his  daughter.— 
George  Colman  the  younger ^ ^^John  Bull." 


PEREGRINE. 


PERK. 


67S 


Peregrine  Falcon.  The  female  is 
larger  than  the  male.  • The  female  is  the 
falcon  of  falconers,  and  the  male  the 
iercel.  It  is  called  peregrine  from  its 
wandering  habits. 

Per'egrine  PicTde.  The  hero  of 
Smollett’s  novel  so  called.  A savage, 
ungrateful  spendthrift ; fond  of  practical 
jokes  to  the  annoyance  of  others,  and 
suffering  with  evil  temper  the  misfor- 
tunes brought  on  by  his  own  wilful- 
ness. 

Perfec'tionists.  A society  founded 
by  Father  Noyes  in  Oneida  Creek.  They 
take  St.  Paul  for  their  law-giver,  but 
read  his  epistles  in  a new  light.  They 
reject  all  law,  saying  the  guidance  of  the 
Spirit  is  superior  to  all  human  codes. 
If  they  would  know  how  to  act  in  mat- 
ters affecting  others,  they  consult  pub- 
lic opinion,”  expressed  by  a committee  ; 
and  the  ‘riawof  sympathy”  so  expressed 
is  their  law  of  action.  In  material  pros- 
perity this  society  is  unmatched  by  all 
the  societies  of  North  America. — W. 
Hepworth  Dixon,  New  America,**  vii. 
20,  21. 

Perfide  Albion ! (French),  The 
words  of  Napoleon  I. 

PerTume  (2  syl.)  means  simply 
'^from  smoke”  (Latin,  per  fumum),  the 
first  perfumes  having  been  obtained  by 
the  combustion  of  aromatic  woods  and 
gums.  Their  original  use  was  in  sacri- 
fices, to  counteract  the  offensive  odours 
of  the  burning  flesh. 

Pe'ri  (pi.  peans).  Peris  are  delicate, 
gentle,  fairy-like  beings  of  Eastern  my- 
thology, begotten  by  fallen  spirits.  They 
direct  with  a wand  the  pure  in  mind  the 
way  to  heaven.  These  lovely  creatures, 
according  to  the  Koran,  are  under  the 
sovereignty  of  Eblis,  and  Mahomet  was 
sent  for  their  conversion,  as  well  as  for 
that  of  man. 

Like  peris’  wands,  when  pointing  out  the  road 
For  some  pure  spirit  to  tbe  blest  abode. 

TIiomas  Moore,  **Lalla  Rookh,"  pti 

Pericles,  Prince  of  Tyre  {Shake- 
speare). The  story  is  from  the  “ Gesta 
Romanolum,”  where  Pericles  is  called 

Apollo'nius,  king  of  Tyre.”  The 
story  is  also  related  by  Gower  in  his 

Confessio  Amantis,”  bk.  viii. 

Perillo  Swords.  Perillo  is  a lit- 
tle stone,”  a mark  by  which  Julian  del 
Roy,  a famous  armourer  of  Tole'do  an^^ 


Zaragoza,  authenticated  the  swords  of 
his  manufacture.  All  perillo  swords  were 
made  of  the  steel  produced  from  the 
mines  of  Mondragon.  The  swords  given, 
by  Catharine  of  Aragon  to  Henry  VIIL 
on  his  wedding-day  were  all  PerUl& 
blades. 

The  most  common  inscription  was. 
Draw  me  not  without  reason,  sheathe  me  not 
without  honour. 

Perilous  Castle.  The  castle  of 
lord  Douglas  was  so  called  in  the  reign 
of  Edward  I.,  because  good  lord  Douglas 
destroyed  several  English  garrisons  sta- 
tioned there,  and  vowed  to  bo  revenged 
on  any  one  who  should  dare  to  take  pos- 
session of  it.  Sir  Walter  Scott  calls  iis 

Castle  Dangerous.”  {See  Introduction 
of  Castle  Dangerous.”) 

Per'ion.  A fabulous  king  of  Gaul^ 
father  of  ‘^Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  His  en-' 
counter  with  the  lion  is  one  of  his  best 
exploits.  It  is  said  that  he  was  hunting, 
when  his  horse  reared  and  snorted  at 
seeing  a lion  in  the  path.  Perion  leaped 
to  the  ground  and  attacked  the  lion,  but 
the  lion  overthrew  him ; whereupon  the 
king  drove  his  sword  into  the  belly  of 
the  beast  and  killed  him. — Amadis  de 
Gaul,**  ch.  i. 

Peripatetics.  Founder  of  the  Peri- 
patetics.— Aristotle,  who  used  to  teach 
his  disciples  in  the  covered  walk  of  the 
Lyceum.  This  colonnade  was  called  the 
perip'atos,  because  it  went  all  round  the 
place  (peri  pateo). 

Peris.  Persia.  (See  Peri.) 

Peris'sa  {excess  or  prodigality ; Greek, 
Perissos).  Step-sister  of  Elissa  and  Me- 
di'na.  These  ladies  could  never  agree  upon 
any  subject. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen,** 
bk.  ii. 

Periwig.  (See  Peruke  . ) 

Periwink'le.  The  bind-around 
plant.  (Saxon,  peruince ; French,  per- 
'oenche  ; connected  with  vincio,  the  Latin 
verb 'Ho  bind.”)  In  Italy  it  used  to  be 
wreathed  round  dead  infants,  and  hence 
its  Italian  name  for  di  morto. 

Perk.  To  perk  oneself.  To  plume 
oneself  on  anything.  (Welsh,  percu,  to 
smarten  or  plume  feathers.) 

You  begin  to  p&i'h  up  a hit — i.e.,  to  get 
a little  fatter  and  more  plump  after  an 
illness.  (See  above,) 


R R 


674 


PERKUNOS. 


PERUSE. 


Perku'nos.  God  of  the  elements. 
The  Sclavonic  Trinity  was  Perku'nos, 
Rikollos,  and  Potrimpos.  — 6rrimm, 

Deutsche  Mythologies* 

Permian  Strata.  So  called  from 
Perm,  in  Russia,  where  they  are  most 
distinctly  developed. 

Pernelle  {Madame').  A scolding 
old  woman  in  Moli^re’s  Tartuffe.” 

Perpet'ual  Motion.  Restlessness ; 
fidgetty  or  nervous  disquiet ; also  a 
chimerical  scheme  wholly  impracticable. 
Many  have  tried  to  invent  a machine  that 
shall  move  of  itself,  and  never  stop  ; but 
as  all  materials  must  suffer  from  wear 
and  tear,  it  is  evident  that  such  an  in- 
vention is  practically  impossible. 

It  were  better  to  be  eaten  to  death  with  rust,  than 
to  be  scoured  to  nothinsr  with  perpetual  motion.— 
Shakespeare,  “2  Henry  ig,”  act  i.  2. 

Perruke  or  Periwig.  Menage  inge- 
niously derives  these  words  from  the  Latin 
pilus,  hair.”  Thus,  pilus,  peluSf  pelu- 
Uts,  peluticuSfpelu'tica,  peru'a,  perruque. 

Pers.  Persia ; called  Fars.  (French, 
Perse.) 

Person.  (Latin,  persona,  a mask ; 
pessona'tns,  one  who  wears  a mask,  an 
actor.)  A person”  is  one  who  imper- 
sonates a character.  Shakespeare  says, 
*‘A11  the  world’s  a stage,  and  all  the 
men  and  women  merely  players”  or  per- 
sons. When  we  speak  of  the  '^person 
of  the  Deity  ” we  mean  the  same  thing, 
the  character  represented,  as  that  of  the 
Father,  or  that  of  the  Son,  or  that  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  There  is  no  more  notion  of 
corporeality  connected  with  the  word, 
than  there  is  any  assumption  of  the  body 
of  Hamlet  when  an  actor  impersonates 
that  character. 

Persecutions  {The  Ten  Great).  (1) 
Under  Nero,  A.D.  64  ; (2)  Domitian,  95  ; 
(3)  Trajan,  98  ; (4)  Hadrian,  118  ; (5) 
Pertinax,  202,  chiefly  in  Egypt ; (6)  Maxi- 
min,  236;  (7)  Decius,  249  ; (8)  Valerian, 
257 ; (9)  Aurelian,  272 ; (10)  Diocletian, 
302. 

Persep'olis,  called  by  the  Persians 

The  Throne  of  Jam-sheid,”  by  whom 
it  was  founded.  Jam-sheid  removed  the 
seat  of  government  from  Balk  to  Is- 
takhar. 

Per'seus  (2  syl.).  A bronze  statue 
in  the  Loggia  dei  Lanzi,  at  Florence. 


The  best  work  of  Benvenuto  Cellini. 
(1500-1562.) 

Perseus* flying  horse.  A ship.  ^‘Per- 
seus conquered  the  head  of  Medu'sa,  and 
did  make  Peg'ase,  the  most  swift  ship, 
which  he  always  calls  Perseus’  flying 
horse.” — ^‘Destruction  of  Troy.** 

The  strong-ribbed  bark  through  liquid  mountaini 
cut.... 

Like  Perseus’  horse. 

Shakespeare^  ‘‘  Troihu  and  Cressidat*  i.  3. 

Perseve're  (3  syl. ).  This  word  comes 
from  an  obsolete  Latin  verb,  severo,  to 
stick  rigidly  ; hence  severus,  severe  or 
rigid.  Asseverate  is  to  stick  rigidly  to 
what  you  say ; persevere  is  to  stick 
rigidly  to  what  you  undertake  till  you 
have  accomplished  it. 

Persian  Alexander.  Sandjar. 
(1117-1158.)  {See  Alexander.) 

Persian  Buceph'alos.  Shebdiz, 
the  charger  of  Chosroes  Parviz.  {See 
Bucephalos.) 

Perth,  is  Celtic  for  a bush.  The 
county  of  Perth  is  the  county  of  bushes. 

Fair  Maid  of  Perth.  Catharine  Glover, 
daughter  of  Simon  Glover,  glover,  of 
Perth.  Her  lover  is  Henry  Gow,  alias 
Henry  Smith,  alias  Gow  Chrom,  alias 
Hal  of  the  Wynd  the  armourer,  foster- 
son  of  Dame  Shoolbred. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  “Fair  Maid  of  Perth** 

The  Five  Articles  of  Perth  were  those 
passed  in  1618  by  order  of  James  VI., 
enjoining  the  attitude  of  kneeling  to 
receive  the  elements;  the  observance  of 
Christmas,  Good  Friday,  Easter,  and 
Pentecost;  the  rite  of  confirmation,  &;c. 
They  were  ratified  August  4, 1621,  called 
Black  Saturday,  and  condemned  in  the 
General  Assembly  of  Glasgow  in  1638. 

Peru.  That's  not  Peru.  Said  of 
something  utterly  worthless.  A French 
expression,  founded  on  the  notion  that 
Peru  is  the  El  Dorado  of  the  world. 

Peruvian.  A native  of  Peru,  per- 
taining to  Peru,  &c. 

Peruvian  Bark,  called  also  Jesuits 
Bark,  because  it  was  introduced  into 
Spain  by  the  Jesuits,  who  had  it  sent  to 
them  by  their  brethren  in  Peru.  {See 
Cinchona.) 

Peruse  (2  syl.).  A contraction  of 
the  Greek  peri  mo,  ruo  being  a dialectic 
form  of  reo,  a verb  allied  to  our  read; 
pe’-ruse  is  to  “ run  over.” 


PESCECOLA. 


PETER. 


675 


Peseee'ola.  The  famous  swimmer 
-drowned  in  the  pool  of  Charibdis.  The 
tale  says  he  dived  once  into  the  pool,  and 
was  quite  satisfied  with  its  horrors  and 
wonders ; but  the  king  Frederick  then 
tossed  in  a golden  cup,  which  Pescecola 
•dived  for,  and  was  never  seen  again. 
{See  Sheller’s  ''  Diver.”) 

Pessimist.  One  who  fancies  every 
thing  is  as  bad  as  possible.  (Latin, 
fpess'imtis,  the  worst. ) 

Petard'.  Hoist  on  his  oivn  petard. 
Caught  in  his  own  trap,  involved  in  the 
-clanger  he  meant  for  others.  The  petard 
was  an  instrument  of  war  in  the  form  of 
a high-crowned  hat,  chiefly  employed 
for  blowing  open  gates  with  gunpowder. 
The  engineers  used  to  carry  the  petard  to 
the  place  they  intended  to  blow  up,  and 
having  nicely  adjusted  the  plank  of  the 
petard  to  the  gate,  fire  it  by  a fusee. 
Shakespeare  spells  the  word  petar : ’Tis 
the  sport  to  have  the  engineer  hoist  with 
his  own  petar.” — Harrdet,'’  iii.  4. 

Turning  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  Magdala-wards, 
^xnd  getting  a piece  of  lighted  rope,  [the  party]  blazed 

away  as  vigorously  as  possible and  tried  to  hoist 

Theodore  on  his  own  petard.— Dotty  fjoper. 

Petaud.  ^Tis  the  court  ofkingPetaud^ 
‘^chere  every  one  is  master.  There  is  no 
order  or  discipline  at  all.  This  is  a 
French  proverb.  Petaud  is  a corruption 
of  peto  (I  beg),  and  king  Petaud  means 
king  of  the  beggars,  in  whose  court  all 
.are  masters,  for  no  one  acknowledges  his 
authority  or  fears  his  laws.  {See  Al- 
6ATIA.) 

Peter.  {See  Blue  Peter.) 

Great  Peter.  A bell  in  York  Minster, 
weighing  10 J tons,  and  hung  in  1845. 

Lord  Peter.  The  pope  in  Swift’s 

Tale  of  a Tub.” 

Pi.6b  Peter  to  pay  Paul,  {See  Robbing.) 

St.  Peter.  Patron  saint  of  fishers  and 
fishmongers,  being  himself  a fisher- 
man. 

St.  Peter,  in  Christian  art,  is  repre- 
-sented  as  an  old  man,  bald,  but  with  a 
flowing  beard  ; he  is  usually  dressed  in  a 
white  mantle  and  blue  tunic,  and  holds 
in  his  hand  a book  or  scroll.  His  pecu- 
liar symbols  are  the  keys,  and  a sword 
the  instrument  of  his  martyrdom. 

He  has  got  St.  Peter's  fingers — i.e.,  the 
fingers  of  a thief.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
fish  caught  by  St.  Peter  with  a piece  of 
money  in  its  mouth.  They  say  that  a 
Tthief  has  a fish-hook  on  every  finger. 


Peter  the  Great  of  Russia  built 
St.  Petersburg,  and  gave  Russia  a place 
among  the  nations  of  Europe.  He  laid 
aside  his  crown  and  sceptre,  came  to 
England,  and  worked  as  a common  la- 
bourer in  our  dockyards,  that  he  might 
teach  his  subjects  how  to  build  ships. 

Peter  the  Hermit  (in  Tasso),  ^Hhe 
holy  author  of  the  crusade”  (bk.  i.).  It  is 
said  that  six  millions  of  persons  assumed 
the  cross  at  his  preaching. 

Peter  the  "Wild  Boy,  found  1725  in 
a wood  near  Hameln,  in  Hanover,  at 
the  supposed  age  of  13.  (Died  1785.) 

Peter-boat.  A boat  made  to  go 
either  way,  the  stem  and  stern  being  both 
alike.  A corruption  of  pethur,  to  run,  to 
hurry.  (Latin,  peto,  to  go  straight  to  a 
place,  as  Cyzicum  petebdmus — Cicero.) 

Peter  Botte  Mountain,  in  the 
island  of  Mauritius;  so  called  from  a 
Dutchman  who  scaled  its  summit,  but 
lost  his  life  in  coming  down.  It  is  a 
rugged  cone,  more  than  2,800  feet  in 
height. 

Peter  Parley.  The  nom  de  plume  of 
Samuel  G.  Goodrich,  an  American.  (1793- 
1800.) 

Peter  Peebles.  Peter  Peebles'  Law- 
suit. In  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  novel  of 

Redgauntlet.”  Peter  is  a litigious 
hard-hearted  drunkard,  poor  as  a church - 
mouse,  and  a liar  to  the  backbone.  His 
“ganging  plea”  is  Hogarthian  comic,  as 
Carlyle  says. 

Peter-pence.  An  annual  tribute  of 
one  penny  paid  at  the  feast  of  St.  Peter 
to  the  see  of  Rome.  At  one  time  it  was 
collected  from  every  family,  but  after- 
wards it  was  restricted  to  those  “who 
had  the  value  of  thirty  pence  in  quick  or 
live  stock.”  This  tax  was  collected  in 
England  from  740  till  it  was  abolished  by 
Henry  VIII. 

Peter  Pindar.  The  nom  de  plume 
of  Dr.  John  Yloloot  {Wool- cut),  of  Dod- 
brooke,  Devonshire.  (1738-1819.) 

Peter  Por'eupine.  William  Cob- 
bett,  when  he  was  a Tory.  We  have 
“Peter  Porcupine’s  Gazette,”  and  the 
“Porcupine  Papers,”  in  twelve  volumes 
(1762-1835.) 

Peter  Wilkins  was  written  by 
Robert  Pultock,  of  Clifford’s  Inn,  and 
sold  to  Dodsley  the  publisher  for  £20. 

R R 2 


676 


PETER. 


PETTO. 


Peter  of  Provence  came  into  pos- 
session of  Merlin’s  wooden  horse.  There 
is  a French  romance  called  “ Peter  of 
Provence  and  the  Fair  Magalo'na,”  the 
chief  incidents  of  which  are  connected 
with  this  flying  charger. 

Pe'terborougll  {Northamptonshire). 
So  called,  from  the  monastery  of  St. 
Peter,  founded  in  655.  Tracts  relating 
to  this  monastery  are  published  in 
Sparke’s  collection. 

Pe'terloo.  The  dispersal  of  a large 
meeting  in  St.  Peter’s  Field,  Manchester, 
by  an  armed  force,  July  16th,  1819.  The 
assemblage  consisted  of  operatives,  and 
the  question  was  parliamentary  reform. 
The  word  is  a parody  upon  Waterloo. 

Petit-Maitre.  A fop ; a lad  who 
assumes  the  manners,  dress,  and  affecta- 
tions of  a man.  The  term  arose  before 
the  Revolution,  when  a great  dignitary 
was  styled  a grand-mattre,  and  a preten- 
tious one  a petit-maitre. 

Petitio  Princip'ii.  A begging  of 
tile  question,  or  assuming  in  the  pre- 
mises the  question  you  undertake  to 
prove.  Thus,  if  a person  undertook  to 
prove  the  infallibility  of  the  pope,  and 
were  to  take  for  his  premises— (1)  Jesus 
Christ  promised  to  keep  the  apostles  and 
their  successors  in  all  the  truth ; (2)  the 
popes  are  the  regular  successors  of  the 
apostles,  and  therefore  the  popes  are 
infalli  ble— it  would  be  a vicious  syllo- 
gism from  a petitio  principii. 

Petitioners  and  Abhorrers.  Two 

?olitical  parties  in  the  reign  of  Charles 
I.  When  that  monarch  was  first  re- 
stored he  used  to  grant  everything  he 
was  asked  for ; but  after  a time  this  be- 
came a great  evil,  and  Charles  enjoined 
his  loving  subjects  to  discontinue  their 
practice  of  petitioning.”  Those  who 

agreed  with  the  king,  and  disapproved  of 
petitioning,  were  Abhorrers  : those 

who  were  favourable  to  the  objectionable 
practice  were  nicknamed  Petitioners. 

Petrarcb.  The  English  Petrarch. 
Sir  Philip  Sidney  ; so  called  by  Sir  Wal- 
ter Raleigh.  Cowper  styles  him  ^Hhe 
warbler  of  poetic  prose.”  (1554-1586.) 

Pet'rel.  The  Stormy  Petrel.  So 
named,  according  to  tradition,  from  the 
Italian  Petrello  (little  Peter),  in  allusion 
to  St.  Peter,  who  walked  on  the  sea. 
Our  sailors  call  them  ‘‘Mother  Carey’s 


Chickens.”  They  are  called  stormy  be- 
cause in  a gale  they  surround  a ship  to 
catch  small  animals  which  rise  to  the 
surface  of  the  rough  sea  ; when  the  gale 
ceases  they  are  no  longer  seen.  Tbomson 
thinks  the  bird  is  called  “ Pewetrel  from 
its  cry.” 

Pet'rified  (3  syl.).  The  Petrified  City., 
Ishmonie,  in  Upper  Egypt,  is  so  called 
from  the  number  of  petrified  bodies  of 
men,  women,  and  children  to  be  seen 
there. 

Petrobrus'sians  or  Petrobrus'ians. 
A religious  sect,  founded  in  1110,  and  so 
called  from  Peter  Bruys,  a Provencal. 
He  declaimed  against  churches,  asserting 
that  a stable  was  as  good  as  a cathedral 
for  worship,  and  a manger  equal  to  an 
altar.  He  also  declaimed  against  the 
use  Of  crucifixes. 

Pet'ronel.  Sir  Petronel  Flash.  A 
braggadocio,  a tongue- doughty  warrior. 

Give  your  scholler  degrees,  and  your  lawyer  hisf^es. 
And  some  dice  for  Sir  Petronell  Flash. 

Brit.  Bill. 

Petru'cbio.  A gentleman  of  Vero'na, 
who  undertakes  to  tame  the  haughty 
Katharine,  called  the  Shrew.  He  marries 
her,  and  without  the  least  personal 
chastisement  brings  her  to  lamb-like 
submission.  — Shakespeare,  “ Taming  of 
the  Shrew. 

Petticoat  and  Gown.  The  dress. 
When  the  gown  was  looped  up,  the  petti- 
coat formed  an  important  item  in  dress. 

The  poppy  is  said  to  have  a red  petti- 
coat and  a green  gown ; the  daffodil,  a 
yellow  petticoat  and  green  gown ; a 
candle,  a white  petticoat ; and  so  on  in. 
our  common  nursery  rhymes — 

1 The  king’s  daughter  is  coming  to  town, 

With  a red  petticoat  and  a green  gown. 

J 2 DafFadown-dilly  is  now  come  to  town, 

/ In  a yellow  petticoat  and  a green  gown. 

^ Pettifogger.  A pettifogging  lawyer 
is  not  one  who  mystifies  his  client,  or 
keeps  him  always  in  a little  fog,  but  a 
corruption  of  the  French  petit  voguer, 
“ voguer  ” being  the  Norman-French  for 
an  ad-vocate  (Latin,  voco) ; so  that  petit 
voguer  is  an  inferior  advocate. 

Petto.  In  petto.  In  secrecy,  in  re- 
serve (Italian,  in  the  breast).  The  popo> 
creates  cardinals  in  petto— i.e.,  in  his  own 
mind— and  keeps  the  appointment  to 
himself  till  he  thinks  proper  to  an- 
nounce it. 

Belgium,  a department  of  Prance  in  petto-lj.e^ 
in  the  iufcenlion  of  the  people).— TAe  Herald,  iSV. 


PETTY. 


PHAHAMOND. 


677 


Petty  Cu'ry  (Cambridge)  means 

The  Street  of  Cooks.”  It  is  called  Par m 
Coke'ria  in  a deed  dated  13  Edward  III. 
Probably  at  one  time  it  was  part  of  the 
Market  Hall.  It  is  a mistake  to  derive 
Cury  from  Ecurie.  Dr.  Pegge  derives  it 
from  the  verb  cwra'ref  to  cure  or  dress 
food. 

Peutinge'rian  Map.  A map  of 
the  roads  of  the  ancient  Koman  world, 
constructed  in  the  time  of  xllexander 
Seve'rus  (a.d.  226),  and  made  known  to 
moderns  by  Conrad  Peutinger  of  Augs- 
berg. 

Pev'eril  of  the  Peak.  Sir  Geoffrey 
the  Cavalier,  and  lady  Margaret  his  wife  ; 
J ulian  Peveril,  their  son,  in  love  with 
Alice  Bridgenorth,  daughter  of  Major 
Bridgenorth,  a Roundhead  ; and  William 
Peveril,  natural  son  of  W illiam  the  Con- 
queror, ancestor  of  Sir  Geoffrey. — Sir 
Walter  Scott,  Peveril  of  the  Peak^ 

Pewter.  To  scour  the  pewter.  To  do 
one’s  work,  the  allusion  being  to  the 
slavie  whose  office  it  is  in  beer-houses  to 
keep  the  pots  clean. 

But  if  she  neatly  scour  her  pewter. 

Give  her  the  money  that  is  due  t’  her. 

King,  “ Orpheus  and  EurydkS*’ 

Pexe  Tficliolas.  A corruption  of 
Pescecola  {q.v.). 

Phsedria  {wantonness).  Handmaid 
of  Acrasia  the  enchantress.  She  sails 
about  Idle  Lake  in  a gondola.  Seeing 
Sir  Guyon  she  ferries  him  across  the  lake 
to  the  ffoating  island,  where  Cymoch'les 
attacks  him.  Phsedria  interposes,  the 
combatants  desist,  and  the  little  wanton 
ferries  the  knight  Temperance  over  the 
lake  again. — Spenser,  Eaery  Queen,’'  ii. 

Pha'eton.  The  son  of  Phoebus,  who 
undertook  to  drive  the  chariot  of  the 
sun,  was  upset,  and  caused  great  mis- 
chief : Libya  was  parched  into  barren 
sands,  and  all  Africa  was  more  or  less 
injured,  the  inhabitants  blackened,  and 
vegetation  nearly  destroyed. 

Gallop  apace,  you  fiery-footed  steeds. 

Towards  Phoebus’  mansiou ; such  a waggoner 
As  Phaeton  would  whip  you  to  the  west, 

And  bring  in  cloudy  night  immediately. 

Shakespeare,  "Romeo  and  JulietP  iii.  2. 

Phaeton.  A sort  of  carriage  ; so  called 
from  the  sun-car  driven  by  Phaeton. 
{See  above.') 

Phal'aris.  The  brazen  hull  of  PhaV- 
avis.  Perillos,  a brass-founder  of  Athens, 
proposed  to  Phakaris,  tyrant  of  Agri- 


gentum,  to  Invent  for  him  a new  species 
of  punishment;  accordingly,  he  cast  a 
brazen  bull,  with  a door  in  the  side.  The 
victim  was  shut  up  in  the  bull  and  roasted 
to  death,  but  the  throat  of  the  engine 
was  so  contrived  that  the  groans  of  the 
sufferer  resembled  the  bellowings  of  a 
mad  bull.  Phal'aris  commended  the  in- 
vention, and  ordered  its  merits  to  be 
tested  by  Perillos  himself. 

The  epistles  of  Phal'aris.  Certain  let- 
ters said  to  have  been  written  by  Phal'- 
aris, tyrant  of  Agrigen'tum,  in  Sicily. 
Boyle  maintained  them  to  be  genuine, 
and  Bentley  affirmed  that  they  were 
forgeries.  No  doubt  Bentley  is  right. 

Phaleg,  in  the  satire  of  ‘^Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate,  is 
Mr.  Forbes,  a Scotchman. 

Phallas.  The  horse  of  Heraclius. 
(Greek,  phaVios,  a grey  horse.) 

On  the  memorable  day  which  decided  the  fate  of 
Perhia,  Heraclius,  on  his  horse  Phallas,  surpassed 
the  bravest  of  his  warriors.  His  lip  was  pierced 
with  a spear,  the  steed  was  wounded  in  the  thigh, 
but  he  carried  his  master  safe  and  victorious  through 
the  triple  phalanx  of  the  barbarians.— Gi66on. 

Phallos.  Emblem  of  the  generative 
principle  in  Grecian  mythology.  {See 
Grove.) 

Phantom  Ship.  (Nee  Carmilhan.) 

Or  of  that  phantom  ship,  whose  form 
Shoots  like  a meteor  through  the  storm ; 

When  the  dark  scud  comes  driving  hard. 

And  lowered  is  every  topsail  yard.... 

And  well  the  doomed  spectators  know 
'Tis  harbinger  of  wreck  and  woe. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ ito&e&y,”  iL  11. 

Pha'on.  A young  man  greatly  ill- 
treated  by  Furor,  and  rescued  by  Sir 
Guyon.  He  loved  Claribel,  but  Phil'e- 
mon,  his  friend,  persuaded  him  that 
Claribel  was  unfaithful,  and  to  prove  his 
words,  told  him  to  watch  in  a given 
place.  He  saw  what  he  thought  was 
Claribel  holding  an  assignation  with  what 
seemed  to  be  a groom,  and  rushing  forth, 
met  the  true  Claribel,  whom  he  slew  on 
the  spot.  Being  tried  for  the  murder,  it 
came  out  that  the  groom  was  Phil'emon, 
and  the  supposed  Claribel  only  her  lady’s 
maid.  He  poisoned  Phil'emon,  and 
would  have  murdered  the  handmaid,  but 
she  escaped,  and  while  he  pursued  her 
he  was  attacked  by  Furor.  This  tale  is 
to  expose  the  intemperance  of  revenge. — 
Spenser,  Faery  Queen,”  ii.  4. 

Phar'amond.  King  of  the  Franks 
and  a knight  of  the  Round  Table.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  king  of 


678 


PHARAOH. 


PHENOMENON. 


France.  This  reputed  son  of  Marcomir 
and  father  of  Clo'dion,  is  the  hero  of  one 
of  Calprenbde’s  novels. 

Pha'raoh  (2  syh).  The-king.  It  is 
the  Coptic  article  P and  the  word  ouro 
(king) . There  are  ten  of  this  title  men- 
tioned in  Holy  Scripture : — 

(1)  The  Pharaoh  contemporary  with 
Abraham  (Gen.  xii.  25). 

(2)  The  good  Pharaoh  who  advanced 
Joseph  (Gen.  xli.). 

(3)  The  Pharaoh  who  ‘^knew  not  Jo- 
seph” (Exod.  i.  8). 

(4)  The  Pharaoh  who  was  drowned  in 
the  Red  Sea  (Exod.  xiv.  28) ; said  to  be 
Menephthes,  son  of  Ram'eses  II. 

(5)  The  Pharaoh  that  protected  Hadad 
(1  Kings  xi.  19). 

(6)  The  Pharaoh  whose  daughter  Solo- 
mon married  (1  Kings  hi.  1 ; ix.  16). 

(7)  Pharaoh  Shishak,  who  warred 
against  Rehobo'am  (1  Kings  xiv.  25). 

(8)  The  Pharaoh  that  made  a league 
with  Hezeki'ah  against  Sennacherib. 

(9)  Pharaoh  N echo,  who  warred  against 
Josi'ah  (2  Kings  xxiii.  29,  &c.). 

(10)  Pharaoh  Hophra,  the  ally  of  Zede- 
ki'ah  (Jer.  xliv.  30) ; said  to  be  Apries, 
who  was  strangled  B.c.  570.  King.) 

The  Arabs  say  that  the  title  was  first 
assumed  by  the  kings  of  the  eighteenth 
dynasty. 

Pharaoh^  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel,”  means  Louis  XIV. 
of  France. 

If  Pharaoh’B  doubtful  succour  he  [Charles  IT,]  should 

use, 

A.  foreign  aid  would  more  incense  the  J ews  [English 

PHarisees  means  ^‘separatists” 
(Heb.  'pharishy  to  separate),  men  who 
looked  upon  themselves  as  holier  than 
other  men,  and  therefore  refused  to  hold 
social  intercourse  with  them.  The  Tal- 
mud mentions  the  following  classes : — 

(1)  The  “Dashers,” or  “Bandy-legged” 
{NiTcJi),  who  scarcely  lifted  their  feet 
from  the  ground  in  walking,  but  “dashed 
them  against  the  stones,”  that  people 
might  think  them  absorbed  in  holy 
thought  (Matt.  xxi.  44). 

(2)  The  “ Mortars,”  who  wore  a “ mor- 
tier”  or  cap  which  would  not  allow  them 
to  see  the  passers-by,  that  their  medita- 
tions might  not  be  disturbed.  “ Having 
eyes  they  saw  not  ” (Mark  viii.  18). 

(3)  The  “Bleeders,”  who  inserted 
thorns  in  the  borders  of  thoir  gaberdines 
to  prick  their  legs  in  walking.  To  this 


St.  Paul  alludes  when  he  says,  “ A thorn, 
was  given  him  in  the  flesh  to  buffet  hini 
withal  ” (2  Cor.  xii.  7). 

(4)  The  “Cryers”  or  “Inquirers,”  who- 
went  about  crying  out,  “Let  me  know 
my  duty,  and  I will  do  it”  (Matt,  xix, 
16-22). 

(5)  The  “ Almsgivers,”  who  had  a 
trumpet  sounded  before  them  to  summon 
the  poor  together  (Matt.  vi.  2). 

(6)  The  “Stumblers”  or  “Bloody- 
browed”  (Kizai),  who  shut  their  eyes 
when  they  went  abroad  that  they  might 
see  no  women,  being  “blind  leaders  of 
the  blind”  (Matt.  xv.  14).  Our  Lord  calls 
them  “blind  Pharisees,”  “Fools  and 
blind.” 

(7)  The  “ Immovables,”  who  stood  like 
statues  for  hours  together,  “praying  in 
the  market  places”  (Matt.  vi.  5). 

(8)  The  “Pestle  Pharisees” (ATecfm^iG), 
who  kept  themselves  bent  double  like 
the  handle  of  a pestle. 

(9)  The  “Strong-shouldered”  {8hikm%). 
who  walked  with  their  back  bent  as  if 
carrying  on  their  shoulders  the  whole 
burden  of  the  law. 

(10)  The  “Dyed  Pharisees,”  called  by 

our  Lord  “Whited  Sepulchres,”  whose 
externals  of  devotion  cloaked  hypocrisy 
and  moral  uncleanness. — Talmud  ofJeru^ 
Salem,  Berakoili^'  ix. : Sota,^'  v.  7. 

Talmud  of  Babylon,  “ Sola,"'  22  b. 

Pha'ros.  A lighthouse ; so  called 
from  the  lighthouse  built  by  Sostratus 
Cnidius  in  the  island  of  Pharos,  near  the 
port  of  Alexandria,  in  Egypt.  It  was 
450  feet  high,  and  could  be  seen  at  the 
distance  of  100  miles.  Part  was  blown 
down  in  793.  This  Pharos  was  one  of 
the  Seven  Wonders  of  the  World. 

Pharsalia.  An  epic  in  Latin  hex- 
ameters by  Lucan.  The  battle  of  Phar- 
salia was  between  Pompey  and  Caesar. 
Pompey  had  45,000  legionaries,  7,000 
cavalry,  and  a large  number  of  auxili- 
aries ; Caesar  had  22,000  legionaries  and 
1,000  cavalry.  Pompey’s  battle-cry  was 
Hercules  invictus ; that  of  Caesar  was 
Venus  victrix.  Caesar  won  the  battle. 

Phe'be  (2  syl.).  A shepherdess. — 
Shakespeare,  “Ms  You  Like  ItP 

Phelis,  called  the  Fair,  The  wife  of 
Sir  Guy,  earl  of  Warwick.  {See  Guy.) 

Phenoin'enon  (plural,  phenom'ena) 
means  simply  what  has  appeared  (Greek, 
phcenomai,  to  appear).  It  in  used  in 


PHIDIAS. 


PHILISTINES. 


67^ 


science  to  express  the  visible  result  of  an 
experiment,  the  manifestations  of  nature, 
&c.  In  popular  language  it  means  a 
sight  or  prodigy. 

Ph-id'ias.  The  French  Phidias. 
Jean  Goujon  (1510-1572) ; also  called  the 
Cm'reggio  of  Sculptors^  (2)  J.  B.  PigaUe 
(1714-1785). 

Phigalian  Marbles.  A series  of 
twenty-three  sculptures  in  alto-relievo, 
discovered  in  1812  at  Phiga'lia,  in  Ar- 
ca'dia,  and  in  1814  purchased  for  the 
British  Museum.  They  represent  the 
combat  of  the  Centaurs  and  Lapithae, 
and  that  of  the  Greeks  and  Am'azons. 
They  are  part  of  the  ‘‘Elgin  Marbles” 
q,v.). 

Philadelphia  Stones  called  Chris- 
tian  Bones.  It  is  said  that  the  walls  of 
Philadelphia,  in  Turkey,  were  built  of 
the  bones  of  Christians  killed  in  the  Holy 
Wars.  This  idle  tale  has  gained  credit 
from  the  nature  of  the  stones,  full  of 
pores  and  very  light,  not  unlike  petri- 
fied bones.  Similar  incrustations  are 
found  at  Knaresborough  and  elsewhere. 

Philan'der  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
A sort  of  Joseph;  the  brother  of  Her- 
mon'ides,  and  a native  of  Holland.  He 
was  entertained  at  the  house  of  Arge'o, 
a baron  of  Servia,  when  Argeo’s  wife 
Gabri'na  tempted  his  virtue.  He  fled 
the  house,  but  Gabrina  accused  him  to 
her  husband  of  adultery,  and  he  was 
overtaken  by  Arge'o  and  cast  into  a dun- 
geon. One  day  Gabrina  went  and  im- 
plored him  to  defend  her  virtue  against 
a wicked  knight.  He  undertook  to  do  so, 
but  the  “wicked  knight”  was  Argeo, 
whom  Philander  in  his  ignorance  slew. 
Gabrina  now  threatened  to  give  him  to 
the  hands  of  justice  unless  he  married 
her ; and  the  youth,  to  save  his  life,  com- 
plied. In  a short  time  Gabrina  tired  of 
him,  and  murdered  him  by  poison. 

Philan'dering.  Coquetting  with  a 
woman ; paying  court,  and  leading  her 
to  think  you  love  her,  but  never  declaring 
your  preference.  The  word  is  coined 
from  Philander,  the  Dutch  knight  who 
coquetted  with  Gabri'na  {q.v.). 

Philanthropist  {The).  John  How- 
ard, who  spent  much  of  his  life  in  visiting 
the  prisons  and  hospitals  of  Europe. 
(1726-1790.) 

Phile'mon  and  Baucis  entertained 
Jupiter  and  Mercury  when  every  one  else 


refused  them  hospitality.  Being  asked 
to  make  a request,  they  begged  that  they 
might  both  die  at  the  same  time.  When 
they  were  very  old,  Philemon  was  changed 
into  an  oak,  and  Baucis  into  a linden  tree. 
— Ovid,  Metamorphoses,^’  iii.  631,  &c. 

Philip.  Philip,  remember  thou  art 
mortal.  A sentence  repeated  to  the 
Macedonian  king  every  time  he  gave  an 
audience. 

Philip  Sober.  When  a woman  who 
asked  Philip  of  MaCedon  to  do  her  jus- 
tice was  snubbed  by  the  petulant  mon- 
arch, she  exclaimed,  “ Philip,  I shall 
appeal  against  this  judgment.”  “Ap- 
peal ! ” thundered  the  enraged  king, 
“ and  to  whom  will  you  appeal ? ” “To 
Philip  sober,”  was  her  reply. 

St.  Philip  is  usually  represented  bear- 
ing a large  cross,  or  a basket  containing 
loaves,  in  allusion  to  St.  John  vi.  5-7. 

Philip  UNye  (in  “ Hudibras”).  One 
of  the  assembly  of  dissenting  ministers, 
noted  for  his  ugly  beard. 

Philip  Quarl,  by  Defoe.  A casta- 
way sailor,  solaced  on  a desert  island  by 
a monkey. 

Philippe  Egalite.  Louis  Philippe 
Joseph  due  d’OrMans.  (1747-1793.) 

Philip'pic.  A severe  scolding;  an 
invective.  So  called  from  the  orations 
of  Demos'thenes  against  Philip  of  Mace- 
don,  to  rouse  the  Athenians  to  resist  his 
encroachments.  The  orations  of  Cicero 
against  Anthony  are  called  “Philippics.” 

Philip'pins.  A Kussian  sect;  so 
called  from  the  founder  Philip  Pusto- 
swiat.  They  are  called  Old  Faith  Men, 
because  they  cling  with  tenacity  to  the 
old  service  books,  old  version  of  the 
Bible,  old  hymn-book,  old  prayer-book, 
and  all  customs  previous  to  the  reforms 
of  Nekon,  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Philips  (John),  author  of  “The 
Spended  Shilling,”  wrote  a georgic  on 
“ Cider,”  in  blank  verse— a serious  poem 
modelled  upon  Milton’s  epics. 

Philips,  Pomona’s  bard,  the  second  thou 
Who  nobly  durst,  in  rhyme-unfettered  verse. 
With  British  freedom  sing  the  British  song, 

Thomson,  Autumn.^* 

Philis'tines  (3  syl.).  Ear-wigs  and 
other  insect  tormentors  are  so  called  in 
Norfolk.  Bailiffs,  constables,  &c.  “ The 
Philistines  are  upon  thee,  Samson  ” 
(Judges  xvi.). 


m 


PHILISTINISM. 


PHIL030PHEE, 


Philistines,  A term  applied  by  Mat- 
thew Arnold  to  the  middle-class  of  Eng- 
land, which  he  says  is  ignorant,  narrow- 
minded, and  deficient  in  great  ideas, 
insomuch  that  England  has  become  con- 
temptible in  the  eyes  of  foreigners. — 
Cornhill  Magazine. 

Philis'tinism.  A cynical  indiffer- 
ence and  supercilious  sneering  at  religion. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  Philistines  of 
Palestine. 

Phillis.  A play  written  in  Spanish 
by  Lupercio  Leonardo  of  Argensola.  {See 
^‘Don  Quixote,”  vol.  iii.,  p.  70.) 

Philoc'Iea,  in  Sidney’s  Arcadia,” 
is  lady  Penelope  Devereux,  with  whom 
he  was  in  love  ; but  the  lady  married 
another,  and  Sir  Philip  transferred  his 
affections  to  Frances,  eldest  daughter  of 
Sir  Francis  Walsingham. 

Philoete'tes,  treacherously  deserted 
t^y  the  Greeks  on  the  island  of  Lemnos, 
because  he  had  been  bitten  by  serpents, 
was  afterwards  entreated  in  humble  suit 
to  pardon  this  baseness  and  come  to 
their  aid;  for  an  oracle  had  said  that 
Troy  could  not  be  taken  without  the 
arrows  of  Hercules,  and  Hercules  had 
given  these  to  his  Argonautic  friend. 

PhiTomel  or  Philome'la.  The  story 
gays  that  Pandi'on,  king  of  Attica,  had 
two  daughters,  Philomel  and  Procne, 
both  of  whom  fell  in  love  with  Tereus, 
iking  of  Phocis.  Tereus  married  the 
latter,  but  in  a few’  weeks  concealed 
her,  and  told  Philomel  that  she  was  dead, 
whereupon  Philomel  became  his  bride. 
When  she  ascertained  the  truth  she  told 
her  sister,  and  Tereus  resolved  to  slay 
both.  He  chased  them  with  an  axe  and 
overtook  them,  but  at  that  moment 
Philomel  was  changed  into  a nightingale, 
and  Procne  to  a swallow. 

By  this,  lamenting  Philomel  had  ended 

The  well-tuned  warble  of  her  nightly  sorrow. 

Shakespeare,  '•'•Rape  of  Lucrece.'* 

Pllilomelus.  The  Druid  bard  that 
accompanied  Sir  Industry  to  the  Castle 
of  Indolence. — Thomson  (canto  ii.  34). 

Philopoe'men,  general  of  the 
Achaean  league,  made  Epaminondas  his 
model.  He  slew  Mechan'idas,  tyrant  of 
Sparta,  and  was  himself  killed  by  poison. 

Philos'opher.  The  sages  of  Greece 
wsed  to  be  called  sophs  (wise  men),  but 
Pythag'oras  thought  the  word  too  arro- 


gant, and  adopted  the  compound  pJiilo- 
sojpKia  (I  love  wisdom),  whence  “ philo- 
sopher,” one  who  courts  or  loves  wisdom. 

Philosopher,  **  There  was  never  yet 
philosopher  who  could  endure  the  tooth- 
ache patiently,  however  they  have  writ 
the  style  of  gods,  and  made  a push  at 
chance  and  sufferance.”  — Shahespeare, 
**Much  Ado  About  Nothing f v.  1. 

The  Philosopher.  Marcus  Aure'lius 
Antoni'nus  is  so  called  by  Justin  Martyr. 
(121,  161-180.) 

Leo  VI.,  emperor  of  the  East  (866, 
886-911.) 

Porphyry,  the  Antichristian.  (233-305. ) 

The  Philosopher  of  China.  Confucius. 
His  mother  called  him  Little  HillocJcy 
from  a knob  on  the  top  of  his  head. 
(B.c.  551-479.) 

The  Philosopher  of  Ferney.  Voltaire  ; 
so  called  from  his  chateau  of  Ferney,  near 
Gene'va.  (1694-1778.) 

The  Philosopher  o}  Malmesbury.  Thomas 
Hobbes,  author  of  Leviathan.”  (1588- 
1679.) 

The  Philosopher  of  Persia.  Abou  Ebn 
Sina,  of  Shiraz.  (Died  1037.) 

The  Philosopher  of  Sans- Souci' . Frede- 
rick the  Great.  (1712,  1740-1786.) 

The  Philosopher  of  Wimbledon.  John 
Horne  Took,  author  of  ‘‘Diversions  of 
Purley.”  (1736-1812.) 

The  Seven  Sages  or  Wise  Men  of  Greece, 
Thales,  Solon,  Chi  Ion,  Pit'tacos,  Bias, 
Cleobufios,  Periander ; to  which  add 
Sosi'ades,  Anacharsis  the  Scythian,  My- 
son  the  Spartan,  Epemen'ides  the  Cretan, 
and  Pherecy'des  of  Scyros. 

Philosophers  of  the  A cade'mic  sect, 
Plato,  Speusippos,  Xenoc'rates,  Pol'e- 
mon.  Crates,  Crantor,  Arcesila'os,  Care'- 
ades,  Clitom'achos,  Philo,  and  Anti'- 
ochos. 

Philosophers  of  the  Cynic  sect.  Antis'- 
thenes,  Diog'enes  of  Sino'pe,  Mon'imos, 
Onesic'ritos,  Crates,  Metrocfies,  Hippar'- 
chia,  Menippos,  and  Menede'mos  of 
Lamps'acos. 

Philosophers  of  the  Cyrena'ic  sect. 
Aristippos,  Hege'sias,  Annic'eris,  Theo- 
do'ros,  and  Bion. 

Philosophers  of  the  Eleac  or  EretWiac 
sect.  Phsedo,  Plis'thenes,  and  Menede- 
mos  of  Eret'ria. 

Philosophers  of  the  Eleat'ic  sect.  Xen- 
oph'anes,  Parmenides,  Melissos,  Zeno  of 
Tarsos,  Leucippos,  Democ'ritos,  Pro- 
tag'oras,  and  Anaxarchos. 

Philosophers  of  the  Epicurean  sect. 


PHILOSOPHER’S  STONE. 


PHCEBUS, 


631 


Epicu'ros,  and  a host  of  disciples  too 
numerous  for  insertion  here. 

Philosophers  of  the  Heracli'iian  sect. 
Heracli'tos ; the  names  of  his  disclipes 
ftre  unknown. 

Philosophers  of  the  Ionic  sect.  Anaxi- 
mander, Anaximenes,  Anaxag'oras,  and 
Arcliela'os. 

Philosophers  of  the  Italic  sect.  Py  thag'- 
oras,  Emped'ocles,  Epicharmos,  Archy'- 
tas,  Alemseon,  Hip'pasos,  Philola'os,  and 
Eudoxos. 

Philosopher's  of  the  MegaiHc  sect.  Euclid, 
Eubulides,  Alex'inos,  Euphantos,  Apol- 
lo'nios,  Chron'os,  Diodo'ros,  Ich'thyas, 
Clinom'achos,  and  Stilpo. 

Philosophers  of  the  Peripatetic  secU 
Aristotle,  Theophrastos,  Straton,  Lyco, 
Aristo,  Critola'os,  and  Diodo'ros. 

Philosophers  of  the  Sceptic  sect.  Pyrrho 
and  Timon. 

Philosophers  of  the  Socratic  sect.  Soc'- 
rates,  Xen'ophon,  JEs'chines,  Crito, 
Simon,  Glauco,  Simmias,  and  Ce'bes. 

Philosophers  of  the  Stoic  sect.  Zeno, 
Oleanthes,  Chrysippos,  Zeno  the  Less, 
Diog'enes  of  Babylon,  Antip'ater,  Panae- 
tios,  and  Posido'nios. 

Philosopher’s  Stone.  The  way  to 
wealth.  The  ancient  alchemists  thought 
there  was  a substance  which  would  con- 
vert all  baser  metals  to  gold.  This  sub- 
stance they  called  the  philosopher’s  stone. 
The  word  stone  in  this  case  is  about 
equal  to  the  word  substratum,  which  is 
compounded  of  the  Latin  suh  and  stratus 
(spread-under),  the  latter  being  related 
to  the  verb  stand,  stood,  and  meaning 
something  on  which  the  experiment 
stands.  It  was  in  fact  a red  powder  or 
oTiialgam  to  drive  off  the  impurities  of 
baser  metals.  (‘^  Stone,”  Saxon,  stdn). 

Philosopher'' s Stone.  According  to 
legend  Noah  was  commanded  to  hang 
\ip  the  true  and  genuine  philosopher’s 
stone  in  the  ark,  to  give  light  to  every 
living  creature  therein. 

[nventions  discovered  in  searching  for 
the  Philoiophe'd s Stone.  It  was  in  search- 
ing for  this  treasure  that  Botticher 
stumbled  on  the  invention  of  Dresden 
porcelain  manufacture  ; Roger  Bacon  on 
the  composition  of  gunpowder  ; Geber 
on  the  properties  of  acids  ; Van  Helmont 
on  the  nature  of  gas  ; and  Dr.  Glauber 
on  the  salts  ” which  bear  his  name. 

Philosophy.  Father  of  Philosophy. 
Albrect  von  Haller,  of  Bern.  (1708-1777.) 


Roger  Bacon.  (1214-1292.) 

Father  of  Inductive  Philosophy.  Francis 
Bacon,  Lord  Verulam.  (1561-1626.) 

Father  of  Roman  Philosophy.  Cicero. 
(B.c.  106-43.) 

Philot'ime  {lover  of  honour).  The 
presiding  queen  of  Hell,  and  daughter 
of  Mammon. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen  f 
bk.  ii. 

Philt'er.  A draught  or  charm  to 
incite  in  another  the  passion  of  love. 
The  Thessalian  philters  were  the  most 
renowned,  but  both  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  used  these  dangerous  potions, 
which  sometimes  produced  insanity. 
Lucre'tius  is  said  to  have  been  driven 
mad  by  a love-potion,  and  Calig'ula’s 
death  is  attributed  to  philters  adminis- 
tered to  him  by  his  wife,  Cseso'nia. 
Brabantio  says  to  Othello— 

Thou  hast  practised  on  her  {Desdemona)  with  fouJ 
charms. 

Abused  her  delicate  youth  with  drugs  or  minerals 

That  weaken  motion. 

Shakespeare,  “ OtheUoP  i.  1. 

Plli'neus  (2  syl.).  A blind  king  of 
Thrace,  who  had  the  gift  of  prophecy. 
Whenever  he  wanted  to  eat  the  Harpies 
came  and  took  away  or  defiled  his 
food. 

Blind  Tham'yris,  and  blind  Moeon'ides. 

And  T’re'aias,  and  Phi'neus.  prophets  old. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost*'  iii.  34. 

Phiz.  Hablot  K.  Browne,  who  illus- 
trated the  Pickwick  Papers,”  &c. 

Phleg'ethon.  A river  of  liquid  fire 
in  Hades.  (Greek,  phlego,  to  burn.) 

Fierce  Phlegethon, 

Whose  waves  of  torrent  fire  inflame  with  rage. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,'*  ii. 

Phleg'ra,  in  Macedonia,  was  where 
the  giants  attacked  the  gods.  Encel'ados 
was  the  chief  of  the  giants. 

Pho'ca  (pi.  phocce).  A sea-calf,  or 
any  other  monster  of  the  deep. 

Pho'cion,  surnamed  The  Good,  who 
resisted  all  the  bribes  of  Alexander  and 
his  successor.  It  was  this  real  patriot 
who  told  Alexander  to  turn  his  arms 
against  Persia,  their  common  enemy, 
rather  than  against  the  states  of  Greece, 
his  natural  allies. 

Phocion  the  Good,  in  public  life  severe, 

To  virtue  still  inexorably  firm. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.** 

Phoebe.  The  moon,  sister  of  Phoebus. 

Phoebus.  The  sun  or  sun-god. 
In  Greek  mythology  Apollo  is  called 


682 


PHCENIX. 


PHYLACTERY. 


Phoebus  (the  sun-god),  because  he  drove 
the  chariot  of  the  sun. 

The  rays  divine  of  vernal  Phoebus  shine. 

Thovison,  * Spring.” 

Phoenix ; said  to  live  500  years, 
when  it  makes  in  Arabia  a nest  of  spices, 
burns  itself  to  ashes,  and  comes  forth 
with  renewed  life  for  another  500  years. 

Phoenix ; said  to  have  fifty  orifices  in 
his  bill,  continued  to  his  tail.  After 
living  1000  years  he  builds  for  himself 
a funeral  pile,  sings  a melodious  air 
through  his  fifty  organ-pipes,  flaps  his 
wings  with  a velocity  which  sets  fire  to 
the  pile,  and  consumes  himself.— 
ardson. 

The  enchanted  pile  of  that  lonely  bird. 

Who  sings  at  the  last  his  own  death-lay. 

And  in  music  and  perfume  dies  away. 

Thomas  Moore,  “ Paradise  and  the  Peri." 

Phoenix.,  as  a sign  over  chemists*  shops, 
was  adopted  from  the  association  of  this 
fabulous  bird  with  alchemy.  Paracelsus 
wrote  about  it,  and  several  of  the  al- 
chemists employed  it  to  symbolise  their 
vocation. 

A phoenix  among  women.  A phoenix  of 
his  hind.  A paragon,  unique ; because 
there  never  was  but  one  phoenix. 

If  she  be  furnished  with  a mind  so  rare. 

She  is  alone  the  Arabian  bird. 

Shakespeare,  “ Gymbeline,"  i.  7. 

Phoenix  Alley  {London).  The  alley 
leading  to  the  Phoenix  theatre,  now 
called  Drury  Lane. 

Phoenix  Park  {DuUin).  A cor- 
ruption of  the  Gaelic  Fion-uisc  (fair 
water) ; so  called  from  a spring  at  one 
time  resorted  to  as  a chalybeate  spa. 

Phoenix  Period  or  Cycle,  accord- 
ing to  Tacitus,  consisted  of  250  years ; 
but  R.  Stuart  Poole  asserts  that  it  was 
a period  of  1,460  Julian  years,  like  the 
Sothic  Cycle.  Now,  the  phoenix  is  said 
to  have  appeared  in  Egypt  five  times : 
(1)  in  the  reign  of  Sesostris ; (2)  in  the 
reign  of  Am-asis ; (3)  in  the  reign  of 
Ptolemy  Philadelphos  ; (4)  a year  or  two 
prior  to  the  death  of  Tiberius  ; and  (5)  in 
A.D.  334,  during  the  reign  of  Constantine. 
These  dates  being  accepted,  a Phoenix 
Cycle  consisted  of  300  years : thus, 
Sesostris,  B.C.  866;  Am-asis,  B.c.  566; 
Ptolemy,  B.c.  266  ; Tiberius,  A.D.  34 ; 
Constantine,  A.D.  334.  In  corroboration 
of  this  suggestion  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  Jesus  Christ,  who  died  A.D.  34, 
is  termed  the  Phoenix  by  monastic  writers. 


Tacitus  mentions  the  first  three  of  these 
appearances. — Annales,**  vi.  28, 
Phoenix  Theatre.  {See  P.  Alley.  ) 

Phoenix  Tree.  The  palm.  In 
Greek,  phoinix  means  both  phoenix  and 
I)alm-tree. 

Now  I will  believe  . . . that  in  Arabia 

There  is  one  tree,  the  phoenix’  throne,— one  phoenix 

At  this  hour  reigneth  there. 

Shakespeare,  “ The  Tempest^  iiL  3. 

Phoo'ka  or  Pooha.  A spirit  of  most 
malignant  disposition,  who  hurries  people 
to  their  destruction.  He  sometimes 
comes  in  the  form  of  an  eagle,  and  some- 
times in  that  of  a horse,  like  the  Scotch 
kelpy  iq.v.). — Irish  superstition. 

Phor'cos.  ^^The  old  man  of  the 
sea.”  He  was  the  father  of  the  three 
Graiae,  who  were  grey  from  their  birth, 
and  had  but  one  eye  and  one  tooth 
common  to  the  three. — Greelc  mythology. 

Phor'mio.  A parasite,  who  accom- 
modates himself  to  the  humour  of  every 
one. — Terence,  Phormio* * 

Phrygians.  An  early  Christian  sect, 
so  called  from  Phrygia,  where  they 
abounded.  They  regarded  Monta'nus  as 
their  prophet,  and  laid  claim  to  the  spirit 
of  prophecy. 

Phry'ne  (2  syl.).  A courtesan  or 
Athenian  hetaera.  She  acquired  so  much 
wealth  by  her  beauty,  that  she  offered  to 
rebuild  the  walls  of  Thebes  if  she  might 
put  on  them  this  inscription  : ‘‘Alexander 
destroyed  them,  but  Phryne  the  hetaera 
rebuilt  them.”  Apelles’  most  celebrated 
picture  of  “ Venus”  was  a representation 
of  Phryne,  who  entered  the  sea  with  dis- 
hevelled air  as  a model.  The  Cnidian 
Venus  of  Praxit'eles  was  also  taken  from 
this  courtesan. 

Phthali  or  Opas.  The  Vulcan  of 
Egyptian  mythology. 

Phylac'tery.  A charm  or  amulet. 
The  Jews  wore  on  their  wrist  or  forehead 
a slip  of  parchment  bearing  a text  of 
Scripture.  Strictly  speaking,  a phylac- 
tery consisted  of  four  pieces  of  parch- 
ment rolled  together  in  the  form  of  a 
pyramid  of  boxes,  enclosed  in  a black 
leather  case,  and  fastened  to  the  fore- 
head or  wrist  of  the  left  hand.  On  the 
slips  of  parchment  were  written  four 
passages  of  Scripture  — Ex.  xiii.  1-10, 
11-16  ; Deut.  vi.  4-9,  xi.  13-21.  The  idea 
arose  from  the  command  of  Moses, 

Therefore  shall  ye  lay  up  these  my  tvords 


PHYLLIS, 


PICCADILLY. 


683 


in  your  heart  . . . and  hind  them  for  a sign 
upon  your  hand  as  frontlets  hetwecn 
your  eyesT — Deut.  xi.  18. 

Phyllis.  A country  girl.  — Fir^^7, 

Eclogues f hi.  and  v. 

Country  messes, 

"Which  the  neat-handed  Phyllis  dresses. 

Milton,  “ L'  Allegro.  '* 

Phyllis  and  Brunetta.  Eiyal 
beauties,  who  for  a long  time  vied  with 
each  other  on  equal  terms.  Eor  a certain 
festival  Phyllis  procured  some  marvellous 
fabric  of  gold  brocade  to  outshine  her 
rival ; but  Brunetta  dressed  the  slave 
who  bore  her  train  in  the  same  material, 
clothing  herself  in  simple  black.  Upon 
this  crushing  mortification  Phyllis  went 
home  and  died. — Spectator. 

Phyllising  the  Pair.  Philandering 
—making  soft  speeches  and  winning 
faces  at  them.  Garth  says  of  Dr.  Atter- 
bury — 

He  passed  his  easy  hours,  instead  of  prayer. 

In  madrigals  and  phyllising  the  fair. 

“ The  Dispensary^  i, 

Phynnod'deree  {the  Hairy -one).  A 
Manx  spirit,  similar  to  the  Scotch 
‘^brownie,”  and  German  ^^kobold.”  He 
is  said  to  be  an  outlawed  fairy,  and  the 
offence  was  this:  He  absented  himself 
without  leave  from  Fairy-court  on  the 
great  levee-day  of  the  Harvest-moon,  be- 
ing in  the  glen  of  Kushen,  dancing  with 
a pretty  Manx  maid  whom  he  was 
courting. 

Physician.  The  Beloved  Physician. 
St.  Luke,  the  evangelist. 

The  Prince  of  Physicians.  Avicenna, 
the  Arabian.  (980-1037.) 

Physigna'thos  {One  who  swells  the 
cheeks).  King  of  the  Frogs,  and  son  of 
Pelus  [mud],  slain  by  Troxartas  the 
Mouse-king. 

Great  Physignathos  I,  from  Peleus’  race, 

JBegot  in  fair  Hydromede’s  embrace, 

Where,  by  the  nuptial  bank  that  paints  his  side. 

The  swift  Erid'anus  delights  to  glide. 

Farnell^  “ Battle  of  the  Frogs bk.  i. 

Pi'arists,  or  Brethren  of  the  Pious 
School.  A religious  congregation  founded 
in  the  sixteenth  century  by  Joseph  of 
Calasanza,  for  the  better  instruction  and 
education  of  the  middle  and  higher 
classes. 

Pic-nic.  Originally  the  subscribers 
of  a pic-nic  had  a bill  of  fare  numbered  ; 
each  member  picked  out  a certain  dish 
which  he  was  willing  to  furnish,  and  the 


number  was  nicked  or  ticked  off.  So 
the  entertainment  was  called  a pick  and 
nick.  The  custom  dates  from  1802. 

Dr.  John  Anthony  derives  it  from  the 
lidMan  piccolanicchia  (a  small  task),  each 
person  being  set  a small  task  towards  jP 
the  general  entertainment.  Neither 
satisfactory.  (French,  piciue-nique.) 

Pic'ador  {Spanish).  A horseman ; 
one  who  in  bull-fights  is  armed  with  a 
gilt  spear  {pica- dor ada). 

Picards.  An  immoral  sect  of  fanatics 
in  the  fifteenth  century  ; so  called  from 
Picard  of  Flanders,  their  founder,  who 
called  himself  the  New  Adam,  and  tried 
to  introduce  the  custom  of  living  nude 
like  Adam  in  Paradise. 

You  are  as  hot-headed  as  a picard.  This 
is  a French  expression,  and  is  tantamount 
to  our  ‘^Peppery  as  a Welshman.” 

PicaToon'.  A pirate,  one  who  plun- 
ders wrecks.  (French,  picoreur,  picorer, 
to  plunder ; Scotch,  pilcary,  rapine ;; 
Spanish,  picar'oUf  a villain.) 

Pic'atrix.  The  pseudonyme  of  a 
Spanish  monk,  author  of  a book  on  de- 
monology, collected  from  the  writings  of 
224  Arabic  magicians.  It  was  dedicated 
to  king  Alfonso. 

At  tbe  time  when  I was  a student  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Toulouse,  that  same  reverend  Pica trix,  rector 
of  the  Diabolical  Faculty,  was  wont  to  tell  us  that 
devils  did  naturally  fear  the  bright  glaneing  of 
swords  as  much  as  the  splendour  and  light  of  the 
sun.— jRafieZats,  **  Faniagruel,”  iii.  23- 

Piccadilly  {London) ; so  called  fromi 
Piccadilla  Hall,  the  chief  depot  of  a cer- 
tain sort  of  lace,  much  in  vogue  during 
the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth.  The  lace 
was  called  piccadilly  lace  from  its  little 
spear-points  (a  diminutive  of  pica,  a pike 
or  spear).  In  the  reign  of  James  I.  the 
high  ruff  was  called  a piccadilly,  though 
divested  of  its  lace  edging.  Barnaby 
Rice,  speaking  of  the  piccadillies,  says — 

He  that  some  forty  years  sithen  should 
have  asked  after  a piccadilly,  I wonder 
who  would  have  understood  him,  and 
would  have  told  him  whether  it  was  fish 
or  flesh”  (1614).  We  are  told  in  the 

Glossographia”  (1681)  that  Piccadilly 
was  named  from  Higgins’  famous  ordi- 
nary near  St.  James’s,  called  Higgins’ 
Pickadilly,  “ because  he  made  his  money 
'by  selling  piccadillies,  which  in  the  last 
age  were  much  in  fashion  ” (p.  495). 

Where  Sackville  Street  now  stands  was  Piccadilla. 
Hall,  where  picc^dilla8or  turnovers  were  sold,  which 
gave  name  to  Piccadilly.— Pen7jr<7»<. 


<584 


PICK. 


PIE  CORNER, 


Pick.  To  throw ; same  as  pitch. 
The  instrument  that  throws  the  shuttle 
is  called  the  picher. 

I’ll  pick  you  o’er  the  pales. 

Shakespeare,  Henry  VHLp  V.  3. 

Pickanin'ny.  A young  child.  A 
W est-Indian  negro  word. 

Pick'ellier'ringe  (5  syl.).  A buffoon 
is  so  called  by  the  Dutch ; a corruption 
«of  Pickle-harin  (hairy  sprite).  Ben  Jon- 
son  has  Puck-hairy. 

Pickle.  A rod  in  picTcle.  One  ready 
to  chastise  with  at  any  moment.  Pickled 
means  preserved  for  use. 

I'm  in  a pretty  pickle— vo  a quandary ^ 
or  state  of  disorder. 

How  cam’st  thou  in  this  pi  "kle  ? 

Shakespeare,  ‘‘  Tempest P v.  1. 

Pickwick  {Mr.  Samuel).  The  hero 
of  the  Pickwick  Papers,”  by  Charles 
Dickens.  He  is  a simple-minded,  bene- 
volent old  gentleman,  who  wears  spec- 
tacles, breeches,  and  short  black  gaiters, 
has  a bald  head,  and  good  round  belly.” 
He  founds  a club,  and  travels  with  its 

■ members  over  England,  each  member 
being  under  his  guardianship. 

Pic'roch-ole  {Pik!-ro-coal).  King  of 
Lerne.  A Greek  compound,  meaning 
'^^bitter-bile”  or  choleric.  The  rustics  of 
Utopia  one  day  asked  the  cake-bakers  of 
i Lerne,  who  happened  to  be  passing  by, 
to  sell  them  some  cakes,  but  received 
only  abuse  for  their  answer ; whereupon  a 
-quarrel  ensued.  When  Picrochole  was  in- 
formed thereof,  he  marched  with  all  his 
men  against  Utopia.  King  Grangousier 
tried  to  appease  the  choleric  king,  but 
.all  his  efforts  were  in  vain.  At  length 
' Gargantua  arrived,  defeated  Picrochole, 
and  put  his  army  to  the  rout. — Rahelais^ 

Gargantua  and  PantagrueV' 

King  Picrocholds  statesman.  One  who 
without  his  host  reckons  of  mighty 
achievements  to  be  accomplished.  The 

■ duke  of  Smalltrash,  earl  of  Swashbuck- 
ler, and  captain  Durtaille  advised  king 
Picrochole  to  divide  his  army  into  two 
parts ; one  was  to  be  left  to  carry  on 
the  war  in  hand,  and  the  other  to  be 
sent  forth  to  make  conquests.  They 
were  to  take  England,  France  and  Spain, 
Asia  Minor,  the  Greek  Islands,  and  Tur- 
key, Germany,  Norway,  Sweden,  Russia, 
•&c.,  and  to  divide  the  lands  thus  taken 

among  the  conquerors.  Echeph'ron,  | 
'£,n  old  soldier,  replied — ‘‘A  shoemaker 


bought  a ha’poth  of  milk ; with  this  he 
was  going  to  make  butter,  the  butter 
was  to  buy  a cow,  the  cow  was  to  have  a 
calf,  the  calf  was  to  be  changed  for  a 
colt,  and  the  man  was  to  become  a nabob ; 
only  he  cracked  his  jug,  spilt  his  milk, 
and  went  supperless  to  bed.” — Rabelais, 

Gargantua  and  Pantagruel,^'  bk.  i.  33. 

Piet  is  not  from  the  Latin  picti 
(painted  people).  As  Piets  and  Scots 
are  always  mentioned  together,  there  is 
no  reason  why  one  should  be  Gaelic  and 
the  other  Latin.  Scot  is  the  Gaelic  'sgod 
(a  dweller  in  woods  and  forests),  and 
Piet  is  the  Gaelic  pict-ish  (freebooters) ; 
the  two  being  equivalent  to  foresters 
and  freebooters. 

Piets’  Houses.  Those  underground 
buildings  more  accurately  termed  Earth 
Houses,”  as  the  Piet’s  House  at  Kettle- 
burn,  in  Caithness. 

Picture.  A model  or  beau-ideal,  as 
He  is  the  picture  of  health  ; A perfect  pic- 
ture of  a house. 

The  Picture.  Massinger  has  borrowed 
the  plot  of  this  play  from  Bandello  of 
Piedmont,  who  wrote  novelles  or  tales  in 
the  fifteenth  century. 

Pictures.  {See  Cabinet,  Cartoons, 

&c. 

Picture  Bible.  {See  Biblia.) 

Pie.  Looking  for  a pies  nest  (French). 
Looking  for  something  you  are  not  likely 
to  find.  {See  below.) 

He  is  in  the  pie's  nest  (French).  In  a 
fix,  in  great  doubt,  in  a quandary.  The 
pie  places  her  nest  out  of  reach,  and  for- 
tifies it  with  thorny  sticks,  leaving  only  a 
small  aperture  just  large  enough  to  ad- 
mit her  body.  She  generally  sits  with  her 
head  towards  the  hole,  watching  against 
intruders. 

Je  in’en  vay  chercher  un  grand  peut-estre.  II  est 
au  nid  de  la  pie.  —Rabelais. 

Pie-Bald.  A corruption  of  pie- 
balled,  speckled  like  a pie.  The  words 
Ball,  Dun,  and  Favel  are  frequently  given 
as  names  to  cows.  ^^Ball”  means  the 
cow  with  a mark  on  its  face  ; “ Dun  ” 
means  the  cow  of  a dun  or  brownish- 
yellow  colour ; and  “ Favel  ” means  the 
bay  cow.  {Ball,  in  Gaelic,  means  a 

mark  ; ” ballach,  speckled.) 

Pie  Corner  {London)^  So  named 
from  an  eating-house— the  [Mag]-pie.” 


PIE  POUDRE. 


PIG, 


685- 


Pie  Poudre.  A court  formerly  held 
at  a fair  on  St.  Giles's  Hill,  near  Win- 
chester. It  was  originally  authorised  by 
the  bishop  of  Winton  from  a grant  of 
Edward  IV.  Similar  courts  were  held 
elsewhere  at  wakes  and  fairs  for  the 
rough-and-ready  treatment  of  pedlars 
and  hawkers,  to  compel  them  and  those 
with  whom  they  dealt  to  fulfil  their  con- 
tracts, (French,  pied  poiidreux,  dusty 
foot.  A vagabond  is  called  in  French 
pied-poudreux.) 

Have  its  proceedinars  disallowed  or 
Allowed,  at  fancy  of  pie-powder. 

BtUler,  “ Hudibt ait* pt  ii.  2. 

Pied  Piper  of  Ham'elin.  The 
Pyed  Piper  was  promised  a reward  if  he 
would  drive  the  rats  and  mice  out  of 
Hameln  (Westphalia).  This  he  did,  for 
he  gathered  them  together  by  his  pipe, 
and  then  drowned  them  in  the  river.  As 
the  people  refused  to  pay  him,  he  next 
led  the  children  to  Koppelberg  Hill,  which 
opened  upon  them  (July  22nd,  1376). 

To  blow  the  pipe  his  lips  he  wrinkled. 

And  green  and  blue  his  sharp  eyes  twinkled... 
And  ere  three  notes  his  pipe  had  uttered... 

Out  of  the  houses  rats  came  tumbling— 

Great  rats,  small  rats,  lean  rats,  brawny  rats. 
Brown  rats,  black  rats,  gray  rats,  tawny  rats— 
An  dstep  by  step  they  followed  him  dancing. 

Till  they  came  to  the  river  Weser... 

Robert  Browning. 

Pierre  (pron.  Peer).  A conspirator 
in  Otway’s  ‘’Venice  Preserved.”  He  is 
described  as  a patriot,  of  the  bluntest 
manners,  and  a stoical  heart. 

Uglier  than  Pierre  du  Coignet  {French). 
Coign^res  was  an  advocate-general  in  the 
reign  of  Philippe  de  Valois,  who  stoutly 
opposed  the  encroachments  of  the  church. 
The  monks  in  revenge  called,  by  way  of 
pun,  those  grotesque  monkey-like  figures 
carved  in  stone,  used  in  church  archi- 
tecture, pierres  du  Coignet  or  Pierres  du 
Coigneres.  At  Notre  Dame  de  Paris  they 
used  to  extinguish  their  torches  in  the 
mouths  and  nostrils  of  these  figures, 
which  thus  acquired  a superadd  ed  ugli- 
ness. 

You  may  associate  them  with  master  Peter  du 
Coignet.. ..in  the  middle  of  the  porch.. , .to  perform 
the  (office  of  extinguishers,  and  with  their  noses  put 
out  the  lighted  candles,  torches,  lapers,  and  flam- 
beaux.—JSa6eZaw. 

Pierrot  ipe'er-ro).  A character  in 
French  pantomime  representing  a man  in 
growth  and  a child  in  mind  and  manners. 
He  is  generally  the  tallest  and  thinnest 
man  that  can  be  got,  has  his  face  and 
hair  covered  with  white  powder  or  flour, 
and  wears  a white  gown  with  very  long 


sleeves,  and  a row  of  big  buttons  down 
the  front.  The  word  means  Little  Peter, 

Piers.  The  shepherd  who  relates  th© 
fable  of  the  “ Kid  and  her  Dam,”  t©  show 
the  danger  of  bad  company. — Spenser^, 

Shepherd's  Calendar.'' 

Piers  Plowman.  The  hero  of  a 
satirical  poem  of  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury. He  falls  asleep,  like  John  Bunyan,. 
on  the  Malvern  Hills,  and  has  different 
visions  which  he  describes,  and  in  which 
he  exposes  the  corruptions  of  society, 
the  dissoluteness  of  the  clergy,  and  the. 
allurements  to  sin,  with  considerable 
bitterness.  The  author  is  supposed  te 
be  Robert  or  William  Langland. 

Pieta'.  A representation  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  embracing  the  dead  body  of  her 
Son.  Filial  or  parental  love  was  called 
piety  by  the  Romans.  {See  Pious.) 

Pi'etists.  A sect  of  Lutherans  in  the- 
seventeenth  century,  who  sought  to- 
introduce  a more  moral  life  and  a 
more  “evangelical”  spirit  of  doctrine 
into  the  reformed  church.  In  Germany 
the  word  Pietist  is  about  equal  to  our- 
vulgar  use  of  Methodist. 

Pie'tro  (2  syl. ).  The  putative  father 
of  Pompiria,  criminally  assumed  as  hrs 
child  to  prevent  certain  property  fronx 
passing  to  an  heir  not  his  own. — Robert 
Browning f ^^The  Ring  and  the  Boole."  {See 
Ring.) 

Pig.  In  the  forefeet  of  pigs  is  a very 
small  hole,  which  may  be  seen  when  the- 
hair  has  been  carefully  removed.  The? 
tradition  is  that  the  legion  of  devils 
entered  by  these  apertures.  There  are 
also  round  it  some  six  rings,  the  whole- 
together  not  larger  than  a small  spangle  ; 
they  look  as  if  burnt  or  branded  into  the 
skin,  and  the  tradition  is  that  they  are- 
the  marks  of  the  devil’s  claws  when  h© 
entered  the  swine  (Mark  v.  11-15). 

Pig  in  a pohe.  A blind  bargain.  The 
French  say  Acheter  chat  en  poche.  The 
reference  is  to  a common  trick  in  days 
gone  by  of  substituting  a cat  for  a suck- 
ing-pig, and  trying  to  palm  it  off  on 
greenhorns.  If  any  one  heedlessly  bought 
the  article  without  examination  he 
bought  a “ cat”  for  a “pig  ; ” but  if  he 
opened  the  sack  he  “ let  the  cat  out  of 
the  hag,”  and  the  trick  was  disclosed. 
The  French  “chat  en  poche”  refers  to* 
the  fact,  while  our  proverb  regards  the 
trick. 


PIGS. 


PIGEON. 


He  has  brought  his  pigs  to  a pretty 
marhet.  He  has  made  a very  bad  bar- 
g:ain ; he  has  managed  his  business  in  a 
very  bad  way.  Pigs  were  the  chief 
articles  of  sale  with  our  Saxon  herdsmen, 
and  till  recently  the  village  cottager 
looked  to  pay  his  rent  by  the  sale  of  his 
pigs. 

He  follows  me  about  like  an  Anthony 
pig  ; or  such  and  such  a one  is  a Tantony 
pig;  meaning  a beggar,  a hanger-on. 
Stow  says  that  the  officers  of  the  market 
used  to  slit  the  ears  of  pigs  unfit  for 
food.  One  day  one  of  the  proctors  of  St. 
Anthony’s  Hospital  tied  a bell  about  a 
pig  whose  ear  was  slit,  and  no  one  would 
ever  hurt  it.  The  pig  would  follow  like 
a dog  any  one  who  fed  it. 

Please  the  pigs.  If  the  Virgin  permits. 
Saxon,  piga  (a  virgin),  whence  Peggy, 
a common  name  of  females  in  Scotland. 
In  the  Danish  New  Testament  maiden” 
is  generally  rendered  pigen.  ‘^Pig 
Gross,”  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  is 
Virgin  Cross,  or  the  Lady  Cross.  So 
also  Pig’s  Hill,”  Pig’s  Ditch,”  in 
some  instances  at  least,  are  the  field  and 
diggin’  attached  to  the  Lady’s  Chapel, 
though  in  others  they  are  simply  the  hill 
and  ditch  where  pigs  were  offered  for  sale. 
Another  etymology  is  Please  the  pixies 
'-(fairies),  a saying  still  common  in  Devon- 
shire. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  pige 
should  be  Norse  for  maiden,  and  hog  or 
og  Gaelic  for  young  generally.  Thus. 
ogan  (a  young  man),  and  oige  (a  young 
woman). 

The  common  notion  that  please  the 
pigs”  is  a corruption  of  please  the 
pix,”  is  wholly  unworthy  of  credit. 

Some  men  there  are  lore  not  a gaping  pig 
('^Merchant  of  Venice,”  iv.  1).  Marshal 
d’ Albert  always  fainted  at  the  sight  of 
a pig.  {See  Antipathy,  Cat.) 

Pigs.  {See  Bartholomew  Pigs.) 

Pig  and  Tinderbox.  The  Elephant 
and  Castle. 

Pig  and  Wliistle.  The  bowl  and 
wassail,  or  the  wassail- cup  and  wassail. 
A piggen  is  a pail,  especially  a milk-pail ; 
and  a pig  is  a small  bowl,  cup,  or  mug. 
Thus  a crockery  dealer  is  called  a pig- 
%e)ife.  Another  explanation  is  that  it  is  a 
corruption  of  the  pix  and  housel ; the 
■^^pix”  being  the  box  in  which  the  sacred 
wafers  were  kept,  and  the  housel”  the 
•eucharist  or  wafers  themselves. 


Pig-back,  Pick-back,  or  a-Pigger- 
back,  does  not  mean  as  a is  carried  by 
a butcher,  but  as  a>piga  or  child  is  carried. 
It  should  be  written  apigga-back.  A 
butcher  carries  a pig  head  doimxcards, 
with  its  legs  over  his  shoulders ; but 
a child  is  carried  with  its  arms  round 
your  neck,  and  legs  under  your  arms. 

She  carries  the  other  a pickapack  upon  her  shoul- 
ders.— 

Pig  Iron.  This  is  a mere  play  upon 
the  word  sow.  When  iron  is  melted  it 
runs  off  into  a channel  called  a sow,  the 
lat'eral  branches  of  which  are  called  the 
pigs ; here  the  iron  cools,  and  is  callecL 
pig-iron.  Now  sow  has  nothing  whatever 
to  do  with  swine,  but  is  from  the  Saxon 
sawan,  to  scatter;  German,  sausen,  to 
rush  ; and  ought  to  be  written  5aw5(sows), 
a word  in  use  still  in  the  expression  ‘‘He 
soused  upon  him” — i.e.,  swooped  or 
rushed.  Having  sows  or  sow  for  the 
parent  channel,  it  required  no  great 
effort  of  wit  to  make  the  lateral  grooves 
the  little  pigs. 

Pig-tails  {The).  The  Chinese ; so 
called  because  the  Tartar  tonsure  and 
braided  queue  are  very  general. 

We  laid  away  telling  one  another  of  the  pig-tails 
till  we  both  dropped  off  to  sleep.— “ Tales  about  the 
Chinese.'^ 

Pig-wiggen.  A dwarf ; so  called 
from  the  fairy  in  Drayton’s  “ Nymph- 
idia.”  A corruption  of  Pig-widden.  {See 
Piggy-Wiggy.) 

Pigeon.  Pitt  says  in  Mecca  no  one 
will  kill  the  blue  pigeons,  because  they 
are  held  sacred. 

Pigeons.  Two  black  pigeons,  we 
are  told,  took  their  flight  from  Thebes, 
in  Egypt : one  flew  to  Libya,  and  the 
other  to  Dodo'na,  in  Greece.  On  the 
spot  where  the  former  alighted,  the  tem- 
ple of  Jupiter  Ammon  was  erected  ; in 
the  place  where  the  other  settled,  the 
oracle  of  Jupiter  was  established,  and 
there  the  responses  were  made  by  the 
black  pigeons  that  inhabited  the  sur- 
rounding groves.  This  fable  is  probably 
based  on  a pun  upon  the  word  peleiai, 
which  usually  means  “old  women,”  but 
in  the  dialect  of  the  Epi'rots  signifies 
pigeons  or  doves. 

Pigeon  lays  only  two  eggs.  Hence  the 
Queen  says  of  Hamlet,  after  his  fit  he 
will  be — 

As  patient  as  the  female  dove 
When  that  her  golden  couplets  are  disclosed 

hatched].  "Hamlet”  t.  1. 


PIGEON-ENGLISa 


PILGRIMAGE. 


687 


MahomeCs  Pigeon.  This  pigeon  was 
taught  to  pick  seeds  from  Mahomet’s 
oar,  so  that  it  might  be  thought  to  be  the 
messenger  of  inspired  communications. 

He  who  is  sprinkled  with  pigeorCs  blood 
will  never  die  a natural  death.  A sculptor 
carrying  home  a bust  of  Charles  I.  stop- 
ped to  rest  on  the  way ; at  the  moment  a 
pigeon  overhead  was  struck  by  a hawk, 
and  the  blood  of  the  bird  fell  on  the 
neck  of  the  bust.  The  sculptor  thought 
it  ominous,  and  after  the  king  was  be- 
headed the  saying  became  current. 

Flocks  of  wild  pigeons  presage  the  pesti- 
lence, at  least  in  Louisia'na.  Longfellow 
says  they  come  with  ‘‘naught  in  their 
craws  but  an  acorn.” — Evangeline.’’^ 

To  pigeon.  To  cheat,  to  gull  one 
of  his  money  by  almost  self-evident 
hoaxes.  Pigeons  are  very  easily  gulled, 
caught  by  snares,  or  scared  by  malkins. 
One  easily  gulled  is  called  a pigeon.  The 
French  pigeon  means  a dupe. 

Je  me  defiBeroy  tantost  que  tu  serois  un  de  ceux 
qui  ne  se  laissent  si  facilement  pigeouaer  ^ telles 
geos.— “ies  Dialogues  de  Jacques  Tahureau”  (1585). 

Pigeon -English,  or  Pigeon-talk. 
A corruption  of  business-talk.  Thus  : 
business,  bidginess,  bidgin,  pidgin, 
pigeon.  A mixture  of  English,  Portu- 
guese, and  Chinese,  used  in  business 
transactions  in  “The  Flowery  Empire.” 

The  traders  care  nothing  for  the  Chinese  language, 
and  are  content  to  carry  on  their  business  transac- 
tions  in  a hideous  jargon  called  “pigeon  English.”— 
The  Times. 

Pigeon-livered.  Timid,  easily 
frightened,  like  a pigeon.  The  bile  rules 
the  temper,  and  the  liver  the  bile. 

Pigeon  Pair.  A boy  and  girl,  twins. 
It  was  once  supposed  that  pigeons  always 
sit  on  two  eggs,  which  produce  a male 
and  a female,  and  these  twin  birds  live 
together  in  love  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
Pigg.  (See  under  the  ^oord'PB.WN^^B..) 

Piggy-wiggy  or  Piggy-whidden.  A 
word  of  endearment ; a pet  pi^,  which 
being  the  smallest  of  the  litter  is  called 
by  the  diminutive  Piggy,  and  being  very 
white  from  weakness  is  called  ^oiggy,  a 
corruption  of  whiddy,  meaning  white. 

Pigh'tle.  A small  parcel  of  larid 
enclosed  with  a hedge.  In  the  Eastern 
counties  called  a pi'kle.  (Scotch,  pight, 
fixed  or  determinate.) 

Pigmy.  A dwarf.  In  fabulous  his- 
tory the  pigmies  were  a nation  of  dwarfs 
devoured  by  cranes.  (See  Pygmies.) 


Pigsnie,  A word  of  endearment  to 
a girl.  (Saxon,  piga,  a girl.) 

Pigwiggin.  An  elf  in  love  with 
queen  Mab.  He  combats  the  jealous 
O^beron  with  great  fury.  — Drayton, 
**NymphidiaP 

Pike-staff.  Plain  as  a pike-staff.  A 
corruption  of  “Plain  as  a pack -staff,” 
the  staff  on  which  pedlars  carried  their 
pack.  The  pike-staff  would  be  the 
shaft  of  the  pike  or  halbert. 

Pilate  Voice.  A loud  ranting  voice. 
In  the  old  mysteries  all  tyrants  were 
made  to  speak  in  a rough  ranting  manner. 
Thus  Bottom  the  Weaver,  after  a rant 
“ to  show  his  quality,”  exclaims,  “That’s 
’Ercles’  vein,  a tyrant’s  vein  and  Ham- 
let describes  a ranting  actor  as  “out- 
heroding  Herod.” 

In  Pilate  voys  he  gan  to  cry. 

And  swor  by  armes,  and  by  blood  and  bones. 

Chaucer,  Canterbury  Talesl’  3120. 

Pilch..  The  flannel  napkin  of  an  in- 
fant; a buff  or  leather  jerkin.  (See 
below. ) 

Pilcher.  A scabbard.  (Saxon,  pylce, 
a skin  coat.) 

Will  you  pluck  your  sword  out  of  his  pilcher  ? 

Shakespeare,  “ Romeo  and  Juliet,"  iii.  1. 

Pil-garlic  (A).  One  whose  hair  has 
fallen  off  from  disease  ; one  avoided  and 
forsaken  by  his  fellows.  The  editor  of 
Notes  and  Queries  says  that  garlic  was 
a prime  specific  for  leprosy,  so  that 
garlic  and  leprosy  became  inseparably 
associated.  As  leper-s  had  to  pil  or  peel 
their  own  garlic,  they  were  nick-named 
pil-garlics,  and  any  one  who  was  shunned 
like  a leper  was  called  so  likewise. 
Stow  refers  the  expression  to  one  get- 
ting old,  observing  “ He  will  soon  be  a 
peeled  garlic  like  myself.” 

Pil'grimage  (3  syl.).  The  chief 
places  in  the  West  were  (1)  Walsingham 
and  Canterbury  (England) ; (2)  Four- 
vi^res,  Puy,  and  St.  Denis  (France) ; (3) 
Rome,  Loretto,  Genetsano,  and  Assisi 
(Italy') ; (4)  Compostella,  Guadalupe,  and 
Montserrat  (Spain) ; (5)  Getting,  Zell, 
Cologne,  Trier,  and  Pim&iedelxi  (Germany). 
Chaucer  has  an  admirable  photograph, 
chiefly  in  verse,  of  a pilgrimage  to 
Becket’s  tomb,  in  Canterbury  cathedral. 
The  pilgrims  beguile  the  weariness  of  the 
way  by  telling  tales.  These  “ Canterbury 
Tales  ” were  never  completed. 


6S8 


PILLAR. 


PIN. 


Pillar.  Running  from  'pillar  to  post — 
from  oDe  thing  to  another  without  any 
fixed  purpose.  This  is  an  allusion  to  the 
manege.  The  pillar  is  the  centre  of  the 
manege  ground,  and  the  posts  are  the 
columns  at  equal  distances,  placed  two 
and  two  round  the  circumference  of  the 
ring. 

Pillar  Saints  or  StyU’tes.  A class 
of  ascetics,  chiefly  of  Syria,  who  took  up 
their  abode  on  the  top  of  a pillar,  from 
which  they  never  descended.  {See 
Stylites.) 

Pillars  of  Heaven.  The  Atlas 
mountains  are  so  called  by  the  natives. 

Pillars  of  Hercules.  The  opposite 
rocks  at  the  entrance  of  the  Mediterra- 
nean Sea,  one  in  Spain  and  the  other  on 
the  African  continent.  The  tale  is  that 
they  were  bound  together  till  Hercules 
tore  them  asunder  in  order  to  get  to 
Gades  (Cadiz).  The  ancients  called  them 
Calpe  and  Ab'yla  ; we  call  them  Gibraltar 
Rock  and  Mount  Hacho,  on  which  stands 
the  fortress  of  Ceu'ta. 

PiPlory.  The  following  eminent  men 
have  been  put  in  the  pillory  for  literary 
offences  : — Leighton,  for  tracts  against 
Charles  I. ; Lilburn,  for  circulating  the 
tracts  of  Dr.  Bastwick ; Bastwick,  for  at- 
tacking the  Church  of  England  ; Warton 
the  publisher;  Prynne,  for  a satire  on 
the  wife  of  Charles  I. ; Daniel  Defoe,  for 
a pamphlet  entitled  ‘^The  Shortest  Day 
with  Dissenters,”  &c. 

Pilot,  according  to  Scaliger,  is  from 
an  old  French  word,  pile  (a  ship). 

Pilot  Pish..  So  called  because  it  is 
supposed  to  pilot  the  shark  to  its  prey. 
The  shark  will  no  more  injure  it  than 
a crocodile  would  harm  a trochilus  or 
humming-bird. 

Pilpay  or  Bidpay,  The  Indian 
.Esop.  His  compilation  was  in  San- 
skrit, and  entitled  Pantcha-Tantra.” 
Khosru  (Chosroes)  the  Great  of  Persia 
ordered  them  to  be  translated  into 
Pehivi,  an  idiom  of  Medish,  at  that 
time  the  language  of  Persia.  This  was 
in  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century. 

Pimlico  {London),  according  to  tra- 
dition, receives  its  name  from  Ben  Pim- 
lico, famous  for  his  nut-brown  ale.  His 
tea-gardens  were  near  Hoxton,  and  the 
road  to  them  was  called  Pimlico  Path. 


Pin.  Not  worth  a pin.  "Wholly  worth- 
less. 

I don't  care  a pin,  or  a pirCs  point.  In- 
the  least. 

The  pin.  The  centre,  as  'Hhe  pin  of 
the  heart  ” (^Shakespeare,  Romeo  and 
Juliet,"  ii.  4).  The  allusion  is  to  the 
pin  which  fastened  the  clout  or  white 
mark  on  a target  in  archery. 

Weak  on  his  pins.  Weak  in  his  legs,, 
the  legs  being  a man’s  pegs  or  sup 
porters. 

In  meri'y  pin.  In  merry  mood,  in. 
good  spirits.  Pegge,  in  his  ‘‘Anony- 
miana,”  says  that  the  old  tankards  were 
divided  into  eight  equal  parts,  and  each, 
part  was  marked  with  a silver  pin.  The 
cups  held  two  quarts,  consequently  the 
quantity  from  pin  to  pin  was  half  a Win- 
chester pint.  By  the  rules  of  good 
fellowship”  a drinker  was  to  stop  drink- 
ing only  at  a pin,  and  if  he  drank  beyond 
it  was  to  drink  to  the  next  one.  As  it 
was  very  hard  to  stop  exactly  at  the  pin, 
the  vain  efforts  gave  rise  to  much  mirth, 
and  the  drinker  had  generally  to  drain' 
the  tankard.  {See  Peo.) 

No  song',  no  laugh,  no  jovial  din 
Of  drinking  wassail  to  the  pin. 

LongfelloTV,  “ Golden  Legend  " • 

A nm'ry  pin.  A roisterer. 

We  are  told  that  St.  Dunstan  intro- 
duced the  plan  of  pegging  tankards,  to- 
check  the  intemperate  habits  of  the  Eng- 
lish in  his  time. 

I do  not  pin  my  faith  upon  your  sleeve. 
I am  not  going  to  take  your  ifjse  dixit' 
for  gospel.  In  feudal  times  badges  were 
worn,  and  the  partisans  of  a leader  used 
to  wear  his  badge,  which  was  pinned  on 
the  sleeve.  Sometimes  these  badges 
were  changed  for  specific  purposes,  and 
persons  learned  to  doubt.  Hence  the 
phrase,  You  wear  the  badge,  but  I do 
not  intend  to  pin  my  faith  on  your 
sleeve.” 

He  tirled  at  the  pin.  Rattled  at  the- 
latch  to  give  notice  that  he  was  about  to- 
enter.  The  pin  was  not  only  the  latch 
of  chamber-doors  and  cottages,  but  the 
‘^rasp”  of  castles  used  instead  of  the 
modem  knocker.  It  was  attached  to  a 
ring,  which  produced  a grating  sound  t®* 
give  notice  to  the  warder. 

Sae  licht  he  jumped  up  the  stair. 

And  tirled  at  the  pin ; 

And  wha  sae  ready  as  hersel’ 

To  let  the  laddie  in  ? 

'‘'"Charlie  is  my  Darlino.'"* 


PIN  MONEY. 


PIOUS. 


6S9 


Pin  Money.  A lady’s  allowance  of 
money  for  her  own  personal  expenditure. 
I^ong  after  the  invention  of  pins,  in  the 
fourteenth  century,  the  maker  was  al- 
lowed to  sell  them  in  open  shop  only  on 
the  1st  and  2nd  of  January.  It  was  then 
that  the  court  ladies  and  city  dames 
flocked  to  the  depots  to  buy  them,  having 
been  first  provided  with  money  by  their 
husbands.  When  pins  became  cheap 
and  common,  the  ladies  spent  their  al- 
lowances on  other  fancies,  but  the  term 
pin-money  remained  in  vogue. 

It  is  quite  an  error  to  suppose  that 
pins  were  invented  in  the  reign  of 
Francois  I.,  and  introduced  into  England 
by  Catharine  Howard,  the  fifth  wife  of 
Henry  VIII.  In  1347,  just  two  hundred 
years  before  the  death  of  Francois, 
12,000  pins  were  delivered  from  the  royal 
wardrobe  for  the  use  of  the  princess 
Joan,  and  in  1400  (more  than  a century 
before  Fran9ois  ascended  the  throne)  the 
duchess  of  Orleans  purchased  of  Jehan 
le  Breconnier,  espinglierj  of  Paris,  several 
thousand  long  and  short  pins,  besides 
five  hundred  de  lafa^on  d' Angleterre.  So 
that  pins  were  not  only  manufactured  in 
England,  but  were  of  high  re'pute  even  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  IV. 

Pinabello  or  Piidahel  (in  ‘‘  Orlando 
Furioso”).  Son  of  Anselmo,  king  of 
Maganza.  Marphi'sa  having  overthrown 
.him,  and  taken  the  steed  of  his 
dame,  Pinabello,  at  her  instigation,  de- 
creed that  nothing  would  wipe  out  the 
disgrace  except  a thousand  dames  and  a 
thousand  warriors  unhorsed,  and  spoiled 
of  their  arms,  steed,  and  vest.  He  was 
slain  by  Brad'amant. 

Pinch  ( Dr. ).  A schoolmaster  and  con- 
jurer.— ShaJce^oearej  Comedy  of  En'orsP 

Tom  Pinch,  in  Martin  Chuzzlewit,” 
by  Charles  Dickens. 

Ruth  Pinch.  Sister  of  the  above. 

PinchlDeck.  So  called  from  Chris- 
topher Pinchbeck,  a musical-clock  maker. 
The  word  is  used  for  Brummagem,  infe- 
rior, make-believe. 

Where,  in  these  pinchbeck  days,  can  we  hope  to 
find  the  old  agricultural  virtue  in  all  its  purity  ?— 
Anthony  Trollope,  Framley  Paraonage.'' 

Pinch  wife  {Mr.  and  Mrs.),  in 
Wycherly’s  Country  Wife.” 

Pindar.  The  French  Pindar,  Jean 
Dorat  (1507-1588).  Also  Ponce  Denis 
Lebrun  (1729-1807). 


The  Italian  Pindar.  Gabriello  Chia- 
brera ; whence  Chiahreresco  is  in  Italian 
tantamount  to  Pindaric.”  (1552-1637.) 

Peter  Pindar.  Dr.  John  Wolcot. 
(1738-1819.) 

Pindar  of  England.  George,  duke  of 
Buckingham,  declared  Cowley  to  be  the 
Pindar,  Horace,  and  Virgil  of  England. 

In  Westminster  Abbey,  the  last  line  of 
Gra3’'’s  tablet  claims  the  honour  of  British 
Pindar  for  the  author  of  ^^The  Bard.” 
She  [Britain]  felt  a Homer’s  fire  in  Milton’s  strains, 

A Pindar’s  rapture  in  the  lyre  of  Gray. 

Pindar  of  Wakefield  {George-a- 
Green)  has  given  his  name  to  a celebrated 
house  on  the  west  side  of  the  Gray’s-inn 
Road ; and  a house  with  that  name  still 
exists  in  St.  Chad’s  Row,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street. — The  Times.  {See 
PlNDER. ) 

Pinda'ric  Verse.  Irregular  verse  ; 
a poem  of  various  metres,  but  of  lofty 
style,  in  imitation  of  the  odes  of  Pindar. 
‘^Alexander’s  Feast,”  by  Dryden,  is  the 
best  specimen  in  English. 

Pinder.  One  who  takes  care  of 
cattle  in  a pound  or  pen  ; thus  George- 
a-Green  was  the  “ Pinder  of  Wakefield,” 
and  his  encounter  with  Robin  Hood, 
Scarlet,  and  Little  John  forms  the  sub- 
ject of  one  of  the  Robin  Hood  ballads. 

Pindo'rus  (in  “Jerusalem  Deli- 
vered”). One  of  the  two  heralds ; the 
other  is  Arideus. 

Pine-bender.  Sinis,  the  Corinthian 
robber;  so  called  because  he  used  to 
fasten  his  victims  to  two  pine-trees  bent 
towards  the  earth,  and  then  leave  them 
to  be  rent  asunder  by  the  rebound. 

Pink.  The  flower  is  so  called  because 
the  edges  of  the  petals  are  pinked  or 
notched.  {See  below.) 

Pink  of  Perfection.  The  acme  ; 
the  beau-ideal.  Shakespeare  has  “the 
pink  of  courtesy  ” (“  Romeo  and  J uliet,” 
ii.  4).  Welsh,  pwnc,  a point,  an  acme  ; 
our  pinJc,  to  stab  ; •jinking,  cutting  into 
points. 

Pi'ony.  A flower;  so  called  from 
the  chieftain  Paion,  who  discovered  it. 
— “ Saxon  Leechdomsf  i. 

PPous  (2  syl.).  The  Romans  called  a 
man  who  revered  his  father  pius ; hence 
Antoni'nus  was  called  piris,  because  he 
re(iuested  that  his  adopted  father  (Ha- 
S S 


690 


PIP, 


PITCHERS, 


drian)  might  be  ranked  among  the  gods. 
-dSne'as  was  called  'pins  because  he  res- 
cued his  father  from  the  burning  city  of 
Troy.  The  Italian  word  ‘^pieta”  (9'.r.) 
has  a similar  meaning. 

The  Pious.  Ernst  I.,  founder  of  the 
House  of  Gotha.  (1601-1674. ) 

Robert,  son  of  Hugues  Capet.  (971, 
996-1031.) 

Eric  IX.  of  Sweden.  ( ^,1155-1161.) 

Pip.  The  hero  of  Dickens’s  Great 
Expectations.”  He  is  first  a poor  boy, 
and  then  a man  of  wealth. 

Pip 'chins  {Mrs.").  A wan,  false- 
toothed, 3^ ellow- skinned  scrag — Dickens^ 
^'‘Little  Dorrit.^' 

Pipe.  To  pips  your  eye.  To  snivel; 
to  cry.  ( W elsh,  pipiany  to  pule. ) 

'Put  your  pipe  out.  Spoil  your  piping 
or  singing  ; make  you  sing  another  tune, 
or  in  another  key.  “ Take  your  shine 
out  ” has  a similar  force. 

Put  that  into  your  pipe  and  smoke 
it.  Digest  that  if  you  can.  An  ex- 
pression used  by  one  who  has  given  an 
adversary  a severe  rebuke.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  pipes  of  peace  and  war  smoked 
by  the  American  Indians. 

Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Pipe.  A very 
ancient  office  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer, 
where  leases  of  crown  lands,  sheriffs’ 
accounts,  &c.,  were  made  out.  It  existed 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  and  was 
abolished  in  the  reign  of  William  IV. 
Lord  Bacon  says,  “The  office  is  so  called 
because  the  whole  receipt  of  the  court 
is  finally  conveyed  into  it  by  means  of 
divers  small  pipes  or  quills,  as  water 
into  a cistern.” 

Pipe  Polls  or  Great  Rolls  of  the  Pipe. 
The  series  of  Great  Rolls  of  the  Ex- 
chequer, beginning  2 Henry  II.,  and 
continued  to  1834,  when  the  Pipe-ofiice 
was  abolished.  These  rolls  are  now  in 
the  Public  Record  Office,  Chancery  Lane. 

Pipe  of  Peace.  The  North-Ame- 
rican  Indians  present  a pipe  to  any  one 
they  wish  to  be  on  good  terms  with.  To 
receive  the  pipe  and  smoke  together  is 
to  promote  friendship  and  good-will,  but 
to  refuse  the  offer  is  virtual!}’’  a decla- 
ration of  hostility. 

Pipeclay.  Routine  ; fossilised  mili- 
tary dogmas  of  no  real  worth.  In  govern- 
ment offices  the  term  red-tape  is  used  to 
express  the  same  idea.  Pipeclay  was 
at  one  time  largely  used  by  soldiers  for 


making  their  gloves,  accoutrements,  and 
clothes  look  clean  and  smart. 

Pipelet.  A concierge  or  French 
door-porter;  so  called  from  a character 
of  that  ilk  in  Eugene  Sue’s  “ Mysteries 
of  Paris.” 

Piper.  {See  Pied,  Pat  the  Piper.) 

Tom  Piper.  So  the  piper  is  called  in 
the  morris  dance. 

Pipes  {Tom).  Noted  for  his  tacitur- 
nity.— Smollett,  “ Peregrine  Pickled 

Pirac'us.  N ow  called  the  port  Leo'n-e. 

Pirith'oos.  King  of  the  Lapithae, 
proverbial  for  his  love  of  Theseus,  king 
of  Athens. 

Pisa'nio.  A servant  noted  for  his 
attachment  to  Im'ogen. — Shakespeare^ 

Cymheline.^* 

Piskey.  Psyche,  the  impersonation 
of  the  soul.  Hence  white  moths  are 
called  souls,  fairies,  and  piskey s. 

Pistol.  Falstaff’s  lieutenant  or  an- 
cient ; a bully  but  a coward,  a rogue,  and 
always  poor. — Shakespeare,  “ 1 and  2 
Henry  TV.,*"  Merry  Wives  of  Windseyrl* 

Pis'tols.  So  called  from  Pistoja,  in 
Florence,  where  they  were  invented  in 
1545. 

Pistris,  Pistnx,  Pristis,  or  Pristrix. 
The  sea-monster  sent  to  devour  Androm- 
eda. In  ancient  art  it  is  represented 
with  a dragon’s  head,  the  neck  and  head 
of  a beast,  fins  for  the  fore-legs,  and  the 
body  and  tail  of  a fish.  In  Christian 
art  the  pistris  was  usually  employed  to 
represent  the  whale  which  swallovtred 
Jonah. — Aratus. 

Pit-a-pat.  My  heart  goes  pit-a-pat. 
Pit  is  a corruption  of  heat,  and  pat  is  a 
gentle  blow.  Pit-a-pat  is  “ beating  and 
panting.”  (Hindu,  pata;  Burmese,  po- 
tai;  Welsh,  Pronoh.,  panteler  ; our 

pant,  &c.) 

Pitch..  Pitch  into  him.  Thrust  or 
dart  your  fists  into  him.  (Welsh,  picio, 
to  dart;  Italian,  piccare.) 

Pitch'ers.  Little  pitchers  have  long 
ears.  Little  folk  or  children  hear  what 
is  said  when  you  little  think  it.  The 
ear  of  a pitcher  is  the  handle,  made  in 
the  shape  of  a man’s  ear.  The  handle 
of  a cream-ewer  and  of  other  small  jugs 
is  quite  out  of  proportion  to  the  size  of 
the  vessel,  compared  with  the  handles  of 
large  jars. 


PITHOS. 


PLANETS. 


691 


Pith-OS.  A large  jar  to  keep  wine  or 
oil  in.  Winckelraann  has  engraved  a 
copy  of  a curious  bas-relief  representing 
Diogenes  occupying  a pithos  and  holding 
conversation  with  Alexander  the  Great. 

Pi'tri  (pi.  Pitaras).  An  order  of  di- 
vine beings  in  Hindu  mythology  inhabit- 
ing celestial  regions  of  their  own,  and 
receiving  into  their  society  the  spirits  of 
those  mortals  whose  funeral  rites  have 
been  duly  performed. 

Pitt  Diamond  or  the  Regent.  Called 
Pitt  diamond  because  it  once  belonged 
to  Mr.  Pitt,  grandfather  of  the  famous 
earl  of  Chatham.  Called  the  Regent 
diamond  from  the  duke  of  Orleans,  re- 
gent of  France,  who  purchased  it.  This 
famous  diamond  was  worn  in  the  sword- 
hilt  of  Napoleon,  and  now  belongs  to  the 
king  of  Prussia. 

Pitt’s  Mark.  The  printer’s  name 
and  place  of  business  affixed  to  printed 
books,  according  to  William  Pitt’s  Act, 
39  Geo.  III.,  c.  79. 

Pitt’s  Pictures  or  Billy  Pitt's  Pic- 
lures.  Blind  windows ; so  called  because 
many  windows  were  blocked  up  when 
William  Pitt  augmented  the  Window 
Tax  in  1784,  and  again  in  1797. 

Pit'tacus  (Greek,  PittaJcos).  One  of 
the  Seven  Sages  ” of  Greece.  His  great 
sayings  were  : (1)  Know  the  right  time 
(^^Gno'thi  kairon”);  and  (2) a sore 
thing  to  he  eminent  (‘^Chalepon  esthlon 
emmenai  ”). 

Pit'tance.  An  allowance  of  victuals 
over  and  above  bread  and  wine.  Anthony 
dn  Pinet,  in  his  translation  of  Pliny, 
applies  the  term  over  and  over  again  to 
figs  and  beans.  The  word  originally 
comes  from  the  people’s  piety  in  giving 
to  poor  mendicants  food  for  their  sub- 
sistence. (Monkish  Latin,  'pietancea ; 
Spanish,  pitar^  to  distribute  a dole  of 
food ; pitancero.,  one  who  distributes  the 
dole,  or  a begging  friar  who  subsists  by 
charity.) 

Pix'ies  (2  syl.).  The  Devonshire 
Bobin-Good-Fellows ; said  to  be  the 
spirits  of  infants  who  have  died  before 
baptism.  The  Pixy-monarch  holds  his 
court  like  Titania,  and  sends  his  subjects 
on  their  several  tasks.  The  word  is  a 
diminutive  of  Fix.  probably  the  same  as 


Puck.  Swedish,  pylce  ; old  English,  pouhy 
hug^  hogie  ; Danish,  pog  QXidi  pohker. 

Ne  let  the  pouke  nor  other  evil  sprites.... 

Fray  us  with  things  that  be  not. 

Spenser,  *'  Epithalamion." 

Placelbo.  One  of  the  brothers  of 
January,  an  old  baron  of  Lombardy. 
When  January  held  a family  council  to 
know  whether  he  should  marry,  Placebo 
very  wisely  told  him  to  do  as  he  liked, 
for  says  he — 

A ful  g?et  fool  is  eny  counsel  our/ 

That  servith  any  lord  of  high  honour/ 

That  dar  presume,  or  oones  (once)  thenken  it. 
That  his  counseil'  schuld  pass  his  lordeg  wit. 

Chaucer,  “ The  Marchaundcs  Tale,”  line  9121,  &c. 

Pla'giarist  means  strictly  one  who 
kidnaps  a slave.  Martial  applies  the 
word  to  the  kidnappers  of  other  men’s 
brains.  Literary  theft  unacknow- 
ledged is  called  plagiarism.  (Latin,  pla- 
giairius. ) 

Pla'giary  {Sir  Fretful),  in  Sheridan’s 

Critic  ; ” designed  for  Richard  Cum- 
berland. 

Plain  {The).  The  Girondists  were  so 
called  in  the  National  Convention,  be- 
cause they  sat  on  the  level  floor  or  plain 
of  the  hall.  After  the  overthrow  of  the 
Girondists  this  part  of  the  House  was 
called  the  marsh  or  swamp  (marais),  and 
included  such  members  as  were  under 
the  control  of  the  Mountain  {g.v.'). 

Plain  Dealer.  Wycherly  was  so 
called,  from  his  celebrated  comedy  of 
the  same  title. 

The  countess  of  Drogheda... inquired  for  the  Flnin 
Dealer.  “ Madam/’  says  Mr.  Fairbeard,  “ since  you 
are  for  the  ‘ Plain  Dealer,’  there  he  is  for  you, 
pushing  Mr.  Wycherly  towards  her. — Cibber,  “ Lives 
oi  *tte  Poets"'  iii.,  p.  252. 

Plan'ets.  In  heraldry  the  arms  of 
royal  personages  are  blazoned  by  the 
names  of  planets,  and  those  of  noblemen 
by  precious  stones  instead  of  the  cor- 
responding colours. 

Sol— topaz — or  (.gold) — bezants. 

Luna — pearl — argent  {silver) — plates. 

Saturn — diamond — sable  (hlach) — pel- 
lets. 

Mars — ruby — gules  {red) — torteaux. 

Jupiter — sapphire — azure(6^2^6) — hurts. 

Venus  — emerald  — vert  (green)  — 
pomeis. 

Mercury— amethyst— purpure  {violet) 
— golpes. 

Inferior  planets.  Mercury  and  Venus  ; 
so  called  because  their  orbits  are  within 
the  orbit  of  the  earth. 


s s 2 


^692 


PLANK. 


PLEBEIANS. 


Superior  planets.  Mars,  the  Planetoids, 
Jupiter,  Saturn,  U'ranus,  and  Neptune ; 
so  called  because  their  orbits  are  outside 
the  earth’s  orbit — i.e.,  further  from  the 
sun. 

Plank.  Any  one  principle  of  a po- 
litical platform.  (Nee  Platform.) 

Plantagenet,  from  planta  genista 
(broom-plant),  the  family  cognisance 
first  assumed  by  the  earl  of  Anjou,  the 
first  of  his  race,  during  a pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land,  as  a symbol  of  humility. 
— BucJCf  Richard  111” 

Plaster  or  Chapel  Plaster.  A cor- 
/ruption  of  play-stow  (play -ground). 
Saxon,  pleg stoic . 

Plat'en,  among  printers,  is  the  power 
weight  which  presses  on  the  tym- 
pan  {g.v.),  to  cause  the  impression  of 
the  letters  to  be  given  off  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  sheet.  (French,  plat,  flat.) 

Platform,  in  the  New  England 
•states,  is  a scheme  of  church  govern- 
ment, as  the  Cambridge  or  Saybrook 
platform.  In  other  parts  of  America  it 
is  applied  to  the  political  and  other 
principles  on  which  a leader  builds  up 
his  party.  Each  separate  principle  is  a 
planh  of  the  platform. 

Their  declaration  of  principles— their  “platform,” 
to  use  the  appropriate  term— ■was  settled  and  pub- 
lished to  the  world.  Its  distinctive  elements  or 
planks  ’*  are  financial  — T/w  Times. 

Pla'to.  His  original  name  was  Aris'- 
tocles,  but  he  was  called  Platon  from  the 
great  breadth  of  his  shoulders. 

The  Gei'man  Plato.  Friedrich  Hein- 
rich Jacobi.  (1743-1819.) 

The  Jewish  Plato.  Philo  Judaeus,  an 
Alexandrine  philosopher.  (Flourished 
20-40.) 

The  Puritan  Plato.  John  Howe,  the 
Nonconformist.  (1630-1706.) 

Plato’s  Year.  A revolution  of 
25,000  years,  in  which  period  the  stars 
and  constellations  return  to  their  former 
places  in  respect  to  the  equinoxes. 

Cut  out  more  work  than  can  be  done 
In  Plato’s  year,  but  finish  none. 

ButleVt  “ Hudibraf^*’  pt.  iiL  1. 

Platonic  Bodies.  The  five  regular 
geometric  solids  described  by  Plato — viz., 
the  tetrahedron,  hexahedron,  octahedron, 
dedecahedron,  and  icosahedron,  all  of 
which  are  bounded  by  like,  equal,  and 
regular  planes. 


Platonic  Love.  Spiritual  love  be- 
tween persons  of  opposite  sexes.  It  is 
the  friendship  of  man  and  woman,  without 
mixture  of  what  is  usually  called  love. 
Plato  strongly  advocated  this  pure  affec- 
tion, and  hence  its  distinctive  name. 

Platonic  Puritan.  John  Howe, 
the  Nonconformist  divine.  (1630-1706.) 

Platonism.  ^ The^  philosophical  sys- 
tem of  Plato  ; dialectics.  Locke  main- 
tains that  the  mind  is  by  nature  a sheet 
of  white  paper,  the  five  senses  being  the 
doors  of  knowledge.  Plato  maintained 
the  opposite  theory,  drawing  a strong 
line  of  demarcation  between  the  province 
of  thought  and  that  of  sensations  in  the 
production  of  ideas.  {See  Dialectics.  ) 

In  theology,  he  taught  that  there  are 
two  eternal,  primary,  independent,  and 
incorruptible  causes  of  material  things — 
Godihe  maker,  and  matter  the  substance. 

In  psychology,  he  maintained  the  ulti- 
mate unity  and  mutual  dependence  of 
all  knowledge. 

In  physics,  he  said  that  God  is  the 
measure  of  all  things,  and  that  from 
God,  in  whom  reason  and  being  are  one, 
proceed  human  reason  and  those  ideas’” 
or  laws  which  constitute  all  that  can  be 
called  real  in  nature. 

Platter  with  Three  Eyes.  Em- 
blematical of  St.  Lucy,  in  allusion  to  her 
sending  her  two  eyes  to  a nobleman  who 
wanted  to  marry  her  for  the  exceeding 
beauty  of  her  eyes.  Take  them,”  she 
said,  ^‘and  let  me  now  live  to  God.” 
The  tale  says  that  God  accepted  the  sa- 
crifice and  restored  her  eyes. 

Play.  '‘This  may  be  play  to  you, 
’tis  death  to  us.”  The  allusion  is  to  the 
fable  of  the  boys  throwing  stones  at  some 
frogs. — Roger  IJ Estrange. 

As  good  a.s  a play.  So  said  king  Charles 
when  he  attended  the  discussion  of  lord 
Boss’s  "Divorce  Bill.” 

Play  the  Deuce.  The  Irish  say. 
Play  the  Pooka.  Pooka  or  Pouke  is  an 
evil  spirit  in  the  form  of  a wild  colt,  who 
does  great  hurt  to  benighted  travellers. 

Pleasant  {Mrs. ),  in  Tom  Killigrew’s 
"Parson’s  Wedding.” 

Pleasure.  It  was  Xerxes  who  offered 
a reward  to  any  one  who  would  invent  a 
new  pleasure. 

Plebeians.  Common  people;  pro- 
perly it  means  the  free  citizens  of  Rome, 


PLEBISCITE, 


PLINY’S  EOV^ES- 


693 


who  were  neither  patricians  nor  clients. 
They  were,  however,  free  landowners, 
and  had  their  own  gentes.”  (Latin, 
'pleo,  to  fill.) 

Plebiscite  (3  syl.).  A decree  of  the 
people.  In  Koman  history,  a law  enacted 
by  the  comitia  ” or  assembly  of  tribes. 
In  France,  the  resolutions  adopted  in  the 
Revolution  by  the  voice  of  the  people, 
and  the  general  votes  given  during  the 
second  empire — such  as  the  general  vote 
to  elect  Napoleon  III.  emperor  of  the 
French. 

Pledge.  I pledge  yon  in  this  wine» 
This  custom  arose  in  the  tenth  century, 
when  it  was  thought  necessary  for  one 
person  to  watch  over  the  safety  of  a com- 
panion while  in  the  act  of  drinking.  It 
was  by  no  means  unusual  with  the  fierce 
Danes  to  stab  a person  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

If  I 

Were  a huge  man,  I should  fear  to  drink  at  meals. 
Lest  they  should  spy  my  windpipe’s  dangerous  notes. 
Great  men  should  arink  with  harness  on  their 
throats,  “ Timon  of  Athens  ” i.  2. 

Plei'ades  (3  syl. ) means  the  sailing 
stars  ” (Greek,  pZeo,  to  sail),  because  the 
Greeks  considered  navigation  safe  at  the 
return  of  the  Pleiades,  and  never  at- 
tempted it  after  those  stars  disappeared. 

The  Pleiad  of  Alexandria.  A group  of 
seven  contemporary  poets  in  the  reign  of 
Ptolemy  Philadelphos,  so  called  in  refer- 
ence to  the  cluster  of  stars  in  the  back 
of  Taurus.  Their  names  are — Callim'- 
achos,  Apollo'nios  of  Rhodes,  Ara'tos, 
Philiscos  (called  Homer  the  Younger), 
Ly'cophron,  Nicander,  and  Theoc'ritos. 

The  literary  Pleiad  of  Charlemagne. 
Alcuin  {Alhi'nus),  Angilbert  {Homer), 
Adelard  {Augustine),  Riculfe  {Damcetas), 
Charlemagne  {David),  Varnefrid,  and 
Eginhard. 

The  first  French  Pleiad.  Seven  con- 
temporary poets  in  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, in  the  reign  of  Henri  III.,  who 
wrote  French  poetry  in  the  metres,  style, 
and  verbiage  of  the  ancient  Greek  and 
Latin  poetry.  Of  these  Ronsard  was  by 
far  the  most  talented ; but  much  that 
would  be  otherwise  excellent  is  spoilt  by 
pedantry  and  Frenchified  Latin.  The 
seven  names  are  Ronsard,  Dorat,  Du 
Eellay,  Remi-Belleau,  Jodelle,  Baif,  and 
Thiard. 

The  second  French  Pleiad.  Seven  con- 
temporary poets  in  the  reign  of  Louis 
XIII.,  very  inferior  to  the^‘first  Pleiad.’^ 


Their  names  are  Rapin,  Commire,  Larue, 
Santeuil,  Menage,  Duperier,  and  Petit. 

Plein'damour  {Sir),  An  ancient 
English  romance,  of  which  no  FrencR 
version  is  extant. 

Plei'o-saur.  (Greek,  more  of  a lizard 

than  the  Plesio-saur,  g,v.)  A sea-reptile 
with  short  neck,  largo  head,  and  strong 
teeth,  found  in  the  Oxford  and  Kimme- 
ridge  clays  of  the  Upper  Oolite  period. 

Ple'sio-saur.  (Greek,  alin  to  a 
lizard.)  An  extinct  saurian  common  in 
the  lias  and  Kimmeridge  clay. 

Piet  is  a lash  like  a knout,  but  not 
knotted,  made  of  raw  hides. 

Pley'dell  {Mr.  Paulus).  An  advocate- 
in  Edinburgh,  formerly  sheriff  of  Elian - 
go  wan. 

Mr.  Counsellor  Pleydell  was  a lively,  sharp-looking- 
gentleman,  with  a professional  shrewdness  in  his 
eye,  and,  generally  speaking,  a professional  formality- 
in  his  manner ; but  this  he  could  slip  off  on  a Satur- 
day evening,  when....  he  joined  in  the  ancient  pas- 
time of  High  Jinks.— iSir  Walter  Scott,  “ Guy  Man^ 
nering*'  xxxix. 

Pli'able.  A neighbour  of  Christian’®, 
who  went  with  him  as  far  as  the  Slough- 
of  Despond,  and  then  turned  back  againo. 
— Bunyan,  Pilgrim! s Progress/'  pt.  i. 

Pli'ant  {Sir  Pa^d).  A foolish,  uxo- 
rious old  knight  in  Congreve’s  Double 
Dealer.” 

Pliny.  The  German  Pliny.  Konrad' 
von  Gesner,  of  Zurich.  (1516-1606.) 

Pliny’s  Doves.  In  one  of  the  room® 
on  the  upper  floor  of  the  museum  of  tho- 
Capitol  at  Rome  are  the  celebrated  Dove® 
of  Pliny,  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
perfectly  preserved  specimens  of  ancienk 
mosaic.  It  represents  four  doves  drink- 
ing, with  a beautiful  border  surrounding 
the  composition.  The  mosaic  is  formed 
of  natural  stones,  so  small  that  160  pieces 
cover  only  a square  inch.  It  is  supposed 
to  be  the  work  of  Sosus,  and  is  described 
by  Pliny  as  a proof  of  the  perfection  to 
which  that  art  had  arrived.  He  says, 
“ At  Pergamos  is  a wonderful  specimen 
of  a dove  drinking,  and  darkening  the 
water  with  the  shadow  of  her  head  ; on 
the  lip  of  the  vessel  are  other  doves 
pluming  themselves.”  This  exquisite 
specimen  of  art  was  found  in  Villai 
Adria'na,  in  1737,  by  cardinal  Furietti, 
from  whom  it  was  purchased  by  Clement 

xiri. 


m 


PLITH. 


PLUMPER. 


Plith..  A piece  of  iron  made  hot  and 
put  into  an  iron  box,  to  be  held  for 
punishment  by  a criminal.  {See  Plet.) 

Plon-plon.  Prince  Napoleon,  called 
Craint-plomb  (Fear-bullet)  in  the  Crimean 
war.  Plon-plon  is  a euphonic  corruption 
of  Craint-plomb. 

Plotcock.  The  old  Scotch  form  of 
the  Roman  Pluto,  by  which  Satan  is 
meant.  Chaucer  calls  Pluto  the  ‘^king  of 
Faerie  and  Dunbar  names  him  Pluto, 
that  elrich  incubus.” 

PloughL  Monday.  The  first  Mon- 
day after  Twelfth-day  is  so  called  because 
it  is  the  end  of  the  Christmas  holidays, 
and  the  day  when  men  return  to  their 
plough  or  daily  work.  It  was  customary 
on  this  day  for  farm-labourers  to  draw  a 
plough  from  door  to  door  of  the  parish, 
and  solicit  plough-money”  to  spend  in 
a frolic.  The  queen  of  the*  banquet  was 
called  Bessy.  (See  Distaff.) 

Ploughman.  The  Vision  of  Piers 
Ploughman  is  a satirical  poem  by  W.  or  R. 
Langland,  completed  in  1362.  The  poet 
supposes  himself  falling  asleep  on  the 
Malvern  Hills,  and  in  his  dream  sees 
various  visions  of  an  allegorical  charac- 
ter, bearing  on  the  vices  of  the  times. 
In  one  of  the  allegories,  the  lady  An'ima 
{the  soul)  is  placed  in  a castle  Caro  {flesh) 
under  the  charge  of  Sir  Constable  In- wit, 
and  his  sons  See-well,  Hear-well,  Work- 
well,  and  Go-well.  The  whole  poem  con- 
sists of  nearly  15,000  verses,  and  is  divi- 
ded into  twenty  parts,  each  part  being 
called  a passus  or  separate  vision. 

Plover.  To  live  like  a plover.  That 
is,  on  the  wind ; on  nothing  or  next  to 
nothing ; at  a very  cheap  rate. 

You  live  then  upon  faith  and  hope,  as  the  plover 
does  upon  wind.— “Ucpfetweron,”  Nov.  23rd. 

Plowden.  The  case  is  altered,'* 
quoth  Ploioden.  Plowden  was  a priest 
very  unpopular,  and  in  order  to  bring 
him  into  trouble  some  men  inveigled  him 
into  attending  mass  performed  by  a 
layman,  and  then  impeached  him  for  so 
doing.  Being  brought  before  the  tribunal, 
the  cunning  priest  asked  the  layman  if  it 
was  he  who  ofiiciated.  Yes,”  said  the 
man.  ^^And  are  you  a priest?”  said 
Plowden.  No,”  said  the  man.  Then” 
said  Plowden,  turning  to  the  tribunal, 
‘‘that  alters  the  case,  for  it  is  an  axiom 
with  the  church,  ‘No  priest,  no  mass.’ ” 


Pluck.  To  reject  a candidate  for 
literary  honours  because  he  is  not  up  to 
the  required  mark.  The  rejected  candi- 
date is  said  to  be  plucked. 

When  degrees  are  conferred,  the  name 
of  each  person  is  read  out  before  he  is 
presented  to  the  Vice-Chancellor.  The 
proctor  then  walks  once  up  and  down  the 
room,  and  any  one  who  objects  to  the 
degree  being  conferred  on  any  individual 
may  signify  his  dissent  by  plucking  or 
twitching  the  proctor’s  gown.  This  is 
occaidonally  done  by  tradesmen  to  whom 
the  candidate  is  in  debt,  but  generally  all 
persons  likely  to  be  objected  to  either  by 
tradesmen  or  examiners  know  it  before- 
hand, and  keep  away.  They  are  virtually 
plucked,  but  not  really  so. 

A case  of  'pluck.  An  instance  of  one 
who  has  been  plucked ; as  “ Tom  Jones 
is  a case  of  pluck” — ^.e.,  is  a plucked  man. 

A man  of  pluck.  Of  courage  or  spirit. 
The  pluck  is  the  heart,  liver,  and  what- 
ever else  is  “plucked”  away  from  the 
chest  of  a sheep  or  hog.  We  also  use 
the  expressions  bold  heart,  IWj-livered,  a 
man  of  another  kidney,  bowels  of  mercy, 
a vein  of  fun,  it  raised  his  bile,  &c.  {See 
Liver.) 

Plum.  A plum  bed  (Devonshire).  A 
soft  bed,  in  which  the  down  lies  light. 

The  dough  plums  well  (Devonshire). 
Rises  well,  and  will  not  be  heavy. 

The  cake  is  nice  and  plum  (Devonshire). 
Light.  {Plump,  swelled  out.) 

He  is  worth  a plum.  The  Spanish 
pluma  means  both  plumage  and  wealth. 
Hence  tiene  pluma  (he  has  feathered  his 
nest).  We  arbitrarily  place  this  deside- 
ratum at  £100,000,  and  the  man  who  has 
realised  only  £50,000  has  got  only  “ half- 
a-plum.” 

Plum  Puddings  on  Christmas  Day. 
Emblematical  of  the  offerings  of  the  wise 
men  to  the  infant  Jesus. 

Plume.  The  Algazel  or  sacred  pen, 
made  (according  to  Mahometan  my- 
thology) by  deity  itself,  has  eighty  nibs, 
and  writes  of  itself  an  account  of  every- 
thing that  is  to  transpire  in  the  world  ; 
but  only  the  angel  Seraphael  can  de- 
cipher the  writing. 

Plumper.  Every  elector  repre- 
sented in  Parliament  by  two  members 
has  the  power  of  voting  for  both  can- 
didates at  an  election.  To  give  a 
plumper  is  to  vote  for  only  one  of  the 


PLUNDER. 


POETS. 


695 


candidates,  and  not  to  use  the  second 
vote. , If  the  two  candidates  are  of  op- 
posite politics,  and  an  elector  votes  for 
both,  his  vote  is  termed  a split  vote. 
{Plump  means  full,  allied  to  clump  and 
lump.) 

Plunder,  says  Mr.  Douce,  is  pure 
Dutch,  'plun^'en  in  that  language  being 
the  word  to  express  property  of  any 
kind.  The  term  was  imported  into 
England  by  those  who  returned  from  the 
wars  of  the  Netherlands. 

Plu'ralist.  A clergyman  who  holds 
a plurality  of  livings,  or  more  than  one 
benefice. 

Plus  ultra.  The  motto  in  the  royal 
arms  of  Spain.  It  was  oncQ  Ne plus  ultra y 
in  allusion  to  the  pillars  of  Hercules,  the 
ne  plus  ultra  of  the  world ; but  after  the 
discovery  of  America,  and  when  Charles 
V.  inherited  the  crown  of  Aragon  and 
Castile,  with  all  the  vast  American  pos- 
sessions, he  struck  out  ne,  and  assumed 
the  words  plus  ultra  for  the  national 
motto,  as  much  as  to  say  Spain  and  the 
plus  ultra  country. 

Plush  (John).  A gorgeous  footman, 
conspicuou'S  for  his  plush  breeches. 

Plu'to.  The  grave,  or  the  god  of 
that  region  where  the  dead  go  to  before 
they  are  admitted  into  Elysium  or  sent 
to  Tar' taros. 

Brothers,  be  of  good  cheer,  this  night  we  shall  sup 
with  Pluto.— ieontdas  to  the,  three  hundred  Spartans 
te/ore  the  batUe  of  Thermopylce. 

Give  the  untasted  portion  you  have  won 

To  those  who  mock  you  gone  to  Pluto’s  reigii. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence''  canto  i. 

The  horses  of  Pluto,  Abas'ter,  Ab'atos, 
Amethe'a,  Meth'eos,  No'nios,  Nycte'a,  &c. 

Pluton'ic  Pocks.  Granites,  and 
certain  porphyres,  supposed  to  be  of 
igneous,  but  not  of  volcanic  origin.  So 
called  by  Lyell  from  Pluto,  the  principle 
of  .elemental  fire. 

Plutus.  Pdch  as  Plutus.  In  Greek 
mythology  Plutos  is  the  god  of  riches. 

Plymouth  Brethren.  A sect  that 
protests  against  all  sectarianism,  and 
advocates  the  unity  of  the  church ; some 
even  go  so  far  as  to  advocate  a commu- 
nity of  goods.  So  called  from  Plymouth, 
where  they  sprang  into  existence  in 
1880. 

Plymouth  Cloak.  A good  stout 
cudgel.  In  the  Ume  of  the  Crusades 


many  men  of  good  family  used  to  land  at 
Plymouth  utterly  destitute.  They  went 
to  the  neighbouring  wood,  cut  themselves 
a good  stout  club,  and  stopping  the  first 
passenger  that  passed  by,  provided 
themselves  with  money  and  clothing. — 
Fuller,  ^^Worihies.^^ 

Poav'ola.  A child’s  doll.  Florio 
says  it  is  a childes  babie  to  play  with- 
all.”—  Worlde  of  Wordes.  (The  French 
poupte,  Latin  pupa,  English  puppet,  and 
even  habe  are  of  the  same  family. ) 

Pocahontas.  Daughter  of  Pow- 
hatan, an  Indian  chief  of  Virginia,  who 
rescued  Captain  John  Smith  when  her 
father’s  hand  was  on  the  point  of  killing 
him.  She  subsequently  married  John 
Rolfe,  and  was  baptised  under  the  name 
of  Rebecca.  (1595-1617.) 

Pocket-Pistol.  A dram-flask  for 
the  pocket.  The  pun  is  on  ‘^self-defence.’* 
We  take  the  flask  in  self-defence,  be- 
cause we  cannot  get  a dram  on  the  road. 

Po'co,  in  music,  means  “ rather,”  as 
poco  forte,  rather  loud ; poco  animato, 
rather  animated. 

Poco  a poco.  Little  by  little,  gradually, 
as  poco  a poco  crescendo  (louder  and 
louder),  poco  a poco  rallentando  (slower 
and  slower). 

Podg'ers.  Toadies,  venerators  (real 
or  pretended)  of  every  thing  and  every 
one  with  a name. — John  Hollingshead, 

The  Birthplace  of  Podgers^’  (a  farce), 

Podsnap.  A type  of  the  heavy 
gentry,  lumbering  and  straight-backed 
as  Elizabethan  furniture. — Dichens,  *^Our 
Mutual  Friend.” 

Podsnap'pery.  The  etiquette  of 
the  fossil  gentry,  stiff- starched  and  ex- 
tremely proper. 

It  may  not  be  so  in  the  Gospel  according  to  Pod- 
Bnappery....but  it  has  been  the  truth  since  the 
foundations  of  the  universe  were  laid.— “ Our  Mutual 
Friend." 

Poets  [poieo,  to  make,  Greek). 

Skalds  of  Scandinavia  (etym.,  scalla, 
to  sing,  Swedish,  &c.). 

Minnesangers  of  the  Holy  Empire 
(Germany),  love-singers. 

Troubadours  of  Provence  in  Prance 
{troubar,  to  invent,  in  the  Provencal 
dialect). 

Trouv^res  of  Normandy  {trouver,  to  in- 
vent, in  the  Walloon  dialect). 

Bards  of  Wales  {bardgan,  a song, 
Celtic). 


696 


POETS  LAUREATE. 


POINT. 


Prince  of  Poets.  Edmund  Spenser  is 
so  called  on  his  monument  in  Westmin- 
ster Abbey.  (1553-1598.) 

Prince  of  Spanish  Poets.  Garcila'so  de 
la  Vega,  frequently  so  called  by  Cer- 
vantes. (1503-1536.) 

Poet  of  the  Poor.  Rev.  George  Crabbe. 
(1754-1832.) 

The  Quaker  Poet.  Bernard  Barton. 
(1784-1849.) 

Poets  are  called  ‘'genus  irrita'bile 
vatum  ” (the  tetchy  race),  because  they 
are  so  easily  offended  with  trifles. 

PoeU  Corner.  A part  of  the  south 
transept  of  Westminster  Abbey  which 
contains  tablets,  busts,  and  monuments 
to  British  poets.  Here  Chaucer  and 
Spenser,  Shakespeare  and  Milton,  Dry- 
den  and  Goldsmith,  are  duly  recognised. 

The  corner  where  they  put  the  poets.  Poor  things  ! 
"What  have  they  done  that  they  should  always  be 
put  in  a corner  ?--DoMi7Zas  Jerrold,  “ The  Heart  of 
Gold.” 

Poets  Laureate.  Chaucer,  Scogan, 
Kaj^e,  Barnard,  John  Skelton,  Edmund 
Spenser,  Daniel,  Ben  Jonson,  Sir  William 
Davenant,  Dryden,  Shadwell,  Nahum 
Tate,  Nicholas  Rowe,  Eusden,  Colly  Cib- 
ber, William  Whitehead,  Thomas  War- 
ton,  Henry  J.  Pye,  Southey, Wordsworth, 
Tennyson. 

Poet  Squab.  So  Rochester  calls 
Dryden,  who  was  very  corpulent.  (1631- 
1701.) 

Poetical.  (See  Aonian.) 

Poetical  Justice.  That  ideal  jus- 
tice which  poets  exercise  in  making  the 
good  happy,  and  the  bad  unsuccessful  in 
their  evil  schemes. 

Poetry  on  the  Greek  model.  (See 
Chiabreresco.) 

Father  of  English  Poetry.  Geoffrey 
Chaucer  (1328-1400) ; so  called  by  Dry- 
den. Spenser  calls  him  "the  pure  well 
of  English  undefiled.”  He  was  not  the 
first  English  poet,  but  was  so  superior 
to  his  predecessors  that  he  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a new  era.  He  is  sometimes 
termed  "the  day-starre,”  and  Spenser 
the  " sun-rise  ” of  English  poetry. 

Po'gram.  A " creak-shoes,”  a Puri- 
tanical starch  maw  worm. 

Poille.  An  Apulian  horse.  The 
horses  of  Apulia  were  very  greatly 
valued  at  one  time.  Richard,  archbishop 


of  Armagh  in  the  fourteenth  century, 
says  of  St.  Thomas,  " Neither  the  mule 
of  Spain,  the  courser  of  Apulia,  the  re- 
pe'do  of  Ethiopia,  the  elephant  of  Asia, 
the  camel  of  Syria,  nor  the  English  ass, 
is  bolder  or  more  combative  than  he.” 

Therto  so  horsly,  and  so  quyk  of  ye. 

As  if  a gentil  Poyleys  courser  were : 

For  certes,  fro  his  tayl  unto  his  eere 
Nature  ne  art  ne  couthe  him  nought  amend, 
Chaucer f “ Canterbury  Talta*'  line  10,508. 

Poins.  One  of  the  companions  of 
Sir  John  Falstaff. — Shakespeare,  "1,  2 
Henry  /F.” 

Point.  Defined  by  Euclid  as  " that 
which  hath  no  parts.”  Playfair  defines 
it  as  "that  which  has  position  but  not 
magnitude,”  and  Legendre  says  it  " is  a 
limit  terminating  a line;”  but  none  of 
these  definitions  can  be  called  either  phi- 
losophical or  exact.  A point  is  not  neces- 
sarily a " limit  terminating  a line,”  for  if 
so  a point  could  not  exist  even  in  imagina- 
tion without  a line,  and  the  expression, 
"a  limit  terminating,”  is  apt  to  suggest 
Dr.  Johnson’s  definition  of  a cabbage-net. 
Besides  Legendre’s  definition  presupposes 
that  we  know  what  a line  is ; but  as- 
suredly a "point”  precedes  a "line,”  as 
a line  precedes  a " superficies.”  To  arrive 
at  Legendre’s  idea  we  must  begin  with  a 
solid,  and  say  a superficies  is  the  "limit 
terminating  each  face  of  a solid,”  lines 
are  the  " limits  terminating  a superfices,” 
and  points  are  the  "limits  terminating  a 
line.” 

In  good  point.  In  good  condition  * 
every  point  in  exact  order.  (See  Stretch 
a Point.') 

To  dine  on  potatoes  and  point.  To  havei 
potatoes  without  salt,  a very  meagre  din- 
ner indeed.  When  salt  was  very  dear, 
and  the  cellar  was  empty,  parents  used 
to  tell  their  children  to  point  their  potato 
to  the  salt  cellar,  and  eat  it.  This  was 
potato  and  point.  In  the  tale  of  "Ralph 
Richards  the  Miser,”  we  are  told  that 
he  gave  his  boy  dry  bread,  and  whipped 
him  for  pointing  it  towards  the  cupboani 
where  a bit  of  cheese  was  kept  in  a 
bottle. 

To  stretch  a point.  To  exceed  what  is 
strictly  right.  Points  were  the  tagged 
laces  used  in  ancient  dress ; hence  to 
"truss  a point,”  to  truss  or  tie  the  laces 
which  held  the  breeches;  to  "stretch  a 
point”  is  to  stretch  these  laces,  so  as  to 
adjust  the  dress  to  extra  growth,  or  the 
temporary  fulness  of  good-feeding.  At 


POINTS  OF  THE  ESCUTCHEON. 


POKERS. 


Whitsuntide  these  points  or  tags  were 
given  away  by  the  churchwardens. 

Their  points  being  broken,  down  fell  their  hose, 
Shakespeare,** I Henry  IV.*'  ii.  4. 

To  stand  on  points.  On  punctilios ; de- 
licacy of  behaviour. 

This  fellow  doth  not  stand  upon  points. 
Shakespeare,  “ Midsummer  Ji^ight's  Dream,"  v.  1. 

Points  of  the  Eseutclieon.  There 
are  nine  points  distinguished  in  heraldry 
by  the  first  nine  letters  of  the  alphabet 
— three  at  top,  A,  B,  C ; three  down  the 
middle,  D,  E,  F : and  three  at  the  bot- 
tom, G,  H,  I.  The  first  three  are  chiefs; 
the  middle  three  are  the  collar  point,  Jess 
point,  and  nomhril  or  navel  point;  the 
bottom  three  are  the  base  points. 

Point-blank.  Direct.  A term  in 
gunnery ; when  a cannon  is  so  placed  that 
the  line  of  sight  is  parallel  to  the  axis 
and  horizontal,  the  discharge  is  point- 
blank,  and  is  supposed  to  go  direct  to 
the  object  without  a curve.  In  French 
^oint  hlanc  is  the  white  mark  or  bulFs- 
eye  of  a target,  to  hit  which  the  ball  or 
arrow  must  not  deviate  in  the  least  from 
the  exact  path. 

Now  art  thou  within  point  blank  of  our  jurisdiction 
regal.  Shakespeare,  **  2 Henry  VI.,"  iv.  7. 

Point  d’Appui  {French).  A stand- 
point ; a fulcrum  ; a position  from  which 
you  can  operate ; a pretext  to  conceal 
the  real  intention.  Literally  the  point 
of  support. 

The  material  which  gives  name  to  the  dish  is  but 
thepoint  d’appui  forthe  literary  cayenne  and  curry- 
powder,  by  which  it  is  recommended  to  the  palate  of 
the  reader.— The  Athenaeum. 

Point  de  Judas  (French).  The 
number  13.  The  twelve  apostles  and  our 
Lord  made  thirteen  at  the  Last  Supper. 

Point-devise.  Punctilious;  mi- 
nutely exact.  Hoi  of  ernes  says,  ^^I  ab- 
hor such  insociable  and  point-devise  com- 
panions, such  rackers  of  orthography.” 
(French,  point  de  vise.) 

You  are  rather  point-devise  in  your  accoutrements. 

Shakesparc,  “ As  You  Like  It;'  iii.  2. 

Poison.  It  is  said  that  poisons  had 
no  effect  on  Mithryda'tes,  king  of  Pontus. 
This  was  Mithridates  YI.,  called  the 
Great,  who  succeeded  his  father  at  the 
age  of  eleven,  and  fortified  his  consti- 
tution by  drinking  antidotes  to  poisons 
which  might  at  any  moment  be  adminis- 
tered to  him  by  persons  about  the  court. 
{See  Aqua  Tofana.) 

Poison  of  Khaibar  refers  to  the 
poisoned  leg  of  mutton  of  which  Mahomet 


partook  while  in  the  citadel  of  Khaibar. 

It  was  poisoned  by  Za'inab,  a Jewess,  andi 
Mahomet  felt  the  effects  of  the  morsel' 
he  tasted  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

Poisoners  {Secret). 

(1)  Locusta,  a woman  of  ancient  Rome, 
who  was  employed  by  the  empress  Agrip- 
pi'na  to  poison  her  husband  Claudius. 
Nero  employed  the  same  woman  to  poison  > 
Britannicus  and  others. 

(2)  The  Borgias  (Pope  Alexander  VI. 
and  his  children,  Caesar  and  Lucrezia) 
were  noted  poisoners. 

(3)  Hieronyma  Spara  and  Toffania,  of' 
Italy.  Aqua  Tofana.) 

(4)  Marquise  de  Brinvilliers,  a young 
profligate  Frenchwoman,  taught  the  art 
by  an  officer  named  Sainte  Croix,  wko' 
learnt  it  in  Italy.  {See  “World  of  Won- 
ders,” part  vii.,  p.  203.) 

(5)  Lavoisin  and  Lavigoreux,  French^ 
mid  wives  and  fortune-tellers. 

In  English  history  we  have  a few  in- 
stances : g.e. — Sir  Thomas  Overbury  was- 
so  murdered  by  the  countess  of  Somerset. 
King  James,  it  has  been  said,  was  a 
victim  to  similar  poisoning,  by  Villiers, 
duke  of  Buckingham. 

Pois'son  d’Avril.  An  April  fool. 
The  poisson  d’Avril  is  the  mackerel,  and' 
we  have  the  expression  “ You  silly 
mackerel,”  and  silly  indeed  are  those 
who  allow  themselves  to  be  caught  by 
the  palpable  jokes  engendered  on  the'  , 
1st  of  April.  Both  the  French  and 
English  employ  the  word  gudgeon  as  a 
synonym  for  dupe  ” or  simpleton. 

Another  suggestion  may  be  made  : Iii  ', 
^'Halliwell’s  Archaic  Dictionary”  we 
have  the  word  possone,  to  drive  about,, 
whence  the  old  wordpossed,  pushed  about, 
from  the  French  poiisser  (to  push) ; a 
poussin  is  a chicken  that  pushes  itself 
through  its  shell.  An  “ April  poisson  ” 
would  be  one  driven  from  pillar  to  post, 
or  pushed  about  from  one  person  to^ 
another. 

Poke.  {See  Pig.) 

To  poke  fun  at  one  is  to  make  one  a., 
laughing-stock.  The  allusion  is  to  poking 
wild  beasts  for  the  amusement  of  spec- 
tators. 

At  table  he  was  hospitable  and  jocose,  ahvays 
poking  good-natured  fun  at  Luke.— J5.  Lynn  Linton, 
"Lizzie  Lorton  of  Greyrigg"  ch.  xii. 

Pokers.  The  ’squire  Bedels  who 
carry  a silver  mace  or  poker  before  the 
Vice-Chancellor  are  so  called  at  Cam- 
bridge. 


698 


POKER-PICTURES. 


POLONIUS. 


Poker-Pictures.  Drawings  exe- 
cuted by  the  point  of  a hot  poker  or 
‘‘heater”  of  an  Italian  iron.  By  char- 
ring different  parts  more  or  less,  various 
tints  are  obtained. 

Poker  ship.  The  office  of  a por- 
carins^  or  keeper  of  hogs  in  a forest. 

Polack.  An  inhabitant  of  Poland. 
{French,  Polaque.') 

So  frowned  he  once,  when,  in  an?ry  parle. 

He  smote  the  sledded  Polacks  on  tlie  ice. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,'’  i.  1. 

Polarisation  of  Light  is  the  ab- 
sorption of  those  rays  which  are  at  right 
angles  to  the  rays  preserved  : Thus  A B 
A G is  one  ray  in  which  A is  re- 

<D  C0D  E0F  fleeted  to  B,  and  B to  A; 
B H C D is  a ray,  in  which  C is 

reflected  to  D,  and  D to  C.  In  E G F H, 
if  the  light  is  polarised,  either  E F or 
GH  is  absorbed.  A B and  C D are 
the  poles  of  light,  or  the  directions  in 
which  the  rays  are  reflected. 

Pole.  Unde)'  bare  •poles.  Said  of  a 
ship  when  all  her  sails  are  furled. 

Poleas  (2  syl.).  The  labouring  class 
of  India. 

Poleas  the  labouring  lower  clans  are  named. 

By  the  proud  Nayres  the  noble  rank  is  claimed. 

PoIinesso'(in  “Orlando  Furioso”). 
Duke  of  Albany,  wffio  falsely  accused 
Geneu'ra  of  incontinency,  and  was  slain 
in  single  combat  by  Ariodantes. 

Polish,  off.  To  finish  out  of  hand. 
In  allusion  to  articles  polished. 

ril  polish  him  off  in  no  time,  means 
I’ll  set  him  down.  I’ll  give  him  a drub- 
bing. 

To  polish  of  a meal  is  to  eat  it  quickly, 
and  not  keep  any  one  waiting. 

Political  Economy.  This  term 
was  invented  by  Frangois  Quesnay,  the 
French  physician.  (1694-1774.) 

Polix'ene  (3  syl.).  The  name  as- 
sumed by  Madelon  in  Moliere’s  “Pre- 
cieuses  Ridicules.” 

Polix'enes  (4  syl.),  king  of  Bohemia, 
being  invited  to  Sicily  by  king  Leontes, 
excites  unwittingly  the  jealousy  of  his 
friend,  because  he  prolongs  his"  stay  at 
the  entreaty  of  queen  Hermi'one.  Leontes 
orders  Camillo  to  poison  the  royal  guest, 
but  instead  of  doing  so  Camillo  flees  with 
him  to  Bohemia,  In  time,  Florizel,  the 


son  and  heir  of  Poiixenes,  falls  in  love 
with  Perdita,  the  lost  daughter  of 
Leontes.  Poiixenes  forbids  the  match, 
and  the  young  lovers  under  the  charge 
of  Camillo  flee  to  Sicily.  Poiixenes  fol- 
lows the  fugitives,  the  mystery  of  Per- 
dita is  cleared  up,  the  lovers  are 
married,  and  the  two  kings  resume 
their  friendship. — Shakespeare.  Winter's 
TaU:* 

Poll.  To  go  out  in  the  poll.  To  take 
an  ordinary  degree— a degree  without 
university  “honours.” 

Poll  Degree.  {See  above.) 

Poll  Men.  Those  of  the  “ Oi  Pol- 
ioi,”  the  many,  not  the  honour-men. 

Pollente.  The  puissant  Saracen, 
father  of  Mu'nera.  He  took  his  station 
on  “ bridge  Perilous,”  and  attacked 
every  one  who  crossed  it,  bestowing  the 
spoil  upon  his  daughter.  Sir  Artegal 
slew  the  monster.  Pollente  is  meant  for 
Charles  IX.  of  France,  sadly  notorious 
for  th^  slaughter  of  Protestants  on  St. 
Bartholomew’s  day. — Spenser ^ Faery 
Queen^'  book  v.  2. 

Pollio,  to  whom  Virgil  addresses  his 
fourth  Eclogue,  and  to  whom  he  ascribes 
the  remarkable  advent  of  the  “golden 
age,”  was  the  founder  of  the  first  public 
library  of  Rome.  (b.c.  76— a.D.  4.) 

Pollux.  The  horses  of  Castor  and 
Pollux.  Cyll'aros  and  Har'pagos.  Seneca 
and  Claudian  give  Cyllaros  to  Castor, 
but  Virgil  (Georgic  iii.)  to  Pollux.  The 
two  brothers  mount  it  alternately  on 
their  return  from  the  infernal  regions. 
Har'pagos,  the  horse  from  Harpa'gium  in 
Phrygia,  was  common  to  both  brothers. 

Polly.  Mary.  The  change  of  M for 
P in  pet  names  is  by  no  means  rare ; 
g.e.— 

Margaret.  Maggie  or  Meggy,  becomes 
Peggy,  and  Pegg  or  Peg. 

Martha.  Matty  becomes  Patty. 

Mary.  Molly  becomes  Polly  or  Poll. 

Here  we  see  another  change  by  no 
means  unusual — that  of  r into  I or  ll. 
Similarly  Sarah  becomes  Sally ; Dorothea, 
Dora,  becomes  Dolly  ; Harry,  Hal. 

Polo'nius.  An  old  courtier,  garru- 
lous, conceited,  and  politic.  He  was 
father  of  Ophelia,  and  lord  chamberlain 
to  the  king  of  Denmark. — Shakespeare, 

Hamlet:' 


POLONY, 


POMPILIA. 


Polo'ny.  A vulgar  corruption  of 
Bolo'gna  sausage, 

Polt-foot.  A club-foot.  Ben  Jon- 
son  calls  Vulcan,  who  was  lame,  the 

polt-footed  philosopher.”  (Swedish, 
hull,  a club;  hiUta,  to  beat ; our  holt.) 

Poltron.  A bird  of  prey,  with  the 
talons  of  the  hind-toes  cut  off  to  prevent 
its  flying  at  game.  (Latin,  polVtce  trun- 
ca'to,  deprived  of  its  toe  or  thumb.) 

Poltroon'.  A coward.  Menage 
derives  it  from  the  Italian  poltro,  a bed, 
because  cowards  feign  themselves  sick 
a-bed  in  times  of  war.  Saumaise  says  it 
means  maimed  of  the  thumb,”  because 
in  times  of  conscription  those  who  had 
no  stomach  for  the  field  disqualified 
themselves  by  cutting  off  their  right 
thumb.  More  probably  a poltroon  is  a 
hawk  that  will  not  or  cannot  fly  at  game. 
{See  above.) 

Polycle'tus.  A statuary  of  Sic'yon 
who  deduced  a canon  of  the  proportions 
of  the  several  parts  of  the  human  body, 
and  made  a statue  of  a Persian  body- 
guard, which  was  admitted  by  all  to  be 
a model  of  the  human  form,  and  was 
called  ‘‘The  Rule”  (standard). 

Polycrat'icon,  in  eight  books,  by 
John  of  Salisbury.  This  is  his  chief 
work,  and  is  an  expose  of  the  frivolities 
of  courtiers  and  philosophers.  It  is 
learned,  judicious,  and  very  satirical. 
<He  died  1182.) 

Porydamas.  A Grecian'  athlete  of 
immense  size  and  strength.  He  killed  a 
fierce  lion  without  any  weapon,  stopped 
a chariot  in  full  career,  lifted  a mad  bull, 
and  died  at  last  in  attempting  to  stop  a 
falling  rock.  {See  Milo.) 

Pol'ydore  (3  syl.).  The  name  as- 
sumed by  Guide'rius,  in  Shakespeare’s 
'“Cymbeline.” 

Polyplie'nie  (3  syl.).  One  of  the 
Cyclops,  who  lived  in  Sicily.  He  was  an 
enormous  giant,  with  only  one  eye,  and 
that  in  the  middle  of  his  forehead.  When 
Ulysses  landed  on  the  island,  this  mon- 
ster made  him  and  twelve  of  his  crew 
captives ; six  of  them  he  ate,  and  then 
Ulysses  contrived  to  blind  him,  and 
make  good  his  escape  with  the  rest  of 
the  crew.  Polypheme  was  most  passion- 
ately in  love  with  Galate'a,  a sea-nymph ; 


but  Galate'a  had  set  her  heart  on  the 
shepherd  Acis,  whom  Polypheme  in  a fit 
of  jealousy  crushed  beneath  a rock. 

Poma'tum.  So  called  because  it  was 
originally  made  by  macerating  over-ripe 
apples  in  grease. — Dr.  John  Quincy y 

Lexicon  Physico-Medicioin^'  (1723). 

Pommard  {French).  Beer.  This  is 
a pun  on  the  word  pomme.  The  Nor- 
mans called  QidiQr  pomme  ; whence  pomat, 
a sort  of  beer. 

Ils  tiennent  leurs  chaloupea.. ..b'en  pourvues  ou 
garnies de  pain,  de  vin,  de  pomat,  cidt  e,  outre  d’autre 
boisson....— Cieirrtc,  “Les  Us  et  Coutumes  de  la 
MerP  p.  127. 

Pommel.  The  pommel  of  a saddle 
is  the  apple  of  it,  called  by  the  French 
pommeau.  The  Spaniards  use  the  ex- 
pression porno  de  espada  (the  pommel 
of  a sword).  To  “pommel  a person  ” is 
to  beat  him  with  the  pommel  of  your 
sword.  The  ball  used  as  an  ornament 
on  pointed  roofs  is  termed  a pomel. 
(Latin,  pomum,  an  apple.) 

Pomo'na.  Fruit ; goddess  of  fruits 
and  fruit  trees  — one  of  the  Roman 
divinities.  (Latin,  pomum.) 

Bade  the  wide  fabric  unimpaired  sustain 

Pomo'na’s  store,  and  cheese,  and  golden  grain. 

Bloomfield,  ""  Farmer' s Boy.'* 

Pom'padour,  as  a colour,  is  claret 
purple.  The  fiflth  Foot  is  called  the 
Pompadours,  from  the  purple  facings  of 
their  regimental  uniforms.  There  is  an 
old  song  supposed  to  be  an  elegy  on  J ohn 
Broadwood,  a Quaker,  which  introduces 
the  word 

Sometimes  he  wore  an  old  brown  coat. 
Sometimes  a pompadore ; 

Sometimes  ’twas  buttoned  up  behind, 

And  sometimes  down  before. 

Pompey’s  Pillar,  in  Alexandria. 
A pillar  erected  by  Publius,  prefect  of 
Egypt,  in  honour  of  the  emperor  Dio- 
cletian, to  record  the  conquest  of  Alex- 
andria in  296.  It  has  about  as  much 
right  to  be  called  Pompeys  pillar  as  the 
obelisk  of  Heliop'olis,  re-erected  by 
Ram'eses  II.  at  Alexandria,  has  to  be 
called  CleopatraH s Needle,  or  Gibraltar 
Rock  a pillar  of  Her'cules. 

Pompil'ia.  The  bride  of  Count 
Guido  Franceschi'ni,  who  is  brutally 
treated  by  him,  but  makes  her  escape 
under  the  protection  of  a young  priest. 
She -.subsequently  gives  birth  to  a son, 
but  is  stabbed  to  death  by  her  husband, 
— Robe^'i  Broioning^  “ The  Pang  and  the 
Booh.''  (See  Ring,) 


700 


PON-GYEES. 


POPE. 


Pon-Gyees  {Great  glory).  The  mo- 
nastic fraternity  of  Burmah. 

Pongo.  The  terrible  monster  of 
Sicily.  A cross  between  a 'Hand-tiger 
and  sea-shark.”  He  devoured  five  hundred 
Sicilians,  and  left  the  island  for  twenty 
miles  round  without  inhabitant.  This 
amphibious  monster  was  slain  by  the 
three  sons  of  St.  George. — "TAe  Seven 
Cham'pions  of  Christendom,^^  iii.  2. 

Ponoc'rates  (4  syh).  Gargantua’s 
tutor,  in  the  romance  of  " Pantag'ruel' 
and  Gargantua,”  by  Rabelais. 

Pons  Asino'rum.  The  Fifth  Pro- 
position, Book  I.  of  Euclid — the  first 
difficult  theorem,  which  dunces  rarely 
get  over  for  the  first  time  without  stum- 
bling. 

Pontefract  Cakes.  Liquorice  lo- 
zenges impressed  with  a castle  ; so  called 
from  being  made  at  Pontefract. 

Pontiff  means  one  who  has  charge 
of  the  bridges.  Varro  says  it  was  because 
a priest  built  the  Sulpician  bridge  that 
the  Koman  pontiffs  were  so  called. 
(Latin,  'ponsfacio.) 

Well  has  the  name  of  Pontifex  been  given 
Unto  the  church’s  head,  as  the  chief  builder 
And  architect  of  the  invisible  bridge 
That  leads  from  earth  to  heaven. 

Longfellow , “ Golden  Legend p v. 

Pontius  Pilate’s  Body-Guard. 

The  1st  Foot  Regiment.  When  called 
Le  Regiment  de  Douglas,  and  in  the 
French  service,  they  had  a dispute  with 
the  Picardy  regiment  about  the  antiquity 
of  their  respective  corps.  The  Picardy 
officers  declared  they  were  on  duty  on 
the  night  of  the  Crucifixion,  when  the 
colonel  of  the  1st  Foot  replied,  ‘'If  we 
had  been  on  guard,  we  should  not  have 
slept  at  our  posts.” 

Pony.  Twenty-five  pounds.  A 
sporting  term.  {See  Poona.) 

Pony  in  Vingt-et-  Tin.  The  person  on 
the  right-hand  of  the  dealer,  whose  duty 
it  is  to  collect  the  cards  for  the  dealer. 
So  called  from  the  Latin  pone,  " behind,” 
being  behind  the  dealer. 

Poona.  A sovereign.  Lingua 
Franca  for  pound. 

Poor.  Poor  as  Joh.  The  allusion  is 
to  Job  who  was  by  Satan  deprived  of 
everything  he  possessed. 

Poor  as  Lazarus.  This  is  the  beggar 
Lazarus,  full  of  sores,  who  was  laid  at  the 


rich  man’s  gate,  and  desired  to  be  fed 
from  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  Dives’ 
table  (Luke  xvi.  19-31). 

Poor  as  a church  mouse.  The  allusion 
in  this  phrase  is  to  the  absence  in  a 
church  of  any  cupboard  or  pantry,  where 
mice  most  do  congregate. 

There  are  none  poor  hut  those  whom  God 
hates.  This  does  not  mean  that  poverty 
is  a punishment,  but  that  the  only  poverty 
worthy  of  the  name  is  poverty  of  God’s 
grace.  In  this  sense  Dives  may  be 
the  poor  man,  and  Lazarus  the  beggar 
abounding  in  that  "blessing  of  the  Lord 
which  maketh  rich.” 

Poor  Man.  The  blade-bone  of  a 
shoulder  of  mutton,  so  called  in  Scotland. 
In  some  parts  of  England  it  is  termed 
a "poor  knight  of  Windsor,”  because  it 
holds  the  same  relation  to  Sir  Loin  as  a 
Windsor  knight  does  to  a baronet.  Sir 
Walter  Scott  tells  of  a Scotch  laird  who, 
being  asked  by  an  English  landlord  what 
he  would  have  for  dinner,  produced  the 
utmost  consternation  by  saying,  "I  think 
I could  relish  a morsel  of  a poor  man.  ’ 
{See  " Bride  of  Lammermoor,”  ch.  xix.) 

Poor  Ricliard.  The  assumed  name 
of  Benjamin  Franklin  in  a series  of  al- 
manacks from  1732  to  1757.  These  alma- 
nacks contain  maxims  and  precepts  on 
temperance,  economy,  cleanliness,  chas- 
tity, and  other  homely  virtues,  and  to 
several  of  the  maxims  are  added  the 
words,  " as  poor  Richard  says.”  Nearly 
a century  before  Robert  Herrick  had 
brought  out  a series  of  almanacks  under 
the  name  of  "Poor  Robin’s  Almanack.” 

Pop.  To  pop  the  question.  To  pro- 
]:)Ose  or  make  an  offer  of  marriage.  As 
this  important  demand  is  supposed  to 
be  unexpected,  the  question  is  said  to  be 
popped.  (Dutch,  poep,  to  dart  suddenly. ) 

Pope,  the  translator  of  "Homer,” 
lived  at  Twickenham.  (1688-1744.) 

For  though  not  sweeter  his  own  Homer  sings, 

Yet  is  his  lile  the  more  endearing  song. 

Thomson^  "^Summer.’* 

Pope.  The  pope  changing  his  name. 
According  to  Plati'na,  Sergius  II.  was  the 
first  pope  who  changed  his  name  on  as- 
cending the  papal  chair.  His  proper  name 
was  Hogsmouth.  Chambers  says  his  name 
was  "Peter  di  Porca,”  and  it  was  the 
name  Peter  he  changed,  out  of  deference 
to  St.  Peter,  thinking  it  to  be  arrogant 
to  style  himself  Peter  II. 


POPE-FIGLAND. 


PORK!  PORK! 


701 


I know  no  more  about  it  than  the  pope 
of  Rome — than  a man  living  as  far  off 
as  the  cham  of  Tartary  or  pope  of  Rome. 

The  pope's  slave.  So  cardinal  Cajetan 
calls  the  Church.  (16th  cent.) 

Pope-figland.  An  island  inhabited 
by  the  Gaillardets  (French,  gaillard,  gay 
people),  rich  and  free,  till  they  were  sub- 
jected to  the  Papimans,  when  they  were 
reduced  to  a state  of  great  wretchedness. 
Rabelais  probably  refers  to  the  kingdom 
of  Navarre,  once  Protestant,  but  in  1512 
subjected  to  Ferdinand  the  Catholic. 
He  says  the  Gaillardets,  being  shown 
one  day  the  pope’s  image,  exclaimed, 
A.  fig  for  the  pope!”  whereupon  the 
whole  island  was  put  to  the  sword. 
Its  name  was  then  changed  to  Pope- 
figland,  and  the  people  were  called  Pope- 
figs.  All  the  reform  countries  are 
Pope-figlands,  and  their  people  Pope-figs, 

Pope  Joan.  Said  to  have  succeeded 
Leo  IV.  Gibbon  says,  Two  Protestants, 
Blondel  and  Bayle,  annihilated  her;” 
but  Mosheim  seems  half  inclined  to  be- 
lieve there  was  such  a person.  The  vul- 
gar tale  is  that  Joan  conceived  a violent 
passion  for  the  monk  Folda,  and  in  order 
to  get  admission  to  him  assumed  the 
m onastic  habit.  Being  clever  and  popular, 
she  got  to  be  elected  pope. 

Popish.  Plot.  A plot  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.  to  massacre  the  Protestants, 
burn  London,  and  assassinate  the  king. 
Titus  Oates  invented  this  wise”  scheme, 
and  obtained  great  wealth  by  revealing 
it ; but  ultimately  he  was  pilloried,  whip- 
ped, and  imprisoned. 

Pop'injay.  A butterfly  man,  a fop ; 
so  called  from  the  popinjay  or  figure  of 
a bird  shot  at  for  practice.  The  jay  was 
decked  with  parti-coloured  feathers  so 
as  to  resemble  a parrot,  and  being  sus- 
pended on  a pole,  served  as  a target. 
He  whose  ball  or  arrow  brought  down 
the  bird  by  cutting  the  string  by  which 
it  was  hung,  received  the  proud  title  of 
Captain  Popinjay,”  or  ^‘Captain  of  the 
Popinjay,”  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  and 
was  escorted  home  in  triumph.  {^See 
**  Old  Mortality,”  ch.  ii.) 

1 then,  all  emartin!?  with  my  wounds  being  cold. 

To  be  BO  pestered  with  a popinjay. 

Answered  neglectinglv  I know  not  what. 

He  should  or  he  should  not. 

Shakespeare^  “ 1 Henry  IV.”  i.  8. 

Poplar.  The  white  poplar  was  con- 
secrated to  Her'cules,  because  he  de- 


stroyed Ka'kos  in  a cavern  of  mount 
Aventine,  which  was  covered  with  pop- 
lars. In  the  moment  of  triumph  the 
hero  plucked  a branch  from  one  of  the 
trees,  and  bound  it  round  his  head. 
When  he  descended  to  the  infernal 
regions,  the  heat  caused  a profuse  per- 
spiration which  blanched  the  under 
surface  of  the  leaves,  while  the  smoke  of 
the  eternal  flames  blackened  the  upper 
surface.  Hence  the  Hercu'lean  poplar 
has  its  leaves  black  on  one  side  and  white 
on  the  other. 

Porcelain  (3  syl.),  from  porcelana, 
**  a little  pig.”  So  called  by  the  Portu- 
guese traders,  from  its  resemblance  to 
cowrie-shells,  the  shape  of  which  is  not 
unlike  a pig’s  back.  The  Chinese  earthen- 
ware being  white  and  glossy  like  the 
inside  of  the  shells,  suggested  the  appli- 
cation of  the  name.  (See  Marryatt’s 

History  of  Pottery  and  Porcelain.”) 

Porch.  {The).  A philosophic  sect, 
generally  called  Stoics  (Greek,  stoa^  a 
porch),  because  Zeno,  the  founder,  gave 
his  lectures  in  the  Athenian  picture  gal- 
lery, called  the  porch  Poe'eile. 

The  successors  of  Socrates  formed  societies  which 
lasted  several  centuries:  the  Academy,  the  Perch, 
the  Garden.— “Pro/e«sor  Seeley t “ Ecce  Homo.” 

Porcupine.  {See  Peter.) 

Porcus.  The  Latins  call  me  porous.** 
A sly  reproof  to  any  one  boasting,  show- 
ing off,  or  trying  to  make  himself  appear 
greater  than  he  is.  The  fable  says  that 
a wolf  was  going  to  devour  a pig,  when 
the  pig  observed  that  it  was  Friday, 
and  no  good  Catholic  would  eat  meat  on 
a Friday.  Going  on  together,  the  wolf 
said  to  the  pig,  ‘‘They  seem  to  call  you 
by  many  names.”  “ Yes,”  said  the  pig ; 
“ I am  called  swine,  grunter,  hog,  and  I 
know  not  what  besides.  The  Latins  call 
me  porcus.''  “ Porpus,  do  they  ?”  said 
the  wolf,  making  an  intentional  blunder. 

Well,  porpoise  is  a fish,  and  we  may  eat 
fish  on  a Friday.”  So  saying,  he  devoured 
him  without  another  word. 

Porcus  Litera'rum.  A literary 
glutton,  one  who  devours  books  without 
regard  to  quality. 

Pork ! Pork ! Sylvester,  in  his 
translation  of  Du  Bartas,  gives  this  in- 
stead of  CaWy  caw,  as  the  cry  of  the  raven* 

Pork.  Sir  Thomas  Browne  says  that 
the  Jews  abstain  from  pork  not  from 
fear  of  leprosy,  as  Tacitus  alleges,  but 


702 


PORK,  PIG. 


PORTLAND  VASE. 


because  the  swine  is  an  emblem  of  im- 
purity.— Viilgar  Errors.'' 

Pork,  Pig.  The  former  is  Norman- 
French,  the  latter  Saxon. 

Pork,  I think,  is  good  Norman -French  ; and  so, 
when  the  brute  lives,  and  is  in  charge  of  a Saxon 
slave,  she  goes  by  her  Saxon  name  ; but'  becomes  a 
Norman,  and  is  called  porA,  when  she  is  carried  to 
the  castle-hall. — Sir  Walter  Scotty  Ivanhoe.'* 

Porridge.  Like  the  madman  in  Bed- 
lam, most  of  my  food  tastes  of  oatmeal  por- 
ridge (Sir  Walter  Scott).  The  allusion  is 
to  a madman  in  the  Edinburgh  Infirmary 
who  was  fed  on  oatmeal  porridge,  but 
believed  he  had  every  day  at  dinner  a 
splendid  banquet ; yet,”  said  the  man, 
‘‘somehow  or  other,  everything  that  I 
eat  tastes  of  porridge.” 

Port,  meaning  larboard  or  left  side,  is 
an  abbreviation  of  Porta  il  timone  (carry 
the  helm).  Porting  arms  is  carrying 
them  on  the  left  hand. 

“To  heel  to  port”  is  to  lean  on  the 
left  side  (Saxon,  hyldan,  to  incline).  “ To 
lurch  to  port  ” is  to  leap  or  roll  over  on 
the  left  side  (Welsh,  llercian). 

She  gave  a heel  and  then  a lurch  to  port. 

And,  going  down  head-foremost,  sunk  in  short. 

Btjron^'^ Bon  Juan.'* 

Port.  An  air  of  music.  Hence  Tytler 
says,  “I  have  never  been  able  to  meet 
with  any  of  the  ports  here  referred  to  ” 
(“Dissertation  on  Scotch  Music”).  The 
word  is  Gaelic. 


Port-royal  Society.  In  1637,  Le 
Maitre,  a celebrated  advocate,  resigned 
the*  honour  of  being  Conseiller  d! Etat,  and 
with  his  brother  De  Sericourt  consecrated 
himself  to  the  service  of  religion.  The 
two  brothers  retired  to  a small  house 
near  the  Port  Royal  of  Paris,  where  in 
time  they  were  joined  by  their  three 
other  brothers — De  Sacy,  De  St,  Elme, 
aud  De  Valmont.  Afterwards,  being 
obliged  to  remove,  they  fixed  their  resi- 
dence a short  distance  from  the  city,  and 
called  it  Port  Royal  des  Champs.  These 
illustrious  recluses  were  subsequently 
joined  by  other  distinguished  persons, 
and  the  community  was  called  the  Society 
of  Port  Royal. 

Port  Wine.  Lord  Pembroke's  port 
wine.  This  renowned  wine  is  thus  made — 


27  gallons  o>f  rough  cider, 
13gailoug  of  Bone  Carlo  wine, 
3 gallons  of  brandy. 


To  make  a hogshead 
of  port. 


Porte  {The)  or  The  Sublime  Porte. 
The  Ottoman  empire.  In  the  Byzantine 


empire,  the  gates  of  the  palace  were  the 
place  of  assembly  for  judicial  and  legal 
administration.  The  word  sublime  is 
French  for  “lofty,”  and  the  term  was 
adopted  naturally,  as  French  has  long 
been  the  language  of  diplomacy.  The 
Scripture  frequently  speaks  of  the  judi- 
cial office  of  the  gate. 

The  government  is  to  blame  for  not  having  done 
all  in  its  power,  like  the  Porte.— Z'Ae  Times, 

Porteus  Piot.  This  notorious  tu- 
mult took  place  at  Edinburgh,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1736.  Porteus  was  captain  of 
the  city  guard.  At  the  examination  of  a 
criminal  named  Wilson,  Captain  Porteus, 
fearing  a rescue,  ordered  the  guards  to 
fire  on  the  mob,  which  had  become  tu- 
multuous ; in  this  discharge  six  per- 
sons were  killed,  and  eleven  wounded., 
Porteus  was  tried  for  this  attack  and 
condemned  to  death,  but  reprieved.  The- 
mob,  at  his  reprieve,  burst  into  the  jail 
where  he  was  confined,  and  dragging  him 
to  the  Grass  market  (the  usual  place  of 
execution),  hanged  him  by  torchlight  on 
a dyer’s  pole. 

Por'tia.  A rich  heiress  in  “The Mer- 
chant of  Venice,”  in  love  with  Bassa'nio. 
Her  father  had  ordained  that  three 
caskets  should  be  offered  to  all  who 
sought  her  hand — one  of  gold,  one  of 
silver,  and  one  of  lead — with  this  proviso  : 
he  only  who  selected  the  casket  which 
contained  the  portrait  of  the  lady  should 
possess  hj0r  hand  and  fortune.— 
speare. 

Portland  Stone.  So  called  from 
the  island  of  Portland,  where  it  is'  quar- 
ried. It  hardens  by  exposure  to  the  at- 
mosphere. Saint  Paul’s  cathedral  and 
Somerset  House  (London)  are  built  of 
this  stone. 

Portland  Vase.  A cinerary  urn  of 
transparent  dark-blue  glass,  long  in  pos- 
session of  the  Barberi'ni  family.  In  1770 
it  was  purchased  by  Sir  William  Hamil- 
ton, for  1,000  guineas,  and  came  after- 
wards into  the  possession  of  the  duchess 
of  Portland.  In  1810,  the  duke  of  Port- 
land, one  of  the  trustees  of  the  British 
Museum,  allowed  it  to  be  placed  in  that 
institution  for  exhibition.  William  Lloyd, 
in  1845,  dashed  it  to  pieces ; it  has  since^ 
been  carefully  repaired,  but  is  not  now 
shown  to  the  public.  It  is  ten  inches 
high,  and  six  in  diameter  at  the  broadest 
part. 


PORTO-BELLO  ARMS. 


POSTERIORI. 


703' 


Porto-bello  Arms.  A public- 
house  sign.  Tfoe  Mirror  says:  “In 
1739,  after  the  capture  of  Portobello, 
admiral  Vernon’s  portrait  dangled  from 
every  sign-post,  and  he  may  figuratively 
be  said  to  have  sold  the  ale,  beer,  porter, 
and  purl  of  England  for  six  years.”  The 
Portobello  Arms  is  a mere  substitution 
for  the  admiral. 

Portsmouth.,  according  to  the  fa- 
mous Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  was  so 
called  from  a man  named  Port. 

Her  c6ra  Port  on  Bretene,  and  his  ii  suTia..mid  ii 
scipum  [ships]  [at  a place  called]  P6rtes-mutha..&c. 

Portso'ken  Ward  {Londoii).  The 
sohen  or  franchise  at  the  'port  or  gate.  It 
was  formerly  a guild  called  the  ‘ ^ English 
Knighten  Guild,”  because  it  was  given 
by  king  Edgar  to  thirteen  knights  for 
services  done  by  them.  {See  Knighten- 
Guild.  ) 

Portugal  is  Portus  Calle,  a corrup- 
tion of  Portus  Galliee. 

Portugue'se  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Portugal,  the  language  of  Portugal,  per- 
taining to  Portugal,  &c.  ; as  Camoens 
w'as  a Portuguese,  and  wrote  in  Portu- 
guese. 

Po  'ser.  The  bishop’s  examining 
chaplain  ; the  examiner  at  Eton  for  the 
King’s  College  fellowship.  (Welsh, 
2)osiaiv,  to  examine;  French,  poser; 
Latin,  pono,)  Hence,  a puzzling  ques- 
tion. 

Posse.  A v)\ole  posse  of  'men.  A large 
number  ; a crowd.  {See  'below.') 

Posse  Comita'tus.  (Latin,  power 
of  the  county .)  The  whole  force  of  the 
county — that  is,  all  the  male  members  of 
a county  over  fifteen,  who  may  be  sum- 
moned by  a sheriff  to  assist  in  preventing 
a riot,  the  rescue  of  prisoners,  or  other 
unlawful  disorders.  Clergymen,  peers, 
and  the  infirm  are  exempt. 

Posset  properly  means  a drink  taken 
before  going  to  bed  ; it  was  milk  curdled 
with  wine.  (Latin,  posca,  a drink  made 
with  vinegar  and  water.) 

In  his  morning’s  draught his  concerves  or 

cates and  when  he  goeth  to  bedde  his  posset 

smoaking  hot.— “i/au  in  the  Jifoone”  (1609). 

Post  means  placed  (Latin,  positus). 

Post.  A piece  of  timber  placed  in  the 
ground. 


A •military  post.  A station  where  a 
man  is  placed,  with  instructions  not  to 
quit  it  without  orders. 

A')i  official  post  is  where  a man  is  placed 
in  office. 

To  post  accounts  is  to  place  them  under 
certain  heads  in  methodical  order.— 
Trench. 

Post  haste.  Travelling  by  relays  of 
horses,  or  where  horses  are  placed  on  the 
road  to  expedite  the  journey. 

Post  office.  An  office  where  letters  are 
placed. 

Post  paper.  So  called  from 
its  watermark,  a post-horn,  em- 
ployed as  early  as  1730. 

To  run  your  head  against  a post.  To 
go  to  work  heedlessly  and  stupidly,  or 
as  if  you  had  no  eyes. 

Post  Pacto  {Latin).  After  the  act 
has  been  committed.  A post  facto  law 
is  a retrospective  one. 

Post  Meridian  (Latin).  After 
noon. 

’Twas  post-meridian  half-past  four, 

Bj  signal  I from  hlancy  parted. 

Dibden,  Sea  Songs." 

Post  Mortem  {Latin).  After  death 
as  a post  mortem  examination  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  cause  of  death. 

Post  Obit.  An  agreement  to  pay 
for  a loan  a larger  sum  of  money,  to- 
gether with  interest;  at  death*.  (Latin, 
post  ob'itumj  after  death. ) 

Poste  Pestante  {French).  To  re- 
main at  the  post  till  called  for.  In  the 
British  post-office  letters  so  addressed 
are  kept  one  month,,  and  then  returned 
to  the  writer. 

Posted.  Well  posted  up  in  the  sub-  ^ 
ject  (American).  Thoroughly  informed. 
The  metaphor  is  to  posting  up  accounts, 
whereby  the  eye  can  see  at  a glance  the 
pros  and  cons-. 

Posterio'ri.  An  argument  a pos- 
terio'ri  is  one  from  effects  to  cause. 
Thus,  to  prove  the  existence  of  God  a 
posteriori,  we  take  the  works  of  creation 
and  show  how  they  manifest  power, 
wisdom,  goodness,  and  so  on,  and  then 
we  claim  the  inference  that  the  maker 
of  these  things  is  powerful,  wise,  and 
good.  Robinson  Crusoe  found  the  foot- 
prints of  a man  on  the  sand,  and  inferred 
that  there  must  be  a man  on  the  island 
besides  himself.  (/See  PRIORI.) 


704 


POSTHUMUS. 


POTTER. 


Post'humus  (Le'ona’tus).  Husband 
of  Imo'gen.  Under  the  erroneous  per- 
suasion of  his  wife’s  infidelity  he  plots 
her  death,  but  his  plot  miscarries. — 
Shakespeare f Cymbeliney 

Posting-Bills.  Before  the  Great 
Fire  the  space  for  foot-passengers  in 
London  was  defended  by  rails  and  posts ; 
‘the  latter  served  for  theatrical  placards 
and  general  announcements,  which  were 
therefore  called  posters  or  posting-bills. 

Posy  properly  means  a copy  of  verses 
presented  with  a bouquet.  It  now  means 
the  verses  without  the  flowers,  as  the 
‘‘  posy  of  a ring,”  or  the  flowers  without 
the  verses,  as  a pretty  posy.” 

Pot.  This  word,  like  father,” 
‘^mother,”  ‘^daughter,”  &c.,  is  common 
to  the  whole  A'ryan  family.  Greek, 
potei\  a drinking- vessel ; Latin,  poc-utum 
— i.e.f  potaculum  ; Irish  and  Swedish, 
pota;  Spanish,  pole;  German,  pott ; 
Danish,  potte ; French,  Welsh,  English, 
&c. 

Gone  to  pot.  Ruined,  gone  to  the  bad. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  pot  into  which 
refuse  metal  is  cast  to  be  remelted,  or  to 
be  discarded  as  waste.  There  is  a current 
story  about  a tailor  of  Samarcand,  who 
lived  near  the  gate  of  the  city  on  the 
1‘oad  leading  to  the  cemetery.  It  is  said 
that  this  knight  of  the  shears  had  outside 
his  cottage  an  earthen  pot,  into  which  he 
dropped  a pebble  for  every  corpse  that 
passed  by,  and  at  the  end  of  each  moon 
counted  the  number.  At  length  the 
tailor  himself  died,  and  when  a stranger 
asked  the  neighbours  of  the  eccentric 
registrar,  they  replied,  ‘^Poor  fellow,  he 
now  is  gone  to  pot  also.” 

Now  and  then  a farm  went  to  pot.— Dr.  Ar- 
(jhthnot. 

The  pol  calls  the  kettle  Hack.  This  is 
said  of  a person  who  accuses  another  of 
faults  committed  by  himself.  The  French 
say  The  shovel  mocks  the  pokei'  (La  pelle  se 
moque  du  fourgon). 

To  betray  the  pot  to  the  roses.  To  unravel 
and  blab  a mystery,  to  find  out  some- 
thing supposed  to  be  unknown  and  talk 
of  it.  French,  decouvrir  le  pot  aux  roses, 

Jtrazen  and  earthen  pots.  Gentlemen 
and  artisans,  rich  and  poor,  men  of  mark 
and  those  unstamped.  From  the  fable  of 
the  **  Brazen  and  Earthen  Pots.” 

Brazen  and  earthen  pots  float  together  in  juxta- 
pot . ion  down  the  stream  of  \iU.~P(Ul  MaU  Gazette. 


Pot-TiUCk.  Come  and  take  pot-luck 
with  me.  Come  and  take  a family  dinner 
at  my  house.  The  French  pot  an  feu  is 
the  ordinary  dinner  of  those  who  dine  at 
home. 

Pot  Paper.  A Dutch  paper ; 
so  called  from  the  water-mark,  a 
pot. 

Pot-Pourri  {French).  A mixture  of 
flowers  and  perfumes  preserved  in  a vase. 
Also  a hotch-potch  or  olla  podri'da.  In 
music,  a medley  of  favourite  tunes  strung 
together.  (/See  Pasticcio.) 

Pot  Valiant.  Made  courageous  by 
liquor. 

Pot-de-Biere.  French  slang  for  an 
Englishman. 

Potage  {Jean).  The  Jack  Pudding 
of  the  French  stage ; very  like  the  Ger- 
man Hanswurst,”  the  Dutch  ‘^Pickel- 
herringe,”  and  the  Italian  Macaro'ni.” 

Pota'to-Talk  (German,  Rartoffel 
gesprach).  That  chit-chat  common  in 
Germany  at  the  flve  o’clock  tea-drinkings, 
when  neighbours  of  the  ^‘gentler  sex” 
take  their  work  to  the  house  of  muster, 
and  talk  chiefly  of  the  dainties  of  the 
table,  their  ingredients,  admixture,  and 
the  methods  of  cooking  them. 

Poteen  (pron.  po-cheen).  Whiskey 
that  has  not  paid  duty  (Irish). 

Come  and  taste  gome  good  poteen 
That  has  not  paid  a rap  to  the  Queen. 

Pother  or  Bother.  Mr.  Garnett  states 
this  to  be  a Celtic  word,  and  says  it  often 
occurs  in  the  Irish  translations  of  the 
Bible,  in  the  sense  of  to  he  grieved  or 
troubled  in  mind. 

Pothooks.  The  77th  Foot ; so  called 
because  the  two  sevens  resemble  two 
pothooks. 

Pot'iphar’s  Wife.  According  to 
the  Koran  her  name  was  Zuleika,  but 
some  Arabian  writers  call  her  Rail. 

Potter.  To  go  poking  about,  med- 
dling and  making,  in  a listless,  purposeless 
manner.  Pvdder,  podder,  pother^  bother, 
and  puddle  are  varieties  of  the  same 
word.  To  pudder  is  to  stir  with  a pud- 
dering  pole ; hence,  to  confuse,  Lear 
says  of  the  tempest,  “ May  the  great 
gods  that  keep  this  dreadful  pudder  o’er 
our  heads,”  meaning  confusion.  To 
puddle  iron  is  to  stir  it  about  with  a 
puddering-pole. 


POTWALLOPERS. 


PRAGMATIC  SANCTION.  705 


Pot  wallopers,  before  the  passing 
of  the  Reform  Bill,  were  those  who 
claimed  a vote  because  they  had  boiled 
their  own  pot  in  the  parish  for  six 
months.  (Saxon,  ^cealloM  to  boil ; Dutch, 
opivallen]  owe  wallop.) 

Poult,  a young  turkey.  Pullet, 
a young  chicken.  (Latin,  pullus,  the 
young  of  any  animal ; whence  poultnj^ 
young  domestic  fowls;  filly,  a young 
horse ; foal ; French,  poule ; Italian, 
polio  ko.) 

Pounce  {Peter),  in  Fielding’s  novel  of 
'^Joseph  Andrews.” 

Pound.  The  unit  of  weight  (Latin, 
pondusy  weight) ; also  cash  to  the  value 
of  twenty  shillings  sterling,  because  in 
the  Carlovingian  period,  the  Roman 
pound  (twelve  ounces)  of  pure  silver  was 
coined  into  240  silver  pennies.  The  sym- 
bols £ and  lb.  are  for  libra,  the  Latin  for 
a pound.  {See  Penny  for  Pound.) 

Pound  of  Flesh.  The  whole  bar- 
gain, the  exact  terms  of  the  agreement, 
the  bond  literatim  et  verbatim.  The 
allusion  is  to  Shylock,  in  '^The  Merchant 
of  Venice,”  who  bargained  with  Antonio 
for  a pound  of  flesh,”  but  was  foiled  in 
his  suit  by  Portia,  who  said  the  bond  was 
expressly  a pound  of  flesh,  and  therefore 
(1)  the  Jew  must  cut  the  exact  quantity, 
neither  more  nor  less  than  a just  pound ; 
and  (2)  in  so  doing  he  must  not  shed  a 
drop  of  blood. 

Poundtext  (Pe^er).  An  ‘indulged 
pastor”  with  the  Covenanters’  army. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ Old  Mortality.*' 

Poura'ni.  Meat  cooked  in  a peculiar 
manner;  so  called  from  Pouran  Dokht, 
the  daughter  of  Khosru  Parviz,  king  of 
Persia. 

Pourceaugnae,  Monsieur  de  (pron. 
Poor-sone-yak).  A pompous  country 
gentleman  who  comes  to  Paris  to 
marry  Julie ; but  the  lady  has  a lover 
of  her  own  choice,  and  Monsieur  is  so 
mystified  and  played  upon  by  Julie  and 
her  ami  du  coeur  that  he  relinquishes 
his  suit  in  despair. — Moliere,  Pour- 
ceaugnac."  ■ 

Poussin.  The  BHtish  Poussin. 
Richard  Cooper,  painter  and  engraver- 
well  known  for  his  Views  of  Wind- 
sor.” ( ♦ -1806.) 

Gaspar  Poussin,  So  Caspar  Dughet, 
the  French  painter,  is  called.  (1613-1675.) 


Pouting.  The  pouting  place  of 
princes.  Leicester  Square  is  so  called 
by  Pennant,  because  George  II.,  when 
prince  of  Wales,  having  quarrelled  with 
his  father,  retired  to  Leicester  House  ; 
and  his  son  Frederick,  prince  of  Wales, 
did  the  same,  for  the  very  same  reason. 

Powder.  P ll  powder  your  jacket  for 
you.  A corruption  of  poudrer,  to  dust. 
(See  Dust.) 

Lo!  in  powdur  [dust]  ye  schall  slepe, 

For  out  of  powdur  fyrst  ye  came. 

Quoted  by  JSalUwell  under  “ Poudre.** 

Poyning’s  Law  or  Statute  of  Drog'- 
heda.  An  Act  of  Parliament  made  in 
Ireland  in  1495  (10  Henry  VII.,  c.  22), 
declaring  all  general  statutes  hitherto 
made  in  England  to  be  in  force  in  Ireland 
also.  It  received  its  name  from  Sir 
Edward  Poyning,  Lieutenant  of  Ireland 
at  the  time. 

P.P.  Clerk  of  this  Parish.  The 
name  given  to  a volume  of  memoirs, 
written  by  Dr.  Arbuthnot,  as  a satire  on 
Bishop  Burnet’s  Own  Times.” 

Praemonstraten'sian  Monks. 

(See  Premonstratensian.) 

Praemuni're.  A barbarous  word 
from  the  Latin  prxmone'ri  (to  be  fore- 
warned). The  words  of  the  writ  begin 

praemunire  facias  A.  B.”  — i.e.,  Cause 
A.B.  to  be  forwarned,  to  before  us 

to  answer  the  contempt  wherewith  he 
stands  charged.  If  A.  B.  refuses  to  do 
so  he  loses  all  civil  rights,  and  before  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth  might  have  been  slain 
by  any  one  with  impunity. 

Pragmatic  Sanction.  Sanctiom 
Latin  means  a ^ ^decree  or  ordinance  with 
a penalty  attached,”  or,  in  other  words, 
a penal  statute.”  Pragmat'icus  means 

relating  to  state  affairs,”  so  that  Prag- 
matic Sanction  is  a penal  statute  bearing 
on  some  important  question  of  state. 
The  term  was  first  applied  by  the 
Romans  to  those  statutes  which  related 
to  their  provinces.  The  French  appro- 
priated the  phrase  to  certain  statutes 
which  limited  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
pope ; but  generally  it  is  applied  to  an 
ordinance  fixing  the  succession  in  a cer- 
tain line. 

Pragmatic  Sanction  of  Charles  VII. 
(of  France),  1438,  defining  and  limiting 
the  power  of  the  pope  in  France.  By 
this  ordinance  the  authority  of  a general 

T T 


706 


PEASILDO. 


PEECIOUS  STONES. 


council  was  declared  superior  to  the 
dictum  of  the  pope  ; the  clergy  were 
forbidden  to  appeal  to  Eome  on  any 
point  affecting  the  secular  condition  of 
the  nation ; and  the  Koman  pontiff  was 
forbidden  to  appropriate  a vacant  bene- 
fice, or  to  appoint  either  bishop  or  parish 
priest. 

Pragmatic  Sanction  of  St.  Louis  (1268) 
forbade  the  court  of  Rome  to  levy  taxes 
or  collect  subscriptions  in  France  with- 
out the  express  sanction  of  the  king.  It 
also  gave  plaintiffs  in  the  ecclesiastical 
courts  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  civil 
courts.  The  Constitutions  of  Claren- 
don” were  to  England  what  the  Prag- 
matic Sanction  ” was  to  France. 

Pragmatic  Sanction  of  Germany y 1439, 
whereby  the  succession  of  the  empire 
was  made  hereditary  in  the  house  of 
Austria.  In  1713  the  emperor  Charles 
YI.  published  another  to  settle  the  suc- 
cession upon  the  daughter  of  Maria 
There'sa.  * 

Pragmatic  Sanction  of  Naplesj  1759, 
whereby  Carlos  II.  of  Spain  ceded 
the  succession  to  his  third  son  in  per- 
petuity. 

Prasil'do.  A nobleman  of  Babylon, 
who  fell  in  love  with  Iroldo’s  wife.  The 
husband  quitted  Babylon  for  ever,  and 
resigned  his  wife  to  his  friend. — Bojardoy 

Orlando  Inamorato. 

Prating  Sophists.  The  doctors  of 
the  Sorbonne  were  so  called  by  Budseus 
of  Paris.  (1467-1540.) 

Praying-wheels.  It  is  said  that 
the  Buddhists  pray  by  machinery  ; that 
they  put  prayers  into  a wheel,  and  unroll 
them  by  the  length.  This  notion  arises 
from  a misconception.  Saky'a-muni,  the 
Buddha,  is  said  to  have  turned  the 
wheel  of  the  law  ” — z.e.,  to  have  preached 
Buddhism  incessantly— we  should  say  as 
a horse  in  a mill. 

Pre-Ad'amites.  Before  Adam  was 
created.  Isaac  de  la  Peyreri  maintained 
that  only  the  Jews  are  descended  from 
Adam,  and  that  the  Gentiles  are  de- 
scended from  a race  of  men  existing 
before  Adam ; as,  however,  the  book  of 
Genesis  is  the  history  of  the  Jews  only, 
it  does  cot  concern  itself  with  the  Gentile 
race.  (1655.) 

Pre-Paphaelites.  A term  intro- 
duced by  Hunt  and  his  friends,  who 
wished  to  intimate  that  they  preferred 


the  simplicity  and  truthfulness  of  the 
painters  who  preceded  Raphael.  The 
term  now  signifies  a very  minute  imita- 
tion of  nature,  brilliant  colouring,  and 
not  much  shadow. 

Preacher  {The).  Solomon,  being  the 
author  of  Ecclesiastes  (the  Preacher). 

The  Glorious  Preacher.  Saint  John 
Chrysostom.  (347-407.) 

The  King  of  Preachers.  Louis  Bour- 
daloue.  (1632-1704.) 

The  Little  Preacher.  Samuel  de  Marets, 
Protestant  controversialist,  (1599-1663.) 

Prebend,  meaning  a clergyman 
attached  to  a prebendal  stall,”  is  a 
vulgarism.  The  prebend  is  the  stipend 
given  out  of  the  revenues  of  the  college 
or  cathedral ; he  who  enjoys  the  prebend 
is  the  prebendary.  (Latin,  prceleOy  to 
give.) 

Preca'rious  is  what  depends  on  our 
prayers  or  requests.  A precarious  tenure 
is  one  that  depends  solely  on  the  will  of 
the  owner  to  concede  to  our  prayer ; 
hence  uncertain,  not  to  be  depended  on. 
(Latin,  precor.) 

Precep'tor.  The  superior  of  a pre- 
cep'tory  was  called  by  the  Templars  a 
Knight  Preceptor ; a Grand  Preceptor” 
was  the  head  of  all  the  preceptories, 
or  houses  of  the  Knights  Templars,  in 
an  entire  province,  the  three  of  highest 
rank  being  the  Grand  Preceptor^  of  Je- 
rusalem, Tripolis,  and  Antioch.  Houses 
of  these  knights  which  were  not  pre- 
ceptories were  called  commanderies. 

Preeieuses  Kidicules  (in  Mo- 
li^re’s  comedy  so  called).  Aminte  and 
Polixene,  who  assume  the  airs  of  the 
Hotel  de  Rambouillet,  a coterie  of  sav- 
ants of  both  sexes  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  members  of  this  society 
were  termed  pricieuses — i.e.,  ‘^persons 
of  distinguished  merit” — and  the  ^^pre- 
cieuses  ridicules”  means  a ridiculous 
apeing  of  their  ways  and  manners. 

Precio'sa.  The  heroine  of  Long- 
fellow’s “ Spanish  Student,”  threatened 
with  the  vengeance  of  the  Inquisition. 

Precious  Stones.  Each  month, 
according  to  the  Poles,  is  under  the  in- 
fluence of  a precious  stone  : — 

January  ..  Garnet  ..  Constancy/. 

February  ..  Amethyst  ..  Sincerity. 

March  ..  Bloodstone  ..  Courage. 

April  ..  Diamond  ..  Innocent 


PEECOCIOUS. 


PRESTER  JOHN. 


707 


May  ..  Emerald  ••  Success  in  love. 

June  ..  Agate  ..  Health  and  long  life. 

July  ..  Cornelian  ..  Content. 

August  ..  Sardonyx  ..  Conjugal  felicity. 

September..  Chrysolite  ..  Antidote  to  madness. 
October  ..Opal  ..  Hope. 

Kovemher..  Topaz  ..  Fidelity. 
December..  Turquoise  ..  Prosperity. 


Presbyterian.  {See  Blue.) 

Pres'ents.  Know  all  men  ly  these 
presents— i.e..f  by  the  writings  or  docu- 
ments now  present.  (Latin,  per  presenter, 
by  the  [writings]  present. ) 


(2)  In  relation 
Zodiac  : — 

Aries  ..  Kuby. 
Taurus  ..  Topaz. 
Gemini  ..  Carbuncle. 
Cancer  ..  Emerald. 
L'^o  ..  Sapphire. 
Virgo  ..  Diamond. 


to  the  signs  of  the 


Libra  ..  Jacinth. 
Scorpio  . . Agate. 
Sagittarius  ..  Amethyst. 
Capricornus..  Berjd. 
Aquarius  ..  Onyx. 
Pisces  . . J asper. 


(3)  In  relation  to  the  planets  : — 

Saturn  ..  Turquoise  ..  Lead. 

Jupiter  ..  Cornelian  ..  Tin. 

Mars  ..  Emerald  ..  Iron. 

Sun  ..  Diamond  ..  Gold. 

Venus  ..  Amethyst  ..  Copper. 

Mercury  ..  lioadstone  ..  Quicksilver. 

Moon  ..  Crystal  ..i  Silver. 

Preco'cious  means  ripened  by  the 
Bun  before  it  has  attained  its  full  growth; 
premature ; a development  of  mind  or 
body  beyond  one’s  age.  (Latin,  prce 
coquo. ) 

Many  precocious  trees,  and  such  as  have  their 
spring  in  winter,  may  be  found.— .Brown. 

PreLate  means  simply  a man  pre- 
ferred, a man  promoted  to  an  ecclesias- 
tical office  which  gives  him  jurisdiction 
over  other  clergymen.  Cardinals,  bishops, 
abbots,  and  archdeacons  were  at  one  time 
so  called,  but  the  term  is  restricted  in  the 
Protestant  church  to  bishops.  (Latin, 
prceferro  prcelatus. ) 

Premonstraten'sian  or  Norlertine 
Order.  Founded  in  the  twelfth  century 
by  St.  Norbert,  who  obtained  permission, 
in  1120,  to  found  a cloister  in  the  diocese 
of  Laon,  in  France.  A spot  was  pointed 
out  to  him  in  a vision,  and  he  termed  the 
spot  Pre  Montre  or  Fraturn  Monstra'tum 
(the  meadow  pointed  out).  The  order 
might  be  called  the  reformed  Augustine, 
or  the  White  canons  of  the  rule  of  St. 
Augustine. 


Prendre.  Prendre  un  rat  par  la 
queue.  To  pick  a pocket.  This  proverb 
is  very  old— it  was  popular  in  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIII.  Rata  is  an  old  German 
word  for  a purse  or  pocket,  similar  to 
the  Italian  retino,  our  reticule. 


Prepense  (2  syl.).  Malice  prepense 
is  malice  designed  or  before  deliberated. 
(Latin,  prse  pensus.') 

Prepos'terous  means  ^Hhe  cart  be- 
fore the  horse.”  (Latin,  prx  podteruSy 
the  first  last,  and  the  last  first,) 


Preserver  {Soldi').  Ptolemy  I.  of 
Egypt  was  called  Soter  by  the  Rhodians, 
because  he  compelled  Deme'triosto  raise 
the  siege  of  Rhodes,  (b.o.  367,  323-285.) 

Press-money  and  Press-men  do 
not  mean  money  given  to  impress  men 
into  the  service,  and  men  so  impressed  ; 
but  ready  money,  and  men  ready  for 
service.  When  a recruit  has  received 
the  money,  he  biuds  himself  to  be  ready 
for  service  whenever  his  attendance  is 
required.  Similarly  a press-gang  is  a 
gang  to  get  ready  men.  (Old  French 
presty  nowpre^ ; Italian,  presto.) 

Pressi'na.  The  French  fee  married 
to  El'inas,  king  of  Alba'nia,  and  mother 
of  Melusi'na  {q^v.). 

Pr ester  John,  according  to  Mande- 
ville,  a lineal  descendant  of  Ogier  the 
Dane.  This  Ogier  penetrated  into  the 
north  of  India,  with  fifteen  barons  of  his 
own  country,  among  whom  he  divided 
the  land.  John  was  made  sovereign  of 
Teneduc,  and  was  called  Prester  because 
he  converted  the  natives.  Another  tra- 
dition says  he  had  seventy  kings  for  his 
vassals,  and  was  seen  by  his  subjects 
only  three  times  in  a year.  In  “ Much 
Ado  About  Nothing,”  Beatrice  says— 

I will fetch  you  a tooth-picker  from  the  far- 

thest inch  of  Asia ; bring  you  the  length  of  Prester 
John’s  foot;  fetch  you  a hair  of  the  great  Cham’s 

beard rather  than  hold  three  words’  conference 

with  this  h.diXgy.— Shakespeare. 

Prester  John  (in  “ Orlando  Fu- 
rioso,”  bk.  xvii.),  called  by  his  subjects 
Sena'pus,  king  of  Ethiopia.  He  was 
blind.  Though  the  richest  monarch  of 
the  world,  he  pined  ^4n  plenty’s  lap  with 
endless  famine,”  for  whenever  his  table 
was  spread  hell-born  harpies  flew  away 
with  the  food.  This  was  in  punishment 
of  his  great  pride  and  impiety  in  wishing 
to  add  Paradise  to  his  dominion.  The 
plague  was  to  cease  '‘when  a stranger 
came  to  his  kingdom  on  a winged  horse.” 
Astolpho  comes  on  his  flying  griffin,  and 
with  his  magic  horn  chases  the  harpies 
into  Cocy'tus.  The  king  sends  100,000 
Nubians  to  the  aid  of  Charlemagne ; they 
are  provided  with  horses  by  Astolpho, 
who  throws  stones  into  the  air  which 
T T 2 


708 


PKESTIGE. 


PRIDE. 


become  steeds  fully  equipped  (bk.  xviii. ), 
and  are  transported  to  France  by  Astol- 
pho,  who  tills  his  hands  with  leaves 
which  he  casts  into  the  sea,  and  they  in- 
stantly become  ships  (bk.  xix.).  When 
Agramant  is  dead,  the  Nubians  are 
sent  back  to  their  country,  and  the  ships 
turn  to  leaves,  and  the  horses  to  stones 
again. 

Prestige.  This  word  has  a strangely 
metamorposed  meaning.  The  Latin 
prcestig'm  means  juggling  tricks,  hence 
the  French  for  a juggler  is  'prestidig'ita- 
Um^.  We  use  the  word  for  that  favour- 
able impression  which  results  from  good 
antecedents.  The  history  of  the  change 
is  this  : Juggling  tricks  were  once  con- 
sidered a sort  of  enchantment ; to  en- 
chant is  to  charm,  and  to  charm  is  to 
win  the  heart. 

Presto.  Quick.  A name  given  by 
Swift  to  the  duchess  of  Shrewsbury,  a 
foreigner,  who  either  wilfully  or  playfully 
called  the  dean  Presto  [SwiXt). 

Pretender.  The  Old  Pretender. 
James  F.  E.  Stuart,  son  of  James  II. 
(1688-1765.) 

The  Young  Pretender.  Charles  Edward 
Stuart,  son  of  the  ^^Old  Pretender.’’ 
(1720-1788.) 

God  bless  the  king,  I mean  the  “ faith’s  defender  ; ” 
God  bless— no  harm  in  blessing— the  Pretender. 

Who  that  Pretender  is,  and  who  is  king— 

God  bless  us  all  I— that’s  quite  another  thing. 

John  Byrom. 

Pretenders.  Tanyoxarkes,  in  the  time 
of  Camby'ses,  king  of  Persia,  pretended 
to  be  Srnerdis ; but  one  of  his  wives  felt 
his  head  while  he  was  asleep,  and  dis- 
covered that  he  had  no  ears. 

Lambert  Simnel  and  Perkin  Warbeck, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 

Otrefief,  a monk,  pretended  to  be 
Demetrius,  younger  son  of  czar  Ivan 
Basilowitz  II.,  murdered  by  Boris  in 
1598.  In  1605,  Demetrius  The  False” 
became  czar,  but  was  killed  at  Moscow 
the  year  following,  in  an  insurrection. 

Pre'text.  A pretence.  From  the 
Latin  'preetexta,  a dress  embroidered  in 
the  front  {proe-texo).,  worn  by  the  Roman 
magistrates,  priests,  and  children  of  the 
aristocracy  between  the  age  of  thirteen 
and  seventeen.  The  prcetexta'toe  were 
dramas  in  which  actors  personated  those 
who  wore  the  praetexta ; kence  persons 
who  pretend  to  be  what  they  are  not. 


Pretty  man  {Prince)  ^ who  figures 
sometimes  as  a fisherman’s  son,  and  some- 
times as  a prince,  to  gain  the  heart  of 
Cloris. — Buckingham^  The  Rehearsal.^' 

Prevarica'tion.  The  Latin  word 
mrico  is  to  straddle,  and  proevaricor,  to 
go  zig-zag  or  crooked.  The  verb,  says 
Pliny,  was  first  applied  to  men  who 
ploughed  crooked  ridges,  and  afterwards 
to  men  who  gave  crooked  answers  in  the 
law  courts,  or  deviated  from  the  straight 
line  of  truth.  Delirium.) 

Previous  Question,  {^ee  Ques- 
tion.) 

Pri'am.  King  of  Troy  when  that 
city  was  sacked  by  the  allied  Greeks. 
His  wife’s  name  was  Hec'uba ; she  was 
the  mother  of  nineteen  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom  was  Hector.  When  the 
gates  of  Troy  were  thrown  open  by  the 
Greeks  concealed  in  the  Wooden  Horse, 
Pyrrhos,  the  son  of  Achilles,  slew  the 
aged  Priam.  {See  Homer’s  Iliad  ” and 
Virgil’s  ^^iEne'id.”) 

Pri'amond.  Son  of  Ag'ape,  a fairy. 
He  was  very  daring,  and  fought  on  foot 
with  battle-axe  and  spear.  He  was  slain 
by  Cam'balo.  — Spenser^  Fa^ry  Queen,’* 
bk.  iv.  {See  Diamond.) 

Pria'pus,  in  classical  mythology,  is 
a hideous,  sensual,  disgusting  deity,  the 
impersonation  of  the  principle  of  fertility. 
{See  Baal,  Peor,  &c.) 

Prick  the  Garter.  (See  Fast  and 
Loose.) 

Pride,  meaning  ostentation,  finery, 
or  that  which  persons  are  proud  of. 
Spenser  talks  of  lofty  trees  yclad  in 
summer’s  pride  ” (verdure).  Pope,  of  a 

sword  whose  ivory  sheath  [was]  in- 
wrought with  envious  pride”  (ornamenta- 
tion) ; and  in  this  sense  the  word  is 
used  by  Jacques  in  that  celebrated  pas- 
sage— 

Why,  who  cries  out  on  pride  [dress] 

That  can  therein  tax  any  private  party. 

Wliat  woman  in  the  city  do  I name 

When  tiiat  1 s ty  “ ’J'he  (!ity  Woman  bears 

The  cost  of  princes  on  unworthy  shoulders?”. 

..What  is  he  of  baser  function 

That  says  his  bravery  [finery^  is  not  of  my  cost  ? 

Shakespeare,  “ As  Tou  Like  It,"  ii.  7. 

Fly  pride,  says  the  peacock,  proverbial 
for  pride.  — Shakespeare,  Comedy  of 
Errors,”  iv.  3. 

Sir  Pride,  First  a drayman,  then  a 


PEIDE  OF  THE  MOKNING. 


PEIMUM  MOBILE. 


709 


colonel  in  the  Parliamentary  army. — 
Butler f Hudibras” 

Pride  of  the  Morning.  That  early 
mist  or  shower  which  promises  a fine 
day.  The  Morning  is  too  proud  to  come 
out  in  her  glory  all  at  once — or  the  proud 
beauty  being  thwarted  weeps  and  pouts 
awhile.  Keble  uses  the  phrase  in  a 
different  sense  when  he  says  : 

Pride  of  the  dewy  Morning, 

The  swain’s  experienced  eye 
Prom  thee  takes  timely  warning, 

Kor  trusts  the  gorgeous  sky. 

Keble  (iUh  Sunday  after  Trinity)^ 

Pride’s  Purge.  The  Long  Parlia- 
ment, not  proving  itself  willing  to  con- 
demn Charles  I.,  was  purged  of  its  unruly 
members  by  colonel  Pride,  who  entered 
the  house  with  two  regiments  of  soldiers, 
imprisoned  sixty,  drove  one  hundred  and 
sixty  out  into  the  streets,  and  left  only 
sixty  of  the  most  complaisant  to  remain. 

Prid’wen.  The  name  of  prince 
Arthur’s  shield. 

He  henge  an  his  sweore  [necTc]  aene  sceld  deore, 

His  nome  on  Brutisc  Li”  British]  Pridwen  ihaten 
icalled].  Laycbmon, ''  Brut  ” {I2th  cent.). 

P rid' win.  Same  as  pridwen.  This 
shield  had  represented  on  it  a picture 
of  the  Virgin. 

The  temper  of  his  sword,  the  tried  “ Excrliher,”— 
The  bigness  and  the  length  of  “ Kone,”  his  noble 
spear,— 

"With  “Pridwin/’’  his  great  shield,  and  what  the 
proof  could  bear.  Drayton. 

Priest,  Knight.  I would  rather 
walk  with  Sir  Priest  than  Sir  Knight.  I 
prefer  peace  to  strife. 

Prig.  A knavish  beggar  in  the 
Beggar's  Bush,”  by  Beaumont  and 
Fletcher. 

Prig.  To  filch  or  steal.  Also  a pick- 
pocket or  thief.  The  clown  calls  Antol'- 
ycus  a “ prig  that  haunts  wakes,  fairs, 
and  bear-baitings.” — Shakespeare,  ‘‘  Win- 
ter's Tale,"  iv.  3. 

Prig.  A coxcomb,  a conceited  per- 
son. (German, /7'ecA,  a saucy  person.) 

Prima  Donna  {Italian).  A first- 
class  lady ; applied  to  public  singers. 

Prima  Pacie  (Latin,  at  first  sight). 
A prima  facie  case  is  a case  or  statement 
which,  without  minute  examination  into 
its  merits,  seems  plausible  and  correct. 

It  would  be  easy  to  make  out  a strong  prima, 
facie  case,  but  I should  advise  the  more  cautious 
policy  of  audi  alteram  partem. 

Prime  (1  syl.).  The  first  of  the 
“lesser  hours”  of  the  Roman  breviary. 


It  is  practically  the  public  morning  ser- 
vice of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
Milton  terms  sunrise  “that  sweet  hour 
of  prime.” — Paradise  Lost,"  bk.  v.  170. 

Primed.  Full  and  ready  to  deliver 
a speech.  We  say  of  a man  whose  head 
is  full  of  his  subject,  “ He  is  primed  to 
the  muzzle.”  We  also  call  a man 
primed  ” when  he  is  in  a state  of  in- 
cipient drunkenness,  and  ready  to  “ go 
off.”  Of  course  the  allusion  is  to  fire- 
arms. 

Prime'ro.  A game  at  cards. 

I left  him  at  primero  with  the  duke  of  Suffolk.— 
Shakesmare,  '‘‘‘ILenry  VI II i.  2. 

Primrose  {George).  Son  of  the  wor- 
thy Vicar  of  Wakefield.  He  went  to 
Amsterdam  to  teach  the  people  English, 
but  forgot  that  he  could  not  do  so  till 
he  knew  something  of  Dutch  himself. 

— Goldsmith,  Vicar  of  Wakefield." 

Aloses  Primrose.  Brother  of  the  above, 

noted  for  giving  in  barter  a good  horso 
for  a gross  of  worthless  green  spectacles, 
with  tortoise-shell  rims  and  shagreen 
cases. — Goldsmith,  ‘‘Vicar  of  Wakefield." 

Mrs.  Deborah  Primrose.  Mother  of  the 
above ; noted  for  her  motherly  vanity, 
her  skill  in  housewifery,  and  her  desire 
to  be  genteel.  Her  wedding  gown  is  a 
standing  simile  for  things  that  “wear 
well.”  Her  daughter’s  names  are  Olivia 
and  Sophia.  — Goldsmith,  “ Vicar  of 
Wakefield." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Primrose.  Husband  of 
Mrs.  Deborah,  and  Vicar  of  Wakefield. 
As  simple-minded  and  unskilled  in  the 
world  as  Goldsmith  himself  ; unaffectedly 
pious,  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

— Goldsmith,  “ Vicar  of  Wakefield." 

Pri'mum  Mo'bile,  in  the  Ptolema'io 
system  of  astronomy,  was  the  tenth  (not 
ninth)  sphere,  supposed  to  revolve  from 
east  to  west  in  twenty-four  hours,  carry- 
ing with  it  all  the  other  spheres.  The 
eleven  spheres  are  : (1)  Diana  or  the 

Moon,  (2)  Mercury,  (3)  Venus,  (4)  Apollo 
or  the  Sun,  (5)  Mars,  (6)  Jupiter,  (7) 
Saturn,  (8)  the  starry  sphere  or  that  of 
the  fixed  stars,  (9)  the  crystalline,  (10) 
the  primum  mo'bile,  and  (11)  the  em- 
pyre'an.  Ptolemy  himself  acknowledge  1 
only  the  first  nine ; the  two  latter  were 
devised  by  his  disciples.  The  motion  of 
the  crystalline,  according  to  this  system, 
causes  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes, 
its  axis  being  that  of  the  ecliptic.  The 
motion  of  the  primum  mobile  produces 


710 


PKIMUS. 


PRTNTINa 


the  alternation  of  day  and  night  ; its 
axis  is  that  of  the  equator,  and  its  ex- 
tremities the  poles  of  the  heavens. 

They  pass  the  planets  seven,  and  pass  the  “ fixed” 
iitarry  sphere}. 

And  that  crystalline  sphere.. ..and  that  “ First- 
Moved.”  Milton,  Paradise  Lost,"  Hi. 

Primum  Mobile  is  figuratively  applied 
to  that  machine  which  communicates  mo- 
tion to  several  others  ; and  also  to  per- 
sons and  ideas  suggestive  of  complicated 
systems.  Socrates  was  the  primum  mo- 
bile of  the  Dialectic,  Megaric,  Cyrena'ic, 
and  Cynic  systems  of  philosophy. 

Pri'mus.  The  archbishop,  or  rather 

presiding  bishop,”  of  the  Episcopal 
church  of  Scotland.  He  is  elected  by 
the  other  six  bishops,  and  presides  in 
Convocation,  or  meetings  relative  to 
church  matters. 

Prince.  The  Latin  prin'cipes  formed 
one  of  the  great  divisions  of  the  Roman 
infantry  ; so  called  because  they  were 
originally  the  first  to  begin  the  fight. 
After  the  Hasta'ti  were  instituted,  this 
privilege  was  transferred  to  the  new 
division. 

Prince.  (>S^ee  Black.) 

Prince  of  Alchemy.  Rudolph  II.,  em- 
peror of  Germany,  also  called  The 
German  Hermes  Trismegistus. 

Prince  of  Gossips.  Samuel  Pepys, 
noted  for  his  gossiping  Diary,  commenc- 
ing January  1st,  1659,  and  continued  for 
nine  years.  (1632-1703.) 

Prince  of  Grammarians.  (iSee  p.  359.) 

Prince  of  Peace.  The  Messiah  (Isaiah 
ix.  6). 

Prince  of  the  Poxcer  of  the  Air.  Satan 
(Eph.  ii.  2). 

Prince  of  the  Vegetable  Kingdom,  So 
Linnaeus  calls  the  palm-tree. 

Prince  of  Wales  Dragoons.  The  3rd 
Dragoon  Guards. 

Prince  Pnpert’s  Drops.  Drops 
of  molten  glass,  consolidated  by  falling 
into  water.  Their  form  is  that  of  a tad- 
pole. The  thick  end  may  be  hammered 
pretty  smartly  without  its  breaking,  but 
if  the  smallest  portion  of  the  thin  end 

nipped  off,  the  whole  flies  into  fine 
dust  with  explosive  violence.  These  toys, 
if  not  invented  by  prince  Rupert,  were 
introduced  by  him  into  England. 

Princox  or  Princoclcs.  (Italian,  pin- 
chinOy  a cockered  or  spoilt  child. ) Capu- 
let  calls  Tybalt  eijprincox,  or  wilful  spoilt 
Shakespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet'* 


Prink.  She  was  prinked  in  all  her 
finery.  Adorned.  Prink  and  prank, 
Dutch  pronken,  to  make  a show ; Ger- 
man prangen,  Danish  'grange,  Swedish 
prunka. 

Printer’s  Devil.  The  newest  ap- 
prentice lad  in  the  press-room,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  run  errands,  and  to  help  the 
pressmen.  As  the  sheets  are  given  off 
by  the  men,  he  runs  his  eye  over  them 
to  see  if  the  ink  has  failed,  or  a dirty 
smudge  has  been  made ; for  the  former 
he  calls  out  monk  (q.v.),  and  for  the  latter 
friar  {q.v.)\  in  either  case  he  casts  the 
defective  sheet  aside.  This  boy  is  now 
called  the/y  or  the  fly-boy. 

Printing  used  to  be  called  the  Black 
Arty  and  the  boys  who  assisted  the  press- 
men were  called  the  imps.  According 
to  legend,  Aldus  Manutius,  a printer  of 
Venice,  took  a little  negro  boy,  left 
behind  by  a merchant  vessel,  to  assist 
him  in  his  business.  It  soon  got  wind 
that  Aldus  was  assisted  by  a little  black 
imp,  and  to  dispel  the  rumour  he  showed 
the  boy  to  the  assembled  crowd,  and 
said,  ^^Be  it  known  in  Venice  that  I, 
Aldus  Manutius,  printer  to  the  Holy 
Church  and  the  doge,  have  this  day  made 
a public  exposure  of  the  ^ printer’s 
devil.’  All  who  think  he  is  not  flesh  and 
blood  may  come  and  pinch  him.”  The 
people  were  satisfied,  and  no  longer  mo- 
lested the  little  negro  lad. 

Printers’  Marks. 

? is  2—  that  is,  the  first  and  last  letters 
of  quoestio  (question). 

! is  1.  lo  in  Latin  is  the  interjection 
of  joy. 

§ is  a Greek  p (tt),  the  initial  letter 
of  paragraph. 

* is  used  by  the  Greek  grammarians  to 
arrest  attention  to  something  striking 
{asterisk  or  star). 

f is  used  by  the  Greek  grammarians  to 
indicate  something  objectionable  {obelisk 
or  dagger). 

The  asterisk  shows  that  the  line  in- 
dicated shines  like  a star ; the  obelisk 
shows  that  it  should  be  cut  out  with  a 
dagger. 

Printing.  {See  Em.) 

Father  of  English  printing.  William 
Caxton.  (1412-1491.) 

Printing.  It  is  a mistake  to  suppose 
that  Caxton  was  the  first  printer  in 
England.  A book  has  been  accidentally 


PRIORI, 


PROBOLE. 


711 


discovered  witli  the  date  1468  (Oxford). 
The  Rev.  T.  Wilson  says,  The  press  at 
Oxford  existed  ten  years  before  there 
was  any  press  in  Europe,  except  those  at 
Haarlem  and  Mentz.  The  person  who 
set  up  the  Oxford  press  was  Corsellis.” 

Prio'ri.  An  argument  a priori  is  one 
from  cause  to  effect.  To  prove  the  exist- 
ence of  God  a 'priori,  you  must  show 
that  every  other  hypoth'esis  is  more  un- 
likely, and  therefore  this  hypothesis  is 
the  most  likely.  All  mathematical  proofs 
are  of  this  kind.  Posteriori.) 

Pris'cian’s  Head.  To  Ireah  Pris- 
dan's  head  (in  Latin  ^^diminuSre  Pris- 
cia'ni  cap'ut”).  To  violate  the  rules  of 
grammar.  Priscian  was  a great  gram- 
marian of  the  fifth  century,  whose  name 
is  almost  synonymous  with  grammar. 

Priscian’s  head  is  often  bruised  without  remorse. 

P.  Thompson. 

And  held  no  sin  so  deeply  red 
As  that  of  breaking  Priscian’s  head. 

Butler^  Hudihras”  pt.  ii.  2. 

PriscilPianists.  Followers  of  Pris- 
cillian,  a Spaniard  ; an  heretical  sect 
which  sprang  up  in  Spain  in  the  fourth 
century.  They  were  a branch  of  the 
Manichaeans. 

Prisoner  at  the  Bar.  The  pri- 
soner in  the  dock,  who  is  on  his  trial ; 
so  called  because  anciently  he  stood  at 
the  bar  which  separated  the  barristers 
from  the  common  pleaders. 

Prisoner  of  Cliillon'.  Fran9ois  de 
Bonnivard,  a Frenchman  confined  for  six 
years  in  the  dungeon  of  the  Chateau  de 
Chillon,  by  Charles  III.  of  Savoy.  Lord 
Byron,  in  his  poem  so  called,  has  welded 
together  this  incident  with  Dante’s 
^'Coimt  Ugoli'no.” 

Pri'thu.  The  favourite  hero  of  the 
Indian  Pur^nas.  Vena  having  been  slain 
for  his  wickedness,  and  leaving  no  off- 
spring, the  Saints  rubbed  his  right  arm, 
and  the  friction  brought  forth  Prithu. 
Being  told  that  the  Earth  had  suspended 
for  a time  its  fertility,  Prithu  went  forth 
to  punish  it,  and  the  Earth,  under  the 
form  of  a cow,  fled  at  his  approach  ; but 
being  unable  to  escape,  promised  that  in 
future  ‘^seed-time  and  harvest  should 
never  fail.” 

Priu'Ii.  Senator  of  Venice,  noted 
for  his  unbending  pride,  and  his  unna- 
tural harshness  to  his  daughter  Belvi- 
de'ra, — Otway,  Venice  Preserved^ 


Privolvans'.  The  antagonists  of 
the  Subvolvans,  in  S.  Butler’s  satirical 
poem  called  ^‘The  Elephant  in  the 
Moon.” 

These  silly  ranting  Privolvans 
Have  every  summer  their  campaigns, 

And  muster  like  the  warlike  sons 
Of  Rawhead  and  of  Bloodybones, 

V.  85,  asc. 

Privy  Council.  The  council  chosen 
by  the  sovereign  to  administer  public 
affairs.  It  consists  of  the  Royal 
Family,  the  two  Primates,  the  Bishop 
of  London,  the  great  officers  of  State, 
the  Lord  Chancellor  and  Judges  of 
the  courts  of  Equity,  the  Chief  Justices 
of  the  courts  of  Common  Law,  the  Judge 
Advocate,  some  of  the  Puisne  Jiigdes, 
the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
the  Ambassadors,  Governors  of  Colonies, 
Commander- in-Chief,  Master- General  of 
the  Ordnance,  First  Lord  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, Vice-President  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  Paymaster  of  the  Forces,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Poor-law  Board,  &c.  &c. ; a 
committee  of  which  forms  the  Cabinet 
or  Ministry.  The  number  of  neither  the 
Privy  Council  nor  Cabinet  is  fixed,  but 
the  latter  generally  includes  about  fifteen 
or  sixteen  gentlemen,  specially  qualified 
to  advise  on  different  departments  of 
state  business.  Much  of  the  business  of 
the  Privy  Council  is  performed  by  Boards 
or  sub-divisions,  as  the  Board  of  Trade, 
the  Board  of  Quarantine,  the  Committee 
of  Council  on  Education,  &c. 

Privy  Seal.  The  seal  which  the 
sovereign  uses  in  proof  of  assent  to  a 
document.  In  matters  of  minor  impor- 
tance it  is  sufficient  to  pass  the  privy 
seal,  but  instruments  of  greater  moment 
must  have  the  great  seal  also. 

Pro  and  Con.  {Batin').  For  and 
against.  ^^Con.”  is  a contraction  of 
contra. 

Probe.  I 'must  prole  that  matter  to  the 
bottom — must  narrowly  examine  into  it. 
The  allusion  is  to  a surgeon  probing  a 
wound,  or  searching  for  some  extraneous 
substance  in  the  body. 

Prob'ole  (3  syl.)  as  applied  to  Jesus 
Christ  is  this  : that  he  was  divine  only 
because  he  was  divinely  begotten  ; in 
fact  he  was  a shoot  of  the  divine  stem. 
This  heterodox  notion  was  combated  by 
Irenseus,  but  was  subsequently  revived 
by  Monta'nus  and  Tertullian.  The  word 
is  properly  applied  to  the  process  of  a 


712 


PEOCES-VERBAL. 


PEOJECTIOir. 


bone — that  is,  a bone  growing  out  of  a 
normal  bone.  (Greek,  'pro-hallo.) 

Proees-Verbal.  A minute  and 
official  statement  of  some  fact. 

We  (says  the  proces-verbal)  ashed  him  what  use  he 
had  made  of  the  pistol  [i.e..  We,  says  the  official 
report,  &o.].—The  Times  {Law  Report). 

Proclaim  on  the  Housetop.  To 
proclaim  or  make  known  to  every  one  ; to 
blab  in  public.  Dr.  Jahn  says  that  the 
ancient  Jews  ascended  their  roofs  to 
announce  anything  to  the  multitude,  to 
pray  to  God,  and  to  perform  sacrifices  ” 
(Matt.  X.  27). 

No  secret  can  escape  being  proclaimed  from  the 
housetop. — Lond'/n  Review. 

Proclivity.  His  proclivities  are  all 
evil.  His  tendencies  or  propensities  have 
a wrong  bias.  The  word  means  down-hill 
tendency  {LoXiriy  proclivis'). 

Procris.  Unerring  as  the  dart  of 
Procris.  When  Procris  fled  from  Ceph'a- 
lus  out  of  shame,  Diana  gave  her  a dog 
that  never  failed  to  secure  its  prey,  and 
a dart  which  not  only  never  missed  aim, 
but  which  always  returned  of  its  own 
accord  to  the  shooter. 

Procrustes’  Bed.  Procrustes  was 
a robber  of  Attica,  who  placed  all  who 
fell  into  his  hands  upon  an  iron  bed.  If 
they  were  longer  than  the  bed,  he  cut 
off  the  redundant  part ; if  shorter,  he 
stretched  them  till  they  fitted  it.  Any 
attempt  to  reduce  men  to  one  standard, 
one  way  of  thinking,  or  one  way  of 
acting,  is  called  placing  them  on  Pro- 
crustes’ bed,  and  the  person  who  makes 
the  attempt  is  called  Procrustes.  {See 
Girdle.) 

Tyrant  more  cruel  than  Procrustes  old, 

Who  to  his  iron-bed  by  torture  fits 

Their  nobler  parts,  the  souls  of  suffering  wits. 

Mallet,  “ Verbal  Criticism.’* 

Procrus'tean.  Pertaining  to  Pro- 
crustes, and  his  mode  of  procedure.  (^See 
above.) 

Prodigal.  Festus  says  the  Romans 
called  victims  wholly  consumed  by  fire 
prod'igce  hostioe  (victims  prodigalised), 
and  adds  that  those  who  waste  their 
substance  are  therefore  called  prodigals. 
This  derivation  can  hardly  be  considered 
correct.  Prodigal  is  pro-ago  or  prod-igo 
(to  drive  forth),  and  persons  who  had 
spent  all  their  patrimony  were  ‘'driven 
forth  ” to  be  sold  as  slaves  to  their 
creditors. 


Prodigal  ( The).  Albert  VI.,  duke  of 
Austria.  (1418-1463.) 

Prodigy.  The  Prodigy  of  France, 
Guillaume  Bud6  j so  called  by  Erasmus. 
(1467-1540.)  ^ 

The  Prodigy  of  Learning.  Samuel 
Hahnemann,  the  German,  was  so  called 
by  J.  Paul  Richter.  (1755-1855.) 

Profane  means  literally  before  the 
temple  (Latin,  pro  fanum).  Those  per- 
sons who  came  to  the  temple  and  were 
not  initiated  were  called  profane  by  the 
Romans. 

Pro'file  (2  syl.)  means  shown  by  a 
thread  (Latin,  prodoj  to  show ; filnm,  a 
thread).  An  outline.  In  sculpture  or 
painting  it  means  to  give  the  contour  or 
side-face. 

Profound  {The).  Richard  Middle- 
ton,  theologian.  ( * -1304.) 

The  Profound  Doctor.  Thomas  Brad- 
warden,  a schoolman.  (14th  century.) 

Most  Profound  Doctor,  ^gidius  de 
Columna,  a Sicilian  schoolman.  (Died 
1316.) 

Prog.  Food.  Probably  the  Dutch 
prachgen,  to  beg  food.  Burke  says,  “You 
are  the  lion,  and  I have  been  endea- 
vouring to  prog  (procure  food)  for  you.” 
Or  it  may  be  a corruption  and  contraction 
of  provender.  Lastly,  it  may  be  a mere 
pun  upon  the  word  Progne,  a swallow. 

So  saying,  with  a smile  she  left  the  rogue 

To  weave  more  lines  of  d ath,  and  plan  for  prog. 

Dr.  Wolcoty  "'Spider  and  Fly.” 

Progn'e  or  Proh'ne.  The  swallow. 
According  to  Grecian  fable,  Prokne  was 
sister  of  Philome'la,  and  wife  of  Tereus. 
Tereus  having  offered  violence  to  Philo- 
mela, cut  out  her  tongue  that  she  might 
not  expose  him,  and  then  told  his  wife 
that  she  was  dead.  The  truth  being  dis- 
covered, Tereus  would  have  slain  both 
the  sisters  ; but  Philomela  was  changed 
into  a nightingale,  and  Prokne  to  a 
swallow. 

As  Progne  or  as  Philome'la  mourns,.. 

That  finds  the  nest  by  cruel  hands  dispoiled ;.. 

So  Bradamant  laments  her  absent  knight. 

“ Orlando  Furioso,’'  bk.  zxiii. 

Progress.  To  report  progress,  in  par- 
liamentary language,  is  to  conclude  for 
the  night  the  business  of  a bill,  and  defer 
the  consideration  of  all  subsequent  items 
thereof  till  the  day  nominated  by  the 
chief  minister  of  the  crown. 

Projee'tion.  Powder  of  projection, 
or  the  “ Philosophers’  Stone.”  A powder 


PROLETAIRE* 


PROPHETESS. 


713 


supposed  to  have  the  virtue  of  changing 
baser  metals  into  gold  or  silver.  A little 
of  this  powder,  being  cast  into  molten 
metal  of  the  baser  sort,  was  to  project 
from  it  pure  gold  or  silver.  Education 
may  be  called  the  true  powder  of  pro- 
jection.’* 

Proletaire  (3  syl.).  One  of  the 
rabble.  Proletaires  in  French  means  the 
lowest  and  poorest  class  in  the  commu- 
nity. Proletarian,  mean  or  vulgar.  The 
sixth  class  of  Servius  Tullius  consisted 
of  proletarii  and  the  capite  censi — i.e., 
breeders  and  human  heads.  The  prole- 
taries could  not  enter  the  army,  but 
were  useful  as  breeders  of  the  race 
{proles).  The  cap'ite  censi  were  not  en- 
rolled in  the  census  by  the  value  of  their 
estates,  but  simply  by  their  polls. 

Proleta'riat.  Commonalty,  {See 
Proletaire.) 

Italy  has  a clerical  aristocracy,  rich,  idle,  and  cor- 
rupt; and  a clerical  proletariat,  needy  and  grossly 
ignorant.— Times. 

Prome'theus  (3  syl.)  made  men  of 
clay,  and  stole  fire  from  heaven  to  ani- 
mate them.  For  this  he  was  chained  by 
Zeus  to  mount  Cau'casus,  where  an  eagle 
preyed  on  his  liver  daily.  The  word 
means  Foreifchought,  and  one  of  his 
brothers  was  Epime'theus  or  After- 
thought. 

Faster  bound  to  Aaron’s  charming  eyes 
Than  is  Prometheus  tied  to  Caucasus. 

Shakespeare,  “ Titus  Andronicus,’'  ii.  1. 

Prome'thean.  Capable  of  producing 
fire;  pertaining  to  Prome'theus  (q.v.). 

Prome'thean  Fire.  The  vital 
principle  ; the  fire  with  which  Prome- 
theus quickened  into  life  his  clay  images. 
{See  Prometheus.) 

I know  not  where  is  that  Promethean  heat 

That  can  thy  life  relume. 

Shakespeare,  “ Othello^'  v.  3. 

Promised  Land  or  Land  of  Pro- 
mise. Canaan ; so  called  because  God 
promised  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob 
that  their  offspring  should  possess  it. 

Prone'sia  (in  Orlando  Furioso”), 
One  of  Logistilla’s  handmaids,  famous 
for  her  wisdom. 

Proof.  A printed  sheet  to  be  ex- 
amined and  approved  before  it  is  finally 
taken  off.  The  first  proof  is  that  which 
contains  all  the  workman’s  errors  as  well 
as  those  of  the  author ; when  these  are 
corrected  the  impression  next  taken  is 
called  a clean  proof ; a third  impression 


is  then  taken  and  submitted  to  the 
reader,  who  corrects  it  ad  unguem,  and 
this  is  termed  thQ  press  proof. 

Proof  Prints..  The  first  impressions 
of  an  engraving.  India-proofs  are  those 
taken  off  on  Indian  paper.  Proofs  lefore 
lettering  are  those  taken  off  before  the 
plate  is  sent  to  the  writing  engraver. 
After  the  proofs  the  orders  of  merit  are 
— (I)  the  prints  which  have  the  letters 
only  in  outline ; (2)  those  in  which  the 
letters  are  shaded  with  a black  line  ; (3) 
those  in  which  some  slight  ornament  is 
introduced  into  the  letters  ; and  (4)  those 
in  which  the  letters  are  filled  up  quite 
black. 

Proof  Spirit.  A mixture  of  equal 
parts  (by  weight)  of  alcohol  and  water. 
The  proof  oi  spirit  consists  in  little  bub- 
bles or  beads  which  appear  on  the  top  of 
the  liquor  after  agitation.  When  any 
mixture  has  more  alcohol  than  water  it 
is  called  over  proof,  and  when  less  it  is 
termed  under  proof. 

Propagan'da.  The  name  given  to 
the ‘^congregation”  de  propaganda  fide, 
established  at  Rome  by  Gregory  XV.,  in 
1622,  for  propagating  throughout  the 
world  the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  Any 
institution  for  making  religious  or  poli- 
tical proselytes. 

Prophet  ( The),  Mahomet  is  so  called. 
(570-632.) 

The  Koran  says  there  have  been  200,000 
prophets,  only  six  of  whom  have  brought 
new  laws  or  dispensations  : Adam,  Noah, 
Abraham,  Moses,  Jesus,  and  Mahomet. 

The  Prophet.  Jo'achim,  abbot  of 
Fio're.  (1130-1202.) 

Prophet  of  the  Syrians.  Ephraem  Syrus. 
(4th  century.) 

The  Great  Prophets.  Isaiah,  Jeremiah, 
Ezekiel,  and  Daniel ; so  called  because 
their  writings  are  more  extensive  than 
the  prophecies  of  the  other  twelve. 

The  Minor  or  Lesser  Prophets.  Hose'a, 
Joel,  Amos,  Obadiah,  Micah,  Jonah, 
Nahum,  Habak'kuk,  Zephani'ah,  Haggai, 
Zechari'ah,  and  Mal'achi ; so  called  be- 
cause their  writings  are  less  extensive 
than  those  of  the  four  Great  Prophets. 

Prophetess  {Tils').  Ay-e'shah,  the 
second  wife  of  Mahomet ; so  called,  not 
because  she  had  any  gift  of  prophecy, 
but  simply  because  she  was  the  favourite 
wife  of  the  prophet she  was  therefore 
emphatically  Mrs.  Prophet.” 


7U 


PROPOSITIONS. 


PROTEUS. 


Propositions  in  logic  are  of  four 
kiods,  called  A,  E,  I,  0.  is  a uni- 

versal affirmative,  and  a universal 
negative ; “ I ” a particular  affirmative, 
and  ^^0”  a particular  negative. 

Asserit  A,  negat  E,  verum  generaliter  ambo; 

I asserit,  O negat,  sed  particulariter  ambo. 

A asserts  and  E denies  some  universal  proposition; 

I asserts  and  O denies,  but  y^iVa. particular  precision. 

Proro'gue  (2  syl.).  The 'parliament 
was  prorogued.  Dismissed  for  the  holi- 
days, or  suspended  for  a time.  (Latin, 
pro-rogo,  to  prolong.) 

Prosee'niuni.  The  front  part  of 
the  stage,  between  the  drop-curtain  and 
orchestra. 

Proscrip 'tion.  A sort  of  hue  and 
cry;  so  called  because  among  the  Romans 
the  names  of  the  persons  proscribed  were 
written  out,  and  the  tablets  bearing  their 
names  were  fixed  up  in  the  public  forum, 
sometimes  with  the  offer  of  a reward  for 
those  who  should  aid  in  bringing  them 
before  the  court.  If  the  proscribed  did 
not  answer  the  summons,  their  goods 
were  confiscated  and  their  persons  out- 
lawed. In  this  case  the  name  was  en- 
graved' on  brass  or  marble,  the  offence 
stated,  and  the  tablet  placed  conspicu- 
ously in  the  market-place. 

Prose  means  straightforward  speak- 
ing or  writing  (Latin,  ora'tio  prdsa — 
proversa),  in  opposition  to  foot-bound 
speaking  or  writing,  oratio  vincta  (fet- 
tered speech — i.e.,  poetry). 

Father  of  Greek  Prose.  Herod'otos. 
(B.c.  484-405.) 

Father  of  English  Prose,  Roger  Ascham. 
(1515-1568.) 

Father  of  French  Prose.  Villehardouin 
(pron.  Veal-hard-win.)  (1167-1213.) 

Proser'pina  or  Proser'pine  (3  syl.). 
One  day,  as  she  was  amusing  herself  in 
the  meadows  of  Sicily,  Pluto  seized  her 
and  carried  her  off  in  his  chariot  to  the 
infernal  regions  for  his  bride.  In  her 
terror  she  dropped  some  of  the  lilies  she 
had  been  gathering,  and  they  turned  to 
daffodils. 

0 Proserpina, 

For  the  flowers  now  that,  frighted,  thou  letted’st  fall 
From  Dis’s  waggon  ! daffodils, 

That  come  before  the  swallow  dares,  and  take 
The  winds  of  March  with  beauty. 

Shakespeare,  “ Winter’s  Tale’’  iv.  8. 

Prosperity  Robinson.  Viscount 
Goderich  earl  of  Ripon,  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer  in  1823.  In  1825  he 
boasted  in  the  House  of  the  prosperity 
of  the  nation,  and  his  boast  was  not  yet 


cold  when  the  great  financial  crisis  oc- 
curred. It  was  Cobbett  who  gave  him 
the  name  of  Prosperity  Robinson.” 

Pros'pero.  Rightful  duke  of  Milan, 
deposed  by  his  brother.  Drifted  on  a 
desert  island,  he  practised  magic,  and 
raised  a tempest  in  which  his  brother  was 
shipwrecked.  Ultimately  Prospero  broke 
his  wand,  and  his  daughter  married  the 
son  of  the  king  of  Shakespeare, 

Tempest. 

Protag'oras  of  Abde'ra  was  the  first 
who  took  the  name  of  Sophist.”  (b.c. 
480-411.) 

Prote'an.  Having  the  aptitude  to 
change  its  form ; ready  to  assume  dif- 
ferent shapes.  (See  Proteus.) 

Protec'tionist.  One  who  advocates 
the  imposition  of  import  duties,  to  pro- 
tect” home  produce  or  manufactures. 

Protector.  The  earl  of  Pembroke. 
(1216.) 

Humphrey  duke  of  Gloucestor.  (1422- 
1447.) 

Richard  duke  of  Gloucester.  (1483.) 

The  duke  of  Somerset.  (1548.) 

The  Lord  Protector  of  the  Common- 
wealth.  Oliver  Cromwell.  (1653-1658.) 

Protesila'os,  in  Fenelon’s  '‘Tele- 
maque,”  is  meant  to  represent  Louvois, 
the  French  minister  of  state. 

Prot'estant.  One  of  the  party  who 
adhered  to  Luther  at  the  Reformation. 
These  Lutherans  in  1529  protested” 
against  the  decree  of  Charles  V.  of  Ger- 
many, and  appealed  from  the  diet  of 
Spires  to  a general  council.  A Protestant 
now  means  one  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Protestant  Pope.  Clement  XIY. 

Proteus  (pron.  Pro'-tuce).  As  many 
shapes  as  Proteus — i.e.,  full  of  shifts, 
aliases,  disguises,  &c.  Proteus  was  Nep- 
tune’s herdsman,  an  old  man  and  a 
prophet.  He  lived  in  a vast  cave,  and 
his  custom  was  to  tell  over  his  herds  of 
sea-calves  at  noon,  and  then  to  sleep. 
There  was  no  way  of  catching  him  but  by 
stealing  upon  him  during  sleep  and  bind- 
ing him;  if  not  so  captured  he  would 
elude  any  one  who  came  to  consult  him 
by  changing  his  shape,  for  he  had  the 
power  of  changing  it  in  an  instant  into 
any  form  he  chose. 

The  changeful  Proteus,  whose  prophetic  mind 
• The  secret  cause  of  Bacchus’  rage  divined. 

Attending,  left  the  flocks,  his  scaly  charge. 

To  graze  the  bitter  weedy  foam  at  large. 

Camoens,  “ Luaiad,  vi 


PKOTHALAMIOK 


PSYCHE. 


715 


Prothala'mion.  Marriage-song  by 
Edmund  Spenser,  peculiarly  exquisite — 
probably  the  noblest  ever  sung. 

Pro'theus.  One  of  the  two  Gen- 
tlemen of  Verona;  his  serving-mah  is 
Launce.  Valentine  is  the  other  gentle- 
man, whose  serving- man  is  Speed. — 
Shakespeare,  Tivo  Gentlemen  of  Verona.'* 

Pro'tocol.  The  first  rough  draught 
or  original  copy  of  a despatch,  which  is 
to  form  the  basis  of  a treaty.  (Greek, 
proto-kolon,  first  food — kolon  meaning 
chopped  or  minced  food  ; or  proto-holla, 
first  glue  — the  leaves  of  the  draught 
being  glued  or  pasted  together. ) 

Proud  (7%e).  Otho  IV.,  emperor  of 
Germany.  (1175,  1209-1218.) 

Tarquin  II.  of  Rome.  Snperbus. 
(Reigned  B.c.  535-510,  died  496.) 

The  Proud  Duke.  Charles  Seymour, 
duke  of  Somerset.  He  would  never 
suffer  his  ichildren  to  sit  in  his  presence, 
and  would  never  speak  to  his  servants 
except  by  signs.  (Died  1748.) 

Proud'fate  {Oliver).  A boasting 
bonnet-maker  of  Perth.  His  widow  is 
Magdalen  or  Maudie. — Sir  Walter  Scott, 

Fair  Maid  of  Perth." 

Prout.  {See  Father.) 

Prov'inee  means  a country  pre- 
viously conquered.  (Latin,  pro  vinco.') 

Provin'cial.  Like  or  in  the  manner 
of  those  who  live  in  the  provinces. 

Provincial  of  an  Order.  The  superior 
of  all  the  monastic  houses  of  a province. 

Prud’h-omine.  A Mons.Prud'homme, 

A man  of  experience  and  great  prudence, 
of  estimable  character  and  practical 
good  sense.  Your  Mons.  Prud'homme  is 
never  a man  of  genius  and  originality, 
but  what  we  in  England  should  term  a 

Quaker  of  the  old  school.” 

The  council  of  prud'hommes.  A council 
of  arbiters  to  settle  disputes  between 
masters  and  workmen. 

Prunello.  Stuff.  Prunello  really 
means  that  woollen  stuff  of  which  com- 
mon ecclesiastical  gowns  used  to  be 
made ; it  was  also  employed  for  the 
uppers  of  women’s  boots  and  shoes.  A 
corruption  of  Brignoles.  ; 

Worth  makes  the  man,  and  want  of  it  the  fellow; 
The  rest  is  all  but  leather  and  prunello.  , 

Pope,  "Essay  on  Man,”  iv.  I 

Pru'sio  (in  ‘‘Orlando  Furioso”).  I 
King  of  Alvarecchia,  slain  by  Zerbi'no.  1 


Prus'sia  means  near  Russia,  the 
country  bordering  on  Russia.  In  Neo- 
Latin,  Borussia  ; in  Slavonic,  Porussia  ; 
po  in  Slavonic  signifying  “ near.” 

Prussian  Blue.  So  called  because 
it  was  discovered  by  a Prussian,  viz., 
Diesbach,  a colourman  of  Berlin,  in  1710. 
It  is  sometimes  called  Berlin  blue. 

Prus'sic  Acid  means  the  acid  of 
Prussian  blue.  It  is  now  termed  in 
science  hydrocyanic  acid,  because  it  is 
a cyanide  of  iron. 

Psalms.  Seventy-three  Psalms  are 
inscribed  with  David’s  name  ; twelve  with 
that  of  Asaph  the  singer;  eleven  go  under 
the  name  of  the  Sons  of  Korah,  a family 
of  singers  ; one  {i.e.  Ps.  xc.)  is  attributed 
to  Moses.  The  whole  compilation  is 
divided  into  five  books  : bk.  1,  from  i.  to 
xli. ; bk.  2,  from  xlii.  to  Ixxii. ; bk.  3, 
from  Ixxiii.  to  Ixxxix.  ; bk.  4,  from  xc. 
to  cvi. ; bk.  5,  from  cvii.  to  cl. 

Psalmist.  The%  sweet  Psalmist  of 
Israel.  King  David,  who  composed  many 
of  the  Bible  Psalms.  {See  Psalm  Ixxii.  20.) 

Psaplion’s  Birds  {PsapKonis  aves). 
Puffers,  flatterers.  Psaphon,  in  order 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  world, 
reared  a multitude  of  birds,  and  having 
taught  them  to  pronounce  his  name,  let 
them  fly. 

To  what  far  region  have  his  songs  not  flown, 

Like  P&apnon’s  birds,  speaking  their  master’s  name  ? 

Moots,  '’'Rhymes  on  the  Road,”  iii. 

Psycar'pax  (granary-thief).  Son  of 
Troxartas,  king  of  the  Mice.  The  Frog- 
king  offered  to  carry  the  young  prince 
over  a lake,  but  scarcely  had  he  got  mid- 
way when  a water-hydra  appeared,  and 
King-frog  to  save  himself  dived  under 
water.  The  mouse  being  thus  left  at 
the  surface  was  drowned,  and  this  catas- 
trophe brought  about  the  Battle  of  the 
Frogs  and  Mice. 

The  soul  of  great  Psycarpos  lives  in  me. 

Of  great  Troxartas’  line,  whofe  sleeky  down 

In  love  compressed  Lychom'ile  the  brown. 

Parnell,  “Battle  of  the  Frogs  and  Mice”  i. 

Psy'clie  {Sy-ke).  A beautiful  maiden 
beloved  by  Cupid,  who  visited  her  every 
night,  but  left  her  at  sunrise.  Cupid 
bade  her  never  seek  to  know  who  he  was, 
but  one  night  curiosity  overcame  her 
prudence,  and  she  went  to  look  at  him. 
A drop  of  hot  oil  fell  on  his  shoulder, 
awoke  him,  and  he  fled.  Psyche  next 
became  the  slave  of  Venus,  who  treated 


716 


PTERICHTHYS. 


PUBLiC-HOtrSE  SIGNS. 


her  most  cruelly ; but  ultimately  she  was 
married  to  Cupid,  and  became  immortal. 
Mrs.  Henry  Tighe  has  embodied  in  six 
cantos  this  exquisite  allegory  from  Ap- 
puMios. 

Fair  Psyche,  kneeling  at  the  ethereal  throne, 

W armed  the  fond  bosom  of  unconquered  love. 

Darwin^  *'  Economy  of  Vegetation,'’  iv. 

Pteric'h-thys  {te-rih'-this).  A fossil 
ganoid,  peculiar  to  the  old  red  sand- 
stone. (Greek,  wing-fish.”) 

Pterodae'tyl  (Greek,  wing-finger), 
A fossil  lizard  with  a bat-wing,  found  in 
the  Oolite. 

Ptolemaic  System.  The  system 
of  Claudius  PtolemaDus,  a celebrated  as- 
tronomer of  Palu'sium,  in  Egypt,  of  the 
eleventh  century.  He  taught  that  the 
earth  is  fixed  in  the  centre  of  the  uni- 
verse, and  the  heavens  revolve  round  it 
from  east  to  west,  carrying  with  them 
the  sun,  planets,  and  fixed  stars,  in  their 
respective  spheres.  He  said  that  the 
Moon  was  next  above  the  earth,  then 
Mercury,  then  Venus  ; the  Sun  he  placed 
between  Venus  and  Mars,  and  after 
Mars,  Jupiter  and  Saturn,  beyond  which 
came  the  two  crystalline  spheres. 

Public-house  Signs.  Much  of  a 
nation’s  history,  and  more  of  its  manners 
and  feelings,  may  be  gleaned  from  its 
public-house  signs.  A very  large  number 
of  them  are  selected  out  of  compliment 
to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  either  because 
he  is  the  great  man”  of  the  neighbour- 
hood, or  because  the  proprietor  is  some 
servant  whom  'It  delighted  the  lord  to 
honour ; ” thus  we  have  the  Earl  of  March, 
in  compliment  to  the  duke  of  Richmond  ; 
the  Green  Man  or  gamekeeper,  married 
and  promoted  "to  a public.”  When 
the  name  and  titles  of  the  lord  have 
been  exhausted,  we  get  his  cognizance 
or  his  favourite  pursuit,  as  the  Bear  and 
Ragged  staff,  the  Fox  and  Hounds.  As 
the  object  of  the  sign  is  to  speak  to  the 
feelings  and  attract,  another  fruitful 
source  is  either  some  national  hero  or 
great  battle  ; thus  we  get  the  Marquis  of 
Granhy  and  the  DuJce  of  Wellington,  the 
Waterloo  and  the  Alma.  The  prover- 
bial loyalty  of  our  nation  has  naturally 
shown  itself  in  our  tavern  signs,  giving 
us  the  Victoria,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the 
A Ibert,  the  Crown,  and  so  on.  Some  signs 
indicate  a speciality  of  the  house,  as  the 
Bowling  Green,  the  Skittles ; some  a po- 
litical bias,  as  the  Royal  Oak ; some  are 


an  attempt  at  wit,  as  the  Five  A Us ; and 
some  are  purely  fanciful.  The  following 
list  will  serve  to  exemplify  the  subject : — 

The  Angel.  In  allusion  to  the  angel 
that  saluted  the  Virgin  Mary. 

The  Bag  d Nails.  A corruption  of  the 

Bacchanals.” 

The  Bear.  From  the  popular  sport  of 
bear-baiting. 

The  Bear  and  Bacchus,  in  High  Street, 
Warwick.  A corruption  of  Bear  and 
Bacculus — i.e.,  Bear  and  Ragged  Staff, 
the  badge  of  the  earl  of  Warwick. 

The  Bear  and  Ragged  Staff.  The  cog- 
nizance of  the  earl  of  Warwick,  the  earl 
of  Leicester,  &c. 

The  Bell.  In  allusion  to  races,  a silver 
bell  having  been  the  winner’s  prize  up  to 
the  reign  of  Charles  II. 

La  Belle  Sauvage.  {See  Bell  Savage.) 

The  Blue  Boar.  The  cognizance  of 
Richard  HI. 

The  Blue  Pig  (Bevis  Marks).  A cor- 
ruption of  the  "Blue  Boar”  {See 
above.) 

The  Boar’s  Head.  The  cognizance  of 
the  Gordons,  &c. 

The  Bolt-in-Ton.  The  punning  he- 
raldic badge  of  prior  Bolton,  last  of 
the  clerical  rulers  of  Bartholomew’s,  pre- 
vious to  the  Reformation. 

Bosom’s  Inn.  A public-house  sign  in 
St.  Lawrence  Lane,  London;  a corruption 
of  "Blossom’s  Inn,”  as  it  is  now  called, 
in  allusion  to  the  hawthorn  blossoms 
surrounding  the  effigy  of  St.  Lawrence 
on  the  sign. 

The  Bowling  Green.  Signifying  that 
there  are  arrangements  on  the  premises 
for  playing  bowls. 

The  Bull.  The  cognizance  of  Richard 
duke  of  York,  and  adopted  by  his  par- 
tisans. 

The  Bull’s  Head.  The  cognizance  of 
Henry  VIII. 

The  Bully  Ruffian.  A corruption  of 
the  " Bellerophon”  (a  ship). 

The  Castle.  This  being  the  arms  of 
Spain,  symbolises  that  Spanish  wines 
are  to  be  obtained  within.  In  some 
cases,  without  doubt,  it  is  a compli- 
mental  sign  of  the  manor  castle. 

The  Cat  and  Fiddle.  A corruption  of 
Caton  FidUe — i.e.,  Caton,  the  faithful 
governor  of  Calais.  In  Farringdon 
(Devon)  is  the  sign  of  La  Chatte  FidUe,  in 
commemoration  of  a faithful  cat.  With- 
out scanning  the  phrase  so  nicely,  H 
may  simply  indicate  that  the  game  cf 


PUBLIC-HOUSE  SIGNS. 


PUBLIC-HOUSE  SIGNS.  717 


cat  (trap-ball)  and  a fiddle  for  dancing 
are  provided  for  customers. 

The  Cat  and  Mutton y Hackney,  which 
gives  name  to  the  Cat  and  Mutton  Fields. 

The  Cat  and  Wheel.  A corruption  of 
St.  Catherine’s  Wheel or  an  announce- 
ment that  cat  and  he^eenoe-ioheels  are  pro- 
vided for  the  amusement  of  customers. 
i^See  Strutt.) 

The  Chequers.  (1)  In  honour  of  the 
Stuarts,  whose  shield  was  cheeky,”  like 
a Scotch  plaid.  (2)  In  commemoration 
of  the  licence  granted  by  the  earls  of 
Arundel  or  lords  Warrenne.  (3)  An  in- 
timation that  a room  is  set  apart  for 
merchants  and  accountants,  where  they 
can  be  private  and  make  up  their  ac- 
counts, or  use  their  ^‘chequers”  undis- 
turbed. (^See  Lattice.) 

The  Coach  and  Horses.  This  sign  sig- 
nifies that  it  is  a posting  house,  a stage- 
coach house,  or  both. 

The  Goch  and  Bottle,  A corruption  of 
the  “ Cork  and  Bottle,”  meaning  that 
wine  is  sold  there  in  bottles.  Probably 
in  some  cases  it  may  indicate  that  the 
house  provides  poultry,  eggs,  and  wine. 

The  Cov)  and  Skittles.  The  cow  is  the 
real  sign,  and  alludes  to  the  dairy  of  the 
hostess,  or  some  noted  dairy  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Skittles  is  added  to  in- 
dicate that  there  is  a skittle  ground  on 
the  premises. 

The  Cross  Keys.  Common  in  the  me- 
diaeval ages,  and  in  allusion  to  St.  Peter, 
or  one  of  the  bishops  whose  cognizance 
it  is — probably  the  lord  of  the  manor  or 
the  patron  saint  of  the  parish  church. 
The  cross  keys  are  emblems  of  the 
papacy,  St.  Peter,  the  bishop  of  Glouces- 
ter, St.  Servatius,  St.  Hippol'ytus,  St. 
Genevieve,  St.  Petronilla,  St.  Osyth,  St. 
Martha,  and  St.  Germa'nus. 

The  Devil.  A public-house  sign  two 
doors  from  Temple  Bar,  Fleet  Street.  The 
sign  represents  St.  Dunstan  seizing  the 
devil  by  the  nose.  (See  Gone  to  the  Demil,) 

The  Dog  and  Duck.  Tea  gardens  at 
Lambeth  (suppressed) ; to  signify  that 
the  sport  so  called  could  be  seen  the^^e. 
A duck  was  put  into  water,  and  a dog 
set  to  hunt  it ; the  fun  was  to  see  the 
duck  diving,  and  the  dog  following  it 
under  water. 

The  Red  Dragon.  The  cognizance  of 
Henry  VII.  or  the  principality  of  Wales. 

The  Spread  Eagle.  The  arms  of  Ger- 
many ; to  indicate  that  German  wines 
may  be  obtained  within, 


The  Fox  and  Goose.  To  signify  that 
there  are  arrangements  within  for  play- 
ing the  royal  game  of  Fox  and  Goose. 

St.  George  and  the  Dragon.  In  com- 
pliment to  the  patron  saint  of  England, 
and  his  combat  with  the  dragon.  The 
legend  is  still  stamped  upon  our  gold 
coin. 

The  George  and  Cannon.  A corruption 
of  George  Canning.” 

The  Globe.  The  cognizance  of  Al- 
fonso, king  of  Portugal;  and  intimating 
that  Portuguese  wines  may  be  obtained 
within. 

The  Goat  in  Golden  Boots.  A corruption 
of  the  Dutch  Goed  in  der  Gouden  Boote 
(the  god  Mercury  in  his  golden  sandals). 

The  Goat  and  Compasses.  A Puritan 
sign,  a corrupt  hieroglyphic  reading  of 
‘‘  God  encompasses  us.” 

The  Black  Goats.  A public-house  sign. 
High  Bridge,  Lincoln,  formerly  The 
Three  Goats” — i.e.,  three  gowts  (gutters 
or  drains),  by  which  the  water  from  the 
Swan  Pool  (a  large  lake  that  formerly 
existed  to  the  west  of  the  city)  was  con- 
ducted into  the  bed  of  the  Witham. 

The  Golden  Gross.  This  refers  to  the 
ensigns  carried  by  the  crusaders. 

The  Grecian  Stairs.  A corruption  of 
‘'The  Greesen  or  Stairs”  (Greesen  is 
gree,  a step,  our  de-gree).  The  allusion 
is  to  a flight  of  steps  from  the  New 
Road  to  the  Minster  Yard.  In  Wickliffe’s 
I Bible,  Acts  xxi.  40  is  rendered — “Poul 
stood  on  the  greezen.” 

Let  me  speak  like  yourself,  and  lay  a sentence 

Which,  like  a grize  or  step,  may  help  these  lovers 

Into  your  favour.  Shakespeare^  “ Othello^”  i.  3. 

The  Green  Man.  The  late  gamekeeper 
of  the  lord  of  the  manor  turned  publican. 
At  one  time  these  servants  were  dressed 
in  green. 

The  Green  Man  and  Still — i.e.y  the 
herbalist  bringing  his  herbs  to  be  distilled. 

The  Hare  and  Hounds.  In  compliment 
to  the  sporting  squire  or  lord  of  the 
manor. 

The  Hole-in-the-Wall  {London).  So 
called  because  it  was  approached  by  a 
passage  or  “hole”  in  the  wall  of  the 
house  standing  in  front  of  the  tavern. 

The  Iron  Devil.  A corruption  of 
“Hirondelle”  (the  swallow).  There  are 
numerous  public-house  signs  referring 
to  birds;  as  — the  ‘ Blackbird,”  the 
“Thrush,”  the  “Peacock,”the  “Martin,” 
the  “ Bird-in-the-Hand,”  &c.  &c. 

The  Three  Kings.  A public-house  sign 


718  PUBLIC-HOUSE  SIGNS, 


PUDDING. 


of  tlie  mediaeval  ages,  in  allusion  to  the 
three  kings  of  Cologne,  the  Magi  who 
presented  offerings  to  the  infant  Jesus. 
Very  many  public-house  signs  of  the 
mediaeval  period  had  a reference  to  ec- 
clesiastical matters,  either  because  their 
landlords  were  ecclesiastics,  or  else  from 
a superstitious  reverence  for  ‘^saints” 
and  ^^holy  things.” 

The  Man  Laden  with  Mischief,  A 
public-house  sign,  Oxford  Street,  nearly 
opposite  to  Hanway  Yard.  The  sign  is 
said  to  have  been  painted  by  Hogarth, 
and  represents  a man  carrying  a woman 
on  his  back. 

The  Marquis  of  Granhy  {London,  dec.). 
In  compliment  to  John  Manners,  eldest 
son  of  John,  third  duke  of  Eutland— a 
bluff,  brave  soldier,  generous,  and  greatly 
beloved  by  his  men. 

What  conquest  now  will  Britain  boast, 

Or  where  display  her  banners? 

Alas  ! in  Granby  she  has  lost 
True  courage  and  good  Manners. 

The  Paclc-horse,  To  signify  that  pack- 
horses  could  be  hired  there. 

The  Palgravds  Head.  A public-house 
sign  near  Temple  Bar,  in  honour  of 
Frederick,  palgrave  of  the  Rhine. 

The  Pig  and  Tinder  Box.  A corrupt 
rendering  of  The  Blcphant  and  Castle; 
the  “ pig”  is  really  an  elephant,  and  the 
‘‘tinder-box”  the  castle  on  its  back. 

The  Pig  and  Whistle.  {See  Pig.) 

The  Plum  and  Feathers.  A public- 
house  sign  near  Stoken  Church  Hill, 
Oxford.  A corruption  of  the  “ Plume 
of  Feathers,”  meaning  that  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales. 

The  Queen  of  Bohemia.  In  honour  of 
lady  Elizabeth  Stuart.  {See  Bohemia.) 

The  Queer  Door.  A corruption  of  Coeur 
Dore  (Golden  Heart.) 

The  Pi,ose.  A symbol  of  England,  as 
the  Thistle  is  of  Scotland,  and  the  Sham- 
rock of  Ireland. 

The  Red  Rose.  The  badge  of  the 
Lancastrians  in  the  civil  war  of  the 
Roses. 

The  White  Rose.  The  badge  of  the 
Yorkists  in  the  civil  war  of  the  Roses. 

The  Rose  of  the  Quarter  Sessions.  A 
corruption  of  La  Rose  des  Quatre  Saisons. 

The  Salutation  and  Cat.  The  “ Salu- 
tation” (which  refers  to  the  angel  sa- 
luting the  Virgin  Mary)  is  the  sign  of 
the  house,  and  the  “Cat”  is  added  to 
signify  that  arrangements  are  made  for 
playing  cat  or  tipcat. 


The  Saracen^ s Head.  In  allusion  to 
what  are  preposterously  termed  “The 
Holy  Wars ; ” adopted  probably  by  some 
crusader  after  his  return  home,  or  at  any 
rate  to  flatter  the  natural  sympathy  for 
these  Quixotic  expeditions. 

The  Ship,  near  Temple  Bar,  and  oppo- 
site The  Palgravds  Head;  in  honour 
of  Sir  Francis  Drake,  the  circumnavi- 
gator. 

The  Ship  and  Shovel.  Referring  to  Sir 
Cloudesley  Shovel,  a favourite  admiral 
in  Queen  Anne’s  reign. 

The  Seven  Stars.  An  astrological  sign 
of  the  mediaeval  ages. 

The  Three  Suns.  The  cognizance  of 
Edward  IV. 

The  Sun  and  the  Rose.  The  cognizance 
of  the  House  of  York. 

The  S^van  with  Three  Necks.  A public- 
house  sign  in  Lad  Lane,  &c. ; a corrup- 
tion of  “three  nicks ” (on  the  bill). 

The  Swan  and  Antelope.  The  cog- 
nizance of  Henry  V. 

The  Talbot  {a  hound).  The  arms  of 
the  Talbot  family. 

The  Turk's  Head.  Alluding  to  the  Holy 
Wars,  when  the  Crusaders  fought  against 
the  Turks. 

The  Unicorn.  The  Scottish  supporter 
in  the  royal  arms  of  Great  Britain. 

The  White  Hart.  The  cognizance  of 
Richard  II. 

The  White  Swan.  The  cognizance  of 
Henry  IV.  and  of  Edward  H^I. 

Publicans  of  the  New  Testament 
were  the  provincial  underlings  of  the 
Magister  or  master  collector  who  resided 
at  Rome.  The  taxes  were  farmed  by  a 
contractor  called  the  Manceps ; this 
Manceps  divided  his  contract  into  dif- 
ferent societies;  each  society  had  a 
Magister,  under  whom  were  a number  of 
underlings  called  Publica'ni  or  servants 
of  the  state. 

Pucelle  {La).  The  Maid  of  Orle'ans, 
Jeanne  d’Arc.  (1410-1431.)— Shake- 
speare’s “1  Henry  VI.,”  v.  4. 

Puck  or  Robin  Goodfellow.  A fairy 
and  merry  wanderer  of  the  night,  “rough, 
knurly-limbed,  faun-faced,  and  shock- 
pated,  a very  Shetlander  among  the  gos- 
samer-winged” fairies  around  him.  {^See 
Shakespeare’s  “ Midsummer  Night’s 
Dream,”  ii.  1 ; hi.  1.) 

Pudding.  ( J ACK . ) 


PUDDING-TIME. 


FUMBLE  CHOOK. 


719 


Pudding-time  properly  means  just 
as  dinner  is  about  to  begin,  for  our  fore- 
fathers took  their  pudding  before  their 
meat.  It  also  means  in  the  nick  of  time. 

But  Mars  . . . 

In  pudding-time  came  to  his  aid. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,”  i.  2. 

Pudens.  A soldier  in  the  Roman 
army,  mentioned  in  2 Tim.  iv.  21,  in  con- 
nection with  Linus  and  Claudia.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  Claudia,  the  wife 
of  Pudens,  was  a British  lady ; Linus, 
otherwise  called  Cyllen,  was  her  brother ; 
and  Lucius,  ^Hhe  British  king,”  the 
grandson  of  Linus.  Tradition  further 
adds  that  Lucius  wrote  to  Eleutherus, 
bishop  of  Rome,  to  send  missionaries  to 
Britain  to  convert  the  people. 

Puff.  Exaggerated  praise.  The 
most  i^opular  etymology  of  this  word  is 
pouff,  a coiffure  employed  by  the  ladies 
of  France  in  the  reign  of  the  Grand 
Monarqueto  announce  events  of  interest, 
or  render  persons  patronised  by  them 
popular.  Thus  Madame  d’Egmont,  duke 
of  Richelieu’s  daughter,  wore  on  her 
head  a little  diamond  fortress,  with 
moving  sentinels,  after  her  father  had 
taken  port  Mahon ; and  the  duchess  of 
Orleans  wore  a little  nursery,  with  cradle, 
baby,  and  toys  complete,  after  the  birth 
of  her  son  and  heir.  These  no  doubt 
were  pouffs  and  puffs,  but  lord  Bacon 
uses  the  word  puff  a century  before  the 
head-gear  was  brought  into  fashion. 
Two  other  etymons  present  themselves  : 
the  old  pictures  of  Fame  puffing  forth 
the  praises  of  some  hero  with  her  trum- 
pet ; and  the  puffing  out  of  slain  beasts 
and  birds  in  order  to  make  them  look 
plumper  and  better  for  food  — a plan 
universally  adopted  in  the  abattoirs  of 
Paris.  The  French  pouf  is  our  puff. 

Puffy  in  The  Critic,”  by  Sheridan. 
An  impudent  literary  quack.  . 

Puff-ball.  A sort  of  fungus.  The 
word  is  a corruption  of  Puck  or  Pouk 
ball,  anciently  called  Puck- fist.  The 
Irish  name  is  Pooka-foot.  (Saxon,  Pulker- 
fist,  a toad-stool.)  Shakespeare  alludes 
to  this  superstition  when  Pros'pero  sum- 
mons amongst  his  elves — 

You  whose  pastime 
Is  to  make  midnight  mushrooms. 

Shakespear  e,  “ Tempest”  v.  1. 

Puffed  Up.  Conceited;  elated  with 
conceit  or  praise;  filled  with  wind.  A 


puff  is  a tartlet  with  a very  light  or 
puffy  crust. 

That  no  one  of  you  be  puffed  up  one  against  an« 
other.— 1 Cor.  iv.  6. 

Pug  is  the  Saxon  piga,  a “ little  girl,” 
and  is  used  to  a child,  monkey,  dog,  &c., 
as  a pet  term. 

You  mischievous  little  pug.  A playful 
reproof  to  a favourite. 

Pug.  A mischievous  little  goblin  in 
Ben  Jonson’s  drama  of  The  Devil  is  an 
Ass.”  Shakespeare  has  changed  the 
name  to  Puck,”  and  with  it  has  created 
the  character  anew. 

Pugna  Poreo'rum  (Battle  of  the 
Pigs).  The  most  celebrated  poem  of 
alliterative  verse,  extending  to  several 
hundred  lines,  in  which  every  word  be- 
gins with  p. 

Puisne  J udges  means  the  younger- 
born  judges.  They  are  the  four  inferior 
judges  of  the  court  of  Queen’s  Bench, 
and  the  four  inferior  judges  of  the  court 
of  Common  Pleas.  (French,  puis  ne,  sub- 
sequently born.) 

Pukwa'na  {North- American  Indian). 
The  curling  smoke  of  the  Peace-pipe ; a 
signal  or  beacon. 

PuPian  or  P ulia'no  (in  Orlando 
Furioso”).  Leader  of  the  Nasamo'ni, 
slain  by  Rinaldo. 

Pull.  A long  pull,  a strong  pull,  and 
a pull  altogether — i.e.y  a steady,  energetic, 
and  systematic  co-operation.  The  re- 
ference may  be  either  to  a boat,  where 
all  the  oarsmen  must  pull  together  with 
a long  and  strong  pull  at  the  oars ; or  it 
may  be  to  the  act  of  hauling  with  a rope, 
when  a simultaneous  strong  pull  is  in- 
dispensable. 

Pulling.  A jockey  trick,  which  used 
to  be  called  playing  booty  ap- 

pearing to  use  every  effort  to  come  in 
first,  but  really  determined  to  lose  the 
race. 

Mr.  Kemble  [in  the  Iron  Chestli  gave  a slight  touch 
of  the  jockey,  and  “played  booty.”  He  seemed  to 
do  justice  to  tHb  play,  but  really  ruined  its  success.— 
George  Colman  the  Younger. 

Pum'ble  Chook  ( Uncle).  He  bullied 
Pip  when  only  a poor  boy,  but  when  the 
boy  became  wealthy  was  his  lick-spittle, 
fawning  on  him  most  servilely  with  his 
‘^May  I,  Mr.  Pip”  [have  the  honour  of 
shaking  hands  with  you];  ‘‘Might  I, 


720 


PUMMEL. 


PUNIC  FAITH, 


Mr.  Pip”  [take  the  liberty  of  saluting 
you]. — DickenSy  Great  Expectations'^ 

Pummel  or  Pommel.  To  beat  black 
and  blue.  (French,  pommeleVy  to  dapple.) 

Pump.  To  sift,  to  extract  informa- 
tion by  indirect  questions.  In  allusion 
to  pumping  up  water. 

But  pump  not  me  for  politics.— 

Pumpernickel.  His  Transparency 
of  Pumpernickel.  So  the  Times  satirises 
the  minor  German  princes,  whose 
ninety  men  and  ten  drummers  consti- 
tuted their  whole  embattled  host  on  the 
parade-ground  before  their  palace,  and 
whose  revenue  is  supplied  by  a per- 
centage on  the  tax  levied  on  strangers  at 
the  Pumpernickel  Kursaal.”— 18^4 /w/y, 
1866. 

Pun  is  the  Welsh  pun^  equivalent ; it 
means  a word  equally  applicable  to  two 
things.  The  application  should  be  re- 
mote and  odd  in  order  to  give  piquancy 
to  the  play.  ^&ee  Calembourg.) 

Punch.,  from  the  Indian  word  punj 
(five) ; so  called  from  its  five  ingredients 
— viz.,  spirit,  water,  lemon,  sugar,  and 
spice.  It  was  introduced  into  England 
from  Spain,  where  it  is  called  ponche.  It 
is  called  Contradiction,”  because  it  is 
composed  of  spirits  to  make  it  strong, 
and  water  to  make  it  weak  ; of  lemon- 
juice  to  make  it  sour,  and  sugar  to  make 
it  sweet. 

Mr.  Punch.  A Eoman  mime  called 
Maccus  was  the  original  of  Punch.  A 
statuette  of  this  buffoon  was  discovered 
in  1727,  containing  all  the  well-known 
features  of  our  friend — the  long  nose 
and  goggle  eyes,  the  hunch  back  and 
protruding  breast. 

The  most  popular  derivation  of  Punch 
and  Judy  is  Pqyiius  cum  Judxis 
(Matt,  xxvii.  19),  an  6Td:^  mysterjTpI^ 
of  Pontius  Pilate  and  the  Jews;”  but 
the  Italian  policinello  seems  to  be  from 
poUice,  a thumb  (Tom-thumb  figures), 
and  our  Punch  from  paunch. 

The  drama  or  story  of  our  Punch  and 
Judy  is  attributed  to  Silvio  Fiorillo,  an 
Italian  comedian  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. The  tale  is  this  : Punch,  in  a fit 
of  jealousy,  strangles  his  infant  child, 
when  Judy  flies  to  her  revenge.  She 
fetches  a bludgeon,  with  which  she  be- 
labours her  husband,  till  Punch,  exaspe- 
rated, seizes  another  bludgeon  and  beats 


her  to  death,  then  flings  into  the  street 
the  two  dead  bodies.  The  bodies  attract 
the  notice  of  a police-officer,  who  enters 
the  house.  Punch  flees  for  his  life  : 
being  arrested  by  an  officer  of  the  In- 
quisition, he  is  shut  up  in  prison,  from 
which  he  escapes  by  means  of  a golden 
key.  The  rest  is  an  allegory,  showing 
how  Punch  triumphs  over  all  the  ills  that 
flesh  is  heir  to.  (1)  En'nui,  in  the  shape 
of  a dog,  is  overcome;  (2)  Disease,  in 
the  disguise  of  a doctor,  is  kicked  out ; 
(3)  Death  is  beaten  to  death ; and  (4)  the 
Devil  himself  is  outwitted. 

Punc'tual.  No  bigger  than  a point, 
exact  to  a point  or  moment.  (Latin,  ad 
punctum.)  Hence  the  angel  describing 
this  earth  to  Adam  calls  it  '^This  opa- 
cious  earth,  this  punctual  spot” — i.e.y  a 
spot  no  bigger  than  a point. — Milton^ 

Paradise  Lost”  viii.  23. 

Punctuation.  The  following  advice 
of  bishop  Orleton  to  Gourney  and  Mal- 
travers  in  1327  is  an  excellent  example 
of  the  importance  of  punctuation : — 
Edwardum  occidere  nolite  timere  honum 
est — Spare  not  to  kill  king  Edward  is 
right.”  If  the  point  is  placed  after  the 
first  word,  the  sentence  reads  Not  to 
kill  the  king  is  right ; ” but  if  after  the 
second  word,  the  direction  becomes, 

Spare  not ; to  kill  the  king  is  right.” 
{See  Oracle.) 

Pundit.  An  East  Indian  scholar, 
skilled  in  Sanskrit,  and  learned  in  law, 
divinity,  and  science.  We  use  the  word 
for  a porcus  literalrumy  one  more  stocked 
with  book  lore  than  deep  erudition. 

Pu'nic  Apple.  A pomegranate ; so 
called  because  it  is  thepomum  or  ^^apple” 
belonging  to  the  genus  Pidnica. 

Pu'nic  Faith.  Treachery,  violation 
of  faith.  ‘‘Punic  faith  ” is  about  equal 
to  “Spanish  honesty.”  The  Puni  (a  cor- 
ruption of  Poeni)  were  accused  by  the 
Eoman s of  breaking  faith  with  them,  a 
most  extraordinary  instance  of  the  “pot 
calling  the  kettle  black  ; ” for  whatever 
infidelity  the  Carthaginians  were  guilty 
of,  it  could  scarcely  equal  that  of  their 
accusers. 

The  Eoman  Poeni  is  the  word  Phoeni 
(Phoenicians),  the  Carthaginians  being 
of  Phoenician  descent. 

Our  Punic  faith 

Is  infamous,  ancl  branded  to  a proverb. 

A-ddmn,  “ Cato,  U. 


PUNJAB. 


PYGMALION. 


721 


Punjab  {jive  rivers).  They  are  the 
i Jelum,  Chenab,  Kavee,  Be'as,  and  Sutlej ; 

I called  by  the  Greeks  penta-potamia. 

i Pup  properly  means  a little  boy  or 

: girl.  A little  dog  is  so  called  because  it 

is  a pet.  An  insect  in  the  third  stage 
of  existence.  (Latin,  pupus,  fern,  piipa  ; 
French,  poupee^  a doll ; German,  puppe.) 

Purbeck  {Dorsetshire) . Noted  for  a 
marble  used  in  ecclesiastical  ornaments. 
Chichester  cathedral  has  a row  of  columns 
of  this  limestone.  The  columns  of  the 
Temple  church,  London  ; the  tomb  of 
Queen  Eleanor,  in  Westminster  Abbey  ; 
and  the  throne  of  the  Archbishop  in  Can- 
terbury cathedral,  are  other  specimens. 

Purita'ni  (/).  The  Puritans.” 
Elvi'ra,  daughter  of  lord  Walton,  a Puri- 
' tan,  is  affianced  to  lord  Arthur  Talbot, 
a Cavalier.  On  the  day  of  espousals, 
lord  Arthur  aids  Henrietta,  the  widow 
of  Charles  I.,  to  escape ; and  Elvira, 
thinking  him  faithless,  loses  her  reason. 
On  his  return  to  England,  lord  Arthur 
explains  the  circumstances,  and  the  two 
lovers  vow  that  nothing  on  earth  shall 
part  them  more.  The  vow  is  scarcely 
uttered,  when  Cromwell’s  soldiers  enter 
and  arrest  lord  Talbot  for  treason ; but 
as  they  lead  him  forth  to  execution,  a 
herald  announces  the  defeat  of  the 
Stuarts,  and  free  pardon  to  all  political 
prisoners.  Whereupon  lord  Arthur  is 
* liberated,  and  marries  Elvira.— 

“7 Pui'itani”  {libretto  by  C.  Pepoli). 

Pu'ritans.  Seceders  from  the  Re- 
formed Church ; so  called  because  they 
rejected  all  human  traditions  and  inter- 
ference in  religion,  acknowledging  the 
sole  authority  of  the  ^^pure  Word  of 
God,”  without  ‘'note  or  comment.” 
Their  motto  was  : “The  Bible,  the  whole 
Bible,  and  nothing  but  the  Bible.”  The 
English  Puritans  were  sometimes  by 
the  Reformers  called  Precisionists,  from 
their  preciseness  in  matters  called  “ in- 
different.” Andrew  Fuller  gave  them 
the  name  of  Non-conformists,  because 
they  refused  to  subscribe  to  the  Act  of 
Uniformity. 

Purlieu  (2  syl.).  French,  pouralle 
lieu  (a  place  free  from  the  forest  laws). 
_ Henry  II. , Richard  I.,  and  John  made 
certain  lands  forest  lands;  Henry  III. 

' allowed  certain  portions  all  round  to  be 
severed.  These  “rues”  or  forest  borders 
were  freed  from  that  servitude  which 


was  laid  on  the  royal  forests.  The  “per- 
ambulation ” by  which  this  was  effected 
was  technically  called  pourallee. 

In  the  purlieus  of  this  forest  stands 
A sheep-cote  fenced  about  with  olive  trees. 

IShakespeare,  “As  You  Like  It'’  iv.  3. 

Purple  (blue  and  red)  indicates  the 
love  of  truth  even  unto  martyrdom. 

Pursy,  Pursiness.  Broken-winded, 
or  in  a bloated  state  in  which  the  wind 
is  short  and  difficult.  (French,  poussif, 
same  meaning.) 

A fat  and  pursy  man.  Shakespeare 
has  “pursy  Insolence,”  the  insolence  of 
Jesurun,  “who  waxed  fat  and  kicked.” 
In  “Hamlet”  we  have  “the  fatness  of 
these  pursy  times” — i.e.,  wanton  or  self- 
indulgent  times, 

Purura'vas  and  Urva'si.  An 
Indian  myth  similar  to  that  of  “ Apollo 
and  Daphne.”  Pururavas  is  a legendary 
king  who  fell  in  love  with  Urva'si,  a 
heavenly  nymph,  who  consented  to  be- 
come his  wife  on  certain  conditions. 
These  conditions  being  violated,  Urvasi 
disappeared,  and  Pururavas,  inconsol- 
able, wandered  everywhere  to  find  her. 
Ultimately  he  succeeded,  and  they  were 
indissolubly  united. 

Pu'seyite  (3  syl.).  A High  Church- 
man ; so  called  from  Dr.  Pusey  of  Ox- 
ford, a chief  contributor  to  the  Tracts 
for  the  Times.  {See  Tractaeians.) 

Puss  in  Boots  {Le  Chat  BotU),  from 
the  “Eleventh  Night”  of  Straparola’s 
Italian  fairy  tales,  where  Constantine’s 
cat  procures  his  master  a fine  castle  and 
the  king’s  heiress;  first  translated  into 
French  in  1585.  Our  version  is  taken 
from  that  of  Charles  Perrault.  There  is 
a similar  one  in  the  Scandinavian  nursery 
tales.  This  clever  cat  secures  a fortune 
and  a royal  partner  for  his  master,  who 
passes  off  as  the  marquis  of  Car'abas,  but 
is  in  reality  a young  miller  without  a 
penny  in  the  world. 

Put.  A clown,  a silly  shallow-pate,  a 
butt,  one  easily  “ put  upon.” 

Queer  couatry  puts  extol  queen  Bess’s  rei^n 

B ramson. 

Putney  and  Mortlake  Race. 
The  annual  eight-oared  boat-race  be- 
tween the  two  universities  of  Cambridge 
and  Oxford. 

Pygmalion.  A statuary  of  Cyprus, 
who  hated  women  and  resolved  never  tr 

U U 


722 


PYGMIES. 


PYTHAGORAS. 


marry,  but  fell,  in  love  with  his  own  mar- 
ble statue  of  the  goddess  Venus.  At  his 
earnest  prayer  the  statue  was  vivified, 
and  he  married  it. 

Pew,  like  Pygmalion,  doat  on  lifeless  charms. 

Or  care  to  clasp  a statue  in  their  arms. 

S.  Jenyns,  Art  of  Dancing”  canto  i. 

Pyg'mies  (2  syl.).  A nation  of 
dwarfs  on  the  banks  of  the  Upper  Nile. 
Every  spring  the  cranes  made  war  upon 
them  and  devoured  them.  They  cut 
down  every  corn-ear  with  an  axe. 
When  Hercules  went  to  the  country  they 
climbed  up  his  goblet  by  ladders  to  drink 
from  it;  and  while  he  was  asleep  two 
whole  armies  of  them  fell  upon  his  right 
hand,  and  two  upon  his  left ; but  Her- 
cules rolled  them  all  in  his  lion’s  skin.  It 
is  easy  to  see  how  Swift  has  availed  him- 
self of  this  Grecian  legend  in  his  ‘^Gulli- 
ver’s Travels.” 

Pyl'ades  and  Orestes.  Two  model 
friends,  whose  names  have  become  pro- 
verbial for  friendship,  like  those  of  Da- 
mon and  Pythias,  David  and  Jonathan. 

Pyr'amus.  The  lover  of  Thisbe. 
Supposing  Thisbe  to  be  torn  to  pieces  by 
a lion,  he  stabbed  himself,  and  Thisbe 
finding  the  dead  body  stabbed  herself 
also.  Both  fell  dead  under  a mulberry- 
tree,  which  has  ever  since  borne  blood- 
red  fruit.  Shakespeare  has  a travestie 
of  this  tale  in  his  “Midsummer  Night’s 
Dream.” — Ovid,  ‘^Metamorphoses/^  iv. 

Pyrocles  and  Musido'rus.  He- 
roes whose  exploits,  previous  to  their 
arrival  in  Arcadia,  are  detailed  in  the 
“Arca'dia”  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney. 

Py'rodes  (3  syl.).  Cliaswasso  called, 
according  to  Pliny,  because  he  was  the 
the  first  to  strike  fire  from  flint. 

Pyr'rliic  Dance,  the  most  famous 
war-dance  of  antiquity,  received  its  name 
from  Pyrrichos,  a Dorian.  It  was  danced 
to  the  flute,  and  its  time  was  very  quick. 
Julius  Csesar  introduced  it  into  Rome. 
The  Romaika,  still  danced  in  Greece,  is  a 
relic  of  the  ancient  Pyrrhic  dance. 

Pyrrho.  A sceptic.  Pyrrho  was  the 
founder  of  the  Sceptical  school  of  phi- 
losophy. He  was  a native  of  Elis,  in 
Peloponne'sos. 

Blessed  be  the  day  I ’scaped  the  wraneling  crew 
From  Pyrrho’s  maze  and  Epicurus*  sty. 

Beattie,  **Minstrel” 


Pythag'oras,  son  of  Mnesarchos, 
was  called  son  of  Apollo  or  Pythios,  from 
the  first  two  syllables  of  his  name  ; but 
he  was  called  Pytha-goras  because  the 
Pythian  oracle  predicted  his  birth. 

Pythagoras,  generally  called  The  Long- 
haired Sa'mian.  A native  of  Sa'mos, 
noted  for  his  manly  beauty  and  long 
hair.  The  Greeks  applied  the  phrase  to 
any  venerable  man  or  philosopher. 

Pythagoras  maintained  that  he  dis- 
tinctly recollected  having  occupied  other 
human  forms  before  his  birth  at  Samos  : 

(1)  He  was  .^thaPides,  son  of  Mercury; 

(2)  Euphorbos  the  Phrygian,  son  of  Pan'- 
thoos,  in  which  form  he  ran  Patroclos 
through  with  a lance,  leaving  Hector  to 
dispatch  the  hateful  friend  of  Achilles  ; 

(3)  Hermoti'mos,  the  prophet  of  Clazo- 
me'nse  ; (4)  a fisherman  ; and  (5)  Pytha- 
goras, son  of  Mnesarchos.  To  prove  his 
Phrygian  existence  he  was  taken  to  th© 
temple  of  Hera,  in  Argos,  and  asked  to 
point  out  the  shield  of  the  son  of  Pan- 
thoos,  which  he  did  without  hesitation, 
{See  Rat.) 

The  golden  thigh  of  Pythagoras.  This 
thigh  he  showed  to  Ab'aris,  the  Hyper- 
borean priest,  and  exhibited  in  the 
Olympic  games. 

Abaris,  priest  of  the  Hyperbo'reans, 
gave  him  a dart,  by  which  he  was  carried 
through  the  air,  over  inaccessible  rivers, 
lakes,  and  mountains ; expelled  pesti- 
lence ; lulled  storms ; and  performed 
other  wonderful  exploits. 

Pythagoras  maintained  that  the  soul 
has  three  vehicles  : (1)  t\iQ  ethereal,  which 
is  luminous  and  celestial,  in  which  the 
soul  resides  in  a state  of  bliss  in  the 
stars  ; (2)  the  luminous,  which  suffers  the 
punishment  of  sin  after  death  ; and  (3) 
the  terrestrial,  which  is  the  vehicle  it 
occupies  on  this  earth. 

Pythagoh'as  asserted  he  could  write  on 
the  moon,  blis  plan  of  operation  was  to 
write  on  a looking-glass  in  blood,  and 
place  it  opposite  the  moon,  when  the  in- 
scription would  appear  photographed  or 
reflected  on  its  disc. 

Pythagoras.  Mesmerism  was  prac- 
tised by  Pythagoras,  if  we  may  credit 
lamblichus,  who  tells  us  that  he  tamed 
a savage  Daunian  bear  by  “stroking  it 
gently  with  his  hand,”  subdued  an  eagle 
by  the  same  means,  and  held  absolute 
dominion  over  beasts  and  birds  by  “the 
power  of  his  voice,”  or  “ influence  of  his 
touch.” 


PYTHAGOREAN  SYSTEM. 


QUADRILLE. 


723 


Pythagore'an  System.  Pytha'- 
goras  taught  that  the  sun  is  a movable 
sphere  in  the  centre  of  the  universe,  and 
that  all  the  planets  revolve  around  it. 
This  is  substantially  the  same  as  the 
Copernican  and  Newtonian  systems. 

Pyth'ian  Games.  The  games  held 
by  the  Greeks  at  Pytho,  in  Phocis,  sub- 
sequently called  Delphi.  They  took 
place  every  fourth  year,  the  second  of 
each  Olympiad. 

Pythias.  {See  Damon.) 

Py'thon.  The  monster  serpent 
hatched  from  the  mud  of  Deuca'lion’s 
deluge,  and  slain  near  Delphi  by  Apollo. 


Q 

Q means  the  ^Hail  letter”  (French, 
queue,  a tail).  This  letter,  which  is  0 
with  a tail,  was  borrowed  from  the 
French. 

Q in  a corner.  Something  not  seen  at 
first,  but  subsequently  brought  to  notice. 
The  thong  to  which  seals  are  attached  iiT 
legal  documents  is  in  French  called  the 
qume ; thus  we  have  lettres  scellees  sur 
simple  queue  or  sur  double  queue,  accord- 
ing to  whether  they  bear  one  or  two 
seals.  In  documents  where  the  seal  is 
attached  to  the  deed  itself,  the  corner 
where  the  seal  is  placed  is  called  the 
queue,  and  when  the  document  is  sworn 
to  the  finger  is  laid  on  the  queue. 

In  a merry  Q (cue).  Humour,  temper; 
thus  Shakespeare  says,  ‘ ^ My  cue  is  vil- 
lanous  melancholy  (^^ King  Lear,”  i.  2.). 

Old  Q.  The  fifth  earl  of  March, 
afterwards  duke  of  Queensberry. 

Q.T3.D.  Quod  erat  demonstrandum. 
Three  letters  appended  to  the  theorems 
of  Euclid,  meaning:  Thus  have  we 
proved  the  proposition  stated  above,  as 
we  were  required  to  do. 

Q.E.P.  Quod  erat  facien'dum.  Three 
letters  appended  to  the  problems  of 
Euclid,  meaning  : Thus  have  we  done  or 
drawn  the  figure  required  by  the  pro- 
position. 

Q.P.  Quantum  placet.  Two  letters 
used  in  prescriptions,  meaning  the  quan- 
tity may  be  as  little  or  much  as  you  like. 
Thus  in  a cup  of  tea  we  might  say  Milk 
and  sugar  q.p.'' 


Q.S.  Quantum  sufjicit.  Two  letters 
appended  to  prescriptions,  and  meaning 
as  much  as  is  required  to  make  the  pills 
up.  Thus,  after  giving  the  drugs  in 
minute  proportions,  the  apothecary  is 
told  to  mix  these  articles  in  liquorice 
q.s:^ 

Q.V.  (Latin,  quantum  vis).  As  much 
as  you  like. 

q.v.  {hatm,  quod  vide).  Which  see. 

Quack  or  Quack  Doctor;  once 
called  _ quacksalver.  A puffer  of  salves. 
(Swedish,  qvak-salfvare ; Norwegian, 
qvaksalver ; German,  quachsalher.) 

Saltimbancoes,  quacksalvers,  and  charlatans  de- 
ceive the  vulgar.— Azy  Thomas  Browne. 

Quacks.  William  Read  (tailor), 
queen  Anne’s  quack  oculist,  was 
knighted, 

Quadrages'ima  Sunday.  The 
Sunday  immediately  preceding  Lent ; so 
called  because  it  is,  in  round  numbers,  the 
fortieth  day  before  Easter. 

Quadrageslmals.  The  farthings 
or  payments  made  in  commutation  of  a 
personal  visit  to  the  mother-church  on 
Mid-Lent  Sunday ; called  also  Whitsun 
farthings. 

Quadrilat'eral.  The  four  for- 
tresses of  Peschie'ra  and  Mantua  on  the 
Mincio,  and  Vero'na  and  Legna'go  on  the 
Ad'ige. 

The  Prussian  Quadrilateral.  The  for- 
tresses of  Luxemburg,  Coblentz,  Sarre- 
louis,  and  Mayence. 

Quadrille  (2  syl.,  French)  means 
a small  square ; a dance  in  which  the 
persons  place  themselves  in  a square. 
(Latin,  quad' rula.) 

Le  Pantalon.  So  called  from  the  tune 
to  which  it  used  to  be  danced. 

LPite.  From  a country-dance  called 
Pas  d'JEte,  very  fashionable  in  1800, 
which  it  resembles. 

La  Poule.  Derived  from  a country- 
dance  produced  by  Julien  in  1802,  the 
second  part  of  which  began  with  the 
imitation  of  a cock-crow. 

Trenise.  The  name  of  a dancing- 
master  who,  in  1800,  invented  the  figure. 

La  Pastourelle.  So  named  from  its 
melody  and  accompaniment,  which  are 
similar  to  the  Vilanelles  or  peasants* 
dances. 


tr  u 2 


724 


QUADRILOGE. 


QUARREL. 


Quad'riloge  (3  syl.).  Anything 
written  in  four  parts  or  books,  as 
^'Childe  Harold.”  Anything  compiled 
from  four  authors,  as  the  “Life  of 
Thomas  h Becket.”  Any  history  resting 
on  the  testimony  of  four  independent 
authorities,  as  “The  Gospel  History.” 

The  very  p uthours  of  the  Quadriloge  itselfe  or  song 
of  fo'.ire  parts.. doe  all  with  one  pen  and  mouth  ac- 
knowledge the  same— Lambarde, Perambulation,’* 
p.  5.5. 

QuadrivTum.  The  four  higher 
subjects  of  scholastic  philosophy  up  to 
the  twelfth  ceutury.  It  embraced  music, 
arithmetic,  geometry,  and  astronomy. 
The  quadrivium  was  the  “ fourfold  way” 
to  knowledge;  the  tri'vium  (q.v.)  the 
“three-fold  way”  to  eloquence;  both 
together  comprehended  the  seven  arts 
or  sciences.  The  seven  arts  are  enu- 
merated in  the  following  hexameter  : — 

Lingua,  Tropus,  Ratio,  Numerus,  Tonus,  Angulus* 

Astra. 

And  in  the  two  following  : — 

Gram,  loquitur,  Dia.  vera  docet,  Rhet.  verba  colorat. 
Mus.  Crtdit,  Ar.  numerat.  Geo.  ponderat,  Ast.  colit 

astra. 

Quadroon'.  A person  with  one- 
fourth  of  black  blood ; the  offspring  of 
a mulatto  woman  by  a white  man.  The 
mulatto  is  half-blooded,  one  parent  being 
white  and  the  other  black.  (Latin,  qua- 
tuoTy  four.) 

Quad'ruple  Alliance  of  1674. 
Germany,  Spain,  Denmark,  and  Holland 
formed  an  alliance  against  France  to 
resist  the  encroachments  of  Louis  XIV. , 
who  had  declared  war  against  Holland. 
It  terminated  with  the  Treaty  of  Nime- 
guen  in  1678. 

Quadruple  Alliance  of  1718-1719.  An 
alliance  between  England,  France,  Ger- 
many, and  Holland,  to  guarantee  the 
succession  in  England  to  the  House  of 
Hanover ; to  secure  the  succession  in 
France  to  the  House  of  Bourbon  ; and 
to  prohibit  Spain  and  France  from 
uniting  under  one  crown.  Signed  at 
Paris. 

Quadruple  Alliance  of  1834.  The  al- 
liance of  England,  France,  Spain,  and 
Portugal  for  the  purpose  of  restoring 
peace  to  the  Peninsula,  by  putting  down 
the  Carlists  or  partisans  of  Don  Carlos. 

Quaint  means  trim,  i^recise.  A 
quaint  phrase  is  a phrase  dressed  or 
trimmed,  and  not  expressed  in  the  ordi- 
nary way.  (Latin,  compius,  combed  and 
dressed.) 


Quaker.  It  appears  from  the  “Jour- 
nal” of  George  Fox,  who  was  imprisoned 
for  nearly  twelve  months  in  Derby,  that 
the  Quakers  first  obtained  the  appellation 
by  which  they  are  now  generally  known 
in  1650,  from  the  following  circumstance  : 
— “Justice  Bennet,  of  Derby,”  says  Fox, 
“ was  the  first  to  call  us  Quakers,  because 
I bade  him  quake  and  tremble  at  the 
word  of  the  Lord.”  The  system  of  the 
Quakers  is  laid  down  by  Robert  Barclay 
in  fifteen  theses,  called  “Barclay’s 
Apology, ’’.addressed  to  Charles  11. 

Quakers  (that,  like  lanterns,  bear 
Their  light  within  them)  will  not  swear. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras,”  ii.  2. 

Quanda'ry.^  A perplexity ; a doubt. 
(French,  Qu'en  dirai-je.  What  shall  I say  ?) 

Quanquam  or  Cancan,  A slang 
manner  of  dancing  quadrilles  permitted 
in  the  public  gardens  of  Paris,  &c.  The 
word  cancan  is  a corruption  of  the  Latin 
quaraquam,  a term  applied  to  the  exer- 
cises delivered  by  young  theological  stu- 
dents before  the  divinity  professors. 
Hence  it  came  to  signify  “ babble,”  “jar- 
gon,” anything  crude,  jeujeune,  &c. 

Quantum  Suf.  {suffidt).  As  much 
as  is  required.  Latin  for  “as-much-as 
suffices.”  Often  written  q,s. 

Quaranti'ne  (3  syl.).  The  forty 
days  that  a ship  suspected  of  being  in- 
fected with  some  contagious  disorder  is 
obliged  to  lie  off  port.  (Italian,  quaran- 
tinay  forty  ; French,  quarantaine.') 

To  perform  quarantine  is  to  ride  ofi 
port  during  the  time  of  quarantine.  {See' 
Forty.) 

Quarll  {Philip),  A sort  of  Robinson' 
Crusoe,  who  had  a chimpanzee  for  his 
“man  Friday.”  The  story  relates  the^ 
adventures  and  sufferings  of  an  English: 
hermit  named  Philip  Quarll. 

Quarrel.  A short,  stout  arrow  used- 
in  the  cross- bo W.N  (A  corruption  of  car- 
rial;  Welsh,  chwarel ; Yrench.,  carreau. 
So  called  because  the  head  was  'originally 
carre  or  four-sided.  Hence  also  a quarrel 
or  quarry  of  glass,  meaning  a square  or 
diamond- shaped  pane ; quarier,  a square 
wax  candle,  &c.) 

Quarelles  qwayntly  gwappez  thorowe  knyghtez 
with  iryne  so  wekyrly,  that  wy riche  they  never. 

“ dlorte  d’Arihure.** 

Quarrel.  To  quarrel  over  the  bishop’ i 
cope — over  something  which  cannot  pos- 
sibly do  you  any  good  ; over  goats’  wool.- 


QUARRY. 


QUEEN. 


726 


This  is  a French  expression.  The  newly- 
appointed  bishop  of  Bruges  entered  the 
town  in  his  cope,  which  he  gave  to  the 
people  ; and  the  people,  to  part  it  among 
themselves,  tore  it  to  shreds,  each  taking 
a piece. 

QTtarry.  Prey.  This  is  a term  in 
falconry.  When  a hawk  stYuch  the  object 
of  pursuit  and  clung  to  it,  she  was  said 
to  ‘^bind  but  when  she  Jiew  off  it, 
she  was  said  to  carry.”  The  carry” 
or  “ quarry,”  therefore,  means  the  prey 
carried  off  by  the  hawk.  It  is  an  error 
to  derive  this  word  from  the  Latin  gioaero. 
to  seek. 

To  tell  the  manner  of  it, 

Were  on  the  quarry  of  these  murdered  deer 

To  add  the  death  of  you. 

Shakespeare,  “ 3Iacbeth”  iv.  3. 

Quarter.  To  grant  quarter.  To  spare 
the  life  of  an  enemy  in  your  power.  Dr. 
Tusler  says: — It  originated  from  an 
agreement  anciently  made  between  the 
Dutch  and  the  Spaniards,  that  the  ran- 
som of  a soldier  should  be  the  quarter  of 
his  pay.”  Probably  it  means  simply  to 
‘‘grant  conditions.”  In  this  sense  quar- 
ter was  commonly  used  at  one  time  ; 
hence  its  meanings  of  kindness,  friend- 
ship, good-will — allied  to  coe^(,r. 

Quarters.  Residence  or  place  of 
abode ; as  winter  quarters^  the  place 
where  an  army  lodges  during  the  winter 
months.  We  say  “ this  quarter  of  the 
town,”  meaning  this  district  or  part ; 
the  French  speak  of  the  Latin  quar- 
tier — -i.e.,  the  district  or  part  of  Paris 
where  the  medical  schools,  &c.,  are  lo- 
cated ; the  Belgians  speak  of  quartiers 
d loner,  lodgings  to  let : and  bachelors 
in  England  often  say,  “Come  to  my 
quarters” — i.e.,  apartments.  All  these 
are  from  the  French  verb  ecarteler,  to 
locate  soldiers  d Heart,  in  private  houses. 

There  shall  no  leavened  bread  be  seen  with  thee, 
neither  shall  there  be  leaven  seen ...  in  all  thy  quar- 
ters [any  of  thy  houses].— Exod.  xiii.  7. 

Quarter-Days  in  England  and  Ire- 
land 

(1)  New  Style:  Lady  day  (25th  March), 
Midsummer  day  (24th  June),  Michaelmas 
day  (29th  September),  and  Christmas 
day  (25th  December). 

(2)  Old  Style : Old  Lady  day  (6th  April), 
Old  Midsummer  day  (6th  July),  Old 
Michaelmas  day  (11th  October),  and  Old 
Christmas  day  (6th  January), 

Quarter-days  in  Scotland : — 

Candlemas  day  (2nd  February),  Whit- 


Sunday  (15th  May),  Lammas  day  (1st 
August),  and  Martinmas  day  (11th  No- 
vember). 

Quarter-Master.  The  officer  whose 
duty  it  is  to  attend  to  the  quarters  of  the 
soldiers.  {See  Quarters.) 

Quarter  Waggoner.  A book  of 
sea-charts.  Waggoner,  or  rather  “Baron 
von  Waggenaer,”  is  a folio  volume  of  sea- 
charts,  pointing  out  the  coasts,  rocks, 
routes,  &c.  Dalrymple’s  Charts  are  called 
The  English  Waggoner,  “Quarter”  is  a 
corruption  of  quarto. 

Quarto.  A book  half  the  size  of 
io\\o—i.e.,  where  each  sheet  is  folded 
into  quarters  or  four  leaves.  (The  con- 
traction is  4to.  (The  Italian  lihro  in 
quarto,  French  in  quarto,  from  the  Latin 
quartus.) 

Quarto-De'eimans,  who,  after  the 
decision  of  the  Nicene  Council,  main- 
tained that  Easter  ought  to  be  held  on 
the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first  lunar 
month  near  the  vernal  equinox,  whether 
that  day  fell  on  a Sunday  or  not. 

Quasliee.  A cant  generic  name  of 
a negro ; so  called  from  Quassi  of  Su- 
rinam', who  made  known  to  Rolander 
the  virtues  of  the  quassia  plant. 

Quasi  [Latin).  Something  which  is 
not  the  real  thing,  but  may  be  accepted 
in  its  place  : thus  a — 

Quasi  contract  is  not  a real  contract, 
but  something  which  may  be  accepted 
as  a contract,  and  which  has  the  force  of 
one. 

Quasi  tenant.  The  tenant  of  a house 
sub-let. 

Quasimo'do.  A foundling,  hideously 
deformed  but  of  amazing  strength,  in 
Victor  Hugo’s  “Notre  Dame  de  Paris.” 

Quasimodo  Sunday.  The  first 
Sunday  after  Easter;  so  called  because 
the  “Introit”  of  the  day  begins  with 
these  words : — “ Quasi  modo  gen'iti  in- 
fantes*^ (I  Pet.  ii.  2).  Also  called  “Low 
Sunday,”  being  the  first  Sunday  after 
the  grand  ceremonies  of  Easter. 

Quas'sia.  An  American  plant,  or 
rather  genus  of  plants,  named  after 
Quassy,  a negro  who  brought  them  into 
notice. 

Queen.  Greek,  gurus  (a  woman) ; 
Sanskrit,  goni  ; Swedish,  qvenna  j Gothic, 


726  QUEEN  ANNE’S  BOUNTY. 


QUERN-BITER. 


queins ; Saxon,  cwen,  {See  SiB,  from 
anax,  a king. ) 

Queen f “ woman,”  is  equivalent  to 
^'mother.”  In  the  translation  of  the 
Bible  by  Ulfilas  (fourth  century),  we 
meet  with  gens  and  gino  wife  ” and 

woman”);  and  in  the  Scandinavian 
languages  harl  and  leone  still  mean 
''man”  and  " wife.”  (See  King.) 

He  [Jesusl  saith  unto  his  mother,  Woman,  be- 
hold thy  son  ! (St.  John  xix.  26.) 

Queen  Anne’s  Bounty.  A fund 
created  out  of  the  first-fruits  and  tenths, 
which  were  part  of  the  papal  exactions 
before  the  Reformation.  The  first-fruits 
are  the  whole  first  year’s  profit  of  a cleri- 
cal living,  and  the  tenths  are  the  tenth 
part  annually  of  the  profits  of  a living. 
Henry  VIII.  annexed  both  these  to  the 
crown,  but  queen  Anne  formed  them  into 
a perpetual  fund  for  the  augmentation 
of  poor  livings.  The  sum  equals  about 
£14,000  a year,  and  is  now  extended  to 
the  erection  of  parsonages. 

Queen  Dick.  Richard  Cromwell  is 
sometimes  so  called ; but  when  we  say, 

" So-and-so  happened  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Dick,”  we  mean  never,  because 
there  never  was  such  a queen.  (See  Greek 
Calends.) 

Queen  Quintessence.  Sovereign 
of  Etelechie  (q.v.)  in  the  romance  of 
" Gargantua  and  Pantag'rueT,”  by  Rabe- 
lais. 

Queen-Square  Hermit.  J eremy 
Bentham,  who  lived  at  No.  1,  Queen 
Square,  London.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
political  economists  called  Utilitarians, 
whose  maxim  is,  "The  greatest  happi- 
ness of  the  greatest  number.”  (1748- 
1832.) 

Queen  of  Hearts.  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  James  I.,  the  unfortunate 
queen  of  Bohemia,  was  so  called  in  the 
Low  Countries,  in  consequence  of  her 
amiable  character  and  engaging  manners, 
even  in  her  lowest  estate. 

Queen  of  Heaven,  with  the  ancient 
Phoenicians,  was  Astarte  ; Greeks,  Hera ; 
Romans,  J uno ; but  with  the  Roman 
Catholics  it  is  the  Virgin  Mary. 

Queen  of  the  Eastern  ArchipeT- 
ago.  The  island  of  Java. 

Queen  of  the  Horth.  Edinburgh. 
(See  the  proper  name  for  other  queens.)  | 


Queen’s  Bench  or  King's  Bench. 
One  of  the  courts  of  law,  in  which  the 
monarch  used  to  preside  in  person. 

Queen’s  College,  Oxford,  founded 
in  1340  by  Robert  de  Eglesfield,  and  so 
called  in  compliment  to  queen  Philippa, 
whose  confessor  he  was. 

Queen's  College,  Cambridge,  founded  in 
1448  by  Margaret  of  Anjou,  consort  of 
Henry  VI. 

Queen’s  Day.  November  17th,  the 
day  of  the  accession  of  queen  Elizabeth  ; 
first  publicly  celebrated  in  1570,  and 
still  kept  as  a holiday  at  the  Exchequer, 
and  at  the  Westminster  and  Merchant 
Taylor’s  schools. 

A rumor  is  spread  in  the  court,  and  hath  come  to 
the  eares  of  some  of  the  most  honourable  counsel), 
how  that  I on  the  Queen’s  day  last  past  did  forbidd 
in  our  college  an  oration  to  bee  made  In  praise  of  her 
Majestie’s  government,  ka.—Dr.  Whitaker  to  Lord 
Buryhlty  (May  14th,  1590). 

Queen’s  Weather.  A fine  day 
for  a fete  ; so  called  because  Queen  Vic- 
toria is,  for  the  most  part,  happy  in  having 
fine  weather  when  she  appears  in  public. 
(/See  Volunteers’  Weather.) 

Queenhithe  {London).  The  hithe 
or  strand  for  lading  and  unlading  barges 
and  lighters  in  the  City.  Called  " queen” 
from  being  part  of  the  dowry  of  Eleanor, 
queen  of  Henry  II. 

Queenstown  (Ireland.),  formerly 
called  the  Cove  of  Cork.  The  name  was 
changed  in  1850,  out  of  compliment  to 
Queen  Victoria,  when  she  visited  Ireland 
with  her  husband,  and  created  her  eldest 
son  earl  of  Dublin. 

Queer.  Odd,  singular.  (German, 
quer,  cross,  oblique.) 

Queer  Chap  is  the  German  quer- 
kopf  a cross-grained  fellow. 

Quency.  A corruption  of  quintejeuil 
(five-leaved),  the  armorial  device  of  the 
family. 

Querelle  d’Alleman.  A conten- 
tion about  trifles,  soon  provoked  and 
soon  appeased.  The  Alleman  family 
occupied  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Dau- 
phine  in  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
centuries.  They  had  frequent  quarrels, 
but  always  settled  their  disputes  amoijgst 
themselves.  (See  Queue.) 

Quern-Biter.  The  sword  of  Haco 
I.  of  Norway. 

Quern-biter  of  Hacon  the  Good, 

Wherewith  a)  a stroke  he  hewed 
The  millstone  through  and  thi  ough. 

Longfellow. 


QUERNO. 


QUICKSET. 


727 


Qtier'no.  Camillo  Querno,  of  Apulia, 
hearing  that  Leo  X.  was  a great  patron 
of  poets,  went  to  Rome  with  a harp  in 
his  hand,  and  sang  his  Alexias,  a poem 
containing  20,000  verses.  He  was  intro- 
duced to  the  pope  as  a buffoon,  but  was 
promoted  to  the  laurel. 

Rome  in  her  Capitol  saw  (Querno  sit, 

Throned  on  seven  hills,  the  Antichrist  of  wit. 

“ Dunciad,’*  ii. 

Querpo  (2  syl.).  Shrill  Querpo,  in 
Garth’s  ‘‘Dispensary,”  is  Dr.  Howe. 

In  Querpo,  In  one’s  shirt-sleeves  ; in 
undress.  (Spanish,  en  cuerpo,  without  a 
cloak. ) 

Boy,  my  cloak  and  rapier;  it  fits  not  a gentleman 
of  my  rank  to  walk  the  streets  in  querpo.— Beaw- 
mont  and  Fletcher,  “ Love's  Cure,"  ii.  1. 

Question i To  move  the  previous 
question,  in  parliamentary  debate,  means 
this : that  some  question  put  by  an 
opponent  of  a measure  brought  forward 
should  be  put  to  the  vote  before  the 
question  itself ; for  example,  A moves 
that  the  rate  of  postage  should  be  re- 
duced, B moves  that  the  post-office  be 
allowed  time  to  consider  the  matter  ; A 
presses  his  motion,  and  C moves  the  pre- 
vious question — that  is,  that  the  post- 
office  be  consulted  first.  This  is  often 
done  to  burk  a troublesome  motion. 

Question.  When  members  of  the  House 
of  Commons  or  other  debaters  call  out 
Question,  thej^  mean  that  the  person 
speaking  is  wandering  away  from  the 
subject  under  consideration. 

Queulbus.  The  equinoctial  of  Queu- 
hus.  This  line  has  Utopia  on  one  side 
and  Medam'othi  on  the  other.  It  was 
discovered  on  the  Greek  Kalends  by 
Outis  after  his  escape  from  the  giant’s 
cave,  and  is  ninety-one  degrees  from  the 
poles. 

Thou  wast  in  very  gracious  fooling  last  night, when 
thou  spokest  of  Pigrogrom'itus,  of  the  V apians  pass- 
ing the  equinoctial  of  Queu'bus.  ’Twas  very  good 
i’  iaith.—i:ihakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night,"  ii.  3. 

Queue.  Gare  la  queue  des  Alleman. 
Before  you  quarrel  count  the  conse- 
quences. A troublesome  neighbour  en- 
tered into  a quarrel  with  the  Alleman 
family,  but  the  whole  clan  combined  in 
a “queue,”  made  war  upon  him,  and  cut 
him  to  pieces.  {See  Qderelle.) 

Queux.  The  seneschal  of  king 
Arthur. 

Qui.  To  give  a man  the  qui.  When 
a man  in  the  printing  business  has  had 


notice  to  quit,  his  fellow-workmen  say 
they  “have  given  him  the  qui.”  Here 
qui  is  the  contraction  of  quie'tus  (dis- 
charge). {See  Quietus.) 

Qui-Tam.  A lawyer ; so  called  from 
the  first  two  words  in  an  action  on  a 
penal  statute.  Qui  tarn  pro  dom'ind 
Regi'nd,  quam  pro  se-ipso,  sequitur  (Who 
sues  on  the  Queen’s  account  as  much  as 
on  his  own). 

Qui  Vive  ? {French).  Who  goes 
there  ? The  challenge  of  a French  sen- 
tinel. 

To  he  on  the  qui  vive.  On  the  alert ; to 
be  quick  and  sharp ; to  be  on  the  tip-toe 
of  expectation,  like  a sentinel  on  guard. 
{See  above. ) 

Quibble  is  the  Welsh  chwihiol,  a trill, 
and  not  the  Latin  quid  lihei  (what  you 
please),  as  is  generally  given. 

Quick.  Living  ; hence  animated, 
lively  ; hence  fast,  active,  brisk  (Saxon, 
cwic,  living,  alive).  Our  expression, 
“Look  alive,”  means  Be  brisk. 

Whence  He  shall  come  to  judge  both  the  quick  and 
the  dead.— Common.  Prayer  Book  (Creed). 

Quick  at  meat,  quick  at  work.  In 
French,  “ Bonne  bete  s’echauffe  en  man- 
geant,”  or  “Hardi  gagneur,  hardi 
mangeur.”  The  opposite  would  certainly 
be  true  : A dawdle  in  one  thing  is  a dawdle 
in  all. 

Quickly  {Dame).  Hostess  of  a tavern 
in  East  cheap.  — Shakespeare,  Henry 
IV.  parts  i.  and  ii. 

Mistress  Quickly.  Servant  of  all-work 
to  Dr.  Caius.  She  says  : “ I wash,  wring, 
brew,  bake,  scour,  dress  meat  and  drink, 
make  the  beds,  and  do  all  myself.”  She 
is  the  go-between  of  three  suitors  to 
Anne  Page,  and  to  prove  her  disin- 
terestedness she  says  : “ I would  my  mas- 
ter had  Mistress  Anne,  or  I would  Master 
Slender  had  her,  or  in  sooth  I would 
Master  Fenton  had  her.  I will  do  what 
I can  for  them  all  three,  for  so  I have 
promised ; and  I’ll  be  as  good  as  my 
word  ; but  speciously  for  Master  Fenton.” 
^Shakespeare,  Merry  Wives  oj  Windsor. 

Quicksand  is  sand  which  shifts  its 
place  as  if  it  were  alive.  {See  Quick.) 

A quicksand  of  deceit. 

Shakespeare,  “ 3 Henry  VI.,"  v.  4. 

Quickset  is  living  blackthorn  set  in 
a hedge,  instead  of  dead  wood,  hurdles, 
and  palings.  {See  Quick.) 


728 


QUICKSILVER. 


QUINBUS  FLESTRIN. 


Quicksilver  is  argen'tnm  vivtim 
(living  silver),  silver  that  moves  about 
like  a living  thing.  {See  Quick.  ) 

Swift  as  quic1< silver 
It  courses  through  the  natural  gates 
And  alleys  of  the  body. 

Shakespeare,  “ffamicf i.  5. 

Quid  of  Tobacco.  A corruption  of 
C'ud,  a morsel.  We  still  say  chew  the 
cud.” 

Quid  pro  Quo  or  A quid  for  a quod. 
Tit  for  tat ; a turn  given  as  good  as 
that  received ; a Rowland  for  an  Oliver ; 
an  equivalent. 

Quid  Libet.  Quid-libeU  and  quod- 
libets.  Nice  and  knotty  points,  very 
subtile,  but  of  no  value.  Quips  and 
quirks.  {Latin. ) 

Quiddity.  The  essence  of  a thing. 
Schoolmen  say  Quid  est,  what  is  it  ? and 
the  reply  is  the  Quid  is  so  and  so,  the 
What  or  the  nature  of  the  thing  is  as 
follows.  The  latter  quid  being  formed 
into  a barbarous  Latin  noun  becomes 
Quidditas.  Hence  Quid  e^^t,  what  is  it? 
Answer : Talk  est  quiddAtas,  its  essence  is 
as  follows. 

He  knew 

Where  entity  and  quiddity 
(The  ghosts  of  defunct  bodies)  fly. 

Butler.  "■Hudibras,"  i.  1. 

Quiddity.  A crotchet ; a trifling  dis- 
tinction. {See  above.) 

Quidnunc.  Apolitical  Paul  Pry  ; a 
pragmatical  village  politician  ; a political 
botcher  or  jobber.  Quidnunc  is  the  chief 
character  in  Murphy’s  farce  of  The 
Upholsterer,  or  What  News.”  The 
words  are  Latin,  and  mean  What 
now?”  “What  has  turned  up?”  The 
original  of  this  political  busybody  was 
the  father  of  Dr.  Arne  and  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Cibber,  who  lived  in  King  Street, 
Covent  Garden.  (See  The  Tatler^  155, 
&c.) 

Familiar  to  a few  Quidnuncs.— Times. 

The  Florentine  Quidnuncs  seem  to  lose  sight  of  the 
fact  that  none  of  these  gentlemen  now  hold  office. — 
The  Times. 

Quidnunkis.  Monkey  politicians. 
Gay  has  a fable  called  “The  Quidnunkis,” 
to  show  that  the  death  not  even  of  the 
duke  regent  will  cause  any  real  gap  in  na- 
ture. A monkey  who  had  ventured  higher 
than  his  neighbours  fell  from  his  estate 
into  the  river  below.  For  a few  seconds 
the  whole  tribe  stood  panic -struck,  but  as 
soon  as  the  stream  carried  off  Mastef 


Pug,  the  monkeys  went  on  with  their 
gambols  as  if  nothing  had  occurred. 

Ah,  sir ! you  never  saw  the  Ganges : 

There  dwell  the  nation  of  Quidnunkis 
(So  Monomotapa  calls  monkeys'. 

Gay,  Tales.’* 

Qui'etist.  One  who  believes  that 
the  most  perfect  state  of  man  is  when 
the  spirit  ceases  to  exercise  any  of  its 
functions,  and  is  wholly  passive.  This 
sect  has  cropped  up  at  sundry  times  ; 
but  the  last  who  revived  it  was  Michael 
Moli'nos,  a Spanish  priest,  in  the  seven- 
teenth century^ 

Quie'tus.  The  writ  of  discharge  for- 
merly granted  to  those  barons  and 
knights  who  personally  attended  the  king 
on  a foreign  expedition.  At  their  dis- 
charge they  were  exempt  from  the  claim 
of  scutage  or  knight’s  fee.  Subsequently 
the  term  was  applied  to  the  acquittance 
which  a sheriff  receives  on  settling  his 
account  at  the  Exchequer  ; and  later 
still  to  any  discharge  of  an  account : 
thus  W ebster  says — 

You  had  the  trick  in  audit-time  to  be  sick 
Till  I had  signed  your  quietus. 

“ Dutchess  of  Malfy  ” (16^3). 

Quietus.  A severe  blow  ; a settler ; 
death,  or  discharge  from  life. 

Who  would  fardels  bear 

When  he  himself  might  his  quietus  make 
With  a bare  bodkin  ? 

ahakespeare,  *' Hamlet,'* i\i.  1. 

Quillet.  An  evasion.  In  French 
“pleadings”  each  separate  allegation  in 
the  plaintiff’s  charge,  and  every  distinct 
plea  in  the  defendant’s  answer,  used  to 
begin  with  qvJil  est ; whence  our  quillet, 
to  signify  a false  charge,  or  an  evasive 
answer. 

0,  some  authority  how  to  proceed ; 

Some  tricks,  some  quillets,  how  to  cheat  the  devil  1 
Shakespeare,  “ Love's  Labour’s  Lost,'*  iv.  3. 

Quilp.  A hideous  dwarf,  both  fierce 
and  cunning,  in  “ The  Old  Curiosity 
Shop,”  by  Dickens. 

Quinap'alus.  The  Mrs.  Harris  of 
“authorities  in  citations.”  If  any  one 
wishes  to  clench  an  argument  by  some 
quotation,  let  him  cite  this  ponderous 
collection. 

What  says  Quinapalus : “ Better  a witty  fool,  than 
a foolish  wit. "Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  Night,"  i.  5. 

Quinbus  Flestrin.  The  man-moun- 
tain—so  the  Lilliputians  called  Gulliver 
(chap.  ii.).  Gay  has  an  ode  to  this  giant. 
Bards  of  old  Of  him  told, 

When  they  said  Atlas’  head 
Propped  the  skies. 

Gay,  "Lilliputian  Ode." 


QUINCE. 


QUIXOTE. 


729 


Quince  {Peter).  A carpenter,  and 
manager  of  the  play  in  Midsummer 
Night’s  Dream.”  He  is  noted  for  some 
strange  compounds,  such  as  laughable 
tragedy,  lamentable  comedy,  tragical 
mirth,  &c. 

Quino'nes  (Suero  de),  in  the  reign  of 
Juan  II.,  with  nine  other  cavaliers,  held 
the  bridge  of  Orbigo  against  all  comers 
for  thirty-six  days,  overthrowing  in  that 
time  seventy-eight  knights  of  Spain  and 
France.  Quinones  had  challenged  the 
world,  and  such  was  the  result. 

Quinquages'ima  Sunday  (Latin, 
fiftieth).  Shrove-Sunday,  or  the  first 
day*  of  the  week  which  contains  Ash- 
Wednesday.  It  is  so  called  because  in 
round  numbers  it  is  the  fiftieth  day  be- 
fore Easter. 

Quintessence.  The  fifth  essence. 
The  ancient  Greeks,  like  modern  che- 
mists, said  there  are  four  elements  or 
forms  in  which  matter  can  exist:  - Fire, 
or  the  imponderable  form ; air,  or  the 
gaseous  form ; water,  or  the  liquid  form  ; 
and  earth,  or  the  solid  form.  The  Py- 
thagore'ans  added  a fifth,  which  they 
called  ether,  more  subtile  and  pure  than 
fire,  and  possessed  of  an  orbicular  mo- 
tion. This  element,  which  flew  upwards 
at  creation,  and  out  of  which  the  stars 
were  made,  was  called  the  fifth  essence ; 
quintessence  therefore  means  the  most 
subtile  extract  of  a body  that  can  be 
procured.  It  is  quite  an  error  to  su23- 
pose  that  the  word  means  an  essence  five 
times  distilled,  and  that  the  term  came 
from  the  alchemists.  Horace  speaks  of 
‘^kisses  which  Venus  has  imbued  with 
the  quintessence  of  her  own  nectar.” 

Swift  to  their  several  quarters  hasted  then 

'J  he  cumbrous  elements— earth,  flood,  air,  fire  ; 

But  this  ethereal  quint'essence  of  heaven 

Flew  upward...  and  turned  to  stars 

Numberless  as  thou  seest. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost,**  iii. 

Quintilians.  Disciples  of  Qiiin- 
tilia,  held  to  be  a prophetess.  These 
heretical  Christians  made  the  Eucharist 
of  bread  and  cheese,  and  allowed  women 
to  become  priests  and  bishops. 

Quiri'tes.  Romans.  The  word  means 

spear-bearers  ” (Latin,  quiris,  a spear). 
Varro’s  etymology  is  quite  unworthy  of 
credit;  he  derives  the  word  from  Cures, 
and  says  that  the  Quirinal  Hill,  being 
occupied  by  these  Sabines,  received  its 
pame  from  them.  This  is  about  as  cor- 


rect as  the  derivation  of  Rome  from 
Romulus,  or  Britain  from  Brutus. 

QuisquiTiae.  Light,  dry  fragments 
of  things ; the  small  twigs  and  leaves 
which  fall  from  trees  ; hence  rubbish, 
refuse.  {Couscouliou,  means  husks  of 
beans  or  peas ; Gaelic,  qusgul,  orts,  idle 
words.) — Trench, 

Quit.  Discharged  from  an  obligation, 

acquitted.” 

To  John  I owed  great  oblliration ; 

But  John  unhappily  Thought  fit 
To  publish  it  to  all  i he  nation— 

Now  I and  John  are  fairly  quit.— Prior. 

Cry  quits.  When  two  boys  quarrel 
and  one  has  had  enough,  he  says,  ^^Cry 
quits,”  meaning  ‘^Let  us  leave  off,  and  call 
it  a drawn  game.”  So  in  an  unequal 
distribution  he  who  has  the  larger  share 
restores  a portion  and  “cries  quits,” 
meaning  that  he  has  made 'the  distribu- 
tion equal.  Here  quit  means  “acquittal” 
or  discharge. 

Double  or  quits.  In  gambling,  espe- 
cially in  a small  way,  one  of  the  players 
says  to  the  other,  “ Double  or  quits  ?” — 
— that  is,  the  next  stake  shall  be  double 
the  present  winnings,  or  the  winnings 
shall  be  returned  to  the  loser,  in  which 
case  both  players  would  leave  off  as  they 
began.  Here  quit  means  “requital”  or 
repayment. 

Quit  Rent.  A corruption  of  the 
Saxon  Ilivit  rent  (white  rent)  as  it  is  called 
in  old  records,  because  it  was  paid  in 
white  or  silver  money,  and  not  in  coin 
like  ordinary  rents.  It  is  an  error  to 
suppose  that  the  name  is  derived  from 
the  fact  that  a tenant,  having  paid  it,  is 
quit  of  all  further  rent. 

Quixa'da  (6r^ti^^en'e).  Lord  of  Villa- 
garcia.  He  discharged  a javelin  at  Sire 
de  Haburdin  with  such  force  as  to  pierce 
the  left  shoulder,  overthrow  the  knight, 
and  pin  him  to  the  ground.  Don  Quixote 
calls  himself  a descendant  of  this  brave 
knight. 

Quixote  (^Doii)  is  intended  for  the 
duke  of  Lerma,  Rawdon  Brown. 

Don  Quixote.  The  romance  so  called 
is  a merciless  satire  by  Cervantes  on  the 
chivalric  romances  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
and  had  the  excellent  effect  of  putting 
an  end  to  this  sort  of  literature. 

Don  Quixote's  horse.  Ros'inante  (Span- 
ish, rocin-arrte,  a,  jade  previously). 

The  wooden-pin  wing-horse  on  which 


730  QUIXOTE  OF  THE  NORTH. 


K 


he  and  Sancho  Panza  mounted  to  achieve 
the  liberation  of  Dolori'da  and  her  com- 
panions was  called  Algie'ro  Clavile'no 
{wooden-pin  wing-hearer), 

Quixote  of  the  ISTortli.  Charles 
XII.  of  Sweden,  sometimes  called  the 
Madman,  (1682,  1697-1718.) 

QuixoUie.  Dreamy,  foolishly  ro- 
mantic, like  Don  Quixote,  a half- crazy 
reformer  or  knight  of  the  supposed  dis- 
tressed. 

Quiz.  One  who  banters  or  chaffs 
another.  Daly,  manager  of  the  Dublin 
theatre,  laid  a wager  that  he  would  intro- 
duce into  the  language  within  twenty- 
four  hours  a new  word  of  no  meaning. 
Accordingly  on  every  wall,  or  all  places 
accessible,  were  chalked  up  the  four 
mystic  letters,  and  all  Dublin  was  in- 
quiring what  they  meant.  The  wager 
was  won,  and  the  word  remains  current 
in  our  language.  It  is  a corruption  of 
Quid  est  1 (What  is  this  ?) 

Quo  Warranto.  A writ  against  a 
defendant  (whether  an  individual  or  a 
corporation)  who  lays  claim  to  some- 
thing he  has  no  right  to  ; so  named 
because  the  offender  is  called  upon  to 
show  quo  warranto  [rem]  usurpa'vit  (by 
what  right  or  authority  he  lays  claim  to 
the  matter  of  dispute). 

Quod.  To  he  in  quod — in  prison.  A 
corruption  of  quad^  which  is  a contraction 
of  quadrangle.  The  quadrangle  is  the 
prison  enclosure  in  which  the  prisoners 
are  allowed  to  walk,  and  where  whippings 
used  to  be  indicted. 

Flogged  and  whipped  in  quod. 

hughes^*'"  Tom  Brown's  Schooldays.** 

Quodling  {The  Rev.  Mr.).  Chaplain 
to  the  duke  of  Buckingham. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  ^‘Peveril  of  the  Peak.*' 

“Why,’*  said  the  duke,  “I  had  caused  my  little 
Quodling  to  go  through  his  oration  thus:— ‘That 
whatever  evil  reports  had  passed  current  during  the 
life-time  of  the  worthy  matron  whom  they  had  re- 
stored to  dust  that  day.  Malice  herself  could  not 
d'^ny  that  she  v/as  horn  well,  married  well,Ziyed  well, 
and  died  well ; since  she  was  born  in  Shadwell, 
married  to  Cresswell,  lived  in  Camberwell,  and  died 
in  Bridewell.’”— “Pcyeril  of  the  Peak,*’  ch.  xliv. 

Quondam  {Latin),  Formerly.  We 
say.  He  is  a quondam  schoolfellow — my 
former  schoolfellow ; My  quondam  friend, 
The  quondam  candidate,  &c.  ; also  The 
quondam  chancellor,  &c. 

My  quondam  barber,  but  “bis  worship’’  now. 

Dry  den. 


Quo'rum.  Those  persons  essential 
to  make  up  a committee  or  board.  Com- 
missions of  the  peace  are  addressed  to 
several  persons  by  name — say  five  or 
seven — of  which  {quo'rum)  some  two  or 
three  are  named  as  essential  to  form  the 
board,  and  without  whose  presence  no 
business  can  be  done.  Thus,  suppose 
the  commission  to  be  named  A,  B,  C,  D, 
E,  &c.,  it  would  run— Of  these  I wish 
A to  be  one”  {quorum  aliquem  vestrum 
unum  esse  volumus).  These  honoured 
names  are  called  Justices  of  the  Quo- 
rum.” Slender  calls  Justice  Shallow 
justice  of  the  peace  and  quorum. — Shake- 
speare, Merry  Wives  of  Windsor  f i.  1. 

Quota  {Latin),  The  allotted  portion 
or  share ; the  rate  assigned  to  each. 
Thus  we  say,  “ Every  man  is  to  pay  his 
quota  towards  the  feast.” 

Quotem  (Caleb),  A parish  clerk  and 
Jack -of -all -trades,  in  ‘^The  Wags  of 
Windsor,”  by  Colman. 


R 

R in  prescriptions.  The  ornamental 
part  of  this  letter  is  the  symbol  of  Jupiter 
{2l),  under  whose  special  protection  all 
medicines  were  placed.  The  letter  itself 
{Recipe,  take)  and  its  flourish  may  be 
thus  paraphrased:  “Under  the  good 
auspices  of  Jove,  the  patron  of  medi- 
cines, take  the  following  drugs  in  the 
proportions  set  down.”  It  has  been 
suggested  that  the  symbol  is  for  Respon- 
sum  Raphae'lis,  from  the  assertion  of  Dr. 
Napier,  and  other  physicians  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  that  the  angel  Ra- 
phael imparted  them. 

R is  called  the  dog- letter,  because  a 
dog  in  snarling  utters  the  letter  r-r-r-r, 
r-r,  r-r-r-r-r,  &c. — sometimes  preceded 
by  a g. 

Irritata  canis  quod  RR  quam  plurima  dicat. 

Lucillius. 

£R]  that’s  the  dog’s  name.  R is  for  the  dog.’ 

Shakespeare,  “ Romeo  and  Juliet,'*  ii.  4- 

The  three  R's.  Sir  William  Curtis  being 
asked  to  give  a toast  said,  “I  will  give 
you  the  three  R’s— writing,  reading,  and 
arithmetic.” 

The  House  is  aware  that  no  payment  is  made 
except  on  the  “three  R’s.” — Mr.Corry,  M.P.,  Address 
to  the  House  0/  Commons,  Feb.  28th,  1867, 

R.I.P,  Reqwiescat  in  pa<M. 


R.  M.  T. 


RACES. 


781 


R.  M.  T.  In  the  reign  of  William  III. 
all  child- stealers  {comprachios)  appre- 
hended were  branded  with  red-hot  iron : 
B (rogue)  on  the  shoulders ; M (man- 
slayer)  on  the  right  hand  ; and  T (thief ) 
on  the  left. 

Rab'agas.  A demagogue  in  the 
kingdom  of  king  of  Monaco.  He  was 
won  over  to  the  court  party  by  being 
invited  to  dine  at  the  palace. — M.  Sar- 
dou,  Hahagas'*  (1872). 

Rabbi  Abron  of  Trent.  A fictitious 
sage,  and  wonderful  linguist,  who  knew 
the  nature  of  all  manner  of  herbs,  beasts, 
and  minerals.” — “ Reynard  the  Fox/’  xii. 

Rabbi  Bar-Coch'ba,  in  the  reign 
of  the  emperor  Hadrian,  made  the  Jews 
believe  that  he  was  the  Messiah,  because 
he  had  the  art  of  breathing  fire. — Beck- 
mami,  History  of  Inventions.” 

Rabbit.  A Welsh  rabbit.  Toasted 
cheese,  or  rather  bread  and  cheese 
toasted  together.  A corruption  of  “rare- 
bit,” meaning  a tit-bit  or  delicious 
morsel. 

Rab'elais.  The  English  Rabelais. 
Swift,  Sterne,  and  Thomas  Amory  have 
all  been  so  called. 

The  modern  Rabelais,  William  Maginn. 
(1794-1842.) 

Rabelais  Dodge.  Rabelais  one  day  was 
at  a country  inn,  and  finding  he  had  no 
money  to  pay  his  score,  got  himself  ar- 
rested as  a traitor  who  was  forming  a 
project  to  poison  the  princes.  He  was 
immediately  sent  to  Paris  and  brought 
before  the  magistrates ; but  as  no  tittle 
of  evidence  was  found  against  him,  was 
liberated  forthwith.  By  this  artifice  he 
not  only  got  out  of  his  difficulty  at  the 
inn,  but  he  also  got  back  to  Paris  free  of 
expense. 

Rabelaisian  Licence.  The  wild 
grotesque  of  Rabelais,  whether  in  words 
or  artistic  illustrations. 

Rabica'no  or  Rabican.  The  name 
of  Astolpho’s  horse.  Its  sire  was  Wind, 
and  its  dam  Fire.  It  fed  on  unearthly 
food. — “ Orlando  Furioso.” 

Argalia’s  steed  in  “Orlando  Inamo- 
rato” is  called  by  the  same  name. 

Raboin  or  Rabuino  (French).  The 
devil ; so  called  from  the  Spanish  rabo,  a 
tail.  In  the  mediaeval  ages  it  was  vul- 
garly asserted  that  the  Jews  were  born 


with  tails  ; this  arose  from  a confusion  of 
the  word  rabbi  or  rabbins  with  raboin  or 
rabuino. 

Rab'sheka,  in  the  satire  of  “Absa- 
lom and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and 
Tate,  is  meant  for  Sir  Thomas  Player. 
Rab-shakeh  was  the  officer  sent  by  Senna- 
cherib to  summon  the  Jews  to  surrender, 
and  he  told  them  insolently  that  resist- 
ance was  in  vain  (2  Kings  xviii.). 

Next  him,  let  railing  Rabsheka  have  place— 

So  full  of  zeal,  he  has  no  need  of  grace.  (Ft.  iij 

Raby  {Aurora).  The  model  of  this 
exquisite  sketch  was  Miss  Millbank,  as 
she  appeared  to  lord  Byron  when  he 
first  knew  her.  Miss  Millpond  (a  little 
further  on  in  the  same  canto)  is  the 
same  lady  after  marriage.  In  Canto  I., 
Donna  Inez  is  an  enlarged  photograph  of 
the  same  person.  Lord  Byron  describes 
himself  in  the  first  instance  under  the 
character  of  Don  J uan,  and  in  the  last  as 
Don  Jose. 

Races.  Goodwood  Races.  So  called 
from  Goodwood  Park,  in  which  they  are 
held.  They  begin  the  last  Tuesday  of 
July,  and  continue  four  days,  of  which 
Thursday  (the  “cup-day”)  is  the  princi- 
pal. These  races  are  very  select,  and 
admirably  conducted.  Goodwood  Park 
was  purchased  by  Charles,  first  duke  of 
Richmond,  of  the  Compton  family,  then 
resident  in  East  Lav' ant,  a village  two 
miles  north  of  Chichester. 

The  seven  annual  race  meetings  at  New- 
market. (1)  The  Craven ; (2)  first  spring; 
(3)  second  spring ; (4)  July ; (5)  first 
October;  (6)  second  October;  (7)  the 
Houghton. 

The  Epsom.  So  called  from  Epsom 
Downs,  where  they  are  held.  They  last 
four  days. 

The  Derby.  The  second  day  (Wednes- 
day) of  the  great  May  meeting  at  Epsom, 
in  Surrey  ; so  called  from  the  earl  of 
Derby,  who  instituted  the  stakes  in  1780. 

The  Oaks.  The  fourth  day  (Friday)  of 
the  great  Epsom  races ; so  called  from 
“ Lambert’s  Oaks,”  erected  on  lease  by 
the  “Hunters’  Club.”  The  Oaks  estate 
passed  to  the  Derby  family,  and  the 
twelfth  earl  established  the  stakes  so 
called. 

St.  Leger.  The  great  Doncaster  race  ; 
so  called  from  colonel  St.  Leger,  who 
founded  the  stakes  in  1776. 

A scot f held  on  Ascot  Heath,  in  Berks. 


732 


RACHADERS. 


RADICAL. 


Rach'aders.  The  second  tribe  of 
giants  or  evil  genii,  who  had  frequently- 
made  the  earth  subject  to  their  kings, 
but  were  ultimately  punished  by  Shiva 
and  Yishnoo.— Indian  mythology. 

Rache.  A setter,”  or  rather  a dog 
that  hunts  wild  beasts,  birds,  and  even 
fishes  by  scent.  The  female  is  called  a 
trache — i.e.,  bitch-rache.  (Saxon,  rcecc; 
French,  hraque.) 

A leyshe  of  ratches  to  renne  an  hare.— -SMton 
**  Magnijicence.” 

Rack,  Vapour,  ruin,  naught.  (Dan 
ish,  ra^;  Swedish,  German,  ra%c/i; 

Saxon,  reac.  Thus,  rack  and  ruiiij  gone 
to  rack  ) 

The  cloud-capped  towers,  the  gorpreous  palaces, 

The  solemn  temples,  the  grea'  globe  itself, 

Yea,  all  which  it  iuherit,  shall  dissolve  ; 

And leave  not  a rack  behind 

Shakespeara,  “ Tempest, ''  iv.  1. 

Rack.  The  instrument  of  torture  so 
called  was  a frame  in  which  a man  was 
fastened,  and  his  arms  and  legs  were 
stretched  till  the  body  was  lifted  by  the 
tension  several  inches  from  the  floor. 
Not  unfrequently  the  limbs  were  forced 
thereby  out  of  their  sockets.  Coke  says 
that  the  rack  was  first  introduced  into 
the  Tower  by  the  duke  of  Exeter,  con- 
stable of  the  Tower  in  1447,  whence 
it  was  called  the  duke  of  Exeter’s 
daughter.”  (Nee  Rack-Rent.) 

Rack  and  manger.  Housekeeping. 

To  lay  at  rack  and  manger.  To  live  at 
reckless  expense.  Here  “at”  means 
oiU,  as  in  the  proverb  “strain  at  a gnat 
and  swallow  a camel.” 

When  Virtue  was  a country  maid®, 

And  had  no  skill  to  set  up  trade. 

She  came  up  with  a earner’s  jade, 

And  lay  at  rack  and  mauger 

“ii/c  of  Robin  Goodfeilow."  (1628  ) 

Rack-Rent.  The  act-aal  value  or 
rent  of  a tenement,  and  not  that  modi- 
fied form  on  which  the  rates  and  taxes 
are  usually  levied.  (Saxon,  roecan,  to 
stretch;  Dutch,  racken.) 

Racket.  Noise  or  confusion,  like  that 
of  persons  playing  racket  or  tennis. 

Racy.  Having  distinctive  piquancy, 
as  racy  wine.  It  was  first  applied  to 
wine,  and,  according  to  Cowley,  comes 
to  us  from  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
raiz  (root),  meaning  having  a radical  or 
distinct  flavour;  but  probably  it  is  a 


corruption  of  “relishy,”  French  reUcM 
(flavorous). 

Rich  racy  verse,  in  which  we  see 
The  soil  from  which  they  come,  taste,  smell,  and  see, 
Cowley. 

Racy  Style.  Piquant  composition,  the 
very  opposite  of  mawkish. 

Radcliffe  Library  {Oxford). 
Founded  by  Dr.  John  Radcliffe,  of 
Wakefield,  Yorkshire.  (1650-1714.) 

When  king  William  [111.]  consulted  [Radcliffe] 
on  his  swollen  ancles  and  thin  bo  ly,  Radcliffe  said 
“ I would  not  ha^e  your  m oesty’s  two  legs  for  your 
three  kingdoms.” — Leigh  Hunt,  The  “ Town’’  ch.  vi. 

Radegaste.  A tutelary  god  of  the 
Slavi.  The  head  was  that  of  a cow,  the 
breast  was  covered  with  an  aegis,  the  left 
hand  held  a spear,  and  a cock  sur- 
mounted its  helmet. — Slavonic  mytho- 
logy. 

Rad'egond  or  Radigund.  Queen  of 
the  Am'azons,  “half  like  a man.”  Get- 
ting the  better  of  Sir  Art'egal  in  a single 
combat,  she  compels  him  to  dress  in 
“woman’s  weeds,”  with  a white  apron 
before  him,  and  to  spin  flax.  Brit'o- 
mart,  being  informed  of  his  captivity  by 
Talus,  goes  to  the  rescue,  cuts  off  the 
Amazon’s  head,  and  liberates  her  knight. 
—Spenser,  Faery  Queen f bk.  v.  7. 

St.  Radegonde  or  Radegund,  wife  of 
Clothaire  king  of  France,  is  usually  de- 
picted in  royal  garments,  sometimes  with 
the  crown  at  her  feet,  and  sometimes 
with  wolves  by  her  side,  to  indicate  the 
legend  of  her  familiarity  with  the  wild 
beasts. 

St.  Radegonde' s Lifted  Stone.  A stone 
sixty  feet  in  circumference,  placed  on 
five  supporting  stones,  said  by  the  his- 
torians of  Poitou  to  have  been  so  arranged 
in  1478,  to  commemorate  a great  fair 
held  on  the  spot  in  the  October  of  that 
year.  The  country  people  insist  that  queen 
Radegonde  brought  the  impost  stone  on 
her  head,  and  the  five  uprights  in  her 
apron,  and  arranged  them  with  her 
own  hands  as  they  appear  to  this  day. 

Rad'ical.  An  ultra-liberal,  verging 
on  republican  opinions.  The  term  was 
first  applied  as  a party  name  in  1818  to 
Henry  Hunt,  Major  Cartwright,  and 
others  of  the  same  clique,  who  wished  to 
introduce  radical  reform  in  the  repre- 
sentative system,  and  not  merely  to 
disfranchise  and  enfranchise  a borough 
or  two.  Lord  Bolingbroke,  in  his  “ Dis- 
courses on  Parties,”  says,  “ Such  a 


BAG. 


BAIN. 


733 


remedy  might  have  wrought  a radical 
cure  of  the  evil  that  threatens  our  con- 
stitution.” (Letter  xviii.) 

Rag.  A tatter,  hence  a remnant, 
hence  a vagabond  or  ragamuffin. 

Lash  hence  these  overweenin?  rags  of  France. 

Shakespeare,  “ Richard  III.’'  v.  3. 

Rag.  A cant  term  for  a farthing. 

Money  by  me  ? Heart  and  good-will  you  might, 

But  surely,  master,  not  a rag  of  money.; 

Shakespeare,  '*  Comedy  of  Error s,”  iv.  4. 

Ranh  Pride  may  he  seen  peering  through 
the  rags  of  Antis' then’e^  doublet.  Antis- 
thenes  was  the  founder  of  the  Cynic 
school  in  Athens,  and  affected  the  ut- 
most indifference  to  dress.  He  wore  a 
coarse  ragged  cloak,  and  carried  a wallet 
and  staff  like  a beggar.  It  was  Socrates 
who  said  he  could  see  Rank  Pride  peering 
through  the  holes  of  Antisthenes’  rags. 

Rags  and  Jags.  Rags  and  tatters. 
A jagged  edge  is  one  that  is  toothed. 
(German,  zacken^  a jag.) 

Hark,  hark  ! the  dogs  do  bark  : 

The  beggars  are  coming  to  town. 

Some  in  rags  and  some  in  jags, 

And  some  in  silken  gown. 

Nursery  rhyme. 

Ragamuffin  (French,  maroufle').  A 
muff  or  muffin  is  a poor  thing  of  a crea- 
ture, a regular  muff  ; ” so  that  a raga- 
muffin is  a sorry  creature  in  rags.  {See 
Muff.) 

I have  led  my  ragamuffins  where  they  are  pep- 
pered.—5^afcespeare.  “ 1 Henry  IV,"  v.  3. 

Ragged -Robin.  A wild-flower. 
The  word  is  used  by  Tennyson  to  mean  a 
pretty  damsel  in  ragged  clothes. 

The  prince 

Hath  picked  a ragged-robin  from  the  hedge. 

Tennyson,  “ Idylls  of  the  King  ” (Enid). 

Ragbu.  A legendary  king  of  Oude, 
belonging  to  the  dynasty  of  the  Sun. 
The  poem  called  the  Raghu-vansa,  in 
nineteen  cantos,  gives  the  history  of 
these  mythic  kings. 

Ragi'nis.  Nymphs  who  preside  over 
music. — Indian  mythology. 

Ragman  Roll  originally  meant  the 
roll  of  Ragimund,  a legate  of  Scotland, 
who  compelled  all  the  clergy  to  give  a 
true  account  of  their  benefices,  that  they 
might  be  taxed  at  Rome  accordingly. 
Subsequently  it  was  applied  to  the  four 
great  rolls  of  parchment  recording  the 
acts  of  fealty  and  homage  done  by  the 
Scotch  nobility  to  Edward  I.  in  1296^ 


these  four  rolls  consisted  of  thirty -five 
j)ieces  sewn  together.  The  originals 
perished,  but  a record  of  them  is  pre- 
served in  the  Rolls  House,  Chancery  Lane. 

Ragnarok  {hdlight  of  the  gods).  The 
day  of  doom,  when  the  present  world 
and  all  its  inhabitants  will  be  annihi- 
lated. Vidar  and  Vali  will  survive  the  con- 
flagration, and  reconstruct  the  universe 
on  an  imperishable  basis. — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

And,  Frithiof,  may’st  thou  sleep  away 
Till  Bagnarok,  if  such  thy  will. 

Frithiof-Saga,  “ Frithiof  s Joy." 

Ragout  is  something  ^^more-ish,” 
something  you  will  be  served  twice  to 
(Latin,  re-gustus,  tasted  again ; French, 
re-goute). 

Ra'han  {holy  man').  The  Pali  word 
for  a monk. 

Raliu.  The  demon  that  causes 
eclipses.  One  day  Rahu  stole  into  Val- 
halla to  quaff  some  of  the  nectar  of  im- 
mortality. He  was  discovered  by  the 
Sun  and  Moon,  who  informed  against  him, 
and  Vishnu  cut  off  his  head.  As  he  had 
already  taken  some  of  the  nectar  into 
his  mouth,  the  head  was  immortal,  and 
ever  afterwards  hunted  the  Sun  and 
Moon,  which  caught  occasionally,  causing 
eclipses. — Hindu  mythology. 

Railway  King.  George  Hudson, 
of  Yorkshire,  chairman  of  the  North 
Midland  Company,  and  for  a time  the 
Dictator  of  the  Railway  Speculations, 
In  one  day  he  cleared  the  large  sum  of 
£100,000,  It  was  the  Rev.  Sydney 
Smith  who  gave  him  this  designation 
(1800-1871). 

Rain.  To  rain  cats  and  dogs  In 
Northern  mythology  the  cat  is  supposed 
to  have  great  influence  on  the  weather, 
and  English  sailors  still  say,  ^^The  cat 
has  a gale  of  wind  in  her  tail,”  when  she 
is  unusually  frisky.  Witches  that  rode 
upon  the  storms  were  said  to  assume  the 
form  of  cats  ; and  the  stormy  north-west 
wind  is  called  the  cat' s-nose  in  the  Harz 
even  at  the  present  day. 

The  dog  is  a signal  of  wind,  like  the 
wolf,  both  which  animals  were  attendants 
of  Odin,  the  storm  god.  In  old  German 
pictures  the  wind  is  figured  as  the  head 
of  a dog  or  wolf,”  from  which  blasts 
issue. 

The  cat  therefore  symbolises  the  do^vn- 


734 


RAIlSflgOW. 


RAMEE  SAMEE. 


pouring  rain,  and  the  dqgr  the  strong 
gusts  of  wind  which  accompany  a rain- 
storm ; and  a ^^rain  of  cats  and  dogs  ” is 
a heavy  rain  with  wind.  (See  Cat  and 
Dog.) 

Rainbow.  (See  Circle  of  Ulloa.) 

Rainy  Ray.  Evil  times. 

Lay  hy  something  for  a rainy  day.  Save 
something  against  evil  times;  provide 
for  days  of  ill-fortune. 

Raise  the  Wind.  To  obtain  ready 
money  by  hook  or  crook.  A sea  phrase. 
What  wind  is  to  a ship,  money  is  to  com- 
merce. 

Rajah.  (Sanskrit  for  king,  cognate 
\^ith  the  Latin  reg'  or  rex.)  Maha-rajah 
means  the  Great  rajah.” 

Rak'shas.  Evil  spirits  who  guard 
the  treasures  of  Kuver  a,  the  god  of  riches. 
They  haunt  cemeteries,  and  devour  hu- 
man beings  ; assume  any  shape  at  will, 
and  their  strength  increases  as  the  day 
declines.  Some  are  hideously  ugly,  but 
others,  especially  the  female  spirits,  al- 
lure by  their  beauty. — Hindu  mythology. 

Raleigh.  Sir  Walter  Scott  intro- 
duces in  ^‘Kenilworth”  the  tradition  of 
his  laying  down  his  cloak  on  a miry  spot 
for  the  queen  to  step  on. 

Hark  ye,  Master  Raleigh,  see  thou  fail  not  to 
wear  thy  muddy  cloak,  in  token  of  penitence,  till 
our  pleasure  be  further  known  —<Sir  Walt&i'  Scott, 
"’Kenilworth,"  ch.  xv. 

Rally  is  re-alligo,  to  bind  together 
again.  (French,  re-lier.)  In  Spenser  it 
is  spelt  re-allie — 

Before  they  could  new  consels  re-allie. 

“ Faery  Queen.  * 

Ralph  or  Ralpho.  The  squire  of 
Hudibras.  The  model  was  Isaac  Robin- 
son, a zealous  butcher  in  Moorfields, 
always  contriving  some  queer  art  of 
church  government.  He  represents  the 
Independent  party,  and  Hudibras  the 
Presbyterian. 

He  was  himself  under  the  tyranny  of  scruples  as 
ttnreasonable  as  those  of Ralpho.— Mucauiay.; 

Ralph  Roister  Roister.  The  title  of  the 
earliest  English  comedy  ; so  called  from 
the  chief  character.  Written  by  Nichc^as 
Udall.  (16th  century.) 

Ram.  The  usual  prize  at  wrestling 
matches.  Thus  Chaucer  says  of  his 
Mellere,  “At  wrastlynge  he  wolde  here 
away  the  ram.”  — CanUrhw'y  Tales'’ 
(Prologue,  560). 


^ Ram  and  Teazle,  a public-house 
sign,  is  in  compliment  to  the  Clothiers’ 
Company.  The  ram  with  the  golden 
fleece  is  emblematical  of  wool,  and  the 
teazle  is  used  for  raising  the  nap  of  wool 
spun  and  woven  into  cloth. 

Ram  Feast.  May  morning  is  so 
called  at  Holne,  near  Dartmoor,  because 
on  that  day  a ram  is  run  down  in  the 
“ Ploy  Field.”  It  is  roasted  whole  with 
its  skin  and  fur,  close  by  a granite 
pillar.  At  mid-day  a scramble  takes 
place  for  a slice,  which  is  supposed  to 
bring  luck  to  those  who  get  it.  This  is 
a relic  of  Baal-worship  in  England. 

Rama.  There  are  three  Indian 
deities  so  called— all  gods  incarnate  of 
surpassing  beauty  : one  seems  to  resem- 
ble Bacchus  and  his  exploits  in  India; 
another  may  be  termed  the  Indian  Mars  ; 
and  the  third  is  the  sixth  incarnation  of 
the  god  Vishnu,  whose  wife  was  Sit^. 

Rama- Yana.  The  history  of  R4ma, 
the  best  great  epic  poem  of  ancient  India, 
and  worthy  to  be  ranked  with  the  “ Iliad” 
of  Homer. 

Ram'adan.  The  ninth  month  of 
the  Mahometan  year,  and  the  Mussul- 
man’s Lent  or  Holy  month. 

November  is  the  financial  Ramadan  of  the  Sub- 
lime Porte.— TAe  Times. 

That  is,  when  the  Turkish  government 
promises  all  kinds  of  financial  reforms 
and  curtailments  of  na-tional  expenses. 

Ramaza'ni’s  Feast.  The  Turkish 
or  Mahometan  “Lent.”  Also  called 
“Ramazan”  or  “Ramadan”  (q.v."). 

Rambouillet.  Hotel  de  Rambouillet. 
The  reunion  of  rank  and  literary  genius 
on  terms  of  equality : a coterie  where 
sparkling  wit  with  polished  manners  pre- 
vails. The  marquise  de  Rambouillet,  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  reformed  the 
French  soirees,  and  purged  them  of  the 
gross  morals  and  licentious  conversation 
which  at  that  time  prevailed.  The  pre- 
sent good  taste,  freedom  without  licen- 
tiousness, wit  without  double  entendre, 
equality  without  familiarity,  was  due  to 
this  illustrious  Italian.  The  “Precieuses 
Ridicules”  of  Moliere  was  a satire  on  her 
imitators,  without  her  talent  and  good 
taste.  Catharine  marquise  de  Ram- 
bouillet. (1588-1665.) 

Ramee  Samee.  The  conjuror  who 
swallowed  swords,  and  could  twist  him- 


tlAMESCHN^. 


735 


self  into  a knot  as  if  lie  had  neither 
bones  nor  joints. 

Kamesch'ne  (3  syl.).  A good 
genius  of  the  Parsis,  whose  charge  was 
to  watch  over  the  well-being  of  man. — 
Persian  mythology, 

Ram'eses  (3  syl.).  The  title  of  an 
ancient  Egyptian  dynasty;  it  means 
Offs'pring  of  the  Sim.  This  title  was  first 
assumed  towards  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  dynasty,  and  ran  through 
the  nineteenth.  Rameses  III.  is  called 
RhampsiniTos  by  Herod'otos.  Sesostris 
is  supposed  to  be  identical  with  Rameses 
the  Great.  (Eses,  i.e.,  Isis.) 

Ham'iel  (2  syl.).  One  of  the  fallen 
angels  cast  out  of  heaven.  The  word 
means  One  that  exalts  himself  against  God. 

Raminagolbris.  A cat ; a vile  poet. 
La  Fontaine  in  several  of  his  fables  gives 
this  name  to  the  cat.  Rabelais  under 
this  name  satirises  Guillaume  Cretin,  an 
old  French  poet  in  the  reigns  of  Charles 
VIII.,  Louis  XII.,  and  Frangois  I. — 
**  Gargantua  and  Pantagruelf  iii.  21. 

Rampallian.  A term  of  contempt; 
probably  it  means  a rampant  or  wanton 
woman ; hence  in  “ A New  Trick  to  Cheat 
the  Devil  ” (1639)  we  have  this  line  : 

And  bold  rampallian-like,  swear  and 
drink  drunk.” 

Awav,  you  scullion  ! you  rampallian ! you  fusti- 
lariau!  I’ll  tickle  your  catastrophe.— >S'^afcesj9eare, 
“ t Henry  /F.,”  ii.  1. 

Ramsay  the  Rich.  Ramsay  used 
to  be  called  the  Croesus  of  our  English 
abbeys.  It  had  only  sixty  monks  of  the 
Benedictine  order  to  maintain,  and  its 
revenues  allowed  XI, 000  a year  to  the 
abbot,  and  £100  a year  for  each  of  its 
monks. 

David  Ramsay.  The  old  watchmaker 
near  Temple  Bar. 

Margaret  Ramsay.  His  daughter,  who 
becomes  the  bride  of  lord  Nigel. — Sir 
Walter  Scotty  **  Fortunes  of  Nigel.^* 
Ramsbottom  {Mrs.).  A vile  speller 
of  the  Queen’s  English.  It  was  the  sig- 
nature of  Theodore  Hook  in  his  letters 
published  in  the  John  Bull  newspaper, 
1829. 

Ra'na.  Goddess  of  the  sea,  and  wife 
of  the  sea-god  Aeger.  — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

“ May  Rana  keep  them  in  the  deep. 

As  is  her  wont. 

And  no  one  sa,\  e them  from  the  grave,” 
Cried  Helgehont. 

Frithiof-Saga,  “ The  Banishment.'* 


Randem-Tandem.  A tandem  of 
three  horses. — University  term. 

Random  {Rod.erich).  A young  Scotch 
scapegrace  in  quest  of  fortune  ; at  one 
time  basking  in  prosperity,  at  another  in 
utter  destitution.  He  is  led  into  dif- 
ferent countries,  whose  peculiarities  are 
described ; and  into  all  sorts  of  society, 
as  that  of  wits,  sharpers,  courtiers, 
courtezans,  and  so  on.  Though  occa- 
sionally lavish,  he  is  inherently  mean; 
and  though  possessing  a dash  of  humour, 
is  contemptibly  revengeful.  His  treat- 
ment of  Strap  is  revolting  to  a generous 
mind.  Strap  lends  him  money  in  his 
necessity,  but  the  heartless  Roderick 
wastes  the  loan,  treats  Strap  as  a mere 
servant,  fleeces  him  at  dice,  and  cuffs 
him  when  the  game  is  adverse. — Smolletty 
Roderick  Random 

Ranks.  Risen  from  the  ranks.  From 
mean  origin  ; a self-made  man,  A mili- 
tary term  applied  to  an  officer  who  once 
served  as  a private  soldier. 

Rank  and  Pile.  Altogether,  every 
one.  The  rank  is  the  depth,  and  the 
file  the  length  of  marching  soldiers. 
The  ‘^rank  men”  stand  shoulder  by 
shoulder,  the  file  men”  stand  behind 
each  other.  Thus  100  men  four  deep 
would  be  twenty-five  files  ranged  four  in 
a row  (in  four  ranks). 

Ran'tipole  (3  syl. ).  A harum-scarum 
fellow,  a mad-cap  (Dutch,  randten,  to  be 
in  a state  of  idiocy  or  insanity,  and  pole, 
a head  or  person).  The  late  emperor 
(Napoleon  HI.)  was  called  Rantipote,  for 
his  escapades  at  Strasbourg  and  Bou- 
logne. In  1852,  I myself  saw  a man 
commanded  by  the  police  to  leave  Paris 
within  twenty -four  hours  for  calling  his 
dog  Rantipole. 

Ranz  des  Vaches.  Simple  melo- 
dies played  by  the  Swiss  mountaineers 
on  their  Alphorn  when  they  drive  their 
herds  to  pasture,  or  call  them  home  {pour 
ranger  des  vacheSy  to  bring  the  cows  to 
their  place).  The  Tyrolese  airs”  are 
a polished  sort  of  Ranz  des  vaches. 

Rap.  Not  worth  a rap.  The  rap  was 
a base  halfpenny,  intrinsically  worth 
about  half  a farthing,  issued  for  the 
nonce  in  Ireland  in  1721,  because  small 
coin  was  so  very  scarce.  There  was 
also  a coin  in  Switzerland  called  a rappe, 
worth  the  seventh  of  a penny. 


736  RAPE. 

RASHLEIGH  OSBALDISTONE. 

Hape  (Isyl.).  The  division  of  a county. 
Sussex  is  divided  into  six  rapes,  each  of 
which  has  its  river,  forest,  and  castle. 

is  Norwegian  for  a parish  district, 
and  rape  in  Doomsday -book  is  used  for 
a district  under  military  jurisdiction. 
The  Saxon  like  the  Greek  schoinos, 

signifies  not  only  a rope,  but  also  a 
measure  of  land.  {See  Riding.) 

Rapll'ael.  The  sociable  archangel 
who  travelled  with  Tobi'as  into  Me'dea 
and  back  again,  instructing  him  on  the 
way  how  to  marry  Sara  and  to  drive 
away  the  wicked  spirit.  Milton  intro- 
duces him  as  sent  by  God  to  advertise 
Adam  of  his  danger.  {See  Seven  Spirits.) 

Raphael,  the  sociable  spirit,  that  deigned 

To  travel  with  Tobias,  and  secured 

His  marriage  with  the  seven-times-wedded  wife. 

Paradise  Lost,''  v. 

Raphaelf  according  to  Longfellow,  is 
the  angel  of  the  Sun,  who  brings  to  man 
the  ‘‘  gift  of  faith.” 

I am  the  angel  of  the  Sun, 

Whose  flaming  wheels  began  to  run 

When  God  Almighty’s  breath 

Said  to  the  darkness  and  the  night 
“Let  there  be  light.”  and  there  was  light.— 

I bring  \ he  gift  of  faith. 

“ Golden  Legend  ” (The  Miracle  Play,  iii.). 

St.  Raphael^  the  archangel,  is  usually 
distinguished  in  Christian  art  by  a pil- 
grim’s staff,  or  carrying  a fish,  in  allusion 
to  his  aiding  Tobias  to  capture  the  fish 
which  performed  the  miraculous  cure  of 
his  father’s  eye-sight. 

The  French  Raphael.  Eustace  Lesueur. 
(1617-1655.) 

The  Raphael  of  Cats.  Godefroi  Mind, 
a Swiss  painter,  noted  for  his  cats.  (1768- 
1814.) 

Rapparee'.  A wild  Irish  plunderer, 
so  called  from  his  being  armed  with  a 
rapary  or  half -pike. 

Rappee.  A coarse  species  of  snuff, 
manufactured  from  dried  tobacco  by  an 
instrument  called  in  French  a rdpe^ 

**  instrument  en  metal  perce  de  plusieurs 
trous,  dont  on  se  sert  pour  rMuire  les 
corps  en  pulpe  ou  en  fragments.  On  se 
sert  surtout  de  la  rape  dans  les  manages, 
pour  le  sucre,  le  chocolat,  le  poivre ; et 
dans  les  usines,  pour  le  tabac,  les  bette- 
raves,  les  pommes  de  terre  qu’on  reduit 
en  jpecule,  &c. — Bouillet,  Dictionnaire 
des  Sciences.^' 

Ra'ra  A'vis  (Latin,  a rare  hird).  A 
phenomenon  ; a prodigy ; a something 

quite  out  of  the  common  course.  This 
bird  is  now  familiar  to  us  ; it  is  a native 
of  Australia,  and  has  given  name  to  the 
^^Swan  River.”  It  is  not  uncommon  in 
our  own  island. 

Bara  avis  in  terris  nigroque  simillima  cycno. 

J uvenal. 

Rare  Ben.  So  Shakespeare  called 
Ben  Jonson,  the  dramatist.  (1574-1637.) 
Aubrey  says  that  this  inscription  on  his 
tablet  in  the  Poets’  Corner,”  West- 
minster Abbey,  ‘^was  done  at  the  charge 
of  Jack  Young  (afterwards  knighted), 
who,  walking  there  when  the  grave  was 
covering,  gave  the  fellow  eighteenpenco 
to  cut  it.”  At  the  late  relaying  of  the 
pavement,  this  stone  was  unhappily  re- 
moved. When  Sir  William  Davenant 
was  interred  in  Westminster  Abbey, 
the  inscription  on  his  covering-stone  was, 
'^0  rare  Sir  William  Davenant” — showing 
how  nearly  the  sublime  and  the  ridiculous 
often  meet. 

Rascal  {Saxon).  A lean,  worthless 
deer ; metaphorically,  a base  fellow. 
Hence  Shakespeare  says— Horns  ! the 
noblest  deer  hath  them  as  huge  as  the 
rascal.”  Hollyband  gives  it  in  his  Dic- 
tionarie  ” as  the  translation  of  commune 
(1593).  Palsgrave  calls  a starveling  ani- 
mal like  the  lean  kine  of  Pharaoh,  ‘^a 
rascall  refus  beest”  (1530).  Applied 
to  men  it  means  base,  sorry  jade.  The 
French  have  racaille  (riff-raff). 

Come,  you  thin  thing ; come,  you  rascal. 

Shakespeare,  “ 2 Henry  IV,"  v.  4. 

Rascal  Counters.  Pitiful  or  paltry 
£ s.  d.  Brutus  calls  money  paltry  com- 
pared with  friendship,  &c. 

When  Marcus  Brutus  grows  so  covetous 

To  lock  Fuch  rascal  countt-rs  from  his  frieudB, 

Be  ready,  gods,  with  all  your  ihuuder-bolts 

Dash  him  to  pieces. 

Shakespeare,'*  Julius  Ccesar,”iy.  3. 

Rasher.  A slice,  as  a rasher  of  bacon, 
(Italian,  raschiare;  French,  raser;  Welsh, 
rhasg^  a slice  or  shave ; Latin,  rasura 
lardi ; our  ‘^razor,”  “erasure,”  &c.) 

Rashleigh  Osbaldistone.  An 
accomplished  but  deceitful  villain,  called 
‘Hhe  Scholar.”  He  is  the  youngest  of 
the  six  hopeful  sons  of  Sir  Hildebrand 
Osbaldistone.  His  worthy  brothers  were 
nicknamed  “the  Sot,”  “the  Bully,” 
“the  Gamekeeper,”  “the  Horse- jockey,” 
“the  Fool,”  and  the  crafty  “Scholar.” 
—Sir  Walter  Scotty  Rob  Roy'* 

RASIEL, 


RAVEN. 


Ra'siel.  The  angel  who  was  the 
tutor  of  Adam. — Talmud, 

Kaskol'nik  {separatists).  So  dis- 
senters from  the  Greek  church  are  called 
in  Russia. 

Ras'selas.  Prince  of  Abyssinia,  in 
Dr.  Johnson’s  romance  so  called, 

“Rasselaa”  is  a mass  of  sense,  and  its  moral  pre- 
cepts are  certainly  conveyed  in  striking  and  happy 
language.  The  mad  astronomer  wh  > imagined  that  he 
possessed  til e regulation  of  the  weather  and  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  seasons,  is  an  original  character  in 
romance;  and  the  happy  valley  in  which  Rasselas 
resides  is  sketched  with  poetical  feeling.— rowni;. 

Rat.  The  Egyptians  and  Phrygians 
deified  rats.  The  people  of  Basso'ra  and 
Cambay  to  the  present  time  forbid  their 
destruction.  In  Egypt  the  rat  symbolised 

utter  destruction  it  also  symbolised 
“ judgment,”  because  rats  always  choose 
the  best  bread  for  their  repast. 

'Rat.  Pliny  tells  us  (bk.  viii.,  ch.  57) 
that  the  Romans  drew  presages  from  these 
animals,  and  to  see  a white  rat  foreboded 
good-fortune.  The  bucklers  at  Lanu'vium 
being  gnawed  by  rats  presaged  ill  -fortune, 
and  the  battle  of  the  Marses,  fought  soon 
after,  confirmed  this  superstition.  Pro- 
serpine’s veil  was  embroidered  with  rats. 

Irish  rats  rhymed  to  death.  It  was  once 
a prevalent  opinion  that  rats  in  pastur- 
ages could  be  extirpated  by  anathema- 
tising them  in  rhyming  verse  or  by  me- 
trical charms.  This  notion  is  frequently 
alluded  to  by  ancient  authors  : thus  Ben 
Jonson  says — Rhyme  them  to  death, 
as  they  do  Irish  rats”  Poetaster”) ; Sir 
Philip  Sidney  says — Though  I will  not 
wish  unto  you  ....  to  be  rimed  to 
death,  as  is  said  to  be  done  in  Ireland  ” 

Defence  of  Poesie”)  ; and  Shakespeare 
makes  Rosalind  say — **  I was  never  so  be- 
rhymed since  ....  I was  an  Irish  rat” — 
alluding  to  the  Pythagore'an  doctrine  of 
the  transmigration  of  souls  (^^As  You 
Like  It,”  iii.  2).  {See  Charm.) 

I smell  a rat.  I perceive  there  is  some- 
thing concealed  which  is  mischievous. 
The  allusion  is  to  a cat  smelling  a rat. 

To  rat.  To  forsake  a losing  side  for 
the  stronger  party.  It  is  said  that  rats 
forsake  ships  not  weather-proof.  A rat 
is  one  who  rats  or  deserts  his  party. 

Averting .... 

The  cup  of  sorrow  from  their  lips. 

And  fly  like  rats  from  sinking  ships. 

Swift,  **  Episttc  to  Mr.  Nugent.** 

Rat-killer.  Apollo  received  this  aris- 
tocratic sobriquet  from  the  following  in- 
cident :--Criuis,  one  of  his  priests,  having 


nOglected  his  official  duties,  he  sent 
against  him  a swarm  of  rats  and  mice ; 
but  the  priest,  seeing  the  invaders  com- 
ing, repented  and  obtained  forgiveness 
of  the  god,  who  annihilated  the  swarms 
which  he  had  sent  with  his  far-darting 
arrows.  For  this  redoubtable  exploit 
the  sun-god  received  the  appellation  of 
Apollo  the  Rat-killer. — Classic  mythology. 

Rat'atosk.  The  squirrel  that  runs 
up  and  down  the  mythological  tree  Ygg- 
drasil',  first  listening  to  the  eagle  that 
sits  in  all  the  heat  of  the  sun  at  the  top, 
and  then  collecting  news  from  the  frost- 
giant  in  the  old  land  of  Hela. — Scandi- 
navian  mythology. 

Ratja'sias.  Evil  spirits  are  so  called 
by  the  Indians. 

Ratten.  To  destroy  or  take  away  a 
workman’s  tools,  or  otherwise  incapaci- 
tate him  from  doing  work,  for  not  paying 
his  natty  to  a ‘‘benefit”  fund,  or  for 
having  offended  a trades  union.  Ratten- 
ing  is  the  act  of  doing  this  ill  turn  (pro- 
bably connected  with “to  find  fault 
Swedish,  rata;  Icelandic,  reita,  to  chide. 
In  the  North,  the  word  rattle  means  to 
“punish,”  “thrash,”  “revile”). 

Rattlin  {Jack).  A fdmous  naval 
character  in  Smollett’s  “ Roderick  Ran* 
dom.”  Tom  Bowling  is  another  naval 
character  in  the  same  novel. 

Raul.  Sir  Raul  di  NangiSy  the  Hu- 
guenot, in  love  with  Valenti  na,  daughter 
of  the  comte  de  St.  Bris,  governor  of  the 
Louvre.  Being  sent  for  by  Marguerite, 
he  is  offered  the  hand  of  Valentina  in 
marriage,  but  rejects  it,  because  he  fan- 
cies she  is  betrothed  to  the  comte  do 
Nevers.  Nevers  is  slain  in  the  Bartholo- 
mew massacre,  and  Valentina  confesses 
her  love  for  Raul.  The  two  are  united 
by  Marcello,  an  old  Puritan  servant ; but 
scarcely  is  the  brief  ceremony  ended, 
when  both  are  shot  by  the  musketeers 
under  the  command  of  St.  Bris. — Meyer- 
heery  ^‘Gli  UgonottV^  {an  opera). 

Rava'na,  according  to  Indian  my- 
thology, was  fastened  down  between 
heaven  and  earth  for  10,000  years  by 
Siva’s  leg,  for  attempting  to  move  the 
hill  of  heaven  to  Ceylon.  He  is  described 
as  a demon-giant  with  ten  faces.— 
mythology. 

Raven.  A bird  of  ill  omen.  They 
are  said  to  forebode  death  and  bring  m- 
fection.  The  former  notion  arises  from 

V,  V 


738 


EAVEl^, 


EAVENSWOOD, 


their  following  an  army  under  the  expec- 
tation of  finding  dead  bodies  to  raven 
on ; the  latter  notion  is  a mere  offshoot 
of  the  former,  seeing  pestilence  kills  as 
fast  as  the  sword. 

The  boding  raven  on  her  cottage  sat. 

And  with  hoarse  croakings  warned  us  of  our  fate. 

Gn!/,  “ Paitorals  ” (the  Dirge). 

Like  the  sad-presaging  raven  that  tolls 

The  sick  man's  passport  in  her  hollow  beak, 

And,  in  the  shadow  of  the  silent  night, 

Does  shake  contagion  from  her  sable  wing. 

Marlowe^  “ Jew  of  Malta  ” (1633). 

Raven.  Jovianus  Ponta'nus  relates 
two  skirmishes  between  ravens  and  kites 
near  Beneventum,  which  prognosticated 
a great  battle.  Nice'tas  speaks  of  a skir- 
mish between  crows  and  ravens  as  pre- 
saging the  irruption  of  the  Scythians 
into  Thrace.  He  also  tells  us  that  his 
friend  Mr.  Draper,  in  the  flower  of  his 
age  and  robust  health,  knew  he  was  at 
the  point  of  death,  because  two  ravens 
flew  into  his  chamber.  Cicero  was  fore- 
warned of  his  death  by  the  fluttering  of 
ravens,  and  Macaulay  relates  the  legend 
that  a raven  entered  the  chamber  of  the 
great  orator  the  very  day  of  his  murder, 
and  pulled  the  clothes  off  his  bed.  Like 
many  other  birds,  ravens  indicate  by 
their  cries  the  approach  of  foul  weather, 
but  ” it  is  ful  unleful  to  beleve  that  God 
sheweth  his  prevy  counsayle  to  crowes, 
as  Isidore  sayth.” 

Be  has  the  foresight  of  a raven.  A raven 
was  accounted  at  one  time  a prophetic 
bird.  {See  above. ) 

Of  inspired  birds  ravens  were  accounted  the  most 
prophetical.  Accordingly,  in  the  language  of  that 
district,  “to  have  the  foresight  of  a raven”  is  to  this 
day  a proverbial  expression.— iHfacauZay,  History  of 
St,  Kildaf’  p,  174. 

Ravens  bode  famine.  When  a flock  of 
ravens  forsake  the  woods  we  may  look 
for  famine  and  mortality,  because  “ ravens 
bear  the  characters  of  Saturn,  the  author 
of  these  calamities,  and  have  a very 
early  perception  of  the  bad  disposition 
of  that  planet.”  See  Athenian  Oracle” 
(Supplement,  p.  476). 

As  if  the  great  god  J upiter  had  nothing  else  to  doe 
but  to  dryve  about  jacke  dawes  and  ravens.— Car- 
neades. 

The  ravens  were  once  as  white  as  the 
swans,  and  not  inferior  in  size ; but  one 
day  a raven  told  Apollo  that  Coro'nis,  a 
Thessalian  nymph  whom  he  passionately 
loved,  was  faithless,  and  the  god  shot 
the  nymph  with  his  dart ; but,  hating 
the  tell-tale  bird— 

He  blacked  the  raven  o’er, 

And  bid  him  prate  in  his  white  plumes  no  raorA 
Addison,  “ Translation  of  Ovid”  bk.  ii. 


Ravens  in  Christian  Art.  Emblems  of 
God’s  providence,  in  allusion  to  the  ravens 
which  fed  Elijah.  St.  Oswald  holds  in 
his  hand  a raven  with  a ring  in  its  mouth ; 
St.  Benedict  has  a raven  at  his  feet ; St. 
Paul  the  Hermit  is  drawn  with  a raven 
bringing  him  a loaf  of  bread  ; &c. 

The  fatal  Raven, consecrated  to 
Odin,  the  Danish  war-god,  was  the  em- 
blem on  the  Danish  standard.  This 
raven  was  said  to  be  possessed  of  ne- 
cromantic power.  The  standard  was 
termed  Landeyda  (the  desolation  of  the 
country),  and  miraculous  powers  were 
attributed  to  it.  The  ■ fatal  raven  was 
the  device  of  Odin,  god  of  war,  and 
was  said  to  have  been  woven  and  em- 
broidered in  one  noontide  by  the  daugh- 
ters of  Eegner  Lodbrok,  son  of  Sigurd, 
that  dauntless  warrior  who  chanted  his 
death-song  (the  Krakamal)  while  being 
stung  to  death  in  a horrible  pit  filled 
with  deadly  serpents.  If  the  Danish 
arms  were  destined  to  defeat,  the  raven 
hung  his  head  and  drooped  his  wings  ; 
if  victory  was  to  attend  them,  he  stood 
erect  and  soaring,  as  if  inviting  the  war- 
riors to  follow. 

The  Danish  “ Raven,”  lured  by  annual  prey, 

Hung  o’er  the  land  incessant. 

Thomson,  “ Liberty,’*  pt.  iv. 

The  two  ravens  that  sit  on  the  shoulders 
of  Odin  are  called  Hugin  and  Munnin 
{Mind  and  Memory). 

One  raven  will  not  'pluch  another’s  eyes 
out  (German,  Eine  rabe  hacket  sein 
andern  kein  auge  ans”).  Friends  will 
not  peach”  friends;  you  are  not  to 
take  for  granted  all  that  a friend  says  of 
a friend. 

Ravenglass  {Cumberland).  A cor- 
ruption of  A f on-glass  (Blue  river). 

Ra'venstone.  The  stone  gibbet  of 
Germany ; so  called  from  the  ravens 
which  are  wont  to  perch  on  it.  (German, 
rahenstein. ) 

Do  you  think 

I’ll  honour  you  so  much  as  save  your  throat 

Trom  the  ravenstone,  by  choking  you  myself  ? 

Byron,  “ Werner”  ii.  2. 

Ra'venswood  {Allan,  lord  of).  A 
decayed  Scotch  nobleman  of  the  Eoyalist 
party. 

Master  Edgar  Ravenswood.  His  son, 
who  falls  in  love  with  Lucy  Ashton, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Ashton,  lord- 
keeper  of  Scotland.  The  lovers  plight 
their  troth  at  the  Mermaid’s  Fountain, 
but  Lucy  is  compelled  to  marry  Frank 


RAWHEAD. 


REBECCA. 


739 


Hayston,  laird  of  Bucklaw.  The  bride, 
in  a fit  of  insanity,  attempts  to  murder 
the  bridegroom,  and  dies  in  convulsions. 
Bucklaw  recovers,  and  goes  abroad. 
Colonel  Ashton,  seeing  Edgar  at  the 
funeral  of  Lucy,  appoints  a hostile  meet- 
ing ; and  Edgar,  on  his  way  to  the  place 
appointed,  is  lost  in  the  quicksands  of 
Kelpies-flow.— aSi?'  Walter  Scott,  Bride 
0 f Lammermoor.  ’ ’ 

In  Donizetti’s  opera  of  “ Lucia  di  Lam- 
mermoor,” Bucklaw  dies  of  the  wound 
inflicted  by  the  bride,  and  Edgar,  heart- 
broken, comes  on  the  stage  and  kills 
himself,  that  ‘^his  marriage  with  Lucy, 
forbidden  on  earth,  may  be  consummated 
in  heaven.” 

Rawhead  and  Bloody-Bones.  A 
bogie  at  one  time  the  terror  of  children. 

Servants  awe  children  and  keep  them  in  sub- 
jection by  telling  them  of  Jiawhead  and  Blojdy- 
bones. — Locke. 

Bay 'mond  (in  ‘ ‘ J erusa  lem  Delivered’  ’ ) . 
Master  of  4,000  infantry,  count  of  Tou- 
louse, equal  to  Godfrey  in  the  wisdom 
of  cool  debate  ”(bk.  hi.).  This  Nestor 
of  the  crusaders  slays  Aladine,  the. king 
of  Jerusalem,  and  plants  the  Christian 
standard  upon  the  tower  of  David 

(bk.  XX.). 

Bayne  or  Raine  {Essex).  Go  and  say 
your  prayers  at  Raine.  The  old  church 
of  Raine,  built  in  the  time  of  Henry  II., 
famous  for  its  altar  to  the  Virgin,  and 
much  frequented  at  one  time  by  preg- 
nant women,  who  went  to  implore  the 
Virgin  to  give  them  safe  deliverance. 

Baw.  To  touch  one  on  the  raiv.  To 
mention  something  that  makes  a person 
wince,  like  touching  a horse  on  a raw 
place  in  cleaning  him. 

Bazee  {raz-za).  A ship  of  war  cut 
down  to  a smaller  size,  as  a seventy-four 
reduced  to  a frigate.  {French.) 

Baz'ikah.'.  An  idol  worshipped  by 
the  tribe  of  Ad,  in  order  that  food  might  | 
be  abundant.  | 

Bazor.  Hetoing  blocks  vjith  a razor. 
Livy  relates  how  Tarquinius  PriscuSj  de-  I 
fying  the  power  of  Attus  Navius  the 
augur,  said  to  him,  Tell  me,  if  you  are  i 
so  wise,  whether  I can  do  what  I am  now  j 
thinking  about.”  ^‘Yes,”  said  Navius.  I 

Ha  ! ha  ! ” cried  the  king  ; I was  | 
thinking  whether  I could  cut  in  twain  ; 
that  whetstone  with  a razor.”  Cut 


boldly!”  answered  the  augur,  and  the 
king  cleft  it  in  twain  with  a blow. 

In  short,  ’twas  his  fate  unemployed  or  in  place,  sir. 

To  eat  mutton  cold,  or  cut  blocks  with  a razor. 

Goldsmith,  ''Retaliation” 

Baz'zia.  An  incursion  made  by  the 
military  into  an  enemy’s  country,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  off  cattle  and  de- 
stroying the  standing  crops.  It  is  an 
Arabic  word  much  employed  in  connec- 
tion with  Algerine  affairs. 

War  is  a razzia  rather  than  an  art  to  the merci- 

less Pelissier.— 27ie  standard. 

Beach,  of  a river.  The  part  which 
lies  between  two  points  or  bends ; so 
called  because  it  reaches  from  point  to 
point. 

When  he  drew  near  them  he  would  turn  from  each. 
And  loudly  whistle  till  he  passed  the  “ Reach.” 

Crabbe,  “ Borough.” 

Beady  {The).  An  elliptical  expression 
for  ready-money.  Goldsmith  says  dEs  in 
presenti  perfectuin  format  (ready-money 
makes  a man  perfect).  — Eton  Latin 
Grammar. 

Lord  Strut  was  not  very  flush  in  the  "ready.”— 
Dr.  Arbuthnot. 

Beady-to-Halt.  A pilgrim  that 
journeyed  to  the  Celestial  city  on 
crutches.  He  joined  the  party  under 
the  charge  of  Mr.  Greatheart,  but 
‘'when  he  was  sent  for”  he  threw  away 
his  crutches,  and  lo  ! a chariot  bore  him 
into  Paradise. — Bunyan,  Pilgrim's  Pro- 
gress," pt.  ii. 

. Beal  Presence.  The  doctrine  that 
Christ  himself  is  really  and  substantially 
present  in  the  bread  and  wine  of  the 
Eucharist  after  consecration. 

Beason.  The  Goddess  of  Reason. 
The  wife  of  Momoro,  the  printer,  was  set 
up  by  the  Commune  of  Paris  to  repre- 
sent this  goddess  in  1793.  Dressed  in  a 
thin  white  veil,  and  wearing  on  her  head 
the  cap  of  liberty,  she  was  carried  in  a 
chair  by  four  men  to  Notre  Dame  de  Paris, 
and  placed  on  the  altar.  Hymns  were 
then  sung  to  her,  and  processions  formed. 

Bebec'ca.  Daughter  of  Isaac  the 
Jew,  in  love  with  Ivanhoe.  Rebecca, 
with  her  father  and  Ivanhoe,  being  taken 
prisoners,  are  confined  in  Front  de  Boeuf’s 
castle.  Rebecca  is  taken  to  the  turret 
chamber  and  left  with  the  old  sibyl  there, 
but  when  Brian  de  Bois  Guilbert  comes 
and  offers  her  insult  she  spurns  him  with 
heroic  disdain,  and  rushing  to  the  verge 
of  the  battlements,  threatens  to  throw 

V y 2 


740 


REBECCAITES. 


RED-CROSS  KNIGHT, 


herself  over  if  he  touches  her.  Ivanhoe, 
who  was  suffering  from  wounds  received 
in  a tournament,  is  nursed  by  Rebecca. 
Being  again  taken  prisoner,  the  Grand 
Master  commands  the  J ewish  maiden  to 
be  tried  for  sorcery,  and  she  demands  a 
trial  by  combat.  The  demand  is  granted, 
when  Brian  de  Bois  Guilbert  is  appointed 
as  the  champion  against  her  ; and  Ivan- 
hoe undertakes  her  defence,  slays  Brian, 
and  Rebecca  is  set  free.  To  the  general 
disappointment  of  novel-readers,  after  all 
this  excitement  Ivanhoe  tamely  marries 
the  lady  Rowen'a,  a “vapid  piece  of  still 
life.”  Rebecca  pays  the  newly-married 
pair  a wedding  visit,  and  then  goes  abroad 
with  her  father  to  get  out  of  the  way. 
— Sir  Walter  Scott,  Ivanhoe,^^ 

Rebee'caites  (4  syl.).  Certain  Welsh 
rioters  in  1843,  whose  object  was  to  de- 
molish turnpike  gates.  The  name  was 
taken  from  Rebekah,  the  bride  of  Isaac. 
When  she  left  her  father’s  house,  Laban 
and  his  family  “blessed  her,”  and  said, 
“Let  thy  seed  possess  the  gate  of  those 
that  hate  thee”  (Gen.  xxiv.  60). 

Rebellion  (T'/^e).  The  revolts  in  be- 
half of  the  House  of  Stuart  in  1715  and 
1745  : the  former  in  behalf  of  the  che- 
valier de  St.  George,  son  of  James  II., 
called  the  Old  Pretender,  and  the  latter 
in  favour  of  Charles  Edward,  usually 
termed  the  Young  Pretender. 

The  Great  Rebellion.  The  revolt  of 
the  Long  Parliament  against  Charles  I. 
(1642-1646). 

Rebus  (Latin,  with  thmgs).  A hiero- 
glyphic riddle,  “ non  verbis  sed  rebus.” 
The  origin  of  the  word  and  custom  is 
this  : The  basochiens  of  Paris,  during  the 
Carnival,  used  to  satirise  the  current 
follies  of  the  day  in  squibs  called  De 
rebus  quce  geruntur  (on  the  current 
events).  That  these  squibs  might  not  be 
accounted  libellous,  they  employed  hiero- 
glyphics either  wholly  or  in  part.  The 
following  is  an  example  of  a rebus  : — 


Rose  Hill  I adore. 


Re'cliabites  (3  syl.).  A religious 
sect  founded  by  Rechab,  distinguished 
for  their  retired  habits,  and  their  custom 
of  lodging  in  tents. — Jewish  history. 

Reela'im  (2  syl.).  To  turn  from  evil 
ways.  This  is  a term  in  falconry,  and  | 
means  to  call  bach  the  hawk  to  the  wrist 


This  was  done  when  it  was  unruly,  that 
it  might  be  smoothed  and  tamed.  (Latin, 
re-clamo. ) 

Recorded.  Death  recorded  means 
that  the  sentence  of  death  is  recorded 
or  written  by  the  recorder  against  the 
criminal,  but  not  verbally  pronounced 
by  the  judge.  This  is  done  when  capital 
punishment  is  likely  to  be  remitted.  It 
is  the  verbal  sentence  of  the  judge  that 
is  the  only  sufficient  warrant  of  an  exe- 
cution. The  sovereign  is  not  now  con- 
sulted about  any  capital  punishment. 

Rec'reant  is  one  who  cries  out 
(French,  recrier');  alluding  to  the  judicial 
combats,  when  the  person  who  wished  to 
give  in  cried  for  mercy,  and  was  held  a 
coward,  and  infamous.  {See  Craven.) 

Rector.  (iSee  Clerical  Titles.) 
Recul'ver.  The  antiquities  of  this 
place  are  fully  described  in  “ Antiquitates 
Rutupinse,”  by  Dr.  Battely  (1711).  It 
was  a Roman  fort  in  the  time  of  Claudius. 

Red  Basque  Cap.  The  cognizance 
of  Don  Carlos,  pretender  to  the  Spanish 
throne. 

Red  Book.  The  book  which  gave 
account  of  the  court  expenditure  in 
France  before  the  Revolution  was  so 
called  because  its  covers  were  red.  We 
have  also  a “ Red  Book”  in  manuscript, 
containing  the  names  of  all  those  who 
held  lands  per  baro'niam  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  II.,  with  other  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  nation  before  the  Conquest. 
— Ryley,  667. 

Red  Cap  {Mother).  An  old  nurse 
“at  the  Hungerford  Stairs.”  Dame 
Ursley  or  Ursula,  another  nurse,  says  of 
her  rival — 

She  may  do  very  well  for  skippers'  wives,  chan- 
dlers’ daughters,  and  such  like,  but  nobody  sh  dl 

wait  on  pretty  Mistrcs-^  Margaret excepting  and 

saving  myself.— <SV  Walter iScott,  ''Fortunes  of  Figel." 

Red  Com'yn.  Sir  John  Comyn  of 
Badenoch,  son  of  Marjory,  sister  of  king 
John  Baliol;  so  called  from  his  ruddy 
complexion  and  red  hair,  to  distinguish 
him  from  his  kinsman  “ Black  Comyn,” 
whose  complexion  was  swarthy,  and  hair 
black.  He  was  stabbed  by  Sir  Robert 
Bruce  in  the  church  of  the  Minorites  at 
Dumfries,  and  afterwards  dispatched  by 
Lindesay  and  Kirkpatrick. 

Red-cross  Knight,  in  Spenser’s 
“ Faery  Queen,”  is  the  impersonation  of 
holiness,  or  rather  the  spirit  of  Chris- 


RED  FLAG. 


REDAN. 


741 


tianity.  Politically  he  typifies  the 
Church  of  England.  The  knight  is  sent 
forth  by  the  queen  to  slay  a dragon 
which  ravaged  the  kingdom  of  Una’s 
father.  Having  achieved  this  feat  he 
marries  Una  {q.v.). 

Red  Flag.  The  symbol  of  insurrec- 
tion and  terrorism.  The  National  As- 
sembly of  France  ordained  that  a red 
flag  should  be  unfurled  whenever  martial 
law  was  proclaimed. 

Red  Hand  of  Ireland.  In  an 
ancient  expedition  to  Ireland,  it  was 
given  out  that  whoever  first  touched  the 
shore  should  possess  the  territory  which 
he  touched;  O’Neill,  seeing  another  boat 
likely  to  outstrip  his  own,  cut  off  his  left 
hand,  and  threw  it  on  the  coast.  From 
this  O’Neill  the  princes  of  Ulster  were 
descended,  and  the  motto  of  the  O’Neills 
is  to  this  day,  Lamh  dearg  Eirin  (red 
hand  of  Erin).  {See  Hand,  p.  383,  col.  2.) 

Red-handed.  In  the  very  act ; with 
red  blood  still  on  his  hand. 

I had  some  trouble  to  save  him  from  the  fury  of 
those  wbo  hsid  caught  him  red-handed.— TAe  Times 
(a  correspondent). 

Red  Heads.  The  Schiites  are  so 
called,  because  they  wear  red  turbans. 
{See  Schiites.) 

Red-lattice  Phrases.  Pot-house 
talk.  Red-lattice  at  the  doors  and  win- 
dows was  formerly  the  sign  that  an 
ale-house  was  duly  licensed  ; hence  our 
chequers.  In  some  cases  ‘Hattice”  has 
been  converted  into  lettuce,  and  the  colour 
of  the  alternate  checks  changed  to  green; 
such  a sign  used  to  be  in  Brownlow 
Street,  Holborn.  Sometimes,  without 
doubt,  the  sign  had  another  meaning, 
and  announced  that  ‘‘tables”  were 
played  within ; hence  Gayton,  in  his 
“Notes  on  Don  Quixote,”  page  340, 
in  speaking  of  our  public-house  signs, 
refers  to  our  notices  of  “ billiards,  kettle- 
noddy -boards,  tables,  truncks,  shovel- 
boards,  fox-and-geese,  and  the  like.”  It 
is  quite  certain  that  shops  with  the  sign 
of  the  chequers  were  not  uncommon 
among  the  Romans.  {See  a view  of  the 
left-hand  street  of  Pompeii,  presented  by 
Sir  William  Hamilton  to  the  Society  of 
Antiquaries.  See  Lattice.) 

I,  l,  l myself  sometimes,  leaving  the  fear  of 
heaven  on  the  left  hand.... am  fam  to  shuffle,  to 
hedge,  and  to  lurch  ; and  yet  you,  rogue,  will  en- 
scouce  your  rags  . . your  red-latti'-e  phrases. . under 
the  bhi  1 er  of  your  honours.— Shakespeare,  '"'Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor,'*  ii.  2. 


Red-letter  Day.  A lucky  day;  a 
day  to  be  recalled  with  delight.  In 
almanacks,  saints’  days  and  holidays  are 
printed  in  red  ink,  other  days  in  black. 

Red  Man.  The  French  say  that  a 
red  man  commands  the  elements,  and 
wrecks  off  the  coast  of  Brittany  those 
whom  he  dooms  to  death.  The  legend 
affirms  that  he  appeared  to  Napoleon 
and  foretold  his  downfall. 

Red  Men.  W.  Hepworth  Dixon  tells 
us  that  the  Mormons  regard  the  Red 
Indians  as  a branch  of  the  Hebrew  race, 
who  lost  their  priesthood,  and  with  it 
their  colour,  intelligence,  and  physiogno- 
my, through  disobedience.  In  time  the 
wild  olive-branch  will  be  restored,  be- 
come white  in  colour,  and  will  act  as  a 
nation  of  priests. — Neio  America,"  i.  15. 

Red  Republicans.  Those  extreme 
republicans  of  France  who  scruple  not  to 
dye  their  hands  in  blood  in  order  to  ac- 
complish their  political  object.  They 
used  to  wear  a red  cap.  {See  Car- 
magnole.) 

Red  Sea  or  Sea  of  Edom  {the  red 
man).  Esau  was  so  called,  not  because 
he  was  ruddy  in  complexion,  or  had  red 
hair  like  our  Rufus,  but  because  he  sold 
his  birthright  for  a pottage  of  red  lentiles 
(Gen.  XXV.  30).  In  the  Bible  the  Red 
Sea  is  generally  called  the  sedgy  sea 
{yam-swph),  because  the  wind  drives  into 
it  a vast  quantity  of  sedge  or  sea- weed. 

Red-shanks.  A Highlander  ; so 
called  from  a buskin  formerly  worn  by 
them  ; it  was  made  of  undrc»3sed  deer’s 
hide,  with  the  red  hair  outside. 

Red  Snow  and  Gory  Dew.  The 
latter  is  a slimy  damp  like  blood  which 
appears  on  walls.  Both  are  due  to  the 
presence  of  the  algm  called  by  bota- 
nists Palmella  cruenta  and  Hcematn-coccus 
sanguineus,  which  are  of  the  lowest  forms 
of  vegetable  life. 

Red  Tincture.  That  preparation 
which  the  alchemists  thought  would  con- 
vert any  baser  metal  into  gold.  It  is 
sometimes  called  the  Philosopher’s  Stone, 
the  Great  Elixir,  and  the  Great  Magis- 
terium.  (fe  White  Tincture.) 

Redan'.  The  simplest  of  fieldworks, 
and  very  quickly  constructed.  It  con- 
sists simply  of  two  faces  and  an  angle 
formed  thus  A,  the  angle  being  towards 
the  object  of  attack.  A corruption  of 
redens,  a contraction  of  recedens  {luoXin) . 


742 


EEDGA.UNTLET, 


REE. 


Redgauntlet.  A novel  told  in  a 
series  of  letters  by  Sir  Walter  Scott.  Sir 
Edward  Hugh  Redgauntlet,  a Jacobite 
conspirator  in  favour  of  the  Young  Pre- 
tender, Charles  Edward,  is  the  hero. 
When  George  III.  was  crowned  he  per- 
suaded his  niece,  Lilias  Redgauntlet,  to 
pick  up  the  glove  thrown  down  by  the 
the  king’s  champion.  The  plot  ripened, 
but  when  the  prince  positively  refused  to 
dismiss  his  mistress.  Miss  Walkinshaw — 
a sine  qudj  non  with  the  conspirators — 
the  whole  enterprise  was  given  up. 
General  Campbell  arrived  with  the  mili- 
tary, the  prince  left  Scotland,  Red- 
gauntlet who  embarked  with  him  became 
a prior  abroad,  and  Lilias  his  niece 
married  her  brother’s  friend,  Allan  Fair- 
ford,  a young  advocate. 

Redgaunt'let.  Sir  A lerich.  An  ances- 
tor of  the  family  so  called. 

Sir  Edward.  Son  of  Sir  Aberick, 
killed  by  his  father’s  horse. 

Sir  Robert.  An  old  Tory  in  Wan- 
dering Willie’s  Tale.”  He  has  a favourite 
monkey  called  Major  Weir.” 

Sir  John,  Son  and  successor  of  Sir 
Robert. 

Sir  Redwald.  Son  of  Sir  John. 

Sir  Henry  Darsie.  Son  of  Sir  Red- 
wald. 

Lady  Henry  Bar  tie.  Wife  of  Sir 

Henry  Darsie. 

Sir  Arthur  Darsie  alias  Darsie  Lati- 
mer. Son  of  Sir  Henry  and  the  above 
lady. 

Miss  Lilias  alias  Greenmantle.  Sister 
of  Sir  Arthur ; she  marries  Allan  Fairford. 

Sir  Edward  Hugh.  A political  enthu- 
siast and  Jacobite  conspirator,  uncle  of 
Sir  Arthur  Darsie.  He  appears  as  Laird 
of  the  Lochs,”  “ Mr.  Herries  of  Birrens- 
work,”  and  Mr.  Ingoldsby.”  ‘‘When 
he  frowned,  the  puckers  of  his  brow 
formed  a horseshoe,  the  special  mark 
of  his  race.” — Sir  Walter  Scott,  ^^Red- 
gauntletr 

Redlaw  {Mr.).  The  haunted  man, 
professor  of  chemistry  in  an  ancient  col- 
lege. Being  haunted,  he  bargained  with 
his  spectre  to  leave  him,  and  the  condition 
imposed  was  that  “the  gift  given  by 
the  spectre  Redlaw  should  give  again,  go 
where  he  would.”  From  this  moment 
the  chemist  carried  in  his  touch  the  in- 
fection of  sullenness,  selfishness,  discon- 
tent, and  ingratitude.  On  Christmas- 
day  the  infection  ceased,  and  all  those 


who  had  suffered  by  it  were  restored  to 
love  and  grsXitMdQ.—Dichens,  “ The 
Ha%inted  Man** 

Redmain.  Magnus,  earl  of  Northum- 
berland, was  so  called  not  from  his  red 
or  bloody  hand,  but  on  account  of  his 
long  red  beard  or  mane.  He  was  slain 
in  the  battle  of  Sark  (1449). 

He  was  remarkable  for  his  long  red  beard,  and 
was  therefore  called  by  the  English  Magnus  Red- 
beard  ; but  the  Scotch  in  derision  called  him  “Magnus 
with  the  Red  Mane.”— Godscro/it,  fol.  178. 

Redmond  O’JNeale.  Rokeby’s 
page,  who  is  beloved  by  Rokeby’s  daugh- 
ter Matilda.  Redmond  turns  out  to  be 
Mortham’s  son  and  heir,  and  marries 
Matilda. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Roheby.** 

Reduplicated  or  Clach -Words,  of 
an  intensifying  force.  Chit-chat,  click- 
clack,  clitter-clatter,  dilly-dally,  ding:- 
dong,  drip-drop,  fal-lal,  flim-flam,  fiddle- 
faddle,  flip-flop,  fliffy-fluffy,  flippity- 
flappity,  handy-pandy,  harum-scarum, 
helter-skelter,  heyve-keyve  (Halliwell), 
hibbledy  - hobbledy,  higgledy  - piggledy, 
hob-nob,  hodge-podge,  hoity-toity,  hurly- 
burly,  mish-mash,  mixy-maxy  (Brockett), 
namby-pamby,  niddy- noddy,  niminy- 
piminy,  nosy-posy,  pell-mell,  pit-pat, 
pitter  - patter,  randem  - tandem,  randy- 
dandy,  ribble-rabble,  riff-raff,  roly-poly, 
rusty -fusty-crusty,  see-saw,  shilly-shally, 
slip-slop,  slish-slosh,  snick-snack,  spitter- 
spatter,  splitter-splutter,  squish-squash, 
teeny- tiny,  tick-tack,  tilly-vadley,  tiny- 
totty,  tip-top,  tittle-tattle,  toe-toes,  wee- 
wee,  wiggle-waggle,  widdy-waddy  (Halli- 
well), widdle  - waddle,  wibble  - wobble, 
wish-wash,  wishy-washy ; besides  a host 
of  rhyming  synonyms,  as  bawling- squaw- 
ling,  mewling -pewling,  whisky -frisky, 
musty-fusty,  gawky-pawky,  slippy-sloppy, 
rosy-posy,  right  and  tight,  wear  and  tear, 
high  and  mighty,  &c. ; and  many  more 
with  the  Anglo-Saxon  letter-rhyme,  as 
safe  and  sound,  jog-trot,  &c. 

Ree.  Right.  Thus  teamers  say  to 
a leading  horse,  “ Ree  ! ” when  they 
want  it  to  turn  to  the  right ; and  “ Hey  ! ” 
for  the  contrary  direction.  (Saxon,  reht; 
German,  recht  j Latin,  rectus;  various 
English  dialects,  reet,  whence  reetle,  “to 
put  to  rights.”) 

Who  with  a hey  and  ree  the  beasts  command. 

**Micro-Cijnicon''  (15yy). 

Riddle  me,  riddle  me  ree.  Expound  my 
riddle  rightly. 


REEF. 


RENARD. 


743 


Reef.  He  must  take  in  a reef  or  so. 
He  must  reduce  his  expenses ; he  must 
retrench.  A reef  is  that  part  of  a sail 
which  is  between  two  rows  of  eyelet-holes. 
The  object  of  these  eyelet-holes  is  to  re- 
duce the  sail  reef  by  reef  as  it  is  required. 

Reeves  Tale.  Thomas  Wright  says 
that  this  tale  occurs  frequently  in  the 
jest  and  story  books  of  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  centuries.  Boccaccio  has 
given  it  in  the  ^‘Decameron/’ evidently 
from  a fabliau,  which  has  been  printed 
in  Barbazan  under  the  title  of  He  Gom- 
bert  et  des  Deux  Clers.”  Chaucer  took 
the  story  from  another  fabliau,  which 
Wright  has  given  in  his  ^^Auecdota 
Literaria,”  p.  15. 

Refresh'er.  , A fee  paid  to  a bar- 
rister daily  in  addition  to  his  retaining 
fee,  to  remind  him  of  the  case  intrusted 
to  his  charge. 

RegaTe  (2  syl.).  To  entertain  like 
a king.  (Latin,  rega'lis,  like  a king, 
kingly.) 

Re'gan  and  Qon'eril.  Two  of  the 
daughters  of  King  Lear,  and  types  of 
unfilial  daughters. — Shakespeare,  King 
Lear.” 

Regatta  (Italian).  Originally  ap- 
plied to  the  contests  of  the  gondoliers 
at  Venice.  (Latin,  remigata.) 

Regime  de  la  Calotte.  Adminis- 
tration of  government  by  ecclesiastics. 
The  calotte  is  the  small  skull-cap  worn 
over  the  tonsure. 

Regiment  de  la  Calotte.  A so- 
ciety of  witty  and  satirical  men  in  the 
reign  of  Louis  XIV.  When  any  public 
character  made  himself  ridiculous, ' a 
calotte  was  sent  to  him  to  cover  the 
bald  or  brainless  part  of  his  noddle.” 
(See  above.) 

Regi'na  (St.),  the  virgin  martyr,  is 
depicted  with  lighted  torches  held  to  her 
sides,  as  she  stands  fast  bound  to  tLe 
cross  on  which  she  suffered  martyrdom. 

Regiomonta'nus.  The  Latin  equi- 
valent of  Konigsherg.  The  name  adopted 
by  Johann  Miiller,  the  mathematician. 
(1436-1476.) 

Re'gium  Do'num  (Latin).  An  an- 
nual grant  of  public  money  to  the  Pres- 
byterian, Independent,  and  Baptist 
ministers  of  Ireland.  It  began  in  1672, 
and  was  abolished  in  1869. 


Re'gius  Professor.  One  who  holds 
in  an  English  university  a professorship 
founded  by  Henry  VIII.  Each  of  the 
five  Regius  Professors  of  Cambridge  re- 
ceives a royally  endowed  stipend  of  about 
c£40.  In  the  universities  of  Scotland 
they  are  appointed  by  the  crown. 

Reign  of  Terror.  The  period  in 
the  French  Revolution  between  the  fall 
of  the  Girondists  and  overthrow  of  Robes- 
pierre. It  lasted  420  days,  from  May 
31st,  1793,  to  July  27th,  1794. 

ReTdresal.  Principal  secretary  for 
private  affairs  in  the  court  of  Lilliput, 
and  great  friend  of  Gulliver.  When  it 
was  proposed  to  put  the  Man-mountain  to 
death  for  high  treason,  Reldresal  moved 
as  an  amendment,  that  the  traitor 
should  have  both  his  eyes  put  out,  and 
be  suffered  to  live  that  he  might  serve 
the  nation.” — Swift,  Gulliver's  Travels” 
( Voyage  to  Lilliput). 

Rem'bha.  Goddess  of  pleasure. — 
Indian  mythology. 

Remig'ius  (*8^.).  Remy,  bishop  and 
confessor,  is  represented  as  carrying  a 
vessel  of  holy  oil,  or  in  the  act  of  anoint- 
ing therewith  Clovis,  who  kneels  before 
him.  When  Clovis  presented  himself  for 
baptism,  R€my  said  to  him  : Sigam- 
brian,  henceforward  burn  what  thou  hast 
worshipped,  and  worship  what  thou  hast 
burned.”  (438-533.)  ’ 

Renaissance  (French).  A term  ap- 
plied in  the  arts  to  that  peculiar  style  of 
decoration  revived  by  Raphael,  and  which 
resulted  from  ancient  paintings  exhumed 
in  the  pontificate  of  Leo  X.  (16  th  cen- 
tury). The  French  Renaissance  is  a 
Gothic  skeleton  with  classic  details. 

Renaissant  Period.  That  period 
in  French  history  which  began  with 
the  Italian  wars  in  the  reign  of  Charles 
VIIL,  and  closed  with  the  reign  of  Henri 
II.  It  was  the  intercourse  with  Italy, 
brought  about  by  the  Italian  war  (1494- 
1557),  which  regenerated”  the  arts  and 
sciences  in  France ; but  as  everything 
was  Italianised — the  language,  dress, 
architecture,  poetryq  prose,  food,  man- 
ners, &c. — it  was  a period  of  great  false 
taste  and  national  deformity. 

Renard.  Tine  queue  de  renard.  A 
mockery.  At  one  time  a common  prac- 
tical joke  was  to  fasten  a fox’s  tail  be- 
hind a person  against  whom  a laugh  was 


744 


KENARDEK. 


REVENONS. 


designed.  “ Panurge  never  refrained 
from  attaching  a fox’s  tail,  or  the  cars 
of  a levret,  behind  a Master  of  Arts  or 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  whenever  he  encoun- 
tered them.”— ii.  16. 

O’eet  line  petite  vipere 

Qui  n’epargneroit  pas  son  pdre, 

Et  qui  par  nature  ou  par  art 
fcgait  couper  la  queue  au  renard, 

Bmucaire,  “ L’Eniharraa  de  la  FoUre^'* 

Renarder  {French).  To  vomit,  espe- 
cially after  too  freely  indulging  in  in- 
toxicating drinks.  Our  word  fox  moans 
also  to  be  tipsy.  {See  Cat,  p.  147,  col.  2.) 

II  luv  visif e la  machoire, 

Qnand  I’autr"  luy  renarde  aiix  yeux, 

Le  haume  q iMs  venoieut  de  boire 
Pour  se  le  reiidre  a qui  mieux  mieux. 

Sieur  de  St.  Amant,  “ Chambre  de  Desbauche.** 

Rena'ta.  Ren€e,  daughter  of  Louis 
XTI.  and  Anne  of  Bretagne,  married 
Hercules,  second  son  of  Lucretia  Borgia 
and  Alphonso. 

Renaud.  French  form  of  Rinaldo 
(g.v.). 

Rendezvous.  The  place  to  which 
you  are  to  repair,  a meeting,  a place  of 
muster  or  call.  Also  used  as  a verb. 
(French,  rendez,  betake  ; vous^  yourself.) 

Hia  house  is  a grand  rendezvous  of  the  elite  of 
Paris. 

The  Imperial  Guard  was  ordered  to  rendezvous  in 
the  Champs  de  Mars. 

Rene  (2  syl.)  Le  Bon  Roi  RenL  Son 
of  Louis  II.,  due  d’ Anjou,  comte  de 
Provence,  father  of  Margaret  of  Anjou. 
The  last  minstrel  monarch,  just,  joyous, 
and  debonair ; a friend  to  chase  and  tilt, 
but  still  more  so  to  poetry  and  music. 
He  gave  in  largesses  to  knights-errant 
and  minstrels  (so  says  Thiebault)  more 
than  he  received  in  revenue.  (1408-1480.) 

Studying  to  promote,  as  far  as  possible,  the  imme- 
diate mu  tt)  au'l  g"oo-humour  of  his  ^ubjects  ..  he 
was  never  n entioned  by  ihem  ex  epting  as  Le  Bon 
Roi  Ri'.ne  a dis  inctioa...  due  to  him  certainly  by 
the  qualities  of  h's  heart,  if  not  b\  those  of  his  head. 
■^Sir  Walter  Scott,  " Aiine  oj  Gemste.n,"  ch.  xxix. 

Rene  Leblanc.  Notary -public  of 
Grand  Prd  {Nova  Scotia)^  the  father  of 
twenty  children  and  159  grand-children. 
^Longfellow ^ Evangeline.^* 

Rep'artee'  properly  means  a smart 
return  blow  in  fencing.  (French,  re'partir, 
to  return  a blow.) 

Reprieve  (2  syl.)  meant  originally 
'Ho  apprehend  again.”  French,  re~ 
prendre,  re-pris,  to  granf  a respite  and 
then  bring  to  trial  again ; but  the  pre- 
sent meaning  is  to  respite  or  remit  the 
original  sentence. 


Republican  Queen.  Sophie  Char- 
lotte, wife  of  Frederick  I.  of  Prussia. 
Republicans.  (>Sge  Black.) 

Resolute  (^The).  John  Florio,  the 
philologist,  tutor  to  prince  Henry ; the 
Holofernes  of  Shakespeare.  (1545-1625.) 

The  Resolute  Doctor.  John  Bacon- 
thorp.  (*-1346.) 

The  Most  Resolute  Doctor,  Guillaume 
Durandus  de  St.  Pour^aiu.  (*-1332.) 

Res'tive  (2  syl.)  means  inclined  to 
resist,  resist  ive,  obstinate  or  self-willed. 
It  has  nothing  to  do  with  rest  (quiet). 

Restora'tionists.  The  followers  of 
Origen’s  opinion  that  all  persons,  after  a 
purgation  proportioned  to  their  demerits, 
will  be  restored  to  Divine  favour  and 
taken  to  paradise.  . Mr.  Ballow,  of 
America,  has  introduced  an  extension  of 
the  term,  and  maintains  that  all  retribu- 
tion is  limited  to  this  life,  and  at  the 
resurrection  all  will  be  restored  to  life, 
joy,  and  immortality. 

Resurrection  Pie  is  pie  made  of 
broken  cooked  meat.  Meat  rechauffe  is 
sometimes  called  ''  resurrection  meat.” 

Retia'rius.  A gladiator  who  made 
use  of  a net,  which  ho  threw  over  his 
adversary. 

As  in  thronged  amphitheatre  of  old 
The  wary  lletiarius  irapn  d his  foe. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,'^  canto  ii. 

Reuben  Dixon.  A village  school- 
master “of  ragged  lads.” 

Mi4  noise,  and  dirt,  and  stench,  and  play,  and  prate, 
He  calmly  outs  the  pen  or  views  the  slate, 

Crabbe,  ^'Borough,'*  letter  xxiv. 

Reveille  (re-vay'-ya).  The  beat  of 
drum  at  daybreak  to  warn  the  sentries 
that  they  may  forbear  from  challenging, 
as  the  troops  are  awake.  (French,  r^- 
veiller,  to  awake.) 

Rev'el.  Mr.  Lye  derives  this  word 
from  the  Dutch  raveelen,  to  wander  loosely 
about,  and  refers  in  proof  to  the  old  term 
a revel-rout ; but  it  is  far  more  likely  to 
be  the  French  r^veillon,  a feast  given  in 
the  middle  of  the  night,  from  the  verb 
reveiller,  to  rouse  out  of  sleep. 

Master  of  the  Revels.  {See  Lord  of 
Misrule.) 

Revenons  h nos  Moutons  {Return 
we  to  our  sheep).  Let  us  come  back  to 
the  matter  in  hand ; let  us  resume  our 
discourse.  The  phrase  is  from  an  old 
comedy  of  the  fiheenth  century,  called 
“L’Avocat  Patella/’  by  De  Brueys,  in 


REVEREND, 


RHAPSODY. 


745 


which  a clothier  giving  evidence  against 
a shepherd  who  had  stolen  some  sheep,  is 
ever  running  from  the  subject  to  talk 
about  some  cloth  which  Patelin  his 
lawyer  had  swindled  him  of.  The  judge 
perpetually  stops  him  by  saying,  **  But 
about  the  sheep,"  Tell  us  about  the 
sheep.” 

Reverend.  An  archbishop  is  the 
Most  [Father  in  God] ; a bishop, 

the  Right  Reverend;  a dean,  the  Very 
Reverend;  an  archdeacon,  the  Venerable; 
all  the  rest  of  the  clergy,  the  Reverend. 

Review.  The  British  Review  was 
nicknamed  ’^My  Grandmother.”  In 

Don  Juan,”  lord  Byron  says,  “ I bribed 
My  Grandniama’s  Reviev^,  the  British.” 
The  editor  took  this  in  dudgeon  and 
gave  Byron  the  lie,  but  the  poet  turned 
the  laugh  against  the  reviewer. 

Am  I flat.  I tip  “ My  Graudmother  ” a bit  of  prose. 
— ^JVoctes  Am'jrusiance” 

Revi'se  (2  syl.).  The  second  proof- 
sheet  submitted  to  an  author  or ‘^reader.” 

I at  length  reached  a vanlted  room...  and  beheH, 
seated  by  a amp  a id  empioyed  iu  readiui?  a blu'ted 
revise  . ..the  an  her  of  \Vsi.verley—ijcott,'"ForiuniS 
of  Nigel  ” {Intro  iuction). 

Revival  of  Letters  in  Englandf 
dates  from  the  commencement  of  the 
11th  century. 

The  Arabs  first  became  acquainted 
with  the  literature  of  Greece  in  the 
eighth  century,  but  the  subjects  most 
appreciated  by  them  were  metaphysics, 
mathematics,  medicine,  chemistry,  bo- 
tany, and  other  physical  sciences. 

Revival  of  Painting  and  Sculpture 
began  with  Niccola  Pisano,  Giunta,  Cima- 
bue,  and  Giotto  (2  syl.). 

Reviver  of  Religion  {Mohi-eddin). 
A title  given  to  Aurungzebe,  the  Great 
Mogul.  (1618-1707.) 

Revo'ke  (2  syl.).  When  a player  at 
cards  can  follow  suit,  but  plays  some 
other  card,  he  makes  a revoke,  and  by  the 
laws  of  whist  the  adversaries  are  entitled 
to  score  three  points. 

Gooi  Heaven!  Revoke?  Remember,  if  the  set 
Be  lost,  in  honour  you  should  pay  the  debt. 

Crabbe,  '"Borough.** 

Revulsion  {in  philosophy).  Part  of  a 
substance  set  off  and  formed  into  a dis- 
tinct existence,  as  when  a slip  is  cut  from 
a tree  and  planted  to  form  a distinct 
plant  of  itself.  Tertullian  the  Montanist 
taught  that  the  second  person  of  the 
Trinity  was  a revulsion  of  the  Father. 
(Batin,  revulsiOf  re-vello,  to  pull  back.) 


Reyn'ard  the  Pox.  The  hero  in 
the  beast-epic  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
This  prose  poem  is  a satire  on  the  state 
of  Germany  in  the  middle  ages.  Reynard 
typifies  the  church  ; his  uncle,  Isengrin 
the  wolf,  typifies  the  baronial  element ; 
and  Nodel  the  lion,  the  regal.  The  word 
means  deep  counsel  or  wit.  (Gothic, 
raginoharty  cunning  in  counsel ; Old 
Norse,  hreinn  and  ard ; German,  reinehe.) 
Reynard  is  commonly  used  as  a synonym 
of  fox. 

Wbere  prowling  Reynard  trod  his  nighUy  round. 

Bloomfield.  ' Farmer's^  Boy.** 

Reynard  the  Fox.  Professedly  by 
Hinreck  van  Alckmer,  tutor  of  the  duke 
of  Lorraine.  This  name  is  generally 
supposed  to  be  a pseudonym  of  Hermann 
Barkhusen,  town-clerk  and  book-printer 
in  Rostock.  (1498  ) 

False  Reynard.  So  Dryden  describes 
the  Unitarians  in  his  Hin(l  and  Pan- 
ther.” 

With  greater  guile 

False  Reynard  fed  ou  couit-crated  spoil ; 

The  graceless  beas’  by  Athaua'sius  first 

Was  chased  from  Nice,  then  by  aocinMS  nursed. 

Part  i. 

Reynar'dine  (3  syl.).  The  eldest  son 
of  Reynard  the  Fox,  who  assumed  the 
names  of  Dr.  Pedanto  and  Crabron. — 

Reynard  the  Fox." 

Reynold  of  Montalbon.  One  of 
Charlemagne’s  knights  and  paladins. 

Rhadaman'thos.  One  of  the  three 
judges  of  hell ; Minos  and  .^acos  being 
the  other  two. — Greeh  mythology. 

RhampsinPtos.  The  Greek  form 
of  Ram'eses  III.,  the  richest  of  the  Egyp- 
tian kings,  who  amassed  seventy-seven 
millions  sterling,  which  ho  secured  in  a 
treasury  of  stone,  but  by  an  artifice  of 
the  builder  he  was  robbed  every  night. 

Rhapsody  means  songs  sewed  to- 
gether. Tne  term  was  originally  applied 
to  the  books  of  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey, 
which  at  one  time  were  in  fragments. 
Certain  bards  collected  together  a num- 
ber of  the  fragments,  enough  to  make  a 
connected  ballad,”  and  sang  them  as 
our  minstrels  sang  the  deeds  of  famous 
heroes.  Those  bards  who  sang  the  Iliad 
wore  a red  robe,  and  those  who  sang  the 
Odyssey  a blue  one.  Pisis'tratos  of 
Athens  had  all  these  fragments  care- 
fully compiled  into  their  present  form. 
(Greek,  raptOy  to  sew  or  string  together  j 
odey  a song. ) 


740 


EHENE, 


RICHARD, 


Rhene  (1  syl.).  The  Rhine.  (Latin, 
Rhenus.) 

To  pass 

Khene  or  the  Danaw  IDanu^e]. 

Milton,  ‘^Paradise  Lost,'*  bk  i. 

Rhine  or  Rhineland.  The  country  of 
Gunther,  king  of  Burgundy,  is  so  called 
in  the  Nibelungen-Lied.” 

Not  a lord  of  Rhineland  could  follow  where  he  flew. 

Lettsom's  ^'‘JVibelungen-Lied”  st.  210. 

Rhi'no.  Ready-money.  {See  Nose.) 

Rhod'alind.  A princess  famous  for 
her '^knightly”  deeds;  she  would  have 
been  the  wife  of  Gon'dibert,  but  he 
wisely  preferred  Birtha,  a country  girl, 
the  .daughter  of  the  sage  As'tragon. 

Rho'dian  Law.  The  earliest  system 
of  marine  law  known  to  history ; com- 
piled by  the  Rhodians  about  900  B.C. 

Rhone.  The  Rho^ie  of  Christian 
eloquence.  St.  Hil'ary  ; so  called  from 
the  vehemence  of  his  style.  (300-368.) 

Rhopal'ic  Verse  {wedge-verse).  A 
line  in  which  each  successive  word  has 
more  syllables  than  the  one  preceding 
it.  (Greek,  rhopalon,  a club,  which  from 
the  handle  to  the  top  grows  bigger  and 
bigger.) 

Spes  deus  aeterna  est  stationis  conciliator. 

Hope  ever  solaced  miserable  individuals. 

1 2 3 4 5 

Rhyme.  Neither  rhyme  nor  reason. 
Fit  neither  for  amusement  nor  instruc- 
tion. An  author  took  his  book  to  Sir 
Thomas  More,  chancellor  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII,,  and  asked  his  opinion. 
Sir  Thomas  told  the  author  to  turn  it 
into  rhyme.  He  did  so,  and  submitted 
it  again  to  the  lord  chancellor.  ^^Ay! 
ay  ! ” said  the  witty  satirist,  that  will 
do,  that  will  do.  ’Tis  rhyme  now,  but 
before  it  was  neither  rhyme  nor  reason.” 

Rhyming  to  death.  The  Irish  at  one 
time  believed  that  their  children  and 
cattle  could  be  “ eybitten,”  that  is  be- 
witched by  an  evil  eye,  and  that  the 
'^eybitter”  or  witch  could  ^‘rime”  them 
to  death.— i^.  ScoH,  Discovery  of  Witch- 
craft.” (AS'eeRATS.) 

Rhymer.  Thomas  the  Rhymer. 
Thomas  Learmount,  of  Ercildoune,  who 
lived  in  the  thirteenth  century.  This 
was  quite  a different  person  to  Thomas 
Rymer,  the  historiographer  royal  to 
William  III.  (Flourished  1283.)  {See 
True  Thomas.) 


Rib'aldry  is  the  language  of  a ribald. 
(French,  riband  ; Old  French,  ribaudie  ; 
Italian,  ribalderia^  the  language  of  a 
vagabond  or  rogue.) 

Ribbonism.  A Catholic  association 
organised  in  Ireland  about  1808.  Its  two 
main  objects  are  (1)  to  secure  ‘^fixity  of 
tenure,”  called  the  tenant-right ; and  (2) 
to  deter  any  one  from  taking  land  from 
which  a tenant  has  been  ejected.  The 
name  arises  from  a ribbon  worn  as  a 
badge  in  the  button-hole  of  the  mem- 
bers. 

Ribs  ton  Pippin.  So  called  from 
Ribston,  in  Yorkshire,  where  Sir  Henry 
Goodricke  planted  three  pips  sent  to 
him  from  Rouen,  in  Normandy.  Two 
of  the  pips  died,  but  the  third  became 
the  parent  of  the  Ribston  apple-trees  in 
England. 

Riccardo,  in  the  opera  of  I Puri- 
ta'ni,”  is  Sir  Richard  Forth,  a Puritan, 
commander  of  Plymouth  fortress.  Lord 
Walton  promised  to  give  him  his  daugh- 
ter Elvi'ra  in  marriage,  but  Elvira  had 
engaged  her  affections  to  lord  Arthur 
Talbot,  a Cavalier,  to  whom  ultimately 
she  was  married. 

Riceiardet'to.  Son  of  Agmon  and 
brother  of  Bradamante. — Ariosto , Or- 
lando  Furioso.” 

Rice  thrown  after  a bride.  A relic  of 
the  panis  farreus,”  in  the  most  honour- 
able form  of  Roman  marriage,  called 

Confarrea'tio.” 

Rich  as  a Jew.  This  expression 
arose  in  the  middle  ages,  when  Jews 
were  almost  the  only  merchants,  and 
were  certainly  the  most  wealthy  of  the 
people.  There  are  still  the  Rothschilds 
among  them,  and  others  of  great  wealth. 

Richard  CcBur  de  Lion.  {See 

Bogie.) 

His  tremendous  name  was  employed  by  the  Syrian 
mothers  to  silence  their  iufants ; and  if  a horse  sud- 
denly started  from  the  way,  his  rider  was  wont  to 
exclaim,  “ Dost  thou  think  king  Richard  is  in  the 
bush  ? "—Gibbon,  Decline  and  Fall,"  ko.,  xi.  146. 

Richard  II.’s  Horse.  Roan 
Barbary. 

O,  how  it  yearned  my  heart,  when  I beheld 

In  London  streets  that  coronation  day 

When  Bolingbroke  rode  on  Roan  Barbary— 

That  horse  that  thou  so  often  hast  bestrid— 

That  horse  that  I so  carefully  have  dressed. 

Shakespeare,  ‘'Richard  v-  5? 


RICHARD. 


RIDOLPHUS. 


747 


Richard  III.’s  Horse.  White 

Surrey. 

Saddle  White  Surrey  for  the  field  to-morrovr. 

Shakespeare,  '■'Richard  III,"  v.  3. 

Richard’s  Himself  Again. 

These  words  are  not  in  Shakespeare’s 

Richard  III.,”  but  were  interpolated 
from  Colley  Cibber  by  John  Kemble. 

Richard  of  Cirencester.  Some- 
times called  The  monk  of  W estminster,” 
an  early  English  chronicler.  His  chronic]  e 

On  the  Ancient  State  of  Britain”  was 
first  brought  to  light  by  Dr.  Charles 
Julius  Bertram,  professor  of  English  at 
Copenhagen  in  1747,  but  the  original  (like 
the  original  of  Macpherson’s  ^^Ossian” 
and  of  Joe  Smith's  ^^Book  of  Mormon”) 
does  not  exist,  and  grave  suspicion  pre- 
vails that  all  three  are  alike  forgeries. 

Richard  Roe.  A mere  nominal 
defendant  in  actions  of  ejectment.  The 
name  used  to  be  coupled  with  John  Doe^ 
but  these  airy  nothings  are  no  longer  the 
lawyer’s  tools. 

Richar'da,  wife  of  Nicholas  d’Este. 
A widow  who,  with  her  son  Hercules,  was 
dispossessed  of  her  inheritance  by  Lio- 
nello  and  Borso.  Both  were  obliged  to 
go  into  exile,  but  finally  Hercules  reco- 
vered his  lordship. 

Richborough,  Richeboro\  or  Rates- 
burgh  (a  Roman  fort  in  the  time  of 
Claudius),  called  by  Alfred  of  Beverley, 
Richberge  ; by  the  Saxons  (according  to 
Bede)  Reptacester,  and  by  others  Rupti- 
muth  ; by  Orosius,  the  port  and  city  of 
Rhutubus ; by  Ammianus,  Rhutupise 
Statio  ; by  Antoninus,  Rhitupis  Portus  ; 
by  Tacitus,  Portus  Trutulensis  for  Rhutu- 
pensis ; by  Ptolemy,  Rhutupise. — Camden. 

Ricochet  irilcho-shay)-.  Anything 
repeated  over  and  over  again.  The 
fabulous  bird  that  had  only  one  note  was 
called  the  Ricochet ; and  the  rebound  on 
water  termed  ducks  and  drakes  has  the 
same  name.  Marshal  Vauban  (1633-1707) 
invented  a battery  of  rebound  called  the 
Ricochet  baiWy,  the  application  of  which 
was  Ricochet  firing.' 

The  well-known  song  beginning  '^Oh 
dear,  what  can  the  matter  be  ?”  may  be 
termed  une  chanson  du  ricochet,  from  its 
repetition  of  the  same  words  line  after 
line. 

Riddle.  Josephus  relates  how  Hiram, 
king  of  Tyre,  and  Solomon  had  once  a 


contest  in  riddles,  when  Solomon  won  a 
large  sum  of  money ; but  he  subsequently 
lost  it  to  Abde'mon,  one  of  Hiram’s 
subjects. 

Riddle.  Plutarch  states  that  Homer 
died  of  chagrin,  because  he  could  not 
solve  a certain  riddle.  {See  Sphinx.  ) 
Father  oj  Riddles.  So  the  abbe  Cotin 
dubbed  himself,  but  posterity  has  not 
confirmed  his  right  to  the  title.  (1604- 
1682.) 

Ride.  To  ride  abroad  with  St.  George, 
hut  at  home  with  St.  Michael;  said  of  a hen- 
pecked braggart.  St.  George  is  repre- 
sented as  riding  on  a war  charger  whither 
he  listed ; St.  Michael,  on  a dragon. 
Abroad  a man  rides  like  St.  George  on 
a horse  which  he  can  control  and  govern ; 
but  at  home  he  has  a dragon”  to 
manage  like  St.  Michael.  (French.) 

_ Rider.  An  addition  to  a manuscript, 
like  a codicil  to  a will ; an  additional 
clause  tacked  to  a bill  in  parliament ; so 
called  because  it  over-rides  the  preceding 
matter  when  the  two  come  into  collision. 
A question  added  to  another  question  in 
an  examination  paper. 

Perhapa  Mr,  Kenneth  ^rill  allow  me  to  add  the 
following  as  a rider  to  his  suggestion.— iVofes  and 
Queries,  "M.N.** 

Riderliood  {Rogue).  The  villain  in 
Dickens’s  novel  entitled  Our  Mutual 
Friend.” 

Ridicule  {Father  of).  Francois 
Rabelais.  (1495-1553.) 

Riding  of  Yorkshire.  Same  as 
trithing  in  Lincolnshire  ; the  jurisdiction 
of  a third  part  of  a county,  under  the 
government  of  a reeve  {sheriff).  The 
word  ding  or  thing  is  Scandinavian,  and 
means  a legislative  assembly  ; hence  the 
great  national  diet  of  Norway  is  still 
called  a stor-thing  (great  legislative 
assembly),  and  its  two  chambers  are  the 
lag-thing  (law  assembly)  and  the  odcls- 
thing  (freeholders’  assembly).  Kent  was 
divided  into  laths,  Sussex  into  rapes, 
Lincoln  into  parts.  The  person  who  pre- 
sided over  a trithing  was  called  the 
trithing-man ; he  who  presided  in  the 
lath  was  called  a lath-grieve. 

Ridol'plius  (in  Jerusalem  Deli- 
vered”). One  of  the  band  of  adventurers 
that  joined  the  Crusaders,  He  was 
slain  by  Argantes  (bk.  vii.). 


748 


31ID0TT0 


RIGLET. 


Ridot'to  (^Italian).  An  assembly 
where  the  company  is  first  entertained 
with  music,  and  then  joins  in  dancing. 

Rien'zi  {Nicotd  Gahri'ni).  The  Re- 
former at  Rome.  (1313-1354.)  Bulwer 
Lytton  (Lord  Lytton)  has  a novel  called 
‘^Rienzi.’» 

Rif  or  Rijie  (French).  Avoir  rifle  et 
raUe,  To  have  everything.  Also,  the 
negative  n' avoir  ni  rif  ni  raf ; to  have 
nothing. 

H61as ! j’ai  goute  miseraigne, 

J’ai  rifle  rafle,  et  roigne  et  taigne. 

“ Lea  Miracles  de  Ste.  (xenevicve.** 

Riff-raff.  The  offscouring  of  society, 
or  rather  refuse  and  sweepings.”  Rief 
is  Anglo-Saxon,  and  means  a rag ; Raff 
is  also  Anglo-Saxon,  and  means  sweep- 
ings. (Danish,  rips-raps.)  The  French 
have  the  expression  avoir  rifle  et  rafle, 
meaning  to  have  everything  ; whence 
radoux,  one  who  has  everything,  and  the 
phrase  il  oi^a  hiisse  m rif  ni  raf,  he 
has  left  nothing  behind  him. 

I have  neither  ryff  nor  ruflF  [raff  to  cover  me  nor 
roof  over  my  head].  — Sharj)^  "Coventi'y  Myst.^* 
p.  22i. 

Ilka  man  agayne  his  gud  he  gaffe 

'Jhat  he  had  tine  with  ryfe  and  raffe. 

Quoted  by  Halliwell  in  his  “ Archaic  Dictionary 

Rifle  is  from  the  German  reifeln,  to 
hollow  into  tubes.  In  1851,  the  Frepch 
minie  rifle  was  partially  supplied  to  the 
British  army.  In  1853  it  was  superseded 
by  the  Enfield  rifle,  which  has  three 
grooves.  Sir  William  Armstrong’s  gun, 
which  has  numerous  small  sharp  grooves, 
was  adopted  by  the  government  in  1859. 
The  Whitworth  gun,  which  has  a poly- 
gonal bore,  with  a twist  towards  the 
muzzle,  will  probably  supersede  the 
Armstrong. 

Eig.  A piece  of  frolic  or  fun.  The 
Scotch  say  of  a man  who  indulges  in 
intoxication,  He  goes  the  rigd'  The 
same  word  is  applied  in  Scotland  to  a 
certain  portion  or  division  of  a field. 
Thus,  such  expressions  as  the  ‘Mea-rig” 
and  the  ‘‘rigs  o’  barley”  occur  in  the 
songs  of  Burns.  A wanton  used  to  be 
called  a rig.  (French,  se  rigoler,  to  make 
merry.) 

He  little  thought  when  he  set  out 
Of  running  such  a rig. 

Coivper,  **John  Gilpin*' 

Rig.  To  dress  ; whence  rigged  out,  to 
rig  oneself,  to  rig  a ship,  well-rigged,  &c. 


(Saxon,  wrigan,  to  dress  ; hrcegl,  a gar- 
ment. 

Jack  was  rigged  out  in  his  gold  and  silver  lace, 
with  a feather  in  h^s  cs^p.—L'Dstranffe. 

Rig- Marie.  Base  coin.  The  word 
originated  from  one  of  the  billon  coins 
struck  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary,  which 
bore  the  words  Reg.  Maria  as  part  of 
the  legend. 

Rigadoon.  A French  figure-dance 
invented  by  Isaac  Rig'adon. 

And  Isaac’s  Rgiadoon  shall  live  as  long 
As  Raphael’s  painting,  or  as  V irgil’s  song. 

Jenyna,  ‘‘Art  of  Danciny."  canto  ii. 

Rig'dum  Pun'nidos,  in  Carey’s 
burlesque  of  “ Chrononhotonthologos.” 

Rigdiim  Funnidos.  A sobriquet  given 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott  to  J ohn  Ballantyne, 
his  publisher.  So  called  because  he  was 
full  of  fun.  (1776-1821.) 

A quick,  act've,  intrep’d  little  fellow.... full  of 
fun  and  merriment.. ..all  over  quaintne^s  and  hu- 
morous mimicry.  ...  a keen  and  skilful  utvotee 
of  all  manner  of  field-sports,  from  fox-hunting  to 
badger-i.aitmg  inclusive. — Lockhart. 

Right.  Right  as  the  trivet.  The  trivet 
is  a metallic  piate-stand  with  three  legs. 
Some  fasten  to  the  fender,  and  are  de- 
signed to  hold  the  plate  of  hot  toast. 
(Saxon,  ihryfot  three-foot,  tripod.) 

Declaration  of  Rights,  An  instrument 
submitted  to  William  and  Mary  on  their 
being  called  to  the  throne,  setting  forth 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  con- 
stitution. The  chief  items  are  these  : 
The  crown  cannot  levy  taxes,  nor  keep  a 
standing  army  in  times  of  peace ; the 
members  of  parliament  are  free  to  utter 
their  thoughts,  and  a parliament  is  to  be 
convened  every  year  ; elections  are  to  be 
free,  trial  by  jury  is  to  be  inviolate,  and 
the  right  of  petition  is  not  to  be  inter- 
fered with. 

Right  Foot  Foremost.  In  Rome 
a boy  was  always  stationed  at  the  door 
of  a mansion  to  caution  the  visitors  not  to 
cross  the  threshold  with  their  left  foot, 
which  would  have  been  an  ill-omen. 

Right  Hand.  The  right-hand  side 
of  the  Speaker,  meaning  the  ministerial 
benches.  In  the  French  Legislative 
Assembly,  the  right  meant  the  Monarchy- 
men.  In  the  National  Convention,  the 
Girondists  were  called  the  right  hand, 
because  they  occupied  the  Ministerial 
benches. 

Riglet.  A thin  piece  of  wood  used 
for  stretching  the  canvas  of  pictures ; 
and  in  printing,  to  regulate  the  margin, 


EIGOL. 


BING. 


749 


&c.  (French,  reglet^  a rule  or  regulator ; 
Latin,  reg'idaj  a rule. ) 

Big'ol.  A circle  or  diadem.  The 
word  seems  to  be  a corruption  of  ringle 
(a  little  ring). 

[Sleep]  That  from  this  golden  rigol  hath  divorced 
Bo  many  English  kings. 

Shakespeare^  “2  Henry  IV”  iv.  4. 

Bigolette  (3  syl.).  A grisette,  a 
courtezan;  so  called  from  Bigolette  in 
Eugene  Sue’s  “ Mysteries  of  Paris.” 

Bigoletto.  An  opera  describing  the 
agony  of  a father  obliged  to  witness  the 
prostitution  of  his  own  child.  The  li- 
bretto is  borrowed  from  the  drama  called 

Le  Roi  s’ Amuse,”  by  Victor  Hugo ; the 
music  is  by  Giuseppe  Verdi. 

Bile.  Don't  rile  the  water.  Do  not 
stir  up  the  water  and  make  it  muddy* 
The  water  is  riled — muddy  and  unfit  to 
drink.  Common  Norfolk  expressions; 
also,  a boy  is  riled  (out  of  temper).  7’ s y, 
together,  Joe  Smith  was  regularly  Hied,  is 
quite  Norfolk.  The  American  roil  has 
the  same  meaning.  (French,  hrouiller; 
our  broil.) 

Bime  of  Sir  Thopas.  A trayestie 
of  the  ancient  rhyming  romances  intro- 
duced by  Chaucer  into  his  “ Canterbury 
Tales.”  Harry  Bailly  interrupts  mine 
host  with  the  most  energetic  expressions 
of  contempt. 

Bi'mer.  Chief  god  of  Damascus ; 
so  called  from  the  word  rime,  a pome- 
granate,” because  he  held  a pomegranate 
in  his  right  hand.  The  people  bore  a 
pomegranate  in  their  coat  armour.  The 
Romans  called  this  god  Jupiter  Cassius, 
from  mount  Cassius,  near  Damascus. 

Bimfaxi  {Frost  mane).  The  horse 
of  Night,  the  foam  of  whose  bit  causes 
dew.  — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Bimmon.  A Syrian  god,  whose  seat 
was  Damascus, 

Him  followed  Rimmon,  whose  deliglitful  seat 

Was  fair  Uam^iscus.  on  the  fertile  bank 

Of  Al'bana  and  Pharpbar,  lucid  streams. 

Milton,**  Paradise  Lost’*  bk.  i. 

Bimthur'sar.  Brother  of  Y'mer. 
They  were  called  the  ^^Evil  Ones.” — 
Scandinavian  mythology 

Binal'do  (in  'Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
The  Achilles  of  the  Christian  army.  ^*He 
despises  gold  and  power,  but  craves  re- 
nown” (bk.  i.).  He  was  the  son  of  Ber- 
toldo  and  Sophia,  and  nephew  of  Guelpho, 


but  was  brought  up  by  Matilda.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  ran  away  and  joined  the 
Crusaders,  where  he  was  enrolled  in  the 
adventurers’  squadron.  Having  slain 
Gernando,  he  was  summoned  by  Godfrey 
to  public  trial,  but  went  into  voluntary 
exile.  The  pedigree  of  Rinaldo,  of  the 
noble  house  of  Este,  is  traced  from  Actius 
on  the  male  side,  and  Augustus  on  the 
female  to  Actius  VI.  (Bk.  xvii.) 

Rinaldo  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”).  Son 
of  the  fourth  marquis  d’Este,  cousin  of 
Orlando,  lord  of  Mount  Auban  or  Albano, 
eldest  son  of  Amon  or  Aymon,  nephew 
of  Charlemagne,  and  Bradamant’s  brother 
{see  Alba'no).  He  was  the  rival  of  his 
cousin  Orlando,  but  Angelica  detested 
him.  He  was  called  Clarmont’s  leader,” 
and  brought  an  auxiliary  force  of  English 
and  Scotch  to  Charlemagne,  which  Si- 
lence” conducted  safely  into  Paris. 

Rioialdo  or  Renaud,  one  of  the  paladins 
of  Charlemagne,  is  always  painted  with 
the  characteristics  of  a borderer— valiant, 
alert,  ingenious,  rapacious,  and  unscru- 
pulous. 

Bing.  The  Ring  and  the  Booh.  An 
idyllic  epic  by  Robert  Browning,  founded 
on  a cause  celehre  of  Italian  history  (1(598). 
Guido  Franceschi'ni,  a Florentine  noble- 
man of  shattered  fortune,  by  the  advice 
of  his  brother,  cardinal  Paulo,  marries 
Pompilia,  an  heiress,  to  repair  his  state. 
Now  Pompilia  was  only  a supposititious 
child  of  Pietro,  supplied  by  Violante  for 
the  sake  of  preventing  certain  property 
from  going  to  an  heir  not  his  own.  When 
the  bride  discovered  the  motive  of  the 
bridegroom,  she  revealed  to  him  this 
fact,  and  the  first  trial  occurs  to  settle 
the  said  property.  The  count  treats  his 
bride  so  brutally  that  she  quits  his  roof 
under  the  protection  of  Caponsacchi,  a 
young  priest,  and  takes  refuge  in  Rome. 
Guido  follows  the  fugitives  and  arrests 
them  at  an  inn  ; a trial  ensues,  and  a 
separation  is  permitted.  Pompilia  pleads 
^r  a divorce,  but,  pending  the  suit,  gives 
Dirth  to  a son  at  the  house  of  her  puta- 
tive parents.  The  count,  hearing  there 
of,  murders  Pietro,  Violante,  and  Pom- 
pilia , but,  being  taken  red-handed,  is 
executed. 

Ring.  If  a lady  or  gentleman  is  willing 
to  marry,  but  not  engaged,  a ring  should 
be  worn  on  the  index  finger  of  the  left 
hand  ; if  engaged,  on  the  second  finger ; 
if  married,  on  the  third  finger ; but  if 


750 


KING. 


KING  DOWN. 


either  has  no  desire  to  marry,  on  the 
little  finger. — Madame  O.  De  la  Tour. 

A ring  worn  on  the  forefinger  indicates 
a haughty,  bold,  and  overbearing  spirit ; 
on  the  long  finger,  prudence,  dignity, 
and  discretion ; on  the  marriage  finger, 
love  and  affection ; on  the  little  finger,  a 
masterful  spirit. 

Ring.  It  is  said  that  Edward  the  Con- 
fessor was  once  asked  for  alms  by  an  old 
man,  and  gave  him  his  ring.  In  time 
some  English  pilgrims  went  to  the  Holy 
Land,  and  happened  to  meet  the  same 
old  man,  who  told  them  he  was  John  the 
Evangelist)  and  gave  them  the  identical 
ring  to  take  to  ‘‘Saint”  Edward.  This 
ring  was  preserved  in  Westminster 
Abbey. 

Ring  given  in  marriage,  because  it  was 
anciently  used  as  a seal,  by  which  orders 
were  signed  (Gen.  xxxviii.  18;  Esther  hi. 
10-12)  ; and  the  delivery  of  a ring  was  a 
sign  that  the  giver  endowed  the  person 
who  received  it  with  all  the  power  he 
himself  possessed  (Gen.  xli.  42).  The 
woman  who  had  the  ring  could  issue 
commands  as  her  husband,  and  was  in 
every  respect  his  representative. 

In  the  Roman  espousals,  the  man  gave  the  vroman 
a ring  by  way  of  pledge,  and  the  woman  put  it  ou 
the  third  finger  of  her  left  hand,  because  it  was  be- 
lieved that  a nerve  ran  from  that  finger  tothe  heart. 
—Macrobius,  Sat.  viL  15. 

Ring  posy  or  motto  : 

(1)  A E I (Greek  for  Always”). 

(2)  For  ever  and  for  aye. 

(3)  In  thee,  my  choice,  I do  rejoice. 

(t)  Let  love  increase. 

(5)  May  God  above  Increase  our  love. 

(6)  Not  two  but  one,  Till  life  is  gone. 

(7)  My  heart  and  I,  Until  I die. 

(8)  When  this  you  see.  Then  think  of  me, 

(9)  Love  is  heaven,  and  heaven  is  lore. 

10)  Wedlock,  ’tis  said,  In  heaven  is  made. 

Right  to  wear  a gold  ring.  Amongst 
the  Romans,  only  senators,  chief  magis- 
trates, and  in  later  times  knights,  en- 
joyed the  “jus  annuli  aurei.”  The 
emperors  conferred  the  right  upon  whom 
they  pleased,  and  Justinian  extended  the 
privilege  to  all  Roman  citizens. 

Ring.  The  doge  of  Venice,  on  Ascen- 
sion day,  used  to  throw  a ring  into  the 
sea  from  the  ship  Bucentaur,  to  denote 
that  the  Adriatic  was  subject  to  the  re- 
public of  Venice  as  a wife  is  subject  to 
her  husband. 

Polyc'raies'  ring  was  flung  into  the  sea 
to  propitiate  Nem'esis,  and  was  found 
again  by  the  owner  inside  a fish.  {See 
Glasgow  Arms). 


Pope  Innocent's  Rings.  On  May  29th, 
1205,  pope  Innocent  III.  sent  John,  king 
of  England,  four  gold  rings  set  with  pre- 
cious stones,  and  in  his  letter  says  the 
gift  is  emblematical.  He  thus  explains 
the  matter  : — The  rotundity  signifies  eter- 
nity, remember  we  are  passing  through 
time  into  eternity.  The  number  signifies 
the  four  virtues  which  make  up  constancy 
of  mind — viz.,  “justice,  fortitude,  pru- 
dence, and  temperance.”  The  . material 
signifies  “wisdom  from  on  high,”  which 
is  as  gold  purified  in  the  fire.  The  green 
emerald  is  emblem  of  “faith,”  the  blue 
sapphire  of  “hope,”  the  red  garnet  of 
“ charity,”  and  the  bright  topaz  of 
“good  works.” — Rymer,  ^^Foedera,"  vol. 
i.  139. 

The  Enchanted  Ring  (in  “ Orlando 
rurioso”)was  given  by  king  Agramant 
to  the  dwarf  Brunello,  from  whom  it  was 
stolen  by  Brad'amant  and  given  to  Me- 
lissa. It  passed  successively  into  the 
hands  of  Roge'ro  and  Angelica  (who  car- 
ried it  in  her  mouth). — Bk.  v. 

Solomon's  ring,  among  other  wonderful 
things,  sealed  up  the  refractory  Jins  in 
jars,  and  cast  them  into  the  Red  Sea. 

Reynard's  wonderful  ring.  This  ring, 
which  existed  only  in  the  brain  of  Rey- 
nard, had  a stone  of  three  colours — red, 
white,  and  green.  The  red  made  the 
night  as  clear  as  the  day ; the  white  cured 
all  manner  of  diseases ; and  the  green 
rendered  the  wearer  of  the  ring  invin- 
cible.—the  Fox,"  ch.  xii. 

Ring  of  Invisibility  which  belonged  to 
Otnit,  king  of  Lombardy,  given  to  him 
by  the  queen-mother  when  he  went  to 
gain  in  marriage  the  soldan’s  daughter. 
The  stone  of  the  ring  had  the  virtue  of 
directing  the  wearer  the  right  road  to 
take  in  travelling. — The  Heldenhuch. 

Gyges'  ring  {q.v.)  rendered  the  wearer 
invisible  when  its  stone  was  turned  in- 
wards. 

It  has  the  true  rmg — has  intrinsic  merit ; 
bears  the  mark  of  real  talent.  A meta- 
phor taken  from  the  custom  of  judging 
genuine  money  by  its  “ring”  or  sound. 

The  ring.  The  space  set  apart  for 
prize-fighters,  horse-racing,  &c. ; so  called 
because  the  spectators  stand  round  in  a 
ring. 

[Ring  Down.  Conclude,  end  at  -once. 
A theatrical  phrase,  alluding  to  the  cus- 
tom of  ringing  a bell  to  give  notice  for 
the  fall  of  the  curtain.  Charles  Dickens 


RING  FINGER. 


RIQUET. 


751 


says,  It  is  time  to  ring  down  on  these 
remarks.” — Speech  at  the  D^'amatic  FUe. 

Ring  Finger.  Priests  used  to  wear 
their  ring  on  the  fore-finger  (which  re- 
presents the  Holy  Ghost)  in  token  of  their 
spiritual  office.  {See  Wedding  Finger.  ) 

The  ring  finger  represents  the  humanity 
of  Christ,  and  is  used  in  matrimony, 
which  has  only  to  do  with  humanity. 
{See  Finger  Benediction.) 

Ring  Finger.  Aulus  Gellius  tells  us 
that  Appia'nus  asserts  in  his  Egyptian 
hooks  that  a very  delicate  nerve  runs 
from  the  fourth  finger  of  the  left  hand  to 
the  heart,  on  which  account  this  finger  is 
used  for  the  marriage  ring. — ^^Noctes,' 
X.  10. 

The  fact  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
question  ; that  the  ancients  helieved  it  is 
all  we  require  to  know.  In  the  Roman  Ca- 
tholic church,  the  thumb  and  first  two  fin- 
gers represent  the  Trinity : thus  the  bride- 
groom says,  '^in  the  name  of  the  Father,” 
and  touches  the  thumb ; '^in  the  name 
of  the  Son,”  and  touches  the  first  finger; 
and  “ in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Ghost” 
he  touches  the  long  or  second  finger. 
The  next  finger  is  the  husband’s,  to 
whom  the  woman  owes  allegiance  next 
to  God.  The  left  hand  is  chosen  to  show 
that  the  woman  is  to  be  subject  to  the 
man.  In  the  Hereford,  York,  and  Salis- 
bury missals,  the  ring  is  directed  to  be 
put  first  on  the  thumb,  then  on  the  first 
finger,  then  on  the  long  finger,  and  lastly 
on  the  ring-finger,  quia  in  illo  dig  ito  est 
qucedam  vena  proce'dens  usque  ad  cor. 

Ringing  Changes.  Bantering  each 
other  ; turning  the  tables  on  a jester. 
The  allusion  is  to  bells.  {See  Peal.) 

Ringing  Island.  The  church  of 
Rome.  It  is  an  island  because  it  is 
isolated  or  cut  off  from  the  world.  It  is  a 
ringing  island  because  bells  are  inces- 
santly ringing  : at  matin  and  vespers,  at 
mass  and  at  sermon-time,  at  noon,  vigils, 
eves,  and  so  on.  It  is  entered  only  after 
four  days’  fasting,  without  which  none  in 
the  Romish  church  enter  holy  orders. 

Ringlet  of  Grass.  Whoever  lives 
in  a house  built  over  a fairy  ring” 
shall  wondrously  prosper. — Athenian 
Oracle,  i.  397. 

Ringleader.  The  person  who  opens  ^ 
a ball  or  leads  off  a dance  {see  Holly- 
band’s  Dictionary,”  1593).  The  dance 
referred  to  was  commenced  by  the  party 


taking  hands  round  in  a ring,  instead  of 
in  two  lines  as  in  the  country  dance. 
The  leader  in  both  cases  has  to  set  the 
figures. 

Riot.  To  run  riot.  To  act  in  a very 
disorderly  way.  Riot  means  debauchery 
or  wild  merriment. 

See,  Riot  her  luxurious  howl  prepares. 

** Tableau  of  Cebes." 

Rip.  To  rip  up  old  grievances  or  sores 
To  bring  them  again  to  recollection,  to 
recall  them.  The  allusion  is  to  breaking 
up  a place  in  search  of  something  hidden 
and  out  of  sight.  {Saxon.) 

They  ripped  up  all  that  had  beeu  done  from  the 
beginning  of  the  rebellion.— GZarencion. 

Ripp  van  Winkle,  slept  20  years 
in  the  Katskill  mountains. — N.  Amer. 

Ripaille.  I am  living  at  Ripaille 
—in  idleness  and  pleasure.  (French, 
faire  Ripaille.)  Amedeus  VII.,  duke  of 
Savoy,  retired  to  Ripaille,  near  Geneva, 
where  he  threw  off  all  the  cares  of  state, 
and  lived  among  boon  companions  in  the 
indulgence  of  unrestrained  pleasure.  {See 
Sybarite.) 

Riph'ean  or  Rhiphae'an  Rocks. 
Any  cold  mountains  in  a north  country. 
The  fabled  Rhiphsean  mountains  were  in 
Scythia. 

Cold  Riphean  rocks,  which  the  wild  Russ 
Believes  the  stony  girdle  of  the  world. 

Thomson,  “ Autumn.  ” 

The  poet  here  speaks  of  the  Weliki 
Camenypoys  {great  stone  girdle)  supposed 
by  the  early  Russians  to  have  girded  the 
whole  earth. 

Rip'on.  True  as  Ripon  steel.  Ripon 
used  to  be  famous  for  its  steel  spurs, 
which  were  the  best  in  the  world.  The 
spikes  of  a Ripon  spur  would  strike 
through  a shilling-piece  without  turning 
the  point. 

Riquet  with  a Tuft,  from  the  French 
^'Riquet  ^ la  Houppe,”  by  Charles  Per- 
rault ; borrowed  from  ^^The  Nights  of 
Straparola,”  and  imitated  by  Madame 
Villeneuve  in  her  Beauty  and  the 
Beast.”  Riquet  is  the  beau-ideal  of 
ugliness,  but  had  the  power  of  endowing 
the  person  he  loved  best  with  wit  and 
intelligence.  He  falls  in  love  with  a 
beautiful  woman  as  stupid  as  Riquet  is 
ugly,  but  possessing  the  power  of  en- 
dowing the  person  she  loves  best  with 
beauty.  The  two  marry  and  exchange 
gifts. 


752 


RISE. 


ROB  ROY. 


Rise.  To  take  a rise  out  of  one.  Hot- 
ten  says  this  is  a metaphor  from  fly- 
fishing ; the  fish  rise  to  the  fly,  and 
are  caught. 

Rising  in  the  Air.  In  the  middle 
ages,  persons  believed  that  saints  were 
sometimes  elevated  from  the  ground  by 
religious  ecstacy.  St.  Philip  of  Neri 
was  sometimes  raised  to  the  height  of 
several  yards,  occasionally  to  the  ceiling 
of  the  room.  Ignatius  Loyola  was  some- 
times raised  up  two  or  three  feet,  and 
his  body  became  luminous.  St.  Robert 
de  Palentin  was  elevated  in  his  ecstacies 
eighteen  or  twenty  inches.  St.  Dunstan, 
a little  before  his  death,  was  observed  to 
rise  from  the  ground.  And  Girolamo 
Savonarola,  just  prior  to  execution,  knelt 
in  prayer,  and  was  lifted  from  the  floor 
of  his  cell  into  mid-air,  where  he  re- 
mained suspended  for  a considerable 
time. — **Acta  Sanctorum.^* 

Rivals  (*' Persons  dwelling  on  oppo- 
site sides  of  a river”).  Forsyth  derives 
these  words  from  the  Latin  nr  a' Lis,  a 
riverman.  Cselius  says  there  was  no 
more  fruitful  source  of  contention  than 
river-right,  both  with  beasts  and  men, 
not  only  for  the  benefit  of  its  waters,  but 
also  because  rivers  are  natural  boun- 
daries. Hence  Ariosto  compares  Orlando 
and  Ag'rican  to  two  hinds  quarrelling 
for  the  river  right”  (xxiii.  83). 

River  of  Paradise.  St.  Bernard, 
abbot  of  Clairvaux,  'Hhe  Last  of  the 
Fathers,”  was  so  called.  (1091-1153.) 

River  Demon  or  River  Horse  was 
the  Kelpie  of  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland. 
It  was  a malicious  spirit,  which  delighted 
in  foreboding  calamity,  and  frequented 
the  fords  of  rivers. 

Road  or  Roadstead^  as  ‘^Yarmouth 
Roads,”  a place  where  ships  can  ride  at 
anchor.  (French,  rader,  to  anchor  in  a 
rade  ; Saxon,  rad,  a road  or  place  for 
riding.) 

King  of  Roads  [Rhodes].  John  Loudon 
Macadam,  the  improver  of  roads.  (1756- 
1836.) 

The  laio  of  the  road — 

The  law  of  the  road’s  an  anomaly  quite. 

If  you  Ko  to  the  r ght  you  are  sure  to  go  wrong,  if  you 
go  to  the  left  you  go  right. 

Road- agent.  A highwayman  in  the 
mountain  districts  of  North  America. 

Road-agent  is  the  name  applied  in  the  mount -i  ins 
to  a ruffian  who  has  given  up  honest  work  in  the 


store,  in  the  mine,  in  the  ranch,  for  the  perils  and 
profits  of  the  highway.— IF.  Hepworth  Dixon, 
America,’'  i.  14. 

Roan.  A reddish-brown.  This  is 
the  Greek  eruthron  or  eruthrceon ; whence 
the  Latin  rufum.  (The  W elsh  have  rhudd; 
German,  roih;  Saxon,  rud;  our  ruddy.) 

Roan  Barb  ary.  The  famous 
charger  of  Richard  II.,  that  ate  from  his 
royal  hand.  {See  Richard  II.) 

Roarer.  A broken-winded  horse  is 
so  called  from  the  noise  it  makes  in 
breathing. 

Roaring.  He  drives  a roaring  trade. 
He  does  a great  business  ; his  employes 
are  driven  till  all  their  wind  is  gone  ; 
hence  fast,  quick.  {See  above.) 

Roaring-boys  or  Roarers.  The 
riotous  blades  of  Ben  Jonson’s  time, 
whose  delight  it  was  to  annoy  quiet  folk. 
At  one  time  their  pranks  in  London  were 
carried  to  an  alarming  extent. 

And  bid  them  think  on  Jones  amidst  this  glee, 
In  hope  to  ger.  such  roari'  g boys  as  he. 

** Legend  of  Captain  Jones”  (16)9). 

Roast.  To  rule  the  roast.  To  have 
the  chief  direction;  to  •be  paramount. 
It  is  a corruption  of  raadst,  meaning 
“ the  council.”  (German,  m^A.) 

Jhon,  duke  of  Burgoyn,  ruled  the  rost,  and 
governed  both  kyng  Cnarles ....  and  his  whole 
realine.— flail, “ Union”  (1648). 

To  roast  one  or  give  him  a roasting.  To 
banter  him,  to  expose  him  to  the  purga- 
tory of  sharp  words.  Shakespeare,  in 

Hamlet,”  speaks  of  roasting  *4n  wrath 
and  fire.”  The  allusion  is  to  fire  of 
purgatory,  not  to  the  culinary  art. 

Rob.  A sort  of  jam.  It  is  a Spanish 
word,  taken  from  the  Arabic  roob  (the 
juice  of  fruit). 

Faire  un  rob  (in  whist).  To  win  the 
rubber;  that  is,  either  two  successive 
games,  or  two  out  of  three.  Borrowed 
from  the  game  of  bowls. 

Rob  Roy  {Robert  the  Red).  A nick- 
name given  to  Robert  McGregor,  who 
assumed  the  name  of  Campbell  when  the 
clan  McGregor  was  outlawed  by  the 
Scotch  parliament  in  1662.  He  may  be 
termed  the  Robin  Hood  of  Scotland. 

Bather  beneath  the  middle  size  than  above  it, 
his  limbs  were  formed  upon  tlie  very  strongest 
model  ihatis  consistent  with  agility  ..  Two  pomts 
in  h'8  person  interfered  with  the  rules  of  sym- 
metry: his  shoulders  were  so  brood as  to  give 

him  the  air  of  being  too  square  in  respect  to  his 
stature ; and  his  arms,  though  round,  sinewy,  and 
strong,  were  so  very  long  as  to  be  rather  a deformity. 

1 —Sir  Walter  Scott,  Hob  Roy  UPGregor,”  xxiii. 


ROBBER. 


ROBIN  AND  MAKYNE.  753 


Robber.  The  robber  who  told  Alex- 
ander that  he  was  the  greater  robber  of 
\ the  two  was  named  Dion'ides.  The  tale 
is  given  in  ‘^Evenings  at  Home,”  under 
f the  title  of  ‘^Alexander  and  the  Robber.” 

Rolher.  Edward  IV.  of  England  was 
called  by  the  Scotch  Edward  the  Robber. 

Robbing  Peter  to  pay  Paul.  On 
the  17th  of  December,  1540,  the  abbey 
church  of  St.  Peter,  Westminster,  was 
advanced  to  the  dignity  of  a cathedral 
by  letters  patent ; but  ten  years  later  it 
was  joined  to  the  diocese  of  London 
again,  and  many  of  its  estates  appro- 
priated to  the  repairs  of  St.  Paul’s 
cathedral. — WinMe,  Cathedrals.*^ 

Robert  (in  Jerusalem  Delivered”), 
duke  of  Normandy,  sold  his  dominions  to 
king  Rufus  for  10,000  marks.  He  com- 
manded 1,000  heavy-armed  horse  and 
1,000  light-armed  Normans  in  the  allied 
Christian  army. 

Robert  of  Brunne — that  is,  of  Bourne, 
in  Lincolnshire.  His  name  was  Robert 
Manning,  author  of  an  old  English 

Chronicle,”  written  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.  It  consists  of  two  parts, 
the  first  of  which  is  in  octo-syllabic 
rhymes,  and  is  a translation  of  Wace’s 
‘^Brut;”  the  second  part  is  in  Alexan- 
drine verse,  and  is  a translation  of  the 
French  chronicle  of  Piers  de  Langtoft 
of  Yorkshire. 

Of  Brunne  I am,  if  any  me  tlame, 

Robert  Mannyng  is  my  name 

In  the  thrid  Rawardes  tyme  was  I 
When  I wrote  alle  this  story. 

Freface  to'*  Chronicle.” 

King  Robert  of  Sicily.  A metrical 
^ romance  of  the  Trouveur,  taken  from  the 

Story  of  the  Emperor  Jovinian”  in  the 
^^Gesta  Romano'rum,”  and  borrowed 
from  the  Talmud.  It  finds  a place  in 
the  ‘^Arabian  Nights,”  the  Turkish 
^‘Tutinameh,”  the  Sanskrit  ^‘Pantscha- 
tantra,”  and  has  been  recently  rechauffe 
by  Longfellow  under  the  same  name. 

Robert f Robin.  A highwayman.  Pro- 
bably the  word  is  simply  robber.  Ro- 
berdes  knaves,”  robber  knaves ; Robert’s 
or  Roberdes  men,  banditti ; Robin  Good- 
fellow,  the  fairy  or  elfin  robber.  The 
wild  geranium  is  called  herb  Robert  by  a 
figure  of  speech,  robbers  being  ^^wild 
wanderers,”  and  not  household  plants. 
(Persian,  robodan\  Spanish,  robar,  con- 
nected with  the  Latin  rapio,  and  French 
ravir.  Whence  Robin  Hood — i.e.j  the 
1 Robber  0’  the  Wood.) 


Robert  the  Devil.  Robert,  first 
duke  of  Normandy ; so  called  for  his 
daring  and  cruelty.  The  Norman  tradi- 
tion is  that  his  wandering  ghost  will  not 
be  allowed  to  rest  till  the  Day  of  J udg- 
ment.  He  is  also  called  Robert  the  Mag- 
nificent. (1028-1035.) 

Robert  Francois  Damiens,  who  at- 
tempted to  assassinate  Louis  XV.  (1714- 
1757.) 

Robert  le  Diable.  The  son  of 
Bertha  and  Bertram.  The  former  was 
daughter  of  Robert,  duke  of  Normandy, 
and  the  latter  was  a fiend  in  the  guise  of 
a knight.  The  opera  shows  the  struggle 
in  Robert  between  the  virtue  inherited 
from  his  mother,  and  the  vice  imparted 
by  his  father.  He  is  introduced  as  a 
libertine;  but  Alice,  his  foster-sister, 
places  in  his  hand  the  will  of  his  mother, 

which  he  is  not  to  read  till  he  is  wor- 
thy.” Bertram  induces  him  to  gamble 
till  he  loses  everything,  and  finally 
claims  his  soul;  but  Alice  counterplots 
the  fiend,  and  finally  triumphs  by  read- 
ing to  Robert  the  will  of  his  mother. 
— Meyerbeer^  Roberto  il  Diavolo**  {an 
opera). 

Robert  Maeaire.  Rds  a Robert 
Macaire — a bluff,  free-living,  unblush- 
ing libertine,  who  commits  the  most 
horrible  crimes  without  stint  or  com- 
punction. It  is  a character  in  M.  Dau- 
mier’s drama  of  ‘^L’Auberge  des  Adrets.” 
His  accomplice  is  Bertrand,  a simpleton 
and  villain,  (i^ee  Maoaire.) 

Robert  Street  {Adelphi,  London). 
So  called  from  Robert  Adams,  the 
builder. 

Robespierre’s  Weavers.  The 

fishwomen  and  other  female  rowdies  who 
joined  the  Parisian  Guard,  and  helped  to 
line  the  avenues  to  the  National  Assem- 
bly in  1793,  and  clamour  ^‘Down  ivith  the 
Girondists  ! ” 

Robin  and  Ma'kyne  (2syl.).  An 
ancient  Scottish  pastoral.  Robin  is  a 
shepherd  for  whom  Makyne  sighs.  She 
goes  to  him  and  tells  her  love,  but  Robin 
turns  a deaf  ear,  and  the  damsel  goes 
home  to  weep.  After  a time  the  tables 
are  turned,  and  Robin  goes  to  Makyne 
to  plead  for  her  heart  and  hand  ; but  the 
damsel  replies— 

The  man  that  will  not  when  he  may 
ball  have  nocht  when  he  walci. 

Percy,  *'  Eeliquet,’’  &c.  (series  il.). 

W W 


754  ROBIN  GOODFELLOW. 


ROBIN  REDBREAST. 


Robin  Goodfellow.  A ^Mrudging 
fiend/’  and  merry  domestic  fairy,  famous 
for  mischievous  pranks  and  practical 
jokes.  At  night-time  he  will  sometimes 
do  little  services  for  the  family  over 
which  ho  presides.  The  Scotch  call  this 
domestic  spirit  a brownie  ; the  Germans, 
Tcdbold  or  Kneclit  Rupreclit.  The  Scandi- 
navians called  it  Niss'e  God-dreng.  Puck, 
the  jester  of  Fairy-court,  is  the  same. 

Either  I mistake  your  shape  and  making  quite, 

Or  else  you  are  that  shrewd  and  knavish  sprite 

Called  Robin  Goodfellow 

Those  that  Hob-goblin  call  you,  and  sweet  Pnck, 
Tou  do  their  work,  and  they  shall  have  good  luck. 

Shakespeare^  **  Miisummer  Night’s  Dreamt*  iLl. 

Robin  Gray  (,Auld).  Words  by  lady 
Anne  Lindsay,  daughter  of  the  earl  of 
Balcarras,  and  afterwards  lady  Barnard, 
in  1772,  written  to  an  old  Scotch  tune 
called  ‘‘The  bridegroom  grat  when  the 
sun  gaed  down.”  Auld  Robin  Gray  was 
the  herdsman  of  her  father.  When  lady 
Anne  had  written  a part,  she  called  her 
younger  sister  for  advice.  ^ She  said,  “ I 
am  writing  a ballad  of  virtuous  distress 
in  humble  life.  I have  oppressed  my 
heroine  with  sundry  troubles  : for  ex- 
ample, I have  sent  her  Jamie  to  sea, 
broken  her  father’s  arm,  made  her  mother 
sick,  given  her  Auld  Robin  Gray  for  a 
lover,  and  want  a fifth  sorrow ; can  you 
help  me  to  one?”  “Steal  the  cow, 
sister  Anne,”  said  the  little  Elizabeth  ; 
so  the  cow  was  stolen  awa’,  and  the  song 
completed. 

Robin  Hood  is  first  mentioned  by 
the  Scottish  historian  Fordun,  who  died 
in  1386.  According  to  Stow  he  was  an 
outlaw  in  the  reign  of  Richard  I.  (12th 
century).  He  entertained  one  hundred 
tall  men,  all  good  archers,  with  the  spoil 
he  took,  but  “ he  suffered  no  woman  to 
be  oppressed,  violated,  or  otherwise 
molested  ; poore  men’s  goods  he  spared, 
abundantlie  relieving  them  with  that 
which  by  theft  he  got  from  abbeys  and 
houses  of  rich  carles.”  He  was  an  im- 
mense favourite  with  the  common  people, 
who  have  dubbed  him  an  earl.  Stukeley 
says  he  was  Robert  Fitz-ooth,  earl  of 
Huntingdon.  {See  Robert.) 

Hear,  underneath  this  latil  stean, 

Laiz  Robert  earl  of  Huntington  ; 

Nea  ardr  ver  az  hie  sa  geud, 

An  pipl  kauld  him  Robin  Heud. 

Sich  utlaz  az  he  an  iz  men 
Vil  England  nivr  si  agen. 

Ejfitaph  of  Robin  Hood 
{obit  24,  Kalends  Dikembris  1247). 


According  to  one  tradition,  Robin 
Hood  and  Little  John  were  two  heroes 
defeated  with  Simon  de  Montfort  at  the 
battle  of  Evesham,  in  1265.  Fuller,  in 
his  “Worthies,”  considers  him  an  his- 
torical character,  but  Thierry  says  he 
simply  represents  a class,  viz.,  the  rem- 
nant of  the  old  Saxon  race,  which  lived 
in  perpetual  defiance  of  the  Norman 
oppressors  from  the  time  of  Here  ward. 

Robin  Hood  is  introduced  in  two  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott’s  novels — “Ivanhoe,”  and 
“ The  Talisman.” 

Other  examples  of  similar  combina- 
tions are  the  Cumberland  bandits,  headed 
by  Adam  Bell,  Clym  of  the  Clough,  and 
William  of  Cloudesley.  Mr.  Knights 
considers  that  there  were  several  persons 
who  bore  the  name  of  Robin  Hood. 

Robin  Hood.  In  the  accounts  of  king 
Edward  II. ’s  household  is  an  item  which 
states  that  “Robin  Hood  received  his 
wages  as  king’s  valet,  and  a gratuity  on 
leaving  the  service,”  One  of  the  bal- 
lads relates  how  Robin  Hood  took  service 
under  this  king. 

Many  talk  of  Robin  Hood  who  never 
shot  in  his  boio.  Many  brag  of  deeds  in 
which  they  took  no  part.  Many  talk  of 
Robin  Hood,  and  wish  their  hearers  to 
suppose  they  took  part  in  his  adventures, 
but  they  never  put  a shaft  to  one  of  his 
bows ; nor  could  they  have  bent  it  even 
if  they  had  tried. 

To  sell  Robin  Hood's  pennyioorth  is  to 
sell  things  at  half  their  value.  As  Robin 
Hood  stole  his  wares,  he  sold  them  under 
their  intrinsic  value,  for  just  what  he 
could  get  on  the  nonce. 

Robin  Hood  and  Guy  of  Gisborne. 
Robin  Hood  and  Little  John,  having  had 
a little  tiff,  part  company,  when  Little 
John  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  sheriff  of 
Nottingham,  who  binds  him  to  a tree. 
Meanwhile  Robin  Hood  meets  with  Guy 
of  Gisborne,  sworn  to  slay  the  “bold 
forrester.”  The  two  bowmen  struggle 
together,  but  Guy  is  slain,  and  Robin 
Hood  rides  till  he  comes  to  the  tree 
where  Little  John  is  bound.  The  sheriff 
mistakes  him  for  Guy  of  Gisborne,  ana 
gives  him  charge  of  the  prisoner.  Robin 
cuts  the  cord,' hands  Guy’s  bow  to  Little 
J ohn,  and  the  two  soon  put  to  flight  the 
sheriff  and  his  men. — Fercy,  ^^Rdiques,'^ 
&c.  (series!.). 

Robin  Redbreast.  The  tradition 
is  that  while  our  Lord  was  on  his  way  to 


ROBINSON  CRUSOE. 


ROCOCO  JEWELLERY.  755 


Calvary,  a robin  pecked  a thorn  out  of 
his  crown,  and  the  blood  which  issued 
from  the  wound  falling*  on  the  bird  dyed 
its  breast  with  red. 

Robinson  Crusoe.  Alexander 
Selkirk  was  found  in  the  desert  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez,  where  he  had  been  left 
by  Woodes  Rogers  and  Edward  Cooke, 
who  in  1712  published  their  voyages,  and 
told  the  extraordinary  particulars  which 
Selkirk  had  communicated  to  them.  The 
embryo  of  De  Foe’s  novel  may  be  seen 
in  captain  Burney’s  interesting  narrative. 

Roc.  A fabulous  white  bird  of  enor- 
mous size,  and  such  strength  that  it  can 
‘Hruss  elephants  in  its  talons,”  and  carry 
them  to  its  mountain  nest,  where  it 
devours  them. — Arabian  Nights”  {The 
Third  Calender y and  Sinhad  the  Sailor). 

The  Rukh  of  Madagascar  ” lays 
an  egg  equal  to  14^  hens’  eggs. — Comptes 
RenduSy”  dec.,  xxxii.,  p.  IW.  (1851.) 

Roche  {St.).  Patron  of  those  af- 
flicted with  the  plague,  because  he 
devoted  his  life  to  their  service,  and  is 
said  to  intercede  for  them  in  his  exalta- 
tion. He  is  depicted  in  a pilgrim’s 
habit,  lifting  his  dress  to  display  a 
plague-spot  on  his  thigh,  which  an  angel 
is  touching  that  he  may  cure  it.  Some- 
times he  is  accompanied  by  a dog  bring- 
ing bread  in  his  mouth,  in  allusion  t^o 
the  legend  that  a hound  brought  him 
bread  daily  while  he  was  perishing  in  a 
forest  of  pestilence. 

St.  Roche's  Day  (August  16th),  for- 
merly celebrated  in  England  as  a general 
harvest-home,  and  styled  ‘^the  great 
August  festival.”  The  Saxon  name  of  it 
was  harfest  { herb-feast),  the  word  herb 
meaning  autumn  (German  herhst)y  and 
having  no  relation  to  what  we  call  herbs. 

Sir  Boyle  Rochds  bird.  Sir  Boyle 
Roche,  quoting  from  Jevon’s  play  (TAe 
Devil  of  a Wife) y said  on  one  occasion 
in  the  House,  “Mr.  Speaker,  it  is  im- 
possible I could  have  been  in  two  places 
at  once,  unless  I were  a bird.” 

rresuming  that  the  dupl  cate  card  is  the  hnave  of 
hearts,  you  may  make  a remark  on  the  ubifiuitons 
nature  of  cerfa  n cards,  which,  like  Sir  Boyle  Roche’s 
bird,  are  in  two  places  at  9nce.—**  DruwmQ-rpom 
Magic.” 

Men  of  la  vieille  roche.  Old-fashioned 
men;  men  of  fossilised  ideas;  non -pro- 
gressive men.  A geological  expression. 
Perhaps  it  may  be  justly  attributed  to  a class  of 
roducers,  men  of  la  vieille  roche,  that  they  have 
een  so  slow  to  apprehend  the  changes  whi:  h are 


daily  presenting  themselves  in  the  requirements  of 
trade.— r^e  Times. 

Rocbelle  Salt.  So  called  because 
it  was  discovered  by  an  apothecary  of 
Rochelle,  named  Seignette,  in  1672. 

Roches  {Catharine  des)  had  a collec- 
tion of  poems  written  on  her,  termed 
“La  Puce  de  Grands-jours  de  Poitiers.” 

Rochester,  according  to  Bede,  de- 
rives its  name  from  “Hrof,”  a Saxon 
chieftain.  {Hrofs-ceasteVy  Hrof’s  castle.) 

Rock.  A quack  ; so  called  from  one 
Rock,  who  was  the  “ Holloway”  of  queen 
Anne’s  reign. 

Oh,  when  his  nerves  had  once  received  a shock, 

Sir  Isaac  Newt<  n might  have  gone  to  Rock. 

Crabbe,  ^'"Borough.” 

The  Ladies'  Rock.  A crag  in  Scotland 
under  the  castle-rock  of  Stirling,  where 
ladies  used  to  witness  tournaments. 

In  the  castle-hill  is  a hollow  caUed  The  Valley, 
about  a square  acre  in  extent,  used  for  justings 
and  tournainems.  On  the  south  side  of  the  valley 
is  a soiall  rocky  pyramidical  mount  called  The 
Laiies'  Hill  or  BoeJe,  where  the  ladies  sat  to  witness 
the  8i  ecacle,— iVimmo,  Hittory  of  Stirlingshire” 

p.  -282. 

People  of  the  Rock.  The  inhabitants  of 
Hejaz  or  Arabia  Petraea. 

Captain  Rock.  A fictitious  name  as- 
sumed by  the  leader  of  the  Irish  insur- 
gents in  1822. 

Rock-cork.  A variety  of  Asbestos, 
resembling  cork.  It  is  soft,  easily  cut, 
and  very  light. 

Rock-crystal.  The  specimens  which 
enclose  hair-like  substances  are  called 
Thetis's  Hair-stoney  Venns's  Hair-stone y 
Venus's  Pencils y Cupid's  Net.  Cupid's 
ArroivSy  &c. 

Rock-leather.  A variety  of  As- 
bestos. 

Rock-wood.  A variety  of  Asbestos. 

Rococo.  C'est  du  rococo.  It  is  mere 
twaddle ; Brummagen  finery ; make- 
believe.  (Italian,  roco,  uncouth. ) 

Roco'co  Architecture.  A debased 
style,  which  succeeded  the  revival  of 
Italian  architecture,  and  very  prevalent 
in  Germany.  The  ornamention  is  with- 
out principle  or  taste,  and  may  be  desig- 
nated ornamental  design  run  mad. 

Roco'co  Jewellery,  strictly  speak- 
ing, means  showy  jewellery  made  up  of 
several  different  stones.  Moorish  dec5ra- 
tion  and  Watteau’s  paintings  are  rococo. 
The  term  is  now  generally  used  depro- 

w w 3 


756 


ROB. 


RODOMONTADE. 


ciatingly  for  flashy,  gaudy.  Louis  XIV. 
furniture,  with  gilding  and  ormolu,  is 
sometimes  termed  rococo. 

Rod.  A rod  in  picMe.  A scolding 
in  store.  The  rod  is  laid  in  pickle  to 
keep  it  ready  for  use. 

Rod'erick,  the  thirty-fourth  and 
last  of  the  Visi gothic  kings,  was  the 
son  of  Theod'ofred,  and  grandson  of  king 
Chindasuin'tho.  Witi'za,  the  usurper,  put 
out  the  eyes  of  Theod'ofred,  and  mur- 
dered Favil'a,  a younger  brother  of 
Roderick  ; but  Roderick,  having  reco- 
vered his  father’s  throne,  put  out  the 
eyes  of  the  usurper.  The  sons  of  Witi'za 
joining  with  count  Julian,  invited  the 
aid  of  Muza  ibn  Nozeir,  the  Arab  chief, 
who  sent  Tarik  into  Spain  with  a large 
army.  Roderick  was  routed  at  the  battle 
of  Guadale'te,  near  Xeres  de  la  Fronte'ra 
(July  17th,  711).  Southey  has  taken  this 
story  for  an  epic  poem  in  twenty-five 
books — blank  verse.  (See  Rodrigo.) 

Rod'erick  Random.  A child  of 
impulse,  with  an  occasional  dash  of  gene- 
rosity and  good-humour ; but  for  the 
most  part  a selfish  libertine,  more  prone 
to  revenge  than  gratitude.  His  treat- 
ment of  Strap  is  revolting  for  its  heart- 
lessness and  injustice. — Smollett^  ^^Rode- 
rich  Random,' 

Roderigo.  A Venetian  gentleman 
in  Shakespeare’s  Othello.”  He  was  in 
love  with  Desdemona,  and  when  the  lady 
eloped  with  Othello,  hated  the  noble 
Moor.”  lago  took  advantage  of  this 
temper  for  his  own  ends,  told  , his  dupe 
the  Moor  will  change,  therefore  ^^put 
money  in  thy  purse Desdemo'na  will 
also  change  her  present  mood,  therefore 
^^put  money  in  thy  purse.”  The  burden 
of  his  advice  was  always  the  same— 
^^Put  money  in  thy  purse.” 

This  word  is  sometimes  pronounced 
Rod'ri-go : g.e.  It  is  as  sure  as  you  are 
Roderigo;”  and  sometimes  Rode-ri'go  : 
g.e.  On,  good  Roderigo ; I’ll  deserve 
your  pains.” — Act  i.,  s.  1. 

Rodhaver.  The  lady-love  of  Zal,  a 
Persian  hero.  Zal  wanted  to  scale  her 
bower,  and  Rodhaver  let  down  her  long 
tresses  to  assist  him  ; but  the  lover  man- 
aged to  climb  to  his  mistress  by  fixing 
his  crook  into  a projecting  beam. — Cham- 
pion, ^‘Ferdosi," 

Rpdilar'dus.  A huge  cat  which 


scared  Panurge,  and  which  he  declared 
to  be  a puny  devil. — Rabelais,  Gar- 
gantua  and  Pantagruel,"  iv.  67. 

RodoPpllO  {Count).  The  count,  re- 
turning from  his  travels,  puts  up  for  the 
night  at  an  inn  near  his  castle.  While 
in  bed,  a lady  enters  his  chamber,  and 
speaks  to  him  of  her  devoted  love.  It  is 
Ami'na,  the  somnambulist,  who  has  wan- 
dered thither  in  her  sleep.  Rodolpho 
perceives  the  state  of  the  case,  and  quits 
the  apartment.  The  villagers,  next 
morning,  come  to  congratulate  their  lord 
on  his  return,  and  find  his  bed  occupied 
by  a lady.  The  tongue  of  scandal  is  loud 
against  her,  but  the  count  explains  to 
them  the  mystery,  and  his  tale  is  con- 
firmed by  their  own  eyes,  which  see 
Ami'na  at  the  moment  getting  out  of 
the  window  of  a mill,  and  walking  in  her 
sleep  along  the  edge  of  a roof  under 
which  the  wheel  of  the  mill  is  rolling  with 
velocity.  She  crosses  the  crazy  bridge 
securely,  and  every  one  is  convinced  of 
her  innocence.— ^‘La  Sonnam- 
bida”  (his  best  opera). 

Rod'omont  (in  Orlando  Inamora- 
to” and  ‘‘Orlando  Furioso  ”)  king  of  Sarza 
or  Algiers,  Ulien’s  son,  and  called  the 
“Mars  of  Africa.”  He  was  commander 
both  of  horse  and  foot  in  the  Saracen 
army  sent  against  Charlemagne,  and  may 
be  termed  the  Achilles  of  the  host.  His 
lady-love  was  Dor'alis,  princess  of  Gra- 
na'da,  who  ran  off  with  Mandricardo, 
king  of  Tartary.  At  Roge'ro’s  wedding- 
feast  Rodomont  rode  up  to  the  king  of 
France  in  full  armour,  and  accused  Ro- 
ge'ro,  who  had  turned  Christian,  of  being 
a traitor  to  king  Agramaiit,  his  master, 
and  a renegade  ; whereupon  Roge'ro  met 
him  in  single  combat,  and  slew  him. 
(See  RoGEiio.) 

Who  trore  brave  than  Rodomont 
“ Bon  Quiscote.'^ 

Rodomont,  The  surname  of  Luigi 
Gonza'ga,  son  of  Ludovi'co  Gonzaga,  and 
called  Gazalo,  from  a castle  which  he 
held. 

Rod'omonta'de  (4  syl.).  From  Rc- 
domont,  a brave  but  braggart  knight  in 
Bojardo’s  “ Orlando  Inamorato.”  He  is 
introduced  into  the  continuation  of  the 
story  by  Ariosto  (“Orlando  Furioso”), 
but  the  braggart  part  of  his  character  is 
greatly  toned  down.  Neither  Rodomont 
nor  Hector  deserves  the  opprobrium 


ilODRIGO. 


ROLAND. 


757 


which  has  been  attached  to  their  names. 
{See  Rodomont.) 

Rodrigo  {Rod-ree' -go)  or  Roderick, 
king  of  Spain,  conquered  by  the  Arabs. 
He  saved  his  life  by  flight,  and  wandered 
to  Guadalet'e,  where  he  saw  a shepherd, 
and  asked  food.  In  return  he  gave  the 
shepherd  his  royal  chain  and  ring.  He 
passed  the  night  in  the  cell  of  a hermit, 
who  told  him  that  by  way  of  penance  he 
must  pass  certain  days  in  a tomb  full  of 
snakes,  toads,  and  lizards.  After  three 
days  the  hermit  went  to  see  him,  and  he 
was  unhurt,  because  the  Lord  kept  his 
anger  against  him.”  The  hermit  went 
home,  passed  the  night  in  prayer,  and 
went  again  to  the  tomb,  when  Rodrigo 
said,  They  eat  me  now,  they  eat  me 
now,  I feel  the  adders’  bite.”  So  his  sin 
was  atoned  for,  and  he  died. 

Rogation  Days.  The  Monday, 
Tuesday,  and  W ednesday  before  Ascen- 
sion-day. Rogation  is  the  Latin  equiva- 
lent of  the  Greek  word  ^‘Litany,”  and  on 
the  three  Rogation  days  “ the  Litany  of 
the  Saints”  is  appointed  to  be  sung  by 
the  clergy  and  people  in  public  pro- 
cession. Litany,”  Greek  litaneia,  sup- 
plication. Rogation,”  Latin  rogatioy 
same  meaning.) 

Rogation  Week  used  to  be  called 
Gang  Weelc^  from  the  custom  of  ganging 
round  the  country  parishes  to  mark 
their  bounds.  Similarly,  the  weed  Milk- 
wort is  still  called  Rogation  or  Gang- 
flower,  from  the  custom  of  decorating 
the  pole  (carried  on  such  occasions  by 
the  charity  children)  with  these  flowers. 

Rogel  of  Greece.  A knight,  whose 
exploits  and  adventures  form  a supple- 
mental part  of  the  Spanish  romance  en- 
titled ^‘Am'adis  of  Gaul.”  This  part  was 
added  by  Feliciano  de  Silva. 

Roger.  The  cook  in  Chaucer’s  Can- 
terbury Tales.”  “ He  cowde  roste, 
sethe,  broille,  and  frie.  Make  mortreux, 
and  wel  bake  a pye ;”  but  Herfy  Bailif, 
the  host,  said  to  him — 

Now  telle  on,  Roger,  and  loke  it  be  good ; 

For  many  a Jakk  of  Dover  hastow  sold, 

That  hath  be  twyes  hoot  and  twyes  cold. 

Verse  4313. 

Roger  Bontemps,  Bontemps.) 

The  Jolly  Roger.  The  black  flag,  the 
favourite  ensign  of  pirates. 

Set  all  sail,  clear  the  deck,  stand  to  quarters,  up 
vith  the  Jolly  Roger  !— Sir  Walter  Scotty  **  The 
!•  irate*’  ch.  xxxi. 


Roger  of  Bruges.  Roger  van  der 
Weyde,  painter.  (1455-1529.) 

Roger  de  Coverley.  A dance  invented 
by  the  great-grandfather  of  Roger  de 
Coverley,  or  Roger  of  Cowley,  near 
Oxford. 

Roger  of  Hoveden  or  Howden,  in  York- 
shire, continued  Bede’s  History  from 
732  to  1202.  The  reigns  of  Henry  II. 
and  Richard  I.  are  very  fully  given. 
The  most  matter-of-fact  of  all  our  old 
chroniclers;  he  indulges  in  no  epithets 
or  reflections. 

Roge'ro,  Ruggiero,  or  Rizieri  of  Risa 
(in  ^‘Orlando  Furioso”),  was  brother  of 
Marphi'sa,  son  of  Rogero  and  Galacella. 
He  married  Brad'amant,  Charlemagne’s 
niece,  but  had  no  children.  Galacella 
being  slain  by  Ag'olant  and  his  sons, 
Rogero  was  nursed  by  a lioness.  Rogero 
deserted  from  the  Moorish  army  to  the 
Christian  Charles,  and  was  baptised. 
His  marriage  with  Bradamant  and  elec- 
tion to  the  crown  of  Bulgaria  conclude 
the  poem. 

Rogero  was  brought  up  by  Atlantes,  a 
magician,  who  gave  him  a shield  of  such 
dazzling  splendour  that  every  one  quailed 
who  set  eyes  on  it.  Rogero,  thinking  it 
unknightly  to  carry  a charmed  shield, 
threw  it  into  a well. 

Who  more  courteous  than  ^ogetol— Cervantes, 
Don  Quixote.’* 

Rogero  (in  ‘^Jerusalem  Delivered”), 
brother  of  Boemond,  and  son  of  Roberto 
Guiscardo  of  the  Norman  race,  was  one 
of  the  band  of  adventurers  in  the  cru- 
sading army.  Slain  by  Tisaphernes. — 
Bk.  XX. 

Roi  Panade  {King  of  Slops). 
Louis  XVIII.  was  so  nicknamed  (1755, 
1814—1824). 

Roland,  count  of  Mans  and  knight 
of  Blaives,  was  son  of  duke  Milo  of  Aig- 
lant,  his  mother  being  Bertha,  the  sister 
of  Charlemagne.  His  sword  was  called 
Durandal,  and  his  horse  Veillantif.  He 
was  eight  feet  high,  and  had  an  open 
countenance,  which  invited  confidence, 
but  inspired  respect.  In  Italian  romance 
he  is  called  Orlando,  his  sword  Duran- 
da'na,  and  his  horse  Veglianti'no.  (See 
Song  of  Roland. ) 

I know  of  no  one  to  compare  him  to  but  the  Arch- 
angel Michael. — “ Croquemitainep  iii. 

Roland  or  Rolando  {Orlando  in 


758 


ROLAND. 


ROLANDSEOK  TOWER. 


Italian).  One  of  Charlemagne’s  paladins 
and  nephews.  He  is  represented  as 
brave,  loyal,  and  simple-minded.  On 
the  return  of  Charlemagne  from  Spain, 
Roland,  who  commanded  the  rear-guard, 
fell  into  an  ambuscade  at  Roncesvalles 
in  the  Pyrenees,  and  perished  with  all 
the  flower  of  French  chivalry  (778).  He 
is  the  hero  of  Theroulde’s  Chanson  de 
Roland;”  the  romance  called  ^'Chroniq 
de  Turpin  ; ” Boiardo’s  epic,  Orlando 
in  Love  ” {Italian) ; and  Ariosto’s  epic  of 

Orlando  Mad”  (Italian). 

Roland.,  after  slaying  Angoulaffre,  the 
Saracen  giant,  in  single  combat  at 
Fronsac,  asked  for  his  reward  the  hand 
of  Aude,  daughter  of  Sir  Gerard  and  lady 
Guibourg  ; but  the  marriage  never  took 
place,  as  Roland  fell  at  Roncesvalles,  and 
Aude  died  of  a broken  heart. — Croque- 
mitaine,’'  xi. 

A Roland  for  an  Oliver.  A blow  for 
a blow,  tit  for  tat.  Roland  and  Oliver 
were  two  of  the  paladins  of  Charlemagne, 
whose  exploits  are  so  similar  that  it  is 
very  difficult  to  keep  them  distinct. 
What  Roland  did  Oliver  did,  and  what 
Oliver  did  Roland  did.  At  length  the 
two  met  in  single  combat,  and  fought 
for  five  consecutive  days  on  an  island  in 
the  Rhine,  but  neither  gained  the  least 
advantage.  (See  in  '^La  Legende  des 
Slides,”  by  Victor  Hugo,  the  poem  en- 
titled ‘‘  Le  Mariage  de  Roland.”) 

The  etymologies  connecting  the  pro- 
verb with  Charles  II.,  General  Monk, 
and  Oliver  Cromwell  are  wholly  un- 
worthy of  credit,  for  even  Shakespeare 
alludes  to  it : England  all  Olivers  and 
Rolands  bred”  (“1  Henry  VI.,”  i.  2); 
and  Edward  Hall,  the  historian,  almost 
a century  before  Shakespeare,  writes — 

But  to  have  a Roland  to  resist  an  Oliver,  he  sent 
solempne  ambassadors  to  the  kyng  of  Englaride, 
offervng  hym  hys  doughter  in  mariage.— “IfcJiry 
FI.” 

Roland.  (See  Breche.) 

To  die  like  Roland.  To  die  of  starvation 
or  thirst.  It  is  said  that  Roland  the  great 
paladin,  set  upon  in  the  defile  of  Ronces- 
valles, escaped  the  general  slaughter, 
and  died  of  hunger  and  thirst  in  seeking 
to  cross  the  Pyrenees. 

Post  ingentem  Hispano'rum  caedemprope  Pyrenrei 
saltus  j uga. . . . siti  miserrime extinctum.  Inde  nostri 
intolera'bili  siti  et  immi'ti  volentes  significa're  se 
torqueri,  face're  aiuat,  Rolandi  morte  se  perire.— 
John  de  la  Bruiere  Champie^  “ lie  Cibar'ia^'  xvi.  5. 

Like  the  Hast  of  RolandUs  horn.  When 
Roland  was  set  upon  by  the  Gascons  at 


Roncesvalles,  he  sounded  his  horn  to  give 
Charlemagne  notice  of  his  danger.  At 
the  third  blast  it  cijacked  in  two,  but  so 
loud  was  the  blast  that  birds  fell  dead 
and  the  whole  Saracen  army  was  panic- 
struck.  Charlemagne  heard  the  sound 
at  St.  Jean  Pied  de  Port,  and  rushed  to 
the  rescue,  but  arrived  too  late. 

Oh  for  one  blast  of  that  dread  horn 

On  Pontarabian  echoes  borne. 

That  to  king  Charles  did  come. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  33 

Song  of  Roland.  Part  of  the  Chan- 
sons de  Geste,”  which  treat  of  the 
achievements  of  Charlemagne  and  his 
paladins.  William  of  Normandy  had  it 
sung  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  when  he 
came  to  invade  England. 

Song  of  Roland.  When  Charlemagne 
had  been  six  years  in  Spain,  by  the 
advice  of  Roland,^  his  nephew,  he  sent 
Ganelon  on  an  embassy  to  Marsillus,  the 
pagan  king  of  Saragossa.  Ganelon,  out 
of  jealousy,  betrayed  to  Marsillus  the 
route  which  the  Christian  army  de- 
signed to  take  on  its  way  home,  and  the 
pagan  king  arrived  at  Roncesvalles  just 
as  Roland  was  conducting  through  the 
pass  a rear-guard  of  20,000  men.  Roland 
fought  till  100,000  Saracens  lay  slain,  and 
only  fifty  of  his  own  men  survived.  At 
this  juncture  another  army,  consisting  of 
50,000  men,  poured  from  the  mountains. 
Roland  now  blew  his  enchanted  horn, 
and  blew  so  loudly  that  the  veins  of  his 
neck  started.  Charlemagne  heard  the 
blast,  but  Ganelon  persuaded  him  that 
it  was  only  his  nephew  hunting  the  deer. 
Roland  died  of  his  wounds,  but  in  dying 
threw  his  trusty  sword  Durandal  into  a 
poisoned  stream,  where  it  still  remains. 

Roland  de  Vaux  (Sir).  Baron  of 
Triermain,  who  wakes  Gyneth  from  her 
long  sleep  of  500  years  and  marries  her. 
— Sir  Walter  Scott,  Bridal  of  Trier- 
mainJ’ 

Rolandseck  Tower,  opposite  the 
Drachenfels.  The  legend  is  that  when 
Roland  went  to  the  wars,  a false  report 
of  his  death  was  brought  to  his  betrothed, 
who  retired  to  a convent  in  the  isle  of 
Nonnewerth.  When  Roland  returned 
home  flushed  with  glory  and  found  that 
his  lady-love  had  taken  the  veil,  he  built 
the  castle  which  bears  his  name,  and 
overlooks  the  nunnery,  that  he  might  at 
least  see  his  heart- treasure,  lost  to  him 
for  ever. 


ROLLS. 


ROMANESQUE. 


759 


Rolls  (Chancery  Lane,  London).  So 
called  from  the  records  kept  there  in 
rolls  of  parchment.  The  house  was  ori- 
g-inally  built  by  Henry  III.  for  converted 
Jews,  and  was  called  ^'Domus  Conver- 
so'rum.”  It  was  Edward  III.  who  appro- 
priated the  place  to  the  conservation  of 
records. 

Glover's  Roll.  A copy  of  the  lost  Roll 
of  Arms”  made  by  Glover,  Somerset 
herald.  It  is  a roll  of  the  arms  borne 
by  Henry  III.,  his  princes  of  the  blood, 
barons,  and  knights,  between  1216  and 
1272. 

The  Roll  of  CaerlaverocJc.  An  heraldic 
poem  in  Norman-French,  reciting  the 
names  and  arms  of  the  knights  present 
at  the  siege  of  Caerlaverock,  in  1300. 

Rollrich  or  Rowldrieh  Stones, 

near  Chipping  Norton  {Oxfordshire).  A 
number  of  large  stones  in  a circle,  which 
tradition  says  are  men  turned  to  stone. 
The  highest  of  them  is  called  the  King, 
who  would  have  been  king  of  England, 
if  he  could  have  caught  sight  of  Long 
Compton,  which  may  b^e  seen  a few  steps 
further  on;  five  other  large  stones  are 
called  the  knights,  and  the  rest  common 
soldiers. 

Rolly-polly  (pron.  roul-y  poid-y). 
A crust  with  jam  rolled  un  into  a pud- 
ding ; a little  fat  child.  Roily  is  a thing 
rolled  with  the  diminutive  added.  Polly 
is  fine  flour,  or  flour  bolted,  whence 
our  pollen  (Latin,  pollis,  dust).  The 
whole  word  means  “a  little  fine  flour 
rolled  into  a little  pudding.”  In  some 
parts  of  Scotland  the  game  of  nine-pins 
is  called  rouly-jpoidy . 

Roma'ic.  Modern  or  Romanised 
Greek. 

Roman  {The). 

Jean  Dumont,  the  French  painter,  le 
Romain.  (1700-1781.) 

Stephen  Picart,  the  French  engraver, 
le  Romain.  (1631-1721.) 

Giulio  Pippi,  Giulio  Romano.  (1492- 
1546.) 

Adrian  van  Roomen,  the  mathema- 
tician, Adrialnus  R.oma!nns.  (1561-1615.) 

Most  learned  of  the  Romans.  Marcus 
Terentius  Varro.  (b.c.  116-28.) 

Last  of  the  Romans.  Rienzi.  fl310- 
1354.) 

Last  of  the  Romans.  Charles  James 
Fox.  (1749-1806.)  {See  Sidney.) 

Ultimus  Romanornm.  Horace  Wal- 
pole. (1717-1797.)  (A^eeLAST.) 


Roman  Birds.  Eagles;  so  called 
because  the  ensign  of  the  Roman  legion 
was  an  eagle. 

Roma'nas  aves  propria  legio'num  nu'mina. 

Tacitus. 

Roman  Remains  in  England.  The 
most  remarkable  are  the  following  : — 

The  pharos,  church,  and  trenches  in 
Dover. 

Chilham  Castle,  Richborough,  and  Re- 
culver Forts. 

Silchester  (Berkshire),  Dorchester,  and 
Caerleon,  amphitheatres. 

Hadrian’s  wall,  from  Tyne  to  Boulness. 

The  wall,  baths,  and  Newport  Gate  of 
Lincoln. 

Verulam,  near  St.  Albans. 

York  (Eboracum),  where  Severus  and 
Constantins  Chlorus  died,  and  Constan- 
tine the  Great  was  born. 

Bath,  &c. 

Roman  des  Romans.  A French 
version  of  '^Am'adis  of  Gaul,”  greatly 
extended,  by  Gilbert  Saunier  and  Sieur 
de  Duverdier. 

Roman  de  Chevalier  de  Lyon, 
by  Maitre  Wace,  canon  of  Caen  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  author  of  ‘^Le  Brut.”  The 
romance  referred  to  is  the  same  as  that 
entitled  Ywain  and  Gawain.” 

Roman  de  la  Rose.  (See  Iliad, 
the  French.) 

Romance.  A tale  in  prose  or  verse 
the  incidents  of  which  are  hung  upon 
what  is  marvellous  and  fictitious. 

These  tales  were  originally  written  in 
the  Romance  language  {q.v.),  and  the 
expression,  In  Romance  we  read,” 
came  in  time  to  refer  to  the  tale,  and  not 
to  the  language  in  which  it  was  told. 

Romance  of  Chivalry  may  be  divided 
into  three  groups  : — (1)  That  relating  to 
Ar,thur  and  his  Round  Table ; (2)  that 
relating  to  Charlemagne  and  his  paladins ; 
(3)  that  relating  to  Am'adis  and  PaP- 
merin.  In  the  first  are  but  few  fairies  ; 
in  the  second  they  are  shown  in  all  their 
glory;  in  the  third  (which  belongs  to 
Spanish  literature)  we  have  no  fairies, 
but  the  enchantress  Urganda  la  Des- 
coneci'da. 

Romanes'que  (3  syl.). 

In  painting.  Fanciful  and  romantic, 
rather  than  true  to  nature. 

In  architecture.  Byzantine,  Lombard, 

I Saxon,  and  indeed  all  the  debased  Roman 


760  KOMANIC  LANGUAGES. 


EOMEO  AND  JULIET. 


styles,  between  the  time  of  Constantine 
(350)  and  Charlemagne  (800). 

In  literature.  The  dialect  of  Langue- 
doc, which  smacks  of  the  Eomance. 

Koman'ic  or  Romance  Languages. 
Those  modern  languages  which  are  the 
immediate  offspring  of  Latin,  as  the 
Italian,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  and  French. 
Early  French  is  emphatically  so  called  ; 
hence  Bouillet  says:  ^^Le  roman  etait 
universellement  parld  en  Gaule  au  dix- 
ihme  si^cle.’* 

Fraiikis  speech  is  called  Romance, 

So  says  clerks  and  men  of  France. 

Robert  de  Brunn. 

Ro'manism.  Popery,  or  what  re- 
sembles popery,  the  religion  of  modern 
Rome. 

Romantic  means  like  Rome,  in  the 
Roman  style,  because  European  fiction 
was  first  written  in  the  Romance  lan- 
guages, or  the  languages  based  on  the 
Latin.  {See  Romance.) 

Roman'tic  School.  The  name 
assumed,  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  by  a number  of  young  poets 
and  critics  in  Germany,  who  wished  to 
redeem  poetry  and  art  from  the  tram- 
mels of  French  pedantry. 

Romantic  School  of  France.  A similar 
movement  made  in  France  about  thirty 
years  later.  Lamartine  and  Victor  Hugo 
are  its  best  exponents. 

Roma'nus  {St.),  a Norman  bishop  of 
the  seventh  century,  is  depicted  fighting 
with  a dragon,  in  allusion  to  the  tale  that 
he  miraculously  conquered  a dragon 
which  infested  Normandy. 

Roma'ny.  Gipsy  language,  the 
speech  of  the  Roma  or  Zincadi. 

Rome.  The  etymology  of  this  word 
from  Roma,  the  mother  of  Romulus  and 
Remus,  or  from  Rom'ulus  the  legendary 
founder,  or  from  ruma  (a  dug)  in  allusion 
to  the  fable  of  the  wolf  suckling  the  out- 
cast infants,  is  wholly  worthless.  Nie- 
buhr derives  it  from  the  Greek  word 
rhoma  (strength),  a suggestion  confirmed 
by  its  other  name  Valentia,  from  valens 
(strong).  Michelet  prefers  Rumo,  the 
ancient  name  of  the  river  Tiber. 

Rome  was  not  built  in  a day.  Achieve- 
ments of  great  pith  and  moment  are  not 
accomplished  without  patient  perseve- 
rance and  a considerable  interval  of 
time.  The  French  say  Grand  hien  ne 
vient  pas  en  peu  d'heures,  but  the  English  I 


proverb  is  to  be  found  in  the  French 
also  : Rome  iCa  pas  He  faite  en  un  jour, 
(1615.) 

Founder  of  Rome,  (1)  Romulus,  the 
legendary  founder,  B.C.  752 ; (2)  Camil- 
lus  was  termed  the  Second  Roniidus,  for 
saving  Rome  from  the  Gauls,  B.c.  365  ; 
(3)  Caius  Ma'rius  was  called  the  Third 
Romulus,  for  saving  Rome  from  the  Teu- 
to'nes  and  Cimbri,  B.C.  101. 

From  Rome  to  May.  A bantering  ex- 
pression equivalent  to  the  following  : — 

From  April  to  the  foot  of  Westminster 
bridge;”  ‘‘Inter  pascha  remisque  feror 
(“  Reinardus,”  ii.  690) ; “ Inter  Clunia- 
cum  et  Sancti  festa  Johannis  obit” 
(“  Reinardus,”  iv.  972);  “Cela  s’est 
passe  entre  Maubeuge  et  la  PentecOte.” 

Oh  that  all  Rome  had  but  one  head,  that 
I might  strike  it  off  at  a bloio  ! Caligula,, 
the  Roman  emperor,  is  said  to  have 
uttered  this  amiable  sentiment. 

When  you  go  to  Rome,  do  as  Rome  does— 
i.e. , Conform  to  the  manners  and  customs 
of  those  among  whom  you  live,  and  don’t 
wear  a brown  hat  in  Friesland.  St. 
Mon'ica  and  her  son  St.  Augustine  bishop 
of  Hippo,  being  at  Milan,  asked  St. 
Ambrose  his  advice  on  the  following 
point : At  Rome  they  fast  on  Saturday, 
but  not  so  at  Milan  ; which  practice 
ought  to  be  observed  ? To  this  the  Milan 
saint  replied,  “When  1 am  at  Milan,  I 
dine,  as  they  do  at  Milan  ; but  when  I 
go  to  Rome,  I do  as  Rome  does.”— 
Epistle  xxxvi. 

Rounds  best  wealth  is  patriotism.  So 
said  Met'ius  Curtins,  when  he  jumped 
into  the  chasm  which  the  soothsayers 
gave  out  would  never  close  till  Rome 
threw  therein  “ its  best  wealth.” 

Book  of  Rome.  Books  of  romance.  {See 
Romance.) 

Yt  ys  in  the  Boke  of  Rome, 

Ther  was  no  knyght  of  Kyrstendome 
That  joraey  durst  crave. 

'^Torrent  of  Portugal^  p.  6. 

Romeo  and  Juliet  {Shakespeare). 
The  story  is  taken  from  a poetical  version 
by  Arthur  Brooke  of  Bolsteau’s  novel 
called  “Rhomeo  and  Julietta.”  Bolsteau 
borrowed  the  main  incidents  from  a story 
by  Luigi  da  Porto,  of  Vicenza  (1535), 
entitled  “La  Giulietta.”  In  many  re- 
spects it  resembles  the  “ Ephesi’aca”  (in 
ten  books)  of  Ephe'sius  Xenophon,  whose 
novel  recounts  the  loves  of  Habroc'omas 
and  Anthia. 

Romeo.  A devoted  lover ; a lady’s 


ROMULUS. 


ROPE-DANCERS.  761 


man ; from  Romeo  in  Shakespeare’s 
tragedy,  RoMEO  AND  Juliet.) 

J ames  in  an  evil  hour  went  forth  to  woo 
Young  Juliet  Hart,  and  was  her  Romeo. 

Crabbe^  “ Borough*' 

Rom'ulus.  We  need  no  Romulus  to 
account  for  Rome.  We  require  no  hypo- 
thetical person  to  account  for  a plain 
fact.  This  is  said  of  characters  invented 
to  make  out  an  etymology,  as  Hurleigh 
Burleigh,  to  account  for  our  word  “ Hur- 
ly-burly” {q.v.). 

Ron.  The  name  of  prince  Arthur’s 
spear,  made  of  ebony. 

His  spere  he  nom  [iooA;]  an  honde,  tha  Ron  wes 

ihaten  [crt?/edj.  Layomon,  (I2th  cent.). 

Ronald.  Lord  Ronald  gave  lady 
Clare  a lily-white  doe  as  a love-token, 
and  the  cousins  were  to  be  married  on 
the  following  day.  Lady  Clare  opened 
her  heart  to  Alice  the  nurse,  and  was 
then  informed  that  she  was  not  lady  Clare 
at  all,  but  the  nurse’s  child,  and  that 
lord  Ronald  was  rightful  heir  to  the 
estate.  ‘^Lady”  Clare  dressed  herself 
as  a peasant,  and  went  to  reveal  the 
mystery  to  her  Iqrd.  Ronald  replied. 

If  you  are  not  the  heiress  born,  we  will 
be  married  to-morrow,  and  you  shall  still 
be  lady  Clare. — Tennyson. 

Roncesval'les  (4  syl.).  A defile  in 
the  Pyrenees,  famous  for  the  disaster 
which  here  befell  the  rear  of  Charle- 
magne’s army,  in  the  return  march  from 
Saragossa.  Ganelon  betrayed  Roland, 
out  of  jealousy,  to  Marsillus,  king  of  the 
Saracens,  and  an  ambuscade  attacking 
the  Franks  killed  every  man  of  them. 
Amongst  the  slain  were  Roland,  Oliver, 
Turpin,  and  Mitaine  the  emperor’s  god- 
child. An  account  of  this  attack  is  given 
in  the  Epilogue  of  Croquemitaine  ; ” 
but  the  historical  narrative  is  derived 
from  Eginhard. 

Rondibllis.  The  physician  con- 
sulted by  Panurge  in  Gargantua  and 
Pantag'ruel,”  by  Rabelais. 

Rondo.  Father  of  the  Rondo.  Jean 
Baptiste  Davaux  ; but  Gluck  was  the 
first  to  introduce  the  musical  rondo  into 
France,  in  the  opera  of  Orpheus.” 

Ron'yon  or  Ronion.  A term  of 
contempt  to  a woman.  It  is  the  French 
rogneux,  scabby,  mangy. 

You  rag!  you  baggage  I you  poulcat!  you  ronyoni 
out  1 out ! 

Shakespeare,*’ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,"  iv,  3. 

“ Aroint  thee,  witch  1”  the  rump-fed  ronyon  cries. 

Shakespeare,  “ Macbeth"  i.  3. 


Rood  Lane  {London).  So  called 
from  a rood  or  Jesus  on  the  cross” 
placed  there,  and  in  Roman  Catholic 
Hmes  held  in  great  veneration. 

Rook’s  Hill,  Lavant,  Chichester, 
celebrated  for  the  local  tradition  that 
the  golden  calf  of  Aaron  is  buried  there. 

Rook'ery  (3  syl.).  Any  low  neigh- 
bourhood frequented  by  thieves  and 
vagabonds.  A person  fleeced  or  liable  to 
be  fleeced  is  a pigeon,  but  those  who 
prey  upon  these  ^‘gulls’’  are  called  rooks. 

Rooky  W ood.  Not  the  wood  where 
rooks  do  congregate,  but  the  misty  or 
dark  wood.  The  verb  reeh  (to  emit  va- 
pour) had  the  preterite  roJce,  rook,  or 
roak ; hence  Hamilton,  in  his  Wallace,” 
speaks  of  the  rooky  mist.” 

Light  thichens,  and  the  crow 
Makes  wing  to  the  roaky  wood. 

Shakespeare,  “ Macbeth  ” iii.  2. 

Roost.  Gone  to  roost— gone  to  bed. 
At  roost— in.  bed,  asleep,  in  a state  of 
rest.  A roost  is  the  perch  on  which 
fowls  rest  at  night. 

The  chough  and  crow  to  roost  are  gone. 

! Glee  (words  by  Joanna  Baillie,  music  by  Bishop). 

Rope.  You  carry  a rope  in  your 
pocket  {French').  Said  of  a person  very 
lucky  at  cards,  from  the  superstition 
that  a bit  of  rope  with  which  a man  has 
been  hanged,  carried  in  the  pocket,  se- 
cures luck  at  cards. 

“You  have  no  occupation?”  said  the  Bench,  in- 
quiringly, to  a vagabond  at  the  bar.  “ Beg  your 
worship’s  pardon,’*  was  ihe  rejoinder;  “I  deal  in 
bits  of  halter  for  the  use  of  gentlemen  as  plays.”— 
The  Times  (French  correspondent). 

She  is  on  her  high  ropes.  In  a distant 
and  haughty  temper.  The  allusion  is  to 
a rope-dancer,  who  looks  down  on  the 
spectators.  The  French  say,  Rtre  monti 
sur  ses  grands  chevaux;  and  we  have  the 
analogous  phrase,  To  be  on  your  high 
horse.” 

Rope-dance.  Terence  complains 
that  the  attention  of  the  public  was 
diverted  from  his  play  by  the  exhibitions 
of  a rope-dancer. — Hecyra. 

Rope-dancers.  Jacob  Hall,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.,  greatly  admired  by 
the  Duchess  of  Cleveland. 

Richer,  the  celebrated  rope-dancer  at 
Sadler’s  Wells  (1658). 

Signor  Violante,  in  the  reign  of  queen 
Anne. 

The  Turk  who  astonished  every  one 
that  saw  him,  in  the  reign  of  George  IT. 


762 


HOPEk 


EOSALINDE, 


Froissart  (vol.  iv.,  ch.  38,  fol.  47)  tells 
ns  of  ‘‘a  mayster  from  Geane,”  who 
either  slid  or  walked  down  a rope  sus- 
pended to  the  highest  house  on  St. 
Michael’s  Bridge  and  the  tower  of  Our 
Lady’s  Church,  when  Isabel  of  Bavaria 
made  her  public  entry  into  Paris.  Some 
say  he  descended  dancing,  placed  a crown 
on  Isabel’s  head,  and  then  re-ascended. 

A similar  performance  was  exhibited 
in  London,  February  19th,  1546,  before 
Edward  VI.  The  rope  was  slung  from 
the  battlements  of  St.  Paul’s  steeple. 
The  performer  of  this  feat  was  a man 
from  Aragon. 

The  same  trick  was  repeated  when 
Felipe  of  Spain  came  to  marry  queen 
Mary.  {See  Holinshed,  Chronicle,”  iii., 
p.  Ii21.) 

Rope-walk  {barristers*  slang).  Old 
Bailey  practice.  Thus  ‘^gone  into  the 
rope-walk”  means,  he  has  taken  up 
practice  in  the  Old  Bailey. 

Roper.  Margaret  Roper  was  buried 
with  the  head  of  her  father.  Sir  Thomas 
More,  in  her  arms. 

Her,  who  clasped  in  her  last  trance 
Her  murdered  faiher’s  head.— 

Mistress  Roper.  A cant  name  given 
to  the  Marines  by  British  sailors.  The 
wit,  of  course,  lies  in  the  awkward  way 
that  marines  handle  the  ship’s  ropes. 

To  marry  Mistress  Roper  is  to  enlist  in 
the  Marines. 

Roque  (1  syl.).  A blunt,  feeling  old 
man  in  the  service  of  Donna  Florantlie. 
— George  Colman  the  Younger,  ^^Octavian.** 

Saint  Roque.  Patron  saint  of  those 
who  suffer  from  plague  or  pestilence ; 
this  is  because  he  worked  miracles  on 
the  plague-stricken,  while  he  was  himself 
smitten  with  the  same  judgment.” 

Roque  Guinart.  A famous  robber, 
whose  true  name  was  Pedro  Rocha 
Guinarda,  leader  of  los  Nicerros,  which, 
with  the  los  Cadelfes,  levied  heavy  con- 
tributions on  all  the  mountain  districts 
of  Catalo'nia  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
He  was  a Spanish  Rob  Roy,  and  was  ex- 
ecuted in  1616. — Pellicer. 

Roquelaure.  A cloak ; so  called  from 
the  duke  de  Roquelaure  (George  II.). 

“ Your  honour’s  roquelaure,”  replied  the  corporal, 
‘'has not  once  been  had  on  since  the  night,  before 
your  honour  received  your  Wound. 
ahandy  ” (Story  of  Le  Fevre). 

Ros-erana.  Daughter  of  Cormac 


king  of  Moi-lena,  wife  of  Fingal. — Ossian, 
**  Temora,**  iv. 

Ro'sa  (Salva'tor),  An  Italian  painter, 
noted  for  his  scenes  of  savage  nature, 
gloomy  grandeur,  and  awe-creating  mag- 
nificence. (1615-1673.) 

Whate’er  Lorrain  light  touched  with  softened  hue, 
Or  savage  Uosa  dashed,  or  learned  Poussin  drew. 

Thomson^  “ Castle  of  Indolence p canto  i. 

Rosalia  or  St.  Rosalie.  A native  of 
Palermo,  who  was  carried  by  angels  to 
an  inaccessible  mountain,  where  she  lived 
for  many  years  in  the  cleft  of  a rock, 
a part  of  which  she  wore  away  with  her 
knees  in  her  devotions.  If  any  one  doubts 
it,  let  him  know  that  a rock  with  a hole 
in  it  may  still  be  seen,  and  folks  less 
sceptical  have  built  a chapel  there,  with  a 
marble  statue,  to  commemorate  the  event. 
That  grot  where  olives  nod. 

Where,  darling  of  each  heart  and  eye, 
Prom  all  the  youths  of  Sicily 
St.  Kosalie  retired  to  God. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  **  Marmionp  i.  21. 

St.  Rosalia,  in  Christian  art,  is  depicted 
in  a cave  with  a cross  and  skull,  or  else 
in  the  act  of  receiving  a rosary  or  chap- 
let of  roses  from  the  Virgin. 

Ros'alind.  Daughter  of  the  banished 
duke,  but  brought  up  with  Celia  in  the 
court  of  Frederick,  the  duke’s  brother, 
and  usurper  of  his  dominions.  When 
Rosalind  fell  in  love  with  Orlando,  duke 
Frederick  said  she  must  leave  his  house 
and  join  her  father  in  the  forest  of  Arden. 
Celia  resolved  to  go  with  her,  and  the 
two  ladies  started  on  their  journey.  For 
better  security  they  changed  their  names 
and  assumed  disguises : Celia  dressed 
herself  as  a peasant-girl,  and  took  for 
the  nonce  the  name  of  Aliena ; Rosalind 
dressed  as  her  brother,  and  called  herself 
Gan'imed.  They  took  up  their  quarters 
in  a peasant’s  cottage,  where  they  soon 
encountered  Orlando,  and  (to  make  a 
long  tale  short)  Celia  fell  in  love  with 
Oliver,  and  Rosalind  obtained  her 
father’s  consent  to  marry  Orlando. — 
Shakespeare,  '‘As  You  Like  It.** 

Ros'alind,  in  the  " Shepherds’  Calen- 
dar,” is  the  maiden  vainly  beloved  by 
Colin  Clout,  as  her  choice  was  fixed  on  a 
shepherd  named  Menalcas.  {See  below. ) 

Ros'alinde  (3  syl.).  The  anagram 
of  "Rose  Danil”  or  "Rose  Daniel,”  with 
whom  Spenser  was  in  love,  but  the  young 
lady  married  John  Florio  the  Resolute. 
In  the  " Shepherds’  Calendar”  Rose  is 
called  " Rosalinde,”  and  Spenser  calls 


ROSALINE. 


ROSE. 


763 


himself  ''Colin  Clout.”  Shakespeare 
introduces  John  Florio  in  "Love’s  La- 
bour’s Lost”  under  the  imperfect  ana- 
gram of  Holof ernes  Hues  Floreo\ 

Ros'aline  (3  syl.).  A negress  of 
sparkling  wit  and  great  beauty,  attend- 
ing on  the  princess  of  France,  and  loved 
by  Lord  Biron',  a nobleman  in  the  suite 
of  Ferdinand  king  of  Navarre. — Shake- 
speare, Lov^s  Labour's  Lost." 

Ros'amond  {Fair).  Higden,  monk 
of  Chester,  says  — " She  was  the  fayre 
daughter  of  Walter  lord  Clifford,  concu- 
bine of  Henry  IL,  and  poisoned  by  queen 
Elianor  a.d.  1177.  Henry  made  for  her 
a house  of  wonderfull  working,  so  that  no 
man  or  woman  might  come  to  her.  This 
house  was  named  Labyrinthus,  and  was 
wrought  like  unto  a knot  in  a garden 
called  a maze.  But  the  queen  came  to 
her  by  a clue  of  thredde,  and  so  dealt 
with  her  that  she  lived  not  long  after. 
She  was  buried  at  Godstow,  in  an  house 
of  nunnes,  with  these  verses  upon  her  I 
tombe : — 

“ Hie  jacetin  tumba  Rosa  raundi,  non  Roaa  munda  : 

Non  redolet,  sed  olet,  quae  redole're  solet.” 

Here  Rose  the  graced,  not  Rose  the  chaste,  reposes : 
The  smell  that  rises  is  no  smell  of  roses. 

***  Rosamond  Clifford  is  introduced 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  two  of  his  novels 
— " The  Talisman”  and  "Woodstock.” 

.Tane  Clifford  was  her  name,  as  books  aver; 

Fair  Rosamond  was  but  her  no»i  de  gtif-rre, 

Drydeiif  Epilogue  to  '•'  Henry  //.” 

Rosa'na.  Daughter  of  the  queen  of 
Armenia.  She  aided  the  three  sons  of 
St.  George  to  quench  the  seven  lamps  of 
the  Knight  of  the  Black  Castle. 

Seven  Champions  of  Christendom"  ii.  8-9. 

Lamps.) 

Ro'sary  {the  rose  article).  A name 
given  to  the  bead-roll  employed  by 
Roman  Catholics  for  keeping  count  of 
their  repetitions  of  certain  prayers.  It 
consists  of  three  parts,  each  of  which 
contains  five  mysteries  connected  with 
Christ  or  his  virgin  mother.  The  entire 
roll  consists  of  150  Ave  Marias,  15  Pater 
Fosters,  and  15  doxologies.  The  word 
is  said  by  some  to  be  derived  from  the 
chaplet  of  beads,  perfumed  with  roses, 
given  by  the  Virgin  to  St.  Dominic ; 
Others  say  the  first  chaplet  of  the  kind 
was  made  of  rosewood ; others,  again, 
maintain  that  it  takes  its  name  from  St.  ' 
Ro'salie ; and  some  think  it  is  named 
from  the  "Mystical  Rose,”  one  of  the 
titles  of  the  Virgin.  The  set  is  some- 


times called  "fifteens,”  from  its  con- 
taining fifteen  " doxologies,”  fifteen 
'*  Our  Fathers,”  and  10  times  15  or  150 

Hail  Maries.” 

Ros'eiad.  A satire  published  by 
Charles  Churchill  in  1761 ; it  canvasses 
the  faults  and  merits  of  the  metropolitan 
actors. 

Ros'eius.  A first-rate  actor ; so 
called  from  the  Roman  Roscius,  un- 
rivalled for  his  grace  of  action,  melody 
of  voice,  conception  of  character,  and 
delivery.  He  was  paid  thirty  pounds  a 
day  for  acting ; Pliny  says  four  thousand 
a year,  and  Cicero  says  five  thousand. 

What  scene  of  death  hath  Roscius  now  to  act? 

. Shakespeare,'* 6 Henry  VI.,”  v.  6. 

Another  Roscius,  So  Camden  terms 
Richard  Burbage.  (^-1629.) 

The  British  Roscius.  Thomas  Better- 
ton,  of  whom  Cibber  says,  "He  alone 
was  born  to  speak  what  only  Shakespeare 
knew  to  write.”  (1635-1710.)  - 
^ David  Garrick.  (1716-1779.) 

The  Roscius  of  France.  Michel  Boyron, 
generally  called  Baron.  (1653-1729.) 

The  Young  Roscius.  William  Henry 
West  Betty,  who  made  his  debut  in  1803, 
and  in  fifty-six  nights  realised  ^34,000. 

Rose.  Sir  John  Maundeville  says — 
A Jewish  maid  of  Bethlehem  (whom 
Southey  names  Zillah)  was  beloved  by 
one  Ham'uel,  a brutish  sot.  Zillah  re- 
jected his  suit,  and  Hamuel  vowed  ven- 
geance. He  gave  out  that  Zillah  was  a 
demoniac,  and  she  was  condemned  to  be 
burnt ; but  God  averted  the  flames,  the 
stake  budded,  and  the  maid  stood  un- 
harmed under  a rose-tree  full  of  white 
and  red  roses,  then  " first  seen  on  earth 
since  Paradise  was  lost.” 

Rose.  An  emblem  of  England.  It  is 
also  the  cognizance  of  the  Richmonds, 
hence  the  rose  in  the  mouth  of  one  of  the 
foxes  which  support  the  shield  in  the 
public-house  called  the  " Holland  Arms,  ” 
Kensington.  The  daughter  of  the  duke 
of  Richmond  (lady  Caroline  Lennox)  ran 
away  with  Mr.  Henry  Fox,  afterwards 
baron  Holland  of  Foxley.  So  the  Fox 
stole  the  Rose  and  ran  off  with  it. 

ico.5e,  for  Rose-noble.  A coin  struck  in 
1344,  under  Edward  III. ; so  called  be- 
cause it  had  a rose,  the  badge  of  the 
Lancastrians  and  Yorkists. 

De  la  pistole, 

De  laguinee,  et  de  I’obole, 

Du  loiiis  d’oc,  du  dueaton, 

De  la  rose,  et  du  patagon. 

Jacques  Moreau,  in  “ Virglle  Trnvesti.  * 


?64 


KOSE. 


EOSEMARY. 


The  Rose  Alley  amhuscade.  The  attack 
on  Dry  den  by  hired  ruffians  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Rochester  and  the  duchess  of 
Portsmouth,  December  18,  1679.  This 
scandalous  outrage  was  in  revenge  of  a 
satire  by  Mulgrave,  erroneously  attri- 
buted to  Dryden. 

Attacks  of  this  kind  were  not  uncom- 
mon in  “the  age  of  chivalry;”  witness 
the  case  of  Sir  John  Coventry,  who  was 
waylaid  and  had  his  nose  slit  by  some 
young  men  of  rank  for  a reflection  on  the 
king’s  theatrical  amours.  This  attack 
gave  rise  to  the  “ Coventry  Act”  against 
maiming  and  wounding.  Of  a similar 
nature  was  the  cowardly  assassination  of 
Mr.  Mountford,  in  Norfolk  Street,  Strand, 
by  lord  Mohun  and  captain  Hill,  for  the 
hypothetical  offence  of  his  admiration 
for  Mrs.  Bracegirdle. 

The  Rose  Coffee-housey  formerly  called 

The  Red  Cow,”  and  subsequently 
“Will’s,”  at  the  western  corner  of  Bow- 
Street,  where  John  Dryden  presided  over 
the  literature  of  the  town.  “ Here,” 
says  Malcolm,  “appeal  was  made  to  him 
upon  every  literary  dispute.” — Spence y 

Anecdotes y'  p.  263. 

This  coffee-house  is  referred  to  as 
“Russell  Street  Coffee-house,”  and  “The 
Wits’  Coffee-house.” 

Will’s  continued  to  be  the  resort  of  the  wits  at 
least  till  1710.  Probably  Addison  established  his 
servant  [Buttonl  in  a new  house  about  17-2  — 
Spence^  ^'Anecdotes,'  p.  263. 

This  Button  had  been  a servant  of 
the  countess  of  Warwick,  whom  Addison 
married  ; and  Button’s  became  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Whig  literatiy  as  Will’s 
had  been  of  the  Tory. 

The  Red  Rose,  says  Sir  John  Mande- 
ville,  sprang  from  the  extinguished 
brands  heaped  around  a virgin  martyr 
at  Bethlehem. 

The  Red  Rosey  as  a public-house  sign. 
Camden  says  the  red  rose  was  the  ac- 
cepted badge  of  Edmund,  first  earl  of 
Lancaster.  It  was  also  the  cognizance 
of  Edmund  Crouchbacke,  second  son  of 
Henry  III.  ; and  of  John  of  Gaunt,  fifth 
duke  of  Lancaster,  in  virtue  of  his  wife, 
who  was  godchild  of  Edmund  Crouch- 
backe, and  his  sole  heir.  {See  above. ) 

^ The  White  RosCy  says  Sir  John  Mande- 
ville,  sprang  from  the  unkindled  brands 
heaped  around  the  virgin  martyr  at 
Bethlehem.  (/S^eeRosE.) 

The  White  RosCy  as  a public-house  sign, 
was  not  first  adopted  by  the  Yorkists 


during  the  contest  for  the  crown,  as 
Shakespeare  says;  it  was  an  hereditary 
cognizance  of  the  House  of  York,  and 
had  been  borne  by  them  ever  since  the 
title  was  first  created.  It  was  adopted 
by  the  Jacobins  as  an  emblem  of  the 
Pretender,  because  his  adherents  were 
obliged  to  abet  him  sub  rosa  (in  secret). 

Rose  in  Christian  art.  The  attribute 
of  St.  Dorothe'a,  who  carries  roses  in  a 
basket ; of  St.  Casilda,  St.  Elizabeth  of 
Portugal,  and  St.  Rose  of  Viterbo,  who 
carry  roses  either  in  their  hands  or  caps. 
St.  Rosalia,  St.  An'gelus,  St.  Rose  of 
Lima,  St.  Ascylus,  St.  Victoria,  &c.,  wear 
crowns  of  roses. 

St.  Rose  of  Lima.  A martyr  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  usually  drawn  with 
roses  on  her  head,  or  contemplating  the 
infant  Jesus  in  the  midst  of  roses. 

The  Wars  of  the  Roses.  A civil  con- 
test that  lasted  thirty  years,  in  which 
eighty  princes  of  the  blood,  a larger 
portion  of  the  English  nobility,  and  some 
100,000  common  soldiers  were  slain.  It 
was  a contest  between  the  Lancastrians 
and  Yorkists,  whose  supporters  wore  in 
their  caps  as  badges  a red  or  white  rose  ; 
the  cognizance  of  the  House  of  Lancaster 
being  The  rose  gnUy  and  of  the  House  of 
York  The  rose  argent.  (1455-1485.) 

Under  the  rose  (“sub  rosa”).  In  strict 
confidence.  Cupid  gave  Harpoc'rates  (the 
god  of  silence)  a rose,  to  bribe  him  not 
to  betray  the  amours  of  Venus.  Hence 
the  flower  became  the  emblem  of  silence. 
It  was  for  this  reason  sculptured  on  the 
ceilings  of  banquet-rooms,  to  remind  the 
guests  that  what  was  spoken  sub  vino 
was  not  to  be  uttered  sub  divo.  In  1526 
it  was  placed  over  confessionals. 

Rose  of  Jericho.  Also  called  Rosa 
Marice  or  Rose  of  the  Virgin.  It  is  of 
the  natural  order  Crucif^'ce. 

Rose-noble.  An  ancient  gold  coin, 
worth  6s.  8d.,  struck  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  III. , and  stamped  with  the  figure 
of  a rose  (1334). 

Rose-wood  is  so  called  because  it 
yields  a perfume  like  that  of  roses  when 
it  is  cut  or  sawn. 

Ro'semary  is  Ros-mari’nus  (sea-dew), 
and  is  said  to  be  “ useful  in  love-making.” 
The  reason  is  this  : Both  Venus  the  love- 
goddess,  and  Rosemary  or  sea-dew,  were 
offspring  of  the  Sea ; and  as  Love  is 


EOSEMARY  LANE. 


ROTA. 


765 


Beauty’s  son,  Rosemary  is  his  nearest 
lelative. 

The  sea  his  mother  Venus  came  on ; 

And  hence  some  reverend  men  approve 

Of  rosemary  in  making  love. 

ButUr,  '■"Hudihras''  pt.  ii.  c.  1. 

Rosemary,  an  emliem  of  remembrance. 
Thus  Ophelia  says,  ‘‘  There’s  rosemary, 
that’s  for  remembrance.”  According  to 
ancient  tradition  this  herb  strengthens 
the  memory.  As  Hungary  water  it  was 
once  very  extensively  taken  to  quiet  the 
nerves.  It  was  much  used  in  weddings, 
and  to  wear  rosemary  in  ancient  times 
was  as  significant  of  a wedding  as  to 
wear  a white  favour.  When  the  Nurse 
in  '‘Romeo  and  Juliet”  asks,  "Doth 
not  rosemary  and  Romeo  begin  both  with 
a [i.e.,  one']  letter?”  she  refers  to  these 
emblematical  characteristics  of  the  herb. 
In  the  present  language  of  flowers  it 
means  " Thy  presence  revives  my  hope.” 

Rosemary  Lane  (London),  now 
called  Royal  Mint  Street. 

Ro'seneran'tz  & Guild'enstern. 
Time-serving  courtiers,  willing  to  betray 
any  one,  and  do  any  "genteel”  dirty 
work  to  please  a king. — Shahespeare, 

Hamlet'' 

Roset'ta  (^Africa).  The  orchards  of 
Rosetta  are  filled  with  turtle-doves. 

Now  hangs  listening  to  the  doves 
In  warm  Kosetta. 

T.  Moore.  “ Paradise  and  the  Pefi.** 

The  Rosetta  Stone.  A stone  found  in 
1799  by  M.  Boussard,  a French  officer 
of  Engineers,  in  an  excavation  made  at 
Fort  St.  J ulien,  near  Rosetta.  It  has  an 
inscription  in  three  different  languages— 
the  hieroglyphic,  the  demotic,  and  the 
Greek.  It  was  erected  b.c.  195,  in 
honour  of  Ptolemy  Epiph'anes,  because 
he  remitted  the  dues  of  the  sacerdotal 
body.  The  great  value  of  this  stone  is 
that  it  furnished  the  key  whereby  the 
Egyptian  hieroglyphics  have  been  de- 
ciphered. 

Rosicru'cians  not  rosa  crux,  rose 
cross  ; but  ros  crux,  dew  cross.  Dew  was 
considered  by  the  ancient  chemists  as  the 
most  powerful  solvent  of  gold ; and  cross 
in  alchemy  is  the  synonym  of  light,  be- 
cause any  figure  of  a cross  contains  the 
three  letters  L V X (light).  " Lux”  is 
the  menstruum  of  the  red  dragon  (i.e., 
corporeal  light),  and  this  gross  light  pro- 
perly digested  produces  gold,  and  dew  is 
the  digester.  Hence  the  Rosi crucians 


are  those  who  use  dew  for  digesting  lux 
or  light,  for  the  purpose  of  coming  at  the 
philosophers’  stone. 

As  for  the  Rosycross  philosophers, 

Whom  you  will  have  to  be  but  sorcerers, 

What  they  pretend  to  is  no  more 
Than  Trismegistus  did  before, 

Pythagoras,  old  Zoroaster, 

And  Apollonius  their  master. 

Butler,  Hudibras”  pt.  ii.  3. 

Ross  (C^^^2c).  A headland;  asRoslin, 
Culross,  Rossberg,  Montrose,  Roxburgh, 
Ardrossan,  &c. 

Ross,  from  the  Welsh  rhos,  " a moor;” 
found  in  Welsh  and  Cornish  names,  as 
Rossall,  Rusholme,  &c. 

The  Man  of  Ross.  A name  given  to 
John  Kyrle,  a native  of  Whitehouse,  in 
Gloucestershire.  He  resided  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  the  village  of  Ross, 
Herefordshire,  and  died  1724. 

Who  taught  that  heaven-directed  spire  to  rise  ? 

“ The  Man  of  Ross,”  each  lisping  babe  replies. 

Pope,  “ Moral  Essays.^' 

Rosse  (2  syl.).  A famous  sword  which 
the  dwarf  Elberich  gave  to  Otwit,  king 
of  Lombardy.  It  struck  so  fine  a cut 
that  it  left  no  " gap.”  It  shone  like 
glass,  and  was  adorned  with  gold.  (See 
Balmung.  ) 

This  sword  to  thee  I give : it  is  all  bright  of  hue  ; 
Whatever  it  may  cleave,  no  gap  will  there  ensue. 
From  Al'mari  I brought  it,  and  Eosse  is  its  name  ; 
Wherever  swords  are  drawn,  ’twill  put  them  all  to 
shame.  “ The  Heldenbuch.*’ 

Ross'el.  One  of  Reynard’s  sons. 
The  word  means  reddish.”— ^‘Reynard 
the  Fox.'* 

Rossignol (French).  Rossignol  d'Ar- 
cadie.  A donkey ; so  called  because  its 
bray  is  quite  as  remarkable  as  the 
nightingale’s  song,  and  Arcadia  is  called 
the  land  of  asses  and  fools.  (See  Fen- 
Nightingale.) 

Ros'tram.  A pulpit ; properly  the 
beak  of  a ship.  In  Rome,  the  pulpit 
from  which  orators  addressed  the  public 
was  ornamented  with  the  rostra  or  ship- 
prows  taken  from  the  Carthaginians. 

Ro'ta  or  Rota-men.  A political  club 
that  met  at  the  "Turk’s  Head,”  in  New 
Palace  Yard,  Westminster,  where  they 
discussed  and  drew  up  a popular  form  of 
commonwealth,  the  elements  of  which 
will  be  found  in  Harrington’s  "Oce'ana.” 
It  was  called  Rota  because  a third  part 
of  the  members  were  roted  out  by  ballot 
-every  year,  and  were  not  eligible  for 
re-election-for  three  years. 


766 


ROTE. 


ROUGE  DRAGON. 


Rota  Aristote'Uca  (Aristotle’s  Wheel). 
A problem  in  mechanics  founded  on  the 
motion  of  a wheel  about  its  axis.  It  was 
first  noticed  by  Aristotle. 

Hote.  To  learn  hy  rote  is  to  learn  by 
turning  words  round  and  round  in  the 
memory  as  a wheel.  To  learn  by 
heart”  is  to  learn  thoroughly  (French, 
apprendre  par  coeur).  Shakespeare  speaks 
of  the  heart  of  loss,”  meaning  entire 
lossj  and  to  love  with  all  our  heart”  is  to 
love  thoroughly.  (Latin,  rota,  a wheel.) 

Rothschild  (Red  Shield),  Mayer 
Anselm,  in  1763,  made  his  appearance 
in  Hanover  barefoot,  with  a sack  on  his 
shoulders  and  a bundle  of  rags  on  his 
back.  Successful  in  trade,  he  returned 
to  Frankfort  and  set  up  a small  shop, 
over  which  hung  the  signboard  of  a red 
shield.  As  a dealer  in  old  coins  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  elector  of  Hesse- 
Cassel,  who  appointed  him  confidential 
agent.  The  serene  elector  being  com- 
pelled to  fly  his  country,  Mayer  Anselm 
took  charge  of  his  cash,  amounting  to 
several  millions  of  florins.  When  Napo- 
leon was  banished  to  Elba,  and  the 
elector  returned,  Anselm  restored  the 
money — an  act  of  noble  honesty  which 
the  elector  mentioned  at  the  Congress  of 
Vienna.  Hence  arose  the  greatness  of 
the  house,  which  assumed  the  name  of 
the  Red  Shield.  In  1863  Charles  re- 
ceived six  millions  sterling  as  his  per- 
sonal share  and  retiring  pension  from 
the  firm  of  the  five  brothers. 

Rotten  Row.  Muster  row.  Cam- 
den derives  the  word  from  rotteran  (to 
muster) ; hence  rot,  a file  of  six  soldiers. 
Another  derivation  is  the  Norman  Rat- 
ten Row  (roundabout  way),  being  the  way 
corpses  were  carried  to  avoid  the  public 
thoroughfares.  Some  suppose  that  the 
name  is  derived  from  the  soft  material 
with  which  the  road  is  covered. 

Roue.  The  profligate  duke  of  Or- 
leans, regent  of  France,  first  used  this 
word  in  its  modern  sense.  It  was  his 
ambition  to  collect  round  him  companions 
as  worthless  as  himself,  and  he  used  face- 
tiously to  boast  that  there  was  not  one  of 
them  who  did  not  deserve  to  be  broken 
on  the  that  being  the  most  ordi- 

nary punishment  for  malefactors  at  the 
time  ; hence  these  profligates  went  by 
the  name  of  Orleans’  roues  or  wheels. 
The  most  notorious  roues  were  the  dukes 


of  Richelieu,  Broglie,  Biron,  and  Brancas, 
together  with  Canillac  and  Noc^.  In 
Englanrl,  the  dukes  of  Rochester  and 
Buckingham. 

A notorious  roui.  A libertine.  (See 
Rouk) 

Rouen.  Alter  d Rouen.  To  go  to 
ruin.  The  French  are  full  of  these  puns, 
and  our  merry  forefathers  indulged  in 
them  also. 

(1 ) II  a fait  son  cours  d A snQres.  He 
knows  nothing;  he  graduated  at  Dunse 
college. 

(2)  Alter  d Cachan,  To  give  leg-bail, 
or  se  cacher  ” [de  ses  creanciers]  ; to  go 
to  Hyde  Park. 

(3)  Alter  d Dourdan.  To  go  to  be 
whipped  (douder,  etre  battu) ; to  be  on 
the  road  to  Flogny. 

(4)  Vous  etes  de  Lagny,  votes  n'avez  pa\ 
hdte.  I see  you  are  a man  of  Lagny— 
don’t  hurry  yourself. 

(5)  11  est  de  Lunel,  II  a une  chamhre  d 
Lunel,  II  est  des  Luniers  d'OrUans,  or  II 
est  Log^  d la  Lime.  He  is  a lunatic. 

(6)  Envoyer  d Mortaigne.  To  be  slain, 
or  sent  to  Deadham. 

(7)  Aliev  d tatras.  To  die;  to  be 
gathered  to  one’s  fathers  (ad  patres). 

(8)  Alter  d Versailles.  To  be  going  to 
the  bad.  Here  the  pun  is  between  Ver- 
S(2-illes  and  renverser.  This  wretched  pun 
is  about  equal  to  such  a phrase  as  Going 
to  Downham. 

The  Bloody  Feast  of  Rouen  (1356). 
Charles  the  Dauphin  gave  a banquet  to 
his  private  friends  at  Rouen,  to  which 
his  brother-in-law  Charles  the  Bad  was 
invited.  While  the  guests  were  at  table 
king  Jean  entered  the  room  with  a nume- 
rous escort,  exclaiming,  “ Traitor,  thou 
art  not  worthy  to  sit  at  table  with  my 
son!”  Then  turning  to  his  guards,  he 
added,  Take  him  hence  I By  holy 
Paul  I will  neither  eat  nor  drink  till  his 
head  be  brought  me  1 ” Then  seizing  an 
iron  mace  from  one  of  the  men-at-arms, 
he  struck  another  of  the  guests  between 
the  shoulders,  exclaiming,  ^^Out,  proud 
traitor!  by  the  soul  of  my  father  thou 
shalt  not  live  1 ” Four  of  the  guests  were 
beheaded  on  the  spot. 

Rouge  Croix.  One  of  the  pursui- 
vants of  the  heraldic  establishment ; sp 
called  from  the  red  cross  of  St.  George, 
the  patron  saint  of  England. 

Rouge  Dragon.  The  pursuivant 
founded  by  Heriry  VII.  ; it  was  the 


ROUGE  ET  NOIR. 


ROUND  TABLE. 


767 


ensign  of  Cadwaladyr,  the  last  king  of 
the  Britons,  an  ancestor  of  Henry  Tudor. 

Rouge  et  iN'oir  (French,  red  and 
black).  A game  of  chance ; so  called 
because  of  the  red  and  black  diamond 
marked  on  the  board.  The  dealer  deals 
out  to  noir  first  till  the  sum  of  the  pips 
exceeds  thirty,  then  to  rouge  in  the 
same  manner.  That  packet  which  comes 
nearest  to  thirty-one  is  the  winner  of  the 
stakes. 

Rough.  To  rough  at  cards  is  to 
trump  a suit.  Ruff  means  a trump  or 
court  card  (Dutch,  troef). 

The  Roughs.  The  coarse,  ill-behaved 
rabble,  without  any  of  the  polish  of 
good-breeding. 

Rough  and  Ready.  So  General 
Zachary  Taylor,  twelfth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  called.  (1786-1850.) 

Rough-hewn.  Shaped  in  the  rough, 
not  finished,  unpolished,  ill-mannered, 
raw;  as  a ‘^rough-hewn  seaman”  (Ba- 
con); a “rough-hewn  discourse”  (Ho wel). 
There  is  a divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 
Kough-hew  them  how  we  will. 

Shakespeare,  “ Hamlet,"  v.  2. 

Rough-shod.  Riding  roitgh-shod 
over  one.  Treating  one  without  the  least 
consideration.  The  allusion  is  to  riding 
a horse  rough-shod. 

Rou'mans  (2  syl.).  The  people  of 
Rouma'nia. 

Round.  A watchman’s  beat.  He 
starts  from  one  point,  and  comes  round 
again  to  the  place  from  whence  he 
started. 

Round.  To  whisper.  (Saxon, 

German,  raunen^  to  whisper.)  {See 
Rounded.) 

That  lesson  which  I will  round  you  in 
the  ear— which  I will  whisper  in  your 
ear. — Runyan^  Pilgrim's  Progress." 

France.... rounded  in  the  ear  with  [by].... com- 
modity  [self-interest]  hath  resolved  to  [onj  a most 
base....  peace.— /SAafeespeare,  **  King  John"  ii.  i. 

And  ner  the  feend  he  drough  as  nought  ne  were, 
Ful  privbly,  and  rounecl  in  his  eere, 

“ Ueriie.my  brother,  herke,  by  thi  faith 

Chaucer ^ ‘ ‘ Canterbury  Tales,  ’ ' 71 32. 

Round  men  in  the  square  holes,  and 
square  men  in  the  round  holes.  The 
wrong  men  in  the  wrong  place ; especially 
applied  to  government  officials.  The  ex- 
pression was  first  used  in  1855,  by  Mr. 
Layard,  speaking  of  the  “Administra- 
tion Reform  Association.”  The  allusion 
is  to  such  games  as  cribbage,  German 
tactics,  &c, 


A good  round  sum.  A large  sum  of 
money.  Shakespeare  says  the  Justice 
has  a “ big  round  belly,  with  good  capon 
lined ; ” and  the  notion  of  puffed  out  or 
bloated  is  evidently  the  idea  of  Shylock 
when  he  says  to  Bassa'nio,  “’Tis  a good 
round  sum.” 

In  round  numbers.  In  whole  numbers, 
without  regarding  the  fractions.  Thus 
we  say  the  population  of  the  British  Isles 
is  thirty  millions  in  round  numbers,  and 
that  of  London  three  millions.  The  idea 
is  that  what  is  round  is  whole  or  per- 
fect, and  of  course  fractions,  being  broken 
numbers,  cannot  belong  thereto. 

To  walk  the  Round.  The  lawyers  used 
frequently  to  give  interviews  to  their 
clients  in  the  Round  Church ; and  “ walk- 
ing the  Round”  meant  loitering  about 
the  Round  Church,  under  the  hope  of 
being  hired  for  a witness. 

Round  Dealing.  Honest  straight- 
forward dealing,  without  branching  off 
into  underhand  tricks,  or  deviating  from 
the  straight  path  into  the  bye-ways  of 
finesse. 

Round  dealing  is  the  honour  of  man’s  nature.— 
Bacon. 

Round  Robin.  A petition  or  pro- 
test signed  in  such  a way  that  no  name 
heads  the  list.  Of  course,  the  signatures 
are  placed  in  a circular  form.  The  de- 
vice is  French,  and  the  term  is  a corrup- 
tion of  rond  (round)  ruban  (a  ribbon). 
It  was  first  adopted  b}'  the  officers  of 
government  as  a means  of  making  known 
their  grievances. 

Round  Table.  Made  by  Merlin  for 
Uter  Pendragon.  Uter  gave  it  to  king 
Leodegraunce,  of  Camelyard,  and  king 
Leodegraunce  gave  it  to  Arthur  when 
the  latter  married  Guinever,  his  daughter. 
It  was  made  at  Carduel,  and  a place 
was  left  in  it  for  the  San  Graal. 

What  is  usually  meant  by  Arthur’s 
Round  Table  is  a smaller  one  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  twelve  favourite  knights. 
Henry  VIII.  showed  Francois  I.  the 
table  at  Winchester,  which  he  said  was 
the  one  used  by  the  British  king. 

The  Round  Table,  says  Dr.  Percy,  was 
not  peculiar  to  the  reign  of  king  Arthur, 
but  was  common  in  all  the  ages  of  chi- 
valry. Thus  the  king  of  Ireland,  father 
of  the  fair  Christabelle,  says  in  the 
ballad— 

Is  there  never  a knigbte  of  my  round  table 
This  matter  will  undergo?  “Sir  Vaulins.** 


768 


ROUND  TABLE. 


ROUSING. 


Round  Table.  In  the  eighth  year  of 
Edward  I.,  Roger  de  Mortimer  estab- 
lished a Round  Table  at  Kenilworth 
for  ‘Hhe  encouragement  of  military  pas- 
times.” At  this  foundation  100  knights 
and  as  many  ladies  were  entertained  at 
the  founder’s  expense.  About  seventy 
years  later,  Edward  III.  erected  a splen- 
did table  at  Windsor.  It  was  200  feet 
in  diameter,  and  the  expense  of  enter- 
taining the  knights  thereof  amounted  to 
£100  a week. 

A Round  Table.  A tournament.  So 
called  by  reason  that  the  place  wherein 
they  practised  those  feats  was  environed 
with  a strong  wall  made  in  a round  form” 
(Dugdale).  We  still  talk  of  table-land. 

Holding  a Round  Table.  Proclaiming 
or  holding  a grand  tournament.  Matthew 
of  Paris  frequently  calls  justs  and  tour- 
naments Hastilu'dia  Mensce  Rotundce 
(lance-games  of  the  Round  Table).  | 

Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  There 
were  150  knights  who  had  sieges  ” at 
the  table.  King  Leodegraunce  brought 
over  100  when,  at  the  wedding  of  his 
daughter  Guinever,  he  gave  the  table  to 
king  Arthur;  Merlin  filled  up  twenty- 
eight  of  the  vacant  seats,  and  the  king 
elected  Gawaine  and  Tor ; the  remaining 
twenty  were  left  for  those  who  might 
prove  worthy. — History  of  Prince  Ar- 
^urf  45,  46; 

Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  The 
most  celebrated  are  Sirs  Acolon,"*^  Ag'- 
ravain,  Am'oral  of  Wales,  Ball'amore,* 
Banier,  Beaumans,*Beleo'bus,*  Bevidero, 
Belvour,*  Bersuut,*  Bliom'beris,  Borre  or 
Bors"^  (Arthur’s  natural  son),  Brandiles, 
Brunor,  Caradoc  the  Chaste  (the  only 
knight  who  could  quaff  the  golden 
cup),  Corgrevance,  Din'adam,  Driam, 
Dodynas  the  Savage,  Eric,  Floll,*  Gala- 
had  or  Galaad  the  Modest,*  Gareth,* 
Gaheris,*  Galohalt,*  Gawain  or  Gauwin 
the  Gentle*  (Arthur’s  nephew),  Grislet,* 
Hector  of  Mares  (1  syl.)  or  Ector  of 
Marys,*  Iwein  or  Ewain*  (also  written 
Yvain),  Kay,*  Ladynas,  Lamareck  or 
Lamerock*,  Lancelot  or  Launcelot  du 
Lac*  (the  seducer  of  Arthur’s  wife), 
Lanval  of  the  Fairy  Lance,  Lavain, 
Lionell,*  Lucan,  Marhaus,*  Melia'dus, 
Mordred  the  Traitor  (Arthur’s  nephew), 
Morolt  or  Morhault  of  the  Iron  Mace, 
Pag'inet,*  Palamede  or  Palame'des,* 
Phar'amond,  Pell'eas,*  Pell'inore,  Per- 
saunt  of  Inde  (meaning  of  the  indigo 
or  blue  armour),  PePoivall,*  Peredur, 


Ryence,  Sag'ramour  le  Desirus,  Sa'gris,* 
Super'bilis,*  Tor  or  Torres*  (reputed  son 
of  Aries  the  cowherd),  Tristram  or 
Tristran  the  Love-lorn,*  Tur'quine,* 
Wig'alois,  Wig'amor,  Ywain  {see  Iwein). 

*^*  The  thirty  marked  with  a star  (*) 
are  seated  with  prince  Arthur  at  the 
Round  Table,  in  the  frontispiece  of  the 
* * Famous  History  of  the  Renowned  Prince 
Arthur.” 

There  Galaad  sat  with  manly  grace, 

Yet  maiden  meekness  in  his  face^ 

There  Morolt  of  the  iron  mace, 

And  love-lorn  Tristrem  there; 

And  Dinadam  with  lively  glance, 

And  Lanval  with  the  fairy  lance. 

And  Mordred  with  his  looks  askance, 

Brunor  and  Bevidere. 

Why  should  I tell  of  numbers  more  ? 

Sir  Cay,  Sir  Banier,  and  Sir  Bore, 

Sir  Caradoc  the  keen, 

The  gentle  Gawain’s  courteous  lore, 

Hector  de  Mares,  and  Pellinore, 

And  Lancelot,  that  evermore 

Looked  stol’n-wise  on  the  queen. 

Sir  Walter  Scotty  “ Bridal  of  Triermain”  ii.  13. 

Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Their 
chief  exploits  occurred  in  quest  of  the 
San  Graal  or  Holy  Cup,  brought  to 
Britain  by  J oseph  of  Arimathe'a. 

Rounded  in  the  Ear.  Whispered 
in  the  ear.  The  old  word  rown,  rowned 
(to  whisper,  to  talk  in  private).  Polonius 
says  to  the  King  in  '‘Hamlet”—^ ‘Let  his 
queen-mother  all  alone  entreat  him  to 
show  his  grief,— let  her  be  rowned  with 
him;”  not  blunt  and  loud,  but  in  private 
converse.  {See  Round.) 

Roundheads.  Puritans;  so  called 
because  they  wore  their  hair  short,  while 
the  Royalists  wore  long  hair  covering 
their  shoulders. 

And  ere  their  butter  ’gan  to  coddle, 

A bullet  churnd  i’  th’  Boundhead’s  noddle. 

“ Jfm  MiracleSt'  43  (1656). 

Roundle,  in  heraldry,  is  a charge  of 
a round  or  circular  form.  They  are  of 
eight  sorts,  distinguished  by  their  tinc- 
tures: (1)  a Bezantf  tincture  “or;”  (2) 
a Platey  tincture  “argent;”  (8)  a Tor- 
teauXj  tincture  “ gules  ; ” (4)  a Hurt, 
tincture  “azure ;”  (5)  an  Ogness  or  Pellet, 
tincture  “sable;”  (6)  a Golpe,  tincture 
“purpure;”  (7)  a Guze,  tincture  “san- 
guine ; ” (8)  an  Orange,  tincture  “ tenney.” 

Rounfl.  So  the  Brijkons  called  ogres, 
and  the  servants  or  attendants  of  the 
ogres  they  called  Grewnds. 

Rou'sing.  A rousing  good  fire. 
Rousing  means  large,  great;  henoe  a 
rousing  falsehood  (mendacium  magnif’- 
icum) ; rous^  boasting ; to  rouse^  to  drink 


ROUTIERS. 


EOYAL  TITLES, 


769 


deep.  ^^The  king’s  rouse  the  heaven 
shall  bruit”  (^‘Hamlet,”  i.  2).  (Dutch, 
roes,  a bumper ; German,  rauschy  drunken- 
ness. ) 

Rou'tiers.  Adventurers  who  made 
war  a trade,  and  let  themselves  out  to 
any  one  who  would  pay  them.  So  called 
because  they  were  always  on  the  routCf 
or  moving  from  place  to  place.  (Twelfth 
century.) 

Rove  (1  syl.).  To  shoot  with  roving 
arrows— Le.,  arrows  shot  out  of  the  hori- 
zontal. 

To  shoot  at  rovers.  To  shoot  at  certain 
marks  of  the  target  so  called  ; to  shoot 
at  random  without  any  distinct  aim. 

Unbelievers  are  said  by  Clobery  to  “shoot  at 
rovers.” — ''Divine  Glimpses,"  p.  4 (1059). 

Riinnhig  at  rovers.  Eunning  wild; 
being  without  restraint. 

Row  (rhyme  with  now),  A tumult. 
It  used  to  be  written  roue,  and  referred 
to  the  night  encounters  of  the  rouds  or 
profligate  bon-vivants  whose  glory  it  was 
to  attack  the  “Charleys”  and  disturb 
the  peace.  {See  Eoue.) 

Row  (rhyme  with  fow).  The  Row  means 

Paternoster  Eow,”  famous  for  publish- 
ing firms  and  wholesale  booksellers. 

Row'dy  (rhyme  with  cloudy).  A 
ruffian  brawler,  a “rough,”  a riotous  or 
turbulent  fellow,  whose  delight  is  to 
make  a row  or  disturbance. — American. 

Rowe'na.  A Saxon  princess,  and 
bride  of  Ivanhoe.  — Sir  Walter  Scotty 

Ivanhoe.^' 

Rowland.  (^^^Eoland.) 

Childe  Rowland.  Youngest  brother 
of  the  “fair  burd  Helen.”  Guided  by 
Merlin  he  undertook  to  bring  back  his 
sister  from  Elf-land,  whither  the  fairies 
had  carried  her,  and  succeeded  in  his 
perilous  exploit.  — An  ancient  Scotch 
hallad. 

Childe  Rowland  to  the  dark  tower  cam3 ; 

Ilis  word  was  still  “ Fie.  foh,  and  fum, 

1 smell  the  blood  of  a Briti‘<hman.” 

Shakespeare.  King  Le'*r,’’iii.  4. 

Rowley  {Thomas).  The  fictitious 
priest  of  Bristol,  said  by  Chatterton  to 
have  been  the  author  of  certain  poems 
which  he  (Chatterton)  published. 

Roxa'na,  in  the  “Eival  Queens,”  by 
Nathaniel  Lee. 

Roxburghe  Club  for  printing  rare 
works  or  MSS.,  the  copies  being  rigidly 


confined  to  members  of  the  club,  it 
was  called  after  John  duke  of  Eox- 
burghe,  a celebrated  collector  of  ancient 
literature,  who  died  1812.  Since  the 
establishment  of  this  club  others  of  a 
similar  character  have  sprung  up,  as 
(1)  the  Camden,  Cheetham,  Percy, 
Shakespeare,  Surtees,  and  Wharton,  in 
England  ; (2)  the  Abbotsford,  Bannatyne, 
Maitland,  and  Spalding,  in  Scotland ; 
and  (3)  the  Celtic  Society  of  Ireland. 

Royal  Arms  worn  by  a subject. 

{See  Lane.) 

Royal  Merchant.  In  the  thirteenth 
century  the  Venetians  were  masters  of 
the  sea,  and  some  of  their  wealthy  mer- 
chants—as  the  Sanu'dos,  the  Justinia'ni, 
the  Grimal'di,  and  others — erected  prin- 
cipalities in  divers  places  of  the  Archi- 
pelago, which  their  descendants  enjoyed 
for  many  centuries.  These  self-created 
princes  were  called  “ royal  merchants.” 
— Warhurton. 

Glancing  an  eye  of  pity  on  his  losses, 

That  have  of  late  so  huddled  on  his  back, 
Enough  to  press  a royal  merchant  down. 

Shakespeare,  “ Merchant  of  Venice,"  iv.  1. 

Royal  Road  to  Learning.  Euclid 
having  opened  a school  of  mathematics 
at  Alexandria,  was  asked  by  king 
Ptolemy  whether  he  could  not  explain 
his  art  to  him  in  a more  compendious 
manner.  “ Sire,”  said  the  geometrician, 
“there  is  no  royal  road  to  learning.” 

Royal  Titles.  (1)  Of  England.— 
Henry  IV.  was  styled ZTw  Grace;  Henry 
Yl.y  llis  Excellent  Grace;  Edward  IV., 
High  and  Mighty  Prince;  Henry  VII., 
His  Graceoxidi  His  Majesty;  Henry  VIII., 
His  HighnesSy  then  His  Majesty.  Sub- 
sequently kings  were  styled  His  Sacred 
Majesty.  Our  present  style  is  Her  Most 
Gracious  Majesty. 

(2)  Royal  titleSy  their  meaning : Abime- 
lech  {Father  King).  Autocrat  {self -poten- 
tate, i.e.,  absolute).  Csesar  {in  compliment 
to  Julius  Ccesar').  Calif  {successor').  Cham 
{chieftain).  Czar  {autocraty  a contraction 
of  “ Samodersheta”).  Darius  {holder  of 
the  empire).  Duke  {leader).  Emperor 
{commander).  Hospodar  {Slavonic^  master 
of  the  house).  Kaiser  {Ccesar).  Khan  ( pro- 
vincial chief).  King  {father).  Land- 
grave {land  reeve).  Margrave  {Ijorder 
reeve).  Nejus  {lord  protector).  Nizam 
{ruler).  Pharaoh  {light  of  the  world). 
Queen  {motJwr).  Shah  or  Padishah  {pro- 
I tectoTy  sceptred  protector).  Sheik  {elder). 
Sultan  {ruler). 


X X 


770 


ROYSTON. 


RUDDOCK. 


Royston  [Herts)  means  king’s  town ; 
so  called  in  honour  of  king  Stephen,  who 
erected  a cross  there.  (French,  roy.) 

A Royston  horse  and  Cambridge  Master 
of  Arts  will  give  way  to  no  one.  A Cam- 
bridgeshire proverb.  Royston  was  a 
village  famous  for  malt,  which  was  sent 
to  London  on  horseback.  These  heavy- 
laden  beasts  never  moved  out  of  the 
way.  The  Masters  of  Arts,  being  the 
great  dons  of  Cambridge,  had  the  wall 
conceded  to  them  by  the  inhabitants  out 
of  courtesy. 

Rozinante  (4  syl. ).  A wretched  jade 
of  a riding-horse.  Don  Quixote’s  horse 
was  so  • called.  (Spanish,  rocin-ante,  a 
hack  before.) 

It  is  the  only  time  he  will  sit  behind  the  wretched 
Rosinante.and  it  wonld  be  Quixotic  of  him  to  ex- 
pect speed.— London  Review. 

Ruach.  The  Isle  of  Winds,  visited 
by  Pantag'ruel  and  his  fleet  on  their 
way  to  the  Oracle  of  the  Holy  Bottle,  is 
the  isle  of  windy  hopes  and  unmeaning 
flattery.  The  people  of  this  island  live 
on  nothing  but  wind,  eat  nothing  but 
wind,  and  drink  nothing  but  wind.  They 
have  no  other  houses  but  weathercocks, 
seeing  every  one  is  obliged  to  shift  his 
way  of  life  to  the  ever- changing  caprice 
of  court-fashion  ; and  they  sow  no  other 
seeds  but  the  wind-flowers  of  promise 
and  flattery.  The  common  people  get 
only  a fan-puff  of  food  very  occasionally, 
but  the  richer  sort  banquet  daily  on  huge 
mill-draughts  of  the  same  unsubstantial 
— Rabelais,  Pantafruelf  iv.  43. 

Rub.  An  impediment.  The  ex- 
pression is  taken  from  bowls,  where 
^‘rub”  means  that  something  hinders 
the  free  movement  of  your  bowl. 

Without  rub  or  interruption.— 

Like  a bowle  that  runue  h >n  a smooth  allie,  with- 
out anie  XMh.—atanihurst,  p.  10. 

Rub.  Difficulty,  cause  of  uneasiness. 
[See  above. ^ 

To  bleep  ? perchance  to  dream.  Ay,  there’s  the  rub. 

Shakespeare,  " Hamlet,"  in.  1. 

Eti'bezahl  (3  syl.).  The  German 
Puch.  He  aids  the  poor,  guides  the 
benighted,  and  succours  the  oppressed, 
but  has  no  mercy  on  the  proud  and 
wicked. 

Ru'bi.  One  of  the  Cherubim  or 

Spirits  of  Knowledge,”  who  was  pre- 
sent when  Eve  walked  in  Paradise.  He 
felt  the  most  intense  interest  in  her, 
and  longed,  as  the  race  increased,  to  find 


one  of  her  daughters  whom  he  could 
love.  He  fixed  upon  Lir'is,  young  and 
proud,  who  thirsted  for  knowledge,  and 
cared  not  what  price  she  paid  to  obtain 
it.  After  some  months  had  elapsed, 
Liris  asked  her  angel-lover  to  let  her  see 
him  in  his  full  glory ; so  Rubi  showed 
himself  to  her  in  all  his  splendour,  and 
she  embraced  him.  Instantly  Liris  was 
burnt  to  ashes  by  the  radiant  light,  and 
the  kiss  she  gave  on  the  angel’s  forehead 
became  a brand,  which  shot  agony  into  his 
brain.  That  brand  was  ^Heft  for  ever 
on  his  brow,”  and  that  agony  knew  no 
abatement.  — Thomas  Moore,  Loves  of 
the  Angels, story  ii. 

Ru'bicon.  To  'pass  the  Rubicon.  To 
adopt  some  measure  from  which  it  is 
not  possible  to  recede.  Thus,  when  the 
Austrians  in  1859  passed  the  Tici'no,  the 
act  was  a declaration  of  war  against 
Sardinia ; and,  in  1866,  when  the  Italians 
passed  the  Adige,  it  was  a declaration  of 
war  against  Austria.  The  Rubicon  was 
a small  river  separating  ancient  Italy 
from  Cisalpine  Gaul  (the  province  allotted 
to  Julius  Caesar).  When  Caesar  crossed 
this  stream  he  passed  beyond  the  limits 
of  his  own  province,  and  became  an  in- 
vader of  Italy. 

Rubo'nax.  Sir  Philip  Sidney  says, 
‘^He  was  driven  by  a poet’s  verses  to 
hang  himself.” — Defence  of  Poesie.'^ 

Ru'bric  (Latin,  rubrica,  red  ochre). 
So  called  because  the  directions  were 
originally  printed  in  red  ochre. 

The  same  in  sheops  milke  with  rubricke  and  soft 
pitch  drunke  every  day,  or  eaten  to  your  meate. 
he’peth  the  ptisicke.— Topseii,  "Beasts,”  p.  ia2 
(16j7). 

Ru'by.  The  king  of  Ceylon  has  the 
finest  ruby  ever  seen.  It  is  a span 
long,  as  thick  as  a man’s  arm,  and  with- 
out a flaw.”  Kublai-Khan  offered  the 
value  of  a city  for  it,  but  the  king 
answered  that  he  would  not  part  with  it 
if  all  the  treasures  of  the  world  were  laid 
at  his  feet. — Marco  Polo, 

Rucli'iel.  God  of  the  air.  (Hebrew, 
ruch,  air ; el,  godi.)— Jewish  mythology. 

Rudder.  Who  wo’rCt  be  ruled  b'y  the 
rudder  must  be  ruled  by  the  rock.  Who 
won’t  listen  to  reason  must  bear  the 
consequences,  like  a ship  that  runs  upon 
a rock  if  it  will  not  answer  to  the  helm. 

Ruddoek.  The  J edbreast,  sacred 
to  the  household  gods.”  The  legend  says 


RUDDY-MANE. 


RULE. 


771 


if  a redbreast  finds  a dead  body  in  the 
woods  it  will  “cover  it  with  moss.”  Dray- 
ton alludes  to  this  tradition — 

Covering  with  moss  the  deal’s  unclosed  eye. 

The  little  redbreast  teachest  charitie. 

''■The  Oivl.” 

Shakespeare  makes  Arvir'a^us  say  over 
Imogen — 

Thou  shalt  not  lack 

The  flower  that’s  like  tky  face,  pale  primrose ; nor 

The  azured  hare- bell.. ..the  ruddock  would 

With  charitable  bill  bring  thee  all  these. 

“ Cymbeline.*’ 

So  also  in  the  tale  of  “ The  Babes  in  the 
Wood”— - 

The  Robins  so  red 

Fresh  strawberry-leaves  did  over  them  spread. 

Ruddy-mane  (hloody-hand).  The 
infant  son  of  Sir  Mordant ; so  called  be- 
cause his  hand  was  red  with  his  mother’s 
blood.  She  had  stabbed  herself  because 
her  husband  had  been  paralysed  by  a 
draught  from  an  enchanted  stream. — 
Spenser,  Queen,'’  bk.  xi. 

Rudge  {Barnaby).  A half-witted 
lad,  who  had  for  his  companion  a raven. 
— Dickens,  ^^Barndby  Rudge." 

Ru'diger  (3  syl.).  Margrave  of 
Bechelar'en,  a wealthy  Hun,  liegeman  of 
king  Etzel.  In  the  “ Nibelungen-Lied” 
he  is  represented  as  a most  noble  charac- 
ter. He  was  sent  to  Burgundy  by  king 
Etzel,  to  conduct  Kriemhild  to  Hungary  if 
she  would  consent  to  marry  the  Hunnish 
king.  When  Gunther  and  his  suite  went 
to  pay  a visit  to  Kriemhild,  he  enter- 
tained them  all  most  hospitably,  and 
gave  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  Kriem- 
hild’s  youngest  brother,  Gis'elher  ; and 
when  the  broil  broke  out  in  the  dining- 
hall  of  king  Etzel,  and  Rudiger  was 
compelled  to  take  part  against  the  Bur- 
gundians, he  fought  with  Kriemhild’s 
second  brother,  Gernot.  Rudiger  struck 
Gemot  “through  his  helmet,”  and  the 
prince  struck  the  margrave  “ through 
shield  and  morion,”  and  “down  dead 
dropped  both  together,  each  by  the  other 
slain .” — Nibelungen-Lied.  ” 

Rudolstadt  {La  Comiesse  de),  or 

Coiisuelo,”  who  marries  the  count  of 
Rudolstadt. — P^omances  by  George  Sand 
(^Madame  Dudevant).  {See  Consuelo.) 

Rudra.  Father  of  the  tempest-gods. 
The  word  means  “run  about  crying,” 
and  the  legend  says  that  the  boy  ran 
about  weeping  because  he  had  no  name, 
whereupon  Brahma  said,  “ Let  thyjname 


beRud-dra.”  (Sanskrit,  O'ud,  weep  ; dru, 
run.) — Vedic  '/nythology. 

Rue,  to  grieve  for  something  done, 
to  repent,  is  the  Saxon  reotv,  contrition ; 
German,  reue. 

jRwe,  called  “herb  of  grace,”  because 
it  was  employed  for  sprinkling  holy 
water.  Without  doubt  it  was  so  used 
symbolically,  because  to  rue  means  to 
be  sorry,  and  penitence  brings  the  water 
of  grace  with  it.  {See  Difference.) 
Ophelia  says — 

There's  rue  for  you,  and  here’s  some  for  me ; we 
may  call  it  “ herb  of  grace”  o’  Sundays.— 
speare,  "Hamlet,'"  iv.  5. 

Rue.  A slip  of  land  (free  of  all  mano- 
rial charges  and  claims)  encompassing  or 
bounding  manorial  land.  It  certainly  is 
not  derived  from  the  French  rue,  a street, 
nor  is  it  a corruption  of  roio. 

Rewe’'  is  a roll  or  slip,  hence  Rag- 
man’s rewe  or  roll  (q.v.). 

There  is  a whole  world  of  curious  history  contained 
in  the  phrase  Ragman’s  rewe,  meaning  a roll.  In 
“Piers  Plowman’s  Vision ” the  poke’s  bull  is  called  a 
rewe. — " Edinburgh  Review,"  July,  1870. 

Ruffe.  A game  at  cards,  now  called 
slartim. 

A swaggerer  is  one  that  plays  at  ruffe,  from  whence 
he  took  the  denomination  of  ruffyn. — y.  H.  (Geni.), 
“ Satyrical  Epigrams  p 1619. 

Ruffian  Hall.  That  part  of  West 
Smithfield  which  is  now  the  horse- 
market,  where  “tryals  of  skill  were  plaid 
by  ordinary  ruffianly  people  with  sword 
and  buckler.” — Blount,  p.  562. 

Rufus  {The  Red).  William  II.  of  Eng- 
land. (1056,  1067-1100.) 

Otho  II.  of  Germany ; also  'called  The 
Bloody.  (955,  973-983.) 

Gilbert  de  Clare,  earl  of  Gloucester, 
son-in-law  of  Edward  I.  (Slain  1313.) 

Ruggie'ro.  {See  Rogero.) 

Rukenaw  (J)ame).  The  ape’s  wife 
in  the  tale  of  “ Reynard  the  Fox.”  The 
word  means  noisy  insolence. 

Rule  {Si.)  or  St.  Reg' ulus,  a monk 
of  Patrao  in  Achaia,  is  the  real  saint  of 
Scotland.  He  was  the  first  to  colonise 
its  metropolitan  see,  and  to  convert  the 
inhabitants  (370).  The  name  Killrule 
{Celia  Reg'vU)  perpetuates  this  fact.  St. 
Andrew  superseded  the  Achaean. 

But  I have  solemn  vows  to  pay.... 

To  far  St.  An  rew  s baund, 

With'.n  the  oceau-cave  to  pray 
W'lere  good  -^t.  Rule  bit  holy  lay 
Sung  to  the  bdlo^vs’  hound. 

Sir  'Walter  Scott,  "Marmion"  i.  29. 

X X 2 


772  RULE,  BRITANNIA. 


RUNES, 


Rule,  Britannia.  Words  by  Thom- 
son, author  of  The  Seasons;”  music  by 
Dr.  Arne.  It  first  appeared  in  a masque 
entitled  '^Alfred,”  in  which  the  name  of 
David  Mallett  is  associated  with  that  of 
James  Thomson,  and  some  think  he  was 
the  real  author  of  this  political  hymn.” 
(August  1,  1740.) 

Rule  Nisi.  The  claimant  requests 
the  court  to  issue  an  order  that  the 
opponent  of  his  suit  shall  do  what  is 
asked  within  three  or  six  days  (nisi) — 
i.e.f  unless  good  cause  can  be  shown  for 
further  delay. 

Rum.  Queer,  qaaint,  old-fashioned. 
This  word  was  first  applied  to  Roman 
Catholic  priests,  and  subsequently  to 
other  clergymen.  Thus  Swift  speaks  of 
‘^a  rubble  of  tenants  and  rusty  dull 
rums”  (country  parsons).  As  these 
rusty  dull  rums”  were  old-fashioned 
and  quaint,  a *^rum  fellow”  came  to 
signify  one  as  odd  as  a rusty  dull 
rum.”  (Saxon,  a catholic  priest.) 

Ru'minate  (3  syl.).  To  think,  to 
meditate  upon  some  subject;  properly, 
*^to  chew  the  cud”  (Latin,  ru'mino). 

To  chew  the  cud  of  sweet  and  bitter  f&ncy.— Milton. 
On  a flowery  bank  he  chews  the  cud.— Drj/dcn. 

Rumolt.  Gunther’s  chief  cook. 

Sore  toiled  the  chief  cook,  Kumolt ; ah  ! how  his 
orders  ran 

Among  his  understrappers  t how  many  a pot  and 
pan, 

How  many  a mighty  cauldron  rattled  and  rang 
again ! 

They  dressed  a world  of  dishes  for  the  expected 
train. 

Lettsom's**Nibelungen-Lied,'’*  stanza  800. 

Rump  Parliament.  Oliver  Crom- 
well (1648)  sent  two  regiments  to  the 
House  of  Commons  to  coerce  the  mem- 
bers to  condemn  Charles  I.  Forty-one 
were  seized  and  imprisoned  in  a lower 
room  of  the  House,  160  were  ordered  to 
go  home,  and  the  sixty  favourable  to 
Cromwell  were  allowed  to  remain.  These 
sixty  were  merely  the  fag-end  or  rump  of 
the  whole  House.  (See  Pride’s  Purge.) 

The  name  was  revived  again  in  the 
protectorate  of  Richard  Cromwell.  Sub- 
sequently the  former  was  called  The 
Bloody  Rump,  and  the  latter  The  Rump 
of  a Rump. 

The  few, 

Because  they’re  wasted  to  the  stumps. 

Are  represented  best  bv  i umps. 

Butler,  "Ilxidibras,’*  pt-  iii-  2. 

Rumpelstilzchen  (Rumple^stilts- 
skin),  A passionate  little  de 


dwarf.  A miller’s  daughter  was  enjoined 
by  a king  to  spin  straw  into  gold,  and 
the  dwarf  did  it  for  her,  on  condition 
that  she  would  give  him  her  first  child. 
The  maiden  married  the  king,  and 
grieved  so  bitterly  when  her  first  child 
was  born,  that  the  dwarf  promised  to 
relent  if  within  three  days  she  could  find 
out  his  name.  Two  days  were  spent  in 
vain  guesses,  but  the  third  day  one  of 
the  queen’s  servants  heard  a strange 
voice  singing — 

Little  dreams  my  dainty  dame 
Rumpelstilzchen  is  my  name. 

The  queen  being  told  thereof,  saved  her 
child,  and  the  dwarf  killed  himself  from 
rage. — German  Popular  Stories. 

Rumping  Dozen.  A corruption 
of  Rump  and  Dozen,  meaning  a rump  of 
beef  and  a dozen  of  claret. 

Rumtun'shid.  A Corsican  deity. 

Run.  The  tub  runs — leaks,  or  lets  out 
water.  In  this  and  all  similar  phrases 
the  verb  run  means  to  be  in  a running 
state.”  Thus  we  have  'Hhe  ulcer  runs,” 
^Hhe  cup  runs  over,”  ^Hhe  rivers  run 
blood,”  the  field  runs  with  blood  ” — the 
ulcer  is  in  a running  state,  the  cup  is  in 
a running-over  state,  the  rivers  are  in  a 
blood-running  state,  the  field  is  in  a 
running  state  with  blood. 

To  run  a man  down.  To  abuse,  de- 
preciate. A hunting  term. 

To  run  thin.  To  start  from  a bargain. 
When  liquor  runs  thin  it  indicates  that 
the  cask  is  nearly  empty. 

To  run  riot.  To  run  wild.  A hunting 
term,  meaning  to  run  at  a whole  herd. 

In  the  long  run.  In  the  final  result. 
This  allusion  is  to  race-running : one 
may  get  the  start  for  a time,  but  in  the 
long  run,  or  entire  race,  the  result  may 
be  different.  The  hare  got  the  start, 
but  in  the  long  run  the  patient  perse- 
verance of  the  tortoise  won  the  race. 

Run  Amuck.  (See  Amuck.) 

It  was  like  a Malay  running  amuck,  only  with  a 
more  deadly  weapon.— T/ie  rimes. 

Frontless  and  satire-proof  he  scours  the  streets, 

And  runs  an  Indian-muck  at  all  he  meets. 

JDryden,  “ 2'he  Hind  and  the  Panther.'* 

Runes.  The  earliest  alphabet  in  use 
among  the  Gothic  tribes  of  Northern 
Europe.  The  characters  were  employed 
either  for  purposes  of  secrecy  or  for 
divination.  Pevusn  is  Teutonic  for  mys- 
tery^” and  helrOtn  for  divination.” 


RUNIC  RHYMES. 


RUSKINESE. 


778 


Runic  Rhymes.  Rhymes  in  imita- 
tion of  the  Edda  or  book  of  Runic  my  tho- 
logy ; rude,  old-fashioned  poetry  of  a 
Runic  stamp. 

Runic  Wands.  Willow  wands  with 
mystic  characters  inscribed  on  them, 
used  by  the  Scandinavians  for  magic 
ceremonies. 

Running  Footman.  The  last  of 
these  menials  died  out  with  the  infamous 
duke  of  Queensberry.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  eighteenth  century  no  great  house 
was  complete  without  some  half-dozen 
of  them.  Their  duty  was  to  run  before 
and  alongside  the  fat  Flemish  mares  of 
the  period,  and  advise  the  innkeeper  of 
the  coming  guests.  The  pole  which 
they  carried  was  to  help  the  cumbrous 
coach  of  their  master  out  of  the  nu- 
merous sloughs  on  the  northern  and 
western  high-roads. 

Running  Leather.  His  shoes  are 
made  of  running  leather.  He  is  given  to 
roving.  Probably  the  pun  is  between 
roan  and  run. 

Running  Thursday.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  the  reign  of  William  III.  a 
rumour  ran  that  the  French  and  Irish 
Papists  had  landed ; a terrible  panic 
ensued,  and  the  people  betook  them- 
selves to  the  country,  running  for  their 
lives,  Joseph  Perry  says,  I was  dis- 
mally affrighted  the  day  called  Running 
Thursday.  It  was  that  day  the  report 
reached  our  town,  and  I expected  to  be 
killed”  (his  Life”).  The  day  in  ques- 
tion was  Thursday,  December  13,  1688. 

Running  Water.  No  enchant- 
ment can  subsist  in  a living  stream  ; if, 
therefore,  a person  can  interpose  a brook 
betwixt  himself  and  the  witches,  sprites, 
or  goblins  chasing  him,  he  is  in  perfect 
safety.  Burns’s  tale  of  Tam  o’  Shanter’* 
turns  upon  this  superstition. 

Running  the  Hood.  It  is  said  that 
an  old  lady  was  passing  over  Haxey  Hill, 
when  the  wind  blew  away  her  hood. 
Some  boys  began  tossing  it  from  one  to 
the  other,  and  the  old  lady  so  enjoyed 
the  fun  that  she  bequeathed  thirteen 
acres  of  land,  that  thirteen  candidates 
might  be  induced  to  renew  the  sport  on 
the  6tb  of  every  January. 

Runnymede.  The  nom  de  -plume  of 
Disraeli  in  the  Times. 


Rupee.  An  Indian  coin  of  the  value 
of  2s.  English.  A corruption  of  the 
Sanskrit  rupya,  from  rOi^pa,  a shape, 
meaning  the  shape  of  a man — t.e.,  a coin 
with  a human  figure  impressed  on  it. — 
Pdnini, 

Rupert  of  Debate.  Edward  Geof- 
frey, fourteenth  earl  of  Derby.  It  was 
when  he  was  Mr.  Stanley,  and  the  oppo- 
nent of  the  great  O {i.e.^  O’Connell),  that 
lord  Lytton  so  describes  him.  (1799- 
1869.) 

The  brilliant  chieftain,  regularly  great, 

Trank,  haughty,  hold— the  iiupert  of  Debate. 

“iVew  Timon," 

Rupert’s  Balls,  or  Prince  Rupert's 
Drops.  Glass  bubbles  first  brought  to 
England  by  prince  Rupert.  Each  bubble 
has  a tail,  and  if  the  smallest  part 
of  the  tail  is  broken  off,  the  bubble  ex- 
plodes. The  French  term  is  larrne  Bata- 
nixjue,  because  these  toys  were  invented 
in  Holland. 

The  first  production  of  an  author.... is  usually 
esteemed  as  a sort  of  prince  Rupert’s  drop,  which  is 
destroyed  entirely  if  a person  make  on  it  but  a single 
scratch.— IfouseAoZd  Words. 

Rush.  Not  worth  a rush.  Worthless. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  practice  of  strewing 
floors  with  rushes  before  carpets  were 
invented.  Distinguished  guests  had 
clean  fresh  rushes,  but  those  of  inferior 
grade  had  either  the  rushes  which  had 
been  already  used  by  their  superiors,  or 
none  at  all.  The  more  modern  expres- 
sion is  ‘‘Not  worth  a straw.” 

Stransers  have  green  rushes,  when  daily  guests  are 
not  worth  a rush.— iii/y,  '"Hapho  and  Fhao.** 

Friar  Rush.  Will-o’-the-Wisp ; a 
strolling  demon,  who  once  on  a time  got 
admittance  into  a monastery  as  a scullion, 
and  played  the  monks  divers  pranks, 
{See  Friar’s  Lanthern.) 

Rush  Bearing.  The  day  of  a 
church’s  dedication  ; so  called  from  tho 
ancient  custom  of  carrying  rushes  on  the 
day  to  adorn  the  church.  — Yorkshire, 

Rush'van.  The  angel  who  opens 
and  shuts  the  gates  of  Paradise  or  A1 
Janat. — The  Koran, 

Ruskine'se  (3  syl.).  Words  and 
phrases  introduced  by  Ruskin,  or  coined 
a la  Ruskin.  The  word  is  used  in  the 
Times:— 

Such  writers  as  Ruskin  and  Carlyle  have  mad? 
for  themselres  technical  terms,  words,  and  phrases ; 
some  of  which  will  be  incorporated  into  ihe  language 
• ..while  others  may  i emain  emblems  of  Ruskinese 
and  Carlylism.— (June  11,  18^9.) 


m 


EUSS. 


s.s. 


Huss;  The  Eussian  language ; a 
Russian. 

Rus'sel.  A common  name  given  to 
a fox,  from  its  russet  colour. 

Daun  Russel,  the  fox,  stert  up  at  oones. 

And  by  the  garget  hente  Chaunteclere, 

And  on  his  bak  toward  ihe  wood  him  here. 

Chaticcr^  “ The  Nonne  Prestes  TnleJ** 

Rus'sian.  The  nickname  of  a Rus- 
sian is  A Bear,”  or  the  “ Northern 
Bear.” 


Hykell  {John),  A celebrated  treee- 
tour  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  {See 
Tregetour.) 

Maister  John  Rykell  sometime  tregitour 
Of  noble  Henry,  kinge  of  Englande, 

And  of  France  the  mighty  conquerour. 

John  Lidgate,  '^Daunce  of  Macabre  ** 

Rykelot.  A magpie  (?) ; a little  rook. 
The  German  rocke,  Anglo-Saxon  Aroc, 
seem  to  be  cognate  words.  The  ot  is  a 
diminutive. 


Rus'tam.  The  Deev-bend  and  Persian 
Her'cules,  famous  for  his  victory  over 
the  white  dragon  named  Asdeev'.  He 
was  the  son  of  Zal,  prince  of  Sedjistan. 
The  exploits  attributed  to  him  must  have 
been  the  aggregate  of  exploits  performed 
by  numerous  persons  of  the  same  name. 
His  combat  for  two  days  with  prince 
Isfendiar  is  a favourite  subject  with  the 
Persian  poets.  The  name  of  his  horse 
was  Reksh.  Matthew  Arnold’s  poem, 

Sohrab  and  Rustam,”  gives  an  account 
of  Rustam  fighting  with  and  killing  his 
son  Sohrab. 

Rus'ty.  He  turns  rust Like  a rusty 
bolt,  he  sticks  and  will  not  move. 

Rusty -Fusty.  That  odour  and  filth 
which  accumulates  on  things  and  in 
places  not  used. 

Then  from  the  butchers  we  bought  lamb  and  sheepe, 
Beer  from  the  alehouse,  and  a broome  to  sweepe 
Our  cottage,  that  for  want  of  use  was  musty, 

And  most  extremely  rusty-fusty  dusty. 

Taylor,  “ Workes,"  ii.  24  (1630). 

Ruyde'ra.  The  duenna  of  Belerma. 
She  had  seven  daughters,  who  wept 
so  bitterly  at  the  death  of  Durandarte, 
that  Merlin,  out  of  pity,  turned  them 
into  lakes  or  estuaries. — ^^Don  Quixote,*' 
pt.  ii.  bk.  ii.  ch.  6. 

Ry.  A Stock-Exchange  expression 
for  any  sharp  or  dishonest  practice.  It 
originated  in  an  old  stock-jobber,  who 
had  practised  upon  a young  man,  and 
being  compelled  to  refund,  wrote  on  the 
cheque,  Please  to  pay  to  R.  Y.,”  &c., 
in  order  to  avoid  direct  evidence  of  the 
transaction. 

Rye-house  Plot.  A conspiracy  to 
assassinate  Charles  II.  and  his  brother 
James  on  their  way  from  Newmarket. 
As  the  house  in  which  the  king  was 
lodging  accidentally  caught  fire,  the 
royal  party  left  eight  days  sooner  than 
they  had  intended,  and  the  plot  mis- 
carried. It  was  called  the  Rye-House  Plot 
because  the  conspirators  met  at  the  Rye- 
House  Farm,  in  Hertfordshire  (1683). 


Rymar  {Mr.  Robert).  Poet  at  the  Spa. 
— Sir  Walter  Scott,  St.  Ronan's  Well." 

Ry'mer.  A giant,  the  enemy  of  the 
celestials.  At  the  end  of  the  world  this 
giant  is  to  be  the  pilot  of  the  ship  ^‘Nagle- 
fare.” — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Ryot.  A tenant  in  India  who  pays  a 
usufruct  for  his  occupation.  The  Scrip- 
ture parable  of  the  husbandmen  refers 
to  such  a tenure ; the  lord  sent  for  his 
rent,  which  was  not  money  but  fruits, 
and  the  husbandmen  stoned  those  who 
were  sent,  refusing  to  pay  their  “lord.” 
Ryots  have  an  hereditary  and  perpetual 
right  of  occupancy  so  long  as  they  pay 
the  usufruct,  but,  if  they  refuse  or  neglect 
payment,  may  be  turned  away, 

Ryparog'raplier(G^m^).  So  Pliny 
calls  Pyre'icus  the  painter,  because  he 
confined  himself  to  the  drawing  of  ridi- 
culous and  grotesque  pictures,  in  which 
he  greatly  excelled.  Rabelais  was  the 
ryparographer  of  wits.  The  writers  and 
illustrators  of  Punch  and  Fun  are  rypa- 
rographers. 

Rython.  A giant  of  Bretagne,  slain 
by  king  Arthur. 

Rython,  the  mighty  giant,  slain 
By  his  good  brand,  relieved  Bretagne. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  ^'Bridal  of  T riermain,*’  ii,  11. 


s 

S.  You  have  crossed  your  s (French*. 
You  have  cheated  me  in  your  account  j 
you  have  charged  me  pounds  where  you 
ought  to  have  charged  shillings,  or  shil- 
lings where  you  ought  to  have  charged 
pence.  In  the  old  French  accounts,  / ( =s) 
stood  for  sous  or  pence,  and /for  francs. 
To  cross  your  / meant  therefore  to  turn 
it  fraudulently  into  /. 

S.S.  collar ; worn  by  the  lords  chief 
justices,  the  lord  chief  baron  of  the  ex- 
chequer, the  lord  mayor  of  London,  the 
heralds,  and  the  serjeants-at-arms.  The 


s.s.s. 


SABLONNIERE, 


775 


collar  consists  of  a series  of  the  letter  S 
in  gold,  either  linked  together  or  set  in 
close  order,  on  a blue  and  white  ribbon. 
Sir  Samuel  Meyrick  says  it  is  the  initial 
letter  of  Henry  IV.  when  earl  of  Derby 
{Souveraigne) ; but  as  many  other  con- 
jectures have  been  started  as  would  fill  a 
volume— e.^.,  the  word  seneschal  has  been 
sugg'ested  ; the  word  simn,  the  badge  of 
the  De  Bohuns  (1402) ; sonvenance  ; and 
St.  Sulpicius,  whose  day  is  Jan.  29th,  &c. 

S.S.S.  (Latin,  stra'tum  super  stra'tum). 
Layer  over  layer. 

S.T.P.  stands  for  Sanctce.  Theologice 
Professor,  Professor  is  the  Latin  for 
Doctor.  D.D. — ^^e.,  Divinity  Doctor  or 
Doctor  of  Divinity— is  the  English  equiva- 
lent of  the  Latin  S.T.P. 

Saadia  {Al).  A cuirass  of  silver 
which  belonged  to  king  Saul,  and  was 
lent  to  David  when  he  was  armed  for  the 
encounter  with  Goliath.  This  cuirass  fell 
into  the  hands  of  Mahomet,  being  part 
of  the  property  confiscated  from  the  Jews 
on  their  expulsion  from  Medina. 

Sabbath-Day’s  Journey  (Exodus 
xvi.  29  ; Acts  i.  12),  with  the  Jews,  was 
not  to  exceed  the  distance  between  the 
ark  and  the  extreme  end  of  the  camp. 
This  was  2,000  cubits  or  3,648  feet  be- 
yond the  city  wall— in  round  numbers 
equal  to  an  English  mile. 

Up  to  the  hill  by  Hehron,  seat  of  giants  old, 

Ko  journey  of  a Sahbath-day,  and  loade  d so. 

Milton^  “ oamson  Agonisiesy 

Sabbathlans.  The  disciples  of 
Sabbathais  Zwi,  the  most  remarkable 

Messiah”  of  modern  times.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  had  mastered  the  Talmud,, 
and  at  eighteen  the  Cabbala.  (1641- 
1677.) 

Sabbat'ical  Year.  One  year  in 
seven,  when  all  lands  with  the  ancient 
Jews  was  to  lie  fallow  for  twelve  months. 
This  law  was  founded  on  Exodus  xxiii. 
10,  &c.  ; Leviticus  xxv.  2-7  ; Deutero- 
nomy XV.  1-11. 

Sabe'ans.  An  ancient  religious  sect ; 
so  called  from  Sabi,  son  of  Seth,  who, 
with  his  father  and  brother  Enoch,  lies 
buried  in  the  Pyramids.  The  Sabeans 
worshipped  one  God,  but  approached 
him  indirectly  through  some  created 
representative,  such  as  the  sun,  moon, 
stars,  &c.  Their  S3^stem  is  called  Sa- 


heanism,  or  the  Sabean  faith.  The  Arabs 
were  chiefly  Sabeans  before  their  con- 
version. 

Sabe'anism.  The  worship  of  the 
sun,  moon,  and  host  of  heaven.  (Chaldee, 
tzaba^  a host.) 

Salbeism  means  baptism— ih.2it  is,  the 

religion  of  many  baptisms;”  founded 
by  Boudasp  or  Bodhisattva,  a wise  Chal- 
dean. This  sect  was  the  root  of  the 
party  called  “Christians  of  St.  John,” 
and  by  the  Arabs  El  Mogtasila. 

SabeTlians.  A religious  sect;  so 
called  from  Sabellius,  a Libyan  priest  of 
the  third  century.  They  believed  in  the 
unity  of  God,  and  said  that  the  Trinity 
merely  expressed  three  relations  or  states 
of  one  and  the  same  God. 

Sa'biens  is  the  Aramean  equivalent 
of  the  word  “Baptists.”  {See  below.) 

The  sects  of  Hemero>^aptists,  Baptists,  aruj  Sabiens 
(the  Mogtasila  of  the  Arat  ian  writers)  in  the  second 
cemury  filhd  Syria,  Palestine,  and  Babylonia.— 
RSnan,  “ Life  of  Jesus^"  ch.  xii. 

Sable  denotes — of  the  ages  of  man, 
the  last ; of  attributes,  wisdom,  prudence, 
integrity,  singleness  of  mind  ; of  birds, 
the  raven  or  crow ; of  elements,  the 
earth ; of  metals,  iron  or  lead ; of 
planets,  Saturn ; of  precious  stones,  the 
diamond  ; of  trees,  the  olive. 

A suit  of  sables.  A rich  courtly  dress. 
By  the  statute  of  apparel,  24  Henry 
V III.,  c.  13,  it  is  ordained  that  none  under 
the  degree  of  an  earl  shall  use  sables. 
Bishop  tells  us  that  a thousand  ducats 
were  sometimes  given  for  a “face  of 
sables”  (“Blossoms,”  1577).  Ben  Jon- 
son  says,  “ Would  you  not  laugh  to  meet 
a great  counsellor  of  state  in  a flat  cap, 
with  trunk-hose  . . . and  yond  haber- 
dasher in  a velvet  gown  trimmed  with 
sables?”  (“Discoveries”). 

So  long  ? Nay,  then,  let  the  devil  wear  black,  for 
I’ll  have  a suit  of  sables.— >S/iaA:espeare,  Hamlet,'’ 

iii.  2. 

Sablonniere  {La).  The  sand-pits. 
So  the  Tuileries  were  called  to  the  four- 
teenth century.  Towards  the  end  of 
that  century  tiles  were  made  there,  but 
the  sand-pits  were  first  called  the  Tile- 
works  or  Tuileries  in  1416.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
Nicolas  de  Neuville  built  a house  in  the 
vicinity,  which  he  called  the  “ Hotel  des 
Tuileries.”  This  property  was  purchased 
in  1518  by  Francois  I.  for  his  mother. 


77t3 


BABRA. 


SACRAMENT. 


Sabra.  Daughter  of  Ptolemy,  king 
of  Egypt,  rescued  by  St.  George  from  the 
fangs  of  the  giant,  and  ultimately  mar- 
ried to  her  deliverer.  She  is  represented 
as  pure  in  mind,  saintly  in  character,  a 
perfect  citizen,  daughter,  and  wife.  Her 
three  sons,  born  at  a birth,  were  named 
Guy,  Alexander,  and  David.  She  died 
from  the  pricks  of  a thorny  brake.” 

Sabreur.  Le  heau  Sabreur  (the  hand- 
some or  famous  swordsman),  Joachim 
Murat  (1767-1815). 

Sabri'na  {Latin).  The  Severn.  In 
Milton’s  ‘‘  Comas”  we  are  told  she  is  the 
daughter  of  Locrine  '‘that  had  the 
sceptre  from  his  father  Brute,”  and  was 
living  in  concubinage  with  Estrildis. 
His  queen,  Guendolen,  vowed  vengeance 
against  Estrildis  and  her  daughter,  ga- 
thered an  army  together,  and  overthrew 
Locrine  by  the  river  Sture.  Sabrina  fled 
and  jumped  into  the  river.  Nereus  took 
pity  on  her,  and  made  her  " Goddess  of 
the  Severn,”  which  is  poetically  called 
Sabri'na. 

Saecharissa.  {See  Sacharissa.) 
Sacco  Benedetto  or  Saco  Bendi'to 
{the  blessed  sack  or  cloak).  A yellow  gar- 
ment with  two  crosses  on  it,  and  painted 
over  with  flames  and  devils.  In  this 
linen  robe  persons  condemned  by  the 
Spanish  inquisition  were  arrayed  when 
they  went  to  the  stake.  The  word  sack 
was  used  for  any  loose  upper  garment 
hanging  down  the  back  from  the  shoul- 
ders ; hence  “ sac-friars  ” or  fratres 
saccati. 

Sacharis'sa  {Miss  Sugar).  A name 
bestowed  by  Waller  on  lady  Dorothea 
Sidney,  eldest  daughter  of  the  earl  of 
Leicester,  for  whose  hand  he  was  an  un- 
successful suitor,  for  she  married  the  earl 
of  Sunderland. 

The  earl  of  Leicester,  father  of  Algernon  Sydney 
the  patriot,  ami  of  Waller’s  “ Sacharissa,”  built  for 
himself  a stately  house  ai  the  north  corner  of  a square 
plot  of  “Lammas  land”  belonging  to  the  parish 
of  Pit.  Martin’s,  which  plot  henceforth  became  known 
to  Londoners  as  “Leicester  Fielda”— Casseii’s  Maga^ 
tine,  London  Legends,"  ii. 

Sacharissa  turns  to  Joan  (Fenton,  "The 
Platonic  Spell”).  The  gloss  of  novelty 
being  gone,  that  which  was  once  thought 
unparalleled  proves  only  ordinary.  Fen- 
ton says  before  marriage  many  a woman 
seems  a Sacharissa,  faultless  in  make  and 
wit,  but  scarcely  is  “ half  Hymen’s  taper 
wasted”  when  the  "spell  is  dissolved,” 
^nd  "Sacharissa  turns  to  Joan.” 


Sachentege  (3  syl.).  An  instru- 
ment of  torture  used  in  Stephen’s  reign, 
and  thus  described  in  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Chronicle  : " It  was  fastened  to  a beam, 
having  a sharp  iron  to  go  round  the 
throat  and  neck,  so  that  the  person  tor- 
tured could  in  no  wise  sit,  lie,  nor  sleep, 
but  that  ho  must  at  all  times  bear  all 
the  iron.” 

Sack.  Any  dry  wine,  as  sherry  sack, 
Madeira  sack,  Canary  sack,  and  Palm 
sack.  (A  corruption  of  the  French  sec, 
dry.) 

Sack.  A bag.  According  to  tradition 
it  was  the  last  word  uttered  before  the 
tongues  were  confounded  at  Babel. 
(Saxon,  sxc;  German,  sack;  Welsh,  sach; 
Irish,  sac;  French,  sac;  Latin,  saccus ; 
Italian,  sacco ; Spanish,  sdco ; Greek, 
sakkos ; Hebrew,  sak ; Swedish,  sdck  ; 
&c.  &c.) 

To  get  the  sack,  or  give  one  the  sack.  To 
get  discharged  by  one’s  employer.  The 
allusion  is  not  to  the  bag  in  which  the 
person’s  chattels  are  to  be  packed,  as 
when  we  say  "pack  off  with  you,”  but 
to  the  tradition  mentioned  above. 

There  are  many  cognate  phrases,  as 
to  give  one  the  bag,  and  get  the  bag,  which 
is  merely  substitutional.  To  receive  the 
canvas  is  a very  old  expression,  referring 
to  the  substance  of  which  the  sack  or  bag 
was  made.  The  French  trousser  vos 
quilles  (pack  up  your  ninepins  or  toys) 
is  another  idea,  similar  to  "pack  up 
your  tatters  and  follow  the  drum.”  {See 
Cashier.) 

Sackbut.  A corruption  of  sambuca. 
(Spanish,  sacabuche ; Portuguese,  saque- 
buxo ; French,  saquebute ; Latin,  sacra 
bu'cina,  sacred  trumpet.) 

Sack'erson.  The  famous  bear  kept  at 

Paris  Garden”  in  Shakespeare’s  time. 
{See  Paris  Garden.) 

Sacrament.  Literally  "a  military 
^ oath  ” taken  by  the  Roman  soldiers  not 
I to  desert  their  standard,  turn  their 
back  on  the  enemy,  or  abandon  their 
general.  We  also,  in  the  sacrament 
of  baptism,  take  a military  oath  "to 
fight  manfully  under  the  banner  of 
Christ.”  The  early  Christians  used  the 
word  to  signify  "a  sacred  mystery,”  and 
hence  its  application  to  the  eucharist, 
and  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  to 
marriage,  confirmation,  &c. 


SACRAMENTARIANS. 


SADI. 


777 


Sacramenta'rians.  Those  who  | 
believe  that  no  change  takes  place  in 
the  eucharistic  elements  after  consecra- 
tion, but  that  the  bread  and  wine  are 
simply  emblems  of  the  body  and  blood 
of  Christ.  They  were  a party  among  the 
Reformers  who  separated  from  Luther. 

Sacred  Anchors,  in  Greek  vessels, 
were  never  let  go  till  the  ship  was  in 
the  extremity  of  danger. 

Sacred  City.  (See  Holy  City.) 

Sacred  Heart.  The  ‘'Feast  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus”  owes  its  origin 
to  a French  nun,  named  Mary  Margaret 
Alacoque,*  of  Burgundy,  who  practised 
devotion  to  the  Saviour’s  heart  in  con- 
sequence of  a vision.  The  devotion  was 
sanctioned  by  pope  Clement  XII.  in  1732. 

Sacred  Isle,  or  Holy  Island.  Ireland 
was  so  called  because  of  its  many  saints, 
and  Guernsey  for  its  many  monks.  The 
island  referred  to  by  Thomas  Moore  in 
his  “Irish Melodies,”  No.  II.,  is  Scattery,  i 
to  which  St.  Sena'tus  retired,  and  vowed  | 
that  no  woman  should  set  foot  thereon. 

Oh,  haste  and  leave  this  sacred  isle, 

Unholy  bark,  ere  morning  smile. 

^"St.  Senatus  and  the  Lady." 

Enhallow  (from  the  Norse  Hyinhalga, 
Holy  Isle)  is  the  name  of  a small  island 
in  the  Orkney  group,  where  cells  of  the 
Irish  anchorite  fathers  are  said  still  to 
exist. 

Sacred  War. 

(1)  A war  undertaken  by  the  Am- 
phictyon'ic  league  against  the  Cirrhseans, 
in  defence  of  Delphi,  (b.c.  594-587.) 

(2)  A war  waged  by  the  Athenians  for 
the  restoration  of  Delphi  to  the  Pho'cians, 
from  whom  it  had  been  taken,  (b.c.  448- 
447.) 

(3)  A war  in  which  the  Phocians,  who 
had  seized  Delphi,  were  conquered  by 
Philip  of  Macedon.  (b.c.  346.) 

Sacrifice.  Never  sacrifice  a white  coch, 
was  one  of  the  doctrines  of  Pythagoras, 
because  it  was  sacred  to  the  moon.  The 
Greeks  went  further,  and  said,  “ Nourish 
a cock,  but  sacrifice  it  not,”  for  all  cock- 
rels  were  sacred  either  to  the  sun  or 
moon,  as  they  announced  the  hours.  The 
cock  was  sacred  also  to  the  goddess 
of  wisdom,  and  to  Escula'pios  the  god  ^ 
of  health ; it  therefore  represented  ^ 
time,  wisdom,  and  health,  none  of  which  j 
are  ever  to  be  sacrificed.  (See  lam-  | 
blichus,  “ Protreptics,”  Symbol  xviii.)  1 


Sacrifice  to  the  Graces  is  to  render 
oneself  agreeable  by  courteous  conduct, 
suavity  of  manners,  and  fastidiousness  oi 
dress.  The  allusion  is  to  the  three 
Graces  of  classic  mythology. 

Sa'cring  Bell.  The  little  bell  rung 
to  give  notice  that  the  “ Host  ” is  ap- 
proaching. N ow  called  sanctus-bell,  from 
the  words  “Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanctus, 
DeusSabaoth,”  pronounced  by  the  priest. 
(French,  sacrer,  Old  English  verb  sacre, 
to  consecrate.) 

He  heard  a little  sacring  bell  rine  to  the  eleva- 
tion of  a o-morruw  Reginald  Scott,  "Dis- 

covery of  Wiichcr.  ft"  (i584). 

The  eacring  of  the  Kings  of  France.— Temple. 

Sa'cripant.  A braggart,  a noisy 
hectorer.  He  is  introduced  by  Alexander 
Passoni  in  a mock-heroic  poem  called 
“ The  Rape  of  the  Bucket.” 

Sa'cripant  (in  “Orlando  Furioso”). 
King  of  Circassia,  and  a Saracen. 

Sad  Bread  (Latin,  panis  gravis). 
Heavy  bread,  ill-made  bread.  Shake- 
speare calls  it  “distressful  bread”— not 
the  bread  of  distress,  but  the  “ panis 
gravis  ” or  ill-made  bread  eaten  by  the 
poor. 

Sadah.  The  sixteenth  night  of  the 
month  Bayaman.  {Pers.  Myth.) 

Sadaroubay.  The  eve  of  Indian 
mythology. 

Sadder.  One  of  the  sacred  books 
of  the  Guebres  or  Parsis. 

Saddle.  Set  the  saddle  on  the  right 
horse.  Lay  the  blame  on  those  who  de- 
serve it. 

Saddletree  (J/r.  Bartoline).  The 
learned  saddler.— /Sw*  Walter  Scott,  “ The 
Heart  of  Mid-Lothiand' 

Sad'ducees.  A Jewish  party  which 
denied  the  existence  of  spirits  and  angels, 
and,  of  course,  disbelieved  in  the  resur- 
rection of  the  dead ; so  called  from 
Sadoc  (righteous  man),  thought  to  be  the 
name  of  a priest  or  rabbi  some  three 
centuries  before  the  birth  of  Christ. 

Sadi  or  Saadi.  A Persian  poet  styled 
the  “ nightingale  of  thousand  songs,” 
and  “one  of  the  four  monarchs  of  elo- 
quence.” His  poems  are  the  “ Gulistan” 
or  Garden  of  Roses,  the  “Bostdn”  or 
Garden  of  Fruits,  and  the  “ Pend- 
Nameh,”  a moral  poem.  He  is  admired 
for  his  sententious  march.  (1184-1263.) 


778 


SADLER’S  WELLS. 


SAINT, 


Sadler’s  Wells  (London).  There 
was  a well  at  this  place  called  Holy-  Wellf 
once  noted  for  ‘‘its  extraordinary  cures.” 
The  priests  of  Clerkenwell  priory  used  to 
boast  of  its  virtues.  At  the  Reformation 
ft  was  stopped  up,  and  was  wholly  for- 
gotten till  1683,  when  a Mr.  Sadler,  in 
digging  gravel  for  his  garden,  acciden- 
tally discovered  it  again.  Hence  the 
name.  In  1765,  Mr.  Rosoman  converted 
Sadler’s  garden  into  a theatre. 

Sadle'rian  Lectures.  Lectures  on 
Algebra  delivered  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge,  and  founded  in  1710  by  lady 
Sadler. 

SaBlirimnir  (Sza-rim'-ner).  The  boar 
which  is  served  to  the  gods  of  Valhalla 
daily,  and  every  day  the  part  eaten  is 
miraculously  restored.  — Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Safa,  in  Arabia,  according  to  Arabian 
legend,  is  the  hill  on  which  Adam  and 
Eve  came  together,  after  having  been 
parted  for  two  hundred  years,  during 
which  time  they  wandered  homeless  over 
the  face  of  the  earth. 

Sa'ga.  Goddess  of  history. — Scandi- 
navian mythology. 

Sagas.  The  Northern  mythological 
and  historical  traditions,  chiefly  com- 
piled in  the  twelfth  and  three  following 
centuries.  The  most  remarkable  are 
those  of  Lodbroh^  Hervara,  Vilkina, 
Volsunga,  Blomsturvalla,  Ynglinga,  Olaf 
Try ggva- Sonar.,  with  those  of  Jomsvi- 
Jcingia  oxidi  oi  Knyilinga  (which  contain 
the  legendary  history  of  Norway  and 
Denmark),  those  of  Sturlinga  and  Eryr- 
higgia  (which  contain  the  legendary 
history  of  Iceland),  the  Heims-Kringla 
and  New  Edda^  due  to  Snorri  Sturluson. 

All  these  legends  are  short,  abrupt, 
concise,  full  of  bold  metaphor  and 
graphic  descriptions. 

Sa'gan  of  Jerusalem,  in  Dryden’s 
“ Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  designed 
for  Dr.  Compton,  bishop  of  London  ; ho 
was  son  of  the  earl  of  Northampton, 
who  fell  in  the  royal  cause  at  the  battle 
of  Hopton  Heath.  The  Jewish  sagan 
was  the  vicar  of  the  sovereign  pontiff. 
According  to  tradition,  Moses  was 
Aaron’s  sagan. 

Sagitta'rius,  the  archer,  represents 
the  Centaur  Chiron,  who  at  death  was 
converted  into  the  censtellation  so  called, 
(See  next  article.) 


Saglttary.  A terrible  archer,  half 
beast  and  half  man,  whose  eyes  sparkled 
like  fire,  and  struck  dead  like  lightning. 
He  is  introduced  into  the  Trojan  armies 
by  Guido  da  Colonna. 

The  dreadful  Sagittary 
Appals  our  numbers. 

ShaJcespeare,  ^'Troilua  and  Cressida^  r.  6. 

Sag’ramour  le  De'sirus.  A knight 
of  the  Round  Table,  introduced  in 
the  “Morte  d’ Arthur,”  “Lancelot  du 
Lac,”  &c. 

Sahib  (in  Bengalee,  Sahel).  Equal  to 
our  Mr.,  or  rather  to  such  gentlemen 
as  we  term  “ Esquires.”  SaJiiba  is  the 
lady.  (Arabic  for  lord,  master.) 

Sail.  You  may  hoist  sail.  Cut  your 
stick,  be  off.  Maria  saucily  says  to 
Viola,  dressed  in  man’s  apparel — 

Will  you  hoist  sail,  sir  ? Here  lies  your  way. 

Shakespeare.  Twelfth  Night''  i.  6. 

Strike  sail.  (See  Strike.) 

Sailing  under  false  colours.  Pretending 
to  be  what  you  are  not.  The  allusion  is 
to  pirate  vessels,  which  hoist  any  colours 
to  elude  detection. 

Sailing  within  the  wind.  Going  to  the 
very  verge  of  propriety,  or  acting  so  as 
just  to  escape  the  letter  of  the  law.  The 
phrase,  of  course,  is  nautical. 

Sailor  King.  William  IV.  of  Eng- 
land, who  entered  the  navy  as  midship- 
man in  1779,  and  was  made  Lord  High 
Admiral  in  1827.  (1765,  1830-1837.) 

Saint.  Kings  and  princes  so  called — 

Edward  the  Martyr.  (961,  975-978.) 

Edward  the  Confessor.  (1004,  1042- 
1066.) 

Eric  IX.  of  Sweden.  ( *,  1155-1161.) 

Ethelred  I.,  king  of  Wessex.  ( 866.. 

871.) 

Eugenius  I.,  pope.  ( *,  654-657.) 

Felix  I.,  pope.  (*,269-274.) 

Ferdinand  III.  of  Castile  and  Leon. 
(1200,  1217-1252.) 

Julius  I.,  pope.  ( *,  337-352.) 

Kang-he,  second  of  the  Manchoo 
dynasty  of  China,  who  assumed  the  name 
of  Chin-tsou-jin.  (1661-1722.) 

Lawrence  Justinia'ni,  patriarch  of 
Venice.  (1380,  1451-1465.) 

Leo  IX.,  pope.  (1002,  1049-1054.) 

Louis  IX.  of  France.  (1215,  1226- 

1270.) 

Glaus  II.  of  Norway,  brother  of 
Harald  III.,  called  “ St.  Olaf  the  Double 
Beard.”  (984,  1026-1030.) 


ST.  BEES\ 


SAIVAS. 


77i^ 


Stephen  I.  of  Hungary.  (979,  997- 
1033.)  ! 

Dom  Fernando,  son  of  king  John  of 
Portugal,  was,  with  his  brother  Henry,  I 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Moors  at  the  siege  i 
of  Tangier.  The  Portuguese  general  , 
promised  to  give  Ceuta  for  their  ransom, 
and  left  Fernando  in  prison  as  their 
surety.  The  Portuguese  government 
refused  to  ratify  the  condition,  and  Fer- 
nando was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Moors 
till  he  died.  For  this  patriotic  act  he  is 
regarded  as  a saint,  and  his  day  is  June 
5th.  His  brother  Edward  was  king  at 
the  time.  (1402-1443.) 

St.Bees'  College.  So  called  because 
its  site  is  in  the  village  of  Cumberland, 
situated  on  the  bay  formed  by  St.  Bees* 
Head,  founded  by  Dr.  Law,  bishop  of 
Chester  in  1816.  St.  Bees’  was  so  called 
from  a nunnery  founded  here  in  650,  and 
dedicated  to  the  Irish  saint  named  Bega. 

St.  CeciTia,  born  of  noble  Roman 
parents,  and  fostered  from  her  cradle  in 
the  Christian  faith,  married  Valir'ian. 
One  day  she  told  him  that  an  angel, 

whether  she  was  awake  or  asleep,  was 
ever  beside  her.”  Valirian  requested  to 
see  this  angel,  and  she  said  he  must  be 
ba*^tised  first.  Valirian  was  baptised  and 
sutiered  martyrdom.  When  Cecilia  was 
brought  before  the  prefect  Alma'chius, 
and  refused  to  worship  the  Roman 
deities,  she  was  shut  fast  in  a bath 
kept  hot  both  night  and  day  with  great 
fires  ” but  felt  of  it  no  woe.”  Alma- 
chius  then  sent  an  executioner  to  cut  off 
her  head,  but  for  no  manner  of  chance 
could  he  smite  her  fair  neck  in  two.” 
Three  days  she  li  'gered  with  her  neck 
bleeding,  preaching  Christ  and  him 
crucified  all  the  while;  then  she  died, 
and  pope  Urban  buried  the  body.  ‘‘  Her 
house,  the  church  of  St.  Cecily  is  hight  ” 
unto  this  day.  — Chaucer,  Secounde 
Nonnes  Tale” 

St.  Cuthbert’s  Duck.  The  Eider 
duck. 

St.  Elmo,  called  by  the  French  St. 
Elme.  The  electric  light  seen  playing 
about  the  masts  of  ships  in  stormy 
weather.  {See  Castor  and  Pollux.) 

And  sudden  breaking  on  their  raptured  sight 
Appeared  the  splendour  of  St.  Llir.o's 

HooU'i  **Furio80*'  bli.  ix. 

St.  John  Long.  An  illiterate 
quack,  who  professed  to  have  discovered 


a liniment  which  had  the  power  of  dis- 
tinguishing between  disease  and  health. 
The  body  was  rubbed  with  it,  and  if 
irritation  appeared  it  announced  seci'et 
disease,  which  the  quack  undertook  tc 
Cure.  He  was  twice  tried  for  man- 
slaughter : once  in  1830,  when  he  was 
fined  for  his  treatment  of  Miss  Cashan, 
who  died  ; and  next  in  1831,  for  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Lloyd  ; being  acquitted, 
he  was  driven  in  triumph  from  the  Old 
Bailey  in  a nobleman’s  carriage,  amid  the 
congratulations  of  the  aristocracy. 

St.  John  is  pronounced  Sin' jin,  as 
in  that  verse  of  Pope’s — 

Awake,  my  St.  John  ! leave  all  meaner  things 

To  low  ambition  and  the  pride  of  kings. 

“'■Essay  on  Man.,’*  i. 

St.  Leger  Sweepstakes.  The  St. 
Leger  race  was  instituted  in  1776  by 
Colonel  St.  Leger,  of  Park  Hill,  near 
Doncaster,  but  was  not  called  the  “St. 
Leger  ” till  two  years  afterwards,  when 
the  marquis  of  Rockingham’s  horse 
“ Allabaculia  ” won  the  race. 

St.  Leon  became  possessed  of  the 
elixir  of  life,  and  the  power  of  trans- 
muting the  baser  metals  into  gold,  but 
these  acquisitions  only  brought  him  in- 
creased misery. — William  Goodwin,  St. 
Leon.” 

St.  MiehaePs  Chair.  The  project- 
ing stone  lantern  of  a tower  erected  on 
St.  Michael’s  Mount,  Cornwall.  It  is  said 
that  the  rock  received  its  name  from  a 
religious  house  built  to  commemorate 
the  apparition  of  St.  Michael  on  one  of 
its  craggy  heights. 

St.  Monday.  A holiday  observed 
by  idle  workmen  and  many  merchants. 

St.  Si'monism.  The  social  and  po- 
litical system  of  St.  Simon.  He  proposed 
the  institution  of  a European  parliament, 
to  arbitrate  in  all  matters  affecting 
Europe,  and  the  establishment  of  a social 
hierarchy  based  on  capacity  and  labour. 
He  was  led  to  his  “social  system”  by 
the  apparition  of  Charlemagne,  which 
appeared  to  him  one  night  in  the  Luxem- 
bourg, where  he  was  suffering  a tem- 
porary imprisonment.  (1760-1825.) 

***  For  other  saints,  see  the  proper 
names. 

Sa'ivas.  Worshippers  of  Siva,  one 
of  the  three  great  Indian  sects;  they  are 
at  present  divided  into— 

(1)  Dandins  or  staff- bearers,  the  Hindu 


780 


SAKER. 


SALAMANDER 


mendicants  ; so  called  because  they  carry 
a danda  or  small  staff,  with  a piece  of 
red  cloth  fixed  on  it.  In  this  piece  of 
cloth  the  Brahmanical  cord  is  enshrined. 

(2)  Yogms.  Followers  of  Yoga,  who 
practise  the  most  difficult  austerities. 

(3)  LingavatSy  who  wear  the  Linga 
emblem  on  some  part  of  their  dress. 

(4)  Paramahansasy  ascetics  who  go 
naked,  and  never  express  any  want  or 
wish. 

(5)  AghorinSy  who  eat  and  drink  what- 
ever is  given  them,  even  ordure  and 
carrion. 

(6)  Urdhaba'kuSy  who  extend  one  or 
both  arms  over  their  head  till  they  be- 
come rigidly  fixed  in  this  position. 

(7)  Akas'miilchinSy  who  hold  up  their 
faces  to  the  sky  till  the  muscles  of  the 
neck  become  contracted. 

Sa'ker.  A piece  of  light  artillery. 
The  word  is  borrowed  from  the  saker 
hawk.  Falcon.) 

The  cannon,  blunderbuss,  and  saker. 

He  was  the  inventor  of  and  maker. 

Buthi\  “ KudibraSy*  i.  a. 

Sak'hrat.  A sacred  stone,  one  grain 
of  which  endows  the  possessor  with 
miraculous  powers.  It  is  of  an  emerald 
colour,  and  its  reflection  gives  the  sky 
its  blue  imi.— Mahometan  mythology. 

Sak'tas.  One  of  the  great  divisions 
of  Hindu  sects.  It  is  divided  into  two 
branches,  the  Dak  shin 'acha'rins  and  the 
Vam'acha'rins  (the  followers  of  the  right- 
hand  and  left-hand  ritual).  The  latter 
practise  the  grossest  impurities.  (San- 
skrit, sahtiy  power,  energy.) 

Sak'untala.  Daughter  of  saint 
Vis'wa'mita,  and  Menaka  a water-nymph. 
Abandoned  by  her  parents,  she  was 
brought  up  by  a hermit.  One  day  king 
Dushyanta  came  to  the  hermitage  dur- 
ing a hunt,  and  persuaded  Sakuntala  to 
marry  him,  and  in  due  time  a son  was 
born.  When  the  boy  was  six  years  old, 
she  took  it  to  its  father,  and  the  king 
recognised  his  wife  by  a ring  which  he 
had  given  her.  She  was  now  publicly 
proclaimed  his  queen,  and  Bharata,  his 
son  and  heir,  became  the  founder  of  the 
glorious  race  of  the  Bharatas.  This  story 
forms  the  plot  of  the  celebrated  drama 
of  KMida'sa,  called  ‘^Sakuntala,”  made 
known  to  us  by  Sir  W.  Jones. 

Sak'ya-Mu'ni.  Sakya,  the  hermit, 
founder  of  Buddhism. 


Salacaca'bia  or  Salacadahy  of  Apr 
cius.  An  uneatable  soup  of  great  pro 
tensions.  King,  in  his  **  Art  of  Cookery,’ 
gives  the  recipe  of  this  soup : Bruise 
in  a mortar  parsley-seed,  dried  peneryal, 
dried  mint,  ginger,  green  coriander, 
stoned  raisins,  honey,  vinegar,  oil,  and 
wine.  Put  them  into  a cacah'ulum, 
three  crusts  of  Pycentine  bread,  the 
flesh  of  a pullet,  vestine  cheese,  pine- 
kernels,  cucumbers,  dried  onions,  minced 
small ; pour  soup  over  the  whole,  gar- 
nish with  snow,  and  serve  up  in  the 
cacab'ulum.” 

At  each  end  there  are  dishes  of  the  salacacabia 
of  the  Romaus  : one  is  made  of  par«ley.  pennyroyal, 
cheese,  pineLops,  honey,  vinegar,  brine,  eggs,  cucum- 
bers, onions,  and  heu-livers  ; the  ot‘'er  is  much  tire 
same  as  soup  maigre.-- Peregrine  Pickle” 

SaTace  (3  syl.).  The  sea,  or  rather 
the  salt  or  briny  deep  ; the  wife  of  Nep- 
tune. 

Triton,  who  boasts  his  high  Neptunian  race, 

Sprung  from  the  god  by  Salace’s  embrace. 

Camoens^  “ Lusiad”  bk.  vi. 

Salad  Days.  Days  of  inexperience, 
when  persons  are  very  green. 

Mv  salJad  days. 

When  I was  green  in  judgment. 

Shakespeare^  '*Antho7ig  and  Cleopatra”  i.  5. 

A pen* orth  of  salad  oil.  A strapping ; 
a castigation.  It  is  a joke  on  All  Fools’ 
Day  to  send  one  to  the  saddler’s  for  a 
“ pen’orth  of  salad  oil.”  The  pun  is  be- 
tween salad  oil,”  as  above,  and  the 
French  avoir  de  la  saladey  “to  be 
flogged.”  The  French  salader  and  salade 
are  derived  from  the  salle  or  saddle  on 
which  schoolboys  were  at  one  time 
birched.  A block  for  the  purpose  is  still 
kept  in  some  of  our  public  schools. 
Oudin  translates  the  phrase,  Bonner  la 
salle  d un  escolier  by  “ scopar  un  scolari 
innanzi  a tutti  gli  Recherches 

Italiennes  et  Francoises**  pt.  ii.  508. 

Salamander,  in  Egyptian  hierogly- 
phics, is  a human  form  pinched  to  death 
with  the  cold.  {See  Undines.) 

Salamander  of  Middle-Age  superstition 
was  a creature  in  the  shape  of  a man 
which  lived  in  fire.  (Greek,  salambe 
anery  chimney  man,  meaning  a man  that 
lives  in  a chimney  or  fire.) 

Salamander.  A sort  of  lizard,  which, 
according  to  a superstition  once  very 
pr-evalent,  sought  the  hottest  fire  to 
breed  in,  but  quenched  it  with  the  ex- 
treme frigidity  of  its  body.  Pliny  tells 
us  he  tried  the  experiment  once,  but  the 
creature  was  soon  burnt  to  a powder. 


SALAMANDER’S  WOOL. 


SALMONEtTS. 


781 


Salamander.  Francois  I.  of  France 
adopted  as  his  badge  a lizard  in  the 
midst  of  flames,”  with  the  legend  Nntrisco 
et  extinguo — “I  nourish  and  extinguish.” 
The  Italian  motto  from  which  this  legend 
was  borrowed  was,  Nudrisco  il  huono  e 
spengo  il  reo — I nourish  the  good  and 
extinguish  the  bad.”  Fire  purifies  good 
metal,  but  consumes  rubbish.  (See  ante.) 

Salamander.  Anything  of  a fiery-red 
colour.  Falstaff  calls  Bardolph’s  nose  “a 
burning  lamp,”  ‘ 'a  salamander,”  and  the 
drink  that  made  such  ‘^a  fiery  meteor” 
he  calls  ‘^fire.” 

I have  maintained  that  salamander  of  yours 
with  tire  any  time  this  two-and-thiriy  ye  xn.—Shakt- 
spcare,  “1  lltnry  IV.,”  iv.  3. 

Salamander’s  Wool.  Asbestos^ 
a fibrous  mineral,  aflirnied  by  the  Tartars 
to  be  made  of  the  root  of  a tree.”  It 
is  sometimes  called  ^'mountain  flax,” 
and  is  not  combustible. 

Sal'ary.  The  salt  rations.  The  Romans 
served  out  rations  of  salt  and  other  neces- 
saries to  their  soldiers  and  civil  servants. 
The  rations  altogether  were  called  by 
the  general  name  of  salt,  and  when 
money  was  substituted  for  the  rations 
the  stipend  went  by  the  same  name. 
(Latin,  sala'rum,  from  sal,  salt.) 

Sale  by  the  Candle.  A species  of 
auction.  An  inch  of  candle  being  lighted, 
he  who  made  the  bid  as  the  candle  gave 
its  expiring  wink  was  declared  the  buyer. 

Salem  peace”),  afterwards  called 
Jerusalem,  a corruption  of  Jireh-Salem. 
Abraham  called  it  Jehovah-ji'reh  (Gen. 
xxii.14).  The  word  is  sometimes  used  for 
the  church  either  militant  or  triumphant 
(Isa.  Ixii.  1 ; Rev.  iii.  12). 

Melchisedec,  king  of  Salem being  by  interpre- 

tation.... Kmg  of  peace.— vii.  l,  2. 

Salic  Law.  The  law  so  called  is 
one  chapter  of  the  Salian  code  regarding 
succession  to  salic  lands,  which  was 
limited  to  heirs  male,  to  the  exclusion  of 
females,  chiefly  because  certain  military 
duties  were  connected  with  the  holding 
of  those  lands.  In  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury females  were  excluded  from  the 
throne  of  France  by  the  application  of 
the  Salic  law  to  the  succession  of  the 
crown. 

Which  Salique,  as  I eaid,  ’twlxt  Elbe  and  Sala, 

Is  at  this  day  in  Germany  called  Meisen. 

Shakespeare,  “ Henry  V.,*  i.  2 

Salisbury  Cathedral.  Begun  in 
1220,  and  finished  in  1258 ; noted  for 


having  the  loftiest  spire  in  the  United 
Kingdom.  It  is  400  feet  high,  or  thirty 
feet  higher  than  the  dome  of  St.  Paul’s. 

Salisbury  Court  (London)  ori^- 
nated  in  a palace  of  the  bishop  of  Salis- 
bury, which  he  parted  with  to  the  Sack- 
villes. 

Salisbury  Craigs.  Rocks  near 
Edinburgh;  so  called  from  the  earl  of 
Salisbury,  who  accompanied  Edward  III. 
on  an  expedition  against  the  Scots. 

Sallust  of  France.  Cesar  Vichard, 
abbe  de  St.  Real;  so  called  by  Voltaire. 
(1639-1692.) 

Sally.  Saddle.  (Latin,  sella ; French, 
selle.) 

The  horse,,.. stopped  his  course  by  degrees,  and 
went  with  bis  rider ...  .into  a pond  to  drink;  and 
there  sat  his  lordship  upon  the  etxWy.—  ^Lives  of  the 
Norths,” 

Vaiilting  ambition....  o’erleaps  its  sell. 

And  falls  d’  the  other.... 

Shakespeare,'* Macbeth,”  i.  7. 

Sally  Lunn.  A tea-cake  ; so  called 
from  Sally  Lunn,  the  pastrycook  of  Bath, 
who  used  to  cry  them  about  in  a basket 
at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
Dalmer,  the  baker,  bought  her  receipt, 
and  made  a song  about  the  buns. 

Sally-port.  The  postern  in  fortifi- 
cations. It  is  a small  door  or  port  whence 
troops  may  issue  unseen  to  make  sallies, 
&c.  (Latin,  salio,  to  leap.) 

SaTmagun'di.  A mixture  of  minced 
veal,  chicken  or  turkey,  anchovies  or 
pickled  herrings,  and  onions,  all  chopped 
together,  and  served  with  lemon-juice 
and  oil ; so  called  from  Salmagondi,  one  of 
the  ladies  attached  to  the  suite  of  Mary 
de  Medicis,  wife  of  Henri  IV.  of  France. 
She  either  invented  the  dish  or  was  so 
fond  of  it  that  it  went  by  her  name. 
More  probably  the  word  is  a corruption 
of  the  Latin  salgamum  (meat  and  salad 
powdered  together). 

Sal'macis,  softness,  effeminacy.  It 
was  a fountain  of  Caria,  near  Halicar- 
nassos,  which  rendered  soft  and  effemi- 
nate all  who  bathed  therein. 

Thy  moist  limbs  melted  into  Salmacis. 

Swinbnrn,  “ Hermaphroditus.” 

Salmon  is  the  Latin  sahno  (the  leap- 
ing fish).  Some  of  them  will  leap  to  a 
height  of  fifteen  or  even  twenty  feet. 

Salmo'neus  (4  syl.).  A king  of 
Elis,  noted  for  his  arrogance  and  impiety. 
He  not  only  ordered  sacrifice  to  be  offered 


782 


SALSABIL. 


SALT  PEUNELLA. 


to  himself,  but  he  attempted  to  imitate 
the  thunder  and  lightning  of  Jove,  for 
which  impiety  the  king  of  gods  and  men 
hurled  a thunderbolt  at  him  and  sent 
him  to  the  infernal  regions. 

Sal'sabil.  A fountain  in  Paradise. 
— Mahometan  mythology. 

Mahomet  was  taking  his  afternoon  nap  in  his 
Paradise.  A houri  had  rolled  a cloud  under  his 
head,  and  he  was  snoring  serenely  near  the  fountain 
of  Salsabil.— iff.  L’Epine^  “ Croquemitaine”  ii.  8. 

Balt.  Flavour ; smack.  The  salt  of 
youth  is  that  vigour  and  strong  passion 
which  then  predominates.  Shakespeare 
uses  the  term  on  several  occasions  for 
strong  amorous  passion.  Thus  lago  re- 
fers to  it  as  ‘‘hot  as  monkeys,  salt  as 
wolves  in  pride”  (“Othello,”  hi.  3).  The 
Duke  calls  Angelo’s  base  passion  his 
“ salt  imagination,”  because  he  supposed 
his  victim  to  be  Isabella,  and  not  his  be- 
trothed wife  whom  he  was  forced  by  the 
Duke  to  marry. — Measure  for  Measure^' 
V.  1. 

Though  we  are  justices,  and  doctors,  and  church- 
men, Master  Page,  we  have  some  salt  of  our  youth 
in  \xs.—  * Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,*'  ii.  3. 

Salt  in  a coffin.  It  is  still  not  uncom- 
mon to  put  salt  into  a coffin,  and  Moresin 
tells  us  the  reason  : Satan  hates  salt, 
because  it  is  the  symbol  of  incorruption 
and  immortality.— “Papafw.5,”  p.  154. 

Spilling  salt  was  held  to  be  an  unlucky 
omen  by  the  Romans,  and  the  superstition 
has  descended  to  ourselves.  In  Leonardo 
da  Vinci’s  famous  picture  of  the  Lord’s 
Supper,  Judas  Iscariot  is  known  by  the 
salt  cellar  knocked  over  accidentally  by 
his  arm.  Salt  was  used  in  sacrifice  by 
the  J ews,  as  well  as  by  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  ; and  it  is  still  used  in  baptism  by 
the  Roman  Catholic  clergy.  It  was  an 
emblem  of  purity  and  the  sanctifying  in- 
fluence of  a holy  life  on  others.  Hence 
our  Lord  tells  his  disciples  they  are  ‘ ‘ the 
salt  of  the  earth.”  Spilling  the  salt  after 
it  w'as  placed  on  the  head  of  the  victim 
was  a bad  omen,  and  hence  the  super- 
stition. 

Cum  grano  sa'lis.  With  great  limita- 
tion. As  salt  is  sparingly  used  for  a con- 
diment, so  truth  is  sparingly  scattered 
in  aa  exaggerated  report. 

To  sit  above  the  salt—m  a place  of  dis- 
tinction. Formerly  the  familj^  saler  (salt- 
cellar) was  of  massive  silver,  and  placed 
in  the  middle  of  the  table.  Persons  of 
distinction  sat  above  the  “safer” — 
between  it  and  the  head  of  the  table. 


Dependents  and  other  inferior  guests  sat 
below  it. 

He  wonH  earn  salt  for  his  porridge.  He 
will  never  earn  a penny. 

To  salt  an  invoice  is  to  put  the  extreme 
value  upon  each  article,  and  even  some- 
thing more,  to  give  it  piquancy  and  raise 
its  market  value,  according  to  the  maxim, 
sal  sapit  omnia.  The  French  have  the 
same  expression ; as  Vendre  bien  sale, 
“ To  sell  very  dear II  me  V a bien  sale, 
“ He  charged  me  an  exorbitant  price 
and  generally  saler  is  to  pigeon  one. 

Salt  in  Beer.  In  Scotland  it  was 
customary  to  throw  a handful  of  salt  on 
the  top  of  the  mash  to  keep  the  witches 
from  it.  Salt  really  has  the  effect  of 
moderating  the  fermentation  and  fining 
the  liquor. 

Salt-hill  {Eton).  At  the  Eton  J/owto 
the  captain  of  the  school  used  to  collect 
money  from  the  visitors  on  Montem 
day.  Standing  on  a mound  at  Slough, 
he  waved  a flag,  and  persons  appointed 
for  the  purpose  collected  the  donations. 
The  mound  is  still  called  Salt-hilly  and 
the  money  given  was  called  salt.  The 
word  salt  is  similar  to  the  Latin  sola! rum 
(salary),  the  pay  given  to  Roman  soldiers 
and  civil  officers.  {See  Salary.) 

Salt  Junk.  Salt  beef  on  board  ship. 
Junk  is  the  bulrush  of  which  ropes  used 
to  be  made,  and  salt  junk  means  beef 
that  is  hard,  ropy,  and  salt. 

Salt  Lake.  It  has  been  stated  that 
three  buckets  of  this  water  will  yield  one 
of  solid  salt.  This  cannot  be  true,  as 
water  will  not  hold  in  solution  more  than 
twenty-five  per  cent,  of  saline  matter. 
The  Mormons  engaged  in  procuring  it 
state  that  they  obtain  one  bucket  of  salt 
for  every  five  buckets  of  water. — Quebec 
Morning  Chronicle. 

Salt  Prunella.  A mixture  of  re- 
fined nitre  and  soda  for  sore  throats. 
Prunella  is  a corruption  of  Brunelle, 
in  French  sel  de  brunelle,  from  the  Ger- 
man breune  (a  sore  throat),  brdane  (the 
quinsy). 

Prunella  is  the  name  of  a genus  of 
plants  very  astringent,  and  used  in  medi- 
cine for  sore  throats.  This  word  also 
is  a corruption  of  Brunelle.  (See  above. ) 

PrvnellOy  a species  of  plum,  is  quite 
another  word,  being  from  the  French 
prunelle  (a  little  plum). 


SALT  RIVER. 


SAMARITAN. 


783 


PrunellOy  tlie  stuff  of  which  clerical 
gowns  are  made,  is  a corruption  of  Brig- 
noles,  where  it  was  originally  manufac- 
tured. 

Salt  River.  To  roiv  up  Salt  River, 
A defeated  political  party  is  said  to  be 
rowed  up  Salt  River,  and  those  who 
attempt  to  uphold  the  party  have  the 
task  of  rowing  up  this  ungracious  stream. 
J.  Inman  says  the  allusion  is  to  a small 
stream  in  Kentucky,  the  passage  of  which 
is  rendered  both  difficult  and  dangerous 
by  shallows,  bars,  and  an  extremely  tor- 
tuous channel. 

Saltpetre  is  the  salt  formed  in 
stones  or  walls.  It  is  the  sel  de  pierre  of 
the  French. 

Salu'te  (2  syl.).  According  to  tradi- 
tion, on  the  triumphant  return  of  Maxi- 
milian to  Germany,  after  his  second  cam- 
paign, the  town  of  Augsburg  ordered 
100  rounds  of  cannon  to  be  discharged. 
The  officer  on  service,  fearing  to  have 
fallen  short  of  the  number,  caused  an 
extra  round  to  be  added.  The  town 
of  Nuremburg  ordered  a like  salute, 
and  the  custom  became  established. 

Salute  in  the  British  navy,  between 
two  ships  of  equal  rank,  is  made  by  firing 
an  equal  number  of  guns.  If  the  vessels 
are  of  unequal  rank,  the  superior  fires 
the  fewer  rounds. 

Royal  Salute  in  the  British  navy  con- 
sists (1)  in  firing  twenty-one  great  guns, 
(2)  in  the  officers  lowering  their  sword- 
points,  and  (3)  in  dipping  the  colours. 

Salutations. 

Shaking  hands.  A relic  of  the  ancient 
custom  of  adversaries,  in  treating  of  a 
truce,  taking  hold  of  the  weapon-hand  to 
ensure  against  treachery. 

Lady's  curtsey.  A relic  of  the  ancient 
custom  of  women  going  on  the  knee  to 
men  of  rank  and  power,  originally  to  beg 
mercy,  afterwards  to  acknowledge  su- 
periority. 

Taking  off  the  hat.  A relic  of  the 
ancient  custom  of  taking  off  the  helmet 
when  no  danger  is  nigh.  A man  takes 
off  his  hat  to  show  that  he  dares  stand 
unarmed  in  your  presence. 

Discharging  guns  as  a salute.  To  show 
that  no  fear  exists,  and  therefore  no 
guns  will  be  required.  This  is  like 
**  burying  the  hatchet”  (q.v.). 

Presenting  arms— i.e.f  offering  to  give 
them  up,  from  a full  persuasion  of  the 


peaceful  and  friendly  disposition  of  the 
person  so  honoured. 

Lowering  swords.  To  express  a willing- 
ness to  put  yourself  unarmed  in  the 
power  of  the  person  saluted,  from  a full 
persuasion  of  his  friendly  feeling. 

Salve  (1  syl.)  is  the  Latin  saVvia 
(sage),  one  of  the  most  efficient  of  me- 
diaeval remedies. 

To  other  woundes,  and  to  broken  armes. 

Some  hadd€  salve,  and  some  haddS  charmcs. 

Chaucer t “ Canterbury  Tales  " line  2,714. 

Salve.  To  flatter,  to  wheedle.  The 
allusion  is  to  salving  a wound. 

Sam.  Uncle  Sam.  The  United  States 
government.  Mr.  Frost  tells  us  that  the 
inspectors  of  Elbert  Anderson’s  store  on 
the  Hudson  were  Ebenezer  Wilson  and 
his  uncle  Samuel  Wilson,  the  latter  of 
whom  superintended  in  person  the  work- 
men, and  went  by  the  name  of  Uncle 
Sam.”  The  stores  were  marked  E.A.— 
U.S.  {Elbert  Andersoiiy  United  States), 
and  one  of  the  employers  being  asked 
the  meaning,  said  U.S.  stood  for  Uncle 
Sam.”  The  joke  took,  and  in  the  War 
of  Independence  the  men  carried  it  with 
them,  and  it  became  stereotyped. 

To  stand  Sam.  To  be  made  to  pay  the 
reckoning.  This  is  an  Americanism,  and 
arose  from  the  letters  U.S.  on  the  knap- 
sacks of  the  soldiers.  The  government 
of  Uncle  Sam  has  to  pay  or  stand 
Sam  ” for  all.  {See  above.) 

Sam  Weller.  Servant  of  Mr.  Pick- 
wick, famous  for  his  metaphors.  Tie  is 
meant  to  impersonate  the  wit,  shrewd- 
ness, quaint  humour,  and  best  qualities 
of  London  low  life. — Charles  Dickens, 

Pickwick. '' 

Sa^mael.  The  prince  of  demons, 
who,  in  the  guise  of  a serpent,  tempted 
Eve;  also  called  the  angel  of  death. — 
Jewish  demonology. 

Sam'anides  (3  syl.).  A dynasty  of 
ten  kings  in  Western  Persia  (902-1004), 
founded  by  Ismail  al  Sam'ani. 

Sama'ria,  according  to  1 Kings  xvi. 
24,  means  the  hill  of  Shemer.  Omri 

bought  the  hill  Samaria  of  Shemer  for 
two  talents  of  silver,  and  built  on  the  hill, 
and  called  the  name  of  [hisj  city  .... 
after  the  name  of  Shemer  ....  Sama- 
ria." (b.c.  925.) 

Samaritan.  A good  Samaritan.  A 
philanthropist,  one  who  attends  upon 


784 


SAMBO. 


SANCHO  PANZA, 


the  poor  to  aid  them  and  give  them 
relief.  (Luke  x,  30-37. ) 

Sambo.  A pet  name  given  to  any 
one  of  the  negro  race.  The  term  is  pro- 
perly applied  to  one  born  of  a negro 
and  a mulatto,  called  a zambo. 

Sam'edi  (2syl.),  French  for  Sunday, 
is  a contraction  of  Sabbati-di  ( Sabbath-- 
day),  as  Mardi  is  Marti-di,  Vendredi  is 
Veneri-di,  &c.  (the  day  dedicated  to  Mars, 
Venus,  &c.). 

Sa'mian.  The  Samian  'poet.  Simon'- 
ides  the  satirist,  born  at  Samos. 

The  Samian  sage.  Pythag'oras,  born 
at  Samos;  sometimes  called  ‘Hhe  Sa- 
mian.’* (6th  century  B.c.) 

’Tis  enoueh, 

In  this  late  age,  adventurous  to  have  touched 

Light  on  the  numbers  of  the  Samian  sage. 

Thomson. 

The  Samian  letter.  The  letter  Y,  used 
by  Pythag'oras  as  an  emblem  of  the 
straight  narrow  path  of  virtue  which  is 
one,  but  if  once  deviated  from,  the  fur- 
ther the  lines  are  extended  the  wider 
becomes  the  breach. 

When  reason  doubtful,  like  the  Samian  letter, 

Points  him  two  ways,  the  narrower  tlie  better. 

Dunciad,”  iv. 

Samia'sa.  A seraph,  who  fell  in  love 
with  Aholiba'mah,  a grand -daughter  of 
Cain,  and  when  the  flood  came,  carried 
her  under  his  wing  to  some  other  planet. 
—Byron,  Heaven  and  Earth.'* 

Sa'miel,  the  Black  Huntsman  of  the 
Wolf’s  Glen.  Asatanic  spirit,  who  gave 
to  a marksman  who  entered  into  com- 
pact with  him  seven  balls,  six  of  which 
were  to  hit  infallibly  whatever  was  aimed 
at,  but  the  seventh  was  to  deceive.  The 
person  who  made  this  compact  was 
termed  Der  Frei'schutz.  — Weber,  T)er 
Freischutz*’  (an  opera). 

Sa'miel-wind,  or  Simoom^  A hot 
suffocating  wind,  that  blows  occasionally 
in  Africa  and  Arabia.  (Arabic,  samma, 
suffocatingly  hot. ) 

Burning  and  headlong  as  the  Sami  el  wind. 

Thomas  IJoore,  “ Lulla  Mookh,"  pt.  i. 

Samoor.  The  south  wind  of  Persia., 
which  so  softens  the  strings  of  lutes,  that 
they  can  never  be  tuned  while  it  lasts.— 
Stephen,  Persia.** 

hike  the  wind  of  the  south  o’er  a summer  lute 
blowing. 

Hushed  all  its  music,  and  withered  its  frame. 

Thomas  Moore.  “ The  Fire  Worshippers,” 


Samp'son.  A dominie  Sampson.  A 
humble  pedantic  scholar,  awkward, 
irascible,  and  very  old-fashioned.  The 
character  occurs  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s 

Guy  Mannering.” 

Samosa'tian  Philosopher.  Lucian 
of  Samos'ata.  (Properly,  Samos' a- tian.) 

Samson.  Any  man  of  unusual 
strength;  so  called  from  the  judge  of 
Israel. 

The  British  Samson.  Thomas  Topham, 
son  of  a London  carpenter.  He  lifted 
three  hogsheads  of  water,  weighing  1,836 
pounds,  in  the  presence  of  thousands  of 
spectators  assembled  in  Bath  Street, 
Cold  Bath  Fields,  May  28th,  1741.  Being 
plagued  by  a faithless  woman,  he  put  an 
end  to  his  life  in  the  flower  of  his  age. 
(1710-1753?) 

Samson  Carrasco. — Don  Quixote,**  pt. 
ii.  bk.  i.  ch.  4. 

San  Chris'tobal.  A mountain  in 
Grana'da,  seen  by  ships  arriving  from  the 
African  coast ; so  called  because  colossal 
images  of  St.  Christopher  were  erected  in 
places  of  danger,  from  the  superstitious 
notion  that  whoever  cast  his  eye  on  the 
gigantic  saint  would  be  free  from  peril 
for  the  whole  day. 

San  Suen'a.  Zaragoza. 

Sance-bell.  Same  as  Sanctus- 
bell.”  (See  Sacring-bell.) 

San'cha.  Daughter  of  Garcias,  king 
of  Navarre,  and  wife  of  Fernan  Gonsa'lez 
of  Castile.  She  twice  saved  the  life  of 
the  count  her  husband— once  on  his 
road  to  Navarre,  being  waylaid  by  per- 
sonal enemies  and  cast  into  a dungeon, 
she  liberated  him  by  bribing  the  gaoler. 
The  next  time  was  when  Fenian  was 
waylaid  and  held  prisoner  at  Leon.  On 
this  occasion  she  effected  his  escape 
by  changing  clothes  with  him.  The 
tale  resembles  that  of  the  countess  of 
Nithsdale,  who  effected  the  escape  of 
her  husband  from  the  Tower  on  the 
23rd  of  February,  1715  ; and  that  of  the 
countess  de  Lavalette,  who,  in  1815, 
liberated  the  count  her  husband  from 
prison  by  changing  clothes  with  him. 

Sancho  Panza,  the  squire  of  Don 
Quixote,  was  governor  of  Barata'ria,  ac- 
cording to  Cervantes.  He  is  described 
as  a short,  pot-bellied  rustic,  full  of  com- 
mon sense,  but  without  a grain  of  ‘'spi- 
rituality.” He  rode  upon  an  ass,  and 
was  especially  famous  for  his  proverbs. 


SANCHONIATHO. 


SAND-BLIND. 


785 


A Sancho  Panza.  A justice  of  the 
peace.  In  French  a “juge  de  paix.” 
In  allusion  to  the  wise  judgments  of  the 
squire  in  the  isle  of  Barata'ria. 

Sanclio  Panza' s ass.  Dapple. 

Sancho's  Panza' s wife.  Teresa  {q.v.). 

Sancho.  The  model  painting  of  this 
squire  is  Leslie’s  Sancho  and  the 
Duchess.” 

Sanchonia'tlio.  A forgery  of  the 
nine  books  of  this  author”  was  printed 
at  Bremen  in  1837.  The  original  ” was 
said  to  have  been  discovered  in  the  con- 
vent of  St.  Maria  de  Merinhao  by  colonel 
Pereira,  a Portuguese  ; but  it  was  soon 
discovered  (Ij  that  no  such  convent  ex- 
isted, (2)  that  there  was  no  colonel  in 
the  Portuguese  service  of  the  name,  and 
(3)  that  the  paper  of  the  MS.  displayed 
the  water-mark  of  an  Osnabriick  paper- 
mill.  {See  Kichard  of  Cirencester.) 

Sanctum  Sancto'rum.  A private 
room  into  which  no  one  uninvited  enters. 
The  reference  is  to  the  Holy  of  Holies 
in  the  Jewish  Temple,  a small  chamber 
into  which  none  but  the  high  priest  might 
enter,  and  that  only  on  the  great  day  of 
atonement.  A man’s  private  house  is 
his  sanctuary ; his  own  special  private 
room  in  that  house  is  the  sanctuary  of 
the  sanctuary,  or  the  sanctum  sancto'rum. 

Sancy'  Diamond.  So  called  from 
Nicholas  de  Harlay,  sieur  de  Sancy,  who 
bought  it  for  70,000  francs  (£2,800)  of 
don  Antonio,  prince  of  Crato  and  king 
of  Portugal  in  partihus.  It  belonged  at 
one  time  to  Charles  the  Bold  of  Burgundy, 
who  wore  it  with  other  diamonds  at  the 
battle  of  Granson,  in  1476;  and  after  his 
defeat  it  was  picked  up  by  a Swiss  sol- 
dier, who  sold  it  for  a gulden  to  a clergy- 
man. The  clergyman  sold  it  sixteen 
years  afterwards  (1492)  to  a merchant 
of  Lucerne  for  5,000  ducats  (£1,125). 
It  was  next  purchased  (1495)  by  Em- 
manuel the  Fortunate  of  Portugal,  and 
remained  in  the  house  of  Aviz  till  the 
kingdom  was  annexed  to  Spain  (1580), 
when  don  Antonio  sold  it  to  sieur  de 
Sancy,  in  whose  family  it  remained  more 
than  a century.  On  one  occasion  the  sieur, 
being  desirous  of  aiding  Henri  IV.  in 
his  struggle  for  the  crown,  pledged  the 
diamond  to  the  Jews  at  Metz.  The 
servant  entrusted  with  it,  being  attacked 
by  robbers,  swallowed  the  diamond,  and 
was  murdered,  but  Nicholas  de  Harlay 
subsequently  recovered  the  diamond  out 


of  the  dead  body  of  his  unfortunate  mes- 
senger. We  next  find  it  in  the  posses- 
sion of  James  II.,  who  purchased  it  for 
the  crown  of  England.  James  carried 
it  with  him  in  his  flight  to  France 
in  1688,  when  it  was  sold  to  Louis 
XIV.  for  £25,000.  Louis  XV.  wore  it 
at  his  coronation,  but  during  the  Kevo- 
lution  it  was  again  sold.  Napoleon  in 
his  high  and  palmy  days  bought  it,  but 
it  was  sold  in  1835  to  prince  Paul 
Demidoff  for  £80,000.  The  prince  sold 
it  in  1830  to  M.  Levrat,  administrator  of 
the  Mining  Society,  who  was  to  pay  for  it 
in  four  instalments ; but  his  failing  to 
fulfil  his  engagement  became,  in  1831^ 
the  subject  of  a lawsuit,  which  was  given 
in  favour  of  the  prince.  We  next  hear 
of  it  in  Bombay ; and  in  1867  it  was  trans- 
mitted to  England  by  the  firm  of  Forbes 
and  Co. 

Sand.  My  sand  of  life  is  almost  run 
The  allusion  is  to  the  hour-glass. 

Alas ! dread  lord,  you  see  the  case  -wherein  I stand, 
and  how  litt'e  sand  is  left  to  run  in  my  poor  glass.— 

Meynard  the  Foxp  iv. 

To  number  sands.  To  undertake  an 
endless  or  impossible  task. 

Alas!  poor  duke,  the  task  he  undertakes 

Is  numbering  sands  and  drinking  oceans  dry. 

Shakespeare,  ^'‘Richard  II.,”  ii.  2. 

Footprints  in  the  sands  of  Time  (Long- 
fellow, Psalm  of  Life”).  This  beau- 
tiful expression  was  probably  suggested 
by  a letter  of  the  First  Napoleon  to  his 
Minister  of  the  Interior  respecting  the 
poor  laws  : — ^^It  is  melancholy  [he  says] 
to  see  time  passing  away  without  being 
put  to  its  full  value.  Surely  in  a matter 
of  this  kind  we  should  endeavour  to  do 
something,  that  we  may  say  that  we 
have  lived,  that  we  have  not  lived  in 
vain,  that  we  may  leave  some  impress  of 
our  lives  on  the  sands  of  Time.” 

Sand  (George).  The  nom-de-plume 
of  Madame  Dudevant,  a French  authoress. 
This  name  was  assumed  out  of  attach- 
ment to  Jules  Sand  or  Sandeau,  a young 
student,  in  conjunction  with  whom  she 
published  her  first  novel  under  the  name 
of Jules  Sand.”  (1804-*.) 

Sand-banks.  Wynants,  a Dutch 
artist,  is  famous  for  his  homely  pictures, 
where  sand-banks  form  a most  striking 
feature. 

Sand-blind.  Virtually  blind,  but 
not  wholly  so  ; what  the  French  call  her- 
lue ; our  purblind.  (Saxon,  sinblvid, 

y Y 


7S6 


SANDABAE. 


SANGREAL. 


very  blind  ; or  Old  High  German,  sandy 
virtually. ) It  is  only  fit  for  a Laiincelot 
Gobbo  to  derive  it  from  sand,  a sort  of 
earth. 

This  is  my  true-hegotten  father,  who,  being  more 
than  sand-blind,  high-gravel  blind,  knows  me  not. 
—Shakespeare,  Merchant  of  Venice,*  ii.  2. 

San'dabar.  An  Arabian  writer,  cele- 
brated for  his  Parables.”  He  lived 
about  a century  before  the  Christian  era. 

Sandal.  A man  without  sandals.  A 
prodigal ; so  called  by  the  ancient  Jews, 
because  the  seller  gave  his  sandals  to  the 
buyer  as  a ratification  of  his  bargain. 
(Ruth  iv.  7.) 

Sandal-wood.  A corruption  of 
Santal-wood,  a plant  of  the  genus  San'- 
tatum  and  natural  order  Santala'cece. 

SandaPplion.  One  of  the  three 
angels  who  receive  the  prayers  of  the 
Israelites,  and  weave  crowns  for  them. — 
Longfellow. 

Sand'en  {sandy-den).  The  great 
palace  of  king  Lion,  in  the  tale  of 
‘^Reynard  the  Fox.” 

Sandford  and  Merton.  Thomas 
Day’s  tale  so  called. 

Sandjar.  One  of  the  Seljuke  Sultans 
of  Persia  ; so  called  from  the  place  of  his 
birth,  and  generally  considered  the  Per- 
sian Alexander.  (1117-1158.) 

Sands  eh.  aki  or  Sandschaki-sherif 
(the  standard  of  green  silk).  The  sacred 
banner  of  the  Mussulmans.  It  is  now 
enveloped  in  four  coverings  of  green 
taffeta,  enclosed  in  a ease  of  green  cloth. 
The  standard  is  twelve  feet  high,  and  the 
golden  ornament  (a  closed  hand)  which 
surmounts  it  holds  a copy  of  the  Koran 
written  by  the  calif  Osman  III.  In  times 
of  peace  this  banner  is  guarded  in  the 
hall  of  the  noble  vestment,”  as  the 
dress  worn  by  ^Hhe  prophet”  is  styled. 
In  the  same  hall  are  preserved  the  sacred 
teeth,  the  holy  beard,  the  sacred  stirrup, 
the  sabre,  and  the  bow  of  Mahomet. 

Sandwicb.  A piece  of  meat  be- 
tween two  slices  of  bread ; so  called 
from  the  earl  of  Sandwich  (the  noted 
“Jemmy  Twitcher”)?  who  passed  whole 
days  in  gambling,  bidding  the  waiter 
bring  him  for  refreshment  a piece  of  meat 
between  two  pieces  of  bread,  which  he 
ate  without  stopping  from  play.  This 
contrivance  was  not  first  hit  upon  by  the 


earl  in  the  reign  of  George  III.,  as  the 
Romans  were  very  fond  of  “ sandwiches,” 
called  by  them  offula. 

A Sandivich.  A perambulating  ad- 
vertisement displayer ; so  called  be- 
cause he  has  a placarded  board  before 
and  behind,  between  which  he  is  en- 
closed like  meat  in  a sandwich. 

The  earl  of  Shaftesbury  desired  to  say  a -word  on 
behalf  of  a very  respectable  body  of  men,  ordinarily 
called  “sandwiches.”— 2'/ie  Times,  March  16th.  1867. 

Sang  Bleu.  Of  high  aristocratic 
descent.  The  words  are  French,  and 
mean  blue  blood,  but  the  notion  is 
Spanish.  The  old  families  of  Spain  who 
trace  their  pedigree  beyond  the  time  of 
the  Moorish  conquest  say  that  their 
venous  blood  is  blue,  but  that  of  com- 
mon people  is  black. 

Sangaree.'  A West  Indian  drink 
consisting  of  Madeira  wine,  syrup,  water, 
and  nutmeg. 

San'glamore  (3  syl.).  Braggado- 
chio’s  sword. — Spenser,  ^‘Faery  Queen.'" 

San'glier  {Sir').  Meant  for  Shan 
O’Neil,  leader  of  the  Irish  insurgents 
in  1567. — Spenser,  Faery  Queen,"  v. 

Sfbnglier  des  Ardennes.  Guillaume 
de  la  Marck,  driven  from  Lihge  for  the 
murder  of  the  bishop  of  Liege,  and  be- 
headed by  the  archduke  Maximilian. 
(1446-1485.) 

Sangra'do  (-Or.),  in  the  romance  of 
“Gil  Bias,”  prescribes  depletion  and 
bleeding  for  every  ailment.  The  charac- 
ter is  a satire  on  Helvetius. 

If  the  Sangra'dos  were  ignorant,  there  was  at  any 
rate  more  to  spare  in  the  veins  then  i han  there  is 
now.— Daiify  Telegraph. 

Sangreal.  The  vessel  from  which 
our  Saviour  drank  at  the  Last  Supper, 
and  which  (as  it  is  said)  was  afterwards 
filled  by  Joseph  of  Arimathe'a  with  the 
blood  that  flowed  from  his  wounds.  This 
blood  was  reported  to  have  the  power  of 
prolonging  life  and  preserving  chastity. 
The  quest  of  this  cup  forms  the  most 
fertile  source  of  adventures  to  the  knights 
of  the  Round  Table.  The  story  of  the 
Sangreal  or  Sangraal  was  first  written 
in  verse  by  Chrestien  de  Troyes  (end  of 
the  tenth  century),  thence  Latinised 
(thirteenth  century),  and  finally  turned 
into  French  prose  by  Gautier  Map,  by 
“order  of  lord  Henry”  (Henry  III.) 
It  commences  with  the  genealogy  of  our 
Saviour,  and  detaik  the  whole  Gospel 


SANJAR-lSHERTlr. 


SANSLOY. 


787 


history;  but  the  prose  romance  begins 
with  Joseph  of  Arimathe'a.  Its  quest 
is  continued  in  ^‘Percival,”  a romance 
of  the  fifteenth  century,  which  gives 
the  adventures  of  a young  Welshman, 
raw  and  inexperienced,  but  admitted 
to  knighthood.  At  his  death  the  san- 
greal,  the  sacred  lance,  and  the  silver 
trencher  were  carried  up  to  heaven  in 
the  presence  of  attendants,  and  have 
never  since  been  seen  on  earth. 

Greal  is  either  the  old  French  grasal  (a 
cup),  or  the  Latin  sanguis  redlis. 

Sanjak-sherif.  The  flag  of  the 
prophet.  (Turkish,  sanjah^  a standard.) 

San'hedriin.  The  great  council  of 
seventy  elders  among  the  Jews,  which 
heard  appeals  from  the  inferior  courts. 
(Greek,  sunedrion,  a sitting  together.) 

Sanhedrim,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  ‘^Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  stands  for  the 
British  Parliament.  The  Jewish  San- 
hedrim, before  the  captivity,  was  a sort 
of  senate  convened  to  assist  Moses  in  the 
government ; after  the  captivity  it  seems 
to  have  been  a permanent  consistory 
court.  The  president  was  called  Han- 
na'see”  or  prince,  and  the  vice-president 
‘^Abba”  (Father).  The  seventy  sat  in 
a semi-circle,  thirty-five  on  each  side  of 
the  president;  the  ‘^father”  being  on 
his  right  hand,  and  the  ^^hacan,’*  or 
sub-deputy,  on  his  left. 

The  Sanhedrim  long  time  as  chief  he  ruled, 

Their  reason  guided,  and  their  passion  cooled. 

Sans  Culottes  (French,  loithout 
trousers).  A name  given  by  the  aristo- 
cratic section  during  the  French  Revolu- 
tion to  the  popular  party,  the  favourite 
leader  of  which  was  Henriot.  (1793.) 

Sans  Culottides.  The  five  com- 
plementary days  added  to  the  twelve 
months  of  the  Revolutionary  Calendar. 
Each  month  being  made  to  consist  of 
thirty  days,  the  riff-raff  days  which 
would  not  conform  to  the  law  were  named 
in  honour  of  the  sans  culottes,  and  made 
idle  days  or  holidays. 

Sans  Peur  et  Sans  Peproche. 
Pierre  du  Terrail,  chevalier  de  Bayard, 
who  was  slain  in  1524,  was  called  ^ Le 
chevalier  sans  peur  et  sans  reproche.” 
(1476-1524.) 

Sans  Souei  {French).  Free  and 
easy,  void  of  care.  There  is  a place  so 
called  near  Potsdam,  where  the  king  of 
Prussia  has  a palace. 


Enfans  Sans  Souci.  The  Tradesmen’s 
company  of  actors,  as  opposed  to  the  Law- 
yer’s, called  Basochians”  {q.v.').  This 
company  was  organised  in  France  in  the 
reign  of  CharlesVIII.,  for  the  performance 
of  short  comedies,  in  which  public  charac- 
ters and  the  manners  of  the  day  were 
turned  into  ridicule.  The  manager  of 
the  Care-for-nothings”  [saois  souci)  was 
called  “ The  Prince  of  Fools.”  One  of 
their  dramatic  pieces,  entitled  Master 
Pierre  Pathelin,”  was  an  immense  fa- 
vourite with  the  Parisians. 

Sansca'ra.  The  ten  essential  rites 
of  Hindus  of  the  first  three  castes : (1) 
At  the  conception  of  a child;  (2)  at  the 
quickening ; (3)  at  birth ; (4)  at  naming ; 
(5)  carrying  the  child  out  to  see  the 
moon ; (6)  giving  him  food  to  eat ; (7) 
the  ceremony  of  tonsure  ; (8)  investiture 
with  the  string ; (9)  the  close  of  his 
studies;  (10)  the  ceremony  of  ‘^mar- 
riage,” when  he  is  qualified  to  perform 
the  sacrifices  ordained. 

^din^foy(Infidelity').  A Saracen  “ who 
cared  for  neither  God  nor  man,”  en- 
countered by  St.  George  and  slain. — 
Spenser,  Faery  Queen,''  bk,  i. 

Sansjoy  {Without  the  peace  of  God). 
Brother  of  Sansfoy  {Inhdelity)  and  Sans- 
loy  {Without  the  law  of  God).  He  is  a 
paynim  knight,  who  fights  with  St. 
George  in  the  palace  grounds  of  Pride, 
and  would  have  been  slain  if  Duessa  had 
not  rescued  him.  He  is  carried  in  the 
car  of  Night  to  the  Infernal  regions, 
where  he  is  healed  of  his  wounds  by 
Escula'pius.—  Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen," 
bk.  i. 

Sansloy  {Irreligion),  brother  of  Sans- 
foy {q.v. ).  Having  torn  off  the  disguise  of 
Archima'go  and  wounded  the  lion,  he 
carries  off  Una  into  the  wilderness.  Her 
shrieks  arouse  the  fauns  and  satyrs, 
who  come  to  her  rescue,  and  Sansloy 
flees.  Una  is  Truth,  and  being  without 
Holiness  (the  Red-cross  Knight),  is  de- 
ceived by  Hypocrisy.  As  soon  as  Truth 
joins  Hypocrisy,  instead  of  Holiness, 
Irreligion  breaks  in  and  carries  her  away. 
The  reference  is  to  the  reign  of  queen 
Mary,  when  the  Reformation  was  earried 
captive,  and  the  lion  was  wounded  to 
the  heart  by  the  “ False-law  of  God.” — 
Spenser,  ^^Fwery  Queen f bk.  i. 

In  bk.  ii.,  San.sloy  appears  again  as  the 
cavalier  of  Perissa  or  Prodigality. 

Y Y 3 


788 


SANSONETTO. 


SARDONYX. 


Sansonetto  (in  '^Orlando  Furioso”). 
A Christian  regent  of  Mecca,  vicegerent 
of  Charlemagne. 

SantaCasa  (Italian,  holy  house). 
The  reputed  house  in  which  the  Virgin 
Mary  lived  at  Nazareth,  miraculously 
translated  to  Fiume,  in  Dalmatia,  in 
1291,  and  thence  to  Recana'ti  in  1294, 
and  finally  to  Macera'ta,  in  Italy,  to  a 
piece  of  land  belonging  to  the  lady 
Laureta. 

Santa  Klaus  (1  syl.).  The  Dutch 
name  of  St.  Nicholas.  Just  before 
Christmas  the  children  of  Flanders,  Hol- 
land, and  several  parts  of  Germany,  put 
out  their  shoe  or  stocking  for  Santa 
Klaus  or  Knecht  Clobes  to  put  a gift 
therein  before  morning,  as  a prize  of 
good  conduct. 

Sappho  of  Toulouse.  Clemence 
Isaure  (2  syL),  a wealthy  lady  of  Tou- 
louse, who  instituted  in  1490  the  Jeux 
Floraux,”  and  left  funds  to  defray  their 
annual  expenses.  She  composed  a beau- 
tiful Ode  to  Spring.”  (1463-1513.) 

Sar'acens.  Ducange  derives  this 
word  from  Sarah  (Abraham’s  wife);  Hot- 
tinger  from  the  Arabic  saraca  (to  steal) ; 
Forster  from  sahra  (a  desert) ; but  pro- 
bably it  is  the  Arabic  sharakyoun  or 
sharkeyn(\ihQ  eastern  people),  as  opposed 
to  Mag'haribe  (the  western  people — i.e., 
of  Morocco). 

Sar'acen- wheat  (French,  BU-Sar- 
rasin).  Buck- wheat ; so  called  because  it 
was  brought  by  the  crusaders  from  the 
country  of  the  Saracens.  (See  Buck- 
wheat.) 

Saragoz'a.  The  Maid  of  Saragoza. 
Augustina,  who  was  only  twenty- two  years 
of  age  when,  her  lover  being  shot,  she 
mounted  the  battery  in  his  place.  The 
French,  after  besieging  the  town  for  two 
months,  were  obliged  to  retreat,  August 
15th,  1808. 

Sar'aswa'ti.  Wife  of  Brahma,  and 
goddess  of  the  fine  arts. — Hinda  mytho- 
logy. 

Sar^casm.  A flaying  or  plucking  off 
of  the  skin;  a cutting  taunt.  (Greek, 
sarkazo,  to  flay,  &c.) 

Sarce'net  (2  syl.).  A corruption  of- 
Saracennet,  from  its  Saracenic  or  Oriental 
origin, 


Sarcoph'agus.  A stone,  according 
to  Pliny,  which  consumed  the  flesh,  and 
was  therefore  chosen  by  the  ancients  for 
coffins.  It  is  called  sometimes  lapis 
Assius,  because  it  was  found  at  Assos  of 
Lycia. 

Sardanapalus.  King  of  Nineveh 
and  Assyria,  noted  for  his  luxury  and 
voluptuousness.  His  effeminacy  induced 
Arba'ces,  the  Mede,  to  conspire  against 
him.  Myrra,  an  Ionian  slave  and  his 
favourite  concubine,  roused  him  from  his 
lethargy,  and  induced  him  to  appear  at 
the  head  of  his  armies.  He  won  three 
successive  battles,  but  being  then  de- 
feated, he  was  induced  by  Myrra  to 
place  himself  on  a funeral  pile,  which 
she  herself  set  fire  to,  and  then  jumping 
into  the  flames,  perished  with  her  be- 
loved master.  (Died  B.o.  ^11.)— Byron, 

Sardanapalus 

A Sardanapalus.  Any  luxurious,  ex- 
travagant, self-willed  tyrant.  (See  above.) 

Sardanapalus  of  China.  Cheo-tsin, 
who  shut  himself  and  his  queen  in  his 
palace,  and  set  fire  to  the  building,  that 
be  might  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  Woo- 
wong,  who  founded  the  dynasty  of 
Tchow  (b.c.  1154-1122).  It  was*^  Cheo-tsin 
who  invented  the  chopsticks. 

Sardinian  Laugh.  Laughing  on 
the  wrong  side  of  one’s  mouth.  The  Edin- 
burgh Review  says : The  ancient  Sar- 
dinians used  to  get  rid  of  their  old  rela- 
tions by  throwing  them  into  deep  pits, 
and  the  sufferers  were  expected  to  feel 
delighted  at  this  attention  to  their  well- 
being.”— July,  1849. 

Sardon'ic  Smile,  Grin  or  Laugh- 
ter. A smile  of  contempt ; so  used  by 
Homer. 

The  Herha  Sardon'ia  (so  called  from 
Sardis,  in  Asia  Minor)  is  so  acrid  that  it 
produces  a convulsive  movement  of  the 
nerves  of  the  face,  resembling  a painful 
grin.  Byron  says  of  the  Corsair,  There 
ivas  a laughing  devil  in  his  sneer, 

’Tis  Envy’s  safest,  surest  rule 
To  hide  her  rage  in  ridicule; 

The  vulgar  eye  the  best  beguiles 

When  all  her  snakes  are  decked  with  smiles, 

Sardonic  smiles  by  rancour  raised. 

Swift,  “ Pheasant  and  Lark.*' 

Sar'donyx.  An  orange-brown  cor- 
nelian. Pliny  says  it  is  called  sard  from 
Sardis,  in  Asia  Minor,  where  it  is  found, 
and  onyx,  the  nail,  because  its  colour  re- 
sembles that  of  the  skin  under  the  nail 
(xxxvii.  6), 


SABPEDON. 


SATURNINE. 


789 


Sarpe'don.  A favourite  of  the  gods, 
who  assisted  Priam  when  Troy  was 
besieged  by  the  allied  Greeks.  When 
Achilles  refused  to  fight,  Sarpe'don  made 
great  havoc  in  battle,  but  was  slain  by 
Patroclos. — Homer,  Iliad'^ 

Sars'en  Stones.  The  ^^Druidical” 
sandstones  of  Wiltshire  and  Berkshire 
are  so  called.  The  early  Christian 
Saxons  used  the  word  Saresyn  as  a syno- 
nym of  pagan  or  heathen,  and  as  these 
stones  were  popularly  associated  with 
Druid  worship,  they  were  called  Saresyn 
or  heathen  stones.  Robert  Ricart  says 
of  duke  Rollo,  He  was  a Sarasyn  come 
out  of  Denmark  into  France.”  Another 
derivation  is  the.  Phoenician  sarsen  (a 
rock),  applied  to  any  huge  mass  drawn 
from  the  quarry  in  its  rude  state. 

***  These  boulders  are  no  more  con- 
nected with  the  Druids  than  Stonehenge 
is  {q.v,). 

Sash  is  tied  on  the  right  side  by  the 
British  cavalry,  and  on  the  left  by  the 
infantry. 

Sash  Window  is  sluice  window  ; a 
window  that  moves  up  and  down  like  a 
sluice.  (Dutch,  sas,  a sasse  or  sluice.) 

Sassan'ides  (4  syl.).  The  first  Per- 
sian dynasty  of  the  historic  period,  or 
seventh  including  the  mythic  period  ; so 
named  because  Ard'eshir,  the  founder, 
was  son  of  Sassan,  a lineal  descendant  of 
Xerxes. 

Sa'tan  in  Hebrew  means  enemy. 

To  whom  the  Arch-enemy, 

And  hence  in  heaven  called  Satan. 

Milton,  "Paradisi  Lost*’  bk.  i. 

Satanic.  The  Satanic  School.  So 
Southey  called  lord  Byron  and  his 
imitators,  who  set  at  defiance  the  gene- 
rally received  notions  of  religion.  Of 
English  writers,  Byron,  Shelley,  Moore, 
and  Bulwer  are  the  most  prominent ; of 
French  writers,  Rousseau,  Victor  Hugo, 
Paul  de  Kock,  and  George  Sand. 

Sat'ire  (2  syl.).  Scaliger’s  derivation  j 
of  this  word  from  satyr  is  untenable.  It  | 
is  from  sat'nra  (full  of  variety),  satura 
lanx,  a hotchpotch  or  olla  podrida.  As  I 
max'umus,  op'tumus,  &c.,  became  maxi-  \ 
mus,  optimus,  so  ‘^satura”  became  sat'ira.  I 
{See  Dryden’s  Dedication  prefixed  to  his 
“Satires.”) 

Father  of  Satire.  Archil'ochos  of 
Paros. 


Father  of  French  Satire.  Mathurin 
Regnier.  (1573-1613.) 

Father  of  Roman  Satire.  Lucilius. 
(B.c.  148-103.) 

Lucilius  was  the  man  who,  bravely  bold, 

To  Roman  vices  did  the  mirror  hold  ; 

Protected  humble  goodness  from  reproach ; 

Showed  worth  on  foot,  and  rascals  in  a coach. 

Dryden.  "‘Art  of  Poetry  " c.  ii. 

Saturday.  (*8ee Black.) 

Saturn  or  Kronos  {Time)  devoured 
all  his  children  except  Jupiter,  Neptune, 
and  Pluto.  Jupiter  means  air,  Neptune 
boater,  and  Pluto  the  grave.  These  Time 
cannot  consume. 

Saturn  is  a very  evil  planet  to  he  horn 
under.  “The  children  of  the  sayd 
Saturne  shall  be  great  jangeleres  and 
chyders  . . . and  they  will  never  forgyve 
tyll  they  be  revenged  of  theyr  quarell.” 
— “ Compost  of  Ptholomeus.'' 

Saturna'lia.  A time  of  licensed 
disorder  and  misrule.  With  the  Romans 
it  was  the  festival  of  Saturn,  and  was 
celebrated  the  17th,  18th,  and  19th  of 
December.  During  its  continuance  no 
public  business  could  be  transacted,  the 
law-courts  were  closed,  the  schools  kept 
holiday,  no  war  could  be  commenced, 
and  no  malefactor  punished.  Under  the 
empire,  the  festival  was  extended  to 
seven  days. 

Satur'nian  Days.  Days  of  dulness, 
when  everything  is  venal.  They  are 
lead  to  indicate  dulness,  and  gold  to 
indicate  venality. 

Then  rose  the  seed  of  Chaos  and  of  Night 

To  blot  out  order  and  extinguish  light, 

Of  dull  and  venal  a new  world  to  mould. 

And  bring  Saturnian  days  of  lead  and  gold, 
"Dunciad.”  iv. 

Satur'nian  Verses.  Old-fashioned. 
A rude  composition  employed  in  satire 
among  the  ancient  Romans.  Also  a 
peculiar  metre,  consisting  of  three  iam- 
bics and  a syllable  over,  joined  to  three 
trochees,  according  to  the  following  nur- 
sery metre : — 

The  queen  was  in  the  par-lour. 

Eating  bread  and  hon-ey. 

The  Fescennine  and  Saturnian  were  the  same ; for 
as  they  were  called  Saturnian  from  their  ancient- 
ness, when  Saturn  reigned  in  Italy,  they  were  called 
Fescennine  from  Fescennina  [sicj,  where  they  were 
first  practised.— Drydm,  Dedication  of  "Juvenal.” 

Sat'urnine  (3  syl.).  A grave,  phleg- 
matic disposition,  dull  and  heavy.  As- 
trologers affirm  that  such  is  the  dispo- 
sition of  those  who  are  born  under  the 
influence  of  the  planet  Saturn. 


790 


SATYR 


SAVOY, 


Sat'yr.  The  most  famous  represen- 
tation of  these  goat-men  is  that  of  Prax- 
it'eles,  a sculptor  of  Athens  in  the  fourth 
century  B.C. 

Sat'yrane  (3  syl.).  A blunt  but 
noble  knight  who  delivered  Una  from  the 
fauns  and  satyrs.  The  meaning  is  this  : 
Truth  being  driven  from  the  towns  and 
cities  took  refuge  in  caves  and  dens, 
where  for  a time  it  lay  concealed.  At 
length  Sir  Satyrane  (Luther)  rescues 
Una  from  bondage,  but  no  sooner  is  this 
the  case  than  she  falls  in  with  Archima'go, 
to  show  how  very  difficult  it  was  at  the 
Reformation  to  separate  Truth  from 
Error. — Spenser , Faery  Qiteen,”  bk.  i. 

Sauce  means  salted  food,”  for  giving 
a relish  to  meat,  as  pickled  roots,  herbs, 
and  so  on.  (Latin,  salsus.) 

The  sauce  was  better  than  the  fish.  The 
accessories  were  better  than  the  main 
part.  This  may  be  said  of  a book  in 
which  the  plates  and  getting  up  are 
better  than  the  matter  it  contains. 

To  serve  the  same  sauce.  To  retaliate ; 
to  give  as  good  as  you  take  ; to  serve  in 
the  same  manner. 

After  him  another  came  unto  her,  and  served  her 
with  the  same  sauce ; then  a tldxd...  ..—"’The  Manin 
the  Moon,”  &c.  (16a9). 

To  sauce.  To  intermix. 

Then  she  fell  to  sauce  her  desires  with  threatenings, 
Sidney. 

Folly  sauced  with  discretion. 

Shakespeare,*'TroUus  &nd  Cressida"  i.  2. 

What's  sauce  to  the  goose  is  sauce  to  the 
gander.  {See  Gander.) 

Saucy.  Rakish  ; irresistible  ; or  ra- 
ther that  care-for-nobody,  jaunty,  daring 
behaviour  which  has  won  for  many  of 
our  regiments  the  term  as  a compliment. 
It  is  also  applied  metaphorically  to  some 
inanimate  things,  as  saucy  waves” 
which  dare  attack  the  very  moon ; the 

saucy  world”  which  dares  defy  the 
very  gods;”  the  ‘'saucy  mountains,” 
“winds,”  and  so  on. 

Saul,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  “Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  is  meant  for  Oliver 
Cromwell.  As  Saul  persecuted  David 
and  drove ' him  from  Jerusalem,  so 
Cromwell  persecuted  Charles  II.  and 
drove  him  from  England. 

They  who,  when  Saul  was  dead,  without  a blow 
Made  foolish  Ishbosheth  [Richard  CromweW]  the 

crown  forego. 

Saul  among  the  prophets  ^ The  Jews 
said  of  our  Lord — “ How  knoweth  this 
man  letters,  having  never  learned?” 


(John  vii.  15.)  Similarly  at  the  conver- 
sion of  Saul,  afterwards  called-  Paul, 
the  Jews  said  in  substance,  “Is  it 
possible  that  Saul  can  be  a convert?” 
(Acts  ix.  21.)  The  proverb  applies 
to  a person  who  unexpectedly  shines 
in  a department  not  his  own.  Thus  it 
might  be  said  of  Richardson,  the  quiet 
bookseller,  never  known  to  be  a man  of 
genius  till  he  was  fifty,  “ Is  he  also  among 
the  prophets— has  he  also  become  noted 
as  a man  of  letters  ? (1  Sam.  x.  12.) 

Saunter.  A corruption  of  the  Latin 
words  Sancta  Terra  (the  Holy  Land). 
When  pilgrimages  and  crusades  were  in 
vogue,  idle  persons  used  to  loiter  about, 
and  wander  lazily  from  place  to  place, 
under  pretence  that  they  were  going  to 
take  the  cross  or  start  for  the  Holy  Land. 
Hence  sancta-terra-ing  or  sancte-terre-ing. 

Sav'age  (2  syl.).  One  who  lives  in  a 
wood  (Greek,  hule,  a forest;  Latin,  silva; 
French,  sylvage;  Spanish,  salvage;  Italian, 
selvaggio;  French,  sauvage). 

Save  the  Mark.  In  archery,  when 
an  archer  shot  well  it  was  customary  to 
cry  out  “ God  save  the  mark!  "—i.e,,  pre- 
vent any  one  coming  after  to  hit  the 
same  mark  and  displace  my  arrow. 
Ironically  it  is  said  to  a novice  whose 
arrow  is  nowhere.  • , 

God  save  the  maricl  (“1  Henry  IV.,”  ‘ 
i.  3).  Hotspur,  apologising  to  the  king 
for  not  sending  the  prisoners  according 
to  command,  says  the  messenger  was 
a “popinjay,”  who  made  him  mad 
with  his  unmanly  ways,  and  who  talked 
“ like  a waiting  gentlewoman  of  guns, 
drums,  and  wounds  (God  save  the  mark !)” 
— meaning  that  he  himself  had  been  in 
the  brunt  of  battle,  and  it  would  be  sad 
indeed  if  “his  mark”  was  displaced  by 
this  court  butterfly.  The  whole  scope 
of  the  speech  is  lost  sight  of  by  the  or- 
dinary interpretation — “ May  the  scars 
of  my  wounds  never  be  effaced  ” (God 
save  my  scars). 

Savoy  {The).  A precinct  of  the 
Strand,  London,  noted  for  the  palace  of 
Savoy,  originally  the  seat  of  Peter,  earl 
of  Savoy,  who  came  to  England  to  visit 
his  niece  Eleanor,  wife  of  Henry  III.  At 
the  death  of  the  earl,  the  house  became 
the  property  of  the  queen,  who  gave  it 
to  her  second  son,  Edmund  (earl  of  Lan- 
caster), and  from  this  period  it  was  at- 
tached to  the  duchy  of  Lancaster.  When 
the  Black  Prince  brought  Jean  le  Bon, 


SAW 


SAXON  SHOES. 


791 


king  of  France,  captive  to  London  (1356), 
he  lodged  him  in  the  Savoy  Palace,  where 
he  remained  till  1359,  when  he  was  re- 
moved to  Somerton  Castle,  in  Lincoln- 
shire. In  1360  he  was  lodged  in  the 
Tower;  but,  two  months  afterwards,  was 
allowed  to  return  to  France  on  certain 
conditions.  These  conditions  being  vio- 
lated by  the  royal  hostages,  Jean  volun- 
tarily returned  to  London,  and  had  his 
old  quarters  again  assigned  to  him,  and 
died  in  1364.  The  rebels  under  Wat 
Tyler  burnt  down  the  old  palace  in  1381 ; 
but  it  was  rebuilt  in  1505  by  Henry 
VII.,  and  converted  into  a hospital  for 
the  poor,  under  the  name  of  St.  John’s 
Hospital,  Charles  II.  used  it  for  wounded 
soldiers  and  sailors.  St.  Maryle  Savoy  or 
the  Chapel  of  St.  John  still  stands  in  the 
precinct,  and  has  recently  been  restored. 

N.B. — Here,  in  1552,  was  established 
the  first  flint-glass  manufactory. 

Saw.  In  Christian  art  an  attribute 
of  St.  Simon  and  St.  James  the  Less,  in 
allusion  to  the  tradition  of  their  being 
sawn  to  death  in  martyrdom. 

Sawny  or  Sandy.  A Scotchman  ; a 
contraction  of  Alexander,”  a very 
favourite  Scotch  name.  Brother  Jona- 
than, John  Bull,  Taffy  or  David,  Pat,  &c., 
are  similar  examples  of  national  nick- 
names. 

Saxon  Castles. 

Alnwick  castle,  given  to  Ivo  de  Vescy 
by  the  Conqueror. 

Bamborough  castle  (Northumberland), 
the  palace  of  the  kings  of  Northumber- 
land, and  built  by  king  Ida,  who  began 
to  reign  559  ; now  converted  into  charity- 
schools  and  .signal-stations. 

Carisbrook  castle,  enlarged  by  Fitz- 
Osborne,  five  centuries  later. 

Conisborough  castle  (York). 

Goodrich  castle  (Herefordshire). 

Kenilworth  castle,  built  by  Kenelm, 
king  of  Mercia.  Kenil-worth  means 
Kenhelm’s  dwelling. 

Eichmond  castle  (York),  belonging  to 
the  Saxon  earl  Edwin,  given  by  the  Con- 
queror to  his  nephew  Alan,  earl  of  Bre- 
tagne ; a ruin  for  three  centuries.  The 
keep  remains. 

Eochester  castle,  given  to  Odo,  natural 
brother  of  the  Conqueror. 

Saxon  Characteristics  (architec- 
tural). 

(1)  The  quoining  consists  of  a long 


stone  set  at  the  corner,  and  a short 
one  lying  on  it  and  bounding  into  the 
wall. 

(2)  The  use  of  large  heavy  blocks  of 
stone  in  some  parts,  while  the  rest  is 
built  of  Eoman  bricks. 

(3)  An  arch  with  straight  sides  to  the 
upper  part  instead  of  curves. 

(4)  The  absence  of  buttresses. 

(5)  The  use  in  windows  of  rude  ba- 
lusters. 

(6)  A rude  round  staircase  west  of  the 
tower,  for  the  purpose  of  access  to  the 
upper  floors. 

(7)  Eude  carvings  in  imitation  of 
Eoman  ^ovk.— Rickman. 

Saxon  Duke  (m^^Hudibras”).  John 
Frederick,  duke  of  Saxony,  a very  cor- 
pulent man.  When  taken  prisoner, 
Charles  V.  said,  ‘^I  have  gone  hunting 
many  a time,  but  never  saw  I such  a 
swine  before.” 

Saxon  Kelics. 

The  church  of  Earl’s  Barton  (North- 
amptonshire). The  tower  and  west 
doorway. 

The  church  of  St.  Michael’s  (St. 
Albans),  erected  by  the  abbot  of  St. 
Albans  in  948. 

The  tower  of  Bosham  church  (Sussex). 

The  east  side  of  the  dark  and  principal 
cloisters  of  Westminster  Abbey,  from 
the  college  dormitory  on  the  south  to 
the  chapter-house  on  the  north.  Edward 
the  confessor’s  chapel  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  now  used  as  the  Pix  office. 

The  church  of  Parent  (Kent)  con- 
tains some  windows  of  manifest  Saxon 
architecture. 

With  many  others,  some  of  which  are 
rather  doubtful. 


Saxon  Shore.  The  coast  of  Nor- 
folk, Suffolk,  Essex,  Kent,  Sussex,  and 
Hampshire,  where  were  castles  and 
garrisons,  under  the  charge  of  a count 
or  military  officer,  called  Comes  Littoris 
Saxonici  'per  Britanniam. 


On  the  Norfolk  coast  was 
„ Suffolk 
„ Essex  M 

„ Kent  c 


„ Sussex 
„ Hampshire 


fort  Branodunum  (Bran- 
caster). 

Gari anno  num 
(Burgh). 

Othona  (Ithanches* 
ter). 

Regulbium  (Recul- 
ver), Ritupos 
(Richborough), 
Bubrce  (Dover), 
Ijemanse  (li.vmue) 

Anderida  (Hastings 
or  Pevensey). 

Portus  Adurnus 
(Portsmouth). 


792 


SAY. 


SCAPE-GOAl'. 


Say.  To  take  the  say.  To  taste  meat 
or  wine  before  it  is  presented,  in  order  to 
prove  that  it  is  not  poisoned.  The  phrase 
was  common  in  the  reign  of  queen  Eliza- 
beth. 

Nor  deem  it  meet  that  you  to  him  convey 
The  proflFered  bowl,  unless  you  taste  the  say. 

Rose,  “ Orlando  Furioso*’  xxi.  61. 

Sbirri  {Italian).  A police-force  which 
existed  in  the  Pope’s  dominions.  They 
were  domiciled  in  private  houses. 

He  points  them  out  to  his  shirri  and  armed  ruf- 
fians.— The  Daily  Telegraph. 

{left-handed).  So  Caius  Mu- 
cins was  called,  because,  when  he  en- 
tered the  camp  of  Porsenna  as  a spy, 
and  was  taken  before  the  king,  he  deli- 
berately held  his  hand  over  a lamp  till 
it  was  burnt  off,  to  show  the  Etruscan 
that  he  would  not  shrink  from  torture. 

Seagliola.  Imitation  marble,  like 
the  pillars  of  the  Pantheon,  London. 
The  word  is  from  the  Italian  scdglia, 
the  dust  and  chips  of  marble ; it  is  so 
called  because  the  substance  (which  is 
gypsum  and  Flanders  glue)  is  studded 
with  chips  and  dust  of  marble. 

Scales.  The  Koran  says,  at  the  judg- 
ment day  every  one  will  be  weighed  in 
the  scales  of  the  archangel  Gabriel. 
His  good  deeds  will  be  put  in  the  scale 
called  ‘-Light,”  and  his  evil  ones  in  the 
scale  called  “Darkness;”  after  which 
they  will  have  to  cross  the  bridge  A1 
Ser^t,  not  wider  than  the  edge  of  a 
scimetar.  The  faithful  will  pass  over  in 
safety,  but  the  rest  will  fall  into  the 
dreary  realms  of  Jehennam. 

Scallop  Shell.  Emblem  of  St. 
James  of  Compostella,  adopted,  says 
Erasmus,  because  the  shore  of  the  ad- 
jacent sea  abounds  in  them.  Pilgrims 
used  them  for  cup,  spoon,  and  dish, 
hence  the  punning  crest  of  the  Disington 
family  is  a scallop  shell.  On  returning 
home,  the  pilgrim  placed  his  scallop 
shell  in  his  hat  to  command  admiration, 
and  adopted  it  in  his  coat-armour. 

I will  give  thee  a palmer’s  statF  of  ivory  and  a 
scallop  shell  of  beaten  gold.— “ The  Old  Wives  Tale.*' 
(1596.) 

Scalloped  {scollopt).  Having  an  edge 
like  that  of  a scallop  shell. 

Scammoz'zPs  Rule.  The  jointed 
two-foot  rule  used  by  builders,  and  in- 
vented by  Vincent  Scammozzi,  the  fa- 
mous Italian  architect.  (1540-1609.) 


Scamp  {qui  exit  ex  campo').  A de- 
serter from  the  field ; one  who  decamps 
without  paying  his  debts.  S privative 
and  camp,  {See  Snob.) 

Scandal  means  properly  a pitfall  or 
snare  laid  for  an  enemy ; hence  a stum- 
bling-block, and  morally  an  aspersion. 
(Greek,  skan'dalon.) 

We  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a 
[scandalj.— 1 Cor.  i.  23. 

The  Hill  of  Scandal.  So  Milton  calls 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  because  Solomon 
built  thereon  “ an  high  place  for  Che- 
mosh,  the  abomination  of  Moab ; and  for 
Moloch,  the  abomination  of  the  children 
of  Ammon  ” (1  Kings  xi.  7). 

Scan'dalum  Magna'tum  {scandal 
of  the  magnates).  Words  in  derogation 
of  peers,  judges,  and  other  great  officers 
of  the  realm.  Whao  St,  Paul  calls  “talk- 
ing evil  of  dignities.’ 

Scanderbag’s  Sword  must  have 
Seanderbag’s  Arm— 1.6.,  None  but 
Ulysses  can  draw  Ulysses’  bow.  Scan- 
derbag  is  a corruption  of  Iskander-beg 
(Alexander  the  Great),  not  the  Macedo- 
nian, but  George  Castriota,  prince  of  Al- 
bania, so  called  by  the  Turks.  Mahomet 
wanted  to  see  his  scimitar,  but  when 
presented  no  one  could  draw  it ; where- 
upon the  Turkish  emperor  sent  it  back 
as  an  imposition  ; but  Iskander-beg  re- 
plied, he  had  only  sent  his  majesty  the 
sword,  without  sending  the  arm  that 
drew  it.  (iS^ee  Kobin  Hood.  ) 

Scanderbeg.  A name  given  by  the 
Turks  to  George  Castriota,  the  patriot 
chief  of  Epi'rus.  The  word  is  a corrup- 
tion of  Iskander  hegt  prince  Alexander. 
(1414-1467.)  {See  above) 

Scandinavia.  Norway,  Sweden, 
and  Denmark.  Pliny  speaks  of  Scandia 
as  an  island. 

Scantling,  a small  quantity,  is  the 
French  echantillon,  a specimen  or  pattern. 

A scantling  of  viit,.—Dryden. 

Scape- Goat.  The  Biajhs  or  abori- 
gines of  Borneo  observe  a custom  bear- 
ing a considerable  resemblance  to  that 
of  the  Scape-goat.  They  annually  launch 
a small  bark,  laden  with  all  the  sins  and 
misfortunes  of  the  nation,  which,  says 
Dr.  Leyden,  “they  imagine  will  fall  on 
the  unhappy  crew  that  first  meets  with 
it.” 


SCAPHISM. 


SCENE-PAINTERS. 


793 


The  scapegoat  of  the  family.  One  made 
to  bear  the  blame  of  the  rest  of  the 
family ; one  always  chided  and  found 
fault  with,  let  who  may  be  in  fault. 
The  allusion  is  to  a Jewish  custom  : Two 
goats  being  brought  to  the  altar  of  the 
tabernacle  on  the  day  of  atonement, 
the  high  priest  cast  lots;  one  was /or  the 
Lordy  and  the  other  for  The 

goat  on  which  the  first  lot  fell  was  sacri- 
ficed, the  other  was  the  scape-goat ; and 
the  high  priest  having,  by  confession, 
transferred  his  own  sins  and  the  sins  of 
the  people  to  it,  the  goat  was  taken  to 
the  wilderness  and  suffered  to  escape. 

Seaph'ism.  Locking  up  a criminal 
in  the  trunk  of  a tree,  bored  through  so 
as  just  to  admit  the  body.  Five  holes 
were  made— one  for  the  head,  and  the 
others  for  the  hands  and  legs.  These 
parts  were  anointed  with  honey  to  invite 
the  wasps.  In  this  situation  the  crimi- 
nal would  linger  in  the  burning  sun  for 
several  days. 

Scapin.  A barber  of  Seville;”  a 
cunning,  knavish  rogue ; a valet  who 
makes  his  master  his  tool.  In  the  Italian 
stage  he  is  the  servant  of  Gratia'no,  a 
pedantic  prig  of  a doctor ; but  Moliere 
has  introduced  him  in  ‘^Les  Fourberies 
de  Scapin.” 

Scaramouch.  A braggart  and  fool, 
very  valiant  in  words,  but  a poltroon. 
According  to  Dyche,  the  word  is  the 
name  of  an  Italian  posture-master,  who 
came  to  England  in  1673,  and  astonished 
J ohn  Bull  with  feats  of  agility.  ( ? Italian, 
scaramiLCciOy  a skirmish.) 

Scarborough  Warning.  No 
warning  at  all.  In  Scarborough  robbers 
used  to  be  dealt  with  in  a very  summary 
manner,  by  a sort  of  Halifax  gibbet-law, 
Ljmch-law,  or  an  d la  lanterne.  Another 
origin  is  given  of  this  phrase  : It  is  said 
that  Thomas  Stafford,  in  the  reign  of 
queen  Mary,  seized  the  castle  of  Scar- 
borough, not  only  without  warning,  but 
even  before  the  townsfolk  knew  he  was 
afoot  (1557).  (.See  Gone  up.) 

This  term  Scarborrow  warning  grew,  some  say. 

By  hasty  hanging  for  rank  robbery  there. 

Who  that  was  met,  but  sus'pect  in  that  way. 

Straight  he  was  trust  up,  whatever  he  were. 

J.  Hey  wood. 

Scarlet  {Will).  One  of  the  com- 
panions of  Robin  Hood. 

Though  your  sins  he  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
he  as  white  as  snow  (Isa.  i.  18).  The 


allusion  is  to  the  scarlet  fillet  tied  round 
the  head  of  the  scape-goat.  Though 
your  sins  be  as  scarlet  as  the  fillet  on 
the  head  of  the  goat  to  which  the  high 
priest  has  transferred  the  sins  of  the 
whole  nation,  yet  shall  they  be  forgiven 
and  wiped  out. 

Scarlet  Woman.  Some  Protes- 
tants apply  the  words  to  the  Church  of 
Rome,  and  some  Romanists,  with  equal 
‘^good  taste,”  apply  them  to  London. 
Th^e  Book  of  Revelation  says,  “It  is 
that  great  city  which  reigneth  over  the 
kings  of  the  earth,”  and  terms  the  city 
“Babylon”  (ch.  xvii.). 

Scavenger’s  Daughter.  An  in- 
strument of  torture  invented  by  Sir 
William  Skevington,  lieutenant  of  the 
Tower  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  As 
Skevington  was  the  father  of  the  instru- 
ment, the  instrument  was  his  daughter. 

Sceatta.  Anglo-Saxon  for  “money,” 
or  a little  silver  coin. 

Scene-Painters,  The  most  cele- 
brated are — 

Inigo  Jones,  who  introduced  the  first 
appropriate  decorations  for  masques. 

D’Avenant,  who  produced  perspective 
scenes  in  1656,  for  “ The  Siege  of 
Rhodes.” 

Betterton  was  the  first  to  improve  the 
scenic  effects  in  “Dorset  Gardens;”  his 
artist  was  Streater. 

J ohn  Rich  may  be  called  the  great  re- 
former of  stage  scenery  in  “ Co  vent 
Garden.” 

Richards,  secretary  of  the  Royal  Aca- 
demy ; especially  successful  in  “ The 
Maid  of  the  Mill.”  His  son  was  one 
of  the  most  celebrated  of  our  scene- 
painters. 

Philip  James  de  Loutherbourg  was  the 
greatest  scene-artist  up  to  Garrick’s  time. 
He  produced  the  scenes  for  “ The  Win- 
ter’s Tale,”  at  the  request  of  that  great 
actor. 

John  Kemble  engaged  William  Capon, 
a pupil  of  Novosielski,  to  furnish  him 
with  scenery  for  Shakespeare’s  historic 
plays. 

Patrick  Nasmyth,  in  the  North,  pro- 
duced several  unrivalled  scenes. 

Stanfield  is  well  known  for  his  scenes 
of  “ Acis  and  Galate'a.” 

W illiam  Beverley  is  the  greatest  scene- 
painter  of  modern  times. 

Frank  Hay  man,  Thomas  Dali,  John 


794 


SCENT. 


SCHOOLMEN. 


Laguerre,  William  Hogarth,  Kobert 
Dighton,  Charles  Dibdin,  David  Roberts, 
Grieve,  and  Phillips  have  all  aided  in 
improving  scene-painting. 

Scent.  We  are  not  yet  on  the  right 
s?ent.  We  have  not  yet  got  the  right 
clue.  The  allusion  is  to  dogs  following 
game  by  their  scent. 

Sceptic  {Greeh)  means  one  who 
thinks  for  himself,  and  does  not  receive 
on  another’s  testimony.  Pyrrho  founded 
the  philosophic  sect  called  ‘‘Sceptics,” 
and  Epicte'tus  combated  their  dogmas. 
In  theology  we  apply  the  word  to  those 
who  will  not  accept  Revelation. 

Scheherazade  (She-he'-ra-zay'-de). 
Daughter  of  the  grand  vizier  of  the 
Indies.  The  sultan  Schahriah,  having 
discovered  the  infidelity  of  his  sultana, 
resolved  to  marry  a fresh  wife  every  night 
and  have  her  strangled  at  daybreak. 
Scheherazade  entreated  to  become  his 
wife,  and  so  amused  him  with  tales  for  a 
thousand  and  one  nights,  that  he  revoked 
his  cruel  decree,  bestowed  his  affec- 
tion on  his  amiable  and  talented  wife, 
and  called  her  “the  liberator  of  the 
sex.” — ‘‘Arabian  Nights’^ 

ScheTtrum.  An  army  drawn  up  in 
a circle  instead  of  in  a square. 

Sclieme  is  something  entertained. 
Scheme  is  a Greek  word  meaning  what  is 
had  or  held  {sche'o),  and  entertain  is  the 
Latin  teneo,  to  have  or  hold,  also. 

Scliiites  (2'syl.).  Those  Mahome- 
tans who  do  not  consider  the  Sunna  or 
oral  law  of  any  authority,  but  look  upon 
it  as  apocryphal.  They  wear  red  tur- 
bans, and  are  called  “ Red  Heads.”  {^ee 
Sunnites.) 

Sclilem'ihl  {Peter').  The  name  of  a 
man  who  sold  his  shadow  to  the  devil,  in 
Chamisso’s  tale  so  called.  It  is  a syno- 
nym for  any  person  who  makes  a des- 
perate and  silly  bargain. 

ScliolasTic.  Anselm  of  Laon,  Doc- 
tor Scholasticus.  (1050-1117.) 

Epipha'nius  the  Scholastic.  An  Italian 
scholar.  (6th  century.) 

Scholastic  Divinity.  Divinity 
subjected  to  the  test  of  reason  and  ar- 
gument, or  at  least  “darkened  by  the 
counsel  of  words.”  The  Athanasian 
creed  is  a favourable  specimen  of  this 


attempt  to  reduce  the  mysteries  of  reli- 
gion to  “right  reason;”  an  cl  the  attempts 
to  reconcile  the  Mosaic  cosmogony  with 
modern  geology  smack  of  the  same 
school. 

Schoolmaster  Abroad  (TAe).  Lord 
Brougham  said,  “ Let  the  soldier  be  a- 
broad,  if  he  will ; he  can  do  nothing  in  this 
age.  There  is  another  personage  abroad 
. . . the  schoolmaster  is  abroad ; and  I 
trust  to  him,  armed  with  his  primer, 
against  the  soldier  in  full  array.” 

Schoolmen.  Certain  theologians  of 
the  middle  ages ; so  called  because  they 
lectured  in  the  cloisters  or  cathedral 
schools  founded  by  Charlemagne  and  his 
immediate  successors.  They  followed 
the  fathers,  from  whom  they  differed  in 
reducing  every  subject  to  a system,  and 
may  be  grouped  under  three  periods — 

I.  PenocZ.— PLATONiSTS(from  ninth  to 
twelfth  century). 

(1)  Pierre  Abelard.  (1079-1142.) 

(2)  Flacius  Albinus  Alcuin.  (735' 804.) 

(3)  Anselm.  Doctor  Scholasticus.  (1050- 
1117.) 

(4)  Berengarius  of  Tours.  (1000-1088.) 

(5)  Gerbert  of  Aurillac,  afterwards 
pope  Sylvester  II.  (930-1003.) 

(6)  John  of  Salisbury.  (1110-1180.) 

(7)  Lan  franc,  archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
(1005-1089.) 

(8)  Pierre  Lombard.  Master  of  the 
Sentences,  sometimes  called  the  founder 
of  school  divinity.  (1100H164.) 

(9)  John  Roscelinus.  (Eleventh  cen- 
tury. ) 

(10)  John  Scotus.  Erig'ena.  (1265- 
1308.) 

II.  Period,  or  Golden  Age  of  Scholas- 
ticism.—(thirteenth  and 
fourteenth  centuries). 

(1)  Alain  de  Lille.  Universal  Doctor. 
(1114-1203.) 

(2)  Albertus  Magmts,  of  Padua.  (1193- 
1280.) 

(3)  Thomas  Aquinas.  The  Angelic 
Doctor.  (1224-1274.) 

(4)  Augustin  Triumphans,  archbishop 
of  Aix.  The  Eloquent  Doctor. 

(5)  John  Fidanza  Bonaventure.  The 
Serayhic  Doctor.  (1221-1274.) 

(6)  Alexander  of  Hales.  Irrefrangible 
Doctor.  (Died  1245.) 

(7)  John  Duns  Scotus.  The  Subtle 
Doctor.  (1265-1308.) 


SCHOOLMLSTHESS. 


SCLA.VONIG. 


795 


III.  Pertoc?.— Nominalism  Eevived. 
(To  the  seventeenth  century.) 

(1)  Thomas  de  Bradwardine.  The 
Profound  Doctor.  (1290-1348.) 

(2)  John  Buridah.  (1295-1360.) 

(3)  William  Durandus  de  Pour^ain. 
The  Most  Resolving  or  Resolute  Doctor. 
(Died  1332.) 

(4)  Giles,  archbishop  of  Bourges.  The 
Doctor  loiik  Good  Foundation. 

(5)  Gregory  of  Kim'ini.  The  Authentic 
Doctor.  (Died  1357.) 

(6)  Robert  Holkot.  An  English  di- 
vine. 

(7)  Raymond  Lully.  The  Illuminated 
Doctor.  (12.34-1315.) 

(8)  Francis  Mairon,  of  Digne,  in  Pro- 
vence. 

(9)  William  Ocham.  The' Singular  or 
Invincible  Doctor.  (Died  1347.) 

(10)  Frangois  Suarez,  the  last  of  the 
schoolmen.  (1548-1617.) 

Schoolmistress  (T/ie),  by  Shen- 
stone,  is  designed  for  a portrait  of 
Sarah  Lloyd,”  the  dame  who  first  taught 
the  poet  himself.  She  lived  in  a thatched 
house  before  which  grew  a birch-tree. 

Scian.  (See  Cean.) 

Science.  The  Gay  Science  or  ^^Gay 
Saber.”  The  poetry  of  the  Troubadours, 
and  in  its  extended  meaning  poetry 
generally. 

Science  Persecuted. 

(1)  Anaxagoras  of  Clazome'ne  held  opi- 
nions in  natural  science  so  far  in  advance 
of  his  age  that  he  was  accused  of  impiety, 
thrown  into  prison,  and  condemned  to 
death.  Pericles,  with  great  difficulty, 
got  his  sentence  commuted  to  fine  and 
banishment. 

(2)  Virgilius,  bishop  of  Saltzburg,  de- 
nounced as  a heretic  by  St.  Boniface,  for 
asserting  the  existence  of  antipodes. 
(Died  784.) 

(.3)  Galileo  was  imprisoned  by  the  In- 
quisition for  maintaining  that  the  earth 
moved.  In  order  to  get  his  liberty  he 
‘‘abjured  the  heresy,”  but  as  he  went 
his  way  whispered  half  audibly,  E j)ur  si 
muove  (but  nevertheless  it  does  move). 
(1564-1642.) 

(4)  Gerbert,  who  introduced  algebra 
into  Christendom,  was  accused  of  dealing 
in  the  black  arts,  and  shunned  as  a magi- 
cian. 

(5)  Friar  Bacon  was  excommunicated 
and  imprisoned  for  diabolical  knowledge, 


chiefly  on  account  of  his  chemical  re- 
searches. (1214-1294.) 

(6)  Dr.  Faust,  the  German  philosopher, 
suffered  in  a similar  way  in  the  sixteenth 
century  ; and  according  to  tradition  John 
Faust  was  imprisoned  in  Paris  for  magic, 
on  account  of  his  knowledge  of  the  art  of 
printing. 

(7)  John  Dee.  (iSfeeDEE.) 

(8)  Robert  Grosseteste.  (Ne^  Grosted.) 

(9)  Averroi.s,  the  Arabian  philosopher, 
who  flourished  in  the  twelfth  century,  was 
denounced  as  a heretic  and  degraded 
solely  on  account  of  his  great  eminence 
in  natural  philosophy  and  medicine.  (He 
died  1226.) 

(10)  Andrew  Crosse,  electrician,  who 
asserted  that  he  had  seen  certain  ani- 
mals of  the  genus  Acarus,  which  had 
been  developed  by  him  out  of  inorganic 
elements.  Crosse  was  accused  of  im- 
piety, and  was  shunned  as  a “profane 
man,”  who  wanted  to  arrogate  to  him- 
self the  creative  power  of  God.  (1784- 
1855.) 

(11)  The  sciences  of  geology  and  theo- 
logical exegesis  are  to  the  present  hour 
under  a cloud,  and  it  is  only  public  opinion 
which  holds  back  the  hand  of  persecution. 

Scien'ter  INes'ciens  et  sapi  enter 
indoctus,  was  how  Gregory  the  Great 
described  St.  Benedict. 

Solo’s  Blind  Old  Bard.  Homer. 
Scio  is  the  modern  name  of  Chios,  in  the 
.^ge'an  Sea. 

Smyrna,  Chios,  Colophon',  Salamis',  Rh3d5s,  Argos, 

Athe'n30, 

Your  just  right  to  call  Homer  your  ron  you  must 

settle  between-ye. 

Scipio  “dismissed  the  Iberian  maid” 
(“Paradise  Regained,”  iij.  Referring 
to  the  tale  that  the  conqueror  of  Spain 
not  only  refused  to  see  a beautiful  prin- 
cess who  had  fallen  into  his  power  after 
the  capture  of  New  Carthage,  but  that 
he  restored  her  to  her  parents,  and  ac- 
tually gave  her  great  presents  that  she 
might  marry  the  man  to  whom  she  had 
been  betrothed. 

The  Lusian  Scipio.  Nunio. 

The  Lusian  Scipio  well  may  speak  his  fame, 

But  nobler  Nuuio  shines  a greater  name. 

On  earth’s  green  bosom,  ov  on  ocean  grey, 

A greater  never  shall  the  sun  survey. 

Camoens, ^'Lusiadj’  bk.  viii. 

Sclavonic.  The  language  spoken 
by  the  Russians,  Hungarians,  Poles,  Bo- 
hemians, &c. ; anything  belonging  to  the 
Sclavi. 


796  SCOBELLUM. 


SCOTLANli. 


Scoberium.  Avery  fruitful  land,  but 
the  inhabitants  exceeded  the  cannibals 
for  cruelty,  the  Persians  for  pride,  the 
Egyptians  for  luxury,  the  Cretans  for 
lying,  the  Germans  for  drunkenness,  and 
all  nations  together  for  a generality  of 
vices."  In  vengeance  the  gods  changed 
all  the  people  into  beasts  : drunkards 
into  swine,  the  lecherous  into  goats,  the 
proud  into  peacocks,  scolds  into  mag- 
pies, gamblers  into  asses,  musicians  into 
song-birds,  the  envious  into  dogs,  idle 
women  into  milch-cows,  jesters  into 
monkeys,  dancers  into  squirrels,  and 
misers  into  moles.  Four  of  the  Cham- 
pions of  Christendom  restored  them  to 
their  normal  forms  by  quenching  the  fire 
of  the  Golden  Cave. — ^‘The  Seven  Cham- 
pions  of  Christendom,”  iii.  10. 

Scogan  {John).  A favourite  fool  in 
the  court  of  Edward  IV. 

Scone  fpron.  Skooii).  Edward  III.  re- 
moved to  London,  and  placed  in  Westmin- 
ster Abbey,  the  great  stone  upon  which 
the  kings  of  Scotland  were  wont  to  be 
crowned.  This  stone  is  still  preserved, 
and  forms  the  support  of  Edward  the 
Confessor’s  chair,  which  the  British 
monarchs  occupy  at  their  coronation. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  brought  from 
Ireland  by  Fergus,  son  of  Eric,  who  led 
the  Dalriads  to  the  shores  of  Argyle- 
shire. 

Ni  fallat  fatum,  Scoti,  quocunque  locatum 
Invenient  lapidem,  regnare  tenentur  ibidem, 
Lardner,  i.,  p.  67. 
Unless  the  fates  are  faithless  found 
And  prophets’  voice  be  vain, 

Where’er  is  placed  this  stone,  e’en  there 
The  Scottish  race  shall  reign. 

Score.  Areckoning;  to  make  a reckon- 
ing ; so  called  from  the  custom  of  mark- 
ing off  ‘^runs"  or  lengths,"  in  games 
by  the  score  feet.  {See  Nurr  and 
Spell.  ) 

Scorn  is  to  dishorn,"  through  the 
Italian  scorna're.  In  the  east  the  horn 
was  worn  as  an  ornament  on  the  fore- 
head ; and  to  lower  the  horn  was  emble- 
matical of  sorrow,  but  to  take  it  away 
was  a disgrace  and  dishonour. 

Scor'pion.  It  is  said  that  scorpions 
have  an  oil  which  is  a remedy  against 
their  stings.  The  toad  also  is  said  to 
have  an  antidote  to  its  venom. 

’Tis  true,  a scorpion’s  oil  is  said 
To  cure  the  wounds  the  venom  made, 

And  weapons  dres'^ed  with  salves  restore, 

And  heal  the  hurts  they  gave  before. 

Sutler,  “ Mtidibras,*  iii.  2. 


Scot.  The  same  as  Scythian  in  ety- 
mology ; the  root  of  both  is  Set.  The 
Greeks  had  no  c,  and  would  change  t 
into  th,  making  the  root  skth,  and  by 
adding  a phonetic  vowel  we  get  Skuth-ai 
(Scythians),  and  SJeoth-ai  (Scoths).  The 
Welsh  disliked  s at  the  beginning  of  a 
word,  and  would  change  it  to  ys;  they 
would  also  change  c or  h to  g,  and  th  to 
d;  whence  the  Welsh  root  would  be 
Ysgd,  and  Skuth  or  Skoth  would  become 
ysgod.  Once  more,  the  Saxons  would 
cut  off  the  Welsh  y,  and  change  the 
g back  again  to  c,  and  the  d to  t,  con- 
verting Ysgod  to  Scot. 

N.B. — Before  the  third  century  Scot- 
land was  called  Caledonia  or  Alban. 

Scot  and  Lot.  A contribution  upon 
all  subjects  according  to  their  ability. 
Scot  means  tribute  or  tax,  and  lot  means 
allotment  or  portion  allotted.  To  pay 
scot  and  lot,  therefore,  is  to  pay  the 
ordinary  tributes  and  also  the  personal 
tax  allotted  to  you. 

Scot-free.  Tax-free,  without  pay- 
ment. {See  above.) 

Scots  Greys  or  Scotch  Greys.  The 
2nd  Dragoons,  the  colour  of  whose  horses 
is  grey. 

Scots  wha  hae,  words  by  Eobert 
Burns,  to  the  music  of  an  old  Scotch 
tune  called  Hey  tuttie  taittie."  The 
Land  o’  the  Leal " is  to  the  same  tune. 

Scotch-Mist.  A thick  fog  with 
drizzling  rain,  common  in  Scotland 
A Scotch-fog  will  wet  an  Englishman  through. 

Common  saying. 

Sco'tia.  Now  applied  poetically  to 
Scotland,  but  at  one  time  Ireland  was  so 
called.  Hence  Claudian  says — 

When  Scots  came  thundering  from  the  Irish  shores, 
And  ocean  ti  embled.  struck  with  hostile  oars. 

Scotists.  Followers  of  Duns  Scotus, 
who  maintained  the  doctrine  of  the  im- 
maculate conception  in  opposition  to 
Thomas  Aqui'nas. 

Scotists  and  Thomists  now  in  peace  remain. 

Fope,  Essay  on  Criticism.'* 

Scotland.  St.  Andrew  is  the  patron 
saint  of  this  country,  and  tradition  says 
that  the  remains  of  the  apostle  were 
brought  by  Reg'ulus,  a Greek  monk,  to 
the  eastern  coast  of  Fife,  in  368.  (^See 
Rule,  St.) 

Scotland  a fief  of  England.  Edward 
I.  founded  his  claim  to  the  lordship  of 
Scotland  on  these  four  grounds:— (1) 
The  ancient  chroniclers,  who  state  that 


SCOTLAND  YARD. 


SCRAPE. 


797 


Scotch  kings  had  occasionally  paid  ho- 
mage to  the  English  sovereigns  from 
time  immemorial.  Extracts  are  given 
from  St.  Alban,  Marianiis  Scotus,  Ralph 
of  Dizeto,  Roger  of  Hovedeu,  and  Wil- 
liam of  Malmesbury.  (2)  From  charters 
of  Scotch  kings  : as  those  of  Edgar  son  of 
Malcolm,  William,  and  his  son  Alexander 
II.  (3)  From  papal  rescripts : as  those 
of  Honorius  III.,  Gregory  IX.,  and 
Clement  IV.  (4)  By  an  extract  from 
'^The  Life  and  Miracles  of  St.  John  of 
Beverley.’*  The  tenor  of  this  extract  is 
quite  suited  to  this  Dictionary  of  Fa- 
ble In  the  reign  of  Adelstan,  the  Scots 
invaded  England  and  committed  great 
devastation.  Adelstan  went  to  drive 
them  back,  and,  on  reaching  the  Tyne, 
found  that  the  Scotch  had  retreated. 
At  midnight  St.  J ohn  of  Beverley  ap- 
peared to  him,  and  bade  him  cross  the 
river  at  daybreak,  for  he  should  dis- 
comfit the  foe.”  Adelstan  obeyed  the 
vision,  and  reduced  the  whole  kingdom 
to  subjection.  On  reaching  Dunbar  on 
his  return  march,  he  prayed  that  some 
sign  might  be  vouchsafed  to  him  to  satisfy 
all  ages  that  God,  by  the  intercession 
of  St.  J ohn,  had  given  him  the  kingdom 
of  Scotland.”  Then  struck  he  with  his 
sword  the  basaltic  rocks  near  the  coast, 
and  the  blade  sank  into  the  solid  flint  as 
if  it  had  been  butter,”  cleaving  it  asunder 
for  an  ell  or  more ;”  and  the  cleft  re- 
mains even  to  the  present  hour.  Without 
doubt  there  is  a fissure  in  the  basalt,  and 
how  could  it  have  come  there  except  in 
the  way  recorded  above  ? And  how  could 
a sword  cut  three  feet  deep  into  a hard 
rock  without  miraculous  aid  ? And  what 
could  such  a miracle  have  been  vouch- 
safed for  except  to  show  that  Adelstan 
was  rightful  lord  of  Scotland?  And  if 
Adelstan  was  lord,  of  course  Edward 
should  be  so  likewise — Q.  E.  D. — Rpner, 

Foedera”  vol.  i.,  part  2,  p.  771. 

Scotland  Y ard  {London).  So  called 
from  a palace  built  there  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  kings  of  Scotland  when  they 
visited  England.  Pennant  tells  us  it  was 
originally,  given  by  king  Edgar  to  Ken- 
neth of  Scotland,  when  he  came  to 
London  to  pay  homage. 

Scotland  Yard.  The  head-quarters  of 
the  police,  whence  all  public  orders  to 
the  force  proceed. 

Mr.  Walpole  has  only  to  speak  the  word  in  Scot- 
land Yard,  and  the  parks  mil  be  cleared— 
Gazette. 


Scott.  The  Walter  Scott  of  Belgium. 
Hendrick  Conscience.  (Born  1812.) 

The  Southei'n  Scott.  Lord  Byron  calls 
Ariosto  the  Sir  Walter  Scott  of  Italy.— 

Childe  Harold  f iv.  40. 

Scourge  of  Christians.  Noured- 
din-MahmM  of  Damascus.  (1116-1174.) 

Scourge  of  God.  (1)  Attila,  king 
of  the  Huns.  A.  P.  Stanley  says  the 
term  was  first  applied  to  Attila  in  the 
Hungarian  Chronicles.  In  Isidore’s 
Chronicle  the  Huns  are  called  Virga  Dei. 
(Died  453.) 

(2)  Gen'seric,  king  of  the  Vandals, 
who  went  about  like  a destroying  angel 
‘^against  all  those  who  had  (in  his  opi- 
nion) incurred  the  wrath  of  God.”  Pro- 
bably the  word  Godegesal  {Goth-gesalf 
God-given)  has  been  purposely  twisted 
into  God-gesil  (God’s-scourge),  by  those 
who  hated  him,  because  he  was  an  Arian. 
God-gesal  {or  Deoda'tus)  was  the  common 
title  of  the  contemporary  kings,  like  our 
Dei  gratid. 

Scourge  of  Princes.  Pietro  Are- 
ti'no  was  so  called  for  his  satires.  (1492- 
1556.) 

Scouring.  I * scaped  a scouring— a 
disease.  Scouring  is  a sort  of  flux  in 
horses  and  cattle.  (Latin,  Maleam  prsete 
vehi;  French,  Hechapper  belle.) 

Scowerers.  A set  of  rakes  in  the 
eighteenth  century,  who,  with  the  Nic'- 
kers  and  Mohocks,  committed  great  an- 
noyances in  London  and  other  large 
towns. 

Who  has  not  heard  the  Scowerers’  midnight  fame  ? 
Who  iias  not  trembled  at  the  Mohocks’  name  ? 

Was  there  a watchman  took  his  hourly  rounds 
Safe  from  their  blows  and  new-invented  wounds  ? 

Qay,  '^Trivia,"  iii. 

Scrag  End  {of  mutton).  A corrup- 
tion of  crag,  the  neck.  (Saxon,  hracca, 
the  neck;  Scotch,  craig ; Greek,  rachis ; 
Icelandic,  racca,  hinges,  joints;  Old  Eng- 
lish, rack,  the  neck.) 

Scrape.  Fve  got  into  a sad  scrape— b. 
great  difiiculty.  We  use  rub,  squeeze, 
pinch,  and  scrape  to  express  the  same 
idea.  Thus  Shakespeare  says,  Ay, 
there’s  the  rub”  (difficulty);  ‘‘I  have 
got  into  tribulation”  (a  squeeze,  from 
the  Latin  trib'ulo,  to  squeeze)  ; ‘‘  I am 
come  to  a pinch  ” (a  difficulty).  Some 
think  the  word  a corrupt  contraction  of 
escapade,  but  Robert  Chambers  thinks  if 


798 


SCEAPE-ALL. 


SCRIPTOEES  TEES. 


is  borrowed  from  a term  in  golf.  A rab- 
bit’s burrow  in  Scotland,  he  says,  is  called 
a scrape,”  and  if  the  ball  gets  into  such 
a hole  it  can  hardly  be  played.  The 
rules  of  the  game  allow  something  to  the 
player  who  ‘'gets  into ascrape.” — ^‘Book 
of  Days.’ ^ 

He  scraped  an  acquaintance  ivith  me» 
We  became  acquainted  by  returning 
civilities.  The  reference  is  to  scraping  j 
the  foot  behind  in  bowing.  This  was 
always  done  in  the  formal  days  of  Louis 
XIV. 

The  Gentleman’s  Magazine  says  that 
Hadrian  went  one  day  to  the  public 
baths,  and  saw  an  old  soldier,  well  known 
to  him,  scraping  himself  with  a potsherd 
for  want  of  a flesh-brush.  The  emperor 
sent  him  a sum  of  money.  Next  day 
Hadrian  found  the  bath  crowded  with 
soldiers  scraping  themselves  with  pot- 
sherds, and  said — “Scrape  on,  gentle- 
men, but  you’ll  not  scrape  acquaintance 
with  me.” — N.  S.  xxxix.  230. 

Serape-all.  A hypocritical,  psalm- 
singing rascal,  who  joins  Cheatly  (q.v.), 
and  helps  to  supply  young  heirs  with 
money.  He  is  a type  of  the  “godly 
liiiSiYe.”—  Shadwell,  Squire  of  Alsatia.” 

Scratch.  Old  Scratch.  Scrat,  the 
house-demon  of  the  North.  A corre- 
spondent in  Notes  and  Queries  thinks  the 
word  relates  to  the  uncleanness  of  the 
goat,  and  that  Pan,  the  satyr— half  goat, 
half  man — is  the  origin  of  the  term.  {See 
Deuce,  Nick,  &c.) 

Coming  up  to  the  scratch — up  to  the 
mark ; about  to  do  what  we  want  him 
to  do.  In  prize-fighting  a line  is  scratched 
on  the  ground,  and  the  toe  of  the  fighter 
must  come  up  to  the  scratch. 

Scratched.  A horse  is  said  to  be 
scratched  when  its  name  is  scratched 
out  of  the  list  of  runners.  “Tomboy 
was  scratched  for  the  Derby  at  ten  a.m. 
on  Wednesday and  no  bet  on  that  horse 
made  subsequently  would  be  valid. 

Scratch  Cradle.  A game  played 
with  a piece  of  string  stretched  across  the 
two  hands.  The  art  is  so  to  cross  the 
thread  as  to  produce  a resemblance  to 
something,  and  for  another  so  to  trans- 
fer it  to  his  own  hands  as  to  change  the 
former  figure  into  some  other  resem- 
blance. A corruption  of  “cratch  cradle” 
(the  manger  cradle),  because  the  first  ’ 


figure  represents  a cradle,  supposed  to 
be  the  cradle  of  the  infant  Jesus. 

Screw.  An  old  screiv.  One  who 
keeps  his  money  tight,  and  doles  it  out 
in  screws  or  small  quantities.  {See  helow.) 

A screio  of  anything  is  a small  quantity, 
such  as  maybe  put  into  a screw  of  paper. 

A screio  loose.  Something  amiss.  The 
allusion  is  to  joinery  kept  together  by 
screws. 

To  put  on  the  screw.  To  press  for  pay- 
ment, as  a screw  presses  by  gradually- 
increasing  pressure. 

Screwed.  Intoxicated.  A playful 
synonym  of  tight,  which  again  is  a play- 
ful synonym  of  Mown  out. 

Scri^bere  in  Aqua.  To  forget.— 

Catullus,  70,  4. 

Men’s  evil  manners  live  in  brnss, 

Their  virtues  we  write  in  water. 

Shakespeare.  Henry  VHI.p  iv.  2. 

Scrible'rus  {Marti'nus).  A merciless 
satire  on  the  false  taste  in  literature  cur- 
rent in  the  time  of  Pope.  Cornelius 
Scrible'rus,  the  father  of  Martin,  was  a 
pedant,  who  entertained  all  sorts  of  ab- 
surdities about  the  education  of  his  son. 
Martin  grew  up  a man  of  capacity ; but 
though  he  had  read  everything,  his  judg- 
ment was  vile  and  taste  atrocious. 

Scrim'mage.  A tussle ; a slight 
battle.  From  the  obsolete  scrimer,  a 
fencer:  French,  escrimeur ; same  root 
as  escarmouch,  our  sJcirmish. 

Prince  OuiFur  at  this  skrymage,  for  all  his  pryde, 
Pled  full  fast,  and  sought  no  gyde. 

MS.  Lnnsdowne  200,  f.  10 

Scripto'res  Decern.  A collection 
of  ten  ancient  chronicles  on  English  his- 
tory, edited  by  Roger  Twysden  and  John 
Selden.  The  ten  chroniclers  are  Simeon 
of  Durham,  John  of  Hexham,  Richard 
of  Hexham,  Ailred  of  Eieval,  Ralph  do 
Diceto  (archdeacon  of  London),  John 
Brompton  of  Jorval,  Gervase  of  Canter- 
bury, Thomas  Stubbs,  William  Thorn 
of  Canterbury,  and  Henry  Knighton 
of  Leicester. 

Scripto'res  Quinque.  A-collection 
of  five  chronicles  on  the  early  history  of 
England,  edited  by  Thomas  Gale. 

Scripto'res  Tres  {the  three  writers). 
Meaning  Ricnardus  Corinensis,  Gildas 
Badon'icus,  and  Nennius  Banchoren'sis. 
Julius  Bertram,  professor  of  English  at 
Copenhagen,  professed  to  have  discovered 


SCRIPTORIUM. 


SEA. 


799 


fhe  first  of  these  treatises  in  1747,  in  the 
royal  library  of  that  city.  Its  subject  is  ; 
“ De  Situ  Britannke,”  and  in  1757  he 
published  it  along  with  the  two  other 
treatises,  calling  the  whole  The  Three 
Writers  on  the  Ancient  History  of  the 
British  Nations.”  Bertram’s  forgery  has 
been  completely  exposed  by  J.  E.  Mayor, 
in  his  preface  to  ‘^Ricardi  de  Cirences- 
tria  Speculum  Historiale.”  {See  San- 
CHONIATHO.) 

Seripto'rium.  An  apartment  in 
every  abbey  where  writers  transcribed 
service-books  for  the  choir  and  books 
for  the  library. — Warton. 

Scripture.  ''Mrs.  Adams  answered 
Mr.  Adams,  that  it  was  blasphemous  to 
talk  Scripture  out  of  church.” — Fielding^ 
^‘Joseph  Andrews r 

Scrupulous  means  literally  having 
a stone  in  one’s  shoe.  Those  who  have 
a stone  in  their  shoe  lialty  and  those  who 
doubt  "halt  between  two  opinions.” 
(Latin,  scrupulus,  gravel,  a small  stone.) 

Seu'damore  {Sir').  The  lover  of 
Am'oret,  whom  he  finally  marries. — Spen- 
ser, Faery  Qneen,”  bk.  iii. 

Scullery-maid  is  one  who  washes 
up  sholls  or  sculls— i.e.,  plates,  cups,  and 
dishes,  (fe  Skull.) 

Sculpture.  Fathers  of  French  Sculp- 
ture. 

Jean  Goujon.  (1510-1572.) 

Germain  Pilon.  (1515-1590.) 

Scutch.  The  scrapings  of  hides. 
(English,  scotch,  to  cut ; Saxon,  sceadan. ) 
We  have  the  word  in  the  expression, 
"You  have  scotched  the  snake,  not 
killed  it.” 

About  half  a mile  from  the  southern  outfall  are 
two  maTiufactories,  where  the  refuse  from  the  Lon- 
don tanneries  known  as  scutch  is  operated  upon.— 
The  Times. 

Scuttle.  To  scuttle  a ship  is  to  bore 
a hole  in  it  in  order  to  make  it  sink. 
Rather  strangely  this  word  is  from  the 
same  root  as  our  word  shut  or  bolt  (Saxon, 
scyttel,  a lock,  bolt,  or  bar).  It  was 
first  applied  to  a hole  in  a roof  with  a 
door  or  lid,  then  to  a hatchway  in  the 
deck  of  a ship  with  a lid,  then  to  a hole 
in  the  bottom  of  a ship  plugged  up ; then 
comes  the  verb  to  pull  out  the  plug,  and 
leave  the  hole  for  the  admission  of  water. 

Scylla.  Glaucus,  a fisherman,  was 
in  love  with  Scylla;  but  Circe,  out  of 
jealousy,  changed  her  into  a hideous 


monster,  and  set  dogs  and  wolves  to  bark 
round  her  incessantly.  On  this  Scylla 
threw  herself  into  the  sea  and  became  a 
rock.  It  is  said  that  the  rock  Scylla 
somewhat  resembles  a woman  at  a dis- 
tance, and  the  noise  of  the  waves  dashing 
against  it  is  not  unlike  the  barking  of 
dogs  and  wolves. 

Glaucus,  lost  to  joy, 

Curst  in  his  love  by  vengeful  Circe’s  hate, 
Attending  wept  his  Scylla’s  hapless  fate. 

Oamoens LusiadP  bk.  vi. 

Scylla,  daughter  of  Nisus,  promised 
to  deliver  Meg'ara  into  the  hands  of 
Minos.  To  redeem  this  promise  she  had 
to  cut  off  a golden  hair  on  her  father’s 
head,  which  she  effected  while  he  was 
asleep.  Minos,  her  lover,  despised  her 
for  this  treachery,  and  Scylla  threw  her- 
self from  a rock  into  the  sea.  At  death 
she  was  changed  into  a lark,  and  Nisus 
into  a hawk.  Scylla  turned  into  a rock 
by  Circe,  " had  no  connection”  with  the 
daughter  of  Nisus. 

Think  of  Scylla’s  fate. 
Changed  to  a bird,  and  sent  to  fly  in  air, 

She  dearly  pays  for  Nisus’  injured  hair. 

Pope,  “ Rape  of  the  Lock,**  iii. 

Avoiding  Scylla  he  fell  into  Charyhdis. 
Trying  to  avoid  one  error  he  fell  into 
another ; or,  trying  to  avoid  one  danger, 
he  fell  into  another  equally  fatal.  Scylla 
and  Charybdis  are  two  rocks  between 
Italy  and  Sicily.  In  one  was  a cave 
where  "Scylla  dwelt,”  and  on  the  other 
Charybdis  dwelt  under  a fig-tree.  Ships 
which  tried  to  avoid  one  were  often 
wrecked  on  the  other  rock.  It  was  Circe 
who  changed  Scylla  into  a frightful  sea- 
monster,  and  Jupiter  who  changed  Cha- 
rybdis into  a whirlpool. 

When  I shun  Scylla  your  father,  I fall  into  Cha- 
rybdis your  mother.— AAaAiespeare,  “ Merchant  of 
Venice,**  iii.  5. 

Between  Scylla  and  Chary'bdis.  Be- 
tween two  difficulties.  To  fall  from 
Scylla  into  Charyhdis—  out  of  the  frying- 
pan  into  the  fire. 

Sea  means  simply  a basin',  hence  the 
expression,  "molten  sea,”  meaning  the 
great  brazen  vessel  which  stood  in  Solo- 
mon’s temple  (2  Chron.  iv.  5,  and  1 Kings 
vii.  26).  The  world  of  water  is  properly 
called  the  ocean.  (Saxon,  sae,  a basin.) 

" The  Sea,  the  Sea.’^  Words  by  Proctor 
(Barry  Cornwall),  music  by  Neukomm, 

The  Old  Alan  of  the  Sea  ("Arabian 
Nights”).  A creature  encountered  by 
Sindbad  the  Sailor  in  his  fifth  voyage. 
This  terrible  Old  Man  contrived  to  get  on 


800 


SEA-BOARD. 


SEDAN-CHAIRS. 


the  back  of  Sindbad,  and  would  neither 
dismount  again,  nor  could  he  be  shaken 
off.  At  last  Sindbad  gave  him  some  wine 
to  drink,  which  so  intoxicated  him  that 
he  relaxed  his  grip,  and  Sindbad  made 
his  escape. 

Out  at  sea.  Wide  of  the  mark  ; quite 
wrong ; like  a person  in  the  open  ocean 
without  compass  or  chart. 

Sea-board.  That  part  of  a country 
which  borders  on  the  sea;  the  coast-line. 
It  should  be  sea-bord.  (French,  bord^ 
the  edge.) 

Sea-girt  Isle.  England;  so  called 
because  it  is  girded  round  by  the  ocean, 
or,  as  Shakespeare  has  it,  ^‘hedged  in 
with  the  main,  that  water-walled  bul- 
wark” King  John,”  ii.  1). 

This  precious  stone  set  in  the  silver  sea. 

Which  serves  it  in  the  office  of  a wall. 

Or  as  a moat  defensive  to  a bouse. 

Against  the  envy  of  less  happier  lands. 

Shakespeare,  ‘*King  Richard  iJ.,”ii.  1. 

Sea-nettles.  Gelatinous  animal 
sea-plants,  some  of  which  sting  like 
nettles. 

Sea-serpent.  Pontoppidan,  in  his 
‘‘Natural  History  of  Norway,”  speaks 
of  sea-serpents  600  feet  long.  The  great 
sea-serpent  was  said  to  have  been  seen 
off  the  coast  of  Norway  in  1819,  1822, 
1837.  Hans  Egede  affirms  that  it  was 
seen  on  the  coast  of  Greenland  in  1734. 
In  1815,  1817,  1819,  1833,  and  in  1869,  it 
made  its  appearance  near  Boston.  In 
1848  it  was  “ seen  ” by  the  crew  of  her 
Majesty’s  frigate  Daedalus , in  the  South 
Atlantic  Ocean.  Its  stated  length  varies 
from  60  to  750  feet. 

Sealed  Fountain.  An  exclusive 
privilege.  Solomon  says— “My  spouse 
is  a fountain  sealed”  (Cant.  iv.  12).  In 
the  vicinity  of  Bethlehem  travellers  are 
shown  the  springs  which  Solomon  shut 
up  and  sealed  with  his  signet,  to  keep 
them  for  his  own  private  use. — Maxin- 
drell,  ^^Travels.” 

Seba'ra'im  (4  syl.).  Rabbis  wh6 
lived  after  the  Talmud  was  finished,  and 
gave  their  judgments  on  traditionary 
difficulties  {Al  derek  sebaroth,  “by  way 
of  opinion”). — Buxtorf. 

Sebastian  (S^.).  Patron  saint  of 
archers,  because  he  was  bound  to  a tree 
and  shot  at  with  arrows.  As  the  arrows 
stuck  in  his  body  as  thick  as  pins  in  a 
pin-cushion,  he  was  also  made  patron 


saint  of  pin-makers.  And  as  he  was  a 
centurion,  he  is  patron  saint  of  soldiers. 

Sebastianis'tas.  Persons  who  be- 
lieve that  dom  Sebastian,  who  fell  in  the 
battle  of  Alcazarquebir  in  1578,  will  re- 
turn to  earth,  when  Brazil  will  become 
the  chief  kingdom  of  the  earth. 

Sebile  (2  syl.).  La  Dame  du  Lac,  in 
the  romance  entitled  “Perceforest.” 
Her  castle  was  surrounded  by  a river, 
on  which  rested  so  thick  a fog  that  no 
one  could  see  across  it.  Alexander  the 
Great  abode  with  her  a fortnight  to  be 
cured  of  his  wounds,  and  king  Arthur 
was  the  result  of  their  amour  (vol.  i.  42). 

Second.  {See  Two.) 

Second  Siglit.  The  power  of  seeing 
things  invisible  to  others ; the  power  of 
foreseeing  future  events  by  means  of 
shadows  thrown  before  them.  Many 
Highlanders  claim  this  power,  which 
the  ancient  Gaels  called  shadow-sight 
(taischitaraugh) . 

Nor  less  availed  his  optic  sleight, 

And  Scottish  gift  of  second  sight. 

Trumbull, 

Second  thoughts  are  best  because  they 
arise  after  due  reflection. 

Hold,  sir,  for  second  thoughts  are  best,” 

The  husband  cried ; “ ’tis  my  request 
With  pleasure  to  prolong  my  life.” 

Tenion^  “ A la  Mode.** 

Sec'ular  Games . Those  held  by  the 
Romans  only  once  in  a century.  While 
the  kings  reigned  they  were  held  in  the 
Campus  Martins,  in  honour  of  Pluto  and 
Proserpine,  and  were  instituted  in  obe- 
dience to  the  Sibyline  verses,  with  the 
promise  that  “ the  empire  should  remain 
in  safety  so  long  as  this  admonition  was 
observed.” 

Bate,  quae  preca'mur 
Temp'ore  sacro 
Quo  Sibyllini  monue'ie  versus. 

Horace,"  Carmen Seculare,**  A.Y . 738. 

Sedan-Chairs.  Invented  at  Sedan, 
in  the  north  of  France  ; their  introduc- 
tion into  England  is  attributed  to  the 
duke  of  Buckingham,  who  gave  great 
offence  by  employing  men  as  beasts  of 
burden.  The  duke  may  probably  have 
offended  the  London  roughs  by  using  a 
Sedan-chair,  but  he  certainly  was  not 
the  first  to  introduce  it  into  England,  as 
we  find  it  spoken  of  as  far  back  as  1581. 
It  was  introduced  into  France  (in  1617) 
by  M.  de  Montbrun,  and  called  chaise  d 
porteurs^ 


SEDGWICK, 


SELL. 


801 


Sedgwick.  {See  Doomsday  Sedg- 
wick.) 

Sedley  {Amelia).  An  impersonation 
of  virtue  without  intellect  in  Thackeray’s 

Vanity  Fair.”  (/See  Sharp.) 

Sedrat.  The  lotus-tree  which  stands 
on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  invisible 
throne  of  Allah.  Its  branches  extend 
wider  than  the  distance  between  heaven 
and  earth.  Its  leaves  resemble  the  ears 
of  the  elephant.  Each  seed  of  its  fruit 
encloses  a houri ; and  two  rivers  issue 
from  its  roots.  Numberless  birds  sing 
among  its  branches,  and  numberless 
angels  rest  beneath  its  shade. 

See'dy.  Weary,  worn  out,  out  of 
sorts.  (Saxon,  soedre,  weary,  sated,  sick.) 
A hat  or  coat  is  termed  seedy  when  it 
has  become  shabby.  A man  is  seedy 
after  a debauch,  when  he  looks  and  feels 
out  of  sorts. 

Seel.  To  close  the  eyelids  of  a hawk 
by  running  a thread  through  them ; to 
hoodwink.  (French,  sceller^ 

She  that  so  young  could  give  out  such  a seeming, 
To  seel  her  fAthers  eyes  up,  close  as  oak. 

Shakespeare.  “ Othello”  iii.  3. 

See'murgll.  The  wonderful  bird  that 
could  speak  all  the  languages  of  the 
world,  and  whose  knowledge  embraced 
past,  present,  and  future  events. — Fer- 
sian  mythology. 

Segonti'ari.  Inhabitants  of  parts 
of  Hampshire  and  Berkshire,  referred  to 
by  Caesar  in  his  Commentaries.” 

Seiks  (pron.  Seeks).  A religious  sect 
in  Hindustan,  founded  in  150^0.  They 
profess  the  purest  Deism,  and  are  dis- 
tinguished from  the  Hindus  by  worship- 
ping one  invisible  god.  The  word  means 
lion,  and  was  applied  to  them  on  ac- 
count of  their  heroic  resistance  to  the 
Moslem.  Ultimately  they  subdued  La- 
hore, and  established  themselves  in  the 
Punjab,  &c. 

Sela'ma  or  Sele'meh.  The  headland 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  commonly  called 
Cape  Musseldom.  The  Indians  throw 
cocoa-nuts,  fruits,  and  flowers  into  the 
sea  when  they  pass  this  cape,  to  secure 
a propitious  voyage. — Morier. 

Breezes  from  the  Indian  sea 
Blow  round  Selama’s  sainted  cap^. 

Moore,  ” Fire  If  orshippers.” 

Sele'ne.  The  moon-goddess;  some- 
times but  improperly  called  Diana,  as 
Diana  is  always  called  the  chaste  hunt- 


ress ; but  Selene  had  fifty  daughters  by 
Endymion,  and  several  by  Zeus,  one  of 
whom  was  called  ^^The  Dew”  {Erse). 
Diana  is  represented  with  bow  and  arrow 
running  after  the  stag ; but  Selene  is 
represented  in  a chariot  drawn  by  two 
white  horses ; she  has  wings  on  her 
shoulders  and  a sceptre  in  her  hands. 

Selen'cid^.  The  dynasty  of  Seleu- 
cus.  Seleucus  succeeded  to  a part  of 
Alexander’s  vast  empire.  The  monarchy 
consisted  of  Syria,  a part  of  Asia  Minor, 
and  all  the  eastern  provinces. 

Selim.  Son  of  Abdallah  and  cousin 
of  Zuleika  (3  syl.).  When  Giaffir  (2  syl.) 
murdered  Abdallah,  he  took  Selim  and 
brought  him  up  as  his  own  son.  The 
young  man  fell  in  love  with  Zuleika,  who 
thought  he  was  her  brother ; but  when 
she  discovered  he  was  Abdallah’s  son, 
she  promised  to  be  his  bride,  and  eloped 
with  him.  As  soon  as  Giaffir  discovered 
this  he  went  after  the  fugitives,  and 
shot  Selim.  Zuleika  killed  herself,  and 
the  old  pacha  was  left  childless.  The 
character  of  Selim  is  bold,  enterprising, 
and  truthful.  — Byron,  ‘ ^ Bride  of  A hydos.  ’* 
Se'lim  (son  of  Acbar).  The  name  of 
Jehanguire,  before  his  accession  to  the 
throne.  He  married  NourmahaF  (the 
Light  of  the  Haram).  A coolness  arose 
between  the  young  married  couple,  but 
Nourmahal  contrived  to  enter  the  sultan’s 
banquet-room  as  a lute-player,  and  so 
charmed  young  Selim  that  he  exclaimed 
If  Nourmahal  had  so  sung,  I could 
have  forgiven  her  everything  ; ” where- 
upon Nourmahal  threw  off  her  disguise, 
and  became  reconciled  to  her  husband. 
— T.  Moore,  “ The  Light  of  the  Haram.’^ 
SeFjuks.  A Perso-Turkish  dynasty 
which  gave  eleven  kings  and  lasted  138 
years  (1056-1194).  It  was  founded  by 
Togrul  Beg,  a descendant  of  Seljuk, 
chief  of  a small  tribe  which  gained 
possession  of  Boka'ra. 

Sell.  A saddle.  '^Vaulting  ambition 
. . . o’erleaps  its  sell”  (‘^  Macbeth,”  i.  7). 

sella  ; French,  Window 

is  the  Saxon  syl.,  a basement. 

He  lefte  his  loftie  steed  with  golden  sell. 

Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen,"  ii.  2. 

Sell,  sold,  made  a captive,  as  a pur- 
chased slave.  St.  Paul  says  he  was 
sold  under  sin”  (Rom.  vii.  14). 

A sell.  A “ do,”  a deception,  a 'Hake- 
in.”  Street  vendors  who  take  in  the 
Z Z 


802 


SELTZER  WATER. 


SERAGLIO. 


unwary  with  catch-pennies,  chuckle  like 
hens  when  they  have  laid  an  egg,  Sold 
again,  and  got  the  money !” 

Selt'zer  Water.  A corruption  of 
Selters  Water',  so  called  from  the  Lower 
Selters,  near  Limburg  (Nassau). 

Selvag'gio.  Father  of  Sir  Industry, 
and  hero  of  Thomson’s  Castle  of  Indo- 
lence.” 

In  fairy-land  there  lived  a knight  of  old. 

Of  feature  stern,  Selvaggio  well  y-clept. 

A rough,  unpolished  man,  robust  and  bold. 

But  wondrous  poor.  He  neither  sowed  nor  reaped, 
Ne  stores  in  summer  for  cold  winter  heaped. 

In  hunting  all  his  days  away  he  wore : 

Now  scorched  by  June,  now  in  November  steeped, 
Now  pinched  by  biting  January  sore. 

He  still  in  woods  pursued  the  Ubbard  and  the  boar. 

Canto  ii.  5. 

Semir'amis.  Semiramis  of  the  North. 
Margaret  of  Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Nor- 
way. (1353-1412.) 

Catherine  II.  of  Russia.  (1729-1796.) 

Sena'niis  (^St.)  fled  to  the  island  of 
Scattery,  and  resolved  that  no  female 
form  should  ever  step  upon  it.  An  angel 
led  St.  Can'ara  to  the  island,  but  the 
recluse  refused  to  admit  her.  Tom 
Moore  has  a poem  on  this  legend,  ‘‘St. 
Senanus  and  the  Lady.” — *‘Irish  Melo- 
dies f No.  1.  {See  Kevin.) 

Sen'dal.  A thin  silk.  (Italian,  zen- 
dado;  Spanish,  cendal.) 

Sen'eca.  The  Christian  Seneca.  Bishop 
Hall  of  Norwich.  (1574-1656. ) 

Senior  Op'time.  A Cambridge 
University  expression,  meaning  a second- 
class  man  in  mathematical  honours.  The 
first  class  consists  of  Wranglers. 

Senior  Soph,  A man  of  the  third 
year’s  standing  is  so  called  in  our  univer- 
sities. 

Sennae'herib,  whose  army  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  Angel  of  Death,  is  by 
the  Orientals  called  King  Moussal. — 
D'Herhelot  {notes  to  the  Koran). 

Se’nnight.  A week;  seven  nights. 
Fort^ night,  fourteen  nights.  These  words 
are  relics  of  the  ancient  Celtic  custom  of 
beginning  the  day  at  sunset,  a custom  I 
observed  by  the  ancient  Greeks,  Baby- 
lonians, Persians,  Syrians,  and  Jews, 
and  by  the  modern  representatives  of 
these  people.  In  Gen.  i.  we  always  find 
the  evening  precedes  the  morning ; as, 

“ The  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
first  day,”  &c. 


Sen'tences  (3  syl.).  The  four  books 
of  Sentences,  by  Pierre  Lombard,  the 
foundation  of  scholastic  theology  of  the 
middle  period.  (>See  Schoolmen.  ) 

Master  of  the  Sentences.  Pierre  Lom- 
bard, schoolman.  (Died  1164.) 

Sen'tinel.  One  placed  to  watch  the 
hold  of  a ship,  to  see  that  the  water  does 
not  get  in.  (Latin,  senti'na.) — Arch- 
deacon Smith. 

Sentinelle  perdue.  One  placed  at  a post 
where  he  is  almost  certain  to  be  killed 
by  the  enemy. 

Sepoy.  The  Indian  soldier  is  so 
called,  says  bishop  Heber,  from  sip,  a 
bow,  their  principal  weapon  in  olden 
times. 

Sept.  A clan  (Latin,  septum,  a fold) ; 
all  the  cattle,  or  all  the  voters,  in  a given 
enclosure. 

September  Massacres.  An  in- 
discriminate slaughter  of  Loyalists  con- 
fined at  the  time  in  the  Abbaye  and 
other  French  prisons.  Dantin  gave  order 
for  this  onslaught  after  the  capture  of 
Verdun  by  the  allied  Prussian  army.  It 
lasted  the  2nd,  3rd,  and  4th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1792.  As  many  as  8,000  persons 
fell  in  this  massacre,  among  whom  was 
the  princess  de  Lamballe. 

Septembri'zers  or  Septemhriseurs 
(the  September  men).  The  men  who 
planned  and  executed  the  September 
Massacres  {q.v.), 

Septuages'ima  Sunday.  In  round 
numbers,  seventy  days  before  Easter. 
The  third  Sunday  before  Lent. 

Sep'tuagint.  A Greek  version  of 
the  Old  Testament,  so  called  because  it 
was  made  (in  round  numbers)  by  seventy 
Jews ; more  correctly  speaking,  by 
seventy-two.  Dr.  Campbell  disapproves 
of  this  derivation,  and  says  it  was  so 
called  because  it  was  sanctioned  and 
authorised  by  the  Jewish  San'hedrim  or 
great  council,  which  consisted  of  70  or  71 
members  besides  the  High  priest.  This 
derivation  falls  in  better  with  the  modern 
notion  that  the  version  was  made  at 
different  times  by  different  translators. 
(Latin,  septuaginta,  seventy.) 

Seraglio.  The  palace  of  the  Turkish 
sultan,  situated  in  the  Golden  Horn,  and 
enclosed  by  walls  seven  miles  and  a half 
in  circuit.  The  chief  entrance  is  the 


seraphic  doctor. 


SERPENT. 


m 


Sublime  Gate;  and  tlie  chief  of  the  large 
edifices  is  the  Harem,  or  sacred  spot/* 
which  contains  numerous  houses,  one  for 
each  of  the  sultan’s  wives,  and  others 
for  his  concubines.  The  black  eunuchs 
form  the  inner  guard,  and  the  white 
eunuchs  the  second  guard.  The  Seraglio 
may  be  visited  by  strangers  ; not  so  the 
Harem. 

Seraphic  Doctor  (Doctor  Seraph' ~ 
icus).  St.  Bonaventu'ra,  a schoolman, 
was  so  called  for  his  seraphic  fervour 
and  eloquence.  (1221-1274.) 

Seraphic  Saint.  St.  Francis 
d’ Assisi,  founder  of  the  Franciscan  order. 
(1182-1226.) 

Ser'aphim.  An  order  of  angels 
distinguished  for  fervent  zeal  and  re- 
ligious ardour.  The  word  means 
burn.”  Isaiah  vi.  2.) 

Thousand  celestial  ardours  (seraphs)  where  he  stood 
Veiled  with  his  gorgeous  wings,  up  springing  light, 
Flew  through  the  midst  of  heaven. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost”  v. 

Sera'pis.  The  Ptolemaic  form  of  the 
Egyptian  Osi'ris.  The  word  is  a cor- 
ruption of  osor-apis  (dead  apis,  or  rather 

osirified-apis”),  a deity  which  had  so 
many  things  in  common  with  Osi'ris 
that  it  is  not  at  all  easy  to  distinguish 
them. 

Serapis.  Symbol  of  the  Nile  and  of 
fertility. 

Serat  (Al).  The  ordeal  bridge  over 
which  every  one  will  have  to  pass  at  the 
resurrection.  It  is  not  wider  than  the 
edge  of  a scimetar,  and  is  thrown  across 
the  gulf  of  Hell.  The  faithful,  says 
the  Koran,  will  pass  over  in  safety,  but 
sinners  will  fall  headlong  into  the  dreary 
realm  beneath. 

Serbo'nian  Bog  or  Serbo'nis.  A 
mess  from  which  there  is  no  way  of  ex- 
tricating oneself.  The  Serbonian  bog 
was  between  Egypt  and  Palestine. 
Strabo  calls  it  a lake,  and  says  it  was 
200  stadia  long  and  50  broad ; Pliny 
makes  it  150  miles  in  length.  Hume 
says  that  whole  armies  have  been  lost 
therein.  Typhon  lay  at  the  bottom  of 
this  bog,  which  was  therefore  called 
TyphorCs  Breathing  Hole.  It  received  its 
name  from  Sebaket- Bardoil,  a king  of 
Jerusalem,  who  died  there  on  his  return 
from  an  expedition  into  Egypt. 

Kow,  bir,  I must  say  I know  of  no  Serbonian  bog 


deeper  than  a £5  rating  would  prove  to  Dis- 

raeli (Chanc.  of  the  Exch.),  Times,  March  19,  1857. 

A gulf  profound  as  that  Serbonian  bog 
Betwixt  Damiata  and  Mount  Cassius  old, 
Where  armies  whole  have  sunk. 

Milton,  ^'Paradise  Lost,"  ii. 

Sereme'nes  (4  syl.).  Brother-in-law 
of  king  Sardanapa'lus,  to  whom  he  en- 
trusts his  signet  ring  to  put  down  a 
rebellion  headed  by  Arba'ces  the  Mede 
and  Bel'esis  the  Chaldean  soothsayer. 
He  is  slain  in  a battle  with  the  insur- 
gents. — Byron,  Sardanapalus,'* 

Serena'de  (3  syl.).  Music  performed 
in  the  serene — i.e.,  in  the  open  air  at 
even-tide  (Latin,  sere'num).  Ade  is  the 
Greek  aido,  I sing,  which  apjiears  in 
such  words  as  Mneid,  Lusiat/,  Dunciat^, 
FranciatZ,  Philipp?We,  Henrictc/e,  &c. 

Or  serenade  which  the  starved  lover  sings 
To  his  proud  fair.  Milton-,  “ Paradise  Lost." 

Sere'ne  (2  syl.).  A title  given  to 
certain  German  princes.  Those  princes 
who  used  to  hold  under  the  empire  were 
entitled  Serene  or  Most  Serene  Highnesses. 

Hs  all  serene.  All  right  (Spanish,  sere' no, 
^^all  right” — the  sentinel’s  countersign). 

Serif  and  Sanserif.  The  former  is 
a letter  in  typography  with  the  wings” 
or  finishing  strokes  (as  T) ; the  latter  is 
a letter  without  the  finishing  strokes  (as 
T).  French,  serre-file  (the  last  man  of  a 
file,  that  which  completes  a file ; the 
finishing  stroke). 

Serjeants-at-Law.  French,  freres- 
serjens,  a corruption  of  fraires- servientes 
of  the  Templars. 

Sermon  Lane,  Doctors  Commons, 
London.  A corruption  of  Shere-moniers 
Lane  (the  lane  of  the  money  shearers  or 
clippers,  whose  office  it  was  to  cut  and 
round  the  metal  to  be  stamped  into 
money).  The  Mint  was  in  the  street  now 
called  Old  OihdtngQ.— Maitland,  ‘‘Lon- 
don,^' ii.  880. 

Serpent.  An  attribute  of  St.  Cecilia, 
St.  Euphe'mia,  and  many  other  saints, 
either  because  they  trampled  on  Satan  or 
because  they  miraculously  cleared  some 
country  of  such  reptiles.  (#Sce  Dagon.) 

Serpent,  in  Christian  art,  figures  in 
Paradise  as  the  tempter. 

The  brazen  serpent  gave  newness  of 
life  to  those  who  were  bitten  by  the  fiery 
dragons,  and  raised  their  eyes  to  this 
symbol  (Numb.  xxi.  8). 

It  is  not  unfrequently  affixed  to  the 
cross. 

z z 2 


804  SERPENT. 


SERPENTINE  VERSES. 


It  is  generally  placed  under  the  feet  of 
the  Virgin,  in  allusion  to  the  promise 
made  to  Eve  after  the  Fall  (Gen.  iii.  15). 

Satan  is  called  the  great  serpent,  be- 
cause under  the  form  of  a serpent  he 
tempted  Eve  (Rev.  xii.  9). 

Serpent  metamorphoses.  Cadmos  and 
his  wife  Harmo'nia  were  by  Zeus  con- 
verted into  serpents,  and  removed  to 
Elysium.  Escula'pios,  god  of  Epidau'- 
ros,  assumed  the  form  of  a serpent  when 
he  appeared  at  Rome  during  a pesti- 
lence. Therefore  is  it  that  the  goddess 
of  Health  bears  in  her  hand  a serpent. 

O wave,  Hygeia,  o’er  Britannia’s  throne 

Thy  serpent  wand,  and  mark  it  for  thine  own. 

Darwin^  ‘^Economy  of  Vegetation^  iv. 

Jupiter  Ammon  appeared  to'Olym'pias 
in  the  form  of  a serpent,  and  became 
the  father  of  Alexander  the  Great. 

When  glides  a silver  serpent,  treacherous  guest  1 

And  fair  Olympia  folds  him  to  her  breast. 

Darwin^  Economy  of  Vegetation,"  i.  2. 

Jupiter  Capitoli'nus  in  a similar  form 
became  the  father  of  Scipio  Africanus. 

The  Serpent  is  emblematical — 

(1)  Of  wisdom. — '‘Be  ye  therefore  wise 
as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves  ” 
(Matt.  X.  16). 

(2)  Of  subtilty. — " Now  the  serpent  was 
more  subtil  than  any  beast  of  the  field  ” 
(Gen.  iii.  1). 

It  is  said  that  the  ceras'tes  hides  in 
sand  that  it  may  bite  the  horse’s  foot, 
and  get  the  rider  thrown.  In  allusion 
to  this  belief,  Jacob  says,  " Dan  shall  be 
...  an  adder  in  the  path,  that  biteth  the 
horse  heels,  so  that  his  rider  shall  fall 
backward”  (Gen.  xlix.  17). 

It  is  said  that  serpents  when  attacked 
swallow  their  young,  and  eject  them 
again  on  reaching  a place  of  safety. 

Thomas  Lodge  says  that  people  called 
Sauveurs  have  St.  Catherine’s  wheel  in 
the  palate  of  their  mouths,  and  there- 
fore can  heal  the  sting  of  serpents. 

When  a serpent  drinks  it  is  said  that 
it  §rst  vomits  up  all  its  venom,  for  fear 
of  poisoning  itself  by  swallowing  it. 

The  Bible  also  tells  us  that  it  stops 
up  its  ears  that  it  may  not  be  charmed 
by  the  charmer  (Ps.  Iviii.  4). 

The  serpent  is  symbolical — 

(1)  Of  deity,  because,  says  Plutarch, 
"it  feeds  upon  its  own  body  ; even  so  all 
things  spring  from  God,  and  will  be  re- 
solved into  deity  again. — "De  Iside  et 
Osiride”  i.  2.,  p.  5 ; and  Philo  Byblius.^* 


(2)  Of  eternity,  as  a corollary  of  the 
former.  It  is  represented  as  forming  a 
circle  and  holding  its  tail  in  its  roouth. 

(3)  Of  renovation.  It  is  said  that  the 
serpent,  when  it  is  old,  has  the  power  of 
growing  young  again  "like  the  eagle,” 
by  casting  its  slough,  which  is  done  by 
squeezing  itself  between  two  rocks. 

(4)  Of  guardian  spirits.  It  was  thus 
employed  by  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans,  and  not  unfrequently  the  figure 
of  a serpent  was  depicted  on  their  altars. 

In  the  temple  of  Athe'na,  at  Athens,  a 
serpent  was  kept  in  a cage,  and  called 
"The  Guardian  Spirit  of  the  Temple.” 
This  serpent  was  supposed  to  be  ani- 
mated by  the  soul  of  Erictho'nius. 

To  cherish  a serpent  in  your  bosom.  To 
show  kindness  to  one  who  proves  un- 
grateful. The  Greeks  say  that  a hus- 
bandman found  a serpent’s  egg,  which  he 
put  into  his  bosom.  The  egg  was  hatched 
by  the  warmtb,  and  the  young  serpent 
stung  its  benefactor. 

Their  ears  have  been  serpent-liclced.  They 
have  the  gift  of  foreseeing  events,  the 
power  of  seeing  into  futurity.  This  is  a 
Greek  superstition.  It  is  said  that  Cas- 
sandra and  Hel'enus  were  gifted  with  the 
power  of  prophecy,  because  serpents 
licked  their  ears  while  sleeping  in  the 
temple  of  Apollo. 

The  seed  of  the  woman  shall  bruise  the 
serpents  head.  And  to  the  serpent  God 
said,  the  seed  of  the  woman  " shall  bruise 
thy  head.”  The  heart  of  the  serpent 
being  close  to  the  head,  renders  a severe 
"bruise”  there  fatal.  The  serpent 
bruised  the  heel  of  man — i.e.,  being  a 
cause  of  stumbling,  it  hurt  the  foot  which 
tripped  against  it.  (Gen.  iii.  15.) 

Serpent* s Food.  Fennel  is  said  to  be 
the  favourite  food  of  serpents,  with  the 
juice  of  which  it  restores  its  sight  when 
dim. 

Serpents.  Brazilian  wood  is  a panacea 
against  the  bites  of  serpents.  The  coun- 
tess of  Salisbury,  in  the  reign  of  James 
I.,  had  a bedstead  made  of  this  wood, 
and  on  it  is  the  legend  of  Honi  soit  qui 
mal  y pense. 

Serpentine  Verses.  Such  as  end 
with  the  same  word  as  they  begin  with. 
The  following  are  examples  : — 

Crescit  amor  nummi,  quantum  ipsa  pecunia  crescit. 
Greater  grows  the  love  of  pelf,  as  pelf  itself  grows 
greater. 

^mbo  fiorentes  aetatibus,  Arcades  ambo. 

Both  intne  spring  of  life,  Arcadi  as  both. 


SERPENTINO.  SEVEN  BODIES.  806 


Serpenti'no  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
One  of  the  leaders  of  the  allied  Moorish 
army. 

Serrapur'da.  High  screens  of  rep 
cloth,  stiffened  with  cane,  used  to  en- 
close a considerable  space  round  the 
royal  tent  of  the  Persian  army. 
Servant  {Faithful),  {See  An  am.) 

Serve.  I'll  serve  him  out—g\YQ  him 
a quid  pro  quo.  This  is  the  French  des- 
serveVf  to  do  an  ill  turn  to  one. 

To  serve  a ro'pe.  To  roll  something 
upon  it  to  prevent  it  from  being  fretted. 
The  service”  or  material  employed  is 
spun  yard,  small  lines,  sennit,  ropes,  old 
leather,  or  canvas. 

Servus  Servo'rum  {Latin).  The 
slave  of  slaves,  the  drudge  of  a servant. 
The  style  adopted  by  the  Roman  pontiffs 
ever  since  the  time  of  Gregory  the  Great 
is  Servus  Servorum  Dei. 

Alexander  episcopus,  servus  servnrum  Dei,  Karis- 
Bimo  lilio  Wiilielmo  saluiem.— “i^’cedera,* 

i..  p.  1. 

Ses'ame  (3  syl.).  Oily  grain  of  the 
natural  order  Pedalia'cese,  originally 
from  India.  In  Egypt  they  eat  sesame 
cakes,  and  the  Jews  frequently  add  the 
seed  to  their  cakes.  The  cakes  made  of 
sesame  oil,  mixed  with  honey  and  pre- 
served citron,  are  considered  an  Oriental 
luxury ; sesame  is  excellent  also  for  pud- 
dings. {See  Open  Sesame.) 

Among  the  numerous  objects.. . .was  a black  horse 
..  ..On  one  side  of  its  manger  there  was  clean  barley 
and  sesame,  and  the  other  was  filled  with  rose-water. 
— 'Arabian  Nights  ” (Third  Colander). 

Se'sha.  King  of  the  serpent  race,  on 
which  Vishnu  reclines  on  the  primeval 
waters.  It  has  a thousand  heads,  on  one 
of  which  the  world  rests.  The  coiled-up 
sesha  is  the  emblem  of  eternity. — Hindu 
mythology. 

Sesos'tris  (in  F^nelon’s  “ Tele- 
maque  ”).  The  lay  figure  Of  this  charac- 
ter was  Louis  XIV. 

Set  Off.  A commercial  expression. 
The  credits  are  set  off  the  debits,  and 
the  balance  struck. 

Set  off  to  advantage.  A term  used  by 
jewellers,  who  set  off  precious  stones  by 
appropriate  settings.” 

Set-to.  A boxing  match,  a pugilistic 
fight,  a scolding.  In  pugilism  the  com- 
batants are  by  their  seconds  ^^set  to  the 
scratch  ” or  line  marked  on  the  ground, 
and  this  set-to”  is  in  fact  the  com- 
mencement of  the  encounter. 


Set'ebos.  A deity  of  the  Patago- 
nians, introduced  by  Shakespeare  into 
his  '^Tempest.” 

His  art  is  of  such  power 
It  would  control  my  dam’s  god,  Setebos, 

And  make  a vassal  of  him.  ^‘Tempest,"  i.  2. 

Sethltes  (2  syl.).  A sect  of  the 
second  century,  who  maintained  that 
the  Messiah  was  Seth,  son  of  Adam. 

Setting  the  Thames  on  Fire.  A 
pun  on  the  word  temse  (a  sieve  for  cleans- 
ing meal).  An  active  workman  would 
often  set  the  rim  of  the  temse  on  fire  by 
friction,  as  he  moved  it  rapidly  over  the 
mouth  of  the  barrel  into  which  the  meal 
was  sifted.  The  French  have  the  same 
pun:  Setting  the  Seine  on  fire;”  for 

seine  is  a large  fish-net.  A lazy  man  will 
‘‘  never  set  the  temse  [Thames]  on  fire.” 

Seven  (Greek,  hepta;  Latin,  septem; 
German,  sieben  ; Saxon,  seofan;  our  seven, 
&c.).  A holy  number.  There  are  seven 
days  in  creation,  seven  spirits  before  the 
throne  of  God,  seven  days  in  the  week, 
seven  graces,  seven  divisions  in  the  Lord’s 
Prayer,  seven  ages  in  the  life  of  man,  and 
the  just  fall  ^^seven  times  a day.”  There 
are  seven  phases  of  the  moon,  every 
seventh  year  was  sabbatical,  and  seven 
times  seventy  years  was  the  jubilee.  The 
three  great  Jewish  feasts  lasted  seven 
days,  and  between  the  first  and  second 
of  these  feasts  were  seven  weeks.  Levit- 
ical  purifications  lasted  seven  days.  We 
have  seven  churches  of  Asia,  seven  can- 
dlesticks, seven  stars,  seven  trumpets, 
seven  spirits  before  the  throne  of  God, 
seven  horns,  the  Lamb  has  seven  eyes, 
ten  times  seven  Israelites  go  to  Egypt, 
the  exile  lasts  the  same  number  of  years, 
and  there  were  ten  times  seven  elders. 
Pharaoh  in  his  dream  saw  seven  kine 
and  seven  ears  of  corn,  &c. 

It  is  frequently  used  indefinitely  to 
signify  a long  time,  or  a great  many: 
thus  in  the  Interlude  of  the  Four  Ele- 
ments,” the  dance  of  Apetyte  is  called 
the  best  ‘Hhat  I have  seen  this  seven 
yere.”  Shakespeare  talks  of  a man  being 

a vile  thief  this  seven  year.” 

Seven  Bodies  in  Alchemy.  Sun 
is  gold,  moon  silver.  Mars  iron,  Merc  ary 
quicksilver,  Saturn  lead,  Jupiter  tin, 
and  Venus  copper. 

The  bodies  seven,  eek,  lo  hem  heer  anoon ; 

Sol  gold  is,  and  Luna  silver  we  threpe ; 

Mars  yren,  Mercuric  quyksilver  we  clepe ; 

Saturnus  leed,  and  Jubitur  is  tyn, 

And  Venus  coper,  by  my  fader  kyu. 

Chaucer,  Prol.  of  the  ^'Chanounea  Yemanea 


806  SEVEN  CHAMPIONS. 


SEVEN  SLEEPEKS 


Seven  Champions  of  Christen- 
dom is  by  Richard  Johnson,  who  lived 
in  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James  I. 

(1)  St.  George  of  England  was  seven 
years  imprisoned  by  the  Almi'dor,  the 
black  king  of  Morocco. 

(2)  St.  Denys  of  France  lived  seven 
years  in  the  form  of  a hart. 

(3)  St.  James  of  Spain  was  seven  years 
dumb  out  of  love  to  a fair  Jewess. 

(4)  St.  Anthony  of  Italy,  with  the  other 
champions,  was  enchanted  into  a deep 
sleep  in  the  Black  Castle,  and  was  re- 
leased by  St.  George’s  three  sons,  who 
quenched  the  seven  lamps  by  water  from 
the  enchanted  fountain. 

(5)  St.  Andrew  of  Scotland,  who  was 
guided  through  the  Vale  of  Walking 
Spirits  by  the  Walking  Fire,  and  de- 
livered six  ladies  who  had  lived  seven 
years  under  the  form  of  milk-white  swans, 

(6)  St.  Patrick  of  Ireland  was  immured 
in  a cell  where  he  scratched  his  grave 
with  his  own  nails. 

(7)  St.  David  of  Wales  slept  seven 
years  in  the  enchanted  garden  of  Orman- 
dine,  but  was  redeemed  by  St.  George. 

Seven  Churclies  of  Asia. 

(1)  Ephesos,  founded  by  St.  Paul,  57, 
in  a ruinous  state  in  the  time  of  Justinian 
(527). 

(2)  Smyrna,  still  an  important  seaport. 
Polycarp  was  its  first  bishop,  and  died 
175. 

(3)  Per'gamos,  renowned  for  its  library. 

(4)  Thyati'ra,  now  called  Ak-hissar 
(the  White  Castle). 

(5)  Sardis,  now  a small  village  called 
Sart. 

(6)  Philadelphia,  now  called  Allah 
Shehr  (Cit?/  of  God) ^ a miserable  town. 

(7)  Laodice'a,  now  a deserted  place 
called  Eske-hissar  (the  Old  Cdstle). 

Seven  Days’  War.  The  great 
conflict  for  German  supremacy  between 
Prussia  and  Italy  on  one  side  and  Aus- 
tria on  the  other,  in  the  spring  of  1866. 
Austria,  having  confessed  herself  beaten, 
gave  up  the  Quadrilateral  to  France,  and 
France  gave  it  to  Italy,  by  which  means 
all  Italy,  except  a small  part  secured  to 
the  pope,  became  one  kingdona. 

The  late  Franco-Prussian  conflict  was 
a SIX  months’  war.  The  emperor  left 
St.  Cloud  July  28,  1870,  and  Paris  ca- 
pitulated January  28,  1871. 

Seven  Dials  {London).  A column, 
railed  in,  formerly  stood  at  the  ancient 


limits  of  St.  Giles,  and  seven  dials  were 
affixed  to^  it,  facing  the  seven  streets 
which  radiated  from  that  centre. 

Where  famed  St.  Giles’s  ancient  limits  spread 

An  in-railed  column  rears  its  lofty  head. 

Here  to  seven  streets  seven  dials  count  the  day, 

And  from  each  other  catch  the  circlin?  ray. 

Gay,**  Trivia,"  ii. 

Sevea  Joys  of  the  Virgin.  {See 

Mary.) 

Seven  Sages  or  Wise  Men  of 
Greece. 

(1)  Solon  of  Athens,  whose  motto  was, 
'^Know  thyself.” 

(2)  Chilo  of  Sparta — ^‘Consider  the 
end.” 

(3)  Thales  of  Mile'tos — ^^Who  hateth 
suretyship  is  sure.” 

(4)  Bias  of  Prie'ne — ‘^Most  men  are 
bad.” 

(5)  Cleobu'los  of  Lindos—*^  The  golden 
mean,”  or  ^^Avoid  extremes.” 

(6)  Pittacos  of  Mityle'ne — Seize  Time 
by  the  forelock.” 

(7)  Periander  of  Corinth — Nothing 
is  impossible  to  industry.” 

First  Solon,  who  made  the  Athenian  laws; 

While  Chilo,  in  Sparta,  was  famed  for  his  saws  ; 

In  Mile'tos  did  Thales  astronomy  teach ; 

Mas  used  in  Prie'ne  his  morals  to  preach; 

Cleobulos,  of  Lindos,  was  handsome  and  wise ; 

Mityle'ne  ’gainst  thraldom  saw  Pittacos  rise  ; 

Periander  is  said  to  have  gained  through  his  court 

The  title  that  My  son,  the  Cheaian,  ought. 

Seven  Senses.  Scared  out  of  my 
seven  senses.  According  to  very  ancient 
teaching,  the  soul  of  man,  or  his  ^Inward 
holy  body,”  is  compounded  of  the  seven 
properties  which  are  under  the  influence 
of  the  seven  planets.  Fire  animates, 
earth  gives  the  sense  of  feeling,  water 
gives  speech,  air  gives  taste,  mist  gives 
sight,  flowers  give  hearing,  the  south 
wind  gives  smelling.  Hence  the  seven 
senses  are  animation,  feeling,  speech, 
taste,  sight,  hearing,  and  smelling.  {See 
Common  Sense.) 

Seven  Sisters.  Seven  culverins  so 
called,  cast  by  one  Borthwick. 

And  these  were  Borthwick’s  “ Sisters  Seven,” 
And  culverins  which  France  had  given ; 
Ill-omened  gitt!  The  guns  remain 
The  conqueror’s  spoil  on  Flodden  plain. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  **  Marmion,"  iv. 

Seven  Sleepers.  Seven  noble 
youths  of  Ephesos,  who  fled  in  the  Decian 
persecution  to  a cave  in  mount  Celioq, 
After  230  years  they  awoke,  but  soon 
died,  and  their  bodies  were  taken  to 
Marseilles  in  a large  stone  coffin,  still 
shown  in  Victor’s  Church.  Their  names 


SEVEN  SOREOWS, 


SFORZA. 


807 


are  Constantine,  Dionysius,  John,  Max- 
im'ian,  Malchus,  Martin'ian,  and  Serap'- 
ion.  This  fable  took  its  rise  from  a mis- 
apprehension of  the  words,  ‘^They  fell 
asleep  in  the  Lord”— “i.e.,  died.  — 6^re- 
gory  of  Tours,  De  Gloria  31  arty  rum,"' 
i.  9. 

Seven  Sorrows  of  the  Virgin. 

(See  Mary.) 

Seven  Spirits  stand  before  the 
Throne  of  God : — Michael,  Gabriel,  La- 
mael,  Raphael,  Zachariel,  Anael,  and 
Oriphiel. — Gustarini. 

Seven  Wise  Masters.  A Roman 
prince  was  placed  under  the  charge  of 
seven  wise  instructors ; when  he  grew  to 
man’s  estate  his  step-mother  made  im- 
proper advances  to  him,  and,  being  re- 
pelled, accused  him  to  the  king  of  offer- 
ing her  violence.  By  consulting  the 
stars  the  prince  found  out  that  his  life  was 
in  danger,  but  that  the  crisis  would  be 
passed  without  injury  if  he  remained  si- 
lent for  seven  days.  The  wise  masters 
now  take  up  the  matter ; each  one  in 
turn  tells  the  king  a tale  to  illustrate 
the  evils  of  inconsiderate  punishments, 
and  as  the  tale  ends  the  king  resolves  to 
relent ; but  the  queen  at  night  prevails 
on  him  to  carry  out  his  sentence.  The 
seven  days  being  passed,  the  prince  also 
tells  a tale  which  embodies  the  whole 
truth,  whereupon  the  king  sentences  the 
queen  to  lose  her  life.  This  collection 
of  tales,  called  ^^Sandabar’s  Parables,” 
is  very  ancient,  and  has  been  translated 
from  the  Arabic  into  almost  all  the  lan- 
guages of  the  civilised  world.  John 
Rolland,  of  ENalkeith,  turned  it  into 
Scotch  metre. 

Seven  Wonders  (I.)  of  Antiquity. 

(1)  The  Pyramids  of  Egypt;  (2)  the 
Hanging  Gardens  of  Babylon;  (3)  the 
Tomb  of  Mauso'los ; (4)  the  Temple  of 
Diana  at  Ephesus ; (5)  the  Colossus  of 
Rhodes;  (6)  the  Statue  of  Zeus  (Jupiter) 
by  Phidias  ; (7)  the  Pharos  of  Egypt,  or 
else  the  Palace  of  Cyrus  cemented  with 
gold. 

The  pyramids  first,  which  in  Egypt  were  laid ; 

Next  Babylon's  garden,  for  Am'ytis  made ; 

Then  Muusolos's  tomb  of  affection  and  guilt ; 

Fourth,  the  Temple  o/Dian,  in  J^phesus  built ; 

The  Colossos  of  Rhodes, cast  m brass,  to  the  sun ; 

Sixth,  Jupiter's  statue,  by  Phidias  done  ; 

The  Pharos  of  Egypt  comes  last,  we  are  told, 

Or  the  palace  of  Cyrus,  cemented  with  gold. 

(II.)  Of  the  Middle  Ayes. 

(1)  The  Colise'um  of  Rome ; (2)  the 


Catacombs  of  Alexandria ; (3)  the  Great 
Wall  of  China;  (4)  Stonehenge;  (5)  the 
Leaning  Tower  of  Pisa;  (6)  the  Porcelain 
Tower  of  Nankin ; (7)  the  Mosque  of  St. 
Sophia  at  Constantinople. 

Seven  Years’  Lease.  Leases  run 
by  seven  years  and  its  multiples,  from 
the  ancient  notion  of  what  was  termed 
^^climacteric  years,”  in  which  life  was 
supposed  to  be  in  special  peril. — Levinus 
Lemnius.  (See  Climacteric  Years.) 

Seven  Years’  War.  The  conflict 
maintained  by  Frederick  II.  of  Prussia 
against  Austria,  Russia,  and  France. 
(1756-1763.) 

Severn.  (^See  Sabrina.) 

Seve'rus  (St.).  Patron  saint  of 
fullers,  being  himself  of  the  same  craft. 

The  Wall  of  Severus.  A stone  ram- 
part, built  in  208  by  the  emperor  Seve'rus, 
between  the  Tyne  and  the  Solway.  It 
is  to  the  north  of  Hadrian’s  wall,  which 
was  constructed  in  120. 

Sewed-up.  Intoxicated;  done  up. 
(Dutch,  seeuwt,  sick.) 

Sexages'ima  Sunday.  The  second 
Sunday  before  Lent ; so  called  because 
in  round  numbers  it  is  sixty  days  before 
Easter. 

Sex'tile  (2  syl.).  The  aspect  of  two 
planets  when  distant  from  each  other 
sixty  degrees  or  two  signs.  This  position 
is  marked  thus  ^ As  there  are  twelve 
signs,  two  degrees  is  a sixth. 

In  sextile,  square,  and  trine,  and  opposite 

Of  noxious  efficacy. 

Milton.  Paradise  Lost."  x.  059, 

N.B.  The  signs  opposite  or  distant 
one-half  the  circle  are  noxious,  because 
their  action  and  influence  are  in  the  con- 
trary direction. 

Sex'ton.  A corruption  of  Sa'cristan, 
an  official  who  has  charge  of  the  sacra  or 
things  attached  to  a specific  church,  such 
as  vestments,  cushions,  books,  boxes, 
tools,  vessels,  and  so  on. 

Seyd  (Seed).  Pacha  of  the  Moro'a, 
assassinated  by  Gulnare,  his  favourite 
concubine. — Byron,  ^‘The  Corsair 3' 

Sforza,  the  founder  of  the  illus- 
trious house  which  was  so  conspicuous 
in  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries, 
was  the  son  of  a day-labourer.  His  name 
was  Giacomuzzo  Attendolo,  and  was 
chauged  to  Sforza  from  the  following 


808 


SHACK. 


SHAFALUS. 


incident : — Being  desirous  of  going  to  the 
wars,  he  consulted  his  hatchet  thus  : he 
flung  it  against  a tree,  saying  it  sticks 
fast,  I will  go.”  It  did  stick  fast,  and  he 
enlisted.  It  was  because  he  threw  it 
with  such  amazing  force  that  he  was 
called  Sforza,  the  Italian  for  force. 

iS/orza  (in  ^‘Jerusalem  Delivered”)  of 
Lombardy.  He,  with  his  two  brothers 
Achilles  and  Palame'deSsj  were  in  the 
squadron  of  adventurers  in  tlie  allied 
Christian  army. 

Sliack.  A scamp.  To  shack  or 
shackle  is  to  tie  a log  to  a horse,  and 
send  it  out  to  feed  on  the  stubble  after 
harvest.  A shack  is  either  a beast  so 
shackled,  the  right  of  sending  a beast  to 
the  stubble,  or  the  stubble  itself.  Ap- 
plied to  men,  a shack  is  a jade,  a stubble- 
feeder,  one  bearing  the  same  ratio  to  a 
well-to-do  man  as  a jade  sent  to  graze  on 
a common  bears  to  a well-stalled  horse. 
(Saxon,  sceacul ; Arabic,  shakal,  to  tie 
the  feet  of  a beast.) 

Shad-U-Kain  {Pleasure  and  Delight). 
The  luxuriant  province  of  the  Peri- 
realms,  the  capital  of  which  is  Juder- 
abad'  {Jewel  city). 

Shaddock.  A large  kind  of  orange, 
so  called  from  Captain  Shaddock,  who 
first  transplanted  one  in  the  West  Indies. 
It  is  a native  of  China  and  Japan. 

Shades.  Wine  vaults.  The  Brigh- 
ton Old  Bank,  in  1819,  was  turned  by  Mr. 
Savage  into  a smoking-room  and  gin- 
shop.  There  was  an  entrance  to  it  by 
the  Pavilion  Shades,  and  Savage  took 
down  the  word  hank,  and  inserted  instead 
the  word  shades.  This  term  was  not 
inappropriate,  as  the  room  was  in  reality 
shaded  by  the  opposite  house,  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Fitzherbert. 

Shadoff.  A contrivance  in  Egypt 
for  watering  lands  for  the  summer  crops. 
It  consists  chiefly  of  long  rods  so  sus- 
pended as  to  act  as  levers. 

Shadow.  A ghost.  Macbeth  says  to 
the  ghost  of  Banquo — 

Hence,  horrible  shadow  ! unreal  mockeiy.  hence  ! 

Shakespeare,  “i/acbe^/i,”  iii.  4. 

He  ivould  quarrel  loith  his  own  shadow. 
He  is  so  irritable  that  he  would  lose  his 
temper  on  the  merest  trifle. 

Gone  to  the  had  for  the  shadow  of  an  ass. 
Demosthenes  says  a young  Athenian 
once  hired  an  ass  to  Meg'ara.  The  heat 


was  so  great  and  the  road  so  exposed, 
that  he  alighted  at  midday  to  take  shel- 
ter from  the  sun  under  the  shadow  of 
the  poor  beast.  Scarcely  was  he  seated 
when  the  owner  passed  by,  and  laid 
claim  to  the  shadow,  saying  he  let  the 
ass  to  the  traveller,  but  not  the  ass’s 
shadow.  After  fighting  for  a time,  they 
agreed  to  settle  the  matter  in  the  law 
courts,  and  the  suit  lasted  so  long  that 
both  were  ruined.  If  you  must  quar- 
rel, let  it  be  for  something  better  than 
the  shadow  of  an  ass.” 

May  your  shadiow  never  he  less.  When 
students  have  made  certain  progress  in 
the  black  arts,  they  are  compelled  to  run 
through  a subterranean  hall,  with  the 
devil  after  them.  If  they  run  so  fast 
that  the  devil  can  only  catch  their  sha- 
dow or  part  of  it,  they  become  first-rate 
magicians,  but  lose  either  all  or  part  of 
their  shadow.  Therefore  the  expression 
referred  to  above  means.  May  you  escape 
wholly  and  entirely  from  the  clutches  of 
the  foul  fiend. 

A servant  earnestly  desireth  the  shadoio 
( J ob  vii.  2)— the  time  of  leaving  off  work. 
The  people  of  the  East  measure  time  by 
the  length  of  their  shadow,  and  if  you 
ask  a man  what  o’clock  it  is,  he  will  go 
into  the  sun,  stand  erect,  and  fixing  his 
eye  where  his  shadow  terminates,  will 
measure  its  length  with  his  feet ; having 
done  so  he  will  tell  you  the  hour  cor- 
rectly. A workman  earnestly  desires  his 
shadow,  which  indicates  the  time  of 
leaving  off  work.  A person  wanting  to 
leave  the  field-work  says,  ^^How  long 
my  shadow  is  coming!”  A wife  will  say 
to  her  husband,  Why  did  you  not  come 
sooner,”  and  the  man  will  answer,  I 
was  obliged  to  wait  for  my  shadow.” 

Shady.  On  the  shady  side  of  forty — 
the  wrong  side,  meaning  more  than  forty. 
As  evening  approaches  the  shadows 
lengthen,  and  as  man  advances  towards 
the  evening  of  life  he  approaches  the 
shady  side  thereof.  As  the  beauty  of 
the  day  is  gone  when  the  sun  declines, 
the  word  shady  means  inferior,  bad,  &c. ; 
as,  a shady  character,  one  that  will  not 
bear  the  light ; a shady  transaction,  &c. 

ShaTalus.  So  Bottom  the  Weaver, 
and  Francis  Flute  the  Bellows-mender, 
call  Ceph'alus,  the  husband  of  Procris. 
Cephalus  was  very  fond  of  hunting,  and 
being  greatly  heated  used  to  throw  him 
self  on  the  ground  and  call  for  Aura 


SHAFITES. 


SHAKESPEARE. 


809 


(wind),  Procris,  being  informed  of-  this, 
thought  Aura  was  some  rival  mistress, 
and  out  of  jealousy  stole  through  the 
woods  to  catch  her  faithless  spouse” 
in  the  very  act  of  infidelity.  Cephalus 
heard  a rustling,  and  thinking  it  to  be 
occasioned  by  some  wild  boar  about  to 
spring  on  him,  discharged  a dart,  and 
killed  his  jealous  wife. 

Py RAMUS.  Wot  Shafalus  to  Procrus  was  so  true. 

Thisbe.  As  Shafalus  to  Procrus.  I to  you. 

Shakespeare, '' Midsummer  Night's  Dream,''  v.  1. 

Slia^fites  (2  syl.).  One  of  the  four 
sects  of  the  Sunnites  or  orthodox  Mos- 
lems; so  called  from  Al-Shafei,  a descen- 
dant of  Mahomet. 

Shaft.  I will  make  either  a shaft  or 
holt  of  it.  I will  apply  it  to  one  use  or 
another.  The  bolt  was  the  cross-bow 
arrow,  the  shaft  was  the  arrow  of  the 
long-bow. 

Shafton  (^Sir  Piercie).  In  this  char- 
acter Sir  Walter  Scott  has  made  familiar 
to  us  the  euphuisms  of  queen  Elizabeth’s 
age.  The  fashionable  cavalier  or  pedantic 
fop,  who  assumes  the  high-flown  style 
rendered  fashionable  by  Lyly,  was  grand- 
son of  old  Overstitch  the  tailor.— 
Walter  Scott,  Monastery.’' 

Shag.  Wet  as  a shag.  A shag  is  a 
cormorant  or  sea-raven  (Cormis  mari'nus). 

S h a h-p our,  the  Great  (Sapor'  II. ). 
Surnamed  Zu-lectaf  (shoulder-breaker), 
because  he  dislocated  the  shoulders  of 
all  the  Arabs  taken  in  war.  The  Romans 
called  him  Posthumus,  because  he  was 
born  after  the  death  of  his  father  Hor- 
muz II.  He  was  crowned  in  the  womb 
by  the  Magi  placing  the  royal  insignia 
on  the  body  of  his  mother. 

Shakes.  No  great  shakes.  Nothing  ex- 
traordinary ; no  such  mighty  privilege, 
or  bargain.  The  shake  is  the  common 
or  stubble,  which  poor  men  were  by  law 
empowered  to  use  for  their  hogs,  sheep, 
or  cattle,  between  harvest  and  seed 
time ; hence  a 'privilege.  It  is  quite  a 
mistake  to  derive  the  word  from  the 
French  chaque,  or  Persian  shuck  (a 
thing). 

ril  do  it  in  a brace  of  shakes — instantly, 
as  soon  as  you  can  shake  twice  the  dice- 
box. 

Shake-down.  Come  and  take  a 
shake-down  at  my  house—o.  bed.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  time  when  men  slept 
upon  litter  or  clean  straw. 


Shakers.  Certain  agamists  founded 
ill  North  America  by  Ann  Lee,  called 

Mother  Ann,”  daughter  of  a poor 
blacksmith,  born  in  Toad  Lane  (Todd 
Street),  Manchester.  She  married  a 
smith  named  Stanley,  and  had  four 
children  who  died  in  infancy,  after 
which  she  joined  the  sect  of  Jane  Ward- 
law,  a tailoress,  but  was  thrown  into 
prison  as  a brawler.  While  there  she 
said  that  Jesus  Christ  stood  before  her, 
and  became  one  with  her  in  form  and 
spirit ; and  when  she  came  out  and  told 
her  story,  six  or  seven  persons  joined 
her,  and  called  her  '^the  Lamb’s  bride.” 
Soon  after  this  she  went  to  America  and 
settled  at  Water  Vliet,  in  New  York. 
Other  settlements  were  established  in 
Hancock  and  Mount  Lebanon. 

The  shakers  never  marry,  form  no  earthly  ties 
believe  in  no  future  resurrection.— IT.  Hepworih 
Dixon,  "New  America,”  vii.  12. 

Shakespeare,  usually  called  ^^Gen 
tie  Will.” 

His  wife  was  Anne  Hathaway,  of  Shot- 
tery,  about  eight  years  older  than  him- 
self. 

He  had  one  son  named  Hamnet,  who 
died  in  his  twelfth  year. 

Ben  Jonson  said  of  him  — “ And 
though  thou  hadst  small  Latin  and  less 
Greek  . . .” 

Milton  calls  him  Sweetest  Shake- 
speare, fancy’s  child,”  and  says  he  will 
go  to  the  well-trod  stage  to  hear  him 

warble  his  native  wood-notes  wild.” — 
Allegro,”  133. 

Akenside  says  he  is  Alike  the  mas< 
ter  of  our  smiles  and  tears.”— Oofe  i. 

Dryden  says  of  him — He  was  a man 
who  of  all  modern,  and  perhaps  ancient 
poets,  had  the  largest  and  most  com- 
prehensive soul.” 

Young  says — '^He  wrote  the  play  the 
Almighty  made.” — Epistle  to  Lord  Lans- 
downe. 

Mallett  says — Great  above  rule.  . . . 
Nature  was  his  own.” — Verbal  Criti- 
cism.” 

Collins  says  he  joined  Tuscan  fancy 
to  Athenian  force.” — Ejpistle  to  Sir  Thomas 
Hanmer, 

Pope  says — 

Shakespeare  (whom  you  and  every  play-house  bill 
Style  “ the  divine,” “the  matchless,”  what  you  will) 
For  gain,  not  glory,  winged  his  roving  flight. 

And  grew  immortal  in  his  own  despight. 

“ Imitations  of  Horace,”  Ep.  i. 

The  dedication  of  Shakespeare' s Sonnets 


810 


SHAKY. 


SHANDEAN  EXi^.CTNESS. 


has  provoked  much  controversy.  It  is 
as  follows ; — 

TO  THE  ONLIE  BEGETTER  OP 
THESE  INSUING  SONNETS 
MR.  W.  H.  ALL  HAPPINESSE 
AND  THAT  ETERNITIE 
PROMISED 
BY 

OUR  EVER-LIVING  POET 
WISHETH 

— that  is,  Mr.  William  Herbert  [after- 
wards lord  Pembroke]  wisheth  to  [the 
earl  of  Southampton]  the  only  begetter 
or  instigxtor  of  these  sonnets,  that  happi- 
ness and  eternal  life  which  [Shakespeare] 
the  ever-living  poet  speaks  of.  The 
rider  is — 

THE  WELL-WISHING 
ADVENTURER  IN 
SETTING 

FORTH  T.  T. 

That  is,  Thomas  Thorpe  is  the  adven- 
turer who  speculates  in  their  publica- 
tion. (See  Aihenceum,  Jan.  25,  1862.) 

Shakespeare.  There  are  six  accredited 
signatures  of  this  poet,  five  of  which  are 
attached  to  business  documents,  and  one 
is  entered  in  a book  called  ^^Floreo,”  a 
translation  of  Montaigne,  published  in 
1603.  A passage  in  act  ii.,  s.  2,  of  ^‘The 
Tempest  ” is  traced  directly  to  this  tran- 
slation, proving  that  the  Floreo  ” was 
possessed  by  Shakespeare  before  he  wrote 
that  play. 

The  Shakespeare  of  Divines.  Jeremy 
Taylor.  (1613-1667.) 

The  Shakespeare  of  Eloquence.  So  Bar- 
nave  happily  characterised  the  comte  de 
Mirabeau.  (1749-1791.) 

Shaky.  Not  steady  ; not  in  good 
health ; not  strictly  upright : not  well 
prepared  for  examination.  The  allusion 
is  to  a table  or  chair  out  of  order,  and 
shaky. 

Shalloon  is  the  French  ras  de  Chalons 
(the  short-napped  cloth  manufactured  at 
Chalons). 

Shallow.  A weak-minded  country 
justice,  intended  as  a caricature  of  Sir 
Thomas  Lucy,  of  Charlecote.  He  is 
described  as  one  who  has  been  a mad- 
cap in  his  youth,  and  still  dotes  on  his 
wild  tricks  ; he  is  withal  a liar,  a block- 
head, and  a rogue. — Shakespeare^  Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor f and  ‘^2  Henry  /F.” 

Shallum,  the  lover  of  Hilpa,  is  de- 
scribed by  Addison  to  be  of  a gentle  dis- 


position, beloved  both  by  God  and  man.” 
He  was  lord  of  a manor  consisting  of  a 
long  chain  of  rocks  and  mountains  called 
Tirzah.  (See  Hilpa.) 

Shalott  (Lady  of).  A poem  by 
Tennyson,  the  tale  of  which  is  similar 
to  that  of  Elaine  the  ^‘fair  maid  of 
Astolat”  {q.v.).  Part  I.  describes  the 
island  of  Shalott,  and  tells  us  that  the 
lady  passed  her  life  so  secluded  there 
that  only  the  farm -labourers  knew  her. 
Part  II.  tells  us  that  the  lady  passed  her 
time  in  weaving  a magic  web,  and  that 
a curse  would  light  on  her  if  she  looked 
down  the  river  towards  Camelot.  Part 
III.  describes  how  Sir  Lancelot,  in  all  his 
bravery,  rode  to  Camelot,  and  the  lady 
looked  at  him  as  he  rode  along.  Part  IV. 
says  that  the  lady  entered  a boat,  hav- 
ing first  written  her  name  on  the  prow, 
and  floated  down  the  river  to  Camelot, 
but  died  on  the  way.  When  the  boat 
reached  Camelot,  Sir  Lancelot,  with  all 
the  inmates  of  the  palace,  came  to  look 
at  it.  They  read  the  name  on  the  prow, 
and  Sir  Lancelot  exclaimed,  She  has  a 
lovely  face,  and  may  God  have  mercy  on 
the  lady  of  Shalott !” 

Sliambles  means  benches  (Saxon, 
scamel;  Latin,  scamnuri) ; the  benches  on 
which  meat  is  exposed  for  sale.  Bank 
means  precisely  the  same  thing  as  sham- 
bles. (See  Bank.  ) 

Whatsoever  is  sold  in  the  shambles,  that  eat, 
asking  no  question.— 1 Gor.  x.  25. 

Sham'rock,  the  symbol  of  Ireland, 
because  it  was  selected  by  St.  Patrick 
to  prove  to  the  Irish  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity.  (Irish  and  Gaelic,  seam-rag.) 

Shamrock.  According  to  the  elder 
Pliny,  no  serpent  will  touch  this  plant. 

Slian-dra-dan.  A Scotch  car;  a 
corruption  of  the  French  char-en-dedans 
(an  inside  car— ^.e.,  a car  where  the  tra- 
vellers sit  vis-d-vis'), 

Shande'an  Exactness.  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott  says,  The  author  proceeds 
with  the  most  unfeeling  prolixity  to  give 
a minute  detail  of  civil  and  common  law, 
of  the  feudal  institutions,  of  the  archi- 
tecture of  churches  and  castles,  of 
sculpture  and  painting,  of  minstrels, 
players,  and  parish  clerks.  . . Tristram 
can  hardly  be  said  to  be  fairly  born, 
though  his  lip  has  already  attained  the 
size  of  half  a volume.”  (See  next  page.) 


SHANDY 


SHAVING. 


811 


"With  a Shandean  exactness.  . . . Lady  Anne 
begins  her  memoirs  of  herself  nine  months  before 
her  nativity,  for  the  sake  of  introducing  a beauti- 
ful quotation  from  the  Psalms.— Borealis,''* 
p.  269. 

Shandy.  Captain  Shandy  is  called 
Uncle  Toby.  He  was  wounded  at  the 
siege  of  Namur,  and  had  retired  from  the 
service.  He  is  benevolent  and  generous, 
simple  as  a child,  brave  as  a lion,  and 
gallant  as  a courtier.  His  modesty  with 
Widow  Wadman  and  his  military  tastes 
are  admirable.  He  is  said  to  be  drawn 
for  Sterne’s  father. — ^‘Tristram  Shandy.''^ 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Shandy^  mother  of 
Tristram.  The  beau-ideal  of  nonentity. 
Sir  Walter  Scott  describes  her  as  a 

good  lady  of  the  poco-curante  school.” 
— Sterne^  “ Tristram  Shandy. 

Tristram  Shandy.  The  hero  of  Sterne’s 
novel  so  called. 

Walter  Shandy,  Tristram’s  father.  He 
is  a metaphysical  Don  Quixote  in  his  way, 
full  of  superstitious  and  idle  conceits. 
He  believes  in  long  noses  and  propitious 
names,  but  his  son’s  nose  is  crushed,  and 
his  name  is  Tristram  instead  of  Tris- 
megistus. — Sterne,  ^^Tristram  Shandy.'*' 

Shanks’  3Nag.  To  ride  Shanlcs'  nag 
is  to  go  on  foot,  the  shanks  being  the 
legs.  A similar  phrase  is  ‘‘  Going  by  the 
marrow-bone  stage.” 

Shanty.  A log-hut ; from  the  French 
chantier,  a yard  where  logs  of  wood  are 
piled  for  sale. 

Shark.  A swindler,  a pilferer ; one 
who  snaps  up  things  like  a*  shark,  which 
eats  almost  anything,  and  seems  to  care 
little  whether  its  food  is  alive  or  dead, 
fish,  flesh,  or  human  bodies. 

These  thieves  dee  rob  us  with  our  ownegood  will, 
And  have  datr.e  Nature’s  warrant  for  it  still; 
Sometimes  these  sharks  doe  worke  each  other’s 
wrack, 

The  raveniag  belly  of.cn  robs  the  backe 

Taylor's  “IForites,”  ii.  117. 

The  sharTc  flies  the  feodher.  This  is  a 
sailor’s  proverb  founded  on  observation. 
Though  a shark  is  so  voracious  that  it 
will  swallow  without  distinction  every- 
thing that  drops  from  a ship  into  the 
sea,  such  as  cordage,  cloth,  pitch,  wood, 
and  even  knives,  yet  it  will  never  touch 
a pilot-fish  {q.v.)  or  a fowl,  either  alive 
or  dead.  It  avoids  sea-gulls,  sea-mews, 
petrels,  and  every  feathered  thing. — 
St.  Pierre,  Studies, " i. 

Sharp  {BecTcy).  The  impersonation 


of  intellect  without  virtue  in  Thackeray’s 
‘ Wanity  Fair.”  (>See  Sedley.) 

Becky  Sharp,  with  a baronet  for  a brother-in? 
law  and  an  earl’s  daughter  for  a friend,  felt  the 
hollowness  of  human  grandeur,  and  thought  she 
WHS  happier  with  the  Bohemian  artists  in  Soho.— 
The  Express. 

Sharpes  the  word.  Look  out,-keep  your 
eyes  open  and  your  wits  about  you, 
When  a shopman  suspects  a customer, 
he  will  ask  aloud  of  a brother  shopman 
if  ^^Mr.  Sharp  is  come  in  and  if  his 
suspicion  is  confirmed  will  receive  for 
answ'er,  ^^No,  but  he  is  expected  back 
immediately.” — Hotten. 

Sharp-beak.  The  Crow’s  wife  in 
the  tale  of  Reynard  the  Fox.” 

Sharp-set.  Hungry, 

If  anie  were  so  sharpe-set  as  to  eat  fried  flies,  but- 
terd  bees,  stued  snailes,  either  on  Fridaie  or  Sun- 
daie,  he  could  not  be  therefore  indicted  of  haulte 
Xxeason.— Stanihurst,  ^‘Ireland,"  p.  19.  (1580.) 

Shaaigeda'ya  {North- American  In^ 
clian).  A coward. 

Shave.  To  shave  a customer.  Hotten 
says,  when  a master-draper  sees  any  one 
capable  of  being  imposed  upon  enter  his 
shop,  he  strokes  his  chin,  to  signify  to 
his  assistant  that  the  customer  may  be 
shaved. 

I shaved  through;  He  ivas  within  a 
shave  of  a pluck.  I just  got  through  [my 
examination]  ; He  was  nearly  rejected  as 
not  up  to  the  mark.  The  allusion  is  to 
carpentry. 

Shaveling.  A lad,  a young  man. 
In  the  year  1348,  the  clergy  died  so  fast 
of  the  Black  Death,  that  youths  were  ad- 
mitted to  holy  orders  by  being  shaven. 

William  Bateman,  bishop  of  Norwich, 
dispensed  with  sixty  shavelings  to  hold 
rectories  and  other  livings,  that  divine 
service  might  not  cease  in  the  parishes 
over  which  they  were  appointed.” — Blom- 
field,  History  of  Norfolk,"  vol.  iii. 

Shaveling.  A friar,  a priest ; so  called 
because  priests  were  ^‘all  shaven  and 
shorn,”  and  are  still  in  the  Roman  Ca- 
tholic Church. 

Becket  proclaimed  to  his  shavelings  immunitie  of 
condigne  punishment  even  in  a case  of  most  wicked 
murthering.  — Lamharde's  Perambulation,  p.  438. 
(1596.) 

Shaving.  Bondmen  were  com- 
manded by  the  ancient  Gauls  to  shave  in 
token  of  servitude. 

In  the  Turkish  seraglio,  the  slaves  are 
obliged  to  shave  their  chins  in  token  of 
their  servitude. 


812 


SHAWONDASEE. 


SHEET  ANCHOR. 


Shawonda'see  (North- American  In- 
dian). Son  of  Mudjekee'wis,  and  king  of 
the  South-wind.  He  sends  the  wood- 
birds  and  robin,  the  swallow  and  wild- 
goose,  the  melon  and  tobacco,  the  grape 
amd  the  maize.  He  is  described  as  fat 
and  lazy,  listless  and  easy.  He  loved  a 
prairie  maiden,  but  was  too  lazy  to  woo 
her.  The  maiden  proved  to  be  the  dan- 
delion, and  when  winter  came  her  head 
was  covered  with  snow,  and  she  was  lost 
to  the  lazy  Shawonda'see. — LongfelloWj 
Hiawatha.^^ 

She  Stoops  to  Conquer.  This 
comedy  owes  its  existence  to  ah  incident 
which  actually  occurred  to  the  author. 
When  Goldsmith  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
a wag  residing  at  Ardagh  directed  him, 
when  passing  through  that  village,  to 
squire  Fetherstone’s  house  as  the  village 
inn.  The  mistake  was  not  discovered  for 
some  time,  and  then  no  one  enjoyed  it 
more  heartily  than  Oliver  himself. 

Shear  Steel  is  steel  fit  for  clothiers* 
shears.  Scythes,  penknives,  razors,  and 
other  sharp  cutting  instruments  are 
made  of  this  steel. 

Sheh-seze.  The  great  fire  festival  of 
the  Persians,  when  they  used  to  set  fire 
to  large  bunches  of  dry  combustibles,  fas- 
tened round  wild  beasts  and  birds,  which 
being  then  let  loose,  the  air  and  earth 
appeared  one  great  illumination.  The 
terrified  creatures  naturally  fled  to  the 
woods  for  shelter,  and  it  is  easy  to  con- 
ceive the  conflagration  they  produced. — 
Richardson,  ‘ ‘I) issertation.  ” 

She'ba  (Queen  of).  Maqueda,  but 
called  Balkis  in  the  Koran. 

Sheb'diz.  The  Persian  Bucephalos 
(q.v.),  the  favourite  charger  of  Khosru 
Parviz,  generally  called  Chosroes  II.  of 
Persia.  (590-628.) 

Shechi'nah  (shachan,  to  reside).  The 
glory  of  the  Divine  presence  in  the  shape 
of  a cloud  of  fire,  which  rested  on  the 
mercy-seat  (Lev.  xvi.  2). 

Shedad  made  the  delicious  gardens 
of  Irim,  in  imitation  of  Paradise,  and 
was  destroyed  by  lightning  the  first 
time  he  attempted  to  enter  them. 

Sheep.  Ram  or  tup,  the  sire ; ewe, 
the  dam ; lamb,  the  new-born  sheep  till 
it  is  weaned,  when  it  is  called  a hogget; 
the  tup-lamb  being  a tiip-hogget,”  and 
the  ewe-lamb  a ewe-hogget;”  if  the 


tup  is  castrated  it  is  called  a wether- 
hogget. 

After  the  removal  of  the  first  fleece, 
the  tup-hogget  becomes  a shearling,  the 
ewe-hogget  a grimmer,  and  the  wether- 
hogget  a dinmont  (hence  the  name 

Dandy  Dinmont”). 

After  the  removal  of  the  second  fleece, 
the  shearling  becomes  a tico-shear  tup, 
the  grimmer  a ewe,  and  the  dinmont  a 
icether. 

After  the  removal  of  the  third  fleece, 
the  ewe  is  called  a twinter-ewe ; and  when 
it  ceases  to  breed,  a draft-eive. 

Sheep.  Don  Quixote  saw  the  dust  of 
two  flocks  of  sheep  coming  in  opposite 
directions  towards  him,  and  told  Sancho 
they  were  two  armies— one  commanded 
by  the  emperor  Alifanfaron,  sovereign  of 
the  island  of  Trap'oban ; and  the  other 
by  the  king  of  the  Garaman'teans,  named 
‘‘  Pentap'olin  with  the  naked  arm.”  Ali- 
fanfaron was  in  love  with  Pentapolin’s 
daughter,  but  the  royal  father  refused  to 
sanction  the  alliance  unless  the  emperor 
renounced  his  faith  in  Mahomet,  and  this 
caused  a deadly  feud  between  them.  The 
mad  knight  rushed  on  the  flock  led  by 
Alifanfaron,”  killing  seven  of  the  sheep, 
but  was  stunned  by  stones  thrown  at  him 
by  the  shepherds.  When  Sancho  told 
his  master  that  the  two  armies  were  two 
flocks  of  sheep,  the  knight  replied  that 
the  enchanter  Freston  had  metamor- 
phosed ^Hhe  two  grand  armies”  in  order 
to  show  his  malice. — Cervantes,  Don 
Quixote,’*  bk.  iii.,  ch.  5. 

The  Black  Sheep  (K4r^-koin-loo).  A 
tribe  which  established  a principality  in 
Armenia,  that  lasted  108  years  (1360- 
1468);  so  called  from  the  device  of  their 
standard. 

The  White  Sheep  (Ak-koin-loo).  A tribe 
which  established  a principality  in  Ar- 
menia, &c.,  on  the  ruin  of  the  Black 
Sheep  (1468-1508) ; so  called  from  the 
device  of  their  standard. 

To  cast  a sheep's  eye  at  one  is  to  look 
askance  like  a sheep  at  a person  to  whom 
you  feel  lovingly  inclined  (transversa 
tuentibus  hircis. — Virgil). 

But  he,  the  beast,  was  casting  sheen’s  eyes  at  her. 

Colman,  Broad  Grins.* 

Sheets,  Shoots  or  Shots,  A Ken- 
tish word  for  pigs  between  the  age  of 
six  and  ten  months. 

Sheet  Anchor.  That  is  my  sheet 
anchor— my  chief  stay,  my  chief  depen- 


SHEIK. 


SHEWKI-WHILE. 


813 


dence.  The  sheet  anchor  is  the  largest 
and  heaviest  of  all.  The  word  is  a 
corruption  of  Shote-anchor,  the  anchor 
shot  or  thrown  out  in  stress  of  weather. 

The  surgeon  no  longer  bleeds.  If  you  ask  him 
“ why  this  negleet  of  what  was  once  considei  ed  the 
sheet  anchor  of  practice  in  certain  diseases,'’  he 
will  . . , .—  The  Times. 

Sheik  (Arabic,  elder).  A title  of  re- 
spect equal  to  the  Italian  signo'rBf  the 
French  sieur^  Spanish  serior^  &c. 

Sheldo'nian  Theatre.  The  Se- 
nate House  ” of  Oxford  ; so  called  from 
Gilbert  Sheldon,  archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, who  built  it.  (1598-1699.) 

Shelf.  Laid  on  the  shelf  or  shelved. 
A government  officer  no  longer  actively 
employed;  an  actor  no  longer  assigned 
a part;  a young  lady  past  the  ordinary 
age  of  marriage ; a pawn  at  the  broker’s ; 
a question  started  and  set  aside.  All 
mean  laid  up  and  put  away. 

Shell  out.  Out  with  your  shells  or 
money  ; in  allusion  to  the  Cyprcea 
mone'ta  or  cowries  (univalve  shells),  used 
in  Southern  Asia  and  on  the  coast  of 
Guinea  in  Africa.  In  the  Philippine 
Islands  other  shells  are  also  used  for 
coins. 

Shemit'ic.  Pertaining  to  Shem,  des- 
cendant of  Shem,  derived  from  Shem. 

The  Sheinitic  Languages  are  Chaldee, 
Syriac,  Arabic,  Hebrew,  Samaritan, 
Ethiopic,  and  old  Phoenician. 

Shemitic  Nations  or  Shemites  (2  syl.). 
The  Assyrians,  Chaldseans  or  Babylo- 
nians, Syrians,  Phoenicians,  Hebrews, 
Arabs,  and  Ethiopians. 


Africa'nus,  284  years;  Eusebius,  103  years. 
Some  say  they  extended  over  five  dynas- 
ties, some  over  three,  some  limit  their 
sway  to  one;  some  give  the  name  of  only 
one  monarch,  some  of  four,  and  others 
of  six.  Bunsen  places  them  B.c.  1639; 
Lepsius,  B.C.  1842;  others,  1900  or  2000. 
If  there  ever  were  such  kings,  they  were 
driven  into  Syria  by  the  rulers  of  Upper 
Egypt.  (ITyk,  ruler;  shos,  shepherd.) 

The  Shepherd  Lord.  Henry,  the  tenth 
lord  Clifford,  sent  by  his  mother  to  be 
brought  up  by  a shepherd,  in  order  to 
save  him  from  the  fury  of  the  Yorkists. 
At  the  accession  of  Henry  VII.  he  was 
restored  to  all  his  rights  and  seigniories. 
(Died  1523.) 

The  Shepherd^ s Sun-dial.  The  scarlet 
pimpernel,  which  opens  at  a little  past 
seven  in  the  morning,  and  closes  at  a little 
past  two.  When  rain  is  at  hand,  or  the 
weather  is  unfavourable,  it  does  not 
open  at  all. 

The  Shepherd  of  Banhury,  The  ostens- 
ible author  of  a Weather  Guide.  He 
styles  himself  John  Claridge,  Shepherd, 
but  the  real  author  is  said  to  be  Dr. 
John  Campbell.  (First  published  in 
1744.) 

The  Shepherd  of  Salisbury  Plain.  Said 
to  be  David  Saunders,  noted  for  his 
homely  wisdom  and  practical  piety.  Mrs. 
Hannah  More  wrote  the  religious  tract 
so  entitled,  and  makes  the  hero  a Chris- 
tian Arcadian. 

Shepherd  of  the  Ocean.  So  Sir  Walter 
Ealeigh  is  called  by  Spenser,  in  his 
poem  entitled  “ Colin  Clout’s  come 
Home  again.”  (1552-1618.) 


Shepherd  {Jach).  Son  of  a carpenter 
in  Smithfield,  noted  for  his  two  escapes 
from  Newgate  in  1724.  He  was  hanged 
at  Tyburn  the  same  year.  (1701-1724.) 

The  Shepherd.  Moses  who  fed  the  flocks 
of  Jethro,  his  father-in-law. 


Sing,  heavenly  muse,  that  on  the  secret  top 
Of  Oreb  or  of  Sinai  didst  inspire 
That  sliepherd,  who  first  taught  the  chosen  s^ 
In  the  beginning  how  the  heavens  and  eartli 
Hose  out  of  chaos. 

Milton^ Paradise  Lostp  bk.  : 


N.B. — Oreb  or  Horeb  and  Sinai  are 
two  heights  of  one  mountain. 

The  Sfupherd  Kings  or  IlyTcsos.  Some 
2,000  years  B.c.,  a tribe  of  Arabian  shep- 
herds established  themselves  in  Lower 
Egypt,  and  were  governed  by  their  own 
chiefs,.  Man'etho  says  ^^They  reigned 
511  years ;”  Eratos'thenes  says  470  years ; 


She'va,  in  the  satire  of  Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  by  Dryden  and  Tate, 
is  designed  for  Sir  Roger  Lestrange. 

Sheva.  The  benevolent  Jew  in  Cum- 
berland’s comedy  of  “The  Jew.”  This 
drama  was  written  to  disabuse  the  public 
mind  of  unjust  prejudices  against  a peo- 
ple who  have  been  so  long  “ scattered  and 
peeled,”  and  a very  handsome  purse  was 
collected  by  the  Jews  of  England,  and 
presented  to  the  dramatist  as  an  acknow- 
ledgment of  his  championship.  Sheva, 
however,  can  never  hold  its  own  against 
the  Shylock  of  Will  Shakespeare. 

Shewri-wh-ile.  A spirit-woman  that 
haunts  Mynydd  Llanhilleth  mountain 
in  Monmouthshire,  to  mislead  those  who 
attempt  to  cross  it. 


814 


SHIBBOLETH 


SHTBH. 


SMb'boletll.  The  pass-word  of  a 
secret  society  ; the  secret  by  which  those 
of  a party  know  each  other.  The 
Ephraimites  quarrelled  with  Jephthah, 
and  Jephthah  gathered  together  the  men 
of  Gilead  and  fought  with  Ephraim. 
There  were  many  fugitives,  and  when 
they  tried  to  pass  the  Jordan  the  guard 
told  them  to  say  Shibboleth,  which  the 
Ephraimites  pronounced  Sibboleth,  and 
by  this  test  it  was  ascertained  whether 
the  person  wishing  to  cross  the  river  was 
a friend  or  foe  (Judges  xii.  1-6). 

Their  foes  a deadly  Shibboleth  devise. 

Dryden,  Hind  and  Panther,’'  pt,  iii. 

Shield.  Cairbar  rises  in  his  arms, 
The  clang  of  shields  is  heardf'  When  ^ 
chief  doomed  a man  to  death,  he  struck 
his  shield  with  the  blunt  end  of  his 
spear,  by  way  of  notice  to  the  royal 
bard  to  begin  the  death-song.— 

“ Temoraf'  i.  {See  ^E'gis.) 

Shield-of-Arms.  Same  as  Coat  of 
Arms ; so  called  because  persons  in  the 
middle  ages  bore  their  heraldic  devices 
on  their  shields. 

Shiites  (Arabic,  shiah,  a sect).  A 
Persian  sect  formed  in  opposition  to  the 
Sunnites,  or  orthodox  Moslems  (a.d.  644). 

Shilling.  Said  to  be  derived  from 
Si.  Kilian,  whose  image  was  stamped  on 
the  shillings”  of  Wurzburg.  Of  course 
this  etymology  is  of  no  philological  value. 

Shilly  Shally.  A corruption  of 

Will  I,  shall  I,”  or  Shall  I,  shall  I.” 

There’s  no  delay,  they  ne’re  stand  shall  I,  shall  I, 

Ilermog'eues  with  Dal'lila  doth  dally. 

Taylor’s  ’Workes,”  iii.  3.  (1630.) 

Shim'ei  (2  syl.),  in  Dryden’s  satire  of 
‘^Absalom  and  Achitophel,”  is  designed 
for  Slingsby  Bethel,  the  lord  mayor. 

Shimei,  whose  youth  did  early  promise  bring. 

Of  zeal  to  God  and  hatred  to  his  king  ; 

Did  wisely  from  expensive  sins  refrain, 

And  never  broke  the  Sabbath  but  for  gain. 

Shi'nar.  The  land  of  the  Chaldees, 
Babylo'nia. 

Shine  or  Shindy.  A row,  a distur- 
bance. Probably  from  the  game  of 
shindy  or  shinney,  much  the  same  as 
bandy,  hockey,  or  knurspell,  all  of  which 
are  played  with  a knobbed  stick,  and  a 
knur  or  wooden  ball. 

Shin'gebis,  in  North- American  In- 
dian mythology,  is  a diver  who  dared 
the  North- Wind  to  single  combat.  The 
Indian  Boreas  rated  him  for  staying  in 


his  dominions  after  he  had  routed  away 
the  flowers,  and  driven  off  the  sea-gulls 
and  herons.  Shin'gebis  laughed  at  him, 
and  the  North-Wind  went  at  night  and 
tried  to  blow  down  his  hut  and  put  out 
his  fire.  As  he  could  not  do  this,  he 
defied  the  diver  to  come  forth  and 
wrestle  with  him.  Shin'gebis  obeyed  the 
summons,  and  sent  the  blusterer  howling 
to  his  home. — Longfelloiv,  Hiawatha 
{See  Kabibonokka'.) 

Sh-ip,  as  the  device  of  Paris.  Sauval 
says,  ‘‘L'ile  de  la  cite  est  faite  comme 
un  grand  navire  enfonce  dans  la  vase,  et 
^choud  au  fil  de  I’eau  vers  le  milieu  de  la 
Seine.”  This  form  of  a ship  struck  the 
heraldic  scribes,  who,  in  the  latter  half 
of  the  middle  ages,  emblazoned  it  in  the 
shield  of  the  city. 

Ship.  According  to  French  tradition^ 
on  June  1st,  1794,  the  French  fleet,  under 
admiral  Villaret  Joyeuse,  engaged  the 
English  Channel  fleet,  commanded  by 
lord  Howe.  The  Vengeur  commanded 
by  Cambronne,  in  action  with  the  Bruns- 
wick commanded  by  captain  Harvey, 
went  down,  and  while  so  doing  Cam- 
bronne and  the  crew  shouted,  Vive  la 
Repuhliquel  This  is  a mere  myth,  first 
given  in  the  French  convention.  The 
ship,  no  doubt,  was  sunk,  but  the  crew 
went  down  crying  for  help,  which  was 
readily  given  by  their  British  enemies. 

Ship  of  the  Desert.  The  camel.  A 
desert  is  a sea  of  sand,  and  a camel  is 
peculiarly  qualified  to  encounter  a jour- 
ney through  it. 

Ships  of  the  Line.  Men-of-war 
large  enough  to  have  a place  in  a line  of 
battle.  They  must  not  have  less  than  two 
decks,  or  two  complete  tiers  of  guns. 

Ship-shape.  As  methodically  ar- 
ranged as  things  in  a ship,  in  good  order. 
When  a vessel  is  sent  out  temporarily 
rigged,  it  is  termed  ^^jury-rigged”  {i.e., 
jour-y,  meaning  pro  tern-,  for  the  day  or 
time  being).  Her  rigging  is  completed 
while  at  sea,  and  when  the  jury-rigging 
has  been  duly  changed  for  ship-rigging, 
the  vessel  is  in  ship-shape,”  i.e.,  due 
or  regular  order. 

Ship  ton,  Mother) 

Shire  and  County.  When  the 
Saxon  kings  created  an  earl,  they  gave 
him  a shire  or  division  of  land  to  govern. 
At  the  Norman  conquest  the  word  count 


SHIRT, 


SHOE. 


815 


superseded  the  title  of  earl,  and  the 
earldom  was  called  a county.  Even  to 
the  present  hour  we  call  the  wife  of  an 
earl  a countess.  (Saxon,  scire,  from 
sciran,  to  divide. ) 

He  comes  from  the  shires  ; has  a seat  in 
the  shires  ; &c. — in  those  Ene:lish  coun- 
ties which  terminate  in  shire  a belt 
running  from  Devonshire  and  Hampshire 
in  a north-east  direction.  In  a general 
way  it  means  the  midland  counties. 

***  Anglesey  in  Wales,  and  twelve 
counties  of  England,  do  not  terminate  in 

shire.” 

Shirt.  {See  Nessus.) 

Shirt  for  ensign.  When  Sultan  Saladin 
died,  he  commanded  that  no  ceremony 
should  be  used  but  this  : A priest  was 
to  carry  his  shirt  on  a lance,  and  say 
‘^Saladin,  the  conqueror  of  the  East, 
carries  nothing  with  him  of  all  his  wealth 
and  greatness,  save  a shirt  for  his  shroud 
and  ensign.  — Knolles,  ‘ ‘ Turkish  H isforg.” 

Close  sits  my  shirt,  but  closer  my  skin — 
i.e.,  My  property  is  dear  to  me,  but 
dearer  my  life ; my  belongings  sit  close 
to  my  heart,  but  ‘‘  ego  proximus  mihi.” 

Shivering  Mountain.  Mam  Tor, 
a hill  on  the  peak  of  Derbyshire ; so 
called  from  the  waste  of  its  mass  by 
'^shivering” — that  is,  breaking  away  in 

shivers”  or  small  pieces.  This  shiver- 
ing has  been  going  on  for  ages,  as  the 
hill  consists  of  alternate  layers  of  shale 
and  gritstone.  The  former,  being  soft, 
is  easily  reduced  to  powder,  and  as  it 
crumbles  away  small  shivers”  of  the 
gritstone  break  away  from  want  of  sup- 
port. 

Shoddy  properly  means  the  flue  and 
fluff  thrown  off  from  cloth  in  the  pro- 
cess of  weaving.  This  flue  being  mixed 
with  new  wool  is  woven  into  a cloth 
called  shoddy — i.e.,  cloth  made  of  the 
flue  ^^shod”  or  thrown  off.  Shoddy  is 
also  made  of  old  garments  torn  up  and 
re-spun.  The  tern,  is  used  for  any  loose 
sleazy  cloth,  and  metaphorically  for  lite- 
rature of  an  inferior  character  compiled 
from  other  works.  {Shed,  provincial  pret. 

shod;  ” shoot,  obsolete  pret.  shotten.) 

Shoddy  characters.  Persons  of  tar- 
nished reputation,  like  cloth  made  of 
shoddy  or  refuse  wool. 

Shoe,  Chopine.) 

Shoe.  It  is  thought  unlucky  to  put  on 
the  left  shoe  before  the  right,  or  to  put 


either  shoe  on  the  wrong  foot.  It  is 
said  that  Augustus  Caesar  was  nearly 
assassinated  by  a mutiny  one  day  when 
he  put  on  his  left  shoe  first. 

Auguste,  cet  empereur  qui  gouvema  avec  taut  de 
eagesse.  et  dont  le  regiie  fut  si  florissaut,  restoit 
immobile  et  consterne  lorsqu  il  lui  arrivoit  par 
megarde  de  mettre  le  soulier  droit  au  pied  gauche, 
et  le  soulier  gauche  au  pied  droit.— Foix. 

Put  on  the  right  shoe  first.  One  of 
the  auditions  of  Pythagoras  was  this: 
‘‘When  stretching  forth  your  feet  to 
have  your  sandals  put  on,  first  extend 
your  right  foot ; but  when  about  to  step 
into  a bath,  let  your  left  foot  enter 
first.”  Jamblichus  says  the  hidden 
meaning  is  that  worthy  actions  should 
be  done  heartily,  but  base  ones  should 
be  avoided! — ‘Hrotreptics''  (symbol  xii.). 

A man  without  shoes.  An  unnatural 
kinsman,  a selfish  prodigal  {Hebrew).  If 
a man  refused  to  marry  his  brother’s 
widow,  the  woman  pulled  off  his  shoe 
in  the  presence  of  the  elders,  spat  in  his 
face,  and  called  him  “shoe-loosed” 
(Dent.  XXV.  9). 

Loose  thy  shoe  from  off  thy  foot,  for  the 
place  whereon  thou,  standest  is  holy  (Josh. 
V.  15).  Loosing  the  shoe  is  a mark  of  re- 
spect in  the  East,  among  Moslems  and 
Hindus,  to  the  present  hour.  The  Mus- 
sulman leaves  his  slippers  at  the  door  of 
the  mosque.  The  Mahometan  moonshee 
comes  bare-footed  into  the  presence  of 
his  superiors.  The  governor  of  a town, 
in  making  a visit  of  ceremony  to  a 
European  visitor,  leaves  his  slippers  at 
the  tent-entrance,  as  a mark  of  respect. 
There  are  two  reasons  for  this  custom ; 
(1)  It  is  a mark  of  humility,  the  shoe 
being  a sign  of  dignity  and  the  shoeless 
foot  a mark  of  servitude.  (2)  Leather, 
being  held  to  be  an  unclean  thing,  would 
contaminate  the  sacred  floor  and  offend 
the  insulted  idol.  {See  Sandal.) 

Plucking  off  the  shoe  among  the  Jews, 
smoking  a pipe  together  among  the  In- 
dians, thumb-licking  among  the  Scotch, 
breaking  a straw  together  among  the 
Teutons,  and  shaking  hands  among  the 
English,  are  all  ceremonies  to  confirm  a 
bargain,  now  done  by  “ earnest  money.” 

No  one  knows  where  the  shoe  pinches  like 
the  wearer.  This  was  said  by  a Roman 
sage  who  was  blamed  for  divorcing  his 
wife,  with  whom  he  seemed  to  live  hap- 
pily. 

For,  Qoi  it  wot,  he  sat  ful  still  and  song, 
Wliea  that  his  scho  ful  bitleil.v  him  wrong. 

Chaucer^  “ OunUrbury  Tules,”  6,074. 


816 


SHOE. 


SHOOTING  ETARS. 


Over  shoes,  over  loots.  In  for  a penny,  in 
for  a pound. 

Where  true  courage  roots. 

The  proverb  says,  “once  over  shoes,  o’er  boots.” 

Taylor's  “ Workes,*'  ii.  145  (1630). 

2'o  shoe  the  cobbler.  To  give  a quick 
peculiar  movement  with  the  front  foot  in 
sliding. 

To  shoe  the  horse  (French,  ferrer  la 
mule')  means  to  cheat  one’s  employer  out 
of  a small  sum  of  money.  The  expres- 
sion is  derived  from  the  ancient  practice 
of  grooms,  who  charged  their  masters 
for  ‘^shoeing,”  but  pocketed  the  money 
themselves. 

To  stands  in  another  marHs  shoes.  To 
occupy  the  place  or  lay  claim  to  the 
honours  of  another.  Among  the  ancient 
Northmen,  when  a man  adopted  a son, 
the  person  adopted  put  on  the  shoes  of 
the  adopter. — Brayley,  “ Graphic  Ilhis- 
trator.^'  (1834.) 

In  the  tale  of ‘^Reynard  the  Fox  ”(14th 
century).  Master  Reynard  having  turned 
the  tables  on  Sir  Bruin  the  Bear,  asked 
the  queen  to  let  him  have  the  shoes  of 
the  disgraced  minister ; so  Bruin’s  shoes 
were  torn  off  and  put  upon  Reynard,  the 
new  favourite. 

Looking  fo)'  dead  men's  shoes.  Counting 
on  some  advantage  to  which  you  will 
succeed  when  the  present  possessor  is 
dead. 

Waiting  for  my  shoes.  Hoping  for  my 
death.  Amongst  the  ancient  Jews  the 
transfer  of  an  inheritance  was  made  by 
the  new  party  pulling  off  the  shoe  of 
the  possessor.  (^See  Ruth  iv.  7.) 

Throwing  the  wedding -shoe.  It  has 
long  been  a custom  in  England,  Scot- 
land, and  elsewhere,  to  throw  an  old 
shoe,  or  several  shoes,  at  the  bride  and 
bridegroom  when  they  quit  the  bride’s 
home,  after  the  wedding  breakfast,  or 
when  they  go  to  church  to  get  married. 
Some  think  this  represents  an  assault, 
and  refers  to  the  ancient  notion  that  the 
bridegroom  carried  off  the  bride  with 
force  and  violence.  Others  look  upon  it 
as  a relic  of  the  ancient  law  of  exchange, 
implying  that  the  parents  of  the  bride 
give  up  henceforth  all  right  of  dominion 
to  their  daughter.  This  was  a Jewish 
custom ; thus  in  Dent.  xxv.  5-10,  we 
read  that  the  widow  refused  by  the 
surviving  brother  asserted  her  indepen- 
dence by  ‘‘loosing  his  shoe;”  and  in 
the  story  of  Ruth  we  are  told  “that  it 
was  the  custom  ” in  exchange  to  deliver 


a shoe  in  token  of  renunciation.  When 
Boaz,  therefore,  became  possessed  of  his 
brother’s  lot,  the  family  of  Ruth  indicated 
their  assent  by  giving  him  a shoe.  When 
the  emperor  Wladimir  proposed  mar- 
riage to  the  daughter  of  Ragnald,  she 
rejected  him  sajdng,  “I  will  not  take 
off  my  shoe  to  the  son  of  a slave.” 
Luther  being  at  a wedding,  told  the 
bridegroom  that  he  had  placed  the  hus- 
band’s shoe  on  the  head  of  the  bed, 
“afin  qu’il  prit  ainsi  la  domination  et  le 
gouvernement.”— “Zf/e  of  Lu- 
ther." 

In  Anglo-Saxon  marriages  the  father 
delivered  the  bride’s  shoe  to  the  bride- 
groom, who  touched  her  with  it  on  the 
head,  to  show  his  authority. 

^ In  Turkey  the  bridegroom,  after  mar- 
riage, is  chased  by  the  guests,  who  either 
administer  blows  by  way  of  adieux  or 
pelt  him  with  slippers.— Years  in 
the  Harem,  p.  330. 

Whose  shoes  I am  not  worthy  to  bear 
(Matt.  hi.  11).  This  means  “ I am  not 
worthy  to  be  his  humblest  slave.”  It 
was  the  business  of  a slave  recently  pur- 
chased to  loose  and  carry  his  master’s 
sandals.  — J ahn,  ‘ rchceologica  Biblica." 

Shoeing  the  wild  colt.  Exacting  a fine 
called  “footing”  from  a new-comer, 
who  is  called  the  “colt.”  Of  course, 
the  play  is  between  the  words  “ shoeing” 
and  “footing”  {q.v.^.  Colt  is  a common 
synonym  for  a green-horn,  or  a youth 
not  broken  in.  Thus  Shakespeare  says— 
“Ay,  that’s  a colt  indeed,  for  he  doth 
nothing  but  talk  of  his  horse.” — ^‘Mer- 
chant of  Venice,"  i.  2. 

SLoemakers.  The  patron  saints  of 
shoemakers  are  St.  Crispin  and  his  bro- 
ther Crispian,  who  supported  themselves 
by  making  shoes  while  they  preached 
to  the  people  of  Gaul  and  Britain.  In 
compliment  to  these  saints  the  trade 
of  shoemaking  is  called  “ the  gentle 
craft.” 

Shoo -king.  The  history  of  the 
Chinese  monarchs,  by  Confu'cius.  It 
begins  with  Yoo,  B.c.  2205. 

Shooting  Stars,  called  in  ancient 
legends  the  “fiery  tears  of  St.  Law- 
rence,” because  one  of  the  periodic 
swarms  of  these  meteors  is  between  the 
9th  and  14th  of  August,  about  the  time 
of  St.  Lawrence’s  festival,  which  is  on 
the  10th. 


SHOP. 


SHRIMP. 


817 


Shooting  Stars  are  said  by  the  Arabs 
to  be  firebrands  hurled  by  the  angels 
against  the  inquisitive  Ginns  or  Genii, 
who  are  for  ever  clambering  up  on  the 
constellations  to  peep  into  heaven. 

Shop.  To  talk  shop.  To  talk  about 
one’s  affairs  or  business,  to  illustrate  by 
one’s  business,  as  when  Ollipod  the 
apothecary  talks  of  a uniform  with  rhu- 
barb-coloured facings. 

Shop -lifting  is  stealing  from  shops. 
Dekker  speaks  of  the  lifting-law — i.e., 
the  law  against  theft.  (Gothic,  hlifan, 
to  steal ; hliftus,  a thief ; Latin,  leva,  to 
disburden.) 

Shore  {Jane).  Sir  Thomas  More  says. 

She  was  well-born,  honestly  brought 
up,  and  married  somewhat  too  soon  to 
a wealthy  yeoman.”  The  tragedy  of 
‘‘Jane  Shore”  is  by  Nicholas  Rowe. 

Shoreditch,  according  to  tradition, 
is  so  called  from  J ane  Shore,  who,  it  is 
said,  died  there  iq  a ditch.  This  tale 
comes  from  a ballad  in  Pepys’  col- 
lection ; but  the  truth  is,  it  receives  its 
. name  from  Sir  John  de  Soerdich,  lord  of 
the  manor  in  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

I could  not  get  one  bit  of  bread 
Whereby  my  hunger  might  be  fed.... 

So  weary  of  my  life,  at  length 
I yielded  up  my  vital  strength 

Within  a ditch which  since  that  day 

Is  Shoreditch  called,  as  writers  say. 

Duke  of  Shoreditch.  The  most  success- 
ful of  the  London  archers  received  this 
playful  title. 

Good  kintr,  make  not  good  lord  of  Lincoln  duke  of 
Shoreditch  ! — “ T/ie  Poore  Man's  Peticion  to  the 
Kinge."  (1603.) 

Shorne  {Sir  John')  or  Master  John 
Bhorne,  well  known  for  his  feat  of  con- 
juring the  devil  into  a boot.  He  was 
' one  of  the  uncanonised  saints,  and  was 
prayed  to  in  cases  of  ague.  It  seems 
that  he  was  a devout  man,  and  rector  of 
North  Marston,  in  Buckinghamshire,  at 
the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century.  He 
blessed  a well  which  became  the  resort 
of  multitudes,  and  brought  in  a yearly 
revenue  of  some  £.500. 

To  Maister  John  Shorne,  that  blessed  man  borne. 
For  the  ague  to  him  we  apply,  [rote 

Which  jugeleth  with  a bote  ; I beschrewe  his  herte 
That  will  trust  him,  and  it  be  I. 

*‘Fanta8sie  of  Idolatries 

Sh-Ot.  Hand  out  your  shot  or  Down 
with  your  shot — your  reckoning  or  quota, 
your  money.  (Saxon,  sceat ; Dutch, 
schot.)  See  Scot  and  Lot. 

As  the  fund  of  our  pleasure,  let  us  each  pay  his 
shot.  Ben  Jonton. 


He  shot  wide  of  the  mark.  He  was  al- 
together in  error.  The  allusion  is  to 
shooting  at  the  mark  or  bull’s-eye  in 
archery,  but  will  now  apply  to  our 
modern  rifle  practice. 

Shot-over  {Oxfordshire).  A corrup- 
tion of  chdteau  vert  (the  verdant  coun- 
try-house). 

Shotten-herring.  A lean  spiritless 
creature,  a Jack-o’-Lent,  like  a herring 
that  has  shot  or  ejected  its  spawn.  Her- 
rings gutted  and  dried  are  so  called  also. 

Though  they  like  shotten  herrings  are  to  s e. 

Yet  such  tall  souldiers  of  their  teeth  they  be 

That  two  of  them,  like  greedy  cormorants. 

Devour:  more  then  sixe  honest  protectants. 

'^Taylor  s WorJces,”  iii.  6. 

Should  he  Upbraid.  A song, 
words  adapted  from  Shakespeare’s 
“Taming  of  the  Shrew,”  act  ii.,  sc.  1 
{PetrucMo),  music  by  Bishop. 

Shoulder.  Showing  the  cold  shoulder. 
Receiving  without  cordiality  some  one 
who  was  once  on  better  terms  with  you. 
{See  Cold.) 

The  government  shall  he  upon  his  shoul- 
ders  (Isaiah  ix.  6).  The  allusion  is  to  the 
key  slung  on  the  shoulder  of  Jewish 
stewards  on  public  occasions,  and  as  a 
key  is  emblematic  of  government  and 
power,  the  metaphor  is  very  striking. 

Show-Bread.  Food  for  show  only, 
and  not  intended  to  be  eaten  except  by 
certain  privileged  persons.  The  term  is 
Jewish,  and  refers  to  the  twelve  loaves 
which  the  priest  “showed”  or  exhibited 
to  Jehovah,  by  placing  them  week  by 
week  on  the  sanctuary  table.  At  the 
end  of  the  week,  the  priest  who  had  been 
in  office  was  allowed  to  take  them  home 
for  his  own  eating ; but  no  one  else  was 
allowed  to  partake  of  them. 

Shrew-Mouse.  The  field  mouse. 
It  was  supposed  to  have  the  power  of 
bewitching ; and  to  provide  a remedy 
our  forefathers  used  to  plunge  the  crea- 
ture into  a hole  made  in  an  ash-tree,  any 
branch  of  which  would  cure  the  mis- 
chief done  by  the  mouse.  (Teutonic, 
heschreyen,  to  bewitch.) 

Shrimp.  A child,  a puny  little  fellow, 
in  the  same  ratio  to  a man  as  a shrimp 
to  any  ordinary  fish.  Fry  is  also  used  for 
children.  (Danish,  skrumpe,  to  shrink  ; 
Dutch,  h'impen  ; German,  schrumpfen,) 

It  cannot  be  this  weak  and  writhled  shrimp 
Would  strike  such  terror  to  his  enemies. 

• • Shakespeare, ''t- Henry  VI. p \\.Z, 

AAA 


818 


SHROPSHIRE. 


SrBYLS. 


Shropshire.  A contraction  of 
Shrewesbury- shire,  the  Saxon  Scrohhes- 
hurh  (shrub -borough),  corrupted  by  the 
Normans  into  Slo'ppes-'burie,  whence  our 
Salop. 

Shufflebottom  {Alel).  A nom  de 
plume  of  Robert  Southey.  (1774-1843.) 

Shuh-shuh-gah  {North- A merican 
Indian),  The  blue  heron. 

Shunamites’  House  (^The).  An 
inn  kept  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
preachers  at  Paul’s  Cross.  These  preach- 
ers were  invited  by  the  bishop,  and  were 
entertained  by  the  corporation  of  Lon- 
don from  Thursday  before  the  day  of 
preaching,  to  the  following  Thursday 
movmug.— Maitland j London y”  ii.,  p. 
949. 

Shunt.  A contraction  of  shun  it ; a 
railway  term. 

Shy.  To  hare  a shy  at  anything.  To 
fling  at  it,  to  try  and  shoot  it.  (Saxon, 
sci\  a contraction  of  scitaUy  to  shoot; 
German,  schiesseUy  &c.) 

Shylock.  The  grasping  Jew,  who 
**  would  kill  the  thing  he  hates.” — 
Shahespeare,  Merchant  of  Venice.” 

^^Paul  Secchi,  a merchant  of  Venice, 
heard,  by  a private  letter,  that  Drake 
had  taken  and  plundered  St.  Domingo, 
and  sent  to  inform  Sampson  Ceneda,  a 
Jew  usurer.  The  Jew  discredited  the 
rumour,  and  bet  a pound  of  flesh  it  was 
false.  Secchi  wagered  1,000  crowns  it 
was  true.  The  news  was  confirmed,  and 
the  Pope  told  Secchi  he  was  at  liberty 
to  claim  his  bet,  but  that  he  must  take 
neither  more  nor  less  than  a pound  on 
pain  of  being  hanged.” — Gregory  Letiy 
‘ ^ Life  of  Sextus  V.” 

Shakespeare  reverses  the  order, 
and  makes  the  Jew  usurer  demand  the 
pound  of  flesh  from  the  merchant. 

Si  Quis.  A notice  to  all  whom  it 
pfiay  concern,  given  in  the  parish  church 
before  ordination,  that  a resident  means 
to  offer  himself  as  a candidate  for  holy 
orders;  and  Si  Quis — i.e.y  if  any  one 
knows  any  just  cause  or  impediment 
thereto,  he  is  to  declare  the  same  to  the 
bishop. 

Si'amese  Twins.  Yoke-fellows,  in- 
separables; so  called  from  two  youths 
(Eng  and  Chang),  born  of  Chinese 
parents  in  Siam,  in  182^,  Their  bodies 


are  united  by  a band  of  flesh,  stretching 
from  breast-bone  to  breast-bone.  The} 
married  two  sisters  and  have  offspring. 
They  are  still  alive  (1870). 

Siamese  Tioins.  The  Biddenden  Maids, 
born  1100,  had  distinct  bodies,  but  were 
joined  by  the  hips  and  shoulders.  They 
lived  to  be  thirty-four  years  of  age. 

Sib'beridge  (3  syl.).  Banns  of  mar- 
riage, (Saxon  sibhey  alliance ; whence  the 
old  English  word  sibredCy  relationship, 
kindred.)  Gossip. 

For  every  man  it  schulde  drede 
And  nameliche  in  his  sibrede. 

Gower,  “ Confessio  Amanti  s'* 

Sibyls.  Martian  Capella  says  there 
were  but  two,  the  Erythraean  and  the 
Phrygian;  the  former  being  the  famous 

Cumaean  Sibyl.”  Jackson  in  his  Chro- 
nologic Antiquities,”  maintains,  on  the 
authority  of  .^lian,  that  there  were  four 
— the  Erythrceany  the  Samian,  the  Egyp- 
tiany  and  the  Sardian.  The  usual  num- 
ber given  is  ten,  and  their  places  of 
abode — Libya,  Samos,  Cumae  in  Italy, 
Cumae  in  Asia  Minor,  Erythraea,  Persia, 
Tiburtis,  Delphi,  Ancy'ra  in  Phrygia, 
and  Marpessa. 

How  know  we  but  that  she  may  be  an  eleventh 
Sibyl  or  a second  Cassandra?— '"'’Gargantua 
and  Pantagruei;'  iii.  IG. 

Sibyls.  The  Mediaeval  monks  reckoned 
twelve  Sibyls,  and  gave  to  each  a sepa- 
rate prophecy  and  distinct  emblem  : — 

(1)  The  Lib' y an  Sibyl : The  day 

shall  come  when  men  shall  see  the  King 
of  all  living  things.”— a lighted 
taper. 

(2)  The  Sa'mian^Wfjl : The  Rich  One 
shall  be  born  of  a pure  virgin.”— 
blem,  a rose. 

(3)  Sibylla  Cuma'na : Jesus  Christ 
shall  come  from  heaven,  and  live  and 
reign  in  poverty  on  earth.” — Emblemy  a 
crown. 

(4)  Sibylla  Cu'mce:  God  shall  be  born 
of  a pure  virgin,  and  hold  converse  with 
sinners.” — Emblem,  a cradle. 

(5)  Sibylla  Erythrcea  : Jesus  Christ, 
Son  of  God,  the  Saviour.” — Emblem,  a 
horn. 

(6)  The  Persian  Sibyl ; Satan  shall 
be  overcome  by  a true  Prophet.” — Em- 
blem, a dragon  under  the  Sibyl’s  feet,  and 
a lantern. 

(7)  The  Tiourtine  Sibyl ; The  High- 
est shall  descend  from  heaven,  and  a 
virgin  be  shown  in  the  valleys  of  the 
deserts.’* — Emblemy  a dove. 


SIBYLLINE  BOOKS. 


SIDNEY? 


819 


(8)  The  Sibyl : ‘'The  Prophet 

born  of  the  virgin  shall  be  crowned  with 
thorns.” — Mmblem,  a crown  of  thorns. 

(9)  The  Phrygian  Sibyl:  "Our  Lord 
shall  rise  eLgainP— Emblem,  a banner  and 
a cross. 

(10)  The  European  Sibyl  ; " A virgin 
and  her  Son  shall  flee  into  Egypt.” — 
Emblem,  a sword. 

(11)  Agrippi'na ; " J esus  Christ 
shall  be  outraged  and  scourged.” — Em- 
Mem,  a whip. 

(12)  The  Hellespontic  Sibyl:  "Jesus 
Christ  shall  suffer  shame  upon  the  cross.” 
— Emblem,  a T cross. 

This  list  of  prophecies  is  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  and  is  manifestly  a 
clumsy  forgery  or  mere  monkish  legend. 
{See  below.  Sibylline  Verses.) 

The  most  famous  of  the  ten  Sibyls  was 
Amalthsea,  of  Cumae  in  JEoflia,  who 
offered  her  nine  books  to  Tarquin  the 
Proud.  The  offer  being  rejected,  she 
burnt  three  of  them ; and  after  the 
lapse  of  twelve  months,  offered  the  re- 
maining six  at  the  same  price.  Again 
being  refused  she  burnt  three  more,  and 
after  a similar  interval  asked  the  same 
price  for  the  remaining  three.  The  sum 
demanded  was  now  given,  and  Amalthaea 
never  made  her  appearance  again. 

Sibyl,  The  Cumsean  sibyl  was  the  con- 
ductor of  Virgil  to  the  infernal  rogions— 

jEneid,'^  vi. 

Sibyl.  A fortune-teller. 

How  they  will  fare  it  needs  a sibyl  to  say.— TA« 
Times. 

Sibylline  Books.  The  three  sur- 
viving books  of  the  Sibyl  Amalthaea 
were  preserved  in  a stone  chest  under- 
ground in  the  temple  of  Jupiter  Capi- 
toli'nus,  and  committed  to  the  charge  of 
custodians  chosen  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  high  priests.  The  number  of 
custodians  was  at  first  two,  then  ten, 
and  ultimately  fifteen.  The  books  were 
destroyed  by  fire  when  the  Capitol  was 
burnt  (a.d.  670). 

Siby  lline  Boolcs.  A collection  of  poetical 
utterances  in  Greek,  made  of  Jewish, 
Pagan,  and  Christian  sibyllists,  and  com- 
piled in  the  second  century  (138-167). 
It  is  in  eight  books,  relates  to  Jesus 
Christ,  and  is  entitled  " Orac'ula  Sibyl- 
li'na.” 

Sibylline  Verses.  When  the  Sibyl- 
line books  were  destroyed  {see  above),  all 
the  floating  verses  of  the  several  Sibyls 


were  carefully  collected  and  deposited  in 
the  new  temple  of  Jupiter.  Augustus 
had  some  2,000  of  these  verses  destroyed 
as  spurious,  and  placed  the  rest  in  two 
gilt  cases,  under  the  base  of  the  statue 
of  Apollo,  in  the  temple  on  the  Palatine 
hill ; but  the  whole  perished  when  the 
city  was  burnt  in  the  reign  of  Nero.  See 
Sibyls  (of  the  Mediaeval  monks). 

Sibylline  leaves.  The  Sibylline 
prophecies  were  written  in  Greek,  upon 
palm-leaves. — Varro. 

Sice  (1  syl.).  A sizing,  an  allowance 
of  bread  and  butter.  “ He’ll  print  for  a 
sice.”  In  the  university  of  Cambridge, 
the  men  call  the  pound  loaf,  two  inches 
of  butter,  and  pot  of  milk  allowed  for 
breakfast,  their  " sizings and  when 
one  student  breakfasts  with  another  in 
the  same  college,  the  bed-maker  carries 
his  sizings  to  the  rooms  of  the  enter- 
tainer. {See  Sizings.) 

Sich.  A gutter,  a small  runnel  (old 
Latin,  sichetum), 

SiciTian  Vespers.  The  massacre 
of  the  French  in  Sicily,  which  began  at 
the  hour  of  vespers,  on  Easter  Monday, 
in  1282. 

Sick  Man  {The),  So  Nicholas  of 
Russia  called  the  Ottoman  empire,  which 
has  been  declining  ever  since  1586. 

I repeat  to  you  that  the  sick  naan  is  dying;  and 
we  must  never  allow  such  an  event  to  take  us  by 
surprise.— Register,  1853. 

Siddons  {Mrs. ),  Sydney  Smith  says  it 
was  never  without  awe  that  he  saw  this 
tragedy  queen  stab  the  potatoes  ; and  Sir 
Walter  Scott  tells  us,  while  she  was  stay- 
ing at  Abbotsford  he  heard  her  declaim 
to  the  footman,  "I  asked  for  water,  boy  ! 
you’ve  brought  me  beer.” 

Sidney  {A  Igernoii),  called  by  Thom- 
son " the  British  Cassius.”  Caius  Cas- 
sius, called  by  Brutus  "the  last  of  the 
Romans,”  was  both  brave  and  learned. 
Of  both  it  may  be  said  with  equal  pro- 
priety— 

Of  high  determined  spirit,  roughly  brave. 

By  ancient  learning  to  the  en  ightened  love 
Of  ancient  freedom  warmed. 

Thomson,  "’Summer** 

Sidney  {Sir  Philip').  The  academy 
figure  of  prince  Arthur,  in  Spenser’s 
" Faery  Queen,”  and  the  poet’s  type  of 
magnanimity. 

Sir  Philip  Sidney,  called  by  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  The  English  Petrarch,  was  the 

A A A 2 


820 


SIDNEY-SUSSEX. 


SIGISMUNDA. 


author  of  ^^Arca'dia.”  Queen  Elizabeth 
called  him  The  jevjel  of  her  dominions; 
and  Thomson,  in  his  Summer,”  The 
plume  of  war.  The  poet  refers  to  the 
battle  of  Zutphen,  where  Sir  Philip  re- 
ceived his  death- wound.  Being  thirsty, 
a soldier  brought  him  some  water ; but 
as  he  was  about  to  drink,  he  observed  a 
wounded  man  eye  the  bottle  with  longing 
looks.  Sir  Philip  gave  the  water  to  the 
wounded  man,  saying,  ‘^Poor  fellow,  thy 
necessity  is  greater  than  mine.”  Spenser 
laments  his  loss  in  the  poem  called  '^As- 
trophel”  {q.v.), 

Sidney's  sister^  PemhroJcds  mother. 
Mary  Herbert  {nee  Sidney),  countess  of 
Pembroke,  poetess,  &c.  (Died  1621.) 
The  line  is  by  Dryden. 

Sidney-Sussex  College,  Cam- 
bridge, founded  by  lady  Frances  Sidney, 
countess  of  Sussex,  in  1598. 

Sid'ropliel  meant  for  Sir  Paul  Neal, 
member  of  the  Royal  Society,  who 
proved  to  his  own  satisfaction  that 
Samuel  Butler  was  not  the  author  of 

Hudibras.”  Butler  satirises  him  in  his 
‘^Heroical  Epistle  of  Hudibras  to  Sid- 
rophel.” 

N.B.  In  the  poem  Hudibras,”  Wil- 
liam Lilly,  the  cunning  man  that  dealt 
in  destiny’s  dark  counsel,”  is  called  Sid- 
rophel.  pt.  ii.  3.) 

Sieg'fried  (2  syl.).  Hero  of  the  first 
part  of  the  ^^Nibelungen-Lied.”  He  was 
the  youngest  son  of  Siegmund  and  Sieg- 
lind,  king  and  queen  of  the  Nether- 
lands, and  was  born  in  Rhinecastle  called 
Xanton.  He  married  Kriemhild,  prin- 
cess of  Burgundy,  and  sister  of  Gunther. 
Gunther  craved  his  assistance  in  carry- 
ing off  Brunhild  from  Issland,  and 
Siegfried  succeeded  by  taking  away  her 
talisman  by  main  force.  This  excited  the 
jealousy  of  Gunther,  who  induced  Hagan, 
the  Dane,  to  murder  Sieg'fried.  Hagan 
struck  him  with  a sword  in  the  only 
vulnerable  part  (between  the  shoulder- 
blades),  while  he  stooped  to  quench  his 
thirst  at  a fountain. — ^^Nihelungen-Lied." 

Horny  Siegfried.  So  called  because 
when  he  slew  the  dragon  he  bathed  in 
its  blood,  and  became  covered  all  over 
with  a horny  hide  which  was  invulner- 
able, except  in  one  spot  between  the 
shoulders,  where  a linden-leaf  stuck. — 
^^Nihelungen-Liedf  st.  100. 

Siegfried's  cloah  of  invisibility,  called 
**  tarnkappe  ” {tarnen^  to  conceal  ] happe^ 


a cloak).  It  not  only  made  the  wearer 
invisible,  but  also  gave  him  the  strength 
of  twelve  men.  (Tarnkappe,  2 syl.) 

The  mighty  dwarf  successless  strove  with  the  mightier 
man  ; 

Like  to  wild  mountain  lions  to  the  hollow  hill 
they  ran ; 

He  ravished  there  the  tarnkappe  from  struggling 
Albric’s  hold, 

And  then  became  the  master  of  the  hoarded  gems 
and  gold. 

Lettsom’a  " Fall  of  the  lungers,*’  Lied  iii. 
Sieglind  (2  syl.).  Mother  of  Sieg- 
fried, and  queen  of  the  Netherlanders. — 
The  Nihelungen-Lied." 

Sien'na  (3  syl.).  The  paint  so  called 
is  made  of  terra  di  Sienna. 

Sier'ra  (3  syl.,  Spanish,  a saw).  A 
mountain  whose  top  is  indented  like  a 
saw,  a range  of  mountains  whose  tops 
form  a saw-like  appearance,  a line  of 
craggy  rocks  ; as  Sierra  More'na  (where 
many  of  the  incidents  in  Don  Quixote  ” 
are  laid).  Sierra  Neva'da  (the  snowy 
range).  Sierra  Leo'ne  (in  West  Africa, 
where  lions  abound),  &c. 

Sies'ta  (3  syl.)  means  ^^the  sixth 
hour,” — i.e,,  noon.  (Latin,  sexta  hora.) 
It  is  applied  to  the  short  sleep  taken  in 
Spain  during  the  mid-day  heat. 

Sif.  Wife  of  Thor,  famous  for  the 
beauty  of  her  hair.  Loki,  having  cut  it 
off  while  she  was  asleep,  obtained  from 
the  dwarfs  a new  fell  of  golden  hair 
equal  to  that  which  he  had  taken. 

Sige'ro  (in  ^Glerusalem  Delivered”), 
called  the  Good.  Argantes  hurled  a spear 
at  Godfrey  ; it  missed  its  aim,  but  killed 
Sige'ro,  who  rejoiced  to  suffer  for  his 
sovereign.” — Bk.  xi. 

Siglit  for  ‘^multitude”  is  not  an 
Americanism,  but  good  old  English. 
Thus  in  “ Morte  d’ Arthur”  the  word  is 
not  unfrequently  so  employed ; and  the 
high-born  dame  Juliana  Berners,  lady 
prioress  in  the  fifteenth  century  of  Sop- 
well  nunnery,  speaks  of  a homynable  syght 
of  monkes  {o.  laxgQ  number  of  friars).  A 
corruption  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  swU  or 
siolth,  a large  quantity ; adverb,  swithe, 
very  much. 

Where  is  so  huge  a syght  of  mony  1— Palsgrave , 
*'Acolastus*’  (1540). 

Sigismun'da.  Daughter  of  Tancred, 
prince  of  Salerno,  who  falls  in  love  with 
Guiscardo,  a page.  Tancred  put  the 
page  to  death,  and  sent  his  heart  in  a 
golden  cup  to  his  daughter.— Boccacao, 

' ‘*J)ecamerone"  {Drydem's  version). 


SIGNS. 


SILENUS. 


821 


Signs  instead  of  words.  John,  a 
monk,  gives  in  his  Life  of  St.  Odo  a 
number  of  signs  for  bread,  tart,  beans, 
eggs,  tish,  cheese,  honey,  milk,  cherries, 
onions,  and  so  on.  {See  Sussex  Archaeo- 
logical Collection,”  vol.  iii.,  p.  190.) 

Significa'vit.  A writ  of  Chancery 
given  by  the  ordinary  to  keep  an  excom- 
municate in  prison  till  he  submitted  to 
the  authority  of  the  Church.  The  writ, 
which  is  now  obsolete,  used  to  begin  with 

Significavit  nobis  venerabilis  pater,” 
&c.  Chaucer  says  of  his  Sompnour — 
And  also  ware  him  of  a “ significavit.” 

“ Canterbury  Tales  ” (Prologue),  661. 

Sign  your  I^'ame.  It  is  not  cor- 
rect to  say  that  the  expression  signing 
one’s  name”  points  to  the  time  when 
persons  could  not  write.  No  doubt  per- 
sons who  could  not  write  made  their 
mark  in  olden  times  as  they  do  now,  but 
we  find  over  and  over  again  in  ancient 
documents  these  words : This  [grant]  is 
signed  with  the  sign  of  the  cross  for  its 
greater  assurance  (or)  greater  inviola- 
bility,” and  after  the  sign  follows  the 
name  of  the  donor.  {See  Rymer’s 
^^Foedera,”  vol.  i.,  pt.  1.) 

Sigun'a.  Wife  of  Loki.  She  nurses 
him  in  his  cavern,  but  sometimes,  as  she 
carries  off  the  poison  which  the  serpents 
gorge,  a portion  drops  on  the  god,  and 
his  writhings  cause  earthquakes. — S^an- 
dinavian  mythology. 

Si'gurd.  The  Norse  Siegfried  (^.t>.). 
He  falls  in  love  with  Brynhild,  but  un- 
der the  influence  of  a love-potion  marries 
Gudrun,  a union  which  brings  about  a 
volume  of  mischief. 

Si'gurd  the  Horny.  A German  romance 
based  on  a legend  in  the  Sagas.  An 
analysis  of  this  legend  is  published  by 
Weber  in  his  ^‘Illustrations  of  Northern 
Antiquities.”  See  Siegfried  {horny). 

Siian'kos.  The  sea-horn,  common 
in  India,  Africa,  and  the  Mediterranean, 
for  giving  alarm. — Pennant. 

High  in  view 

A ponderous  sea-hom  hung. 

T.  Moore^  “ Fire  Worshippery." 

Sikes  {Bill).  A ruffian  housebreaker 
of  the  lowest  grade,  in  “ Oliver  Twist,” 
by  Charles  Dickens. 

_ Sikh.^  A corruption  of  the  Sanskrit 
sishya  (disciple).  The  Sikhs  were  origi- 
nally a religious  body  like  the  Mahome- 
tans, but  in  1764  they  formally  assumed 


national  independence.  Since  1846  the 
Sikhs  have  been  ruled  by  the  English. 

Silbury,  near  Marlborough.  An 
artificial  mound,  130  feet  high,  and 
covering  seven  acres  of  ground.  Some 
say  it  is  where  “ King  Sel  ” was  buried  ; 
others  that  it  is  a corruption  of  Solis-hury 
(mound  of  the  sun) ; others  that  it  is 
Sel-barrow  (great  tumulus) , in  honour  of 
some  ancient  prince  of  Britain.  The 
Bev.  A.  C.  Smith  is  of  opinion  that  it 
was  erected  by  the  Celts  about  B.C.  1600. 
There  is  a natural  hill  in  the  same 
vicinity,  called  St.  Martin’s  Sell  or  Sill, 
in  which  case  sill  or  sell  means  seat  or 
throne.  These  etymologies  of  Silbury 
must  rest  on  the  authority  of  those  who 
have  suggested  them. 

Sil'cliester  {Berks)  is  Silicis  castrum 
(flint  camp),  a Saxon-Latin  form  of  the 
Koman  Calleva  or  Galleva.  Galleva  is  the 
Eoman  form  of  the  British  Gwal  Vaior 
(great  wall),  so  called  from  its  wall,  the 
ruins  of  which  are  still  striking.  Leland 
says,  “ On  that  wall  grow  some  oaks  of 
ten  cart-load  the  piece.”  According  to 
tradition,  king  Arthur  was  crowned  here ; 
and  Ninnius  asserts  that  the  city  was 
built  by  Constantius,  father  of  Constan- 
tine the  Great. 

Silence  gives  Consent.  Latin,  Qu% 
tacet  consenti're  vide'tur  ; Greek,  A^Uo  de 
to  sigan  omologountos  esti  sou  (Euripides) ; 
French,  Assez  consent  qui  ne  dit  mot\ 
Italian,  Chi  ta  ce  confessa. 

But  that  you  shall  not  say  I yield,  being  silent, 

I would  not  speak. 

Shakespeare,  ‘'Cymbeline,”  ii.  3. 

Silent  {The).  William  I.,  prince  of 
Orange.  (1533-1584.) 

Silent  Woman  {The),  A comedy 
by  Ben  Jonson.  The  chief  character  is 
Morose,  a miserly  old  fellow  who  hates  to 
hear  any  voice  but  his  own.  His  young 
nephew.  Sir  Dauphine,  wants  to  wring 
from  his  hard  hands  one  third  of  his  in- 
come, with  the  promise  of  the  rest  at 
death.  The  way  he  gains  his  end  is  this  : 
A lad  pretends  to  be  a silent  lady,  with 
whom  Morose  falls  in  love,  and  marries 
in  “ a stage  fashion.”  When  married  the 
boy-lady  turns  out  to  be  a virago  of  the 
first  water,  and  Morose  signs  away  the 
third  of  his  income  to  his  nephew  to  get 
rid  of  his  bride.  The  plot  is  revealed, 
and  Morose  retires  to  privacy,  leaving 
Sir  Dauphine  master  of  the  situation. 
Sile'nus.  The  foster-father  of  Bac- 


822 


SILHOUETTE. 


SILVER. 


chus,  fond  of  music,  and  a prophet ; but 
indomitably  lazy,  wanton,  and  given  to 
debauch.  He  is  described  as  a jovial  old 
man,  with  bald  head,  pug  nose,  and  face 
like  Bardolph’s. 

SiThouet'te  (3  syl.).  A black  pro- 
file, so  called  from  Etienne  de  Silhouette, 
Controlenr  des  Finances,  1757,  who  made 
great  savings  in  the  public  expenditure 
of  France.  Some  say  the  black  portraits 
Were  called  Silhouettes  in  ridicule  ; others 
assert  that  Silhouette  devised* this  way 
of  taking  likenesses  to  save  expense. 

Silk.  Received  silhj  applied  to  a bar- 
rister, means  that  he  has  obtained  li- 
cence to  wear  a silk  gown  in  the  law 
courts^  having  obtained  the  degree  or 
title  of  Serjeant. 

Silk  Gown.  A queen’s  counsel ; so 
called  because  his  canonical  robe  is  a 
black  silk  gown.  That  of  an  ordinary 
barrister  is  made  of  stuff  or  prunello. 

Silken  Thread.  In  the  kingdom  of 
Lilliput  the  three  great  prizes  of  honour 
are  ‘^fine  silk  threads  six  inches  long, 
one  blue,  another  red,  and  a third  green.” 
The  emperor  holds  a stick  in  bis  hands, 
and  the  candidates  jump  over  it  or 
creep  under  it,  backwards  or  forwards, 
as  the  stick  indicates,”  and  he  who  does 
so  with  the  greatest  agility  is  rewarded 
with  the  blue  ribbon,  the  second  best 
with  the  red  cordon,  and  the  third  with 
the  green.  The  thread  is  girt  about 
their  loins,  and  no  ribbon  of  the  Legion  of 
Honour,  or  Knight  of  the  Garter,  is  won 
rfiore  worthily  or  worn  more  proudly. 
— Gulliver's  Travels." 

Silken  Words.  The  mother  of 
Artaxerxes  said,  Those  that  address 
kings  must  use  silken  words.” 

Silly  is  the  German  selig  (blessed), 
whence  the  infant  Jesus  is  termed  the 
harmless  silly  babe,”  and  sheep  are 
called  silly,”  meaning  harmless  or  inno- 
cent. As  the  ‘^holy”  are  easily  taken 
in  by  worldly  cunning,  the  word  came 
to  signify  ^^gullable,”  ^'foolish.”  {See 
Simplicity.) 

Silly  Cheat.  A pickpocket.  Silly 
means  silver,”  or  money  called  siller. 
— “ Winter's  Tale^'  iv.  2. 

Silly  Sheep  means  blessed  sheep,” 
not  foolish  sheep.  {See  above.) 


Sil'tim  {Persian  mythology).  A demon 
in  human  form  supposed  to  haunt  forests 
and  woods. — Richardson^ 

To  keep  him  from  the  Siltim’s  harm. 

Moore,  *'Light  of  the  Haram.’* 

Silu'ria — that  is,  Hereford,  Mon- 
mouth, Radnor,  Brecon,  and  Glamorgan. 
The  ‘^sparkling  wines  of  the  Silurian 
vats”  are  cider  and  perry. 

From  Silurian  vats,  hi£?h-sparkliag  wines 
Foam  in  transparent  floods. 

1 homson,  Autumn." 

Silu'rian  Rocks.  A name  given 
by  Sir  R.  Murchison  to  what  miners  call 
gray-^oacke,  and  Werner  termed  transition 
rocics.  Sir  Roderick  called  them  Silu- 
rian because  it  was  in  the  region  of  the 
ancient  Siluresthat  he  investigated  them. 

Silva  (Don  Ruy  Gomez  de).  An  old 
Spanish  grandee  to  whom  Elvira  is  be- 
trothed ; but  she  detests  him,  and  loves 
Erna'ni  the  bandit-captain.  Charles  V. 
tries  to  seduce  Elvira  from  the  old  lord, 
and  when  Silva  discovers  this  he  joins 
the  league  of  Ernani  against  the  king. 
The  conspirators  meet  in  the  catacomb 
of  Aquisgra'na,  where  Charles  overhears 
their  plans,  and  at  a given  signal  the 
ro3’al  guards  arrest  them.  At  the  inter- 
cession of  Elvira,  the  king  grants  them 
a free  pardon,  and  the  wedding  of  Elvira 
and  Ernani  is  arranged.  On  the  day  of 
solemnisation,  Silva  sounds  a horn  given 
him  by  Emaui  when  he  joined  the  league, 
with  a promise  When  the  horn  sounded 
he  would  die.”  Silva  insists  on  the  fulfil- 
ment of  this  promise,  and  Ernani  stabs 
himself. — Verdiy  Ernani"  {an  opera), 

Silva'na.  A maga  or  fata  in  Tasso’s 
*'Amadi'gi,  where  she  is  made  the 
guardian  spirit  of  Alido'ro. 

Silvanella.  A beautiful  maga  or 
fata  in  Bojardo,  who  raised  a tomb  over 
Narcissus,  and  then  dissolved  into  a 
fountain. — Lib.  ii.,  xvii.  56,  &c. 

Silver.  The  Frenchman  employs  the 
word  silver  to  designate  money,  the 
wealthy  Englishman  uses  the  word  gold^ 
and  the  poorer  old  Roman  brass  (ses). 

Silver  and  gold  articles  are  marked 
with  five  marks : the  maker’s  private 
mark,  the  standard  or  assay  mark,  the 
hall  mark,  the  duty  mark,  and  the  date 
mark.  The  standard  mark  states  the 
proportion  of  silver,  to  which  figure  is 
added,  a lion  passant  for  England,  a harp 
crowned  for  Ireland,  a thistle  for  Edin- 


SILVER  FORK  SCHOOL. 


SIMPLICITY. 


823 


burgh,  and  a lion  rampant  for  Glasgow. 
(For  the  other  marks,  see  Mark.) 

The  Silver  Star  of  Love.  When  Gama 
was  tempest-tossed  through  the  machi- 
nations of  Bacchus,  the  ^‘Silver  Star  of 
Love”  appeared  to  him,  calmed  the  sea, 
and  restored  the  elements  to  harmony 
again. 

The  sliy  and  ocean  blending,  each  on  fire, 

Seemed  as  all  Nature  struggled  to  expire; 

When  now  the  Silver  Star  of  Love  appeared, 
Bright  in  the  east  her  radiant  front  sbe  reared. 

CamoenSt  "‘Lusiad,"  bk.  vi. 

Silver  Fork  School.  Those  no- 
velists who  are  sticklers  for  etiquette 
and  the  graces  of  society,  such  as  Theo- 
dore Hook,  lady  Blessington,  Mrs. 
Trollope,  and  Sir  Edward  Bulwer 
Lytton  [lord  Lytton]. 

Silver  Lining.  The  prospect  of 
better  days,  the  promise  of  happier 
times.  The  allusion  is  to  Milton’s 
^^Comus,”  where  the  lady  lost  in  the 
wood  resolves  to  hope  on,  and  sees  a 
“sable  cloud  turn  forth  its  silver  lining 
to  the  night.” 

Silver  of  Guthrum  or  0/  Gnthram's 
Lane.  Fine  silver  ; so  called  because  in 
the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries 
the  principal  gold  and  silver  smiths 
resided  there. 

Silver-Tongued.  William  Bates, 
the  Puritan  divine.  (1625-1699.) 

Anthony  Hammond,  the  poet,  called 
Silver-tongue.  (1668-1738.) 

Henry  Smith,  preacher.  (1550-1600.) 

Joshua  Sylvester,  translator  of  Hu 
Bartas.  (1563-1618.) 

Silver  Weapon.  With  silver  wea- 
pons you  may  conquer  the  world,  is  what 
the  Delphic  oracle  said  to  Philip  of 
Macedon  when  he  went  to  consult  it. 
Philip,  acting  on  this  advice,  sat  down 
before  a fortress  which  his  staff  pro- 
nounced to  be  impregnable.  “You 
shall  see,”  said  the  king,  “how  an  ass 
laden  with  gold  will  find  an  entrance.” 

Silver  W edding.  The  twenty  - fifth 
anniversary,  when,  in  Germany,  the 
woman  has  a silver  wreath  presented  her. 
On  the  fiftieth  anniversary,  or  Golden 
Wedding,  the  wreath  is  of  gold. 

Sil'ves  de  la  Selva.  A knight  whose 
adventures  and  exploits  form  a supple- 
mental part  of  the  Spanish  romance 
entitled  Am'adis  of  Gaul.  This  part 
was  added  by  Felicia'no  de  Silva. 


Sim'eon  {St.)  is  usually  depicted  as 
bearing  in  his  arms  the  infant  J esus,  or 
receiving  him  in  the  temple. 

Simnel  Cakes.  Rich  cakes  eaten 
in  Lancashire  in  Mid-Lent.  Simnel  is 
the  German  semmel,  a manchet  or  roll ; 
Danish  and  Norwegian,  simle;  Swedish, 
Simla.  In  Somersetshire  a tea-cake  is 
called  a simlin.  A simnel  cake  is  a calce 
manchet,  or  rich  semmel.  The  eating 
of  these  cakes  in  Mid-Lent  is  in  com- 
memoration of  the  banquet  given  by  J o- 
seph  to  his  brethren,  which  forms  the 
first  lesson  of  Mid-Lent  Sunday,  and  the 
feeding  of  five  thousand,  which  forms 
the  gospel  of  the  day.  {See  Mid-Lent.) 

Simon  {St.)  is  represented  with  a 
saw  in  his  hand,  in  allusion  to  the  instru- 
ment of  his  martyrdom.  He  sometimes 
bears  fish  in  the  other  hand,  in  allusion 
to  his  occupation  as  a fishmonger. 

Simon  Pure.  The  real  man.  In 
Mrs.  Centlivre’s“  Bold  Stroke  for  a Wife,” 
a colonel  Feign  well  passes  himself  off  for 
Simon  Pure,  and  wins  the  heart  of  Miss 
Lovely.  No  sooner  does  he  get  the 
assent  of  her  father,  than  the  veritable 
Quaker  shows  himself,  and  proves,  be- 
yond a doubt,  he  is  the  real  Simon  Pure. 
Every  play  or  novel  reader  can  guess 
how  such  a matter  will  conclude. 

Simony.  Buying  and  selling  church 
livings ; any  unlawful  traffic  in  holy 
things.  So  called  from  Simon  Magus, 
who  wanted  to  purchase  the  “gift  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,”  that  he  might  have 
the  power  of  working  miracles.  (Acts 
viii.  9—23.) 

Simony.  The  friar  in  the  tale  of 

Reynard  the  Fox so  called  from 
Simon  Magus. 

Simoorgh'.  A sort  of  griffin  or 
hippogriff,  which  took  some  of  its  breast 
feathers  for  Tahmuras’  helmet.  This 
creature  forms  a very  striking  figure  in 
the  epic  poems  of  Saadi  and  Ferdusi, 
the  Persian  poets.  {See  Tahmuras.) 

Simple  (YAe).  Charles  III.  of  France. 
(879,  893-922.) 

Simple  Simon.  A simpleton.  The 
character  is  introduced  in  the  well- 
known  nursery  tale,  the  author  of  which 
is  unknown. 

Simplicity  is  sine  plica,  without  a 
fold ; as  duplicity  is  duplex  plica,  a 
double  fold.  Conduct  “ without  a fold  ” 
is  straight-forward,  but  thought  without 


824 


SIMPLON  ROAD. 


SINGING- APPLB. 


a fold  is  mere  childishness.  It  is  tor- 
tuity  of  thought  ” that  constitutes  philo- 
sophic wisdom,  and  **  simplicity  of 
thought’^  that  prepares  the  mind  for 
faith. 

The  flat  simplicity  of  that  reply  was  admirable.— 
Vanbrugh  and  Cibber,  '‘‘The  Provoked  Husband,"  i. 

Simplon  Road.  Commenced  in 
1800  by  Napoleon,  and  finished  in  1806. 
It  leads  over  a shoulder  of  what  is  called 
<Iie  Pass  of  the  Simplon  (Switzerland). 

Sin,  according  to  Milton,  is  twin- 
keeper  with  Death  of  the  gates  of  Hell. 
She  sprang  full-grown  from  the  head  of 
Satan. 

Woman  to  the  waist,  and  fair. 

But  ending  foul  in  many  a scaly  fold 
Voluminous  and  vast,  a serpent  armed 
With  mortal  sling.  ''Paradise  Lost"  ii 

Original  sin.  {See  Adam.  ) 

Sin-eaters.  Persons  hired  at  fune- 
rals in  ancient  times,  to  take  upon  them- 
selves the  sins  of  the  deceased,  that  the 
soul  might  be  delivered  from  purgatory. 

Notice  was  given  to  an  old  sire  before  the  door  of 
the  iiou.se,  when  some  of  the  family  come  out  and 
furnished  him  with  a cricket  [low  stoolU  on  which 
he  sat  down  facing  the  door ; then  they  gave  him  a 
groat  which  he  put  in  his  pocket,  a crust  of  bread 
which  he  eat,  and  a bowl  of  ale  which  he  drank  off 
at  a draught.  After  this  he  got  up  from  the  cricket 
and  pronounced  the  ease  and  rest  of  the  soul 
departed.,  for  which  he  would  pawn  his  own  soul.— 
Bagford's  letter  on  “ Lelaind’s  Collectanea"  i.  76. 

Sin'adone.  The  lady  of  Sinadone. 
This  was  a lady  who  had  been  metamor- 
phosed by  enchantment  into  a serpent. 
Sir  Lybius,  one  of  Arthur’s  knights, 
undertook  to  rescue  her;  and  having 
slain  the  enchantress,  the  lady,  in  the 
guise  of  a horrible  serpent,  coils  round 
his  neck  and  kisses  him.  The  spell  is 
now  broken,  and  the  serpent  becomes  a 
lovely  young  princess,  who  marries  her 
deliverer. — ^^Libeaux^'  (a  romance). 

Sinee're  (2  syl.)  properly  means 
without  wax  {sine  cera).  The  allusion  is 
to  the  Roman  practice  of  concealing 
flaws  in  pottery  with  wax.  A sound 
and  perfect  one  was  sine  cera  (sincere). 

Sin'dliu'.  The  ancient  name  of  the 
river  Indus.  (Sanskrit,  syand,  to  flow.) 

Sin'don,  A thin  manufacture  of  the 
middle  ages  used  for  dresses  and  hang- 
ings ; also  a little  round  piece  of  linen 
or  lint,  for  dressing  the  wound  left  by 
trepanning.  (Du  Cange  gives  its  etymo- 
logy Cyssus  tenuis;  but  the  Greek  sindon 
means  ^‘fine  Indian  cloth.”  India  is 
Sind^  and  China  Sina,') 


Sine  die  {Latin).  No  time  being 
fixed ; indefinitely  in  regard  to  time. 
When  a proposal  is  deferred  sine  die^ 
it  is  deferred  without  fixing  a day  for  its 
reconsideration,  which  is  virtually  for 
ever.” 

Sine  qua  non.  An  indispensable 
condition.  Latin,  Sine  qud  non  potest 
es'se  or  fieri  (that  without  which  [the 
thing]  cannot  be,  or  be  done). 

Si'necure  {si'-ne-hure).  An  enjoy- 
ment of  the  money  attached  to  a bene- 
fice, without  having  the  trouble  of  the 
‘^cure”;  also  applied  to  any  office  to 
which  a salary  is  attached  without  any 
duties  to  perform  (Latin,  sine  cura^  with- 
out cure,  or  care). 

Sinews  of  War.  Money,  which 
buys  the  sinews,  and  makes  them  act 
vigorously.  Men  will  not  fight  without 
wages,  and  the  materials  of  war  must  be 
paid  for. 

Sing.  Sing  old  rose  and  burn  the 
bellows.  Probably  this  is  a perversion 
of  “ Singe  old  rose  and  burn  libellos,” 
old  rose  being  a school-boy’s  nick-name 
for  the  master’s  full-bottomed  wig” 
or  cabbage-rose ; and  libellos^  our  books. 

Sing  my  music  and  not  yours,  said 
Guglielmi  to  those  who  introduced  their 
own  ornaments  into  his  operas,  so  emi- 
nently distinguished  for  their  simplicity 
and  purity.  (1727-1804.)  Shakespeare 
gave  the  same  instruction  to  the  players : 

Let  those  that  play  your  clowns  speak  no  more 
than  is  set  down  for  tliem,  &c.— “ Hamlet,”  iii.  2. 

Sing-su-hay.  A lake  of  Thibet, 
famous  for  its  gold  sands. 

Bright  are  the  waters  of  Sing-su-hay 

And  the  golden  floods  that  thitherward  stray 
Thomas  3Ioore,  "Paradise  and  the  Pert.” 

Singing- Apple  was  a ruby  apple 
on  a stem  of  amber  ; it  had  the  power  of 
persuading  any  one  to  any  thing  merely 
by  its  odour,  and  enabled  the  possessor 
to  write  verses,  make  people  laugh  or 
cry,  and  itself  sang  so  as  to  ravish  the 
ear.  The  apple  was  in  the  desert  of 
Libya,  and  was  guarded  by  a dragon 
with  three  heads  and  twelve  feet.  Prince 
Chery  put  on  an  armour  of  glass,  and 
the  dragon,  when  it  saw  its  thousand  re- 
flections in  the  armour  and  thought  a 
thousand  dragons  were  about  to  attack 
it,  became  so  alarmed  that  it  ran  into  its 
cave,  and  the  prince  closed  up  the  mouth 
of  the  cave. — Countess  JT Anois,  Chery 
and  Fairstarf  {See  Singing-Tree.) 


SINGING-BREAD. 


SIRENS. 


82^ 


Singing-Bread,  consecrated  by  the 
priest  singing.  (French,  'pain  d chanter.) 
The  reformers  directed  that  the  sacra- 
mental bread  should  be  similar  in  fine- 
ness and  fashion,  as  the  round  bread- 
and-water  singing-cakes  used  in  private 
masses. 

Singing-Tree.  A tree  whose  leaves 
were  so  musical  that  every  leaf  sang  in 
concert. — Arabian  Nights  ” {Story  of  the 
Sisters  who  Nnvied  their  Yoanger  Sister). 
{See  Singing- Apple.) 

Singing  in  Tribulation.  Con- 
fessing when  put  to  the  torture.  Such  a 
person  is  termed  in  gaol  slang  a ^^canary- 
bird.” 

“ This  man,  sir,  is  condemned  to  the  galleys  for 
being  a canary-bird.”  “ A cariary-bird  !”  exc:aim<  d 
the  knight.  “Yes,  sir,"  added  the  arch  thief;  “I 
mean  that  he  is  very  famous  for  his  singing.” 

W hat !”  said  don  Quixote  ; “are  people  to  he  sent 
to  tlie  galleys  for  singing  ? ” “ Marry,  That  they  are,” 
answered  the  slave;  “for  there  is  nothing  more 
dangerous  than  singing  in  tribulation.”— Cervantes, 
''Don  Quixote,’'  iii.  8. 

Single-Speech  Hamilton.  Tho 
Right  rion.  W.  G.  Hamilton,  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer  in  Ireland,  spoke  one 
speech,  but  that  was  a masterly  torrent 
of  eloquence  which  astounded  every  one. 
(November  13,  1755.) 

No  one  likes  a reputation  analogous  to  that  of 
“single- speech  Hamilton.”— T/ie  Times. 

Or  is  it  he,  the  wordy  youth, 

So  early  trained  for  statesman’s  part, 

Who  talks  of  honour,  faith,  and  truth, 

As  themes  that  he  has  got  by  heart, 

Whose  ethics  Chesterfield  can  teach, 

Whose  logic  is  from  Sinsle-speech  ? 

Sir  Walter  Scott, "Bridal  of  Triermain”  v . 4. 

Singular  Doctor.  William  Occam, 
a schoolman.  (*-1347.) 

Sin'ister  (Latin,  on  the  left  hand). 
According  to  augury,  birds,  &c.,  appear- 
ing on  the  left-hand  side  forebode  ill- 
luck  ; but  on  the  right-hand  side,  good 
luck.  Thus  corva  sinistra  (a  crow  on  the 
left  hand)  is  a sign  of  ill-luck  which 
belongs  to  English  superstitions  as  much 
as  to  the  ancient  Roman  or  Etruscan. 
— Virgil,  Eclogues i.  18. 

That  raven  on  yon  left-hand  oak 
(Curse  on  his  ill-betiding  croak) 

Bodes  me  no  good.  Gay,  Fable  zxxtU. 

Sinning  my  Mercies.  Being  un- 
grateful for  the  gifts  of  Providence. 

I know  your  good  father  would  term  thi.s  “ sinning 
my  mercies.”— ^Sir  W.  Scott,  ""  Redgauntlet.” 

Si'non.  A crafty  Greek  who  induced 
the  Trojans  to  drag  the  Wooden  Horse 
within  the  city  (Virgil,  ^^.Slneid,”  ii.). 


Any  one  who  deceives  to  betray  is  called 
‘‘  a Sinon.” 

And  now  securely  trusting  to  destroy, 

As  erst  false  Sinon  snare'i  the  sons  of  Troy. 

Camoms,  “ Lwsiaci,”  bk.  i. 

Sintram.  The  Greek  hero  of  the 
German  romance,  Sintram  and  his 
Companions,”  by  baron  Lamotte  Fouque. 

Sintram’ s famous  sword  was  called 
“ Welsung.”  The  same  name  was  given 
to  Dietlieb’s  sword. 

Sir.  Greek,  anax  (a  king) ; Latin, 
senex  (a  patriarch)  ; Spanish,  sehor ; 
Italian,  signor  ; French,  sieur  ; Norman, 
sire;  English,  sir;  Chaldee,  (a prince). 
Clergymen  used  to  have  this  title  instead 
of  Reverend ; thus  in  the  “ Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor  ” we  have  Sir  Hugh  Evans,  and 
Sir  John  is  a common  name  for  a priest. 
{See  Queen.) 

Sir  Oracle.  (Nee  Oracle.) 

Sir  Boger  de  Coverley.  An  ima- 
ginary character  by  Addison  ; type  of  a 
benevolent  country  gentleman  of  the  last 
century.  Probably  the  model  was  W illiam 
Boevey,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Flaxley. 

Si'ren.  A woman  of  dangerous  blan- 
dishments. The  allusion  is  to  the  fabu- 
lous sirens  said  by  the  Greek  and  Latin 
poets  to  entice  seamen  by  the  sweetness 
of  their  song  to  such  a degree,  that  the 
listeners  forgot  everything  and  died  of 
hunger  (Greek,  sire'nes,  entanglers).  In 
Homeric  mythology  there  were  but  two 
sirens  ; later  writers  name  three,  viz.— 
Parthen'ope,  Lig'ea,  and  Leucosfia ; but 
the  number  was  still  further  augmented 
by  those  who  loved  ‘Herds  many  and 
gods  many.” 

There  were  several  sirens  up  and  down  the  coast; 
one  at  Panormus,  another  at  Naples,  others  at  Sur- 
rentnm,  but  the  greatest  numb  r lived  in  the  delight- 
ful Capreae,  whence  they  passed  over  to  the  rocks 
ISirenu'sae]  which  bear  their  name. — "Inquiry  into 
the  Life  of  Homer.” 

Sirens.  Plato  says  there  are  three 
kinds  of  Sirens — the  celestial,  the  genera- 
tive and  the  cathartic.  The  first  are 
under  the  government  of  Jupiter,  the 
second  under  the  government  of  Nep- 
tune, and  the  third  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Pluto.  When  the  soul  is  in 
heaven  the  ’ Sirens  seek,  by  harmonic 
motion,  to  unite  it  to  the  divine  life  of 
the  celestial  host ; and  when  in  Hades, 
to  conform  them  to  the  infernal  regimen ; 
but  on  earth  they  produce  generation  of 
which  the  sea  is  emblematic. — Proclus, 
“ On  the  Theology  of  Plato,”  bk.  vi. 


m 


SIRIliS. 


SKAmS-MATE. 


Sirius.  The  Dog-star,  so  called  by 
the  Greeks  from  the  adjective  seirios, 
hot  and  scorching.  The  Romans  called 
it  canic'ula  (a  little  dog) ; and  the  Egyp- 
tians, sothis. 

Birname.  {See  Surname.) 

Siroe'eo,  called  the  harmattan  on 
the  coast  of  Guinea,  the  simoom  in  West- 
ern Asia,  and  the  khamsin  or  fifty  days’ 
wind  in  Egypt. 

Sis'yplius  {Latin ; Sisuphos,  Greek), 
A fraudulent  avaricious  king  of  Corinth, 
whose  task  in  the  world  of  shades  is  to 
roll  a huge  stone  to  the  top  of  a hill  and 
fix  it  there.  It  so  falls  out  that  the 
stone  no  sooner  reaches  the  hill-top  than 
it  bounds  down  again.  It  is  said  that 
this  punishment  was  allotted  him  for 
his  wholesale  murder  of  travellers  by 
casting  stones  at  them. 

Sita.  Wife  of  Rama  or  Vishnu  in- 
carnate, carried  off  by  the  giant  Ravana. 
She  was  not  born,  but  arose  from  a 
furrow  when  her  father  Jan 'aka,  king  of 
Mith'ila,  was  ploughing.  The  word 
means  ‘^furrow.” 

Sitting  in  Banco.  The  judges  of 
the  courts  of  law  at  Westminster  are 
said  to  be  sitting  in  banco”  so  long  as 
they  sit  together  on  the  benches  of  their 
respective  courts— that  is,  all  term  time. 
Banco  is  the  Italian  for  bench.” 

Si'va  {Indian).  The  destroyer,  who, 
with  Brahma  and  Vishnu,  forms  the 
divine  head  of  the  Brahmins.  He  has 
five  heads,  and  is  the  emblem  of  fire.  His 
wife  is  Parbutta  (Sanskrit,  ans'picious). 

Six  (pron.  cease).  Six  thrice  or  three 
dice.  Everything  or  nothing.  Csesar 
aut  nullus.”  The  Greeks  and  Romans 
used  to  play  with  three  dice.  The 
highest  throw  was  three  sixes,  and  the 
lowest  three  aces.  The  aces  were  left 
blank,  and  three  aces  were  called  ^Hhree 
dice.”  {See  Caesar.) 

Six  Articles  or  the  Bloody ^ Statute, 
33  Henry  VIII.,  enjoins  the  belief  in  (1) 
the  real  presence  of  Christ  in  the  Eu- 
charist; (2)  the  sufficiency  of  communion 
in  one  kind ; (3)  the  celibacy  of  the 
priests ; (4)  the  obligation  of  vows  of 
chastity;  (5)  the  expediency  of  private 
masses ; and  (6)  the  necessity  of  auri- 
cular confession. 

Six  Chron'icles.  A compilation 
published  by  H.  G.  Bohn,  of  London,  con- 


taining six  chronicles  pertaining  to  the 
history  of  this  country  before  the  Con- 
quest. They  are  Ethelwerd’s  ‘^Chro- 
nicle,” Asser’s  “Life  of  Alfred,”  “The 
History  of  the  Britons,”  by  Nennius, 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth’s  “ British  His- 
tory,” the  Works  of  Gildas  the  Wise, 
and  Richard  of  Cirencester  on  the  “ An- 
cient State  of  Britain.”  This  last  is  a 
forgery  by  Bertram  of  Copenhagen. 

Six  Members.  The  six  members 
that  Charles  I.  went  into  the  House  of 
Commons  to  arrest  were  lord  Kimbol- 
ton,  Pym,  Hollis,  Hampden,  Sir  Arthur 
Haselrig,  and  Stroud.  Being  warned  in 
time,  they  made  good  their  escape. 

Six  Months.  I suggest  that  it  he 
read  again  this  day  six  months.  A polite 
way  of  saying,  “I  suggest  that  the  ques- 
tion be  burked.”  As  the  House  would 
not  be  sitting  so  long,  of  course  the  bill 
could  not  be  read  to  it  then. 

Sixteen-string  Jack.  John  Rann, 
a highwayman,  noted  for  his  foppery. 
He  wore  sixteen  tags,  eight  at  each  knee. 
(Hanged  in  1774.) 

Dr.  J ohnson  said  that  Gray’s  poetry  towered  above 
the  ordinary  run  of  verse  as  Sixteen-strinst  Jack 
above  the  ordinary  foot  pad.— jBosweK,  ‘"Life  of 
Johnson." 

Si'zer.  A poor  scholar  whose  assize 
of  food  is  given  him.  Sizers  have  what 
is  left  at  the  Fellows’  table,  because  it 
was  their  duty  at  one  time  to  wait  on  the 
fellows  at  dinner.  Each  fellow  had  his 
sizer. — Cambridge  -University. 

Sizings.  The  quota  of  food  allowed 
at  breakfast,  and  also  food  “sized  for” 
at  dinner.  At  Cambridge,  the  students 
are  allowed  meat  for  dinner,  but  tart, 
jelly,  ale,  &c.,  are  obtained  only  by  pay- 
ing extra.  These  articles  are  called 
sizings,  and  those  who  demand  them  size 
for  them.  The  word  is  a contraction 
of  assize,  a statute  to  regulate  the  size 
or  weight  of  articles  sold;  hence  the 
weight  or  measure,  and  hence  articles  of 
statutable  weight  or  measure,  as  the  assize 
of  bread.  {See  Sice.  ) 

A size  is  a portion  of  bread  or  drinke  : it  is  a far- 
thing which  schollers  in  Cambridge  have  at  the 
buttery.  It  is  noted  with  the  letter  ^.—Minshen. 
(See  also  Ellis,  “Literary  Letters,"  p.  178.) 

Skains-mate  or  Skeins-mate.  A 
dagger-comrade ; a fencing-school  com- 
panion; a fellow  cut-throat.  Skain  is 
an  Irish  knife,  similar  to  the  American 
bowie-knife.  Swift,  describing  an  Irish 
feast,  says — “A  cubit  at  least  the  length 


SKALB< 


^KIMMINGTON. 


827 


of  their  skains.”  Green,  in  his  Quip 
for  an  Upstart  Courtier,”  speaks  of  ‘^an 
ill-favoured  knave,  who  wore  by  his  side 
a skane,  like  a brewer’s  bung-knife.” 

Scurvy  knave  I.... I am  none  of  his  skains-mates. 

Shakespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet,"  ii.  4. 

Skald.  An  old  Norse  poet,  whose 
aim  was  to  celebrate  living  warriors  or 
their  ancestors,  hence  were  they  attached 
to  courts.  Few  complete  Skaldic  poems 
have  survived,  but  a multitude  of  frag- 
ments exist. 

Skedad'dle.  To  run  away,  to  be 
scattered  in  rout.  The  Scotch  apply  the 
word  to  the  milk  spilt  over  the  pail  in 
carrying  it.  During  the  late  American 
war,  the  New  York  papers  said  the 
Southern  forces  were  skedaddled  ” by 
the  Federals.  (Saxon,  scedaUj  to  pour 
out ; Chaldee,  sckeda  ; Greek,  sJceda'o, 
to  scatter.) 

Skeggs.  Miss  Carolina  WillidmUna 
Amelia  Skeggs.  A pretender  to  gen- 
tility who  boasts  of  her  aristocratic  con- 
nections, but  is  atrociously  vulgar,  and 
complains  of  being  all  of  a muck  of  a 
sweat.”  — Goldsmith,  Vicar  of  Wake- 
field.^^ 

SkeTeton.  There  is  a skeleton  in 
every  house.  Something  to  annoy  and  to 
be  kept  out  of  sight. 

Thai  is  my  skeleton — my  trouble,  the 

crook  of  my  lot.” 

^ A woman  had  an  only  son  who  obtained 
an  appointment  in  India,  but  his  health 
failed,  and  his  mother  longed  for  his  re- 
turn. One  day  he  wrote  a letter  to  his 
mother  with  this  strange  request : ‘‘Pray, 
mother,  get  some  one  who  has  no  cares 
and  troubles  to  make  me  six  shirts.”  The 
widow  hunted  in  vain  for  such  a person, 
and  at  length  called  upon  a lady  who  told 
her  to  go  with  her  to  her  bed-room.  Being 
there  she  opened  a closet  which  con- 
tained a human  skeleton.  “Madam,” 
said  the  lady,  ‘ ‘ I try  to  keep  my  sorrows 
to  myself,  but  every  night  my  husband 
compels  me  to  kiss  that  skeleton.”  She 
then  explained  that  the  skeleton  was 
once  her  husband’s  rival,  killed  in  a duel. 
“ Think  you  I am  happy  ?”  The  mother 
wrote  to  her  son,  and  the  son  wrote 
home  : “ I knew  when  I gave  the  com- 
mission that  every  one  had  his  cares, 
and  you,  mother,  must  have  yours.  Know 
then  that  I am  condemned  to  death,  and 
can  never  return  to  England.  Mother, 


mother!  there  is  a skeleton  in  every 
house.” 

Skevington’s  Daughter,  cor- 
rupted into  Scavengers  Daughter,  was  an 
instrument  of  torture  invented  by  Ske- 
vington,  lieutenant  of  the  Tower  under 
Henry  VIII.  It  consisted  of  a broad 
hoop  of  iron  in  two  parts,  fastened  toge- 
ther by  a hinge.  The  victim  was  made 
to  kneel  while  the  hoop  was  passed  under 
his  legs;  he  was  then  squeezed  gradu- 
ally till  the  hoop  could  be  got  over  his 
back,  where  it  was  fastened,  and  the 
prisoner  was  left  in  this  painful  condition 
for  about  an  hour  and  a half. 

Skidblad'nir.  A ship  made  by  the 
dwarfs,  large  enough  to  hold  all  the  gods, 
but  which  could  be  folded  together  like 
a sheet  of  paper,  and  put  into  a purse 
when  not  required  for  use.  This  ship 
always  commanded  a prosperous  gale. — 
Scandinavian  mythology.  (See  Carpet, 
Bayard,  &c.) 

Skiddaw.  Whenever  Skiddaw  hath  a 
ca.p^  Scruffell  wots  full  well  of  that.  When 
my  neighbour’s  house  is  on  fire  mine  is 
threatened ; When  you  are  in  misfortune 
I also  am  a sufferer ; When  you  mourn 
I have  cause  also  to  lament.  Skiddaw 
and  Scruffell  are  two  neighbouring  hills, 
one  in  Cumberland,  and  the  other  in 
Annandale,  in  Scotland.  When  Skid- 
daw is  capped  with  clouds,  it  will  be 
sure  to  rain  ere  long  at  Scruffell. — Fuller, 
“ Worthies.'^ 

Skillygolee.  Slip-slop,  wish-wash, 
twaddle,  talk  about  gruel.  “Skilly”  is 
prison- gruel,  or  more  strictly  speaking, 
the  water  in  which  meat  has  been  boiled 
thickened  with  oatmeal.  Broth  served 
on  board  the  hulks  to  convicts  is  called 
skilly.  Golee  is  jaw,  talk. 

It  is  the  policy  of  Oursitor  Street  and  Skillygolee, 
—The  Daily  Telegraph. 

Skimble-skamble.  Rambling, 
worthless.  “Skamble”  is  merely  a va- 
riety of  scramble,  hence  “ scambling 
days,”  those  days  in  Lent  when  no  regu- 
lar meals  are  provided,  but  each  “ scram- 
bles” or  shifts  for  himself.  “ Skimble 
is  added  to  give  force.  {See  Redupli- 
cated Words.) 

And  such  a deal  of  skimble-skamble  stuif 

As  puts  me  from  my  faith, 

Shakespeare,  “1  Henry  IV."  in.  1. 

With  such  scamble-scemble,  spitter-spatter. 

As  puts  me  cleane  besides  the  money-matter. 

Taylor's  “ Workes,"  ii.  89.  (1630.) 

Skim'mington.  To  ride  the  skim 


828 


SKIMPOLE. 


SKY-BLUE. 


mingtooi,  or  Riding  the  stang.  To  be 
hen-pecked.  Grose  tells  us  that  the 
man  rode  behind  the  woman,  with  his 
face  to  the  horse’s  tail.  The  man  held  a 
distaff,  and  the  woman  beat  him  about 
the  jowls  with  a ladle.  As  the  procession 
passed  a house  where  the  woman  was 
paramount,  each  gave  the  threshold  a 
sweep.  The  stang”  was  a pole  sup- 
ported by  two  stout  lads,  across  which 
the  rider  was  made  to  stride.  Mr.  Douce 
derives  skimmington  ” from  the  shim- 
ming-\Q.di\Q  with  which  the  rider  was 
buffeted. 

This  custom  was  not  peculiar  to  Scot- 
land and  England ; it  prevailed  in  Scandi- 
navia ; and  Hoefnagel,  in  his  Views  in 
Seville'”  (1591),  shows  that  it  existed  in 
Spain  also.  The  procession  is  described 
at  length  in  ^^Hudibras,”  pt.  ii.,  c.  2. 

“ Hark  ye,  dame  Ursley  Suddlechop,”said  J enkin, 
starting  up,  his  ejes  flashing  with  an^er  : “remem- 
ber, I am  none  of  your  husband,  and  if  I were 
you  would  do  well  not  to  forget  whose  threshold 
was  swept  when  they  last  rode  the  skimmington 
upon  such  another  scolding  jade  as  yourself.”— 
Scott,  ''Fortunes  of  Nigel F 

Skimpole  {Harold),  A soft  sponger 
on  his  friends. — DichenSj  ^^Bleah  House.” 

Skin.  To  sell  the  shirt  before  you  have 
caught  the  hear.  To  count  of  your  chickens 
before  they  are  hatched  ; to  calculate  or 
anticipate  profits.  The  [allusion  is  to  a 
practice  of  stock-jobbers  common  dur- 
ing the  South- Sea  mania  (1720) : Dealing 
in  bear- skins  was  a great  item  of  the 
supposed  trade,  and  thousands  of  skins 
were  sold  the  very  existence  of  which  was 
hypothetical.  It  was  a mere  time  bar- 
gain, and  the  Utopian  skins  were  em- 
ployed simply  as  a something  to  buy  and 
sell  as  the  market  varied. 

To  shin  a flint.  To  be  very  exacting 
in  making  a bargain.  The  French  say, 

Tondre  sur  un  oeuf.”  The  Latin  lana 
capri'na  (goat’s  wool)  means  something 
as  worthless  as  the  skin  of  a flint,  or 
fleece  of  an  eggshell. 

Shin  of  his  Teeth. ' I am  escaped  with  the 
shin  of  my  teeth  (Job  xix.  20).  Just  es- 
caped, and  that  is  all — having  lost  every- 
thing. 

Skinflint.  A pinch-farthing ; a nig- 
gard. In  the  French  pince-maille.” 
Maille  is  an  old  copper  coin. 

Skirt.  To  sit  upon  one's  shirt.  To 
insult,  or  seek  occasion  of  quarrel.  Tarl- 
ton,  the  clown,  told  his  audience  the 
reason  why  he  wore  a jacket  was  that 


^^no  one  might  sit  upon  his  skirt.*’ 
Sitting  on  one’s  skirt  is  like  stamping  on 
one’s  coat  in  Ireland,  a fruitful  source  of 
quarrels,  often  provoked.  In  Paris,  this 
very  year  [1869],  a gentleman  was  chal- 
lenged to  a duel  for  stamping  accidentally 
on  a lady’s  train  as  he  was  coming  out 
of  the  opera.  To  sit  or  stamp  on  a skirt 
is  to  offer  a meditated  insult. 

Crosse  me  not,  Liza,  nether  be  so  perte. 

For  if  thou  dost  I’ll  sit  upon  thy  skirte. 

“ The  Abortive  of  an  Idle  Howre  ” (1620). 

(Quoted  by  Halliwell,  “ Archaic  Words.”) 

Skogan  {Henry).  A poet  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  IV.  Justice  Shallow 
says  he  saw  Sir  John  Falstaff,  when  he 
was  a boy,  break  Skogan’s  head  at  the 
court  gate,  when  he  [Sir  John]  was  a 
crack  [child]  not  thus  high.”—  2 Henry 
/F.,”iii.  2. 

Scogan  ? Wh  at  was  he? 

O,  a fine  gentleman  and  a master  of  arts 

Of  Henry  the  Fourth’s  times,  that  made  disguises 

For  the  king’s  sons,  and  writ  in  ballad  royal 

Daintily  well. 

Ben  Jonson,  “ The  Fortunate  Isles  ” (1626). 

John  Shogany  who  took  his  degree  at 
Oxford,  being,”  as  Mr:  Warton  says, 
^^an  excellent  mimick,  and  of  great  plea- 
santry in  conversation,  became  the  fa- 
vourite buffoon  of  the  court  of  king  Ed- 
ward IV.”  ‘'Scogin’s  Jests”  were  pub- 
lished by  Andrew  Borde,  a physician,  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 

Skulda  {the  future).  A maiden  who 
dwells  with  her  two  sisters,  Urda  and 
Verdandi,  near  the  well  Norna. — Scan- 
dinavian mythology.  * 

Skull.  You  shall  quaff  heer  out  of  the 
shulls  of  your  enemies.  This  promise  of 
our  Scandinavian  forefathers  is  not  un- 
frequently  misunderstood.  Skull  means 
a cup  or  dish;  hence  a person  who  washes 
up  cups  and  dishes  is  called  a scullery- 
maid.  (Scotch,  sholly  a bowl ; French, 
ecuelle;  Danish,  shaaly  a drinking- vessel; 
German,  schale;  our  shell.) 

Sky.  To  elevate,  ennoble,  raise.  It  is 
a term  in  ballooning ; when  the  ropes  are 
cut,  the  balloon  mounts  upward  to  the 
clouds. 

We  found  the  same  distinguished  personage  doing 
his  best  to  sky  some  dozen  of  his  best  frieuds  [re- 
ferring to  the  peers  made  by  Gladstone].— IT/ie  Times, 
Kov.  16, 18G9. 

If  the  shy  falls  tve  shall  catch  larhs.  A 
bantering  reply  to  those  who  suggest 
some  very  improbable  or  wild  scheme. 

Sky-blue.  Milk  and  water,  the 
colour  of  the  skies. 


SKYE. 


SLEDGE-HAMMER. 


829 


Its  name  derision  and  reproach  pursue. 

And  strangers  tell  of  three  times  skimmed  sky-blue. 

Bloomfield,  ''Farmer's  Boy." 

Skye  (Isle  of)  means  the  isle  of  gaps 
or  indentations  (Celtic,  sJcyl),  a gap). 
Hence  also  the  Skibbereen  of  Cork, 
which  is  Skyh-hohreeoi,  the  byway  gap,  a 
pass  in  a mountain  to  the  sea. 

Skyresh  Borgolam.  Galbet  or 
high  admiral  of  the  realm  of  Lilliput. — 
Swift,  Gulliver's  Travels,*'  ch.  iii. 

Slander,  Offence.  Slander  is  a 
stumbling-block  or  something  which  trips 
a person  up  (Greek,  sTcan'dcdon,  through 
the  French  esdandre).  Offence  is  the 
striking  of  our  foot  against  a stone  (Latin, 
ob-fendo,  as  scopulum  offendit  navis,  the 
ship  struck  against  a rock). 

Slang.  Slangs  are  the  greaves  with 
which  the  legs  of  convicts  are  fettered  ; 
hence  convicts  themselves ; and  slang  is 
the  language  of  convicts.  (See  Argot.) 

Slap.  Meaning  completely  ; in  a di- 
rect manner;  as,  ^^Slap  in  the  wind’s 
eye,” — i,e.,  full  in  the  direction  of  the 
wind.  ^*To  go  slap  at  a thing”  is  to 
give  a dash  at  it. 

Slap-bang,  in  sport,  means  that  the 
gun  was  discharged  incessantly ; it  went 
slap  here  and  bang  there.  As  a term  of 
laudation  it  means  very  dashing,”  both 
words  being  playful  synonyms  of  dash- 
ing,” the  repetition  being  employed  to 
give  intensity.  Slap-bang,  here  we  are 
again,  means,  we  have  ^‘popped”  in 
again  without  ceremony.  Pop,  slap, 
bang,  and  dash  are  interchangeable. 

Slap-dash.  In  an  off-hand  maimer. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  method  of  colouring 
rooms  by  slapping  and  dashing  the  walls, 
so  as  to  imitate  paper.  At  one  time 
slap- dash  walls  were  very  common. 

Slap-up . Prime  slap-up  or  slap-  bang- 
up.  Very  exquisite  or  dashing.  Here 
slap  is  a playful  synonym  of  dashing,  and 
^^up”  is  the  Latin  super  as  in  ‘^super- 
fine.” The  dress  of  a dandy  or  the  equip- 
age of  an  exquisite  is  “slap-up,”  “prime 
slap-up,”  or  “ slap-bang-up.” 

Slate.  He  has  a slate  or  tile  loose. 
He  is  a little  cracked ; his  head  or  roof 
is  not  quite  sound. 

Slave  (1  syl.).  This  is  an  example 
of  the  strange  changes  which  come  over 
some  words.  The  Slavi  were  a tribe 
which  once  dwelt  on  the  banks  of  the 


Dnieper,  and  were  so  called  from  slav 
(noble,  illustrious) ; but  as,  in  the  lower 
ages  of  the  Roman  empire,  vast  multi- 
tudes of  them  were  spread  over  Europe 
in  the  condition  of  captive  servants,  the 
word  came  to  signify  a slave. 

Similarly,  Goths  means  the  good  or 
godlike  men,  but  since  the  invasion  of 
the  Goths  the  word  has  become  synony- 
mous with  barbarous,  bad,  ungodlike. 

Distraction  is  simply  “dis-traho-,”  as 
diversion  is  “di-verto.”  The  French 
still  employ  the  word  for  recreation  or 
amusement,  but  when  %ve  talk  of  being 
distracted  we  mean  anything  but  amused 
or  entertained. 

Slawkenber'gius  (Hafen).  An 
hypothetical  author  on  the  subject  of 
noses,  famous  himself  for  a nose  of  or- 
thodox dimensions.— Tristram 
Shandy P (See  Nose,  p.  623.) 

Slay-good.  A giant  in  the  “King’s” 
highway,  master  of  a gang  of  thieves. 
Mr.  Greatheart  slew  him  and  rescued 
Feeble-mind  from  his  grasp. — Bunyan, 
Pilgrim's  Progress,"  pt.  ii. 

Sleave.  The  ravelled  sleave  of  care 
(Shakespeare,  “ Macbeth”).  The  sleave 
is  the  knotted  or  entangled  part  of  thread 
or  silk,  the  raw  edge  of  woven  articles. 
Chaucer  has  “sleeveless  words”  (words 
like  ravellings,  not  knit  together  to 
any  wise  purpose) ; bishop  Hall  has 
“sleaveless  rhymes”  (random  rhymes); 
Milton  speaks  of  “ sleeveless  reason  ” 
(reasoning  which  proves  nothing) ; Tay- 
lor the  water-poet  has  “ sleeveless  mes- 
sage ” (a  simple  message ; it  now  means  a 
profitless  one').  The  weaver’s  slaie  is  still 
used.  (Saxon,  sloe,  a weaver’s  reed ; 
slean,  to  strike,  hence  sley-hammer ; 
Icelandic,  slefa.) 

If  all  these  faile,  a heggar-wotioan  may 
A sweet  love-letter  to  her  hands  convay. 

Or  a neat  laundresse  or  a hearb-wife  can 
Carry  a sleevelesse  message  now  and  than. 

Taylor's  Workes,  ii.,  Ill  (1630). 

Sleek-stone.  The  ebon  stone  used 
by  goldsmiths  to  sleeken  (polish)  their 
gold  with.  Curriers  use  a similar  stone 
for  smoothing  out  creases  of  leather ; the 
sleeker  is  made  also  of  glass,  steel,  &c. 
(Our  word  sleek) 

Sledge-Hammer.  A sledge-hammer 
argument.  A clincher ; an  argument 
which  annihilates  opposition  at  a blow. 
The  sledge-hammer  is  the  largest  sort  of 
hammer  used  by  smiths,  and  is  wielded 


SLEEP. 


SLIP. 


by  both  hands.  The  word  sledge  is  the 
Saxon  (j<lecge)j  a sledge. 

Sleep  like  a Top.  When  peg-tops 
and  humming-tops  are  at  the  acme  of 
their  gyration,  they  become  so  steady  and 
quiet  that  they  do  not  seem  to  move. 
In  this  state  they  are  said  to  sleep.  Soon 
they  begin  to  totter,  and  the  tipsy  move- 
ment increases  till  they  fall.  The  French 
say  Dormir  comme  un  sabot,  and  Mon  sabot 
dort. 

Another  derivation,  less  likely,  is  that 
top  is  the  French  taupe  (dormouse) ; 
Italian,  topo;  and  that  our  expression  is 
the  translation  and  perversion  of  Ei 
dorme  come  un  topo. 

Sleep.  Crabbe’s  etymology  of  doze 
under  this  word  is  exquisite : — 

Doze,  a variation  from  the  French  dors  and  the 
Latin  donnio  (to  sleep),  which  was  anciently  derjnio, 
and  comes  from  the  Oreek  derma  (a  skin),  because 
people  lay  on  skins  when  they  slept  /— •*  Synonyms'* 

Sleeper  {The).  Epime'nides,  the 
Greek  poet,  is  said  to  have  fallen  asleep 
in  a cave  when  a boy,  and  not  to  have 
waked  for  fifty-seven  years,  when  he 
found  himself  possessed  of  all  wisdom. 
Eip  van  Winkle,  in  Washington  Irving’s 
tale,  is  supposed  to  sleep  for  twenty 
years,  and  wake  up  an  old  man,  un- 
knowing and  unknown.  {See  Klaus.  ) 

Sleepers.  Timbers  laid  asleep  or  resting 
on  something,  as  the  sleepers  of  a rail- 
way. 

The  Seven  Sleepers.  (See  Seven.) 

Sleeping  Beauty.  From  the 
French  “ La  Belle  au  Bois  Dormant,”  by 
Charles  Perrault  (“Contes  du  Temps”  ). 
She  is  shut  up  by  enchantment  in  a castle, 
where  she  sleeps  a hundred  years,  during 
which  time  an  impenetrable  wood  springs 
up  around.  Ultimately  she  is  disen- 
chanted by  a young  prince,  who  marries 
her.  Epirnenldes,  the  Cretan  poet,  went 
to  fetch  a sheep,  and  after  sleeping  fifty- 
seven  years  continued  his  search,  and 
was  surprised  to  find  when  he  got  home 
that  his  younger  brother  was  grown 
grey.  {See  Eip  van  Winkle.  ) 

Sleeve  of  Care.  Sleave.) 

To  have  in  one's  sleeve  is  to  offer  a 
person’s  name  for  a vacant  situation. 
Dean  Swift,  when  he  waited  on  Harley, 
had  always  some  name  in  his  sleeve.  The 
phrase  arose  from  the  custom  of  placing 
pockets  in  sleeves.  These  sleeve-pockets 
were  chiefly  used  for  memoranda,  and 
other  small  articles. 


To  laugh  in  one's  sleeve.  , To  ridicule 
a person  not  openly  but  in  secret ; to 
conceal  a laugh  by  hiding  your  face  in 
the  large  sleeves  at  one  time  worn  by 
men. 

Sleeveless  Errand.  A fruitless^ 
errand.  It  should  be  written  sleaveless,' 
as  it  comes  from  sleave,  ravelled  thread, 
or  the  raw-edge  of  silk.  In  “ Troilus 
and  Cressida,”  Thersi'tes  the  railer  calls 
Patroclus  an  “ idle  immaterial  skein  of 
sleive  silk”  (v.  1). 

Sleight  of  Hand  is  artifice  by  the 
hand  (German,  schlich,  cunning  or  trick). 

And  still  the  less  they  understand, 

The  more  they  admire  his  sleight  of  hand. 
Glee,  “ Surely  the  Pleasure  is  as  Great.” 

Sleip'nir  (2  syl.).  Odin’s  grey  horse, 
which  had  eight  legs,  and  could  carry 
his  master  over  sea  as  well  as  land. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Slender.  A country  lout,  a booby 
in  love  with  Anne  Page,  but  of  too  faint 
a heart  to  win  so  fair  a lady. — Shake- 
speare, Merry  Wives  of  Windsor." 

Sleuth-Hound.  A blood-hound 
which  follows  the  sleuth  or  track  of  an 
animal.  {Slot,  the  track  of  a deer,  is 
the  Saxon  sleeting  ; Icelandic,  slodr ; 
Dutch,  sloot.) 

There  is  a law  also  among  the  Borderers  in  time  of 
peace,  that  whoso  denieth  entrance  or  sute  of  a 
sleuth-hound  in  pursuit  made  after  fellons  and  stolen 
goods,  shah  be  holden  as  accessarie  unto  the  theft.— 
Holinshed,  “ Description  of  Scotland,”  p.  14. 

Slewed.  Intoxicated.  When  a 
vessel  changes  her  tack,  she  staggers 
and  gradually  heels  over.  A drunken 
man  moves  like  a ship  changing  its 
angle  of  sailing. 

Slick  (Sani).  A Yankee  clock-maker 
and  pedlar,  wonderfully  ’cute,  a keen 
observer,  and  with  plenty  of  “ soft 
sawder.”  Judge  Haliburton  wrote  the 
two  series  called  “Sam  Slick,  or  the 
Clock-maker.” 

Sliding  Scale.  A scale  of  govern- 
ment duty  which  slides  up  and  down  as 
the  article  to  which  it  refers  becomes 
dearer  or  cheaper. 

Slip.  Many  a slip  Hwixt  the  cup  and 
the  lip.  Everything  is  uncertain  till  you 
possess  it.  Anemos,  a king  of  the 
Lel'eges  in  Samos,  planted  a vineyard, 
and  was  warned  by  one  of  his  slaves  that 
he  would  never  live  to  taste  the  wino 


SLIP-SLOP. 


SLT, 


8-^1 


thereof.  Wine  was  made  from  its  grapes, 
and  the  king  sent  for  his  slave,  asking 
him  what  he  thought  of  his  prophecy 
now.  The  slave  made  answer,  There’s 
many  a slip  ’twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip,” 
and  the  words  were  yet  scarce  spoken 
when  news  was  brought  that  a bear  had 
burst  into  the  vineyard  and  was  laying 
waste  the  vines.  Up  started  the  king  in 
a fury,  seized  his  spear,  and  went  forth 
to  attack  the  bear,  but  was  killed  in  the 
encounter. 

To  give  one  the  slip.  To  steal  off  un- 
perceived ; to  elude  pursuit.  A sea- 
phrase.  In  fastening  a cable  to  a buoy, 
the  home  end  is  slipped  through  the 
hawse-pipe.  To  give  the  slip  is  to  cut 
away  the  cable,  so  as  to  avoid  the  noise 
of  weighing  anchor. 

Slip-slop,  applied  to  composition, 
means  twaddle,  without  any  solid  worth ; 
like  water-gruel  and  weak  tea. 

Slippers.  The  Turks  wear  yellow 
slippers;  the  Arme'nians,  red;  and  the 
Jews,  hlue. 

SlipsLod,  applied  to  literature, 
means  a loose,  careless  style  of  compo- 
sition ; no  more  fit  for  the  public  eye 
than  a man  with  his  shoes  down  at 
heels. 

Sloane  MSS.  3,560  MSS.  collectel 
by  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  now  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  museum  of  Sir  Haus 
formed  the  basis  of  the  British  Museum. 
(1660-1753.) 

Slop  {Br. ).  A choleric  physician  in 
Sterne’s  “ Tristram  Shandy.”  He  breaks 
Tristram’s  nose  and  crushes  Uncle  Toby’s 
fingers  in  demonstrating  the  use  of  a 
pair  of  forceps.  The  academy  figure 
of  this  character  was  Dr.  Burton,  ac- 
coucheur. 

Dr.  Slop.  Sir  John  Stoddart,  M.D., 
a choleric  physician  who  assailed  Napo- 
leon most  virulently  in  The  Times^  of 
which  he  was  editor.  (1773-1856.) 

Slo'pard  {Dame).  The  wife  of 
Grimbard,  the  brock  (or  badger),  in 
the  tale  of  Eeynard  the  Fox.” 

Slope  (1  syl. ).  To  decamp ; a cor- 
ruption of  lope,  as  Let's  lope  (Let  us  run 
away).  Dutch,  loopen;  Danish,  Ible, 
to  run  ; our  ^^leap,”  pret.  loop  or  lope. 

Slough  of  Despond.  A deep  bog 
which  Christian  has  to  cross  in  order  to 


get  to  the  Wicket  Gate.  Help  comes 
t^o  his  aid.  Neighbour  Pliable  went  with 
Christian  as  far  as  the  Slough,  and  then 
turned  back. — Biinyan,  ‘^Pilgrim's  Pro- 
gress," pt.  i. 

Slow.  Stupid  ; dull.  A quick  boy” 
is  one  who  is  sharp  and  active.  Aivjidly 
slovj,  slang  for  very  stupid  and  dull. 

Slow  Coach.  A dawdle.  Asa  slow 
coach  in  the  old  coaching  days  ^^got  on  ” 
slowly,  so  one  that  ‘^gets  on”  slowly  is 
a slow  coach. 

Slubber-Degullion.  A nasty,  pal- 
try fellow.  A slub  is  a roll  of  wool 
drawn  out  and  only  slightly  twisted ; 
hence  to  slubber,  to  twist  loosely,  to  do 
things  by  halves,  to  perform  a work 
carelessly,  Degullion  is  compounded  of 
the  word  ^^gull,”  or  the  Cornish  ‘^gullan,” 
a simpleton. 

Quoth  she,  “ Although  thou  hast  deserved 
Base  slubber-degullion,  to  be  served 
As  thou  didst  vow  to  deal  with  me. ...” 

Butler^  ^*Hudibras,”  i.  3. 

Sludge.  {Dickie).  Grandson  of 
Gammer  Sludge,  the  schoolmaster’s 
landlady.  He  is  a dwarf,  who  goes  by 
the  name  of  ‘^Flibbertigibbet.” — Sir 
Walter  Scott,  ^PCenihcorth.” 

Slum  (Mr.).  A patter-poet  in  the 
“ Old  Curiosity  Shop,”  by  Charles  Dick- 
ens. When  Mrs.  Jarley,  of  the  wax- 
works,  depreciated  his  art,  the  irate 
vendor  of  verse  replied — 

Ask  the  perfumers,  ask  the  blacking- makers,  ask 
the  hatters,  ask  the  old  lottery-office  keepers,  ask 
any  man  among  ’em  what  poer,i  y has  donef  )r  him, 
and  mark  my  words,  he  blesses  the  name  of  Slum. 

Slums.  Places  for  sleeping  in.  Our 
slumber;  Saxon,  slumerian;  Danish, 
slumre.  “The  back  slums” — ^.e.,  the 
purlieus  of  Westminster  Abbey,  &c., 
where  vagrants  go  to  get  a night’s  lodg- 
ing. 

Sly  {Christopher).  A keeper  of  bears 
and  a tinker,  son  of  a pedlar,  and  a sad 
drunken  sot.  In  the  Induction  of  Shake- 
speare’s comedy  called  “ Taming  of  the 
Shrew,”  he  is  found  dead  drunk  by  a 
lord,  who  commands  his  servants  to  pub 
him  to  bed,  and  on  his  waking  to  attend 
upon  him  like  a lord,  to  see  if  they 
can  bamboozle  him  into  the  belief  that 
he  is  a great  man,  and  not  Christopher 
Sly  at  all.  The  “ commonty  ” of  “ Tam- 
ing of  the  Shrew  ” is  performed  for  his 
delectation.  The  trick  was  played  by 
the  caliph  Haroun  Alraschid  on  Abon 


832 


SLY-BOOTS. 


SMITHFIELD. 


Hassan,  the  rich  merchant,  in  the  tale 
called  The  Sleeper  Awakened”  (^'Ara- 
bian Nights”)  ; and  by  Philippe  the  Good 
duke  of  Burgundy,  on  his  marriage  with 
Eleanora,  as  given  in  Burton’s  Ana- 
tomy of  Melancholy,”  part  ii.,  sec.  2, 
numb.  4. 

Sly-Boots.  One  who  appears  to  be 
a dolt,  but  who  is  really  wide  awake  ; a 
cunning  dolt.  Boots  is  a corruption  and 
contraction  of  the  French  hutorf  a block- 
head or  dolt,  our  hutt. 

The  frog  called  the  lazy  one  several  times,  but  in 
vain ; there  was  no  such  thing  as  stirring  him,  thcugk 
the  sly-boots  heard  well  enough  all  the  while.— 
ventures  of  Abdallaf*  p.  32.  (1729J 

Slyme  {Chevy).  In  Martin  Chuz- 
zlewit,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Small-back.  Death;  so  called  be- 
cause he  is  usually  drawn  as  a skeleton. 

Small-back  must  lead  down  the  dance  with  us  all 
in  our  time.— (Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Small-beer.  ‘^To  suckle  fools  and 
chronicle  small-beer.” — lago  in  the  ^lay 
of  Othello  f ii.  1. 

Small-endian s.  The  Big-endians 
of  Lilliput  made  it  a point  of  orthodoxy 
to  crack  their  eggs  at  the  big  end ; but 
were  considered  heretics  for  so  doing  by 
the  Small-endians,  who  insisted  that  eggs 
ought  to  be  broken  at  the  small  end. — 
Swift,  Gulliver's  Travels." 

Smalls.  In  for  his  smalls;  Passed 
his  his  Little-go,”  or  previous 

examination  ; the  examination  for  degree 
being  the  Great-go  ” or  Greats.” 

Smart  Money.  Money  paid  by  a 
person  to  obtain  exemption  from  some 
disagreeable  office  or  duty.  It  used  to 
be  paid  for  exemption  from  military  ser- 
vice. Money  which  makes  the  payer 
smart  or  suffer  without  procuring  for 
him  money’s  worth. 

Smash.  Come  to  smash — to  ruin. 
Smashed  to  pieces,  broken  to  atoms. 
Smash  is  a corruption  of  mash;  Latin, 
mastico,  to  bite  to  pieces.  {See  Slope.) 

Smec  (in  Hndibras  ”).  A contrac- 
tion of  Smectymnaeus,  a word  made  from 
the  initial  letters  of  five  rebels — 

Stephen  Marshal. 

Edward  Calamy. 

Thomas  Young. 

Matthew  Newcommon. 

William  Spurstow,  who  wrote  a book 


against  Episcopacy  and  the  Common 
Prayer.  (iS'ee  Notarica.) 

The  handkerchief  about  the  neck, 
Canonical  cravat  of  Smeck. 

Butler^  Hudihr as y pt.  i.  3. 

Smectym'nuans.  Anti  - Episcopa- 
lians. 

Smectym'nus.  (fe  Notarica.) 

Smelfun'gus.  So  Sterne  calls 
Smollett,  from  a volume  of  Travels  pub- 
lished in  1766. 

The  lamented  Smelfungus  travelled  from  Boulogne 
to  Paris,  from.Paris  to  Rome,  and  so  on ; but  he  set 
out  with  the  spleen,  and  every  object  he  passed  by 
was  discoloured  or  distorted.  He  wrote  an  account 
of  them,  but’twas  nothing  but  the  account  of  his 
own  miserable  feelings. 

Smell  a Rat.  A phrase  which  ex- 
presses a suspicion  that  there  is  mischief 
brewing.  The  allusion  is  to  a cat  or 
dog  smelling  out  vermin. 

Smells  of  the  Lamp.  Said  of  a 
literary  production  manifestly  laboured. 
Plutarch  attributes  the  phrase  to  Pytheas 
the  orator,  who  said The  orations  of 
Demos'thenes  smelt  of  the  lamp,”  alluding 
to  the  current  tale  that  the  great  orator 
lived  in  an  underground  cave  lighted  by 
a lamp,  that  he  might  have  no  distraction 
to  his  severe  study. 

Smike.  A broken- spirited  lad,  res- 
cued by  Nicholas  Nickleby  from  the 
clutches  of  Mr.  Squeers,  of  Do-the-boys 
Holl.—  DicJcens,  Nicholas  Nichleby." 

Smith.  Apropername.  ((SeeBRiWER.) 

Henry  Smith,  alias  Henry  Gow  or 
‘^Gow  of  Chrom,”  or  ^‘Hal  of  Wynd,” 
the  armourer.  He  sues  Catharine  Glover 
(the  Fair  Maid  of  Perth),  but  is  rejected. 
A follower  of  Kamorny  is  employed  to 
murder  him,  but  kills  Oliver  by  mistake. 
Smith  declines  the  honour  of  knighthood 
offered  him  by  the  earl  of  Douglas,  but 
being  accepted  by  the  Fair  Maid  of 
Perth,  marries  her. — Sir  Walter  Scott, 
^^Fair  Maid  of  Perth." 

Smith’s  Prize-man.  After  the 
degree  examination,  those  who  have 
passed  in  the  ‘^honour  lists”  have  the 
liberty  of  competing  for  a fellowship  in 
Trinity  College,  to  given  to  the  best 
man.  He  who  obtains  it  is  called  Smith’s 
Prize-man,  from  the  founder. 

Smithheld.  The  smooth  field  (Saxon, 
I smooth),  called  in  Latin  Campus 

I Planus,  and  described  by  Fitz- Stephen 
I in  the  twelfth  century  as  a plain  field 


SMOKE. 


SNOB. 


whore  every  Friday  there  is  a celebrated 
rendezvous  of  fine  horses  brought  thither 
to  be  sold.” 

Smoke.  To  detect,  or  rather  to  get 
a scent  of  some  plot  or  scheme.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  detection  of  robbers 
by  the  smoke  seen  to  issue  from  their 
place  of  concealment. 

Smoke  Farthings.  An  offering 
given  to  the  priest  at  Whitsuntide,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  chimneys  in 
his  parish. 

The  bishop  of  E!ie  hath  out  of  everie  parish  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire a certain  tribute  called  ....  «moA:e-/ar- 
things,  which  the  churchwardens  do  levie  according 
to  the  number  of. . . .chimnejs  that  be  in  a parish.— 
IliSS.  Baker,  zxxix.  326. 

Smoke  Silver.  A modus  of  fid.  in 
lieu  of  tithe  fire-wood. 

Snace  (Norfolk).  The  burnt  wick  of 
a lighted  candle.  The  snace  cut  off  by 
snuffers  makes  the  ‘‘  snuff  ” of  a candle. 
(Saxon,  snaSf  a spear  or  shaft.) 

Snack.  The  snack  of  a door  (Norfolk). 
The  latch.  A corruption  of  snag,  a 
tooth,  stump,  or  stick. 

To  take  a snack.  To  take  a morsel. 
(Saxon,  snosd,  a morsel,  a share,  a por- 
tion.) 

To  go  snacks.  To  share  and  share  alike. 
The  same  word  as  the  above ; but  W. 
Wadd,  in  his  *'Mems.,  Maxims,  and 
llIemoir.s,”  gives  another  derivation  : ho 
Bays  that  Snacks  was  a noted  body- 
snatcher  during  the  plague  of  London 
^1665),  and  finding  his  business  too  great 
for  his  own  personal  superintendence, 
•offered  half  profits  to  any  one  who  would 
join  him.  Those  who  accepted  the 
offer  were  said  to  ** go  snacks.”  The  in- 
vention of  a proper  name  to  supply  an 
etymology  ranks  now  with  literary  for- 
geries. 

Snake  in  the  Grass.  A secret 
•enemy;  an  enemy  concealed  from  sight, 
like  a snake  lurking  amidst  long  grass. 

Latet  anguis  in  hexha^— Virgil. 

Snake- St  ones.  Small  rounded 
stones  or  matters  compounded  by  art, 
.and  supposed  to  cure  snake-bites.  Mr. 
Quekett  discovered  that  two  given  to 
him  for  analysis  were  composed  of  vege- 
table matters.  Little  perforated  stones 
pro  sometimes  hung  on  cattle  to  charm 
i<iway  adders. 


Snap-Dragon.  {See  Flap-Dragon.) 

Snarling  Letter  (Latin,  Utfera  ca- 
ni'na).  Q^he  letter  r.  (>S<eK.) 

Sneak  {Jen'y).  A hen-pecked  pen- 
maker  in  “ The  Mayor  of  Garratt,”  by 
S.  Foote. 

Sneer.  A carping  critic  in  Sheridan'i 

Critic.” 

Sneerwell  {Lady).  The  widow  of 
a city  knight,  wlio  could  do  more  with  a 
look  to  ruin  a person’s  character  than 
most  others  could  effect  with  the  nicest 
detail  of  scandal. — Sk&i'idan,  ^‘School  for 
Scandal,” 

Sneezed.  It  is  not  to  he  sneezed  oX 
— not  to  be  despised.  A playful  cor- 
ruption of  the  French  mejpHse  (held  in 
contempt). 

Sneezing.  Some  Catholics  attribute 
to  St.  Gregory  the  use  of  the  benediction 

God  bless  you  ” after  sneezing,  and 
say  that  he  enjoined  its  use  during  a 
pestilence  in  which  sneezing  was  a mor- 
tal symptom,  and  was  therefore  called 
the  death-sneeze.  Aristotle  mentions  a 
similar  custom  among  the  Greeks  ; and 
Thucydides  tells  us  that  sneezing  was  a 
crisis  symptom  of  the  great  Athenian 
plague.  The  Bomans  followed  the  same 
custom,  and  we  also  find  it  prevalent 
in  the  New  World  among  the  native 
Indian  tribes,  in  Sennaar,  Monomatapa, 
&c.  &c. 

Snob.  Not  a gentleman  ; one  wh® 
arrogates  to  himself  merits  which  he 
does  not  deserve.  Thackeray  calls 
George  IV.  a snob,  because  he  assumed 
to  be  ^Hhe  greatest  gentleman  in  Eu- 
rope,” but  had  not  the  genuine  stamp  of 
a gentleman’s  mind.  The  word  is  s (pri- 
vative) and  nob  (noble).  Similarly  scape 
is  s (not),  capere  (to  take) ; and  sober 
is  s (not),  ehrius  (tipsy).  In  the  Latin 
we  have  se  (privative)  in  numerous 
words,  as  se-grego,  »e-paro,  se-cerno,  se- 
jungo,  &c. 

In  Italian,  calzare  (to  put  on  your 
shoes),  scalzare  (to  take  them  off) ; for- 
nito  (furnished),  sfornito  (unfurnished); 
jiotta  (a  fleet),  sfottare  (to  withdraw 
a ship  from  a fleet) ; briglia  (a  bridle), 
shrviliare  (to  unbridle). 

Wittily  snob  is  derived  from  sine  oholo 
(s’n’ob),  but  unhappily  for  the  truth  of 
this  pun,  snobs  have  generally  golden 

B B B 


SNODGRASS. 


SOBRINO. 


834i 


thumbs,  and  it  is  the  obolos  that  make 
them  snobs. 

If  we  had  not  the  privative  s,  the 
next  best  etymology  would  be  'pseudo- 
nobs  (false  or  Brummagem  nobles) — a 
suggestion  due  to  Thackeray. 

Snodgrass  {Augustus),  A poetical 
young  gentleman,  under  the  guardian  ” 
care  of  Mr.  Pickwick. — Dickens,  Fich^ 
wick  Papers** 

Snood.  The  lassie  lost  her  silken 
snood.  The  snood  was  a riband  with 
which  a Scotch  lass  braided  her  hair, 
and  was  the  emblem  of  her  maiden  cha- 
racter. When  she  married  she  changed 
the  snood  for  the  curch  or  coif ; but  if 
she  lost  the  name  of  virgin  before  she 
obtained  that  of  wife,  she  “ lost  her  silken 
snood  ” and  was  net  privileged  to  assume 
the  curch. 

Snooks  is  in  reality  Sevenoaks,  in 
Kent,  contracted  into  S’n-oaks,  Snooks. 

Snooks.  An  exclamation  of  incredu- 
lity ; a Mrs.  Harris.  A person  tells 
an  incredible  story,  and  the  listener 
cries  gammon  ; or  he  replies  It 

was  Snooks  — the  host  of  the  Chateau 
d'Espag-ne.  This  word  snooks”  is  a 
corruption  of  Noakes  or  Nokes,  the 
mythical  party  at  one  time  employed 
by  lawyers  to  help  them  in  actions  of 
ejectment.  Styles.) 

Snore.  You  snore  like  an  owl.  It  is 
very  generally  believed  that  owls  snore, 
and  it  is  quite  certain  that  a noise  like 
snoring  proceeds  from  their  nests ; but 
this  is  most  likely  the  purring  ” of  the 
young  birds,  nestling  in  comfort  and 
warmth  under  the  parent  wing. 

Snow  King.  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
of  Sweden.  (1594,  1611-1632.) 

At  Vienna  he  was  called  in  derision  “The  Snow 
Kingf,”  who  was  kept  together  by  the  cold,  but  would 
iuelt  and  disappear  as  he  approached  a warmer  soil. 

Dr.  Crichton,  Scandinavia,"  vo\.  ii.,  p.  6i. 

Snowdo'nia.  The  district  which 
contains  the  mountain  range  of  Snowdon. 

The  King  of  Snowdonia.  Moel-y- 
Wyddfa  (the  conspicuous  peak),  the 
highest  in  South  Britain.  (3,571  feet 
al)ove  the  sea-level.) 

Snuff.  Up  to  snuff.  Wide  awake; 
alive  to  scent  (Dutch,  snuff en,  to  scent, 
snuf ; Danish,  snofte). 

Took  it  in  snuff— m anger,  in  huff. 


(Saxon,  snoffa,  loathing,  in  dudgeon  ; 
Spanish,  chvfeta.') 

You’ll  «nar  the  lip:ht  by  taking  it  In  snuff. 

Shakespeare,  Love's  Labour's  Lost”  v.  2. 

Who.... when  it  next  came  there  took  it  in  snufE 
Shakespeare,  “ 1 Htnry  IV.i'L  3. 

Snuff  out.  He  was  snuffed  oitf— put 
down,  eclipsed.  The  allusion  is  to  » 
candle. 

Soane  Museum,  formed  by  Sir 
John  Soane,  and  preserved  in  its  original 
locality,  No.  13,  Lincoln’s-inn-fields,  the 
private  residence  of  the  founder. 

Soap.  An  English  form  of  sawn,  the 
French  for  soap,  so  called  from  the  little 
seaport  town  of  Savona,  near  Genoa,  in 
Italy,  noted  for  its  early  and  excellent 
manufacture  of  this  detersive  article. 

How  are  'you  off  foi'  soap  f (for  money 
or  anv  other  necessity).  At  Quereta'ro, 
near  Mexico,  soap  is  the  currency  of 
the  place,  and  a legal  tender  for  the 
payment  of  debts.  The  cakes  are  about 
the  size  of  common  brown  Windsor, 
and  worth  a cent  and  a half  apiece. 
Each  cake  is  stamped  with  the  name 
of  the  town  where  it  is  current,  and 
of  the  person  authorised  to  manufac- 
ture and  utter  it.  Celaya  soap  will  not 
pass  current  at  Quereta'ro.  It  is  by  no 
means  uncommon  to  use  these  cakes  for 
washing  the  hands  and  face,  and  they 
never  lose  their  current  value  so  long  as- 
the  stamp  is  preserved.  The  expression 

How  are  you  off  for  soap  ? ” succeeded, 
about  twenty  years  ago,  the  synonymous 
query  ''  How  are  you  off  for  tin  ? ” 

Another  conjecture  is  worth  adven- 
turing. The  insurgent  women  of  Paris, 
in  February,  1793,  went  about  crying- 
‘^Du  pain  et  du  savon ! "(Bread  and  soap). 

A deputation  of  washwomen  petitioned  the  con- 
vention for  soao,  and  their  plaintive  cry  was  heard 
round  the  Salle  de  Manage,  “JDu  pain  et  du 
savon!” — Carlyle,  French  Revolution^  pt.  IIL, 
bk.  hi.  1. 

Sober  or  Sobrius  is  5,  privative,  and 
ehrius,  drunk.  Ebrius,  from  the  obsolete 
Latin  word  hria  (a  cup),  connected  with 
brisa  (pressed  grapes),  and  equivalent 
to  our  expression  ‘'in  his  cups.”  (See 
Snob.) 

Sobri'no  (in  "Orlando  Furioso**). 
One  of  the  most  valiant  of  the  Saracen 
army.  He  is  called  the  Sage.  He  was 
aged,  and  counselled  Ag'ramant  to  give 
up  the  war  and  return  home,  or  if  be 
rejected  that  advice  to  entrust  the  figat 


SOBRIQUET, 


SOFT. 


835 


to  single  combat,  on  condition  that  the  ! 
nation  of  the  champion  overthrown  should  | 
pay  tribute  to  the  other.  Roge'ro  was 
chosen  for  the  pagan  champion,  and 
Rina! do  for  tlie  Christian,  but  Agramant 
broke  the  league.  Sobri'no  soon  after 
this  received  the  rite  of  baptism. 

Don  Quixote  asks — 

Who  more  prudent  than  Sobrino  ? 

So'briquet  (French).  A nickname. 
Manage  thinks  the  •etymology  is  the 
Latin  subridic'ulitm  (somewhat  ridicu- 
lous) ; Court  de  Gebeiin  suggests  the 
Romance  words  sopra-quest  (a  name  ac- 
quired over  and  above  your  proper 
names);  while  Leglay  is  in  favour  of 
soiibriquet,  a word  common  in  the  four- 
teenth century  to  express  a sound  of 
contempt,  half  whistle  and  half  jeer, 
made  by  raising  quickly  the  chin. 

So'cialism  (3  syl.).  The  political 
and  social  scheme  of  Robert  Owen,  of 
Montgomerj^shire,  who  in  1816  pub- 
lished a work  to  show  that  society  was 
in  a wretched  condition,  and  all  its  in- 
stitutions and  religious  systems  were 
based  on  wrong  principles.  • The  pre- 
vailing system  is  competition,  but  Owen 
maintained  that  the  proper  principle  is 
eo-operation ; he  therefore  advocated 
ft  community  of  property,  and  the  abo- 
lition of  degrees  of  rank.  (1771-1858.) 

The  socialists  are  called  also  Owenites 
(3  syl.).  In  France,  the  Fourierists'and 
St.  Simonians  are  similar  sorts  of  com- 
munists, who  receive  their  designations 
from  Fourier  and  St.  Simon  (g-.v.). 

Soeiete  de  Momus.  One  of  the 
minor  clubs  of  Paris  for  the  reunion  of 
song- writers  and  singers.  The  most 
noted  of  these  clubs  was  the  Caveau,  or 
in  full  Les  Diners  dn  Caveau^  founded  in 
1733  by  Piron,  Crebillon  jun.,  and  Col- 
let. This  club  lasted  till  the  Revolution. 
In  the  consulate  was  formed  Les  Diners 
du  Vaudeville^  for  the  hai:)itu6s  of  the 
drama ; these  diners  were  held  in  the 
house  of  Julliet,  an  actor.  In  1806  the 
old  Caveau  was  revived  under  the  name 
of  the  Caveau  Moderne,  and  the  muster 
was  once  a month  at  a restaurant  en- 
titled ‘‘Le  Rocher  de  Cancale,”  famous 
for  fish  dinners,  and  Laujon  (the  French 
Anacreon)  was  president.  Beranger  be- 
longed to  this  club,  which  lasted  ten 
years.  In  1824  was  founded  the  G tfmnase 
LyriquCf  which  like  the  Caveau  published 


an  annual  volume  of  songs;  this  society, 
was  dissolved  in  1841.  In  1834  was 
founded  La  Lice  Chansonnierej  for  those 
who  could  not  afford  to  join  the  Ca- 
veau or  the  GymnasCj  to  which  we  owe 
some  of  the  best  French  songs. 

Sock  (comedy).  The  Greek  comic 
actors  used  to  wear  a sandal  and  sock. 
The  difference  between  the  sock  and  the 
tragic  buskin  was  this — the  sock  went 
only  to  the  ankle,  but  the  buskin  ex- 
tended to  the  knee.  (See  Buskin.) 

Then  to  the  well-trod  stage  anon, 

If  Jonson’s  learned  sock  be  on. 

Milton ^ ^'VAUegro.'* 

Soe'rates.  The  greatest  of  the  an- 
cient philosophers,  whoso  chief  aim  was 
to  amend  the  morals  of  his  countrymen, 
the  Athe'nians.  Cicero  said  of  him  that 

he  brought  down  philosophy  from  the 
heavens  to  earth  f and  he  was  certainly 
the  first  to  teach  that  the  proper  study 
of  mankind  is  man.”  Socrates  resisted 
the  unjust  sentence  of  the  senate,  which 
condemned  to  death  the  Athenian  gene- 
rals for  not  burying  the  dead  at  the  battle 
of  Arginu'see. 

Socrates— 

Who,  firmly  good  in  a corrupted  state. 

Against  the  rage  of  tyrants  single  stood 
Inyincible.  Thomson,  “ Winter." 

Socrates  used  to  call  himself  the  mid- 
wife of  men’s  thoughts.”  Out  of  his  in- 
tellectual school  sprang  that  of  Plato 
and  the  dialectic  system  ; Euclid  and 
the  Megaric;  Aristippos  and  the  Cy- 
rena'ic ; Antis'thenes  and  the  Cynic. 

SocratTc.  Modelled  on  the  princi- 
ples taught  by  Socrates. 

Sodom.  Apples  of  Sodom  or  Mad 
Apples.  Strabo,  Tacitus,  and  Josephus 
describe  them  as  beautiful  externally 
and  filled  with  ashes.  These  apples” 
are  in  reality  gall-nuts  produced  by  the 
insect  called  Cynips  insa'na. 

SofTarides  (3  syl.).  A d5masty  of 
four  kings,  which  lasted  thirty-four 
years  and  had  dominion  over  Khoras- 
san,  Seistan,  Fars,  &c.  (873-907) ; foun- 
ded hy  Yacoub  ebn  La’ith,  surnamed  al 
So  far  (the  brazier),  because  his  father 
followed  that  trade  in  Seistan. 

Soft.  He's  a so/i— half  a fool.  The 
word  originally  meant  effeminate,  un- 
manly ; hence  soft  in  brains,  y,  &c., 
“ soft  in  courage.”— “3  Henry  17.,"”  ii.  ^ 

B B B 2 


636 


SOFT  SAWDER. 


SOLECISM. 


Soft  Sawder.  Flattery,  adulation. 
A play  is  intended  between  solder,  pro- 
nounced sawder j and  sawder,  a compound 
of  sa%o  (a  saying) ; Saxon,  saga  or  sagu. 
-Soft  solder,  a composition  of  tin  and 
lead,  is  used  for  soldering  zinc,  lead, 
and  tin  ; hard  solder  for  brass  &c. 

Softly.  To  walk  softly.  To  be  out  of 
spirits.  In  Greece,  mourners  for  the 
dead  used  to  cut  off  their  hair,  go  about 
muffled,  and  walk  softly  to  express  want 
of  spirit  and  strength.  When  Elijah 
denounced  the  judgments  of  Heaven 
against  Ahab,  that  wicked  king  fasted, 
and  lay  in  sackcloth,  and  went  softly  ” 
to  show  that  his  strength  was  exhausted 
with  sorrow  (1  Kings  xxi.  27).  Isaiah 
says,  ‘‘  I shall  go  softly  all  my  years  in 
the  bitterness  of  my  soul  ” {xxxviii.  15). 
The  Psalmist  says,  ‘‘I  put  on  sackcloth, 
and  went  and  walked  as  for  a friend  or 
brother.”  The  French  Je  vais  doucement 
means  precisely  the  same  thing  : I go 
softly,”  because  I am  indisposed,  out  of 
sorts,  or  in  bad  spirits. 

Soi-disant  (French).  Self-styled, 
would-be. 

So'journ  (2syl.)  is  the  Italian  sog- 
giorno—i.e.,  sub-giorno;  Latin,  suh-diur- 
nus  (for  a day,  or  during  a day).  To 
sojourn  is  to  stay  in  a place  for  a day,  to 
rest  on  your  journey. 

Sol  (Latin).  The  sun. 

And  when  l)an  Sol  to  Blope  his  wheels  began. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence”  canto  i. 

Sol.  The  term  given  by  the  ancient 
alchemists  to  gold.  Silver  they  called 
luna. 

Sol  in  the  Edda  was  the  daughter  of 
Mundilfori,  and  sister  of  Ma'ni.  She 
was  so  beautiful,  that  at  death  she  was 
placed  in  heaven  to  drive  the  sun-chariot. 
Two  horses  were  yoked  to  it,  named 
Arvakur  and  Alsvith  (watchful  and  rapid). 
— Scandinavian  mythology.  (See  Mani.) 

Sol-fa.  (See  Do,  Re,  &c,) 

Sola'no.  Ask  no  favour  during  the 
Solano  (Spanish).  Ask  no  favour  during 
a time  of  trouble,  panic,  or  adversity. 
The  Solano  of  Spain  is  a south-east  wind, 
extremely  hot,  and  loaded  with  fine 
dust.  It  produces  giddiness  and  great 
irritation. 

Soldan  or  Sowdan.  A corruption  of 
sultan,  meaning  in  mediaeval  romance 
the  Sarazen  king;  but,  with  the  usual 


inaccuracy  of  these  writers,  we  have  the 
soldan  of  Egypt,  the  soudan  of  Persia, 
the  sowdan  of  Babylon,  &c.,  all  repre- 
sented as  accompanied  by  grim  Sarazens 
to  torment  Christians. 

The  Soldan,  meant  for  Felipe  of  Spain, 
who  used  all  his  power  to  bribe  and 
seduce  the  subjects  of  Elizabeth.  Queen 
Mercilla  sent  to  negociate  a peace,  but 
the  ambassador  sent  was  treated  like  a 
dog,  referring  to  ^Felipe’s  detention  of 
the  deputies  sent'^by  the  States  of  Hol- 
land. Sir  Artegal  demands  of  the  sol- 
dan the  release  of  the  damsel  ^'held  as 
wrongful  prisoner,”  and  the  soldan, 
‘^swearing  and  banning  most  blasphe- 
mously,” mounts  his  ‘‘high  chariot  ” and 
prepares  to  maintain  his  cause.  Prince 
Arthur  encounters  him  “ on  the  green,” 
and  after  a severe  combat  uncovers  his 
shield,  at  sight  of  which  the  soldan  and 
all  his  followers  take  to  flight.  The 
“swearing  and  banning”  refer  to  the 
excommunications  thundered  out  against 
Elizabeth ; the  “ high  chariot  ” is  the 
Spanish  Arma'da ; the  “green”  is  the 
sea ; the  “uncovering  of  the  shield ” in- 
dicates that  the  Arma'da  was  put  to 
flight,  not  by  man’s  might,  but  by  the 
power  of  God.  Flavit  Jehovah  et  dis- 
sipaJti  sunt  (God  blew,  and  they  were 
scattered).  — Spenser,  “ Faery  Queen^' 
V.  8. 

Soldats  (Des).  Money.  Shakespeare, 
in  “The  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,”  ii.  2, 
has  “ Money  is  a good  soldier,  sir,  and 
will  on.”  Doubtless  the  French  use  of 
the  word  is  derived  from  the  proverbial 
truth  that  “Money  is  the  sinews  of 
war,”  combined  with  a pun  on  the  word 
solidus  (the  pay  of  a soldier).  The  Nor- 
man soud  (i.e.,  sould)  means  “wages;” 
Swedish,  to  pay ; Danish,  hesolde, 

to  pay  wages;  the  French  soldat,  our 
soldier,  a hireling  or  mercenary,  and  the 
French  sol  or  sou. 

Soldier  originally  meant  a hireling 
or  mercenary,  one  paid  a solidus  for 
military  service  ; but  hireling  and  soldier 
convey  now  very  different  ideas.  (^See 
above.) 

Solecism  (3  syl.).  Misapplication  of 
words;  an  expression  opposed  to  the 
laws  of  syntax ; so  called  from  the  city  of 
Soli,  in  Cilicia,  where  an  Athenian  colony 
settled,  and  forgot  the  purity  of  their 
native  language. — Saidas. 


SOLEMN 


SOMERSET  HOUSE.  837 


Sol'emn.  Habitual,  customary  (Latin, 
Mollemmis). 

Silent  night  with  this  her  solemn  bird  lie.,  the 
ni  rhtmgale.  the  bird  familiar  to  night].— if 
**Faradise  Lost,"  t. 

The  Solemn  Doctor.  Henry  Goetbals 
wa5  so  called  by  the  Sorbonne.  (1227- 
1293.) 

Solemn  League  and  Covenant^  for  the 
suppression  of  popery  and  prelacy, 
adopted  by  the  Scotch  parliament  in 
1638,  and  accepted  by  the  English  in 
1643.  Charles  II.  swore  to  the  Scotch 
that  he  would  abide  by  it,  and  therefore 
they  crowned  him  in  1651  at  Dunbar; 
but  at  the  Restoration  he  not  only  re- 
jected the  covenant,  but  had  it  burnt 
by  the  common  hangman. 

Soler.  An  upper  room,  a loft,  a 
garret  (Latin,  solarium'). 

Hastily  than  went  thai  all. 

And  soght  him  in  the  maydens  hall. 

In  chambers  hig^h,  es  noght  at  hide. 

And  in  solers  on  ilka  side. 

“ Ywaine  and  Gawin,"  807. 

Solfeg'gio.  Guido’s  system  of  sol- 
fa.  {See  Do,  p.  231.) 

Solid  Doctor.  Richard  Middleton, 
a cordelier,  also  called  the  Profound 
Doctor.  (*-1304. ) 

Solingen.  The  Sheffield  of  Ger- 
many, famous  for  swords  and  fencing- 
foils. 

Solomon.  The  English  Solomon. 
James  I.,  called  by  Sully  *Hhe  wisest 
fool  in  Christendom.”  (1566,  1603-1625.) 

Henry  VII.  was  so  called  for  his  wise 
policy  in  uniting  the  York  and  Lancaster 
factions.  (1457,  1485-1509.) 

Solomon  of  France.  Charles  V.,  le  Sage. 
(1337,  1364-1380.) 

St.  Louis  or  Louis  IX.  (1215,  1226- 
1270.) 

Solomon’s  Ring.  The  rabbins  say 
that  Solomon  wore  a ring  in  which  was 
set  a chased  stone  that  told  the  king 
everything  he  desired  to  know. 

Solon  of  Parnassus.  So  Voltaire 
called  Boileau,  in  allusion  to  his  ‘^Art 
of  Poetry.”  (1636-1711.) 

SoTstice  (2  syl.).  The  summer  sol- 
stice is  the  21st  J une ; the  winter  solstice 
is  the  22nd  December.  So  called  because 
on  arriving  at  the  corresponding  points 
of  the  ecliptic  the  sun  is  stopped  and 
made  to  approach  the  equator  again. 
(Latin,  sol  sistit  or  stat,  the  sun  stops.) 


SolymsB'an  Rout,  in  Dryden’s 
satire  of  “ Absalom  and  Achitophel,” 
means  the  London  rebels. 

The  Solymae'an  rout,  well  versed  of  old 

In  godly  faction,  and  in  treason  bold.... 

f^aw  with  disdain  an  Ethnic  plot  [Popish  plot]  begun. 

And  scorned  bj  Jebusites  [Papistsl  to  be  outdone. 

SoTyman,  king  of  the  Turks  (in 
**  Jerusalem  Delivered”),  whoso  capital 
was  Nice.  Being  driven  from  his  king- 
dom he  fled  to  Egypt,  and  was  there 
appointed  leader  of  the  Arabs  (bk.  ix.). 
He  and  Argantes  were  by  far  the  most 
doughty  of  pagan  knights.  Solyman 
was  slain  by  Rinaldo  (bk.  xx.),  and 
Argantes  by  Tancred. 

Soma.  The  moon,  born  from  the 
eyes  of  Atri,  son  of  Brahma ; made  the 
sovereign  of  plants  and  planets.  Soma 
ran  away  with  Tara  (Star),  wife  of  Vri- 
haspata,  preceptor  of  the  gods,  and 
Buddha  was  their  offspring.— .Iftwdw  wy- 
thology. 

To  drink  the  Soma.  To  become  immor- 
tal. In  the  Vedic  hymns  the  Soma  is 
the  moon-plant,  the  juice  of  which  con- 
fers immortality,  and  exhilarates  even 
the  gods.  It  is  said  to  be  brought  down 
from  heaven  by  a idlQon.^  Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Somag'ia  (sing.,  somagium).  Horse- 
loads. Italian,  soma^  a burden  ; somaWo, 
a beast  of  burden,  an  ass.  (See  Sump- 
ter.) 

Sombre'ro.  A Spanish  hat. 

Somerset.  Anciently  Sumorsoete  or 
Sumorscet — i.e.j  Suth-mor-soet  (south  moor 
camp), 

Som'erset  or  Somersault.  Anciently 
sobersault,  sombersalt,  sobresault,  sou- 
bresault,  ko.  The  somer  is  a corruption 
of  the  Latin  super;  Italian,  sopra; 
Spanish,  sohre;  old  French,  souh'e;  the 
sault  is  the  Latin  salto;  French,  salir; 
and  the  meaning  is  to  leap  from  an  ele- 
vated spot,  but  in  the  leap  the  person  ia 
to  roll  round  and  alight  on  his  feet. 

First  that  could  make  love  faces,  or  could  do 
The  valter’a  sombersalts. 

Lonnt,  “Poernf.^p.  300L 

Somerset  House  occupies  the  site 
of  a princely  mansion  built  by  Somerset 
the  Protector,  brother  of  lady  Jane 
Seymour,  and  uncle  of  Edward  VI.  At 
the  death  of  Somerset  on  the  scaffold 
it  became  the  property  of  the  crown, 
and  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  was  called 


838 


SOMOREEN. 


SONNAMBULA, 


Denmark  House,  in  honour  of  Anne  of 
Denmark  his  queen.  Old  Somerset 
House  was  pulled  down  towards  the 
close  of  the  last  century,  and  the  pre- 
sent structure  was  erected  by  Sir  William 
Chambers  in  1776. 

Somoreen.  {See  Zamorin.) 

Son  of  Be'lial.  One  of  a wicked 
disposition;  a companion  of  wickedness; 
a wicked  person.  {See  Judges  xix.  22.) 

No\f  the  sons  of  Eli  were  sons  of  Belial,  they 
knew  not  the  Lord  (1  Sam.  ii.  12). 

Sons  of  God.  Angels,  genuine 
Christians,  or  believers  who  are  the  sons 
of  God  by  adoption. 

As  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are 
the  sons  of  God  (Bom.  viii,  14). 

Sons  of  God.  When  Judaea. was  a theo- 
cracy the  representative  of  God  on  earth 
was  by  the  Jews  called  god;  hence 
angels,  rulers,  prophets,  and  priests  were 
called  gods.  Moses  as  the  messenger  of 
Jehovah  was  a god  to  Pharaoh”  (Exod. 
vii.  1) ; magistrates  generally  were  called 
gods;  thus  it  is  said,  ‘'Thou  shalt  not 
revile  the  gods,  nor  curse  the  ruler  of 
thy  people”  (Exod.  xxii.  28).  By  a 
still  further  extension,  any  one  who 
gave  a message  to  another  was  his 
god,  because  he  “inspired  him,”  as 
Moses  was  a god  to  Aaron  his  spokes- 
man (Exod.  iv.  16).  Our  Lord  refers  to 
this  use  of  the  word  in  John  x.  34.  {See 
also  Gen.  vi.  2,  4 ; Job  i.  6 ; ii.  1 ; Psa. 
Ixxxii.  6;  Exod.  iv.  22,  23 ; Hos.  xi.  1.) 

Son  of  One  Year.  A child  one 
year  old ; similarly  a “ son  of  sixty 
years,”  &c.  (Exodus  xii.  5.) 

Son  of  Perdition.  Judas  Iscariot. 
(John  xvii.  12.) 

Son  of  'perdition.  Antichrist,  who  not 
only  draws  others  to  perdition,  but  is  him- 
self devoted  to  destruction.  (2  Thess. 
ii.  3.) 

Sons  of  the  Band.  Soldiers  rank 
and  file.  (2  Chron.  xxv.  13.) 

Sons  of  the  Mighty.  Heroes* 
(Psalm  xxix.  1.) 

Son  of  the  Morning.  A traveller. 
An  Oriental  phrase,  alluding  to  the  cus- 
tom of  rising  early  in  the  morning  to 
avoid  the  mid-day  heat,  when  on  one’s 
travels. 

Sons  of  the  Prophets.  Disciples 
or  scholars  belonging  to  the  “ college  of 


the  prophets,”  or  under  instruction  for 
the  ministry.  In  this  sense  we  call  the 
Universit}’’  where  we  were  educated  our 
“Alma  ma'ter.”  {See  1 Kings  xx.  35.) 

Sons  of  the  Sorceress.  Those  who 
study  and  practise  magic.  (Isaiah 
Ivii.  3.) 

Son  of  the  Star  {Bar-cocKba) . A 
name  assumed  by  Simon  the  Jew,  in  the 
reign  of  Hadrian,  who  gave  himself  out 
to  be  the  “Star  out  of  Jacob”  men- 
tioned in  Numbers  xxiv.  17. 

Song.  Father  of  modern  French  song. 
Panard  ; also  called  the  “ La  Fontaine  of 
the  Vaudeville.”  (1691-1765.) 

Song  of  Degrees.  The  fifteen 
Psalms,  cxx.  to  cxxxiv.  ; so  called  be- 
cause they  are  prophetic  of  the  return 
or  “going  up”  from  captivity.  Some 
think  there  is  a connection  between 
these  Psalms  and  the  fifteen  steps  of 
the  Temple  porch.  (Ezekiel  xl.  22-26.) 

Song  of  Roland,  the  renowned 
nephew  of  Charlemagne,  slain  in  the 
pass  of  Roncesvalles.  At  the  battle  of 
Hastings,  Taillefer  advanced  on  horse- 
back before  the  invading  army,  and 
gave  the  signal  for  onset  by  singing  this 
famous  song. 

Taillefer,  who  sung  well  and  loud, 

(’ame  mounted  on  a charger  proud ; 

Before  the  duke  the  minstrel  sprang* 

And  the  Song  of  Roland  sang. 

Biut  of  Wace  (translated). 

Sonna  or  Sunna.  The  Mishna  or 
Oral  Law  of  the  Mahometans.  Reland 
(“  De  Relig.  Mahom.,”  p.  54)  says  these 
traditions  were  orally  delivered  by  Ma- 
homet, and  subsequently  committed  to 
writing.  Abulphara'gius  asserts  that  Ali, 
the  son-in-law  and  cousin  of  Mahomet, 
was  set  aside  because  he  refused  to  re- 
gard the  oral  traditions  of  the  prophet 
of  the  same  authority  as  the  Koran 
(“Hist.  Dynast.,”  182).  {See  p.  864, 
Sunnites.) 

Sonnam'bula,  the  most  idyllic  of 
j Italian  operas,  represents  a young  girl 
; on  the  night  before  her  marriage  enter- 
ing the  bed-room  of  a gentleman  just  as 
he  is  retiring  to  rest.  She  is  in  her 
night-dress  and  carries  a flat  candlestick; 
she  gets  into  bed,  and  in  this  situation  is 
found  by  her  betrothed  husband.  The 
melodrame  is  by  Romani,  the  music  by 
Bellini. 


SONNET. 


SOEITES. 


839 


Sonnet.  Prince  of  the  Sonnet. 
Joachim  du  Bellay,  a French  sonneteer 

524-1560);  but  Petrarch  better  deserves 
the  title  (1304-1374). 

Sooterkin.  A false  birth,  like  a 
rat,  said  to  be  produced  in  Dutch 
^vomen  by  their  sitting  over  their 
stoves. 

Sop.  A sop  in  the  pan.  A bonne- 
bouche,  tit-bit,  dainty  morsel ; a piece 
of  bread  soaked  in  the  dripping  of  meat 
caught  in  a dripping-pan ; also  a bribe. 
{See  below.) 

To  give  a sop  to  Cer'herus.  To  give  a 
bribe,  to  quiet  a troublesome  customer. 
<Jerberus  is  Pluto’s  three-headed  dog, 
stationed  at  the  gates  of  the  infernal 
regions.  When  any  one  died  the  Greeks 
^ind  Eomans  used  to  put  a cake  in 
their  hands  as  a sop  to  Cerberus,  so  that 
it  might  let  them  pass  without  molesta- 
tion. 

Soph.  A student  at  the  University 
is  a Freshman  for  the  first  year,  a Junior 
Soph  for  the  second  year,  and  a Senior 
Soph  for  the  third  year.  The  word 
Soph  is  a contraction  of  sophister,” 
which  is  the  Greek  and  Latin  sophistes 
(a  sophist).  At  one  time  these  students 
had  to  maintain  a given  question  in  the 
schools  by  opposing  the  orthodox  view 
of  it.  These  opponencies  are  now  limited 
to  Law  and  Divinity  degrees. 

Sophi  or  Safi  {mystic)^  applied  in 
Persia  to  ascetics  generally,  was  given 
to  Sheik  Juneyd  u Dien,  grandfather  of 
Shah  Ismail,  a Mahometan  sectary  or 
Shyite,  who  claimed  descent,  through 
Ali,  from  the  twelve  saints. 

So'pliis.  The  twelfth  dynasty  of 
Persia,  founded  by  Shah  Ismail  I.,  grand- 
son of  Sheik  Juneyd  (1509).  (See  above.) 

Soph'ia  (St.),  at  Constantinople,  is 
not  dedicated  to  a saint  named  Sophi' a, 
but  to  the  ‘‘Logos,”  or  Second  Person 
of  the  Trinity,  called  Hagia  Sophia  (Sa- 
cred Wisdom). 

Sopllist,  Sophistry,  Sophism,  Sophis- 
ticator,  &c.  These  words  have  quite 
run  from  their  legitimate  meaning.  Be- 
fore the  time  of  Pythagoras  (b.c.  586- 
506),  the  sages  of  Greece  were  called 
sophists  (wise  men).  Pythagoras  out  of 
modesty  called  himself  a philosopher  (a 
wisdom-lover).  A century  later  Protag- 
oras of  Ab'dera  resumed  the  title,  and 


a set  of  quibblers  appeared  in  Athens 
who  professed  to  answer  any  question 
on  any  subject,  and  took  up  the  title  dis- 
carded by  the  Wise  Samian.  From  this 
moment  sophos  and  all  its  family  of 
words  were  applied  to  “ wisdom  falsely 
so  called,”  and  philo-sophos  to  the 
“ modest  search  after  truth.” 

Sophro'nia.  A Christian  virgin  be- 
loved by  Oiindo.  When  Aladine  vowed 
in  vengeance  to  put  to  the  sword  all  his 
Christian  subjects,  because  the  “ sacred 
image”  of  the  Virgin  had  been  stolen 
from  the  mosque,  she  accused  herself  of 
the  theft  to  save  the  Christian  popula- 
tion, and  was  condemned  to  be  burnt 
alive.  Oiindo,  hearing  of  the  sentence, 
declared  Sophronia  innocent  and  him- 
self the  only  guilty  person,  whereupon 
both  were  bound  to  the  stake  ; but  by 
the  intercession  of  Clorinda  they  were 
released.  Oiindo  and  Sophronia  became 
man  and  wife,  but  were  exiled  from  the 
land  of  Judma. — Tasso,  Jerusalem  De- 
livered,'^ bk.  ii. 

Sophros'yne  (in  “Orlando  Fu- 
rioso”).  One  of  Logistilla’s  handmaids, 
famous  for  her  purity.  She  is  sent  with 
Androni'ca  to  conduct  Astolpho  safely 
from  India  to  Arabia. 

Sorbon'ica.  The  public  disputations 
sustained  by  candidates  for  membership 
of  the  Sorbonne.  They  began  at  5 a.m. 
and  lasted  till  7 p.m. 

Sorbonne.  The  academic  body  at 
Paris  is  so  called,  from  Robert  de 
Sorbon,  canon  of  Cambrai,  its  founder. 
(13th  century.) 

Sorbonne  Acts.  The  disputations 
held  by  candidates  for  membership  of 
the  Sorbonne.  (See  Sorbonica.) 

Sorceress.  {See  Canidia,  Circe, 
&c.  &c.) 

Sordello.  A type-man  of  liberty 
and  human  progress,  who  exemplifies 
the  beau-ideal  of  human  perfectibility. 

Browning. 

Sori'tes  (Greeh).  A heaped-up  or 
cumulative  syllogism.  The  following  will 
serve  as  an  example : — 

All  men  who  believe  shall  be  saved; 

All  who  are  saved  must  be  free  from 
sin. 

All  who  are  free  from  sin  are  innocent 
in  the  sight  of  God.  [T.  0. 


840  SORROWS  OF  WERTHER. 


SOUL. 


All  who  are  innocent  in  the  sight  of 
God  are  meet  for  heaven. 

All  who  are  meet  for  heaven  will  be 
admitted  into  heaven. 

Therefore  all  who  believe  will  be  ad- 
mitted into  heaven. 

The  famous  Sorites  of  Themisiocles  was : 
That  his  infant  son  commanded  the 
whole  world,  proved  thus  : — 

My  infant  son  rules  his  mother. 

His  mother  rules  me. 

I rule  the  Athenians. 

The  Athenians  rule  the  Greeks. 

The  Greeks  rule  Europe. 

And  Europe  rules  the  world. 

Soirrows  of  Werther.  A novel  by 
Goethe.  The  heroine  is  Charlotte. 

Sortes  Biblicae.  Same  as  the  Sortfe's 
Virgilia'nae  (q.v.),  only  the  Bible  was 
substituted  for  the  works  of  the  Roman 
poet. 

Sortes  Virgilia'naB.  Telling  one’s 
fortune  by  consulting  the  ^ne'id  of 
Virgil.  You  take  up  the  book,  open  it 
at  random,  and  the  passage  you  touch  at 
random  with  your  finger  is  the  oracular 
response.  Seve'rus  consulted  the  book 
and  read  these  words:  Forget  not  thou, 
O Roman,  to  rule  the  people  with  royal 
sway.”  Gordia'nus,  who  reigned  only  a 
few  days,  hit  upon  this  verse  : “Fate 
only  showed  him  on  the  earth,  but 
suffered  him  not  to  tarry.”  But,  cer- 
tainly, the  most  curious  instance  is  that 
given  by  Dr.  Well  wood  respecting  king 
Charles  I.  and  Lord  Falkland  while  they 
were  both  at  Oxford.  Falkland,  to 
amuse  the  king,  proposed  to  try  this 
kind  of  augury,  and  the  king  hit  upon 
bk.  iv.,  ver.  881-893,  the  gist  of  which 
passage  is  that  “ evil  wars  would  break 
out,  and  the  king  lose  his  life.”  Falk- 
land, to  laugh  the  matter  off,  said  he 
would  show  his  majesty  how  ridiculously 
the  “lot”  would  foretell  the  next  fate, 
and  he  lighted  on  bk.  xi.,  ver.  230-237, 
the  lament  of  Evander  for  the  untimely 
death  of  his  son  Pallas.  King  Charles, 
in  1643,  mourned  over  his  noble  friend 
who  was  shot  through  the  body  in  the 
battle  of  Newbury. 

Sorts.  Out  of  sorts.  A printer’s  ex- 
pression— being  out  of  type  of  a parti- 
cular letter. 

Sosla.  The  living  double  of  another, 
as  the  brothers  Antiph'olus  and  brothers 


Dromio  in  the  Comedy  of  Errors,”  and 
the  Corsican  Brothers  in  the  drama 
so  called.  Sosia  is  a servant  of  Amphit'- 
ruo,  in  Plautus’s  comedy  so  called.  It  is 
Mercury  who  assumes  the  double  of 
Sosia,  till  Sosia  doubts  his  own  identity. 
Both  Dryden  and  Moli^re  have  adapted 
this  play  to  the  modern  stage,  but  the 

Comedy  of  Errors  ” is  based  on  another 
drama  of  the  same  author,  called  the 
“Menaechmi.”  (See  Amphitryon.) 

Sotad'ics  or  Sotad'ic  Verse.  One  that- 
reads  backwards  and  forwards  the  same, 
as  “llewd  did  I live,  and  evil  I did 
dwell.”  So  called  from  Sot'ades,  the 
inventor.  These  verses  are  also  called 
palindromic.  Palindrome.) 

N.B.— 11  is  the  old  way  of  making  a 
capital  L. 

Sot'enville  {3fons.).  A pompous 
provincial  French  nobleman,  with  all  the 
pride  and  finesse  of  a courtier  in  the 
reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  but  stolid  and  old- 
fashioned.  He  is  the  father-in-law  of 
George  Dandin,  and  takes  care  to  make 
the  wealthy  merchant  bend  pretty  low 
under  the  mighty  honour  of  marrying 
a sprig  of  nobility. — Moliere,  “ George 
Daudin.'* 

Sothic  Year.  The  Persian  year 
consists  of  365  days,  so  that  a day  is 
lost  in  four  years,  and  the  lost  bits  in. 
the  course  of  1,460  years  amount  to  a 
year.  This  period  of  1,460  years  is 
called  a sothic  period,  and  the  re- 
claimed year  made  up  of  the  bits  is 
called  a sothic  year,  from  sothis  (the  dog- 
star),  at  whose  rising  it  commences. 

Soul.  The  Moslems  fancy  that  it  is 
necessary,  when  a man  is  bow-strung,  to 
relax  the  rope  a little  before  death  oc- 
curs to  let  the  soul  escape.  The  Greeks 
and  Romans  seemed  to  think  that  the 
soul  made  its  escape  with  life  out  of  the 
death-wound. 

Soul.  The  Moslems  say  that  the  souls 
of  the  faithful  assume  the  forms  of  snow- 
white  birds,  and  nestle  under  the  throne 
of  Allah,  between  death  and  the  resur- 
rection. 

Soul.  Heracli'tus  held  the  soul  to  be 
a spark  of  the  stellar  essence  ; scintilla 
stellaris  essentise.”— iJ/acro&iws,  Somii^ 
Scip.f  lib.  i.,  cap.  14. 

Vital  gpark  of  heavenly  flime. 

Quit,  oh  ! quit  this  mortal  frame. 

Pope,  **Tfut  Dying  Christian  to  his  SotiL**' 


SOULIS. 


SOW, 


841 


Souf,  in  Eg3^ptian  hieroglj^pliics,  is  re- 
presented by  several  emblems,  as  a basket 
of  tire,  a heron,  a hawk  with  a human 
face,  and  a ram. 

Soulis  {Lord  William).  A man  of 
prodigious  strength,  cruelty,  avarice,  and 
treachery.  The  foul  fiend,  under  the 
name  of  Old  Redcap,  gave  him  a charmed 
life,  which  nothing  should  affect  ‘Hill 
threefold  ropes  of  sand  were  twisted 
round  his  body.”  Lord  Soulis  waylaid 
the  young  heir  of  Branxholm  and  his 
lady-love,  whose  name  was  May,  and  kept 
them  in  durance  vile  in  Hermitage  Castle 
‘Hill  May  would  consent  to  become  his 
bride.”  Walter,  the  brother  of  young 
Branxholm,  raised  his  father’s  liegemen, 
who  got  lord  Soulis  into  their  hands. 
They  “wrapped  him  in  lead,  and  then 
flung  him  into  a cauldron,  till  lead,  bones, 
and  all  were  melted.”  The  cauldron  is 
still  shown  in  the  Skelfhill  at  Ninestane 
Rig,  part  of  the  range  of  hills  which 
separates  Liddesdale  and  Tiviotdale. — 
John  Leyden. 

Sound,  a narrow  sea,  is  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  sund;  hence  such  words  as  Bomar- 
sund,  &c. 

Sound  05  a hell.  Quite  sound.  A 
cracked  bell  is  useless  as  a bell. 

Blinde  Fortune  did  so  happily  eontrive, 

That  we,  as  sound  as  bells,  did  safe  arive 

At  Do?er.  Taylor’s  “ IVorkes.*’  ii.  22  (1630). 

Sound  as  a roach.  Quite  sound  (a 
very  common  expression  in  some  coun- 
ties). It  should  be  “ Sound  as  a roche,” 
meaning  a rock.  (French,  roche j rock.) 

Sound  Dues.  A toll  or  tribute 
which  used  to  be  levied  by  the  king  of 
Denmark  on  all  merchant  vessels  pass- 
ing through  the  Sound.  (Abolished  1857.) 

Sour  Grapes.  Things  despised  be- 
cause they  are  beyond  our  reach.  Many 
men  of  low  degree  call  titles  and  dig- 
nities “sour  grapes;”  and  men  of  no 
parts  turn  up  their  noses  at  literal  y 
honours.  The  phrase  is  from  ^Esop’s 
fable  called  “ The  Fox  and  the  Grapes.” 

South.  Sq;uire  S^mth.  The  name 
given  to  Austria  in  Arbuthnot’s  **  His- 
tory of  John  Bull.” 

South-Sea  Scheme  or  Bubble.  A 
irtock -jobbing  scheme  devised  by  Sir 
John  Blunt,  a lawyer.  The  object  of 
the  company  was  to  buy  up  the  National 
Debt,  and  to  be  allowed  the  .sole  privi- 


lege of  trading  in  the  South  Seas.  Th©  - 
<£100  shares  soon  realised  ten  times  that 
sum,  but  the  whole  bubble  burst  in  1720 
and  ruined  thousands.  (1710-1720.)  The 
term  is  applied  to  any  hollow  scheme 
which  has  a splendid  promise,  but  whose 
collapse  will  be  sudden  and  ruinous.  {See 
Mississippi  Bubble.) 

Southampton  Street  (London). 
So  called  in  compliment  to  the  noble 
family  of  that  title,  allied  to  the  Bed- 
ford family,  the  proprietors. 

Southampton’s  Wise  Sons.  In 
the  early^  part  of  the  present  century, 
the  people  of  Southampton  cut  a ditch . 
for  barges  between  Southampton  and 
Redbridge ; but  as  barges  could  go  with- 
out paying  dues  through  the  “ South 
ampton  Water,”  the  ditch  or  canal  w'as 
never  used.  This  wise  scheme  was  coniT 
pared  to  that  of  the  man  who  cut  two 
holes  through  the  wall,  one  for  the  great 
cat  and  the  other  for  its  kitten. 

Southern  Gate  of  the  Sun.  The 
sign  Capricornus  or  winter  solstice  ; so 
called  because  it  is  the  most  southern 
limit  of  the  sun’s  course  in  the  ecliptic. 

Soutras.  The  discourses  of  Buddha. 
{See  Tripitaka.  ) 

Sovereign.  A strangely  misspelled'* 
word,  the  last  syllable  being  mistaken, 
for  the  word  reign.  It  is  the  Latin 
super n (supreme,  over  all),  with  the  p 
changed  to  r.  The  French  souverahi- 
is  nearer  the  Latin  word  ; Italian,  sov~ 
rano;  Spanish,  soberano.  Our  word  has 
fairly  given  rise  to  the  punning  etymo- 
logy “ so-ever-reign.” 

Sovereign^  a gold  coin  of  the  value  oL 
twenty  shillings,  was  first  issued  by 
Henry  VIII.,  and  so  called  because  his 
majesty  in  royal  robes  was  represented 
on  it. 

Sow  (to  rhyme  with  “now”).  You 
have  got  the  wrong  sow  by  the  ear.  Sow 
is  a large  tub  with  two  ears  or  handles  ;; 
it  is  used  for  pickling  or  sowsmg.  The 
expression  means,  therefore.  You  have- 
got  hold  of  the  wrong  vessel,  or  as  the 
Latin  phrase  has  it,  Pro  am'phord  ur'ceus-* 
(You  have  brought  me  the  little  jug  in- 
stead of  the  great  gotch).  French,  seau 
(a  bucket). 

You  have  got  the  right  sow  by  the  ear.. 
You  have  hit  upon  the  very  thing. 

Sow.  {See  Pig  Iron.) 


842 


SPA. 


SPEAKING  HEADS. 


Spa  or  Spa  Water,  A general  name 
for  medical  springs  ; so  called  from  Spa, 
in  Belgium,  in  the  seventeenth  century 
the  most  fashionable  watering-place  in 
Europe.  ^Teutonic,  speiceUy  to  spout 
forth;  Saxon,  spa^VJ  p.  of  s^nwan.) 

Spade.  Why  not  call  a spade  a spade  t 
Do  non  palliate  sins  by  euphemisms. 
Parallel  phrases : 

Ficus  ficus,  ligonem  ligonem,  vocat. — 
Erasmus. 

Appelons  les  figues  figues,  les  prunes 
prunes,  et  les  poires  poires. — Pantagruel, 

J’appelle  un  chat  un  chat.  —Boileau. 

We  call  a nettle  but  a nettle,  and  the  faults  of  fools 
but  folly.— 67iaA:espeare,“  Coriolanus,’*  ii.  1. 

I have  learned  to  call  wickedness  by  its  own  terms : 
a fig  a fig,  and  a spade  a sp&de.-John  Knox. 

Spades  in  cards.  A corruption  of 
the  Spanish  spados,  pikes  or  swords, 
called  by  the  French  piques  (pikes). 

Spa'fiel'ds  {London).  So  called  from 
'‘The  London  Spa,”  the  name  of  certain 
tea-gardens  once  celebrated  for  their 
“ spa-water.” 

Spag'iric  Art.  Alchemy. 

Spag'iric  Food.  Cagliostro’s 
“ elixir  of  immortal  youth  ” was  so  called 
from  the  Latin  word  spagir'icus  (chemi- 
cal). Hence  chemistry  is  termed  the 
'“spag'iric  art,”  and  a chemist  is  a 
jspag'irist. 

Spagiric  Sages.  Alchemists,  or 
rather  “adepts”  in  the  mysteries  of  al- 
chemy. 

Spagnoletto  {(he  little  Spaniard). 
J ose  Ribera,  the  painter.  Salva'tor  Rosa 
and  Guerci'no  were  two  of  his  pupils. 
(1588-1659.) 

Spaie.  A red  deer  of  the  third  year. 

The  yoong  male  is  called  in  the  first  yeere  a calfe, 
in  the  second  a broket,  the  third  a spaie.  the  f ourth  a 
stagon  or  stag,  the  fifth ‘a  great  stag,  the  sixth  an 
hart,  and  so  foorth  unto  his  death.— IZan-ison. 

Spain.  ClidUau  dhBspagne.  {See 
€astle.) 

Patron  saint  of  Spain.  St.  James  the 
Greater,  who  is  said  to  have  preached  the 
Gospel  in  Spain,  where  what  are  called 
his  “relics”  are  preserved. 

Span  Ifew.  {See  Spick.) 

Spaniel.  The  dog  from  Hispaniola 
(Hayti). 

Spanish  Blades.  A sword  is  called 


a tole'do,  from  the  great  excellence  of  the 
Toletan  steel. 

Spanish  Main.  The  circular  bank 
of  islands  forming  the  northern  and 
eastern  boundaries  of  the  Caribbe'an  Sea, 
beginning  from  Mosquito,  near  the  isth- 
mus, and  including  Jamaica,  St.  Domin- 
go, the  Leeward  Islands,  and  the  Wind- 
ward Islands,  to  the  coast  of  Venezuela 
in  South  America.  It  is  not  the  sea,  but 
the  bank  of  islands  (Spanish,  manea, 
shackles). 

We  turned  conqueror B*  and  invaded  the  main  of 
Spain.— Sacon. 

Spanish  Money.  Fair  words  and 
compliments.  The  Spanish  government 
is  a model  of  dishonest  dealings,  the 
by-word  of  the  commercial  world,  yet  no 
man  is  more  irate  than  a Spaniard  if  any 
imputation  is  laid  to  his  charge  as  incon- 
sistent with  the  character  of  a man  of 
honour. 

Spanish  Worm.  A nail  concealed 
in  a piece  of  wood,  against  which  a car- 
penter jars  his  saw  or  chisel.  So  called 
from  Spanish  woods  used  in  cabinet- 
work. 

Sparkling  Heat.  Heat  greater 
than  while  heat. 

There  be  several  degrees  of  heat  in  a smith’s  forge, 
according  to  the  purpose  of  their  work : (1)  a bloud- 
red  heat ; (2)  a white  flame  heat;  (6)  a sparkling  or 
welding  heat j used  to  weld  barrs  or  pieces  of  iron.— 
Kennett,  “ M&  Lmsd.;”  1033,  t 388. 

Spartan  Dog.  A blood-hound;  a 
blood-thirsty  man. 

O Spartan  dog. 

More  fell  than  anguish,  hunger,  or  the  sea. 

Shakespeare,  ** Othello,*’  v.  2. 

Spasmodic  School.  A name  ap- 
plied by  Professor  Aytoun  to  certain 
authors  of  the  present  age,  whose  writ- 
ings are  distinguished  by  spasmodic  or 
forced  conceits.  Of  this  school  the  most 
noted  are  Carlyle,  Bailey  (author  of 
“Festus”),  Alexander  Smith,  Sydney 
Dobell,  &c. 

Speaking.  They  are  on  speahing 
terms.  They  just  know  each  other. 

They  are  not  on  speaking  terms.  Though 
they  know  each  other,  they  do  not  even 
salute  each  other  in  the  street,  or  say 
“ How  d’ye  do  ?” 

Speaking  Heads  and  Sounding 
Stones. 

(1)  Jabel  Nakous  (rnountain  of  Ihehell), 
in  Arabia  Petrsea,  gives  out  sounds  of 


SPEAR, 


SPECTRUM. 


843 


varying:  strength  whenever  the  sand 
slides  down  its  sloping  flanks. 

(2)  The  white  dry  sand  of  the  beach 
in  the  isle  of  Eigg,  of  the  Hebrides,  pro- 
duces, according  to  Hugh  Miller,  a mu- 
sical sound  when  walked  upon. 

(3)  The  statue  of  Memnon,  in  Egypt, 
utters  musical  sounds  when  the  morn- 
ing sun  darts  on  it. 

(4)  The  speaking  head  of  Orpheus,  at 
Lesbos,  is  said  to  have  predicted  the 
bloody  death  which  terminated  the  ex- 
pedition of  Cyrus  the  Great  into  Scythia. 

(5)  The  head  of  Minos,  brought  by 
Odin  to  Scandinavia,  is  said  to  have  ut- 
tered responses. 

(6)  Herbert,  afterwards  pope  Sylvester 
II.,  constructed  a speaking  head  of  brass 
(10th  century). 

(7)  Albertus  Magnus  constructed  an 
earthen  head  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
which  both  spoke  and  moved.  Thomas 
Aqui'nas  broke  it,  whereupon  the  me- 
chanist exclaimed,  There  goes  the 
labour  of  thirty  years  ! ” 

(8)  Alexander  made  a statue  of  Escu- 
la'pios  which  spoke,  but  Lucian  says  the 
sounds  were  uttered  by  a man  concealed, 
and  conveyed  by  tubes  to  the  statue. 

(9)  The  ''ear  of  Dionysius”  communi- 
cated to  Dionysius,  tyrant  of  Syracuse, 
whatever  was  uttered  by  suspected  sub- 
jects shut  up  in  a state  prison.  This 
"ear”  was  a large  black  opening  in  a 
rock,  about  fifty  feet  high,  and  the  sound 
was  communicated  by  a series  of  chan- 
nels not  unlike  those  of  the  human  ear. 

Spear.  Cairbar  asks  if  Fingal  comes 
in  peace,  to  which  Mor-annal  replies,  " In 
peace  he  comes  not,  king  of  Erin,  I have 
seen  his  forward  spear.”  If  a stranger 
kept  the  point  of  his  spear  forward  when 
be  entered  a strange  land,  it  was  a decla- 
ration of  war  ; if  h^e  carried  the  spear  on 
'his  shoulder,  with  the  point  behind  him, 
it  was  a token  of  friendship. — Ossian, 
*^Temora;*  i. 

Achilles'  Spear.  Te'lephus,  king  of 
Mys'ia,  in  attempting  to  hinder  the 
Greeks  from  marching  through  his  coun- 
try against  Troy,  was  wounded  by 
Achilles’  spear,  and  was  told  by  an  oracle 
that  the  wound  could  be  cured  only  by 
the  weapon  that  gave  it ; at  the  same 
time  the  Greeks  were  told  that  they  would 
never  reach  Troy  except  by  the  aid  of 
Te'lephus.  So  when  the  Mys'ian  king 
repaired  to  Achilles’  tent,  some  of  the 


rust  of  the  spear  was  willingly  applied 
to  the  wound,  and  in  return  for  the  cure 
which  followed,  Telephus  directed  the> 
Greeks  on  their  way  to  Troy. 

Telephus  asterai  con^umptus  tube  perieset 
Si  nou  quae  nuc'uit  dextrd  tulisset  opem.— Ovid. 

The  spear  of  Te'lephus  could  both  kill 
and  cure. — Plutarch.  {^eeAchilLts' Spear,) 

The  heavy  spear  of  Valence  was  of  great 
repute  in  the  days  of  chivalry. 

Arthur's  Spear.  Rone  or  Ron. 

To  break  a spear.  To  fight  in  a tour- 
nament. 

Spear-half.  The  male  line.  The 
female  line  was  called  by  the  Saxons  the 
Spindle-half  {q.v.). 

Special  Pleading.  Quibbling ; 
making  your  own  argument  good  by 
forcing  certain  words  or  phrases  from 
their  obvious  and  ordinary  meaning.  A 
pleading  in  law  means  a written  state- 
ment of  a cause  pro  and  con.,  and 
"special  pleaders” are  persons  who  have 
been  called  to  the  bar,  but  do  not  speak 
as  advocates.  They  advise  on  evidence, 
draw  up  affidavits,  state  the  merits  and 
demerits  of  a cause,  and  so  on.  After  a 
time  most  special  pleaders  go  to  the  bar, 
and  many  get  advanced  to  the  bench. 

Specie,  Species,  means  simply 
what  is  visible.  As  things  are  distin- 
guished by  their  visible  forms,  it  has 
come  to  mean  kind  or  class.  As  drugs 
and  condiments  at  one  time  formed  the 
most  important  articles  of  merchandise, 
they  were  called  species — still  retained  in 
the  French  epiceSy  and  English  spices. 
Again,  as  bank-notes  represent  money, 
money  itself  is  called  specie,  the  thing 
represented. 

Spectrum,  Spectra,  Spectre  are  all 
from  the  Latin  specto  (to  behold).  In 
optics  a spectrum  is  the  image  of  a 
sunbeam  beheld  on  a screen.  Spectra  are 
the  images  of  objects  left  on  the  eye  after 
the  objects  themselves  are  removed  from 
sight.  A spectre  is  the  apparition  of  a 
person  no  longer  living  or  not  bodily 
present. 

Spectre  of  the  Brochen.  The  Brochen  is 
the  highest  sununit  of  the  Hartz  moun- 
tains in  Hanover.  This  summit  is  at 
times  enveloped  in  a thick  mist,  which 
reflects  in  a greatly  magnified  degree 
any  form  opposite  at  sunset.  In  one  of 
De  Quincey’s  opium-dreams,  there  is 


844 


SPECULATE. 


SPICK  AND  SPAN  Ni;W. 


a powerful  descriptioD  of  the  Brochen 
spectre. 

Speculate  means  to  look  out  of  the 
window,  to  spy  about  {Latin).  Meta- 
phorically, to  look  at  a subject  with  the 
mind’s  eye,  to  spy  into  it ; in  commercey 
to  purchase  articles  which  your  mind  has 
speculated  on,  and  has  led  you  to  expect 
will  prove  profitable.  {Specula'ris  lapis 
is  what  we  should  now  call  window- 
glass.) 

Speed.  A ^eat  punster,  the  serving- 
man  of  Valentine,  one  of  the  Two  Gen- 
tlemen of  V ero'na.  Launce  is  the  serving- 
man  of  Protheus,  the  other  gentleman. — 
tShakespeai'e,  **Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona.^* 

Spell.  A pretty  good  spell.  A long 
bou^  or  pull,  as  a spell  at  the  pumps” 
on  board  ship,  a “ spell  at  the  cap- 
stan,” &c.  This  is  the  German  spiel,  a 
game,  applied  to  a theatrical  representa- 
tion, a game  of  cards,  bowls,  racket,  &c* 

Spencer.  An  outer  coat  without 
skirts ; so  named  from  the  late  earl 
Spencer,  who  wore  this  kind  of  dress 
(George  III.). 

Spendthrift.  The  Danish  thrift  is 
the  noun  of  the  word  thrive  (to  increase 
or  prosper).  Shakespeare  says,  I have 
a mind  presages  me  such  thrift”  (increase, 
profit).  As  our  frugal  ancestors  found 
saving  the  best  way  to  grow  rich,  they 
applied  the  word  to  frugality  and  careful 
management.  A spendthrift  is  one  who 
spends  the  thrift  or  savings  of  his  father, 
or,  as  Old  Adam  says,  the  thrifty  hire 
I saved.” — As  Yon  Like  It^ 

Spenser  {Edmund),  called  by  Milton 
''the  sage  and  serious  Spenser.”  Ben 
Jonson,  in  a letter  to  Drummond,  states 
that  the  poet  died  for  lake  of  bread.” 
(1553-1599.) 

Spent.  Weary.  A hunting  term.  A 
deer  is  said  to  be  spent  when  it  stretches 
out  its  neck,  and  is  at  the  point  of  death. 
In  sea  language,  a broken  mast  is  said  to 
be  “spent.” 

Spheres.  The  music  or  harmony  of 
the  spheres.  Pythag'oras,  having  ascer- 
tained that  the  pitch  of  notes  depends 
on  the  rapidity  of  vibrations,  and  also 
that  the  planets  move  at  different  rates 
of  motion,  concluded  that  the  sounds 
made  by  their  motion  must  vary  accord- 


ing to  their  different  rates  of  motion. 
As  all  things  in  nature  are  harmoniously 
made,  these  different  sounds  must  har- 
monise, and  the  combination  he  called 
the  “ harmony  of  the  spheres.”  Kepler 
has  a treatise  on  the  subject. 

Sphinx  {The  Egyptian).  Half  a 
woman  and  half  a lion,  said  to  symbolise 
the  “rising  of  the  Nile  while  the  sun  is 
in  Leo  and  Virgo.”  This  “ saying  ” must 
be  taken  for  what  it  is  worth. 

Sphinx.  Lord  Bacon’s  ingenious  reso- 
lution of  this  fable  is  a fair  specimen  of 
what  some  persons  call  “ spiritualising  ” 
the  incidents  and  parables  of  Scripture. 
He  says  that  the  whole  represents 
“science,”  which  is  regarded  by  the 
ignorant  as  “ a monster.”  As  the  figure 
of  the  sphinx  is  heterogeneous,  so  the 
subjects  of  science  “are  very  various. ” 
The  female  face  “ denotes  volubility  of 
speech ;”  her  wings  show  that  “knowledge 
like  light  is  rapidly  diffused ;”  her  hooked 
talons  remind  us  of  “the  arguments  of 
science  which  enter  the  mind  and  lay 
hold  of  it.”  She  is  placed  on  a crag  over- 
looking the  city,  for  “all  science  ia 
placed  on  an  eminence  which  is  hard  to 
climb.”  If  the  riddles  of  the  sphinx 
brought  disaster,  so  the  riddles  of  science 
“perplex  and  harass  the  mind.” 

You  are  a perfect  sphinx— Yovl  speak 
in  riddles.  You  are  nothing  better  than  a 
sphinx — You  speak  so  obscurely  that  I 
cannot  understand  you.  The  sphinx  was 
a sea-monster  that  proposed  a riddle  to 
the  Thebans,  and  murdered  all  who 
could  not  guess  it.  (Edipos  solved  it,  and 
the  sphinx  put  herself  to  death.  The 
riddle  was  this — 

What  goea  on  four  feet,  on  two  feet,  and  three. 

But  the  more  feet  it  goes  on  the  weaker  it  be  ? 

Spice.  A small  admixture,  a flavour- 
ing ; as,  “He  is  all  very  well,  but  there’s 
a spice  of  conceit  about  him.”  Probably 
the  French  espece. 

God’s  bounte  is  all  pure,  without  ony  espece  of 
evylL— Caafon,  '■"Mirrourof  the  Worldpi. 

Spick  and  Span  IN'ew.  First  ap- 
plied to  cloth  just  taken  off  the  spannans 
(stretchers)  and  spikes  (hooks).— 

Another  derivation  is  spick  from 
the  Italian  spicco  (brightness),  and  span- 
new  is  newly  span  or  spun,  meaning 
glossy  and  newly  spun.  A third  is  the 
Dutch  spyker  (a  warehouse),  spange 
(glossy  or  shining),  shining  or  glossy  a» 


SPIDEE, 


SPINSTER. 


845 


fresh  from  the  warehouse.  Shakespeare 
uses  the  expression  fire-ne%o  (^.v.). 

Then,  while  the  honour  thou  hast  got 
Ig  spick  and  span  now,  piping  hf  t, 
htrike  her  up  bravely  thou  hadst  best. 

And  trust  to  fortune  all  the  rest. 

Butler^  "Hudibras,'*  L S. 

Spider.  It  is  said  that  Robert  Bruce 
noticed  a spider  near  his  bed  try  six 
times  unsuccessfully  to  attach  its  thread 
to  a balk,  and  said,  ‘'Now  shall  this 
spider  teach  me  what  I am  to  do,  for  I 
also  have  failed  six  times.”  The  spider 
made  a seventh  effort  and  succeeded. 
Bruce  also  oucceeded,  and  never  after- 
wards sustained  a defeat  of  any  moment. 
In  remembrance  of  this  incident,  it  has 
always  been  deemed  a foul  crime  for  any 
of  the  name  of  Bruce  to  injure  a spider. 
— " Tales  of  a Grandfatlmf'  p.  26,  col.  2. 

I will  grant  you,  my  father,  that  this  valiant  hur- 
g;8s  of  Perth  u one  of  the  best-hearted  men  that 
draws  breath..  ..he  would  be  as  loth,  in  wantonn^ss, 
to  kill  a spider,  as  if  he  were  a kinsman  to  king 
llobert  of  hanpy  memory.— Walter  Scotty  "Fair 
Maid  of  Perth,"  ch.  ii. 

Spider.  When  Mahomet  fled  from 
Mecca  he  hid  in  a certain  cave,  and  the 
Koreishites  were  close  upon  him.  Sud- 
denly an  acacia  in  full  leaf  sprang  up  at 
the  mouth  of  the  cave,  a woodpigeon  had 
its  nest  in  the  branches,  and  a spider  had 
woven  its  net  between  the  tree  and  the 
oave.  When  the  Koreishites  saw  this 
they  felt  persuaded  that  no  one  could 
have  recently  passed  that  way,  and  went 
on. 

Spider,  anciently  supposed  to  envenom 
everything  it  touched.  In  the  examina- 
tion into  the  murder  of  Sir  Thomas 
Overbury,  one  of  the  witnesses  deposed 
“that  the  countess  wished  him  to  get 
the  strongest  poison  that  he  could  . . .” 
Accordingly  he  brought  seven  great 
spiders. 

There  may  be  in  the  cup 

A spider  gteeped,  and  one  may  drink,  depart, 

And  yet  partake  no  venom. 

Shakespeare,  “ Winter's  Talef  ii.  1. 

Spider.  According  to  old  wives’  fable, 
fever  may  be  cured  by  wearing  a spider 
in  a nutshell  round  the  neck. 

Cured  by  wearing  a spider  hnna'  round  one’s  neck 
In  a nutshell.— Lonp/eiioto,  "Evangdinef 

Spiders  will  never  set  their  webs  on  a 
€edarroof. — Caughey,  “Letters.”  (1845.) 

Spiders  spin  only  cm  dark  days. 

The  subtle  spider  never  spins 
But  on  dark  days  his  slimy  gins. 

S.  BuUer,  "On  a Nonconformist,”  ir. 


Spider.  The  shoal  called  the  Sham- 
bles at  the  entrance  of  Portland  Roads 
was  very  dangerous  before  the  break- 
water was  constructed.  According  to 
legend,  at  the  bottom  of  the  gigantic 
shaft  are  the  wrecks  of  ships  seized  and 
sunk  by  the  huge  spider  Kraken,  called 
also  the  fish-mountain. 

Spid'ireen  or  Spidereen.  The  ano- 
nyrna  of  ships.  If  a sailor  is  asked  what 
ship  he  belongs  to,  and  does  not  choose 
to  tell,  he  will  say  “ The  spidireen  frigate 
with  nine  decks.”  Officers  who  will  not 
tell  their  quarters,  give  B.K.S.  as  their 
address.  (8’ee  B.K.S.) 

Spigot.  Spare  at  the  spiggot  and  spill 
at  the  hung.  To  bo  parsimonious  in 
trifles  and  wasteful  in  great  matters,  like 
a man  who  stops  his  beer-tub  at  the 
vent-hole  and  leaves  it  running  at  the 
bung-hole. 

Spindle-half.  The  female  line.  A 
Saxon  term.  The  spindle  was  the  pin 
on  which  the  thread  was  wound  from 
the  spinning-wheel.  {See  Spear-half.) 

Spinning  Jenny.  Jennie  is  a di- 
minutive and  corruption  of  engine 
(’ginie).  A little  engine  invented  by 
James  Hargreaves,  a Lancashire  weaver, 
in  1767.  It  is  usually  said  that  he  so 
called  it  after  his  wife  and  daughter ; 
but  the  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth, 
and  he  never  had  a daughter. 

Spino'za.  The  “ system  of  Spi- 
no'za  ” is  that  matter  is  eternal,  and 
that  the  universe  is  God. 

Spinster.  An  unmarried  woman. 

The  fleece  which  was  brought  homo 
by  the  Anglo-Saxons  in  summer,  was 
spun  into  clothing  by  the  female  part  of 
each  family  during  the  winter.  King 
Edward  the  Elder  commanded  his 
daughters  to  be  instructed  in  the  use 
of  the  distaff.  Alfred  the  Great,  in  his 
will,  calls  the  female  part  of  his  family 
the  spindle  side;  and  it  was  a regularly 
received  axiom  with  our  frugal  fore- 
fathers, that  no  young  woman  was  fit  to 
be  a wife  till  she  had  spun  for  herself  a 
set  of  body,  table,  and  bed  linen.  Hence 
the  maiden  was  termed  a spinner  or  spin- 
ster, and  the  married  woman  a wife  or 
“ one  who  has  been  a spinner.”  (Saxon, 
wif,  from  the  verb  wyfan  or  wefan,  to 
weave.^ 


846 


SPIRITS. 


SPOKE. 


Spirits.  Inflammable  liquors  ob- 
tained by  distillation.  This  is  connec- 
ted with  the  ancient  notion  of  bottle- 
imps  {q.v.)y  whence  these  liquors  v/ere 
largely  used  in  the  black  arts. 

Spirits.  There  are  four  spirits  and 
seven  bodies  in  alchemy.  The  spirits 
are  quicksilver,  orpiment,  sal-ammoniac, 
and  brimstone.  {See  Seven  Bodies.) 

The  first  spirit  quyk stiver  called  is ; 

The  secound  orpiment ; the  thrid  I wis 

Sal  armotii'ac;  and  the  ferth  bremstoon. 

Chaucer^  ProiL  of  the  “ Cluinouna  Yemanea  Tale.** 

Spirits.  There  are  three  in  animal 
bodies : — 

(1)  The  animal  spirits,  seated  in  the 
brain  ; they  perform  through  the  nerves 
all  the  actions  of  sense  and  motion. 

(2)  The  vital  spirits,  seated  in  the 
heart,  on  which  depend  the  motion  of 
the  blood  and  animal  heat. 

(3)  The  natural  spirits,  seated  in  the 
liver,  on  which  depend  the  temper  and 

spirit  of  mind.” 

To  give  up  tlie  spirit.  To  die.  At 
death  the  “ spirit  is  given  back  to  Him 
who  gave  it.” 

Spiritual  Mother.  So  Johanna 
Southcott  is  addressed  by  her  disciples. 
(1750-1814.) 

Spiritualism  or  Spiritism.  A sys- 
tem which  started  up  in  America  in 
1848.  It  professes  that  certain  living 
persons  have  the  power  of  holding  com- 
munion with  the  spirits  of  the  dead.” 
The  system,  without  doubt,  owes  its  ori- 
gin to  Andrew  Jackson  Davis,  the  Seer 
of  Ploughkeepsie.” 

Spirt  or  Spurt.  A sudden  convulsive 
effort  (Swedish,  Danish,  sprude; 

our  spout,  to  throw  up  water  in  a jet). 

Spit.  Spawn,  the  eggs  of  insects ; as 
Cuckoo-spit,  the  spawn  of  insects  com- 
mon on  lavender,  rosemary,  catch-fly, 
and  apple-trees.  Spit  and  spaivu  are 
both  from  the  same  root,  another  shoot 
of  which  is  spew. 

Spitting  for  Luck.  Boys  often  spit 
on  a piece  of  money  given  to  them  for 
luck.  Boxers  spit  upon  their  hands  for 
luck.  Fishwomen  not  unfrequently  spit 
upon  their  hansel  {i.e.,  the  first  money 
they  take)  for  luck.  Spitting  was  a 
charm  against  fascination  among  the 
ancient  Greeks  and  Romans.  Pliny  says 


it  averted  witchcraft,  and  availed  in  giv- 
ing to  an  enemy  a shrewder  blow. 

Thrice  on  my  breast  I spit,  to  guard  me  safe 
Erom  fascinating  charms.  Theocritoa. 

Spitalfields  {London).  A spital  is 
a charitable  foundation  for  the  care  of 
the  poor,  and  these  were  the  fields  of  the 
almshouse  founded  in  1197  by  Walter 
Brune  and  his  wife  Rosia. 

Spitfire.  An  irascible  person,  whose 
angry  words  are  like  fire  spit  from  the 
mouth  of  a fire-eater. 

Spittle  or  SpUal.  An  hospital. 

A spittle  or  hospitall  for  poore  folkes  diseased ; 
a spittle,  hospitall,  or  lazarhouse  for  lepers.— 
'■'ALvearie."  (1580.) 

Spittle  Sermons.  Sermons 
preached  formerly  at  the  Spittle,  in  a 
pulpit  erected  expressly  for  the  pur- 
pose. Subsequently  they  were  preached 
at  Christchurch,  City,  on  Easter  Mon- 
day and  Tuesday.  Ben  Jonson  alludes 
to  them  in  his  “ Underwoods,*’  ap.  Gif- 
ford, viii.  414. 

Splay  is  a contraction  of  display  (to 
unfold ; Latin,  dis-plico).  A splay-window 
is  one  in  a V shape,  the  external  opening 
being  very  wide,  to  admit  as  much  light 
as  possible,  but  the  inner  opening  being 
very  small.  A splay-foot  is  a foot  dis- 
played or  turned  outward.  A splay- 
mouth  is  a wide  mouth,  like  that  of  a 
clown. 

Spleen  was  at  one  time  believed  to 
be  the  seat  of  ill-humour  and  melan- 
choly. The  herb  spleen-wort  was  sup- 
posed to  remove  these  splenetic  dis- 
orders. 

Splendid  Shilling.  A mock  heroic 
by  J ohn  Philips. 

Splice.  To  marry.  Very  strangely 
'^splice”  means  to  split  or  divide.  The 
way  it  came  to  signify  unite  is  this: 
Ropes’  ends  are  first  untwisted  before 
the  strands  are  interwoven.  Joining  twO' 
ropes  together  by  interweaving  their 
strands  is  splicing”  them.  Splicing 
wood  is  joining  two  boards  together,  the 
term  being  borrowed  from  the  sailor. 
(German,  spleissen,  to  split.) 

Spoke.  When  members  of  the  House 
of  Commons  and  other  debaters  call  out 
Spoke,  they  mean  that  the  person  who 
gets  up  to  address  the  assembly  has 
spoken  already,  and  cannot  speak  again 


SPOON. 


SPOUSE. 


847 


except  in  explanation  of  something  im- 
perfectly understood. 

1 have  put  my  spoke  into  his  wheel.  I 
have  shut  him  up.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
pin  or  spoke  used  to  lock  wheels  in  ma- 
chinery. 

Don't  put  your  spoke  into  my  wheel. 
Don’t  interfere  with  my  business  ; Let 
my  wheel  turn,  and  don’t  you  put  a pin 
in  to  stop  it  or  interrupt  its  movement. 
The  Dutch  have  “ Een  spaak  in  t’wiel 
steeken,”  to  thwart  a purpose. 

When  solid  wheels  were  used,  the 
driver  was  provided  with  a pin  or  spoke, 
which  he  thrust  into  one  of  the  three 
holes  made  to  receive  it,  to  skid  the  cart 
when  it  went  down-hill.  The  carts  used 
by  railway  navvies,  and  tram-waggons 
used  in  collieries,  still  have  a wheel 
‘^spoked”  in  order  to  skid  it. 

Spoon.  (^66  Apostle-Spoons.) 

He  hath  need  of  a long  spoon  that  eateth 
with  the  deril.  Shakespeare  alludes  to 
this  proverb  in  the  Comedy  of  Errors,” 
iv.  3 ; and  again  in  the  Tempest,”  ii.  2, 
where  Stephano  says  Mercy  ! mercy ! 
this  is  a devil ...  I will  leave  him,  I 
have  DO  long  spoon.” 

Therfor  bchoveth  him  a ful  long  spoon 
That  schal  ete  with  a feend. 

Chaucer  t “ The  Squieres  TcUeP  10,916. 

A tea-spoon,  dessert-spoon,  table-spoon, 
and  gravy-spoon.  £5,000,  £10,000, 

£15,000,  and  £20,000.  When  Streat- 
field  and  Laurence,  in  1860,  were  on  the 
point  of  failure,  an  offer  was  made  to  ac- 
commodate them  with  £5,000,  whereupon 
Laurence  replied,  “Come,  come,  that 
will  never  do ; you  are  feeding  me  with 
a tea-spoon.”  The  four  terms  were  sub- 
sequently introduced  into  the  financial 
world. 

Spooning,  in  rowing,  is  dipping  the 
oars  so  little  into  the  water  as  merely  to 
skim  the  surface.  The  resistance  being 
very  small,  much  water  is  thrown  up,  and 
more  disturbed; 

Spoony.  Lovingly  soft.  A sea- 
phrase.  When  a ship  under  sail  in  a 
sea-storm  cannot  bear  it,  but  is  obliged 
to  put  right  before  the  wind,  she  is  said 
to  “ spoon so  a young  man  under  sail  in 
the  sea  of  courtship  “ spoons”  when  he 
cannot  bear  it,  but  is  obliged  to  put  right 
before  the  gale  of  his  lady’s  “ eye-brow.” 

Sport  a Door  or  Oak.  To  keep  an 
outer  door  shut.  In  the  Universities 


the  College  rooms  have  two  doors,  an 
outer  and  an  inner  one.  The  outer  door 
is  called  the  sporting  door,  and  is  opened 
with  a key.  When  shut  it  is  to  give 
notice  to  visitors  that  the  person  who 
occupies  the  rooms  is  not  at  home,, 
or  is  not  to  be  disturbed.  The  word 
sport  means  to  exhibit  to  the  public, 
as,  “to  sport  a new  equipage,”  “to 
sport  a new  tile  [hat],”  &c. ; whence  to 
have  a new  thing  as  “to  sport  an  aegro'- 
tat  [sick-leave]  or  merely  to  show  to 
the  public,  as  “sport  a door  or  oak.” 
The  word  is  a contraction  of  support. 
(French,  supporter,  to  sustain,  carry; 
Latin,  supporto.) 

Sporting  Seasons  in  England. 

Those  marked  thus  (•)  are  fixed  by  Act  of  Parlta- 
ment. 

Black  Game,*  from  Aug.  20  to  Dec.  10 ; but  in 
Somerset,  Devon,  and  New  Forest,  from  Sept.  1 to 
Dec.  10. 

Blackcock,  Aug.  20  to  Dec,  10. 

Jiuck  hunting,  Aug.  20  to  Sept.  17. 

Bastard*  Sept.  1 to  March  1. 

Red  Deer  hunted,  Aug.  20  to  Sept.  31. 

Male  Deer  (Ireland),*  Oct.  20  to  June  10. 

Fallow  Deer  (Ireland),  June  20  to  Michaelmas. 

Feis,  (about)  April  20  to  Oct.  28. 

Fox  hiinting,  (about)  Oct,  to  Lady  Day. 

Fox  Cubs,  Aug.  to  the  first  Monday  in  Nov. 

Grouse*  shooting,  Aug.  12  to  Dec.  10. 

Hare  hunting,  Oct.  29  to  Feb.  27. 

Hare  coursing,  between  Sept,  and  March. 

Hind,  hunted  in  October,  and  again  between* 
April  10  and  May  20. 

iloor  Game  (Ireland),*  Aug.  20  to  Dec.  10. 

Oyster  peason,  Aug.  5 to  May. 

Partridge  shooting,*  Sept.  1 to  Peb.  I. 

Pheasant  shooting,*  Oct.  1 to  Feb.  1. 

Ptarmigan,  Aug.  12  to  Dec.  10. 

Quail,  Aug.  12  to  Jan.  10. 

Rabbits,  between  Oct.  and  March. 

Salmon,*  Feb.  1 to  Sept.  1. 

Salmon,  rod  fishing,*  Nov.  1 to  Sept.  1. 

Trovt  fishing.  May  1 to  Sept.  10. 

Trout,  in  the  Thames,  April  1 to  Sept.  10. 

Woodcocks,  about  Nov.  to  Jan. 

For  Ireland  and  Scotland  there  are  spe- 
cial game-laws.  {See  Time  of  Grace.) 

N.B.— Game  in  England:  hare,  pheasant,  par- 
tridge, grouse,  and  moor-fowl;  in  Scotland,  some 
England,  with  the  addition  of  ptarmigan  ; in  Ire- 
land, same  as  England,  with  the  addition  of  deer, 
black-game,  landrail,  quail,  and  bustard. 

Spouse  {Spouze,  1 syl.)  means  on© 
whom  sponsors  have  answered  for.  In 
Rome,  before  marriage,  the  friends  of  the 
parties  about  to  be  married  met  at  the 
house  of  the  woman’s  father  to  settle 
the  marriage  contract.  This  contract 
was  called  spousa'lia  (espousals) ; the  man 
and  woman  were  spouses.  The  contract- 
ing parties  were  each  asked  An  spondes 
(Do  you  agree)?  and  replied  Spondeo 
(I  agree). 

Spouse  of  Jesus.  ‘ ^ Our  seraphic  mo- 
ther the  holy  Tere'sa,”  bom  at  Av'ila  ia 


^48 


SPOUT, 


SQUAB -PIE. 


1515,  is  so  called  in  the  Koman  Catholic 
church. 

Spout.  TJ'p  the  spout.  At  the  pawn- 
> broker’s.  In  allusion  to  the  “ spout  ” up 
which  brokers  send  the  articles  ticketed. 
When  redeemed  they  return  down  the 
spout — I.C.,  from  the  store-room  to  the 
shop. 

As  for  spoons,  forks,  and  jewelry,  they  are  not 
taken  so  readily  to  the  srn  el  ting-pot,  hut  to  well- 
Icnown  places  where  there  is  a pipe  Lspout]  which 
your  lordships  may  have  seen  in  a pawnbroker's 
^hop.  The  thief  taps,  the  pipe  is  lifted  up,  and  in 
the  course  of  a minut’e  a hand  comes  out,  covered 
with  a glove,  takes  up  the  article,  and  gives  out  the 
money  for  it.— Shaftesbury,  “ The  Times”  March 
1st,  1869. 

Sprat.  To  bait  with  a sprat  to  catch  a 
mackerel.  To  give  a small  thing  under 
the  hope  of  getting  something  much 
•more  valuable.  The  French  say  “ A pea 
for  a bean.”  Gar  vies.) 

Spring  G-ardens  {London).  So 
called  from  a playfully  contrived  water- 
work,  which,  on  being  unguardedly 
pressed  by  the  foot,  sprinkled  the  by- 
standers with  water.  (James  I.,  &c.) 

Spring  Tide.  The  tide  that  springs 
or  leaps  or  swells  up.  These  full  tides 
occur  at  the  new  and  full  moon,  when 
the  attraction  of  both  sun  and  moon  act 
in  a direct  line,  as  thus — 

* O © or  :!<  © O 

Springer.  Ludwig  the  Springer.  The 
margrave  of  Thuringia,  in  the  eleventh 
century;  so  called  because  he  escaped 
from  Giebichenstein  castle  by  leaping 
over  the  river  Saale. 

Sprout-kele.  The  Saxon  name  for 
February.  Kele;  is  cole- wort,  the  great 
pot-wort  of  the  ancient  Saxons ; the 
broth  made  thereof  was  also  called  kele. 
This  important  potage  herb  begins  to 
sprout  in  February. — Verstegan. 

Shakespeare  speaks  of  winter  as  the 
time  when  greasy  Joan  doth  kele  the 
pot  ” — that  is,  put  kele  into  the  pot. 

Spuma'dor.  Prince  Arthur’s  horse 
of  “heavenly  seed  so  called  from  the 
foam  of  its  mouth,  which  showed  its  fiery 
temper. — Spenser,  Faery  Quern, bk.  ii. 

Spnnging  House.  A victualling 
house  where  persons  arrested  for  debt 
are  kept  for  twenty-four  hours,  before 
lodging  them  in  prison.  The  houses  so 
used  are  generally  kept  by  a bailiff,  and 
the  person  lodged  is  spunged  of  all  his 
money  before  he  leaves. 


Spurs.  Rlpon  spurs.  The  best  spurs 
were  made  at  Ripon,  in  Yorkshire. 

If  my  spurs  be  not  right  Rippon, 

Ben  Jonson,  ^'Staple  of  News  ” 

The  Battle  of  Spurs.  The  battle  of 
Guinnegate,  fought  in  1513,  between 
Henry  Vlll.  and  the  due  de  Longueville ; 
so  called  because  the  French  used  their 
spurs  in  flight  more  than  their  swords  in 
fight. 

The  Battle  of  the  Spurs.  The  battle  of 
Courtrai,  in  1302  ; so  called  because  the 
victorious  Flemings  gathered  from  the 
field  more  than  700  gilt  spurs,  worn  by 
French  nobles  slain  in  the  tight. 

To  dish  up  the  spurs.  In  Scotland, 
during  the  times  of  the  Border  feuds, 
when  any  of  the  great  families  had  come 
to  the  end  of  their  provisions  the  lady 
of  the  house  sent  up  a pair  of  spurs  for 
the  last  course,  to  intimate  that  it  was 
time  to  put  spurs  to  the  horses  and 
make  a raid  upon  England  for  more 
cattle. 

He  dishes  up  the  spurs  in  his  helpless  address, 
like  one  of  the  old  Border  chiefs  wich  an  empty 
larder.— TAe  Daily  Telegraph 

To  win  his  spurs.  To  gain  the  rank  of 
knighthood.  When  a man  was  knighted, 
the  person  who  dubbed  him  presented 
him  with  a pair  of  gilt  spurs. 

Spur  Money.  Money  given  to  re- 
deem a pair  of  spurs.  Gifford  says,  in 
the  time  of  Ben  Jonson,  in  consequence 
of  the  interruptions  to  divine  service 
occasioned  by  the  ringing  of  the  spurs 
worn,  a small  fine  was  imposed  on  those 
who  entered  church  in  spurs.  The  en- 
forcement of  this  fine  was  committed  to 
the  beadles  and  chorister-boys. 

Spy.  Vidocq,  the  spy  in  the  French 
revolution,  w^as  a short  man,  vivacious, 
vain,  and  talkative.  He  spoke  of  his 
feats  with  real  enthusiasm  and  gusto. 

Spy  Wednesday.  The  Wednesday 
before  Good  Friday,  when  Judas  bar- 
gained to  become  the  spy  of  the  Jewish 
{Sanhedrim.  (Matt.  xxvi.  3-5,  14-16.) 

Squab.  Poet  Squab,  John  Dryden 
was  so  called  by  lord  Rochester,  because 
of  his  squab  corpulent  figure. 

Squab-pie.  Pie  made  of  squabs  - 
i.e.,  young  pigeons ; also  a pie  made  of 
mutton,  apples,  and  onions. 

Cornwall  squab-pie,  and  Devon  white-pot  brings. 

And  I.eicester  beans  and  bacon,  fit  for  kings. 

Kins,  "Art  <iP  Cookery.* 


SQUAD. 


STAG. 


84^ 


Squad.  The  aivJcward  squad  consists 
of  recruits  not  yet  fitted  to  take  their 
places  in  the  regimental  line.  Squad  is 
a mere  contraction  of  squadron. 

Square.  To  put  oneself  in  the  atti- 
tude of  boxing,  to  quarrel  (Welsh,  cwer^ 
— i.e.f  cwei'yl,  cwerylUf  to  quarrel.) 

Are  you  such  fools 
To  square  for  this  ? 

Shakespeare,  "Titus  Andronicus,'’  il.  1. 

Square  the  Circle.  To  attempt  an 
impossibility.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
mathematical  question  whether  a circle 
can  be  made  which  contains  precisely 
the  same  area  as  a square.  The  diffi- 
culty is  to  find  the  precise  ratio  between 
the  diameter  and  the  circumference. 
Popularly  it  is  3T4159  ....  the  next 
decimals  would  be  26537,  but  the  num- 
bers would  go  on  ad  infinitum. 

Squeers.  Mr.  WacJcford  Squeers.  An 
overbearing,  ignorant  schoolmaster,  in 
Nicholas  Nickleby,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Mrs.  Squeers.  The  help-meet  of  the 
worthy  pedagogue  mentioned  above. 

Miss  Fanny  Squeers  was  not  tall  like 
her  mother,  but  short  like  her  father ; 
from  the  former  she  inherited  a voice  of 
hoarse  quality,  and  from  the  latter  a 
remarkable  expression  of  the  right  eye.” 
She  was  twenty-three  when  Nicholas 
Nickleby  was  introduced  to  Do-the- 
boys  Hall.” 

Master  WacJcford  Squeers.  A spoiled 
boy,  who  was  dressed  in  the  best  clothes 
of  the  scholars,  and  was  a true  chip  of 
the  old  block.” 

Squint-eyed  ( GuercHno).  Gian- 
Francesco  Barbie'ri,  the  great  painter. 
(1590-1666.) 

Squintife'go.  Squinting. 

The  squintifego  maid 

Of  Isis  awe  thee,  lest  tt  e gods  for  sin 

Should  with  a swelling  dropsy  stuff  thy  skin. 

Dryden,  "Fifth  Satire.** 

Sq.uire  of  Dames.  Any  cavalier 
who  is  devoted  to  ladies.  Spenser,  in  his 
‘'Faery  Queen,”  bk  iii.,  ch.  7,  intro- 
duces the  “ squire,”  and  records  his 
adventure. 

Srama'nas  or  BiJcshus.  Mendicants, 
a sort  of  Buddhist  begging  friars. 

Sta'bat  Ma'ter.  The  celebrated 
Latin  hymn  on  the  Crucifixion,  which 
forms  a part  of  the  service  during  Pas- 
sion week,  in  the  Koman  Catholic 


church.  It  was  composed  by  Jacopone, 
a Franciscan  of  the  thirteenth  century, 
and  has  been  set  to  music  by  Pergole'se, 
also  by  Kossi'ni. 

In  the  catalogue  of  the  Library  of 
Burgundy,  No.  13,993,  is  the  following 

Item,  fol,  77.  Benedictus  Papa  XII.  composuife 
hanc  orationem  : '*  Stabat  Mater  uolorosa  iuxtci 
crucem.”  &c..  concessitque  cuilibet  confesso  poeai- 
tenti  dicenti  earn  pro  qualibet  yico  30  dies  indal- 
geutium.  (Id  cent.) 

Stable  Keys,  as  those  of  cow-houses, 
have  frequently  a perforated  flint  or 
horn  appended  to  them.  This  is  a 
charm  to  guard  the  creatures  from  night- 
mare. The  flint  is  to  propitiate  the 
gnomes,  and  the  horn  to  obtain  the 
good  graces  of  Pan,  the  protector  of 
cattle. 

Staff.  I Jceeft  the  staff  in  my  own^ 
hand.  I keep  possession ; 1 retain  th® 
right.  The  staff  was  the  ancient  sceptre, 
and  therefore  figuratively  it  means 
power,  authority,  dignity,  &c. 

To  yart  with  the  staff.  To  lose  or  giv® 
up  office  or  possession.  {See  ahove.) 

Give  up  your  staff,  sir,  and  the  king  his  realm. 

Shakespeat  e,  “ S Henry  VI.,"  ii.  3. 

To  put  down  onds  staff  in  a place.  To 
take  up  one’s  residence.  The  allusion! 
is  to  the  tent-staff : where  the  staff  ia 
placed,  there  the  tent  is  stretched,  and 
the  nomad  resides. 

Stafford.  The  part  of  the  river  Sow 
which  is  forded  by  staffs. 

He  has  had  a treat  in  Stafford  Court. 
He  has  been  thoroughly  cudgelled.  Of 
course  the  pun  is  on  the  word  staff,  a 
stick.  The  French  have  a similar  phrase, 
II  a estS  au  festin  de  Martin  Boston  (Ho 
has  been  to  Jack  Drum’s  entertainment), 

Stafford  Law.  A beating.  (Italian, 
Braccesca  licenza.)—  Florio,  p.  66.  (See 
above. ) 

tag.  The  reason  why  a stag  sym- 
bolises Christ  is  from  the  superstition 
that  it  draws  serpents  by  its  breath 
from  their  holes,  and  then  tramples 
them  to  death,  — See  Fliny,  Nat. 
Hist.,"'  viii.  50. 

Stag  in  Christian  art.  The  attribute 
of  St.  Julian  Hospitaller,  St.  Felix  of 
Valois,  and  St.  Aidan.  When  it  has  a 
crucifix  between  its  horns  it  alludes  to 
the  legendary  tale  of  St.  Hubert.  Whea 
luminous  it  belongs  to  St.  Eustachius. 

Stagsj  in  Stock-  exchange  phraseology, 

c c:  c 


850 


STAGIRITE. 


STANDARD. 


are  persons  who  apply  for  the  allotment 
of  shares  in  a joint-stock  company,  not 
because  they  wish  to  hold  the  shares, 
but  because  they  hope  to  sell  the  allot- 
ment at  a premium.  If  they  fail  in  this 
they  forbear  to  pay  the  deposit,  and 
the  allotment  is  forfeited.  {See  Bear, 
Bull.) 

Stagi'rite  or  Stagyrite  (3  syl.).  Aris- 
totle, who  was  born  at  Stagi  ra,  in  Ma- 
cedon.  Generally  called  Stag'irite  in 
English  verse. 

In  one  rich  soul 

Plato,  the  Stagyrite,  and  Tully  joined. 

TAomaou,  Summer.** 

And  rules  as  strict  his  laboured  work  confine 
As  If  the  Stagirite  o’erlooked  each  line. 

Pope,  Essay  on  Criticism.** 

Plato’s  love  sublime 
And  all  the  wisdom  of  the  Stagirite 
Enriched  and  beautified  his  studious  mind. 

Wordsworth. 

Stain.  A contraction  of  distain; 
or  s privative,  and  tain,  to  dye,  some- 
thing that  destroys  the  dye.  (French, 
diteindre;  Latin,  dU-tingere,  to  ‘dis- 
colour.’’) 

Stalking-Horse.  A mask  to  con- 
ceal some  design ; a person  put  forward 
to  mislead ; a sham.  Fowlers  used  to 
conceal  themselves  behind  a canvas,  on 
which  was  represented  a horse  grazing, 
and  went  on  stalking  step  by  step  till 
they  got  within  shot  of  the  game. 

N.B. — To  stalk  is  to  walk  with  strides, 
from  the  Saxon  stadcan. 

He  uses  his  folly  like  a stalking-horse,  and  under 
the  presentation  of  that  he  shoots  las  mt.Shake- 
^aret  “As  You  Like  It,'*  v.  4. 

Stalwart.  A stalwart  yeoman  means 
one  worth  stealing  or  taking  (Saxon, 
stsel-weorth).  Of  course  the  reference  is 
to  war,  and  means  a fine  fellow  worth 
making  captive. 

Stammerer  (I%d). 

Louis  II.  of  France,  U Begue.  (846, 
877-879.) 

Michael  II.  emperor  of  the  East,  le 
Beg%e.  820-829.) 

Notker  or  Notger  of  St.  Gall.  (830- 

912.) 

Stamp.  'Tis  of  the  right  sfamp— has 
the  stamp  of  genuine  merit.  A meta- 
phor taken  from  current  coin,  which  is 
stamped  with  a recognised  stamp  and 
superscription. 

Stampede.  A sudden  panic  in  a 
.herd  of  buffaloes,  causing  them  to 


away  pell-mell.  The  panic-flight  of  the 
Federals  at  Bull  Run,  near  the  Poto'mac, 
U.B.,  in  1861,  was  a stampede. 

Stand.  To  stand  for  a child.  To  be 
sponsor  for  it ; to  stand  in  its  place  and 
answer  for  it. 

To  stand  to  a "bargain,  to  abide  by 
it,  is  simply  the  Latin  stare  conveiiiis, 
conditionibits  stare,  pactis  stare,  &c. 

Vll  stand  it  out  — persist  in  what  I 
say.  A mere  translation  of  “persist” 
(Latin,  per-sisto  or  per-sio). 

Standard. 

Standard  of  Augustus.  A globe,  to  in- 
dicate his  conquest  of  the  whole  world. 

Standard  oj  Edward  I.  The  arms  of 
England,  St.  George,  St.  Edmond,  and 
St.  Edward. 

Standard  of  Mahomet.  (See  Sands - 

CHAKI.) 

Standard  of  the  Anglo-Saxons.  A white 
horse. 

Royal  Standard  of  Great  Britain.  A 
banner  with  the  national  arms  covering 
the  entire  field. 

The  Celestial  Standard.  So  the  Turks 
call  their  great  green  banner,  which 
they  say  w’as  given  to  Mahomet  by  the 
angel  Gabriel.  (See  Sandschakt.) 

Standard  of  the  Empire  of  Constanti- 
nople, called  Lab'arum.  It  consisted  of  a 
silver-plated  spear  with  a cross-beam, 
from  which  hung  a small  silk  banner, 
bearing  the  portrait  of  the  reigning 
family  and  the  famous  monogram. 
(Celtic,  lap-heer ; Welsh,  lah-airon,  the 
flaming  flag). — Gibbon,  xx. 

The  Danish  Standard.  A raven. 

Standard  of  ancient  Egypt.  An  eagle 
stripped  of  its  feathers.  This  was  the 
emblem  of  the  Nile. 

Standard  of  the  ancient  Franks.  A 
tiger  or  wolf;  but  subsequently  the 
Roman  eagle. 

Standard  of  the  ancient  Gauls.  A lion, 
bull,  or  bear. 

Greco- Egyptian  Standard.  A round- 
headed  table-knife  or  a semi-circular 
fan. 

Standards  of  ancient  Greece.  The  Greek 
standard  was  a purple  coat  on  the  top  of 
a spear. 

(1)  Athens,  an  olive  or  owl. 

(2)  Corinth,  a pegasus  or  flying  horse. 

(3)  Lacedaemon,  the  initial  letter  L,  in 
Greek  (a). 

(4)  Messdnia,  the  initial  letter  M. 

(6)  Thebes,  a sphinx. 


STANDAKD. 


STAR. 


851 


Standard  of  Heliop'olis.  On  the  top 
•of  a staff,  the  head  of  a white  eagle, 
with  the  breast  stripped  of  feathers  and 
without  wings.  This  was  the  symbol  of 
Jupiter  and  of  the  Lagldes. 

Standards  of  the  ancient  Jews  {^Megel”) 
belonged  to  "the  four  tribes  of  Judah, 
Reuben,  Ephraim,  and  Dan.  The  Rab- 
bins say  the  standard  of  Judah  bore  a 
lion,  that  of  Reuben  a man,  that  of 
Ephraim  a hull,  and  that  of  Dan  the 
cherubim  (Gen.  xlix.  3-22).  They  were 
ornamented  with  white,  purple,  crimson, 
and  blue,  and  were  embroidered. 

Standard  of  ancient  Pen'sia.  The  one 
adopted  by  (5yrus,  and  perpetuated,  was 
a golden  eagle  with  outstretched  wings ; 
the  colour  white. 

Persian  Standard.  A blacksmith’s 
apron.  Kaivah,  sometimes  called  Gao, 
a blacksmith,  headed  a rebellion  against 
River,  surnamed  Deh-ak  (ten  vices),  a 
merciless  tyrant,  and  displayed  his 
apron  as  a banner.  The  apron  was 
adopted  by  the  next  king,  and  continued 
for  centuries  to  be  the  national  standard. 
(B.c.  800.) 

Roman  Standards.  In  the  rude  ages 
a wisp  of  straw.  This  was  succeeded  by 
bronze  or  silver  devices  attached  to  a 
staff.  Pliny  enumerates  five — viz.,  the 
oagle,  wolf,  minotaur,  horse,  and  boar. 
In  later  ages  the  image  of  the  emperor, 
a hand  outstretched,  a dragon  with  a 
silver  head  and  body  of  taffety.  Ma'rius 
<;onfined  all  promiscuous  devices  to  the 
-cohorts,  and  reserved  the  eagle  for  the 
exclusive  use  of  the  legion.  This  eagle, 
made  of  gold  and  silver,  was  borne  on 
the  top  of  a spear,  and  was  represented 
with  its  wings  displayed,  and  bearing  in 
one  of  its  talons  a thunderbolt. 

Turkish  Standards. 

(1)  Sanjak  Cherif  (Standard  of  the 
Prophet),  green  silk.  This  is  preserved 
with  great  care  in  the  Seraglio,  and  is 
never  brought  forth  except  in  time  of 
war. 

(2)  The  Sanjak,  red. 

(3)  The  Tag,  consisting  of  one,  two, 
or  three  horse-tails,  according  to  the 
rank  of  the  person  who  bears  it.  Pachas 
with  three  tails  are  of  the  highest  dig- 
nity, and  are  entitled  heglerheg  (prince  of 
princes).  Beys  have  only  one  horse-tail. 
The  tails  are  fastened  to  the  end  of  a 
gilt  lance,  and  carried  before  the  pacha 
j)r  bey. 

(4)  The  Alem,  a broad  standard  which. 


instead  of  a spear-head,  has  in  the  mid. 
die  a silver  plate  of  a crescent  shape. 

Size  of  Standards  varied  according  to 
the  rank  of  the  person  who  bore  them. 
The  standard  of  an  emperor  was  eleven 
yards  in  length ; of  a king,  nine  yards ; 
of  a prince,  seven  yards  ; of  a marquis, 
six  and  a half  yards ; of  an  earl,  six  yards ; 
of  a viscount  or  baron,  five  yards ; of  a 
knight-banneret,  four  and  a half  yards  ; 
of  a baronet,  four  yards.  They  generally 
contained  the  arms  of  the  bearer,  his 
cognizance  and  crest,  his  motto  or  war- 
cry,  and  were  fringed  with  his  livery. 

The  Battle  of  the  Standard,  between 
the  English  and  the  Scotch,  at  Cuton 
Moor,  near  Northallerton,  in  1138.  Here 
David  I.,  fighting  on  behalf  of  Matilda, 
was  defeated  by  king  Stephen’s  general 
Robert  de  Moubray.  It  received  its 
name  from  a ship’s  mast  erected  on  a 
waggon,  and  placed  in  the  centre  of  the 
English  army ; the  mast  displayed  the 
standards  of  St.  Peter  of  York,  St.  John 
of  Beverley,  and  St.  Wilfred  of  Ripon. 
On  the  top  of  the  mast  was  a little 
casket  containing  a consecrated  host. — 
Hailes,  Annals  of  Scotland,**  i.,  p.  85. 

Standing  Orders.  Those  bye-laws 
of  the  Houses  of  Parliament  for  the  con- 
duct of  their  proceedings  which  stand  in 
force  till  they  are  either  rescinded  or 
suspended.  Their  suspension  is  generally 
caused  by  a desire  to  hurry  through  a 
bill  with  unusual  expedition. 

Standing  Stones.  (Nee  Stones.) 

Stang.  To  ride  the  slang.  To  be  un- 
der petticoat  government.  At  one  time 
a man  who  ill-treated  his  wife  was  made 
to  sit  on  a stang”  or  pole  hoisted  on 
men’s  shoulders.  On  this  uneasy  con- 
veyance the  ^^stanger”  was  carried  in 
procession  amidst  the  hootings  and  jeer- 
ings  of  his  neighbours.  (Saxon,  staeng,  a 
pole.)  {See  Skimmington.) 

Stanley,  memorialised  by  Thomson 
in  his  Summer,”  was  the  daughter  of 
George  Stanley,  Esq.,  of  Paultens,  in 
Hampshire. 

Stannary  Courts.  Courts  of  re- 
cord in  Cornwall  and  Devon  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice  among  the  tinners 
(Latin,  stannum,  tin). 

Star  (in  Christian  art).  St.  Bruno 
bears  one  on  his  breast;  St.  Dominic, 
St.  Humbert,  St.  Peter  of  Alcan'tara, 

C G c 3 


852  STAR  OF  THE  SOUTH. 


STATUE. 


one  over  their  head,  or  on  their  fore- 
head, &c. 

Star.  The  ensign  of  knightly  rank. 
A star  of  some  form  constitutes  part  of 
the  insignia  of  every  order  of  knighthood. 

His  star  is  in  the  ascendant.  He  is  in 
luck’s  way  ; said  of  a person  to  whom 
some  good  fortune  has  befallen  and  who 
is  very  prosperous.  According  to  astro- 
logy,  those  leading  stars  which  are  above 
the  horizon  at  a person’s  birth  influence 
his  life  and  fortune  : when  those  stars 
are  in  the  ascendant,  he  is  strong, 
healthy,  and  lucky  ; but  when  they  are 
depressed  below  the  horizon,  his  stars 
do  not  shine  on  him,  and  he  is  in  the 
shade  and  subject  to  ill-fortune. 

The  star  of  Kichelieu  was  still  in  the  ascendant. 
—SL  Simon. 

Star  of  the  South.  A splendid 
diamond  found  in  Brazil  in  1853. 

Star  Chamber.  A court  of  civil 
and  criminal  jurisdiction  at  Westmin- 
ster, abolished  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I. 
So  called  because  the  ceiling  or  roof  was 
decorated  with  gilt  stars.  Its  jurisdic- 
tion was  to  punish  such  offences  as  the 
law  had  made  no  provision  for. 

Star-fish  or  Sea-star,  found  in  the 
Persian  Gulf,  looks  at  night  like  the  full 
moon  surrounded  by  rays. — Mirza  Abu 
Taleh. 

Nought  but  the  sea-star  to  light  up  her  tomb. 

Thomas  ifoore,  *'F\r6  Worshippers.** 

Star  Inn.  In  compliment  to  the 
lords  of  Oxford,  whose  cognizance  it  is, 
and  who  decided  the  fate  of  the  battle 
of  Barnet. 

Starboard  means  rudder-side  (Ger- 
man, steuei'-hord),  the  rudder  being  in 
the  right  hand  of  the  helmsman. 

Starch.  Mrs.  Anne  Turner,  half- 
milliner, half- procuress,  introduced  into 
England  the  French  custom  of  using 
yellow  starch  in  getting  up  bands  and 
cuffs.  She  trafficked  in  poison,  and  be- 
ing concerned  in  the  murder  of  Sir 
Thomas  Overbury,  appeared  on  the  scaf- 
fold with  a huge  ruff.  This  was  done  by 
lord  Coke’s  order,  and  was  the  means  of 
putting  an  end  to  this  absurd  fashion. 

I shall  never  forget  poor  Mistress  Turner,  my 
honoured  patroness,  peace  be  with  her ! She  had 
the  ill-luck  to  meddle  in  the  matter  of  Somerset  nnd 
Uverbury,  and  so  the  great  earl  and  his  lady  slipt 
their  necks  out  of  the  collar,  and  left  her  and  some 
half-dozen  others  to  suffer  in  their  stead.— »Str  Wah 
Ur  Scott,  'Fortunes  of  .^igel^**  ch.  viiL 


Starka'der,  the  Eight-handed. 
Grandfather  of  Berserker,  in  Scandi- 
navian mythology. 

StaroVers  means  ^'Old  Believers,” 
a term  given  to  the  Russian  noncon- 
formists, who  separated  from  the  Greek 
church  when  the  ‘^new  doctrine”  was 
introduced  that  the  czar  is  God*s  vicege- 
rent on  earth. 

Starry  Bowls.  In  the  Mahometan 
Paradise  the  blest  drink  from  the  crystal 
sea  in  goblets  made  of  stars. — Chateau- 
briand, ‘^Beauties  of  Christianity.” 

Starry  Sphere.  The  eighth  heaven 
of  the  Peripatetic  system;  also  called 
the  Firmament.” 

The  Crystal  Heaven  is  this,  whose  rigour  guides 
And  binds  the  starry  sphere. 

uamoens,  *‘Lusiad”  bk.  x. 

Starvation  Dundas.  Henry  Dun- 
das,  first  lord  Melville,  who  was  the  first 
to  introduce  the  word  starvation  into  the 
language,  on  an  American  debate  in  1775 
(Saxon,  stearfian,  to  perish  of  hunger ; 
German,  sterben;  Dutch,  sterven). 

Starve.  (See  Clam.) 

Starved  with  Cold.  Half  dead 
with  cold  (Anglo-Sax:on,  sUarf,  dead  or 
died). 

States.  Mother  of  States.  Virginia, 
the  first  colonised  of  the  thirteen  states 
which  united  in  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. 

Stati'ra.  A stock  name  of  those  his- 
torical romances  which  represented  the 
fate  of  empires  as  turning  on  the  effects 
produced  on  a cracked -brained  lover  by 
some  charming  Manda'na  or  Statira.  In 
La  Calpren^de's  “ Cassandra,’’  Statira  is 
represented  as  the  perfection  of  female 
beauty,  and  is  ultimately  married  to 
Oroonda'tes. 

Stati'ra.  In  the  Rival  Queens,”  by 
Nathaniel  Lee. 

Sta'tor  (the  stopper  or  arrestor). 
When  the  Romans  fled  from  the  Sabines, 
they  stopped  at  a certain  place  and 
made  terms  with  the  victors.  On  this 
spot  they  afterwards  built  a temple  to 
Jupiter,  and  called  it  the  temple  of 
Jupiter  Stator  or  Jupiter  who  caused 
them  to  stop  in  their  flight. 

Here,  Stator  Jove  and  Phoebus  god  of  verse, 

The  votive  tablet  I suspend.  Prior. 

Statue.  The  largest  ever  made  was 
the  Colcssos  of  Rhodes ; the  next  largest 


STATUTE  FAIRS. 


STEPNEY  PAPERS.  85S 


is  the  statue  of  Bavaria,  erected  by 
Louis  I.  king  of  Bavaria. 

Statue,  It  was  Pygmalion  who  fell  in 
love  with  his  own  statue. 

Statue.  Of  all  the  projects  of  Alex- 
ander, none  was  more  hare-brained  than 
his  proposal  to  have  Mount  Athos  hewed 
into  a statue  of  himself.  It  is  said  he 
even  arranged  with  a sculptor  to  under- 
take the  job. 

Statute  Fairs.  {See  Mop.) 

Steak,  as  beef-steak,  is  not  from 
the  German  stucJe  (a  lump),  but  from  the 
Norse  steak  (to  fry).  Beef-steak  is  beef 
fried  or  broiled.  In  the  north  of  Scot- 
land a slice  of  salmon  fried  is  called  a 
^^salmon-steak,”  but  a slice  of  salmon 
hoiled  is  never  so  called. 

Steal.  A handle.  Stealing — putting 
handles  on  (Yorkshire).  This  is  the 
Anglo-Saxon  stela,  a stalk  or  handle. 

Steale  or  handell  of  a stafife,  manche,  hanteU— 
Palsgrave. 

Steelyard  {London,  adjoining  Dow^ 
gate)\  so  called  from  being  the  place 
where  the  king’s  steelyard  or  beam  was 
set  up,  for  weighing  goods  imported 
into  London. 

Steenie  (2  syl.).  A nickname  given 
by  James  I.  to  George  Villiers,  duke  of 
Buckingham.  The  half  profane  allusion 
is  to  Acts  vi.  15,  where  those  who  looked 
on  Stephen  the  martyr  ‘‘saw  his  face 
as  it  had  been  the  face  of  an  angel.” 

Steeplechase.  A horse-race  across 
fields,  hedges,  ditches,  and  obstacles  of 
every  sort  that  happen  to  lie  in  the  way. 
The  term  arose  from  a party  of  fox-hun- 
ters on  their  return  from  an  unsuccessful 
chase,  who  agreed  to  race  to  the  village 
church,  the  steeple  of  which  was  in 
sight ; he  who  first  touched  the  church 
with  his  whip  was  to  be  the  winner.  The 
entire  distance  was  two  miles. 

Stella,  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  was 
lady  Penelope  Devereux,  daughter  of  the 
earl  of  Essex.  She  subsequently  became, 
by  marriage,  lady  Rich.  {See  Astp.o- 

PHEL.) 

Stella.  Dean  Swift  so  called  his  pupil 
and  (?)  wife,  Esther  Johnson  — Esther 
being  converted  to  Aster,  the  Greek  for 
“ star.’* 

Stel'vio.  The  pass  of  the  Stelvio.  The 
highest  carriage-read  in  Europe  (9,176 


feet  above  the  sea-level).  It  leads  from 
Bor'mio  to  Glurns. 

Sten'tor.  The  voice  of  a Stentor.  A 
very  loud  voice.  Stentor  was  a Greek 
herald  in  the  Trojan  war.  According  to 
Homer,  his  voice  was  as  loud  as  that  of 
fifty  men  combined. 

Stento'Han  lungs.  Lungs  like  those  of 
Stentor. 

Sten'toropho'nic  Voice.  A voice 
proceeding  from  a speaking-trumpet  or 
stentorophonic  tube,  such  as  Sir  Samuel 
Moreland  invented  to  be  used  at  sea. 

I heard  a formidable  noise 
Loud  as  the  stentrophonic  voice, 

That  roared  lar  off  '*  Dispatch  ! and  strip ! ** 
Butler.  *'Hudibra8,"  iiL  L 

Stepll'ano  (in  “Jerusalem  Deli- 
vered ”).  Earl  of  Carnuti,  afterwards 
of  Chartres  and  Blois,  led  400  men  in  the 
allied  Christian  army.  He  was  noted 
for  martial  prowess  and  sage  counsel 
(bk.  i.). 

Stephano.  A drunken  butler  in  Shake- 
speare’s “Tempest.” 

Stephen  of  Amboise  (in  “Jeru- 
salem Delivered  ”).  Leader  of  5,000  foot- 
soldiers  from  Blois  and  Tours.  Impetuous 
ill  attack,  but  soon  repulsed.  Shot  by 
Clorinda  with  an  arrow  (bk.  xi.). 

Stephens  {Joanna)  professed  to  have 
made  a wonderful  discovery.  Drum- 
mond, the  banker,  set  on  foot  a sub- 
scription to  puchase  her  secret.  The 
sum  she  asked  was  £5,000.  When 
£1,500  had  been  raised  by  private  sub- 
scription, government  voted  <£3,500. 
The  secret  was  a decoction  of  soap, 
swine’s  cresses,  honey,  egg-shells,  and 
snails,  made  into  pills,  and  a powder  to 
match.  Joanna  Stephens  got  the  money 
and  forthwith  disappeared. 

Stepney  Papers.  A voluminous 
collection  of  political  letters  between  Mr. 
Stepney,  the  British  minister,  and  our 
ambassadors  at  various  European  courts, 
the  duke  of  Marlborough,  and  other 
public  characters  of  the  time.  Part  of  the 
correspondence  is  in  the  British  Museum, 
and  part  in  the  Public  Record  Office.  It 
is  very  valuable,  as  this  was  the  period 
called  the  Seven  Years*  War.  The 
original  letters  are  preserved  in  bound 
volumes,  but  the  whole  correspondence 
is  in  print  also.  (Betw#»‘in  1692  and 
1706.) 


854  STERLING  MONEY. 


STILL. 


Sterling  Money.  Spelman  derives  j 
the  word  from  esterlings^  merchants  of  | 
the  Hans  Towns,  who  fcame  over  and  re-  | 
formed  our  coin  in  the  reign  of  John,  j 
Others  say  it  is  starling  (little  star),  in  | 
allusion  to  a star  impressed  on  the  coin,  i 
Others  refer  it  to  Stirling  Castle  in  Scot-  j 
land,  where  money  was  coined  in  the  ' 
reign  of  Edward  l.—Sir  Matthew  Hale.  | 

In  the  time  of  king  Richard  I.,  monie  coined  in  j 
the  east  parts  of  Germany  began  to  be  of  especiall  ; 
request  in  England  for  the  puritie  thei  eof,  and  was  I 
called  r asterlini^  monie,  as  all  the  inhabitants  of 
those  parts  were  called  Easterlings ; and  shortly  after 
some  of  that  conntrie,  skillfull  in  mint  matters  and 
allaies,  were  sent  for  into  tliis  realm  to  bring  the 
coine  to  perfection,  which  since  that  time  was 
called  of  them  sterling  for  Easterling.— Camdea. 

Stern.  To  sit  at  the  stern;  At  the  stern 
of  public  affairs.  Having  the  manage- 
ment of  public  affairs.  The  stern  is  the 
steei'-em—i.e. f steer-place  ; and  to  sit  at 
the  stern  is  the  same  as  to  sit  at  the 
helm ; ” at  the  stern  of  public  affairs  is 
the  same  as  at  the  helm.” 

Sit  at  chiefest  stern  of  public  weal. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  VI.,'*  i.  1. 

Sternliold  (Thomas')  versified  fifty- 
one  of  the  Psalms.  The  remainder  were 
the  productions  of  Hopkins  and  some 
others.  Sternhold  and  Hopkins’  Psalms 
used  to  be  attached  to  the  Common 
Prayer  Book. 

Mistaken  choirs  refuse  the  solemn  strain 
Oi  ancient  Sternhold.  Crabbe,  "'Borough.** 

Sterry  (in  Hudibras”).  A fanatical 
preacher,  admired  by  Hugh  Peters. 

Stick.  A Composi7ig  Stick  is  a hand  in- 
strument into  which  a compositor  places 
the  letters  to  be  set  up.  Each  row  or 
line  of  letters  is  pushed  home  and  held 
in  place  by  a movable  setting  rule,” 
against  which  the  thumb  presses.  When 
a stick  is  full  the  matter  set  up  is  trans- 
ferred to  a ‘^galley”  (q.v.)j  and  from  the 
galley  it  is  transferred  to  the  chase” 
(q.v.).  Called  a stick  because  the  com- 
positor sticks  the  letters  into  it. 

Stickler.  One  who  obstinately  main- 
tains some  custom  or  opinion;  as  a 
stickler  for  church  government.  (See 
below.) 

A siicklefi'  dhout  trifles.  One  particular 
about  things  of  no  moment.  Sticklers 
were  the  seconds  in  ancient  single  com- 
bats, very  punctilious  about  the  minutest 
points  of  etiquette.  They  were  so  called 


from  the  white  stick  which  they  carried 
in  emblem  of  their  office. 

I am  willing.... to  give  thee  precedence,  and  con- 
tent myself  wiih  the  humbler  office  of  stickler.— 
Walter  Scotty  ""Fair  Maid  of  Forth  ” ch.  xvi. 

Stig'mata.  Impressions  on  certain 
persons  of  marks  corresponding  to  some 
or  all  of  the  wounds  received  by  our 
Saviour  in  his  trial  and  crucifixion.  The 
following  claim  to  have  been  so  stigma- 
tised 

(1)  Men. — Angelo  del  Paz  (all  the 
marks) ; Benedict  of  Reggio  (the  crown 
of  thorns),  1602;  Carlo  di  Saeta  (the 
lance-wound)  ; Dodo,  a Premonstraten- 
sian  monk  (all  the  marks) ; Francis  of 
Assisi  (all  the  marks,  impressed  on  him: 
by  a seraph  with  six  wings),  September 
15th,  1224 ; Nicholas  of  Ravenna,  &c. 

(2)  Women. — Blanca  de  Gazeran  ; St. 
Catharine  of  Sienna;  Catharine  di  Ra- 
conisco  (the  crown  of  thorns),  1583 ; 
Cecilia  di  Nobili  of  Nocera,  1655;  Clara, 
di  Pugny  (mark  of  the  spear),  1514 ; 
^^Estatica”  of  Caldaro  (all  the  marks), 
1842 ; Gabriella  da  Piezolo  of  Aquila 
(the  spear-mark),  1472 ; Hieronyma  Car- 
vaglio  (the  spear-mark,  which  bled  every 
Friday) ; Joanna  Maria  of  the  Cross  - 
Maria  Razzi  of  Chio  (marks  of  the  thorny' 
crown)  ; Maria  Villani  (ditto)  ; Mary 
Magdalen  di  Pazzi ; Mechtildis  von  Stanz 
Ursula  of  Valencia;  Veronica  Guliani 
(all  the  marks),  1694 ; Vincenza  Ferreri 
of  Valencia,  &c. 

Stigmatise.  To  puncture,  to  brand 
(Greek,  stigma.^  a puncture).  Slaves- 
used  to  be  branded,  sometimes  for  the- 
sake  of  recognising  them,  and  some- 
times by  way  of  punishment.  The 
branding  was  effected  by  applying  a red- 
hot  iron  marked  with  certain  letters  to 
their  forehead,  and  then  rubbing  some 
colouring  matter  into  the  wound.  A 
slave  that  had  been  branded  was  by  the 
Romans  called  a stigmat'ic,  and  the  brand 
was  called  the  stigma. 

Stigmites,  or  St.  Stephen's  Stones, 
are  chalced'onies  with  brown  and  red 
spots. 

Still.  Cornelius  Tacitus  is  called 
Cornelius  the  Still  in  the  '^Fardle  of 
Facions,”  the  still  being  a translation  of 
the  Latin  word  tacitus.” 

Cornelius  the  Stylle  in  his  firste  book  of  his  yerely 

exploictes  called  in  Latine  Annales — Ch.  iii.,  s.  3. 

(1555.) 


STILL  SOW. 


STOCK. 


855 


Still  Sow.  A man  cunning  and  self- 
ish ; one  wise  in  his  own  interest ; one 
who  avoids  talking  at  meals  that  he  may 
enjoy  his  food  th^e  better.  So  called 
from  the  old  proverb  The  still  sow  eats 
the  wash”  or  draff.” 

We  do  not  act,  that  often  jest  and  lau^h  ; 

’Tis  old  but  ti  ue,  “ Still  swine  eat  all  the  draugh,” 

S/iakeapearet  “ Merry  Wives  of  Windsor^'*  iv.  2. 

Stilling  {John  Henry),  surnamed 
Jnng,  the  mystic  or  pietist ; called  by 
Carlyle  the  German  Dominie  Sampson; 
'^awkward,  honest,  irascible,  in  old-fash- 
ioned clothes  and  bag- wig.”  A real  cha- 
racter. (1740-1817.) 

Stilo  T^o'vo.  New-fangled  notions. 
When  the  calendar  was  reformed  by 
Pope  Gregory  XIII.  (1582),  letters  used 
to  be  dated  stilo  novo,  which  grew  in 
time  to  bo  a cant  phrase  for  any  innova- 
tion. 

And  80  I leave  you  to  your  stilo  novo. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher, 

Stimulants. 

Bmaparte  took  snuff  when  he  wished 
to  stimulate  his  intellect. 

The  Rev.  William.  Bull,  the  Noncon- 
formist minister  and  scholar,  was  an  in- 
veterate smoker. 

Lord  Byron  took  gin-and-water. 

Lord  Erskine  took  large  doses  of 
opium. 

Hohbes  drank  cold  water. 

Newton  smoked. 

Pope  drank  strong  coffee. 

Wedderhurne  (the  first  lord  Ashburton) 
placed  a blister  on  his  chest  when  he 
had  to  make  a great  speech. — Dr.  Pains, 
**  Pharmacologia.'* 

Stink'omalee'.  So  Theodore  Hook 
called  London  University.  The  fun  of 
the  sobriquet  is  this  : The  buildings  stand 
on  the  site  of  a large  rubbish  store  or 
sort  of  refuse  field,  into  which  was  cast 
pot- sherds,  sweepings,  and  all  sorts  of 
off-scourings.  About  the  same  time  the 
question  respecting  Trincomalee  in  Cey- 
lon was  in  agitation,  so  the  wit  spun  the 
two  ideas  together,  and  produced  the 
word  in  question,  which  was  the  more 
readily  ^accepted  as  the  non-religious 
education  of  the  new  college,  and  its 
rivalry  with  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  gave 
for  a time  very  great  offence  to  the  High 
Church  and  State  party. 

Stip'ulate  (3  syl.).  The  word  is 
generally  given  from  the  Latin  stipula  (a 
straw),  and  it  is  said  that  a atiaw  was 


given  to  the  purchaser  in  sign  of  a real 
delivery.  Isidor  (v.  24)  asserts  that  the 
two  contracting  parties  broke  a straw 
between  them,  each  taking  a moiety,, 
that,  by  rejoining  the  parts,  they  might 
prove  their  right  to  the  bargain.  With 
all  deference  to  the  bishop  of  Seville,  his 
‘‘fact”  seems  to  belong  to  limbo-lore. 
All  bargains  among  the  Romans  were 
made  by  asking  a question  and  replying 
to  it.  One  said.  An  stipem  vist  thfr 
other  replied,  Stipem  volo  (“  Do  you  re- 
quire money?”  “Ido”);  the  next  ques- 
tion and  answer  were,  A n dabis  t Dabo 
(“Will  you  give  it?”  “I  will”);  the 
third  question  was  to  the  surety.  An 
spondest  to  which  he  replied  Spondeo 
(“Will  you  be  security?”  “I  will”); 
and  the  bargain  was  made.  So  that 
stipulate  is  compounded  of  stips-volo 
{stip*-ulo),  and  the  tale  about  breaking 
the  straws  seems  to  be  concocted 
bolster  up  a wrong  etymology. 

Stir-up  Sunday.  The  last  Sunday 
in  Trinity.  A school-boy’s  term  taken 
from  the  two  first  words  of  the  collect. 
Being  only  four  weeks  before  Christmas, 
it  announces  the  near  approach  of  the 
winter  holidays. 

Stirrup  Cup.  In  the  Highlands, 
a cup  given  to  travellers  when  their  feet 
are  in  the  stirrups,  before  they  finally 
leave.  Called  in  some  places  a “ parting 
cup.”  {See  Coffee.) 

Lord  Marmion’s  bugles  blew  to  horse ; 

Then  came  the  stirrup  cup  in  course ; 

Between  the  baron  and  his  host 

No  point  of  courtesy  was  lost 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  ^'Marmion**  L 31. 

Stirrup  Oil.  A beating;  a mere 
variety  of  “strap  oil”  {q.v.).  The 
French  De  Vhuile  de  cotret  (faggot  or 
stick  oil). 

Stiver.  Not  a stiver.  Not  a penny. 
The  stiver  was  a Dutch  coin,  equal  to 
about  a halfpenny. 

Stock.  From  the  verb  to  stick  (to 
fasten,  make  firm,  fix). 

Live  stock.  The  fixed  capital  of  a 
farm. 

Stock  in  trade.  The  fixed  capital. 

The  village  stocks,  in  which  the  feet 
are  stuck  or  fastened. 

A gun  stock,  in  which  the  gun  is 
stuck  or  made  fast. 

Stocks.  Money  set  fast  in  the  funds. 
{See  Trench  on  the  “Study  of  Words.”) 

It  is  on  the  stocks.  It  is  in  hand  but 


856 


STOCK-DOVE. 


STONE. 


not  yet  finished.  The  stocks  is  the 
frame  in  which  a ship  is  placed  while 
building,  and  so  long  as  it  is  in  hand  it 
is  said  to  be  or  to  lie  in  the  stocks. 

Stoek-dove.  The  wild  pigeon  ; so 
called  because  it  was  once  considered 
the  stock  or  parent  of  the  domestic 
pigeon. 

Stocking.  (See  Blue  Stocking.) 

Stockwell  Ghost.  A supposed 
ghost  that  haunted  the  village  of  Stock- 
well,  near  London,  in  1772.  The  real 
source  of  the  strange  noises  was  Anne 
llobinson,  a servant  girl.  (See  CoCK 
Lane  Ghost.) 

Sto'ics.  Founder  of  the  Stoic  school. 
Zeno  of  Athens.  These  philosophers 
were  so  called  because  Zeno  used  to 
give  his  lectures  in  the  Stoa  Pcecil’e  of 
Athens.  (Greek,  stoa^  a porch.) 

Epicte'tus  was  the  founder  of  the  New 
Stoic  school. 

The  ancient  Stoics  in  their  porch 

With  tierce  dispute  maintained  their  church, 

Beat  out  their  brains  in  fight  and  study 

To  prove  that  virtue  is  a body. 

That  bonum  is  an  animal, 

Made  good  witn  stout  polemic  bawl. 

Butler t “ Hudibraai'  ii.  2. 

Stolen  Things  are  Sweet.  A sop 
filched  from  the  dripping-pan,  fruit 
procured  by  stealth,  and  game  illicitly 
taken,  have  the  charm  of  dexterity  to 
make  them  the  more  palatable.  Solo- 
mon says,  Stolen  waters  are  sweet,  and 
bread  eaten  in  secret  [^.e.,  by  stealth]  is 
pleasant.” 

From  busie  cooks  we  love  to  steal  a bit 

Behind  their  backs,  and  that  in  corners  eat ; 

Nor  need  we  here  the  reason  why  entreat ; 

All  know  tiie  proverb,  “ Stolen  bread  is  sweet.” 

''History  o/Josep:i,"  n.  d. 

Stomach.  Appetite  : ‘‘  He  who  hath 
no  stomach  for  this  fight.” — ^^llenvy  F.,” 
iv.  3. 

Appetite  for  honours,  &c.,  or  ambition  : 

Wolsey  was  a man  of  an  unbounded 
stomach.” — Henry  VIII.  f iv.  2. 

Appetite  or  inclination  ; Let  me 
praise  you  while  I have  the  stomach.” 
— Merchant  of  Venice f iii.  5. 

Stomach.  To  swallow,  to  accept  with 
appetite,  to  digest. 

To  stomach  an  insult.  To  swallow  it 
and  not  resent  it. 

If  you  must  believe,  stomach  not  Anthony 

ani  Cleopatra^*'  iii.  4. 

Stomach,  meaning  wrath,”  and  the 


verb  to  be  angry,”  is  the  Latin  stonC* 
achus,  stomacha'ri. 

Peli'dse  stomachum  ced^re  nescii  —Horace. 

The  stomach  [wrath]  of  relentless  Achilles. 

Stomachabatur  si  quid  asperius  dixerim.— Cicero. 

His  stomach  rose  if  I spoke  sharper  than  usual 

The  fourth  stomach  of  ruminating  ani- 
mals is  called  theaJoma'swsoraboma'sum 
(from  ah-oma  sum). 

Stone  (1  syl.).  The  sacred  stone  of 
the  Caa'ba  (q.v.')  is,  according  to  Arab 
tradition,  the  guardian  angel  of  Paradise 
turned  into  stone.  When  first  built  by 
Abraham  into  the  wall  of  the  shrine  it 
was  clear  as  crystal,  but  it  has  become 
black  from  being  kissed  by  the  sinful 
lips  of  man. 

Stones.  After  the  Moslem  pilgrim  has 
made  his  seven  processions  round  the 
Caaba,  he  repairs  to  Mount  Arafat,  and 
before  sunrise  enters  the  valley  of  Mena, 
where  he  throws  seven  stones  at  each  of 
three  pillars,  in  imitation  of  Abraham 
and  Adam,  who  thus  drove  away  the 
devil  when  he  disturbed  their  devotions. 

Standing  Stones.  The  most  celebrated 
groups  are  those  of  Stonehenge,  Avebury 
in  Wiltshire,  Stennis  in  the  Orkneys,  and 
Carnac  in  Brittany. 

The  Standing  Stones  of  Stenn'is,  in  the 
Orkneys,  resemble  Stonehenge,  and,  says 
Sir  W.  Scott,  furnish  an  irresistible  re- 
futation of  the  opinion  that  these  circles 
are  Druidic al.  There  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  the  custom  was  prevalent  in 
Scandinavia,  as  well  as  in  Gaul  and 
Britain,  and’  as  common  to  the  mytho- 
logy of  Odin  as  to  Druidism.  They 
were  places  of  public  assembly,  and  in 
the  Eyrbiggia  Saga  is  described  the 
manner  of  setting  apart  the  Helga  Feli 
(Holy  Rocks)  by  the  pontiff  Thorolf  for 
solemn  meetings. 

The  Slones  of  Stennis,  One  of  the 
group  called  the  Stone  of  Odin”  has 
an  oval  hole  large  enough  to  admit  a 
man’s  hand.  This  stone,  till  the  middle 
of  last  century,  was  the  site  of  marriage 
vows  and  other  solemn  contracts,  and 
he  who  violated  a vow  made  to  Odin  ” 
was  accounted  infamous.  Children  passed 
through  the  hole  were  charmed  against 
palsy. 

Stones  fallen  doion  from  Jupiter.  Anax- 
ag'oras  mentions  a stone  that  fell  from 
J upiter  in  Thrace,  a description  of  which 
is  given  by  Pliny.  The  Ephesians  as- 
serted that  their  image  of  Diana  came 
from  J upiter.  The  stone  at  Emessa,  in 


STONE  BLIND. 


STONEHENGE. 


857 


Syria,  worshipped  as  a symbol  of  the 
sun,  was  a similar  meteorite.  At  Aby'- 
<ios  and  Potidae'a  similar  stones  were 
preserved.  At  Corinth  was  one  venerated 
as  Zeus.  At  Cyprus  was  one  dedicated 
to  Venus,  a description  of  which  is  given 
by  Tacitus  and  Maximus  Tyr  ius.  Hero'- 
<lian  describes  a similar  stone  in  Syria. 
The  famous  Caa'ba  stone  at  Mecca  is  a 
similar  meteor.  Livy  recounts  three  falls 
of  stones.  On  November  27,  1492,  just 
as  Maximilian  was  on  the  point  of  engag- 
ing the  French  army  near  Ensisheim,  a 
mass  weighing  270  lbs.  fell  between  the 
combatants  ; part  of  this  mass  is  now  in 
the  British  Museum.  In  June,  1866,  at 
Knyahinya,  a village  of  Hungary,  a 
shower  of  stones  fell,  the  largest  of  which 
weighs  above  5 cwt.  ; it  was  broken  in  the 
fall  into  two  pieces,  both  of  which  are  now 
in  the  Imperial  Collection  at  Vienna.  On 
December  13,  1795,  in  the  village  of 
Thwing,  Yorkshire,  an  aerolite  fell  weigh - 
ing561bs.,  nowin  the  British  Museum.  On 
September  10,  1813,  at  Adare,  in  Lime- 
rick, fell  a similar  stone,  weighing  17  lbs,, 
now  in  the  Oxford  Museum.  On  May  1, 
1860,  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio, more  than 
thirty  stones  were  picked  up  within  a 
space  of  ten  miles  by  three  ; the  largest 
weighed  103  lbs. — Kesselmeyer  and  Dr. 
Otto  Buchner  f “ The  Times”  Nov.  14, 1866. 

% Yo2i  have  stones  in  your  mouth.  Said 
to  a person  who  stutters  or  sjDeaks  very 
indistinctly.  The  allusion  is  to  Demos'- 
thenes,  who  cured  himself  of  stuttering 
by  putting  pebbles  in  his  mouth  and 
declaiming  on  the  sea-shore. 

The  orator  who  once 
Did  fill  hid  mou'h  with  pebble  stones 
When  he  haraugued. 

Butler,  HudibraSt"  i.  1. 

Stone  Blind.  Wholly  blind;  as 
much  so  as  a stone. 

Stone  Cold.  Extremely  cold ; as 
cold  as  a stone. 

Stone  Dead.  Quite  dead  ; as  dead 
as  a stone. 

Stone  StiU.  Perfectly  still ; with 
no  more  motion  than  a stone. 

I will  not  struggle ; I wili  stand  stone  stilL 

Shukeepeare,  King  John,"  iv.  1. 

Stone  of  the  Broken  Treaty. 
Limerick.  About  a century  and  a half 
ago  England  made  a solemn  compact  with 
Ireland.  Ireland  promised  fealty,  and 
England  premised  to  guarantee  to  the 
Irish  people  civil  and  religious  equality. 
When  the  crisis  was  over  England  handed 


Ireland  over  to  a faction  that  has  ever 
since  bred  strife  and  disunion. — Address 
of  the  Corporation  of  LimerieJe  to  Mr. 
Bright  (1868). 

The  “stone  of  the  broken  treaty”  is  there,  and 
from  earl  V in  the  morning  till  late  at  night  groups 
gither  round  it.  and  f ster  the  traditioa  of  their 
national  wrongs— Times. 

Stone  of  Stumbling.  This  was 
much  more  significant  among  the  Jews 
than  it  is  with  ourselves.  One  of  the 
Pharisaic  sects,  called  NiJefi  or  Dash- 
ers,” used  to  walk  abroad  without  lifting 
their  feet  from  the  ground.  They  were 
for  ever  dashing  their  feet  against  the 
stones ” and  stumbling”  on  their  way. 

Stone  of  Tongues.  This  was  a 
stone  given  to  Otnit  king  of  Lombardy, 
by  his  father  dwarf  Elberich,  and  had 
the  virtue,  when  put  into  a person's 
mouth,  of  enabling  him  to  speak  per- 
fectly any  foreign  language. — The  HeU 
denbuch.” 

Stonebrash.  A name  given  in  Wilt- 
shire to  the  subsoil  of  the  north-western 
border,  consisting  of  a reddish  calcareous 
loam,  mingled  with  flat  stones. 

Stonehenge,  says  Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth, was  erected  by  Merlin  (the  magi- 
cian) to  perpetuate  the  treachery  of 
Hengist,  who  desired  a friendly  meeting 
with  Vortigern,  but  fell  upon  him  and 
his  400  attendants,  putting  them  all  to 
the  sword.  Aurelius  Arnbrosius  asked 
Merlin  to  recommend  a sensible  memento 
of  this  event,  and  Merlin  told  the  king 
to  transplant  the  Giant’s  Dance  from 
the  mountain  of  Killaraus,  in  Ireland. 
These  stones  had  been  brought  by  the 
giants  from  Africa  as  baths,  and  all  pos- 
sessed medicinal  qualities.  Merlin  trans- 
planted them  by  magic.  This  tale  owes 
its  birth  to  the  word  “ stan-hengist,” 
which  mQ2Lns,  uplifted  stones, 'h\xt  ^‘hengist” 
suggested  the  name  of  the  traditional 
hero. 

N.B.  This  is  no  place  to  enter  into  the 
history  and  mystery  of  Stonehenge,  but 
it  is  pretty  certain  that  it  was  no  Druid 
temple,  but  a Saxon  ring  for  parliamentary 
and  coronation  purposes.  It  was  certainly 
erected  after  the  Romans  left  the  island, 
for  Roman  pottery  and  coins  have  been 
found  under  several  of  the  stones,  and 
the  stones  are  fitted  with  mortice  and 
tenon,  an  art  unknown  in  Britain  till  it 
was  taught  by  the  Romans.  A ‘‘  Guide 
Book  ” is  sold  to  visitors,  which  affects 


858  STONEWALL  JACKSON. 


STORNELLO  VERSES. 


to  prove  that  Stonehenge  was  built  by 
the  antediluvians,  and  that  the  fallen 
stones  were  thrown  down  by  the  subsiding 
waters  of  the  flood.  In  a Dictionary  of 
Fable  ’*  such  a suggestion  may  find  stand- 
ing-room. (See  Stone,  The  Standing 
Stones  of  Stennis.) 

Stonehens'e,  once  thought  a temple,  you  have  found 
A throne  where  kings,  our  earthly  gods,  were 
crowned. 

When  by  their  wondering  subjects  they  were  seen. 

Dryden,  *'  Epistles”  ii. 

Stonewall  Jackson.  Thomas  J. 
Jackson,  one  of  the  Confederate  generals 
in  the  American  war.  The  name  arose 
thus : General  Bee,  of  South  Caroli'na, 
observing  his  men  waver,  exclaimed, 
‘^Look  at  Jackson’s  men;  they  stand 
like  a stone  wall ! ” (1826-1863.) 

Stony  Arabia.  A mistranslation  of 
Arabia  Peiroea,  where  Petrseais  supposed 
to  be  an  adjective  formed  from  the  Greek 
■peiros  (a  stone),  and  not,  as  it  really  is, 
from  the  city  of  Petra,  the  capital  of  the 
Nabathaeans.  This  city  was  cdiWedThamud 
(rock-built),  translated  by  the  Greeks 
into  Petra,  and  mis-translated  into  Stony, 
Stool  of  Repentance.  A low  stool 
placed  in  front  of  the  pulpit  in  Scotland, 
on  which  persons  who  had  incurred  an 
ecclesiastical  censure  were  placed  during 
divine  service.  When  the  service  was 
over  the  ‘^penitent”  had  to  stand  on  the 
stool  and  receive  the  minister’s  rebuke. 
Even  in  the  present  century  this  method 
of  rebuke  has  been  repeated. 

Colonel  Knox... tried  to  take  advantage  of  a merely 
formal  proceeding  to  set  Mr.  Gladstone  on  the  stool 
of  repentance.— TAe  Times. 

Stops.  Organs  have  no  fixed  number 
of  stops  ; some  have  sixty  or  more,  and 
others  much  fewer.  A stop  is  a collec- 
tion of  pipes  similar  in  tone  and  quality, 
running  through  the  whole  or  part  of  an 
organ.  They  may  be  divided  into  Mouth-, 
pipes  and  Reed-pipes,  according  to  struc- 
ture, or  into  (1)  Metallic,  (2)  Reed,  (3) 
W'ood,  (4)  Mixed  or  Comvound  stops,  ac- 
cording to  material.  The  following  are 
the  chief : — 

(a)  Metallic.  Principal  (so  called  be- 
cause it  is  the  first  stop  tuned,  and  is 
the  standard  by  which  the  whole  organ 
is  regulated),  the  open  diapason,  dulci- 
ana,  the  12th,  15th,  tierce  or  17th,  lari- 
got  or  19th,  22nd,  26th,  29th,  33rd,  &c. 
(being  respectively  12,  15,  17,  &c.,  notes 
above  the  open  diapason). 

(b)  tieed  (metal  reed  pipes).  Bassoon, 
cremona,  hautboy  or  oboe,  trumpet,  vox- 


humana  (all  in  unison  with  the  open 
diapason),  clarion  (an  octave  above  uni- 
son with  principal) . 

(c)  Wood.  Stopt  diapason,  double 
diapason. 

(d)  Compound  or  Mixed.  Flute  (in 
unison  with  the  principal),  cornet,  mix- 
ture or  furniture,  sesquialta  (above  the 
15th). 

Grand  organs  have,  in  addition  to  the 
above,  from  one  and  a half  to  two  oc- 
taves of  pedals. 

Stordila'no  (in  Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
King  of  Grana'da,  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Moorish  army. 

Store  (1  syl.).  Store  is  noscn'e.  Things 
stored  up  for  future  use  are  no  evil.  Sore 
means  grief  as  well  as  wound,  our  sor- 
row. 

Stork,  a sacred  bird,  according  to 
the  Swedish  legend  received  its  name 
from  flying  round  the  cross  of  the  cru- 
cified Redeemer,  crying  StyrJca!  styrka! 
(Strengthen  ! strengthen  !)  This  cer- 
tainly is  a marvellous  tradition,  seeing 
the  stork  has  no  voice  at  all. 

Storks  are  the  sworn  foes  of  snakes. 
Hence  the  veneration  in  which  they  are 
held.  They  are  also  excellent  scavengers, 
'Twill  profit  when  the  stork,  sworn  foe  of  snakes, 
Keturns,  to  show  compassion  to  thy  plants. 

Philips,  “ Cyder”  bk.  i. 

Storms.  The  inhabitants  of  Com- 
macchio,  a town  in  the  Ferrarese  be- 
tween the  two  branches  of  the  Po,  re- 
joice in  storms  because  then  the  fish 
are  driven  into  their  marshes. 

Whose  townsmen  loathe  the  lazy  calm’s  repose. 

And  pray  that  stormy  waves  may  lash  the  beach. 

Rose's  “ Orlando  Furioso”  iii.  41. 

Cape  of  Storms.  So  Bartholomew  Diaz 
named  the  south  cape  of  Africa  in  1486, 
but  king  J ohn  II.  changed  it  into  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

Storm  in  a Teapot.  A mighty  to- 
do  about  a trifle . ‘ ‘ A storm  in  a puddle. 

Stornello  Verses  are  those  in  which 
certain  words  are  harped  on  and  turned 
about  and  about.  They  are  common 
among  the  Tuscan  peasants.  The  word 
is  from  torna're  (to  return). 

I’ll  tell  him  the  white,  and  the  green,  and  the  red^ 
Mean  our  country  has  flun?  the  vile  yoke  from  her 

head  ; 

I’ll  tell  him  the  green,  and  the  red,  and  the  white. 
Would  look  well  by  his  side,  a.s  a sword-knot  so 

bright ; 

I’ll  tell  him  the  red,  and  the  white,  and  the  green. 

Is  the  prize  that  we  play  for,  a prize  we  will  win. 

Notes  and  Queries. 


STORTHING. 


STRAW. 


859 


Stor'tlling  (ipvou. Sftor-tmff).  The  Nor- 
wegian Parliament,  elected  every  three 
years  (Norse,  stor,  great ; thing,  court). 

Stowe  (1  syh)-  The  fair  majestic 
‘paradise  of  Stowe  (Thomson,  ^‘Autumn”). 
The  principal  seat  of  the  duke  of  Buck- 
ingham. 

Stowe  TTine  Chur  dies  {a  hamlet 
of  Stoioe,  Northamptonshire).  The  tra- 
dition is  that  the  people  of  this  hamlet 
wished  to  build  a church,  and  made  nine 
ineffectual  efforts  to  do  so,  for  every  time 
the  church  was  finished  the  devil  came 
by  night  and  knocked  it  down  again. 

Stra'bo  {Walafridus),  A German 
monk.  (807-849.) 

Stradiva'rius  {Antonio).  A famous 
violin-maker,  born  at  Cremo'na.  Some 
of  his  instruments  have  fetched  £400. 
(1760-1728.)  See  Cremonas. 

Strain  (1  syl.).  To  strain  courtesy. 
To  stand  upon  ceremony.  Here  strain 
is  to  stretch,  as  parchment  is  strained  on 
a drum -head.  When  strain  means  to 
filter,  the  idea  is  pressing  or  squeezing 
through  a canvas  or  woollen  bag. 

Strain  at  a gnat  and  swallow  a camel. 
To  make  much  fuss  about  little  pec- 
cadillos, but  commit  offences  of  real 
magnitude.  Strain  at”  is  strain  out  or 
q^’ (Greek,  diu-lizo).  The  allusion  is  to 
the  practice  of  filtering  wine  for  fear  of 
swallowing  an  insect,  which  was  un- 
clean.” Tyndale  has  strain  out”  in 
his  version.  Our  expression  strain  at  ” 
is  a corruption  of  strain-ut,  ut  ” being 
the  Saxon  form  of  out,  retained  in  the 
words  ut-most,  utter,  uttermost,  &c. 

The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained 
(“Merchant  of  Venice,”  iv.  1)— con- 
strained or  forced,  but  cometh  down 
freely  as  the  rain,  which  is  God’s  gift. 

Stral'enheim  {Count).  A feudal 
baron  who  hunted  Werner  like  a par- 
tridge, in  order  to  obtain  his  inheri- 
tance. Uric  saved  him  from  the  Oder, 
but  subsequently  murdered  him. — Byron, 

Werner.*' 

Strand  {London).  The  bank  gf  the 
Thames  (Saxon  for  a beach  or  shore) ; 
whence  stranded,  run  ashore  or  grounded. 

Strange  (1  syl.).  Latin,  extra  (with- 
out) ; whence  extra'neus  (one  without) ; 
old  French,  estrange;  Italian,  strano,  &c. 
Stranger,  therefore,  is  extra'neus,  one 
without. 


Strangers  Sacrificed.  It  is  said 
that  Busi'ris,  king  of  Egypt,  sacrificed' 
to  his  gods  all  strangers  that  set  foot  on 
his  territories.  Diomed,  king  of  Thrace,, 
gave  strangers  to  his  horses  for  food. 
{See  Diomedes.) 

Oh  fly,  or  here  with  strangers’  blood  imbrued 

Busiris*  altars  thou  shalt  lind  renewed; 

-Amidst  his  slaughtered  guests  his  altars  stood 

Obscene  with  gore,  and  baked  with  human  blood. 

Cianoens,  **Lusiad,*'  bk.  iL 

Strap  {Hugh).  The  noble,  generous,, 
and  disinterested  adherent  of  Roderick 
Random,  whose  faithful  services  and  un- 
selfish attachment  met  a contemptible- 
re-ward  from  the  heartless  libertine. — 
Smollett,  ^^Roderich  Random." 

Strap  Oil.  A beating.  This  is  a. 
corruption  of  strap  ’eil,  where  *eil  is  the* 
German  theil  (a  dole).  The  play  is  palp- 
able. The  “April  fool”  asks  for  a 
pennyworth  of  strap  ’eil,  that  is  a dole- 
or  portion  of  the  strap, 

Strappa'do.  A military  punishment 
formerly  practised  ; it  consisted  of  pull- 
ing an  offender  to  a beam  and  then  letting 
him  down  suddenly  ; by  this  means  a. 
limb  was  not  unfrequently  dislocated. 
(Italian,  strappa're,  to  pull. ) 

Were  I at  the  strappado  or  the  rack,  I’d  give  no^ 
man  a reason  on  compulsj on. —<S'AaA:esj)eare,  '*1  Henry- 
IV.,"  ii.  4. 

Strat'agem  means  generalship 
(Latin,  strate'gus,  a general ; Greek, 
stratos-ago,  to  lead  an  army). 

StraWi  Servants  wishing  to  bo 
hired  used  to  go  into  the  market-place- 
of  Carlisle  (Carel)  with  a straw  in  their 
mouth.  {See  Mop.) 

At  Carel  I stuid  iri’  a strae  i’  my  mouth, 

The  weyves  com  roun’  me  in  custers ; 

“ Whas.  weage  dus  te  ax,  canny  lad?  ” says  yen., 
Anderson,  “ Cumberland  BuUads." 

In  the  straw.  Etre  en  couche.  Tho- 
phrase  arises  from  the  custom,  in  paved 
streets,  of  strewing  straw  before  the 
house,  to  muffle  the  noise  of  vehicles. 
The  Dutch  of  Haarlem  and  Enckhuysen 
expose  on  these  occasions  a pin-cushion 
at  the  street-door.  If  the  babe  is  a boy 
the  pin-cushion  has  a red  fringe,  if  a 
girl  a white  one. 

She  wears  a straw  in  her  ear.  She  is- 
looking  out  for  another  husband.  This 
is  a French  expression,  and  refers  to 
the  ancient  custom  of  placing  a straw 
between  the  ears  of  horses  for  sale. 

To  carry  off  the  strav;  {¥^n\QVQY  la  paillo),. 
To  bear  off  the  belle.  The  pun  is  bo- 


8G0 


STE  AW  BERRY. 


STUART. 


'tween  ''pal,”  a slang  w^ord  for  a favour- 
ite, and  paille,”  straw.  The  French 
falo%  means  a "pal.”  Thus  Gervais 
fsays— 

Mais,  oncore  un  coup,  mfin  palot,  ^ 

La  Coup  a'(Eil  Luring  p.  64. 

To  tlirolo  strmvs  against  the  wind.  To 
^contend  uselessly  and  feebly  against 
what  is  irresistible ; to  sweep  back  the 
Atlantic  with  a besom. 

1 have  a straw  to  break  with  you.  I am 
displeased  with  you;  I have  a reproof  to 
.give  you.  In  feudal  times  possession  of 
a hef  was  conveyed  by  giving  a straw 
'to  the  new  tenant.  If  the  tenant  mis- 
'Conducted  himself,  the  lord  dispossessed 
him  by  going  to  the  threshold  of  his 
door  and  breaking  a straw,  saying  as  he 
'did  so,  "As  I break  this  straw,  so  break 
I the  contract  made  between  us.”  In 
;allusion  to  this  custom,  it  is  said  in 
"Reynard  the  Fox”— "The  kinge  toke 
‘up  a straw  fro’  the  ground,  and  par- 
doned and  forguf  the  Foxe,”  on  condi- 
jtion  that  the  Fox  showed  king  Lion  where 
>the  treasures  where  hid  (ch.  v.). 

Strawberry  means  the  straying 
plant  that  bears  berries  (Saxon,  streow- 
berie')  ; so  called  from  its  runners,  which 
stray  from  the  parent  plant  in  all  direc- 
tions. 

Strawberry  Preachers.  So  Lati- 
mer called  the  non-resident  country 
clergy,  because  they  strayed  from  their 
parishes,  to  which  they  returned  only 
once  a year.  (Saxon,  streowan,  to  stray.) 

Streph'on.  The  shepherd  in  Sir 
Philip  Sidney’s  " Arcadia,”  who  pays  his 
Kcourt  to  the  beautiful  Ura'nia.  Stre- 
phon,  like  Romeo,  is  a stock  name  for  a 
lover. 

Stretch'er.  An  exaggeration  ; a 
statement  stretched  out  beyond  the 
strict  truth. 

Strike  (1  syl.).  Strikey  hut  hear  me! 
So  said  Themis'tocles  with  wonderful 
self-possession  to  Eurybi'ades  the  Spar- 
tan general.  The  tale  told  by  Plutarch 
is  this  : — Themistocles  strongly  opposed 
the  proposal  of  Eurybiades  to  quit  the 
bay  of  Sal'amis.  The  hot-headed  Spar- 
tan insultingly  remarked  that  "those 
who  in  the  public  games  rise  up  before 
'the  proper  signal  are  scourged.”  " True,” 
said  Themistocles,  "but  those  who  lag 
behind  win  no  laurels.”  On  this,  Eury- 


biades lifted  up  his  staff  to  strike  him, 
when  Themistocles  earnestly  but  proudly 
exclaimed,  " Strike,  but  hear  me  !” 

To  strike  hands  upon  a bargain  or  strike 
a bargain.  To  confirm  it  by  shaking  or 
striking  hands. 

Strike  Sail.  To  acknowledge  one- 
self beaten ; to  eat  umble  pie.  A maritime 
expression.  When  a ship  in  fight,  or  on 
meeting  another  ship,  let’s  down  her 
top-sails  at  least  half-mast  high,  she  is 
said  to  strike,  meaning  that  she  submits 
or  pays  respect  to  the  other. 

Now  Margaret 

Must  strike  her  and  learn  awhile  to  serve 

When  kings  command. 

Shaktapeare,  Henry  VI.,'*  in.  3. 

String.  A Iways  harping  on  one  string. 
Always  talking  on  one  subject  ; always 
repeating  the  same  thing.  The  allusion 
is  to  the  ancient  harpers : some  like  Paga- 
nini played  on  one  string  to  show  their 
skill,  but  more  would  have  endorsed  the 
Apothecary’s  apology — My  poverty,  and 
not  my  will,  consents.” 

Stroke.  The  oarsman  who  sits  on 
the  bench  next  the  coxswain,  and  sets 
the  stroke  of  the  oars.  In  an  eight-oar 
the  rowers  are  named  thus  : — 


CO 


•si  w,  M y 

o 


strong-back.  One  of  Fortunio’s 
servants.  He  was  so  strong  he  could 
carry  any  weight  upon  his  back  without 
difficulty. — " GHrnm's  Goblins  ” {For~ 
tunio). 

Strong -bow.  Richard  de  Clare, 
earl  of  Strigul.  Justice  of  Heland. 
C-1176.) 

Stron'tian.  This  mineral  receives 
its  name  from  Stontian,  in  Argyleshire, 
where  it  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Hope  in 
1792. 

Struld'brugs.  Persons  who  never 
die  ; the  miserable  inhabitants  of  Lugg- 
**  Gidlivers  Travels.” 

Stuart.  So  called  from  Walter,  lord 
high  steward  of  Scotland,  who  married 
Marjory,  daughter  of  Robert  Bruce. 
Walter  was  the  sixth  of  his  family  who 
had  enjoyed  the  office  of  lord  high 


STUBBLE  GEESE. 


SUB  HASTA. 


801 


steward,  and  the  family  was  usually 
called  the  Steward  family.  This  Walter 
Steward  and  Marjory  were  the  ancestors 
of  the  lon^  line  of  Scotch  Stuarts.— 
Walter  Scottf  Tales  of  a Grandfather f 

XV. 

Stubl)le  Geese,  called  in  Devon- 
shire AHsh  Geese.  The  geese  turned  into 
the  stubble-fields  or  arrishers,  to  pick  up 
the  corn  left  after  harvest.  {See  Earing.) 

Stuck  Pig.  To  stare  like  a stuck  pig. 
A simile  founded  on  actual  observation. 
Of  course  the  stuck  pig  is  the  pig  in  the 
act  of  being  killed. 

Stuck  Up.  An  Australian  phrase  for 
robbed  on  the  highway.  (5ee  Gone  Up.) 

Stuck-up  People.  Pretentious  people  ; 
parvenus;  nobodies  who  assume  to  be 
somebodies.  The  allusion  is  to  birds, 
as  the  peacock  which  sticks  up  its  tail, 
the  turkey-cock  which  sticks  up  its 
feathers  generally,  &c.,  to  add  to  its 
‘‘importance,”  and  “awe  down”  an- 
tagonists. 

Stuff  Gown.  An  outer  barrister, 
or  one  without  the  bar.  {See  Barrister.  ) 

Stump  Orator  (in  America).  A 
person  who  harangues  the  people  from 
the  stump  of  a tree  or  other  chance  ele- 
vation ; a mob  orator. 

Stump  Up.  Pay  your  reckoning ; 
pay  what  is  due.  Ready  money  is  called 
stumpy  or  stumps.  An  Americanism, 
meaning  money  paid  down  on  the  spot— 
i.e.f  on  the  stump  of  a tree.  {See  Nail.) 

Stumped  Out.  Outwitted ; put 
down.  A term  borrowed  from  the  game 
of  cricket. 

Stumps.  To  stir  one's  stumps.  To 
get  on  faster  ; to  set  upon  something 
expeditiously.  The  stumps  properly  are 
wooden  legs  fastened  to  stumps  or  muti- 
lated limbs.  (Danish,  stump,  sl  frag- 
ment ; German,  stumpf,  shortened.) 

This  makes  him  stirre  his  stumps. 

“ The  Two  Lancashire  Lovers^  (1610). 

^ Stupid  Boy.  St.  Thomas  Aqui  nas, 
nicknamed  the  Dumb  Ox  by  his  school- 
fellows. (1224-1274.) 

Stygian  (3  syl.).  Infernal ; pertain- 
ing to  Styx,  the  fabled  river  of  hell. 

At  that  so  sudden  blaze  the  Stygian  throng 
Bent  their  aspect. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost." 


Style  (1  syl.)  is  from  the  Latin  stylus,. 
an  iron  pencil  for  writing  on  waxen* 
tablets,  &c.  The  characteristic  of  a per- 
son’s writing  is  called  his  style.  Meta- 
phorically it  is  applied  to  composition* 
and  speech.  Good  writing  is  stylish,  and 
metaphorically  smartness  of  dress  and'^ 
deportment  is  so  called. 

Styles.  Tom  Styles  or  John  a Styles,. 
connected  with  John  o' Noakes  in  actions 
of  ejectment.  These  mythical  gentle- 
men, like  John  Doe  and  Richard  Roe,, 
are  no  longer  employed. 

And,  like  blind  Fortune,  with  a sleight 
Convey  men’s  interest  and  right 
From  Stiles’s  pocket  into  Nokes’s. 

Butler^  “ Hudibras,**  iii  3. 

Styli'tes  or  Pillar  Saints.  By  far  th®  • 
most  celebrated  are  Simeon  the  Stylite- 
of  Syria,  and  Daniel  the  Stylite  of  Con- 
stantinople. Simeon  spent  thirty-seven* 
years  on  different  pillars,  each  loftier  and* 
narrower  than  the  preceding.  The  last 
was  sixty-six  feet  high.  He  died  in  460, . 
aged  seventy- two.  Daniel  lived  thirty- 
three  years  on  a pillar,  and  was  not  un- 
frequently  nearly  blown  from  it  by  the- 
storms  from  Thrace.  He  died  in  494. 
Tenny.son  has  a poem  on  Simeon  Stylites. 

I,  Simeon  of  the  Pillar  by  surname, 

Stylites  among  meu— 1,  Simeon, 

The  watcher  on  the  column  till  the  end. 

Tennyson, 

Stylus  and  Wax  Tablets.  Em- 
blems of  the  Muse  Calli'ope. 

Styx.  The  river  of  Hate,  called  bjr 
Milton  “ abhorred  Styx,  the  flood  of' 
burning  hate”  (“Paradise  Lost,”  ii.).  It. 
was  said  to  flow  nine  times  round  th® 
infernal  regions.  (Greek,  stug'eo,  to 
hate.) 

The  Thames  reminded  him  of  Styx.— if.  Taino, 

Styx,  the  dread  oath  of  gods. 

For  by  the  black  infernal  Styx  I swear 

(Thar,  dreadful  oath  which  binds  the  Thunderer) 

’Tis  fixed  ! Pope,  “ Thebais  of  Statius,'*  i. 

Suav'iter  in  Modo  {Latin).  Ao 
inoffensive  manner  of  doing  what  is  t®* 
be  done.  Suaviter  in  modo,  fortUer  in  re, 
doing  what  is  to  be  done  with  unflinching 
firmness,  but  in  the  most  inoffensive 
manner  possible. 

Sub  Hasta.  By  auction.  When  an 
auction  took  place  among  the  Romans,  it 
was  customary  to  stick  a spear  in  th® 
ground  to  give  notice  of  it  to  the  public. 
In  London  we  hang  from  the  first-floor 
window  a strip  of  bed-room  carpet. 


8G2 


SUB  JOVE. 


SUFFOLK. 


Sub  Jo've  {Latin).  Under  Jove  ; in 
the  open  air.  Jupiter  is  the  deified  per- 
sonification of  the  upper  regions  of  the 
air,  Juno  of  the  lower  regions,  Neptune 
of  the  waters  of  the  sea,  Vesta  of  the 
earth,  Ceres  of  the  surface  soil,  Hades  of 
the  invisible  or  under- world. 

Sub-Lapsa'rian,  Snpra-Lapsarian. 
The  s?t&-lapsarian  maintains  that  God 
devised  his  scheme  of  redemption  after 
the  ^Hapse”  or  fall  of  Adam,  when  He 
elected  some  to  salvation  and  left  others 
to  run  their  course.  The  5?ej9m-lapsarian 
maintains  that  all  this  was  ordained  by- 
God  from  the  foundation  of  the  world, 
and  therefore  lefore  the  lapse  ” or  fall 
of  Adam. 

Sub  Rosa.  (See  Kose.) 

Submit  means  simply  ^'to  lower,’* 
and  the  idea  usually  associated  with  the 
word  is  derived  from  a custom  in  gladia- 
torial sports : When  a gladiator  acknow- 
ledged himself  vanquished  he  lowered 
{submitted)  his  arms  as  a sign  that  he  gave 
in  ; it  then  rested  with  the  spectators  to 
let  him  go  or  put  him  to  death.  If  they 
wished  him  to  live  they  held  their  thumbs 
dowriy  if  to  be  put  to  death  they  held  their 
thumbs  upwards, 

Subpoe'na  is  a writ  given  to  a man 
•commanding  him  to  appear  in  court,  to 
bear  witness  or  give  evidence  on  a certain 
trial  named  in  the  writ.  It  is  so  called 
because  the  party  summoned  is  bound  to 
appear  sub  poena  centum  libro'rum  (under 
a penalty  of  £100). 

Sub'sidy  means  literally  a sediment ; 
that  which  is  on  the  ground.  It  is  a 
military  term.  In  battle  the  Eomans 
drew  up  their  army  in  three  divisions  : 
first,  the  light-armed  troops  made  the 
attack,  and  if  repulsed,  the  pike-men 
came  up  to  their  aid  ; if  these  two  were 
beaten  back,  the  swordsmen  {prin' cipes) 
advanced ; and  if  they  too  were  defeated, 
the  reserve  went  forward.  These  last 
were  called  subsidies  because  they  re- 
mained resting  on  their  left  Jcnee  till  their 
time  of  action.  Metaphorically  money 
aid  is  called  a subsidy.  (Latin,  subsideo, 
to  subside.) 

Subtle  Doctor.  John  Duns  Scutum, 
one  of  the  schoolmen.  (1265-1308.) 

Subvol'vars  or  Subvolvani.  The 
antagonists  of  the  Privolvans  in  Samuel 


Butler’s  satirical  poem  called  ^‘The 
Elephant  in  the  Moon.” 

The  gallant  Subvolvani  rally. 

And  fi  om  their  trenches  make  a sally. 

V erse  S3,  &c. 

Sueces'sion  Powder.  The  poison 
used  by  the  marquise  de  Brinvilliers  in 
her  poisonings,  for  the  benefit  of  succes- 
sors. {See  Poisoners.) 

Suceint  means  undergirded ; hence 
compact,  concise.  (Latin,  sub-cinctus.') 

Suck  the  Monkey.  Capt.  Marryat 
says  that  rum  is  sometimes  inserted  in 
cocoa-nuts  for  the  private  use  of  sailors, 
and  as  cocoa-nut  shells  are  generally 
fashioned  into  the  resemblance  of  a 
monkey’s  face,  sucking  the  rum  from 
them  is  called  sucking  the  monkey.  The 
phrase  is  extended  to  other  ways  . of 
taking  spirits  surreptitiously,  as  sucking 
it  from  a cask  by  means  of  a straw. 

Suckle.  To  sucHe  fools  and  chronicle 
small  beer.  lago  says  women  are  of  no 
use  but  to  nurse  children  and  keep  the 
accounts  of  the  household, — Shakespeare, 

Othello;^  ii,  1. 

Sucre.  Manger  du  sucre.  Applause 
given  by  claqueurs  to  actors  is  called 
sucre  {sugar).  French  actors  and  ac- 
tresses make  a regular  agreement  with 
the  manager  for  these  hired  applauders. 
While  inferior  artists  are  obliged  to  accept 
a mere  murmur  of  approval,  others  re- 
ceive a salVo  of  bravos,”  while  those  of 
the  highest  role  demand  a ‘‘furore”  or 
“eclat  de  rire,”  according  to  their  line 
of  acting,  whether  tragedy  or  comedy. 
Sometimes  the  manager  is  bound  to  give 
actors  “sugar  to  eat”  in  the  public  jour- 
nals, and  the  agreement  is  that  the  an- 
nouncement of  their  name  shall  be  pre- 
ceded with  the  words  “celebrated,”  “ad- 
mirable,” and  so  on.  The  following  is 
part  of  the  agreement  of  a French  actor  on 
renewing  his  engagement  (1869)  “ que 

cinquante  claqueurs  au  moins  feraient 
manger  du  sucre  dbs  1’ entree  en  scbne, 
et  que  I’actrice  rivale  serait  priv^e  de  cet 
agrSment.  ” (See  Claque,  ) 

Suds  {Mrs.).  A facetious  name  for 
a washwoman  or  laundress.  Of  course 
the  allusion  is  to  soap-suds. 

To  be  in  the  suds— in  ill-temper.  Ac- 
cording to  the  song,  “ Ne’er  a bit  of  com- 
fort is  upon  a washing  day,”  all  are  put 
out  of  gear,  and  therefore  out  of  temper. 

Suffolk.  The  folk  south  of  Norfolk. 


SUFFRAGE. 


SUN. 


86; 


means  primarily  the  hough 

S. stern  of  a horse,  so  called  because  it 
sunder  and”  iTot  over,  like  the  knee- 
/ joint.  When  a horse  is  lying  down  and 
wants  to  rise  on  his  legs,  it  is  this  joint 
which  is  brought  into  action  ; and  when 
the  horse  stands  on  his  legs  it  is  these 
ancle- joints”  which  support  him.  Meta- 
phorically,voters  are  the  pastern  joints  of 
■a  candidate,  whereby  he  is  supported. 

A suffragan  is  a titular  bishop  who  is 
appointed  to  assist  a prelate  ; and  in 
relation  to  an  archbishop  all  bishops  are 
suffragans.  The  archbishop  is  the  horse, 
and  the  bishops  are  his  pasterns. 

Sugar-lip.  H4fiz,  the  great  Persian 
lyrist.  (*-1389.) 

Sugared  Words.  Sweet,  flattering 
words.  When  sugar  was  first  imported 
into  Europe  it  was  a very  great  dainty. 
The  coarse,  vulgar  idea  now  associated 
with  it  is  from  its  being  cheap  and  com- 
mon. 

Sui  Gen'eris  (Latin).  Having  a 
distinct  character  of  its  own;  unlike 
anything  else. 

Suit  (1  syl. ).  To  follow  suit.  To  follow 
the  leader;  to  do  as  those  do  who  are 
taken  as  your  exemplars.  The  term  is 
from  games  of  cards. 

Sullen  (Squire).  A brutal  husband 
an  Farquhar’s  Country  Blockhead.” 

Sullt  (starvation).  The  knife  which 
the  goddess  Hel  (jq.v.)  is  accustomed  to 
use  when  she  sits  down  to  eat  from  her 
dish  Hunger. 

Sulpizlo.  Serjeant  in  the  11th  Regi- 
ment of  the  Grand  Army  of  Napoleon. 
He  found  a young  girl  named  Maria, 
after  a battle,  and  the  regiment  adopted 
her  as  their  daughter. — Donizetti,  ‘‘Aa 
Figlia  del  Reggimento  ” (an  opera), 

Sultan  of  Persia.  Mahmoud  Gazni, 
founder  of  the  Gaznivide  dynasty,  was 
the  first  to  assume  in  Persia  the  title 
of  Sultan  (a.d.  999). 

Sultan’s  Horse. 

Bjzaniians  boast  that  on  the  clod 
Wliere  once  the  su'tan’s  horse  hath  trod 
Grows  neither  graes  nor  frhrub,  nor  tree. 

Swifty  **Fethox  the  ^eaL'* 

Sulta'na*  A beautiful  bird  with 
bright  blue  feathers,  and  purple  beak 
and  legs. 

Some  pnrple-winged  Sultana. 

Moore,  ^'Faradiit  and  the  Peri.** 


Summer.  The  second  or  autumnal 
summer,  said  to  last  thirty  days,  begins 
about  the  time  that  the  sun  enters 
Scorpio  (Oct.  23rd).  It  is  variously 
called — 

(1)  St.  Martin’s  summer  (L’€t^  de  St. 
Martin).  St.  Martin’s  day  is  the  11th 
Nov. 

Expect  St.  Martin’s  summer,  halcyon  days. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  F/.,”  i.  2. 

(2)  All  Saints’  summer  (All  Saints’  is 
the  1st  Nov.). 

Then  followed  that  beautiful  season 
Called  by  the  pioua  Arcadian  pea  ants  the  s'lmmer 
of  All  Saints.  Longfellow,  ''Evangeline.” 

(3)  All  tiallowen  summer  (same  as  All 
Saints’). 

Farewell,  All  Hallowen  summer. 

Shakespeare,  “ 1 Henry  VI  ” i.  2. 

(4)  St.  Luke’s  little  summer  (St.  Luke’s 
day  is  18th  Oct.). 

Summons.  Pnter  and  John  de  Car- 
vajal,  being  condemned  to  death  on  cir- 
cumstantial evidence,  appealed  without 
success  to  Ferdinand  IV.  of  Spain.  On 
their  way  to  execution  they  declared 
their  innocence,  and  summoned  the 
king  to  appear  before  God  within  thirty 
days.  Ferdinand  was  quite  well  on  the 
thirtieth  day,  but  was  found  dead  in  his 
bed  next  morning.  {See  Wishaut.) 

Summum  Bonum.  The  chief 
excellence ; the  highest  attainable  good. 

Sumpter  Horse  or  Mule.  One 
that  carries  baggage  (Italian,  soma,  a 
burden).  (See  Somagia.) 

Sun.  Hebrew,  Elokim  (God) ; Greek, 
helios  (the  sun) ; Breton,  heol;  Latin, 
sol;  German,  sonne;  Saxon,  sunne;  our 
sun.  {See  Apollo,  Surya,  &c.) 

Sun.  Harris,  in  his  Hermes,”  asserts 
that  all  nations  ascribe  to  the  sun  a mas- 
culine and  the  moon  a feminine  gender. 
For  confutation  see  Moon. 

Horses  of  the  Sun. 

Arva'kur,  Aslo,  and  Alsvidur.— /Scaw,- 
dinavian  mythology. 

Bronte  (thunder),  Eo'os  (day  break), 
Ethiops  (flashing),  Ethon  (fiery),  Eryth- 
re'os  {red  - producers) , Philoge'a  (earth - 
loving),  Pyr'ois  (fiery).  All  or  them 
^'breathe  fire  from  their  nostrils.” — 
Greek  and  Latin  mythology. 

Tbe  horses  of  Aurora  are  Abrax  and 
Pha'eton. 

More  worship  the  rising  than  the  setting 
sun,  said  Pompey;  meaning  that  more 
persons  pay  honour  to  ascendant  than 


864  SUN  AND  MOON  FALLING. 


SUPERNACULUM. 


to  fallen  greatness.  The  allusion  is,  of 
course,  to  the  Persian  fire-worshippers. 

Heaven  cannot  support  tivo  suns,  nor 
earth  two  masters.  So  said  Alexander  the 
Great  when  Darius  (before  the  battle  of 
Arbe'la)  sent  to  offer  terms  of  peace. 
Beautifully  imitated  by  Shakespeare  : — 
Twos^ar3  keep  not  their  motion  in  one  sphere; 
Nor  can  one  England  brook  a double  reign— 

Of  Harry  Percy  and  the  prime  of  Wales. 

*•  1 Henry  IV. P T.  4. 

Here  lies  a she-sun,  and  a he-moon  there 
(Donne).  Epithalamium  on  the  marriage 
of  lady  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  I., 
with  Frederick,  elector  palatine.  It  was 
through  this  unfortunate  princess,  called 
“Queen  of  Bohemia”  and  “Queen  of 
Hearts,”  that  the  family  of  Brunswick 
succeeded  to  the  British  throne.  Some 
say  that  lord  Craven  married  (secretly) 
the  “ fair  widow.” 

City  of  the  Sun.  Rhodes  was  poetically 
so  called  because  the  sun  was  its  tutelar 
deity.  The  Colossos  of  Rhodes  was  con- 
secrated to  the  sun. 

Sun  and  Moon  Falling.  In  heral- 
dry the  arms  of  sovereigns  and  royal 
houses  are  not  emblazoned  by  colours, 
but  by  sun,  moon,  and  stars.  Thus 
instead  of  or  {gold')  a royal  coat  has  the 
sun;  instead  of  argent  {silver),  the  moon; 
instead  of  the  other  five  heraldic  colours, 
one  of  the  other  five  ancient  planets. 
In  connection  with  this  idea  read  Matt, 
xxiv.  29:  “ Immediately  after  the  tribu- 
lation of  those  days  shall  the  sun  be 
darkened,  and  the  moon  shall  not  give 
her  light,  and  the  stars  shall  fall  from 
heaven,  and  the  powers  of  the  heavens 
shall  be  shaken.”  {See  Planets.) 

Sun-burst.  The  fanciful  name  given 
by  the  ancient  Irish  to  their  national 
banner. 

At  once,  like  a sun-burst,  her  banner  unfurled. 

Thomas  Moore^  ** Irish  Mdodiesp  No.  6. 

Sun -flower.  So  called,  not  be- 
cause it  follows  the  sun,  but  because  it 
resembles  the  sun  in  appearance.  It 
does  not  turn  to  the  sun,  for  frequently 
three  or  four  flowers  on  one  plant  will 
turn  as  many  different  ways. 

Sun  Inn.  In  compliment  to  the  ill- 
omened  house  of  York. 

Sunday  Saint.  One  who  observes 
the  ordinances  of  religion,  and  goes  to 
church  on  a Sunday,  but  is  worldly, 
grasping,  indifferent  honest,  and  not 
“ too  moral  ” the  following  six  days. 


Sunna  or  Sonna.  The  Oral  Law,  or 
the  precepts  of  Mahomet  not  contained 
in  the  Koran,  collected  into  a volume. 
Similar  to  the  Jewish  Mishna,  which  is 
the  supplement  of  the  Pentateuch.  (Ara- 
bic, sunna,  custom,  rule  of  conduct.) 

Sunnites  (2  syl.).  Orthodox  Ma- 
hometans, who  consider  the  Sunna  or 
Oral  Law  as  binding  as  the  Koran.  They 
wear  white  turbans.  The  heterodox 
Moslems  are  called  Schiites  or  Shyites 
(?•»•)• 

Suo  Jure  (Latin).  In  one’s  oiiro 
right. 

Suo  Marte  {Latin).  By  one's  own, 
strength  or  personal  exertions. 

Supercilious  (5  syl.).  Having  an 
elevated  eyebrow  ; hence  contemptuous, 
haughty.  Shakespeare  (“As  You  Like- 
It”)  speaks  of  the  ^Mover  sighing 
like  furnace  with  woeful  ballad  made 
to  his  mistress’  eyebrow.”  It  does  not 
mean  that  the  poet  writes  about  the 
“eyebrow”  of  his  amie  du  coeurf  but 
that  his  ballad  is  woebegone  because  his- 
sweeting  is  supercilious.  Observe  the 
poet  does  not  say  on  but  to  the  eyebrow. 
(Latin,  super -ciliurn.) 

Supernac'ulum.  The  very  best 
wine.  The  word  is  Latin  for  “ upon  the 
nail,”  meaning  that  the  wine  is  so  good 
the  drinker  leaves  only  enough  in  his 
glass  to  make  p.  bead  on  his  nail.  The 
French  say  of  first-class  wine,  “ It  is  fit 
to  make  a ruby  on  the  nail  ” {faire  ruhis 
sur  Vongle),  referring  to  the  residue  left 
which  is  only  sufficient  to  make  a single 
drop  on  the  nail.  Tom  Nash  says, 
“After  a man  has  drunk  his  glass  it  is 
usual,  in  the  North,  to  turn  the  bottom  of 
the  cup  upside  down,  and  let  a drop  fall 
upon  the  thumb-nail.  If  the  drop  rolls 
off  the  drinker  is  obliged  to  fill  and 
drink  again.”  Bishop  Hall  alludes  to  the 
same  custom  : “The  duke  Tenter-belly 
....  exclaims  ....  ‘Let  never  this 
goodly-formed  goblet  of  wine  go  jovially 
through  me  ; ’ and  then  he  set  it  to  his 
mouth,  stole  it  off  every  drop,  save  a 
little  remainder,  which  he  was  by  cus- 
tom to  set  upon  his  thumb-nail  and  lick 
off.” 

’Tisherel  the  supernaculum ! twenty  years 
Of  age,  if  ’tis  a day.  Byron^  “Fer/ier,”  i.  1. 

Supernaculum.  Entirely.  To  drink 
supernaculum  is  to  leave  no  heel-taps; 
to  drink  so  as  to  leave  just  enough  not 


SUPERSTITION. 


SUTOR. 


865 


to  roll  off  one’s  thumb-nail  if  poured 
upon  it,  but  only  to  remain  there  as  a 
wine-bead. 

This  is  after  the  fashion  of  Switzerland.  Clear 

off,  neat,  supernaculum.— JKaieZais,  and 

Pantagruel,'’  bk.  i,  5. 

Their  jests  were  supernaculum. 

I snatched  the  rubies  from  each  thumb. 

And  in  this  crystal  have  them  here. 

Perhaps  you’ll  like  it  more  than  beer. 

King,  “ Orpheus  and  KurydicS.* 

Superstition.  That  which  survives 
when  its  companions  are  dead  (Latin, 
supersto).  Those  who  escaped  in  battle 
were  called  sitj^erstites.  Superstition  is 
that  religion  which  remains  when  real 
religion  is  dead ; that  fear  and  awe 
and  worship  paid  to  the  religious  im- 
pression which  survives  in  the  mind, 
when  correct  notions  of  Deity  no  longer 
exist. 

Supplica'tion.  This  word  has 
greatly  changed  its  original  meaning. 
The  Romans  used  it  for  a thanksgiving 
after  a signal  victory — Livp,  iii.  63.  (His 
rebus  gestis,  supplicatio  a senatu  decre- 
tum  est—Csesar,  ‘^Bell.  Gall.,’'  ii.)  The 
word  means  the  act  of  folding  the  knees 
{sub-plico).  We  now  use  the  word  for 
begging  or  entreating  something. 

Surface  (Sir  Oliver).  The  rich  uncle 
of  Joseph  and  Charles  Surface. — Sheri- 
dan^ “ School  for  ScandaV’ 

Charles  Surface.  A reformed  scape- 
grace, after  having  ‘'sowed  his  wild 
oats.”  He  was  the  accepted  lover  of 
Maria,  the  rich  ward  of  Sir  Peter  Teazle. 
His  evil  was  all  on  the  surface.— NAm- 
dan,  School  for  Scandal.” 

Joseph  Stirface.  The  elder  brother  of  the 
above,  a sentimental  knave,  artful  and 
malicious,  but  so  plausible  in  speech  and 
manner  as  to  pass  among  his  acquain- 
tances for  a “youthful  miracle  qf  pru- 
dence, good  sense,  and  benevolence.” 
His  good  was  all  on  tlie  surface. — Sheri- 
dan, ^‘School  for  Scandal.” 

Surgeon  is  the  Greek  form  of  the 
Latin  word  manufacturer.  The  former  is 
clieir-ergein  (to  work  with  the  hand),  and 
the  latter  manu-facere  (to  do  or  make 
with  the  hand). 

Surlyboy.  Yellow  hair  (Irish,  soi'ley 
huie). 

Sur'name  (2  syl.).  The  over-name  : 
either  the  name  written  over  the  Chris- 
tian name,  or  given  over  and  above  it ; 
an  additional  name.  For  a long  time 


persons  had  no  family  name,  but  only 
one  and  that  a personal  name.  Surnames 
are  not  traced  further  back  than  tho 
latter  part  of  the  tenth  century. 

Sur'plice  (2  syl.).  Over  the  fur-robe 
(Latin,  super- pel licium).  The  clerical 
robe  worn  over  the  bachelor’s  ordinary 
dress,  which  was  anciently  made  of 
sheep-skin.  The  ancient  Celts  and 
Germans  also  wore  a garment  occasion- 
ally over  their  fur-skins. 

Surrey.  Saxon,  Suth-rea  (south  of 
the  river — i.e.,  the  Thames),  or  Suth-ric 
(south  kingdom). 

Saddle  White  Surrey  for  the  field  to- 
morrow (Shakespeare,  “Richard  III.).’^ 
Surrey  is  the  Syrian  horse,  as  Roan  Bar- 
bary in ' ‘ Richard  II.”  is  the  Barbary  horse 
or  barb. 

Surt.  The  guardian  of  Muspelheim, 
who  keeps  watch  day  and  night  with  a 
flaming  sword.  At  the  end  of  the  world 
he  will  hurl  fire  from  his  hand  and  burn 
up  both  heaven  and  Qoxih..— Scandinavian 
mythology. 

Surtur.  The  giant  who  is  to  set  the 
world  on  fire  at  the  great  consummation. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Su'rya.  The  sun-god  of  Hindu  my- 
thology. His  chariot  i§  drawn  by  seven 
horses,  and  his  charioteer  is  Arun'a  (god 
of  the  dawn). 

Susan  {St.).  The  patron  saint  who 
saves  from  infamy  and  reproach.  This 
is  from  her  fiery  trial  recorded  in  the 
tale  of  Susannah  and  the  Elders. 

Susan'nali,  the  wife  of  Joiachim, 
being  accused  of  adultery,  was  con- 
demned to  death  by  the  Jewish  elders; 
but  Daniel  proved  her  innocence,  and 
turned  tbe  tables  on  her  accusers,  who 
were  put  to  death  instead. — The  Apo- 
crypha. 

Sussex.  The  territory  of  the  South- 
Saxons  {Suth-Seaxe). 

Sutor.  Ne  sutor,  &c.  {See  Cobbler.) 

Make  wigs.  {See  Wigs.) 

St.  Peter  is  all  very  well  at  Rome. 

Stick  to  the  cow.  Boswell,  one  night 
sitting  in  the  pit  of  Covent-garden  Thea- 
tre with  his  friend  Dr.  Blair,  gave  an 
extempore  imitation  of  a cow,  which  the 
house  applauded.  He  then  ventured 
another  imitation,  but  failed,  whereupon 
the  doctor  advised  him  in  future  to  “stick 
to  the  covy.” 


D D D 


866 


SUTTEE, 


SWAN, 


Suttee  {Indian),  A pure  and  model 
wife  (Sanskrit,  sati,  chaste,  pure)  ; a 
widow  who  immolates  herself  on  the 
funeral  pile  of  her  deceased  husoand. 

Sval'in.  The  dashboard  placed  by 
the  gods  before  the  sun-car,  to  prevent 
the  earth  from  being  burnt  up.  The 
word  means  cooling.”— JScandmavian 
mythology. 

Swaddler.  A contemptuous  syno- 
nym for  Protestant  used  by  the  Roman 
Catholics.  Cardinal  Cullen,  in  1869,  gave 
notice  that  he  would  deprive  of  the  sacra- 
ments ail  parents  who  sent  their  children 
to  be  taught  in  mixed  Model  Schools, 
where  they  were  associated  with  Pres- 
byterians, Socinians,  Arians,  and  Swad- 
dlers.”  (See  Times,  Sept.  4,  1869.) 

The  origin  of  the  term  is  as  follows; — 
‘'It  happened  that  Cennick,  preaching 
on  Christnias-day,  took  for  his  text  these 
words  from  St.  Luke’s  Gospel:  ‘And  this 
shall  be  a sign  unto  you ; ye  shall  find 
the  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes 
lying  in  a manger.’  A Catholic  who  was 
present,  and  to  whom  the  language  of 
Scripture  was  a novelty,  thought  this  so 
ridiculous  that  he  called  the  preacher  a 
swaddler  in  derision,  and  this  unmeaning 
word  became  the  nickname  of  the  Metho- 
dists, and  had  all  the  effect  of  the  most 
opprobious  appellation.” — Southey,  ^‘Life 
of  Wesley,”  ii.  153. 

Swainmote.  {See  Swanimote.) 

Swallow.  According  to  Scandina- 
vian tradition,  this  bird  hovered  over  the 
cross  of  our  Lord,  crying  “Svala ! svala !” 
(Console  ! console  !)  whence  it  was  called 
svatoio  (the  bird  of  consolation).  {See 
Stork.) 

The  Sivalloio  is  said  to  bring  home  from 
the  sea-shore  a stone  that  gives  sight  to 
her  fledglings. 

Seeking  with  eager  eyes  that  wondrous  stone  which 

the  swallow 

Brings  from  the  shore  of  the  sea  to  restore  the  sight 

of  its  fledglings. 

Longfellow,  “ Evangeline^'  pt.  L 

It  is  luchy  for  a swallow  to  build  about 
one’s  house.  This  is  a Roman  supersti- 
tion. .^lian  says  that  the  swallow  was 
sacred  to  the  Pena'tes  or  household  gods, 
and  therefore  to  injure  one  would  be  to 
bring  wrath  upon  your  own  house. 

Swallow  - wort.  A corruption  of 
sal  low- wort.  So  the  celandine  is  called, 
from  the  dark  yellow  juice  which  exudes 


freely  from  its  stems  and  roots  on  being 
broken. 

Swan.  Fionnuala,  daughter  of  Lir, 
was  transformed  into  a swan,  and  con- 
demned to  wander  for  many  hundred 
years  over  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  Ireland 
till  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into 
that  island.  T.  Moore  has  a poem  en= 
titled  “The  Song  of  Fionnuala.” — Irish 
Melodies,”  No.  11. 

The  male  swan  is  called  a Cob;  the 
female,  a Fen. 

Swan.  Erman  says  of  the  Cygnus  olor. 
“ This  bird,  when  wounded,  pours  forth 
its  last  breath  in  notes  most  beautifully 
clear  and  loud.” — “ Travels  in  Siberia^” 
translated  by  Cooley,  vol.  ii. 

Emily  says,  “ I will  play  the  swan,  and 
die  in  music.” — “ Othello,”  v.  2. 

“ What  is  that,  mother  ?”  “ The  swan,  my  love. 

He  is  floating  down  to  his  native  grove  .. 

Death  darkens  his  eyes  and  unplumes  his  wings, 

Yet  the  sweetest  song  is  the  last  he  sings. 

Live  so,  my  son,  that  when  death  shall  come, 

Swan-like  and  sweet,  it  may  waft  thee  home. 

Dr.  G.  Doane. 

Swan.  Mr.  Nicol  says  of  the  Cygnus 
mu'sicus  that  its  note  resembles  the  tones 
of  a violin,  though  somewhat  higher. 
Each  note  occurs  after  a long  interval. 
The  music  presages  a thaw  in  Iceland, 
and  hence  one  of  its  great  charms. 

The  Stoan  of  Avon  or  Sweet  Swan  of 
Avon.  Shakespeare  is  so  called  by  Beii 
Jonson  because  his  home  was  on  the 
Avon.  (1564-1616.) 

The  Sican  of  Cambray,  Fenelon,  arch- 
bishop of  Cambray,  and  author  of  “Tele- 
machus.”  (1651-1715.) 

The  Swan  of  Mantua  or  The  Mantuan 
Swan.  Virgil,  who  was  born  at  Mantua. 
(B.c.  70-29.) 

The  Swan  of  Padua.  Count  Francesco 
Algarotti.  (1712-1764.) 

The  Swan  of  Meander.  Homer,  who 
lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Meander,  in 
Asia  Minor.  (FI.  B.c.  950.) 

Swan,  a public-house  sign,  like  the  pea- 
cock and  pheasant,  was  an  emblem  of 
the  parade  of  chivalry.  Every  knight 
chose  one  of  these  birds,  which  was  asso- 
ciated with  God,  the  Virgin,  and  his 
lady-love  in  his  oath.  Hence  their  use 
as  public-house  signs. 

A black  swan.  A curiosity,  a rara 
avis.  The  expression  is  borrowed  from 
the  well-known  verse — “Rara  avis  in 
terris,  nigroque  simillima  cygno. 

What!  is  it  my  rara  avis,  my  black  swan?— 5Vr 
Walter  Scoti,  “ Tlie  Antiquary." 


SWAN-HOPPING. 


SWEEP. 


867 


The  White  Sivan,  a public-house  sign, 
is  in  compliment  to  Anne  of  Cleves, 
descended  from  the  Knight  of  the  Swan. 

Sivan.  A nickname  for  a blackamoor. 
{See  Luc  us  a non  Lucendo.) 

Ethiopem  voca'mus  cygnum. 

Juvenal,  viii.  32. 

Swan  with  Ttvo  Neeles.  A corruption  of 

Swan  with  Two  Nicks.”  The  Vintners’ 
Company  mark  their  swans  with  two 
nicks  cut  in  the  beak,  and  nothing  can 
be  a more  appropriate  sign  for  a tavern 
than  the  Vintners’  emblem. 

N.B.  Koyal  swans  are  marked  with  five 
nicks — two  lengthwise,  and  three  across 
the  bill. 

Swan-Hopping.  A corruption  of  j 
Swan  Upping — that  is,  taking  the  swans 
up  the  river  Thames  for  the  purpose  of 
marking  them.  {See  above.) 

Swan'imote.  A court  held  thrice  a 
year  before  forest  verderers  by  the  stew- 
ard of  the  court ; so  called  because  the 
swans  or  swains  were  the  jurymen. 
{Swans,  sivains,  or  jsweins,  freeholders ; 
Saxon,  sioan  or  swein,  a herdsman,  shep- 
herd, youth ; our  swain. ) 

This  court  was  incident  to  a forest, 
as  the  court  of  pie-powder  or  piepoudre 
to  a fair. 

Swarga.  The  paradise  of  Indra,  and 
also  of  certain  deified  mortals,  who  rest 
there  under  the  shade  of  the  five  won- 
derful trees,  drink  the  nectar  of  immor- 
tality called  Am'rita,  and  dance  with  the 
heavenly  nymphs. 

Swash-buckler.  A ruffian ; a swag- 
gerer. ‘‘From  swashing,”  says  Fuller, 
“and  making  a noise  on  the  buckler.” 
The  sword-players  used  to  “swash”  or 
tap  their  shield,  as  fencers  tap  their  foot 
upon  the  ground  when  they  attack. — 

Worthies  of  England^'  (a.d.  1662). 
{See  SwiNGE-BUCKLER.) 

A bravo,  a swash-buckler,  one  that  for  money  and 
^ood  cheere  will  follow  any  man  to  defend  him  ; but 
if  any  danger  come,  he  runs  away  the  first,  and  leaves 
him  in  the  lurch.— i^’torio. 

Swear  now  means  to  take  an  oath, 
but  the  primitive  sense  is  merely  to  aver 
or  affirm;  when  to  affirm  on  oath  was 
meant  the  word  oath  was  appended,  as 
“I  swear  by  oath.”  Shakespeare  uses 
the  word  scores  of  times  in  its  primitive 
sense ; thus  Othello  says  of  Desdemona — 

' She  swore,  in  faith,  ’twas  strange,  ’twas  pitiful. 

“ Othello^'  i.  3. 


Sivear  by  my  sword  (‘^Hamlet,”  i.  5) 
— that  is,  “by  the  cross  on  the  hilt  of 
my  sword.”  Again  in  “ Winter’s  Tale,” 
“ Swear  by  this  sword  thou  wilt  perform 
my  bidding”  (ii.  3).  Holin^hed  says, 
“Warwick  kisses  the  cross  of  king  Ed- 
ward’s sword,  as  it  were  a vow  to  his 
promise;”  and  Decker  says,  “He  has 
sworn  to  me  on  the  cross  of  his  pure 
Tole'do  (“  Old  Fortunatus”). 

Sweat.  To  sweod  a client.  To  make 
him  bleed ; to  fleece  him. 

To  sweat  coin.  To  subtract  part  of  the 
silver  or  gold  by  friction,  but  not  to  such 
an  amount  as  to  render  the  coin  useless 
as  a legal  tender.  The  French  use  suer 
1 in  the  same  sense,  as  Suer  son  argent, 
to  sweat  his  money  by  usury.  “Vous 
faites  suer  le  bonhomme— tel  est  votre 
dire  quand  vous  le  pillez.” — ‘‘Harangue 
du  Capitaine  la  Carbonnade'^  (1615). 

Sweating  Sickness  appeared  in 
England  about  a century  and  a half  after 
the  Blach  Death  (1485).  It  broke  out 
amongst  the  soldiers  of  Richmond’s 
army,  after  the  battle  of  Bosworth  Field, 
and  lasted  five  weeks.  It  was  a violent 
inflammatory  fever,  without  boils  or  ul- 
cers. Between  1485  and  1529  there  were 
five  outbreaks  of  this  pest  in  England, 
the  first  four  being  confined  to  English 
people  in  England  or  France ; the  fifth 
spread  over  Germany,  Turkey,  and 
Austria. 

Swedenbor'gians.  Followers  of 
Emanuel  Swedenborg,  a Swedish  noble- 
man born  at  Stockholm  in  1689.  He 
professed  himself  to  be  the  founder  ot 
the  New  Jerusalem  church,  alluding  to 
Edo.  The  Swedenborgians  believe  they 
are  in  direct  communication  with  angels, 
and  maintain  that  the  sacred  Scriptures 
contain  a celestial,  a spiritual,  and  a 
natural  sense. 

Swedish  ISTiglitingale.  Jenny 
IJnd,  now  Madame  Goldschmidt,  a na- 
tive of  Stockholm,  and  previous  to  her 
marriage  a public  singer.  (1821-*) 

Sweep.  To  sioeep  the  threshold.  To 
announce  to  all  the  world  that  the  woman 
of  the  house  is  paramount.  When  the 
procession  called  “Skimmington”  passed 
any  house  where  the  woman  was  domi- 
nant, each  one  gave  the  threshold  a 
sweep  with  a broom  or  bunch  of  twigs. 
{See  Skimmington.  ) 


D D D 2 


868 


SWEET  SINGER. 


SWITHIN. 


Sweet  Singer  of  Israel.  King 
David. 

Sweet  Singers.  A puritanical  sect 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  &c.,  common 
in  Edinburgh.  They  burnt  all  story- 
books, ballads,  romances,  &c. , denounced 
all  unchaste  words  and  actions,  and  even 
the  printed  Bible. 

Swell  Mob.  The  better  ~ dressed 
thieves  and  pickpockets.  A swell”  is 
a person  showily  dressed  ; one  who  puffs 
himself  out  beyond  his  proper  dimen- 
sions, like  ^the  frog  in  the  fable. 

Sweno  (in  Jerusalem  Delivered”), 
son  of  the  king  of  Denmark,  was  at- 
tacked in  the  night,  while  bringing 
succours  to  Godfrey,  by  Solyman  and  a 
large  army  of  Arabs.  After  losing  all 
his  army,  Sweno  himself  was  slain  by 
Solyman,  and  was  buried  in  a marble 
sepulchre  which  appeared  miraculously 
on  the  field  of  battle  for  the  purpose 
(bk.  viii.). 

The  historic  fact  is  thus  described  by 
Paolo  Emilio ; Sweno,  Dani  regis  filius, 
cum  mille  quingentis  equitibus  cruce 
insignitis,  transmisso  ad  Constantino- 
polem  Bosphoro  inter  Antiochiam  ad 
reliquos  Latinos  iter  faciebat;  insidiis 
Turcorum  ad  unum  omnes  cum  regio 
juvene  caesi.” 

Swerga.  An  earth  Ij’  paradise  on 
Mount  Meru,  often  resorted  to  by  the 
gods. — Hindu  mythology. 

Swi  Dynasty.  The  twelfth  Im- 
perial dynasty  of  China,  founded  by 
Yang-kien,  prince  of  Swi,  a.d.  587.  He 
assumed  the  name  of  Wen-tee  (king 
Wen). 

Swidger  {William).  Custodian  or 
keeper  of  an  ancient  college.  His  wife 
was  Milly,  and  his  father  Philip.  Mr. 
William  is  a great  talker,  and  generally 
begins  with  the  remark,  That’s  what  I 
say,”  apropos  of  nothing.  Philip’s  fa- 
vourite expression  is,  ‘^Lord,  keep  my 
memory  green,  I am  eighty- seven.”  Mrs. 
William  or  Milly  is  the  good  angel  of  the 
tale. — Dickens,  ^‘The  Haunted  Man'* 

Swindle.  To  cheat ; from  the  Ger- 
man schwindeln,  to  totter.  It  originally 
meant  those  artifices  employed  by  a 
tradesman  to  prop  up  his  credit  when 
it  began  to  totter,  in  order  to  prevent 
or  defer  bankruptcy. 


Swine.  Boar  or  hrawn^  the  sire  * 
sow,  the  dam ; sucklings,  the  new-born 
pigs.  A castrated  boar-pig  is  called  a 
hog  or  shot.  Young  pigs  for  the  butcher 
are  called  porkers. 

A sow-pig  after  her  first  litter  be- 
comes a hrood-sow,  and  her  whole  stock 
of  pigs  cast  at  a birth  is  called  a litter 
or  farrow  of  pigs. 

Swing  {Captain).  The  name  as- 
sumed by  certain  persons  who  sent 
threatening  letters  to  those  who  used 
threshing  machines  (1830-1833).  The 
tenor  of  these  letters  was  as  follows ; — 
^^Sir,  if  you  do  not  lay  by  your  threshing 
machine,  you  will  hear  from  Swing.” 

Excesses  of  the  Luddites  and  Swing.— T/je  Times. 

Swinge -buckler.  A roisterer,  a 
rake.  The  continuation  of  Stow’s^ 
Annals”  tells  us  that  the  ‘^blades”  of 
London  used  to  assemble  in  West  Smith - 
field  with  sword  and  bucker,  in  the  reign 
of  queen  Elizabeth,  on  high  days  and 
holidays,  for  mock  fights  called  brag- 
ging ” fights.  They  swashed  and  swinged 
their  bucklers  with  much  show  of  fury, 

but  seldome  was  anyman  hurt.”  {See 
Swash-buckler.) 

There  was  I,  and  little  John  Doit  of  Staffordshire^ 
and  black  George  Bare,  and  Francis  Pickbone,  and 
Will  Squele  a Cotswold  man,— you  had  not  four  such 
Bwinge-bucklers  in  all  the  Inns-of-court ; and,  1 may 
say  to  you,  we  knew  where  the  bona-robas  were.— 
Shakespeare, 2 Henry  IV.,*’  iii.  2. 

Swiss.  The  nick-name  of  a Swiss  i» 

Colin  Tampon”  {q.v.). 

JVo  money,  no  Swiss— i.e.,  no  servant. 
The  Swiss  have  ever  been  the  merce- 
naries of  Europe,  willing  to  serve  any 
one  for  pay.  The  same  was  said  of  the  » 
ancient  Ca'rians.  In  the  hotels  of  Paris 
this  notice  is  common ; Demandez  or 
Parlez  au  Suisse  (Speak  to  the  porter). 

Swiss  Boy  (The).  Music  by  Mos- 
cheles. 

Swiss  Family  Robinson.  An 
abridged  translation  of  a German  tale  bv 
Joachim  Heinrich  Kampe,  tutor  to  baron 
Humboldt. 

Switbin  (St.).  If  it  rains  on  SL 
Sivithin's  day  {15ih  July),  there  will  he 
rain  for  forty  days. 

St.  Swifchin’a  day,  gif  ye  do  rain,  for  forty  days  it 
will  remain  ; 

St.  Swithin’g  day,  an  ye  be  fair,  for  forty  days  ’twill 
rain  nae  mair. 

The  French  have  two  similar  pro- 
1 verbs— /S’ pleut  le  jour  de  St.  Medard 


SWITZERS. 


SWORD. 


869 


[8th  June],  il  pleut  quarante  jours  plus 
tavd;  and  pleut  le  jour  de  iSt.  Gervais 
[19th  June],  il  pleut  quarante  jours  apres. 

The  legend  is  that  St.  Switbin,  bishop 
of  Winchester,  who  died  862,  desired  to 
be  buried  in  the  church-;yarc?  of  the 
minster,  that  the  sweet  rain  of  heaven 
might  fall  upon  his  grave.”  At  canon- 
isation the  monks  thought  to  honour  the 
saint  by  removing  his  body  into  the 
ohoir,  and  fixed  the  15th  July  for  the 
■ceremony ; but  it  rained  day  after  day 
for  forty  days,  so  that  the  monks  saw 
the  saints  were  averse  to  their  project, 
and  wisely  abandoned  it. 

The  St.  Swithin  of  Scotland  is  St. 
Martin  of  Bouillons.  The  rainy  saint  in 
Flanders  is  St.  Godelieve ; in  Germany, 
the  Seven  Sleepers. 

Switzers.  Guards  attendant  on 
kings,  &c.,  without  any  regard  to  the 
country  whence  they  came.  The  reason 
is  this,  the  Swiss  used  to  be  hired  for  mer- 
cenaries. In  French  suisse  means  ‘‘house 
porter,”  and  till  quite  recently  at  the 
British  embassy  were  these  words  over 
the  porter’s  lodge— Demandez  au  Suisse. 
The  church  beadle  is  called  suisse.  The 
King  in  “Hamlet”  says,  “Where  are 
my  Switzers  ? Let  them  guard  the  door  ” 
<iv.  5). 

Swiveller  {Dich).  A kind-hearted 
care-for-nothing,  flowery  in  speech  and 
fond  of  absurd  quotations.  — Dickens, 
**  Old  Curiosity  Skop.'‘ 

Sword. 

(1)  Agricans' sv72i.%  called  “Tranch'era.” 
Afterwards  Brandemart’s. 

(la)  Ali’s  sword  was  “ Zulfagar.” 

(2)  A rtegaVs  (Spenser)  was  called  ‘ ‘ Chry- 
sa'or.” 

(3)  Arthur's  was  called^  “ Escalibar,” 

Excalibar,”  or  “ Caliburn ;”  given  to 

him  by  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 

(4)  Sir  Bevis’s  of  Hamptoun  was  called 
**  Morglay.” 

(5)  Biterolfs  was  called  “ Schrit.” 

(6)  Brapgadochid s'vfdks  called  “Sangla- 
more”  (“  Faery  Queen”). 

(7)  Caesar's  was  called  “ Crocca  Mors  ” 
(yellow  death).  {See  “Commentaries,” 
bk.  iv.  4.) 

(8)  Charlemagne's  were  “Joyeuse”or 
“ IMsberta  Joyo'sa,”  and  “ Flamberge ;” 
both  made  by  Galas. 

(9)  The  Cid's  was  called  “Cola'da;” 
the  swod  “Tizo'na”  was  taken  by  him 
from  King  Bucar. 


(10)  Closamont's  was  called  “ Haute- 
claire,”  made  by  Galas. 

(11)  Dietrich's  vfSiS  “Nagelring.” 

(12)  Doolin's  of  Mayence  was  called 
“ Merveilleuse  ” (wonderful). 

(13)  Eck's  was  called  “ Sacho.” 

(14)  Edward  the  Confessors  was  called 
^‘Curta'na”  (the  cutter),  a blunt  sword 
of  state  carried  before  the  sovereigns  of 
England  at  their  coronation,  emblema- 
tical of  mercy. 

(15)  English  Kings'  (the  ancient)  was 
called  “Curta'na.” 

(16)  Eyithiof's  was  called  “Angurva'- 
del”  (stream  of  anguish). 

(17)  Kaco  I.'s  of  Norway  was  called 
“ Quern-Biter”  (foot-breadth). 

(18)  Hieme's  was  called  “ Blutgang.” 

(19)  Hildebrand's  was  “ Brin  nig.” 

(20)  Iring's  was  called  “ Waske.” 

(21)  Launcelot  of  the  Lake's  was  called 
“ Ar'oundight.” 

(22)  Mahomet's  were  called  “Dhu’  1 

Fak5,r”  (the  trenchant),  a scimitar  ; “ A1 
Battar”  (the  beater);  “Medham”  (the 
keen);  “ Halef”  (the  deadly).  ^ 

(23)  Maugiss,  ox Malagigi' s^^ojs,  called 
“Flamberge”  or  “ Floberge.”  He  gave 
it  to  his  cousin  Rinaldo.  It  was  made  by 
Wieland. 

(24)  Ogier  the  Dane's,  “ Courtain  " and 
“ Sauvagine,”  both  made  by  Munifican. 

(25)  Oliver's  was  “ Haute-Claire.” 

(26)  OrtafZo’5 was  called  “Durinda'na’' 
or  “Durindan,”  which  once  belonged  to 
Hector,  and  is  said  to  be  still  preserved 
at  Rocamadour,  in  France. 

(27)  Otuel's  was  “Corrouge”  (2  syl.). 

(28)  Rinaldo' s called  “ Fusberta  ” 
or  “Flamberge”  (2  syl.).  (See  above, 
Maugis. ) 

(29)  Roge'ro' s called  “Balisarda.” 

It  was  made  by  a sorceress. 

(30)  Roland' s mvslS  called  “Durandal,” 
made  by  Munifican.  This  is  the  French 
version  of  Orlando  and  “ Durandana.” 

(31)  was  called  “Balm ung,” 
in  the  “ Nibelungen-Lied.”  It  was  made 
by  Wieland.  Also  “Gram.”  “ Mimung” 
was  lent  to  him  by  Wittich. 

(32)  Sinti'am's  was  called  “ Welsung.’* 

(33)  Strong -o' -the -Arm's,  “Baptism,” 
“ Florence,”'and  “ Graban,”  by  Ansias. 

(34)  Thoralf  Skolinson' s,  i.e.  Thoralf  the 
Strong,  of  Norway,  was  called  “Quern- 
biter”  (foot-breadth). 

(35)  Wieland.  The  swords  made  by  this 
divine  blacksmith  were  “Flamberge”  and 
“Balmung.” 


870 


SWORD. 


SYCOPHANT. 


•U  Sword.  Galas,  Munifican,  and  Ansias 
made  nine  swords,  each  of  which  took 
three  years  to  make  : — 

Galas  made  ‘^Flamberge”  and  Joy- 
euse*’  for  Charlemagne,  and  ‘^Haute- 
claire  for  Closamont. 

Munifican  made  ‘‘Durandal”  for  Ro- 
land, and  Sauvagine”  and  ^^Courtain’’ 
for  Ogier  the  Dane. 

Ansias  made  '^Baptism,”  ‘^Florence,” 
and  Graban”  for  Strong-i’-th’-Arm. 

Oliver’s  sword  called  ‘‘Glorious”  hacked 
the  nine  swords  a foot  from  the  pommel. 
— “ Croqueinitaine'* 

Sword.  At  the  death  of  Uter  Pen- 
dragon  there  were  many  claimants  to 
the  crown ; they  were  all  ordered  to 
assemble  in  “ the  great  church  of  Lon- 
don ” on  Christmas-eve,  and  found  a 
sword  stuck  in  a stone  and  anvil  with 
this  inscription : “ He  who  can  draw 
forth  this  sword,  the  same  is  to  be  king.” 
The  knights  tried  to  pull  it  out,  but 
were  unable.  One  day  when  a tourna- 
ment was  held,  young  Arthur  wanted  a 
sword  and  took  this  one,  not  knowing  it 
was  a charmed  instrument,  whereupon 
he  was  universally  acknowledged  to  be 
the  God-elected  king.  This  was  the 
sword  of  Excalibar. — History  of  Prince 
Arthur’*  i.  3. 

The  enchanted  sword  in  “Am'adis  of 
Gaul.”  Whoever  drew  this  sword  from 
a rock  was  to  gain  access  to  a subter- 
ranean treasure.  (Cap.  cxxx.  See  also 
caps.  Ixxii.  and  xcix.) 

The  sword  of  God.  Khaled  Ibn  al 
Waled  was  so  called  for  his  prowess  at 
the  battle  of  Muta. 

The  sivord  of  Rome.  Marcellus,  who 
opposed  Hannibal. 

Your  tongue  is  a doulle-edged  sword. 
You  first  say  one  thing  and  then  the 
contrary  ; your  argument  cuts  both  ways. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  double-edged  sword 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Son  of  man — one 
edge  to  condemn,  and  the  other  to  save 
(Rev.  i.  16). 

Yours  is  a Delphic  sword— it  cuts  both 
ways.  Erasmus  says  a Delphic  sword  is 
that  which  accommodates  itself  to  the 
pro  or  con.  of  a subject.  The  reference 
is  to  the  double  meanings  of  the  Delphic 
oracles,  called  in  Greek  Delphike  mach- 
aira. 

Poke  not  fire  with  a sword.  This  was  a 
precept  of  Pythagoras,  meaning  add  not 
fuel  to  fire,  or  do  not  irritate  an  angry 
man  by  sharp  words  which  will  only  in- 


crease his  rage.  {See  lamblichus,  “ Pro- 
treptics,”  symbol  ix.) 

Swords  Prohibited.  Gaming  ran 
high  at  Bath,  and  frequently  led  to  dis- 
putes and  resort  to  the  sword,  then 
generally  carried  by  well-dressed  men. 
Swords  were  therefore  prohibited  by 
Nash  in  the  public  rooms ; still  they  were 
worn  in  the  streets,  when  Nash,  in  con- 
sequence of  a duel  fought  by  torchlight 
by  two  notorious  gamesters,  made  the 
rule  absolute — “ That  no  swords  should 
on  any  account  be  worn  in  Bath.” 

Sworn  at  Highgate.  T.  Moore  says. 

The  party  was  sworn  on  a pair  of  horns 
never  to  kiss  the  maid  when  he  could  kiss 
the  mistress ; never  to  eat  brown  bread 
when  he  could  get  white  ; never  to  drink 

small  beer  when  he  could  get  strong 

unless  he  likes  it  best.” 

Many  to  the  steep  of  Highgate  hie. 

Ask  ye,  Boeotian  shades,  the  reason  wiiy  ? 

’Tis  to  the  worship  of  the  solemn  Ho,  n, 

Byron^  “ Chlldi  Harold.^ 

Swyneburne  is  an  English  transla- 
tion of  senglier,  as  may  be  seen  by  their 
armorial  device,  trois  testes  de  senglier 
(three  wild-boars’  heads). 

Syb'arite  (3  syl.).  A self-indulgent 
person  ; a wanton.  The  inhabitants  of 
Syb'aris,  in  Greece,  were  proverbial  for 
their  luxurious  living  and  self-indulgence. 
A tale  is  told  by  Seneca  of  a Sybarite 
who  complained  that  he  could  not  rest 
comfortably  at  night,  and  being  asked 
why,  replied,  “ He  found  a rose-leaf 
doubled  under  him,  and  it  hurt  him.” 
{See  Ripaille.  ) 

All  is  calm  as  would  delight  the  heart 
Of  Sybarite  of  old. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence^  canto  i. 

Sybarite.  The  Sybarites  taught  their 
horses  to  dance  to  the  sound  of  a pipe. 
When  the  Crotonians  marched  against 
Sybari'ta  they  began  to  play  on  their 
pipes,  whereupon  all  the  Sybarite  horses 
drawn  out  in  array  before  the  town  began 
to  dance  ; disorder  soon  prevailed  in  the 
ranks,  and  the  victory  was  quick  and  easy. 

Syc'ophant,  from  the  Greek  suJto- 
phantes,  “ tig- blabbers.”  The  men  of 
Athens  passed  a law  forbidding  the  ex- 
portation of  figs ; the  law  was  little  more 
than  a dead  letter,  but  there  were  always 
found  mean  fellows  who,  for  their  own 
private  ends,  im]3eached  those  who  vio- 
lated it;  hence  sycophant  came  to  signify 


SYCOEAX. 


SYMBOLS. 


871 


.first  a government  toady,  and  then  a 
toady  generally. 

Syc'orax.  A witch,  whose  son  was 
CaViban. — Shakespeare,  The  Tempest^ 

Sydney,  or  rather  Sidney  {A  IgernorC), 
called  by  Thomson,  in  his  Summer,” 
The  British  Cassius,  because  of  his  repub- 
lican feelings.  Both  disliked  kings,  not 
from  their  misrule,  but  from  a dislike 
of  monarchy.  Cassius  was  one  of  the 
conspirators  against  the  life  of  Caesar, 
and  Sidney  was  one  of  the  judges  that 
condemned  Charles  I.  to  the  block.  (1617* 
1683.) 

The  Scottish  Sidney.  Eobert  Baillie,  of 
Jerviswood,  in  Lanarkshire,  is  so  called. 
He  was  executed  in  1684. 

Sy'enite.  A granite  so  called  from 
Syene,  in  Egypt,  its  great  quarry. 

Syllogism.  The  five  hexameter 
verses  which  contain  the  symbolic  names 
of  all  the  different  syllogistic  figures  are 
as  follow : — 

Barbara,  Celarent,  Darii,  Ferioque,  priOris. 

Cesare,  Camestres,  FestinO,  BarokO,  secundce. 

Terti%,  Darapti,  DisSrais,  DatisI,  Felapton, 

Bokardo.  FerisOa.  habet.  Qiiarta  insuper  addit 

Bramantip,  Camenes,  DImaria,  FesapS,  Fresison. 

N.B.  The  vowel  A universal  affirmative. 

E universal  negative. 

I particular  affirmative. 

0 particular  negative. 

Taking  the  first  line  as  the  standard, 
the  initial  letters  of  all  the  words  below  it 
show  to  which  standard  the  syllogism  is 
to  be  reduced  : thus,  Bardko  is  to  be 
reduced  to  Barbara,”  CesS,re  to  Cela- 
rent,” and  so  on. 

Sylphs,  according  to  middle-age 
belief,  are  the  elemental  spirits  of  air ; 
so  named  by  the  Eosicrucians  and  Cabal- 
ists,  from  the  Greek  silp/ie  (a  butterfly  or 
moth.  (iSee  Gnomes.) 

Sylphs.  Any  mortal  who  has  preserved 
inviolate  chastity  may  enjoy  intimate 
familiarity  with  these  gentle  spirits.  All 
coquettes  at  death  become  sylphs,  “ and 
sport  and  flutter  in  the  fields  of  air.” 

Whoever,  fair  and  chaste. 

Rejects  mankind,  is  by  some  sylph  embraced. 

Pope,  “ Rape  of  the  Lock,"  i. 

Sylvester  {St.).  The  pope  who  con- 
verted Constantine  the  Great  and  his 
mother  by  the  miracle  of  restoring  to 
life  a dead  ox.”  The  ox  was  killed  by  a 
magician  for  a trial  of  skill,  and  he  who 
restored  it  to  life  was  to  be  accounted 
the  servant  of  the  true  God.  This  tale  is 


manifestly  an  imitation  of  the  Bible  story 
of  Elijah  and  the  prophets  of  Baal  (1 
Kings  xviii.). 

Syl'vius  Bo'nus.  Supposed  to  be 
Coil  the  Good,  a contemporary  of  Auso"'- 
nius,  who  often  mentions  him ; but  not 
even  the  titles  of  his  works  are  known. 
He  was  a British  writer. 

Symbols  of  Saints.  . 

Saints.  Stmbols. 

Agatha Carrying  her  breasts  in  a dish. 

Agathon  ...  A hook  and  crosier. 

Agnes  A Iamb  at  her  side. 

Anasta'sia  ...  A palm  branch. 

Andrew  ...  A saltire  cross. 

Anne  A book  in  her  hand. 

Anthony  ...  A cross  with  a bell  at  the  end,  and 
a pig  by  his  side. 

ApolWnia  ...  A tooth  and  palm  branch.  She  ia 
applied  to  by  those  who  suffer 
from  toothache. 

Asaph  and)  - 

Ay  dan  A.  crosier. 

Barbara  ...  A book  and  palm  branch. 

Barnabas  ...  A staff  in  one  hand  and  an  open 
book  in  the  other. 

Bartholomew  A knife. 

Blaise Iron  combs,  with  which  his  body 

was  torn  to  pieces. 

Bridget  ...  A crosier  and  book. 

Catharine  ...  An  inverted  sword,  or  large  wheel. 

Cecilia Playing  on  a harp  or  organ. 

Christopher...  A gigantic  figure  carrying  Christ 
over  a river. 

Clare  A palm  branch. 

Clement  ...  A papal  crown,  or  an  anchor.  He 
was  drowned  with  an  anchor  tied 
round  his  neck. 

shoe-makers  at  work. 

Cuthbert  ...  St.  Osbald’s  head  in  his  hand. 

David  A leek,  in  commemoration  of  his 

victory  over  the  Saxons. 

Denys  Holding  his  mitred  headin  his  hand. 

Dorothy  ...  Carrying  a basket  of  fruit. 

Edward  the ) Crowned  with  a nimbus,  and  hold- 

Confesstyr. . . J ing  a sceptre 

Elizabeth  ...  St.  J ohn  and  the  lamb  at  her  feet. 

Faith  A gridiron. 

Felix  An  anchor. 

Flower Her  head  in  her  hand,  and  a flower 

sprouting  out  of  her  neck. 

Francis  ...  A seraph  inflicting  the  five  wounds 
of  Christ. 

Fyacre Arrayed  in  a long  robe,  praying, 

and  holding  his  beads  in  one  hand. 

Gabriel A flower-pot  full  of  lilies  between 

him  and  the  Virgin. 

George Mounted  on  horseback,  and  trans- 

fixing a dragon. 

Giles  A iund,  with  its  head  in  the  saint’s 

lap. 

James  the\  . . , . 

Gi'eater  j 

James  the  Less  A pilgrim’s  staff,  book,  and  scrip. 

John  Baptist  A long  mantle  and  wand,  and  a 
lamb  at  his  feet. 

„ Evangelist  A chalice,  out  of  which  a dragon  or 
serpent  is  issuing,  and  an  open 
book. 

Lawrence  ...  A book  and  gridiron. 

Louis  A king  kneeling,  with  Ihe  arms  of 

France  at  his  f et  ; a bishop 
blessing  b)m,aad  a dove  descend- 
ing on  his  head. 

Loy A crosier  and  hammer.  lie  is  the 

patron  sa  nt  of  smiths. 

Lucy  'With  a sh  irt  staff  ia  her  hand,  and 

the  devil  behind  her 

Luke  Sitting  at  a reading  desk,  beneath 

which  appears  an  ox’s  head. 


872 


SYMBOLISM. 


T. 


Margaret  ...  Treading  on  a dragon,  or  piercing 
it  with  the  cross. 

MarJc  A lion. 

Martin Ou  horseback,  dividing  his  cloak 

with  a beggar  behind  him. 

Mary  the  TtV- > C arrying  the  child  Jesus,  and  a 
gin  / lily  if=  somewhere  displayed. 

Magdalen  A box  of  ointment. 

Matthew  ...  Carrying  a fuller’s  club,  or  ex- 
pouuding  a hook  held  before  him. 
Michael...  In  armour,  with  a cross,  or  else 
holding  scales,  in  which  he  is 
weighing  souls. 

Nicholat  ...  A tub  with  naked  infants  in  it-  He 
is  patron  saint  of  children. 

Paul  A sword  and  a book. 

Peter  Keys  and  a triple  cross. 

PhVip A crosier. 

Roche  A wallet,  and  a dog  with  a loaf  in 

its  mouth  sittinc  by.  He  shows 
a boil  in  his  thigh. 

Sebastian  ...  His  arms  lied  behind  him,  and 
his  bodv  transfixed  with  arrows. 
Two  archers  stand  by  his  side. 

Stephen A book  and  a stone  in  his  baud. 

Theodora  ...  The  deal  hold.ng  her  hand,  and 
tempting  her. 

Theodore  ...  A med  with  a halberd  in  bis  hand, 
and  witti  a sabre  by  his  side. 
Thomas  o/)  Kneeling,  and  a man  behind  him 
Canterbury  j striking  at  him  with  a sword. 

Ursula A book  and  arrows.  She  was  shot 

through  with  arrows  by  the 
prince  of  the  Huns. 

[See  Apostles,  Evangelists,  &c.) 

Symbolism  of  Colours,  whether 
displayed  in  dresses,  the  back-ground  of 
pictures,  or  otherwise : 

Black  typifies  grief,  death. 

BluCy  hope,  love  of  divine  works  ; (in 
dresses)  divine  contemplation,  piety,  sin- 
cerity. 

Pale  Blue,  peace,  Christian  prudence, 
love  of  good  works,  a serene  conscience. 

Green,  faith,  immortality,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  just ; (in  dresses)  the  gladness 
of  the  faithful. 

Pale  Green,  baptism. 

Grey,  tribulation. 

Purple,  justice,  royalty. 

Red,  martyrdom  for  faith,  charity  ; (in 
dresses)  divine  love. 

Rose-colour,  martyrdom.  Innocent  III. 
says  of  martyrs  and  apostles,  Hi  et  illi 
sunt  flores  rosarum  et  lillia  convallium.’* 
De  Sacr.  alto  Myst.,”  i.  64. 

Saffron,  confessors. 

Scarlet,  the  fervour  and  glory  of  wit- 
nesses to  the  church. 

Violet,  penitence. 

White,  purity,  temperance,  innocence, 
chastity,  faith ; (in  dresses)  innocence 
and  purity. 

Symbolism  of  Metals  and  Gems. 
Amethyst  typifies  humility. 

Diamond,  invulnerable  faith. 

Gold,  glory,  power. 

Onyx,  sincerity. 


Sapphire,  hope. 

Silver,  chastity,  purity. 

Symmes’s  Hole.  A vast  cavern, 
supposed  by  Capt.  John  C.  Symmes,  of 
America,  to  exist  in  the  earth,  leading  to 
its  very  centre.  The  centre,  he  affirms, 
is  peopled,  has  its  flora  and  fauna,  and 
is  lighted  by  two  underground  planets, 
which  he  calls  Pluto  and  Proserpine. 

Symple'gades  (4  syl.).  Two  rocks 
in  the  Euxine  Sea  said  to  open  and 
shut.  When  a ship  sailed  between  them 
they  not  unfrequently  shut  suddenly 
upon  it  and  crushed  it.  The  Argo  es- 
caped this  fate,  but  lost  a part  of  its 
stern. 

Synop'tics.  The  first  three  gospels. 
(See  Logia.) 

Syntax  (Doctor').  A simple-minded 
clergyman,  wholly  unacquainted  with  the 
world,  but  a scholar  and  a gentleman. 
He  goes  in  search  of  the  picturesque. — 
William  Coirdje,  Tour  of  Dr.  Syntax.^' 

Syn'tipas.  A Greek  version  of 
Sandabar  s parables.  Syntipas  is  the 
tutor,  and  Cyrus  the  king.  (See  Seven 
Sages.) 

Sy'phax  (in  Jerusalem'Delivered”). 
Chief  of  the  Arabs  who  joined  the  Egyp- 
tian armament  against  the  Crusaders. 
Tasso  says  of  the  Arabs,  Their  accents 
were  female,  and  their  stature  diminu- 
tive” (bk.  xvii. ). 

Syphax,  in  Addison’s  ^^Cato.” 

Syrens  of  the  Ditch.  Frogs ; so 
called  by  Tasso. 

Syr'ia,  says  Richardson,  derives  its 
name  from  Sari  (a  delicate  rose)  ; hence 
Suristan  (the  land  of  roses).  The  Jews 
called  Syria  Aram, 


T 

T,  in  music,  stands  for  Tutti  (all), 
meaning  all  the  instruments  or  voices 
are  to  join,  it  is  the  opposite  of  S for 
Solo. 

Marked  with  a T.  Criminals  con- 
victed of  felony,  and  admitted  to  the 
benefit  of  clergy,  were  branded  on  the 
brawn  of  the  thumb  with  the  letter  T 
(thief).  The  law  was  abolished  by  7 and 
8 Geo.  IV.,  c.  27. 

R fits  to  a T,  Exactly.  The  allusion 
is  to  work  that  mechanics  square  with 


TAB. 


TABLE-TUEN1NG< 


873 


a T-rule,  especially  useful  in  making 
angles  true,  and  obtaining  perpendicu- 
lars on  paper  or  wood. 

The  saintly  T*s.  Sin  Tander,  Sin 
Tantony,  Sin  Tawdry,  Sin  Tausin,  Sin 
Tedmund,  and  Sin  Telders ; otherwise 
St.  Andrew,  St.  Anthony,  St.  Audry,  St. 
Austin  [Augustine],  St.  Edmund,  and 
St.  Ethelred. 

Tab.  An  old  Tab.  An  old  maid ; 
an  old  tabby  or  cat.  So  called  because 
old  maids  usually  make  a cat  their  com- 
panion. 

Tab'ard.  The  Tabard,  in  Southwark, 
is  where  Chaucer  supposes  his  pilgrims 
to  have  assembled.  The  tabard  was  a 
jacket  without  sleeves,  whole  before, 
open  on  both  sides,  with  a square  collar, 
winged  at  the  shoulder  like  a cape,  and 
worn  by  military  nobles  over  their  armour. 
It  was  generally  emblazoned  with  heral- 
dic devices.  Heralds  still  wear  a tabard. 

Item. ...a  chascun  ung  gratid  tabart 
De  cordeliet,  jusques  aux  pieds 

*'Le  Petit  Testament  de  Maistre  Francois  Villon, 

Tab'ardar.  A sizer  of  Queen’s  Col- 
lege, Oxford ; so  called  because  his 
gown  has  tabard  sleeves — that  is,  loose 
sleeves,  terminating  a little  below  the 
elbow  in  a point. 

Tab'arin.  Hds  a Tabarin — a merry 
Andrew.  Tabarin  was  the  fellow  of 
Mondor,  a famous  vendor  of  quack  medi- 
cines in  the  reign  of  Charles  IX.  By  his 
antics  and  coarse  wit  he  collected  great 
crowds,  and  both  he  and  his  master  grew 
rich.  Tabarin  bought  a handsome 
chA,teau  in  Dauphine,  but  the  aristocracy 
out  of  jealousy  murdered  him. 

Tabby,  a cat,  means  strictly  the 
silken  creature.  (French,  tabis  ; Italian, 
&c.,  tabi  ; Persian,  retabi,  a rich  figured 
silk.) 

Demurest  of  the  tabby  kind. 

The  pensive  Selima  reclined.  Gray. 

Table.  Apelles'  Table.  A pictured 
table,  representing  the  excellency  of  so- 
briety on  one  side,  and  the  deformity  of 
intemperance  on  the  other. 

Tables  of  Cehes.  Cebes  was  a Theban 
philosopher,  a disciple  of  Socrates,  and 
one  of  the  interlocutors  of  Plato’s 
‘^Phsedo.”  His  “Tables”  or  Tableau 
supposes  him  to  be  placed  before  a 
tableau  or  panorama  representing  the 
life  of  man,  which  the  philosopher  de- 
scribes with  great  accuracy  of  judgment 


and  splendour  of  sentiment.  This  ta- 
bleau is  sometimes  appended  to  ‘‘Epic- 
te'tus.” 

Table  of  Pythaforas.  The  common 
multiplication  table,  carried  up  to  ten. 
The  table  is  parcelled  off  into  100  little 
squares  or  cells.  {See  Tabulae.) 

KTi/iglits  of  the  Round  Table.  A mili- 
tary order  instituted  by  Arthur,  the 

first  king  of  the  Britons,”  a.d.  516. 
Some  say  they  were  twenty-four  in  num- 
ber, some  make  the  number  as  high  as 
150,  and  others  reduce  the  number  to 
12.  They  were  all  seated  at  a round 
table,  that  no  one  might  claim  a post  of 
honour. 

The  Tioelve  Tables,  The  tables  of  the 
Roman  laws  engraved  on  brass,  brought 
from  Athens  to  Rome  by  the  decemvirs. 

Turning  the  Tables.  Rebutting  a 
charge  by  bringing  forth  a counter- 
charge. Thus,  if  a husband  accuses  his 
wife  of  extravagance  in  dress,  she  “turns 
the  tables  upon  him  ” by  accusing  him  of 
extravagance  in  his  club.  The  Romans 
prided  themselves  on  their  tables  made 
of  citron-wood  from  Maurita'nia,  inlaid 
with  ivory,  and  sold  at  a most  extrava- 
gant price— some  equal  to  a senator’s 
income.  When  the  gentlemen  accused 
the  ladies  of  extravagance,  the  ladies 
retorted  by  reminding  the  gentlemen  of 
what  they  spent  in  tables.  Pliny  calls 
this  taste  of  the  Romans  mensolrum  in- 
sania. 

It  is  also  used  for  “audi  alteram 
partem,”  and  the  allusion  is  then  slightly 
modified — “We  have  considered  the 
wife’s  extravagance,  let  us  now  look  to 
the  husband's.” 

We  will  now  turn  the  tables,  and  show  the  hexa- 
meters in  all  their  vigour.— T/ie  Times. 

Table  d’Hote  {the  host's  table).  An 
ordinary.  In  the  middle  ages,  and  even 
down  to  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  the 
landlord’s  table  was  the  only  public 
dining-place  known  in  Germany  and 
France.  The  first  restaurant  was  opened 
in  Paris  during  the  reign  of  the  Grand 
Monarguey  and  was  a great  success. 

^ Table  Money.  Money  appro- 
priated to  the  purposes  of  hospitality. 
General  officers  in  the  army  and  fiag. 
officers  in  the  navy  have  table-money- 
the  maximum  allowance  being  three 
guineas  a- day. 

Table-Turning.  The  art  or  power 


874  TABLEAUX  VIVANTS. 


TAGHAIRM. 


of  turning  tables  without  the  application 
of  mechanical  force.  The  force  applied 
is  alleged  to  be  that  of  “the  spirits,” 
or  of  some  unknown  aura  akin  to  elec- 
tricity and  animal  magnetism.  {See 
Spiritualism.) 

Tableaux  Vivants  (French,  living 
pictures).  Representations  of  statuary 
groups  by  living  persons,  invented  by 
Madame  Genlis  while  she  had  charge  of 
the  children  of  the  due  d’Orleans. 

Tabooed.  Forbidden.  This  is  a 
Polynesian  term,  and  means  consecrated 
or  set  apart.  Thus  a burial-ground  is 
tabooed  for  general  purposes.  To  fight  in 
such  a place  would  be  impious,  and  any 
person  who  did  so  would  be  tabooed  or 

excommunicated”  for  violating  the 
taboo.  Like  the  Greek  anathema,  the 
Latin  sacer,  the  French  sacre,  &c.,  the 
word  has  a double  meaning — one  to  con- 
secrate, and  one  to  incur  the  penalty  of 
violating  the  consecration. 

Tab'orites  (3  syl.).  A sect  of  Hus- 
sites in  Bohemia  ; so  called  from  the 
fortress  Tabor,  about  fifty  miles  from 
Prague,  from  which  ^Nicolas  von  Hussi- 
neez,  one  of  the  founders,  expelled  the 
Imperial  army.  They  are  now  incorpo- 
rated with  the  Bohemian  Brethren. 

Tabouret.  The  right  of  sitting  in 
the  presence  of  the  queen.  In  the 
ancient  French  cy^urt  certain  ladies  had 
the  droit  de  tabouret  (right  of  sitting  on  a 
tabouret  in  the  presence  of  the  queen). 
At  first  it  was  limited  to  princesses  ; 
but  subsequently  it  was  extended  to  all 
the  chief  ladies  of  the  queen’s  house- 
hold ; and  later  still  the  wives  of  am- 
bassadors, dukes,  lord  chancellor,  and 
keeper  of  the  seals,  enjoyed  the  privilege. 
Gentlemen  similarly  privileged  had  the 
droit  defauteuil. 

Qui  me  resisterait 
La  marquise  a le  tabouret. 

Beranger,  “ Le  Marquis  de  Carabas'* 

Tab'ulae  Toleta'nse.  The  astro- 
nomical tables  composed  by  order  of 
Alphonso  X.  of  Castile,  in  the  middle  of 
the  thirteenth  century,  were  so  called 
because  they  were  adapted  to  the  city  of 
Tole'do. 

His  Tables  Tolletanes  forth  he  brought, 

Tul  wel  corrected,  ne  ther  lakked  nought 

Chaucer,  ‘''Canterbury  Tales”  ii,585 

Tache'brune  (2  syl.).  The  horse 


of  Ogier  le  Dane.  The  word  means 
“brown-spot.” 

Tac'wins.  Winged  female  forms, 
who  (according  to  the  Koran)  defend 
mortals  from  the  evil  demons. 

Tae'-pings.  Chinese  rebels.  The 
word  means  Universal  Peace,  and  arose 
thus  : Hung-sew-tseuen,  a man  of  hum- 
ble birth,  and  an  unsuccessful  candidate 
for  a government  office,  was  induced  by 
some  missionary  tracts  to  renounce  idol- 
atry and  found  the  society  of  Tae-ping, 
which  came  into  collision  with  the  im- 
perial authorities  in  1850.  Hung  now 
gave  out  that  he  was  the  chosen  instru- 
ment in  God’s  hand  to  uproot  idolatry 
and  establish  the  dynasty  of  Universal 
Peace;  he  assumed  the  title  of  Tae"- 
ping-wang  {Prince  of  Universal  Peace), 
and  called  his  five  chief  ofiicers  princes. 
Nankin  was  made  their  capital  in  1860, 
but  in  1864  the  rebellion  was  nearly 
stamped  out. 

Taf 'fata  or  Taffety.  A fabric  made  of 
silk.  At  one  time  it  was  watered  ; hence 
Taylor  says  “No  taffaty  more  change- 
able than  they.”  “Notre  mot  taffeta 
est  forme,  par  onomatopee,  du  bruit  que 
fait  cette  etoffe”  (Francisque-Michel) . 

Taffata  phrases.  Smooth  sleek  phrases ; 
euphemisms.  We  also  use  the  words 
fustian,  stuff,  silken,  shoddy,  buckram, 
velvet,  satin,  lutestring,  &c.  &c.,  to 
qualify  phrases  and  literary  compositions 
spoken  or  written. 

Taffata  phrases,  silken  terms  precise. 
Three-piled  hyperboles. 

Shakespeare,  "Love's  Labour^s  Lo8t,"v.  2. 

Taffy.  A Welshman  ; so  called  from 
David,  a very  common  Welsh  name. 
David,  familiarly  Davy,  becomes  in  Welsh 
Tafftd,  Taffy. 

Tag,  Hag,  and  Bobtail.  The  vulgus 
ignohite.  The  words  are  properly  applied 
to  three  sorts  of  inferior  dogs.  Tag  is 
sometimes  written  shag. 

It  will  swallow  US  all  up,  ships  and  men,  shag, 
rag,  and  bobtail.— jRafteZais,  "Pantagruel”  iv.  33. 

Tag'hairm  (2  syl.).  A means  em- 
ployed by  the  Scotch  in  inquiring  into 
futurity.  A person  wrapped  up  in  the 
hide  of  a fresh-slain  bullock  was  placed 
beside  a waterfall,  or  at  the  foot  of  a^ 
precipice,  and  there  left  to  meditate  on 
the  question  propounded.  Whatever  his 
fancy  suggested  to  him  in  this  wild 


TAHERITES. 


TALES. 


875* 


situation  passed  for  the  inspiration  of 
his  disembodied  spirit. 

Last  evening  tide 
Brian  an  augury  hath  tried. 

Of  that  kind  which  must  not  be 
Unless  in  dread  extremity. 

The  Taghairm  called. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  iv.  4. 

TaTierites  (3  syl.).  A dynasty  of 
five  kings,  who  reigned  in  Khorassan  for 
fifty-two  years  (820-872).  So  called 
from  the  founder  Taher,  general  of  the 
Calif’s  army. 

Tahmuras.  King  of  Persia,  whose 
adventures  in  Fairy-land  among  the 
Pe'ris  and  Dives  (1  syl.)  may  be  found 
in  “Richardson’s  “Dissertation.” 

Tail.  LiorCs  tail.  Lions,  according 
to  legend,  wipe  out  their  footsteps  with 
their  tail,  that  they  may  not  be  tracked. 

He  has  no  more  tail  than  a Manx  cat. 
The  cats  in  the  Isle  of  Man  are  without 
a tail. 

Tails.  The  men  of  Kent  are  born  with 
tails,  as  a punishment  for  the  murder  of 
Thomas  h Becket. — Lambert,  “ PerambT 

For  Becket’s  sake,  Kent  always  shall  have  tails. 

Andrew  Matwel. 

Tails.  It  is  said  that  the  Ghilane 
race,  which  number  between  30,000  and 
40,000,  and  dwell  “far  beyond  the  Sen- 
naar,”  have  tails  three  or  four  inches 
long.  Colonel  du  Corret 'tells  us  he  care- 
fully examined  one  of  this  race  named 
Belial,  the  slave  of  an  emir  in  Mecca, 
whose  house  be  frequented. — “ World  of 
Wonders f p.  206. 

The  Niam-niams  of  Africa  are  tailed. 

Tailors.  The  three  tailors  of  Tooley 
Street,  Canning  says  that  three  tailors 
of  Tooley  Street,  Southwark,  addressed 
a petition  of  grievances  to  the  House  of 
Commons,  beginning— “We,  the  people 
of  England.”  . 

Nine  tailors  maTce  a man.  The  present 
scope  of  this  expression  is  that  a tailor 
is  so  much  more  feeble  than  another 
man,  that  it  would  take  nine  of  them 
to  make  a man  of  average  stature  and 
strength.  There  is  a tradition  that  an 
orphan  lad,  in  1742,  applied  to  a fashion- 
able London  tailor  for  alms.  There 
were  nine  journeymen  in  the  establish- 
ment, each  of  whom  contributed  some- 
thing to  set  the  little  orphan  up  with 
a fruit  barrow.  The  little  merchant  in 
time  became  rich,  and  adoj^ted  for  his 
motto  “ Nine  tailors  made  m.e  a man,”  or 
“Nine  tailors  make  a man.”  This  cer- 


tainly is  not  the  origin  of  the  expression,, 
inasmuch  as  we  find  a similar  one  used 
by  Taylor  a century  before  that  date,  and 
referred  to  as  of  old  standing  even  then. 

Some  foolish  knave,  I thinke,  at  first  began 

The  slander  that  three  taylerd  are  one  man. 

Taylor,  “ Workes,"  iii.  73.  (1030.) 

Take  a Hair  of  the  Dog  that  Bit 
You.  After  a debauch  take  a little 
wine  the  next  day.  Take  a cool  draught 
of  ale  in  the  morning,  after  a night’s 
excess.  The  advice  was  given  literally 
in  ancient  times,  “ If  a clog  bites  you, 
put  a hair  of  the  dog  into  the  wound,’” 
on  the  homoeopathic  principle  of  similio/ 
similibus  curantur  (like  cures  like). 

Talbot  {Lord  Arthur).  A Cavalier 
who  won  the  affections  of  Elvi'ra,  daughter 
of  lord  Walton ; but  lord  Walton  had 
promised  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  Sir 
Richard  Ford,  a Puritan  officer.  The 
betrothal  being  set  aside,  the  Cavalier 
became  the  accepted  lover,  and  the 
marriage  ceremony  was  fixed  to  take 
place  at  Plymouth.  When  lord  Arthur 
reached  Plymouth,  he  discovered  the^ 
dowager  queen  Henrietta  in  disguise, 
and  aided  her  escape.  Elvira,  hearing 
thereof,  concluded  that  her  affiancecl. 
husband  had  eloped  with  another  lady. 
Lord  Arthur,  on  his  return,  was  arrested^ 
by  Cromwell’s  soldiers  and  condemned 
to  death ; but  Cromwell,  secure  in  hist 
strength,  commanded  all  political  prison- 
ers to  be  released.  Lord  Arthur  was  ac- 
cordingly pardoned,  and  married  Elvira. 
— Bellini,  “/  PuritanV^  {an  opera). 

Tal'botype  (3  syl.).  A photographic, 
process  invented  in  1839  by  Fox  Talbot, 
who  called  it  “ The  Calotype  process.” 

Tale  (1  syl.).  A tally ; a reckoning. 
In  Exod.  V.  we  have  tale  of  bricks.  The 
ignorant  measure  by  tale,  not  by  weight. 
Every  shepherd  tells  his  tale, 

Under  the  hawthorn  in  the  dale. 

Milton,  ""L'AUegra." 

Talent,  meaning  cleverness  or  “gift" 
of  intelligence,  is  a word  borrowed  from 
Matt.  XXV.  14—30. 

Tales  (2  syl.).  Persons  in  the  court 
from  whom  the  sheriff  or  his  clerk  makes 
selections  to  supply  the  place  of  jurors 
who  have  been  empanelled,  but  are  not 
in  attendance.  It  is  the  first  word  of  the 
Latin  sentence  wliich  provides  for  this 
contingency — Tales  de  circumstant’ ibus. 

To  serve  for  jurymen  or  tales. 

JJuUer  ,"Hudibras,’"  pt.  iii.  3. 


TALES. 


TAMING. 


.S76 


To  fray  a tales.  To  pray  taat  the 
Slumber  of  jurymen  may  be  completed. 
It  sometimes  happens  that  jurymen  are 
'Challenged,  or  that  less  than  twelve  are 
in  court.  When  this  is  the  case  the 
jury  can  request  that  their  complement 
be  made  up  from  persons  in  the  court. 
Those  who  supplement  the  jury  are 
called  talesmen^  and  their  names  are  set 
•Tdown  in  a book  called  a taleshook. 

Tal'gol  (in  Hudibras),  famous  for 
killing  flies,  was  Jackson,  butcher  of 
Newgate  Street,  who  got  his  captain’s 
commission  at  Naseby. 

Talk  Shop.  {See  Shop.) 

Talleyrand,  anciently  written  Tail- 
leran,  is  the  sobriquet  derived  from  the 
words  taiUer  les  rangs,  “ cut  through  the 
ranks.  ” 

TaTisman.  In  order  to  free  any 
place  of  vermin,  the  figure  of  the  ob- 
noxious animal  is  made  in  wax  or  conse- 
crated metal,  in  a planetary  hour,  and 
tthis  is  called  the  talisman. — Warbu7'i07i. 

He  swore  that  you  had  robbed  his  house. 

And  stole  his  talismanic  louae. 

S.  Butler.  “ //wdi&ras,”  pt.  hi.  1. 

Talisman.  The  Abraxas  Stone  is  a 
-most  noted  talisman.  Abraxas.)  In 
Arabia  a talisman  is  still  used,  consisting 
•of  a piece  of  paper,  on  which  are  written 
the  names  of  the  Seven  Sleepers  and 
their  dog,  to  protect  a house  from  ghosts 
•and  demons.  The  talisman  is  supposed 
to  be  sympathetic,  and  to  receive  an  in- 
fluence from  the  planets,  which  it  com- 
municates to  the  wearer. 

Talking  Bird.  A bird  that  spoke 
with  a human  voice,  and  could  call  all 
other  birds  to  sing  in  concert  with  itself. 
— The  Sisters  who  Envied  their  Younger 
Eister  {^^ Arabian  Nights'').  {See  Green 
Bird.) 

Tally.  To  correspond.  The  tally 
used  in  the  Exchequer  was  a rod  of  wood, 
marked  on  one  face  with  notches  corres- 
ponding to  the  sum  for  which  it  was  an 
acknowledgment.  Two  other  sides  con- 
tained the  date,  the  name  of  the  payer, 
and  so  on.  The  rod  was  then  cleft  in 
such  a manner  that  each  half  contained 
one  written  side  and  half  of  every  notch. 
One  part  was  kept  in  the  Exchequer,  and 
the  other  was  circulated.  When  pay- 
ment was  required  the  two  parts  were 
compared,  and  if  they  tallied,”  or  made 


a tally,  all  was  right ; if  not,  there  was 
some  fraud,  and  payment  was  refused. 
Tallies  were  not  finally  abandoned  in  the 
Exchequer  till  1834.  (French,  tailler^  to 
cut.) 

Tally-ho  is  the  Norman  hunting  cry, 
Taillis  au  / (To  the  coppice).  The  tally- 
ho  was  used  when  the  stag  was  viewed  in 
full  career  making  for  the  coppice.  We  ' 
now  cry  Tally-ho !”  when  the  fox  breaks 
cover.  The  French  cry  is  Thia  hillaut  / 

Talpot  or  Talipot  Tree.  A gi- 
gantic palm.  When  the  sheath  of  the 
flower  bursts  it  makes  a report  like  that 
of  a cannon. 

The  burst,  like  Zeilan’s  giant  ralm, 

WhcEe  buds  fly  open  with  a sound 
That  shakes  the  pigmy  forest  round. 

Moore.  ''’Fire  Worshippers'* 

Zeila  or  Zeilan  is  a'  seaport  of  Africa. 

Talus.  Sir  A^'tegaC s won  man.  Spen- 
ser, in  his  “ Faery  Queen,”  makes  Talus 
run  continually  round  the  island  of  Crete 
to  chastise  offenders  with  an  iron  flail. 
He  represents  executive  power — swift 
as  a swallow,  and  as  lion  strong.”  In 
Greek  mythology  Talos  was  a man  of 
brass,  the  work  of  Hephaostos  ( Vulcan), 
who  went  round  the  island  of  Crete  thrice 
a day.  Whenever  he  saw  a stranger  draw 
near  the  island  he  made  himself  red-hot, 
and  embraced  the  stranger  to  death. 

Tam  of  the  Cowgate.  Sir  Thomas 
Hamilton,  the  Scotch  lawyer,  who  lived 
at  the  Cowgate  of  Edinburgh.  (Diedl563. ) 

Tam'erlane  (3  syl.).  A corruption 
of  Timour  Lengh  (Timourthe  Lame),  one 
of  the  greatest  warrior-kings  that  ever 
lived.  Under  him  Persia  became  a pro- 
vince of  Tartary.  He  modestly  called 
himself  Ameer  (chief),  instead  of  sultan 
or  shah.  (1380-1405.) 

Taming  of  the  Shrew.  The  plot 
was  borrowed  from  a drama  of  the  same 
title,  published  by  S.  Leacroft,  of  Charing 
Cross,  under  tbe  title  of  Six  Old  Plays 
on  which  Shakespeare  Founded  his  Come- 
dies.” The  induction  was  borrowed  from 
Heuterus’  ‘^Rerum  Burgund,”  lib.  iv.,  a 
translation  of  which  was  published  in 
1607  by  E.  Grimstone,  and  called  ^^Ad- 
mirable and  Memorable  Histories.”  Ur. 
Percy  thinks  that  the  ballad  of  ^^The 
Frolicksome  Duke,  or  the  Tinker’s  Good 
Fortune,”  published  in  the  Pepys  Col- 
lection, may  have  suggested  the  induc- 
tion. {See  Sly.) 


TAiMMANY. 


TANNHAUSEK. 


877 


Tamhig  of  the  Shreiv.  The  shrew  was 
Katherine,  eldest  daughter  of  Baptista, 
a rich  gentleman  of  Padua.  Her  temper 
was  so  fiery,  her  tongue  so  insolent,  her 
pride  so  unbounded,  that  gentlemen 
avoided  her;  but  her  father  would  not 
consent  to  the  marriage  of  his  younger 
daughter  Bianca  till  Katherine  was  off 
his  hands.  Petruchio,  wishing  to  marry, 
made  his  bow  to  this  termagant,  and 
actually  married  her.  Being  both  high- 
spirited  and  witty,  he  assumed  for  the 
nonce  such  a violent  seeming  to  all  his 
dependents,  appeared  so  arbitrary  and 
dogmatical,  that  the  lady  was  cowed, 
and  tamed  into  a pattern  wife. — Shake- 
speare. 

Tammaiiy  (‘S'i.).  Tammany  was  of 
the  Delaware  nation  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  became  a chief,  whose  rule 
was  wise  and  pacific.  He  was  chosen  by 
the  American  democrats  as  their  tute- 
lary saint.  His  day  is  the  1st  May. 
Cooper  calls  him  Tamenund. 

Tammany  King.  A cabal  or 
powerful  organisation  of  unprincipled 
officials,  who  enriched  themselves  by 
plundering  the  people.  So  called  from 
Tammany  Hall,  the  head* quarters  of  the 
high  officials  of  the  U.S  , whose  nefa- 
rious practices  were  exposed  in  1871. 

Tammuz.  {See  Thammuz.) 

Tan'cred(in  Jerusalem  Delivered”) 
shows  a generous  contempt  of  danger. 
Son  of  Eudes  and  Emma  (sister  of  Robert 
Guiscard).  Boemond  or  Bohemond  was 
his  cousin.  Tancred  was  the  greatest  of 
all  the  Christian  warriors  except  Rinaldo. 
His  one  fault  was  woman’s  love,”  and 
that  woman  Clorinda,  a Pagan  (bk.  i.). 
He  brought  800  horse  from  Tuscany  and 
Campania  to  the  allied  Christian  army. 
He  slew  Clorinda  (not  knowing  her)  in 
a night  combat,  and  lamented  her  death 
with  great  lamentation  (bk.  xii.).  Being 
wounded,  he  was  nursed  by  Ermin'ia, 
who  was  in  love  with  him  (bk.  xix.). 

Tan'dem.  At  length.  A pun  applied 
to  two  horses  driven  one  before  the  other. 
This  Latin  is  of  a similar  character  to 
plemim  sed  (full  butt). 

Tandem  D.O.M.  Tandem  Deo  op- 
timo  maximo  (Now  at  the  end  ascribe  we 
praise  to  God,  the  best  and  greatest). 

Tangle.  The  water-sprite  of  the 
Orkneys  ; so  called  from  tang  (sea- weed). 


with  which  it  is  covered.  The  tangie 
sometimes  appears  in  a human  form,  and 
sometimes  as  a little  apple-green  horse. 

Tanist  Stone.  A monolith  erected 
by  the  Celts  at  a coronation.  We  read  in 
the  Book  of  Judges  (ix.  6)  of  Abimelech, 
that  a ‘^pillar  was  erected  in  Shechem” 
when  he  was  made  king ; and  (2  Kings 
xi.  14)  it  is  said  that  a pillar  was  raised 
when  Joash  was  made  king,  ^^as  the 
manner  was.”  The  Lia  Fail  of  Ireland 
was  erected  in  Icolmkil  for  the  coronation 
of  Fergus  Ere.  This  stone  was  removed 
to  Scone,  and  became  the  coronation  chair 
of  Scotland.  It  was  taken  to  Westminster 
by  Edward  I.,  and  is  the  coronation  chair 
of  our  sovereigns.  (Celtic,  Tanist,  th©' 
heir-apparent. ) 

Tanner.  Sixpence.  (The  Italian 
danaro,  small  change ; Gipsy,  taimo, 
little  one.  Similarly  a thaler  is  called  a 
dollar.') 

Tanner.  A proper  name.  (/See  Brewer.)^ 

Tanner  of  Tamworth.  Edward 
IV.  was  hunting  in  Drayton  Basset  when 
a tanner  met  him.  The  king  asked  him 
several  questions,  and  the  tanner,  taking 
him  for  a highway  robber,  was  very  chary. 
At  last  they  swopped  horses  ; the  tanner 
gave  the  king  his  gentle  mare  Brock e, 
which  cost  4s.,  and  the  king  gave  the- 
tanner  his  hunter,  which  soon  threw  him. 
Upon  this  the  tanner  payed  dearly  for 
changing  back  again.  Edward  now  blew 
his  horn,  and  when  his  courtiers  came 
up  in  obedience  to  the  summons,  the 
tanner,  in  great  alarm,  cried  out,  I hope' 
I shall  be  hanged  to-morrow”  (i.e.,  I 
expect) ; but  the  king  gave  him  the 
manor  of  Plurnpton  Park,  with  300  marks 
a year.— Percy,  “ Reliquesf  <kc. 

Tann'hau'ser  (4  syl.).  A legendary 
hero  of  Germany,  who  wins  the  affections ^ 
of  Lisaura;  but  Lisaura,  hearing  that  Sir 
Tannhauser  has  set  out  for  Venusbergte 
kiss  the  queen  of  love  and  beauty,  de- 
stroys herself.  After  living  some  timoi 
in  the  cave -palace,  Sir  Tannhauser  ob- 
tains leave  to  visit  the  upper  world,  and; 
goes  to  pope  Urban  for  absolution. 

No,”  said  his  holiness,  you  can  na 
more  hope  for  mercy  than  this  dry  staff 
can  be  expected  to  bud  again.”  On  this 
the  knight  returned  to  Venusberg.  In  a 
few  days  the  papal  staff  actually  did  bud, 
and  Urban  sent  for  Sir  Tannhauser,  bub 
the  knight  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 


878  TANTALIZE. 


Tan'talize.  To  excite  a hope  and 
disappoint  it. 

Tan'talos  (La.tin,  Tantalus),  accord- 
ing to  fable,  is  punished  in  the  infernal 
regions  by  intolerable  thirst.  To  make 
his  punishment  the  more  severe,  he  is 
plunged  up  to  his  chin  in  a river,  but 
whenever  he  bends  forward  to  slake  his 
thirst  the  water  flows  from  him. 

So  bends  tormented  Tanfalus  to  drink, 

While  from  his  lips  the  refluent  waters  shrink ; 
Again  the  rising  stream  liis  bosom  laves, 

And  thirst  consumes  him  ’mid  circumfluent  waves. 

Darwm,  '*Loves  of  the  Flnnts^'’  ii.  419. 

Tantalus.  Emblematical  of  a covetous 
man,  who  can  never  reach  the  good  things 
tie  so  earnestly  craves.  {See  Covetous.) 

Tantalus.  A parallel  story  exists 
among  the  Chipouyans,  who  inhabit  the 
deserts  which  divide  Canada  from  the 
United  States.  At  death,  they  say,  the 
soul  is  placed  in  a stone  ferry-boat,  till 
judgment  has  been  passed  on  it.  If  the 
judgment  is  averse,  the  boat  sinks  in  the 
stream,  leaving  the  victim  chin-deep  in 
water,  where  he  suffers  endless  thirst, 
and  makes  fruitless  attempts  to  escape 
•to  the  Islands  of  the  Blessed. — Alexander 
Mackenzie,  Voyages  in  the  Interior  of 
America^’  (1789,  1792,  1793). 

Tanthony,  St.  Anthony.  In  Nor- 
wich are  the  churches  called  Sin  Tel- 
der’s  {St.  Ethelred's),  Sin  Tedmund’s  {St. 
Edmund' s).  Sin  Tander’s  {St.  Andrew's), 
and  Sin  Tausin’s  {St.  Agistin' s).  {See 
Tawdry.) 

Tantum  Ergo.  The  most  popular 
of  the  Eucharistic  hymns  sung  in  the 
Eoman  Catholic  churches  at  Benediction 
with  the  Holy  Sacrament ; so  called  from 
the  first  two  words  of  the  last  strophe 
but  one  of  the  hymn  Pange  Lingua. 

Taou.  The  sect  of  Eeason,  founded 
in  China  by  Laou-Tsze,  a contemporary 
of  Confu'cius.  He  was  taken  to  heaven 
on  a black  buffalo  (b.c.  523). 

Tap  the  Admiral.  To  suck  liquor 
from  a cask  by  a straw.  Hotten  says  it 
was  first  done  with  the  rum-cask  in 
which  the  body  of  admiral  lord  Nelson 
was  brought  to  England,  and  when  the 
cask  arrived  the  admiral  was  found 
■‘^high  and  dry.” 

Tap-up  Sunday.  The  Sunday 
preceding  the  fair  held  on  the  2nd  Oc- 
tober, on  St.  Catherine’s  Hill,  near 
'Guildford,  and  so  called  because  any 


TAEPEIAN  EOCK. 


person,  with  or  without  a licence,  may 
open  a ''tap”  or  sell  beer  on  the  hill 
for  that  one  day. 

Tap 'is.  On  the  ta^pis.  On  the  carpet ; 
under  consideration ; now  being  venti- 
lated. An  English-French  phrase  re- 
ferring to  the  tapis  or  cloth  with  which 
the  table  of  the  council -chamber  is 
covered,  and  on  which  are  laid  the 
motions  before  the  House. 

Tapley  (^Mark).  Martin  Chuzzlewit’s 
valet,  who  is  always  " jolly  ” under  every 
"circumstance.”  — Dickens,  ‘^Martin 
Chuzzlewit." 

Taproba'na.  The  island  of  Ceylon. 
— " Orlando  E'urioso." 

Tapster  properly  means  a bar  maid; 
"-ster”  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  feminine 
suffix  -estre,  which  remains  in  spinster  (a 
female  spinner) . Similarly,  kempster, 
Webster,  baxter,  drystet',  saltster,  huckster, 
&c.,  are  all  feminine  nouns,  showing  that 
these  at  one  time  were  female  occupa- 
tions.— E.  Adams,  English  Language."^ 

The  stei'  in  these  and  the  eighteen 
other  words  is  no  more  a female  suffix 
than  it  is  in  " barrister  " and  " master.” 
It  is  the  Saxon  steor  (our  steer),  mastery. 

Taran'is.  The  Jupiter  of  the  Druids. 

Taran'tula.  This  word  is  derived 
from  Taranto  the  city,  or  from  Thara 
the  river  in  Apulia,  in  the  vicinity  of 
which  the  venomous  spiders  abound. — 
Kircher,  "De  Arte  Mag." 

Ta^rentella.  A class  of  tunes  and 
song^  composed  to  cure  the  dancing 
mania  called  " Ta'rentism.”  {See  above.) 

Taren'yawag'on.  A tribe-name  of 
Hiawatha  (jf.v.). 

Tariff.  A table  in  alphabetical  order 
of  the  duties,  drawbacks,  bounties,  &c., 
charged  or  aUowodl  on  exports  and  im- 
ports. The  word  is  derived  from  TariTa, 
a seaport  of  Spain  about  twenty  miles 
from  Gibraltar,  where  the  Moors,  during 
the  supremacy  in  Spain,  levied  contri- 
butions according  to  a certain  scale  on 
vessels  entering  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

Tarlatan.  A thin  gauze-like  fabric ; 
so  called  from  Tarare,  in  France,  the 
chief  centre  of  the  manufacture. 

Tarpe'ian  Rock ; so  called  from 
Tarpeia,  a vestal  virgin,  the  daughter  of 
Spurius  Tarpeius,  governor  of  the  citadel 


TAREED. 


TAWDRY. 


579 


on  the  Capit'oline  Hill.  Tarpeia  agreed 
to  open  the  gates  to  the  Sabines  if  they 
would  give  her  what  they  wore  on 
their  arms”  (meaning  their  bracelets). 
The  Sabines,  keeping  their  promise  to 
the  ear/’  crushed  her  to  death  with  their 
shields,  and  she  was  buried  in  that  part 
of  the  hill  called  the  Tarpeian  Rock. 
Subsequently  traitors  were  cast  down 
this  rock  and  so  killed. 

Bear  him  to  the  rock  Tai'peian,  and  from  thence 
Into  destruction  cast  him. 

Shakespeare,  “ Coriolanus,*’  iiL  1. 

Tarred.  All  tarred  with  the  same  brush. 
All  alike  to  blame  ; all  sheep  of  the  same 
flock.  The  allusion  is  to  the  custom  of 
distinguishing  the  sheep  of  any  given 
flock  by  a common  mark  with  a brush 
dipped  in  tar. 

Tarring  and  Feathering.  The 
first  record  of  this  punishment  is  in 
1189  (1  Rich.  I.).  A statute  was  made 
that  any  robber  voyaging  with  the  cru- 
saders “ shall  be  first  shaved,  then  boil- 
ing pitch  shall  be  poured  upon  his  head, 
and  a cushion  of  feathers  shook  over 
it;”  the  wretch  was  then  to  be  put  on 
shore  at  the  very  first  place  the  ship 
came  to. — Rymer,  ^^Foedera,’’  i.  65. 

Tarrinzeau  Field.  The  bowling- 
green  of  Southwark ; so  called  because 
it  belonged  to  the  barons  Hastings,  who 
were  barons  Tarrinzeau  and  Mauchline. 

Tartar,  the  deposit  of  wine,  means 

Infernal  Stuff,”  being  derived  from  the 
word  Tar'taros  (q.v.).  Paracelsus  says. 

It  is  so  called  because  it  produces  oil, 
water,  tincture,  and  salt,  which  burn  the 
patient  as  the  fires  of  Tartarus  burn.” 

Tar'taros  (Greek),  Tartarus  (Latin). 
That  part  of  the  infernal  regions  where 
the  wicked  are  punished. — Classic  mytho- 
logy, 

Tartufe  (2  syl.).  The  principal 
character  of  Moliere’s  comedy  so  called. 
The  original  was  the  abbe  de  Roquette, 
a parasite  of  the  prince  de  Cond5.  It  is 
said  that  the  name  is  from  the  Italian 
tartuffoli  (truffles),  and  was  suggested  to 
Moliere  on  seeing  the  sudden  animation 
which  lighted  up  the  faces  of  certain 
monks  when  they  heard  that  a seller 
of  truffles  awaited  their  orders.  Bicker- 
staff’s  character  of  Mawworm  in  ‘^The 
Hypocrite”  was  borrowed  from  Tartufe. 

Tassel- G-entle.  The  tiercel  is  the 
male  of  the  gosshawk,  so  called  becauaa 


it  is  a tierce  or  third  less  than  the  female. 
This  is  true  of  all  birds  of  prey.  The  tier- 
cel-gentle was  the  class  of  hawk  appro- 
priate to  princes.  (^See  Hawk.) 

O tor  a rauiconer’s  voice 
To  lure  this  tassel-gentle  back  again! 

Shakespeare,  “'  Romeo  and  Juliet,"  li.  2. 

Tasselled  Grentleman.  A fop  ; a 
man  dressed  in  fine  clothes.  A corrup- 
tion of  Tercel-gentle  by  a double  blunder : 
(1)  Tercel,  erroneously  supposed  to  be 
tassel,  and  to  refer  to  the  tags  and  tassels 
worn  by  men  on  their  dress ; and  (2) 
gentle  corrupted  into  gentlemen,  accord- 
ing to  the  Irish  exposition  of  the  verse, 
“ The  gentle  shall  inherit  the  earth.” 

Ta'tianists.  The  disciples  of  Tatian, 
who,  after  the  death  of  Justin  Martyr, 
^Hormed  a new  scheme  of  religion  ; for  he 
advanced  the  notion  of  certain  invisible 
aeons,  branded  marriage  with  the  name 
of  fornication,  and  denied  the  salvation 
of  Adam.”  — Irenceus,  Adv.  Hereses^* 
{ed.  Grabe),  pp.  105,  106,  262. 

Tati'nus  (in  ^ ^ J erusalem  Delivered  ’ ’ ). 
Sent  by  Alexas,  emperor  of  the  Greeks, 
to  join  the  crusaders  with  a squadron  of 
200  Greeks,  who  were  armed  with  crooked 
sabres,  and  had  bows  and  quivers  at  their 
backs.  They  were  famous  in  retreat- 
fightingjbut  when  the  drought  came  they 
sneaked  off  home  (bk.  xiii.). 

Tatting,  from  the  East  Indian  word 
tattie  (a  thick  mat  used  as  a curtain  for 
doorways,  and  usually  kept  moist  in  hot 
weather  to  preserve  the  chamber  cool  by 
evaporation). 

Tattle.  A half-witted  beau,  vain  of 
his  amours.  He  plumed  himself  on  his 
secrecy,  but  was  more  transparent  than 
glass. — Congreve,  Love  for  Love.^' 

Tattoo.  A beat  on  the  drum  at  night 
to  recall  the  soldiers  to  their  barracks. 
It  sounded  at  nine  in  summer,  and  eight 
in  winter.  (French,  tapoter  or  tapotez 
tous). 

The  deviVs  tattoo.  Drumming  with  one’s 
finger  on  the  furniture,  or  with  one’s  toe 
on  the  ground — a monotonous  sound, 
which  gives  the  listener  the  “blue  devils.” 

Taurus  {the  Bull)  indicates  to  the 
Egyptians  the  time  for  ploughing  the 
earth,  which  is  done  with  oxen. 

Tawdry.  Showy,  worthless  finery; 
a corruption  of  St.  Audrey.  At  the  an- 
nual fair  of  St.  Audrey^  in  the  isle  of  Ely, 


TAYv^NY. 


TEAZLE. 


8:o 


showy  lace  called  St.  Audrey’s  lace  was 
sold,  and  gave  foundation  to  our  word 
tawdry,  which  means  anything  gaudy, 
in  bad  taste,  and  of  little  value.  (*S'ee 
Tanthony.)  . 

Tawdi'y:  Astrigmenta,  timbriae,  seu  fasciolae, 
emptae  nundinis  S.  Ethelredae.— /iensfeawe. 

Come,  you  promised  me  a tawdry  lace  and  a pair 
of  sweet  gloves.— “ IFwier’s  Tale,’*  iv.  2. 

Tawny  (TAe).  Alexandre  Eonvici'no 
the  historian,  called  II  Moretto.  (1514- 
1564.) 

Taylor,  called  The  Water-Poet^  who 
confesses  he  never  learned  so  much  as 
the  accidence.  He  wrote  fourscore 
books,  and  afterwards  opened  an  ale- 
house in  Long  Acre.  (1580-1654.) 

Taylor,  their  better  Charon,  lends  an  oar. 

Once  swan  of  Thames,  though  now  he  sings  no  more. 

“ Dunciad,”  iii. 

Taylor's  Institute.  The  Fitz- 
william  Museum  of  Oxford ; so  called  from 
Sir  Eobert  Taylor,  who  made  large  be- 
quests towards  its  erection. 

Tchow  Dynasty.  The  third  im- 
perial dynasty  of  China,  which  gave  thirty- 
four  kings,  and  lasted  866  years  (b.c. 
1122-256).  It  was  so  called  from  the  seat 
of  government. 

Te  Deum,  &c.,  is  usuallj^  ascribed  to 
St.  Ambrose,  but  is  probably  of  a much 
later  date.  It  is  said  that  St.  Ambrose 
improvised  this  hymn  while  baptising  St. 
Augustine.  In  allusion  to  this  tradition, 
it  is  sometimes  called  The  Ambrosian 
Hymn.” 

Te  Deum  (of  ecclesiastical  architecture) 
is  a 'Hheological  series”  of  carved  figures 
in  niches  : (1)  of  angels,  (2)  of  patriarchs 
and  prophets,  (3)  of  apostles  and  evan- 
gelists, (4)  of  saints  and  martyrs,  (5)  of 
founders.  In  the  restored  west  front 
of  Salisbury  cathedral  there  is  a Te 
Deum,”  but  the  whole  123  original  figures 
have  been  reduced  in  number. 

Te  Ig'itur.  One  of  the  service-books 
of  the  Koman  Catholic  Chureh,  used  by 
bishops  and  other  dignitaries ; so  called 
from  the  first  words  of  the  canon,  Te 
igitur,  clementissime  Pater. 

Oaths  tipon  the  Te  Igitur.  Oaths 
sworn  on  the  ^^Te  Igitur”  service-book, 
regarded  as  especially  solemn.  The  Te 
Igitur  was  uspd  as  the  ordeal  of  com- 
purgation.” 

Tea-spoon  {A).  ,£5,000.  (5ee Spoon.) 


Teacliwell  (ATrs.).  Lady  Ellinor 
Fenn,  wife  of  Sir  John  Fenn,  of  East 
Dereham,  Norfolk. 

Tean  or  Teian  Poet.  Anacreon, 
who  was  born  at  Teds,  in  lo'nia.  (b.c. 
563-478.) 

Teanlay  ISTight.  The  vigil  of  All 
Souls,  or  last  evening  of  October,  when 
bonfires  were  lighted  and  revels  held  for 
succouring  souls  in  pui-gatory. 

Tear  and  Larme.  (Anglo-Saxon, 
iceher ; Gothic,  tagr  ; Greek,  dahru ; La- 
tin, lacrinn-a ; French,  lar'm.) 

Tears  of  Eos.  The  dew-drops  of  th© 
morning  were  so  called  by  the  Greeks. 
Eos  was  the  mother  of  Memnon  {q.v.), 
and  wept  for  him  every  morning. 

St.  Laurence's  tears.  Falling  stars>. 
St.  Laurence  was  roasted  to  death  on  a 
gridiron  on  the  10th  of  August,  and  wept 
that  others  had  not  the  same  spirit  to* 
suffer  for  truth’s  sake  as  he  had.  As- 
falling  stars  are  abundant  about  this 
period,  it  was  said  that  they  are  the 
tears  of  the  saint  falling  on  the  burning 
embers. 

Tear  (to  rhyme  with  snare”).  T& 
tear  Christ's  hody.  To  use  imprecations. 
The  common  oaths  of  mediaeval  times 
were  by  different  parts  of  the  Lord’s 
body ; hence  the  preachers  used  to  talk  oi 
‘Hearing  God’s  body  by  imprecations.” 

Her  othes  been  so  greet  and  so  dampnable. 

That  it  is  grisly  for  to  hiere  hem  swere. 

Our  blisful  Lordes  hody  thay  to-tere. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,**  13,889. 

Tear'sheet  {Doll).  A courtesan  iii» 
Shakespeare’s  “ 2 Henry  IV.” 

Tea'zle  {Lady).  A lively,  innocent 
country  maiden,  married  to  Sir  Peter,, 
who  is  old  enough  to  bo  her  father. 
Planted  in  the  hot-bed  of  London  gaiety, 
she  formed  a liaison  with  Joseph  Surface, 
but  being  saved  from  disgrace,  repented 
and  reformed.— ^‘School  for 
Scandal."  (fe  Tow^^lt.) 

Teazle  {Sir  Peter).  A man  who  had 
remained  a bachelor  till  he  had  become 
old,  when  he  married  a girl  from  the 
country,  who  proved  extravagant,  fond 
of  pleasure,  selfish,  and  vain.  Sir  Peter 
was  always  gibing  his  wife  for  her  inferior 
rank,  teazing  her  about  her  manner  ot 
life,  and  yet  secretly  liking  what  she  did,, 
and  feeling  proud  of  her. — SMridaUg, 
“ School  for  Scandal." 


TEETH. 


TEMORA. 


881 


Teetli.  Ill  sj^ite  of  Jd$. teeth.  In  op- 
p'^sitiori “to  £is  settled  purpose  or  resolu- 
tion. The  tale  told  by  Holinshed  of  the 
Bristol  Jew,  who  suffered  a tooth  to  be 
drawn  daily  for  seven  days  before  he 
would  submit  to  the  extortion  of  King 
John,  is  given  under  the  article  Jew’s 
Eye.  {See  Tooth,  p.  901 ; see  also  Skin.) 

Teeth.  The  people  of  Ceylon  and 
Malabar  used  to  worship  the  teeth  of 
elephants  and  monkeys.  The  Siamese 
once  offered  to  a Portuguese  700,000 
ducats  to  redeem  a monkey’s  tooth. 

Wolfs  tooth.  An  amulet  worn  by 
children  to  charm  away  fear. 

He  has  cut  his  eye-teeth.  He  is  ‘^up  to 
SDuff;”  he  has  ‘^his  weather-eye  open.” 
The  eye-teeth  are  cut  late — 

Months. 

First  set— 5 to  8,  the  four  central  incisors. 

7 „ 10  „ lateral  „ 

12  „ 11  „ anterior  molars. 

14  „ 2J  „ the  eye-teeth. 

Years. 

Second  set—^  to  6,  the  anterior  molars. 

7 „ 8 „ incisor'*. 

9 „ 10  „ bicuspids, 

11  „ 12  „ eye-teeth. 

Teian  poet.  {See  Tean.  ) 

Telamo'nes.  Supporters  (Greek, 
telamon).  Generally  applied  to  figures 
of  men  used  for  supporters  in  archi- 
tecture. Atlantes.  ) 

Telegram.  Milhiny  a telegram.  A 
telegram  is  said  to  be  milked”  when 
the  message  sent  to  a specific  party  is 
surreptitiously  made  use  of  by  others. 

They  receive  their  telegrams  in  cipher  to  avoid 
the  risk  of  their  being  “ milked  ” by  rival  journals.— 
I'he  Times,  August  14,  1809. 

Telem'aclios.  The  only  son  of 
Ulysses  and  Penelope.  After  the  fall  of 
Troy  he  went,  under  the  guidance  of 
Mentor,  in  quest  of  his  father.  He  is 
the  hero  of  Fenelon’s  prose  epic  called 

Telemaque.” 

Tell  {William').  The  boldest  of  the 
Swiss  mountaineers.  The  daughter  of 
Leu'thold  having  been  insulted  by  an 
emissary  of  Albricht  Gessler,  the  enraged 
father  killed  the  ruffian  and  fled.  William 
Tell  carried  the  assassin  across  the  lake, 
and  greatly  incensed  the  tyrannical 
governor.  The  people  rising  in  rebel- 
lion, Gessler  put  to  death  Melch'tal,  the 
patriarch  of  the  district,  and  placing  the 
ducal  cap  of  Austria  on  a pole,  com- 
manded the  people  to  bow  down  before 
it  in  reverence.  Tell  refused  to  do  so, 
whereupon  Gessler  imposed  on  him  the 


task  of  shooting  an  apple  from  his  little 
boy’s  head.  Tell  succeeded  in  this  peri- 
lous trial  of  skill,  but  letting  fall  a con- 
cealed arrow,  was  asked  with  what  object 
he  had  secreted  it.  To  kill  thee,  O 
tyrant,”  he  replied,  if  I had  failed  in 
the  task  imposed  on  me.”  Gessler  now 
ordered  the  bold  mountaineer  to  be  put 
in  chains  and  carried  across  the  lake  to 
Kiissnacht  castle,  “ to  be  devoured  alive 
by  reptiles  ;”  but  being  rescued  by  the 
peasantry,  he  shot  Gessler  and  liberated 
his  country. — Rossini,  Gugliehno  Tell  ” 
{an  opera). 

William  Tell.  The  story  of  William 
Tell  is  told  of  several  other  persons  : 

(1)  Egil,  the  brother  of  Way  land 
Smith.  One  day  king  Nidung  com- 
manded him  to  shoot  an  apple  off  the 
head  of  his  son.  Egil  took  two  arrows 
from  his  quiver,  the  straightest  and 
sharpest  he  could  find.  When  asked  by 
the  king  why  he  took  two  arrows,  the 
god-archer  replied,  as  the  Swiss  pea- 
sant to  Gessler,  To  shoot  thee,  tyrant, 
with  the  second,  if  the  first  one  fails.” 

(2)  Saxo  Grammaticus  tells  nearly  the 
same  story  respecting  Toki,  who  killed 
Harald. 

(3)  Reginald  Scot  says,  '^Puncher 
shot  a pennie  on  his  son’s  heaRi,  and 
made  ready  another  arrow  to  have  slain 
the  duke  Remgrave,  who  commanded 
it.”  (1584.) 

(4)  Similar  tales  are  told  of  Adam 
Bell,  Clym  of  the  Clough,  William  of 
Cloudeslie,  Olaf,  and  Eindridi,  &c. 

Tellers  of  the  Exchequer.  A cor- 
ruption of  talliers—i.e.,  tally-men,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  compare  the  tallies,  re- 
ceive money  payable  into  the  Exchequer, 
give  receipts,  and  pay  what  was  due  ac- 
cording to  the  tallies.  Abolished  in  the 
reign  of  William  IV.  The  functionary 
of  a bank  who  receives  and  pays  bills, 
orders,  and  so  on,  is  still  called  a 
‘Heller.” 

Tem'ora.  One  of  the  principal  poems 
of  Ossian,  in  eight  books,  so  called  from 
the  royal  residence  of  the  kings  of 
Connaught.  Cairbar  had  usurped  the 
throne,  having  killed  Cor  mac,  a distant 
relative  of  Fingal ; and  Fingal  raised  an 
army  to  dethrone  the  usurper.  The 
poem  begins  from  this  point  with  an  in- 
vitation from  Cairbar  to  Oscar,  son  of 
Ossian,  to  a banquet.  Oscar  accepted 
the  invitation,  but  during  the  feast  a 
E E E 


882 


TEMPER. 


TENTERDEX. 


quarrel  was  vamped  up,  in  which  Cairbar 
and  Oscar  fell  by  each  other’s  spears. 
When  Fingal  arrived  a battle  ensued, 
in  which  Fillan,  son  of  Fingal  the 
Achilles  of  the  Caledonian  army,  and 
Cathmor,  son  of  Cairbar,  the  bravest  of 
the  Irish  army,  were  both  slain.  Victory 
erowned  the  army  of  Fingal,  and  Ferad- 
Artho,  the  rightful  heir,  was  restored  to 
the  throne  of  Connaught. 

Tertiper.  To  make  trim.  The 
Italians  say,  iemperare  la,  lira,  to  tune 
the  lyre ; temperdre  una  penna,  to 
mend  a pen ; temperdre  Voriuolo,  to 
wind  up  the  clock.  In  Latin  temperdre 
ccUamum  is  ‘‘to  mend  a pen.”  Metal 
well  tempered  is  metal  made  trim  or 
mete  for  its  use,  and  if  not  so  it  is  called 
ill-tempered.  When  Otway  says,  “ Woman, 
nature  made  thee  to  temper  man,”  he 
means  to  make  him  trim,  to  soften  his 
aature,  to  mend  him. 

Templars  or  Knights  Templars.  Nine 
French  knights  bound  themselves,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  twelfth  century,  to  pro- 
tect pilgrims  on  their  way  to  the  Holy 
Land,  and  received  the  name  of  Tem- 
plars, because  their  arms  were  kept  in  a 
building  given  to  them  for  the  purpose 
by  the  abbot  of  the  convent  called  the 
Temple  of  Jerusalem.  They  used  to 
call  themselves  the  “Poor  Soldiers  of 
the  Holy  City.”  Their  habit  was  a long 
white  mantle,  to  which  subsequently  was 
added  a red  cross  on  the  left  shoulder. 
Their  famous  war-cry  was  “ Bauseant,” 
from  their  banner,  which  was  striped 
black  and  white,  and  charged  with  a 
red  cross ; the  word  Baitseant  is  old 
French  for  a black  and  white  horse. 

Seal  of  the  Knights  Templars  (two 
knights  riding  on  one  horse).  The  first 
Master  of  the  order  and  his  friend  were 
so  poor  that  they  had  but  one  horse 
between  them,  a circumstance  comme- 
morated by  the  seal  of  the  order. 

Temple  {London)  was  once  the  seat 
of  the  Knights  Templars.  {See  above.) 

Temple  Bar,  called  “Tlie  City  Gol- 
gotha,” because  the  heads  of  traitors,  &c., 
were  exposed  there  after  decapitation. 

Ten.  Gothic,  tai-hun  (two  hands)  ; 
Old  German,  ze-hen,  whence  zehn,  zen. 

Tench,  is  from  the  Latin  tinc-a,  so 
called,  says  Aulus  Gellius,  because  it  is 
tincta  (tinted). 

Tendon.  {See  Achilles.) 


Ten'glio.  A river  in  Lapland  on 
whose  banks  roses  grow. 

I was  surprised  to  see  upon  the  banhs  of  this  river 
roses  of  as  lovely  a red  as  any  that  are  in  our  own 
gardens.— de  Maupertuis. 

T en'iers.  Malplaquet,  in  France, 
famous  for  the  victory  of  the  duke  of 
Marlborough  over  the  French  in  1709. 

Her  courage  tried 
On  Teniers’  dreadful  held. 

Thomson,  ‘^Autumn,” 

The  Scottish  Teniers.  Sir  David  Wilkie. 
(1785-1841.) 

Tennis-Ball  of  Fortune.  Per- 
tinax,  the  Roman  emperor,  was  so  called. 
He  was  first  a seller  of  charcoal,  then  a 
schoolmaster,  then  a soldier,  and  lastly 
an  emperor,  but  in  three  months  he  was 
dethroned  and  murdered. 

Tennyson  {Alfred).  Bard  of  Ar- 
thurian  Romance.  His  poems  on  the 
legends  of  king  Arthur  are — (1)  The 
Coming  of  Arthur ; (2)  Geraint  and  Enid  ; 
(3)  Merlin  and  Vivien  ; (4)  Lancelot  and 
Elaine ; (5)  The  Holy  Grail ; (6)  Pelleas 
and  Ettarre ; (7)  Guinevere ; (8)  The 
Passing  of  Arthur.  Also  the  Morte 
d’Arthur,  Sir  Galahad,  The  Lady  of 
Shalott.  (1810-*) 

Ten  son.  A subdivision  of  the  cJian- 
zos  or  poems  of  love  and  gallantry  by  the 
Troubadours.  When  the  public  jousts 
were  over,  the  lady  of  the  castle  opened 
her  “ court  of  love,”  in  which  the  com- 
batants contended  with  harp  and  song. 

Tent.  Pari  Banou  {the  Fairy  Banon) 
gave  Prince  Ahmed  a tent  which  would 
cover  a whole  army,  but  yet  fold  up  into 
a parcel  not  too  big  for  the  pocket  (“Ara- 
bian Nights  ”).  The  ship  “ Skidbladnir  ” 
would  hold  all  the  gods  of  the  Scandina- 
vian Valhalla,  but  yet  might  be  folded 
small  like  a sheet  of  paper.  {See  Carpet.  ) 
Father  of  such  as  dwell  in  tents.  ‘ Jabal 
(Gen.  iv.  20). 

Tent  Wine.  A corruption  of  the 
Spanish  vino  tinto  ; so  called  because  it 
is  white  wine  tinted. 

Ten'terden.  Tenterden  steeple  was 
the  cause  of  Goodwin  Sands.  The  reason 
alleged  is  not  obvious  ; an  apparent  non- 
sequitur.  Mr.  More,  iDeing  sent  with  a 
commission  into  Kent  to  ascertain  the 
cause  of  the  Goodwin  Sands,  called  to- 
gether the  oldest  inhabitants  to  ask  their 
opinion.  A very  old  man  said,  “I  be- 
lieve that  Tenterden  steeple  is  the  cause.” 


TENTH  WAVE, 


TERRIBLE. 


883 


This  reason  seemed  ridiculous  enough, 
but  the  fact  is  the  bishop  of  Rochester 
applied  the  revenues  for  keeping  clear 
the  Sandwich  haven  to  the  building  of' 
Tenterden  steeple.  Another  tradition  is 
that  a quantity  of  stones,  got  together 
for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  the  sea- 
wall, were  employed  in  building  the 
church-tower,  and  when  the  next  storm 
came  that  part  of  the  mainland  called 
Goodwin  Sands  was  submerged. 

Tenth  Wave.  It  is  said  that  every 
tenth  wave  is  the  biggest. 

At  length,  tumbling  from  the  Gallic  coast,  the 
victorious  tenth  wave  shall  ride  like  the  boar  over 
all  the  rest.— Burfce. 

Teon  Bard.  {See  Tean.) 

Tercel.  The  male  hawk ; so  called 
because  it  is  one-third  smaller  than  the 
female.  (French,  tiers.) 

Terebin'thus.  Ephes  - dammin,  or 
the  coast  of  Dammin;  also  called  Pas- 
dammin  (1  Sam.  xvii.  1). 

O thou,  that  ’gainst  Goliath’s  impious  head 

The  youthful  arms  iu  Terebinthus  sped. 

When  the  proud  foe,  who  scoffed  at  Israel’s  band, 

Fell  by  the  weapon  of  a stripling’s  hand. 

'’‘‘Jerusalem  Delivered”  bk.  vii. 

Terence.  The  Terence  of  England y 
the  mender  of  hearts,  is  the  exquisite  com- 
pliment which  Goldsmith,  in  his  ^^Retali- 
ation,” pays  to  Richard  Cumberland, 
author  of  “The  Jew,”  ‘^The  West  In- 
dian,” “The  Wheel  of  Fortune,”  &c. 
(1732-1811.) 

Tere'sa  {St. ).  The  reformer  of  the 
Carmelites,  canonised  by  Gregory  XV. 
in  1621.  (1515-1582.) 

Tere'sa  Panza.  Wife  of  Sancho 
Panza,  Don  Quixote’s  squire.  In  Bk.  i. 
7,  she  is  called  dame  Juana  Gutierez ; 
in  Pt.  II.,  Bk.  iv.  7,  she  is  called  Maria 
Gutierrez ; in  Bk.  viii.  21,  she  is  called 
Joan  Panza. — Cervantes,  Don  Quixote.^* 

Te'reus  (2  syl.).  A king  of  Thrace, 
changed  into  a hoopoe.  His  wife  Progne 
was  changed  into  a swallow,  and  his  wife's 
sister,  Philomel,  into  a nightingale. 

Term  Time. 

Hilary  or  Lent  begins  11th  Jan.. ends  Slst  Jan. 

Easterterm  „ 15th  April,  „ 8th  May. 

Trinity  term  „ 22nd  May,  „ 12th  June- 

Michaelmas  term  „ 2nd  l^ov.,  „ •25th  Nov. 

N.B.— When  a term  begins  or  ends  on  a Sunday, 
Ihe  Monday  after  is  term-day. 

Ter'magant.  The  author  of  “Ju- 
nius’' says  this  was  a Saxon  idol,  and 
derives  the  word  from  tyr  magan  (very 


mighty) ; but  probably  it  is  the  Persian 
tir-magian  (Magian  lord  or  deity).  The 
early  Crusaders,  not  very  nice  in  their 
distinctions,  called  all  Pagans  Saracens, 
and  muddled  together  Magianism  and 
Mahometanism  in  wonderful  confusion, 
so  that  Termagant  was  called  the  god  of 
the  Saracens,  or  the  co-partner  of  Ma- 
hound.  Hence  Ariosto  makes  Ferrau 
“blaspheme  his  Mahound  and  Terma- 
gant” (“Orlando  Furioso,”  xii.  59)  ; and 
in  the  legend  of  “ Syr  Guy  ” the  Soudan 
or  Sultan  is  made  to  say — 

So  helpe  me,  Mahoune  of  might. 

And  Termagaunt,  my  God  so  bright. 

Termagant  was  at  one  time  applied  to 
men.  Thus  Massenger,  in  “The  Pic- 
ture,” says:  “ A hundred  thousand  Turks 
assailed  him,  every  one  a Termagant” 
(Pagan).  At  present  the  word  is  applied 
to  a boisterous,  brawling  woman.  Thus 
Arbuthnot  says  : “ The  eldest  daughter 
was  a termagant,  an  imperious  profligate 
wretch.”  This  change  of  sex  arose  from 
the  custom  of  representing  Termaganjt 
on  the  stage  in  Eastern  robes,  like  those 
worn  in  Europe  by  females. 

’Twas  time  to  counterfeit^  or  that  hot  termagant 
Scot  [Douglas]  had  paid  me  scot  and  lot  too.— tShaJce- 
speare,  "l  Henry  IV.”  v.  4. 

Outdoing  Termagant  (“  Hamlet,”  iii.  2). 
In  the  old  plays  the  degree  of  rant  was 
the  measure  of  villany.  Termagant  and 
Herod,  being  considered  the  beau-ideal 
of  all  that  is  bad,  were  represented  as 
settling  everything  with  club-law,  and 
bawling  so  as  to  split  the  ears  of  the 
groundlings.  Bully  Bottom,  having 
ranted  to  his  heart’s  content,  says, 
“ That  is  Ercles’  vein,  a tyrant’s  vein.” 
{See  Herod.) 

Terpsichore,  properly  Terp-siJ -o-rt, 
but  generally  pronounced  Ter^'-si-eore, 
The  goddess  of  dancing.  Ter'psichore'an. 
relating  to  dancing.  Dancers  are  callea 
“the  votaries  of  Terpsichore.” 

Terra  Firma.  Dry  land,  in  oppo- 
sition to  water ; the  continents  as  dis- 
tinguished from  islands.  The  Venetians 
so  called  the  mainland  of  Italy  under 
their  sway,  as  the  duchy  of  Venice, 
Venetian  Lombardy,  the  March  of  Tre- 
vi'so,  the  duchy  of  Friu'li,  and  Istria.  The 
continental  parts  of  America  belonging 
to  Spain  were  also  called  by  the  same 
term. 

Terrible  {The).  Ivan  IV.  [or  II J 
of  Russia.  (1529,  1533-158L) 

E E E 2 


884 


TERRIER. 


TEUTONS, 


Ter'rier  is  a dog  that  ''takes  the 
earth,”  or  unearths  his  prey.  Dog  Tray 
is  merely  an  abbreviation  of  the  same 
word.  Terrier  is  also  applied  to  the 
hole  which  foxes,  badgers,  rabbits,  and 
so  on,  dig  under  ground  to  save  them- 
selves from  the  hunters.  The  dog  called 
a terrier  creeps  into  these  holes  like  a 
ferret  to  rout  out  the  victim.  (Latin, 
terra,  the  earth.) 

Terry  Alts.  Insurgents  of  Clare, 
who  appeared  after  the  Union,  and  com- 
mitted numerous  outrages.  These  rebels 
were  similar  to  the  Thrashers  ” of  Con- 
naught, "the  Carders,”  the  followers  of 
" Captain  Rock  ” in  1822,  and  the  Fenians 
(186h). 

Ter'tium  Quid.  A third  party 
which  shall  be  nameless.  The  expres- 
sion originated  with  Pythag'oras,  who  de- 
fining bipeds  said — 

Sunt  homo,  et  avis,  et  tertium  quid. 

A man  is  a biped,  so  is  a bird,  and  a third  thing 
$which  shall  be  nameless). 

Jamblicus  says  this  third  thing  was 
Pythagoras  himself. — Vita  Pyth.,  cxxvii. 

In  chemistry,  when  two  substances 
chemically  unite  the  new  substance  is 
called  a tertium  quid,  as  a neutral  salt 
produced  by  the  mixture  of  an  acid  and 
alkali. 

Tessera'rian  Art.  The  art  of 
gambling.  (Latin,  tessera,  a die.) 

Tessira  (in  "Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
One  of  the  leaders  of  the  Moorish  army. 

Tester.  A sixpence  ; so  called  be- 
cause it  was  stamped  on  one  side  with 
the  head  of  the  reigning  sovereign. 
Similarly  the  head  canopy  of  a bed  is 
called  its  tester  (Italian,  testa;  French, 
teste,  tete).  Copstick  in  Dutch  means  the 
same  thing. 

Hold,  there’s  a tester  for  thee. 

^Iiakaspnare^  “ 2 Heavy  /F.,”  iii.  2. 

Testers  are  gone  to  Oxford,  to  study  at 
Brazenose.  When  Henry  VIII.  debased 
the  silver  testers,  the  alloy  broke  out  in 
red  pimples  through  the  silver,  giving 
the  royal  likeness  in  the  coin  a blotchy 
appearance;  hence  the  punning  proverb. 

^ Tete.  Tete  hottee  (Booted-Head).  The 
nickname  of  Philippe  des  Comines. 

lou,  Sir  Philip  des  Comines,  vrere  at  a hunting- 
match  with  the  duke  your  master ; and  when  he 
alighted  after  the  chase,  he  required  your  services  in 
drawing  oil  his  boots.  Heading  in  your  looks  some 


natural  resentment  ..he  ordered  you  to  sit  down  in 
turn,  and  rendered  you  the  same  office, ..but...no 
sooner  had  he  p ucked  one  of  your  boots  off,  than 
he  brutally  beat  it  about  your  head. ..and  his  privi- 
leged fool  Le  Glorieux  . gave  you  the  name  of  Tete 
Bottee  .—SirW.  Scott;' Quentin Durward”  ch.  xxx. 

Tete  du  Pont.  The  harbacan  or 
watch-tower  placed  on  the  head  of  a 
draw-bridge. 

Teth'ys.  The  sea,  properly  the  wife 
of  Oce'anos. 

The  golden  sun  above  the  watery  bed 
Of  hoary  Tethys  r-aised  his  beamy  head. 

Boole's  Ariosto;*  bk.  viiL 

Tetragram'maton.  The  four  let- 
ters, meaning  the  four  which  compose 
the  name  of  Deity.  The  ancient  Jews 
never  pronounced  the  word  Jehovah 
composed  of  the  four  sacred  letters 
JHVH.  The  word  means  '‘I  am”  or 
I exist  (Exod.  iii.  14) ; but  Rabbi  Bechai 
says  that  the  letters  include  the  three 
times,  past,  present,  and  future.  Pytha- 
goras called  Deity  a Tetrad  or  Tetractys, 
meaning  the  " four  sacred  letters.”  The 
Greek  ZEUS,  Latin  JOVE  and  DEUS, 
Persian  SORU,  Assyrian  AD  AD,  Arabian 
ALLA,  Egyptian  AMON,  German  GOTT, 
and  a host  of  other  words  significant  of 
Deity,  are  tetragrams.  Zeus,  Deus,  and 
Jove  all  mean  the  same  as  Jehovah,  viz., 
" The  living  Being.” 

Such  was  the  sacred  Tetragrammaton. 

Things  worthy  silence  must  not  be  revealed. 

Dryden,  '"Britannia  Rediviva." 

[We  have  the  Egyptian  OuivO,  like  the 
Greek  Geo? ; Spanish  dios,  French  dieu, 
Italian  Idio,  Dutch  Godt,  Danish  Godk, 
Swedish  Goth,  &c.  &c.] 

Tetrapla.  The  Bible,  disposed  by 
Origen  under  four  columns,  each  of 
which  contained  a different  Greek  ver- 
sion. The  versions  were  those  of  Aquila, 
Symmachus,  Theodotian,  and  the  Sep- 
tuagint. 

Teueer.  Brother  of  Ajax  the  Greater, 
who  went  with  the  allied  Greeks  to  the 
siege  of  Troy.  On  his  return  home  his 
father  banished  him  the  kingdom,  for  not 
avenging  on  Ulysses  the  death  ot  his 
brother. — Homer,  ^HliadP 

Teufelsdroekh.,  Heir  (pronounce 
Toy-fels-druk).  The  German  philosopher 
in  Carlyle’s  "Sartor  Resartus,”  who 
looks  through  the  coat  to  the  skin  which 
it  covers. 

Teutons.  Thuath-duine  (north  men). 
Our  word  Dutch  and  the  German  Deutsch 


TEUTONIC  KNIGHTS. 


THAUMATURGUS. 


885 


are  variations  of  the  same  word,  origi- 
nally written  Theodisk. 

Teutonic  Knights.  An  order 
which  the  Crusades  gave  birth  to.  Ori- 
ginally only  Germans  of  noble  birth  were 
admissible  to  the  order.  (Abolished  by 
Napoleon  in  1800.) 

Thabeck  {executioner').  The  fierce 
angel  that  presides  over  the  dark  region 
of  Jehennam. — The  Koran. 

Thais  (2  syl.).  An  Athenian  courte- 
san who  induced  Alexander,  when  excited 
with  wine,  to  set  fire  to  the  palace  of 
the  Persian  kings  at  Persep'olis. 

The  king  seized  a flambeau  with  zeal  to  destroy; 

Thais  led  the  way  to  light  him  to  his  prey. 

And,  like  another  Helen,  fired  another  Troy. 

Dryden,  "Alexander's  Feast'* 

ThaPaba.  The  Destroyer,  son  of 
Hodei'rah  and  Zei'nab  {Zeno'bia) ; hero 
of  a poem  by  Southey,  in  twelve  books. 

Thales.  {See  Seven  Sages.) 

Thales'tris.  Queen  of  the  Am'- 
azons  ; any  lady-at-arms  or  female  war- 
rior.— Classic  mythology. 

Thali'a.  The  muse  of  comedy. 

Thames  (1  syl.).  The  Latin  Tamesis, 
the  river  Tame  combined  with  the  river 
Isis.  Tame  is  a variety  of  the  Aryan 
element  am,  amp,  tarn,  &c.,  seen  in  the 
Latin  amn-is,  in  the  Greek  'po-tam-os, 
and  in  such  words  as  North-amp-ton, 
So.uth-amp-ton,  Tam-worth,  Tam-ar,  &c. 
Isis  is  a variety  of  the  Celtic  uisg,  water, 
of  which  esk,  ex,  ouse,  &c.,  are  other 
varieties. 

Around  his  throne  the  sea-bom  brothers  stood. 

Who  swell  with  tributary  urns  his  flood 

First  the  famed  authors  of  his  ancient  name, 

The  winding  Isis  and  the  fruitful  Thame  ; 

The  Kennet  swift,  for  silver  eels  renowned  ; 

The  Loddon  slow  with  verdant  alders  crowned; 

Cole,  whose  dark  streams  his  flowery  islands  lave; 

And  chalky  Wey  that  rolls  a milky  wave  ; 

The  blue  transparent  Vandalis  appears; 

The  gulphy  Lee  his  sedgy  tresses  rears; 

And  sullen  Mole  that  hides  his,diving  flood; 

And  silent  Larent  stained  with  Danish  blood. 

Pope,  “ Windsor  Forest." 

Hill  never  set  the  Thames  on  fire.  He’ll 
never  make  any  figure  in  the  world.  The 
temse  was  a com  sieve  which  was  worked 
in  former  times  over  the  receiver  of  the 
sifted  flour.  A hard-working  active  man 
would  not  unfrequently  ply  the  temse  so 
quickly  as  to  set  fire  to  the  wooden  hoop 
at  the  bottom  ; but  a lazy  fellow  would 
never  set  the  temse  on  fire.  The  play 
on  the  word  temse  has  engendered  many 


stupid  imitations,  as  He  will  never  set 
the  Mersey  on  fire,”  which  has  no  mean- 
ing. (Dutch,  teme;  French,  tamis;  Italian, 
tamiso,  a sieve  ; with  the  verbs  temsen, 
tamiser,  tamisare,  to  sift).  Hence  bread 
made  of  finely-sifted  flour  used  to  be 
called  temse-bread. 

*,j.*  The  thin  worsted  stuff  called 
tammy,  lasting,  and  durant,  used  for 
ladies’  shoes  and  strainers,  is  the  same 
word.  The  sieve  called  the  tammy,  tamis, 
or  temse,  was  made  of  this  glazed  cloth. 

Tham'muz.  The  Syrian  and  Phoeni- 
cian name  of  Ado'nis.  Flis  death  hap- 
pened on  the  banks  of  the  river  Adonis, 
and  in  summer  time  the  waters  always 
become  reddened  with  the  huntePs 
blood.  {See  Ezek.  viii.  14.) 

Thammuz  came  next  behind. 
Whose  annual  wound  on  Jjehanon  allured 
The  Syrian  damsels  to  lament  his  fate 
In  amorous  ditties  all  a summer’s  day. 

While  smooth  Adonis  from  his  native  rock 
Kan  purple  to  the  sea,  supposed  with  blood 
Of  Thammuz  yearly  wounded. 

Milton,  "Paradise  Lost"  bk.  1 

Tham'yFis.  A Thracian  bard  men- 
tioned by  Homer  Iliad,”  ii.  595).  H© 
challenged  the  Muses  to  a trial  of  skill, 
and  being  overcome  in  the  contest,  was 
deprived  by  them  of  his  sight  and  power 
of  song.  He  is  represented  with  a broken 
lyre  in  his  hand. 

Blind  Thamyris  and  blind  Maeon'ides  [Homer], 
And  Ti'resias  and  Phineus,  prophets  old. 

Milton,  Paradise  Lost,"  iii. 

***  Tiresias”  pron.  Tt-re-sas',  '^PhF 
neus”  pron.  Fi'-nuce. 

Tbatcll.  A straw  hat.  A hat  being 
called  a tile,  and  the  word  being  mistaken 
for  a roof-tile,  gave  rise  to  several  syno^ 
nyms,  such  as  roof,  roofing,  thatch,  &c. 

Thau'maste  (2  syl.).  A mighty 
scholar,  who  journeyed  from  England  to 
argue  by  signs  only.  He  was  beaten  in 
argument  by  Panurge  (2  syl.). — Rabelais, 
“ Gargantua  and  PantagruelF 

Thau'matur'gus.  A miracle-worker; 
applied  to  saints  and  others  who  are 
reputed  to  have  performed  miracles. 
(Greek,  thauma  ergon.) 

Prince  A lexander  of  Ilohenlohe,  whose 
power  was  looked  upon  as  miraculous. 

Apolldniusof  Tya'na.  (a.d.  3-98.)  {See 
his  life  by  Philos'tratus.) 

St.  Bernard  of  Clair vaux,  called  The 
Thaumaturgus  of  the  West.”  (1091-1153.) 

St.  Francis  D' Assisi,  founder  of  the 
Franciscan  order.  m82-1226.) 


886 


THEAGENES, 


THELUSSON  ACT. 


J,  Joseph  Gassner,  of  Bratz  in  the 
Tyrol,  who,  looking  on  disease  as  a pos- 
session, exorcised  the  sick,  and  his  cures 
were  considered  miraculous.  (1727-1779. ) 

Gregory,  bishop  of  Neo-Ccesare' a,  in  Cap- 
pado'cia,  called  emphatically  ‘‘The  Thau- 
maturgus,”  from  the  numerous  miracles 
he  is  reported  to  have  performed.  (212- 
270.) 

St,  Isidorus,  (See  his  lifeby  Damascius.) 

Jannes  and  Jambres,  the  magicians  of 
Pharaoh,  who  withstood  Moses, 

Blaise  Pascal,  (1623-1662. ) 

Ploti'nus,  and  several  other  Alexan- 
drine philosophers.  (205-270.)  (See  the 
Life  of  Plotinus  by  Porphyry.) 

Proclus.  (412-485.)  (See  his  life  by 
Alari'nus. ) 

Simon  Magus,  of  Samaria,  called  “The 
Great  Power  of  God  ” (Acts  viii.  10). 

Several  of  the  Sophists.  (See  “ Life  of 
the  Philosophers,”  by  Eunapius.) 

Vincent  de  Paul,  founder  of  the  “ Sis- 
ters of  Charity.”  (1576-1660.) 

Peter  Schott  has  published  a trea- 
tise on  natural  magic  called  “ Thauma- 
turgus  Physicus.”  (See  below ^ 

Thaumaturgus.  Filume'-na  is  called 
Thaumaturga,  a saint  unknown  till  1802, 
when  a grave  was  discovered  with  this 
inscription  on  tiles : lumena  paxte 
CVMFI,  which,  being  re-arranged,  makes 
Pax  tecum  Filumena.  Filumena  was  at 
once  accepted  as  a saint,  and  so  many 
wonders  were  worked  by  “her”  that  she 
has  been  called  La  Thaumaturge  du  Dix- 
neuvieme  Siecle, 

Theag'enes  and  Cliaricle'a.  The 
hero  and  heroine  of  an  exquisite  erotic 
romance  in  Greek  by  Heliodo'rus,  bishop 
of  Tricca.  At  early  dawn  some  Egyptian 
banditti  assemble  on  the  summit  of  a 
promontory  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nile, 
and  behold  a vessel  laden  with  spoils 
lying  at  anchor  in  the  sea  before  them. 
The  banks  of  the  Nile  are  covered  with 
dead  bodies  and  the  fragments  of  a feast. 
These  are  the  relics  of  certain  pirates 
that  had  contended  for  the  possession  of 
Chariclea,  who  is  discovered  by  the  rob- 
bers sitting  on  a rock  tending  Theagenes, 
who  lies  wounded  beside  her.  Subse- 
quently Cnemon  and  Calasi'ris  meet  in 
the  house  of  Nau' sides,  when  Calasiris 
relates  the  early  history  of  Chariclea,  the 
development  of  her  love  for  Theagenes, 
and  her  capture  by  the  pirates. — Loves 
of  Theagenes  and  Charicleia^^  (4th  cent.). 


Theban  Bard  or  Eagle,  Pindar, 
born  at  Thebes,  (b.c.  518-439.) 

Thebes  (1  syl.),  called  The  Hundred 
Gated,  was  not  Thebes  of  Boeotia,  but  of 
Thebais  of  Egypt,  which  extended  over 
twenty-three  miles  of  land.  Homer  says 
out  of  each  gate  the  Thebans  could  send 
forth  200  war-chariots.  (Egyptian,  Taape 
or  Taouab,  city  of  the  sun.) 

The  woild’s  great  empress  on  the  Egyptian  plain. 
That  spreads  her  conquests  o’er  a thousand  states. 
And  pours  her  heroes  through  a hundred  gates. 

Two  hundred  horsemen  and  two  hundred  cars 
From  each  wide  portal  issuing  to  the  wars. 

Pope,  “ llvxd^  lx. 

Theda  (St,),  stjtled  in  Greek  martyr- 
ologies  th.Qproto-mahyress,2,^  St.  Stephen 
is  the  proto-martyr.  All  that  is  known  of 
her  is  from  a book  called  the  “Periods,” 
or  “ Acts  of  Paul  and  Theda,”  pronounced 
apocryphal  by  pope  Gela'sius,  and  un- 
happily lost.  According  to  the  legend, 
Theda  was  born  o^  a noble  family  in 
Ico'nium,  and  was  converted  by  the 
preaching  of  St.  Paul. 

Theleme  (Ta-laim),  The  abbey 
founded  and  endowed  by  Gargantua  at 
the  suggestion  of  Friar  John,  and  be- 
stowed upon  him  for  his  services  in  the 
subjugation  of  Picrochole.  It  was  hexa- 
gonal,six  storeys  high,  and  contained  9, 332 
chambers,  every  one  of  which  had  its 
boudoir,  oratory,  and  ward- room.  The 
staircase  was  twenty  feet  wide,  and  had  a 
landing  after  every  twelve  stairs.  All  the 
furniture  was  most  sumptuous.  The  sur- 
rounding parks  were  planted  with  the 
choicest  trees,  and  decorated  with  foun- 
tains and  statues.  The  men  wore  crimson 
stockings,  and  both  the  men  and  women 
had  every  luxury  which  art  could  devise. 
There  was  only  one  law,  and  that  was 
expressed  in  four  words — “Do  what 
YOU  WILL  ; ” but  what  one  did  all  did.  If 
one  played,  all  played ; if  one  went  hawk- 
ing, all  went ; in  a word,  every  one  liked 
and  disliked  alike.  To  maintain  this 
establishment  a fee-farm-rent  of  2,369,514 
rose-nobles,  exempt  from  all  burden,  was 
settled  on  it,  and  paid  annually  at  the 
gate  of  the  abbey. — Rabelais,  “ Gargan- 
tua and  Pantagruelf  bk.  i.  53. 

Thelusson  Act.  The  39th  and  40th 
Geo.  III.,  cap.  98.  An  Act  to  prevent 
testators  from  leaving  their  property  to 
accumulate  for  more  than  twenty-one 
years  ; so  called  because  it  was  passed  in 
reference  to  the  last  will  and  testament 


THENOT. 


THESPIS. 


887 


of  the  late  Mr.  Thelusson,  in  which  he 
desired  his  property  to  be  invested  till  it 
had  accumulated  to  some  nineteen  mil- 
lions sterling. 

The'not.  An  old  shepherd  who  re- 
lates to  Cuddy  the  fable  of  ‘^The  Oak 
and  the  Briar,”  with  the  view  of  curing 
him  of  his  vanity.— Shepherd’s 
Calendar’* 

Theoc'ritos.  The  Scottish  Theocritus. 
Allen  Ramsay,  author  of  “ The  Gentle 
Shepherd.”  (1685-1758.) 

Theodolite  (Greek).  Theaomai  odos 
litos  (I  survey  the  straight  road— ^.e., 
the  direct  distance  between  two  given 
points).  The  general  etymology  is  thea- 
omai dolos. 

Theod'omas.  A famous  trumpeter 
at  the  siege  of  Thebes. 

At  every  court  ther  cam  loud  menstralcye 
That  never  tromped  J oab  for  to  heere, 

Ne  he  Theodomas  yit  half  so  cleere 
At  Thebes,  wUen  the  cite  was  in  doute. 

Chaucer  t “ Canterbury  Tales”  9,592. 

Theodo'ra  (in  '^Orlando  Furioso”), 
sister  of  Constantine,  the  Greek  emperor. 
Greatly  enraged  against  Roge'ro,  who 
slew  her  son,  she  vowed  vengeance.  Ro- 
gero  was  captured  during  sleep,  and  com- 
mitted to  her  hands.  She  cast  him  into 
a foul  dungeon,  and  fed  him  on  the  bread 
of  affliction,  but  prince  Leon  released  him. 

Theod'orick.  One  of  the  heroes  of 
the  ISiibeluDg,  a legend  of  the  Sagas. 
This  king  of  the  Goths  was  also  selected 
as  the  centre  of  a set  of  champions  by 
the  German  minnesangers  [minstrels),  but 
he  is  called  by  these  romancers  Diderick 
of  Bern  [Vero'na), 

Tlieodo'rus.  The  royal  physician 
who  undertook  to  cure  Gargantua  of  his 
bad  propensities,  so  he  purged  him  cano- 
nically with  “ Anticyrian  hellebore,”  ‘‘to 
drive  off  all  the  perverse  habits  of  his 
trains,”  and  make  him  forget  all  he  had 
over  learnt  under  previous  masters. — 
Rabelais,  “ Gargantua  and  Pantagruel,** 
bk.  i.  23. 

Therapeu'tae.  The  Therapeutae  of 
Philo  were  a branch  of  the  Essenes.  The 
word  Essenes  is  Greek,  and  means  doc- 
tors” (essaioi),  and  Therapeutae  is  merely 
a synonym  of  the  same  word. 

There'sa.  Daughter  of  the  count 
Palatine  of  Padodia,  beloved  by  Mazeppa. 
The  count  her  father  was  very  indignant 


that  a mere  page  should  presume  to  fall 
in  love  with  his  dauirhter,  and  had  Ma- 
zeppa bound  to  a wild  horse  and  set  adrift. 
As  for  Theresa,  Mazeppa  never  knew  her 
future  history.  Theresa  was  historically 
not  the  daughter  but  the  young  wife  of 
the  fiery  count. — Byron,  “ Mazeppa.” 

Til  e r e s a . The  miller’s  wife  who 
adopted  and  brought  up  the  orphan 
Amiffla,  called  the  somnambulist. — Bel- 
lini, “La  Sonnambula”  [Scribe’s  libretto). 

TlierirLido'rians.  Those  who  took 
part  in  the  coup  d’etat  which  effected 
the  fall  of  Robespierre,  with  the  desire 
of  restoring  the  legitimate  monarchy. 
So  called  because  the  Reign  of  Terror 
was  brought  to  an  end  on  the  9th  Ther- 
midor  of  the  second  Republican  year 
(July  27,  1794).  Ther'midor  or  Hot 
Month”  was  from  July  19  to  August  18.— 
Duval,  “Souvenirs  Thermidoriens,” 

Thersi'tes.  A deformed  scurrilous 
officer  in  the  Greek  army  which  went  to 
the  siege  of  Troy.  He  was  always  railing 
at  the  chiefs,  and  one  day  Achilles  felled 
him  to  the  earth  with  his  fist,  and  killed 
him. — Homer,  “Iliad.” 

He  squinted,  halted,  gibbous  was  behind. 

And  pinched  before,  and  on  his  tapering  head 

Grew  patches  only  of  the  flimsiest  down. 

Him  Greece  had  sent  to  Troy, 

The  miscreant,  who  shamed  his  country  most. 

Cowper's  translation,  bk.  ii. 

A Thersites.  A dastardly,  malevolent, 
impudent  railer  against  the  powers  that 
be.  [See  above.) 

Theseus  (2  syl.).  Lord  and  governor 
of  Athens,  called  by  Chaucer  Duke  The- 
seus. He  married  Hypol'ita,  and  as  he 
returned  home  with  his  bride  and  Emily 
her  sister,  was  accosted  by  a crowd  of 
female  suppliants,  who  complained  of 
Creon,  king  of  Thebes.  The  duke  forth- 
with set  out  for  Thebes,  slew  Creon,  and 
took  the  city  by  assault.  Many  captives 
fell  into  his  hands,  amongst  whom  were 
the  two  knights  named  PaTamon  and 
Arcite  [q.v.). — Chancer,  “ The  Knighlis 
Tale.” 

Thes'pis,  Dramatic.  Thes- 

pis was  the  father  of  Greek  tragedy. 

The  race  of  learned  men 

Oft  snatch  the  pen. 

As  if  inspired,  and  in  a Thespian  rage 

Then  write. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,”  c.  i.  52. 

Thespis,  the  first  professor  of  our  art. 

At  country  wakes  sang  ballads  from  a cart. 

Dryden,  Prologue  to  “ Hophonuba.’* 


THESTYLIS, 


THISTLE. 


Thes'tylis.  Any  rustic  maiden.  In 
the  Idylls”  of  Theoc'ritos,  Thestylis  is 
a young  female  slave. 

And  then  in  haste  her  bower  she  leaves, 

With  Thestylis  to  bind  the  sheaves. 

Milton^  “ L' Allegro.’* 

Thick.  Through  thick  and  thin  (Dry- 
den).  Through  evil  and  through  good 
report ; through  stoggy  mud  and  stones 
only  thinly  covered  with  dust.  Devon- 
shire roads  illustrate  the  notion  com- 
pletely. 

Through  perils  both  of  wind  and  limb 
She  followed  him  through  thick  and  thin, 

Butler^  “ Hujubras.** 

Thief.  Autolycos,  Cacus,  &c.) 

Thieves  on  the  Cross,  called  Ges- 
mas  (the  impenitent)  and  Dismas  (after- 
wards St.  Dismas,”  the  penitent  thief) 
in  the  ancient  mysteries.  Hence  the 
following  charm  to  scare  away  thieves : — 

Imparibus  merit's  pendent  tria  corpora  ramis ; 

Dismas  et  Gesinas,  media  est  divma  potestas  ; 

Alta  petit  Dismas,  infelix,  inlima,  Gesraas : 

IVos  et  res  nostras  conservet  sumina  potestas, 

Hos  versus  dicas,  ne  tu  furto  tua  pordas. 

Thimble.  Scotch,  Thummle,  origi- 
nally ‘^Thumb-hell,” because  it  was  worn 
on  the  thumb,  as  sailors  still  wear  their 
thimbles.  It  is  a Dutch  invention,  intro- 
duced into  England  in  1695  by  John 
Lofting,  who  opened  a thimble  manufac- 
tory at  Islington.  {Ble,  German  hlech, 
metal-plate,  as  Mech-mutze^  a cap  of  iron- 
plate,  &c.) 

Thimble-rig.  A cheat.  The  cheat- 
ing game  so  called  is  played  thus  : A 
pea  is  put  on  a table,  and  the  conjuror 
places  three  or  four  thimbles  over  it  in 
succession,  and  then  sets  the  thimbles 
on  the  table.  Y ou  are  asked  to  say  under 
which  thimble  the  pea  is,  but  are  sure  to 
guess  wrong,  as  the  pea  has  been  con- 
cealed under  the  man’s  nail. 

Thirteen  at  dinner,  unlucky.  One 
will  die  before  the  year  is  out.  This 
silly  superstition  is  derived  from  the 
“last  supper”  of  our  Lord  with  his 
twelve  disciples. 

Thirteenpenee- halfpenny.  A 

hangman ; so  called  because  thirteen- 
pence-halfpenny  was  his  wages  for  hang- 
ing a man.  {See  Hangman.) 

Thirty.  A man  at  thirty  must  be 
either  a fool  or  a physician. — Tiberius. 

Thirty  Tyrants.  The  thirty  magis- 
trates appointed  by  Sparta  over  Athens, 


at  the  termination  of  the  Peloponnesian 
war.  This  “reign  of  terror,”  after  one 
year’s  continuance,  was  overthrown  by 
Thrasybu'los  (B.C.  403). 

The  Thirty  Tyrants  of  the  Roman 
empire.  So  those  military  usurpers  are 
called  who  endeavoured,  in  the  reigns  of 
Vale'rianand  Gallie'nus  (253-268),  to  make 
themselves  independent  princes.  The 
number  thirty  must  be  taken  with  great 
latitude,  as  only  nineteen  are  given,  aod 
their  resemblance  to  the  thirty  tyrants 
of  Athens  is  extremely  fanciful.  They 
were — 


In  the  East. 

(1)  Cyri'ades. 

(2)  Macria'nus. 

(3)  Balista. 

(4)  Odena'thus. 

(5)  Zeno'bia. 

In  ihe  West. 

(6)  Post'humus. 

(7)  Lollia'nus. 

(8)  Victori'nus  and  his 

mother  Victoria. 

(9)  Ma'rius. 

(10)  Tet'ricus. 


niyricum. 

(11)  Ingeii'uus. 

(12)  Kegillia'nus. 

(13)  Aure'olus. 

Promiscuous. 

(14)  Saturni'nus  in  Pon» 

tus. 

(15)  Trebellia'nusinisaa- 

ria. 

(Iff)  Pi'so  in  Thessaly. 

(17)  Va'lens  in  Achaia. 

(18)  Almilia'nus  in  Egypt. 

(19)  Celsus  in  Africa. 


Thirty  Years’  War.  A series  of 
wars  between  the  Catholics  and  Protes- 
tants of  Germany  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. It  began  in  Bohemia  in  1618,  and 
ended  in  1648  with  the  “peace  of  West- 
phalia.” 

Thisbe.  A Babylonish  maiden  be- 
loved by  Pir^mus.  They  lived  in  con- 
tiguous houses,  and  as  their  parents 
would  not  let  them  marry,  they  contrived 
to  converse  together  through  a hole  in 
the  garden  wall.  On  one  occasion  they 
agreed  to  meet  at  Ninus’  tomb,  and 
Thisbe,  who  was  first  at  the  spot,  hearing 
a lion  roar,  ran  away  in  a fright,  dropping 
her  garment  on  the  way.  The  lion  seized 
the  garment  and  tore  it.  When  Piramus 
arrived  and  saw  the  garment,  he  concluded 
that  a lion  had  eaten  Thisbe,  and  he 
stabbed  himself.  Thisbe  returning  to 
the  tomb  saw  Piramus  dead,  and  killed 
herself  also.  This  story  is  travestied  in 
“The  Midsummer  Night’s  Dream,”  by 
Shakespeare. 


Thistle  of  Scotland.  The  Danes 
thought  it  cowardly  to  attack  an  enemy 
by  night,  but  on  one  occasion  deviated 
from  their  rule.  On  they  crept,  bare- 
footed, noiselessly,  and  unobserved,  when 
one  of  the  men  set  his  foot  on  a thistle, 
which  made  him  cry  out.  The  alarm  was 
given,  the  Scotch  fell  upon  the  night- 
party,  and  defeated  them  with  terrible 
slaughter.  Ever  since  the  thistle  has 


THISTLE  BEDS, 


THORGKTM. 


889 


been  adopted  as  the  insignia  of  Scotland, 
with  the  motto  Nemo  me  impune  lacesiit. 

This  tradition  reminds  us  of  Brennus 
and  the  geese. 

Thistle.  The  device  of  the  Scotch 
monarehs  was  adopted  by  queen  Anne, 
hence  the  riddle  in  Pope’s  pastoral  pro- 
posed by  Daphnis  to  Strephon  : 

Tell  me..  ..in  what  more  happy  fields 
The  thistle  springs,  to  whi  h the  lily  yields  ? 

Pove,  •*  Spring.’* 

In  the  reign  of  Anne  the  duke  of  Marl- 
borough made  the  lily  ” of  France  yield 
to  the  thistle  of  queen  Anne.  The  lines 
are  a parody  of  Virgil’s  Eclogue  iii., 
104—108. 

Thistle  Beds.  Withoos,  a Dutch 
artist,  is  famous  for  his  homely  pictures 
where  thistle-beds  abound. 

Thom'alin.  One  of  the  shepherds  in 
Spenser’s  Shepherd’s  Calendar.” 

Thomas  (St.).  Patron  saint  of  archi- 
tects. The  tradition  is  that  Gondof  orus, 
king  of  the  Indies,  gave  him  a large  sum 
of  money  to  build  a palace.  St.  Thomas 
spent  it  on  the  poor,  ^Hhus  erecting  a 
superb  palace  in  heaven.” 

The  symbol  of  St.  Thomas  is  a builder’s 
square,  because  he  was  the  patron  of 
masons  and  architects. 

Christians  of  St.  Thomas.  In  the  sou- 
thern parts  of  Mai  abar  there  were  some 
200,000  persons  who  called  themselves 

Christians  of  St.  Thomas,”  when  Gama 
discovered  India.  They  had  been  1,300 
years  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  patri- 
arch of  Babylon,  who  appointed  their 
materene  (archbishop).  When  Gama 
arrived  the  head  of  the  Malabar  Chris- 
tians was  Jacob,  who  styled  himself 

Metropolitan  of  India  and  China.”  In 
1625  a stone  was  found  near  Siganfu 
with  a cross  on  it,  and  containing  a list 
of  the  materenes  of  India  and  China. 

Sir  Thomas.  The  dogmatical,  prating 
squire  in  Crabbe’s  Borough  ” (letter  x.). 

Thomas-a-Kempis,  generally  as- 
cribed to  Jean  de  Gerson,  who  died  1429, 
aged  sixty-six.  His  real  name  was  Jean 
Charlier.  Gerson  was  the  place  of  his 
birth. 

Thomas  the  Rhymer.  Thomas 
Learmont,  of  Ercildoune,  a Scotchman 
in  the  reign  of  Alexander  III.,  and  con- 
temporary with  W^allace.  He  is  also 
called  Thomas  of  Ercildoune.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  calls  him  the  Merlin  of  Scot- 


land.” He  was  magician,  prophet,  and 
poet,  and  is  to  return  again  to  earth  at 
some  future  time  when  Shrove  Tuesday 
and  Good  Friday  change  places. 

Care  must  betaken  not  to  confound 

Thomas  the  Rhymer  ” with  Thomas 
Rymer,  the  historiographer  and  compiler 
of  the  Foedera.” 

Thom'ists.  Followers  of  Thomas 
Aqui'nas,  who  denied  the  doctrine  of 
the  immaculate  conception  maintained' 
by  Duns  Scotus. 

Sootists  and  Thomists  now  in  peace  remain. 

Pope,  '’Essay  on  Criticism,'*  414. 

Thomson  (James),  author  of  ''The 
Seasons  ” and  '‘  Castle  of  Indolence,”  in 
1729  brought  out  the  tragedy  of  "So- 
phonisba,”  in  which  occurs  the  silly  line': 
"0  Sophonisba,  Sophonisba,  0 !”  which 
a wag  in  the  pit  parodied  into  " 0 Jemmy 
Thomson,  Jemmy  Thomson,  0 !”  (1709- 
1748.) 

Tho'pas  (Sir).  Native  of  Poperyng, 
in  Flanders;  a capital  sportsman,  archer, 
wrestler,  and  runner.  He  resolved  to 
marry  no  one  but  an  " elf  queen,”  and 
set  out  for  fairy-land.  On  his  way  h© 
met  the  three-headed  giant  Olifaunt, 
who  challenged  him  to  single  combat. 
Sir  Thopas  got  permission  to  go  back  for 
his  armour,  and  promised  to  meet  him 
next  day.  Here  mine  host  interrupts  the 
narrative  as  " intolerable  nonsense,”  and 
the  "rime  ” is  left  unfinished. 

An  elf  queen  wol  I have.  I wis, 

For  in  this  world  no  woman  is 
"Worthy  to  be  my  mate. 

Chaucer,  “ Rime  of  Sir  Thopas.'* 

Thor.  Son  of  Odin,  and  god  of  war; 
His  wife  was  Sif  (love),  and  his  palace 
Thrudvangr,  where  he  received  the 
warriors  who  had  fallen  in  battle. — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

The  word  enters  into  many  names  of 
places,  &c.,  as  Thorsby  in  Cumberland, 
Thunderhill  in  Surrey,  Thurso  in  Caith- 
ness, Torthorwald  {i.e.,  "hill  of  Thor-in- 
the-wood  ”)  in  Dumfriesshire,  Thursday, 
&c. 

Thor’s  Belt.  The  Scandinayian  war- 
god  has  a belt  which  doubles  his  strength 
whenever  he  puts  it  on. 

Thor’s  Hammer  or  Mace  is  called 
Mjblnir. 

Thorgrim  (Icelandic  mythology). 
The  Northern  Apollo. 


890 


THORN. 


THREADNEEDLE  STREET, 


Thorn.  A thorn  in  the  flesh.  Some- 
thing to  mortify ; a skeleton  in  the  cup- 
board. The  allusion  is  to  a custom  com- 
mon amongst  the  ancient  Pharisees,  one 
class  of  which  used  to  insert  thorns  in 
the  borders  of  their  gaberdines,  to'  prick 
their  legs  in  walking  and  make  them 
bleed.  (>5^66  Pharisees.) 

The  thorns  of  Daujphin^  will  never  pricJc 
unless  they  prich  thefirst  day.  This  proverb 
is  applied  to  natural  talent.  If  talent  does 
not  show  itself  early  it  will  never  do  so — 
the  truth  of  which  application  is  very 
doubtful  indeed. 

Si  I’espine  non  picque  quand  nai, 

A pene  que  picque  jamai. 

Proverb  in  DaupJiinS. 

Conference  of  Thorn  met  October,  1645, 
at  Thorn,  in  Prussia,  to  remove  the  dif- 
ficulties which  separate  Christians  into 
^ sects.  It  was  convoked  by  Lad'islas  IV. 
of  Poland,  but  no  good  result  followed 
the  conference. 

Thornberry  {Joh).  The  hero  of 
»Colman’s  comedy  entitled  John  Bull.” 
Mary  Thornberry  is  his  daughter. 

Tliornllill  {Sir  William),  who  as- 
sumes the  name  of  Burchell,  and  passes 
himself  off  as  a poor  man.  He  expresses 
his  dissent  by  the  word  Fudge.” — Gold- 
smith, Vicar  of  WaTcefleld.^* 

Thorps-men.  Villagers.  This  very 
pretty  Anglo-Saxon  word  is  worth  restor- 
ing. {Thorpe^  Anglo-Saxon,  a village.) 

Thoth.  The  Hermes  of  Egyptian 
mythology.  Pie  is  represented  with  the 
head  of  an  ibis  on  a human  body.  He  is 
the  inventor  of  the  arts  and  sciences, 
music  and  astronomy,  speech  and  letters. 
The  name  means  ^ ‘ Logos  ” or  ‘ ^ the  W ord.  ’ ’ 

Thousand.  Every  one  knows  that  a 
do^en  may  be  either  twelve  or  thirteen,  a 
score  either  twenty  or  twenty-one,  a hun- 
dred either  one  hundred  or  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  and  a thousand  either 
one  thousand  or  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred. The  higher  numbers  are  the  old 
Teutonic  computations.  Hickes  tells  us 
that  the  Norwegians  and  Icelandic  people 
have  two  sorts  of  decad,  the  lesser  and 
the  greater  called  “Tolfrsed.”  The 
lesser  thousand. -10  x 100,  but  the  greater 
«or  Tolfraed  thousand=12  x 100.  The  word 
iolf,  equal  to  Danish  tolv,  is  our  twelve. — 

Gram.  Jsl.f  p.  43. 

Five  score  of  meu,  money,  or  pins, 

Six  score  of  all  other  things.  Old  saw. 


Thrall.  Bondage.  From  dinll,  in 
allusion  to  the  custom  of  drilling  the  ear 
of  a slave  in  token  of  servitude,  a custom 
common  to  the  Jews  (Deut.  xv.  17).  Our 
Saxon  forefathers  were  accustomed  to 
pierce  at  the  church-door  the  ears  of  their 
bond- slaves. 

Thra'so.  Duke  of  Mar,  one  of  the  allies 
of  Charlemagne.— J.nos^(?,  Orlando  Fu- 
rioso.’' 

Thra'so.  A swaggering  captain  in  the 

Eunuch  ” of  Terence. 

Thrasonical.  Boastful,  given  to 
swagger,  like  Thraso.  {See  above.) 

Caesar’s  Thrasonical  brag  of  “I  came,  saw,  and 
overcame.”— iS/iafcespean,  “As  You  Like  ItP  v.  2. 

Thread-  The  thread  of  destiny — i.e., 
that  on  which  destiny  depends.  The 
Greeks  and  Romans  imagined  that  a 
grave  maiden  called  Clotho  spun  from 
her  distaff  the  destiny  of  man,  and  as 
she  spun  one  of  her  sisters  worked  out 
the  events  which  were  in  store,  and 
Apropos  cut  the  thread  at  the  point  when 
death  was  to  occur. 

A St.  Thomais  thread.  The  tale  is  that 
St.  Thomas  planted  Christianity  in  China, 
and  then  returned  to  Mal'abar.  Here  he 
saw  a huge  beam  of  timber  floating  on 
the  sea  near  the  coast,  and  the  king- 
endeavouring  by  the  force  of  men  and 
elephants  to  haul  it  ashore,  but  it  would 
not  stir.  St.  Thomas  desired  leave  to 
build  a church  with  it,  and  his  request 
being  granted,  he  dragged  it  easily  ashore 
with  a piece  of  pack-thread.  — Faria  y 
Sousa. 

Chief  of  the  Triple  Thread.  Chief  Brah- 
min. Oso'rius  tells  us  that  the  Brahmins 
wore  a symbolicalTessera  of  three  threads, 
reaching  from  the  right  shoulder  to  the 
left.  Faria  says  that  the  religion  of  the 
Brahmins  proceeded  from  fishermen,  who 
left  the  charge  of  the  temples  to  their  suc- 
cessors on  the  condition  of  their  wearing 
some  threads  of  their  nets  in  remem- 
brance of  their  vocation;  but  Oso'rius 
maintains  that  the  triple  thread  sym- 
bolises the  Trinity. 

Terna  fila  ab  hu'mero  dex'tero  in  latus  sinis'trum 
geruntjUt  desigaent  trinam  in  natu'ra  divi'na  ratio'- 
nem. 

Threadneedle  Street.  A corrup- 
tion of  Thridendal  Street,  meaning  the 
third  street  from  Chepesyde  ” to  the 
great  thoroughfare  from  London  Bridge 
to  ^‘Bushop  Gate”  (consisting  of  New 
Fyshe  Streate,  Gracious  Streate,  and 


THREE. 


THROW. 


891 


Bushop  Gate  Streate.  (Anglo-Saxon, 
thridda,  third.) 

Another  etymology  is  Thrig-needle 
(three-needle  street),  from  the  three 
needles  which  the  Needlemakers’  Com- 
pany bore  in  their  arms.  It  begins  from 
the  Mansion  House,  and  therefore  the 
Bank  stands  in  it. 

The  Old  Lady  in  Threadneedle  Street. 
The  directors  of  the  Bank  of  England 
were  so  called  by  William  Cobbett,  be- 
cause, like  Mrs.  Partington,  they  tried 
with  theii'  broom  to  keep  back  the  At- 
lantic waves  of  national  progress. 

A silver  curl-paper  that  I myself  took  off  the 
shining  locks  of  the  ever-beautiful  old  lady  of 
Threadneedle  Street  [aftanfc  note].—Dickens^  “ Doctor 
Marigold.  ’ 

Three.  Pythagoras  calls  three  the 
perfect  number,  expressive  of  ^^beginning, 
middle,  and  end,”  wherefore  he  makes  it 
a symbol  of  deity.  Jove  is  represented 
with  three  -forked  lightning,  N eptune  with 
n,  trident,  and  Pluto  with  a three-headed 
dog.  The  Fates  are  three,  the  Furies 
three,  the  Graces  three,  the  Muses  three 
times  three,  &c.  The  trinity  of  the 
trinity  is  three  times  three.  {See  Nine.) 

Three  Bishopries  (^The).  So  the 
French  call  the  three  cities  of  Lorraine, 
Metz,  and  Verdun,  each  of  which  was  at 
one  time  under  the  lordship  of  a bishop. 
They  were  united  to  the  kingdom  of 
France  by  Henri  II.,  in  1552. 

Three  Chapters  {The).  Three 
books,  or  parts  of  three  books — one  by 
Theodore  of  Mopsuestia,  one  by  Theod'- 
oret  of  Cyprus,  and  the  third  by  Ibas, 
bishop  of  Edessa.  These  books  were  of 
a Nestorian  bias  on  the  subject  of  the 
Incarnation  and  two  natures  of  Christ. 
The  church  took  up  the  controversy 
warmly,  and  the  dispute  continued  during 
the  reign  of  Justinian  and  the  popedom 
of  Vigilius.  In  553  the  “ Three  Chapters” 
were  condemned  at  the  general  council 
of  Constantinople. 

Three  Estates  of  the  Be  aim  are 
the  nobility,  the  clergy,  and  the  com- 
monalty. In  the  collect  for  Gunpowder 
Treason  we  thank  God  for  preserving 
(1st)  the  king,  and  (2nd)  the  three  estates 
of  the  realm;”  from  which  it  is  quite 
•evident  that  the  sovereign  is  not  one  of 
the  three  estates,  as  nine  persons  out  of 
ten  suppose.  These  three  estates  are 
represented  in  the  two  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment. 


Three-fingered  Jack.  The  famous 
negro  robber,  who  was  the  terror  of  Ja- 
maica in  1780,  and  was  hunted  down  in 
1781. 

Three  Kings’  Day.  Epiphany  or 
Twelfth-day,  designed  to  commemorate 
the  visit  of  the  three  kings”  or  Wise 
Men  of  the  East  to  the  infant  Jesus. 

Three  Sheets  in  the  Wind.  Un- 
steady from  over  drinking,  as  a ship  when 
its  sheets  are  in  the  wind.  The  sail  of  a 
ship  is  fastened  at  one  of  the  bottom 
corners  by  a rope  called  a tack  the 
other  corner  is  left  more  or  less  free  as 
the  rope  called  a sheet  ” is  disposed ; if 
quite  free  the  sheet  is  said  to  be  in  the 
wind,”  and  the  sail  flaps  and  flutters  with- 
out restraint.  If  all  the  three  sails  were 
so  loosened  the  ship  would  '^reel  and 
stagger  like  a drunken  man.” 

Three-tailed  Bashaw.  The  beg- 
lerbeg  or  prince  of  princes  among  the 
Turks  has  a standard  borne  before  him 
with  three  horse-tails.  He  has  also  a 
gilt  spear  with  three  horse-tails  carried 
before  him,  and  stuck  before  his  tent. 
The  next  in  rank  is  the  pacha  with  two 
tails,  and  then  the  bey,  who  has  only  one. 

Three  Tuns.  A fish  ordinary  in 
Billingsgate,  famous  as  far  back  as  the 
reign  of  queen  Anne. 

Threshers.  Members  of  the  Catho- 
lic organisation  instituted  in  1806.  One 
object  was  to  resist  the  payment  of  tithes. 
Their  threats  and  warnings  were  signed 

Captain  Thresher.” 

Threshold.  Properly  the  door-sill, 
but  figuratively  applied  to  the  beginning 
of  anything,  as  the  threshold  of  life  [in- 
fancy) y the  threshold  of  an  argument  {the 
commencement), th.Q  threshold  of  the  inquiry 
{the  first  part  of  the  investigation).  (Saxon, 
thoerscwald,  door- wood  ; German,  thursch- 
\oelle;  Icelandic,  throsulldur.  From  thuh’ 
comes  our  door. ) 

Thrift-box.  A money-box,  in  which 
thrifts  or  savings  are  put.  {See  Spend- 
thrift.) 

Throgmorton  Street  {London). 
So  named  from  Sir  Nicholas  Throck- 
morton, head  of  the  ancient  Warwick- 
shire family,  and  chief  banker  of  Eng- 
land in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth. 

Throw.  To  throiv  the  helve  after  the 
hatchet.  To  lose  the  hatchet,  and  then  in 


892 


THRUMS. 


THUMB. 


temper  to  throw  away  the  handle ; to 
be  reckless;  “neck  or  nothing.”  Losers 
often  stake  all  they  have  left  in  a despe- 
rate last  stake. 

Thrums.  Weaver’s  ends  and  fag- 
ends  of  carpet,  used  for  common  rugs. 
(The  word  is  common  to  many  languages, 
as  Icelandic,  thraum;  German,  irumm; 
Dutch,  drom ; Greek,  thrumma ; all 
meaning  “fag-ends”  or  “fragments.”) 

Come,  sisters,  come,  cut  thread  and  thrum ; 

Quail,  crush,  conclude,  and  quell ! 

Hhakespeare,  *'■  Midsumimr  JNighVs  Dream*  v.l. 

Thread  and  thrum.  Everything,  good 
and  bad  together. 

Thrummy  Cap.  A sprite  de- 
scribed in  Northumberland  fairy  tales 
as  a “queer-looking  little  auld  man,” 
whose  exploits  are  generally  laid  in  the 
cellars  of  old  castles. 

Thrym.  The  giant  who  fell  in  love 
with  Freyja,  and  stole  Thor’s  hammer. — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

Thug  {a  cheat).  So  a religious  fra- 
ternity in  India  is  called.  Their  patron 
goddess  is  Devi  or  Kali,  wife  of  Si'va.  The 
Thugs  live  by  plunder,  to  obtain  which 
they  never  halt  at  violence  or  even 
murder.  In  some  provinces  they  are 
called  “ stranglers  ” {^phansigars),  in  the 
Tamil  tongue  “noosers”  {ari  tulukar), 
in  the  Canarese  cat-gut  thieves  ” {tanti 
kalleru).  They  band  together  in  gangs 
mounted  on  horseback,  assuming  the 
appearance  of  merchants  ; some  two  or 
more  of  these  gangs  concert  to  meet  as 
if  by  accident  at  a given  town.  They 
then  ascertain  what  rich  merchants  are 
about  to  journey,  and  either  join  this 
party  or  lay  in  wait  for  it.  This  being 
arranged  the  victim  is  duly  caught  with  a 
lasso,  plundered,  and  strangled.  (Hindu, 
thaga,  deceive.) 

Thuggee  (2  syl.).  The  vocation  of  a 
Thug— i.e.,  waylaying  and  robbing  tra- 
vellers and  merchants ; these  expeditions 
were  generally  accompanied  with  murder 
by  strangulation  with  a running  noose. 
This  was  a religious  vocation,  which  had 
priests  and  an  order  of  knighthood. 

Thule  (2  syl.).  Called  by  Drayton 
Thuly.  Pliny,  Solinus,  and  Mela  take 
it  for  Iceland.  Pliny  says,  “It  is  an 
island  in  the  Northern  Ocean  discovered 
by  Pyth'eas,  after  sailing  six  days  from 
the  Orcades.”  Others,  like  Camden, 


consider  it  to  be  Shetland,  still  called 
Thylens-el  (isle  of  Thyle)  by  seamen,  in 
which  opinion  they  agree  with  MarPnus, 
and  the  descriptions  of  Ptolemy  and 
Tacitus.  Bochart  says  it  is  a Syrian 
word,  and  that  the  Phoenician  merchants 
who  traded  to  the  group  called  it  Gezirat 
Thule  (isles  of  darkness) ; but  probably 
it  is  the  Gothic  Tilde,  meaning  the  “ most 
remote  land,”  and  is  connected  with  the 
Greek  telos,  the  end. 

Where  the  Northern  Ocean,  in  vast  whirls. 
Boils  round  the  naked  melancholy  isles 
Of  furthest  Thule.  Thomson,  Autumn” 

Ultima  Thule.  The  end  of  the  world  ; 
the  last  extremity.  Thule  was  the  most 
northern  point  known  to  the  ancient 
Romans. 

Tibi  servi  it  ultima  Thule. 

Virgil,  “ Georgies*  i 30. 

Thumb.  When  a gladiator  was  van- 
quished it  rested  with  the  spectators  to 
decide  whether  he  should  be  slain  or 
not.  If  they  wished  him  to  live  they 
held  their  thumbs  down;  if  to  be  slain 
they  turned  their  thumbs  upwards. 

Where,  influenced  by  the  rabble’s  bloody  will. 
With  thumbs  bent  back,  they  nonularly  kill. 

Dry  den,  *•  Third  Satire.'* 

Do  you  Lite  your  thumb  at  me  1 Do  you 
mean  to  insult  me?  The  way  of  expressing 
defiance  and  contempt  was  by  snapping 
the  finger,  or  putting  the  thumb  in  the 
mouth.  Both  these  acts  are  termed  a 
fico,  whence  our  expressions  “not  worth 
a fig,”  “I  dont  care  a fig  for  you.” 
Decker,  describing  St.  Paul’s  Walk, 
speaks  of  the  biting  of  thumbs  to  beget 
quarrels.  (aSs^  Glove.) 

I see  Contempt  marching  forth,  giving  mee  the  fico 
with  his  thombe  in  his  mouth.— “VFrfs  Misene" 
(1596). 

I will  bite  my  thumbs  at  them,  which  is  a disgrace 
to  them  if  they  bear  it.— Shakespeare,  '•"Romeo  and 
Juliet,"  i.  1. 

By  the  pricking  of  my  thumbs,  something 
wicked  this  way  comes.  Another  proverb 
says,  “ My  little  finger  told  me  that.” 
When  your  ears  turn  hot  and  red,  it  is  to 
indicate  that  some  one  is  speaking  about 
you.  When  a sudden  fit  of  “ shivering” 
occurs,  it  is  because  some  one  is  treading 
on  the  place  which  is  to  form  your  grave. 
When  the  eye  itches,  it  indicates  the 
visit  of  a friend.  When  the  palm  itches, 
it  shows  that  a present  will  be  shortly 
received.  When  the  bones  ache,  it 
prognosticates  a coming  storm.  Plautus 
says,  ‘ ^ Timeo  quod  rerum  gesserim  hie, 
ita  dorsus  totus  prurit”  {Miles  Gloriosus). 
All  these  and  many  similar  superstitions 


THUMBIKIN3. 


TIBER 


893 


rest  on  the  notion  that  coming-  events 
cast  their  shadows  before,”  because  our 

angel,”  ever  watchful,  forewarns  us  that 
we  may  be  prepared.  Sudden  pains  and 
prickings  are  the  warnings  of  evil  on 
the  road  ; sudden  glows  and  pleasurable 
sensations  are  the  couriers  to  tell  us  of 
joy  close  at  hand.  These  superstitions 
are  relics  of  demonology  and  witchcraft. 

Every  honest  miller  has  a thumb  of  gold. 
Bven  an  honest  miller  grows  rich  with 
what  he  prigs.  Thus  Chaucer  says  of  his 
miller — 

Wei  cowde  he  ste'e  and  tollen  thriea, 

And  yet  he  had  a thomb  of  gold  parde  [was  what 

is  called  an  “honest  miller”]. 

“ Canterbury  Tales  ” {Prologue,  585). 

Rule  of  Thumb.  Rough  measure. 
Ladies  often  measure  yard  lengths  by 
their  thumb.  Indeed  the  expression  Six- 
teen nails  make  a yard”  seems  to  point 
to  the  thumb-nail  as  a standard.  Coun- 
trymen always  measure  by  their  thumb. 

Tom  Thumb.  (See  Tom.  ) 

Thumb  Brewed.  A corruption  of  Th’ome 
(the  home)  brewed. 

Thumlbikins  or  Thumbscrew.  An 
instrument  of  torture  largely  used  by 
the  Inquisition.  The  torture  was  com- 
pressing the  thumb  between  two  bars  of 
iron,  made  to  approach  each  other  by 
means  of  a screw.  Principal  Carstairs 
was  the  last  person  put  to  this  torture 
in  Britain ; he  suffered  for  half  an  hour 
at  Holyrood,  by  order  of  the  Scotch 
Privy  Council,  to  wring  from  him  a con- 
fession of  the  secrets  of  the  Argyll  and 
Monmouth  parties. 

Thunder.  The  giant  who  fell  into 
the  river  and  was  killed,  because  Jack 
cut  the  ropes  that  suspended  the  draw- 
bridge, and  when  the  giant  ventured  to 
cross  it  the  bridge  fell  in. — ^^Jack  the 
Giant  Killer.'* 

Thund^er  and  Lightning  or  Tonnant. 
Stephen  II.  of  Hungary.  (1100,  1114- 
1131.) 

Sons  of  Thunder  (Boaner'ges).  James 
and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee  (Mark 
iii.  17)  ; so  called  because  they  asked  to 
be  allowed  to  consume  with  lightning 
those  who  rejected  the  mission  of  Christ 
(Luke  ix.  54). 

Thunders  of  the  Vatican.  The 
anathemas  and  denunciations  of  the 
Pope,  whose  palace  is  the  Vatican  of 
Rome. 

Properly  speaking,  the  Vatican  con- 


sists of  the  papal  palace,  the  court  and 
garden  of  Belvedere,  the  library,  and 
the  museum,  all  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Tiber. 

Thunderbolt  of  Italy.  Gaston  de 
Foix,  nephew  of  Louis  XII.  (1489-1512.) 

Thunderer  (The').  A name  applied 
to  The  Times  ne\vspaper,  in  allusion  to 
a series  of  leaders  written  by  Capt.  Ed. 
Sterling,  on  the  subject  of  political  and 
social  influence.  This  was  when  Thomas 
Barnes  was  editor.  (See  Times.) 

Thundering  Legion.  During  the 
war  of  Marcus  Aurelius  with  the  Marco- 
manni,  in  174,  the  Roman  army  was  shut 
up  in  a defile,  and  was  reduced  to  great 
straits  for  want  of  water.  The  Chris- 
tians in  the  army  prayed  for  relief,  when 
a thunderstorm  broke  over  them,  under 
cover  of  which  they  attacked  the  Marco- 
manni,  and  won  a signal  victory. 

Thun'stone.  The  successor  of  king 
Arthur. — Nursery  Tale,  Tom  Thumb.** 

Thursday.  {See  Black.) 

Thwack'um,  in  Fielding’s  ^^Tom 
Jones.” 

Tiara.  A composite  emblem.  Its 
primary  meaning  is  purity  and  chastity 
— the  foundation  being  of  fine  linen. 
The  gold  band  denotes  supremacy.  The 
first  cap  of  dignity  was  adopted  by  pope 
Damasus  II.  in  1048.  The  cap  was  sur- 
mounted with  a high  coronet  in  1295  by 
Boniface  VIII.  The  second  coronet  was 
added  in  1335  by  Benedict  XII.,  to  in- 
dicate the  prerogatives  of  spiritual  and 
temporal  power  combined  in  the  Papacy. 
The  third  coronet  is  indicative  of  the 
Trinity,  but  it  is  not  known  who  first 
adopted  it ; some  say  Urban  V.,  others 
John  XXII.,  John  XXIII.,  or  Bene- 
dict XII. 

Tib.  Si.  Tib*s  Eve.  Never.  A cor- 
ruption of  St.  Ubes,  a corruption  again 
of  Setuval.  There  is  no  such  saint  in  the 
calendar  as  St.  Ubes,  and  therefore  her 
eve  falls  on  the  Greek  Kalends”  (q.v.), 
neither  before  Christmas  Day  nor  after  it. 

Tibbs  (Beau).  A vain,  flashy  man 
about  town,  exquisite  in  dress  and  dread- 
fully poor,  in  Goldsmith’s  Citizen  of 
the  World.” 

Tiber,  called  The  Yellow  Tiber,  be- 


894 


TIBERT. 


TIME  OF  GRACE. 


cause  it  is  much  discoloured  with  yellow 
mud. 

VorticKbus  rap'ldis  et  multa  flavus  are'na.— yir(7iZ. 

Tibert  {Sir).  The  cat  in  the  tale  of 

Reynard  the  Fox.”  {See  Tybalt.) 

Tibul'lus.  The  French  Tibullus. 
Evariste  Desire  Desforges,  chevalier  de 
Farny.  (1753-1814.) 

Tibur'ce  (3  syl.)  or  Tiburce  (2  syl.). 
Brother  of  Vale'rian,  converted  by  the 
teaching  of  St,  Cecilia,  his  sister-in-law, 
and  baptised  by  pope  Urban.  Being 
brought  before  Almachius  the  prefect, 
and  commanded  to  worship  the  image  of 
Jupiter,  both  the  brothers  refused,  and 
were  decapitated. — Chaucer,  Secounde 
Nonnes  Tale.'* 

A1  this  thins:  sche  unto  Tiburce  tolie  (3  syl.). 

And  after  this  Tiburce,  in  good  entente  (2  syl.). 

With  Valiri'an  to  pope  Urban  wente. 

Chaucer^  “ Canterbury  Tales,"  12,276, 

Tick.  To  go  on  tick — on  ticket.  In  the 
seventeenth  century,  ticket  was  the  ordi- 
nary term  for  the  written  acknowledg- 
ment of  a debt,  and  one  living  on  credit 
was  said  to  be  living  on  tick.  Betting  was 
then,  and  still  is  to  a great  extent,  a matter 
of  tick — i.e.,  entry  of  particulars  in  a bet- 
ting-book. We  have  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment prohibiting  the  use  of  betting- 
tickets  : Be  it  enacted,  that  if  any 
person  shall  play  at  any  of  the  said 
games  ....  (otherwise  than  with  and  for 
ready  money),  or  shall  bet  on  the  sides  of 
such  as  shall  play  ....  a sum  of  money 
exceeding  £100  at  any  one  time  .... 
upon  ticket  or  credit  ....  he  shall,”  &c. 
(16  Car.  II.,  cap.  16). 

Tide  -waiters.  Those  who  vote 
against  their  opinions.  S.  G.  0.  of  the 
Times  calls  the  clergy  in  convocation 
whose  votes  do  not  agree  with  their  con- 
victions Ecclesiastical  Tide-waiters.” 

Tidy  means  in  tide,  in  season,  in  time. 
We  retain  the  word  in  even-tide,  spring- 
tide,  and  so  on.  Tusser  has  the  phrase 

If  weather  be  fair  and  tidy,”  meaning 
seasonable.  Things  done  punctually  and 
in  their  proper  season  are  sure  to  be 
done  orderly,  and  what  is  orderly  done 
is  neat  and  well-arranged.  Hence  we  get 
the  notion  of  methodical,  neat,  well- 
arranged,  associated  with  tidy.  (JJanish, 
tidig,  seasonable,  favourable.) 

How  are  you  getting  on  1 Oh  ! 'prett'y 
tidily — favourably.  {See  above.) 


Tied-up.  Married;  tied-up  in  the 
marriage-knot. 

When  first  the  marriage-knot  was  tied 
Between  my  wife  and  me. 

Walkingame's  ^'Arithmetic." 

Tigllt.  Nearly  intoxicated.  Sobri- 
ety is  so  taut,  that  with  a little  more 
strain  it  will  burst  away.  A sea-phrase. 

Tiglath  Pile'ser.  Son  of  Pul, 
second  of  ther  sixth  dynasty  of  the  New 
Assyrian  Empire.  The  word  is  a cor- 
ruption of  Tiglath  Pul  Assur  {the  great 
tiger  of  Assyria^ 

Tigris  (the  Arrow).  So  called  from 
the  rapidity  of  its  current.  Hiddekel  is 
‘^The  Dekel”  or  Higlath,  a Semitic  cor- 
ruption of  Tigra,  Medo-Persic  for  arrow. 
(Gen.  ii.  14.) 

Flu'meni,  a celerita'te  qua  defluit  Tigri  nomen  est ; 
quia,  Persica  lingua,  tigrim  sagittam  appellant— 
Quintus  Gurtius. 

Tike.  A Yorkshire  tike.  A clown- 
ish rustic.  (Celtic,  tiac,  a ploughman.) 
A small  bullock  or  heifer  is  called  a tike, 
so  also  is  a dog,  probably  because  they 
are  the  common  companions  of  the  ^Hiac.” 

Tilbury.  The  Governor  of  Tilbury 
Fort.  Father  of  Tilburi'na ; a plain, 
blunt,  matter-of-fact  John  Bull. — 
SheridaUf  Critic." 

Tile,  a hat.  (Saxon  tigel,  Latin  tego^ 
to  cover.) 

Tile  a Lodge,  in  Freemasonry^, 
means  to  close  the  door,  to  prevent  any 
one  uninitiated  from  entering.  {See 
above.) 

Time.  Time  and  tide  wait  for  no  man. 

For  the  next  inn  he  spurs  amain. 

In  haste  alights,  and  skuds  away,— 

But  time  and  tide  for  no  man  stay. 

Somerville,  “ The  Sweet-scented  Miser. ^ 

Take  or  Seize  Time  by  the  forelock  (Tha'- 
les  of  Mile'tus).  Time  is  represented  as 
an  old  man,  quite  bald,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a single  lock  of  hair  on  the  fore- 
head. Shakespeare  calls  him  'Hhat  bald 
sexton.  Time”  (‘'King  John,”  hi.  1). 

The  Times.  A newspaper,  founded  by 
John  Walter.  In  1785  he  established 
The  Daily  Universal  Register,  but  in  1788 
changed  the  name  into  The  Times,  or  Daily 
Universal  Register.  {See  Thunderer.) 

Time  of  Grace.  The  lawful  season 
for  venery,  which  began  at  Midsummer 
and  lasted  to  Holyrood-day.  The  fox 
and  wolf  might  be  hunted  from  the  Na- 


N 


TIME-HONOUEED. 


TIPHYS. 


895 


tivity  to  the  Annunciation  ; the  roebuck 
from  Easter  to  Michaelmas ; the  roe  from 
Michaelmas  to  Candlemas;  the  hare  from 
Michaelmas  to  Midsummer;  and  the  boar 
from  the  Nativity  to  the  Purification. 
{See  Sporting  Seasons.) 

Time-honoured  Lancaster.  Old 
John  of  Ghaunt.  His  father  was  Edward 
III.,  his  son  Henry  IV.,  his  nephew 
Eichard  II.  of  England  ; his  second  wife 
was  Constance,  daughter  of  Peter  the 
Cruel  of  Castile  and  Leon ; his  only 
daughter  married  John  of  Castile  and 
Leon ; his  sister  J oanna  marri  ed  Alphonso, 
king  of  Castile.  Shakespeare  calls  him 
‘^time-honoured”  and  “old;”  honoured 
he  certainly  was,  but  was  only  fifty-nine 
at  his  death.  Hesiod  is  called  “ 
meaning  “ long  ago.” 

Tim'ias.  King  Arthur’s  squire,  the 
impersonation  of  chivalrous  honour  and 
generosity.  His  love  for  Belphoebe  is  in 
allusion  to  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh’s  admi- 
ration of  queen  Elizabeth.  — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen'' 

Timoleon.  The  Corinthian  who  so 
hated  tyranny,  that  he  murdered  his  own 
brother  Timoph'anes  when  he  attempted 
to  make  himself  absolute  in  Corinth. 

The  fair  Corinthian  boast 

Timoleon,  happy  temper,  mild  and  firm. 

Who  wept  the  brother  while  the  tyrant  bled. 

Thomson,  “ Winter.’* 

Timon  of  Athens.  The  misanthrope. 
Shakespeare’s  play  so  called.  Lord  Ma- 
caulay uses  the  expression  to  out-Timon 
Timon”— t.e.,  to  be  more  misanthropical 
than  even  Timon. 

Tin.  Money.  A depreciating  syno- 
nym for  silver,  which  it  resembles,  and 
for  which  in  Germany  it  is  largely  sub- 
stituted. 

Tinac'rio  (The  Sage).  King  of 
Micom'icon.  {See  Zaramilla.) 

Tinder  and  are  different  forms 

of  the  same  word.  Thus  the  Latin  nun- 
tins  was  also  written  nuncius,  “c”  having 
the  force  of  ^‘k.”  Webster,  in  his  Dic- 
tionary, says  cl  (answering  to  kt)  are 
pronounced  as  tl,  and  illustrates  his 
observation  by  the  words  clear,  clean. 
We  have  heard  of  colour-blindness,  but 
here  is  another  phase  of  blindness. 

Tine-man  {Lose-man).  So  was  the 
great  earl  of  Douglas  called,  who  died  in 
France,  August  17, 1 424.  Godscroft  says, 


“ No  man  was  lesse  fortunate,  and  it  is 
no  lesse  true  that  no  man  was  more 
valorous.”  He  was  defeated  at  the  battles 
of  Homilden,  Shrewsbury,  and  Verneuil. 
It  was  in  this  last  battle  that  he  lost  his 
life. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Tales  of  a Grand- 
father,"  xviii. 

Ting.  The  general  assembly  of  the- 
Northmen,  which  all  capable  of  bearing 
arms  were  bound  to  attend  on  occasions 
requiring  deliberation^nd  action.  The 
words  Volksthing  and  btorthing  are  still 
in  use. 

A shout  filled  all  the  Ting,  a thousand  swords 

Clashed  loud  approval. 

••  Frithiof-Saga”  (The Parting). 

Tinker.  The  person  who  tinks  or 
beats  on  a kettle  to  announce  his  trade. 
(Welsh,  tincian,  to  ring  or  “ tink 
tincerz,  a tinker. ) 

The  Inspired  TinJce:)'.  John  Bunyan. 
(1628-1688.) 

Tintag'el  or  Tintag'il.  A strong 
castle  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  the 
birth-place  of  king  Arthur. 

When  Uther  in  Tintagil  past  away.— Tennyson, 
“ The  Holy  Grail.’* 

Tin'tern  Abbey.  Wordsworth  has 
a poem  called  “ Lines  composed  a few 
miles  above  Tintern  Abbey,”  but  these 
lines  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with 
the  famous  ruin,  and  do  not  even  once 
allude  to  it. 

Tinto  {Dich).  The  painter  in  Sir 
Walter  Scott’s  novel  of  “St.  Eonan’s 
Well”  and  in  the  introduction  of  “The 
Bride  of  Lammermoor.” 

Tintoretto,  the  historical  painter. 
So  called  because  his  father  was  a dyer 
{tintore).  His  real  name  was  Jacopo 
Eobusti.  He  was  nicknamed  II  Furioso, 
from  the  rapidity  of  his  productions. 
(1512-1594.) 

Tip.  He  gave  me  a tip — a present  of 
money,  a bribe.  {See  Dibs.) 

To  tip  one  the  wink.  To  make  a signal 
to  another  by  a wink.  Here  tip  means 
“ to  give,”  as  tip  in  the  previous  example 
means  “ a gift.” 

Tiph'any,  according  to  the  calendar 
of  saints,  was  the  mother  of  the  three 
kings  of  Cologne,  {See  Cologne.  ) 

Ti'phys.  A pilot.  He  was  the  pilot 
of  the  Argonauts. 

Many  a Tiphys  ocean’s  depths  eTplore, 

To  open  wondrous  ways  untried  before. 

Iluole's  ’’Ariosto”  bk.  vliL 


m 


TIPSTAFF. 


TITHONUS. 


Tipstaff.  A constable  so  called  be- 
■cause  he  carried  a statf  tipped  with  a 
bull’s  horn.  In  the  documents  of  Ed- 
ward III.  allusion  is  often  made  to  this 
staff.  {See  Rymer,  Feeder  a.') 

Tirante  the  White.  One  of  the  most 
redoubtable  knights  of  mediseval  ro- 
mance. Don  Quixote  ranks  him  with 
Am'adis  of  Gaul,  Felixmarte  of  Hyr- 
cania,  and  the  more  modern  hero  named 
don  Belianis  of  Greece  (bk.  ii.,  ch.  5). 

Tirer  une  Dent.  To  draw  a man’s 
tooth,  or  extort  money  from  him.  The 
allusion  is  to  the  tale  told  by  Holinshed 
of  king  John,  who  extorted  10,000  marks 
from  a Jew  living  at  Bristol,  by  extract- 
ing a tooth  daily  till  he  consented  to 
provide  the  money.  For  seven  succes- 
sive days  a tooth  was  taken,  and  then 
the  Jew  gave  in. 

Tire'sias.  Blind  as  Tire'sias.  Tire- 
-sias,  the  Theban,  by  accident  saw  Athe'na 
bathing,  and  the  goddess  struck  him 
with  blindness  by  splashing  water  in  his 
face.  She  afterwards  repented  doing  so, 
and  as  she  could  not  restore  his  sight, 
conferred  on  him  the  power  of  soothsay- 
ing, and  gave  him  a staff  with  which  he 
»could  walk  as  safely  as  if  he  had  his 
sight.  He  found  death  at  last  by  drink- 
ing from  the  well  of  Tilpho'sa.  Milton 
makes  Tiresias  three  syllables,  as  Ti'- 
re-sas.  (^See  Thamyris.) 

Juno  the  truth  of  what  was  said  denied, 
Tiresias,  therefore,  must  the  cause  decide. 

Addisojt,  “ Tratisjormatio7i  of  Tiresias." 

Tiring  Irons.  Iron  rings  to  be  put 
on  or  taken  off  a ring  as  a puzzle.  Light- 
foot  calls  them  tiring  irons  never  to  be 
untied.” 

Tirled.  He  tirled  at  the  pin.  He 
twiddled  or  rattled  with  the  latch  before 
he  opened  the  door.  Guillaume  di 
Lorris,  in  his  Bomance  of  the  Bose  ” 
(13th  century),  says,  When  persons 
visit  a friend  they  ought  not  to  bounce 
all  at  once  into  the  room,  but  should  an- 
nounce their  approach  by  a slight  cough, 
or  few  words  spoken  in  the  hall,  or  a 
slight  shuffling  of  their  feet,  so  as  not  to 
take  their  friends  unawares.”  The  pin 
is  the  door-latch,  and  before  a visitor 
entered  a room  it  was,  in  Scotland, 
thought  good  manners  to  fumble  at  the 
latch  to  give  notice  of  your  intention  to 
enter  (Tirl  is  the  German  querlen.,  Dutch 
dwarleiiy  our  twirl,  &c. ; or  Danish  trille, 


German  trillevy  Welsh  treillio  ; our  trill y 
to  rattle  or  roll. ) 

Right  quick  he  mounted  up  the  stair, 

And  tirled  at  the  pin. 

Charlie  is  my  Darling.'^ 

Tiryns.  An  ancient  city  of  Ar'golis 
in  Greece,  famous  for  its  Cyclopean 
architecture.  The  ‘^Gallery of  Tiryns”  is 
the  oldest  and  noblest  structure  of  the 
heroic  ages.  It  is  mentioned  by  Homer, 
and  still  exists. 

Tiryn'tliian  Swain.  Hercules  is 
so  called  by  Spenser,  but  he  is  more  fre- 
quently styled  the  Tirynthian  Hero,  be- 
cause he  generally  resided  at  Tirynthos, 
a town  of  Ar'golis. 

Tisapher'nes  (4  syl.).  The  thun- 
derbolt of  war,  whose  force  in  battle 
every  force  excelled.”  He  was  in  the 
army  of  the  king  of  Egypt,  and  was  slain 
by  Binaldo. — Tasso,  ‘^  Jerusalem  De- 
livered,bk.  XX. 

Tisellin  the  raven,  in  the  tale  of 
^^Beynard  the  Fox.”  The  word  is  old 
German,  tis  (wise) ; tisellin  means  the 
little  wise  one. 

Tit  for  Tat.  J.  Bellenden  Ker  says 
this  is  the  Dutch  dit  vor  dat  (this  for 
that).  Quid  pro  quo  is  a synonymous 
phrase. 

Ti'tan.  The  sun,  so  called  by  Ovid 
and  Virgil. 

And  flecked  Darkness  like  a drunkard  reels 

ITrom  forth  Day’s  pith  «nd  Ticau’s  fiery  wheels. 

Shakespeare,  '‘'Romeo  and  Juliet y ii.  3. 

The  Titans.  The  children  of  Heaven 
and  Earth,  who,  instigated  by  their 
mother,  deposed  their  father,  and  libe- 
rated from  Tar'taros  their  brothers  the 
Hundred-handed,  and  the  Cyclopes. — 
Classic  mythology. 

Titan'ia.  Wife  of  Oberon,  king  of 
the  fairies.  According  to  the  belief  in 
Shakespeare’s  age,  fairies  were  the  same 
as  the  classic  nymphs,  the  attendants 
of  Diana.  The  queen  of  the  fairies  was 
therefore  Diana  herself,  called  Titania 
by  Ovid  Metamorphoses,”  iii.  173). — 
Keightley,  Fairy  Mythology.^' 

Titlio'nus.  A beautiful  Trojan  be- 
loved by  Auro'ra.  He  begged  the  god- 
dess to  grant  him  immortality,  which 
request  the  goddess  granted  ; but  a? 
he  had  forgotten  to  ask  for  youth  and 
vigour,  he  soon  grew  old,  infirm,  and 
ugly.  When  life  became  insupportable 


TITIAN, 


TOADS. 


897 


lie  prayed  Aurora  to  remove  him  from 
the  world  ; this,  however,  she  could  not 
■do,  but  she  changed  him  into  a grass- 
hopper. Synonym  for  ‘^an  old  man.’* 

An  idle  scene  Tythonus  acted 

When  to  a grasshopper  contracted. 

Prior,  “ The  Turtle  and  Sparrow.'* 
Thinner  than  Tithonus  was 
Before  he  faded  into  air. 

Tales  of  Miletus,”  ii. 

Titian  Vecellio).  An  Italian 

landscape  painter,  celebrated  for  the  fine 
‘effects  of  his  clouds.  (1477-1576.) 

^^ot  Titian’s  pencil  e’er  could  so  array. 

So  fleece  with  clouds  the  pure  ethereal  space. 

Thomson,  “ Castle  of  Indolence,"  canto  i. 

The  French  Titian.  Jacques  Blanch- 
ard, the  painter.  (1600-1638. ) 

The  Titian  of  Portugal.  Alonzo  Sanchez 
•Doello.  (1515-1590.) 

Titmouse  (Tittlelat).  A vulgar, 
ignorant  linen-draper’s  apprentice,  who 
-comes  into  £10,000  a year.  His  conceit, 
his  vulgarity,  his  gauclierie,  and  his 
-emptiness  of  mind  are  well  illustrated  in 
Warren’s  “ Ten  Thousand  a Year.” 

Tittle  Tattle.  Tattle  is  prate, 
Dutch  tateren^  Italian  tatta-mUla.  Tittle 
Is  little,  same  as  tit  in  tomtit,  titmouse, 
little  tit,  tit-bit. 

Tit'uos.  A giant  whose  body  covered 
nine  acres  of  ground.  He  was  punished 
%>y  having  two  vultures  feeding  for  ever 
on  his  liver,  which  grew  again  as  fast  as 
it  was  eaten.  Prome'theus  was  chained 
to  Mount  Caucasus,  and  had  his  liver 
devoured  in  a similar  way  by  a vulture 
or  eagle. 

Ti'tus.  The  penitent  thief,  called 
Desmas  in  the  ancient  mysteries.  {See 
Dumachus.) 

Titus  the  Roman  emperor  was  called 
^‘The  delight  of  men.”  (40,  79-81.) 

Titus  indeed  gave  one  short  evening  gleam, 

More  cordial  felt,  as  in  the  midst  it  spread 

Of  storm  and  horror ; the  delight  of  men. 

Thomson,  “ Liberty,"  iil. 

The  Arch  of  Titus  commemorates  the 
capture  of  Jerusalem,  a.d.  70. 

Tit'yre  Tus.  A dissolute  young 
scapegrace,  whose  delight  was  to  worry 
the  watchmen,  upset  sedans,  wrench 
knockers  off  doors,  and  be  rude  to  pretty 
women,  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  name  comes  from  the  first 
line  of  Virgil’s  first  Eclogue,  Tityre  tu 
patulce  recubans  sub  tegmine  fagi  (Tityre 
Tus  loves  to  lurk  in  the  dark  night 
looking  for  mischief). 


Tit'yrus.  Any  shepherd;  so  called 
in  allusion  to  the  name  familiar  from  its 
use  in  Greek  idyls  and  Virgil’s  fiist 
Eclogue.  In  the  Shepherd’s  Calen- 
dar,” Spenser  calls  Chaucer  by  this 
name. 

Heroes  and  the-’r  feats 
Fatigue  me,  never  weary  of  the  pipe 
Of  Tityrus,  assembling  as  he  sang 
The  rustic  throng  beneath  his  favourite  beech. 

Cowper. 

Tizo'na.  One  of  the  favourite  swords 
of  the  Cid,  taken  by  him  from  king 
Bucar.  The  other  favourite  sword  was 
called  Cola'da. 

To.  Altogether ; whplly. 

If  the  podech  be  burned  to. . . . we  saye  the  byshope 
hath  put  his  fote  in  the  ^otte.—Tyndale. 

To-do.  Here's  a pretty  to-do.  Dis- 
turbance. The  French  affaire— i.e.^  d 
faire  (to  do). 

Toads.  The  device  of  Clovis  was 
three  toads  (or  botes,  as  they  were  called 
in  Old  French),  but  after  his  baptism  the 
Arians  greatly  hated  him,  and  assembled 
a large  army  under  king  Candat  to  put 
down  the  Christian  king.  While  on  his 
way  to  meet  the  heretics,  he  saw  in  the 
heavens  his  device  miraculously  changed 
into  three  lilies  or  on  a banner  azure. 
He  had  such  a banner  instantly  made, 
and  called  it  his  liflambe.  Even  before 
his  army  came  in  sight  of  king  Candat, 
the  host  of  the  heretic  lay  dead,  slain 
like  the  army  of  Sennacherib  by  a blast 
from  the  God  of  battles. — Raoul  de 
Presles^  Grans  Croniques  de  France.'* 

It  is  wytnessyd  of  Maister  Robert  Gagwyne  that 
before  thyse  dayes  all  French  kynges  used  to  bere 
in  their  armes  iii  Todys,  but  after  this  Clodoveus 
had  recognised  Cristes  relygyon  iii  Floure  de  lya 
were  sent  to  hym  by  diuyne  power,  sette  in  a 
shylde  of  azure,  the  whiche  syns  that  been  borne  of 
all  French  kynges.— F'a&ian’s  Chronicle. 

The  toady  ugly  and  venomouSy  wears  yet 
a precious  jewel  in  its  head.  Fenton  says  : 

There  is  to  be  found  in  the  heads  of 
old  and  great  toads  a stone  they  call 
borax  or  stelon,  which  being  used  as 
rings  give  forewarning  against  venom” 
(1569).  These  stones  always  bear  a 
figure  resembling  a toad  on  their  surface. 
Lupton  says  : A toad- stone,  called 

crepaudia,  touching  any  part  envenomed 
by  the  bite  of  a rat,  wasp,  spider,  or 
other  venomous  beast,  ceases  the  pain 
and  swelling  thereof.”  In  the  Londes- 
borough  Collection  is  a silver  ring  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  in  which  one  of  these 
toad-stones  is  set.  The  stone  was  Bup- 

F F F 


898 


TOAD-EATER. 


TOBY  VECK. 


posed  to  sweat  and  change  colour  when 
poison  was  in  its  proximity. 

Toad-eater.  At  the  final  overthrow 
of  the  Moors,  the  Castilians  made  them 
their  servants,  and  their  active  habits 
and  officious  manners  greatly  pleased  the 
proud  and  lazy  Spaniards,  who  called 
them  mi  iodita  (my  factotum).  Hence  a 
cringing  officious  dependent,  who  will  do 
all  sorts  of  dirty  work  for  you,  is  called  a 
iodita  or  toad-eater.  Dr.  Ogilvie,  in  the 

Imperial  Dictionary,”  says  the  word 
arose  from  a sycophant  who  praised 
everything.  In  order  to’  ^ fool  him  to  the 
top  of  his  bent,’  a dish  of  toads  was  set 
before  him,  which  he  ate  and  praised.” 

Fiiltenexfs  Toadeater.  Henry  Vane,  so 
called  by  Walpole,  1742. 

Toad-flax.  A corruption  of  tod- 
dax.  Tod”  means  a bunch  or  cluster, 
a word  still  applied  to  wool,  where  281bs. 
is  called  a tod.  The  mass  of  a sum  of 
figures  is  called  the  lump  or  total.  The 
Cymhala'ria  Italica  is  called  tod-flax  on 
account  of  its  multitudinous  mass  of 
threads  matted  together  in  a cluster. 

Toad-pipe  {Equise'tum  arrense)  is 
tod-pipe ; so  called  from  the  cluster  of 
jointed  hair-like  tubes  or  pipes  of  which 
it  consists. 

Toad-stone.  {See  Toad,  ugly  and 
venomous.”) 

Toady.  (See  Toad-eater.) 

Toast.  A name  given,  to  which 
guests  are  invited  to  drink  in  compli- 
ment. The  name  at  one  time  was  that 
of  a lady.  The  word  is  taken  from  the 
toast  which  used  at  one  time  to  be  put 
into  the  tankard,  and  which  still  floats  in 
the  loving-cup,  and  also  the  cups  called 
copus,  bishop,  and  cardinal,  at  the  Uni- 
versities. Hence  the  lady  named  was  the 
toast  or  savour  of  the  wine — that  which 
gave  the  draught  piquancy  and  merit. 
The  story  goes  that  a certain  beau,  in 
the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  being  at  Bath, 
pledged  a noted  beauty  in  a glass  of 
water  taken  from  her  bath,  whereupon 
another  roysterer  cried  out  he  would  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  liquor,  but  would 
have  the  toast  {i.e.j  the  lady  herself). — 
Ramhlery  No.  24. 

He  noisy  mirth  and  roaring  sonps  commands. 

Gives  idle  toasts,  <Sfc.  Crabbe,  “ Borough.'* 

Tobit,  sleeping  one  night  outside  the 
wall  of  his  courtyard,  was  blinded  by 


sparrows  ^'muting  warm  dung  into  his 
eyes.”  His  son  Tobias  was  attacked  on 
the  Tigris  by  a fish,  which  leapt  out  of 
the  water  to  assail  him.  Tobias  married 
Sara,  seven  of  whose  betrothed  lovers 
had  been  successively  carried  off  by  the 
evil  spirit  Asmode'us.  Asmodeus  was 
driven  off  by  the  angel  Azari'as,  and 
fleeing  to  the  extremity  of  Egypt,  was 
bound.  Old  Tobit  was  cured  of  his 
blindness,  by  applying  to  his  eyes  the 
gall  of  the  fish  which  had  tried  to  devour 
his  son. — Apocrypha  (Book  of  Tobit). 

Tobo'so.  Dulcin'ea  del  Tohoso.  Don 
Quixote’s  lady.  Sancho  Panza  says  she 
was  ^^a  stout-built  sturdy  wench,  who 
could  pitch  the  bar  as  well  as  any  young 
fellow  in  the  parish.”  The  knight  had 
been  in  love  with  her  when  he  was 
simply  a gentleman  of  the  name  of 
Quixa'da.  She  was  then  called  Aldonza 
Lorenzo  (daughter  of  Lorenzo  Corchuelo 
and  Aldonza  Nogales) ; but  when  the 
gentleman  became  a don,  he  changed 
the  style  of  address  of  the  village  damsel 
into  one  more  befitting  his  new  rank.— 
Cervantes y Don  Quixote,'  bk.  i.,  ch.  1. 

“Sir,” said  Don  Quixote,  “she  is  not  a descendant 
of  the  ancient  Caii,  Curtii,  and  Scipios  of  Rome;  nor 
of  the  modern  Colonas  and  Orsini ; nor  of  the  Re- 
billas  and  Villanovas  of  Valencia;  neither  is  she  a 
descendant  of  the  Palafoxes,  Newcas,  ;Rocabertis, 
Corellas,  Lunas,  Alagones,  Ureas.  Pozes,  and  Gur- 
reas  of  Aragon ; neither  does  the  lady  Dulcinea 
descend  from  the  Cerdas,  Manriquez,  Mendozas,  and 
Guzmans  of  Castile;  nor  from  the  Alencastros, 
Pallas,  and  Menezes  of  Portugal ; but  she  derives 
her  origin  from  a family  of  Tohoso,  near  Mancha 
(bk.  ii.,  ch.  5). 

In  English  the  accent  of  Dulcinea 
is  often  on  the  second  syllable,  but  in 
Spanish  it  is  on  the  third. 

Ask  you  for  whom  my  tears  do  flow  so  ? 

Why,  for  Dulcinea  del  Toboso. 

Don  Quixote's  Love-song. 

Tobo'sian.  The  rampant  Man'che- 
gan  lion  shall  he  united  to  the  white 
Tohosian  dove.  Literally,  Don  Quixote 
de  la  Mancha  shall  marry  Dulciii'ea  del 
Toboso.  Metaphorically,  None  but 
the  brave  deserve  the  fair;”  She  who 
is  fair  all  maida  above  shall  bravery’s 
guerdon  be.” 

Toby  C hJncle).  The  real  hero  of 
Sterne’s  Tristram  Shandy.”  He  is  a 
captain  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Namur, 
noted  for  his  kindness  of  heart,  his  in- 
genuous simplicity,  his  gallantry,  and 
maiden  modesty. 

Toby  Veck.  Ticket-porter  and  job- 
man,  nicknamed  Trotty,”  from  his 


TODDY. 


TOM. 


899 


pace.  '‘A  weak,  small,  spare  man,” 
who  loved  to  earn  his  money,  and  heard 
the  chimes  ring  words  which  his  fancy, 
hopes,  and  fears  created.  After  a dinner 
of  tripe  he  lived  for  a time  in  dream-land, 
and  woke  up  on  New  Year’s  Day  to 
dance  at  his  daughter’s  wedding. — 
DicJcenSf  “ The  CliimesJ* 

Toddy.  A favourite  Scotch  beverage 
compounded  of  spirits,  hot  water,  and 
sugar.  The  word  is  a corruption  of  taudi^ 
the  Indian  name  for  the  saccharine  juice 
of  palm  spathes.  The  Sanskrit  is  toldi 
or  taldi,  from  tal  (palm- juice). — Mhind, 
**  Vegetable  Kingdom.^^ 

Todgers  {Mrs.').  Proprietress  of  a 
commercial  boarding-house  in  Martin 
Chuzzlewit,”  by  Charles  Dickens. 

Toes.  The  most  dexterous  man  in 
the  use  of  his  toes  in  lieu  of  fingers  was 
William  Kingston,  born  without  hands 
or  arms.  {See  ‘‘World  of  Wonders,” 
pt.  X.  ; Correspondence,  p.  65.) 

Toffania.  An  old  woman  of  Naples 
immortalised  by  her  invention  of  a taste- 
less and  colourless  poison,  called  by  her 
the  Manna  of  St.  Nicola  of  Bari,  but  better 
known  as  A cqua  Tofa'na.  Above  600  per- 
sons fell  victims  to  this  insidious  drug. 

Hieronyma  Spar  a,  generally  called  La 
Spara,  a reputed  witch,  about  a century 
previously,  sold  a similar  elixir.  The 
secret  was  revealed  by  the  father  confes- 
sors, after  many  years  of  concealment 
and  a frightful  number  of  deaths. 

Tog.  Togs,  dress.  (Latin,  toga.) 

Togged  out  in  his  best”  is  dressed  in 
his  best  clothes.  Toggery  is  finery. 

Toga.  The  Romans  were  called 
toga'ti  or  gens  toga'ta,  because  their  chief 
outer  dress  was  a toga. 

Tole'do.  Famous  for  its  swords. 
“The  temper  of  Tole'dan  blades  is  such 
that  they  are  sometimes  packed  in 
boxes,  curled  up  like  the  mainsprings  of 
watches.”  Both  Livy  and  Polyb'ius  refer 
to  them. 

Tolmen,  in  French  Dolmen.  An 
immense  mass  of  stone  placed  on  two  or 
more  vertical  ones,  so  as  to  admit  a 
passage  between  them.  (Celtic,  iol  or 
dol,  table;  men,  stone.) 

The  Constantine  Tolmen,  Cornwall,  con- 
sists of  a vast  stone  33  feet  long,  14^ 
deep,  and  18^  across.  This  stone  is  cal- 


culated to  weigh  750  tons,  and  is  poised 
on  the  points  of  two  natural  rocks. 

Tolo'sa.  He  has  got  the  gold  of  Tolosa 
(Latin  proverb  meaning  “His  ill-gotten 
wealth  will  do  him  no  good  ”).  Csepio, 
in  his  march  to  Gallia  Narbonensis,  stole 
from  Toulouse  (Tolosa)the  gold  and  silver 
consecrated  by  the  Cimbrian  Druids  to 
their  gods.  In  the  battle  which  ensued 
both  &pio  and  his  brother  consul  were 
defeated  by  the  Cimbrians  and  Teutons, 
and  112,000  Romans  were  left  dead  on 
the  field  (B.C.  106). 

Tom.  Between  “ Tom  ” and  “ Jack  ” 
there  is  a vast  difference.  “ Jack  ” is  the 
sharp,  shrewd,  active  fellow,  but  Toni 
the  honest  dullard.  Counterfeits  are 
“Jacks,”  but  Toms  are  simply  bulky 
examples  of  the  ordinary  sort,  as  Tom- 
toes.  No  one  would  think  of  calling  the 
thick-headed,  ponderous  male  cat  a Jack, 
nor  the  pert,  dexterous,  thieving  daw  a 
“ Tom.”  The  former  is  instinctively 
called  a Tom-cat,  and  the  latter  a Jack- 
daw. The  subject  of  “Jack”  has  been 
already  set  forth.  {See  Jack.)  Let  us 
now  see  how  Tom  is  used : — 

Tom  o'  Bedlam  iq.v.).  A mendicant 
who  levies  charity  on  the  plea  of  insanity. 

Tom-cat.  The  male  cat. 

Tom-Drum' s entertainment.  A very 
clumsy  sort  of  horse-play. 

Tom-Farthing.  A born  fool. 

Tom  Fool,  A clumsy,  witless  fool, 
fond  of  stupid  practical  jokes,  but  very 
different  from  a “ Jack  Pudding,”  who  is 
a wit  and  bit  of  a conjuror. 

Tom  Long.  A lazy,  dilatory  sluggard. 

Tomlony.  A simpleton. 

Tom  Noddy.  A puffing,  fuming,  stupid 
creature,  no  more  like  a “Jack-a-dandy” 
than  Bill  Sikes  to  Sam  Weller. 

Tom  Noodle.  A mere  nincompoop. 

Tom  the  Piper's  Son.  A poor  stupid 
thief  who  got  well  basted,  and  blubbered 
like  a booby. 

Tom  Thumb.  A man  cut  short  or  stinted 
of  his  fair  proportions.  (For  the  Tom 
Thumb  of  nursery  delight,  see  next  page.) 

Tom  Tidier,  An  occupant  who  finds  it 
no  easy  matter  to  keep  his  own  against 
sharper  rivals.  {See  Tom  Tidler’s. 
Ground.) 

Tom  Tiller.  A hen-pecked  husband. 

Tom  Tinker.  The  brawny,  heavy  black- 
smith, with  none  of  the  wit  and  fun  of  a 
“Jack  Tar,”  who  can  pull  a yard  to- 
astonish  all  his  native  village. 

F F F 2 


900 


TOM. 


TONANS. 


Tom  Tit  The  Tom  Thumb”  of  birds. 

Tom-Toe,  The  clumsy,  bulky  toe, 
^‘bulk  without  spirit  vast.”  Why  the 
great  toe  ? For  that  being  one  o’  the 
lowest,  basest,  poorest  of  this  most  wise 
rebellion,  thou  goest  foremost.”— 
spearCy  Coriolanus,’  i.  1. 

Tom  Tug.  A waterman,  who  bears  the 
same  relation  to  a Jack  Tar  as  a cart- 
horse to  an  Arab.  {See  Tom  Tug.) 

Great  Tom  ofLincobi.  Abell  weighing 
S tons  8 cwt. 

Miqldy  Tom  of  Oxfoi'd.  A bell  weigh- 
ing 7 tons  12  cwt. 

Old  Tom.  A heavy,  strong,  intoxicat- 
ing sort  of  gin. 

Tom  and  Jerry.  Two  characters  in 
Pierce  Egan’s  “Life  in  London.” 

Tom  and  J erry  Shop.  {See  Tommy  Shop.  ) 

Tom  o’  Bedlams.  A race  of  mendi- 
cants. The  Bethlehem  Hospital  was  made 
to  accommodate  six  lunatics,  but  in  1644 
the  number  admitted  was  forty-four,  and 
.applications  were  so  numerous  that  many 
inmates  were  dismissed  half  cured.  These 
^Hicket-of-leave  men”  used  to  wander 
about  as  vagrants,  chaunting  mad  songs, 
and  dressed  in  fantastic  dresses,  to  excite 
pity.  Under  cover  of  these  harmless 
“ innocents,”  a set  of  sturdy  rogues  ap- 
peared, called  Abram  Men,  who  shammed 
lunacy,  and  committed  great  depreda- 
tions. 

With  a sigh  like  Tom  o’  Bedlam. 

Shakespeare,  “ King  Lear,”  i.  2. 

Tom-boy.  A romping  girl,  a harlot. 
(Saxon,  tumhere,  a dancer  or  romper ; 
Danish,  tumUy  “to  tumble  about;” 
Erench,  tomber ; Spanish,  tumhar ; our 
tumble.)  The  word  may  either  be  tumbe- 
boy  (one  who  romps  like  a boy),  or  a 
tumher  (one  who  romps),  the  word  hoy 
being  a corruption. 

A lady 

So  fair. . . .to  be  partner’d 
With  Tomboys. 

Shakespeare,  ” Cymbeline,”  i.  7. 

Tom  Folio.  Thomas  Rawlinson, 
4;he  bibliomaniac.  (1681-1725.) 

Tom  Pool’s  Colours.  Red  and 
yellow,  or  scarlet  and  yellow,  the  colours 
of  the  ancient  motley. 

Tom  Foolery.  The  coarse  witless 
jokes  of  a Tom  Fool.  {See  above.) 

Tom  Long.  Waiting  for  Tom  Long— 
i.e.y  a wearisome  long  time.  The  pun,  of 
course,  is  on  the  word  long. 


Tom  Thumb,  the  nursery  tale,  is 
from  the  French  Le  Petit  Poucety  by 
Charles  Perrault  (1630),  but  it  is  probably 
of  Anglo-Saxon  origin.  There  is  in  the 
Bodleian  Library  a ballad  about  Tom 
Thumb,  “printed  for  John  Wright  ia 
1630.”  Tom  in  this  compound  is  the 
Swedish  Tomt,  a nix  or  dwarf,  as  in 
Tompt  gubbe  (a  brownie  or  kobold).  The 
t is  mute,  like  the  d in  Troldy  pronounced 
troll, 

***  The  Tom  Thumb  of  King  Arthur’s 
court  is  a clever  little  fellow  ; but  the 
stunted  creature  ordinarily  termed  a 
Tom  Thumb  is  simply  a man  cut  short. 
One  should  be  called  Tomt-thumb,  and 
the  other  Tom-thumb. 

Tom  Thumb.  The  son  of  a common 
ploughman  and  his  wife,  who  was 
knighted  by  king  Arthur,  and  was  killed 
by  the  poisonous  breath  of  a spider,  in 
the  reign  of  king  Thun  stone,  the  suc- 
cessor of  Arthur. — Nursery  tale. 

Tom  Tidler’s  Ground.  The 

ground  or  tenement  of  a sluggard.  The 
expression  occurs  in  Dickens’s  Christ- 
mas Story,  1861.  Tidier  is  a contraction 
of  “the  idler”  or  tidier.  The  game  so 
called  consists  in  this  : Tom  Tidier  stands 
on  a heap  of  stones,  gravel,  &c. ; other 
boys  rush  on  the  heap,  crying  “ Here  I 
am  on  Tom  Tidler’s  ground,”  and  Tom 
bestirs  himself  to  keep  the  invaders  off. 

Tom  Tug.  A waterman.  In  allusion 
to  the  tug  or  boat  so  called,  or  to  tugging 
at  the  oars. 

Tomb  of  our  Lord.  This  spot  is 
now  covered  with  “The  Church  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre.”  A long  marble  slab  is 
shown  on  the  pavement  as  the  tombstone. 
Where  the  Lord  was  anointed  for  his 
burial  three  large  candlesticks  stand, 
covered  with  red  velvet. 

Tommy  Shop.  Where  wages  are 
paid  to  workmen,  who  are  expected  to 
lay  out  a part  of  the  money  for  the  good 
of  the  shop.  Tommy  means  bread  or  a 
penny  roll,  or  the  food  taken  by  a work- 
man in  his  handkerchief ; it  also  means 
goods  in  lieu  of  money.  A Tom  and 
Jerry  shop  is  a low  drinking-room. 

Tonans  {Delirium  Tonans),  Loud 
talk,  exaggeration,  gasconade.  Black- 
wood's  Magazine  (1869)  introduced  tiie 
expression  in  the  following  clause  : — 
Irishmen  arc  the  yictims  of  that  terrible  malady 


TONGUES. 


TOOTS. 


901 


that  is  characterised  by  a sort  of  sub-acute  raving, 
and  may,  for  want  of  a better  name,  be  called 
*'  Pelirium  Tonana.*' 

Tongues. 

The  Italian  is  pleasant  but  without 
ginews,  as  a still  fleeting  water. 

The  French—  delicate,  but  even  nice  as 
a woman,  scarce  daring  to  open  her  lips 
for  fear  of  marring  her  countenance. 

Spanish — majestical,  but  fulsome,  run- 
ning too  much  on  the  letter  o ; and  terri- 
ble like  the  devil  in  a play. 

Dutch—  manlike,  but  withal  very  harsh, 
as  one  ready  at  every  word  to  pick  a 
quarrel. 

We  (the  English),  in  borrowing  from 
them,  give  the  strength  of  consonants 
to  the  Italian ; the  full  sound  of  words 
to  the  French ; the  variety  of  termina- 
tions to  the  Spanish  ; and  the  mollifying 
of  more  vowels  to  the  Dutch ; and  so, 
like  bees,  we  gather  the  honey  of  their 
good  properties  and  leave  the  dregs  to 
themselves. — Caviden. 

To'nio.  A young  Tyrolese  who  saved 
Maria,  the  suttler-girl,  when  on  the  point 
of  falling  down  a precipice.  The  young 
couple  fall  in  love  with  each  other,  and 
the  regiment  which  calls  Maria  its 
adopted  daughter  consents  to  their  mar- 
riage, provided  Tonio  will  enlist  under 
its  flag.  No  sooner  is  this  done  than 
Maria  is  claimed  by  the  marchioness  of 
Berkenfield  as  her  own  daughter,  and  is 
at  once  removed  to  the  castle  of  her 
noble  mother.  In  time  the  castle  is 
taken  possession  of  by  the  same  French 
regiment,  and  Tonio  has  risen  to  the 
rank  of  field  officer.  When  he  claims 
the  hand  of  Maria,  the  marchioness  tells 
him  she  has  promised  her  to  the  son  of  a 
duchess ; but  Maria  induces  her  to  relent, 
and  she  is  given  in  marriage  to  the 
Tyrolese. — Donizetti,  La  Figlia  del 
Iteggimento  ” {an  o^era). 

Tonna  {Mrs.),  Charlotte  Elizabeth, 
the  author  of  ^'Personal  Recollections.” 
(1792-1846.) 

Ton'sure  (2  syl.).  The  tonsure  of  St. 
Fetef)'  consists  in  shaving  the  crown  and 
back  of  the  head,  so  as  to  leave  a ring  or 

crown”  of  hair. 

The  tonsure  of  James  consists  in  shaving 
the  entire  front  of  the  head.  This  is 
sometimes  called  “ The  tonsure  of  Simon 
the  Magician,”  and  sometimes  The 
Scottish  tonsure,”  from  its  use  in  North 
Biitain. 


Tontine  (2  syl.).  A legacy  left 
among  several  persons  in  such  a way 
that  as  any  one  dies  his  share  goes  to 
the  survivors,  till  the  last  survivor  in- 
herits all.  So  named  from  Lorenzo 
Tonti,  a Neapolitan,  who  introduced 
the  system  into  France  in  1653. 

Tony  Lumpkin.  A young  clown- 
ish bumpkin  in  ‘‘She  Stoops  to  Con- 
quer,” by  Oliver  Goldsmith. 

Tooba  or  Touba  {eternal  hapinness). 

The  tree  Touba,  in  Paradise,  stands  in. 
the  palace  of  Mahomet.— {Prelim». 
Disc.), 

Toodle  {Mr.).  A character  who  had 
only  three  stages  of  existence.  He  was 
either  taking  refreshment  in  the  bosomt 
of  his  family,  or  was  tearing  through  the' 
country  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  miles 
an  hour,  or  was  sleeping  after  his  fatigues* 

— Dickens,  ^^Domhey  and  Son.** 

Tool.  To  tool  a coach.  To  drive  one  ^ 
generally  applied  to  a gentleman  Jehu, 
who  undertakes  for  his  own  amusemenh 
to  drive  a stage-coach.  To  tool  is  to  us© 
the  tool  as  a workman ; a coachman’s 
tools  are  the  reins  and  whip  with  which 
he  tools  his  coach  or  makes  his  coach  go*. 

Toom  Tabard  (empty  jacket).  A nick- 
name given  to  John  Baliol,  because  of 
his  poor  spirit,  and  sleeveless  appoint- 
ment to  the  throne  of  Scotland.  The 
honour  was  an  “empty  jacket,”  which 
he  enjoyed  a short  time  and  then  lost. 

He  died  discrowned  in  Normandy. 

Tooth.  Greek,  odont* ; Latin,  dentf 
Sanskrit,  dant' ; Gothic,  tunth* . 

Armed  to  the  teeth.  To  the  Ttli.  A simi- 
lar pun  is  “raising  pie  to  the  teeth,”" 
that  is  to  the  T^ii  power.  These  ar© 
Cambridge  University  phrases,  takeui 
from  mathematics. 

In  spite  of  his  teeth.  Though  he  snarls^ 
and  shows  his  teeth  like  a snarling  dog.. 
{See  Teeth.) 

Tooth  and  Egg.  A corruption  of 
Tutanag,  a Chinese  word  for  spelter,  the 
metal  of  which  canisters  are  made,  and 
tea-chests  lined.  It  is  a mixture  of 
English  lead  and  tin  from  Quintang. 

Tooth  and  I^'ail.  In  right  good  ^ 
earnest,  like  a rat  or  mouse  biting  and  I 
scratching  to  get  at  something. 

Toots  {Mr.).  A sort  of  Verdant  * 


902 


TOP. 


TORRICELLI, 


Green,  who  had  recently  burst  the  bonds 
of  Dr.  Blimber’s  school,  and  fallen  in  love 
with  Florence  Dombey.  He  is  famous  for 
blushing,  refusing  what  he  is  dying  to 
obtain,  and  saying  **  Oh,  it  is  of  no  con- 
sequence,” out  of  nervous  bashfulness. — 
Dickens f Dombey  and  So7i”  ch.  xxviii. 

“ I assure  you,”  said  Mr.  Toots.  “ really  I am  dread- 
fully Sony,  but  it’s  of  no  consequence.”— DicAe/is, 

Dombty  and  Son*' 

Top.  {See  Sleep.) 

Top-Sawyer.  A first-rate  fellow. 
The  sawyer  that  takes  the  upper  stand 
is  always  the  superior  man,  and  gets 
double  wages. 

Tope.  A tumulus  or  Buddhistic 
monument,  called  in  Ceylon  a dagop. 
(Pali  tlmpaj  Sanskrit  stUpa,  a mound. 
Dagop  is  dhdtu-gopa,  relic-preserver.) 

To'pliet  {playing  on  timbrels).  A 
valley  near  Jerusalem,  where  children 
were  made  to  “ pass  through  the  fire  to 
Moloch.”  Josi'ah  threw  dead  bodies, 
ordure,  and  other  unclean  things  there, 
to  prevent  all  further  application  of  the 
place  to  religious  use  (2  Kings  xxiii.  10, 
11).  Here  Sennacherib’s  army  was  de- 
stroyed (Isa.  XXX.  31-33).  The  valley  was 
also  called  Gehinnom  ” (valley  of  Hin- 
nom),  corrupted  into  Gehenna,  and  rabbi 
Kimchi  tells  us  that  a perpetual  fire  was 
kept  burning  in  it  to  consume  the  dead 
bodies,  bones,  filth,  and  ordure  deposited 
there. 

Topic.  This  word  has  wholly  changed 
its  original  meaning.  It  now  signifies  a 
subject  for  talk,  a theme  for  discussion 
or  to  be  written  about;  but  originally 
'topics”  were  what  we  call  common- 
places;  the  ‘^sentences”  of  Peter  Lom- 
bard were  theological  topics.  (Greek, 
topikCf  from  topoSj  a place.) 

Topsy.  A slave-girl,  who  imper- 
sonates the  low  moral  development  but 
real  capacity  for  education  of  the  negro 
race.  Her  reply  to  Aunt  Ophelia,' who 
questior^d  her  as  to  her  father  and 
mother,  is  worthy  Dickens.  After  main- 
taining that  she  had  neither  father  nor 
mother,  her  solution  of  her  existence  was 
^‘I  ’spects  I growed.” — Mrs.  Beecher 
Stowe f Uncle  Tom's  Cabin." 

Topsy-turvy.  The  Saxon  top  side 
turn-aweg  (the  top-side  turn- away),  or 
iop-sid  tnrn-weg  down  (top-side  turn  way- 


down),  as  Shakespeare  says  turn  it 
tupsy  turvy  down”  (‘‘  1 Henry  IV.,”  iv. 
1).  Skinner  gives  topen  in  turfen  (tops 
in  the  turf — i.e.,  upside  on  the  ground), 
and  Grose  top-side  turf-wise^  turf  being 
always  laid  the  wrong  side  upwards. 
{See  Half-seas  Over.) 

Toralva.  The  licentiate  who  was 
conveyed  on  a cane  through  the  air,  with 
his  eyes  shut.  In  the  space  of  twelve 
hours  he  arrived  at  Rome,  and  lighted 
on  the  tower  of  Nona,  whence,  looking 
down,  he  witnessed  the  death  of  the  con- 
stable de  Bourbon.  The  next  morning 
he  arrived  at  Madrid,  and  related  the 
whole  affair.  During  his  flight  through 
the  air  the  devil  bade  him  open  his  eyes, 
and  he  found  himself  so  near  the  moon 
that  he  could  have  touched  it  with  his 
Cervantes, Don  Quixote"  pt.  II., 
bk.  hi.,  ch.  5. 

Torne'a.  A lake,  or  rather  a river 
of  Sweden,  which  rises  from  a lake  in 
Lapland,  and  runs  into  the  Gulf  of  Both- 
nia, at  the  town  called  Torne'a  or  Tome. 

Still  pressing  on  beyond  Tornea’s  lake. 

Thomson f “ Winter.** 

Torqua'to— Le.,  Torquato  Tasso,  the 
poet.  {See  Alfonso.  ) 

And  see  how  dearly  earned  Torquato’s  fame. 

Lord  ByronP*  Childe  Haroldp  iv.  36. 

Torr’s  MSS.,  in  the  library  of  the 
dean  and  chapter  of  York  Minster.  These 
voluminous  records  contain  the  clergy 
list  of  every  parish  in  the  diocese  of  York, 
and  state  not  only  the  date  of  each  va- 
cancy, but  the  cause  of  each  removal, 
whether  by  death,  promotion,  or  other- 
wise. 

Torralba  {Doctor),  who  resided  some 
time  in  the  court  of  Charles  V.  of  Spain. 
He  was  tried  by  the  Inquisition  for  sor- 
cery, and  confessed  that  the  spirit  Ce- 
quiel  took  him  from  Vall'adolid'  to  Rome 
and  back  again  in  an  hour  and  a half. — 
Petlicer. 

Torre,  Sir  (1  syl.).  Brother  of  Elaine, 
and  son  of  the  lord  of  As'tolat.  A kind, 
blunt  heart,  brusque  in  manners,  and 
but  little  of  a knight. — Tennyson,  Idyls 
of  the  King"  {Elaine). 

Torricelli  is  noted  for  his  explana- 
tion of  the  rise  of  water  in  a common 
suction-pump.  Galileo  explained  the 
phenomenon  by  the  ipse  dixit  of  ^‘Nature 
abhors  a vacuum.” 


TORSO. 


TOURS. 


903 


Torso.  A stature  which  has  lost  its 
bead  and  members,  as  the  famous  ‘‘  torso 
of  Hercules.”  The  word  is  Italian,  and 
means  a trunk  [of  a tree,  &c.]. 

Torture  (2  syl.).  The  most  cele- 
brated instruments  of  torture  were  the 
racJh,  called  by  the  English  ^Hhe  duke 
•of  Exeter’s  daughter ; ” the  thumhikins 
or  thumbscrews,  the  hoots,  the  'pincers, 
the  manacles,  and  the  scavenger's  daughter 
iq.v,), 

To'ry.  This  word,  says  Defoe,  is  the 
Irish  toruigh,  used  in  the  reign  of  queen 
Elizabeth  to  signify  a band  of  Irish  rob- 
bers. It  is  formed  from  the  verb  toruighim 
(to  make  sudden  raids).  Golius  says — 
‘‘Tory,  silvestris,  montana,  avis,  homo, 
•et  utrumque  ullus  hand  ihi  est  (Whatever 
inhabits  mountains  and  forests  is  a Tory). 
Lord  Macaulay  says — “The  name  was 
first  given  to  those  who  refused  to  concur 
in  excluding  James  from  the  throne.” 
He  further  says — “ The  bogs  of  Ireland 
afforded  a refuge  to  popish  outlaws,  called 
Tories.”  Tory-hunting  was  a pastime 
which  has  even  found  place  in  our  nursery 
a’hymes— “I  went  to  the  wood  and  I 
killed  a tory.” 

F.  Crossley  gives  as  the  derivation, 
Taohh-righ  (Celtic),  “king’s party.” 

H.  T.  Hore,  in  Notes  and  Queries,  gives 
Tnath-righ,  “partisans  of  the  king.” 

G.  Borrow  gives  Tar-a-ri,  “ Come,  O 
•king.” 

Another  suggestion  is  the  highway- 
man’s demand,  Toree!  toree! — “Give! 
;give  ! ” {i.e.,  your  money  or  your  life). 

Touch..  To  keep  touch—  faith,  fidelity. 
The  allusion  is  to  “touching”  gold  and 
‘Other  metals  on  a touch-stone  to  prove 
them.  Shakespeare  speaks  of  “ friends 
of  noble  touch”  (proof). 

And  trust  me  on  my  truth, 

If  thou  keep  touch  with  me, 

My  dearest  friend,  as  my  own  heart. 

Thou  Shalt  right  welcome  be- 

George  Barnwell  (1730). 

Tou'chet.  When  Charles  IX.  in- 
troduced Henri  of  Navarre  to  Marie 
Touchet,  he  requested  him  to  make  an 
anagram  on  her  name,  and  Henri  there- 
upon wrote  the  following— charme  tout. 

Touchstone.  A dark,  flinty  schist, 
•called  by  the  ancients  Lapis  Lydius ; 
<jalled  touch-stone  because  gold  is  tried 
by  it,  thus ; the  stone  is  touched  by  the 


metal,  and  the  metal  leaves  a mark  be- 
hind, the  colour  of  which  indicates  its 
purity.  Dr.  Ure  says,  “In  such  small 
work  as  cannot  be  assayed  . . . the  as- 
sayers  ....  ascertain  its  quality  by 
‘ touch.’  They  then  compare  the  colour 
left  behind,  and  form  their  judgment 
accordingly.” 

Gold  is  tried  by  the  touchstone,  and  men  by  gold. 
— Bacon. 

Touchstone.  A clown  whose  mouth  is 
filled  with  quips  and  cranks  and  witty 
repartees. — Shakespeare,  “^5  You  Like 
/^.” 

Touchy  (French,  touche,  affected), 
or  Ne  touchez  'pas,  “Noli  me  tangere,” 
one  not  to  be  touched. 

Tour.  The  Grand  Tour.  Through 
France,  Switzerland,  Italy,  and  home  by 
Germany.  Before  railways  were  laid 
down,  this  tour  was  made  by  most  of  the 
young  aristocratic  families  as  the  finish 
of  their  education.  Those  who  merely 
went  to  France  or  Germany  were  simply 
tourists. 

Tournament  or  Tournay.  A tilt 
of  knights ; the  chief  art  of  the  game 
being  so  to  manoeuvre  or  turn  your  horse 
as  to  avoid  the  adversary’s  blow. 

Tournament  of  the  Drum.  A comic  ro- 
mance in  verse  by  Sir  David  Lindsay; 
a ludicrous  mock  tournament. 

Tournament  of  Tottenham.  A comic 
romance,  printed  in  Percy’s  “Reliques.” 
A number  of  clowns  are  introduced,  prac- 
tising warlike  games,  and  making  vows 
like  knights  of  high  degree.  They  ride 
tilts  on  cart-horses,  fight  with  plough- 
shares and  flails,  and  wear  for  armour 
wooden  bowls  and  saucepan-lids.  It 
may  be  termed  the  “High  Life  Below 
Stairs”  of  chivalry. 

Tour'nemine  (3  syl.).  That's  Tour- 
nemine.  Your  wish  was  father  to  that 
thought.  Tournemine  was  a Jesuit  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  of  a very  san- 
guine and  dreamy  temperament. 

Tours.  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says : 
“ In  the  party  of  Brutus  was  one  Turo'- 
nes,  his  nephew,  inferior  to  none  in  cou- 
rage and  strength,  from  whom  Tours 
derived  its  name,  being  the  place  of  his 
sepulture.  Of  course,  this  fable  is  wholly 
worthless  historically.  Tours  is  the  city 
of  the  Tu'rones,  a people  of  Gallia  Lug- 
dunensis. 


904 


TOUT. 


TEAGEDY 


Tout  est  Perdu  Hormis  L’Hon- 
neur,  is  what  Frangois  I.  wrote  to  his 
mother  after  the  battle  of  Pavi'a. 

Tower  of  Hunger.  Gualandi.  {See 
Ugoli'ijo.) 

Tower  of  London.  The  architect 
of  this  remarkable  building  was  Gundul- 
phus,  bishop  of  Eochester,  who  also  built 
or  restored  Eochester  keep,  in  the  time 
of  William  I.  In  the  Tower  lie  buried 
Anne  Boleyu  and  her  brother  ; the  guilty 
Catherine  Howard,  and  lady  Eochford 
her  associate ; the  venerable  lady  Salis- 
bury, and  Cromwell  the  minister  of 
Henry  VIII.  ; the  two  Seymours,  the 
admiral  and  protector  of  Edward  VI. ; 
the  duke  of  Norfolk  and  earl  of  Essex 
(queen  Elizabeth’s  reign);  the  duke  of 
Monmouth,  son  of  Charles  II. ; the  earls 
of  Balmerino  and  Kilmarnock,  and  lord 
Lovat ; bishop  Fisher  and  his  illustrious 
friend  More. 

Townly  {Lady).  A silly  young  wife, 
selfish,  and  fond  of  gaiety.  She  tells  her 
husband’s  sister — ‘‘I  dote  upon  assem- 
blies ; my  heart  bounds  at  a ball ; and 
at  an  opera  I expire.  I love  play  to  dis- 
traction ; cards  enchant  me ; and  dice 
put  me  out  of  my  little  wits.” — Van- 
brugh and  Oibber,  The  ProvoJced  Ilv.s- 
bandy 

Lord  Townly.  Husband  of  the  above. 
A sedate  domestic  gentleman,  who  re- 
deems his  wife  by  daring  to  govern  her. 
— Vanbrugh  and  Cibber,  The  ProvoJced 
Husband.*' 

Tox  (J/m).  A milk-and-water  young 
lady,  who  ^‘ambled  on  through  life  with- 
out any  opinions.”  She  looked  upon 
Dombey  and  Son  as  the  pivot  on  which 
the  whole  world  turned,  and  once  in- 
dulged a very  distant  hope  that  she 
might  become  Mrs.  Dombey  ; but  when 
Mr.  Dombey  married  Edith,  Miss  Tox 
‘^felt  she  had  no  reason  of  complaint, 
and  that  no  wufe  could  be  too  handsome 
or  too  stately  for  him.”  For  a day  or 
two  the  harpsichord  and  plants  were 
neglected,  but  Miss  Tox  ''was  not  of  a 
disposition  long  to  abandon  herself  to 
unavailing  regret,”  and  converted  her 
"affection”  into  '‘Platonic  love.” — 
VicJcens,  Dombey  and  Sony  ch.  xxxviii. 

Tracts  for  the  Times.  Published 
at  Oxford  during  the  years  1833-1841, 
and  hence  called  the  "Oxford  Tracts.” 

A—i.e.,  Eev.  John  Keble,  D.D.,  author 


of  the  " Christian  Year,”  fellow  of  Oriel, 
and  formerly  Professor  of  Poetry  at 
Oxford. 

B — Eev.  Isaac  Williams,  fellow  of 
Trinity ; author  of  " The  Cathedral,  and 
other  Poems.” 

C — Eev.  E.  B Pusey,  D.D.,  Eegius 
Professor  of  Hebrew,  and  canon  of  Christ 
Church. 

D — Eev.  John  Henry  Newman,  D.D., 
fellow  of  Oriel,  writer  of  the  celebrated 
Tract  No.  90,  which  was  the  last. 

E — Eev.  Thomas  Keble. 

F— Eev.  E.  H.  Froude,  fellow  of  Oriel. 

G— Eev.  Hugh  Eose,  of  Cambridge. 

Tracta'rians.  Those  who  concur  in 
the  religious  views  advocated  bv  the 
" Oxford  Tracts.” 

Tracy.  All  the  Tracy s have  the  wind 
in  their  faces.  Those  who  do  wrong  will 
always  meet  with  punishment.  William 
de  Traci  was  the  most  active  of  the  four 
knights  who  slew  Thomas  k Becket,  and 
for  this  misdeed  all  who  bore  the  name 
were  saddled  by  the  church  with  this 
ban : " Wherever  by  sea  or  land  they  go, 
the  wind  in  their  face  shall  ever  blow.” 
Fuller,  with  his  usual  naivete,  says,  '‘  So- 
much  the  better  in  hot  weather,  as  it  will 
save  the  need  of  a fan.” 

Trade.  {See  Balance.) 

Trade  Mark.  A mark  adopted  by 
a manufacturer  to  distinguish  his  pro- 
ductions from  those  made  by  other 
persons. 

Trade  Winds.  Winds  that  trade 
or  tread  in  one  uniform  track.  In  the 
northern  hemisphere  they  blow  from  the 
north-east,  and  in  the  southern  hemisphere 
from  the  south-east,  about  thirty  degrees 
each  side  of  the  equator.  In  some  places 
they  blow  six  months  in  one  direction,, 
and  six  in  the  opposite.  It  is  a mistake  to* 
derive  the  word  from  trade  (commerce), 
under  the  notion  that  they  are  "good 
for  trade.”  (Anglo-Saxon,  tredde-wind, 
a treading  wind—  i.e.,  wind  of  a specific 
" beat”  or  tread  ; tredan,  to  tread.) 

Tradesmen’s  Signs,  removed  by 
Act  of  Parliament,  1764.  The  London 
Paving  Act,  6 Geo.  HI.,  26,  17. 

Tragedy.  The  goat-song  (Greek, 
tragos-od'e).  The  song  that  wins  the 
goat  as  a prize.  This  is  the  explanation, 
given  by  Horace  ("De  Arte  Poetica,” 
220).  {See  Comedy.) 


TRAIL. 


TRAPBOIS. 


905 


Tragedy.  The  first  English  tragedy  of 
any  merit  was  ^^Gorboduc,”  written  by 
Thomas  Norton  and  Thomas  Sackville. 
(See  Ralph  Roister  Roister.') 

The  Father  of  Tragedy,  ^schylos  the 
Athenian.  (B.C.  525-426.)  Thespis,  the 
Richardson  of  Athens,  who  went  about 
in  a waggon  with  his  strolling  players, 
was  the  first  to  introduce  dialogue  in  the 
choral  odes,  and  is  therefore  not  un- 
frequently  called  the  “Father  of  Tra- 
gedy or  the  Drama.” 

Thespis  was  first  who,  all  besmeared  with  lee. 

Began  this  pJeasure  for  posterity. 

Drydtn,  '"‘Art  of  Poetry  p {Tragedy)  c.  iii 

Father  of  French  Tragedy.  Gamier. 
(1534-1590.) 

Trail.  The  trail  of  the  serpent  is  over 
them  all.  Sin  has  set  his  mark  on  all.— 
Thomas  Moore ^ ^‘Paradise  and  the  Peri.*' 

Traitors’  Bridge.  A loyal  heart 
may  he  landed  under  Traitors'  Bridge. 
Traitor’s  Bridge,  in  the  Tower,  was  the 
way  by  which  persons  charged  with  high 
treason  entered  that  State  prison. 

Traitor’s  Gate  opens  from  the 
Tower  of  London  to  the  Thames,  and 
was  the  gate  by  which  persons  accused 
of  treason  entered  their  prison. 

Trajan’s  Column  commemorates 
his  victories  over  the  Dacians.  It  was 
the  work  of  Apollodorus.  The  column 
of  the  Place  VenddmCf  Paris,  is  a model 
of  it. 

Trajan’s  Wall.  Aline  of  fortifica- 
tions stretching  across  the  Dobrudscha 
from  Czernavoda  to  the  Black  Sea. 

Tramecksan  and  Slameclcsan.  The 
high  heels  and  low  heels,  the  two  great 
political  factions  of  Lilliput.  The  high 
heels  are  the  tories,  and  the  low  heels 
the  radicals  of  the  kingdom.  “ The  ani- 
mosity of  these  two  factions  runs  so  high 
that  they  will  neither  eat,  nor  drink,  nor 
speak  to  each  other.”  The  king  was  a 
low  heel  in  politics,  but  the  heir-apparent 
a high-heel. — Swift,  Gullivers  Travels" 
( Voyage  to  Lilliput,  ch.  iv.). 

Trammel  means  to  allure  with  spots. 
(Latin,  traho  maculis ; French,  tramail.) 
The  allusion  is  to  the  practice  of  attach- 
ing pieces  of  bright  cloth  upon  nets  to 
allure  the  fish. 

Tra'mon'ta'ne  (3  syl.).  The  north 


wind  j so  called  by  the  Italians  because-, 
to  them  it  comes  over  the  mountains.  . 
The  Italians  also  apply  the  term  to  Ger- 
man, French,  and  other  artists  born, 
north  of  the  Alps.  French  lawyers,  on 
the  other  hand,  apply  the  word  to  Italian 
canonists,  whom  they  consider  too  Ro- 
manistic.  We  in  England  generally  calL 
overstrained  Roman  Catholic  notions 
“Ultramontane.” 

Tramway.  A contraction  of  Outram- 
way;  so  called  from  Benjamin  Outram,. 
who,  in  1800,  used  stone  sleepers  at 
Little  Eton,  Derbyshire,  instead  of  tim- 
ber, to  support  the  ends  of  rails  at  their 
juncture. 

Traneli'era.  Agricane’s  sword,  which.) 
came  into  Brandemart’s  possession. — 
“ Orlando  Furioso." 

Transfordia  or  Transforthia.  The 
other  side  of  the  Forth,  Scotland ; omnes 
partes  extra  Fortham^  et  Stirling,  et  exteros, . 
Rose  calls  this  district  Strathforth.— 
“ Orlando  Furioso,"  x.  86. 

Translator-General.  So  Fuller, 
in  his  “Worthies,”  calls  Philemon. 
Holland,  who  translated  a large  number 
of  the  Greek  and  Latin  classics.  (1551- 
1636.) 

Trap.  A carriage,  especially  such  as 
a phaeton,  dog-cart,  commercial  sulky, 
and  such  like.  It  is  not  applied  to  a 
gentleman’s  close  carriage.  Contraction 
of  trappings  (whatever  is  “ put  on,”  fur- 
niture for  horses,  decorations,  &c. ). 

Traps.  Luggage,  as  “ Leave  your  traps ' 
at  the  station.”  “I  must  look  after  my 
traps,”  &c.  (^See  above.) 

Trapa'ni.  The  count  de  Trapani, 
was  the  ninth  child  of  Mary  Isabel  and. 
Ferdinand  II.  of  the  Two  Sicilies.  He 
married  the  archduchess  Mary,  daughter 
of  Leopold  II.,  grand-duke  of  Tuscany. 

N.B.  Francis- de-Paul,  usually  called 
Louis-Emmanuel  count  of  Trapani,  was^ 
born  in  1827. 

Trapa'ni.  The  Spaniards,  in  pitiless 
raillery  of  the  Spanish  marriages,  called, 
the  trapos  or  dish- clouts  used  by  waiters 
in  the  cafes  to  wipe  down  the  dirty  tables. 
trapani. 

Trapbois.  An  old  usurer,  who  knevr 
how  to  pigeon  a greenhorn  as  well  as. 
any  man  in  Alsa'tia. — Sir  Walter  Scott, 
^‘Fortunes  of  Nigel," 


^06 


TRAPPER. 


TREE. 


Trapper,  in  America,  is  one  whose 
vocation  is  to  set  traps  for  wild  animals 
for  the  sake  of  their  furs. 

The  Trapper.  {See  Natty  Bumppo.) 

Trappists.  A religious  order,  so 
called  from  La  Trapp e,  an  abbey  of  the 
Cistercian  order,  founded  in  the  middle 
of  the  twelfth  century. 

Tras'go.  Same  as  Duende  {q.v.). 

Travia'ta.  An  opera  representing 
the  progress  of  a courtesan.  The  li- 
bretto is  borrowed  from  a French  novel 
called  “ La  Dame  aux  Camillas, ” by 
Alexandre  Dumas,  jun.,  the  most  immoral 
-work  in  existence.  It  was  dramatised  for 
the  French  stage.  The  music  of  the  opera 
is  by  Giuseppe  Verdi. 

Tray  Trip.  A game  at  cards. 

Treacle  (Jree-Fl)  properly  means  an 
antidote  against  the  bite  of  wild  beasts 
-(Greek,  the'riake  or  the'Hkaj  from  ther,  a 
wild  beast).  The  ancients  gave  the  name 
to  several  sorts  of  antidotes,  but  ulti- 
mately it  was  applied  chiefly  to  Venice 
Treacle  {the’riaca  androm'achi),  a com- 
pound of  some  sixty-four  drugs  in 
honey. 

Treasures.  These  are  my  treasures; 
meaning  the  sick  and  poor.  So  said  St. 
Lawrence  when  the  Roman  praetor  com- 
manded him  to  deliver  up  his  treasures. 
He  was  then  condemned  to  be  roasted 
alive  on  a gridiron  (258). 

One  day  a lady  from  Campa'nia  called 
upon  Cornelia,  the  mother  of  the  Gracchi, 
and  after  showing  her  jewels,  requested 
in  return  to  see  those  belonging  to 
the  famous  mother-in-law  of  Africanus. 
Cornelia  sent  for  her  two  sons,  and  said 
to  the  lady,  These  are  my  jewels,  in 
which  alone  I delight.” 

Treas'ury  of  Sciences.  Bokhara 
(Asia),  the  centre  of  learning.  It  has 
103  colleges  with  10,000  students,  be- 
«ides  a host  of  schools  and  360  mosques. 

Tree.  The  oldest  in  the  world  are — 

(1)  The  Baobab  or  Bo-iree  of  Senegal, 
reckoned  by  Adanson  to  be  5,150  years  old. 

(2)  With  this  veteran  Humboldt  classes 
the  Dragon-tree  of  Orotava,  in  Teneriffe. 

(3)  De  Candolle  considers  the  deciduous 
<cypress  of  Chapultepee,  in  Mexico,  of  equal 
age  to  the  preceding. 

(4)  The  chestnut-trees  on  Mount  Etna, 
and  the  Oriental  plane-tree  in  the  valley 


of  Bujukdere,  near  Constantinople,  are 
reckoned  to  be  of  the  same  age. 

Trees  of  a patriarchal  age. 

I.  OAKS. 

(1)  Damorfs  Oak,  Dorsetshire,  2,000 
years  old. 

(2)  The  great  Oak  of  Saintes,  in  the 
department  of  Charente  Inferieure,  is 
from  1,800  to  2,000  years  old. 

(3)  The  Winfarthing  Oak,  Norfolk,  and 
the  Bentley  Oak,  were  700  years  old  at 
the  time  of  the  Conquest. 

(4)  Cowthorpe  Oak,  near  Wetherby, 
Yorkshire,  according  to  Professor  Burnet, 
is  1,600  years  old. 

(5)  William  the  Conquerors  Oak,  Wind- 
sor Great  Park,  is  at  least  1,200  years 
old. 

(6)  The  Bull  Oak,  Wedgenock  Park, 
and  the  Plestor  Oak,  Colborne,  were  in 
existence  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest. 

(7)  The  Oak  of  the  Partisans,  in  the 
forest  of  Parey,  St.  Ouen,  is  above  650 
years  old.  Wallaces  Oak,  at  Ellersley, 
near  Paisley,  is  probably  fifty  years 
older. 

(8)  Owen  Glendower's  Oak,  Shelton, 
near  Shrewsbury,  is  so  called  because 
that  chieftain  witnessed  from  its  branches 
the  battle  between  Henry  IV.  and  Harry 
Percy,  in  1403.  Fairlop  Oak,  Hainault 
Forest,  is  about  the  same  age.  Other 
famous  oaks  are  those  called  The  Ttvelve 
Aposlles  and  The  F<yur  Evangelists. 

II.  YEWS. 

(1)  Of  Braburn,  in  Kent,  according  to 
De  Candolle,  is  3,000  years  old. 

(2)  The  Scotch  yew  at  Fortingal,  in 
Perthshire,  between  2,500  and  3,000 
years. 

(3)  Of  Barley  Churchyard,  Derbyshire, 
about  2,050  years. 

(4)  Of  Crowhurst,  Surrey,  about  1,400. 

(5)  The  three  at  Fountains  Abbey,  in 
Yorkshire,  at  least  1,200  years.  Beneath 
these  trees  the  founders  of  the  abbey 
held  their  council  in  1132. 

(6)  The  yew  grove  of  Norbury  Park, 
Surrey,  was  standing  in  the  time  of  the 
Druids. 

(7)  The  yew-trees  at  Kingley  Bottom, 
near  Chichester,  were  standing  when  the 
sea-kings  landed  on  the  Sussex  coast. 

(8)  The  yew-tree  of  Harlington  Church- 
yard, Middlesex,  is  above  850  years  old. 

(9)  That  at  Ankerioyke  House,  near 
Staines,  was  noted  when  Magna  Charta 
was  signed  in  1215,  and  it  was  the  trysting 
tree  for  Henry  VIII.  and  Anne  Boleyn. 


TREE  OF  LIBERTY, 


TRESSURE. 


907 


III.  MISCELLANEOUS. 

(1)  The  eight  olive-trees  on  the  Mount  of 
Olives  were  flourishing  800  years  ago, 
when  the  Turks  took  Jerusalem. 

(2)  The  lime-tree  in  the  Orisons  is  up- 
wards of  590  years  old. 

***  The  s'pruce  will  reach  to  the  age  of 
1,200  years. 

^ The  Poet's  Tree.  A tree  grows  oyer 
the  tomb  of  Tan-Sein,  a musician  of  in- 
comparable skill  at  the  court  of  Akbar, 
and  it  is  said  that  whoever  chews  a leaf  of 
this  tree  will  have  extraordinary  melody 
of  voice. — W.  Hunter, 

His  voice  was  as  sweet  as  if  he  had  chewed  the 
leaves  of  that  enchanted  tree  which  grows  over  the 
tomb  of  the  musician  Tau-Sein.— ikfoore,  *‘Zalla 
JRookh.** 

^ Trees  of  the  Sitnand  Moon.  Oracular 
trees  growing  at  the  extremity  of 
India,”  mentioned  in  the  Italian  ro- 
mance of  Guerino  Meschino. 

If  Tlfie  Singing  Tree.  Each  leaf  was  a 
mouth,  and  every  leaf  joined  in  concert. 
— ^^Aralian  Nights." 


Trees  hurst  into  leaf— 


Ash, 

Beech, 

Damson,  , 

Horse-chestnut,  , 
Larch,  , 

Lime,  , 

Mulberry, 

Oik,  , 

Poplar,  , 

Spanish  chestnut. 
Sycamore,  , 


earliest  13th  May, 
19th  April, 
28th  March, 
17th  March, 
2l8t  March, 
6th  April, 
12th  May, 
10th  April, 
6th  March, 
20th  April, 
28th  March, 


latest  14th  June. 
..  7th  May. 
13th  May- 
19th  April, 
14th  April. 
2nd  May, 
23  rd  June. 
S6th  May. 
19th  April, 
20th  May. 
23rd  April. 


Tree  of  Liberty.  A tree  set  up  by 
the  people,  hung  with  flags  and  devices, 
and  crowned  with  a cap  of  liberty.  The 
idea  was  given  by  the  Americans  of  the 
United  States,  who  planted  poplars  and 
other  trees  during  the  war  of  indepen- 
dence, ^^as  symbols  of  growing  freedom.” 
The  Jacobins  in  Paris  planted  their  first 
tree  of  liberty  in  1790.  The  symbols 
used  in  France  to  decorate  their  trees  of 
liberty  were  tricoloured  ribbons,  circles 
to  indicate  unity,  triangles  to  signify 
equality,  and  a cap  of  liberty.  Trees  of 
liberty  were  planted  by  the  Italians  in 
the  revolution  of  1848. 


Tree  of  Life.  QSee  Tab  a.) 

Tregea'gle.  To  roar  like  Tregeagle^ 
very  loudly.  Tregeagle  is  the  giant  of 
Dosmary  Pool,  on  Bodmin  Downs  (Corn- 
wall), whose  allotted  task  is  to  bale  out 
the  water  with  a limpet-shell.  When  the 
wintry  blast  howls  over  the  downs,  the 
people  say  it  is  the  giant  roaring. 

Tregetour.  A conjuror  or  juggler. 


Tyrwhitt  derives  the  word  from  trehu- 
chet  (a  trap-door),  but  probably  the 
German  triegen,  like  the  Italian  treccare 
(to  trick),  is  the  first  part  of  the  word,  and 
the  last  syllable  is  common  to  all  such 
words  as  actor,  doctor,  prestidigita'tor,  &c. 
The  performance  of  a conjuror  was 
anciently  termed  his  ‘^minstrelsy thus 
we  read  of  Janio  the  juggler— “ Janio 
le  tregettor,  facienti  ministralsiam  suam 
coram  rege  ....  20s.”— Lib.  Comput. 
Garderobse,  an.  4 Edw.  ii.,  fol.  86,  MS. 
Cott.  Nero,  c.  viii. 

Tremont'.  Boston  in  Massachusetts 
was  once  so  called,  from  the  three  hills 
on  which  the  city  stands. 

Treneh-the-Mer.  The  galley  of 
Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  ; so  called  from  its 

fleetness.”  Those  who  sailed  in  it  were 
called  by  the  same  name. 

Trencber.  A good  trencher-man.  A 
good  eater.  The  trencher  is  the  platter 
on  which  food  is  cut  (French,  trancher,  to 
cut),  by  a figure  of  speech  applied  to 
food  itself. 

He  that  waits  for  another's  trencher,  eats 
many  a late  dinner.  He  who  is  depen- 
dent on  others,  must  wait,  and  wait,  and 
wait,  happy  if  after  waiting  he  gets 
anything  at  all. 

Oh,  how  wretched 

Is  that  poor  man  that  banijs  on  princes’  favours t 

There  is,  betwixt  tliat  smile  he  would  aspire  to— 

That  sweet  aspect  of  princes  and  their  ruin — 

More  pangs  and  fears  than  war  or  women  have. 

Shakespeare  ** Henry  VI II.,"  iii.  2. 

Trencher  Cap.  The  mortar-board 
cap  worn  at  college ; so  called  from  the 
trenchered  or  split  boards  which  form 
the  top.  Mortar-board  is  a perversion 
of  the  French  mortier. 

Trencher  Friends.  Persons  who 
cultivate  the  friendship  of  others  for  the 
sake  of  sitting  at  their  board,  and  the 
good  things  they  can  get. 

Trencher  Knight.  A table  knight, 
a suitor  from  cupboard  love. 

Trenchmore.  A popular  dance  in 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries. 

Nimble-heeled  mariners.. capering.. sometimes  a 
Morisco,  or  Trenchmore  of  forty  miles  long.—  Taylor, 
the  Wuter-Poet. 

Trenmor.  The  first  king  of  Ireland, 
father  of  Conar. — Ossian,  “ Temora,"  ii. 

Tres'sure  (2  syl.).  A border  round 
a shield  in  heraldry.  The  cr  gin  of  the 
tressure  in  the  royal  arms  of  Scotland  is 


908 


TR^:VES. 


TRICOLOUR. 


traced  by  "heralds  to  the  ninth  century. 
They  assert  that  Charlemagne  granted  it 
to  king  Achaius  of  Scotland  in  token  of 
alliance,  and  as  an  assurance  that  “ the 
lilies  of  France  should  be  a defence  to 
the  lion  of  Scotland.”  Chalmers  insinu- 
ates that  these  two  monarchs  did  not 
even  know  of  each  other’s  existence. 

Treves  (1  syl.).  TAe  Holy  Coat  of 
Treves.  A relic  preserved  in  the  cathedral 
of  Trhves.  It  is  said  to  be  the  seamless 
coat  of  our  Saviour,  which  the  soldiers 
would  not  rend,  and  therefore  cast  lots 
for  (John  xix.  23,  24).  The  empress 
Hel'ena,  it  is  said,  discovered  this  coat 
in  the  fourth  century. 

Treve'thy  Stone.  St.  Clear,  Corn- 
wall. A cromlech.  Treve'di,  in  British, 
means  a place  of  graves. 

Tre'visan  (aSiV)  . A knight  to  whom 
Despair  gave  a hempen  rope,  that  he 
might  go  and  hang  himself.  He  meets 
the  Red-cross  Knight,  whom  he  conducts 
to  the  cave  of  Despair.  Despair  tries  to 
work  upon  the  Red-cross  Knight,  but 
being  unable  to  accomplish  his  end,  hangs 
himself ; but  though  he  hanged  himself, 
he  ^ ‘could  not  do  himself  to  die.” — Spenser, 

Faery  Queen,’’  bk.  i. 

Triads.  Three  subjects  more  or  less 
connected  formed  into  one  continuous 
poem  or  subject : thus  the  Creation,  Re- 
demption, and  Resurrection  would  form  a 
triad.  The  conquest  of  England  by  the 
Romans,  Saxons,  and  Normans  would 
form  a triad.  A lexander  the  Great,  J ulius 
Caesar,  and  Napoleon  Bonaparte  would 
form  a triad.  So  would  Law,  Physic, 
and  Divinity.  The  W elsh  triads  are  col- 
lections of  historic  facts,  mythological 
traditions,  moral  maxims,  or  rules  of 
poetry  disposed  in  groups  of  three. 

Trials  at  Bar.  Trials  which  occupy 
the  attention  of  the  four  judges  in  the 
superior  court,  and  therefore  bar  the 
business  of  three  courts. 

Tri'amond.  Son  of  Ag'ape,  a fairy  ; 
very  daring  and  very  strong.  He  fought 
on  horseback,  and  employed  both  sword 
and  shield.  He  married  Can'ace. — 
Spenser,  Fah'y  Queen,”  bk.  iv.  {See 
Peiamond.) 

Trib'oulet.  A fool,  a buffoon ; so 
called  from  Francis  Hotman,  who  went 
by  that  name,  and  was  Court  fool  to  Louis 
XII.  Rabelais  introduces  him  in  his 
**  Gargantua  and  Pantag'ruel.” 


Tribune.  Last  of  the  Tribunes.  Cola 
di  Rienzi,  who  assumed  the  title  of 
“Tribune  of  liberty,  peace,  and  justice.” 
Rienzi  is  the  hero  of  one  of  Lord  LyttonV 
most  vigorous  works  of  fiction.  (1313- 
1354.) 

Trice.  Pll  do  it  in  a trice.  The  hour 
is  divided  into  minutes,  seconds,  and 
trices  or  thirds.  I’ll  do  it  in  a minute. 
I’ll  do  it  in  a second,  I’ll  do  it  in  a trice. 

Trick.  An  old  dog  learns  no  tricJcs. 
When  persons  are  old  they  do  not  readily 
conform  to  new  ways.  The  Latin  proverb 
is  “Senex  Psittacus  negligit  ferulam;’^ 
the  Greeks  said  “Nekron  iat'ruein  kai 
geronta  nou'thetein  tautou  esti the 
Germans  say  “ Einen  alten  hund  ist  nicht 
gut  handigen.” 

Tricolour.  Flags  or  ribbons  with 
three  colours,  assumed  by  nations  or 
insurgents  as  symbols  of  political  liberty. 
The  present  European  tricolour  ensigns, 
are,  for — 

Belgium,  black,  yellow,  red,  divided 
vertically. 

France,  blue,  white,  red,  divided  verti- 
cally. {See  next  article. ) 

Holland,  red,  white,  blue,  divided  hori- 
zontally. 

Italy,  green,  white,  red,  divided  verti- 
cally. 

Tricolour  of  France.  The  insurgents 
in  the  French  revolution  chose  the  three 
colours  of  the  city  of  Paris  for  their 
symbol.  The  three  colours  were  first 
devised  by  Mary  Stuart>  wife  of  Francois 
II.  The  white  represented  the  royal  house 
of  France ; the  blue,  Scotland ; and  the  rec?, 
Switzerland,. in  compliment  to  the  Swiss 
guards,  whose  livery  it  was.  The  heralds 
afterwards  tinctured  the  shield  of  Paris 
with  the  three  colours,  thus  expressed  in 
heraldic  language  : “ Paris  portait  de 
gueules,  sur  vaisseau  d’argent,  fiottant 
sur  des  ondes  de  me  me,  le  chef  cousu  de 
France  ” (a  ship  with  white  sails,  on  a red 
ground,  with  a blue  chef).  The  usual  tale 
is  that  the  insurgents  in  1789  had  adopted 
for  their  flag  the  two  colours  red  and  blue, 
but  that  Lafayette  persuaded  them  to  add 
the  Bourbon  white,  to  show  that  they  bore 
no  hostility  to  the  king.  To  say  nothing 
of  the  palpable  improbability  of  this  story, 
it  may  be  summarily  rejected,  seeing  the 
first  flag  of  the  republicans  was  green,  and 
the  tricolour  was  not  adopted  till  the  11th 
of  July,  when  the  people  were  disgusted 
with  the  king  for  dismissing  Necker. 


TRIESTE. 


TRIPLE  ALLIANCE. 


909 


Triest'e  (2  syl.).  Since  1816  it  has 
borne  the  title  of  The  most  loyal  of 
towns.” 

Trifaldi.  The  Afflicted  Duenna  ; called 
Trifaldi  because  she  wore  three  skirts. 
She  was  chief  lady  of  the  bed-chamber 
to  the  infanta  Antonomas'ia. — Cervantes, 

Don  Quixote,"  pt.  II.,  bk.  hi.,  ch.  4. 

Trifaldin,  of  the  Bushy  Beard.  Squire 
to  the  countess  Trifaldi,  the  Afflicted  Duen- 
na^— Cervantes,  ‘^Don  Quixote  II.,  bk. 

iii.,  ch.  4,  5. 

Tri'gon.  The  junction  of  three  signs. 
The  zodiac  is  partitioned  into  four  trigons, 
named  respectively  after  the  four  ele- 
ments : The  watery  trigon  includes  Can- 
-cer,  Scorpio,  and  Pisces  ; the,/iery,  Aries, 
Leo,  and  Sagittarius ; the  earthy,  Taurus, 
Virgo,  and  Capricornus;  and  the  airy, 
’Gemini,  Libra,  and  Aquarius. 

Tril'ogy.  A group  of  three  tragedies. 
Every  one  in  Greece  who  took  part  in  the 
poetic  contest  had  to  produce  a trilogy 
and  a satyric  drama.  We  have  only  one 
specimen,  and  that  is  by  ^schylos,  em- 
bracing the  Agamemnon,  the  Chcephoras, 
and  the  Eumen'id'es. 

Trim  [Corporal).  Uncle  Toby’s  faith- 
ful servant ; affectionate,  respectful,  and 
a great  talker.  The  duplicate  of  his 
master  in  delf.  — Sterne,  Tristram 
Shandy." 

Trim-tram  Gate.  The  lich-gate, 
at  which  the  corpse  was  put  on  tressels 
for  a few  seconds,  while  all  the  cortege 
alighted  and  got  ready  to  enter  the 
church.  Tram  means  train  or  cortdge. 

Trimilki.  The  Anglo-Saxon  name 
for  the  month  of  May,  because  in  that 
month  they  began  to  milk  their  kine 
three  times  a day. 

Trimmer.  One  who  runs  with  the 
hare  and  holds  with  the  hounds.  Charles 
Montagu,  earl  of  Halifax,  adopted  the 
term  in  the  reign  of  Charles  IL,  to  signify 
that  he  was  neither  an  extreme  Whig 
nor  an  extreme  Tory.  Dry  den  was  called 
a.  trimmer,  because  he  professed  attach- 
ment to  the  king,  but  was  the  avowed 
enemy  of  the  duke  of  York. 

Trin'culo.  A jester  in  Shakespeare’a 

Tempest.” 

Trine.  In  astrology,  a planet  distant 
from  another  one-third  of  the  circle  is 
said  to  be  in  trine ; one-fourth,  it  is  in 


square;  one-sixth  or  two  degrees,  it  is  in 
sextile  ; but  when  one-half  distant,  it  is 
said  to  be  opposite.” 

In  sextile,  square,  and  trine,  and  opposite 
Of  noxious  efficacy. 

Milton,  Paradise  Lost*’  x.  659. 

N.B.  Planets  distant  from  each  other 
six  degrees  or  half  a circle  have  opposite 
influences,  and  are  therefore  opposed  to 
each  other. 

Trin'ity. 

Of  the  American  Indians : Otkon, 
Messou,  and  Atahuata. 

Of  the  Brahmins : Brahma,  Vishnu, 
and  Siva.  Represented  as  a body  with 
three  heads. 

Of  Plato  : Tag'athon  or  Goodi^ess ; 

Nous,”  Eternal  Intellect,  or  architect 
of  the  world ; and  Psuche  or  the  mun- 
dane soul. 

Of  the  Persians,  the  triplasian  deity  is 
Oromas'des,  Mithras,  and  Arim'anes. 

Of  Orpheus : Phanes,  U'ranos,  and 
Kronos. 

Of  the  Egyptians : Eicton  ; Cneph  the 
demiurgus  ; and  Phtha. — Jamhlichus. 

Of  Pythagoras  : The  Monad  or  One ; 
Nous  or  Mind  ; Psuche.  (#8^6  Three.) 

Roman : Jupiter  or  Divine  Power ; Mi- 
nerva or  Divine  Logos;  Juno,  Amor  ac 
Delicium  Jovis,  i.e.  the  Holy  Spirit. — 
G.  J.  Vossius,  '‘^De  Theol.  Gentil.,"\m.  12. 

Scandinavians:  Odin,  who  gave  the 
breath  of  life;  Haenir,  who  gave  sense 
and  motion ; Lodur,  who  gave  blood, 
colour,  speech,  sight,  and  hearing. 

Trinoban'tes  (4  syl.).  Inhabitants 
of  Essex,  referred  to  in  Caesar’s  Gallic 
Wars.” 

Trino'da  INecessitas.  The  three 
contributions  to  which  all  lands  were 
subject  in  Anglo-Saxon  times,  viz. — 
(1)  Bryge-bot,  for  keeping  bridges  and 
highroads  in  repair;  (2)  Burg-hot,  for 
Fyrd,  for  maintaining  the  military  and 
keeping  fortresses  in  repair ; and  (3) 
naval  force  of  the  kingdom. 

Tripit 'aka  means  the  ^Hriple 
basket,”  a term  applied  to  the  three 
classes  into  which  the  canonical  writings 
of  the  Buddha  are  divided — viz.,  the 
Soutras,  the  Vina'ya,  and  the  Abid- 
harma.  {See  these  words.) 

Triple  Alliance. 

A treaty  entered  into  by  Great  Britain^, 
Sweden,  and  Holland  against  Louis 
XIV.,  in  1668.  {See  next  page.) 


910 


TRIPOS. 


TROGLODYTES. 


A treaty  between  Great  Britain,  France, 
and  Holland  against  Spain,  1717. 

Tripos.  A Cambridge  University 
term,  meaning  the  voluntary  honour  ex- 
amination in  classics,  for  those  who  have 
already  passed  their  degree  examination 
or  in  “honours."  It  is  a tri-pos  because 
the  candidates  are  disposed  into  three 
classes  or  groups,  according  to  merit. 

Trismegis'tus  {thrice greatest).  Her- 
mes the  Egyptian  philosopher,  or  Thoth 
councillor  of  Osi'ris  king  of  Egypt,  to 
whom  is  attributed  a host  of  inventions 
— amongst  others  the  art  of  writing  in 
hieroglyphics,  the  first  code  of  Egyptian 
laws,  harmony,  astrology,  the  lute  and 
lyre,  magic,  and  all  mysterious  sciences. 

Tris'sotin'.  A poet,  coxcomb,  and 
fool  in  Moliere’s  “ Femmes  Savantes." 

Tristram  (Sir),  Tristrem,  Tristan, 
or  Tristam.  Son  of  Rouland  Rise  lord 
of  Ermonie,  and  Blanche  Fleur  sister  of 
Marke  king  of  Cornwall.  Having  lost 
both  his  parents,  he  was  brought  up  by 
his  uncle.  Tristram,  being  wounded  in  a 
duel,  was  cured  by  Ysolde,  daughter  of 
the  queen  of  Ireland,  and  on  his  return 
to  Cornwall  told  his  uncle  of  the  beautiful 
princess.  Marke  sent  to  solicit  her  hand 
in  marriage,  and  was  accepted.  Ysolde 
married  the  king,  but  was  in  love  with 
the  nephew,  with  whom  she  had  guilty 
connection.  Tristram,  being  banished 
from  Cornwall,  went  to  Brittany,  and 
married  Ysolto/<A(?  White  Hand,  daughter 
of  the  duke  of  Brittany.  Tristram  now 
goes  on  his  adventures,  and  being 
wounded,  is  informed  that  he  can  be 
cured  only  by  Ysolde  his  aunt.  A mes- 
senger is  dispatched  to  Cornwall,  and  he 
is  ordered  to  hoist  a white  sail  if  Ysolde 
accompanies  him  back.  The  vessel  comes 
in  sight  with  a white  sail  displayed  ; but 
Ysolt  of  the  White  Hand,  out  of  jealousy, 
tells  her  husband  that  the  vessel  has  a 
hlach  sail  flying,  and  Tristram  instantly 
expires.  Sir  Tristram  was  one  of  the 
knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Gotfrit 
of  Strasbourg,  a German  minnesiinger 
(minstrel)  at  the  close  of  the  twelfth 
century,  composed  a romance  in  verse, 
entitled  “Tristan  et  Isolde."  It  was 
continued  by  Ulrich  of  Turheim,  by 
Henry  of  Freyberg,  and  others,  to  the 
extent  of  many  thousand  verses.  The 
best  edition  is  that  of  Breslau,  two  vols. 
8vo,  1823.  (.See  Ysolt.) 


Sir  Tristram’s  horse.  Passet'reul. 

Tristram  and  Isuelt.  One  of  Ar- 
nold’s earlier  poems  is  so  entitled. 

Triton.  Son  of  Neptune,  represented, 
as  a fish  with  a human  head.  It  is  this 
sea-god  that  makes  the  roaring  of  the- 
ocean  by  blowing  through  his  shell. 

Hear  old  Triton  blow  his  wreathed  horn  [hear  the- 

sea  roar].  Wordtworth. 

Tri'via.  Goddess  of  streets  and  ways. 
Gay  has  a poem  in  three  books  so  en- 
titled. 

, Thou  Trivia,  aid  my  song. 

Through  spacious  streera  conduct  thy  bard  along  . . . 
To  pave  thy  realm,  and  smooth  the  broken  ways, 
Earth  from  her  womb  a flinty  tribute  pays. 

Gay,  “ Trivia*'  bk.  i. 

Trivial,  strictly  speaking,  means. 
“ belonging  to  the  public  road.”  Latin,. 
trivium,  which  is  not  tresmce{V[iYQQ  roads), 
but  from  the  Greek  triho  (to  rub),  mean- 
ing the  worn  or  beaten  path.  As  what 
comes  out  of  the  road  is  common,  so 
trivial  means  of  little  value.  Trench 
connects  this  word  with  trivium  (tres 
vise  or  cross  ways),  and  says  the  gossip 
carried  on  at  these  places  gave  rise  to 
the  present  meaning  of  the  word. 

Trivium.  The  three-  elementary 
subjects  of  literary  education  up  to  the 
twelfth  century— Grammar,  Rhetoric, 
and  Logic.  (See  Quadrivium.) 

N.B.  Theology  was  introduced  in  the- 
twelfth  century. 

Trocliilus,  or  humming-bird,  says 
Barrow,  “enters  with  impunity  into  the 
mouth  of  the  crocodile.  This  is  to  pick 
from  the  teeth  a little  insect  which, 
greatly  torments  the  creature. 

Ifot  half  80  bold 

The  puny  bird  that  dares,  with  teasing  hum, 

■Within  the  crocodile’s  stretched  jaws  to  come. 

Thomas  Moore,  “ Lalla  Rookh”  pt.  L 

Troglodytes  (3  syl.),  according  to- 
Pliny  (v.  8),  lived  in  caves  and  fed  on 
serpents.  (Greek,  trofle,  a cave  ; duo,  to 
get  into.) 

King  Frangois,  of  eternal  memory  . . . abhorred 
these  hypocritical  snake-eaters.— Radeicti®,  “ Qargaii- 
tua  and  Pantagruel  *'  {Ep.  Led.,  iv.). 

Troglodyte.  A person  who  lives  so 
secluded  as  not  to  know  the  current 
events  of  the  day,  is  so  self-opinion- 
ated as  to  condemn  every  one  who  sees 
not  eye  to  eye  with  himself,  and  scorns 
everything  that  comes  not  within  tho 
scope  of  his  own  approval ; a detractor ; 
a critic.  The  Saturday  Remew  intro- 
duced this  use  of  the  word.  {See  above.) 


TROIL. 


TROCJILLOGAN'S  ADVICE.  911 


Troll.  {See  Brenda.) 

Trollus  (3  syU).  The  prince  of 
chivalry,  one  of  the  sons  of  Prjam,  killed 
by  Achilles  in  the  siege  of  Troy  (Homer's 

Iliad  ”).  The  loves  of  Troilus  and 
Cressida,  celebrated  by  Shakespeare  and 
Chaucer,  form  no  part  of  the  old  classic 
tale. 

As  true  as  Troilus.  Troilus  is  meant 
by  Shakespeare  to  be  the  type  of  con- 
stancy, and  Cressid  the  type  of  female 
inconstancy.  {See  Cressida.) 

Af4i3r  all  comparisons  of  truth.... 

As  true  as  Troilus  shall  crown  up  the  verse 
And  sanctify  the  numbers. 

“ Troilxhs  and  Cressida,”  iii.  2. 

Tro'ilus  and  Cres'sida  {ShaJce- 
speare).  The  story  was  originally  writ- 
ten by  Lollius,  an  old  Lomb^ard  author, 
and  since  by  Chaucer  {Pope).  Chaucer’s 
poem  is  from  Boccaccio’s  Filostrato. 
Trois  pour  Cent.  A cheap  hat, 

Runnin?  with  bare  head  about, 

While  the  town  is  tempest-tost, 

’Prentice  lads  unheeded  shout 
That  their  three-per-cents  are  lost. 

Besaugiers,  "Le  Pilier  du  CafiP 

Trojan.  lie  is  a regular  Trojan.  A 
fine  fellow,  with  good  courage  and  plenty 
of  spirit ; what  the  French  call  a hrave 
hornme.  The  Trojans  in  Homer’s  Iliad,” 
and  Virgil’s  ‘^^neid,”  are  described  as 
truthful,  brave,  patriotic,  and  confiding. 

There  they  say  right,  and  like  true  Trojans. 

Butler,  ''•Hxidihras,”  i.  1. 

Trolls.  Dwarfs  of  Northern  mytho- 
logy, living  in  hills  or  mounds  ; they  are 
represented  as  stumpy,  misshapen,  and 
humpbacked,  inclined  to  thieving,  and 
fond  of  carrying  off  children  or  substi- 
tuting one  of  their  own  offspring  for  that 
of  a human  mother.  They  are  called 
hill-people,  and  are  especially  averse  to 
noise,  from  a recollection  of  the  time 
when  Thor  used  to  be  for  ever  flinging 
his  hammer  after  them. 

Out  then  spake  the  tiny  Troll, 

No  bigger  than  an  emmet  he. 

Banish  ballad,  *^Eline  of  Villenskov." 

Trompart.  A lazy  but  very  cunning 
fellow,  who  accompanies  Braggadocio  as 
his  squire.  — Spenser ^ ^^Fa'ery  Queenj^ 

bk.  ii. 

Trompee.  Voire  religion  a ite  IrompU. 
You  have  been  greatly  imposed  upon. 
Similarly,  surprendre  la  religion  de 
quelqu’un”  is  to  detect  or  expose  an 
imposition.  Cardinal  de  Bonnechose 
used  the  former  phrase  in  his  letter  to 


Th^  Times  respecting  the  Report  of  the 
(Ecumenical  Council,  and  it  puzzled  the 
English  journals,  but  was  explained  by 
M.  Notterelle.  (See  The  Times,  Jan.  1,. 
1870.) 

***  We  use  the  word  faith  both  for 

credulity”  and  religion,”  g.e.,  Your 
faith  (credulity)  has  been  imposed  upon.” 
The  ‘^Catholic  faith,”  “Mahometan 
faith,”  “ Brahminical  faith,”  &c.,  vir- 
tually mean  “ religion.” 

Trone.  A witty  but  deformed  dwarf. 
This  dwarf  was,  in  fact,  king  Oberon, 
metamorphosed  for  a term  of  years  into 
this  form — “ Isaie  le  Triste  ” (<x  romance). 

Troness,  Tronis,  or  Trophy  Money. 
Fourpence  paid  annually  by  house- 
keepers and  landlords  for  the  drums  and 
colours  of  the  county  militia. 

Troops  of  the  Line.  All  numbered 
infantry  or  marching  regiments,  except 
the  foot-guards. 

Tropho'nios  (Greek),  Latin  Tro- 
plio'nius.  He  has  visited  the  cave  oj 
Trophonios  (Greek).  Said  of  a melan- 
choly man.  The  cave  of  Trophonios  was 
one  of  the  most  celebrated  oracles  of 
Greece.  The  entrance  was  so  narrow 
that  he  who  went  to  consult  the  oracle 
had  to  lie  on  his  back  with  his  feet 
towards  the  cave,  whereupon  he  was 
caught  by  some  unseen  force  and  violently 
pulled  inside  the  cave.  After  remaining 
there  a time  he  was  driven  out  in  similar 
fashion,  and  looked  most  ghastly  pale 
and  terrified ; hence  the  proverb. 

Trotty.  {See  Toby  Veck.) 

Trou'badours  (3  syl.).  Minstrels  of 
the  south  of  France  in  the  eleventh, 
twelfth,  and  thirteenth  centuries ; so 
called  from  the  Proven9al  verb  trouhar 
(to  invent).  Our  word  poet  signifies  ex- 
actly the  same  thing,  being  the  Greek 
for  “create.”  {See  Trouveres.) 

Trouble  means  a moral  whirlwind 
(Latin,  turbo,  a whirlwind ; Italian,  tm- 
hare;  French,  troubler).  Disturb  is 
from  the  same  root.  The  idea  pervades 
all  such  words  as  agitation,  commotion, 
vexation,  a tossing  up  and  down,  &c. 

Trouillogan’s  Advice.  Do  and 
do  not ; yes  and  no.  When  Pantag'ruel 
asked  the  philosopher  Trouiilogan  whe- 
ther Pan  urge  should  marry  or  not,  the 
philosopher  replied  “ Yes.”  “ What 


912 


TROUT. 


TRUE  THOMAS, 


-say  you?”  asked  the  prince.  What 
.yon  have  heard,”  answered  Trouillogan. 

What  have  I heard?  ” said  Pantagruel. 
“What  I have  spoken,”  rejoined  the 
sage.  “ Good,”  said  the  prince  ; “ hut 
tell  me  plainly,  shall  Panurge  marry 
or  let  it  alone  ? ” “ Neither,”  answered 

the  oracle.  “How?”  said  the  prince, 
“That  cannot  be.”  “Then  both,”  said 
Trouillogan.— Gargantua  and 
Pantagruel hi.  35. 

Trout  is  the  Latin  trocUa,  from  the 
Greek  tro^tes,  the  greedy  fish  {trogo,  to 
oat).  The  trout  is  very  voracious,  and 
will  devour  any  kind  of  animal  food. 

Trouveres  (2  syl.)  were  the  trouba- 
dours of  the  north  of  France,  in  the 
twelfth,  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  cen- 
turies ; so  called  from  trouver,  the  Wal- 
loon verb  meaning  “ to  invent.”  {See 
Troubadours.) 

Trovato're,  II  (4  syl.).  Manri'co, 
the  son  of  Garzia,  brother  of  the  conte 
di  Luna.  Verdi’s  opera  so  called  is 
taken  from  the  drama  of  Gargia  Gut- 
tierez,  which  is  laid  in  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury. Trovatore  means  a troubadour. 

Trows.  Dwarfs  of  Orkney  and 
Shetland  mythology,  similar  to  the  Scan- 
dinavian Trolls.  There  are  land-trows 
and  sea-trows.  “Trow  tak’  thee”  is  a 
phrase  still  used  by  the  island  women, 
when  they  are  displeased  with  any  of 
their  children. 

Troy-T^Tovant  {London).  This  name 
gave  rise  to  the  tradition  that  Brute,  a 
Trojan  refugee,  founded  London  and 
'Called  it  New  Troy;  but  the  word  is 
British,  and  compounded  of  Tri-nou~ 
hant  (inhabitants  of  the  new  town). 
Uivitas  Trinobantum,  the  city  of  the  Tri- 
nobantes,  which  we  might  render  “ New- 
townsmen.” 

ror  noble  Britons  sprong  from  Trojans  bold 
And  Troy-novaut  was  built  of  old  Troyes  ashes  cold. 

Spenser,  "Faery  Queen,’'  iii.  9. 

Troy  Weight  means  “ London 
weight.”  London  used  to  be  called  Troy- 
novant.  {See  above.')  The  general  notion 
that  the  word  is  from  Troyes,  a town  of 
France,  and  that  the  weight  was  brought 
to  Europe  from  Grand  Cairo  by  crusaders, 
is  wholly  untenable,  as  the  term  Tpy 
Weight  was  used  in  England  in  the  reign 
of  Edward  the  Confessor.  Troy  weight 
is  old  London  weight,  and  Avoir- 


dupois the  weight  brought  over  by  the 
Normans.  {See  Avoirdupois.) 

Troxar'tas  {hread-eatet').  King  of 
the  mice  and  father  of  Psycar'pas,  who 
was  drowned. 

Fix  their  council. . . . 

Where  great  Troxartas crowned  in  glory  reigns..,, 
Psycar'pax’  father,  father  now  no  more ! 

Farnell,  '‘’‘Battle  of  the  Frogs  and  Mice,"  hk,  i. 

Truce  of  God.  In  1040  the  Church 
forbade  the  barons  to  make  any  attack 
on  each  other  between  sunset  on  Wed- 
nesday and  sunrise  on  the  following 
Monda}’^,  or  upon  any  ecclesiastical  fast 
or  feast  day.  It  also  provided  that  no 
man  was  to  molest  a labourer  working  in 
the  fields,  or  to  lay  hands  on  any  imple- 
ment of  husbandry,  on  pain  of  excom- 
munication. {See  Peace  op  Gdd.) 

Truchuela.  A very  small  trout 
with  which  Don  Quixote  was  regaled  at 
the  road-side  inn  where  he  was  dubbed 
'kmgh.t.— Cervantes,  ‘‘Don  Quixote^*  \)k, 
i.,  ch.  2. 

Trudge.  In  “ Love  and  a Bottle  ” 
he  says  of  Mr.  Lovewell — 

You  know  he’s  such  a handsome  man,  and  has  so 
many  ways  of  insinuating,  that  the  frailty  of  wo- 
man’s nature  could  not  resist  him. 

True-love.  (Danish,  trolover,  to  be- 
troth.) Mr.  Laing  says;  “A  man  may 
be  a true-love  to  his  bond  of  .£10  as  well 
as  to  his  sweetheart.” — “ Norway P 

True-lovers’  Knot  is  the  Danish 
trolovelses  Jenort,  “ a betrothment  bond,” 
and  a compound  of  true  and  lover.  Thus 
in  the  Icelandic  Gospel  the  phrase  “a 
virgin  espoused  to  a man  ” is  er  tridofad 
var  einummoMne.  Among  the  Scandina- 
vians a knot  was  symbolical  of  fidelity, 
the  tie  of  affection,  the  bond  of  be- 
trothal, &c. 

Three  times  a true-love’s  knot  I tie  secure ; 

Firm  be  the  knot,  firm  may  his  love  eadure. 

Gay's  Pastorals,  “ The  Spell.'* 

True  Thomas  and  the  Queen  of 
Elfland.  An  old  romance  in  verse  by 
Thomas  the  Rhymer. 

True  Thomas.  Thomas  the  Rhymer 
was  so  called  from  his  prophecies,  the 
most  noted  of  which  was  the  prediction 
of  the  death  of  Alexander  III.  of  Scot- 
land, made  to  the  earl  of  March  in  the 
castle  of  Dunbar  the  day  before  it  oc- 
curred. It  is  recorded  in  the  “Scoti- 
chronlcon  ” of  Fordun  (1430).  {See 
Rhymer.) 


TRUEPENNY. 


TRYPHON. 


9lS 


Truepenny.  Hamlet  says  to  the 
Ghost,  ‘^Art  thou  there,  Truepenny?” 
Then  to  his  comrades,  ‘^You  hear  this 
fellow  in  the  cellarage?”  (i.  5).  And 
again,  Well  said,  old  mole  ; canst 
work  ?”  Truepenny  means  earth-hover  or 
mole  (Greek,  trupanon,  triipao,  to  bore 
or  perforate),  an  excellent  word  to  apply 
to  a ghost  ‘^boring  through  the  cellar- 
age” to  get  to  the  place  of  purgatory 
before  cock-crow.  Miners  use  the  word 
for  a run  of  metal  or  metallic  earth,  which 
indicates  the  presence  and  direction  of  a 
lode. 

Trull  {Dolly) j in  The  Beggar’s 
Opera,”  by  Gay. 

Trulla  (in  ‘^Hudibras”)  was  the 
daughter  of  James  Spencer,  a Quaker. 
She  was  first  debauched  by  her  father, 
and  then  by  Simeon  Wait  (or  Magna'no), 
the  tinker. 

He  Trulla  loved,  Trulla  more  brieht 
Than  burnished  armour  of  her  knight ; 

A bold  virago,  stout  and  tall 
As  Joan  of  France  or  English  Mall. 

Butler^  Hudibras*’ i.  2. 

Trulli.  Female  spirits  noted  for  their 
kindness  to  men. — Randle  Holms,  Aca- 
demy of  Armory 

Trulliber  {Parson).  A fat  clergy- 
man, slothful,  ignorant,  and  intensely 
bigoted.  —Fielding,  Joseph  Andrews f 

Trump  Card.  The  French  carte  de 
iriomphe  (card  of  triumph). 

Trump ©t.  To  trumpet  onds  good  deeds. 
The  allusion  is  to  one  of  the  Pharisaic  sect 
called  the  Almsgivers,  who  had  a trumpet 
sounded  before  them,  ostensibly  to  sum- 
mon the  poor  together,  but  in  reality  to 
publish  abroad  their  abnegation  and 
benevolence. 

You  sound  your  own  trumpet.  The 
allusion  is  to  heralds,  who  used  to  an- 
nounce with  a flourish  of  trumpets  the 
knights  who  entered  a list. 

Trumpeter.  Your  trumpeter  is  dead 
—i.e.,  you  are  obliged  to  sound  your 
own  praises  because  no  one  else  will  do 
it  for  you. 

Trumpington.  Sir  G.  de  Trompin- 
toun  has  for  armorial  device  two  trompes 
or  trumpets. 

Trundle.  A military  earthwork 
above  Goodwood.  The  area  is  about  two 
furlongs.  It  has  a double  vallum.  The 
situations  of  the  portae  are  still  to  bo 
traced  in  the  east,  west,  and  north.  The* 


fortifications  of  the  ancient  Britons  being 
circular,  it  is_  probable  that  the  Trundle 
is  British.  The  fortified  encampments  of 
the  Romans  were  square  ; examples  may 
be  seen  at  the  Broyle  near  Chichester, 
and  on  Ditchling  Hill. 

Trun'nion  {Commodore),  A naval 
veteran,  who  has  retired  from  the  service, 
but  still  keeps  garrison  in  his  own  house, 
which  is  defended  by  a ditch  and  draw- 
bridge. He  sleeps  in  a hammock,  and 
takes  his  turn  on  watch. — Smollett,  Pere- 
grine Pichled^ 

Truth.  Pilate  said,  What  is  truth  I ” 
This  was  the  great  question  of  the 
Platonists.  Plato  said  we  could  know 
truth  if  we  could  sublimate  our  mind^ 
to  their  original  purity.  Arcesila'os 
said  that  man’s  understanding  is  not 
capable  of  knowing  what  truth  is.  Cap- 
neades  maintained  that  not  only  our  um 
derstanding  could  not  comprehend  it, 
but  even  our  senses  are  wholly  inade^ 
quate  to  help  us  in  the  investigation. 
Gorgias  the  Sophist  said,  '^What  is 
right,  but  what  we  prove  to  be  right? 
and  what  is  truth,  but  what  we  believe 
to  be  truth  ? ” 

Truth  in  a WeU.  This  expression 
is  attributed  both  to  Clean'thes  and  to 
Democ'ritos  the  derider. 

Try 'anon.  Daughter  of  the  fairy 
king  who  lived  on  the  island  of  Oleron. 
'‘She  was  as  white  as  lily  in  May,  or 
snow  that  snoweth  on  winter’s  day,” 
her  “ haire  shone  as  golde  wire,”  and  she 
had  boundless  wealth.  Tryanon  married 
Sir  Launfal,  king  Arthur’s  steward, 
whom  she  carried  off  to  “ Oliroun  her 
jolif  isle,”  and  as  the  romance  says — 

Since  saw  him  in  this  land  no  man, 

Ke  no  more  of  him  tell  I n’can 
For  soothe  without  lie. 

Thomas  Chestre,  ‘'Sir  Launfal  ” (15th  cmtury). 

Try'gon.  A poisonous  fish.  It  is 
said  that  Teleg^onos,  son  of  Ulysses  by 
Circe,  coming  to  Ith'aca  to  see  his  father, 
was  denied  admission  by  the  servants  ; 
whereupon  a quarrel  ensued,  and  his 
father,  coming  out  to  see  what  was  the 
matter,  was  accidentally  struck  with  his 
son’s  arrow  pointed  with  the  bone  of  a 
trygon,  and  died. 

The  lord  of  Ithaca, 

Struck  by  the  poisonous  trygon’s  bone,  expired. 

West^  “ Triumphs  of  the  Gotet  ” (Lucian). 

Try'phon.  Doctor  of  the  sea-gods. 
—Spenser,  Faery  Queen,”  bk.  iv. 

G G G 


914  TSIN  DYNASTY. 


TULKINGEORN. 


Tsin  Dynasty.  The  fourth  Im- 
perial Dynasty  of  China,  founded  by 
Tchao-siang-wang,  prince  of  Tsin,  who 
conquered  the  ‘^fighting  kings”  {q.v.'). 
He  built  the  Wall  of  China  (b.c.  211). 

Tsong  Dynasty.  The  nineteenth 
Imperial  Dynasty  of  China,  founded  by 
Tchao-quang-yn,  the  guardian  and  chief 
minister  of  Yong-tee.  He  was  a de- 
scendant of  Tchuang-tsong,  the  Tartar 
general,  and  on  taking  the  yellow  robe 
assumed  the  name  of  Tae-tsou  (great 
ancestor).  This  dynasty,  which  lasted 
300  years,  was  one  of  the  most  famous 
in  Chinese  annals.  (960-1276.) 

Tu  Autem.  Come  to  the  last  clause. 
In  the  long  Latin  grace  at  St.  J ohn’s  Col- 
lege, Cambridge,  the  last  clause  used  to 
be  Tu  autem  misere're  mei,  Domine.  A men. 
It  was  not  unusual,  when  a scholar  read 
slowly,  for  the  senior  Fellow  to  whisper 
Tu  autem — i.e.,  Skip  all  the  rest  and 
give  us  only  the  last  sentence. 

Tu  Pas  voulu,  George  Dandin 

i^Tis  your  own  fault,  George  Dandin'). 
You  brought  this  upon  yourself;  as  you 
have  made  your  bed  so  you  must  lie  on 
it.  (>See  Dandin.) 

Tu  Quoque.  The  tu  quoque  style 
or  argument.  Personal  invectives ; ar- 
gument of  personal  application;  argu- 
mentum  ad  hominem. 

We  miss  in  this  work  his  usual  tu  quoque  style. 
— Public  Opinion. 

Tu-ral-lu,  the  refrain  of  comic 
songs,  is  a corruption  of  the  Italian  tur- 
luru,  and  the  French  turlureau  or  turelure. 
^'Loure  ” is  an  old  French  word  for  a bag- 
pipe, and  toure  loure  ” means  a refrain 
on  the  bagpipe.  The  refrain  of  a French 
tong  published  in  1697  is — 

Toure  loure,  lourirette, 

Lironfa,  toure  lourira. 

"'Suite  du  Thedtre  Italien" iii.^  p.  453. 

Tub.  A tale  of  a tub.  A cock-and- 
bull  story ; a rigmarole,  nonsensical  ro- 
mance. The  Tale  of  a Tub  ” is  a reli- 
gious satire  by  Dean  Swift. 

A tub  of  noMd  children.  Emblematical 
of  St.  Nicholas,  in  allusion  to  two  boys 
murdered  and  placed  in  a pickling  tub 
by  a landlord,  but  raised  to  life  again  by 
this  saint.  (&ee  Nicholas,  p.  614.) 

Throw  a tub  to  the  whale.  To  create  a 
diversion  in  order  to  avoid  a real  danger ; 
to  bamboozle  or  mislead  an  enemy.  In 
whaling,  when  a ship  is  threatened  by  a 


whole  school  of  whales,  it  is  usual  to 
throw  a tub  into  the  sea  to  divert  their 
attention,  and  to  make  off  as  fast  as 
possible. 

Tuberose.  {See  Misnomers.) 

Tuck  {Friar'),  One  of  Robin  Hood’s 
companions.  He  is  represented  as  a fat, 
paunchy,  sleek-headed  gourmand,  whose 
axiom  was  ^^Who  leads  a good  life  is 
sure  to  live  well.” 

TucJc,  a long  narrow  sword  (Gaelic  tuca, 
Welsh  twca,  Italian- siocco,  French  estoc). 
In  Hamlet  the  word  is  erroneously  printed 

stuck,”  in  Malone’s  edition. 

If  he  by  chance  escape  your  venomous  tuck. 

Our  purpose  may  hold  there.  Act.  iv.  7. 

A good  tuch  in  or  iucTc  out.  A good 
feed.  To  tuck  is  to  full,  a tucker  is  a 
fuller.  Hence  the  fold  of  a dress  to 
allow  for  growth  is  called  a tuck,  and 
a little  frill  on  the  top  thereof  is  called 
a tucker. 

I'll  tuck  him  up.  Stab  him,  do  for 
him.  Tuck  is  a small  dirk  used  by 
artillerymen. 

Tuft.  A nobleman  or  fellow-com- 
moner ; so  called  at  the  University  be- 
cause he  wears  a gold  tuft  or  tassel  on 
his  college  cap. 

Tuft-Hunter.  A nobleman’s  toady, 
one  who  tries  to  curry  favour  with  the 
wealthy  and  great  for  the  sake  of  feeding 
on  the  crumbs  which  fall  from  the  rich 
man’s  table.  A University  term.  {See 
above.)  ^ 

Tuileries,  Paris  (tile-kilns).  The 
present  palace  being  on  the  site  of  some 
old  tile-kilns.  {See  Sablonniere.) 

Tulip.  The  turban  plant;  Persian, 
ihoulyV  (thoulyban,  a turban),  by  which 
name  the  flower  is  called  in  Persia. 

Tulip  Mania.  A reckless  mania  for 
the  purchase  of  tulip-bulbs  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Beckmann  says  it  rose 
to  its  greatest  height  in  the  years  1634-7. 
A root  of  the  species  called  Viceroy  sold 
for  £250  ; Semper  Augustus,  more  than 
double  that  sum.  The  tulips  were  grown 
in  Holland,  but  the  mania  which  spread 
over  Europe  was  a mere  stock-jobbing 
speculation. 

Tul'kinghorn.  A lawyer  in  posses- 
sion of  family  secrets  of  no  value  to  any 
one. — Dickens,  Bleak  House.” 


TULLY. 


TUKNCOAT. 


915 


Tully.  Cicero,  whose  name  was 
Marcus  Tullius  Cicero. 

One  rich  soul, 

Plato,  the  Stagyrite,  and  Tully  joined. 

Thomson,  “ Summer.^* 

Tulsi,  according  to  Hindu  mythology, 
was  a woman  who  asked  Vishnu  to  make 
her  his  wife,  for  which  she  was  meta- 
morphosed into  a plant  {Ocymum  sanctuTri) 
by  Luximel,  the  wife  of  Vishnu. 

Tumbledown  Dick.  Anything 
that  will  not  stand  firmly.  Dick  is 
Kichard,  the  Protector’s  son,  who  was  but 
a tottering  wall  at  best. 

Tune.  The  tune  that  the  cow  died  of. 
Words  instead  of  food.  To  say  to  a 
starving  beggar  Be  thou  fed,”  but  to 
give  nothing ; to  argue  and  show  how 
you  cannot  afford  to  give  alms,  though 
you  wish  well.  The  reference  is  to^an 
old  song  which  represents  a man  who  had 
bought  a cow,  but  having  no  food  to  give 
her,  bade  his  cow  ‘^consider  that  it  was 
not  the  season  for  grass.” 

He  took  up  his  fiddle  and  played  her  this  tune— 

“ Consider,  good  cow,  consider, 

This  isn’t  the  time  for  grass  to  grow ; 

Consider,  good  cow,  consider.” 

Tuneful  Nine.  The  nine  Muses; 
Calli'ope  (e'pic  poetryf  Clio  {history'), 
.Era'to  {elegy  and  lyric  'poetry),  EuterpS 
{miLsic)y  Melpom'ene  {tragedy),  Polyhym'- 
nia  {sacred  song),  Terpsic'hore  {dancing), 
Thali'a  {comedy),  Ura'nia  {astronomy). 

Tuning  Goose.  The  entertainment 
given  in  Yorkshire  when  the  corn  at 
harvest  was  all  safely  stacked. 

Tunis  lan.  The  adjective  form  of 
Tunis. 

TunTiers.  A politico-religious  sect 
of  Ohio.  They  came  from  a small  Ger- 
man village  on  the  Eder.  They  believe 
all  will  be  saved ; are  Quakers  in  plain- 
ness of  dress  and  speech ; they  will 
neither  fight,  nor  go  to  law.  Both  sexes 
are  equally  eligible  for  any  office.  Celi- 
bacy is  the  highest  honour,  but  not 
imperative.  They  are  also  called  Tum- 
blers, and  incorrectly  Bunkers.  Tunker 
means  to  dip  a morsel  into  gravy,”  ^‘a 
sop  into  wine,”  and  as  they  are  Baptists 
this  term  has  been  given  them ; but  they 
call  themselves  ^‘The  harmless  people.” 
— W.  Bepworth  Dixon,  New  America” 
ii.  18. 

Tupman  {Tracy).  A sleek  young 
gentleman  who  falls  in  love  with  every 


pretty  girl  he  meets.  He  travels  under 
the  charge  of  Mr.  Pickwick. — Dickens, 

Pickwick  Papers.” 

Tur'caret.  One  who  has  become 
rich  by  hook  or  by  crook,  and  having 
nothing  else  to  display,  makes  a great 
display  of  his  wealth.  A chevalier  in 
Lesage’s  comedy  of  the  same  name. 

Tureen'.  A deep  pan  for  holding 
soup.  (French,  terrine,  a pan  made  of 
texre,  earth.) 

Turf  {The).  The  race-course  ; the 
profession  of  horse-racing,  which  is  done 
on  turf  or  grass.  One  who  lives  by  the 
turf,  or  one  on  the  turf,  is  one  whose 
chief  occupation  or  means  of  living  is 
derived  from  running  horses  or  betting 
on  races. 

All  men  are  equal  on  the  turf  and  under  it.— Lord 
George  BentincTc. 

Turk.  Slave,  villain.  A term  of  re- 
proach used  by  the  Greeks  of  Constanti- 
nople. 

Turk  Gregory.  Gregory  VII.,  called 
Hildebrand,  a furious  Churchman,  who 
surmounted  every  obstacle  to  deprive 
the  emperor  of  his  right  of  investi- 
ture of.  bishops.  He  was  exceedingly 
disliked  by  the  early  reformers. 

Turk  Gregory  never  did  such  deeds  in  arms  as  I 
have  done  this  day.— “1  Henry  IV.,'*  3. 

Turkey.  The  turkey-red  bird,  the 
bird  with  a deep  red  wattle.  It  does  not 
mean  the  bird  that  comes  from  Turkey, 
as  it  is  a native  of  America. 

Turkisk  Spy  was  written  by  John 
Paul  Mara'na,  an  Italian,  who  had  been 
imprisoned  for  conspiracy.  After  his 
release  he  retired  to  Mon'aco,  where  he 
wrote  the  History  of  the  Plot.”  Subse- 
quently he  removed  to  Paris,  and  pro- 
duced his  Turkish  Spy,”  in  which  he 
gives  the  history  of  the  last  age.  The 
first  three  volumes  are  by  far  the  best. 
(1642-1693.) 

Turncoat.  The  dominions  of  the 
duke  of  Saxony  being  between  France 
and  Savoy,  one  of  the  early  dukes  hit 
upon  the  device  of  a coat  blue  one  side, 
and  white  the  other.  When  he  wished  to 
be  thought  in  the  Spanish  interest  he 
wore  the  bffie  outside ; when  he  wished 
to  be  considered  in  the  French  interest 
he  wore  the  white  outside.  Whence  he 
was  named  Emanuel  Turncoat.  — Scots^ 
Magazine,  October,  1747. 

Without  going  to  history,  we  have  a 

G G G 2 


916 


TURNSPIT  DOG. 


TWELFTH  NIGHT. 


very  palpable  etymon  in  the  French 
tourne-c6te  (turn-side).  {See  Coat.) 

Turnspit  Dog.  One  who  has  all 
the  work  but  none  of  the  profit ; he 
turns  the  spit  but  eats  not  of  the  roast. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  dog  used  formerly 
to  turn  the  spit  in  roasting.  Topsel  says, 

They  go  into  a wheel,  which  they  turn 
round  about  with  the  waight  of  their 

bodies,  so  dilligently that  no 

drudge can  do  the  feate  more 

cunningly.”  (1697.) 

Turpin,  ArchUshop  of  Rhehns.  A 
mythological  contemporary  of  Charle- 
magne. His  chronicle  is  supposed  to 
be  written  at  Vienne,  in  Dauphiny, 
whence  it  is  addressed  to  Leoprandus, 
dean  of  Aquisgranensis  (Aix-la-Chapelle). 
It  was  not  really  written  till  the  end  of 
the  eleventh  century,  and  the  probable 
author  was  a canon  of  Barcelo'na. 

The  romance  turns  on  the  expedition 
of  Charlemagne  to  Spain  in  777,  to  de- 
fend one  of  his  allies  from  the  aggres- 
sions of  some  neighbouring  prince. 
Having  conquered  Navarre  and  Aragon, 
he  returned  to  France.  The  chronicle 
says  he  invested  Pampelu'na  fpr  three 
months  without  being  able  to  take  it ; 
he  then  tried  what  prayer  could  do,  and 
the  walls  fell  down  of  their  own  accord 
like  those  of  Jericho.  Those  Saracens 
who  consented  to  become  Christians 
were  spared ; the  rest  were  put  to  the 
sword.  Charlemagne  then  visited  the 
sarcophagus  of  James,  and  Turpin  bap- 
tised most  of  the  neighbourhood.  The 
king  crossed  the  Pyrenees,  but  the  rear 
commanded  by  Orlando  was  attacked  by 
50,000  Saracens,  and  none  escaped  but 
Orlando. 

Dich  Turpin.  A highwayman,  executed 
at  York  for  horse-stealing.  His  ride  to 
York  on  his  steed  Black  Bess  is  de- 
scribed in  Ainsworth’s  “ Rookwood.” 

Turveydrop.  A man  who  lives  on 
his  son’s  earnings ; but  his  son  looks 
upon  him  as  a perfect  '^master  of  de- 
portment.”— Charles  DickenSy  Bleak 
House, 

Tussle.  A struggle,  a skirmish.  A 
corruption  of  tousle  (German,  zauseiiy 
to  pull) ; hence  a dog  is  named  Towser 
(pull’em  down).  In  the  Winter's  Tale,” 
iv.  iii.,  Autol'ycus  says  to  the  Shepherd, 
“I  toze  from  thee  thy  business”  (pump 
or  draw  out  of  thee).  In  " Measure  for 


Measure,”  Escalus  says  to  the  Duke,, 

We’ll  touze  thee  joint  by  joint”  (v.  i.). 

Tut.  A word  used  in  Lincolnshire 
for  a phantom,  as  the  Spittal  Hill  Tut. 
Tom  Tut  will  get  you  is  a threat  to 
frighten  children.  Tut-gotten  is  panic- 
struck.  Our  tush  is  derived  from  the 
word  tut. 

Tuti villus.  The  demon  who  collects 
all  the  words  skipped  over  or  mutilated 
by  priests  in  the  performance  of  the 
services.  These  literary  scraps  or  shreds 
he  deposits  in  that  pit  which  is  said  to 
be  paved  with  "good  resolutions”  never 
brought  to  effect. — Piers  Ploughman  f 
p.  547 ; ‘‘  Townley  Mysteries,'  pp.  310, 
319  ; &c. 

Twa  Dogs  of  Robert  Burns,  per- 
haps suggested  by  the  Spanish  ‘ ' Colloquio- 
de  Dos  Ferros,”  by  Cervantes. 

Twangdillo,  the  fiddler,  lost  one 
leg  and  one  eye  by  a stroke  of  lightning,, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Ister. 

Yet  still  the  merry  bard  without  regret 

Bears  his  own  ills,  and  with  his  sounding  shell 

And  comic  phiz  relieves  his  drooping  friends  . . . 

He  tickles  every  string,  to  every  note 

He  bends  his  pliant  neck,  his  single  eye 

Twinkles  with  joy,  his  active  stump  beats  time.  ^ 
Somerville,  Hobbinol,”  \. 

Tweedledum  and  Tweedledee. 

Some  say  that  signor  Bononcini 
Compared  to  Handel  is  a ninny  ; 

Whilst  others  vow  that  to  him  Handel 
Is  hardly  fit  to  hold  a candle. 

Strange  that  such  difference  should  be 
’Twixt  Tweedledum  and  Tweedledee. 

This  refers  to  the  feud  between  the- 
Bononcinists  and  Handelists.  The  duke 
of  Marlborough  and  most  of  the  nobility 
took  Bononcini  by  the  hand  ; but  the 
prince  of  Wales,  with  Pope  and  Arbuth- 
not,  were  for  Handel.  {See  Gluckists.) 

Twelfth.  Cake.  The  drawing  for 
king  and  queen  is  a relic  of  the  Roman 
Saturna'lia.  At  the  close  of  this  festi- 
val the  Roman  children  drew  lots  with 
beans  to  see  who  would  be  king.  Twelfth 
day  is  twelve  days  after  Christmas,  or 
the  Epiphany. 

Twelfth  iN’ight  {Shakespeare).  Tlio 
serious  plot  is  taken  from  Belleforest’s 
" Histoires  Tragiques ; ” and  Belleforest 
borrowed  the  tale  from  Bandello  of 
Piedmont,  whose  "Novelle”  ranks  next 
to  the  "Decamerone”  of  Boccaccio.  The 
comic  parts  are  of  Shakespeare’s  own 
invention.  Bandello  lived  1480-156L 
{See  Beffana.) 


TWELVE. 


TWO. 


917 


Twelve.  Each  English  archer  carries 
ticelre  Scotchmen  under  his  girdle.  This 
was  a common  saying  at  one  time,  be- 
cause the  English  were  unerring  archers, 
and  each  archer  carried  in  his  belt  twelve 
arrows. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Tales  of  a 
Grandfather f vii. 

The  Twelve.  All  the  prelates  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

The  pope  idenifies  himself  with  the  “ Master,” 
and  addresses  those  700  prelates  as  the  “ Twelve.” — 
The  Times^  Dec.  11, 1869. 

Twelve  Tables.  The  earliest  code 
of  Roman  law,  compiled  by  the  decem- 
viri, and  cut  on  twelve  bronze  tables  or 
tablets. — Livy,  iii.  57  ; Diodorus,  xii.  56. 

Twiekenbam.  The  hard  of  Tioich- 
£nham.  Alexander  Pope,  who  lived 
there  for  thirty  years.  (1688-1744.) 

Twig.  I tvoig  you ; do  you  twig  my 
meaning  1 I catch  your  meaning  ; I un- 
derstand. Probably  a corruption  of  the 
Saxon'Merb  wit-an,  to  know,  perceive ; 
Latin  vid-eo. 

Twinkling.  {See  Bed-post.) 

Twins.  One  of  the  signs  of  the 
-constellation  (May  21st  to  June  21st). 

When  now  no  more  the  alternate  twins  are  fired. 

Short  is  the  doubtful  empire  of  the  night. 

Thomson^  “ Summer,” 

Twist  {Oliver).  A boy  born  in  a 
workhouse,  starved  and  ill-treated  ; but 
always  gentle,  amiable,  and  pure-minded. 
Dickens’s  novel  so  called. 

Twiteher.  Jemmy  Twitcher.  A 
juame  given  to  John  lord  Sandwich 
(1718-1792),  noted  for  his  liaison  with 
Miss  Ray,  who  was  shot  by  the  Rev. 
‘^Captain”  Hackman  out  of  jealousy. 
His  lordship’s  shambling  gait  is  memo- 
rialised in  the  Heroic  Epistle.” 

See  Jemmy  Twitcher  shambles— stop,  stop  thief  I 

Twitten.  A narrow  alley. 

Two.  The  evil  principle  of  Pytha- 
goras. Accordingly  the  second  day  of 
the  second  month  of  the  year  was  sacred 
to  Pluto,  and  was  esteemed  unlucky. 

Two  an  unluclcy  number  in  our  dynas- 
ties, TVitness  Ethelred  II.  the  Unready, 
forced  to  abdicate ; Harold  II.,  slain  at 
Hastings;  William  II.,  shot  in  New 
Forest;  Henry  II.,  who  had  to  fight  for 
his  crown,  &c. ; Edward  II.,  murdered 
at  Berkeley  Castle ; Richard  II.,  de- 
posed ; Charles  II.,  driven  into  exile ; 


James  II.,  forced  to  abdicate  ; George 
II.  was  worsted  at  Fontenoy  and  Law- 
feld,  his  reign  was  troubled  by  civil  war, 
and  disgraced  by  general  Braddock  and 
admiral  Byng. 

It  does  not  seem  much  more  lucky 
abroad:  Charles  II.  of  France,  after  a 
most  unhappy  reign,  died  of  poison ; 
Charles  II.  of  Navarre  was  called  The 
Bad ; Charles  II.  of  Spain  ended  his 
dynasty,  and  left  his  kingdom  a wreck ; 
Charles  II.  of  Anjou  {le  Boiteux)  passed 
almost  the  whole  of  his  life  in  captivity  ; 
Charles  II.  of  Savoy  reigned  only  nine 
months,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eight. 

Fran9ois  II.  of  France  was  peculiarly 
unhappy,  and  after  reigning  less  than 
two  years  sickened  and  died  ; Napoleon 
II.  never  reigned  at  all ; Franz  II.  of 
Germany  lost  all  his  Rhine  possessions, 
and  in  1806  had  to  renounce  his  title  of 
emperor. 

Friedrich  II.,  emperor  of  Germany, 
was  first  anathematised,  then  excom- 
municated, then  dethroned,  and  lastly 
poisoned. 

Jean  II.  of  France,  being  conquered 
at  Poitiers,  was  brought  captive  to  Eng- 
land by  the  Black  Prince;  Juan  II.  of 
Aragon  had  to  contend  for  his  crown 
with  his  own  son  Carlos. 

It  was  Felipe  II.  of  Spain  who  sent 
against  England  the  ‘^Invincible  Ar- 
mada;” it  is  Francesco  II.  of  the  Two 
Sicilies  who  has  been  driven  from  his 
throne  by  Garibaldi ; it  was  Romulus 
II.  in  whom  terminated  the  empire  of  the 
West;  Peter  II.  of  Russia  died  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  and  he  is  a disgrace  to 
the  name  of  Menzikoff ; Pietro  II.  do 
Medicis  was  forced  to  abdicate,  and  died 
of  shipwreck  ; James  II.  of  Scotland  was 
shot  by  a cannon  at  the  siege  of  Rox- 
burgh ; James  II.  of  Majorca,  after 
losing  his  dominions,  was  murdered. 
Alexander  II.  of  Scotland  had  his  king- 
dom laid  under  an  interdict ; Alexander 
II.,  the  pope,  had  to  contend  against 
Honorius  II.  the  anti-pope  ; Alexis  II., 
emperor  of  the  East,  was  placed  under 
the  ward  of  his  mother  and  uncle,  who 
so  disgusted  the  nation  by  their  cruelty 
that  the  boy  was  first  dethroned,  and  then 
strangled;  Andronicus  II.,  emperor  of 
Greece,  was  dethroned ; Henri  II.  of 
France  made  the  disastrous  peace  called 
La  Paix  Malheureuse,  and  was  killed  by 
Montgomery  in  a tournament ; &c.  &c. 
{See  Jake  and  John.) 


918 


TWO  EYES. 


TYEANT. 


Two  Eyes  of  Glreece. 

Sparta. 


Athens  and 


night,  to-morrow ; not  this  year,  as  it  is 
generally  supposed. 


Two  Gentlemen  of  Vero'na. 
The  story  of  Protheus  and  Julia  was 
borrowed  from  the  pastoral  romance  of 

Diana,”  by  George  of  Montemayor,  a 
Spaniard,  translated  into  English  by 
Bartholomew  Younge  in  1598.  The  love 
adventure  of  Julia  resembles  that  of 
Viola,  in  Twelfth  Night.” 

Two  Sundays.  When  two  Sundays 
meet.  Never.  {See  Greek  Calends.) 

Tybalt.  A Capulet ; a fiery”  young 
nohlQ.— Shakespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet.’" 

It  is  the  name  given  to  the  cat  in  the 
story  of  ^^Eeynard  the  Fox.”  Hence 
Mercutio  says,  Tybalt,  you  rat-catcher, 
will  you  walk  ? ” (iii.  1 ) ; and  again,  when 
Tybalt  asks,  What  wouldst  thou  have 
with  me?”  Mercutio  answers,  ‘^Good 
king  of  cats  ! nothing  but  one  of  your 
nine  lives”  (iii.  1). 

Tyburn  is  Twa-burne,  the  two 
rivulets ; ” so  called  because  two  small 
rivers  met  in  this  locality. 

Tyhurn's  triple  tree.  A gallows,  which 
consists  of  two  uprights  and  a beam 
resting  on  them.  Previous  to  1783 
Tyburn  was  the  chief  place  of  execution 
in  London,  and  a gallows  was  perma- 
nently erected  there.  In  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII.  the  average  number  of 
persons  executed  annually  in  England 
was  2,000.  The  present  number  is  under 
twelve. 

Kings  of  Tyhurn.  Public  executioners. 
(^See  Hangmen.) 

Tyburn  Ticket.  Under  a statute 
of  William  III.,  prosecutors  who  had 
secured  a capital  conviction  against  a 
criminal  were  exempted  from  all  parish 
and  ward  ofiices  within  the  parish  in 
which  the  felony  had  been  committed. 
Such  persons  obtained  a Tyburn  Ticket, 
which  was  duly  enrolled  and  might  be 
sold.  The  Stamford  Mercury  (March 
27th,  1818)  announces  the  sale  of  one  of 
these  tickets  for  £280.  The  Act  was 
repealed  by  58  Geo.  III.,  c.  70. 

Tybur'nia  {Londori).  Portman  and 
Grosvenor  Squares  district,  described  by 
Thackeray  as  ‘Hhe  elegant,  the  pros- 
perous, the  polite  Tyburnia,  the  most  re- 
spectable district  of  the  habitable  globe.” 

T’Year— i.e.,  to-year;  as  to-day,  to-  ' 


Tyke.  {See  Tike.) 


Tyler  Insurrection.  That  headed 
by  Wat  Tyler  and  Jack  Straw,  in  con- 
sequence of  a poll-tax  of  three  groats  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a war  with  France. 
(1381.) 

Tyl'wyth  Teg  (the  Fair  Family). 
A sort  of  Kobold  family,  but  not  of  di-' 
minutive  size.  They  lived  in  the  lake- 
near  Brecknock. — Davies,  ‘^Mythology, 
c&c.,  of  the  British  Druids.” 


Type.  Pica  {large  type),  “litera 
pica'ta,”  the  great  black  letter  at  the 
beginning  of  some  new  order  in  the 
liturgy. 

Brevier  {small  type),  used  in  printing 
the  breviary. 

Primer,  now  called  ‘^long  primer” 
{small  type),  used  in  printing  small 
prayer-books  called  primers. 

A fount  of  types,  A complete  assort- 
ment, containing  — 


a .. 

..  8,500 

h .. 

..  6,400 

o .. 

..  8,^ '00 

b .. 

..  1,600 

i .. 

..  8,000 

p .. 

..  1,700 

c .. 

..  3,000 

j .. 

..  400 

q .. 

. . 500 

d .. 

..  4,400 

k .. 

..  800 

r .. 

..  6;>oo 

e .. 

..  12,000 

1 .. 

..  4,000 

s .. 

..  6,U00 

f .. 

..  2,500 

m .. 

..  3,000 

t .. 

..  9,000 

g .. 

..  1,700 

n 

..  8,000 

u .. 

..  3,400 

1,2X> 

2,';0O 

4i>i> 

2,000 

200 


Typhoon'.  The  evil  genius  of  Egyp- 
tian mythology  ; also  a furious  whirling 
wind  in  the  Chinese  seas.  [Typhoon  or 
typhon,  the  whirling  wind,  is  really  the 
Chinese  tai-fun,  hot  wind.] 


Beneath  the  radiant  line  that  girts  the  globe, 

The  circling  Ty'phon,  whirled  from  point  to  point* 
Exhausting  all  the  rage  of  all  the  sky. 

And  dire  Ecneph'ia  reigns. 

Thomson,  “ Summer P 

Tyr.  Son  of  Odin,  and  younger  bro- 
ther of  Thor.  The  wolf  Fenrir  bit  off 
his  hand. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Tyrant  did  not  originally  mean  a 
despot,  but  an  absolute  prince,  and  espe- 
cially one  who  made  himself  absolute  in 
a free  state.  Napoleon  III.  would  have- 
been  so  called  by  the  ancient  Greeks. 
Many  of  the  Greek  tyrants  were  pattern 
rulers,  as  Pisis'tratos  and  Pericles,  of 
Athens  ; Per'iander,  of  Corinth ; Dio- 
nysios  the  Younger,  Gelon,  and  his  bro- 
ther Hi'ero,  of  Syracuse  ; Polyc'rates,  of 
Samos ; Phi'dion,  of  Argos ; &c.  &c. 

Tyrant  of  the  Chersonese.  Milti'ades 
was  so  called,  and  yet  was  he,  as  Byron 
says,  Freedom’s  best  and  bravest 
friend.”  {See  Thirty  Tyrants.) 


TYRE. 


ULLIN. 


919 


A tyrant's  vein.  A ranting,  bullying 
manner.  In  the  old  moralities  the  ty- 
rants were  made  to  rant,  and  the  loud- 
ness of  their  rant  was  proportionate  to 
the  villany  of  their  dispositions.  Hence 
to  out-Herod  Herod  is  to  rant  more 
loudly  than  Herod;  to  o’erdo  Terma- 
gant is  to  rant  more  loudly  than  Terma- 
gant. {See  Pilate.) 

Tyre,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  Absalom 
and  Achitophel,”  means  Holland  ; Egypt 
means  France. 

I mourn,  my  countrymen,  your  lost  estate. . .. 

Now  aJl  your  liberties  a spoil  are  made, 

Egypt  and  Tyrus  intercept  your  trade. 

Tyrtaeus.  The  Spanish  Tyrtmus. 
Manuel  Jos^  Quinta'na,  whose  odes  stimu- 
lated the  Spaniards  to  vindicate  their 
liberty  at  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of 
Independence.  (1772-1857.) 


U 

Ubaldo  (in  “ Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
One  of  the  squadron  of  adventurers  that 
joined  the  Crusaders.  He  was  ‘^mature 
in  age,”  had  visited  many  regions,  from 
polar  cold  to  Libya’s  burning  soil,”  and 
was  the  bosom  friend  of  Guelpho.  He 
and  Charles  the  Dane  go  to  bring  Rinaldo 
back  from  the  enchanted  isle. 

Ube'da.  Orbaneia,  painter  of  Ubeda, 
sometimes  painted  a cock  so  prepos- 
terously designed  that  he  was  obliged  to 
write  under  it,  This  is  a cock.” — Cer- 
vanteSj  Don  Quixote,'  pt.  II.,  bk.  i.  3. 

Uberto  (in  '^Orlando  Furioso”). 
Count  d’Este  et  de  Commacchio. 

Ugly  means  hag-like.  Mr.  Dyer  de- 
rives it  from  ouph-lic,  like  an  ouph  or 
goblin.  The  Welsh  hagr,  ugly,  would 
rather  point  to  hag-lie,  like  a hag ; but 
we  need  only  go  to  the  Old  English  verb 
ngge,  to  feel  an  abhorrence  of,  to  stand 
in  fear  of. 

For  tha  payneg  are  so  felle  and  harde., .. 

That  ilk  man  may  ugge  bothe  yhowng  and  awlde. 

Hampokt  MS.  JBowes,  p.  189. 

Uglyog'raphy.  A word  coined  by 
Southey,  and  applied  to  Churchyarde’s 

reformed  ” spelling  of  English.  Alex- 
ander Gil  made  an  attempt  in  the  same 
direction  in  his  Logonomia  Anglica” 
(1619).  Dr.  Franklin,  in  1768,  proposed 
a phonetic  alphabet ; but  that  of  Ellis 


and  Pitman,  completed  in  1847,  is  pro- 
bably the  best. 

Ugoli'no,  count  of  Pisa,  deserted  his 
party  the  Ghibellines,  and  with  the  hope 
of  usurping  supreme  power  in  Pisa  formed 
an  alliance  with  Giovanni  Visconti,  the 
head  of  the  Guelphic  party,  who  promised 
to  supply  him  secretly  with  soldiers  from 
Sardinia.  The  plot  was  found  out,  and 
both  were  banished.  Giovanni  died,  but 
the  latter  joined  the  Forentines,  and 
forced  the  Pisans  to  restore  his  terri- 
tories, In  1284  Genoa  made  war  against 
Pisa,  and  count  Ugoli'no  treacherously 
deserted  the  Pisans,  causing  their  total 
overthrow.  At  length  a conspiracy  was 
formed  against  him,  and  in  1288  he  was 
cast  with  his  two  sons  and  two  grandsons 
into  the  tower  of  Gualandi,  where  they 
were  all  starved  to  death.  Dante,  in  his 

Inferno,”  has  given  the  sad  tale  an 
undying  interest. 

N.B.  Count  Ugolino  was  one  of  the 
noble  family  of  Gheradesca,  and  should 
be  styled  Ugolino  Count  of  Gheradesca. 

Uka'se  (2  syl.).  A Russian  term  for 
an  edict  either  proceeding  from  the 
senate  or  direct  from  the  emperor. 
(Russian,  ukasat,  to  speak.) 

Ul-Erin.  ‘'The  Guide  of  Ireland.” 
A star  supposed  to  be  the  guardian  of 
that  island. — Ossian,  ‘^Temora,"  iv. 

Ula'nia,  queen  of  PerduTa  or  Islanda, 
sent  a golden  shield  to  Charlemagne^ 
which  he  was  to  give  to  his  bravest 
paladin.  Whoever  could  win  the  shield 
from  this  paladin  was  to  claim  the  hand 
of  Ulania  in  marriage. — “ Orlando  Fun- 
oso,"  bk.  XV. 

Ule'ma.  In  Turkey,  either  a member 
of  the  college  or  the  college  itself.  The 
Ulema  consists  of  the  imaums,  muftis, 
and  cadis  (ministers  of  religion,  doctors 
of  law,  and  administrators  of  justice). 

Ulien’sSon.  Rodomont.—" 

Furioso," 

Ul'Ier.  The  god  of  archery  and  the 
chase.  No  one  could  outstrip  him  in  his 
snow-shoes. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Ullin.  Fingal’s  aged  bard. — Ossian. 

Lord  Ullin's  Daughter.  A ballad  by 
Campbell.  She  eloped  with  the  chief  of 
Ulva’s  Isle,  and  being  pursued,  induced 


920 


ULRIC. 


UMBRAGE. 


a boatman  to  row  them  over  Lochgyle 
during  a storm,  and  the  boat  was  over- 
whelmed just  as  Lord  Ullin  and  l^is 
retinue  reached  the  lake.  In  an  agony 
of  distress,  he  now  promised  to  forgive 
the  fugitives,  but  it  was  too  late : “ the 
waters  wild  rolled  o’er  his  child,  and  he 
was  left  lamenting.” 

Xirrie.  Son  of  count  Siegendorf.  He 
rescued  Stral'enheim  from  the  Oder,  but 
being  informed  by  his  father  that  the 
man  he  had  saved  is  the  great  enemy  of 
their  house,  he  murders  him. — Byron, 
*i  W emery 

St,  Ulric.  Much  honoured  by  fisher- 
men. He  died  973  on  ashes  strewed  in 
the  form  of  a cross  upon  the  floor. 

Ulri'ea.  The  sibyl  in  Sir  Walter 
Scott’s  ‘Hvanhoe.” 

Ulster.  The  Red  Hand  of  Ulster.  In 
an  ancient  expedition  to  Ireland  the 
leader  thereof  declared  that  he  who  first 
touched  the  shore  should  possess  the 
territory  on  which  he  lighted.  O’Neil, 
from  whom  descended  the  princes  of 
Ulster,  seeing  another  boat  likely  to  land 
before  him,  cut  off  his  hand  and  threw 
it  ashore.  The  ‘^red  hand”  was  assigned 
by  James  as  a badge  of  the  baronets, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  colonise  the  province. 

Ulster  Badge.  A sinister  hand, 
erect,  open,  and  couped  at  the  wrist 
{gules),  sometimes  borne  in  a canton,  and 
sometimes  on  the  escutcheon.  {See  above.) 

Ulster  King  of  Arms.  Chief 
heraldic  officer  of  Ireland.  Created  by 
Edward  VI.  in  1552. 

Ultima  Thule.  {See  Thule.) 

Ultima'tum  (JLatiri).  A final  pro- 
posal, which,  if  not  accepted,  will  be 
followed  by  hostile  proceedings. 

Ul'timum  Vale  {Latin),  A finish- 
ing stroke,  a final  coup. 

Atropos.  cutting  off  the  thread  of  his  life,  gave  an 
ultimum  vale  to  my  good  fortune. — “ TAe  tSeven 
Champions  of  Christendom,’'  iii.  4. 

Urtimus  Romano'rum.  So  Hora  ce 
Walpolehas  been  sometimes  called.  (1717- 
1797.)  {See  Last  of  the  Romans.) 

Ultramontane  Party.  The  ultra- 
Popish  party  in  the  Church  of  Rome, 
Ultramontane  opinions  or  tendencies  are 
those  which  favour  the  high  Catholic” 
party,  Ultramontane  beyond  the 


Alps”)  means  Italy  or  the  Papal  States. 
The  term  was  first  used  by  the  French, 
to  distinguish  those  who  look  upon  the 
pope  as  the  fountain  of  all  power  in 
the  church,  in  contradistinction  to  the 
Gallican  school,  which  maintains  the 
right  of  self-government  by  national 
churches. 

Ulys'ses  (3  syl.).  King  of  Ith'aca,  a 
small  rocky  island  of  Greece.  He  is 
represented  in  Homer’s  Iliad  ” as  full 
of  artifices,  and,  according  to  Virgil,  hit 
upon  the  device  of  the  wooden  horse,  by 
which  Troy  was  ultimately  taken.  (The 
word  means  The  Angry  or  Wrathfd.) 

After  the  fall  of  Troy,  Ulysses  was 
driven  about  by  tempests  for  ten  years 
before  he  reached  home,  and  his  adven- 
tures form  the  subject  of  Homer’s  other 
epic,  called  the  “ Odyssey.” 

Ulysses.  When  Palame'des  summoned 
Ulysses  to  the  Trojan  war,  he  found  him 
in  a field  ploughing  with  a team  of 
strange  animals,  and  sowing  salt  instead 
of  barley.  This  he  did  to  semble  in- 
sanity, that  he  might  be  excused  from 
the  expedition.  The  incident  is  em- 
ployed to  show  what  meagre  shifts  are 
sometimes  resorted  to,  to  shuffie  out  of 
plain  duties. 

Ulysses'  Bow.  Only  Ulysses  could 
draw  his  own  bow,  and  he  could  shoot 
an  arrow  through  twelve  rings.  By 
this  sign  Penel'ope  recognised  her  hus- 
band after  an  absence  of  twenty  years. 

The  Ulysses.  Albert  III.,  margrave  of 
Brandenburg.  He  was  also  called 
Achilles  ” {q.v.).  (1414-1486.) 

The  Ulysses  of  the  Highlands.  Sir 
Evan  Cameron,  lord  of  Lochiel,  sur- 
named  ^^The  Black.”  (Died  1719.)  His 
son  Donald  was  called  ‘'The  Gentle 
Lochiel.”  (Lochiel  pron.  Loc-heel'.) 

Uma,  consort  of  Siva,  famous  for  her 
defeat  of  the  army  of  Chanda  and  Munda, 
two  demons.  She  is  represented  as  hold- 
ing the  head  of  Chanda  in  one  of  her 
four  hands,  and  trampling  on  Munda. 
The  heads  of  the  army,  strung  into  a 
necklace,  adorn  her  body,  and  a girdle 
of  the  same  surrounds  her  waist. 

Umber.  The  paint  so  called  was 
first  made  in  Umbria,  Italy. 

Umbra.  Obsequious  Umbra,  in 
Garth’s  " Dispensary,”' is  Dr.  Gould. 

Umbrage.  To  take  umbrage.  To 
take  offence.  Umbrage  means  shade 


UMBRELLA. 


UNCUMBER. 


921 


(Latin,  umbra),  a gloomy  view.  A bright 
view  of  any  matter  is  a cheerful  or  hope- 
ful one  ; a gloomy  or  shady  view  is  the 
contrary. 

Umbrella.  First  used  in  Edinburgh 
by  Dr.  Spens ; in  Glasgow,  1780,  by 
Jameson,  a surgeon.  Common  in  London 
1710.  {^ee  A City  Shower,"  by  Swift.) 

UmTbriel.  A gnome  or  spirit  of 
earth,  who  goes  to  the  house  of  Spleen 
and  is  supplied  by  that  goddess  with  a 
bag-full  of  sighs,  sobs,  passions,  and 
cross  words;”  and  a vial-full  of  ‘^soft 
sorrows,  melting  grief,  and  flowing  tears.” 
When  the  baron  cuts  off  Belinda’s  lock 
of  hair,  Umbriel  breaks  the  vial  over 
her,  and  Belinda  instantly  begins  to 
weep  and  sigh.  — Pope,  ‘‘  Fiape  of  the 
Loc%,”  iv. 

U'na  {Truth,  so  called  because  truth 
as  one).  She  starts  with  St.  George  on 
his  adventure,  and  being  driven  by  a 
storm  into  ^‘Wandering  Wood,”  retires 
for  the  night  to  Hypocrisy’s  cell.  St. 
George  quits  the  cell,  leaving  Una  be- 
hind. In  her  search  for  him  she  is 
caressed  by  a lion,  who  afterwards 
attends  her.  She  next  sleeps  in  the  hut 
of  Superstition,  and  next  morning  meets 
Hypocrisy  dressed  as  St.  George.  As 
they  journey  together  Sansloy  meets 
them,  exposes  Hypocrisy,  kills  the  lion, 
and  carries  off  Una  on  his  steed  to  a 
wild  forest.  Una  fills  the  air  with  her 
4sbrieks,  and  is  rescued  by  the  fauns  and 
satyrs,  who  attempt  to  worship  her, 
but  being  restrained  pay  adoration  to 
her  ass.  She  is  delivered  from  the 
satyrs  and  fauns  by  Sir  Satyrane,  and  is 
told  by  Archima'go  that  St.  George  is 
dead,  but  subsequently  hears  that  he  is 
the  captive  of  Orgoglio.  She  goes  to 
king  Arthur  for  aid,  and  the  king  both 
slays  Orgoglio  and  rescues  the  knight. 
Una  now  takes  St.  George  to  the  house 
of  Holiness,  where  he  is  careRilly  nursed, 
and  then  leads  him  to  Eden,  where  their 
union  is  consummated. — Spenser,  Faery 
Queen,**  bk.  i.  (^See  Lion.) 

Una  Serranilla  (a  little  mountain 
song),  by  Mendo'za,  marquis  of  Santil- 
lana,  godfather  of  Diego  Hurtado  de 
Mendoza.  This  song,  of  European  cele- 
brity, was  composed  on  a little  girl 
found  by  the  marquis  tending  her 
father’s  flocks  on  the  hills,  and  is  called 


^^The  Charming  Milk-maiden  of  Sweet 
Fin'ojo'sa.” 

Un'anelRed  (3  syl.).  Without  ex- 
treme unction.  (Saxon  cell  means  oil,” 
and  an-cell  to  anoint  with  oil.”) 

Uncas,  the  son  of  Chingachcook ; 
called  in  French  Le  Cerf  Agile  (Deer- 
foot)  ; introduced  into  three  of  Fenimore 
Cooper’s  novels,  viz. — ‘^The  Last  of  the 
Mohicans,”  “ The  Path-finder,”  and 

The  Pioneer.” 

Un'cial  Letters.  Letters  an  inch 
in  size.  From  the  fifth  to  the  ninth 
century.  (Latin,  uncia,  an  inch.) 

Uncle.  Gone  to  my  uncUs.  Uncle’s 
is  a pun  on  the  Latin  word  uncus,  a hook. 
Pawnbrokers  employed  a hook  to  lift  ar- 
ticles pawned  before  spouts  were  adopted. 
^^Grone  to  the  uncus”  is  exactly  tanta- 
mount to  the  more  modern  phrase,  Up 
the  spout.”  The  pronoun  was  inserted 
to  carry  out  the  pun.  The  French  phrase, 
A ma  tante  does  not  mean  To  my 
aunt’s,”  but  to  ^Hhe  scoundrel’s,”  the 
word  tante  in  French  argot  being  the 
most  reproachful  word  they  can  use 
speaking  of  a man. 

Gone  to  my  uncle's,  in  French  (Test 
chez  ma  tante.  At  the  pawnbroker’s. 
In  French  the  concierge  de  prison  is 
called  uncle  because  the  prisoners  are 
‘‘kept  there  in  pawn”  by  Government. 
In  the  seventeenth  century  a usurer  was 
called  my  uncle  in  the  Walloon  provinces, 
because  of  his  near  connection  with 
spendthrifts,  called  in  Latin  nepotes, 
nephews. 

In  publica'num  sen  foenerato'rem  vulgo  a Belgis 
voca'tum  mon  oncle,  sea  avuiiculum.  (See  p.  11. 
“ Epigramme.”  imprime  a Tournay,  chez  Adrien 
Quinque.) 

Uncle  Toby.  {See  Toby.) 

Uncle  Tom.  A negro  slave,  noted 
for  his  fidelity,  piety,  and  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  all  his  duties.  Being  sold  he 
has  to  submit  to  the  most  revolting 
cruelties. — Mrs.  Beecher  Stowe,  “ Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin." 

Uncumber  {St.),  formerly  called  St. 
Wylgeforte.  “Women  changed  her 
name  ” (says  Sir  Thomas  More)  “ because 
they  reken  that  for  a pecke  of  otys  she 
will  not  faile  to  uncumber  them  of  their 
husbondys.”  The  tradition  says  that 
the  saint  was  very  beautiful,  but  wishing 
to  lead  a single  life,  prayed  that  she  might 


922  UNDEE  THE  EOSE. 


UNICOEN. 


have  a beard,  after  which  she  was  no 
more  cumbered  with  lovers.  '^For  a 
peck  of  oats,”  says  Sir  Thomas  More,  ^^she 
would  provide  a horse  for  an  evil  house- 
honde  to  ride  to  the  Devill  upon.” 

If  a wife  were  weary  of  a husband,  she  offered  oats 
at  Ponies.... to  St.  Uncumber.  — Woodc 

(1554). 

Under  the  Hose  (^Suh  to' so).  Se- 
cretly, confidentially.  Amongst  the 
ancients  the  rose  was  an  emblem  of 
silence,  and  it  was  customary  to  suspend 
a rose  from  the  ceiling  of  a banquet- 
room,  to  intimate  to  the  guests  that 
nothing  said  in  that  room  was  to  be 
uttered  abroad.  (^See  article  Kose.) 

U n'd  e r - e u r'r  e n t metaphorically 
means  something  at  work  which  has  an 
opposite  tendency  to  what  is  visible  or 
apparent.  Thus  in  the  Puritan  supre- 
macy there  was  a strong  under-current  of 
loyalty  to  the  banished  prince.  Both  in 
air  and  water  there  are  frequently  two 
currents,  the  upper  one  running  in  one 
direction,  and  the  under  one  in  another. 

Under  Weigh..  The  undertaking  is 
already  begun.  A ship  is  said  to  be 
under  weigh  when  it  has  drawn  its  an- 
chors from  their  moorings,  and  started 
on  its  voyage.  Probably  this  should  be 
under  ^^way” — i,e.,  on  the  way,  in  the 
act  of  moving.  We  say  the  matter  is 
under  consideration,  the  bill  is  under 
discussion. 

Underwriter.  An  underwriter  at 
Lloyd's.  One  who  insures  a ship  or  its 
merchandise  to  a stated  amount ; so 
called  because  he  writes  his  name  under 
the  policy. 

Undine'  (2  syl.).  The  water-nymph, 
who  was  created  without  a soul  like  all 
others  of  her  species.  By  marrying  a 
mortal  she  obtained  a soul,  and  with  it 
all  the  pains  and  penalties  of  the  human 
race.— Xa Motte  Fonqu^,  ^‘Undine."  Bor- 
rowed from  Theophrastus  Paracelsus. 

Undines  (2  syl.),  according  to  middle- 
age  belief,  are  the  elemental  spirits  of 
water  (Latin,  unda,  water).  See  Sylphs. 

Ungrateful.  The  Ungrateful  Guest. 
A Macedonian  soldier,  being  wrecked, 
was  hospitably  entertained  in  the  house 
of  a villager.  When  he  appeared  before 
Philip,  the  king  asked  him  what  service 
he  could  render  him,  and  the  soldier 
demanded  the  house  of  his  entertainer  ; 
but  the  circumstance  being  known,  Philip 


ordered  him  to  be  branded  on  the  fore- 
head with  these  words  : “ The  Ungrateful 
Guest.” 

Unguem.  Ad  unguem.  To  the  mi- 
nutest point.  To  finish  a statue  ad  un- 
guem is  to  finish  it  so  smoothly  and 
perfectly  that  when  the  nail  is  run  over 
the  surface  it  can  detect  no  imperfection. 

Unhinged.  I am  quite  unhinged.  My 
nerves  are  shaken,  my  equilibrium  of 
mind  is  disturbed ; I am  like  a door 
which  has  lost  one  of  its  hinges. 

Unhou'selled(3syl.).  Without  hav- 
ing had  the  Eucharist  in  the  hour  of 
death.  To  housel  is  to  administer  the 
“sacrament”  to  the  sick  in  danger  of 
death.  Housel  is  the  Saxon  husel  (the 
Eucharist).  Lye  derives  it  from  the 
Gothic  hunsa  (a  victim). 

U'nicorn.  According  to  the  legends 
of  the  middle  ages,  the  unicorn  could  be 
caught  only  by  placing  a virgin  in  his 
haunts ; upon  seeing  the  virgin,  the 
creature  would  lose  its  fierceness  and  lie 
quiet  at  her  feet.  This  is  said  to  be  an 
allegory  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  willingly 
became  man  and  entered  the  Virgin’s 
womb,  when  he  was  taken  by  the  hunters 
of  blood.  The  one  horn  symbolises  the 
great  gospel  doctrine  that  Christ  is  one 
with  God. — Guillaume  Clerc  de  Norman- 
die  Troiirere. 

The  unicorn  has  the  legs  of  a buck, 
the  tail  of  a lion,  the  head  and  body  of  a 
horse,  and  a single  horn  in  the  middle  of 
its  forenead.  The  horn  is  white  at  the 
base,  black  in  the  middle,  and  red  at  the 
tip.  The  body  of  the  unicorn  is  white, 
the  head  red,  and  eyes  blue.  The 
oldest  author  that  describes  it  is  Cte'sias 
(b.c.  400) ; Aristotle  calls  it  the  Wild  Ass ; 
Pliny,  the  Indian  Ass ; Lobo  also  describes 
it  in  his  “ History  of  Abyssinia.” 

Unicorn,  James  I.  substituted  a uni- 
corn, one  of  the  supporters  of  the  royal 
arms  of  Scotland,  for  the  red  dragon  of 
Wales,  introduced  by  Henry  VII.  Ari- 
osto refers  to  the  arms  of  Scotland  thus : 

Ton  lion  placed  two  unicorns  between, 

That  rampant  witSi  a silver  sword  is  seen. 

Is  for  the  king  of  Scotland’s  banner  known. 

PfooZe,  ill. 

Unicorn.  According  to  a belief  once 
popular,  the  unicorn  by  dipping  its  horn 
into  a liquid  could  detect  whether  or 
not  it  contained  poison.  In  the  designs 
for  gold  and  silver  plate  made  for  the 
emperor  Eudolph  II.,  by  Ottavio  Strada, 


UNIGEJNITUS. 


UNWASHED. 


923: 


ie  a cup  on  which  a unicorn  stands  as  if 
to  essay  the  liquid. 

Driving  unicorn.  Two  wheelers  and 
one  leader.  The  leader  is  the  one  horn. 
(Latin,  unum  cornu,  one  horn.) 

Unigen'itus  (Latin,  The  Only -Be- 
gotten'). A papal  bull,  so  called  from 
its  opening  sentence,  Unigen'itus  Dei 
Filius.  It  was  issued  in  condemnation 
of  Quesnel’s  Reflexions  Morales,  which 
favoured  Jansenism  ; the  bull  was  issued 
in  1713  by  Clement  XI.,  and  was  a 
damnatio  in  globo—i.e.,  a condemnation 
of  the  whole  book  without  exception. 
Cardinal  de  Noailles,  archbishop  of  Paris, 
took  the  side  of  Quesnel,  and  those  who 
supported  the  archbishop  against  the 
pope  were  termed  Appelants.”  In 
1730  the  bull  was  condemned  by  the  civil 
authorities  of  Paris,  and  the  controversy 
died  out. 


Union  Jack.  The  national  banner 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  It  consists 
of  three  united  crosses — that  of  St.  George 
for  England,  the  saltire  of  St.  Andrew  for 
Scotland,  and  the  cross  of  St.  Patrick  for 
Ireland. 


St.  George’s  cross, 
red  on  white. 


St.  Andrew’s  cross, 
white  on  blue. 


St.  Patrick’s  cross, 
red  on  white. 


In  the  Union  Jack  the  white  edging  of 
St.  George’s  cross  shows  the  white  field. 
In  the  saltire  the  cross  is  reversed  on 
each  side,  showing  that  the  other  half  of 
the  cross  is  covered  over.  The  broad 
white  band  is  the  St.  Andrew’s  cross  ; 
the  narrow  white  edge  is  the  white  field 
of  St.  Patrick’s  cross. 

In  regard  to  the  word  Jack,”  some 
say  it  is  Jacque  (James),  the  name  of  the 
king  who  united  the  flags,  but  this  is  not 
correct.  When  James  I.  came  to  the 
throne  the  flag  was  the  cross  of  St.  George, 
with  the  surcoat  or  jack  usually  embla- 
zoned with  the  red  cross  of  St.  George. 
James  added  the  saltire  of  St,  Andrew, 
but  that  of  St.  Patrick  was  not  added  till 
1801.  {Jacque,  our  ‘^jacket.”) 


Unita'rians,  in  England,  ascribe 
their  foundation  to  John  Biddle.  (1615- 


1662.)  Milton,  Locke,  Newton,  Lardner, 
and  many  other  men  of  historic  note 
were  Unitarians. 

United  States.  The  thirty-six 
states  of  North  America  composing  the 
Eederal  Bepublic.  Each  state  is  repre- 
sented in  the  Federal  Congress  by  twe 
senators,  and  a number  of  representa- 
tives proportionate  to  the  number  of 
inhabitants.  The  nickname  of  a United 
Statesman  is  K Brother  Jonathan,”  and 
of  the  people  in  the  aggregate  Brother 
Jonathan”  {q.v.). 

U'nities.  {See  Aristotelian.) 

Universal  Doctor.  Alain  de  Lille. 
(1114-1203.) 

U'niverse  (3  syh).  According  to  the 
Peripatetics,  the  universe  consists  of 
eleven  spheres  enclosed  within  each  other 
like  Chinese  balls.  The  eleventh  sphere 
is  called  the  empyre'an  or  heaven  of  ther 
blessed.  {See  Heaven.) 

U 'niver'sity.  First  applied  to  col- 
legiate societies  of  learning  in  the  twelfth 
century,  because  the  universitas  litera'r^im 
(entire  range  of  literature)  was  taught 
in  them — i.e.,  arts,,  theology,  law,  and 
physic,  still  called  the  ‘ ‘ learned  ” sciences., 
Greek,  Latin,  grammar,  rhetoric,  and 
poetry  are  called  humanity  studied,  or 
lamianiores  literoe,  meaning  “ lay”  studies 
in  contradistinction  to  divinity,  which  is 
the  study  of  divine  things.  {See  Cad.) 

Unknown.  The  Great  Unknown. 
Sir  Walter  Scott ; so  called  because  the 
Waverley  Novels  were  published  anony- 
mously. It  was  James  Ballantyne  who 
first  applied  the  term  to  the  unknown 
novelist. 

Unlicked  or  Unlicked  Cuh.  A lout- 
ish, unmannerly  youth.  According  to 
tradition,  the  bear  cub  is  misshapen  and 
imperfect  till  its  dam  has  licked  it  into 
normal  form. 

Unready  {The).  Ethelred  II. — i.e., 
lacking  rede  (counsel).  (*,  978-1016.) 

Unrigh-teous  {Adok'imos').  St. 
Christopher’s  name  before  baptism.  It 
was  changed  to  Christ-bearer  because  he 
carried  over  a stream  a little  child,  who 
(according  to  tradition)  proved  to  be 
Jesus  Christ. 

Unwashed  (2  syl.).  It  was  Burke 
who  first  called  the  mob  'Hhe  great  un- 
washed,” but  the  term  ‘‘unwashed  * had 


924 


UPAS  TREE. 


URGANDA. 


leen  applied  to  them  before,  for  Gay 
v<ses  it. 

The  king  of  late  drew  forth  his  sword 
{Thank  God  ’twas  not  in  wrath), 

, And  made,  cf  many  a squire  and  lord, 

An  unwashed  knight  of  Bath. 

A ballad  on  Quadrille. 

U'pas  Tree  or  Poison-tree  of  Macas- 
mr.  Applied  to  anything  baneful  or  of 
-evil  influence.  The  tradition  is  that  a 
putrid  stream  rises  from  the  tree  which 
-grows  in  the  island  of  Java,  and  that 
whatever  the  vapour  touches  dies.  This 
fable  is  chiefly  due  to  Foersch,  a Dutch 
physician,  who  published  his  narrative 
in  1783.  ‘‘Not  a tree,”  he  says,  “nor 
blade  of  grass  is  to  be  found  in  the 
valley  or  surrounding  mountains.  Not 
a beast  or  bird,  reptile  or  living  thing, 
lives  in  the  vicinity.”  He  adds  that  on 
“ one  occasion  1,600  refugees  encamped 
within  fourteen  miles  of  it,  and  all  but 
300  died  within  two  months.”  This  fable 
Darwin  has  perpetuated  in  his  “ Loves  of 
the  Plants.”  Bennett  has  shown  that  the 
Dutchman’s  account  is  a mere  traveller’s 
tale,  for  the  tree  while  growing  is  quite 
innocuous,  though  the  juice  may  be  used 
for  poison ; the  whole  neighbourhood  is 
imost  richly  covered  with  vegetation  ; 
man  may  fearlessly  walk  under  the  tree, 
and  birds  roost  on  its  branches.  A upas 
tree  grows  in  Kew  Gardens,  and  flourishes 
amidst  other  hot-house  plants. 

On  the  blasted  heath 
Fell  Upas  sits,  the  hydra-tree  of  death. 

Darwin^  “ Loves  of  the  FlantSt"  iii  233. 

Upper  Crust.  The  lions  or  crack 
men  of  the  day.  The  phrase  was  first 
used  in  “ Sam  Slick.” 

I want  you  to  see  Peel,  Stanley,  Graham,  Shiel, 
Bussell,  Macaulay,  old  J oe,  and  so  on.  They  are  all 
upper  crust  here.^’ 

Upper  Storey.  The  head.  “Ill- 
.furnished  in  the  upper  storey;”  a head 
without  brains. 

Upper  Ten  Thousand.  The  aris- 
tocracy. The  term  was  first  used  by 
N.  P.  Willis,  in  speaking  of  the  fashion- 
aV)les  of  New  York,  who  at  that  time 
were  not  more  than  ten  thousand  in 
■number. 

Uproar  is  not  compounded  of  up  and 
■roar,  but  is  the  German  aiif-rulir  (want 
•of  repose,  absence  of  quiet). 

Upsses.  {See  Half-seas  Over.) 

^et  whoop,  Barnaby ! off  with  thy  liquor. 
Brink  unsees  out,  and  a fig  for  the  vicar. 

Sir  Walter  Scotty  Lady  of  the  Lake  ” vi,  5. 


Up'set  Price.  The  price  at  which 
goods  sold  by  auction  are  first  offered  for 
competition.  If  no  advance  is  made  they 
fall  to  the  person  who  made  the  upset 
price.  Our  “reserved  bid”  is  virtually 
the  same  thing. 

Ura'nia.  Daughter  of  the  king  of 
Sicily,  who  fell  in  love  with  Sir  Guy, 
eldest  son  of  St.  George,  the  patron 
saint  of  England.  After  his  marriage, 
Sir  Guy  was  made  king  of  Sicily. — “ The 
Seven  Champions  of  Christendom^  iii.  2. 

Urania.  The  muse  of  astronomy. 
The  word  means  “ Heavenly  Muse.” — 
Classic  mythology, 

Urbi  et  Orbi  (To  Rome  and  the  rest 
of  the  world).  A form  used  in  the  publi- 
cation of  papal  bulls. 

Ur c lain  is  a little  ore  (Orc-kin ; 
Dutch,  urkj  urkjen).  The  ore  is  a sea 
monster  that  devours  men  and  women  ; 
the  orc-hinj  or  little  ork,  is  the  hedgehog, 
supposed  to  be  a sprite  or  mischievous 
little  imp. 

Urda  {the  Past).  Guardian  of  a well 
called  the  Norna,  where  the  gods  sit  in 
judgment. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Urda,Verdandi,  and  Skula  {Past, 
Present,  and  Future).  Three  maidens 
who  dwell  in  a beautiful  hall  below  the 
ash-tree  Yggdrasil'.  Their  employment 
is  to  grave  on  a shield  the  destiny  of 
man. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Ur  dan  Fount.  The  fount  of  light 
and  heat. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Urgan.  A mortal  born  and  chris- 
tened, but  stolen  by  the  king  of  the 
fairies  and  brought  up  in  elf-land.  He 
was  sent  to  lord  Richard,  the  husband  of 
Alice  Brand,  to  lay  on  him  the  “ curse  of 
the  sleepless  eye  ” for  killing  his  wife’s 
brother  Ethert.  When  lord  Richard 
saw  the  hideous  dwarf  he  crossed  him- 
self, but  the  elf  said,  “I  fear  not  sign 
made  with  a bloody  hand.”  Then  for- 
ward stepped  Alice  and  made  the  sign, 
and  the  dwarf  said  if  any  woman 
would  sign  his  brow  thrice  with  a cross 
he  should  recover  his  mortal  form. 
Alice  signed  him  thrice,  and  the’  elf 
became  “ the  fairest  knight  in  all  Scot- 
land, in  whom  she  recognised  her  bro- 
ther Ethert.” — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Alice 
Brand'"  {^^ Lady  of  the  Lake,"  iv.  12). 

Urganda  la  Desconeci'da.  An 
enchantress  or  sort  of  Mede'a  in  the  ro- 


TJRGEL. 


UT. 


925 


mances  belonging  to  the  Am'adis  and 
Pal'merin  series,  in  the  Spanish  school  of 
romance. 

XJr'gel.  One  of  Charlemagne’s  pala- 
dins, famous  for  his  giant- strength.” 

U'riel.  Regent  of  the  Sun,”  and 

sharpest  - sighted  spirit  of  all  in 
heaven.” — Mxltony  Paradise  Losty^  hi. 
690. 

Longfellow,  in  The  Golden  Legend,” 
makes  Raphael  the  angel  of  the  Sun, 
and  Uriel  the  minister  of  Mars.  {See 
Raphael.)  * 

I am  the  minister  of  Mars. 

The  stronuest  star  among  the  stars. 

My  songs  of  power  prelude 
The  march  and  battle  of  man’s  life, 

And  for  the  suffering  and  the  strife 
1 give  him  fortitude. 

“ Tht  Miracle  Play,'*  iii 

XJ'rim,  in  Garth’s  ‘‘Dispensary,”  is 
Dr.  Atterbury. 

TJrim  was  civil,  and  not  void  of  sense. 

Had  humour  and  courteous  confidence.... 
Constant  at  feasts,  and  each  decorum  knew, 

And  soon  as  the  dessert  appeared,  withdrew. 

(Canto  i.) 

Urim  and  Thummim  consisted  of 
three  stones,  which  were  deposited  in  the 
double  lining  of  the  high  priest’s  breast- 
plate. One  stone  represented  YeSy  one 
JiOy  and  one  JYo  answer  is  to  be  given. 
When  any  question  was  brought  to  the 
high  priest  to  be  decided  by  “Urim,” 
the  priest  put  his  hand  into  the  “pouch” 
and  drew  out  one  of  the  stones,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  stone  drawn  out  the 
question  was  decided  (Lev.  viii.  8 ; 1 Sam. 
xxviii.  6). 

U'risk.  A rough  hairy  spirit  in  the 
mythology  of  the  Cymri. 

Ursa  Major.  Calisto,  daughter  of 
Lyca'on,  was  violated  by  Jupiter,  and 
Juno  changed  her  into  a bear.  Jupiter 
placed  her  among  the  stars  that  she 
might  be  more  under  his  protection. 
Homer  calls  it  Ar^tos  the  bear,  and 
Hamaxa  the  waggon.  The  Romans  called 
it  Ursa  the  bear,  and  Septemtridnes  the 
seven  ploughing  oxen ; whence  “ Sep- 
tentriona'lis”  came  to  signify  the  north. 
The  common  names  in  Europe  for  the 
seven  bright  stars  are  “the  plough,” 
“the  waggon,”  “Charles’s  wain,”  “the 
Great,  Bear,”  &c. 

Boswell’s  father  used  to  call  Dr.  John- 
son Ursa  Bear.) 

Ursa  Minor.  Also  called  Cynosu'ray 
or  “ Dog’s  tail,”  from  its  circular  sweep. 


The  pole  star  is  a in  the  tail.  {Se^ 
Cynosure.) 

Ur'sula  {Dame')  or  Ursley  Suddlechop. 
Wife  of  Benjamin  Suddlechop  the  bar- 
ber, modelled  from  Mrs.  Turner,  who 
came  to  condign  punishment  for  her 
share  in  the  poisoning  of  Sir  Thomas 
Overbury. 

She  had  acquaintances.... among  the  quality,  and 
maintained  her  intercourse  with  this  superior  rank 
of  customers  partly  by  driving  a trade  in  perfumes, 
essences,  pomades,  head-gears  from  France,  not  to- 
mention  drugs  of  various  descriptions,  chiefly  for  the 
use  of  the  ladies,  and  partly  by  other  services  more 
or  less  connected  with  the  esoteric  branches  of  hey 
profession.— Nir  Walter  Scott,  ‘'Fortunes  of  Nigel.” 

St.  Ursula  and  the  eleven  thousand 
virgin  martyrs.  Ursula  was  a British 
princess,  and,  as  the  legend  says,  was 
going  to  France  with  her  virgin  train, 
but  was  driven  by  adverse'*  winds  to 
Cologne,  where  she  and  her  11,000  comr 
panions  were  martyred  by  the  Huns. 
This  extravagant  legend  is  said  to  have 
originated  in  the  discovery  of  an  inscrip- 
tion to  Ursula  et  Undecimilla  Virgines, 
“ the  Virgins  Ursula  and  Undecimilla  ; ” 
but  by  translating  the  latter  name,  the 
inscription  reads  “ Ursula  and  her  11,000 
virgins.”  Visitors  to  Cologne  are  shown 
piles  of  skulls  and  human  bones  heaped 
in  the  wall,  faced  with  glass,  which  the 
verger  asserts  are  the  relics  of  the  11,000 
martyred  virgins.  {See  Virgins.)  • 

Ursula  is  the  Swabian  ursul  or  horsely 
the  moon,  and  her  “virgins’*  are  tho 
stars.  Ursul  is  the  Scandinavian  Hulda.. 

Ush'er  means  a porter  (Old  French, 
huisheVy  a door ; whence  huissiery  an 
usher;  Latin,  ostarius).  One  who  stands 
at  the  door  to  usher  visitors  into  tho 
presence. 

Us'quebau'gh.  (3  syl.).  Whiskey 
(Irish,  uisge-beathay  water  of  life).  Similar 
to  the  Latin  aqua  vitcey  and  the  French 
eau  de  vie. 

U'sury.  Cowell  derives  this  word 
from  the  Latin  usu-ceris  (for  the  use  of 
money). 

Ut.  Saxon  outy  as  Utoxeter,  im  StaL 
fordshire  ; Utrecht,  in  Holland;  “ outer 
camp-town';”  the  “out  passage,”  so  called 
by  Clotaire  because  it  was  the  grand 
passage  over  or  out  of  tho  Rhine,  before 
that  river  changed  its  bed.  Utmost  is 
out  or  outer-most.  (*See  Utgard.) 

Strain  at  [ut,  “ ottJ”]  a gnat,  and  swallow  a camel. 
—Matt,  xxiii.  24. 


926  UT  QUEAT  LAXIS. 


VACUUM  BOYLEANUM. 


Ut  Queat  Laxis,  &c.  This  hymn 
was  composed  in  770.  Dr  Busby,  in  his 

Musical  Dictionary,”  says  it  is  ascribed 
to  John  the  Baptist,  but  has  omitted  to 
inform  us  by  whom.  (^See  Do.) 

U'ta.  Queen  of  Burgundy,  mother 
of  Kriemhild  and  Gunther.  — The 
Nibelungen-Lied.  ” 

U'ter.  Pendragon  (chief)  of  the 
Britons ; by  an  adulterous  amour  with 
Igerna  (wife  of  Gorlois,  duke  of  Corn- 
wall) he  became  the  father  of  Arthur, 
who  succeeded  him  as  king  of  the  Silures. 

U'terine  (3  syl.).  A uterine  brother 
or  sister.  One  born  of  the  same  mother 
but  not  of  the  same  father  (Latin, 
uterus,  the  womb). 

Ut'gard  (old  Norse,  outer  ward).  The 
circle  of  rocks  that  hemmed  in  the 
ocean  which  was  supposed  to  encompass 
the  world.  The  giants  dwelt  among  the 
rocks. — Scandinavian  mythology. 

Utgard-Lok.  The  demon  of  the 
infernal  regions.  — Scandinavian  mytho- 
logy. 

XJ'ti  Posside'tis  {Latin^  as  you  at 
.present  possess  them).  The  belligerents 
are  to  retain  possession  of  all  the  places 
taken  by  them  before  the  treaty  com- 
menced. 

XJ'ticen'sis.  Cato  the  younger  was 
so  called  from  U'tica,  the  place  of  his 
death. 

Utilita'rians.  A word  first  used  by 
John  Stuart  Mill ; but  Jeremy  Bentham 
employed  the  word  Utility”  to  signify 
the  doctrine  which  makes  ‘ ^ the  happiness 
of  man”  the  one  and  only  measure  of  right 
and  wrong. 

Oh  happiness,  our  being’s  end  and  aim 

For  which  we  bear  to  live,  or  dare  to  die. 

Pope,  Epistle  IV. 

Uto'pia  properly  means  nowhere 
(Greek,  ou  topos).  It  is  the  imaginary 
island  of  Sir  Thomas  More,  where  every- 
thing is  perfect — the  laws,  the  morals, 
the  politics,  &c.  In  this  romance  the 
evils  of  existing  laws,  &c.,  are  shown  by 
contrast.  (1516.)  Wbissnichtwo.) 

Uto'pia,  the  hingdom  of  Grangousier. 
When  Pantagruel'  sailed  thither  from 
France  and  had  got  into  the  main  ocean, 
he  doubled  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and 
made  for  the  shores  of  Melinda.  ‘^Part- 
ing from  Me'damoth  he  sailed  with  a 
northerly  wind,  passed  Me'dam,  Ge'- 


lasem,  and  the  Fairy  Isles  ; and  keeping 
Uti  to  the  left  and  Uden  to  the  right, 
ran  into  the  port  of  Utopia,  distant 
about  three  and  a half  leagues  from  the 
city  of  the  Amaurots.”  {Medamoth, 
from  no  place ; Me'dam,  nowhere ; 
Gelasem,  hidden  land;  Uti,  nothing  at 
all ; Uden,  nothing ; Utopia,  no  place, 
distant  three  and  a half  leages  from 
Amauros,  the  vanishing  point,  — all 
Greek.)  {See  Queubus.) 

Uto'pian.  An  impracticable  scheme 
for  the  improvement  of  society.  Any 
scheme  of  profit  or  pleasure  which  is  not 
practicable.  {See  Utopia.) 

U'traquists  {Both -hinders).  The 
followers  of  Huss  were  so  called,  because 
they  insisted  that  both  the  elements 
should  be  administered  to  all  communi- 
cants in  the  eucharist.  (Latin,  utraque 
specie,  in  both  kinds.) 

Uz'ziel.  The  angel  next  in  command 
to  Gabriel.  The  word  means  Strength 
of  God.”  Uzziel  is  commanded  by 
Gabriel  to  coast  the  south  with 
strictest  watch.” — Milton,  Paradise 
Lost,’'  iv. 


V 

V represents  a hook,  and  is  called 
in  Hebrew,  vav  (a  hook). 

y.  D.  M.  on  monuments  is  Vir  Dei 
Minis' ter,  or  Yerhi  Dei  Minister. 

V.  D.  M.  I.  ( Verhum  Dei  manet  in 
ceternum).  The  word  of  God  endureth  for 
ever.  The  inscription  on  the  servants 
of  the  duke  of  Saxony  and  landgrave 
of  Hesse,  the  Lutheran  princes,  at  the 
diet  of  Spires  in  1526. 

V.  V.  V.,  the  letters  found  on  the 
coin  of  the  20th  Eoman  legion,  stand 
for  Valeria,  Vicesima,  Victrix.” 

Vacuum  now  means  a space  from 
which  air  has  been  expelled.  Descartes 
says,  If  a vacuum  could  be  effected  in 
a vessel,  the  sides  would  be  pressed  into 
contact.”  Galileo  said,  Nature  abhors 
a vacuum,”  to  account  for  the  rise  of 
water  in  pumps.  {See  Point.) 

Vac'uum  Boylea'num.  Such  a 
vacuum  as  can  be  produced  by  Boyle’s 
improved  air-pump,  the  nearest  approach 
to  a vacuum  practicable  with  human  in- 
struments. 


VADE  MECUM. 


VALERIAN. 


927 


Va'de  Mecum  {a  go-with-me).  A 
pocket-book,  memorandum -bo  ok,  pocket 
cyclopaedia,  lady’s  pocket  companion,  or 
anything  else  which  contains  many 
things  of  daily  use  in  a small  compass. 

Vafri'no(in  ‘^Jerusalem  Delivered”). 
Tancred’s  squire,  practised  in  all  dis- 
guises and  learned  in  all  Eastern  lan- 
guages. He  was  sent  as  a spy  to  the 
Egyptian  camp. 

Val  Del  Bove,  in  Sicily.  An  extinct 
crater  of  vast  size,  enclosed  by  preci- 
pices 3,000  feet  in  height,  and  filled  with 
gigantic  rocks  standing  out  separately, 
and  resembling  beasts  ; hence  its  name. 
— Lady  Hei'lert  of  Lea. 

Valdar'no.  The  valley  of  the  Arno, 
in  Tuscany. 

the  Tuscan  artist  [Galileo']  views 

At  evening  from  the  top  of  JFesole, 

Or  in  Valdarno? 

Milton^  ‘^Paradise  Lost”  bk.  i. 

Vale.  To  vale  the  'bonnet.  To  cap  to  a 
superior ; hence  to  strike  sail,  to  lower 
{French,  avaler,  to  take  off). 

My  wealthy  Andrew  docked  in  sand. 
Vailing  her  high-top  lower  than  her  ribs. 

Shakespeare^^* Merchant  of  Venice  ”i.l. 

Vale  of  Tears.  This  world.  (See'^ACA.) 

Valens  or  Vala'nus.  Mercury 
was  the  son  of  Valens  and  Phoro'nis. 
This  Mercury  is  called  Tropo'nius  in  the 
regions  under  the  earth. — Cic.,  De.  Nat, 
Deorunij”  iii.  22. 

Ciclin'ius  [Mercury]  riding  in  his  chirachee 
Fro  Venus  V’lanus  might  this  palais  see. 

Chaucer,  “ Compl.  of  Mars  and  Venus.” 

Valentia.  The  southern  part  of 
Scotland  is  so  called  from  the  emperor 
Valens. 

Valenti'na.  Daughter  of  the  comte 
de  St.  Bris,  governor  of  the  Louvre. 
She  was  betrothed  to  the  comte  de 
Nevers,  but  loved  Raoul  de  Nangis,  a 
Protestant,  by  whom  she  was  loved  in 
return.  Marguerite  sent  her  to  the 
count  to  beg  him  to  brsfeak  off  the  pro- 
mised union,  because  she  loved  another ; 
but  Raoul,  who  witnessed  the  interview 
without  knowing  its  tenor,  became  jea- 
lous, and  disdainfully  rejected  her  hand 
when  offered  it  by  Marguerite.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  slight  she  was  married 
to  Nevers.  In  the  Bartholomew 
slaughter,  the  comte  de  Nevers  was 
killed,  and  Valentina  confessed  her  love 
for  Raoul.  The  lovers  were  united  in 
marriage  by  Marcello,  and  were  both 


shot  by  a party  of  musketeers  under 
the  command  of  St.  Bris. — Meyerbeer, 

Gli  'UgonottV  (an  opera). 

Valentine.  A corruption  of  galant^ 
tin  (a  lover,  a dangler),  a gallant.  St. 
Valentine  was  selected  for  the  sweet- 
hearts’ saint  because  of  his  name.  Simi- 
lar changes  are  seen  in  gallant  and 
valiant  (Latin,  valent ; vain,  Welsh  gwan ; 
vale,  Welsh  gwael ; guard,  ward,  &c.). 

Valentine.  One  of  the  Two  Gentlemen 
of  Vero'na ; his  serving-man  is  Speed. 
The  other  gentleman  is  Protheus,  whose 
serving-man  is  Launce.  — ShaJeespeare, 

Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona.'' 

Valentine,  in  Congreve’s  ''  Love  for 
Love.”  Betterton’s  great  character. 

Valentine  {The  Brave).  Brother  of 
Orson  and  son  of  Bellisant,  sister  of 
king  Pepin  and  wife  of  Alexander,  em- 
peror of  Constantinople.  The  twin 
brothers  were  born  in  a wood,  near 
Orleans,  and  while  their  mother  went  in 
search  of  Orson,  who  had  been  carried 
off  by  a bear,  Pepin  happened  to  see 
Valentine  and  took  him  under  his 
charge.  He  married  Clerimond,  niece 
of  the  Green  Knight. — Valentine  and 
Orson." 

Valentin'ians.  An  ancient  sect  of 
Gnostics  ; so  called  from  Valentinian, 
their  leader. 

Vale'rian  or  Valirian.  Husband  of 
St.  Cecilia.  Cecilia  told  him  she  was 
beloved  by  an  angel  who  frequently 
visited  her,  and  Valerian  requested  he 
might  be  allowed  to  see  this  constant 
visitant.  Cecilia  told  him  he  should  do 
so  provided  he  went  to  pope  Urban  and 
got  baptised.  On  returning  home  he 
saw  the  angel  in  his  wife’s  chamber,  who 
gave  to  Cecilia  a crown  of  roses,  and  to 
himself  a crown  of  lilies,  both  of  which 
he  brought  from  Paradise.  The  angel 
then  asked  Valerian  what  would  please 
him  best,  and  he  answered  that  his 
brother  might  be  brought  saving 
faith”  by  God’s  grace.  The  angel  ap- 
proved of  the  petition,  and  said  both 
should  be  holy  martyrs.  Valerian  being 
brought  before  Alma'chius,  the  prefect, 
was  commanded  to  worship  the  image  of 
Jupiter,  and  refusing  to  do  so  was  led 
forth  to  execution.— Secounde 
Nonnes  Tale." 

Valerian  is  said  to  attract  cats  irre- 
sistibly. 


928 


VALHALLA. 


VAN. 


Valhalla,  in  Scandinavian  mytho- 
logy, is  the  palace  of  immortality,  in- 
habited by  the  souls  of  heroes  slain  in 
battle.  The  Times,  speaking  of  West- 
minster Abbey,  says  The  abbey  is  our 
Valhalla.” 

We  both  must  pas's  from  earth  away, 
Valhalla’s  joys  to  see; 

And  if  I wander  there  to-day. 

To-morrow  may  fetch  thee. 

*'‘Frithiof-Saga”  lay  xL 

V aliant  ( The).  J ean  IV.  of  Brittany. 
(1389-1442.) 

V aliant-for-Truth.  A brave  Chris- 
tian who  fought  three  enemies  at  once 
(Wildhead,  Inconsiderate,  and  Prag- 
matic). His  sword  was  a right  Jeru- 
salem blade,”  so  he  prevailed,  but  was 
wounded  in  the  encounter.  When  Mr. 
Greatheart  came  to  the  spot.  Valiant 
joined  Christiana’s  party  to  the  Celestial 
City. — Bunyan,  Pilgrim's  Progress,** 
pt,  ii. 

Valis'e  (2  syl.).  A small  leather 
portmanteau  (French,  valise), 

Valkyriur  or  Valkyries.  The  twelve 
nymphs  of  Valhalla.  They  were  mounted 
on  swift  horses,  and  held  drawn  swords 
in  their  hands.  In  the  melee  of  battle 
they  selected  those  destined  to  death, 
and  conducted  them  to  Valhalla,  where 
they  waited  upon  them,  and  served  them 
with  mead  and  ale  in  cups  of  horn  called 
skulls.  The  chief  were  Mista,  San'grida, 
and  Hilda.  Valkyriur  means  chooser 
of  the  slain.”  {Bee  Skull.) 

Mista  black,  terrific  maid, 

Sangrida  and  Hilda  see 

Gray,  “ ratal  Sisters.** 

Valla  (Laurentius).  One  of  the  first 
scholars  of  the  Renaissance,  noted  for 
his  Latin  sermons,  and  his  admirable 
Latin  translations  of  Herodotos  and 
Thucydides. 

Nunc  postquam  manes  defunctus  Valla  petivit, 
Non  audet  Pluto  verba  Latina  loqui. 

Since  Valla  hath  the  manes  come  among, 

Pluto  has  feared  to  speak  his  mother  tongue. 

Vallambro'sa.  Milton  says,  Thick 
as  autumnal  leaves  that  strow  the  brooks 
in  Vallambrosa”  (^‘Paradise  Lost,”  i. 
302),  but  the  trees  of  Vallambrosa  are 
not  deciduous.  They  are  pines,  and  there- 
fore no  thick  autumnal  leaves  ever  strow 
the  brooks  of  that  forest.  (See  Vallom- 

BROZA.) 

Vallary  Crown.  A crown  bestowed 
by  the  ancient  Romans  on  the  soldier 
who  first  surmounted  the  vallum  of  an 
enemy’s  camp. 


Valley  of  Humiliation.  The  place 
where  Christian  encountered  Apollyon, 
just  before  he  came  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Shadow  of  Death.” — Bunyan,  Pilgrim' s 
Progress,"  pt.  i. 

Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  through 
which  (jhristian  had  to  pass  in  order  to- 
get  to  the  Celestial  City.  The  prophet 
Jeremiah  describes  it  as  a wilderness^ 
a land  of  deserts  and  of  pits,  a land  of 
drought  and  of  the  shadow  of  death  ” (ii. 
6) ; and  the  Psalmist  says,  “ Though  I 
walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death  I will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art 
with  me;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they 
comfort  me  ” (xxiii.  4). 

The  light  there  is  darkness,  and  the  way  full  of 
traps  and  gins  to  catch  the  unwary.— Bunyan,  “ PiU 
grim's  Progress”  pt.  i. 

Vallombro'za.  A convent  in  the 
Apennines,  celebrated  by  Ariosto  in  the 
‘^Orlando  Furioso,”  canto  xxii.  (^See 
Vallambrosa.) 

Valun'der.  The  Vulcan  of  Scandi^ 
navian  mythology. 

Next  in  worth  to  the  sword  was  an  arm-ring,  far  and 

wide  famous. 

Forged  by  the  Vulcan  of  northern  story— the  halting 

Valunder. 

“ Frithiof-Saga  **  {Frithiof's  Inheritance). 

Vamp.  To  vamp  up  an  old  story.  To 
vamp  is  to  put  new  uppers  to  old  boot&. 
Vampes  were  short  hose  covering  the 
feet  and  ankles.  ( W elsh,  gwam,  anything 
that  wholly  or  partially  encloses.) 

Vampire.  An  extortioner.  Accord- 
ing to  Dom  Calmet,  the  vampire  is  a dead 
man  who  returns  in  body  and  soul  from 
the  other  world,  and  wanders  about  the 
earth  doing  mischief  to  the  living.  He* 
sucks  the  blood  of  persons  asleep,  and 
these  persons  become  vampires  in  turn. 
This  superstition  is  prevalent  in  Hun- 
gary, &c.  Similar  to  the  Burkolakka  of 
the  Greek  Christians,  the  Vukodlak  of 
the  Servians,  the  Murony  of  the  Wal- 
la'chians,  the  Priccolitsch  of  the  Mol- 
davians, the  Werwolf  or  Loup-Garou  of 
the  French,  and  the  Ghoul  of  the  Persians- 
and  Arabs. 

The  vampire  lies  as  a corpse  during  the* 
day,  but  by  night,  especially  at  full  moon, 
wanders  about  in  the  form  of  a dog,  frog, 
toad,  cat,  flea,  louse,  bug,  spider,  &c., 
biting  sleepers  in  the  back  or  neck. 

Van  of  an  army  is  the  French  avant; 
but  van,  a winnowing  machine,  is  the- 
Latin  vannus,  our  fan. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Van.  A sort  of  fairy 


VANDAL. 


VARRO. 


929 


which  haunts  the  Van  Pools  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Carmarthen  on  New  Year’s  Eve. 
She  is  dressed  in  white,  girded  with  a 
golden  girdle ; her  golden  hair  is  very 
long,  and  she  sits  in  a golden  boat,  which 
she  urges  along  with  a golden  oar.  A 
young  farmer  fell  in  love  with  her  and 
married  her,  but  she  told  him  if  he  struck 
her  thrice  she  would  quit  him  for  ever. 
After  a time  they  were  invited  to  a chris- 
tening, and  in  the  midst  of  the  ceremony 
she  burst  into  tears.  Her  husband  struck 
her,  and  asked  why  she  made  such  a 
fool  of  herself.  “I  weep,”  she  said,  ^‘to 
see  the  poor  babe  brought  into  a vale  of 
misery  and  tears.”  They  were  next 
invited  to  the  funeral  of  the  same  child, 
and  she  could  not  resist  laughing.  Her 
husband  struck  her  again,  and  asked  the 
same  question.  “ I laugh,”  she  said,  ^^to 
think  how  joyous  a thing  it  is  that  the 
child  has  left  a world  of  sin  for  a world 
of  joy  and  innocence.”  They  were  next 
invited  to  a wedding,  where  the  bride 
was  young  and  the  man  advanced  in 
years.  Again  she  wept,  and  said  aloud, 
*^It  is  the  devil’s  compact.  The  bride 
has  sold  herself  for  gold.”  Her  husband 
bade  her  hold  her  peace,  struck  her,  and 
she  vanished  for  ever  from  his  sight. — 
Welsh  mythology. 

^ Vandal.  One  who  destroys  beau- 
tiful objects  to  make  way  for  what  he 
terms  **  improvements,”  or  to  indulge 
his  own  caprice.  When  Gen'seric  with 
his  Vandals  captured  Rome  in  a.d.  455, 
he  mutilated  the  public  monuments,  re- 
gardless of  their  worth  or  beauty. 

Vandal  Society.  (^See  Bande  Noire, 
Barbari,  &c.) 

Vandal'ia.  Andalusia. 

Vandalism.  The  destruction  or 
injury  of  what  is  beautiful  or  precious  as 
a relic,  as  cutting  down  or  injuring  the 
trees  or  flowers  of  a public  park,  'white- 
washing or  painting  marble  pillars,  pul- 
ling'downor  cutting  initial  son  old  edifices 
of  historic  interest,  &c.  {See  Vandal.) 

Vandy'ck.  The  VandycJc  of  sculpture. 
Antoine  Coysevox.  (1640-1720.) 

The  English  VandycJc.  William  Dob- 
son, painter.  (1610-1647.) 

Vandy'ke  (2  syl.).  To  scollop  an 
edge  after  the  fashion  of  the  collars 
painted  by  Vandyck  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.  The  scolloped  edges  are  said 
to  be  vandyked. 


I Vanessa  is  Miss  Esther  Vanhomrigh, 

I and  Cade'nus  is  Dean  Swift.  While  he 
was  still  married  to  Stella  [Miss  Esther 
J ohnson,  whose  tutor  he  had  been]  Miss 
Vanhomrigh  fell  in  love  with  him,  and 
requested  him  to  marry  her,  but  the 
dean  refused.  The  proposal  became 
known  to  his  wife  (?)  and  both  the  Esthers 
died  soon  afterwards.  Esther  Johnson 
was  called  Stella  by  a pun  upon  the 
Greek  aster,  which  resembles  Esther  in 
sound  and  means  a ‘^star.”  Miss  Van- 
homrigh was  called  Van-essa  by  com- 
pounding Van,  the  first  syllable  of  her 
name,  with  Essa,  the  pet  form  of  Esther. 
Cade'nus  is  simply  [dean]  slightly 

transposed.  The  proposal  of  Miss  Van- 
homrigh gave  rise  to  a poem  of  some  890 
lines,  called  Cade'nus  and  Vanessa,’” 
which  is  certainly  witty,  but  is  no  less 
c ertainly  vain  and  heartless  (1713). 

Cadenus  mnny  things  had  writ ; 

Vanessa  much  esteemed  his  wit. 

Swift,  “ Cadmus  and  Vaness'i.'* 

Vanity  Fair.  A fair  established  by 
Beelzebub,  Apollyon,  and  Legion,  for  the 
sale  of  all  sorts  of  vanities.  It  was  held 
in  the  town  of  Vanity,  and  lasted  all  the 
year  round.  Here  were  sold  houses, 
lands,  trades,  places,  honours,  prefer- 
ments, titles,  countries,  kingdoms,  lusts, 
pleasures,  and  delights  of  all  sorts.  Here 
Christian  and  Faithful,  being  arrested, 
were  beaten,  and  put  into  a cage.  Next 
morning  they  were  taken  before  judge 
Hategood,  when  Faithful  was  condemned 
to  suffer  death  at  the  stake.— Buny an. 
Pilgrim’s  Progress,”  pt.  i. 

Va'noc.  Son  of  Merlin,  one  of  Ar- 
thur’s Round-Table  knights. 

Toung  Vanoc  of  the  beardless  face 
(Fame  spoke  the  youth  of  Merlin’s  race). 
O’erpowered  at  Gyneth’a  footstool,  bled. 

His  heart’s  blood  dyed  her  sandals  red. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  '‘"Bridal  oj  Triermainf^ i\.  35. 

Vari'na.  Swift,  in  his  early  life, 
professed  to  have  an  attachment  to  Miss 
Jane  Waryng,  and  Latinised  her  name 
into  Varina.  {See  above,  Vanessa.) 

Varnish,  from  the  French  vernis/ 
Italian,  ver'nice.  Sir  G.  C.  Lewis  says 
the  word  is  a corruption  of  Bereni'ce, 
famous  for  her  amber  hair,  which  was 
dedicated  in  the  temple  of  Arsin'oe,  and 
became  a constellation. 

Varro,  called  '‘The  most  learned  of 
the  Romans.”  (b.c.  116-28.) 

H H H 


930 


VARUNA. 


VEDAS. 


Varun'a.  The  Hindu  Neptune.  He 
is  represented  as  an  old  man  riding  on  a 
sea- monster,  with  a club  in  one  hand  and 
a rope  in  the  other.  In  the  V edic  hymns 
he  is  the  night-sky,  and  Mitra  the  day- 
sky.  Varuna  is  said  to  set  free  the 

waters  of  the  clouds.” 

Vassal.  A youth.  In  feudal  times 
it  meant  a feudatory,  or  one  who  held 
iands  under  a “ lord.”  In  law  it  means 
a bondservant  or  political  slave,  as 

England  shall  never  be  the  vassal  of  a 
foreign  prince.”  Christian  says,  in  his 
'‘Notes  on  Blackstone,”  that  the  corrup- 
tion of  the  meaning  of  vassal  into  slave 
“is  an  incontrovertible  proof  of  the 
horror  of  feudalism  in  England.”  (Welsh, 
gwas,  SL  boy  or  servant ; gwasariy  a page ; 
like  the  French  gavQon,  and  Latin  puer  ; 
Italian,  vassallOj  a servant.) 

Vatli'ek.  The  hero  of  Beckford’s 
fairy  romance.  He  is  a haughty  effemi- 
nate monarch,  induced  by  a malignant 
genius  to  commit  all  sorts  of  crimes.  He 
abjures  his  faith,  and  offers  allegiance  to 
Eblis,  under  the  hope  of  obtaining  the 
throne  of  the  Pre- Adamite  sultans. 

Vat'ican.  The  palace  of  the  pope  ; 
so  called  because  it  stands  on  the 
Vatican  Hill.  Strictly  speaking  the 
Vatican  consists  of  the  papal  palace,  the 
court  and  garden  of  Belvidere,  the  library, 
and  the  museum. 

Thesun  of  the  Vatican  sheds  glory  orer  the  Ca- 
tholic world.— TAe  Times. 

The  thunders  of  the  Vat'ican.  The 
anathemas  of  the  pope,  which  are  issued 
from  the  Vatican. 

The  Council  of  the  Vatican.  The  twenty- 
first  General  or  (Ecumenical  Council.  It 
commenced  in  1869,  Pius  IX.  being  pope. 
{^See  Councils.) 

Vaude'ville  (2  syl.).  A corruption 
of  Val  de  Vire,  or  in  Old  French  Vau.  de 
Vire,  the  native  valley  of  Oliver  Basse- 
lin,  a Norman  poet,  the  founder  of  a 
certain  class  of  convivial  songs,  which  he 
called  after  the  name  of  his  own  valley. 
These  songs  are  the  basis  of  modern 
•vaudeville.  The  etymology  from  Vau 
de  Ville,  the  “go”  of  the  town  or  popu- 
lar thing  of  the  day,  as  Vau  Veau  (the 
“go”  or  current  of  water),  is  of  the  same 
class  as  Goliath’s  shoes  for  goloshes,  and 
'brethren  from  tabernacle  “because  we 
breathe  therein.” 

Father  of  the  Vaudeville.  Oliver  Bas- 
tselin,  a Norman  poet  (fifteenth  century). 


Vau'girard.  The  deputies  of  Vaugi- 
rard.  Only  one  individual.  This  applies 
t<f  all  the  false  companies  in  which  the 
promoter  represents  the  directors,  chair- 
man, committee,  and  entire  staff.  The 
expression  is  founded  on  an  incident  in 
the  reign  of  Charles  VHI.  of  France  : 
The  usher  announced  to  the  king  “ The 
deputies  of  Vaugirard.”  “How  many 
are  there  ? ” asked  the  king.  “ Only  one, 
an  please  your  majesty,”  was  the 
answer.  (See  Tailors.) 

Vaux'hall  or  Fauxhall  (2  syl.). 
Called  after  Jane  Vaux,  who  held  the 
copyhold  tenement  in  1615,  and  was  the 
widow  of  John  Vaux,  the  vintner. 
Chambers  says  it  was  the  manor  of  Fulke 
de  Breaut^,  the  mercenary  follower  of 
king  John,  and  that  the  word  should  be 
Fulke’s  Hall.  Pepys  calls  it  Fox  Hall, 
and  says  the  entertainments  there  are 
“mighty  devertising.”— “-Bool;  of  Days.’* 

Thackeray, in  “Vanity Fair,”  sketches 
the  loose  character  of  these  “ devertising” 
amusements. 

Vav'asour.  One  who  held  his  lands 
of  the  nobles,  and  not  of  the  crown. 
Camden  says  the  vavasour  was  next  in 
rank  to  the  baron.  (Celtic,  gwds^  a page, 
attendant.) 

Va'yu.  The  win^  in  Vedic  mytho- 
logy. Su'rya  (the  sun)  occupies  the 
heavens,  Agni  (fire)  occupies  the  Infernal 
region,  and  Vayu  (air)  the  space  between 
earth  and  heaven.  (Sanskrit,  m,  blow.) 

Ve.  Brother  of  Odin  and  Vili.  He 
was  one  of  the  three  deities  who  took 
part  in  the  creation  of  the  world, — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

Veal  {Mrs.).  An  imaginary  person 
who  (according  to  De  Foe)  appeared  the 
day  after  her  death  to  Mrs.  Bargrave,  of 
Canterbury,  8th  September,  1705. 

Veal,  Calf.  The  former  is  Norman, 
and  the  latter  Saxon.  (See  Beef,  Pork.  ) 

Mynheer  Calf  becomes  Monsieur  de  Veau  in  the  like 
manner.  He  is  Saxon  when  he  requires  tendance, 
but  takes  a Norman  name  when  he  becomes  matter 
of  enjoyment.— Walter  Scott,  “ Ivanhoe.” 

Ve'das  or  Ve'dams.  The  generic 
name  of  the  four  sacred  books  of  the 
Hindus.  It  comprises  (1)  the  Rig  or 
RishVeda;  (2)  Yajar  or  Yajush  Veda; 
(3)  the  Sama  or  Saman  Veda ; and  (4) 
the  Atharva'na  or  Ezour  V eda.  (Sanskrit, 
vid,  know ; Chaldee,  yed-a;  Hebrew,  id-o; 
Greek,  eid-o  ; Latin,  vid-eo  ; &c. 


VEGETABLE  SUBSTANCES. 


VENT,  VIDI,  VrCI. 


931 


Vegetable  Substances.  The 

three  fundamental  laws  are  these  : — 

(1)  If  they  contain  more  hydrogen  (in 
proportion)  than  water,  they  are  acid. 

(2)  If  te,  they  are  resinous,  oily,  or 
spirituous. 

(3)  If  an  equal  quantity,  they  are  sac- 
charine, mucilaginous,  or  analogous  to 
woody  fibre  or  starch. 

These  laws  were  discovered  by  0. 
Thdnard  and  Gay-Lussac,  French  che- 
mists. 

yehm'gerielite  or  Holy  Vehme 
Tribunal.  ^ A secret  tribunal  of  West- 
phalia, said  to  have  been  founded  by 
Charlemagne.  {See  Fehm-gericht.) 

Veil.  At  one  time  men  wore  veils, 
as  St.  Ambrose  testifies.  He  speaks  of 
the  '^silken  garments  and  the  veils  inter- 
woven with  gold,  with  which  the  body  of 
rich  men  is  encompassed.”  (St.  Ambrose 
lived  340-397.) 

Prophet  of  Khorassan. 

I he  first  poetical  tale  in  Thomas  Moore’s 
‘^Lalla  Rookh.” 

The  Veiled  Prophet  of  Khorassan  was 
Hakim  ben  Allah,  surnamed  the  Veiled 
{Mohanna),  founder  of  an  Arabic  sect  in 
the  eighth  century.  Having  lost  an  eye, 
and  being  otherwise  disfigured  in  battle, 
he  wore  a veil  to  conceal  his  face,  but  his 
followers  said  it  was  done  to  screen  his 
dazzling  brightness.  He  assumed  to  be 
a god,  and  maintained  that  he  had  been 
Adam,  Noah,  and  other  representative 
men.  When  encompassed  by  sultan 
Mahadi,  he  first  poisoned  all  his  fol- 
lowers at  a banquet,  and  then  threw 
himself  into  a burning  acid,  which  wholly 
destroyed  his  body. 


Veillantif.  Roland’s  horse.  In 
Italian  romance  Roland  is  Orlando,  and 
the  horse  Vegliantino. 

is  mounted  on  Veilantif,  the  only  horse 
in  the  world  worthy  of  such  a rider.— “ Crooue- 
mitaine”  ui.  ^ 


V elvet  ( The  Kev.  Morphing.  A popu- 
lar preacher  of  the  Lamb”  genus,  who 
feeds  his  audience  with  milk  well 
sugared.  He  assures  them  that  there 
is  a way  to  heaven  in  silver  slippers, 
and^  with  Great-Heart  for  a guide 
Christiana  and  her  family  need  enter- 
^in  no  anxiety  about  the  road  to  the 
Celestial  City. — Samuel  Warreuy  Ten 
Thousand  a Year.'* 


Vendemiaire  (4 
Republican  calendar, 
her  23  to  October  21. 
Wine-month.” 


syl.),  in  the  French 
was  from  Septem- 
The  word  means 


Vsndetta.  The  blood-feud,  or  duty 
of  the  nearest  kin  of  a murdered  man  to 
kill  the  murderer.  It  prevails  in  Corsica 
and  exists  in  Sicily,  Sardinia,  and  Cala- 
bria. It  is  preserved  among  the  Druses 
Circassians,  Arabs,  &c. 


y ®^erable.  Archdeacons  have  the 
title  of  Venerable,  as  ‘‘The  Venerable 
Archdeacon  Waghorn.” 

The  Venerable.  Bede,  the  ecclesiastical 
historian.  (672-735.) 

The  Venerable  Doctor.  William  de 
Champeaux,  founder  of  realism  (twelfth 
century). 

Peter,  abbot  of  Clugny.  (1093-1156.) 

Vengeur(Le).  The  name  of  a ship 
The  tale  is  this  .-  June  1, 1794,  lord  Howe 
encountered  the  French  fleet  off  Ushant. 
Six  ships  were  taken  by  the  English  ad- 
miral, and  the  victory  was  decisive  • but 
Le  Vengeui'y  although  reduced  to  a mere 
nulk,  refused  to  surrender,  and  discharg- 
ing a last  broadside,  sank  in  the  waves 
while  the  crew  shouted,  “Vive  la  r/- 
publique  ! ” The  Convention  ordered  a 
medal  to  be  struck  with  this  legend- 
Le  Triomphe  dll  Vengeur.  It  is  almost 
a pity  that  this  thoroughly  French  ro- 
mance should  lack  one  important  item— 
a grain  of  truth.  The  day  of  this  victory 
IS  often  called  “The  Glorious  First  of 
June.” 


rpul  F -Dntisn  race 

The  Frenchman  can  such  honour  boase,- 
Vengeur  we  have  lost.  ^ 
Another  hastes  to  take  her  place 

Translated  hy  J.  Oxenford. 

Crea'tor  Spiritus.  A hymn 
ot  the  Roman  Breviary  used  on  the  Feast 
of  Pentecost.  It  has  been  ascribed  to 
Gharlemagne,  but  Mono  thinks  that  pope 
Gregory  I.  was  the  author. 


Veni  Sanete  Spiritus.  A Latin 
hymn  in  rhyme,  ascribed  to  Robert  king 
of  France. 


Veni,  Vidi,  Vici.  It  was  thus  that 
Julius  Caesar  announced  to  his  ftisnd 
Amintius  his  victory  at  Zela,  in  Asia 
Minor,  over  Pharna'ces  son  of  Mithri- 
da'tes,  who  had  rendered  aid  to  Pompey. 
TMs  boast  may  be  paraphrased  thus  : 

On  my  return  from  the  Alexandrine 
wars,  I just  stepped  aside  to  punish 
Phamaces  for  joining  Pompey ; but  it 


H II  H 2 


932 


VENIAL  SIN. 


VENUS. 


was  no  great  matter,  for  no  sooner  did  I 
arrive  at  Zela  and  survey  the  foe,  than 
he  fell  before  me.” — Plutarch, 

Ve'nial  Sin.  One  that  may  be  par- 
doned ; slight,  excusable.  In  the  Roman 
Catholic  church  sins  are  of  two  sorts, 
mortal  and  venial ; in  the  Protestant 
church  all  sins  are  pardonable.  (Latin, 
veniay  pardon.) 

Venice  of  the  West.  Glasgow. 

Another  element  in  the  blazon  of  the  “Venice 
of  the  West”  is  a fish  laid  across  the  stem  of  the 
tree,  “in  base,”  as  the  heralds  say — J.  E.  Burton. 

Venice  Glass.  The  drinking 
glasses  of  the  middle  ages,  made  at 
Venice,  were  said  to  possess  the  peculiar 
property  of  breaking  into  shivers  if 
poison  were  put  into  them. 

Doge.  »Tis  said  that  our  Venetian  crysta'  has 
Such  pure  antipathy  to  poison,  as 
To  burst,  if  aught  of  venom  touches  it. 

Byron^  “ The  Two  Fo$cari,’*r.  1. 

Venice  Glass,  from  its  excellency, 
became  a synonym  for  perfection. 

Ven'ison.  Anything  taken  in  hunt- 
ing or  by  the  chase.  Hence  Jacob  bids 
Esau  to  go  and  get  venison  such  as  he 
loved  (Gen.  xxvii.  3),  meaning  the  wild 
kid.  The  word  is  simply  the  Latin 
vena'tio  (hunting),  but  is  now  restricted 
to  the  flesh  of  deer. 

Ven'om.  The  venom  is  in  the  tail. 
The  real  difficulty  is  the  conclusion. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  scorpion,  which  is 
said  to  carry  its  venom  in  its  tail. 

The  French  say  It  is  always  most 
difficult  to  flay  the  tail  ” (finest  le  plus 
difficile  que  decor cher  la  queue). 

Venomous  Preacher  {The). 
Robert  Traill.  (1642-1716.) 

Ventril'oquism,  ‘^speaking  from 
the  belly.”  From  the  erroneous  notion  that 
the  voice  of  the  ventriloquist  proceeded 
from  his  stomach.  The  best  that  ever 
lived  was  Brabant,  the  ‘^engastrimist  ” 
of  Fran9ois  I. 

Venus.  Love  ; the  goddess  of  love ; 
courtship.  {See  Aphrodite,  Chasca, 
&;c.) 

Venus  smiles  not  in  a house  of  tears. 

Shakespeare^  **  Borneo  and  Juliet,'*  iv.  1. 

^ Venus.  The  most  celebrated  statues 
of  this  goddess  are  the  Venus  de  Medici, 
the  Aphrodite  of  Praxit'eles,  the  Venus 
of  Milo,  the  Venus  Victorious  of  Cano'va, 
and  the  Venus  of  Gibson. 

Ura'nian  Venv^  of  the  ^^Lusiad”  is 


the  impersonation  of  heavenly  love.  She 
pleads  to  Destiny  for  the  Lusians,  and 
appears  to  them  in  the  form  of  ^‘the 
silver  star  of  love.”  Plato  says  she  was 
the  daughter  of  Heaven  ( U'ranos),  and 
Xenophon  adds  that  she  presided  over 
the  love  of  wisdom  and  virtue,  the 
pleasures  of  the  soul.'*  Nigidius  says 
that  this  heavenly  Venus”  was  not  born 
from  the  sea-foam,  but  from  an  egg 
which  two  fishes  conveyed  to  the  sea- 
shore. This  egg  was  hatched  by  two 
pigeons  whiter  than  snow,  and  gave 
birth  to  the  Assyrian  Venus,  who  in- 
structed mankind  in  religion,  virtue, 
and  equity.  {See  Aphrodite,  Athor.) 

Venus  in  astrology  ‘^signifiethe  white 
men  or  browne  . . . . joy  full,  laughter, 
liberall ; pleasers,  dauncers,  entertayners 
of  women,  players,  perfumers,  musitions,, 
messengers  of  love.” 

Venus  lovetli  ryot  and  dispense. 

Chaucer,  “ Canterbury  Tales,*’  6,282. 

My  Venus  turns  out  a whelp  (Latm)„ 
All  my  swans  are  changed  to  geese ; my 
cake  is  dough.  In  dice  the  best  cast 
(three  sixes)  was  called  Venus,”  and  the- 
worst  (three  aces)  was  called  ‘‘  Canis.”" 
My  win-all  turns  out  to  be  a lose-all. 

The  Island  of  Venus  in  the  ‘ ^ Lusiad 
is  a paradisa'ical  island  raised  by  Di- 
vine Love,”  as  a reward  for  the  heroes  of 
the  poem.  Here  Venus,  the  ocean-god- 
dess, gave  her  hand  to  Gama,  and  com- 
mitted to  him  the  empire  of  the  sea.  It 
was  situate  near  where  the  bowers  of 
Paradise  are  placed,”  not  far  from  the- 
mountains  of  Ima'us,  whence  the  Ganges 
and  Indus  derive  their  source.  This 
paradise  of  Love  is  described  in  the 
ninth  book. 

***  We  have  several  parallel  Edens,  as 
the  ^‘gardens  of  Alcin'dus,”  in  the 

Odyssey,”  bk.  vii. ; the  “ island  of 
Circe,”  ‘‘ Odyssey,” x.  ; the  Elysium” 
of  Virgil,  .^neid,”  vi.  ; the  island  and 
palace  of  Alci'na”  or  Vice,  in  ‘‘Orlando 
Furioso,”  vi.,  vii.  ; the  “country  of  Lo- 
gistilla”  or  Virtue,  in  the  same  epic, 
bk.  X. ; the  description  of  “Paradise,” 
visited  by  Astolpho,  the  English  duke-, 
in  bk.  xxxiv, ; the  “ island  of  Armi'da,’ 
in  Tasso’s  “Jerusalem  Delivered;”  the 
“ bower  of  Acras'ia,”  in  Spenser’s 
“Faery  Queen;”  the  “palace with  its  forty 
doors,”  the  keys  of  which  were  entrusted 
to  prince  Agib,  whose  adventures  form 
the  tale  of  the  “ Third  Calender,”  in 
“ The  Arabian  Nights’  Entertainments/* 


VENUS. 


VERT. 


933 


&,c.  E.  A.  Poe  calls  Eden  ‘^Aidenn,” 
which  he  rhymes  with  ‘‘laden.” — The 
Raven,'’  xvi.  {See  Venusberg.) 

Venus  and  Adonis.  A poem  in  six- 
line  stanzas,  by  Shakespeare. 

Venus  de  Medicis,  supposed  to  be 
the  production  of  Cieom'enes  of  Athens, 
who  lived  in  the  second  century  before  the 
Christian  era.  In  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury it  was  dug  up  in  the  villa  of  Hadrian, 
near  Tivoli,  in  eleven  pieces ; but  it  is  all 
ancient  except  the  right  arm.  It  was 
removed  in  1680,  by  Cosmo  III.,  to  the 
Imperial  Gallery  at  Florence,  from  the 
Medici  Palace  at  Rome. 

So  stands  the  statue  that  enchants  the  world. 

So  bending  tries  to  veil  the  matchless  boast, 

The  mingled  beauties  of  exulting  Gieeee. 

Thomson,  “ Summer' 

Venus  of  Milo.  This  statue,  with 
three  of  Hernms,  was  discovered  in  1820 
by  admiral  Dumont  in  Milo,  one  of  the 
Greek  islands,  whence  its  name.  It  now 
-stands  in  the  Louvre. 

Venus  of  Praxit'eles  (4  syl.). 
This  statue  was  purchased  by  the  ancient 
Cnidians,  who  refused  to  part  with  it, 
although  Nicome'des,  king  of  Bithyn'ia, 
offered  to  pay  off  their  national  debt  as 
a price  for  it.  The  statue  was  subse- 
■quently  removed  to  Constantinople,  and 
perished  in  the  great  fire  during  the 
reign  of  Justinian  (a.d.  80). 

Ve'nusberg'.  The  mountain  of  de- 
light and  love,  where  lady  Venus  holds 
her  court.  Human  beings  occasionally 
are  permitted  to  visit  her,  as  Heinrich 
von  Limburg  did,  and  the  noble  Tann- 
hauser  {q.v.) ; but  as  such  persons  run 
the  risk  of  eternal  perdition,  Eckhardt 
the  Faithful,  who  sat  before  the  gate, 
failed  not  to  warn  them  against  entering. 
— German  legend,  “ Children  of  Limhurg," 
a poem.  1337.  {"^qq  The  Island  of  Venus.) 

Verbum  Sap.  {A  word  to  the  wise),  A 
hint  is  sufficient  to  any  wise  man ; a 
threat  implying  if  the  hint  is  not  taken  I 
will  expose  you.  (liatin,  VerJjum  sapienti. ) 

Verbum  Sat  {A  word  is  enough). 
Similar  to  the  above.  (Latin,  Ve-ilum 
■sat  [sapienti],  A word  to  the  wise  is 
enough.) 

V erdan'di  {the  present).  A maiden 
that  dwells  with  her  two  sisters,  Urda 
and  Skulda,  near  the  well  Norna.— ASca;i- 
dinavian  mythology. 


Ve're  Adep'tus.  One  admitted  to 
the  fraternity  of  the  Rosicrucians.  In 
“ Hudibras,”  vere  is  one  syl.,  pronounced 
veer. 

In  Rosycrucian  lore  as  learned 
As  he  the  Yere-adeptus  earned. 

Butler,  “ Hudibras.** 

Verger.  The  officer  in  a church 
who  carries  the  rod  or  mace.  (Latin, 
verga,  a wand.) 

Verges.  An  old-fashioned  Charlie. 
— Shakespeare,  Much  Ado  about  No- 
thing." 

Ver'non,  mentioned  by  Thomson  in 
his  “ Summer,”  was  admiral  Edward 
Vernon,  who  attacked  Carthage'na  in 
1741 ; but  the  malaria  reached  his  crew, 
and  as  the  poet  says — 

To  infant  weakness  sunk  the  warrior’s  arms. 

Diana  Vernon.  An  enthusiastic  Roy- 
alist of  great  beauty  and  talent. — Sir 
Walter  Scott,  Rob  Roy," 

Verone'se  (3  syl.).  A native  of 
Vero'na,  pertaining  to  Verona,  &c. ; a 
Paul  Veronese,  Paul  a native  of  Verona; 
a Veronese  fashion,  and  so  on. 

Veronica.  It  is  said  that  a maiden 
handed  her  handkerchief  to  our  Lord  on 
his  way  to  Calvary.  He  wiped  the  sweat 
from  his  brow,  returned  the  handkerchief 
to  the  owner,  and  went  on.  The  hand- 
kerchief was  found  to  bear  a perfect 
likeness  of  the  Saviour,  and  was  called 
Vera-Icon'ica  (true  likeness),  and  the 
maiden  was  ever  after  called  St.  Ve- 
ronica. One  of  these  handkerchiefs  is 
preserved  at  St.  Peter’s  church  in  Rome, 
and  another  at  Milan. 

Ver'sailles  of  Poland.  The  palace 
of  the  counts  of  Braniski.  which  now 
belongs  to  the  municipality  of  Bialystok. 

Verse  21,  Ezra  viii.,  contains  every 
letter  of  the  English  alphabet.  Verso 
8,  Zephaniah  hi.,  contains  every  letter 
of  the  Hebrew,  including  finals ; it  also 
contains  every  Hebrew  vowel-sound,  and 
the  different  forms  of  Sheva. 

Versi  Bernes'chi.  Jocose  poetry ; 
so  called  from  Francesco  Bemi,  the 
Italian  poet.  (1490-1636.) 

Vert,  green,  in  heraldry  signifies 
love,  joy,  and  abundance.  It  is  repre- 
sented on  the  shields  of  noblemen  by  the 
emerald,  and  on  those  of  kings  by  the 
planet  Venus. 


934 


VERTUMNUS. 


VICAR. 


Vertum'nus.  The  god  of  the  sea- 
sons, who  married  Pomo'na. — Roman 
mythology, 

V er'ulam  Buildin  gs  {London) . So 
named  in  compliment  to  Lord  Bacon, 
who  was  baron  Verulam  and  viscount  St. 
Albans. 

Ver'vain  (2  syl.).  It  was  with  this 
that  heralds  crowned  their  heads  when 
they  declared  war.  It  is  called  Holy 
Herh,  from  its  use  in  ancient  rites  and 
ceremonies. 

Ves'ica  Piseis  (Latin,  fish-hladder). 
The  ovoidal  frame  or  glory  which,  in  the 
twelfth  century,  was  much  used,  espe- 
cially in  painted  windows,  to  surround 
pictures  of  our  Lord.  It  is  meant  to 
represent  a fish,  from  the  anagram  ICH- 
THus.  {See  Notarica.) 

Vesper  Hour  is  said  to  be  hetimn 
the  dog  and  the  wolf;  '^betwixt  and 
between;”  neither  day  nor  night;  a 
breed  between  the  canis  and  canis  lupus  ; 
too  much  day  to  be  night,  and  too  much 
night  to  be  day.  Probably  the  phrase 
was  suggested  by  the  terms  ^'dog  watch” 
(which  begins  at  four),  and  dark  as  a 
wolfs  mouth.” 

Sicilian  Vespers.  Easter  Monday, 
March  30,  1282 ; so  called  because  John 
of  Pro'cida  on  that  day  led  a band  of 
conspirators  against  Charles  d’ Anjou  and 
his  French  countrymen  in  Sicily.  These 
Frenchmen  greatly  oppressed  the  Sici- 
lians, and  the  conspirators,  at  the  sound 
of  the  vesper  bell,  put  them  all  to  the 
sword  without  regard  to  age  or  sex. 

The  Fatal  Vespers.  October  26,  1623. 
A congregation  of  some  300  persons  had 
assembled  in  a small  gallery  over  the 
gateway  of  the  French  ambassador,  in 
Blackfriars,  to  hear  Father  Drury,  a 
Jesuit,  preach.  The  gallery  gave  way, 
and  about  100  of  the  congregation  were 
precipitated  into  the  street  and  killed. 
Drury  and  a priest  named  Redman  were 
also  killed.  This  accident  was,  accord- 
ing to  the  bigotry  of  the  times,  attributed 
to  God’s  judgment  against  the  J esuits. 
— Stow,  Chronicles.^'  {See  St.  Luke 
xiii.  4.) 

Vestal  Virgin.  A nun,  a religeuse ; 
properly  a maiden  dedicated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  goddess  Vesta.  The  duty  of 
these  virgins  was  to  keep  the  fire  of  the 
temple  Mways  burning,  both  day  and 


night.  They  were  required  to  be  of 
spotless  chastity.  (See  Immuring.) 

Vet'erinary  Science.  The  first 
person  who  made  it  a regular  profession 
was  Claude  Bourgelet.  (1712-1799.) 

Veto  {Monsieur  2cadi  Madame).  Louis 
XVI.  and  Marie  Antoinette ; so  called  by 
the  Republicans,  because  the  Constituent 
Assembly  allowed  the  king  to  have  the 
power  of  putting  his  veto  upon  any  de- 
cree submitted  to  him.  (1791.) 

Monsieur  Veto  swore  he’d  bide 
To  the  constitution  true ; 

But  he  cast  his  oath  aside, 

Teaching  us  the  like  to  do. 

Madame  Veto  swore  one  day 
All  the  Paris  rout  she’d  slay  ; 

But  we  snapped  the  tyrant’s  yoke. 

Turning  all  her  threats  to  smoke. 

V etturino  ( Vettu-ree'no),  in  Italy,  is 
one  who  for  hire  conveys  persons  about 
in  a vet'Uira  or  four-wheeled  carriage; 
the  owner  of  a livery  stable ; a guide  for 
travellers.  The  two  latter  are,  of  course, 
subsidiary  meanings. 

We  were  accosted  in  the  steamer  by  a well-dressed 
man,  who  represented  himself  to  be  a Vettunno.— 
The  Times  (One  of  the  Alpine  Club). 

Vi'a  Holoro'sa.  The  way  our  Lord 
went  to  the  Hall  of  Judgment,  from  the 
Mount  of  Olives  to  Golgotha,  about  a 
mile  in  length. 

Vial.  Vials  of  wrath.  Vengeance, 
the  execution  of  wrath  on  the  undeserv- 
ing. The  allusion  is  to  the  seven  angels 
who  pour  out  upon  the  earth  their  vials 
full  of  wrath  (Rev.  xvi.). 

Viat'icum  {Latin).  The  Eucharist 
administered  to  the  dying.  The  word 
means  money  allowed  for  a journey,” 
and  the  notion  is  that  this  sacrament 
will  be  the  spirit’s  passport  to  Paradise. 

Vie^ar.  Rector,  one  who  receives 
both  great  and  small  tithes.  Vicar  re- 
ceives only  the  small  tithes.  At  the  Re- 
formation many  livings  which  belonged 
to  monasteries  passed  into  the  hands  of 
noblemen,  who,  not  being  in  holy  orders, 
had  to  perform  the  sacred  offices  vica- 
riously. The  clergyman  who  officiated 
for  them  was  called  their  vicar  or  repre- 
sentative, and  the  law  enjoined  that  the 
lord  should  allow  him  to  receive  the  use 
of  the  glebe  and  all  tithes  except  those 
accruing  from  grain  (such  as  corn,  barley, 
oats,  rye,  &c.),  hay,  and  wood. 

The  title  of  Incumbent  ” being 
abolished,  the  term  Vicar  is  now  applied 
to  the  minister  of  a district  church. 


VICE. 


VILT. 


935 


though  he  receives  neither  great  nor 
small  tithes;  his  stipend  arising  partly 
from  endowment;  partly  from  pew-rents, 
and  in  part  from  fees,  voluntary  con- 
tributions, offerings,  and  so  on.  The 
vicar  of  a pope  is  a Vicar-apostolic. 

The  vicar  of  Bray  will  le  vicar  of  Bray 
still.  Fuller  says  of  Simon  Alleyn  that 
he  ^nived  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII., 
Edward  VI.,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth.  In 
the  first  two  reigns  he  was  Protestant,  in 
Mary’s  reign  he  turned  Papist,  and  in 
the  next  reign  recanted— being  resolved, 
whoever  was  king,  to  die  vicar  of  Bray.” 
(1540-1588.) 

Ray  refers  to  a vicar  who  was  Inde- 
pendent in  the  Protectorate,  Churchman 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  Papist  under 
James  II.,  and  Moderate  Protestant  under 
William  and  Mary.  The  name  assigned 
to  this  sexagenarian  is  Simon  Symonds. 

The  well-known  song,  I will  be  Vicar 
of  Bray,”  was  written  by  an  officer  in 
colonel  Fuller’s  regiment  in  the  reign  of 
George  I.,  and  seems  to  apply  to  Ray’s 
vicar,  or  some  clergyman  even  later. 

Vicar  of  WaJc^elcl.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Primrose  in  Goldsmith’s  novel  so  called. 

• "Vice  (1  syl.),  in  Old  English  plays, 
means  simply  the  masked  man,  the 
vizard.  (Frank,  vis,  our  'phiz.) 

Vi'ce  Versa  {Latin).  The  reverse  ; 
the  terms  of  the  case  being  reversed. 

Victor  Emmanuel  of  Italy,  called 
King  Honest- Man,  for  his  honest  con- 
cessions to  the  people  of  constitutional 
freedom  promised  by  his  father  and  by 
himself  in  less  prosperous  circumstances. 

Vi'dur.  The  god  of  silence,  who  reads 
the  most  secret  thoughts  of  men.  He  is 
noted  for  the  thickness  of  his  shoes.— 
Scandinavian  mythology, 

Ingborg’s  sorrowing  few  men  heard. 

Like  Vidar,  Ingborg  spake  no  word, 

But  grieved  and  pined,  in  broken  love. 

As  nightingale  or  turtle-dove. 

“ Frithio/Saga*'  {Frithiofs  Return). 

Vierge  (2  syl.).  A curious  conversion 
in  playing-cards  occurs  in  reference  to 
this  word.  The  invention  is  Indian,  and 
the  game  is  called  The  Four  Rajahs.” 
The  pieces  are  the  king,  his  general  or 
fierche,  the  elephant  or  phil,  the  horse- 
men, the  camel  or  ruch,  and  the  infantry. 
The  French  corrupted  fierche  (general) 
into  ^^vierge,”  and  then  converted  ^Wir- 
gin”  into  dame.  Similarly  they  corrupted 
phil  into  ‘^fol”  or  ^‘fou”  (knave);  ruch 


is  our  ^^rook.”  At  one  time  playing- 
cards  were  called  ^‘The  Books  of  the 
Four  Kings,”  and  chess  The  Game 
of  the  Four  Kings.”  It  was  for  chess 
and  not  cards  that  Walter  Sturton,  in 
1278,  was  paid  8s.  5d.,  according  to  the 
wardrobe  rolls  of  Edward  I.,  ad  opus 
regis  ad  ludendum  ad  quatuor  reges.” 
Malkin  said  it  was  no  great  proof  of  our 
wisdom  that  we  delighted  in  cards,  seeing 
they  were  ^‘invented  for  a fool.”  Malkin 
referred  to  the  vulgar  tradition  that 
cards  were  invented  for  the  amusement 
of  Charles  VI.,  the  idiot  king  of  France  ; 
but  it  was  no  proof  that  Jacquemin  Grin- 
gonneur  invented  cards  because  ^^he 
painted  and  gilded  three  packs  for  the 
king  in  1392.” 

View-holloa  of  2.  fox  is  Tally-ho ! ” 
of  a hare,  ^‘Gone  away  !”  but  the  ‘^Who- 
hoop’'  signifies  the  death  of  each. 

Vignette  (2  syl.)  means  properly  a 
likeness  having  a border  of  vine-leaves 
round  it.  (French,  “ little  vine,  tendril.”) 

Vi'king.  A pirate  ; so  called  from 
the  vik  or  creek  in  which  he  lurked.  The 
word  is  wholly  unconnected  with  the  word 

king.”  There  were  sea-icings,  sometimes 
but  erroneously  called  ^Wikings,”  con- 
nected with  royal  blood,  and  having 
small  dominions  on  the  coast.  These 
sea-kings  were  often  vikingr  or  vikings, 
but  the  reverse  is  not  true  that  every 
viking  or  pirate  was  a sea-king. 

Vila.  A lovely  mountain  nymph  of 
Servian  mythology.  Her  voice  re- 
sembles that  of  the  woodpecker.  The 
Vila  loves  to  comfort  the  enamoured 
deer  or  roe,  but  will  sometimes  brew 
storms.  She  rides  on  a hart,  with  a 
bridle  made  of  snake’s-skin. 

Cherry,  dearest  cherry, 

Spread  thy  branches  round 
Under  which  the  Vilas 
Dance  their  magic  round. 

Servian  ballad. 

Fair  as  a mountain  Vila.  The  highest 
praise  that  a Servian  can  bestow  on 
beauty.  In  the  ballad  of  The  Sisters  of 
Kap'itan  Leka”  of  Rossandra  it  is  said  — 
And  who  on  hills  hath  seen  the  Vila— 

E’en  the  Vila,  brother,  must  to  her  yield. 

Vilaish  (3  syl. ) or  Swift  as  Vila.  Said 
of  a very  fieet  horse.  {See  Vila.) 

Vili.  Brother  of  Odin  and  Ve,  one  of 
the  progenitors  of  the  Asir  race,  and  one 
of  the  creators  of  the  world.  He  was  a 
great  archer. — Scandinavian  mythology. 


936 


v^lLLAIN. 


VINTRY  WARD, 


Vil'lain  means  simply  one  attached  ‘ 
to  a villa  or  farm.  In  feudal  times  the 
lord  was  the  great  land-owner,  and  under 
him  were  a host  of  tenants  called  villains. 
The  highest  class  of  villains  were  called 
regardant,  and  were  annexed  to  the 
manor ; then  came  the  Coliberti  or  Bures, 
who  were  privileged  vassals ; then  the 
Bord'arii  or  cottagers  (Saxon,  hard,  a 
cottage),  who  rendered  certain  menial 
offices  to  their  lord  for  rent ; then  the 
Coscets,  Cottarii,  and  Cotmanni,  who  paid 
partly  in  produce  and  partly  in  menial 
service  ; and,  lastly,  the  villains  in  gross, 
who  were  annexed  to  the  person  of  the 
lord,  and  might  be  sold  or  transferred  as 
chattels.  The  notion  of  wickedness  and 
worthlessness  associated  with  the  word  is 
simply  the  effect  of  aristocratic  pride  and 
exclusiveness,  not  as  Christian  says  in  his 
Notes  on  Blackstone,  “a  proof  of  the 
horror  in  which  our  fathers  held  all 
service  to  feudal  lords.”  The  French 
vilain  seems  to  connect  the  word  with 
vile,  but  it  is  probable  that  vile  is  the 
Latin  vilis  vile  (of  no  value),  and  that  the 
noun  vilain  is  independent  of  villein,  I 
except  by  way  of  pun.  {See  Cheater.) 

I am  no  villain  fftase-ftorn] ; I am  the  youngest 
eon  of  S r Roland  de  Bois  ; f e was  my  father,  and 
he  is  thrice  a villain  [rascal]  that  says  such  a fat  her 
begot  villains  [bastanis].— Shakespeare,  '*As  You  Like 
ii,”i.  1. 

Villiers.  Second  duke  of  Bucking- 
ham. (1627-1683.) 

Vina'ya.  The  book  of  discipline  in 
the  Tripit'aka(2'.'y.). 

Vincent  (A3^.).  Patron  saint  of 
drunkards.  This  is  from  the  proverb— 

If  on  St.  Vincent’s  day  [Jan.  22J  the  sky  is  clear, 

More  wine  than  water  will  crown  the  year. 

Vincent  de  la  Kosa.  The  son  of 
a poor  labourer  who  had  served  as  a 
soldier.  According  to  his  own  account, 
‘^he  had  slain  more  Moors  than  ever 
Tunis  or  Morocco  produced ; and  as  for 
duels,  he  had  fought  a greater  number 
than  ever  Gante  had,  or  Luna  either, 
or  Diego  Garciado  Paredez,  always  com- 
ing off  victorious,  and  without  losing  a 
drop  of  blood.”  He  dressed  ‘‘  superbly,” 
and  though  he  had  but  three  suits,  the 
villagers  thought  he  had  ten  or  a dozen, 
and  more  than  twenty  plumes  of  feathers. 
This  gay  young  spark  caught  the  affec- 
tions of  Leandra,  the  only  child  of  an 
opulent  farmer.  The  giddy  girl  eloped 
with  him ; but  he  robbed  her  of  all  her 
money  and  jewels,  and  left  her  in  a cave 


to  make  the  best  of  her  way  home  again. 
— Cervantes,  ‘^Don  Quixote, pt.  I.,  viii.  20. 

Vin'dicate  (3  syl.),  to  justify,  to 
avenge,  has  a remarkable  etymon.  Vin- 
dicius  was  a slave  of  the  Vitelli,  who 
informed  the  Senate  of  the  conspiracy  of 
the  sons  of  Junius  Brutus  to  restore 
Tarquin,  for  which  service  he  was  re- 
warded with  liberty  (Livy,  ii.  5) ; hence 
the  rod  with  which  a slave  was  struck  in 
manumission  was  called  vindicta,  a Vin- 
dicius  rod  {see  Manumit)  ; and  to  set  free 
was  in  Latin  vindica're  in  libertatem.  One 
way  of  settling  disputes  was  to  give  the 
litigants  two  rods,  which  they  crossed  as 
if  in  fight,  and  the  person  whom  the 
praetor  vindicated  broke  the  rod  of  his 
opponent.  These  rods  were  called  vin^ 
dicioe,  and  hence  vindicate,  meaning  to 

justify.”  To  avenge  is  simply  to  justify 
oneself  by  punishing  the  wrong-doer. 

Vi'ne  (1  syl.).  The  Rabbins  say  that 
the  fiend  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  first 
vine  planted  by  Adam,  a lion,  a lamb, 
and  a hog  ; and  that  as  wine  is  used, 
men  receive  from  it  ferocity,  mildness,  or 
wallowing. 

Vin'egar  Bi'ble.  Printed  at  the 
Clarendon  Press,  Oxford,  1717;  so  called 
because  it  has  the  word  vinegar  instead 
of  vineyard  in  the  running  head-line  of 
Luke  x-xii. 

Vineyard  Controversy.  A paper 
war  provoked  by  the  Hon.  Daines  Bar- 
rington, who  entered  the  lists  to  over- 
throw all  chroniclers  and  antiquaries  from 
William  of  Malmesbury  to  Samuel  Pegge, 
respecting  the  vineyards  of  Domesday- 
book.  Ho  maintained  that  the  vines 
were  currants,  and  the  vineyards  currant- 
gardens. 

Vin'golf.  The  celestial  city  of  the 
goddesses.  That  of  the  gods  was  called 
Gladheim. — Scandinavian  mythology.  {See 
Gimli.) 

And  I’d  adorn  with  star-light  glance 
The  golden  tresses  of  thy  head, 

And  high  in  Vingolf’s  hall  should  dance 
My  pallid  lily  rosy  red. 

Frithiof -Saga"  {Fritkio/'s  yoy). 

Vi'no.  In  vino  veritas  (In  wine  is 
truth),  meaning  when  persons  are  more 
or  less  intoxicated  they  utter  many 
things  they  would  at  other  times  conceal 
or  disguise  {Latin). 

Vin' try  Ward  {London).  So  called 
from  the  Vintry,  or  part  occupied  by  the 
Vintners  or  wine-merchants  from  Bor- 


VINCJM  THEOLOGICUM, 


VIRGIL. 


937 


deaux,  who  anciently  settled  on  this  part 
of  the  Thames’  bank.  They  landed  their 
wines  here,  and,  till  the  28th  Edw.  I.,  were 
obliged  to  sell  what  they  landed  within 
forty  days. 

Vi'rLum  Theolog'icum.  The  best 
wine  in  the  nation.  Holinshed  says  it 
was  so  called  because  religious  men  would 
be  sure  ^ ‘Neither  to  drinke  nor  be  served 
of  the  worst,  or  such  as  was  anie  waies 
vined  by  the  vintner ; naie,  the  merchant 
would  have  thought  that  his  soule  would 
have  gone  streightwaie  to  the  devil  if  he 
should  have  served  them  with  other  than 
the  best  ” (i.  282). 

Vi'ola.  A lady  who  disguises  herself 
as  a page,  and  enters  the  service  of  the 
duke  Orsi'no.  — Shakespeare,  Twelfth 
Nightr 

Violan'te  (3  syl.).  Wife  of  Pietro 
and  the  putative  parent  of  Pompilia. 
The  woman  provided  this  supposititious 
child  partly  to  please  old  Pietro,  and 
partly  to  cheat  the  rightful  heirs  of  the 
inheritance. — Robert  Browning,  The 
Ring  and  the  Book."  (*SeeRiNG.) 

Vi'olet.  The  colour  indicates  the  love 
of  truth  and  the  truth  of  love.  Pugin  says 
it  is  used  for  black  in  mourning  and 
fasting. 

“ I would  give  you  some  violets,  hut  they 
withered  all  when  my  father  died."  So 
says  Ophelia  to  the  Queen.  The  violet  in 
flower-language  is  emblematical  of  inno- 
cence, and  Ophelia  says  the  King,  the 
Queen,  and  even  Hamlet  himself  now  he 
has  killed  Polonius,  are  unworthy  of  this 
symbol.  Now  my  father  is  dead  all  the 
violets  are  withered,  all  the  court  family 
are  stained  with  blood-guiltiness. 

This  entire  posy  may  be  thus  para- 
phrased : Both  you  and  I are  under  a 
spell,  and  there  is  “herb  of  grace”  to 
disenchant  us ; there’s  a “ daisy  ” to 
caution  you  against  expecting  that  such 
wanton  love  as  yours  will  endure  long ; 
I would  have  given  you  a “violet”  if  I 
could,  but  now  my  father  is  killed  all 
of  you  are  blood-guilty. 

Violin.  The  following  musicians  are 
very  celebrated : Arcangelo  Corelli,  noted 
for  the  melodious  tones  he  produced 
(1653-1713).  Pierre  Gavinies,  native  of 
Bordeaux,  founder  of  the  French  school 
of  violinists,  noted  for  the  sweetness  of 
his  tones  (1722-1800).  Nicolo  Paganini, 
whose  mastery  over  the  instrument  has 


never  been  equalled,  especially  known 
for  his  musical  feats  on  one  string  (1784- 
1840).  Gaetan  Pugnani,  of  Turin,  founder 
of  the  Italian  school  of  violinists  ; his 
playing  was  “wild,  noble,  and  sublime” 
(1727*1803).  Giuseppe  Tartini,  of  Padua, 
whose  performance  was  plaintive  but 
full  of  grace  (1698-1770).  G.  B.  Viotti, 
of  Piedmont,  whose  playing  was  noted 
for  grandeur  and  audacity,  tire  and  ex- 
citement (1753-1824).  {See  Cremonas.) 

The  best  makers  of  violins.  Gasparo  di 
Salo  (1560-1610);  Nicholas  Amati,  of 
Cremona  (1596-1684);  Antonio  Stradi- 
vari, his  pupil  (1644-1737) ; Joseph  A. 
Guarneri  (1683-1745).  Almost  equal: 
Joseph  Steiner  (1620-1667);  Matthias 
Klotz  (1650-1696). 

Vi'olon'.  A temporary  prison.  Galig- 
nani  says  : In  the  time  of  Louis  XI.  the 
Salle-de-Perdus  was  so  full  of  turbulent?* 
clerks  and  students  that  the  bailiff  of  the 
palace  shut  many  up  in  the  lower  room 
of  the  conciergerie  (prison)  while  the  courts 
were  sitting ; but  as  they  were  guilty  of 
no  punishable  offence,  he  allowed  them  a 
violin  to  wile  away  the  tedium  of  their 
temporary  captivity. 

M.  Genin  says  the  seven  penitential 
psalms  were  called  in  the  middle  ages 
the  psalte'rion,  and  to  put  one  to  penance 
was  in  French  expressed  by  'inettre  au, 
psalierion.  As  the  psaltery  was  an  instru- 
ment of  music,  some  witty  Frenchman 
changed  psalte'rion  to  violon,  and  in  lieu 
of  mettre  au  psalte'rion  wrote  mettre  au 
violon. 

A prisonnier  et  lui  farenfc  mis  au  salterion. 

Antiquites  Mationalea  de  Millin”  iv.,  p.  6. 

Vi'per  and  File.  The  biter  bit. 
.(Esop  says  a viper  found  a file,  and  tried 
to  bite  it,  under  the  supposition  that  it 
was  good  food ; but  the  file  said  that 
its  province  was  to  bite  others,  and  not 
to  be  bitten.  {See  Serpent.) 

I fawned  and  smiled  to  plunder  and  betray. 

Myself  betrayed  and  plundered  all  the  while  ; 

So  gnawed  the  viper  the  corroding  file. 

Beattie.  “ Minstrel.'^ 

Thus  he  realised  the  moral  of  the  fable : the  viper 
sought  to  bite  the  file,  but  broke  his  own  teeth.— TAe 
Times. 

Vir'gil.  In  the  “ Gesta  Roman  o'- 
rum”  Virgil  is  represented  as  a mighty 
but  benevolent  enchanter.  This  is  the 
character  that  Italian  tradition  always 
gives  him,  and  it  is  this  traditional  cha- 
racter that  furnished  Dante  with  his 
conception  of  making  Virgil  his  guide 
through  the  infernal  regions.  From  the 


938 


VIRGILIUS. 


VIVIAN. 


‘^^ne'id”  grammarians  illustrated  their 
rules,  rhetoricians  selected  the  subjects 
of  their  declamations,  and  CJhristians 
looked  on  the  poet  as  half  inspired ; 
hence  the  use  of  his  poems  in  divination. 
{See  SoRTES  Virgilian^.) 

The  Christian  Virgil.  Marco  Girolamo 
Vida,  author  of  ^^Christias,”  in  six  books, 
an  imitation  of  the  ‘^-^ne'id.’’  (1490- 

1566.) 

The  Virgil  and  Horace  of  the  Christians. 
So  Bentley  calls  Aurelius  Clemens  Pru- 
dentius,  a native  of  Spain,  who  wrote 
Latin  hymns  and  religious  poems.  (348-*) 

Le  Virgile  au  Rahot  (‘‘au  rabot”  is 
difficult  to  render  into  English.  Virgil 
with  a Plane  ” is  far  from  conveying  the 
idea.  The  Virgil  of  Planers”  or  ‘‘The 
Virgilian  Joiner’*  is  somewhat  nearer 
the  meaning).  Adam  Billaut,  the  poetical 
carpenter  and  joiner,  was  so  called  by 
M.  Tissot,  both  because  he  used  the 
plane  and  because  one  of  his  chief 
recueils  is  entitled  “Le  Kabot.”  He  is 
generally  called  Maitre  Adam.  His 
roaring  Bacchanalian  songs  seem  very 
unlike  the  Eclogues  of  Virgil,  and  the 
only  reason  for  the  title  seems  to  be 
that  Virgil  was  a husbandman  and  wrote 
on  husbandry,  while  Billaut  was  a car- 
penter and  wrote  on  carpentry.  (*-1662. ) 

VirgiPius.  Bishop  of  Saltzburg,  an 
Irishman,  whose  native  name  was  Feargil 
or  Feargal.  He  was  denounced  as  a 
heretic  for  asserting  the  existence  of 
antipodes.  (Died  784.)  (^See  Science.) 

Virgin.  One  of  the  constellations. 
(August  23rd  to  September  23rd.) 

Astrsea,  goddess  of  justice,  was  the  last 
of  the  deities  to  quit  our  earth,  and  when 
she  returned  to  heaven  became  the  con- 
stellation Virgo, 

"When  the  bright  Virgin  gives  the  beauteous  days. 

Thomson,  '‘Autumn.’* 

The  Virgin  Queen.  Queen  Elizabeth. 
(1533,  1558-1603.) 

Virgins.  The  eleven  thousand  virgins 
of  Cologne,  according  to  the  legend,  were 
born  at  Bao'za  in  Spain,  which  contained 
only  12,000  families.  The  bones  ex- 
hibited were  taken  from  an  old  Eoman 
cemetery,  across  which  the  wall  of  Cologne 
ran,  and  which  were  exposed  to  view 
after  the  siege  in  1106.  C^ee  Ursula.) 

Virtue's  o.  A man  fond  of  virtu  or 
skilled  therein;  a dilettante.  Virtu  is 
an  Italian  word,  and  means  curiosities  of 
all  sorts  connected  with  the  fine  arts. 


Vis  Iner'tiae  properly  means  that 
property  of  matter  which  makes  it  resist 
any  change.  In  consequence  of  this  pro- 
perty it  is  hard  to  set  in  motion  what  is 
still,  and  hard  to  stop  what  is  in  motion. 
Figuratively  it  applies  to  that  unwilling- 
ness of  change  which  makes  men  “rather 
bear  the  ills  they  have,  than  fly  to  others 
that  they  know  not  of.” 

Viseon'ti.  These  lords  of  Milan  had 
for  their  armorial  bearing  a snake. 

Vish'nu  {Indian),  The  Preserver, 
who  forms  with  Brahma  and  Siva  the 
divine  triad  of  the  system  of  Hinduism. 

Vi'tal  Spark  of  heavenly  flame 
(Pope).  Heracli'tus  held  the  soul  to  be  a 
spark  of  the  stellar  essence. — Macrohius, 

In  Somnium  Scripionisf  i.  14. 

Vitellius.  A glutton ; so  named 
from  Vitellius  the  Eoman  emperor,  who 
took  emetics  after  one  meal  that  he  might 
have  power  to  swallow  another. 

Vitru'vius.  There  were  two  Eoman 
architects  of  this  name.  The  one  best 
known  was  Marcus  Vitruvius  Pollio,  who 
wrote  a book  on  “ Architecture.” 

The  English  Vitruvius.  Inigo  Jones. 
(1572-1652.). 

Vit'ulos.  The  scourgings  which  the 
monks  inflicted  on  themselves  during  the 
chanting  of  the  psalms. 

Vitus  {St.).  St.  Vituses  Dance,  once 
widely  prevalent  in  Germany  and  the 
Low  Countries,  was  a “ dancing  mania,” 
so  called  from  the  supposed  power  of 
St.  Vitus  over  nervous  and  hysterical 
affections. 

At  Strasbourg  hundreds  of  folk  begau 
To  dance  and  leap,  both  maid  and  man ; 

In  open  market,  lane,  or  street, 

They  skipped  along,  nor  cared  to  eat, 

Until  their  plague  had  ceased  to  fright  us. 
’Twas  called  the  dance  of  holy  Vitus. 

Ja7i  of  Kii  nig  shaven  (an  old  German  chronicler). 

St.  Vitus's  dance.  A description  of  the 
jumping  procession  on  Whit-Tuesday  to 
a chapel  in  Ulm  dedicated  to  St.  Vitus, 
is  given  in  Notes  and  Queries,  September, 
1856. 

Viva  Vo'ce.  Orally;  by  word  of 
mouth.  A viva  voce  examination  is  one 
in  which  the  respondent  answers  by 
word  of  mouth.  (Latin,  “with  the  living 
voice.”) 

Vivian.  Brother  of  Maugis  d’Aygre- 
mont,  and  son  of  duke  Bevis  of  Aygre- 
mont.  He  was  stolen  in  infancy  by 


VIVIEN. 


VULCANIST. 


Tapinel,  and  sold  to  the  wife  of  Sorga- 
lant. — Roman  de  Maugis  d' A gremont  et 
de  Vivian  son  FrereP 

Vivian^  in  ^‘Orlando  Furioso,”  son  of 
Buovo  (Bu-vo),  of  the  house  of  Clar- 
mont,  and  brother  of  Al'diger  and  Ma- 
lagi'gi. 

Vivien.  A wily  wanton  in  Arthur’s 
court  who  hated  all  the  knights.”  She 
tried  to  seduce  ^Hhe  blameless  king,” 
and  succeeded  in  seducing  Merlin,  who 
overtalked  and  overworn,  told  her  his 
secret  charm  ” — 

The  which  if  any  wrought  on  any  one 
With  woven  paces  and  with  waving  arms, 

The  man  so  wrought  on  ever  seemed  to  lie 
Closed  in  the  four  walls  of  a hollow  tower, 

From  which  was  no  escape  for  evermore. 

Having  obtained  this  secret,  the  wan- 
ton ^^put  forth  the  charm,”  and  in  the 
hollpw  oak  lay  Merlin  as  one  dead, 
‘^lost  to  life,  and  use,  and  name,  and 
fame.” — Tennyson,  Idyls  of  the  King’  ’ 

( Vivien'). 

Vixe're . Vixere  fortes  ante  Agamem- 
non (Horace).  You  are  not  the  first 
great  man  that  ever  lived,  though  you 
boast  so  mightily.  Our  own  age  does 
not  monopolise  the  right  of  merit. 

Viz.  A contraction  of  videlicet.  The 
0 is  a corruption  of  3,  a common  mark 
of  contraction  in  the  middle  ages ; as  j 
hab3 — i.e.,  habet ; omnib3 — i.e.,  omni- 
bus ; \i'5—i.e.,  videlicet.  1 

Vola'na.  One  of  the  mouths  of  the 
Po. — Orlando  Furioso.”  i 

Volpiiie(2  syL).  The  hero  of  Ben  ■ 
Jonson’s  drama  called  ‘‘The  Fox.”  He 
is ‘a  profligate  Venetian  who  qbtains 
money  of  fis  friends  by  pretending  (1) 
that  he  is  disabled  by  illness,  and  (2) 
that  he  is  the  Fox’s  favourite.  The  play 
is  a satire  on  avarice,  which  is  made  the 
motive  power  of  working  on  each  in  dif- 
ferent ways.  At  the  end  the  Fox  is  be- 
trayed, his  property  forfeited,  and  Vol- 
pine  is  sentenced  to  lie  in  the  worst  hos- 
pital of  all  V enice  till  he  is  ill  as  he  pre- 
tends to  be. 

“The  Alchemist,”  “The  Fox,”  and“  Silent  Woman,” 
Done  by  Ben  Jonson,  and  outdone  by  no  man. 

Voltaic  Battery.  An  apparatus 
for  accumulating  electricity ; so  called 
from  Volta,  the  Italian,  who  first  con- 
trived it. 

Voltaire.  His  proper  name  was 
Fran9ois  Marie  Arouet.  The  word  Vol- 
taire is  simply  an  anagram  of  Arouet 


L.  I.  {lejeune).  Thus  have  we  Stella  {q.v.), 
Astrophel  {q.v,),  Vanessa  and  Cadenus- 
(q.v.),  and  a host  of  other  names  in 
anagrams. 

Voltaire,  the  infidel,  built  the  church 
at  Ferney,  which  has  this  inscription: 
Deo  erexit  Voltaire.  Cowper  alludes  to 
this  anomaly  in  the  following  lines  : — 

Nor  he  who,  for  the  bane  of  thousands  born. 

Built  God  a church,  and  laughed  his  W ord  to  scorn. 

Voltaire,  Dr.  Young  said  of  him — 

Thou  art  so  witty,  profligate,  and  thin. 

Thou  sesm’st  a Milton,  with  his  Death  and  fin. 

An  excellent  comparison  between  VoU 
taire  and  Gibbon  is  given  by  Byron  in 
“Childe  Harold,”  canto  hi.,  106,  107. 

The  German  Voltaire.  Johann  Wolf- 
gang von  Goethe.  (1749-1838.) 

Christoph  Martin  Wieland.  (1733- 
1813.) 

The  Polish  Voltaire.  Ignatius  Krasicki. 
1774-1801). 

VoTume  (2  syl.).  A roll.  Anciently 
books  were  written  on  sheets  fastened 
together  lengthwise  and  rolled ; some 
were  rolled  on  a pin  or  roller.  The  rolls 
were  placed  erect  on  shelves.  Each  onn 
was  labelled  in  red  letters  or  rubrics, 
Eolls  of  great  value  were  packed  in 
cases  or  boxes.  (Latin,  volvo,  to  roll  up.) 

Volund.  The  Scandinavian  Vulcan. 

Vri'tra.  The  demon  who  clouds  the 
sun.  He  was  slain  by  Indva.— Hindu 
mythology. 

Vugh  (pron.  Voog),  in  mining  lan- 
guage, means  a hollow  or  cavernous 
part  in  a lode.  Adj.,  vuqhy.  (British, 
voog,  a hole ; Welsh,  uwd,  a puddle.) 

Vul'can.  The  divine  blacksmith,, 
whose  workshop  was  on  Mount  Etna, 
where  the  Cyclops  assisted  him  in  forg- 
ing thunderbolts  for  Jove.  He  was  alsa 
called  Mulciber. 

Vulcan’s  Badge.  That  of  cuck- 
oldom.  Venus  was  Vulcan’s  wife,  but 
her  amour  with  Mars  gave  Vulcan  the 
badge  referred  to. 

Vul'canised  India-rubber.  In- 
dia-rubber combined  with  sulphur  by 
vulcanic  agency  or  heat,  by  which  means 
the  caoutchouc  absorbs  the  sulphur  and 
becomes  carbonised. 

VuTcanist.  One  who  supports  the 
Vulcanian  or  Plutonian  theory,  which 
ascribes  the  changes  on  the  earth’s  sur- 


940 


VXL. 


WAITS. 


face  to  the  agency  of  fire.  These  theo- 
rists say  the  earth  was  once  in  a state  of 
igneous  fusion,  and  that  the  crust  has 
gradually  cooled  down  to  its  present 
temperature, 

VXL,  a monogram  on  lockets,  &c., 
stands  for  U XL  (you  excel). 


W 

Wa'bun.  Son  of  Mudjekee'wis(iVw'^7i- 
A merican  Indian) ^ East- Wind,  the  Indian 
^Apollo.  Young  and  beautiful,  he  chases 
Darkness  with  his  arrows  over  hill  and 
■valley,  wakes  the  villager,  calls  the 
Thunder,  and  brings  the  Morning.  He 
married  Wabun-Annung  {q  and  trans- 
planted her  to  heaven,  where  she  became 
the  Morning  Longfellow,  Hia- 

^oatha,'^ 

WaT)un-An'nung,  in  North- Ame- 
rican Indian  mythology,  is  the  Morn- 
ing Star.  She  was  a country  maiden 
w'ooed  and  won  by  Wabun,  the  Indian 
Apollo,  who  transplanted  her  to  the 
Longfellow,  Hiawatha^ 

Wacli'am  (in  Hudibras").  A 
ioolish  Welchman  named  Tom  Jones, 
who  could  neither  write  nor  read.  Si- 
drophel’s  zany  and  catspaw. — Pt.  ii.,  c.  3. 

Wade  (1  syl.),  to  go  through  watery 
places,  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  wad,  a ford, 
wadan,  to  ford  or  go  [through  a meadow]. 
IcSee  Weyd-monat.) 

General  Wade,  famous  for  his  mili- 
tary highways  in  the  Highlands,  which 
proceed  in  a straight  line  up  and  down 
hill  like  a Eoman  road. 

Had  you  fccq  but  these  reads  before  they  were 
made, 

¥cu  would  hold  up  your  hands,  and  bless  General 
Wade. 

Wade’s  Boat,  named  Guin'gelot. 
W ade  was  a hero  of  mediaeval  romance, 
whose  adventures  were  a favourite  theme 
in  the  sixteenth  century.  Mons.  F. 
Michel  has  brought  together  all  he  could 
hnd  about  this  story,  but  nevertheless 
the  tale  is  very  imperfectly  known. 

Thay  can  so  moche  craft  of  Wades  boot. 

So  moche  broken  harm  whan  that  hem  list. 

That  with  hem  schuld  I never  lyv  in  rest. 

Chaucer^  “ Canterbury  Tales^’’  9,298. 

W adham  College  {Oxford)  was 
founded  by  Nicholas  Wadham  in  1613. 

Wad'man  (Widow).  A comely 
widow  who  tries  to  secure  Uncle  Toby 
for  her  second  husband.  Amongst  other 
wiles  she  pretends  that  she  has  some- 


thing in  her  eye,  and  gets  Uncle  Toby  to 
look  for  it ; as  the  kind-hearted  hero  of 
Namur  does  so,  the  widow  gradually 
places  her  face  nearer  and  nearer  the 
captain’s  mouth,  under  the  hope  that  he 
will  kiss  her  and  propose. — Sterne,*^ Ti'is^^ 
tram  Shandy.'* 

Wages.  Giles  Moore,  in  1659,  paid 
his  mowers  sixteenpence  an  acre.  In 
1711,  Timothy  Burrell,  Esq.,  paid  twenty- 
pence  an  acre;  in  1686  he  paid  Mary 
his  cook  fifty  shillings  a year;  in  1715 
he  had  raised  the  sum  to  fifty-five  shil- 
lings. — “ Sussex  Archceological  Collec-^ 
tionsf  hi.,  pp.  163, 170. 

For  wages  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.,  see  Preface  of  Vol.  I.,  ^‘Letters 
and  Papers  of  the  Eeign  of  Henry  VIII.,” 
Edited  by  J.  S.  Brewer,  pp.  108-119. 
Wagoner.  (See  Bootes.) 

Walialbites  (3  syl.).  A Mahometan 
sect,  whose  object  is  to  bring  back  the 
doctrines  and  observances  of  Islam  to 
the  literal  precepts  of  the  Koran ; so 
called  from  the  founder,  Ibn-abd-ul- 
Wah^b. 

Waifs  and  Strays  of  London 
Streets.  The  homeless  poor.  Waifs  are 
goods  found  but  not  claimed.  Strays 
are  animals  that  have  wandered  from 
their  proper  enclosures  to  the  grounds  of 
some  one  not  their  owner. 

Waist  (1  syl.)  means  the  part  girded 
or  squeezed.  This  word  plainly  shows 
that  tight-lacing  is  not  a modern  fashion. 
(Welsh,  gwdsg,  pressure;  gw^sgii,  to 
squeeze). 

Waits.  Street  musicians,  who  sere- 
nade the  principal  inhabitants  a little 
before  Christmas-day.  From  Kymer’s 
^^Foedera”  we  learn  it  was  the  duty  of 
musical  watchmen  ^‘to  pipe  the  watch” 
nightly  in  the  king’s  court  four  times 
from  Michaelmas  to  Shrove-Thursday, 
and  three  times  in  the  summer ; and  they 
had  also  to  make  'Hhe  bon  gate”  at  every 
door,  to  secure  them  against  pyckeres 
and  pillers.”  They  formed  a distinct  class 
from  both  the  watch  and  the  minstrels. 
(German  wacht,  Dutch  wagt,  Danish  mgt, 
Swedish  waJet,  Scotch  wate,  English  watch.) 

Waits,  according  to  Dr.  Busby,  is  a 
corruption  of  Wayghtes  (hautboys),  a 
word  which  has  no  singular  number. 
The  word,  he  says,  has  been  transferred 
from  the  instruments  to  the  performers, 
who  are  in  the  habit  of  parading  our 


WAKE. 


WALL. 


941 


streets  by  night  at  Christmas  time. — 
Dictionary  Music {8ce  Wastlers. ) 

Wake  (1  syl.),  to  keep  vigils  (Saxon 
wmccan).  Spelman  wittily  derives  it  from 
the  Saxon  ^vac,  drunkenness  (?).  A vigil 
celebrated  with  junketing  and  dancing. 

It  may,  therefore,  be  permitted  them  [the  Irith'] 
on  the  dedication  day,  or  other  solemn  days  of 
martyrs,  to  make  them  bowers  about  the  churches, 
and  refresh  themselves,  feasting  together  after  a 
good  reli£;ious  sort : killing  their  oxen  now  to  the 
praise  of  Cod  and  increase  of  charity,  which  they 
were  wont  before  to  sacrifice  to  the  devil.— Grc<7ori/ 
the  Great  to  Melitus  [Melitus  was  an  abbot  who 
came  over  with  St.  Augustine]. 

Walbrook  Ward  {London)  is  so 
called  from  a brook  which  once  ran 
along  the  west  wall  of  Walbrook  Street. 

Walcheren  Expedition.  A well- 
devised  scheme,  ruined  by  the  stupidity 
of  the  agent  chosen  to  carry  it  out. 
Lord  Castlereagh’s  instructions  were  to 
advance  instantly  in  full  force  against 
Antwerp,”  but  lord  Chatham  wasted  his 
time  and  strength  in  reducing  Flushing. 
Ultimately,  the  red-tape  ‘‘Incapable” 
got  possession  of  the  island  of  Walcheren, 
but  7,000  men  died  of  malaria,  and  as 
many  more  were  permanently  disabled. 

Walden'ses.  So  called  from  Peter 
Waldo,  a citizen  of  Lyons,  who  founded 
a preaching  society  in  1176. 

Waldo,  a copse  between  Lavant  and 
Goodwood  (Sussex).  Same  as  weald, 
wold,  wold,  wait,  “a  wood.”  Anglo- 
Saxon.  The  final  o is  about  equivalent 
to  “ the,”  as  lioelo,  the  whole,  ^^e.  health; 
mcenegeo,  the  many — i,e.,  a multitude,  &c. 

Wales.  The  older  form  is  Wealhas, 
plural  of  Wealh,  an  Anglo-Saxon  word 
denoting  foreigners,  and  applied  by  them 
to  the  ancient  Britons ; hence,  also. 
Corn-wall,  the  horn  occupied  by  the 
same  refugees.”  Wdlschland  is  a Ger- 
man name  for  Italy ; Valais  are  the 
non-German  districts  of  Switzerland ; 
the  parts  about  Liege  constitute  the 
Walloon  country.  The  Welsh  proper 
are  Cimbri,  and  those  driven  thither  by 
the  Teutonic  invaders  were  refugees  or 
strangers.  {See  Walnut.) 

Walk  (in  “Hudibras”)  is  colonel 
flewson,  so  called  from  Gayton’s  tract. 

To  walk.  This  is  a remarkable  word. 
It  comes  from  the  Saxon  wealcan  (to 
roll)  ; whence  wealcere,  a fuller  of  cloth. 
In  Percy’s  “ Reliques  ” we  read — 

She  cursed  the  weaver  and  the  walker, 

The  cloth  that  they  had  wrought. 


To  walk,  therefore,  is  to  roll  along,  as 
the  machine  in  felting  hats  or  fullingr 
cloth. 

Walk  not  in  the  piiUic  ways.  This  was 
one  of  the  maxims  of  Pythagoras,  and- 
reminds  us  very  forcibly  of  the  audition 
of  the  Saviour  ; “ Broad  is  the  way  that 
leadeth  to  destruction,”  but  “narrow  is- 
the  path”  [of  truth  and  holiness].  {Sec^ 
lamblicus,  “ Protreptics,  Symbol  v.”) 

Walker,  a proper  name,  is  gene- 
rally supposed  to  be  wealcere,  a fuller, 
but  the  derivation  of  ancient  names 
from  trades  is  to  be  received  with  great 
caution.  It  is  far  more  probable  that 
Walker  is  derived  from  the  old  High 
German  walah,  Anglo-Saxon  wealh,  a 
foreigner  or  borderer ; whence  Wallack,. 
Walk,  Walkey,  Walliker,  and  many 
others.  {See  Brewer.) 

Helen  Walker.  The  prototype  of 
Jeanie  Deans.  Sir  Walter  Scott  caused, 
a tombstone  to  be  erected  over  her  grave 
in  the  churchyard  of  Irongray,  stewartry 
of  Kirkcudbright.  In  1869  Messrs.  A. 
and  C.  Black  caused  a headstone  of  red 
freestone  to  be  erected  in  Carlaverock 
churchyard  to  the  memory  of  Robert 
Paterson,  the  Old  Mortality  of  the  same 
novelist,  who  was  buried  there  in  1801. 

Hookey  Walker.  John  Walker  was  an 
out- door  clerk  at  Longman,  Clementi 
& Co.’s,  Cheapside,  and  was  noted  for 
his  eagle  nose,  which  gained  him  the- 
nick-name  of  Old  Hookey.  Walker’s 
office  was  to  keep  the  workmen  to  their 
work,  or  report  them  to  the  principals. 
Of  course  it  was  the  interest  of  the  em- 
ployes to  throw  discredit  on  Walker’s- 
reports,  and  the  poor  old  man  was  so  bad- 
gered and  ridiculed,  that  the  firm  found 
it  politic  to  abolish  the  office ; but 
Hookey  Walker  still  means  a tale  not  to 
be  trusted. — John  Bee. 

Wall  {The),  from  the  Tyne  to  Boul- 
ness,  on  the  Solway  Frith,  a distance  of 
eighty  miles.  Called — 

The  Roman  Wall,  because  it  was  the 
work  of  the  Romans. 

Agricola's  Wall,  because  Agricola 
made  the  south  bank  and  ditch. 

Hadrian*  s Wall,  because  Hadrian 
added  another  vallum  and  mound  paral- 
lel to  Agricola’s. 

The  Wall  of  Severus,  because  Severus 
followed  in  the  same  line  with  a stone 
wall,  having  castles  and  turrets. 

Tht.  Diets*  Wall,  because  its  object. 


942 


WALL. 


WALNUT  TREE. 


was  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  the 
Piets. 

Wall  of  Antoni'nus,  now  called 
Gryines  Dylce,  was  a more  northerly  en- 
trenchment, from  the  Clyde  to  the 
Frith.  This  was  made  by  Lollius  Ur- 
bicus,  legate  of  Antoninus  Pius,  A.D. 
140.  It  was  a turf  wall. 


B c 


A,  Agricola’s  mound.  The  straight  part  is  135  feet. 
B,  Hadrian’s  vallum  and  mounds.  C.  the  wall,&c., 
of  Severus. 

To  give  the  wall.  Nathaniel  Bailey’s 
explanation  of  this  phrase  is  worth  per- 
petuating. He  says  it  is  a compliment 
paid  to  the  female  sex,  or  those  to  whom 
one  would  show  respect,  by  letting  them 
go  nearest  the  wall  or  houses,  upon  a 
supposition  of  its  being  the  cleanest. 
This  custom  [he  adds]  is  chiefly  peculiar 
to  England,  for  in  most  parts  abroad 
they  will  give  them  the  right  hand, 
though  at  the  same  time  they  thrust 
them  into  the  kennel.”  — Dictionary, 
word  Wall.” 

To  take  the  wall.  To  take  the  place  of 
honour,  the  same  as  to  choose  ‘Hhe 
uppermost  rooms  at  feasts”  (Matt,  xxiii. 
6).  At  one  time  pedestrians  gave  the 
wall  to  persons  of  a higher  grade  in 
■society  than  themselves. 

I will  take  the  wall  of  any  man  or  maid  _of  Mon* 
tague’s. — Shakespeare,^^  Romeo  and  Juliet  ” i.  l. 

To  go  to  the  wall.  To  be  put  on  one 
side  ; to  be  shelved.  This  is  in  allusion 
to  another  phrase,  “laid  by  the  wall” 
— i,e.,  dead  but  not  buried  ; put  out  of 
the  way. 

Walls  have  Ears.  The  Louvre  was 
so  constructed  in  the  time  of  Catharine 
de  Medicis,  that  what  was  said  in  one 
room  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  an- 
other. It  "was  by  this  contrivance  that 
the  suspicious  queen  became  acquainted 
with  state  secrets  and  plots.  The  tubes 
of  communication  were  called  the  auri- 
culaires,  and  were  constructed  on  the 
same  principle  as  those  of  the  con- 
fessionals. The  “ ear  of  Dionysius”  com- 
municated to  him  every  word  uttered  in 
the  state  prison.  See  Speaking  Heads  (9). 

Walls-end  Coals.  So  called  from 
the  colliery  at  the  eastern  termination  of 
the  Great  Roman  Wall,  between  New- 
ijastle-upon-Tyne  and  the  sea. 


Wall-eyed  properly  means  “with- 
ered-eyed.” Persons  are  wall-eyed  when 
the  white  is  unusually  large,  and  the 
sight  defective;  hence  Sha&speare  has 
wall-eyed  wrath,  wall-eyed  slave,  &c. 
When  King  John  says,  “My  rage  was 
blind, he  virtually  says  his  “^wrath  was 
wall-eyed.”  (Saxon,  hwelan,  to  wither. 
The  word  is  often  written  whall-eyed,  or 
whallied,  from  the  verb  whally.) 

Wall-flower.  So  called  because 
it  grows  on  old  walls  and  ruined  build- 
ings. It  is  a native  plant.  Similarly, 
wall-cress,  wall-cree'ger,  &c.,  are  plants 
which  grow  on  dry,  stony  places,  or  on 
walls.  Wall-fruit  is  fruit  trained  against 
a wall,  Walnut.) 

Wallace’s  Larder.  The  dungeon 
of  Ardrossan,  in  Ayrshire  ; so  called  be- 
cause Wallace  threw  into  it  the  dead 
bodies  of  the  garrison  surprised  by  him 
and  cut  to  pieces  in  the  reign  of  Ed- 
ward I. 

Wallachs.  The  people  of  Walla'- 
chia. 

Walloons.  Part  of  the  great 
Romaic  stock.  They  occupied  the  low 
track  along  the  frontiers  of  the  German- 
speaking territory,  as  Artois,  Hainaulfc, 
Namur,  Liege,  Luxemburg ; with  parts 
of  Flanders  and  Brabant.  {See  Wales.) 

Wallop.  To  thrash.  Sir  John 
Wallop,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIIL, 
was  sent  to  Normandy  to  make  repri- 
sals, because  the  French  fleet  had  burnt 
Brighton.  Sir  John  burnt  twenty-one 
towns  and  villages,  demolished  several 
harbours,  and  “walloped”  the  foe  to  his 
heart’s  content. 

Wal'nut  (foreign  nut).  It  comes 
from  Persia,  and  is  so  called  to  distin- 
guish it  from  those  native  to  Europe,  as 
hazel,  filbert,  chesnut.  (Saxon,  walk, 
foreign  ; Danish,  valndd;  German,  wall- 
e-nusz.') 

Some  diflSculty  there  is  in  cracking  the  name 
thereof.  Why  wallnuta,  having  no  affinity  to  a 
wall,  should  be  so  called.  The  truth  is,  gual  or  wall 
in  the  old  Dutch  siguifieth  “ strange  ” or  “ exotic,” 
(whence  Welsh,  foreigners) ; these  nuts  being  no 
natives  of  England  or  Europe,  but  probablv  first 
fetched  from  Persia,  and  called  by  the  French 
nux  ptrsique,— Fuller,  Worthies  of  England.** 

Walnut  Tree.  It  is  said  that  the 
walnut  tree  thrives  best  if  the  nuts  are 
beaten  off  with  sticks,  and  not  gathered. 
Hence  Fuller  says,  “Who,  like  a nut- 


WALSTON. 


WANDERING  JEW. 


943 


tree,  must  be  manured  by  beating,  or 
else  would  not  bear  fruit”  (bk.  ii.,  ch.  11). 
The  saying  is  well  known  that — 

A wife,  a spaniel,  and  a walnut  tree, 

The  more  you  beat  tLem  the  better  they  be. 

Walston  (St.).  A Briton  who  gave 
up  all  his  wealth,  and  supported  himself 
by  manual  husbandry.  He  died  mowing, 
1016.  St.  Walston  is  the  patron  saint 
of  husbandmen,  and  is  usually  depicted 
with  a scythe  in  his  hand,  and  cattle  in 
the  background. 

Walter.  Marquis  of  Saluzzo,  in  Italy, 
•who  married  Grisilda,  a poor  peasant’s 
daughter.—  Chaucer  ^ The  Clerkes  Tale” 
{See  Grisilda.) 

Walter  Multon,  abbot  of  Thorn- 
ton-upon- Humber,  in  Lincolnshire,  was 
immured  in  1443.  In  1722,  an  old  wall 
being  taken  down,  his  remains  were 
found  with  a candlestick,  table,  and 
book.  Stukeley  mentions  the  fact.  ^ In 
1845  another  instance  of  the  same  kind 
was  discovered  at  Temple  Bruer,  in 
Lincolnshire. 

Wartham  Blacks.  The  deer- 
stealers  of  Waltham  in  the  eighteenth 
century  were  so  called,  because  they 
wore  black  crape  masks.  The  act  to  put 
them  down  is  called  the  Black  Act.” 

Walton.  An  Isaah  Walton.  One 
devoted  to  ‘Hhe  gentle  craft  ” of  angling. 
Isaak  Walton  wrote  a book  called  ‘‘The 
Complete  Angler,  or  Contemplative  Man’s 
Recreation.”  (1655.) 

W alton  {Lord) . Father  of  Elvi'ra,  who 
promised  her  in  marriage  to  Sir  Richard 
Forth,  a Puritan  officer ; but  Elvira  had 
already  engaged  her  heart  to  lord  Arthur 
Talbot,  a Cavalier  nobleman.  The  be- 
trothal being  set  aside,  the  Cavalier  was 
accepted  by  lord  Walton  as  the  affianced 
of  his  daughter,  and  after  certain  diffi- 
culties had  been  surmounted,  married 
her. — Bellini,  “/  Puritani”  {an  opera.) 

Wamiba.  Son  of  Witless,  and  jester 
of  Cedric  “ the  Saxon,”  of  Rotherwood, 
— Sir  Walter  Scott,  ^^Ivanhoe.” 

Wan  means  thin  (Saxon,  wan, 
deficient;  our  wane,  as  the  “waning 
moon”).  As  wasting  of  the  flesh  is 
generally  accompanied  with  a grey  pal- 
lor, the  idea  of  leanness  has  yielded  to 
that  of  the  sickly  hue  which  attends  it. 


Wandering  Jew— 

(1)  Of  Greeh  tradition.  Aris'teas,  a 
poet  who  continued  to  appear  and  disap- 
pear alternately  for  above  400  years, 
and  who  visited  all  the  mythical  nations 
of  the  earth. 

(2)  Of  Jewish  story.  Tradition  says 
that  Kartaph'ilos,  the  door-keeper  of  the 
Judgment  Hall,  in  the  service  of  Pontius 
Pilate,  struck  our  Lord  as  he  led  him 
forth,  saying,  “Get  on  faster,  Jesus;” 
whereupon  the  Man  of  Sorrows  replied, 
“ I am  going,  but  thou  shalt  tarry  till  I 
come  oi.g2an.”^Chron.of  St.  Alban's  Abbey. 

Another  legend  is  that  Jesus,  pressed 
down  with  the  weight  of  his  cross, 
stopped  to  rest  at  the  door  of  one 
Ahasve'rus,  a cobbler.  The  craftsman 
pushed  him  away,  saying,  “ Get  off  ! 
Away  with  you,  away  ! ” Our  Lord  re- 
plied, “Truly  I go  away,  and  that 
quickly,  but  tarry  thou  till  I come.” 
Schubert  has  a poem  entitled  “ Ahasuer  ” 
(the  Wandering  Jew). — Paul  von  Eitzen. 

A third  legend  says  that  it  was  the 
cobbler  who  haled  Jesus  before  the 
judgment  seat  of  Pilate,  saying  to  him, 
“ Faster,  Jesus,  faster  !” 

In  Germany  the  Wandering  Jew  is 
associated  with  John  Buttadseus,  seen 
at  Antwerp  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
again  in  the  fifteenth,  and  a third  time 
in  the  sixteenth.  His  last  appearance 
was  in  1774  at  Brussels.  Signor  Gualdi 
about  the  same  time  made  his  appear- 
ance at  Venice,  and  had  a portrait  of 
himself  by  Titian,  who  had  been  dead  at 
the  time  130  years.  One  day  he  dis- 
appeared as  mysteriously  as  he  had 
come. — Turkish  Spy,”  vol.  ii. 

The  French  call  the  Wandering  Jew 
Isaac  Laquedem,  a corruption  of  La- 
ke'dion. — Mitternacht  Diss.  inJno.  xxi.19. 

Soon  after  the  crucifixion  Kartaph'ilos 
was  baptised  by  Ananias,  receiving  the 
name  of  Joseph.  At  the  end  of  every  100 
years  he  falls  into  a trance,  and  wakes  up 
a young  man  about  thirty.— (7Aro7i,.  of  St. 
Alban' s Abbey , continued  hy  Matt.  Paris. 

Wandering  Jew.  Salathiel  ben  Sadi, 
who  appeared  and  disappeared  towards 
the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  at 
Venice,  in  so  sudden  a manner  as  to  at- 
tract the  notice  of  all  Europe.  Croly  in 
his  novel  called  “ Salathiel,”  and  Southey 
in  his  “ Curse  of  Kehama,”  trace  the 
course  of  the  Wandering  Jew,  but  in 
utter  violation  of  the  general  legends. 
In  Eugene  Sue’s  “Le  Juif  Errant,”  the 


944  WANDERING  WILLIE. 


WARE. 


Jew  makes  no  figure  of  the  slightest 
importance  to  the  tale. 

Wandering  Willie  orWilUe  Steen- 
son.  The  blind  fiddler  who  tells  the  tale 
of  Redgauntlet.— Walter  Scotty 
gauntlet.^* 

Wandering  Wood,  in  book  i.  of 
Spenser’s  ‘‘Faery  Queen,”  is  where  St. 
George  and  Una  encounter  Error,  who  is 
slain  by  the  knight.  Una  tries  to  per- 
suade the  Red  Cross  knight  to  leave  the 
wood,  but  he  is  self-willed.  Error,  in  the 
form  of  a serpent,  attacks  him,  but  the 
knight  severs  her  head  from  her  body. 
The  idea  is  that  when  Piety  will  not 
listen  to  Una  or  Truth,  it  is  sure  to  get 
into  “Wandering  Wood,”  where  Error 
will  attack  it ; but  if  it  listens  then  to 
Truth  it  will  slay  Error. 

Wans  Dyke,  Sir  Richard  Colt  Hoare 
tells  us,  was  a barrier  erected  by  the 
Belgae  against  the  Celts,  and  served  as  a 
boundary  between  these  tribes.  Dr. 
Stukeley  says  the  original  mound  was 
added  to  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  when  they 
made  it  the  boundary  line  of  the  two 
kingdoms  of  Mercia  and  Wessex.  It  was 
also  used  by  the  Britons  as  a defence 
against  the  Romans,  who  attacked  them 
from  the  side  of  Gloucestershire  and 
Oxfordshire. 

In  its  most  perfect  state  it  began  at 
Andover,  in  Hampshire,  ran  through  the 
counties  of  Berkshire,  Wiltshire,  and 
Somersetshire,  and  terminated  in  the 
“Severn  Sea”  or  Bristol  Channel.  It 
was  called  W odenes  Dyke  by  the  Saxons, 
contracted  into  Wondes-dyke,  and  cor- 
rupted to  Wans-dyke,  as  Wodenes-daeg 
is  into  Wed’nes-day.  {See  Wat’s  Dyke.  ) 

Want  or  Went.  A road.  Thus  “the 
four- want  way,”  the  spot  were  four 
roads  meet.  Chaucer  uses  the  expression 
“ a privie  went  ” (private  road),  &c. 

Wants,  meaning  “gloves.”  Accord- 
ing to  the  best  Dutch  authorities  the 
word  is  a corruption  of  the  French  gant, 
Italian gwiato,  our  “gauntlets.” 

■Wantcn  are  worn  by  peasan*^s  and  working  people 
when  the  weather  is  cold.  They  are  in  shape  some- 
what like  boxing-gloves,  having  only  a thumb  and 
no  fingers.  They  are  made  of  a coarse  woollen  stuff. 
—Teding  von  Berkhout,  Letter  from  Breda.” 

W antley . (See  Dragon.  ) 

Wa'pentake.  A division  of  York- 
shire, similar  to  that  better  known  as  a 
kwadved.  The  word  means  “touch-arms,” 


it  being  the  custom  of  each  vassal,  wheiB 
he  attended  the  assemblies  of  the  dis- 
trict, “to  touch  the  spear  of  his  over- 
lord  in  token  of  homage.”  Victor  Hugo, 
in  his  novel  of  “L’ Homme  qui  Rit,”’ 
calls  a tipstaff  a “ wapentake.”  (Saxon,. 
wapeuy  arms  ; tacan,  to  touch.) 

Wapping  Great  means  astonish- 
ingly great.  (Saxon,  wafiaii,  to  be  asto- 
nished ; wafung,  amazement.) 

War  of  the  Meal-saeks.  After  the 
battle  of  Bed'er,  Abu  Sofian  summoned 
200  fleet  horsemen,  each  with  a sack 
of  meal  at  his  saddle-bow,  the  scanty 
provision  of  an  Arab  for  a foray,  and 
sallied  forth  to  Medina.  Mahomet  went 
forth  at  the  head  of  a superior  force  to- 
meet  him,  and  Abu  Sofian  with  his  horse- 
men, throwing  off  their  meal-sacks,  fled 
with  precipitation. 

War  of  the  Roses.  The  civil  wars- 
of  York  and  Lancaster,  the  former  of 
which  houses  had  a white  rose,  and  the 
latter  a red  rose,  for  its  badge. 

According  to  Shakespeare,  certain  lords 
were  in  the  Temple  Gardens,  contending 
about  the  succession,  when  Richard 
Plantagenet  exclaimed — 

Since  you  are  tongue-tied  and  so  loth  to  speak.. 

Let  him  that  is  a true-born  gentleman.. 

If  he  supposes  that  I have  pleaded  truth, 

From  off  this  briar  pluck  a white  rose  with  me. 

Somerset. 

Let  him  that  is  no  coward  nor  no  flatterer. . 

Pluck  a red  rose  from  off  this  thorn  with  me. 

Shakespeare,*' I Henry  VI.”  ii.  i. 

Warchant.  (NeeBARDiT.) 

Ward  (Ar'termts).  A nom  de  plume^ 
of  Charles  F.  Browne,  of  America,  who 
died  1867.  Much  controversy  existed 
respecting  the  pronunciation  of  his  name. 
Most  persons  called  it  Arte'mus  ; but  h& 
put  the  question  at  rest  by  the  following 
jeu 

Pon’t  bother  me  with  your  etas  and  short  es. 

Nor  ask  me  for  more  than  you  have  on  my  cord. 

O spai  e me  from  etymological  sorties. 

And  simply  accept  me  as  Artemus  Ward. 

Artemus  Ward  (Egyptian  Hall,  Piccadilly,  1867). 

Did  he  wish  the  public  to  pro- 
nounce his  surname  as  a rhyme  to 
card  I If  not,  the  second  line  might  be, 
“Nor  ask  me  for  more  than  my  card 
will  afford.” 

Warden-pie.  Pie  made  of  the- 
Warden  pear. 

Myself  with  denial  I mortify 

With — a dainty  bit  of  a Warden-pie. 

" The  Friar  of  Orders  Greyf' 

Ware.  (See  Bed.) 


WARLOCK. 


WATER. 


M5 


"Warlock.  A wandering  evil  spirit. 
(Saxon,  wcer-loga,  a deceiver,  one  who 
breaks  his  word.  Satan  is  called  in 
Scripture  ^Hhe  father  of  lies,”  the  arch- 
warlock. ) 

Warming  Pan.  (/See  Jacobites.) 

Warning  Stone.  Anything  that 
gives  notice  of  danger.  Bakers  in 
Wiltshire  and  some  other  counties  used 
to  put  a certain  pebble  ” in  their  ovens, 
and  when  the  stone  turned  white  it  gave 
the  baker  warning  that  the  oven  was  hot 
'enough  for  his  bakings. 

Warwick.  (Saxon,  ^ooer-wic,  con- 
tracted from  wcBring-ivic  (the  fortified 
-or  garrisoned  town).  A translation  of 
the  ancient  British  name  Caer  Leon, 

Warwick  Liane  {City).  The  site  of 
a magnificent  house  belonging  to  the 
famed  Beauchamps,  earls  of  Warwick. 

Warwolf.  A man- wolf,  a magician 
who  has  power  to  transform  himself  into 
a,  wolf.  (Saxon  iveVf  man,  like  the  Latin 
vir;  iverwulf.')  (/S'ee  Werwolf.) 

O was  it  warwolf  in  the  wood. 

Or  was  it  mermaid  in  the  sea. 

Or  was  it  man,  or  vile  woman. 

My  ain  true-love,  that  misshaped  thee  ? 

Kempion  ” (see  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border 

Wasking.  Wash  your  dirty  linen  at 
home  (French).  The  French  say  the  Eng- 
lish do  not  follow  the  advice  of  washing 
their  dirty  linen  enfamille,  meaning  that 
they  talk  openly  and  freely  of  the  faults 
'Committed  by  ministers,  corporations, 
and  individuals.  All  may  see  their  dirty 
linen ; and  as  for  its  washing,  let  it  be 
but  washed  and  the  English  care  not  who 
has  the  doing  of  it.  Horace  (Ep.  II.  i. 
220)  says,  Vine'ta  egomet  ccedam  mea,  I 
do  my  own  washing  at  home.”  Though 
the  French  assert  that  we  disregard  this 
advice,  we  have  the  familiar  proverb. 

It  is  an  iU  bird  that  fouls  its  own  nest.” 

Washington  of  Columbia. 
Simon  Bolivar.  (1785-1831.) 

Wasky  or  Washe.  Sir  Iring’s  sword. 

KigM  through  the  head-piece  straight  the  knight  Sir 

Hagan  paid 

With  his  resistless  Wasky,  that  sharp  and  peerless 

blade.  Nibelungen-Lied”  35. 

Was'sail  (2  syl.).  A salutation  used 
on  New  Year’s  Eve  and  New  Year’s  Day 
over  the  spiced-ale  cup,  hence  called  the 
^‘wassail  bowl.”  (Saxon,  Wees  hcelf 
water  [of]  health.) 


Wastlers.  Wandering  musicians ; 
from  ivastle^  to  wander.  The  carol- 
singers  in  Sussex  are  called  wastlers. 

Wat.  A proper  name  for  a hare.  So 
called  from  his  long  ears,  or  wattles. 

By  this,  poor  Wat,  far  off  upon  a hill. 

Stands  on  his  hinder  legs,  with  listening  ear. 

Shakespeare, " Venus  and  Adonis” 

Wat’s  (^Flintshire).  A corrup- 

tion of  Wato’s  Dyke.  Wato  was  the 
father  of  Weland,  the  Vulcan  of  Northern 
mythology,  and  the  son  of  king  Vilkinr 
by  a mermaid.  This  dyke  extends  from 
the  vicinity  of  Basingwerk  Abbey,  in  a 
south-easterly  direction,  into  Denbigh- 
shire. The  space  between  it  and  Offa’s 
dyke,  which  in  some  parts  is  three  miles, 
and  in  others  not  above  500  yards,  is 
neutral  ground,  where  Britons,  Danes, 
and  Saxons  met  for  commercial  purposes.” 
{See  Wan’s  Dyke.) 

There  is  a famous  thing, 

Called  Offa’s  Dyke,  that  reacheth  far  in  length. 

All  kinds  of  ware  the  Danes  might  thither  bring  ; 

It  was  free  ground,  and  called  the  Briton’s  strength, 
W at’s  Dyke,  likewise,  about  the  same  was  S3t, 
Between  which  two  both  Danes  and  Britons  met. 
And  traffic  still. 

Churchyard,  “ Worthiness  of  Wales  ” (1587). 

"Watch.  On  board  ship  there  are  two 
sorts  of  watch— the  long  watch  of  four 
hours,  and  the  dog  watch  of  two ; but 
strictly  speaking  a watch  means  four 
hours.  The  dog  watches  are  introduced 
to  prevent  one  party  always  keeping 
watch  at  the  same  time.  (‘^Dog”  is  a 
corruption  of  dodge.  It  is  the  dodgiSig 
or  shifting  watch.)  - - 

12  to  4 p.m.  Afternoon  watch. 

4 to  6 ,,  First  dog  'watch. 

6 to  8 „ Second  dog  watch. 

8 to  12  „ First  night  watch. 

12  to  4 a.m.  Middle  watch. 

4 to  8 „ Morning  watch. 

8 to  12  „ Forenoon  watch. 

The  Blade  Watch,  The  gallant  42nd 
regiment,  the  first  corps  raised  for  the 
royal  service  in  the  Highlands,  and 
allowed  to  retain  their  national  garb  ; 
called  black  from  the  contrast  which 
their  dark  tartans  furnished  to  the  scar- 
let and  white  of  the  other  regiments. 

Watch'et.  Sky-blue.  (Saxon,  roaad' 
chet,  dye  of  the  woad  plant.) 

Water.  The  dancing  water  beautifies 
ladies,  and  restores  them  to  perpetual 
youth. — Chevy  and  Fair  star.'* 

The  Father  of  Waters.  The  Mississippi 
(Indian,  Mlclie  Sepe),  the  chief  river  of 
North  America.  The  Missouri,  the 
longest  river  in  the  world,  is  its  child, 
or  one  of  its  branches. 


Ill 


946  WATER  DISCOVERER, 


WAX  CANDLES. 


The,  yellow  water  danced  in  a basin 
without  overflowing. — ‘^Arabian Nights.*^ 

To  live  in  hot  water  or  he  in  hot  water. 
Bellenden  Ker  says  hot  water  is  ^‘hotte 
wat  terre,”  meaning  “ constant  care, 
very  wearing.” 

O'er  muclcle  water  drowned  the  miller. 
This  alludes  to  water-mills,  to  which 
water  is  essential,  but  too  much  water 
drowns  or  overfloods  the  mill.  The 
weaver,  in  fact,  is  hanged  in  his  own 
yarn.  The  French  say  nn  emharras  de 
richesse. 

Blood  ihiclcer  than  water.  ^^What  is 
born  in  the  skin,”  &c. ; nature  will  crop 
up  through  all  the  trammels  of  education 
and  conventionality. 

Blood  is  thicker  than  water,  and  between  the 
Batin  and  Teutonic  members  of  the  Western  church 
net  a little  jealousy  and  antipathy  of  race  has  been 
perpetuated.— Times,  Nov.  15,  1869. 

More  water  glideth  hy  the  mill  than  ivots 
Titus  Andronicus,”  ii.  1). 
More  things  are  done  in  the  best  regu- 
lated family  than  master  or  mistress 
knows  of.  The  Scotch  say,  ‘^Mickle 
water  goes  by  the  miller  when  he  sleeps.” 

Water  Discoverer.  The  Persians 
believe  that  the  lapwing  {hudhud)  has 
the  power  of  discovering  water  under- 
ground. {See  Hazel.  ) 

Water-logged.  Rendered  immov- 
able by  too  much  water  in  the  hold. 
When  a ship  leaks  and  is  water-logged  it 
will  not  make  any  progress,  but  is  like  a 
log  on  the  sea,  tossed  and  stationary. 

Water-Poet.  John  Taylor,  the 
Thames  waterman.  (1580-1654.) 

I must  confess  I do  want'  eloquence. 

And  never  scarce  did  learn  my  accidence. 

For  having  got  from  “possum”  to  “posset,” 

I there  was  gravelled,  nor  could  farther  get. 

Taylor  the  Water-Poet. 

Watergall.  The  dark  rim  round 
the  eyes  after  much  weeping.  A peculiar 
appearance  in  a rainbow  which  indicates 
more  rain  at  hand.  Gall”  is  the  Saxon 
gealew  (yellow). 

And  round  about  her  tear-distrained  eye 

Blue  circles  ftreamed,  like  rainbows  in  the  sky,— 

The  watergalls..**that  foretell  new  storms. 

Shakespeare,  “ Rape  of  Lucrece.** 

Watling  Street.  A road  extending 
east  and  west  across  South  Britain.  Be- 
ginning at  Dover  it  ran  through  Canter- 
bury to  London,  and  thence  to  Cardigan. 
The  word  is  a corruption  of  Vitellina 
itrata,  the  paved  road  of  Vitellius,  called 
by  the  Britons  Guet'alin.  Poetically  the 


Milky  Way”  has  been  called  the  Wat- 
ling Street  of  the  sky. 

Watteau  (2  syl.).  A French  painter 
famous  for  his  gay  colouring,  and  high- 
life  pastoral  scenes.  He  was  made,  by 
special  favour,  “ Peintre  de  fetes  galantes 
duroi.”  (1684-1721.) 

Colours  which  would  have  delighted  Watteau  to 
paint.— iadi/  Dvffxis  Hardy,  “ Casual  Acquaintance 

Wave.  The  ninth  wave.  A notion 
prevails  that  the  waves  keep  increasing 
in  regular  series  till  the  maximum  arrives, 
and  then  the  series  begins  again.  No 
doubt  when  two  waves  coalesce  they 
form  a large  one,  but  this  does  not  occur 
at  fixed  intervals.  The  most  common 
theory  is  that  the  tenth  wave  is  the 
largest,  but  Tennyson  says  the  ninth. 

And  then  the  two 

Dropt  to  the  cove,  and  watch’d  the  great  sea  fall. 

Wave  after  wave,  each  mightier  than  the  last. 

Till  last,  a ninth  one,  gathering  half  the  deep 

A nd  full  of  voices,  slowly  rose  and  plunged 

Bearing,  and  all  the  wave  was  in  a flame. 

Tennyson,  “ The  Holy  Grail.* 

Waverley.  Mr.  Richard  Waverley., 
Brother  of  Sir  Everard. 

Captain  Edward  Waverley.  His  son. 

Sir  Everard  Waverley,  Captain  Ed» 
ward’s  uncle. 

Mistress  Rachel  Waverley.  Sir  Ever- 
ard’s sister. 

Waverley.  Captain  Edward  Waverley, 
being  gored  by  a stag,  resigned  his  com- 
mission, and  proposed  marriage  to  Flora 
Macivor,  but  his  suit  was  rejected.  Fer- 
gus, the  brother  of  Flora,  introduced  him 
to  prince  Charles  Edward,  and  Edward 
W averley  entered  the  chevalier’s  service. 
He  was  present  at  the  famous  battle  of 
Preston,  and  saved  there  the  life  of 
colonel  Talbot.  The  colonel,  in  grati- 
tude, obtained  the  young  man’s  pardon, 
and  as  his  father  was  now  dead,  he  re- 
turned to  Waverley  Honour,  married 
Rose  Bradwardine,  and  settled  down 
quietly,  as  the  hero  of  a novel  should 
do  after  he  has  won  the  prize  for  which 
he  encountered  his  adventures.  {See 
**  Waverley ; or,  ’Tis  Sixty  Years  Since,” 
a romance  by  Sir  Walter  Scott.) 

Waverley  Annals,  from  1066  to 
1291,  in  ^'Gale”  (1687). 

Wa'wa  {North- American  Indian)^ 
The  wild  goose. 

Wax  Candles  are  used  for  the 
altar  because  ^‘bees  derive  their  origin 
from  Paradise,”  and  according  to  Moslem 


WAY-BIT. 


WEATHER-EYE. 


947 


faith  will  be  one  of  the  ten  ^'damb 
animals”  which  will  be  gathered  into 
heaven.  (/S'ee  Paradise.) 

"Way-bit.  A Yorhhire  way -hit.  A 
large  overplus.  Ask  a York  shir  eman  the 
distance  of  any  place,  and  he  will  reply 
so  many  miles  and  a way-bit  {wee-bit) ; 
but  the  way-bit  will  prove  a frightful 
length  to  the  traveller  who  imagines  it 
means  only  a little  bit  over.  The  High- 
landers say,  ^^A  mile  and  a hittock,^ 
which  means  about  two  miles. 

Ways  and  Means.  A parliamen- 
tary term,  meaning  the  method  of  rais- 
ing the  supply  of  money  for  the  current 
requirements  of  the  state. 

Wayland,  the  Scandinavian  Vulcan, 
was  son  of  the  sea-giant  Wate,  and  the 
sea-nymph  Wac-hilt.  He  was  bound 
apprentice  to  Mimi  the  smith.  King 
Nidung  cut  the  sinews  of  his  feet,  and 
cast  him  into  prison,  but  he  escaped  in  a 
feather-boat.  (Anglo-Saxon,  iveallan,  to 
fabricate.) 

Wayland  Smith’s  Cave.  A crom- 
lech near  Lambourn,  Berkshire.  Scott, 
in  his  Kenilworth”  (ch.  xiii.),  says, 
**  Here  lived  a supernatural  smith,  who 
would  shoe  a traveller’s  horse  for  a ^ con- 
sideration.’ His  fee  was  sixpence,  and  if 
more  was  offered  him  he  was  offended.” 

Wayland  Wood  {Norfolk),  said  to 
be  the  scene  of  the  '‘Babes  in  the  Wood,” 
and  a corruption  of  "Wailing  Wood.” 

Wayz-goose.  An  entertainment 
given  to  journeymen.  The  word  wayz 
means  a " bundle  of  straw,”  and  wayz- 
goose  a "stubble  goose,”  the  crowning 
dish  of  the  entertainment.  {See  Bean 
Feast,  Harvest  Goose.) 

We.  Coke,  in  the  "Institutes,”  says 
the  first  king  that  wrote  we  in  his 
grants  was  king  John.  All  the  kings 
before  him  wrote  ego  (I).  This  is  not 
correct,  as  Richard  Lion-heart  adopted 
the  royal  we.  {See  Rymer’s  " Fcedera.”) 

We  Three.  Did  you  never  see  the 
picture  ojf  " We  Three  ?”  asks  Sir  Andrew 
Aguecheek — not  meaning  himself.  Sir 
Toby  Belch,  and  the  clown,  but  referring 
to  a public-house  sign  of  Two  Loggerheads, 
with  the  inscription  "We  three  logger- 
heads  be,”  the  third  being  the  spectator. 

Weap'on  Salve.  A salve  said  to 
cure  wounds  by  sympathy.  The  salve  is 
not  applied  to  the  wound,  but  to  the 


instrument  which  gave  the  wound.  The 
direction — "Bind  the  wound  and  grease 
the  nail  ” is  still  common  when  a wound 
has  been  given  by  a rusty  nail.  Sir 
Kenelm  Digby  says  the  salve  is  sympa- 
thetic, and  quotes  several  instances  to 
prove  that  "as  the  sword  is  treated  the 
wound  inflicted  by  it  feels.  Thus,  if  the 
instrument  is  kept  wet,  the  wound  will 
feel  cool ; if  held  to  the  fire,  it  will  feel 
hot &c. 

But  she  has  ta’en  the  broken  lance 
And  washed  it  from  the  clotted  gore, 

And  salved  the  splinter  o’er  and  o’er. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ MarmionJ* 

Wear.  Never  wear  the  image  of  Deity 
in  a ring.  So  Pythagoras  taught  his 
disciples,  and  Moses  directed  that  the 
Jews  should  make  no  image  of  God. 
Both  meant  to  teach  their  disciples  that 
God  is  incorporeal,  and  not  to  be  likened 
to  any  created  form.  {See  lamblichus, 
" Protreptics,  Symbol  xxiv.”) 

Never  wear  a brown  hat  in  Friesland. 
{See  Hat.) 

To  wear  the  willow.  {See  Willow.) 

To  wear  the  wooden  sword.  {See 
Wooden.) 

Weasel.  Weasels  suck  eggs.  Hence 
Shakespeare : 

The  weazel  Scot 

Comes  sneaking,  and  so  sucks  the  princely  egg. 

“ Henry  F.,”  i.  2. 

I can  suck  melancholy  out  of  a song,  as  a weazel 
sucks  eggs.— “As  You  Like  It”  ii.  5. 

To  caXch  a weasel  asleep.  To  catch  a 
person  nodding  ; to  find  he  has  not  his 
weather-eye  open.  The  French  say, 
Croire  avoir  trouve  la  pie  au  nid  (to  ex- 
pect to  find  the  pie  on  its  nest).  The 
vigilant  habits  of  these  animals  explain 
the  allusions. 

Weather-Cock.  By  a papal  enact- 
ment made  in  the  middle  of  the  ninth 
century,  the  figure  of  a cock  was  set  up 
on  every  church- steeple  as  the  emblem 
of  St.  Peter.  The  emblem  is  in  allusion 
to  his  denial  of  our  Lord  thrice  before 
the  cock  crew  twice.  On  the  second 
crowing  of  the  cock  the  warning  of  his 
Master  flashed  across  his  memory,  and 
the  repentant  apostle  " went  out  and 
wept  bitterly.” 

W eather-Eye . I have  my  weather -eye 
open.  I have  my  wits  about  me ; I know 
what  I am  after ; I can  see  a hawk  from  a 
hanser.  The  weather-eye  is  that  which 
looks  at  the  sky,  &c.,  to  forecast  the, 
weather. 


1 1 1 2 


948  WEATHER-GAGE, 

WELL-FOUNDED  DOCTOR. 

Weatlier-Gage.  To  get  the  weather- 
gage  of  a person.  To  get  the  advantage 
over  him.  A ship  is  said  to  have  the 
weather-gage  of  another  when  it  has  got 
the  windward  thereof. 

Were  the  line 

Of  Rokeby  once  combined  with  mine, 

1 gain  the  weather-gage  of  fate.  , . 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  *‘Rokeby.>* 

"Web.  The  weh  of  life.  The  destiny 
of  an  individual  from  the  cradle  to  the 
grave.  The  allusion  is  to  the  three  Fates 
who,  according  to  Eoman  mythology, 
spin  the  thread  of  life,  the  pattern  being 
the  events  which  are  to  occur. 

Wfave  the  web,  weave  the  woof. 

The  winding-sheet  of  Edward’s  race  ; 

Give  ample  room  and  verge  enough 

The  characters  of  hell  to  trace. 

Gray,  *•  The  Bard.** 

Wedding  Finger.  Macrobius  says 
the  thumb  is  too  busy  to  be  set  apart, 
the  forefinger  and  little  finger  are  only 
half  protected,  the  middle  finger  is  called 
Qned'icus,  and  is  too  opprobrious  for  the 
purpose  of  honour,  so  the  only  finger  left 
is  the  pronv!hus  or  wedding  finger.  {See 
King,  Fingers.) 

Wedding.  (1)  A Wooden  Wedding. 
The  fifth  anniversary,  celebrated  by  pre- 
sents in  wood. 

(2)  A Silver  Wedding.  The  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary. 

(3)  A Golden  Wedding.  The  fiftieth 

anniversary.  Silver  Wedding.) 

Wed  is  Anglo-Saxon,  and  means 
a pledge.  The  ring  is  the  pledge  given 
by  the  man  to  avouch  that  he  will  per- 
form his  part  of  the  contract. 

Weeping  Brides.  A notion  long 
prevailed  in  this  country  that  it  augured 
ill  for  a matrimonial  alliance  if  the  bride 
did  not  w'eep  profusely  at  the  wedding. 

As  no  witch  could  shed  more  than 
three  tears,  and  those  from  her  left  eye 
only,  a copious  flood  of  tears  gave  assur- 
ance to  the  husband  that  the  lady  had 
not  plighted  her  troth  ” to  Satan,  and 
was  no  witch. 

Weeping  Cross.  To  go  hy  Weeping 
Cross.  To  repent,  to  grieve.  In  ancient 
times  weeping  crosses  were  crosses  where 
penitents  offered  their  devotions.  In 
Stafford  there  is  a weeping  cross. 

Few  men  have  wedded..  ..their  paramours.... but 
have  come  home  by  Weeping  Cross.— F/ono,  “ Jtfon- 
taignc.’* 

Weeping  Philosopher.  Heracli'- 
tos  ; so  called  because  he  grieved  at  the 
folly  of  man.  (Flourished  B.c.  500.) 

Weerdt  {Johi  de).  A German  general 
of  great  repute,  the  terror  of  the  French 
in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIII.  His  name 
became  proverbial  in  France,  but  got 
corrupted  into  De- V ert. 

Weigh  Anchor.  Be  off,  get  you 
gone.  To  weigh  anchor  is  to  lift  it  from 
its  moorings,  so  that  the  ship  may  start 
on  her  voyage.  As  soon  as  this  is  done 
the  ship  is  under-weigh— i.e. , in  move- 
ment. (Saxon,  wcegan,  to  lift  up,  carry.) 

“ Get  off  with  you ; come,  come ! weigh  anchor.”— 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  ” The  Antiquary.'" 

Weir  {Major).  A favourite  baboon 
of  Sir  Robert  Redgauntlet.  Sir  Robert’s 
piper  went  to  the  infernal  regions  to 
obtain  the  knight’s  receipt  of  rent,  which 
had  been  paid,  but  no  receipt  could  be 
found.  The  knight  told  the  piper  that 
his  favourite  baboon  had  carried  it  off 
and  secreted  it  in  the  castle  turret. — Sir 
Walter  Scott j Redgauntlet.^^ 

Weissnichtwo(vi5-7iee^'^'yo).  I know 
not  where  ; Utopia  ; Kennaquhair  ; an 
imaginary  place  in  Carlyle’s  Sartor 
Resartus.”  {See  Utopia.) 

Welch  Main.  Same  as  a Battle 
Royal.”  Battle.) 

Welch'er.  One  who  lays  a bet,  but 
absconds  if  he  loses.  It  means  a Welch- 
man, and  is  based  upon  the  nursery 
rhyme,  Taffy  was  a Welshman,  Taffy 
was  a thief.” 

Well.  Dan  Chaucer,  well  of  English 
undefiled.  So  Geoffrey  Chaucer  is  spoken 
of  by  Spenser  in  the  “Faery  Queen,’'  iv.  2. 
(1328-1400.) 

Well  of  St.  'KejTie  {Cornivall).  The 
reputed  virtue  of  this  well  is  that  which- 
ever of  a married  pair  first  drinks  its 
waters  will  be  the  paramount  power  of 
the  house.  Southey  has  a ballad  on  the 
subject. 

Well  of  Samaria,  now  called  Na- 
bulus,  is  seventy-five  feet  deep. 

Well  of  Wisdom.  This  was  the 
well  under  the  protection  of  the  god  Mi- 
mir  {q.v.).  Odin,  by  drinking  thereof, 
became  the  wisest  of  all  beings. — Scandi- 
navian mythology. 

Well-beloved.  Charles’  VI.  of 

France,  le  Bien-aime.  (1368-1422.) 

Well-founded  Doctor,  ^gidfius 
Roma'nus,  general  of  the  August!  nians. 
(*-1316.) 

WELLER. 


WESTMORELAND. 


949 


"Weller  (Sam).  Pickwick’s  factotum. 
His  wit,  fidelity,  archness,  and  wide- 
awakedness  are  inimitable.  — Dickens, 

Pickwick  Paper sP 

Tony  Weller.  Father  of  Sam.  Type 
of  the  old  stage-coach -man ; portly  in 
size,  and.  dressed  in  a broad- brimmed 
hat,  great- coat  of  many  capes,  and  top- 
boots.  His  stage-coach  was  his  castle, 
and  elsewhere  he  was  as  green  as  a sailor 
on  terra  jirma. — Dickens,  ^-Pickwick 
Papers.” 

"Wellington.  Arthur  Wellesley,  duke 
of  Wellington,  called  The  Iron  Duke,” 
from  his  iron  constitution  and  iron  will. 
(1769-1852.) 

Wellington's  horse,  Copenhagen,  (Died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven.) 

Le  Wellington  des  Joueurs.  Lord 
Rivers  was  so  called  in  Paris. 

Le  Wellington  des  Joueurs  lost  £23,000  at  a sitting, 
beginning  at  twelve  at  night,  and  ending  at  seven  the 
fol  owing  morn  ng.— Edinburgh  Review  (J  uly.  1844). 

Wells  {Somersetshire).  So  called 
from  St.  Andrew’s  Well. 

Weno'nah.  Mother  of  Hiawa+h'a. 
Her  lover  Mudjekee'wis,  the  west  wind, 
proved  false,  and  Wenonah  died. — Long- 
fellow, ^’’Hiawatha.” 

Wer'ner  alias  Kruitznei\  alias  Count 
Siegendorf.  Being  driven  from  the  do- 
minion of  his  father,  he  wandered  about 
as  a beggar  for  twelve  years.  Count 
Stral’enheim,  being  the  next  heir,  hunted 
him  from  place  to  place;  At  length 
Stral'enheim,  travelling  through  Silesia, 
was  rescued  from  the  Oder  by  Ulric,  and 
lodged  in  an  old  palace  where  Werner 
had  been  lodging  for  some  few  days. 
W erner  robbed  Stral'enheim  of  a rouleau 
of  gold,  but  scarcely  had  he  done  so  when 
he  recognised  in  Ulric  his  lost  son,  and 
chid  him  for  saving  the  count.  Ulric 
murdered  Stral'enheim,  and  provided  for 
his  father’s  escape  to  Siegendorf  castle, 
near  Prague.  Werner  recovered  his  do- 
minion, but  found  that  his  son  was  a 
murderer,  and  imagination  is  left  to  fill 
up  the  future  fate  of  both  father  and 
son. — Byron,  erner.” 

Wer'ther.  The  sentimental  hero  of 
Goethe’s  romance  called  ‘‘The  Sorrows 
of  Werther.” 

Werwolf  or  Were- Wolf  (French, 
loup-garoiC).  A bogie  who  roams  about 
devouring  infants,  sometimes  under 


the  form  of  a wolf  followed  by  dogs, 
sometimes  as  a white  dog,  sometimes  as 
a black  goat,  and  occasionally  in  an  in- 
visible form.  Its  skin  is  bullet-proof, 
unless  the  bullet  has  been  blessed  in  a 
chapel  dedicated  to  St.  Hubert.  This 
superstition  was  once  common  to  almost 
all  Europe,  and  still  lingers  in  Brittany, 
Limousin,  and  Auvergne.  In  the  fif- 
teenth century  a council  of  theologians, 
convoked  by  the  emperor  Sigismund, 
gravely  decided  that  the  loup-garou  was 
a reality.  It  is  somewhat  curious  that 
we  say  a “ bug-bear,”  and  the  French  a 
“bug-wolf.”  (“Wer-wolf”  is  Anglo- 
Saxon  wer,  a man,  and  wolf —a  man  in  the 
semblance  of  a wolf.  “ Garou”  is  either 
wer-ou  or  war-ou,  as  in  “warlock;” 
ou  is  probably  a corruption  of  ore,  an 
ogre.) 

Ovid  tells  the  story  of  Lycaon, 
king  of  Arcadia,  turned  into  a wolf, 
because  he  tested  the  divinity  of  J upiter 
by  serving  up  to  him  a “ hash  of  human 
flesh.  ” 

Herodotos  describes  the  Neuri  as  sor- 
cerers, who  had  the  power  of  assuming 
once  a year  the  shape  of  wolves. 

Pliny  relates  that  one  of  the  family  of 
Antaeus  was  chosen  annually,  by  lot,  to 
be  transformed  into  a wolf,  in  which 
shape  he  continued  for  nine  years. 

St.  Patrick,  we  are  told,  converted 
Vereticus  king  of  Wales  into  a wolf, 

W’es'leyaii.  A follower  of  John 
Wesley;  a Methodist  of  the  Wesleyan 
section. 

Wessex,  or  West  Saxon  Kingdom, 
included  Hants,  Dorset,  Wilts,  Somerset, 
Surrey,  Gloucestershire,  and  Bucks. 

Western  {Miss  Sophi'a).  The  lady- 
love of  Tom  Jones. — Fielding,  “ Tom 
Jones.” 

Squire  Western.  A jovial  fox-hunting 
country  gentleman  of  the  olden  times. — 
Fielding,  “ Tom  Jones.” 

Westmoreland  {Land  of  the  West 
Moors').  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says  (iv. 
17)  that  Mar  or  Ma'rius,  son  of  Arvir'a- 
gus,  one  of  the  descendants  of  Brutua 
the  Trojan  wanderer,  killed  Rodric,  a 
Piet,  and  set  up  a monument  of  his  vic- 
tory in  a place  which  he  called  “West- 
mar-land,”  and  the  chronicler  adds  that 
tbe  “inscription  of  this  stone  remains  to 
this  day.”  (Saxon,  West-moring-land.) 


950 


WETHERELL. 


WHIG 


Wether  ell  {Elizabeth).  A pseudo- 
nym adopted  by  Miss  Susan  Warner,  an 
American  writer,  author  of  ^^The  Wide, 
Wide  World,”  and  other  works. 

Weyd-monat.  The  Anglo-Saxon 
name  for  June,  because  the  beasts  did 
then  weyd  in  the  meadow,  that  is  to  say, 
go  and  feed  there.” — Verstegan. 

Wf.  A printer’s  mark  to  indicate 
that  the  letter  marked  is  correct  but  of 
the  wrong  type.  W means  wrong,” 
and/ “’font.”  Font.) 

Whale.  Very  like  a whale.  Very 
much  like  a cock-and-bull  story ; a 
fudge.  Hamlet  chaffs  Polo'nius  by  com- 
paring a cloud  to  a camel,  and  then  to  a 
weasel,  and  when  the  courtier  assents 
Hamlet  adds,  “Or  like  a whale;”  to 
which  Polonius  answers,  “Very  like  a 
whale”  (iii.  2). 

Whalebone  (2  syl.).  White  as 
whalebone.  Our  forefathers  seemed  to 
confuse  the  walrus  with  the  whale  ; ivory 
was  made  from  the  teeth  of  the  walrus, 
and  “white  as  whalebone”  is  really  a 
blunder  for  “white  as  walrus-bone.” 

WharnclifFe(2syl.).  A Wharncliffe 
meeting  is  a meeting  of  the  shareholders 
of  a railway  company,  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  their  assent  to  a bill 
in  Parliament  bearing  on  the  company’s 
railway  ; so  called  from  lord  Wharn- 
cliffe, its  originator. 

Wharton.  Philip  Wharton,  duke 
of  Northumberland,  described  by  Pope 
in  the  “ Moral  Essays,”  in  the  lines 
beginning — 

Wharton,  the  scorn  and  wonder  of  our  days. 

A most  brilliant  orator,  but  so  licen- 
tious that  he  wasted  his  patrimony  in 
drunkenness  and  self-indulgence.  He 
was  outlawed  for  treason,  and  died  in  a 
wretched  condition  at  a Bernardino  con- 
vent in  Catalonia.  (1698-1731.) 

What  we  Gave  we  Have,  What 
we  spent  we  had.  What  we  'had  we  lost. 
Epita.ph  of  the  Good  Earl  of  Courtenay. 
— Gibbon,  ^‘History  of  the  Courtenay 
Family'^ 

This  is  a free  translation  of  Martial’s 
distich — 

Extra  fortnnam  est  quidqiiid  donatur  amicis 

Quas  dederis,  solas  semper  habebis  opes. 

Whately,  archbishop  of  Dublin, 


nicknamed  at  Oxford  The  White 
Bear,”  for  the  rude,  unceremonious  way 
in  which  he  would  trample  upon  an  ad- 
versary in  argument.  (1787-1863.) 

Wheal  or  Huel  means  a tin- mine 
{Cornwall). 

Wheel.  Emblematical  of  St.  Catha- 
rine, who  was  put  to  death  on  a wheel 
somewhat  resembling  a chaff-cutter. 

St.  Dona'tus  bears  a wheel  set  round 
with  lights. 

St.  Euphe'mia  and  St.  Willigis  both 
carry  wheels. 

St.  Quintin  is  sometimes  represented 
with  a broken  wheel  at  his  feet. 

Whelps.  Fifth- rate  men  of  war. 
Thus,  in  Howell’s  letters  we  read,  “At 
the  return  of  this  fleet  two  of  the  whelps 
were  cast  away  and  in  the  Travels  of 
Sir  W.  Brereton  we  read,  “I  went  aboard 
one  of  the  king’s  ships,  called  the  ninth 
whelp,  which  is  . : . . . . 215  ton  and 
tonnage  in  king’s  books.”  In  queen 
Elizabeth’s  navy  was  a ship  called  Lion's 
Whelp,  and  her  navy  was  distinguished 
as  first,  second  . . . tenth  whelp. 

Whetstone.  {See  Accius  Navius.) 

Whig  is  from  Whiggarn-more,  a cor- 
ruption of  Ugham-more  (pack-saddle 
thieves),  from  the  Celtic  ugham  (a  pack- 
saddle).  The  Scotch  freebooters  were 
called  pack-saddle  thieves,  from  the 
pack-saddles  which  they  used  to  employ 
for  the  stowage  of  plunder.  The  mar- 
quis of  Argyle  collected  a band  of  these 
vagabonds,  and  instigated  them  to  aid 
him  in  opposing  certain  government 
measures  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  and 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  all  who  op- 
posed government  were  called  the  ArgyU 
whiggamors,  contracted  into  whigs.  {^ee 
Tory.) 

The  south-west  counties  of  Scotland  have  seldom 
corn  enough  to  serve  them  all  the  year  round,  and 
the  northern  parts  producing  more  than  they  used, 
those  in  the  west  went  in  summer  to  buy  at  Leith 
the  stores  that  came  from  the  north.  From  the  word 
whiggam,  used  in  driving  their  horses,  all  that  drove 
were  called  the  whiggamors,  contracted  into  whigs. 
Now  in  the  year  before  the  news  came  down  of  duke 
Hamilton’s  defeat,  the  ministers  animated  the  r 
people  to  rise  and  march  to  Edinburgh ; and  they 
came  up,  marching  on  the  head  of  their  parishes, 
■with  an  unheard-of  fury,  praying  and  preaching  all 
the  way  as  they  came.  The  marquis  of  Argyle  and 
his  party  came  and  headed  ihem,  they  being  about 
6,000.  This  was  called  the  Whiggamors’  Inroad ; ’ 
and  ever  after  that,  all  who  opposed  the  court  came 
in  contempt  to  be  called  whigs.  From  Scotland  the 
word  was  brought  into  England,  where  it  is  now 
one  of  our  unhappy  terms  of  disunion.— 
Burnet,  “ Own  Times.* 


WHIGISM. 


WHITE. 


951 


Whiglsm.  The  political  tenets  of 
the  whigs,  which  may  be  broadly  stated 
to  be  political  and  religious  liberty. 
Certainly  bishop  Burnet’s  assertion  that 
they  are  opposed  to  the  court”  may  or 
may  not  be  true.  In  the  reigns  of 
Charles  IT.  and  his  brother  James,  no 
doubt  they  were  opposed  to  the  court, 
but  it  was  far  otherwise  in  the  reign  of 
William  III.,  George  I.,  &c.,  when  the 
tories  were  the  anti-court  party. 

"Whip.  He  whipped  round  the  corner 
—ran  round  it  quickly.  (Dutch,  wippen; 
Welsh,  chwijpwioy  to  whip  ; chwipy  a quick 
flirt,  a flip. 

He  whipped  it  up  in  a minute.  The 
allusion  is  the  hoisting  machine  called 
a whip — i.e.y  a rope  passed  through  a 
single  block  or  pulley,  and  attached  to 
the  yard-arm. 

Whip'pers-in  (of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons). Those  who  hunt  up  the  mem- 
bers on  special  votes.  In  fox-hunting 
the  whippers-in  urge  on  the  lagging 
hounds. 

Wliipping  Boy.  A boy  kept  to  be 
whipped  when  a prince  deserved  chastise- 
ment. Mungo  Murray  stood  for  Charles 
I.  Barnaby  Fitzpatrick,  Edward  VI.’s 
whipping  boy,  is  mentioned  by  Fuller 
('^Church  History,”  ii.  342).  D’Ossat 
and  Du  Perron,  afterwards  cardinals, 
were  whipped  by  Clement  VIII.  for 
Henri  IV. 

Whis'kers.  A security  for  money. 
John  de  Castro  of  Portugal,  having  cap- 
tured the  castle  of  Diu,  in  India,  bor- 
rowed of  the  inhabitants  of  Goa  1,000 
pistoles  for  the  maintenance  of  his  fleet, 
and  gave  one  of  his  whiskers  as  security 
of  payment,  saying,  ‘^All  the  gold  in 
the  world  cannot  equal  the  value  of  this 
natural  ornament,  which  I deposit  in 
your  hands.” 

Whis'key.  Contracted  from  the 
Gaelic  ooshh-a-pai  (water  of  health). 
Usquebaugh,  Irish  uisge- a-hagh  (water  of 
life)  f eau  de  vie,  French  (water  of  life). 

L.L.  whiskey  is  Lord  Lieutenant  whis- 
key. The  duke  of  Richmond,  who  was 
lord  lieutenant  in  1807,  was  a great  hu- 
morist and  hon  vivant.  One  day  he 
sent  to  Kinahan  and  Co.  for  samples  of 
their  whiskey,  and  having  made  his 
choice  requested  that  the  vat  should  be 
reserved  for  his  use.  Accordingly  it  was 
marked  with  L.L.  (lord  lieutenant),  and 


the  same  quality  of  whiskey  has  ever 
since  retained  the  name. 

Whist.  Cotton  says  that  the  game 
is  so  called  from  the  silence  that  is  to  bo 
observed  in  the  play.”  Dr.  Johnson  has 
adopted  this  derivation,  but  Taylor  the 
Water-poet  called  the  game  Whish,  to 
the  great  discomfiture  of  this  etymology. 

Whistle.  You  may  whistle  for  that. 
You  must  not  expect  ik  The  reference 
is  to  sailors’  whistling  for  the  wind. 

They  call  the  winds,  but  will  they 
come  when  they  are  called?” 

Only  a little  hour  a70 
I was  whistling  to  St.  Antonio 
For  a capful  of  wind  to  fill  our  sail, 

And  instead  of  a breeze  he  has  sent  a gale. 

Longfellow^  “ Golden  Legend  ” v. 

Worth  the  whistle.  Worth  calling ; 
worth  inviting  ; worth  notice.  The  dog 
is  worth  the  pains  of  whistling  for.  Thus 
Heywood,  in  one  of  his  dialogues  con- 
sisting entirely  of  proverbs,  says,  It  is 
a poor  dog  that  is  not  worth  the  whist- 
ling.” Goneril  says  to  Albany — 

I have  been  worth  the  whistle. 

Shakespeare,  “ Kifig  Learp  iv.  2. 

You  must  lohistle  for  more.  In  the  old 
whistle-tankards,  the  whistle  comes  into 
play  when  the  tankard  is  empty,  to  an- 
nounce to  the  drawer  that  more  liquor  is 
wanted.  Hence  the  expression,  if  a per- 
son wants  liquor  he  must  whistle  for  it. 

You  paid  too  dearly  for  your  whistle. 
You  paid  dearly  for  something  you  fan- 
cied, but  found  that  it  did  not  answer 
your  expectation.  The  allusion  is  to  a 
story  told  by  Dr.  Franklin  of  his  nephew, 
who  set  his  mind  on  a common  whistle, 
which  he  bought  of  a boy  for  four  times 
its  value.  Franklin  says  the  ambitious 
who  dance  attendance  on  court,  the 
miser  who  gives  this  world  and  the  next 
for  gold,  the  libbrtine  who  ruins  his 
health  for  pleasure,  the  girl  who  marries 
a brute  for  money,  all  pay  ^‘ioo  much 
for  their  whistle.” 

To  wet  onds  whistle.  To  take  a drink. 
Whistle  means  a pipe  (Latin,  fistula  \ 
Saxon,  hwistle),  hence  the  wind-pipe. 

So  was  hir  jolv  whistal  well  y-wefc. 

Chaucer,'-^ Canterbury  TalesJ* 

Whistle  for  the  Wind.  {See  Cap- 
full.) 

What  gales  are  sold  on  Lapland's  shore  I 
How  whistle  rash  bids  tempests  roar  I 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  "•RokehyPH.  11. 

White  denotes  purity,  simplicity,  and 
candour ; innocence,  truth,  and  hope. 

The  ancient  Druids,  the  priests  of 


952  WHITE  BRETHREN. 


WHITE  LADIES. 


Jupiter,  and  indeed  the  priests  generally 
of  antiquity,  used  to  wear  white  vest- 
ments, as  do  the  clergy  of  the  Established 
Church  of  England  when  they  officiate 
in  any  sacred  service.  The  magi  also 
wore  white  robes. 

The  head  of  Osiris,  in  Egypt,  was 
adorned  with  a white  tiara. 

The  victims  offered  to  Jupiter  were 
white;  white  horses  were  sacrificed  to 
the  sun,  white  oxen  were  selected  for 
sacrifice  by  the  Druids,  and  white  ele- 
phants are  held  sacred  in  Siam. 

^ To  prove  hlach’s  white.  To  prove 
anything,  no  matter  how  absurd.  The 
original  meaning  of  black  was  white  or 
wan,  preserved  in  the  word  bleach.  Wan 
is  the  same  as  waney  and  means  deficient 
in  colour ; and  this  synonym  gives  the 
key  to  the  word  black  as  a negative 
term.  (Saxon,  hlac,  pale,  white ; Swedish, 
blek,  bleached;  Danish,  bleg,  pale;  Greek, 
hlax,  pale,  delicate.) 

^ Knight  of  the  White  Moon.  Sampson 
Carrasco  assumed  this  character  and 
device,  in  order  to  induce  Don  Quixote 
to  abandon  knight-errantry  and  return 
home.  He  challenged  the  knight  to 
single  combat,  and  the  condition  was, 
that  if  the  Man'chegan  lunatic  was  over- 
thrown he  should  return  home,  and 
abandon  for  twelve  months  the  profes- 
sion of  chivalry.  Carrasco  was  the  victor, 
and  the  occupation  of  Don  Quixote  being 
taken  from  him,  he  lingered  a little 
while  and  then  died. — Cervantes j ^‘Don 
Quixote^'  pt.  II.,  bk.  iv.  12,  &c. 

White  Brethren  or  White-clad 
Brethren.  A sect  in  the  beginning  of  the 
fifteenth  century.  Mosheim  says  (bk.  ii., 
p.  2,  ch.  5)  a certain  priest  came  from 
the  Alps,  clad  in  white,  with  an  immense 
concourse  of  followers  all  dressed  in 
white  linen  also.  They  marched  through 
several  provinces,  following  a cross 
borne  by  their  leader.  Boniface  X.  or- 
dered their  leader  to  be  burnt,  and  the 
multitude  dispersed. 

White  Caps.  A rebellious  party  of 
zealous  Mahometans,  put  down  by  Kien- 
long,  the  Chinese  emperor,  in  1758. 

White  Cockade.  The  badge  worn 
by  the  followers  of  Charles  Edward,  the 
Pretender. 

White  Elephant.  King  of  the 
White  Elephant.  The  proudest  title 
borne  by  the  kings  of  Ava  and  Siam. 
In  Ava  the  white  elephant  bears  the 


title  of  'Hord,”  and  has  a minister  of 
high  rank  to  superintend  his  household. 

To  have  a white  elephant  to  keep.  To- 
have  an  expensive  and  unprofitable  dig- 
nity to  support,  or  pet  article  to  take 
care  of.  For  example,  a person  moving 
is  determined  to  keep  a pet  carpet,  and 
therefore  hires  his  house  to  fit  his  carpet. 
The  king  of  Siam  makes  a present  of  a 
white  elephant  to  such  of  his  courtiers  as- 
he  wislies  to  ruin. 

White  Feather.  To  shoio  the  white 
feather.  To  show  cowardice.  No  game- 
cock has  a white  feather.  A white  fea- 
ther indicates  a cross-breed  in  birds. 

Showing  the  white  feather.  Some  years 
ago  a bloody  war  was  raging  between 
the  Indians  and  settlers  of  the  back- 
woods  of  North  America.  A Quaker, 
who  refused  to  fly,  saw  one  day  a horde 
of  savages  rushing  down  towards  his 
house.  He  set  food  before  them,  and 
when  thej^  had  eaten  the  chief  fastened! 
a white  feather  over  the  door  as  a badge 
of  friendship  and  peace.  Though  many 
bands  passed  that  house,  none  ever  vio- 
lated the  covenant  by  injuring  its  in- 
mates or  property. 

White  Friars.  The  Carmelites ; so- 
called  because  they  dressed  in  white. 

Whitefriars,  London;  so  called  from 
a monastery  of  White  Friars  which  for- 
merly stood  in  Water  Lane. 

Whitefriars.  A novel,  by  Emma 
Robinson. 

White  Horse  of  Wantage  (Berk- 
shire)i  cut  in  the  chalk  hills.  This  horse 
commemorates  a great  victory  gained  by 
Alfred  over  the  Danes,  in  the  reign  of 
his  brother  Ethelred  I.  The  battle  is 
called  the  battle  of  ^scesdun  (Ashtree- 
hill).  The  horse  is  374  feet  long,  and 
may  be  seen  at  the  distance  of  fifteen 
miles. — Dr.  Wise. 

An  annual  ceremony  was  once  held, 
called  “ Scouring  the  White  Horse,” 

White  House.  The  presidential 
mansion  in  the  United  States.  It  is  a 
building  of  freestone,  painted  white,  at 
Washington.  (/See  Whitehall.) 

White  Ladies  (Les  Dames  Blanches)^ 
A species  of  fee  in  Normandy.  They 
lurk  in  ravines,  fords,  bridges,  and  other 
narrow  passes,  and  ask  the  passenger  to 
dance.  If  they  receive  a courteous  an- 
swer, well ; but  if  a refusal,  they  seize 
the  churl  and  fiing  him  into  a ditch,. 


WHITE  ROSE. 


WHITEBAIT  DINNER.  953 


•where  thorns  and  briars  may  serve  to 
teach  him  gentleness  of  manners.  The 
most  famous  of  these  ladies  is  ‘ ^ La  dame 
d’Aprigny,”  who  used  to  occupy  the  site 
of  the  present  Rue  St.  Quentin,  at 
Bayeux,  and  ^^La  dame  Abonde.”  ^‘Vo- 
cant  dom'inam  Ahuii'diam  pro  eo  quod 
dom'ibus,quas  frequentant,  abundan'tiam 
bono'rum  temporadium  prsesta're  putan- 
tur  non  al'iter  tibi  sentiendum  est  neque 
aTiter  quam  quemad'modum  de  illis  audi- 
visti.”  — William  of  Auvergne  (1248). 
{See  Berchta.) 

One  kind  of  these  the  Italians  FaU  name ; 

The  French  call  Fee ; we  Sybils ; and  the  same 
Others  White  Barnes,  and  those  that  them  have  seen 
Night  Ladies  some,  of  which  Habundia’s  queen. 

Hierarchie”  viii.,  p.  507. 

White  Lady  of  German  legend.  A 
being  dressed  in  white,  who  appeared 
at  the  castle  of  German  princes,  &c., 
when  any  important  event  was  about  to 
take  place.  She  is  said  to  carry  a bunch 
of  keys  at  her  side,  and  to  sit  watch- 
ing over  children  when  their  nurses  lie 
asleep.  The  first  instance  of  this  appa- 
rition occurs  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
and  the  name  given  to  the  lady  is  Bertha 
of  Rosenberg  (in  Bohemia). 

The  White  Lady.,  The  legend  says 
that  Bertha  promised  the  workmen  of 
Neuhaus  a sweet  soup  and  carp  on  the 
completion  of  the  castle.  In  remem- 
brance thereof,  these  dainties  are  given 
to  the  poor  of  Bohemia  on  Maundy 
Thursday. 

The  most  celebrated  in  Britain  is  the 
White  Lady  of  Avenel'j  the  creation  of 
Sir  Walter  Scott. 

The  White  Lady  of  Ireland.  The 
Benshie  {q.v.). 

White  Rose.  The  House  of  York, 
whose  emblem  it  was. 

White  Rose  of  England,  So  Perkin 
Warbeck  or  Osbeck  was  always  addressed 
by  Margaret  of  Burgundy,  sister  of  Ed- 
ward IV. 

The  White  Rose  of  Rahy.  Cecily,  wife 
of  Richard  duke  of  York,  and  mother  of 
Edward  IV.  and  Richard  III.  She  was 
the  youngest  of  twenty-one  children. 

White  Sheep  {Ah-lcoin-loo).  A tribe 
of  Turkomans,  so  called  from  their 
standards.  The  Sophive'an  dynasty  of 
Persia  was  founded  by  one  of  this  tribe. 

White  Squall.  One  which  pro- 
duces no  diminution  of  light,  in  contra- 
distinction to  a hlach  squall,  in  which  the 
clouds  are  black  and  heavy. 


W hite  Stone.  Lays  marhed  with  a 
white  stone.  Days  of  pleasure;  days  to^ 
be  remembered  with  gratification.  The 
Romans  used  a white  stone-  or  piece  of 
chalk  to  mark  their  lucky  days  with  on.< 
the  calendar.  Those  that  were  unlucky 
they  marked  with  black  charcoal.  {See 
Red-letter  Day.) 

White  Surrey.  The  horse  of  Rich-- 
ard  III. 

Saddle  White  Surrey  for  the  field. 

Shakespeare,  Richard  3. 

^ White  Tincture.  That  prepara- 
tion which  the  alchemists  believed  would 
convert  any  baser  metal  into  silver.  It 
is  also  called  the  Stone  of  the  Second' 
Order,  the  Little  Elixir,  and  the  Little 
Magisterium.  {See  Red  Tincture.) 

WhiteWater-lotus  {Pe-Uen-haou). 
A secret  society  which  greatly  disturbed: 
the  empire  of  China  in  t^he  reign  of  Kea- 
King.  (1796-1820.) 

White  Widow.  The  duchess  of 
Tyrconnel,  wife  of  Richard  Talbot,  lord- 
deputy  of  Ireland  under  James  IT., 
created  duke  of  Tyrconnel  a little  before 
the  king’s  abdication.  After  the  death 
of  Talbot,  a female,  supposed  to  be  his 
duchess,  supported  herself  for  a few 
days  by  her  needle.  She  wore  a white 
mask  and  dressed  in  white. — Pennant, 
^‘London’*  p.  147. 

Whitebait  Dinner.  The  minis- 
terial dinner  that  announces  the  near- 
close of  the  parliamentary  session.  Sir 
Robert  Preston,  M.P.  for  Dover,  first  in- 
vited his  friend  George  Rose  (secretary 
of  the  Treasury)  and  an  elder  brother  of' 
the  Trinity  House  to  dine  with  him  at 
his  fishing  cottage,  on  the  banks  of 
Dagenham  lake.  This  was  at  the  close 
of  the  session.  Rose  on  one  occasion 
proposed  that  Mr.  Pitt,  their  mutual 
friend,  should  be  asked  to  join  them ; 
this  was  done,  and  Pitt  promised  to  re- 
peat his  visit  the  year  following,  when, 
other  members  swelled  the  party.  This^ 
went  on  for  several  years,  when  Pitt 
suggested  that  the  muster  should  be  in. 
future  nearer  town,  and  Greenwich  was 
selected.  Lord  Camden  next  advised 
that  each  man  should  pay  his  quota. 
The  dinner  became  an  annual  feast,  andi 
is  now  a matter  of  course.  The  time  of 
meeting  is  Trinity  Monday,  or  as  near 
Trinity  Monday  as  circumstances  wilL 
allow,  and  therefore  is  near  the  close  of 
the  session. 


954 


WHITEBOYS, 


WIDOW  BIRD, 


Whiteboys.  A secret  agrarian  asso- 
ciation organised  in  Ireland  about  the 
year  1759  ; so  called  because  they  wore 
white  shirts  in  their  nightly  expeditions. 
In  1787  a new  association  appeared,  the 
members  of  which  called  themselves 

Right-boys.”  The  Whiteboys  were 
originally  called  Levellers,”  from  their 
throwing  down  fences  and  levelling  en- 
closures. {See  Levellers.) 

Wliiteliall  (London)  obtained  its 
.name  from  the  white  and  fresh  appear- 
ance of  the  front,  compared  with  the 
ancient  buildings  in  York  Place, — Bray- 
ley,  ‘‘Londoniana'’  White  House.) 

Wliitewashed.  Said  of  a person 
who  has  taken  the  benefit  of  the  Insol- 
vent Act.  He  went  to  prison  covered 
with  debts  and  soiled  with  dirty  ways:” 
he  comes  out  with  a clean  bill  to  begin 
the  contest  of  life  afresh. 

Whitsunday.  White  Sunday.  In 
the  primitive  church,  the  newly-baptised 
wore  white  from  Easter  to  Pentecost,  and 
were  called  alba'ti  (white-robed).  The 
last  of  the  Sundays,  which  was  also  the 
chief  festival,  was  called  emphatically 
Domin'ica  in  Alhis  (Sunday  in  White). 

A correspondent  in  Notes  and  Queries 
offers  a very  clever  suggestion  : As  the 
word  was  originally  written  Wit-Sonday 
or  Wite-Soneday , the  etymology  is  pro- 
bably Wit-Sunday—i.e,, Sunday, 
the  day  when  the  Apostles  were  filled 
with  wisdom  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Whittle  Down.  To  cut  away  with 
^ knife  or  whittle ; to  reduce ; to  en- 
croach. In  Cumberland,  underpaid 
schoolmasters  are  allowed  Whittle-gait — 
e.e.,  the  privilege  of  knife  and  fork  at 
the  table  of  those  who  employ  them. 

The  Americans  ^‘whittled  down  the 
royal  throne  ;”  whittled  out  a common- 
wealth ; ” whittle  down  the  forest 
trees;”  whittle  out  a railroad;” 

whittle  down  to  the  thin  end  of  no- 
thing.” (Saxon,  hwytel,  a large  knife.) 

We  have  whittled  down  our  loss  extremely,  and 
will  not  allow  a man  more  than  350  English  slain 
out  of  Afim— Walpole. 

Whole  Duty  of  Man.  Tenison, 
bishop  of  Lincoln,  says  the  author  was 
Dr.  Chaplin,  of  University  College,  Ox- 
ford.— Evelyn^  Diary d' 

Thomas  Hearne  ascribes  the  author- 
ship to  archbishop  Sancroft. 

Some  think  Dr.  Hawkins,  who  wrote 
the  introduction,  was  the  author. 


The  following  names  have  also  been 
suggested  Lady  Packington  (assisted 
by  Dr.  Fell),  archbishop  Sterne,  arch- 
bishop Woodhead,  William  Fulman, 
archbishop  Frewen  (president  of  Mag- 
dalen College,  Oxford),  and  others. 

Whom  the  Gods  Love  Die 
Young  (Herodotos).  Cited  in  ‘‘Don 
Juan,”  canto  iv.  12  (death  of  Haidee). 

Wicked  (2  syl.),  in  connection  with 
wicJc,  like  the  French  mediant  with 
meche.  This  seems  to  be  an  ecclesias- 
tical allusion.  The  good  are  the  lights 
of  the  earth,”  the  evil  are  smouldering 
wicks.  We  read  two  or  three  times  in 
the  Bible  that  the  candle  of  the  wicked 
shall  be  put  out.”  (French,  mocker,  to 
smoke  with  brimstone.  Wick”  is  the 
Saxon  iveoce,  a reed.  See  Ps.  i. ; compare 
Isa.  xlii.  3.) 

Wicked  Bible.  (See  Bible.) 

Wicket-gate.  The  entrance  to  the 
road  that  leadeth  to  the  Celestial  City. 
Over  the  portal  is  the  inscription  — 
''Knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
YOU.” — Bunyan,  ^^Pilgrim^s  Progress.” 

Wicliffe  (John),  called  "The  morn- 
ing star  of  the  Reformation.”  (1324- 
1384.) 

Wide'nostrils  (3  syl.;  French,  Brin- 
guenarilles).  A huge  giant,  who  subsisted 
on  windmills,  and  lived  in  the  island  of 
Tohu.  When  Pantagruel  and  his  fleet 
reached  this  island,  no  food  could  be 
cooked  because  Widenostrils  had  swal- 
lowed "every  individual  pan,  skillet, 
kettle,  frying-pan,  dripping-pan,  boiler, 
and  saucepan  in  the  land,”  and  died 
from  eating  a lump  of  butter.  Tohu 
and  Bohu,  two  contiguous  islands  (in 
Hebrew,  toil  and  confasion),  mean  lands 
laid  waste  by  war.  The  giant  had  eaten 
everything,  so  that  there  " was  nothing 
to  fry  with,”  as  the  French  say — i.e.^ 
nothing  left  to  live  upon. 

Widow  (in  " Hudibras  ”).  The  relict 
of  Aminidab  Wilmer  or  Willmot,  an  In- 
dependent, slain  at  Edgehill.  She  had 
£200  left  her.  Sir  Hudibras  fell  in  love 
with  her. 

Widow  Bird,  a corruption  of  Why- 
daw  Bird ; so  called  from  the  country 
of  Why  daw  in  Western  .Africa.  Tho 
blunder  is  perpetuated  in  the  scientific 
name  given  to  the  genus,  which  is  tho 
Latin  Vid'ua^  a widow. 


WIDOW  BLACKACRE. 


WILD. 


955 


Widow  Blackacre.  A perverse, 
bustling,  masculine,  pettifogging,  liti- 
gious woman. — Wycherley^  The  Plain 
Dealer” 

Widows’  Caps*  This  was  a Reman 
custom.  Widows  were  obliged  to  wear 

weeds  ” for  ten  months.  — Seneca, 

Epistles,”  Ixv. 

Widows’  Pianos.  Inferior  instru- 
ments sold  as  bargains;  so  called  from 
the  ordinary  advertisement  announcing 
that  a widow  lady  is  compelled  to  sell 
her  piano,  for  which  she  will  take  half- 
price. 

Widow’s  Port.  A wine  sold  for 
port,  but  of  quite  a different  family. 
As  a widow  retains  her  husband’s  name 
after  the  husband  is  taken  away,  so  this 
mixture  of  potato-spirit  and  some  in- 
ferior wine  retains  the  name  of  port, 
though  every  drop  of  port  is  taken 
from  it. 

We  have  all  heard  of  widow’s  port,  and  of  the  in- 
stinctive dread  all  persons  who  have  any  respect  for 
their  health  have  for  it.— TAe  Times. 

Wieland  (2  syl.).  The  famous  smith 
of  Scandinavian  fable.  He  and  Amilias 
had  a contest  of  skill  in  their  handi- 
craft. Wieland’ s sword  cleft  his  rival 
down  to  the  waist ; but  so  sharp  was  the 
sword,  that  Amilias  was  not  aware  of 
the  cut  till  he  attempted  to  stir,  when 
he  divided  into  two  pieces.  This  sword 
was  named  Balmung. 

Wife  is  from  the  verb  to  weave. 
Saxon,  wefan;  Danish,  voeve;  German, 
u'elen',  whence  weih,  a woman,  one  who 
works  at  the  distaff.  Woman  is  called 
the  distaf.  Hence  Dryden  calls  Anne 

a distaff  on  the  throne.”  While  a girl 
was  spinning  her  wedding  clothes  she 
was  simply  a spinster ; but  when  this 
task  was  done,  and  she  was  married,  she 
became  a wife,  or  one  who  had  already 
woven  her  allotted  task. 

Alfred,  in  his  will,  speaks  of  his  male 
and  female  descendants  as  those  of  the 
spear-side  and  those  of  the  spindle-side, 
a distinction  still  observed  by  the  Ger- 
mans ; and  hence  the  effigies  on  graves 
of  spears  and  spindles. 

Wig.  Latin  pilucca,  a head  of  hair  ; 
Italian perritccu,  French  perruqy^e,  whence 
periwig,  contracted  into  ’wig. 

A hig  wig.  A magnate.  Louis  XIV. 
had  long  flowing  hair,  and  the  courtiers. 


out  of  compliment  to  the  young  king, 
wore  perukes.  When  Louis  grew  older 
he  adopted  the  wig,  which  soon  incum- 
bered the  head  and  shoulders  of  all  the 
aristocracy  of  England  and  France. 

An  ye  fa’  over  the  cleugh,  there  will  be  but  ae 
wig  left  in  the  parish,  and  that’s  the  minister’s.— 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  “ The  Antiquary." 

Make  Wigs.  A perukier,  who  fancied 
himself  married  to  immortal  verse,” 
sent  his  epic  to  Voltaire,  asking  him  to 
examine  it  and  give  his  candid  opinion  ” 
of  its  merits.  The  witty  patriarch  of 
Ferney  simply  wrote  on  the  MS.,  Make 
Wigs,  Make  Wigs,  Make  Wigs,”  and 
returned  it  to  the  barber-poet.  (See 
SuTOR— to  the  Cow.) 

Wiga  (Saxon  ‘^warrior;”  wig,  war). 
This  word  enters  into  many  names  of 
places,  as  Wigan  in  Lancashire,  where 
Arthur  is  said  to  have  routed  the  Saxons. 

Wiglit  (Isle  of)  means  probably 
channel  island  (Celtic,  gwy,  water;  givyth, 
the  channel).  The  inhabitants  used  to  be 
called  Uuhtii  or  Gwythii,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  channel  isle. 

Another  derivation  is  Jute  (a  preda- 
cious warrior),  whence  the  island  was 
once  called  Ytaland  or  Gytaland,  the 
land  of  the  Ytas,  Gytas,  or  Jutes ; but 
Yta  and  Gyta  are  merely  other  forms  of 
gwyiha. 

Isle  of  Wight,  according  to  the  famous 
'^Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,”  is  so  called 
from  Wihtgar,  great  grandson  of  king 
Cerdic,  who  conquered  the  island.  All 
eponymic  names — that  is,  names  of  per- 
sons, like  the  names  of  places,  are  more 
fit  for  fable  than  history  : as  Cissa  to 
account  for  Cissanceaster  (Chichester), 
Horsa  to  account  for  Horsted,  Hengist  to 
account  for  Hengistbury,  Brutus  to  ac- 
count for  Britain,  and  so  on. 

’Wig'wam''.  An  Indian  hut  (America). 
The  Knisteneaux  word  is  wigimum,  and 
the  Algonquin  wiguiwaum. 

"Wild  (Jonathan),  the  detective,  born 
at  Wolverhampton,  in  Staffordshire. 
He  brought  to  the  gallows  thirty-five 
highwaymen,  twenty-two  housebreakers, 
and  ten  returned  convicts.  He  was  him- 
self hanged  at  Tyburn  for  housebreaking 
"amidst  the  execrations  of  an  enraged 
populace,  who  pelted  him  with  stones  to 
the  last  moment  of  his  existence.”  (1682- 
1725.)  Fielding  has  a novel  entitled 
"Jonathan  Wild.” 


956  WILD  AS  A MARCH  HARE. 


WILE  AWAY  TIME. 


Wild  as  a March  Hare.  The 
hare  in  spring,  after  one  or  two  rings, 
will  often  run  straight  on  end  for  several 
miles.  This  is  especially  the  case  with 
the  buck,  which  therefore  affords  the 
best  sport. 

Wild  Boar  of  Ardennes.  William 
de  laMarck. — Sir  Walter  Scott j Quentin 
Durivard.^^ 

Wild  Boar.  An  emblem  of  warlike 
fury  and  merciless  brutality. 

Wild  Boy  of  Hameln  or  Man 
of  Nature,  found  in  the  forest  of  Herts- 
wold,  Hanover.  He  walked  on  all  fours,, 
climbed  trees  like  a monkey,  fed  on 
grass  and  leaves,  and  could  never  be 
taught  to  articulate  a single  word.  Dr. 
Arbuthnot  and  lord  MonUoddo  sanctioned 
the  notion  that  this  poor  boy  was  really 
an  unsophisticated  specimen  of  the  genus 
homo ; but  Blumenbach  showed  most 
conclusively  that  he  was  born  dumb,  of 
weak  intellect,  and  was  driven  from  his 
home  by  a stepmother.  He  was  dis- 
covered in  1725  ; was  called  Peter  the 
Wild  Boy;  and  died  at  Broadway  Farm, 
near  Berkhampstead,  in  1786  (at  the 
supposed  age  of  seventy- three). 

Wild  Children. 

(1)  Peter  the  Wild  Boy.  {See  above.) 

(2)  Mdlle.  Lablanc,  found  by  the  vil- 
lagers of  Soigny,  near  Chalons,  in  1731 ; 
she  died  at  Paris  in  178,0  (at  the  sup- 
posed age  of  sixty- two). 

(3)  A child  captured  by  three  sports- 
men in  the  woods  of  Cannes  (France)  in 
1798.  {See  World  of  Wonders,”  pt.  ix., 
p.  61,  Correspondence.) 

Wild-goose  Chase.  A hunt  after 
a mare’s-nest.  This  chase  has  two  de- 
fects : First,  it  is  very  hard  to  catch  the 
goose;  and,  secondly,  it  is  of  very  little 
worth  when  it  is  caught. 

To  lead  one  a wild-goose  chase.  To  be- 
guile one  with  false  hopes,  or  put  one  on 
the  pursuit  of  something  not  practicable, 
or  at  any  rate  not  worth  the  chase. 

Wild  Huntsman. 

The  German  tradition  is  that  a spec- 
tral hunter  with  dogs  frequents  the  Black 
Forest  to  chase  the  wild  animals.— 
Walter  Scott,  'Wild  Huntsman.” 

The  French  story  of  Le  Grand 
Veneur”  is  laid  in  Fontainebleau  Forest, 
and  is  considered  to  be  St.  Hubert.” — 
Father  M atthieu, 

The  English  name  is  Herne  the 


Hunter,”  who  was  once  a keeper  in  Wind- 
sor Forest.  In  winter  time,  at  midnight, 
he  walks  about  Herne’s  Oak,  and  blasts 
trees  and  cattle.  He  wears  horns,  and 
rattles  a chain  in  a most  hideous  man- 
ner.”— ‘^Merry  Wives  of  Windsor,”  iv.  4. 

The  Scotch  lay  a phantom  chase  in 

Albania.” 

Wild  Man  of  the  Forest.  Orson, 
brother  of  Valentine  and  nephew  of  king 
Pepin. — Valentine  and  Orson.”  {See 
Orson.) 

Wild  Oats.  He  is  sowing  his  wild 
oats  — indulging  the  buoyant  folly  of 
youth ; living  in  youthful  dissipation. 
The  idea  is  that  the  mind  is  a field  of 
good  oats,  but  these  pranks  are  wild  oat» 
or  weeds  sown  amongst  the  good  seed, 
choking  it  for  a time,  and  about  to  die 
out  and  give  place  to  genuine  corn. 
The  corresponding  French  phrase  is  Jeter 
ses  premiers  feux,  which  reminds  us  of 
Cicero’s  expression,  Nondum  illi  deferbuit 
alolescentia.  {See  Oats.) 

Wild  Women  ( Wilde  Frauen)  of 
Germany  resemble  the  Elle-maids  of 
Scandinavia.  Like  them,  they  are  very 
beautiful,  have  long  flowing  hair,  and 
live  in  hills.  {See  Wunderberg.) 

Wild'air  {Sir  Harry).  A profligate 
in  Farquhar’s  Constant  Couple.” 

Wilde.  A John  or  Johnny  Wilde  is 
one  who  wears  himself  to  skin  and  bone 
to  add  house  to  house  and  barn  to  barn. 
The  tale  is  that  John  Wilde  of  Roden- 
kirchen,  in  the  Isle  of  Rligen,  found  one 
day  a glass  slipper  belonging  to  one  of 
the  hill-folks.  Next  day  the  little 
brownie,  in  the  character  of  a merchant, 
came  to  redeem  it,  and  John  asked  as 
the  price  '‘that  he  should  find  a gold 
ducat  in  every  furrow  he  ploughed.”  The 
bargain  was  concluded,  and  the  avari- 
cious hunks  never  ceased  ploughing 
morning,  noon,  nor  night,  but  died 
within  twelve  months  from  over- work. — 
Hugen  tradition. 

Wildfire  {Madge),Th.e  crazy  daughter 
of  Old  Meg  Murdochson,  the  gipsy  t^hief. 
She  had  been  seduced  when  a giddy  girl, 
and  the  murder  of  her  infant  had  turned 
her  brain. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Heart  of 
31  id- Lothian.” 

Wile  away  Time  (not  While).  It  is 
the  same  word  as  " guile,”  to  " beguile 
the  time  ” {fall ere  tempus). 


WILFRID. 


WILLIAM. 


957 


Wirfrid,  son  of  Oswald  Wy cliff e,  a 
lad  after  the  type  of  Beattie’s  Minstrel. 
He  was  in  love  with  Matilda,  heir  of 
Rokeby’s  knight.  After  various  vil- 
lanies,  Oswald  forced  Matilda  to  pro- 
mise to  marry  his  son.  Wilfrid  thanked 
her,  and  fell  dead  at  her  feet. — Sir  Walter 
Scott,  ^^RoTcehy'' 

St,  Wilfrid.  Patron  saint  of  bakers, 
being  himself  of  the  same  craft.  (634- 
709.) 

St,  Wilfrid's  Needle.  A narrow  passage 
in  the  crypt  of  Ripon  cathedral,  built  by 
Ddo,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  used 
to  try  whether  virgins  deserve  the  name 
or  not.  It  is  said  that  none  but  virgins 
-can  pass  this  ordeal, 

Wil'helm  Mei'ster  (2  syl.).  The 
first  true  German  novel.  It  was  by 
Goethe,  who  died  1832,  aged  eighty -three. 

"William  (2  syl.;  in  '^Jerusalem 
Delivered”),  archbishop  of  Orange.  An 
ecclesiastical  warrior,  who  besought  pope 
Urban  on  his  knees  that  he  might  be 
«ent  in  the  crusade.  He  took  400  armed 
men  in  his  train  from  his  own  diocese. 

William,  youngest  son  of  William 
Rufus.  He  wore  a casque  of  gold,  and 
was  the  leader  of  a large  army  of  British 
bow-men  and  Irish  volunteers  in  the 
crusading  army. — Tasso,  Jerusalem  De- 
livered,” bk.  iii. 

English  history  teaches  that 
William  Rufus  was  never  married.  {See 
Orlando  Furioso.) 

Belted  Will,  William  lord  Howard, 
warden  of  the  Western  Marches.  (1563- 
1640.) 

His  Bilboa  blade,  by  Marchmen  felt. 

Hung  in  a broad  and  studded  belt ; 

Hence,  in  rude  phrase,  the  borderers  still 
Called  noble  Howard  “ Belted  Will  ” 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel,”  v.  !«. 

St.  William  of  Aquitaine  was  one  of 
the  soldiers  of  Charlemagne,  and  helped 
to  chase  the  Saracens  from  Languedoc. 
In  808  he  renounced  the  world,  and  died 
812.  He  is  usually  represented  as  a 
mailed  soldier. 

St.  William  of  Malavalle  or  Maleval. 
A French  nobleman  of  very  abandoned 
life ; but  being  converted,  he  went  as 
pilgrim  to  Jerusalem,  and  on  his  return 
retired  to  the  desert  of  Malavalle.  He  is 
depicted  in  a Benedictine’s  habit,  with 
armour  lying  beside  him.  (Died  1157.) 

St.  William  of  Montpelier  is  represented 
with  a lily  growing  from  his  mouth,  with 
the  words  Ave  Maria  in  gold  letters  on  it. 


St.  William  of  Monte  Virgine  is  drawn 
with  a wolf  by  his  side,  (Died  1142.) 

St.  William  of  Norwich  was  the  cele- 
brated child  said  to  have  been  crucified 
by  the  Jews  in  1137.  He  is  represented 
as  a child  crowned  with  thorns,  or  cruci- 
fied, or  holding  a hammer  and  nails  in 
his  hands,  or  wounded  in  his  side  with  a 
knife.  (^See  Hugh  of  Lincoln.) 

***  In  Percy’s  ^^Reliques,”  bk.  i.  3, 
there  is  a tale  of  a lad  named  Hew,  son 
of  lady  Helen,  of  Merry  land  town  (Milan), 
who  was  allured  by  a Jew’s  daughter 
with  an  apple.  She  stuck  him  with  a 
penknife,  rolled  him  in  lead,  and  cast 
him  into  a well.  Lady  Helen  went  in 
search  of  her  boy,  and  the  child’s  ghost 
cried  out  from  the  bottom  of  the  well — 
The  lead  is  wondrous  heavy,  mither. 

The  well  is^ondrous  deip  ; 

A keen  penknife  sticks  in  my  hert ; 

A word  I dounae  speik. 

St.  William  of  Roeschild  IB  represented 
with  a torch  flaming  on  his  grave.  (Died 
1203.) 

St.  William  of  Yorh  is  depicted  in 
pontificals,  and  bearing  his  archiepis- 
copal  cross.  (Died  1154.) 

William  II.  The  body  of  this  king 
was  picked  up  by  Purkess,  a charcoal- 
burner  of  Minestead,  and  conveyed  in  a 
cart  to  Winchester.  The  name  of  Purkess 
is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  same  village. 

A Minestead  churl,  whose  wonted  trade 
Was  burning  charcoal  in  the  glade, 
Outstretched  amid  the  gorse 
The  monarch  found;  and  in  his  wain 
He  raised,  and  to  St.  Swithin’s  fane 
Conveyed  the  bleeding  corse.  W.  S-  Rose. 

William  III.  It  was  not  known  till 
the  discovery  of  the  correspondence  of 
Cardonnel,  secretary  of  Marlborough,  by 
the  Historical  MS.  Commission  in  1869, 
that  our  Dutch  king  was  a great  eater. 
Cardonnel,  writing  from  the  Hague, 
October,  1701,  to  under-secretary  Ellis, 
says — ^^It  is  a pity  his  majesty  will  not 
be  more  temperate  in  his  diet.  Should 
I eat  so  much,  and  of  the  same  kinds, 
I dare  say  I should  scarce  have  survived 
it  so  long,  and  yet  I reckon  myself  none 
of  the  weakest  constitutions.” 

William  ofCloudes'lie  (2  syl. ).  A noted 
outlaw  and  famous  archer  of  the  north 
countrie.”  (^See  Cltm  of  the  Clough.) 

William  of  Newburgh  (Gulielmus  Neu- 
brigensis),  monk  of  Newburgh  in  York*- 
shire,  surnamed  Little,  and  sometimes 
called  Gulielmus  Parvus,  wrote  a history 
in  five  books,  from  the  Conquest  to  1197, 
edited  by  Thomas  Hearne,  in  three 


953 


WILLIAMS. 


WILTON, 


volumes,  octavo,  Oxford,  1719.  The 
Latin  is  good,  and  the  work  ranks  with 
that  of  Malmesbury.  William  of  New- 
burgh is  the  first  writer  who  rejects 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth’s  Trojan  descent 
of  the  old  Britons,  which  he  calls  a ‘‘fig- 
ment made  more  absurd  by  Geoffrey’s 
impudent  and  impertinent  lies.”  He  is, 
however,  quite  as  fabulous  an  historian 
as  the  “impudent”  Geoffrey.  (1136- 
1208.) 

Williani,  king  of  Prussia  and  emp. 
of  Germany,  is  called  Kaiser  Tartuffe. 

Willie- Wastle  (the  child’s  game). 
Willie  Wastle  was  governor  of  Hume 
castle,  Haddington.  When  Cromwell 
sent  a summons  to  him  to  surrender,  he 
replied — 

% Here  I,  Willie  Wastle, 

Stand  firm  in  my  castle, 

And  all  the  dogs  in  tfie  town 
Sha’nt  pull  Willie  Wastle  down. 

WilloHgliby  {Sir  Hugh).  Sent  by 
queen  Elizabeth  to  discover  the  north- 
east passage.  He  sailed  in  command  of 
three  ships,  all  of  which  were  lost.  Sub- 
sequently voyagers  tried  the  north-west 
course. 

Such  was  the  Briton's  fate 

A 8 with  first  prow  (what  have  not  Britons  dared  ?) 

He  for  the  passage  sought,  attempted  since 

So  much  in  vain.  Thomson,  “ Winter.” 

Willow.  To  wear  the  willow.  To  go 
into  mourning,  especially  for  a sweet- 
heart or  bride.  Fuller  says,  “The  wil- 
low is  a sad  tree,  whereof  such  as  have 
lost  their  love  make  their  mourning  gar- 
lands.” The  psalmist  tells  us  that  the 
Jews  in  captivity  “hanged  their  harps 
upon  the  willows  ” in  sign  of  mourning 
(cxxxvii.). 

Willow  Garland.  An  emblem  of 
being  forsaken.  “All  round  my  hat  I 
wear  a green  willow.”  So  Shakespeare  : 
“ I offered  him  my  company  to  a willow- 

tree  ” to  make  him  a garland,  as  being 

forsaken”  (“Much  Ado  About  Nothing,” 
ii.  1.)  The  very  term  weeping  willow  will 
suffice  to  account  for  its  emblematical 
character. 

Willow  Pattern.  To  the  right  is 
a lordly  mandarin’s  country  seat.  It  is 
two  storeys  high  to  show  the  rank  and 
wealth  of  the  possessor ; in  the  fore- 
ground is  a pavilion,  in  the  back-ground 
an  orange-tree,  and  to  the  right  of  the 
pavilion  a peach-tree  in  full  bearing. 
The  estate  is  enclosed  by  an  elegant 


wooden  fence.  At  one  end  of  the  bridg& 
is  the  famous  willow  -tree,  and  at  the 
other  the  gardener’s  cottage,  one  storey 
high,  and  so  humble  that  the  grounds 
are  wholly  uncultivated,  the  only  green 
thing  being  a small  fir-tree  at  the  back. 
At  the  top  of  the  pattern  (left-hand  sidey 
is  an  island,  with  a cottage  ; the  grounds 
are  highly  cultivated,  and  much  has  been 
reclaimed  from  the  water.  The  two  birds 
are  turtle-doves.  The  three  figures  on 
the  bridge  are  the  mandarin’s  daughter 
with  a distaff  nearest  the  cottage,  the 
lovers  with  a box  in  the  middle,  and 
nearest  the  willow-tree  the  mandarin  with 
a whip. 

The  tradition.  The  mandarin  had  an 
only  daughter  named  Li-chi,  who  fell  in 
love  with  Chang,  a young  man  who  lived 
in  the  island  home  represented  at  the- 
top  of  the  pattern,  and  who  had  been 
her  father’s  secretary.  The  father  over- 
heard them  one  day  making  vows  of  love 
under  the  orange-tree,  and  sternly  for- 
bade the  unequal  match;  but  the  lovers 
contrived  to  elope,  lay  concealed  for 
while  in  the  gardener’s  cottage,  and 
thence  made  their  escape  in  a boat  to 
the  islan(j^home  of  the  young  lover.  The^ 
enraged  rfiandarin  pursued  them  with  a 
whip,  and  would  have  beaten  them  to- 
death  had  not  the  gods  rewarded  their 
fidelity  by  changing  them  both  into  turtle- 
doves. The  picture  is  called  the  willow 
pattern  not  only  because  it  is  a tale  of 
disastrous  love,  but  because  the  eippe- 
ment  occurred  “when  the  willow  begins^ 
to  shed  its  leaves.” 

Willy-nilly.  Nolens  rolens  ; willing 
or  not.  Will-hey  nilUhe,  where  nill  is 
negative  and  willt  the  same  as  nolens  is- 
n'~volens. 

WiTmington,  invoked  by  Thomson, 
in  his  “ Winter,”  is  Sir  Spencer  Compton, 
earl  of  Wilmington,  the  first  patron  of 
our  poet,  and  speaker  of  the  House  of 
Commons. 

'W\\!te6. {American).  Withered.  This 
is  the  Dutch  and  German  welhen  (to  fade). 
Spenser  says,  “When  ruddy  Phoebus, 
’gins  to  welk  in  west” — i.e.,  fade  in  the- 
west. 

Wilton  {Ralph  de).  The  accepted: 
suitor  of  lady  Clare,  daughter  of  the  earl 
of  Gloucester.  When  lord  Marmion  over- 
came De  Wilton  in  the  ordeal  of  battle,, 
and  left  him  on  the  field  for  dead,  lady 


WILTSHIRE. 


WIND  EGG. 


959* 


Glare  took  refuge  in  Whitby  convent. 
Lord  Marmion,  wishing  to  secure  her 
larfi'e  estates,  forsook  his  betrothed,  lady 
Constance  of  Beverley,  and  proposed  ta 
lady  Clare,  but  was  scornfully  rejected. 
Under  Marmion’s  directions,  she  was 
removed  from  the  care  of  the  abbess  of 
St.  Hilda  to  Tantallon  Hall,  where  she 
encountered  De  Wilton,  who  had  been 
healed  of  his  wounds,  and  had  returned 
from  the  Holy  Land,  whither  he  had  gone 
on  a pilgrimage.  De  Wilton  was  knighted 
by  Douglas,  and  married  lady  Clare. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  Marmioii.** 

Wilt'sliire  (2  syl.)  is  Wilton-shire, 
Wilton  being  a contraction  of  Wily-town 
(the  town  on  the  river  Wily). 

Win'cliester.  According  to  the 
authority  given  below,  Winchester  was 
the  Camelot  of  Arthurian  romance. 
Hanmer,  referring  to  ^‘King  Lear,”  ii.  2, 
says  Camelot  is  Queen’s  Camel,  Somerset- 
shire, in  the  vicinity  of  which  are  many 
large  moors  where  are  bred  great  quan- 
tities of  geese,  so  that  many  other  places 
are  from  hence  supplied  with  quills  and 
feathers.”  Kent  says  to  the  Duke  of 
Cornwall — 

Goose,  if  I had  you  upon  Sarum  plain, 

I’d  drive  ye  cackling  home  to  Camelot 

With  all  due  respect  to  Hanmer,  it  seems 
far  more  probable  that  Kent  refers  to 
Camelford,  in  Cornwall,  where  the  duke 
of  Cornwall  resided,  in  his  castle  of  Tin- 
tag'el.  He  says,  ‘‘If  I had  you  on 
Salisbury  plain  (where  geese  abound),  I 
would  drive  you  home  to  Tintagel,  on 
the  river  Camel.”  Though  the  Camelot 
of  Shakespeare  is  Tintagel  or  Camelford, 
yet  the  Camelot  of  King  Arthur  may  be 
Queen’s  Camel ; and  indeed  visitors  are 
still  pointed  to  certain  large  entrench- 
ments there  called  by  the  inhabitants 
“ King  Arthur’s  Palace.” 

Sir  Balin’s  sword  was  put  into  marble  stone, 
standing  as  upright  as  a great  millstone,  and  it 
swam  down  the  stream  to  the  city  of  Camelot— that 
is,  in  English,  Winchester.— of  Prince 
Arthur”  44. 

Winds.  Poetical  names  of  the  ^oinds■, 
The  North  wind,  Bo'reas ; South,  Notus 
or  Auster ; East,  Eu'rus ; West,  Zephyr 
North-east,  Arges'tes ; North-west,  Cae'- 
cias ; South-east,  Sirocco  or  Syrian  wind 
South-west,  Aferor  Af'ricus,  and  Lib'ycus. 
The  Thra'scias  is  a north  wind,  but  not 
due  north. 

Boreas  and  Caecias,  and  Argestes  loud, 

And  Thrascias  rend  the  woods,  and  seas  upturn;.. 


Notus  and  Afer,  black  with  thunderous  clouds, 
From  Serralio'na.  Thwart  of  these,  as  fierce. 

Forth  rush. . ..Eurns  and  Zephyr 

Sirocco  and  Libecchio  {Libycus^. 

Milton,  “ Paradise  Lost”  x.  699-706. 

Special  winds, 

(1)  The  Etesian  Winds  are  yearly  or 
anniversary  winds,  answering  to  the  mon- 
soons of  the  East  Indies.  The  word  was^ 
applied  by  Greek  and  Roman  writers  tO’ 
the  periodical  winds  of  the  Mediterra- 
nean. (Greek,  ei!os,  a year.) 

(2)  The  Harmattan.  A wind  which 
blows  periodically  from  the  interior  parts- 
of  Africa  towards  the  Atlantic.  It 
prevails  in  December,  January,  and  Feb- 
ruary, and  is  generally  accompanied  with 
fog,  but  is  so  dry  as  to  wither  vegetation 
and  cause  the  human  skin  to  peel  off. 

(3)  The  Khamsin.  A fifty  days’  wind 
in  Egypt,  from  the  end  of  April  to  the 
inundation  of  the  Nile  (Arabic  for  fifty). 

(4)  The  Mistral.  A violent  north- 
west wind  blowing  down  the  Gulf  of 
Lyons  ; felt  particularly  at  Marseilles 
and  the  south-east  of  France. 

(5)  The  Pampero  blows  in  the  summer 
season,  from  the  Andes  across  the  pam- 
pas to  the  sea-coast.  It  is  a dry  north- 
west wind. 

(6)  The  Puna  Winds  prevail  for  four 
months  in  the  Puna  (table-lands  of  Peru).. 
The  most  dry  and  parching  winds  of  any. 
When  they  prevail  it  is  necessary  to 
protect  the  face  with  a mask,  from  the 
heat  by  day  and  the  intense  cold  of  the 
night. 

(7)  Sam'iel  or  Simoom'.  A hot,  suffo- 
cating wind  that  blows  occasionally  in 
Africa  j.nd  Arabia.  Its  approach  is  in- 
dicated by  a redness  in  the  air.  (Arabic, 
samoom,  from  samma,  destructive.) 

(8)  The  Sirocco.  A wind  from  North- 
ern Africa  that  blows  over  Italy,  Sicily, 
&c.,  producing  extreme  languor  and 
mental  debility. 

(9)  The  Sola'no  of  Spain,  a south- 
east wind,  extremely  hot,  and  loaded 
with  fine  dust.  It  produces  great  un- 
easiness; hence  the  proverb,  “Ask  no- 
favour during  the  Solano.”  {See  Trade 
Winds.) 

To  take  or  have  the  wind.  To  get  or 
keep  the  upper  hand.  Lord  Bacon  uses 
the  phrase.  “To  have  the  wind  of  a 
ship  ” is  to  be  to  the  windward  of  it. 

Wind  Egg.  An  egg  without  a shell. 
The  cause  of  this  want  of  shell  is  that  the 
hen  was  winded  or  fluttered  after  impreg- 


■mo 


WINDFALL. 


YvINKLE. 


Elation.  Dr.  Johnson’s  notion  that  the 
wind  egg  does  not  contain  the  principle 
of  life  is  no  more  correct  than  the  super- 
stition that  the  hen  that  lays  it  was  im- 
pregnated, like  the  Thracian  mares,” 
<by  the  wind. 

Windfall.  Unexpected  legacy; 
money  which  has  come  de  coelo.  Some 
of  the  English  nobility  were  forbidden 
by  the  tenure  of  their  estates  to  fell  the 
timber,  all  the  trees  being  reserved  for 
the  use  of  the  Koyal  Navy.  Those  trees, 
’bowever,  which  were  Moivn  down  were 
excepted,  and  hence  a good  wind  was 
often  a great  god-send. 

Windmills.  Don  Quixote  de  la 
Mancha,  riding  through  the  plains  of 
Montiel,  approached  thirty  or  forty  wind- 
mills, which  he  declared  to  Sancho  Panza 
‘^were  giants,  two  leagues  in  length  or 
more.”  Striking  his  spurs  into  Kosi- 
mante,  with  his  lance  in  the  rest,  he 
drove  at  one  of  the  ‘^monsters  dreadful 
as  Typhaeus.”  The  lance  lodged  in  the 
sail,  and  the  latter,  striking  both  man 
•and  beast,  lifted  them  into  the  air, 
shivering  the  lance  to  pieces.  When 
the  valiant  knight  and  his  steed  fell  to 
the  ground  they  were  both  much  injured, 
and  Don  Quixote  declared  that  the  en- 
chanter Freston,  ^^who  carried  off  his 
library  with  all  the  books  therein,”  had 
changed  the  giants  into  windmills  ^^out 
“Of  malice.” — Cervantes,  Quixote,^* 

bk.  i.,  ch.  8. 

To  fight  with  windmills.  To  combat 
chimeras.  The  French  have  the  same 
proverb,  Se  battre  centre  des  moulins 
a vent.’’  The  allusion  is,  of  course,  to 
the  adventure  of  Don  Quixote  referred 
to  above. 

To  have  loindmills  in  your  head.  Fan- 
cies, chimeras.  Similar  to  bees  in 
your  bonnet”  {g-v.').  Sancho  Panza 
says— 

Did  I not  tell  yonr  worship  they  were  windmills? 
and  who  could  have  thought  otherwise,  except  such 
as  had  windmills  in  their  head?— Cervanies,  “Don 
^ixote,'’  bk.  i.,  ch.  8. 

Windmill  Street.  When  Charnel 
chapel,  St.  Paul’s,  was  taken  down  by  the 
Protector  Somerset,  in  1549,  more  than 
1,000  cart-loads  of  iDones  were  removed 
to  Finsbury  Fields,  where  they  formed  a 
large  mound,  on  which  three  windmills 
were  erected.  It  was  from  these  mills 
that  the  street  obtained  its  name. — Leigh 
Hunt, 


Window.  A corruption  of  windor, 
(Welsh,  gwynt-dor.)  A door  or  lattice  to 
let  in  the  wind  or  air. 

Wine.  The  French  say  of  wine  that 
makes  you  stupid,  it  is  vin  d'dne  ; if  it 
makes  you  maudlin,  it  is  vin  de  cerf  (from 
the  notion  that  deer  weep) ; if  quarrel- 
some, it  is  vin  de  lion  ; if  talkative,  it  is 
vin  de  pie ; if  sick,  it  is  vin  de  pore  ; if 
crafty,  it  is  vin  de  reward ; if  rude,  it  ia 
vin  de  singe.  {See  heloio.) 

Win  of  Ape  (Chaucer).  I trow  that 
ye  have  drunken  win  of  ape” — i.e.,  wine 
to  make  you  drunk  ; in  French,  vin  de 
singe.  There  is  a Talmud  parable  which 
says  that  Satan  came  one  day  to  drink 
with  Noah,  and  slew  a lamb,  a lion,  a 
pig,  and  an  ape,  to  teach  Noah  that  man 
before  wine  is  in  him  is  a lanib,  when  he 
drinks  moderately  he  is  a lion,  when  like 
a sot  he  is  a swine,  but  after  that  any 
further  excess  makes  him  an  ape  that 
chatters  and  jabbers  without  rhyme  or 
reason.  (See  above.) 

Wine-month.  (Saxon,  Win-monath). 
The  month  of  October, the  time  of  vintage. 

Win'frith.  The  same  as  St.  Boniface, 
the  apostle  of  Germany,  an  Anglo-Saxon, 
killed  by  a band  of  heathens  in  755. 

Wing.  Wing  of  a house,  wing  of  an 
army,  wing  of  a battalion  or  squadron, 
&c. , are  the  side-pieces  which  start  from 
the  main  body,  as  the  wings  of  birds. 

DonH  try  to  fly  ivithout  wings.  Attempt 
nothing  you  are  not  fit  for.  A French 
proverb. 

Winifred  (St.).  Patron  saint  of 
virgins,  because  she  was  beheaded  by 
prince  Caradoefor  refusing  to  marry  him. 
She  was  Welsh  by  birth,  and  the  legend 
says  that  her  head  falling  on  the  ground 
originated  the  famous  healing  well  of  St. 
Winifred  in  Flintshire.  She  is  usually 
drawn  like  St.  Denis,  carrying  her  head 
in  her  hand.  Holywell,  in  Wales,  is 
St.  Winifred’s  Well,  celebrated  for  its 
‘^miraculous”  virtues. 

Winkin’.  He  ran  like  %oinkin* 
very  fast.  He  did  it  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  or,  as  the  French  say,  dans  un 
clin  dJoeil ; Italian,  in  un  batter  d'occhio, 

Winkle  (Nathaniel),  A cockney 
sportsman,  and  one  of  the  Pickwick  club. 
— Dickens,  “ Pickwick  Papers.'^ 

Pdp  van  Winkle.  A Dutch  colonist  of 


WINT-MONAT, 


WIT. 


961 


New  York.  He  met  with  a strange  man 
in  a ravine  of  the  Kaatskill  Mountains. 
Kip  helps  him  to  carry  a keg,  and  when 
they  reach  the  destination  Kip  sees  a 
number  of  odd  creatures  playing  nine- 
pins, but  no  one  utters  a word.  Master 
Winkle  seizes  the  first  opportunity  to 
take  a sip  at  the  keg,  falls  into  a stupor, 
and  sleeps  for  twenty  years.  On  waking, 
his  wife  is  dead  and  buried,  his  daughter 
is  married,  his  native  village  has  been 
remodelled,  and  America  has  become 
independent.  — Washwgton  Irving, 

Wint-monatli  {Wind-month).  The 
Anglo-Saxon  name  for  November. 

Winter,  Summer.  We  say  of  an 
old  man,  His  life  has  extended  to  a 
hundred  winters but  of  a blooming 
girl,  ^^She  has  seen  sixteen  summers.” 

Winter’s  Tale  (Shakespeare).  The 
story  is  taken  from  the  ‘^Pleasant  His^ 
tory  of  Dorastus  and  Fawnia,”  by  Kobert 
Greene.  Dorastus  is  called  by  Shake- 
speare Florizel  and  Doricles,  and  Fawnia 
is  Perdita.  Leontes  of  the  Winter’s 
Tale”  is  called  Egistus  in  the  novel, 
Polixenes  is  called  Pandosto,  and  queen 
Hermi'one  is  called  Bellaria. 

Wir'ral  {Cheshire),  where  are  ^^few 
that  either  God  or  man  with  good  heart 
love.”  — Sir  Gawayne  and  the  Green 
Koiight.” 

Wise  (The). 

Albert  II.,  duke  of  Austria,  called 
The  Lame  and  Wise.  (1289,  1330-1358.) 

Alfonso  X.  or  IX.  of  Leon,  and  IV. 
of  Castile,  called  The  Wise  and  The  Astro- 
nomer. (1203,  1252-1285.) 

Bernard  Albi'nus,  a medical  writer, 
called  Weiss.  (1653-1721.) 

Charles  V.  of  France,  called  Le  Sage. 
(1337,  regent  1358-1360,  king  1364-1380.) 

Che-tsou,  founder  of  the  fourteenth 
dynasty  of  China,  called  Hou-'pe-lae  (the 
model  ruler),  and  his  sovereignty  The 
Wise  Government.  (1278-1295.) 

Comte  de  las  Cases,  called  Le  Sage. 
(1766-1842.) 

Frederick,  elector  of  Saxony.  (1463, 
1544-1554.) 

John  Y.  of  Brittany,  called  The  Good 
and  Wise.  (1-389,  1399-1442.) 

^ Wise  as  the  women  of  Mungret.  At 
Mungret,  near  Limerick,  was  a famous 
monastery,  and  one  day  a deputation  was 
sent  to  it  from  Cashel  to  try  the  skill  of 
the  Mungret  scholars.  The  heads  of  the  1 


monastery  had  no  desire  to  be  put  to 
this  proof,  so  they  habited  several  of  their 
scholars  as  women,  and  sent  them  forth 
to  waylay  the  deputation.  The  Cashel 
professors  met  one  and  another  of  these 

women,”  and  asked  the  way,  or  dis- 
tance, or  hour  of  the  day,  to  all  which 
questions  they  received  replies  in  Greek. 
Thunderstruck  with  this  strange  occur- 
rence, they  resolved  to  return,  saying, 

What  must  the  scholars  be  if  even  the 
townswomen  talk  in  Greek  !” 

^ Nathan  the  Wise.  A drama  by 
Lessing,  based  on  a story  in  the  De- 
cameron.” {Day  X.,  Novel  3.) 

Wise  Men  of  the  East.  The  three 
Magi  who  followed  the  guiding  star  to 
Bethlehem.  They  are  the  patron  saints 
of  travellei’s.  (See  Seven  Sages.) 

Wisest  Man  of  Greece.  So  the 
Delphic  oracle  pronounced  Soc'rates  to 
be,  and  Socrates  modestly  made  answer, 
‘^’Tis  because  I alone  of  all  the  Greeks 
know  that  I know  nothing.” 

Wiseacre.  A corruption  of  the  Ger- 
man weissager  (a  wise  sayer  or  prophet). 
This,  like  the  Greek  sophism,  has  quite 
lost  its  original  meaning,  and  is  applied 
to  dunces,  wise  only  ‘^in  their  own 
conceit.” 

Wish. art  {George).  One  of  the  early 
reformers  of  Scotland,  condemned  to  the 
stake  by  Cardinal  Beaton.  While  the 
lire  was  blazing  about  him  he  said  : He 
who  from  yon  high  place  behold eth  me 
with  such  pride,  shall  be  brought  low, 
even  to  the  ground,  before  the  trees 
which  supplied  these  faggots  have  shed 
their  leaves.”  It  was  March  when 
Wishart  uttered  these  words,  and  the 
cardinal  died  in  June.  {See  Summons.) 

Wishing- cap.  Fortuna'tus  had  an 
inexhaustible  purse  and  a wisliing-cap, 
but  these  gifts  proved  the  ruin  of  himself 
and  his  sons.  The  object  of  the  tale  is 
to  show  the  vanity  of  human  prosperity. 

Wisliing-rod  of  the  Nibelungs  was 
of  pure  gold.  Whoever  had  it  could  keep 
the  whole  world  in  subjection.  It  be- 
longed to  Siegfried,  but  when  the  ''Nibel- 
ung  hoard”  was  removed  to  Worms  this 
rod  went  also. 

And  there-among  was  lying  the  wishing-rod  of  goli, 
Wli'ch  whoso  could  discover  might  in  subjection 
hold 

All  this  wide  world  as  master,  with  all  that  dwell 
therein.  Lettiom’$  “ ^'ibelungtn-Lied,’*  st.  1160. 

Wit.  To  vjit,  that  is  to  say.  A trana- 

J T J 


962 


WITCH. 


WIVES. 


lation  of  the  Erench  savoir.  Wit  is  the 
Anglo-Saxon  lOitan  (to  know).  I divide 
my  property  into  four  parts,  to  or 
savoir,  or  namely,  or  that  is  to  say 

Witcll.  By  drawing  the  blood  of  a 
witch  you  deprive  her  of  her  power  of 
sorcery.  Glanvil  says  that  when  Jane 
Brooks,  the  demon  of  Tedworth,  be- 
witched a boy,  his  father  scratched  her 
face  and  drew  blood,  whereupon  the  boy 
instantly  exclaimed  that  he  was  well 
again. 

Blood  will  I draw  on  thee  ; thou  art  a witch. 

Shakespeare,  " 1 Henry  VL”  i 5. 

Hammer  for  Witches  (Malleus  Malefi- 
carum).  A treatise  drawn  up  by  Heinrich 
Institor  and  Jacob  Sprenger,  system- 
atising the  whole  doctrine  of  witchcraft, 
laying  down  a regular  form  of  trial,  and 
a course  of  examination.  Innocent  VIII. 
issued  the  celebrated  bull  Summis  JJesi- 
derantes  in  1484,  directing  inquisitors 
and  others  to  put  to  death  all  practisers 
of  witchcraft  and  other  diabolical  arts. 

Dr.  Sprenger  computes  that  as 
many  as  nine  millions  of  persons  have 
suffered  death  for  witchcraft  since  the 
bull  of  Innocent. — Life  of  Mohammed.’' 

■Witch  of  Endor.  A divining  wo- 
man consulted  by  Saul  when  Samuel  was 
dead.  She  called  up  the  ghost  of  the 
prophet,  and  Saul  was  told  that  his  death 
was  at  hand  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  7*20). 

Witch-Hazel.  A shrub  supposed 
to  be  efficacious  in  discovering  witches. 
A forked  twig  of  the  hazel  was  made  into 
a divining  rod  for  the  purpose. 

Witchcraft.  The  epidemic  demon- 
opathy  which  raged  in  the  fifteenth, 
sixteenth,  and  seventeenth  centuries. 

Witches’  Sabbath.  The  muster  at 
night-time  of  witches  and  demons  to  con- 
coct mischief.  The  witch  first  anointed 
her  feet  and  shoulders  with  the  fat  of  a 
murdered  babe,  then  mounting  a broom- 
stick, distaff,  or  rake,  made  her  exit 
by  the  chimney,  and  rode  through  the 
air  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  The 
assembled  witches  feasted  together  and 
concluded  with  a dance,  in  which  they 
all  turned  their  backs  to  each  other. 

Witchfinder.  Matthew  Hopkins, 
who,  in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  travelled  through  the  eastern 
counties  to  find  out  witches.  At  last 
Hopkins  himself  was  tested  by  his  own 
rule.  Being  cast  into  a river,  ho  floated, 


was  declared  to  be  a wizard,  and  was 
put  to  death.  (See  above.  Hammer  for 
Witches. ) 

WiEham.  You  were  horn^  I suppose^ 
at  Little  Witham.  A reproof  to  a noodle. 
The  pun,  of  course,  is  on  little  wit.  Little 
Witham  or  Wittham  is  in  Lincolnshire. 

I will  be  sworn  she  was  not  born  at  Wittham,  for 

Gaffer  Gibbs says  she  could  not  turn  up  a single 

lesson  like  a Christian.— Walter  Scott,  ''Heart 
of  Mid-Lothian,’'  ch.  xxxii. 

■Witlie  (1  syl.).  When  Delilah  asked 
Samson  what  would  effectually  bind  him, 
he  told  her  green  withes,”  but  when 
she  called  in  the  Philistines  he  snapped 
his  bonds  like  tow. 

It  seems  impossible  that  Samson  can  he  held  by 
such  green  withes  [i.e..  that  a great  measure  can  he 
carried  by  such  petty  shifts^.— The  Times. 

"Wititterly  {Mr.),  of  Cadogan  Place, 
Sloane  Street.  His  Christian  name  was 
Henry.  He  went  about  all  day  in  a 
tremor  of  delight  at  having  shaken  hands 
with  a lord,  and  was  in  the  seventh 
heaven  because  a real  lord  had  promised 
to  be  his  guest. 

Mi'S.  Wititterly  (Julia),  wife  of  the 
above.  A lady  of  sweetest  insipidity, 

whose  soul  was  too  large  for  her  body.” 
She  reclined  on  a sofa  half  the  day  and 
studied  attitudes  of  graceful  languor. 
Kate  Nickleby  was  her  companion,  and 
was  expected  always  to  be  well  and  in 
good  spirits  ; why  else  was  she  paid  a 
salary  ? Mrs.  Wititterly  had  her  husband's 
weakness  for  '‘lords.”  Coarseness  in  a 
lord  became  in  her  eyes  mere  humour ; 
vulgarity  got  softened  down  into  eccen- 
tricity; and  insolence  to  "aristocratic 
ease.”  Her  page  " Bill”  she  called  Al- 
phonse.— DicJcetis,  " Nicholas  Nickleby.'' 

Witney  {Oxfordshire)  is  the  Saxon 
Wite>i~ey,  the  island  of  Wise-men— i.e.,  of 
the  Witenagemot  or  national  parliament. 

Wit'tington  or  Whittington.  Thrice 
lord  mayor  of  London— in  ,1397,  1406, 
1419.  He  amassed  a fortune  of  £350,000. 
Cat.) 

Beneath  th'S  stone  lies  Wittington, 

Sir  Richard  rightly  named, 

"Who  three  times  Lord  Mayor  served  in  London 
In  which  he  ne’er  was  blamed. 

He  rose  from  indigence  to  wealth 
By  industry  and  that. 

For  lo ! he  scorned  to  gain  by  stealth 
What  he  got  by  a cat. 

Epitaph  (destroyed  by  the  Fire  of  London). 

Wittoba,  in  Bombay  mythology,  is 
Crishna  or  Vishnu  incarnate. 

Wives  of  literary  men.  The  following 


wo, 


WOLVES, 


963 


.were- iml^appy  in  their  ^‘help-metes:” — 
Lord  Byron,  Albert  Durer,  Milton, 
Moliere,  Scaliger,  Shakespeare,  Socrates, 
&c.  Three  modern  names  are  prominent 
exceptions : Thomas  Moore,  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  and  Wordsworth.  Not  Dickens. 

Wo.  Stop  (addressed  to  horses). 
“Ho!”  or  “Hoa!”  was  formerly  an  ex- 
clamation commanding  the  knights  at 
tournaments  to  cease  from  all  further 
action. 

Scollers,  as  they  read  much  of  love,  so  when  they 
once  fall  in  love,  there  is  no  ho  with  them  lili  they 
have  their  love.— ‘ CoftZer  0/  Canterburie’*  (1608). 

Wod-Pll.  Another  form  of  Odin 
(q.v.).  The  word  is  incorporated  in  Wo- 
densbury  (Kent),  Wedensbury  (Suffolk), 
Wansdyke  (Wiltshire),  Wednesday,  &c. 

WofuL  Knight  of  the  Wofid  Coun- 
tenance. The  title  given  by  Sancho  Panza 
to  Don  Quixote  (bk.  iii.,  ch.  5).  After 
his  challenge  of  the  two  royal  lions  (pt. 
II.,  bk.  i.,  ch.  17)  the  adventurer  called 
himself  Knight  of  the  Lions. 

Wokey.  Wiched  as  the  Witch  of 
Wokey.  Wokey-hole  is  a noted  cavern 
in  Somersetshire,  which  has  given  birth 
to  as  many  weird  stories  as  the  Sybils’ 
Cave  in  Italy.  The  Witch  of  Wokey  was 
metamorphosed  into  stone  by  a “lerned 
wight  ” from  Gaston,  but  left  her  curse 
behind,  so  that  the  fair  damsels  of  Wokey 
rarely  find  “a  gallant.” — Percy,  Re- 
liquesf  iii.  14. 

Wolf. 

Fenris.  The  wolf  that  scatters  venom 
through  air  and  water,  and  will  swallow 
Odin  when  time  shall  be  more. 

8koll.  The  wolf  that  follows  the  sun  and 
moon,  and  will  swallow  them  ultimately. 
— Scandinavian  mythology. 

Wolves.  It  is  not  true  that  wolves 
were  extirpated  from  the  island  in  the 
reign  of  Edgar.  The  tradition  is  based 
upon  the  words  of  William  of  Malmes- 
bury (bk.  ii.,  ch.  8),  who  says  that  the 
tribute  paid  by  the  king  of  Wales,  con- 
sisting of  300  wolves,  ceased  after  the 
third  year,  because  “nullum  se  ulterius 
posse  inveni're  professus”  (because  he 
could  find  no  more — ^.e.,  in  Wales) ; but 
in  the  tenth  year  of  William  I.,  we  find 
that  Robert  de  Umfranville,  knight,  held 
his  lordship  of  Riddlesdale  in  Northum- 
berland by  service  of  defending  that 
part  of  the  kingdom  from  “wolves.’ 
In  the  forty-third  year  of  Edward  III., 


Thomas  Engarno  held  lands  in  Pitchley, 
Northamptonshire,  by  service  of  finding 
dogs  at  his  own  cost  for  the  destruction 
of  “wolves”  and  foxes.  Even  in  the 
eleventh  year  of  Henry  VI.,  Sir  Robert 
Plumpton  held  one  bovate  of  land  in  the 
county  of  Notts  by  service  of  “frighting 
the  wolves”  in  Shire  wood  Forest. 

She-wolf  of  France.  Isabella  le  Bel, 
wife  of  Edward  II.  According  to  a tra- 
dition she  murdered  the  king  by  burning 
his  bowels  with  a hot  iron,  or  by  tearing 
them  from  his  body  with  her  own  hands. 

Sb e-wolf  of  Frnnce,  witfi  unrelenting  fangs, 

That  tcar’st  the  bowels  of  thy  mangled  mate. 

(jiray,  “ The  Bard.’’* 

The  Wolf.  So  Dryden  calls  the  Pres- 
bytery in  his  “ Hind  and  Panther.” 

Unhennelled  range  in  thy  Polonian  plains, 

A fiercer  foe  the  insatiate  Wolf  remains. 

Pt.  i. 

He  has  seen  a wolf.  Said  of  a person 
who  has  lost  his  voice.  Our  forefathers 
used  to  say  that  if  a man  saw  a wolf 
before  the  wolf  saw  him  he  lost  his  voice, 
at  least  for  a time. 

Vox  duoque  Moerim 

Jam  fugit  ipsa ; lupi  Moerim  vide're  pio'res. 

Virgil,  £cl.  ix. 

“ Onr  young  companion  has  seen  a wolf,”  said  lady 
Hameliiie,  ” and  has  lost  his  tongue  in  consequence.” 
—iScott,  “ Quentin  Burward”  ch.  xviii. 

To  see  a wolf  is  also  a good  sign,  inas- 
much as  the  wolf  was  dedicated  to  Odin, 
the  giver  of  victory. 

He  put  his  head  into  the  wolf's  mouth. 
He  exposed  himself  to  needless  danger. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  fable  of  the  crane 
that  put  its  head  into  a wolfs  mouth  in 
order  to  extract  a bone.  The  fable  is 
sometimes  related  of  a fox  instead  of  a 
wolf.  {French.) 

To  cry  “ Wolf!"  To  give  a false  alarm. 
The  allusion  is  to  the  well-known  fable  of 
the  shepherd  lad  who  used  to  cry  “Wolf!” 
merely  to  make  fun  of  the  neighbours, 
but  when  at  last  the  wolf  came  no  one 
would  believe  him. 

In  Chinese  history  it  is  said  that  Yeu- 
wang,  of  the  third  Imperial  dynasty,  was 
atta'ched  to  a courtesan  named  Pao-tse, 
whom  he  tried  by  various  expedients  to 
make  laugh.  At  length  he  hit  upon  the 
following;  He  caused  the  tocsins  to  be 
rung  as  if  some  invaders  were  at  the  gates. 
Pao-tse  laughed  immoderately  to  see  the 
people  pouring  into  the  city  in  alarm. 
The  emperor,  seeing  the  success  of  his 
trick,  repeated  it  over  and  over  again 
but  at  last  an  enemy  really  did  come 

j j j 2 


964 


WOLjP. 


WONDER. 


and  when  the  alarm  was  given  no  one 
paid  attention  to  it,  and  the  emperor 
was  slain  (b.c.  770).  {See  Amxcl^an 
Silence.) 

To  hee^  the  wolf  from  the  door.  To  keep 
out  hunger.  We  say  of  a ravenous  person 

He  has  a wolf  in  his  stomach,”  an  ex- 
pression common  to  the  French  and  Ger- 
mans. Thus  mamger  comme  un  loiip  is  to 
eat  voraciously,  and  wolfsmageii  is  the 
German  for  a keen  appetite. 

Dark  as  a wolfs  mouth.  Pitch  dark. 
Is  mouth  in  this  phrase  a corruption  of 
month  J Wolf’s-month  is  January. 

Le  loup  movrra  dans  sa  pean.  As  a 
man  lives  so  will  he  die. 

Avoir  vu  le  loup.  To  have  seen  the 
world. 

Wolf  in  music.  Applied  to  a bad 
fifth,  or  to  the  interval  from  the  false 
octave,  obtained  by  the  fifths,  to  the 
true  one.  The  concords  in  such  instru- 
ments as  the  organ  and  pianoforte  cannot 
be  made  perfect,  because  the  interval  of 
a tone  is  not  uniformly  the  same.  For 
instance,  the  interval  between  the  fourth 
and  fifth  of  the  major  scale  contains  nine 
commas  or  parts,  but  that  between  the 
fifth  and  sixth  only  eight.  Tuners  gene- 
rally distribute  the  defects,  but  some 
musicians  prefer  to  throw  the  onus  on 
some  particular  keys.  A squeak  made 
in  reed  instruments  by  unskilful  players 
is  termed  a Goose. 

Wolf,  duke  of  Gascony.  One  of  Charle- 
magne’ s knights,  and  the  most  treacherous 
of  all,  except  Ganelon.  He  sold  his  guest 
and  his  family.  He  wore  browned  steel 
armour,  damasked  with  silver ; but  his 
favourite  weapon  was  the  gallows.  He 
w^as  never  in  a rage,  but  cruel  in  cold 
blood. 

It  was  Wolf,  duke  of  Gascony,  who  was  the  origi- 
nator of  the  plan  of  tying  wetted  ropes  round  the 
temples  of  his  prisoners,  to  make  their  eyeballs  start 
from  their  sockets.  It  was  he  who  had  them  sewed 
up  in  fieshly-stiipped  hulls’  hides,  and  exposed  to 
the  sun  till  the  hides  in  shrinking  broke  their  bones. 
— “ Croquemitaine^'*  iii. 

Wolf’s-bane.  The  Germans  call  all 
poisonous  herbs  banes,”  and  the  Greeks, 
mistaking  the  word  for  beans,”  trans- 
lated it  by  ku'amoi,  as  they  did  ‘^hen- 
bane ” (hws  ku'amos).  Wolfs-bane  is  an 
aconite  with  a pale  yellow  flower,  called 
therefore  the  w/ti^e-bane  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  blue  aconite.  White-bean  would 
be  in  Greek  leukos  kuamos,  which  was 
corrupted  into  hikos  os  (wolf -bean) ; 

but  botanists,  seeing  the  absurdity  of 


calling  aconite  a ^^bean,”  restored  the. 
original  German  word  ^^bane,”  but  re- 
tained the  corrupt  word  lukos  (wolf),  and 
hence  the  ridiculous  term  wolfs-bane.” 
— H.  Fox  Talbot, 

Wolf’s  Head.  A general  enemy; 
some  one  or  thing  obnoxious  to  all. 

Any  one  who  dares  to  connect  himself  with  a pub- 
lication which  sins  in  [personalities],  finds  himself  a 
Coput  lupi'num,  against  whom  every  man  of  every 
class  and  parfy  are  (?)  willing  to  raise  their  cudgel. 
—The  Times,  January  12, 187c. 

Wolf-month,  or  Wolf-monath,  The 
Saxon  name  for  January,  because  people 
are  wont  always  in  that  month  to  be  in 
more  danger  of  being  devoured  by  wolves 
than  in  any  other.” — Verstegan. 

Woman.  The  Rabbins  assert  that 
man  was  originally  formed  with  a tail, 
but  that  Deity  cut  off  this  appendage 
and  made  woman  thereof.  T.  Moore 
says  — 

Every  husband  remembers  th’  original  plan. 

And  knowing  bis  wife  is  no  more  than  his  tail. 

Why,  he— leaves  her  behind  him  as  much  as  he  can. 

The  Silent  Woman.  A public-house 
sign,  being  a woman  without  a head. 
The  original  of  this  sign  was  a woman 
decapitated,  and  called  the  Good  Woman. 

"Wonder.  A nine-dayd  loov.der. 
Something  that  causes  a sensational 
astonishment  for  a few  days,  and  is  then 
placed  in  the  limbo  of  ‘things  forgot.” 
Three  days’  amazement,  three  days’  dis- 
cussion of  details,  and  three  days  of  sub- 
sidence. {See  Nine.) 

The  Seven  Wonders  of  the  World.  Ac- 
cording to  ancient  tradition,  there  were 
seven  of  the  works  of  man  so  extraordi- 
nary as  to  deserve  to  be  called  wonders 
they  were— 

The  Pyramids  of  Egypt. 

The  Mausole'um  of  Artemi'sia. 

The  Temple  of  Diana  of  Ephesus. 

The  Hanging  Gardens  of  Babylon. 

The  Colossus  of  Rhodes. 

The  statue  of  Jupiter  Olympus  by 
Phidias. 

The  Pharos  or  watch-tower  of  Rhodes. 

^ The  eighth  wonder.  The  palace  of  the 
Escurial  in  Toledo,  built  by  Felipe  11. 
to  commemorate  his  victory  over  the 
French  at  St.  Quentin.  It  was  dedicated 
to  San  Lorenzo,  and  Juan  Baptista  do 
Toledo,  the  architect,  took  a gridiron 
for  his  model— the  bars  being  repre- 
sented by  rows  or  files  of  buildings, 
and  the  handle  by  a church.  It  has 
1,860  rooms,  6,200  windows  and  doors, 


WONDER-WORKKK. 


WOODEN  SWORD.  965 


80  staircases,  73  fountains,  48  wine-cel- 
lars, 51  bells,  and  8 organs.  Its  cir- 
cumference is  4,800  feet  (nearly  a mile). 
Escurial  is  scoria  ferriy  iron  dross,  be- 
cause its  site  is  that  of  old  iron  works. 
{See  Tuileries.) 

An  eighth  wonder,  A work  of  extra- 
ordinary mechanical  ingenuity,  such  as 
the  Great  Wall  of  China,  the  Dome  of 
Chosroes  in  Madain,  St.  Peter’s  of  Rome, 
the  Menai  Suspension  Bridge,  the  Thames 
Tunnel,  the  bridge  over  the  Niagara, 
Eddystone  Lighthouse,  the  Suez  Canal, 
the  Railroad  over  Mount  Cenis,  the 
Atlantic  Cable,  &c. 

^ The  Three  Wonders  in  Egypt. 

The  Palace,  eight  miles  in  circum- 
ference. 

The  Hanging  Gardens. 

The  Tower  of  Babel,  said  by  some 
Jewish  writers  to  be  twelve  miles  in 
height ! Jerome  quotes  contemporary 
authority  for  its  being  four  miles  high. 
Strabo  states  its  height  to  have  been  660 
feet. 

Wonder-worker.  St.  Gregory,  of 
Neo-Csesare'a,  in  Pontus  ; so  called  be- 
cause he  ^‘recalled  devils  at  his  will, 
stayed  a river,  killed  a Jew  by  the  mere 
effort  of  his  will,  changed  a lake  into 
solid  earth,  and  did  many  other  wonder- 
ful things.’'  Thaumaturgus.) 

Woo  or  Wode.  Stop,  addressed  to  a 
horse.  The  Latin  word  ohe  has  the  same 
meaning.  Thus  Horace  (Sat.  I.,  v.  12) ; 
‘^Ohe,  jam  satis  est.” 

Woo’ish.,  when  addressed  to  hordes, 
means  ‘^Bear  to  the  left.”  In  the  West 
of  England  they  say  Woag — i.e.,  wag  off 
(Saxon,  wohy  a bend  or  turn).  Woo’ish 
is  ‘^Move  off  a little.” 

Woo-tee  Dynasty.  The  eighth 
Imperial  dynasty  of  China,  established 
in  the  south  Liou-yu.  A cobbler,  having 
assassinated  the  two  preceding  monarchs, 
usurped  the  crown,  and  took  the  name 
of  Woo-tee  {Icing  TFoo),  a name  assumed 
by  many  of  his  followers. 

Wood.  Knight  of  the  Wood  or  Knight 
of  the  Mirrors.  So  called  because  his 
coat  was  overspread  with  numerous 
small  mirrors.  It  was  Sampson  Carrasco, 
a bachelor  of  letters,  who  adopted  the 
disguise  of  a knight  under  the  hope  of 
overthrowing  Don  Quixote,  when  he 
would  have  imposed  upon  him  the  penalty 
of  returning  to  his  home  for  two  years ; 


but  it  so  happened  that  Don  Quixote 
was  the  victor,  and  Carrasco’s  scheme 
was  abortive.  As  Knight  of  the  White 
Moon  Carrasco  again  challenged  the 
Man'chegan  lunatic,  and  overthrew  him  ; 
whereupon  the  vanquished  knight  was 
obliged  to  return  home,  and  quit  the 
profession  of  knight-errantry  for  twelve 
months.  Before  the  term  expired  he 
died.— Cervantes,  ^^Don  Quixote f pt.  II., 
bk.  i.  11,  &c.;  bk.  iv.  12. 

Wood’s  Halfpence.  Apenny 
coined  by  William  Wood,  to  whom 
George  I.  granted  letters  patent  for  the 
purpose.  {See  Drapier’s  Letters.) 

Sir  Walter’s  [Scott]  real  belief  in  Scotch  one-poun  1 
notes  may  be  advantageously  contrasted  with  Svsrift’s 
forced  frenzy  about  Wood’s  halfpence,  more  espe- 
cially as  Swift  really  did  understand  the  defects  of 
Wood’s  scheme,  and  Sir  Walter  was  absolutely  ig- 
norant of  the  currency  controversy  in  which  he 
engaged.— 27ie  Times. 

Wooden  Horse— 

At  Troy.  Virgil  tolls  us  that  Ulysses 
had  a monster  wooden  horse  made  after 
the  death  of  Hector,  and  gave  out  that 
it  was  an  offering  to  the  gods  to  secure 
a prosperous  voyage  back  to  Greece. 
The  Trojans  dragged  the  horse  within 
their  city,  but  it  was  full  of  Grecian  sol- 
diers, who  at  night  stole  out  of  their 
place  of  concealment,  slew  the  Trojan 
guards,  opened  the  city  gates,  and  set 
fire  to  Troy. 

Camhuscan* s.  The  ‘^Arabian  Nights” 
tells  us  of  Cambuscan’s  wooden  horse, 
which  had  a pin  in  the  neck,  and  on  turn- 
ing this  pin  the  horse  rose  into  the  air, 
and  transported  the  rider  to  the  place 
he  wanted  to  go  to.  {See  Clavile^^o.) 

Wooden  Spoon.  The  last  of  the 
honour  men,  i.e.  of  the  Junior  Optimes, 
in  the  Cambridge  University.  Some- 
times two  or  more  ‘Mast”  men  are 
bracketed  together,  in  which  case  the 
group  is  termed  the  spoon  bracket.  It 
is  said  that  these  men  are  so  called 
because  in  days  of  yore  they  were  pre- 
sented with  a wooden  spoon,  while  the 
other  honour  men  had  a silver  or  golden 
one,  a spoon  being  the  usual  irrix  de 
merite  instead  of  a medal.  {See  Wooden' 
Wedge.) 

Wooden  Sword.  To  wear  the 
wooden  sword.  To  overstand  the  market, 
or  keep  back  sales  by  asking  too  high  a 
price.  Fools  used  to  wear  wooden  swords 
or  “ daggers  of  lath.” 


966 


WOODEN  WALL. 


WORSE. 


Wooden  Wall.  When  the  Greeks 
sent  to  Delphi  to  ask  how  they  were  to 
defend  themselves  against  Xerxes,  who 
had  invaded  their  country,  the  evasive 
answer  given  was  to  this  effect— 

Pallas  hath  urged,  and  Zeus,  the  sire  of  all. 

Hath  safety  promised  in  a wooden  wall ; 

Seed-time  and  harvest,  weeping  sires  shall  tell 

How  thousands  fought  at  Salamis  and  fell. 

Wooden  Walls  of  Old  England.  The 
ships  of  war.  We  must  now  say,  The 
Iron  Walls  of  Old  England.” 

Wooden  Wedge.  Last  in  the 
classical  tripos.  When  in  1824  the  clas- 
sical tripos  was  instituted  at  Cambridge, 
it  was  debated  what  name  to  call  the 
last  on  the  list.  It  so  happened  that 
the  last  on  the  list  was  Wedgewood,  and 
the  name  was  accepted  and  moulded  into 
Wooden- wedge.  {See  Wooden  Spoon.) 

Woodfall,  brother  of  the  Woodfall 
of  Junius,  and  editor  of  the  Morning 
Chronicle.,  would  attend  a debate,  and, 
without  notes,  report  it  accurately  next 
morning.  He  was  called  Memory  Wood- 
fall.  (1745-1803.) 

Woodwar'dian  Professor.  The 
professor  of  geology  in  the  University 
of  Cambridge.  This  professorship  was 
founded  in  1727  by  Dr.  Woodward. 

Wool-gathering.  Your  wits  are 
gone  wool-gathering.  You  are  in  a brown 
study ; your  brains  are  asleep,  and  you 
seem  bewildered.  The  allusion  is  to 
village  children  sent  to  gather  wool  from 
hedges ; while  so  employed  they  are 
absent,  and  for  a trivial  purpose.  To 
be  wool-gathering  is  to  be  absent-minded, 
but  to  be  so  to  no  good  purpose. 
Woollen. 

“ Odious  ! in  woollen ! ’twould  a saint  provoke  !’* 

(Were  the  last  words  that  poor  Narcissa  sp'  ke). 

“ No ! let  a charming  chintz  and  Brussels  lace 

Wrap  my  cold  limbs,  and  shade  my  lileless  face. 

One  would  not  suie  be  frightful  when  one’s  dead. 

And — Betty— give  the  cheeks  a little  red.” 

Pope,  '“‘Moral  Essays,'  Ep.  i. 

This  was  the  ruling  passion  strong  in 
death.  At  the  time  this  was  written  it 
was  compulsory  to  bury  in  woollen. 
Narcissa  did  not  dread  death  half  so 
much  as  being  obliged  to  wear  flannel 
instead  of  her  fine  mantles.  Narcissa 
was  Mrs.  Oldfield,  the  actress,  who  died 
1731. 

Woollen  Goods.  {See  Linen  Goods.) 

Woolsack.  To  sit  on  the  woolsack. 
To  be  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  whose 
Beat  in  the  House  of  Lords  is  called  the 


woolsack.  It  is  a largo  square  bag  of 
wool,  without  back  or  arms,  and  covered 
with  red  cloth.  In  the  reign  of  queen 
Elizabeth  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed 
to  prevent  the  exportation  of  wool ; and 
that  this  source  of  our  national  wealth 
might  be  kept  constantly  in  mind,  wool- 
sacks were  placed  in  the  House  of  Peers, 
whereon  the  judges  sat.  Hence  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  who  presides  in  the  House  of 
Lords,  is  said  to  ^^sit  on  the  woolsack,” 
or  to  be  appointed  to  the  woolsack.” 

Worcester  {Woost'-er).  A con- 
traction of  Wicii-ware-ceaster  (the  camp- 
town  of  the  Wicii  people).  Ware  means 
people,  and  Wicii  was  a tribe  name. 

Worcester.  Cartulary  of  the  church, 
by  Heming,  published  by  Hearne  in  two 
volumes  8vo,  in  1723.  This  was  compiled 
in  the  reign  of  the  Conqueror. 

Worcester  College  {Oxford), 
founded  by  Sir  Thomas  Coke,  of  Bentley, 
Worcestershire,  in  1714. 

Words.  Many  words  will  not  fill  a 
bushel.  Mere  promises  will  not  help  the 
needy.  If  we  say  to  a beggar,  Be  thou 
filled,”  is  he  filled? 

Good  words  butter  no  yarsnips,  is  a pro- 
verb of  the  same  scope.  In  Scotland  an 
excellent  dish  is  made  of  parsnips  and 
potatoes  beaten  up  with  butter. 

Worldly- Wiseman  {Mr.).  One 
who  tries  to  persuade  Christian  that  it 
is  very  bad  policy  to  continue  his  jour- 
ney.— Bunyan,  Pilgrim' s Progress." 

Worm.  To  hare  a worm  in  one's 
tongue.  To  be  cantankerous;  to  snarl 
and  bite  like  a mad  dog. 

There  is  one  easy  artifice 

That  seldgm  has  been  known  to  miss— 

To  snaH  at  all  things  right  or  wrong. 

Like  a mad  dog  that  has  a worm  in’s  tonsrne-^ 
Samuel  Butler,  “ Upon  Modern  Critics* 

Worms,  in  Germany,  according  to 
tradition,  is  so  called  from  the  Lindwurm 
or  dragon  slain  by  Siegfried  under  the 
linden  tree. 

Yet  more  I knov^of  Siegfried  that  well  your  ear 
may  hold. 

Beneath  the  linden  tree  he  slew  tfie  dragon  bold  ; 
Then  in  its  blood  he  bathed  him,  which  turned  1o 
horn  his  skin. 

So  now  no  weapon  harms  him.  as  oft  hath  proven 
been.  JSfioe'ungen,”  st.  104. 

Worse  than  a Crime,  it  was  a 
Blunder.  Said  by  Talleyrand  of  the 
murder  of  the  due  d’Enghien  by  Na- 
poleon 1. 


WORSHIP. 


WRANGLER. 


967 


"Wor'ship  means  state  or  condition 
of  worth,  hence  the  term  his  worship,” 
meaning  his  worthyship.  Thou  shalt 
have  worship  in  the  presence  of  them  that 
sit  at  meat  with  thee”  (Luke  xiv.  10) 
means  ^^Thou  shalt  have (value 
or  appreciation).”  In  the  marriage  service 
the  man  says  to  the  woman,  “ With  my 
body  I thee  worship,  and  with  all  my 
worldly  goods  I thee  endow”— that  is,  I 
confer  on  you  my  rank  and  dignities,  and 
endow  you  with  my  wealth  ; the  worth- 
ship  attached  to  my  person  I share  with 
you,  and  the  wealth  which  is  mine  is 
thine  also. 

Never  worship  the  gods  unshod.  So 
taught  Pythagoras,  and  he  meant  in  a 
careless  and  slovenly  m.anner.  {See 
lamblichus,  Pro trep tics,  Symbol  III.” 

Worsted.  Yarn  or  thread  made  of 
wool;  so  called  from  Worsted  in  Nor- 
folk, now  a village,  but  once  a large 
market-town  with  at  least  as  many  thou- 
sand inhabitants  as  it  now  contains  hun- 
dreds. — Camden, 

Wor'lliies.  The  Nine  Worthies. 

Three  Gentiles : Hector,  Alexander, 
and  Julius  Csesar. 

Three  'Jews : Joshua,  David,  and  Judas 
Maccabaeus. 

Three  Christians  : Arthur,  Charle- 
magne, and  Godfrey  of  Bouillon. 

The  Nine  Worthies  of  London. 

(1)  Sir  William  Walworth,  who  stabbed 
Wat  Tyler  the  rebel.  Sir  William  was 
twice  lord  mayor.  (1374-1380.) 

(2)  SirHen'i'y  Pritchard,  who  welcomed 
Edward  III.  on  his  return  from  France 
with  5,000  followers,  and  then  enter- 
tained him  at  a banquet.  (1356.) 

(3)  Sir  William  Sevenohe,  who  fought 
wuth  the  Dauphin  of  France,  built  twenty 
almshouses  and  a free  school.  (1418.) 

(4)  Sir  Thomas  White,  a philanthropic 
mayor  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary. 

(5)  Sir  John  Bonham,  entrusted  with  a 
valuable  cargo  for  the  Danish  market, 
and  made  commander  of  the  army  raised 
to  stop  the  progress  of  the  great  Soly- 
man. 

(6)  Christopher  Croher.  Famous  at  the 
siege  of  Bordeaux,  and  companion  of  the 
Black  Prince  when  he  aided  don  Pedro 
to  the  throne  of  Castile. 

(7)  Sir  John  Ilavolcwood.  One  of  the 
Black  Prince’s  knights,  and  immortalised 


in  Italian  history  as  “Giovanni  Acuti 
Cavaliero.” 

(8)  Sir  Hugh  Caverley.  Famous  for 
ridding  Poland  of  a monstrous  bear. 

(9)  Sir  Henry  Maleverer,  generally 
called  “ Henry  of  Comhall,”  who  lived 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  He  was  a 
crusader,  and  became  the  guardian  of 
“Jacob’s  Well.” 

The  chronicle  of  these  worthies  is  told 
in  a mixture  of  prose  and  verse  by  Richard 
Johnson,  author  of  “The  Seven  Cham- 
pions of  Christendom  ” (1592). 

Wound.  Bind  the  wound  and  grease 
the  weapon.  This  is  a Rosicrucian  maxim. 
These  early  physicians  applied  salve  to 
the  weapon,  instead  of  to  the  wound, 
under  the  notion  of  a magical  reflex 
action.  SirKenelrn  Digby  quotes  several 
anecdotes  to  prove  this  sympathetic  ac^ 
tion. 

Wraburn  {Eugene).  A gentleman 
who  pays  attention  to  Lucy  Hexham. 
Headstone,  a village  schoolmaster,  way- 
lays him,  and  almost  murders  him  out  of 
jealousy.  Lucy  nurses  him  throughout 
his  illness,  and  ultimately  becomes  his 
wife. — Charles  Dickens,  “ Our  Mutual 
Friend.*^ 

Wra'itll.  The  spectral  appearance 
of  a person  shortly  about  to  die.  It 
appears  to  persons  at  a distance,  and 
forewarns  them  of  the  event. — Highland 
superstition. 

Wrangler,  in  Cambridge  phrase,  is 
one  who  has  obtained  a place  in  the 
highest  mathematical  honour-class.  The 
first  man  of  this  class  is  termed  the  senior 
wrangler ; the  rest  are  arranged  accord- 
ing to  respective  merit,  and  are  called 
second,  third,  fourth,  &c.,  wrangler,  as  it 
may  be.  In  the  middle  ages,  when 
letters  were  first  elevated  to  respecta- 
bility in  modern  Europe,  college  exercises 
were  called  disputations,  and  those  who 
performed  them  disputants,  because  the 
main  part  consisted  in  pitting  two  men 
together,  one  to  argue  pro  and  the  other 
con.  In  the  law  and  theological  “schools” 
this  is  still  done  for  the  bachelor’s  and 
doctor’s  degrees.  The  exercise  of  nn  op- 
ponent is  oalled  an  opponency.  Wrang- 
ling is  a word-battle  carried  on  by  tivisL 
ing  words  and  trying  to  obfuscate  an 
opponent — a most  excellent  term  for  the 
disputations  of  schoolmen.  Tfie  oppo- 


968 


WRAXEN. 


WYOMING. 


/ 


nency  begins  with  a thesis  or  essay,  which 
means  ‘throwing  down  the  gauntlet,” 
from  the  Greek  tithe'mi  (setting  together 
by  the  ears). 

Wrax'en.  Overstretched,  strained, 
rank.  They  go  to  school  all  the  weelc,  and 
get  ivraxen.  The  weeds  are  quite  ivraxen. 
The  child  fell  and  wraxed  his  anile. 
(Danish,  vrante,  peevish,  cross  ; Saxon, 
wr(£can^  allied  to  lorecl  and  break.) 

Wright  of  !N’orwieh.  Do  yon 
know  Dr.  Wright  of  Norwich  ? A reproof 
given  to  a person  who  stops  the  decanter 
at  dinner.  Dr.  Wright,  of  Norwich,  was 
a great  diner-out  and  excellent  talker. 
When  a person  stops  the  bottle  and 
is  asked  this  question,  it  is  as  much  as  to 
say,  Dr.  Wright  had  the  privilege  of  doing 
so  because  he  entertained  the  table  with 
his  conversation,  but  you  are  no  Dr. 
Wright  except  in  stopping  the  circula- 
tion of  the  wine. 

A similar  reproof  is  given  in  the  Uni- 
versities in  this  way  : The  bottle-stopper 
is  asked  if  he  knows  A or  B {any  name)^ 
and  after  several  queries  as  to  who  A or 
B is,  the  questioner  says  “ He  was 
hanged,”  and  being  asked  what  for,  re- 
plies For  stopping  the  bottle.” 

Wrong.  The  king  or  queen  can  do  no 
wrong. 

It  sterns  incredible  that  we  should  have  to  remind 
lord  Redesdale  ti.at  the  sovereivn  “ can  rio  no  wrong,” 
simply  because  the  sovereign  can  do  nothing  except 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  ministers 
of  tlie  crown.— The  Times. 

Wr  onglie  ad  {Sir  Francis'),  of  Bumper 
Hall.  A country  squire  who  became 
member  of  Parliament  for  the  borough 
of  Guzzledown,  under  the  hope  of  meud- 
ing  his  fortune,  ‘‘  which  was  a little  out 
of  elbows,”  by  obtaining  a post  under 
Government.  He  came  to  London  with 
an  extravagant  wife  and  silly  daughter, 
who  ran  him  into  frightful  expenses, 
and  would  both  have  been  ruined  if  a 
relative  named  Manly  had  not  befriended 
them.  — Vanbriigh  and  Cibber,  The 
Provoked  Husband.’^ 

Wul-wulleh.  The  death-song  of 
the  Turkish  women. 

Wulstan  {St.).  A Saxon  bishop  of 
Worcester,  who  received  his  see  from 
Edward  the  Confessor.  Being  accused 
of  certain  offences,  and  ordered  to  resign 
his  see,  he  planted  his  crozier  in  the  shrine 


of  the  Confessor,  declaring  if  any  of  his 
accusers  could  draw  it  out  he  would 
submit  to  resign  ; as  no  one  could  do  so 
but  St.  Wulstan  himself,  his  innocence 
was  universally  admitted.  This  sort  of 

miracle”  is  one  of  the  most  common 
of  legendary  wonders. 

Wunderberg  or  IJnderbeg,  on  the 
great  moor  near  Salzberg,  the  chief  haunt 
of  the  Wild- women.  It  is  said  to  he  quite 
hollow,  and  contains  churches,  gardens, 
and  cities.  Here  is  Charles  V.  with  crown 
and  sqeptre,  lords  and  knights.  His  grey 
beard  has  twice  encompassed  the  table 
at  which  he  sits,  and  when  it  has  grown 
long  enough  to  go  a third  time  round  it 
Antichrist  will  appear. — German  super- 
stition. 

Wursum.  Full  of  pus  or  matter. 
A corruption  of  the  Saxon  wurmslg,  full 
of  pus,  suppurated. 

Wyn-monatll  (Wme-month).  The 
Ang*lo-Saxon  name  for  October,  the 
month  for  treading  the  wine-vats.  In 
Domesday  Book  the  vineyards  are  per- 
petually mentioned. 

Wynd.  Every  man  for  his  own 
hand,  as  Henry  Wynd  fought.  Every 
man  for  himself ; every  man  seeks  his 
own  advantage.  When  the  feud  between 
Clan  Chattan  and  Clan  Kay  was  decided 
by  deadly  combat  on  the  North  Inch  of 
Perth,  one  of  the  men  of  Clan  Chattan 
deserted,  and  Henry  Wynd,  a bandy- 
legged smith,  volunteered  for  half-a- 
crown  to  supply  his  place.  After  killing 
one  man  he  relaxed  in  his  efforts,  and 
on  being  asked  why,  replied,  ‘^I  have 
done  enough  for  half-a-crown.”  He  was 
promised  wages  according  to  his  deserts, 
and  fought  bravely.  After  the  battle 
he  was  asked  what  he  fought  for,  and 
gave  for  answer  that  he  fought  “ for 
his  own  hand;”  whence  the  proverb. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  Tales  of  a Grand- 
fathei^ffi^Yii. 

■Wyo'ming  (3  syl.).  In  1778  a force 
of  British  provincials  and  Indians,  led  by 
Colonel  Butler,  drove  the  settlers  out  of 
the  valley,  and  queen  Esther  tomahawked 
fourteen  of  the  fugitives  with  her  own 
hand,  in  revenge  of  her  son’s  death. 
Campbell  has  founded  his  Gertrude  of 
Wyoming”  on  this  disaster,  but  erro- 
neously makes  Brandt  leader  of  the 
expedition. 


X. 


YACOUB. 


X 

X on  beer-casks  indicates  beer  which 
had  to  pay  ten  shillings  duty,  and  hence 
it  came  to  mean  beer  of  a given  quality. 
Two  or  three  crosses  are  mere  trade- 
marks, intended  to  convey  the  notion  of 
twice  or  thrice  as  strong  as  that  which 
pays  ten  shillings  duty. 

Xamabu'gis.  Bonzes  of  Japan, 
who  serve  as  guides  to  the  pilgrims 
across  the  deserts. 

Xan^adu.  A city  mentioned  in  the 

Kubla  Khan”  of  Coleridge.  This  poem 
isborrowed  from  Purchas’s  “Pilgrimage,” 
where  the  city  is  called  Xaindu. 

Xan'gi.  The  supreme  governor  of 
heaven  and  eaith. — Chinese  mythology. 

Xan'tlios  (I'edclish  yellow).  Achilles’ 
wonderful  horse.  Being  chid  by  his 
master  for  leaving  Patroclos  on  the  field 
of  battle,  the  horse  turned  his  head  re- 
proachfully, and  told  Achilles  that  he 
also  would  soon  be  numbered  with  the 
dead,  not  from  any  fault  of  his  horse, 
but  by  the  decree  of  inexorable  destiny. — 

Iliad”  xix.  {Compare  Numbers  xxii. 
28-30.) 

Xanthos  and  Balios  (swift  as  the 
wind)  were  the  offspring  of  Podarge  the 
harpy  and  Zephuros. 

Xanthos,  the  river  of  Troas.  Elian  and 
Pliny  say  that  H-omer  called  the  Sca- 
mander  ‘^Xanthos”  or  the  ‘^Gold-red 
Biver,”  because  it  coloured  with  such  a 
tinge  the  fleeces  of  sheep  washed  in  its 
waters.  Others  maintain  that  it  was  so 
called  because  a hero  named  Xanthos 
defeated  a body  of  Trojans  on  its  banks, 
and  pushed  half  of  them  into  the  stream, 
as  in  the  battle  of  Blenheim  the  duke  of 
Marlborough  drove  the  French  into  the 
Danube. 

Xanthus.  A large  shell  like  those  as- 
cribed to  the  Tritons.  The  volutes 
generally  run  from  right  to  left ; and  if 
the  Indians  find  a shell  with  the  volutes 
running  in  the  contrary  direction,  they 
persist  that  one  of  their  gods  has  got 
into  the  shell  for  concealment. 

Xantip'pe  or  Xanthip'pe  (3  syl.). 
Wife  of  the  philosopher  Socrates.  Her 
bad  temper  has  rendered  her  name  pro- 
verbial for  a conjugal  scold. 

lie  she  as  foul  as  was  Florentias’  love. 

As  old  as  Sybil,  and  as  curst  and  shrewd 
As  Socrates’  Xantippe,  or  a worse, 

She  moves  me  not. 

Sh  kespeare,  “ Taming  of  the  Shrew,"  i.  2. 


Xenoe'rates.  A disciple  of  Plato, 
noted  for  his  continence  and  contempt 
of  wealth,  (b.c.  396-314.) 

Warmed  by  such  youthful  beauty,  the  severe 
Xeuocrates  would  not  have  more  been  chaste. 

Orlando  Furioso,’'  xi.  8. 

Xerx'es  (2  syl.).  A^Greek  way  of 
writing  the  Persian  Ksathra  or  Kshatra, 
a royal  title  assumed  by  Isfundear,  son 
of  Gushtasp,  daraivesh.  {See  Darius.) 

When  Xerxes  invaded  Greece  he  con- 
.structed  a pontoon  bridge  across  the 
Dardanelles,  which  being  swept  away  by 
the  force  of  the  waves,  so  enraged  the 
Persian  despot  that  he  inflicted  three 
hundred  lashes  on  the  rebellious  sea,  and 
cast  chains  of  iron  across  it.”  This  story 
is  probably  a Greek  myth,  founded  on  the 
peculiar  construction  of  Xerxes’  second 
bridge,  which  consisted  of  three  hundred 
boats,  lashed  by  iron  chains  to  two 
ships  serving  as  supporters.  As  for  the 
scourging,  without  doubt  it  was  given  to 
the  engineers  and  not  to  the  waves. 

Xime'na.  The  Cid’s  bride. 

Xin.  The  good  genii  of  China. 

Xit.  Koyal  dwarf  to  Edward  VI. 

Xit'ragup'ten.  The  secretary  of 
the  infernal  gods,  whose  office  it  is  to 
register  every  action  of  man  from  birth 
to  death.  When  any  one  dies  this  re- 
cording angel  opens  the  register  to  ascer- 
tain the  balance  of  merits  and  demerits, 
and  the  deceased  is  awarded  his  place  in 
‘^after-life”  accordingly. — Indian  my- 
thology. 

Xoar'ca^m.  The  first  of  the  five 
paradises  of  the  Indians.  It  is  the  abode 
of  thirty-three  millions  of  the  gods  and 
forty-eight  millions  of  penitents.  The 
president  of  this  celestial  abode  is  De- 
van dire  n. 

Xtl'ry.  A Moresco  boy,  servant  to 
Robinson  Crusoe. — De  Foe,  Robinson 
Crusoe.” 


Y 

Y.  A letter  resembling  “ y ” was  the 
Anglo-Saxon  character  for  th  (soft) ; 
hence  the  expression  ye,  yt,  ys,  &c.,  for 
the,  that,  this. 

Y.  See  Samian  {letter). 

Ya'coub  ebn  La'itli,  surnamed  al 
Soffar  (the  brazier),  because  his  father 
followed  that  trade  in  Seistan,  was  cap 


970 


YA.CU.MAMA. 


YELLOW  AND  GOLD. 


tain  of  a bandit  troop,  raised  himself  to 
the  sovereignty  of  Persia,  and  was  the  first 
independent  monarch  of  that  country  of 
the  Mahometan  faith.  (873-875.) 

Yaeu-mama  (mother  of  waters).  A 
fabulous  sea-snake,  fifty  paces  long  and 
twelve  yards  in  girth,  said  to  lurk  in 
the  lagunes  of  South  America,  and  in 
the  river  Amazon.  This  monster  draws 
into  its  mouth  whatever  passes  within 
a hundred  yards  of  it,  and  for  this 
reason  an  Indian  will  never  venture  to 
enter  an  unknown  lagune  till  he  has 
blown  his  horn,  which  the  yacu-mama 
never  fails  to  answer  if  it  is  within  hear- 
ing. By  this  means  the  danger  appre- 
hended is  avoided.  —Dr.  Hartwig. 

Ya'lioo.  A savage;  a very  ill-man- 
nered person.  In  Gulliver’s  Travels,” 
the  Yahoos  are  described  as  brutes  with 
human  forms  and  vicious  propensities. 
They  are  subject  to  the  Houyhnhnms, 
or  horses  with  human  reason. 

Ya'ma.  Judge  of  departed  souls, 
the  iMinos  of  the  Hindus.  He  is  repre- 
sented as  of  a green  colour,  and  sits  on 
a buffalo. 

Yajinuna.  A sacred  river  of  the 
Hindus,  supposed  by  them  to  have  the 
efficacy  of  removing  sin. 

Yankee.  A corruption  of  English.” 
The  word  got  into  general  use  thus  : 
In  1713  one  Jonathan  Hastings,  a farmer 
at  Cambridge  in  New  York,  used  the 
word  as  a puffing  epithet,  meaning 
genuine,  American-made,  what  cannot 
be  surpassed,  &c.,  as  a ‘^Yankee  horse,” 

Yankee  cider,”  and  so  on.  The  stu- 
dents of  the  college,  catching  up  the 
terra,  called  Hastings  Yankee  Jona- 
than.” It  soon  spread,  and  became  the 
jocose  pet  name  of  the  New  Englander. 
Since  then  the  term  has  been  extended 
to  any  American  of  the  Northern  States. 
(Indian  corruption  of  Anglais  or  Eng- 
lish, thus : YengeeSj  Yenghis,  YangkiSj 
Yankees. ) 

Yankee  Doodle  is  Nankee  Doodle 
(Oliver  Cromwell),  who  went  to  Oxford 
^^with  a single  feather  fastened  in  a 
macaroni  knot,”  whence  the  rhyme  — 

Nankee  Doodle  came  to  town  upon  Ins  little  pony, 
Stuck  a featjtiei*  in  his  hat,  and  called  it  macaroni. 

The  brigade  under  lord  Percy  marched 
out  of  Boston  playing  this  air  ‘‘  by  way 
of  contempt,”  but  were  told  they  should 


dance  to  it  soon  in  another  spirit.  It  is 
said  that  the  Persians  call  the  Americans 
Yanki  doon'iah. 

Yar'mouth  Bloater.  A red  her- 
ring, for  which  Yarmouth  is  very  famous. 
— ^^Lex  Balatronicum.^^  (^See  Capon.) 

Yawn.  Greek  cliaino,  German 
gahnen^  Saxon  gynian  (pron.  ivyan),  our 
yavm. 

Yea,  Yes.  Yea  and  nay  are  in 
answer  to  questions  framed  in  the  affirm- 
ative, as — ‘‘Art  thou  a prophet?”  Yea 
or  nay.  Yes  and  no  to  questions  framed 
in  the  negative,  as— “Art  thou  not  a 
prophet  ?”  Yes  or  no. — George  P.  Marsh, 

Lectures  on  the  English  Language.^’  {See 
his  note  on  the  celebrated  passage  of 
Sir  Thomas  More,  who  rebukes  Tyndale 
for  using  no  instead  of  nay,  p.  422.) 

Year.  Aoi^nts  Magnus.  The  Chal- 
daic  astronomers  observed  that  the  fixed 
stars  shift  their  places  at  about  the  rate 
of  a degree  in  seventy-two  years,  ac- 
cording to  which  calculation  they  will 
perform  one  revolution  in  25,920  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  they  will  return 
to  their  “as  you  were.”  This  revolution 
of  the  fixed  stars  is  the  “Annus  Magnus.” 
The  Egyptians  made  it  30,000  years, 
and  the  Arabians  49,000.  (^Sce  Abul- 
hasan’s  “Meadows  of  Gold.”) 

^ For  a year  and  a day.  In  law  many 
acts  are  determined  by  this  period  of 
time:  g.e.,  if  a person  wounded  does  not 
die  within  a year  and  a day,  the  offender 
is  not  guilty  of  murder  ; if  an  owner 
does  not  claim  an  estray  within  the  same 
length  of  time,  it  belongs  to  the  lord  of 
the  manor ; a year  and  a day  is  given 
to  prosecute  appeals,  &c. 

Yellow  and  Gold.  Saxon  geolo 
(yellow),  Italian  giallo,  Old  German 
gelo,  or  gel,  Danish  guul,  Icelandic  gull^ 
our  gold  (yellow  metal). 

Yellow  indicates  jealousy,  inconstancy, 
and  adultery.  In  France  the  doors  of 
traitors  used  to  be  daubed  with  yellow. 
In  some  countries  the  law  ordains  that 
Jews  be  clothed  in  yellow,  because  they 
betrayed  our  Lord.  Judas  in  medkeval 
pictures  is  arrayed  in  yellow.  In  Spain 
the  vestments  of  the  executioner  are 
either  red  or  yellow — the  former  to  in- 
dicate blood-shedding,  and  the  latter 
treason. 

Yellow  in  blazonry  is  gold,  the  symbol 
of  love,  constancy,  and  wisdom. 


YELLOW  BOOK. 


YGGDRASIL. 


971 


Yellow  in  Christian  syrnholism,  also 
gold,  is  emblematical  of  faith.  St. 
Peter  is  represented  in  a robe  of  a golden 
yellow  colour.  In  China  yellow  is  also 
the  symbol  of  faith. 

Yellow  Book  of  France.  A report 
drawn  up  by  government  every  year 
since  1861,  designed  to  furnish  historians 
with  reliable  information  of  the  state, 
external  and  internal,  of  the  French 
nation.  It  is  called  Yellow  from  the 
colour  of  its  cover. 

Yellow  Caps.  A notable  insurrec- 
tion in  China,  in  the  reign  of  Ilan-ling-tee 
(163-189),  headed  by  Tchang-keo,  and  so 
called  from  the  caps  worn  by  the  rebels, 
which  were  all  of  the  imperial  colour. 

Yellow  Dwarf.  A certain  queen 
had  a daughter  named  All-Fair,  of  in- 
comparable beauty.  One  day  the  queen 
went  to  consult  the  Desert-Fairy,  but 
being  weary  lay  down  to  rest,  and  fell 
asleep.  On  waking  she  saw  two  lions 
approaching,  and  was  greatly  terrified. 
At  this  juncture  the  Yellow  Dwarf 
arrested  her  attention,  and  promised  to 
save  her  from  the  lions,  if  she  would 
consent  to  give  him  All-Fair  for  his 
bride.  The  queen  made  the  promise, 
and  an  orange  tree  opened,  into  which 
the  queen  entered  and  escaped  the  lions. 
The  queen  now  sickened,  and  All-Fair 
went  to  consult  the  Desert-Fairy,  but 
like  her  mother  was  threatened  by  the 
lions,  and  promised  to  be  the  dwarfs 
bride  if  he  would  contrive  her  escape. 
Next  morning  she  awoke  in  her  own 
room,  and  found  on  her  finger  a ring 
made  of  a single  red  hair,  which  could 
not  be  got  off.  The  princess  now 
sickened,  and  the  States  resolved  to 
give  her  in  marriage  to  the  powerful 
king  of  the  Gold  Mines.  On  the  day  of 
espousals  the  Yellow  Dwarf  came  to 
claim  his  bride,  carried  her  off  on 
his  Spanish  cat,  and  confined  her  in 
Steel  Castle.  In  the  meantime  the 
Desert  Fairy  made  the  king  of  the  Gold 
Mines  her  captive.  One  day  a mer- 
maid appeared  to  the  captive  king,  car- 
ried him  to  Steel  Castle,  and  gave  him 
a sword  made  of  one  entire  diamond. 
Thus  armed,  the  king  went  in  and  was 
first  encountered  by  four  sphinxes,  then 
by  six  dragons,  then  by  twenty-four 
nymphs.  All  these  he  slew  with  the  syren 
sword,  and  then  came  to  the  princess. 
Here  he  dropped  his  sword,  which  the 


Yellow  Dwarf  took  possession  of.  The 
Yellow  Dwarf  now  made  the  king  his 
captiye,  and  asked  if  he  would  give  up 
the  princess.  No,”  said  the  king  ; 
whereupon  the  dwarf  stabbed  him  to  the 
heart ; and  the  princess,  seeing  him  fall, 
threw  herself  upon  the  dead  body  and 
died  also. — Countess  1)' Anois^  Fairy 
Tales.’’^ 

Yellow  Jack.  The  flag  displayed 
from  lazarettos,  naval  hospitals,  and 
vessels  in  quarantine.  {See  Uwioisi  Jack.  ) 

Yel'lowley  {Mr.  Triptolemus).  The 
experimental  agriculturist. — Sir  Walter 
Scott j ^^The  Pirate.” 

Mistress  Baby  [Barbara]  Yelloivley. 
Sister  of  Mr.  Triptolemus,  and  his  house- 
keeper. 

Old  Jaspar  Yelloivley.  Father  of  the 
above. 

Ye'meil.  Arabia  Felix.  Felix  is  a 
mistranslation  by  Ptolemy  of  Yemen, 
which  means  to  the  ‘‘right” — i.e.,  of 
Mecca.  {See  Stony  Arabia.) 

Beautiful  are  the  maids  ti'at  glide 
On  summer-eves  tlirough  Yemen’s  dales. 

Thom  is  Moore,  “ Fire-  Worshippers.** 

Y e t h. -H  o u n d s.  Dogs  without 
heads,  said  to  be  the  spirits  of  unbap- 
tised children,  which  ramble  among  the 
woods  at  night,  making  wailing  noises. 
— Devonshire. 

Yezd  (1  syl.).  Chief  residence  of 
the  Fire-worshippers.  Stephen  says 
they  have  kept  the  sacred  fire  alight 
above  3,000  years,  without  suffering  it 
to  go  out  for  a second.  The  sacred  fire 
is  on  the  mountain  AterQuedah(J/a?ZMo;i 
of  the  Fire),  and  he  who  dies  away  from 
the  mountain  is  deemed  unfortunate. — • 
Persia. 

From  Yczd's  eternal  “ Mansion  of  the  Fire,” 
Where  aged  saints  in  dreams  of  heaven  expire. 

Thomas  Moore,  " Lalla  Rookh,”  pt.  i. 

Ygg'drasiP.  The  ash -tree  which 
binds  together  heaven,  earth,  and  helL 
Its  branches  spread  over  the  whole  world 
and  reach  above  the  heavens.  Its  roots 
run  in  three  directions : one  to  the  A.sa 
gods  in  heaven,  one  to  the  Fro.st-giants, 
and  the  third  to  the  under-world.  Under 
each  root  is  a fountain  of  wonderful 
virtues.  In  the  tree,  which  drops  honey, 
sit  an  eagle,  a squirrel,  and  four  stags. 
At  the  root  lies  the  serpent  Nithhoggr 
gnawing  it,  while  the  squirrel  Patatdskr 
runs  up  and  down  to  sow  strife  betw'een 
the  eagle  at  the  top  and  the  serpent. --- 
Scandinavian  mythology. 


972 


YMin, 


YOUNG  ITALY. 


Y'mir.  The  personification  of  Chaos, 
or  the  first  created  being,  produced  by 
the  antagonism  of  heat  and  cold.«  He 
is  called  a giant,  and  was  nourished  by 
the  four  milky  streams  which  flowed 
from  the  cow  Aedhumda.  While  he 
slept,  a man  and  woman  grew  out  of  his 
left  arm,  and  sons  from  his  feet.  Thus 
was  generated  the  race  of  the  frost-giants 
{Urimthursar), 

Odin  and  his  two  brothers  slew  Ymir, 
and  threw  his  carcase  into  the  Ginnun'ga- 
gap  (abyss  of  abysses),  when  his  blood 
formed  the  water  of  the  earth,  his  gore 
the  ocean,  his  bones  the  mountains,  his 
teeth  the  rocks,  his  skull  the  heavens, 
his  brains  the  clouds,  his  hair  plants  of 
every  kind,  and  his  eyebrows  the  wall 
of  defence  against  the  giants. — Scan- 
dinavian mythology. 

Yn'iol.  An  earl  of  decayed  fortune, 
father  of  Enid,  ousted  from  his  earldom 
by  his  nephew  Ed'yrn,  son  of  Nndd, 
called  the  ‘‘Sparrow-hawk.”  When 
Edyrn  was  overthrown  in  single  combat 
by  prince  Geraint',  he  was  compelled  to 
restore  the  earldom  to  Yn'iol.—  Tennyson, 
'‘‘Idyls  of  the  King'^  (Enid). 

Yo'ke  (1  syl.).  Greek  zugon,  Latin 
jugum,  French  joug,  Dutch  juk,  German 
‘joch,  Saxon  geoc  (pron.  yoc),  our  yoke,  &g. 

To  pass  under  the  yoke.  To  suffer  the 
disgrace  of  a vanquished  army.  The 
Romans  made  a yoke  of  three  spears— 
two  upright  and  one  resting  on  them. 
When  an  army  was  vanquished,  the  sol- 
diers had  to  lay  down  their  arms  and 
pass  under  this  archway  of  spears. 

Yor'ick.  The  King’s  jester,  “a 
fellow  of  infinite  jest  and  most  excellent 
fancy”  (“  Hamlet,”  v.  1).  In  “Tristram 
Shandy,”  Sterne  introduces  a clergyman 
of  that  name,  meant  for  himself. 

York,  when  it  was  Saxon,  was  called 
Effroc,  and  the  legend  is  that  a duke 
of  Effroc  being  drowned  at  the  foot  of 
the  wall  caused  this  name  to  be  given 
to  the  city.  Southwark  Wall  was  also 
called  the  Effroc  Wall  or  Stone. — Victor 
Hugo,  “H Homme  qui  Rxtf  pt.  II.,  bk. 
iii.  I. 

York  is  Eure-wic  (pron.  Yorric),  and 
means  the  town  on  the  Eure,  now  called 
the  Ouse.  The  Romans  Latinised  the 
word  Eure  or  Evre  into  “Evora”  or 
“Ebora,”  and  wic  into  “ vicum;”  whence 


Ebora-vicum,  contracted  into  Elor'acum, 
The  Saxons  restored  the  older  word. 

York  Stairs  (London),  by  Inigo 
Jones.  The  only  remains  left  of  the 
splendid  mansion  of  the  Buckinghams. 
The  site  is  part  of  the  precincts  of  a 
palace  belonging  to  the  bishops  of  Nor- 
wich. It  then  passed  to  Charles  Brandon, 
duke  of  Suffolk,  then  to  the  archbishops 
of  York,  then  to  the  crown,  then  to  the 
duke  of  Buckingham,  who  rebuilt  it. 
The  second  duke  of  Buckingham  pulled  it 
down,  and  converted  it  intothe  five  streets, 
&c.,  called  respectively,  “George,”  “ Vil- 
liers,”  “Duke,”  “Of,”  “Buckingham.” 
The  gate  leading  to  the  Thames  is  the 
only  part  of  this  mansion  which  remains. 

Yorkshire.  Tse  Yorkshire  too.  I 
am  as  deep  as  you  are,  and  am  not  to 
be  bamboozled.  The  north-countrymen 
are  proverbially  “long-headed  and  can- 
nie.”  A tale  is  told  of  a Yorkshire  rustic 
under  cross-examination.  The  counsel 
tried  to  make  fun  of  him,  and  said  to 
him,  “ Well,  farmer,  how  go  calves  at 
York?”  “Well,  sir,”  said  the  farmer, 
“on  four  legs,  and  not  on  two.”  “Si- 
lence in  the  court ! ” cried  the  baffled  big- 
wig, and  tried  again.  “Now,  farmer — 
remember  you  are  on  your  oath— are 
there  as  many  fools  as  ever  in  the  West 
Riding?”  “Well,  no,  sir,  no;  we’ve 
got  our  share,  no  doubt ; but  there  are 
not  so  many  as  when  you  were  there.” 

Young  Chevalier.  Charles 
Edward  Stuart,  the  second  Pretender. 
(1720-1780.) 

Young  England.  A set  of  young 
noblemen  and  aristocratic  gentlemen 
who  tried  to  revive  the  formality  and 
court  manners  of  the  Chesterfield  school. 
They  wore  white  waistcoats,  patronised 
the  pet  poor,  looked  down  upon  shop- 
keepers, and  were  altogether  Red-Tape 
Knights.  Disraeli  has  immortalised 
their  ways  and  manners,  but  scarcely  a 
capid  mortuum  of  their  folly  now  remains. 

Young  Germany.  A literary 
school  headed  by  Heinrich  Heine,  whose 
aim  was  to  liberate  politics,  religion,  and 
manners  from  the  old  conventional 
trammels. 

Young  Italy.  A league  of  Italian 
refugees,  who  associated  themselves  with 
the  French  republican  party,  called  the 
Charhonnerie  Democratigue  (q.v.).  It  was 


YSOLDE. 


YVETOT. 


973 


organised  at  Marseilles  by  Mazzini,  and 
its  chief  object  was  to  diffuse  republican 
principles. 

Ysolde  or  Ysonde.  Daughter  of  the 
queen  of  Ireland.  Sir  Tristram,  being 
wounded,  was  cured  by  Ysolde,  and  on 
bis  return  to  Cornwall  gave  his  uncle 
such  a glowing  description  of  the  young 
princess,  that  he  sent  to  ask  her  hand  in 
marriage.  Ysolde  married  king  Mark  of 
Cornwall,  but  entertained  a criminal  pas- 
sion for  the  nephew.  This  attachment 
being  discovered  by  the  king,  he  banished 
Tristram  from  Corn  walk  Sir  Tristram 
went  to  Wales,  where  he  performed 
prodigies  of  valour,  and  his  uncle  im 
vited  him  back  again.  The  guilty  inter- 
course being  repeated,  Sir  Tristram  was 
banished  a second  time,  and  went  to 
Spain,  Ermonie,  and  Brittany.  In  this 
last  place  he  met  with  Ysolt  of  the  White 
Hand,  daughter  of  the  duke  of  Brittany, 
whom  he  married.  After  many  mar- 
vellous exploits  he  was  severely  wounded^ 
and,  being  told  that  no  one  could  cure 
him  but  Ysolde,  he  sent  a messenger 
to  Cornwall,  and  told  him  if  the  queen 
consented  to  accompany  him  he  was  to 
hoist  a white  flag.  The  queen  hastened 
to  succour  her  lover,  but  Ysolt  told  her 
husband  that  the  vessel  was  coming  with 
a hlach  sail  displayed.  Sir  Tristram,  in 
an  agony  of  despair,  fell  on  his  bod  and 
instantly  expired.  Soon  as  Ysolde  heard 
thereof,  she  flung  herself  on  the  corpse 
and  died  also.  King  Mark  buried  the 
two  in  one  grave,  and  planted  over  it 
a rose-bush  and  vine,  which  so  inter- 
mingled their  branches  as  they  grew  up 
that  no  man  could  separate  them. 

Ysolt  of  the  White  Hand.  Daughter 
of  the  duke  of  Brittany  and  wife  of  Sir 
Tristram.  {See  above.) 

Yue-Laou,  in  Chinese  mythology, 
is  the  old  man  of  the  moon,  who  unites 
with  a silken  cord  all  predestined 
couples,  after  which  nothing  can  pre- 
vent their  union. 

Yuga.  A mundane  period  of  years, 
four  of  which  have  already  passed, 
making  up  an  aggregate  of  four  million 
solar  years.  In  the  first  period  men 
were  innocen^  and  free  from  disease,  in 
the  second  their  life  was  shortened  by 
one-quarter.  In  the  first  period  devotion 
was  man’s  object,  in  the  second  spiritual 


hioidledge,  in  the  third  sacrifice.  Com- 
pare the  Hindu  legend  with  the  account 
given  in  Genesis. 

Yule  (1  syl.).  Christmastime.  The 
word  means  The  festival  of  the  Sun,*’ 
kept  at  the  winter  solstice,  when  the 
new  year  or  sun  was  ushered  in.  Odin, 
‘Hhe  sun,”  -was  called  Jul-vatter ” — 
i.e.,  Yule  father.  gehul,  ^Hhe 

Sun-feast;”  Danish,9’tmZ ; Swedish,  oel) 
with  the  article  ^^jf’  Breton,  heol,  the 
sun ; Welsh,  haul.) 

Yule-log.  A great  log  of  wood  laid 
in  ancient  times  across  the  hearth-fire 
on  Christmas  Eve.  This  was  done  with 
certain  ceremonies  and  much  merry- 
making. 

Yum'boes  (2  syl. ).  Fairies  of  African 
mythology,  about  two  feet  high,  of  a 
white  colour,  and  dressed  like  the  people 
of  Jaloff.  Their  favourite  haunt  is  the 
range  of  hills  called  The  Paps. 

When  evening’s  shades  o’er  Goree's  isle  extend, 

The  nimble  bumboes  from  “ The  Paps  ’ descend, 

Mily  approach  the  natives’  huts,  and  sieal 

With  secret  hand  the  pounded  coos-coos  meal. 

Keightley,  Fairy  Mythology.’’ 

Y^Ves,  St.  (1  syl.).  Patron  saint  of 
lawyers,  being  himself  a lawyer.  As  he 
used  his  knowledge  of  the  law  in  defend- 
ing the  oppressed,  he  is  called  in  Brittany 

The  poor  man’s  advocate.” 

Y'veto't  (pron.  Eve-to).  The  King 
of  Yvetot.  Yvetot  is  a town  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  the  king  referred  to  is  the 
lord  of  the  town,  called  roi  d' Yvetot 
in  old  chronicles.  The  tradition  is  that 
Clotaire,  son  of  Clovis,  having  slain 
Gaulthier,  lord  of  Yvetot,  before  the 
high  altar  of  Soissons,  made  atonement 
by  conferring  the  title  of  king  on  the 
heirs  of  the  murdered  man.  The  ^^Roi 
d’ Yvetot”  is  one  of  Beranger’s  most 
popular  songs.  He  says  the  king  of 
Yvetot  is  little  known  in  history;  he 
rose  late,  went  to  bed  early,  slept  with- 
out glory,  made  four  meals  a day  in  his 
tliatched  palace,  rode  on  an  ass  through 
his  domains,  and  his  only  code  was 
pleasure. 

II  6talt  un  roi  d’Yvetot 
Peu  connu  daus  Thistoire; 
ge  levant  tard,  pe  couchant,  tdt, 

Do-  mant  fort  bien  sans  gloire, 
Etcourcniie  par  Jeannet-m 
D’un  simple  bonnet  de  coton, 

Dit-on. 

Ob  ! oh  I oh  ! oh ! ali  ! ah ! ah ! flh  I 
Quel  bon  petit  roi  e’etait  la ! la ! a ! 

(.813 


974 


2LA.BIAN, 


ZELICA. 


Z 

Za'bian.  The  Zabian  world  of 
fashion.  The  world  of  fashion  that  wor- 
ships the  stars,  or  men  and  women  of 
notoriety.  A Zabian  is  a worshipper  of 
the  sun,  moon,  and  stars.  The  Chaldees 
and  ancient  Persians  were  Zabians. 

This  is  the  new  meteor,  admired  with  so  much 
devotion  by  the  Zabian  world  of  fashion.— £eiffrayia, 
^0. 1. 

Zaeliari'a.  One  of  the  three  Ana- 
baptists who  induced  John  of  Leyden 
to  join  the  revolt  in  Westphalia  and 
Holland.  John  was  proclaimed  ^Hhe 
Prophet-King.”  On  the  arrival  of  the 
emperor  with  his  army,  the  Anabaptists 
betray  their  dupe  ; but  when  they  enter 
the  banquet-hall  to  arrest  him,  perish  in 
the  burning  palace. — Meyerbeer,  Le 
Propkeie  {an  opera). 

Zacoc'ia.  King  of  Mozam'beo. 
Camoens,  in  his  ^^Lusiad,”  says  that  he 
received  Vasco  de  Gama  and  his  men 
with  great  hospitality,  believing  them 
to  be  Mahometans,  but  the  moment  he 
discovered  that  they  were  Christians  all 
his  kindness  turned  to  the  most  rancorous 
hate.  He  tried  to  allure  them  into  am- 
bush, but  failing  in  this,  sent  to  Gama  a 
pilot  to  conduct  the  fleet  to  Momba'ze  (2 
syl.),  where  the  whole  party  would  have 
been  killed  or  reduced  to  slavery.  This 
treachery  failed  also  because  Venus 
drove  the  fleet  in  a contrary  direction 
by  a storm.  The  faithless  pilot  lastly 
attempted  to  run  the  ships  upon  hidden 
rocks,  but  the  Nereids  came  to  the  rescue, 
and  the  pilot  threw  himself  into  the  sea  to 
escape  the  anger  of  the  Portuguese  ad- 
venturer.— Camoens,  ^^Lusiad,"'  bks.  i.,  ii. 

Zad'kiel  (3  syl. ) . Angel  of  the  planet 
J ufuter. — J eU'ish  mythology. 

Zadkiel.  The  nom  de  plume  of 
lieutenant  Morrison. 

Zo.dk lei.  The  pseudonym  of  a Mr. 
Smith  of  Derby,  author  of  the  ‘^Pro- 
phetic Almanac.” 

Za'doc,  in  Dryden’s  satire  of  “Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel,”  is  designed  for 
Bancroft,  archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

ZakarPja  ibn  Muhammed,  sur- 
named  Kaziuini^  from  Kaswin,  the  place 
of  his  birth.  De  Sacy  calls  him  “The 
Pliny  of  the  East.”  (1200-1283.) 

Zal.  Son  of  Sam  Neriman,  exposed 
on  Mount  Elburz,  because  he  was  born 
with  white  hair,  and  therefore  supposed 


to  be  the  offspring  of  a deer.  He  was 
brought  up  by  the  wonderful  bird 
Seemurgh  {q.v.),  and  when  claimed  by 
his  father,  received  from  the  foster-bird 
a feather  to  give  him  insight  into  fu- 
turity.—mythology. 

Za'nes.  The  statues  dispersed  about 
the  grounds  on  which  the  public  games 
of  Greece  were  celebrated.  They  were 
the  produce  of  fines  imposed  on  those 
who  infringed  the  regulations. 

Zano'ni.  Hero  of  a novel  so  called, 
by  lord  Lytton.  Zanoni  is  supposed  to 
possess  the  power  of  communicating  with 
spirits,  prolonging  life,  and  producing 
gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones. 

Zan'y,  more  correctly  Zanny.  It  is 
the  Latin  sanna  (a  grimace),  whence  the 
buffoon  in  the  Roman  mimes  was  called 
Sanuio,  changed  by  the  Italians  into 
Zanni. 

I take  these  modern  wise  men,  that  crow  so  at 
these  set  Kimi  of  fools,  no  better  than  the  fools’ 
zsi.u\Qs.— Shakespeare,  “ Twelfth  JVightf'  i.  5. 

Zaramilla.  Wife  of  Tinac'rio,  king 
of  Micomicon,  a hundred  days’  journey 
from  Lake  Meo'tis.  The  king  was  told 
that  hts  daughter  would  succeed  him, 
but  would  be  dethroned  by  the  giant 
Pandafilando,  and  would  flee  to  Spain, 
where  she  would  meet  a knight  to  redress 
her  wrongs.— Cei'vantes,  ‘^JJon  Quixote f 
bk.  iv.  3. 

Zayde.  A novel  by  Madame  La 
Fayette. 

Zel.  A Moorish  instrument  of  music. 

Where,  some  hours  since,  was  heard  the  swell 

Of  tiumpet,  and  the  clash  of  zel. 

Thomas  Moore,  '‘"Fire-Worshippersf' 

ZePica  was  in  love  with  Azim.  Azim 
left  his  native  Bokha'ra  to  join  the  Per- 
sian army,  and  was  taken  captive  by  the 
Greeks.  Report  said  “he  was  dead;” 
Zel'ica  lost  her  reason,  joined  the  haram 
of  the  Veiled  Prophet  as  “one  of  the 
elect  of  Paradise,”  and  became  “priestess 
of  the  Faith.”  When  Azim  joined  the 
prophet’s  band,  Zelica  was  appointed  to 
lure  him  to  his  destruction  both  of  body 
and  soul.  They  meet— Azim  tells  her 
to  fly  with  him,  but  she  tells  him  she  is 
the  prophet’s  bride,  and  flees  from  his 
embrace.  After  the  death  of  the  prophet 
Zelica  puts  on  his  veil,  and  Azim,  think- 
ing he  sees  the  prophet,  rushes  on  her 
and  kills  her. — Thomas  Moore,  ‘^Veiled 
Prophet  of  Khoruisanf 


ZELOTES. 


ZINEUKA. 


976 


Zelo'tes  (3  syl.)  or  Sicarii  were  pious 
assassins  among  the  Jews,  who  imposed 
on  themselves  the  task  of  killing  all  who 
broke  the  Mosaic  law. — Mishnah,  ^‘San- 
hedrim,'^ ix.  6. 

Simon  Zeloteslwas  probably  a disciple  of  Jurlas 
the  Gaulonite,  leader  of  a party  of  the  Kenaim 
‘Sicarii).— “ Life  of  Jesus,"  ix. 

Zem,  the  sacred  well  of  Mecca.  Ac- 
cording to  Arab  tradition,  this  is  the 
very  well  that  was  shown  to  Hagar  when 
Ishmael  Was  perishing  of  thirst.  Mecca 
is  built  round  it. 

Zen'chis  Khan  (greal  chief).  A title 
assumed  in  1206  by  Temoudiu,  a Persian 
rebel,  in  the  presence  of  100  tribes. 
His  progress  was  like  that  of  a destroying 
angel,  and  by  his  sword  Persia  became 
part  of  the  vast  Mogul  empire. 

Zend-Aves'ta.  The  great  work  of 
Zoroaster  or  rather  Zarathustra,  the 
Mede,  who  reformed  the  Magian  religion. 
It  is  the  Avesta  or  Living  Word,” 
written  in  the  Zend  language  (b.c.  490). 
Some  say  Zend  means  ^‘paraphrase,” 
and  that  Zend-Avesta  is  equivalent  to 
the  Parsee  Scripture  and  paraphrase  or 
commentary. 

Zenel'ophon,  a corruption  of  Fenel- 
ophon.  The  beggar-maid  loved  by  king 
Cophe'tua. 

The  magnanimous  and  most  illustrate  king 
Cophetua  set  eye  upon +he  pernicious  and  indubitable 
beggar  Zeaelophon.— /S'/iafcespeui’e,  "Love's  Lubi,ur's 
Lostpiv.  1. 

Zeplion  (searcher  of  secrets).  The 
cherub  dispatched  by  Gabriel  to  find 
Satan,  after  his  flight  from  hell.  Ithu'- 
riel  goes  with  him. — Milton,  “Paradise 
Lost." 

Zeph'yr.  The  west  wind,  the  son 
of  di'olus  and  AuroTa,  and  the  lover  of 
Flora. — Roman  mythology. 

Zerbi'no  (in  “ Orlando  Furioso  ”). 
Son  of  the  king  of  Scotland,  and  intimate 
friend  of  Orlando. 

Zerli'na.  A rustic  beauty  about  to 
be  married  to  Masetto,  when  Don  Gio- 
vanni practises  on  her  credulity,  and 
induces  her  to  believe  that  he  intended 
to  make  her  a fine  lady. — Mozart,  “Don 
Giovanni"  (an  opera). 

Zero.  The  0 in  arithmetic,  &c. 
Probably  ezoro,  an  Italian  form  of  the 
Hebrew  (a  girdle),  being  the  heraldic 
girdle  and  buc^e. 


Zeus  (1  syl.).  The  Grecian  Jupiter. 
The  word  means  the  “living  one.” 
(Sanskrit  Djaus,  heaven  ; Latin  Ju-piter, 
our  Tues-day.) 

Zeuxis  (2  syl.),  a Grecian  painter, 
is  said  to  have  painted  some  grapes  so 
well  that  the  birds  came  and  pecked  at 
them. 

E'en  as  poor  birds,  deceived  with  painted  grapes, 

Do  surfeit  by  the  eye,  and  r ine  the  maw. 

Shakespean,"  Venus  and  Adonis." 

Zif.  Hypothetical  stock,  entered  in 
“salted  accounts”  to  give  a colourable 
balance  “to  the  good.”  (Hebrew,  ziphr, 
a book.) — Vid^cq,  “ Les  Voleurs,"  vol.  ii., 

pp.  81,  87.  ■ 

Zig.  A prodigious  cock,  which  stands 
with  its  feet  on  the  earth  and  touches 
heaven  with  its  head.  When  its  wings 
are  spread  it  darkens  the  sun,  and  causes 
a total  eclipse.  This  cock  crows  before 
the  Lord,  and  delighteth  him. — Baby- 
lonish Talmud. 

Zim  and  Jim.  His  house  was 
made  a habitation  for  Zim  and  Jim,  and 
every  unclean  thing  (“Godly  Man’s  Por- 
tion,” 1663).  The  marginal  reading  of 
Isa.  xiii.  21,  22,  explains  Zim  to  be  wild 
beasts,  and  Jim  jackals. 

Zimri,  in  Dryden’s  “Absalom  and 
Achitophel,”  is  the  second  duke  of 
Buckingham.  Like  the  captain  who 
conspired  against  Asa,  king  of  Judah,  he 
“formed  parties  and  joined  factions,” 
but  pending  the  issue  “he  was  drink- 
ing himself  drunk  in  the  house  of  Arza, 
steward  of  his  house”  (1  Kings  xvi.  9). 

Some  of  the  chiefs  were  princes  in  the  land : 

In  the  first  rank  of  these  did  Zimri  stand  ; 

A man  so  various  that  he  seemed  lo  be 

I^otone,  but  all  m:mkind’s  epitome. 

Stiff  in  opinions,  always  in  the  w rong, 

"Was  eve-ything  by  starts,  and  no  thing  long. 

Dryden. 

Zincali.  Gipsies  ; so  called  in  Spain 
from  Sinte  or  Sind  (India)  and  calo 
(black),  the  supposition  being  that  they 
came  from  Hindustan,  which  no  doubt 
is  true.  The  Persian  Zangi  means  an 
Ethiopian  or  Egyptian. 

Zin'dikites  (3  syl.).  An  heretical 
Mahometan  sect,  who  disbelieve  in  God, 
the  resurrection,  and  a future  life.  They 
think  that  the  world  is  the  production 
of  four  eternal  elements,  and  that  man 
is  a microcosm  of  the  world. 

Zineu'ra,  in  the  “Decameron”  of 
I Boccacio  (Bay  ii..  Novel  9),  is  the  Imo- 
1 gen  of  Shakespeare’s  “ Cymbeline.”  In 


976 


ZION. 


ZUTTIBUE. 


male  attire  Zineura  assumed  the  name 
of  Sicura'no  da  Finale,  and  Imogen  of 
Fide'le.  Zineura’s  husband  was  Bernard 
Lomellin,  and  the  villain  was  Ambrose. 
Imogen’s  husband  was  Posthumus  Leo- 
natus,  and  the  villain  lachimo.  In 
Shakespeare,  the  British  king  Cymbe- 
line  takes  the  place  assigned  by  BocCacio 
to  the  sultan. 

Zion.  Daughter  of  Zion.  Jerusalem 
or  its  inhabitants.  The  city  of  David 
stood  on  Mount  Zion.  Zion  and  Jeru- 
salem were  pretty  much  in  the  same 
relation  to  each  other  as  Old  and  New 
Edinburgh.  t 

Zist.  Se  irouver  enire  le  zist  et  le  z^st. 
To  be  in  a quandary,  in  a state  of  perfect 
bewilderment.  Also,  to  shilly  shally. 
“Zest”  is  anything  of  no  value,  as  Cela 
ne  vaut  pas  un  zest,  It  is  not  worth  a fig. 
“Zist  ” is  the  same  word  slightly  varied. 

Zobeide  (2  syh).  A lady  of  Bagdad, 
whose  history  is  related  in  the  “ Three 
Calenders.”  The  kalif  Haroun -al-Ras- 
chid  married  her. — ^‘Arabian  Nights.” 

Zo'diac.  An  imaginary  belt  or  zone 
in  the  heavens,  extending  about  8 de- 
grees each  side  of  the  ecliptic. 

Signs  of  the  Zodiac.  The  zodiac  is 
divided  into  twelve  equal  parts,  pro- 
ceeding from  west  to  east ; each  part  is 
30  degrees,  and  is  distinguished  by  a 
sign.  Beginning  with  “Aries,”  we  have 
first  six  Qiorthtrn  and  then  six  southern 
signs— “i.e.,  six  on  the  north  side  and  six 
on  the  south  side  of  the  equator ; be- 
ginning with  “ Capricornus,”  we  have 
six  ascending  and  then  six  descending 
signs— i.e.,  six  which  ascend  higher  and 
higher  towards  the  north,  and  six  which 
descend  lower  and  lower  towards  the 
south.  The  six  northern  signs  are  Aries 
(the  ram),  Taurus  (the  bull),  Gemini  (the 
twins),  spring  signs ; Cancer  (the  crab), 
Leo  {the  lion),  Virgo  ^the  virgin),  summer 
signs.  The  six  southern  are  Libra  (the 
balance),  Scorpio  (the  scorpion),  Sagit- 
tarius (the  archer),  autumn  signs ; Capri- 
cornus (the  goat),  A qua'riiLS  (the  w^ater- 
bearer),  and  Pisces  (the  fishes),  winter 
signs.  (Greek,  zo-on,  living  creatures.) 
Our  vernal  signs  the  Ram  begins, 

'J  hen  comes  the  Bann,  and  then  the  Twins 
1 he  Crab  in  June,  then  Leo  shines, 

And  Virgo  ends  the  northern  signs. 

The  Balance  brin.’S  autumnal  fruits. 

The  Scorpio  stings,  the  Archer  shoots ; — 

Then  comes  the  Goat  with  Wintry  blast, 
Aquarius  next,  the  Fishes  last. 

Zoliar.  The  name  of  a Jewish  book 


containing  cabalistic  expositions  of  the 
“ books  of  Moses.” 

Zoilism.  Harsh,  ill-tempered  criti- 
cism ; so  called  from  Zo'ilos  (q.v.). 

Zoilos  (Latin,  Zoilus').  The  sword  of 
Zollos.  The  pen  of  a critic.  Zo’ilos  was 
a literary  Thersi'tes,  shrewd,  witty,  and 
spiteful.  He  was  nicknamed  Home'ro- 
mastix  (Homer’s-scourge),  because  he 
mercilessly  assailed  the  epics  of  Horner^ 
and  called  the  companions  of  Ulysses  in 
the  island  of  Circe  “weeping  porkers” 
{choir id' ia  Maionta).  He  also  flew  at 
Plato,  Isoc'rates,  and  other  high  game. 

Zollverein  is  Zoll-Verein  (customs- 
union),  a commercial  union  of  German 
states,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
uniform  tariff  of  duties.  (Begun  1819.) 

Zo'plliel  (3  syh).  An  angelic  scout 
of  “swiftest  wing.”  The  word  means 
“God’s  Milton,  Paradise  Lost.” 

Z or  aid  a (3  syh).  Daughter  of 
Agimora'to  of  Algiers,  who  becomes  a 
Christian  and  elopes  with  Buy  Perez  de 
Viedma,  an  officer  of  Leon.  The  story 
is  told  in  an  episode  of  “ Don  Quixote,” 
called  “ The  Captive’s  Life  and  Adven- 
tures” (bk.  iv.,  ch.  9-11). 

Zoraide  (3  syl.)  or  Zoraida.  The 
name  of  a yacht  belonging  to  the  squad- 
ron at  Cowes.  This  name  is  taken  from 
Rossini’s  “Zoraidi  et  Coradin.” 

Zorpliee  (2  syh).  A fairy  in  the 
romance  of  “Am'adis  de  Gaul.” 

Zulal.  That  stream  of  Paradise, 
clear  as  crystal  and  delicious  as  nectar, 
which  the  “ spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect  ” drink  of. 

Zulei'ka.  Daughter  of  Giaffir,  pacha 
of  AbyMos.  She  is  all  purity  and  love- 
liness. Her  intelligence,  joyousness, 
undeviating  love,  and  strict  regard  to 
duty  are  beautifully  portrayed.  She 
promises  to  flee  with  Selim  and  become 
his  bride  ; but  her  father,  Giaffir,  shoots 
her  lover,  and  Zuleika  dies  of  a broken 
heart. — Byron,  ^^Bride  of  Abydos.” 

Zulfa'gar.  Ali’s  sword. 

Zumbi.  A ghost  is  so  called  in 
Congo.  — African  mythology. 

Faire  le  Zumbi.  To  come  as  a ghost 
and  disturb  a banquet. 

Zuttibur.  The  demon  of  forests. — 
Scandinavian  mythology. 


ADDENDA  ET  COERIGENDA, 


7.  Aceius  Navius.  For  Ed. 

Bm'he,'*  read,  said  of  Ed.  BiirJce  hy 
Goldsmith  (“  Retaliation  ”). 

14.  Agag.  For  Edmondsbiiry/’r^at^, 
Edmondbury. 

20.  Alexander.  Add:  The  Persian 
Alexander.  Sandjar.  (1117-1158.) 

Iskander  = Alexander ; Beg  = the 
Great.  George  Castriot.  (1414-1467.) 

35.  Add : Ape.  The  pseudonym  of 
M.  Pellegrini,  the  caricaturist  of 
Vanity  Fair.”  Dr.  Johnson  says, 
‘^To  ape  is  to  imitate  ludicrously.” 

42.  Add  : Argus,  the  turf  writer,  was 
Irwin  Willes,  who  died  1871. 

51.  Attercop,  also  spelt  Ettercap. 

O 1 Sirs,  was  e’er  sic  difference  seen 
As  ’twixt  wee  Will  and  Tam? 

The  ane’s  a perfect  ettercap, 

The  other’s  jist  a lamb, 

D.  Robertson.  “ Nursery  Song-." 

— Atticus  (The  English).  Add  : 

Who  but  must  laugh,  if  such  a man  there  be  ? 
Who  would  not  weep  if  Atticus  were  he  ? 

Pope.  Prologue  to  “ Satires P 

53.  Auld  Reekie.  Edinburgh  old 
town  is  so  called,  because  it  is 
generally  capped  by  a cloud  of  reek 
or  smoke. — A Correspondent. 

55.  Add:  Azamat  Batuk(  War  corre- 
spondent in  1870  of  the  Pall  Mall 
Gazette).  A pseudonym  of  M.  Thie- 
bland. 

58.  Add : Backwardation  {Stock- 
brokers’ term).  The  sum  paid  by  a 
speculator  on  a ‘^bear  account”  (i.e.y 
a speculation  on  a.  fall  in  the  price  of 
certain  stock),  in  order  to  postpone 
the  completion  of  the  transaction 
till  the  next  settling  day.  (See 
Contango.) — In  reply  to  a Corre- 
spondent. 

59.  Add:  Badinguet.  (*Sfee Napoleon 
III.) 

64,  Barbarossa.  Add  : Barlarossa  is 
not  deady  hut  sleeps.  He  sits  in 
Kyffhauserberg,  in  Thuringia,  with 
his  six  knights  at  a table,  waiting 
for  the  fulness  of  time.  His  red 
beard  has  grown  through  the  slab, 


PAGE 

but  must  wind  itself  three  times 
round  the  table  before  he  comes 
forth  to  rescue  Germany,  and  place 
her  foremost  among  nations.  The 
same  tale  is  told  of  Charlemagne, 
who  waits,,  crowned  and  armed,  in 
Odenberg  (Hesse),  till  the  time  of 
antichrist,  when  he  will  wake  up 
and  deliver  Christendom.  Also  of 
Charles  V.  (See  Wunderberg.) 

65.  Bardesanist.  For  'Hhe  Gnostic,” 
ready  a Gnostic. 

69.  Bat.  For  On  his  own  hat.  On 
his  own  hook,”  ready  Of  his  own 
hat.  By  his  own  exertions. 

71.  Baubee.  Add  : Generally  spelt 
Bawbee. 

76.  Beau.  Add:  Beau  Clark.  A billiard- 

marker  at  the  beginning  of  the  19bh 
century.  He  assumed  the  name  of 
Beauclerc,  and  paid  his  addresses  to 
a protegee  of  lord  Fife. 

Beau  Fieldingy  whose  name  was 
Hen  drome  Fielding.  He  died  in 
Scotland  Yard,  London. 

Beau  Hewitt.  The  ^^Sir  Fopling 
Flutter”  of  Etheredge.— The  Man 
of  Mode  ; ory  Sir  Fopling  Flutter." 

Le  heau  D'Orsay.  Father  of  Count 
d’Orsay,  and  called  by  Byron  Jeune 
Cupidon, 

77.  Bee-line.  The  straightest  or 
shortest  distance  between  two  given 
points.  This  is  American.  Our 
equivalent  is  ^^As  the  crow  flies,” 
but  crows  do  not  always  fly  in  a 
direct  line,  as  bees  do  after  being 
laden. 

Sinners,  you  are  making  a bee-line  from  time 
to  eternity,  and  what  you  have  once  passed 
over  you  can  never  pass  over  again. — Dow, 
“ Lay  Sermons." 

88.  King  James’s  Bible.  For  1613,” 

ready  1611. 

93.  Black-guards.  Add  : Soldiers 
condemned  for  some  fault  of  dis- 
cipline wear  their  red  coats  (which 
were  lined  with  black)  inside-out. 
The  corresponding  French  word 

K K iC 


978 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 


/ 


PAGE 

is  '^blaqueurs.” — Victor  HiigOy 
V Homme  qui  RiV^ 

94.  Add  : Black  Parliament.  The 
parliament  held  by  Henry  VIII.  in 
Bridewell. 

— Black  Prince.  Add : John  de 

Clifford  was  called  The  black 
lord  Clifford  ” for  his  cruelties. 
(1422-1461.) 

98.  True  Blue.  Add : More  probably 
this  is  short  for  True  as  Coventry 
Blue.  The  blue  thread  of  Coventry 
was  once  proverbial  for  its  perma- 
nent dye. 

— Bluebeard.  Add  : M.  Hippolyte 

Violeau  assures  us  that  in  repair- 
ing the  chapel  of  St.  Nicolas-de- 
Bieuzy,  in  1850,  five  ancient  fres- 
coes were  discovered,  with  scenes 
from  the  life  of  St.  Triphyna,  wife 
of  count  Conomor : (1)  The  mar- 
riage; (2)  The  husband  taking  leave 
of  his  wife,  and  entrusting  to  her  a 
key ; (3)  A room  with  an  open  door, 
through  which  are  seen  the  dead 
bodies  of  seven  women  hanging  ; 
(4)  The  count  threatening  his  wife, 
and  another  female  [sister  Anne] 
looking  out  of  a window  above  ; (5) 
Conomor  having  placed  a halter 
round  Triphyna’s  neck,  is  arrested 
from  his  foul  deed  by  the  arrival 
of  friends,  accompanied  by  St. 
Gildas,  abbot  of  Rhuys  in  Brittany. 
— Pelerinages  de  Bretagne." 

101.  Bobadil.  Add  : This  name  was 
probably  suggested  by  Bobadilla, 
first  governor  of  Cuba,  who  sent 
Columbus  home  in  chains,  {See 
Bessus  and  Vincent  de  la  Rosa.) 

Bogle  Swindle.  A gigantic  swin- 
dle concocted  in  Paris  by  fourteen 
persons,  who  expected  to  net  at 
least  a million  sterling.  It  was 
exposed  in  the  Times  by  O’Reilly, 
and  the  corporation  of  London 
thanked  the  proprietors  of  the 
Times  for  their  services. 

106.  Boozy,  Add  ; Coptic,  hoiiza^  in- 
toxicating drink. 

107.  Bore.  Add  : Bore.  A tidal  wave. 
The  largest  are  those  of  the  Ganges 
(especially  the  Hooghly  branch), 
Brahmaputra,  and  Indus.  In  Great 
Britain,  those  of  the  Severn,  the 
Trent  (called  the  lieygre),  the  Wye, 


PAGE 

the  Solway,  the  Dee  of  Cheshire, 
the  Clyde,  the  Dornoch  Frith,  and 
the  Lune.  — Re'ply  to  a Corre^- 
spondenU 

Borea,s.  For  Bildin^'  read, 

Q.  A.  Stevens. 

Bothie  System;  All  the  build- 
ings attached  to  a farm-house,  such 
as  the  byres,  stables,  barns,  and 
other  out-houses.  For  “town,” 
.ready  farm-town  or  steading. — From 
three  Correspondents. 

110.  Box.  Add : 

Who  the  dickens  *'  Boz  ” could  be 
Puzzled  many  a learned  elf ; 

But  time  revealed  the  mystery, 

For  “ Boz”  appeared  as  Dickens’  self. 

Epigram  in  the  “ Cat  thiisian. 

114.  Briareus.  Add:  Bold  Briareus. 
Handel.  (1685-1756.) 

115.  Add : Bride  of  Lammermoor. 
Lucy  Ashton. — Sir  Walter  Scotty 

Bride  of  Lammermoor." 

116.  Britannia.  Add  : The  Britannia 
represented  by  the  Romans  was  a 
woman  sitting  on  a rock,  in  allu- 
sion to  the  form  of  England  and 
Wales.  Some  say  that  the  figure 
represented  in  the  reign  of  Charles 
II.  was  Barbara  Villiers,  mistress  of 
Charles  II.,  created  by  him  duchess 
of  Cleveland,  and  not  Miss  Stuart. 

120.  Bucephalos.  Add  : The  Persian 
Bucephalus.  Shibdiz,  the  charger 
of  Chosroes  Parviz. 

121.  Buck-basket.  For  the  seconds 
line  read  thus  : To  buck  is  to  wash 
linen  by  beating  it  with  a buck  or 
beetle.  Gothic  hocky  hucka  (rever- 
berare). 

136.  Add  : Cambridge  Boat  Crew, 
light  blue  ; Oxford  is  dark  blue. 
— Reply  to  a Correspondent. 

147.  Cat.  Add : 

Lettingf  “ I dare  not”  w^ait  upon  ” I would,” 

Like  the  poor  cat  i’  the  adage. 

The  adage  referred  to  is — 

Catus  amat  pisces,  sed  non  vult  tingere  plantas. 
(The  cat  loves  fish,  but  will  not  wet  her  paws.) 

157.  Cliauvin.  Add:  Chauvinism. 
A blind  idolatry  of  Napoleon  the 
Great.  Now  it  means  a blind  idol- 
atry of  France  and  Frenchmen. 

Such  is  the  theme  on  which  French  chauvin- 
ism is  inexhaustible. — The  Times. 

— Reply  to  a Correspondei\tf 


ADDENDA  El?  CORRIGENDA. 


979 


PAGE 

160.  Children  in  the  Wood.  Add  : 

W'AYLAND  WOOD. 

161.  Chip.  Chi'p  of  the  old  block.  Add : 
Burke  first  used  the  expression  in 
reference  to  William  Pitt. 

165.  Cid.  Add  : Cid  Hamet  Beiieiigeli, 
The  supposititious  author  of  ‘^JDon 
Quixote’s  Adventures.” 

Cinderella.  Add : This  tale  is 

told  of  ^‘Rhodopia  and  Psamme- 
tichus,”  in  .^jlian.  (Far.  Hist., 
lib.  xiii.,  c.  32.)  And  a similar 
one  is  related  in  Strabo,  lib.  xvii. 

183.  Add  : Contango.  The  sum  paid 
by  a speculator  on  a “ bull  account  ” 
{i.e-,  a speculation  on  a rise  in  the 
price  of  certain  stock),  to  defer 
completing  the  bargain  till  the 
next  settling-day.  Contango  is  from 
the  Spanish  tango,  a bone  to  pitch 
at ; French,  tanglier.  {See  Back- 
wardation.)— Reply  to  a Correspond- 
ent. 

186.  Corind.  Add  : See  Tancred. 

206.  Cynaegeros.  Add  : See  Jaafer 
and  Be w BOW. 

Add  to  this  page : Cy  mb  aline. 
[See  ZiNEURA  and  Imogen.) 

213.  Daughter.  Add  : Daughter  nurs- 
ing her  murdered  father. 

Morn  broadened  on  the  borders  of  the  dark 
Ere  I saw  her,  who  clasped  in  her  last  trance 
Her  murdered  father’s  head. 

Tennyson. 

This  was  Margaret  Roper,  daughter 
of  Sir  Thomas  More,  whose  head 
was  exposed  on  London  Bridge  for 
several  days,  when  it  was  privately 
obtained  by  Margaret,  who  placed 
it  under  a vault  in  St.  Dunstan’s 
Church,  Canterbury. 

Sir  Bernard  Burke  mentions  a 
tradition  about  the  young  earl  of 
Dervrentw^ater,  v?hose  head  was  ex- 
posed on  Temple  Bar  in  1716.  His 
wife  drove  a cart  under  the  arch, 
and  a man  hired  for  the  purpose 
threw  into  it  the  young  earl’s  head. 
— Reply  to  a Correspondent. 

214.  Dawson.  Add:  Jemmy. 

216.  Deans  (Dffie).  Add : See  Walker 
{Ellen). 

221.  Desmas.  Add:  In  the  apocry- 
phal Gospel  of  Nicodemus  the  peni- 
tent thief  is  called  Dysmas,  and  in 


PAGE 

the  Story  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea 
Demas ; the  other  thief  in  both 
places  is  called  Gestas,  not  Gesmas. 
Longfellow  calls  the  penitent  thief 
Titus,  and  the  other  Dumachus  {q.v.). 

224.  Devil.  Add  : Devil  on  two  sticks. 
{See  Asmodeus.) 

225.  Diana  (The  Temple  of).  Add ; 
Discovered  in  187*2  by  Mr.  Wood. 

227.  Add:  Diego  {San).  A corruption 
of  Santiago  (St.  James),  champion 
of  the  red  cross,  and  patron  saint  of 
Spain. 

233.  Dodger.  The  Artful  Dodger.  Add: 
His  name  was  John  Dawkins  {chap, 
viii.). 

234.  Dog.  Add:  The  lap-dog  of  Cathe- 
rine de  Medicis,  Phoebe. 

The  deer-hound  of  Sir  W.  Scott, 
Maida  ; his  jet  black  greyhound,” 
Hamlet. 

The  dog  of  Belgrade  the  camp 
suttler,  Clumsey. 

The  greyhound  of  lord  Lurgan, 
presented  to  the  queen  Victoria, 
Master  M'Grath  (born  1866,  died 
1871).  He  won  three  Waterloo  cups. 
{See  Mauthe  Dog.) 

245.  Drawn.  Hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered.  P.  H.  Larcher  says  : — 

Pour  les  crimes  de  haute  trahison,  les  criminels 
restent  pendiis  [lianged]  cinq  minutes— on  coupe 
ensuite  la  corde,  on  leur  fend  le  ventre,  on  leur 
arrache  les  entrailles  [drawn],  qu’on  brule — on 
les  conpe,  ensuite  en  plusieurs  qjtartiers  [quar- 
tered], qu'on  expose  dans  les  endroits  on  ils  se 
sont  revoltes,  afin  d’enspirer  de  la  terreur. 

This,  without  doubt,  was  the  ori- 
ginal practice,  but  in  England  the 
traitor  is  drawn  first,  then  hanged, 
then  quartered.  The  drawing  ” 
is  simply  being  ^Mrawn  to  the  place 
of  execution  on  a hurdle.”— 

‘‘  Wharton’s  Law  Dictionary.”  Ar- 
ticle Treason. 

246.  Drowned  Rat.  Del.  the  last 
four  words. 

247.  Dry  Nurse.  For  ‘interior/’ 
read,  inferior. 

249.  Dumachus.  Add : Thieves. 

251.  Dunmow.  For  “ Shapeshaft,” 
read,  Shakeshaft. 

254.  Dwarfs.  Add  : Lucius,  dwarf  of 
Augustus  (emp.),  weighed  17  lbs., 
was  2 ft.  high. 


K K K 2 


980 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 


/ 


CoNOPAS,  dwarf  of  Julia,  niece  of 
Augustus,  was  2 ft.  4 in.  high. 

Andromeda,  one  of  Julia’s  freed 
maids,  was  2 ft.  4 in.  also. 

XiT,  royal  dwarf  to  Edward  VI. 

Ducker  {John)i  or  Decker  (1610). 
An  English  dwarf,  noted  for  his  long 
beard.  At  the  age  of  forty-five  he 
was  2 ft.  6 in . 

Gibson  {Richard) j portrait  painter, 
born  1615  ; married  Anne  Shepherd, 
court  dwarf  to  queen  Henrietta 
Maria.  Each  was  3 ft.  10  in.  They 
had  nine  children  of  the  full  ordi- 
nary size.  Waller  sang  their  praises. 

Bebe,  dwarf  of  Stanislaus  king  of 
Poland.  Was  2 ft.  9 in.,  and  well 
proportioned. 

Bug  KING  ER  {Matthew),  a German, 
born  1674,  without  hands,  feet,  legs, 
or  thighs.  He  had  fins  from  the 
shoulders,  with  which  he  wrote,  and 
fac-similes  of  his  writing  are  among 
the  Harlean  MSS.  He  could  play 
the  hautboy  and  thread  needles, 

Farrel  {Owen),  of  Cavan,  Ireland, 
was  3 ft.  9 in.  He  died  1742,  and 
his  skeleton  was  preserved  by  Dr. 
W.  Hunter. 

Philips  {Calvin),  born  at  Bridge- 
water  in  Massachusetts,  in  1791, 
weighed  less  than  2 lbs.,  and  his 
thighs  were  not  thicker  than  a 
man’s  thumb. 

Ritchie  {David)  of  Tweeddale,  in 
Sir  Walter  Scott’s  Black  Dwarf,” 
is  a real  character.  His  height  w^as 
3ift. 

Stoberin  {C.  H.),  of  Nuremberg, 
was  under  3 ft.  at  the  age  of  twenty. 
Her  parents,  brothers,  and  sisters 
were  all  dwarfs. 

Chung  the  dwarf,  exhibited  with 
Chang  the  giant.  Ill-favoured,  and 
even  repulsive  in  appearance. 

To  ^‘Nicholas  Ferry  . . . died,” 
add  : (1734).  {See  Pacolet.) 

257.  ‘^Ebuda/’  read,  Ebudae. 

262.  Add : Eleanor  Crosses.  {See 
Charing  Cross.) 

266.  “ Elsbander,”  read,  Elshender* 

269.  Ennius.  Add  : The  English  En* 
nms.  Layamon,  who  wrote  a trans- 
lation in  Saxon  of  W ace’s  Brute.” 

276.  Add  : Europa.  The  Fight  at 
Dame  Europa' s School.  By  the  Rev. 


PAGE 

H.  W,  Pullen,  minor  canon  of  Salis- 
bury. 

292.  “ Fenrir,”  read,  Fenris. 

300.  First  Gentleman  of  Europe. 
Add  : Louis  d’ Artois  was  so  called 
also. 

304.  Add : Floaters  {Stoclc  Exchange 
m'm).  Exchequer  bills  and  other 
unfunded  stock.  {See  Guinea  Pig.) 

309.  Font.  Add  : See  Type. 

313.  Four  Letters.  Add  : Persian, 
Soru;  Arabic,  Alla;  Cabalistic, 
Agla;  Egyptian,  QtavO ; Spanish, 
Dios;  Italian,  Idio,  &c. 

326.  Gama.  For  ^^de  Gama,”  read, 
da  Gama. 

339.  Gesmas.  See  above,  Desmas. 

340.  Giants.  Add  : Andronicus  II., 
grandson  of  Alexius  Commenus, 
was,  according  to  Nicetas,  10  ft. 
high.  Nicetas  asserts  that  he  had 
himself  seen  him. 

Bamford  {Edward),  died  1768. 
Buried  in  St.  Dunstan’s  churchyard. 
Height  7 ft.  4 in. 

Eleazar  the  Jew,  according  to 
Josephus,  sent  by  Vitellius  to  Rome, 
was  seven  cubits  high.  Goliath 
was  only  six  cubits  and  a span. 

Big  Frank,  an  Irishman,  whose 
real  name  was  Francis  Sheridan, 
died  1870.  Height,  7 feet  8 inches  ; 
weight,  22  stone ; girth  round  the 
chest,  58  inches. 

Gabara,  says  Pliny,  was  the  tall- 
est man  seen  in  the  days  of  Claudius. 
He  was  from  Arabia,  and  measured 
9 ft.  9 in. 

Gilly,  a Swede,  exhibited  as  a 
show  in  the  early  part  of  the  pre- 
sent century.  Height,  8 ft. 

Hardrada  {Harold),  of  Norway, 
was  ‘^5  ells  of  Norway  in  height,” 
nearly  8 ft. 

Middleton  {John),  born  at  Hale, 
Lancashire,  in  the  reign  of  James  I., 
was  above  9 feet.  Dr.  Plott  says 
(“Hist,  of  Staffordshire”):  ^^His 
hand  -was  17  in.,  his  palm  8^  in. 
broad,  and  his  full  height  9 ft.  3 in.” 

Maximin,  the  Roman  emp.,  was 
8 ft.  6in  , the  height  of  Goliath. 

La  Pierre,  of  Stargard,  in  Den- 
mark, exceeded  7 ft.  in  height. 

Riechart  (/.  H.),  of  Friedberg, 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 


981 


PAGE 

was  8 feet  3 inches.  His  father  and 
mother  were  both  giants. 

Salmeron  {Mcurtin),  a Mexican, 
was  7 ft.  4 in. 

Big  Sam,  that  is,  Sami.  McDonald, 
a Scotchman,  died  1802.  Height, 
6 ft.  10  in. 

Becanns  says  he  had  seen  a 
man  nearly  10  ft.  high,  and  a woman 
fully  10  ft. 

348.  Gluckists.  Add : This  was,  in 
fact,  a contest  between  the  Italian 
and  German  schools  of  music.  {See 
Tweedledom.) 

356.  Gooseberry -fool.  For 
read,  de. 

358.  Gotham.  Add:  Coggershall. 

364.  To  play  the  Greelc.  When  Cressida 
calls  Helen  “ a merry  Greek  indeed,” 
she  insinuates  that  her  love  is  not 
chaste  love.  To  play  the  Greek” 
often  means  to  let  out  love  for  hire. 
Thus  Hiren,  in  the  Turkish  Ma- 
homet and  Hyren  the  Fair  Greek  ” 
(by  Peel),  has  become  a byword  for 
a courtezan. 

365.  Green  Man.  Add : The  men 
who  let  off  fireworks  were  called 
Greeii-men  in  the  reign  of  James  I. 

Have  you  any  squibs,  any  green-man  in  your 
shows? — '‘'The  Seven  Champions  of  Christen- 
dom." 

366.  Gregories.  Add : In  their  time 
the  public  executioner  was  called 
Squire,  as  Squire  Dun,  &c. 

367.  Greymare’s  Tail.  For  ^^the 
Loch-skene,”  read,  the  stream  which 
issues  from  the  Loch-skene. — A Cor- 
respondent. 

368.  Grisilda.  Add  : Dryden  says  : 

The  tale  of  Grizild  was  the  inven- 
tion of  Petrarch  ; by  him  sent  to 
Boccace,  from  whom  it  came  to 
Chaucer.” — Preface  to  Fahles. 

369.  “ Groemes,”  mcJ,  Greemes. 

373.  Add  : Guinea-pig  {StocJc  Ex~ 
change  term).  A gentleman  of  suffi- 
cient name  to  form  a bait,  who  al- 
lows himself  to  be  put  on  a directors’ 
list  for  the  guinea  and  Lunch  pro- 
vided for  the  board.  (^See  above. 
Floaters.) — Reply  to  a Correspond- 
ent. 

379.  Add  : Hagarenes  (3  syl.).  The 
Moors  are  so  called,  being  the  sup- 


PAGG 

posed  descendants  of  Hagar,  Abra- 
ham’s bondwoman. 

San  Didgo  hath  often  been  seen  conquering 
and  destroying  the  Hagarene  squadrons. — "Don 
Quixote,”  pt.  IL,  bk.  iv.,  ch.  6. 

884.  Hanged.  Add:  See  above,  Db  awn, 

388.  Harmonia’s  Kobe.  Add ; See 

Nessus. 

391.  Hatter aick.  Add  : Sir  Walter 
Scott,  Guy  Manneringd^ 

— — Hatto.  Add  : See  Pied  Piper. 

Haveril.  Add  : Scotch,  haiver,  to 

talk  nonsense.—^  Correspondent. 

392.  Havre.  For  Le  harvref'  read, 
Le  havre. 

393.  Health..  For  hoeal,”  read,  hxl. 

400.  Hercules.  Add  : The  Hercules  oj 
Music.  Christophe  Gluck  (1714 — 
1787). 

401.  Third  Century.  For  ^^Manies,” 
read,  Mani. 

402.  Hermione.  For '^Peridita,”  wc?, 
Perdita. 

407.  Add  : Historicus.  The  noyn  de 
plume  in  the  Times  of  Vernon  Har- 
court,  a slashing  writer  in  the  SaUir- 
day  Review. 

419.  Horse.  For  Morocco,”  read, 
Marocco. 

For  “Shebdis,”  read,  Shebdiz. 

423.  House-leek.  Add:  Charlemagne’s 
edict  runs  thus  : “ Et  habet  quisque 
supra  domum  suum  Jovisbarbam” 
\a  plant  of  House-leeJc],  as  a remedy 
against  evil  spirits  and  fevers  [which 
were  supposed  to  be  brought  by  evil 
spirits]. 

425.  Hugger.  Add  : Scotch,  hugger, 
a footless  stocking,  such  as  beggars 
wear.  —A  Correspondent. 

Hugh  of  Lincoln.  Add : See 

William  (of  Norwich). 

426.  Humanities.  Add  : Without 
doubt  this  word  is  in  contrast  with 
the  word  Divinity.  Humanities  are 
the  studies  of  laymen  ; Divjnity  is 
the  study  of  ecclesiastics.  The 
former  are  human,”  the  latter 

divine.” 

434.  Ill  Omens.  To  the  paragraph 
about  Julius  Cmsar,  add : The  same 
anecdote  is  ascribed  to  Scipio. — 

Don  Quixotef  pt.  II.,  bk.  iv., 
ch.  6. 

435.  Ilk.  Add  : Gaelic,  clan. 


982 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 


PAGE 

444.  Irspille  Felles.  Add : Fell^ 
monger^  a dealer  in  skins. 

Iryingites.  For Apostolic  Ca- 
tholic/' read,  Catholic  Apostolic. — 
A CorrespondeRt. 

447.  Isocrates.  For  ^^Flechier/’jmc?, 
FMchier. 

451.  Jack  Eobinson.  Add:  The 
song  is  by  Hudson,  a tobacconist,  at  , 
at  No.  98,  Shoe  Lane,  in  the  early  ! 
part  of  this  century. 

454.  Jane.  Add : See  Two. 

459.  Jingo.  Add  : More  probably  the 
Basque  word (God).  Edward 
I.  had  Basque  mountaineers  in  his 
army  when  he  invaded  Wales ; and 
the  Plantagenets  held  possession  of 
the  Basque  Provinces.  It  is  thus 
we  came  by  a few  Basque  words 
which  still  survive. 

464.  Joseph.  For  ^^Aramathea,”  mcc?, 
Arimathea. 

469.  Juvenal.  Add : The  Juvenal  of 
Painters,  William  Hogarth  (1697 — 
1764). 

476.  Kingly  Titles.  Add  : Archons, 
in  Athens ; Shophetim,  Jewish  judges; 
Suffetes,  Carthagenian  dictators. 

481.  King-fisher  is  not  so  called  be- 
cause it  is  a king  of  fishers,  for  it  is 
a very  bad  fisher,  wounding  more 
fish  than  it  captures.  It  receives 
its  name,  like  the  cuckoo  and  many 
other  birds,  from  its  note,  which 
sounds  like  kefee-scheiv’r, 

488.  Kyle.  Read  the  distich  thus : — 

Kyle  for  a man,  Carrick  for  a coo  [cow], 

Cunningham  for  butter,  Galloway  for  woo’  [wool]. 

492.  Add : Lammermoor.  {See  Ed- 
gar, Lucia.) 

494.  Landscape.  Father  of  Land- 
scape Gardening.  A.  Lenotre  (1613 
—1700). 

503.  Leather.  Add : See  Salt  (Pr^t- 
nello). 

508.  Levellers.  Add  : See  White- 
boys. 

509.  Liberator.  Add  : Liberator  of 
the  World.  So  Dr.  Franklin  has 
been  called  (1706—1790). 

Liberty.  Add  : The  statue  of 

Liberty  placed  over  the  entrance  of 
the  Palais  Royal  (Paris)  represents 
Madame  Tallien. 


PAGE 

512.  Lilburn.  Add : 

Is  John  departed,  and  is  Lilburn  gone? 

Farewell  to  both,  to  Lilburn  and  to  John  I 
Y et  being  gone,  take  this  advice  from  me, 

Let  them  not  both  in  one  grave  buried  be. 

Here  lay  ye  John,  lay  Lilburn  thereabout. 

For  if  they  both  should  meet,  they  would  fall  out. 

Ej>igra7n7natic  Epitaph  07t  Jo  Jut  Lilbu7'7t. 

520.  Lochiel  pronounce  Lo-keel',  in 
two  syl. 

Lockhart.  For  St.  Bride’s 

Church,”  read,  Melrose  Abbey. 

524.  Long  Words.  Add:  Antiperi- 
c a t a metanapar  beugedamphicribra- 
tiones.  — Rabalais,  ‘ ^ Pantagruel,'^ 
ii.  7. 

Morgendammerungshandelmacher* 
rechtsverderbmiihwauderung.  A 
German  word,  coined  by  Voss. 

Spermagoraiolekitholakanopolides. 
— Aristophanes,  Lysistrata,*^  v. 
458. 

Viceoberappellationsgerichtspro- 
tonotarius— Le.,  Appeal-courts-chief- 
pi'otonotarf  s-  deputy. 

Richter  quotes  Forster  as  autho- 
rity for  a Sanskrit  word  of  152  syl- 
lables. 

525.  Lord.  Add : See  Hunchback. 

526.  Lord  of  the  Isles.  Add  : The 
title  is  now  borne  by  the  prince  of 
Wales. 

532.  Lunsford.  The  final  D has 
dropped  out. 

536.  Macfarlane’s  Geese.  Loch 
Lomond.  The  d has  dropped  out. 

Macgregor.  ‘^Een  do,”  read^ 

E’en  do. 

538.  Madness.  Fcr  ^^St.  Filian,”  read, 
St.  Filian. 

542.  Maid  of  Korway.  For  ^Gier 
passage  to  England,”  read,  her  pas- 
sage. 

546.  Man.  Add  : Man  of  Sedan. 
Napoleon  III.,  so  called,  because  he 
surrendered  his  sword  to  William, 
king  of  Prussia,  after  the  battle  of 
Sedan  (Sep.  2,  1870). 

562.  Mauthe  Dog.  Add  : Stanza  26. 

564.  Mayor.  Add  : See  Garrat* 

565.  Mediaeval  Age.  Add  : Accord- 
ing to  Hallam,  from  the  downfall  of 
the  Western  empire,  in  476,  to  the 
Italian  expeditions  of  Charles  VIII. 
of  France  (1494 — 1496). 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 


983 


PAGE 

668.  Memory.  Add  : P.  J.  Beroni- 
Cius,  the  Greek  and  Latin  improvi- 
sitor,  knew  by  rote  Horace,  Virgil, 
Cicero,  Juvenal,  both  the  Plinyp, 
Homer,  and  Aristophanes.  Died  at 
Middleburgh  1676. 

Memory"  Thompson  could  repeat 
the  name  and  calling  of  every  shop 
from  Ludgate  Hill  to  the  end  of 
Piccadilly. 

William  Radcliffe,  husband  of 
the  novelist,  could  repeat  a debate 
several  days  after  he  had  heard  it. 
{See  Woodfall.) 

580.  Misromers.  For  Baffins*,” 
read,  Baffin’s. 

583.  Mite.  Sir  Mattlmv  Mite.  Add  : 
S.  FooUi  Nabob*' 

594.  Morisonianism.  James  Mori- 
soD,  in  1841,  separated  from  the 

United  Secession,”  now  merged 
into  the  ^‘United  Presbyterian.” 
The  Morisonians  call  themselves  the 
^‘Evangelical  Union.” — A Corre- 
spondent. 

.596.  Moses  Primrose.  Add  : Gold- 
smithy  “ Vicar  of  Wakefield.” 

601.  Mulready  Envelope.  Add  : 
For  illustration,  see  “ Household 
Guide,”  vol.  iii.  49.  (Cassell,  Petter, 
and  Galpin.) 

Mungo.  Add  : Also  a kind  of 

shoddy. 

606.  INapoleon  III.  For  “ Batipol,” 
ready  Ratipol. 

615.  INicknames.  Add:  A Liverpud- 
lian, “ Dicky  Sam.” 

A man  of  Glasgow,  “A  Glasgow 
keelie.” — A Correspondent. 

616.  Nine.  For  “Riageo,”  read,  Rigged. 

619.  Noel.  At  the  end  add  : 

A child  this  day  is  born, 

A child  of  high  renown, 

Most  worthy  of  a sceptre, 

A sceptre  and  a crown. 

Nowells,  nowells,  nowells,  sing  all  we  may. 

Because  that  Christ  the  King  was  born  this  blessed 
day.  Old  Carol. 

625.  Numbers.  Add : Collection  of 
pictures,  curiosities,  &c. 

Company  of  soldiers,  &c. 


Posse  of  children,  sheriff’s  officers, 

&c. 

School  of  whales,  porpoises,  &c. 
Take  of  fish. 

635.  Add  : Omens.  {See  Ill-Omens.) 

637.  Sir  Oracle.  For  “gainsaied,”  ready 
gainsaid. 

638.  Orca.  Add  : Or  Orcades. 

643.  Add  : Ouida.  The  nom  de  plume 
of  Miss  Louise  Ramie.  The  word 
means  con  amore. 

685.  Pied  Piper.  Add : See  Hatto. 

693.  Add : Pliny  of  the  East.  {See 
Zakarija.) 

747.  Piehard of  Cirencester.  Add: 
See  Sanchoniatho. 

786.  Sarigrpal.  Add  : Tennyson  has  a 
poem  entitled  “ The  Holy  Grail.” 

796.  Scone.  Add  : See  Tanist  Stone. 

800.  Sea-serpent.  Add : Seen  in  1869, 
near  the  coast  of  North  America, 
with  a young  one. 

863.  Summons.  Add  : See  Wisiiart. 

883.  Tenth  Wave.  Add  : See  Wave. 

888.  Thieves.  See  abovcy  Desmas. 

891.  Throw.  Add  : See  Helve. 

910.  Tristram.  Add  : See  Hermite. 

946.  Add : Water  Standard  {Com- 
hill).  The  spot  from  which  m.iles 
were  measured  was  at  the  east-end 
of  the  street,  at  the  parting  of  four 
ways.  In  1582,  Peter  Morris  erected 
there  a “water  standard ” to  supply 
water  to  Thames  Street,  Gracechurch 
Street,  and  Leadenhall ; and  for 
clearing  the  channels  of  the  streets 
towards  Bishopgate,  Aldgate,  the 
Bridge,  and  Stocks-market.— 
Survey  of  London  p.  459. 

Any  substantial  building  for  the 
supply  of  water  was  called  a “ stand- 
ard ; ” hence  we  have  the  “standard 
in  Cheapside,  with  small  stone  cis- 
tern,” made  by  John  Wells,  grocer, 
during  his  mayoralty  in  1430.  Our 
“drinking-fountains”  are  standards. 
— Reply  to  several  Corresponden  ts, 


CASSELL,  PETTLIg  ANO  GALPIN,  BELLE  SAUVAGE  WORKS,  LONDON,  E,C, 


/. 


SELKGTIONS  FROM  NOTICES  OF  THE  PRESS. 


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literature.  It  is  really  a most  useful  volume,  with  the  rare  attraction  in  a book  of  referenod 
of  being  thoroughly  readable.” — The  Daily  Telegra'pli. 


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compiled.” — The  Daily  News. 


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intrinsically  good,  and  in  recommending  it  as  a most  valuable  accession  to  every  library.” 
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commodious  and  methodical  form,  full  explanations  of  all  character- words,  and  gives  most 
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Present  Pastimes.  By  F.  C.  Burnand,  Author  of  “ Happy 
Thoughts,”  &c.  With  Twelve  Coloured  Plates  by  J.  E.  Rogers. 
Demy  4to,  7s.  6d. 

The  World  of  Wonders.  A Record  of  Things  Wonderful 
in  Nature,  Science,  and  Art.  Imperial  8vo,  500  pp.,  with  130  Illus- 
trations. Cloth,  7s.  6d.;  cloth  gilt,  gilt  edges,  los.  6d. 

The  Transformations  of  Insects.  Second  Edition.  By 
Professor  Duncan,  M.D.,  F.R.  S.  With  240  Engravings.  Royal 
8vo,  cloth  gilt,  1 6s. 


N.B.— For  a List  of  the  DORE  FINE  ART  BOOKS,  CasselPs 
Complete  Catalogue,  post  free  on  application. 


Cassell  Fetter  Galpm.,  Ludgate  Hill.,  London  ; Paris ; and  New  York. 

6g— 573 


2 A Selection  from  Cassell  Fetter  6^  Galpir^s  Publications. 


/ 


STANDABD  WORKS. 

Cassell’s  Illustrated  History  of  England.  With  about 

2,000  Illustrations.  Post  4to,  5,ooo  pp.  Complete  in  Eight  Volumes, 
cloth,  6s.  and  ys.  6d.  each;  or  Four  Vols.,  half  calf,  The  Cloth 

Volumes  can  be  had  separate.  The  Toned  Paper  Edition,  Vols.  I.  to 
VII.,  now  ready.  Cloth,  each,  9s. 

Cassell’s  Household  Guide.  A Guide  to  every  Depart- 
ment of  Practical  Life.  With  numerous  Coloured  Cookery  Plates^  and 
Illustrations  on  nearly  every  page.  Complete  in  Four  Vols.,  with 
Analytical  Indices,  price  6s.  each  ; or  Two  Vols.,  half  calf,  ;^i  iis.  6d. 

Cassell’s  New  Popular  Educator.  Revised  to  the 

Present  Date,  with  numerous  Additions.  Complete  in  Six  Vols., 
412  pp.  each,  cloth,  6s.  each ; or  Three  Vols.,  half  calf,  £2  los. 

Cassell’s  Technical  Educator.  Complete  in  Four  Vols., 

each  containing  Coloured  Frontispiece  and  numerous  Illustrations. 
Extra  crown  4to,  416  pp.,  cloth,  6s.  each  ; or  2 Vols.,  half  calf, 
31S.  6d. 

Cassell’s  Brehm’s  Book  of  Birds.  Translated  from  the 
Text  of  Dr.  Brehm,  by  Professor  T.  Rymer  Jones,  F.R.S.  With 
400  Engravings  on  Wood,  and  numerous  full-page  Coloured  Plates. 
Complete  in  Four  Volumes^  4to,  cloth,  7s.  6d. ; cloth  gilt,  los.  6d.  each; 
or  2 Vols.,  half  calf,  42s. 

Cassell’s  Popular  Natural  History.  With  about  2,000 

Engravings  and  Tinted  Plates.  Complete  in  Two  Vols.,  crown  4to, 
1,532  pp.,  cloth,  30s.;  half  calf,  45s.;  or  half  morocco,  50s.  Also  in 
Four  Vols.,  with  Coloured  Illustrations,  cloth,  42s. 

Cassell’s  Illustrated  Shakespeare.  With  500  Illusr 
trations  by  H.  C.  Selous.  Edited  by  Charles  and  Mary  Cowden 
Clarke.  Three  Vols.,  cloth,  15s.;  half  morocco,  2 los. 

Brewer’s  Dictionary  of  Phrase  and  Fable.  By  the 

Rev.  Dr.  Brewer.  Second  Edition.  Demy  8vo,  1,000  pp.,  cloth,  i os.  6d. 

Cassell’s  Guinea  Illustrated  Bible.  With  900  Illus- 
trations, Full  References,  a Concordance,  Family  Register,  &c.  &c. 
Royal  4to,  1,476  pages.  Cloth  gilt,  21s.;  morocco  gilt,  25s. 

Cassell’s  Bible  Dictionary.  With  600  Illustrations. 

Imperial  8vo,  1,159  pages,  cloth,  21s.;  morocco,  40s. 

Matthew  Henry’s  Commentary.  Unabridged  Edition. 

Complete  in  Three  Volumes.  Demy4to,  3,308  pp.,  cloth,  £2  12s.  6d. 

The  Child’s  Bible.  With  220  Illustrations.  Demy  4to, 

cloth  gilt,  £i  IS.;  leather,  30s.;  morocco  elegant,  42s. 


Cassell  Fetter  Sf'  Galpin,  Ludgate  Hill,  London  ; Paris ; and  New  York. 


A Selection  from  Cassell  Fetter  Galf  in's  Publications.  3 


MISCELLANEOUS  WORKS. 
Parliamentary  Anecdote,  A Book  of.  Compiled  from 

Authentic  Sources  by  G.  H.  Jennings  and  W.  S.  Johnstone,  5^. 

The  Romance  of  Trade.  Being  Essays  on  the  Rise  and 

Progress  of  Commerce,  with  a relation  of  the  Romantic  Episodes  con- 
nected with  its  History.  By  H.  R.  Fox-Bourne.  Cloth,  5s. 

Soldier  and  Patriot.  The  Story  of  George  Washington. 

By  F.  M.  Owen.  256  pages,  cloth,  bevelled  boards,  3s.  6d. 

North-West  Passage  by  Land.  By  Viscount  Milton 

and  Dr.  Cheadle.  With  22  Plates,  21s. ; Cheap  Edition,  cloth,  6s. 

Cobden  Club  Essays,  Second  Series,  1871-2.  Second 

Edition.  500  pages,  demy,  cloth,  15s. 

English  Heraldry.  By  Rev.  Charles  Boutell,  M.A. 

With  460  Engravings.  New  Edition.  Crown  8vo,  368  pp.,  cloth,  5s. 
The  Dog.  By  Idstone.  With  Twelve  full-page  Engravings 
by  G.  Earl.  Crown  8vo,  256  pages,  cloth,  5s. 

Practical  Poultry  Keeper,  The.  Fifth  Edition.  By 

L.  Wright.  With  48  Plain  Illustrations.  Cloth,  3s.  6d. ; or  36  Plain 
and  12  Coloured  Plates,  crown  8vo,  5s. 

Civil  Service,  Guide  to  Employment  in  the.  New 

Edition.  With  an  Introduction  by  J.  D.  Morell,  LL.D.  Cloth,  2s.  6d. 

Civil  Service,  Guide  to  the  Indian.  By  A.  C.  Ewald, 

F.S.  A.  New  and  Cheaper  Edition.  Cloth,  2s.  6d. 

Manners  of  Modern  Society.  A Comprehensive  Work 

on  the  Etiquette  of  the  Present  Day.  Third  Edition.  Cloth  gilt,  2s.  6d. 

Facts  and  Hints  for  Every-day  Life.  A Comprehen- 
sive Book  on  Every  Subject  connected  with  the  Comforts  of  Home 
and  the  Health  and  Prosperity  of  its  Inmates.  2s.  6d. 

Little  Folks,  Volumes  I.,  II.,  III.,  IV.  and  V.,  each 

containing  nearly  500  Pictures.  Coloured  boards,  3s.;  cloth  gilt, 
5s.  each. 

The  Three  Homes.  A Tale  for  Fathers  and  Sons.  By  F. 

T.  L.  Hope.  400  pages,  crown  8vo,  cloth,  gilt  edges,  5s. 

The  Book  of  Good  Devices.  Edited  by  Godfrey  Gold- 
ing. With  1,000  Precepts  for  Practice.  Cloth,  bevelled,  gilt  edges,  5s. 
Young  Man  in  the  Battle  of  Life,  The.  By  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Landels.  Fcp.  8vo,  292  pp.  Third  Edition.  Cloth  gilt,  3s.  6d. 

Woman : Her  Position  and  Power.  By  Rev.  W. 

Landels,  D.D.  Crown  8vo,  292  pp.,  cloth,  lettered,  2s.  6d. 

The  Quiver,  A Magazine  for  Sunday  and  General  Reading. 

Weekly,  id.;  Monthly,  6d. ; and  Yearly  Volumes,  7s.  6d.  each. 

Cassell’s  Magazine.  A high-class  Illustrated  Magazine. 

Weekly,  id.;  Monthly,  6d.  Vols.  I.  to  Vl.  now  ready. 


Cassell  Fetter^  Galpin^  Ludgate  Hill  London  ; Paris  ; a?id  Nav  York. 


A Selection  from  Cassell  Petter  6^  Galpbls  Publications. 


THE  LIBRARY  OP  WONDERS. 

An  interesting  Series  igf  Tales  for  Boys  of  all  ages. 
Crown  8vo,  with  numerous  Engravings,  handsomely  bound ‘4n  cloth  gilt, 
gilt  edges.  Price  5s.  each. 


Wonderful  Escapes. 
Wonders  of  Bodily  Strength 
and  Skill. 

Wonderful  Balloon  Ascents. 
Wonders  of  Architecture. 


Wonderful  Adventures. 
Wonders  of  Water. 

Wonders  in  Acoustics. 
Wonders  of  Animal  Instinct. 


CASSELL’S  EDITION  OP  THE  POETS. 

In  fcap.  8vo,  bound  in  cloth  extra,  with  Illuminated  Title.  Illustrated 
with  numerous  full-page  Illustrations  on  Wood,  from  Designs  by 
Eminent  Artists.  In  cloth  gilt,  3s.  6d. ; in  morocco  gilt,  6s.  6d. 


Longfellow. 

Scott. 

Byron. 

Moore. 

Wordsworth. 


Cowper. 

Milton. 

Pope. 

Burns. 

The  Casquet  of  Gems. 


The  Book  of 
Humorous  Poetry. 
Ballads,  Scottish  and 
English. 

Lives  of  the  British 
Poets. 


CASSELLS  LIBRARY  EDITION  OF  THE  POETS, 
In  Bold,  Readable  Type,  with  Memoir  of  each  Poet,  Notes,  and  Critical 
Dissertation,  bound  in  cloth,  as  under  : — 

Sir  Walter  Scott’s  Poetical  Works.  Three  Volumes^ 

cloth,  lettered,  2s.  each. 

Cowper’s  Poetical  Works.  Edited  by  Charles 

CowDEN  Clarke.  Two  Vols.,  900  pages,  2s.  each. 

Burns’  Poetical  Works.  Edited  by  Charles  Cowden 

Clarke.  Two  Volumes,  post  8vo,  2s.  each. 

Herbert’s  Poetical  Works.  Edited  by  Charles 

CowDEN  Clarke.  One  Volume,  400  pages,  cloth,  2s. 

Pope’s  Poetical  Works.  Edited  by  Charles  Cowden 

Clarke.  Two  Volumes,  cloth,  2s.  each. 


The  following  CATALOGUES  of  Messrs,  Cassell,  Petter,  & 
Galpin’s  Publications  can  be  had  from  all  Booksellers^  or  post  free  on 
application  to  the  Publishers  : — 

CASSELL’S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE,  containing  a complete 
List  of  Works,  including  Bibles  and  Religious  Literature,  Children’s 
Books,  Dictionaries,  Educational  Works,  Fine  Art  Volumes,  Hand- 
books and  Guides,  History,  Miscellaneous,  Natural  History,  Poetry, 
Travels,  Serials. 

CASSELL’S  EDUCATIONAL  CATALOGUE,  containing  a description 
of  their  numerous  Educational  Works,  &c.,  with  Spechnen  Pages  and 
Illustrations,  including  their  Elementary  and  Technical  Series,  together 
with  a List  of  their  Mathematical  Instruments,  Water  Colours,  &c. 


Cassell  Petter  6^  Galpin,  Ltcdgate  Hill,  London  ; Pai'is ; and  New  York. 


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